§ Amendments made: No. 125, in page 84, leave out lines 41 and 42 and insert—
§ '(1) The following provisions of this Act come into force on Royal Assent—
- (a) section 144 (orders, regulations and irections),
- (b) sections 146 to 149 (extent, commencement and other general provisions).'.
§ No. 118, in page 85, line 3, after '129' insert
§ 'and (Regeneration and development: Welsh Development Agency)'.
§ No. 127, in line 6, at end insert—
§ 'section (Existing housing grants: meaning of exempt disposal) (existing housing grants: meaning of exempt disposal),'.
§ No. 126, in page 85, leave out lines 7 and 8—[Mr. Brandreth.]
§ Order for Third Reading read.—[Queen's and Prince of Wales's Consent signified.]
9.57 pm§ Mr. Robert B. JonesI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.
I commend this excellent Bill to the House. I place on record my appreciation of the work that officials have done behind the scenes and of that of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary, the Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison), in taking through much of the legislation.
§ Mr. VazI shall be even briefer than the Minister. Only two months have elapsed since the Second Reading of the Bill. I place on record my thanks to all members of the 137 Committee. The hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth) and my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mrs. Prentice) had an excellent working relationship: it was not so much gone with the wind as gone with the Whip. They ensured that the work of the Committee proceeded diligently.
We shall vote against Third Reading because the fundamental principle remains that the Bill seeks to end mandatory grants. As my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) said on Second Reading, it is a rag-bag of a Bill. We—and especially my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) in respect of its housing parts—have tried to ensure that suitable amendments were tabled.
I thank the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) for his support on the construction part of the Bill. The Government still have no regeneration strategy. Even though the single regeneration budget has been, as it were, legalised, there is a lack of cohesion. For those reasons, we shall oppose Third Reading.
§ Mr. Chris DaviesThe Bill deals with housing grants. I regret that, as its proceedings reach their conclusion, not one extra penny has been promised for, nor an extra commitment made to, making housing grants available to people who live in unfit homes, who desperately need them.
§ Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 279, Noes 250.
141| Division No. 179] | [9.59 pm |
| AYES | |
| Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey) | Budgen, Nicholas |
| Aitken, Rt Hon Jonathan | Burns, Simon |
| Alexander, Richard | Burt, Alistair |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby) | Butcher, John |
| Allason, Rupert (Torbay) | Butler, Peter |
| Amess, David | Butterfill, John |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Carlisle, John (Luton North) |
| Atkins, Rt Hon Robert | Carlisle, Sir Kenneth (Lincoln) |
| Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) | Carrington, Matthew |
| Baker, Rt Hon Kenneth (Mole V) | Carttiss, Michael |
| Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset) | Cash, William |
| Baldry, Tony | Channon, Rt Hon Paul |
| Banks, Matthew (Southport) | Chapman, Sir Sydney |
| Banks, Robert (Harrogate) | Churchill, Mr. |
| Bates, Michael | Clappison, James |
| Batiste, Spencer | Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) |
| Bellingham, Henry | Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey |
| Bendall, Vivian | Congdon, David |
| Beresford, Sr Paul | Conway, Derek |
| Biffen, Rt Hon John | Coombs, Anthony (Wyre For'st) |
| Body, Sir Richard | Coombs, Simon (Swindon) |
| Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Cope, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Booth, Hartley | Cormack, Sir Patrick |
| Boswell, Tim | Couchman, James |
| Bottomley, Peter (Eltham) | Cran, James |
| Bottomley, Rt Hon Virginia | Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire) |
| Bowden, Sir Andrew | Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon) |
| Bowis, John | Davies, Quentin (Stamford) |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes | Day, Stephen |
| Brazier, Julian | Deva, Nirj Joseph |
| Bright, Sir Graham | Devlin, Tim |
| Brooke, Rt Hon Peter | Dorrell, Rt Hon Stephen |
| Brown, M (Brigg & Cl'thorpes) | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James |
| Browning, Mrs Angela | Dover, Den |
| Bruce, Ian (South Dorset) | Duncan, Alan |
| 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 |
| Evans, David (Welwyn Hatfield) | Lennox-Boyd, Sir Mark |
| Evans, Jonathan (Brecon) | Lester, Sir James (Broxtowe) |
| Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley) | Lidington, David |
| Evans, Roger (Monmouth) | Lilley, Rt Hon Peter |
| Evennett, David | Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareharm) |
| Faber, David | Lord, Michael |
| Fabricant, Michael | Luff, Peter |
| Fenner, Dame Peggy | Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Field, Barry (Isle of Wight) | MacGregor, Rt Hon John |
| Fishburn, Dudley | MacKay, Andrew |
| Forth, Eric | Maclean, Rt Hon David |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Sir Norman | McLoughlin, Patrick |
| Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring) | McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick |
| Fox, Rt Hon Sir Marcus (Shipley) | Madel, Sir David |
| Freeman, Rt Hon Roger | Maitland, Lady Olga |
| French, Douglas | Malone, Gerald |
| Fry, Sir Peter | Mans, Keith |
| Gale, Roger | Marland, Paul |
| Gallie, Phil | Martow, Tony |
| Gardiner, Sir George | Marshall, John (Hendon S) |
| Garnier, Edward | Martin, David (Portsmouth S) |
| