HC Deb 27 June 1995 vol 262 cc789-97

  1. ' —(1)When issuing guidance under paragraph 10 of Schedule 13 the Secretary of State shall have regard to whether a mineral planning authority would reasonably be expected to impose similar restrictions if the permission had been issued following a new application after 21st February 1982;
  2. (2) Where he feels similar restrictions would have been imposed following a new application after 21st February 1982 his assumption shall be that their provisions are reasonable.'.—[Ms Ruddock.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Ms Ruddock

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 75 to 77.

Ms Ruddock

As perhaps befits this time of night, new clause 16 is moved in a spirit of co-operation. The Opposition, like the local authority associations and numerous countryside and conservation organisations, welcomed the Government's promise in the other place to bring forward new provisions to enable mineral planning authorities to review pre-1982 permissions. However, when those proposals came before the Standing Committee, they were a grave disappointment. Once again, the Bill's promise had been blighted, undoubtedly by the exercise of commercial interests in the drafting room.

Schedule 13 establishes a mechanism for the provision of compensation to mineral operators when new conditions are imposed by the mineral planning authorities on old mineral permissions at active sites. Schedule 13 is the problem for the simple reason that the eligibility and compensation arrangements have led to widespread alarm among local authority associations, and especially at the Council for the Protection of Rural England, whose representations and expertise on the matter are well known to the Minister.

The compensation arrangements are a major departure from the tried and tested practice in respect of pre-1948 permissions dealt with under interim development orders. IDOs have avoided unnecessary confrontation with industry and unnecessary compensation payments. Our preference would have been for the Bill to introduce a regime based on IDOs, but given the Government's chosen course, our new clause seeks to protect local communities from suffering from poor and outdated standards in respect of old mineral permissions, or from compensation payments to companies that are often vastly profitable.

Mineral extraction, even to modern environmental standards, imposes considerable unwelcome burdens on local communities. They suffer from dust, dirt, frequent and constant noise, and from heavy lorries with heavy loads which are sometimes driven without due care through narrow streets. Those rural communities especially need and deserve the upgrading of old mineral planning permissions. That is a simple matter of progress and justice, and a recognition that the world has changed.

Reasonableness is supposed to be the yardstick by which the requirements of change are to be imposed in schedule 13. If it is, the Government should accept our new clause.

If the conditions to be imposed on old mineral planning permissions are similar to those currently expected for new planning permissions, they should be deemed reasonable. New clause 16 provides for that. Neither the Minister nor industry should have anything to fear, and I look forward to the Minister's constructive response.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

May I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for his letter, which clearly set out the answers to all the questions raised in Committee? It was extremely helpful, and gave some very useful information.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the starting point for considering compensation should be that, in common with all other forms of development, planning permissions can be revoked or modified only if subject to the payment of compensation? Will he confirm that the industry has been constructive in acknowledging that the environmental standards of operations and of subsequent restoration of sites should continually improve—

It being Ten o'clock, further consideration of the Bill stood adjourned.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14 (Exempted business), That, at this day's sitting, the Environment Bill [Lords] may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.—[Mr. Wood.] Question agreed to.

As amended (in the Standing Committee), again considered.

Question again proposed, That the clause be read a Second time.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

May I start that paragraph again?

Hon. Members

No.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. Tedious repetition is not acceptable at this time of night.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

It would be greatly amiss if I were tedious, let alone repetitious, so I shall be neither.

Mr. Piers Merchant (Beckenham)

My hon. Friend will be expeditious.

Mr. Clifton-Brown

Indeed, I shall be expeditious, as I was trying to be before the Ten o'clock motion was moved.

I should be grateful if the Minister will confirm that the industry has been constructive in acknowledging that the environmental standards of operations and of subsequent restoration of sites should continually improve, and that the industry is already making great strides towards achieving higher environmental standards. As the industry has accepted that it should bear the cost of upgrading planning permissions with regard to "sensory" conditions—those relating to noise and dust—will my hon. Friend confirm that it is the Government's intention that the Government amendments should provide only a backstop to ensure that the industry's fundamental working rights cannot be severely restricted as a result of the new review?

Is it not the case that new clause 16 seeks to nullify compensation safeguards contained in the Bill? Does my hon. Friend agree that, were it to be accepted, it would secure the effective confiscation of assets, retrospectively and without compensation? Will he confirm that the guidance notes to be issued by the Secretary of State will carefully reflect the contents of the Bill, and will not be allowed effectively to introduce new requirements with which the industry will be required to comply but which have not been considered first by the House?

I am concerned that the guidance notes, of which I have seen a draft copy and which extend to 45 pages, include references to the use of prohibition notices and the circumstances in which they can be used. They are defined in the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) Act 1981. However, the draft notes extend the criteria significantly by introducing new material considerations, and I should like my hon. Friend's assurance that he will bring anything that effectively changes the current legislation back to the House for consideration.

Mr. Tipping

The hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown) raised some interesting points about compensation. This aspect of the Bill will prove to be a lawyers' charter. As the hon. Gentleman recognised, the strength of the new clause is that it rules out compensation and removes local authorities from the invidious position in which they would find themselves.

Local authorities clearly want to make environmental improvements, but if they are challenged, they face potential costs which they cannot afford. The new clause is an important way for them to avoid those costs. I support it strongly, because the issue of compensation will prove to be a quagmire.

Dr. John Marek (Wrexham)

I shall make a brief contribution in support of my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping). We could debate new clause 16 for a long time. Suffice it to say that the Government are again on the side of the landlords and the people with assets who want to stuff even more money into their pockets. The hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown), who has just spoken, proved that point very well.

Government Members care not a fig about the community. In my constituency of Wrexham and the surrounding area of about 50 miles in each direction, there is more concern about applications for quarrying for various minerals, the dismissal of the community's concerns and desires, and environmental matters than almost any other issue. I think that new clause 16 is very important, and Labour Front-Bench Members were correct to table it.

I wonder whether my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) will confirm in her winding-up speech that, when the next Labour Government take office—Conservative Members may do themselves in over the next 10 days—she will insist that the Labour Government's environment Bill is the equivalent of new clause 16.

That is what the public of this country demand. They are fed up with Conservative Members pleading for money for their own supporters, without worrying about the environment, people or communities. I look forward to seeing new clause 16 take effect, not as a result of this Bill, but in the next Parliament.

Sir Paul Beresford

Government amendments Nos. 75, 76 and 77 are technical amendments, so I shall concentrate my remarks on new clause 16. The hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) is correct when he says that it is an important clause.

As the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) said, the system of regulations under the interim development order approach is working. That is our model in this instance. As she knows, there will be no compensation for conditions which do not restrict working rights. Compensation will arise only if working rights restrictions prejudice to an unreasonable degree either the economic viability of the operation or the asset value of the site. There is little difference from the test that the mineral planning authorities should be, and are, applying to the imposition of conditions on active IDO sites.

Ms Ruddock

I am anxious not to intervene upon the Minister too soon, but I know that he is trying to rush, so he may pass over this point. He referred to "prejudice to an unreasonable degree" and that is on the face of the Bill. Will he define that statement? Otherwise, he must agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) that the legislation could be a lawyers' charter.

Sir Paul Beresford

I do not agree with the hon. Lady. The word "unreasonable" is used quite commonly in legislation. As she knows already—it has been pointed out by my hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown)—we are undertaking preliminary consultation on the draft guidance. That guidance makes it clear that we intend that the industry and mineral planning authorities should follow the same principles for updating the pre-1982 sites as were followed for the interim development orders. That will ensure that there is equal treatment between the sites and the operators. It is a fair and equitable approach.

I am a little astonished—but perhaps I am not so astonished upon reflection—at the reaction of the hon. Member for Wrexham. If that is the kind of approach that we are to expect from the Labour party in future, God help industry and the economy in this country. I hope that the hon. Lady will withdraw her new clause.

Ms Ruddock

I must invite the Minister to respond again, as I failed to intervene during his speech. He has not explained to the House—[Interruption.]

Mr. Deputy Speaker

Order. The hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) has the Floor.

Ms Ruddock

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The Minister has not given the House an explanation as to why the legislation is different from the interim development orders. He said that they are working effectively, but he has given no account of why the test of reasonableness in relation to the economic viability of working a site or its asset value should have been placed in the schedule. It is very difficult for us to understand why that proposal has come forward when the Government already acknowledge that they have a perfectly good working arrangement in respect of older mineral planning permission.

I wonder whether the Minister will be kind enough to tell the House why that change is necessary—why that new duty is imposed. He has not said why our new clause is unreasonable. All that our new clause seeks to do is acknowledge that, where the standards that are to be imposed are equivalent to those that would be imposed on a new planning permission sought today, by definition that must be reasonable. Why is it not reasonable?

Mr. Clifton-Brown

Surely the reason why it is in that schedule is that, although the interim development orders have worked well so far, we have dealt with the easiest cases, and the more difficult cases remain to be resolved. That is why it is necessary to put those later permissions in that schedule.

Ms Ruddock

I do not believe that that remark was at all helpful. The hon. Gentleman has not in any way explained why what is being dealt with at the moment is more difficult than what was dealt with in the past. We must accept that people are sitting on assets that are in the ground, and they have old planning permissions, which are not appropriate to modern standards, modern considerations and the needs of modern societies.

Is the Minister prepared to speak?

Sir Paul Beresford

My hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown) has touched on it. We are convinced that there is no difference between the IDO and the method that we are moving now. We are consulting industry, mineral planning authorities and environmental groups on draft guidance in relation to putting it into action.

We feel that it would be only fair for compensation to be paid to the industry if there were an effective change in the economic viability of those sites. However, we recognise, as does the industry, the importance of introducing conditions—and the industry is accepting those conditions for the sites—for environmental reasons. I hope that the hon. Lady will consider the matter carefully and will accept that, in those circumstances, it is only fair that compensation should be paid if, beyond that, there is an effect on the economic viability of a specific site.

Ms Ruddock

The Minister may believe that he is being helpful, but I fear that he is not. The economic viability is not an objective measure. It will be for the local authority, the mineral planning authority, to make some judgment about the way in which the new conditions would affect economic viability.

I suggest to the Minister that, if a cash-strapped local authority has to take that into account, it may feel that it is unable to demand that conditions at that site are raised to modern standards, because of fears that it might be subject to challenge under the legislation, as it could be held that there was an economic impact on that company that was unacceptable under the legislation that the Minister proposes.

We believe that very many of those companies are well able to pay for the slight changes—or, in some circumstances, considerable changes—that might result from bringing those permissions up to modern standards. We believe that those companies are better placed to absorb those costs, and to behave responsibly and in an environmentally friendly way, than are local authorities and local communities.

I am afraid that, if the Minister cannot accept what is a very simple new clause, which only defines effectively what is reasonable action and prevents the continuance of ambiguity and worry for local planning authorities which would have to make those considerations—if he intends to sit there and allow local authorities and local communities to bear the brunt of bringing those old planning permissions up to modern standards—we must divide the House.

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—

The House divided: Ayes 237, Noes 269.

Division No. 180] [10.14 pm
AYES
Ainger, Nick Forsythe, Clifford (S Antrim)
Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) Foster, Rt Hon Derek
Allen, Graham Foster, Don (Bath)
Anderson, Donald (Swansea E) Fraser, John
Armstrong, Hilary Fyfe, Maria
Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy Galbraith, Sam
Austin-Walker, John Galloway, George
Barnes, Harry Gapes, Mike
Barton, Kevin Garrett, John
Battle, John Gerrard, Neil
Bayley, Hugh Godman, Dr Norman A
Beckett, Rt Hon Margaret Godsiff, Roger
Beggs, Roy Golding, Mrs Llin
Bell, Stuart Gordon, Mildred
Benn, Rt Hon Tony Graham, Thomas
Bennett, Andrew F Grant, Bemie (Tottenham)
Benton, Joe Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)
Bermingham, Gerald Grocott, Bruce
Berry, Roger Gunnell, John
Betts, Clive Hain, Peter
Blunkett, David Hanson, David
Boateng, Paul Harman, Ms Harriet
Bradley, Keith Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy
Bray, Dr Jeremy Heppell, John
Brown, Gordon (Dunfermline E) Hill, Keith (Streatham)
Brown, N (N'c'de upon Tyne E) Hinchliffe, David
Burden, Richard Hodge, Margaret
Byers, Stephen Hogg, Norman (Cumbemauld)
Caborn, Richard Hood, Jimmy
Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge) Hoon, Geoffrey
Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) Howarth, George (Knowsley North)
Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd)
Campbell-Savours, D N Hoyle, Doug
Cann, Jamie Hughes, Kevin (DoncasterN)
Carlile, Alexander (Montgomery) Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N)
Chidgey, David Hughes, Simon (Southwark)
Chisholm, Malcolm Hutton, John
Church, Judith Illsley, Eric
Clapham, Michael Ingram, Adam
Clark, Dr David (South Shields) Jackson, Helen (Shefld, H)
Clarke, Tom (MonMands W) Jamieson, David
Clelland, David Janner, Greville
Clwyd, Mrs Ann Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C)
Coffey, Ann Jones, Lynne (B'ham S O)
Cohen, Harry Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW)
Connarty, Michael Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham)
Cook, Robin (Livingston) Jowell, Tessa
Corbett, Robin Keen, Alan
Corbyn, Jeremy Kennedy, Jane (L'pool Br'dg'n)
Corston, Jean Khabra, Piara S
Cousins, Jim Mlfoyle, Peter
Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE) Kirkwood, Archy
Cunningham, Rt Hon Dr John Lestor, Joan (Ecdes)
Dafis, Cynog Lewis, Terry
Davidson, Ian Liddell, Mrs Helen
Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral) Livingstone, Ken
Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) Lloyd, Tony (Stretford)
Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) Llwyd, Elfyn
Denham, John Loyden, Eddie
Dewar, Donald Lynne, Ms Liz
Dixon, Don McAllion, John
Donohoe, Brian H McAvoy, Thomas
Dowd, Jim Macdonald, Calum
Eagle, Ms Angela McFall, John
Eastham, Ken McKelvey, William
Etherington, Bill Mackinlay, Andrew
Evans, John (St Helens N) McLeish, Henry
Fatchett, Derek McMaster, Gordon
Faulds, Andrew McNamara, Kevin
Reid, Frank (Birkenhead) MacShane, Denis
Flynn, Paul Maddock, Diana
Mahon, Alice Rooney, Terry
Marek, Dr John Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)
Marshall, David (Shettleston) Ross, William (E Londonderry)
Marshall, Jim (Leicester, S) Rowlands, Ted
Martin, Michael J (Springburn) Ruddock, Joan
Martlew, Eric Sedgemore, Brian
Meacher, Michael Sheerman, Barry
Meale, Alan Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert
Michael, Alun Shore, Rt Hon Peter
Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) Short, Clare
Milburn, Alan Simpson, Alan
Miller, Andrew Skinner, Dennis
Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby) Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)
Molyneaux, Rt Hon James Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent)
Moonie, Dr Lewis Smyth, The Reverend Martin
Morgan, Rhodri Snape, Peter
Motley, Elliot Soley, Clive
Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yaidley) Spearing, Nigel
Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon) Spellar, John
Mullin, Chris Steel, Rt Hon Sir David
Murphy, Paul Steinberg, Gerry
Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon Stevenson, George
O'Brien, Mike (N W'kshire) Strang, Dr. Gavin
O'Brien, William (Normanton) Straw, Jack
O'Hara, Edward Sutcliffe, Gerry
Olner, Bill Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)
O'Neill, Martin Timms, Stephen
Orme, Rt Hon Stanley Tipping, Paddy
Parry, Robert Touhig, Don
Pearson, Ian Turner, Dennis
Pendry, Tom Tyler, Paul
Pickthall, Colin Wallace, James
Pike, Peter L Walley, Joan
Pope, Greg Wardell, Gareth (Gower)
Powell, Ray (Ogmore) Wareing, Robert N
Prentice, Bridget (Lewisham Watson, Mike
E) Welsh, Andrew
Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) Wicks, Malcolm
Prescott, Rt Hon John Williams, Rt Hon Alan (SW'n W)
Primarolo, Dawn Williams, Alan W (Carmarthen)
Purchase, Ken Wilson, Brian
Quin, Ms Joyce Winnick, David
Radice, Giles Wise, Audrey
Randall, Stuart Worthington, Tony
Raynsford, Nick Wright, DrTony
Reid, Dr John Young, David (Bolton SE)
Rendel, David
Robertson, George (Hamilton) Tellers for the Ayes:
Roche, Mrs Barbara Mr. Eric Clarke and
Rooker, Jeff Mr. George Mudie.
NOES
Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey) Bowis, John
Aitken, Rt Hon Jonathan Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes
Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby) Brandreth, Gyles
Allason, Rupert (Torbay) Brazier, Julian
Amess, David Bright, Sir Graham
Ancram, Michael Brooke, Rt Hon Peter
Arbuthnot, James Brown, M (Brigg & Cl'thorpes)
Arnold, Jacques (Gnavesham) Browning, Mrs Angela
Arnold, Sir Thomas (Hazel Grv') Bruce, Ian (Dorset)
Ashby, David Budgen, Nicholas
Atkins, Rt Hon Robert Burns, Simon
Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) Burt, Alistair
Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset) Butcher, John
Baldry, Tony Butler, Peter
Banks, Matthew (Southport) Butterfill, John
Bates, Michael Carlisle, John (Luton North)
Batiste, Spencer Carlisle, Sir Kenneth (Lincoln)
Bellingham, Henry Carrington, Matthew
Beresford, Sir Paul Carttiss, Michael
Biffen, Rt Hon John Cash, William
Booth, Hartley Channon, Rt Hon Paul
Boswell, Tim Chapman, Sydney
Bottomley, Peter (Eltham) Churchill, Mr
Bottomley, Rt Hon Virginia Clapplson, James
Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford)
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey Howell, Sir Ralph (N Norfolk)
Coe, Sebastian Hughes, Robert G (Harrow W)
Congdon, David Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W)
Conway, Derek Hunter, Andrew
Coombs, Simon (Swindon) Jack, Michael
Cope, Rt Hon Sir John Jackson, Robert (Wantage)
Cormack, Sir Patrick Jenkin, Bernard
Couchman, James Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey
Cran, James Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N)
Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon) Jopling, Rt Hon Michael
Davies, QuentJn (Stamford) Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine
Day, Stephen Key, Robert
Deva, Nirj Joseph Kirkhope, Timothy
Devlin, Tim Knapman, Roger
Dicks, Terry Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash)
Dorrell, Rt Hon Stephen Knight, Greg (Derby N)
Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James Knight, Dame Jill (Bir'm E'st'n)
Dover, Den Knox, Sir David
Duncan, Alan Kynoch, George (Kincardine)
Duncan-Smith, Iain Lait, Mrs Jacqui
Dunn, Bob Lang, Rt Hon Ian
Dykes, Hugh Lawrence, Sir Ivan
Eggar, Rt Hon Tim Legg, Barry
Elletson, Harold Leigh, Edward
Emery, Rt Hon Sir Peter Lennox-Boyd, Sir Mark
Evans, David (Welwyn Hatfield) Lester, Jim (Broxtowe)
Evans, Jonathan (Brecon) Lidington, David
Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley) LJghtbown, David
Evans, Roger (Monmouth) Lilley, Rt Hon Peter
Faber, David Lioyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham)
Reid, Bany (fete of W9M; Lord, Michael
Fishbum, Dudley Luff, Peter
Forman, Nigel Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas
Forsyth, Rt Hon Michael (Stirling) MacGregor, Rt Hon John
Forth, Eric MacKay, Andrew
Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman Maclean, Rt Hon David
Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring) McLoughlin, Patrick
Fox, Sir Marcus (Shipley) McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick
Freeman, Rt Hon Roger Madel, Sir David
French, Douglas MartJand, Lady Olga
Gale, Roger Martand, Paul
Gallie, Phil Mariow, Tony
Gardiner, Sir George Marshall, Sir Michael (Arundel)
Garel-Jones, Rt Hon Tristan Martin, David (Portsmouth S)
Garnier, Edward Mawhinney, Rt Hon Dr Brian
Gill, Christopher Merchant, Piers
Gillan, Cheryl Mills, Iain
Goodlad, Rt Hon Alastair Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling)
Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charies Mitchell, Sir David (NW Hants)
Gorman, Mrs Teresa Moate, Sir Roger
Grant,SirAfSlYCamte; Monro, Sir Hector
Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) Montgomery, Sir Fergus
Greenway, John (Ryedale) Needham, Rt Hon Richard
Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N) Nelson, Anthony
Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn Neubert, Sir Michael
Hague, William Newton, Rt Hon Tony
Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archibald Nicholls, Patrick
Hampson, Dr Keith Nicholson, David (Taunton)
Hanley, Rt Hon Jeremy Nicholson, Emma (Devon West)
Hannam, Sir John Norris, Steve
Hargreaves, Andrew Onslow, Rt Hon Sir Cranley
Harris, David Oppenheim, Phillip
Haselhurst, Sir Alan Ottaway, Richard
Hawkins, Nick Page, Richard
Hawksley, Warren Patnick, Sir Irvine
Hayes, Jerry Patten, Rt Hon John
Heald, Oliver Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey
Heathcoat-Amory, David Pawsey, James
Hendry, Charles Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth
Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence Pickles, Eric
Hill, James (Southampton Test) Porter, Barry (Winal S)
Hogg, Rt Hon Douglas (G'tham) Porter, David (Waveney)
Horam, John Portillo, Rt Hon Michael
Howard, Rt Hon Michael Powell, William (Corby)
Howarth, Alan (Stratrd-on-A) Redwood, Rt Hon John
Renton, Rt Hon Tim Tapsell, Sir Peter
Richards, Rod Taylor, Ian (Esher)
Riddick, Graham Taylor, John M (Solihull)
Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn Temple-Morris, Peter
Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S) Thomason, Roy
Robinson, Mark (Somerton) Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N)
Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne) Thornton, Sir Malcolm
Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent) Thumham, Peter
Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela Tracey, Richard
Ryder, Rt Hon Richard Tredinnick, David
Sackville, Tom Trend, Michael
Sainsbury, Rt Hon Sir Timothy Trotter, Neville
Scott, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Twinn, Dr Ian
Shaw, David (Dover) Vaughan, Sir Gerard
Shephard, Rt Hon Gillian Waldegrave, Rt Hon William
Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) Walden, George
Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) Walker, Bill (N Tayside)
Shersby, Sir Michael Waller, Gary
Sims, Roger Wardle, Charles (Bexhill)
Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) Waterson, Nigel
Spencer, Sir Derek Watts, John
Spicer, Sir James (W Dorset) Wells, Bowen
Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) Whitney, Ray
Spink, Dr Robert Whittingdale, John
Spring, Richard Widdecombe, Ann
Sproat, Iain Wiggin, Sir Jerry
Squire, Robin (Hornchurch) Wilkinson, John
Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John Wilshire, David
Steen, Anthony Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)
Stephen, Michael Winterton, Nicholas (Macc'fld)
Stem, Michael Wolfson, Mark
Stewart, Allan Yeo, Tim
Streeter, Gary Young, Rt Hon Sir George
Sumberg, David Tellers for the Noes:
Sweeney, Walter Mr. Timothy Wood and
Sykes, John Mr. David Willetts.

Question accordingly negatived.

Further consideration of the Bill adjourned.—[Mr. Andrew Mitchell.]

Bill, as amended (in the Standing Committee), to be further considered tomorrow.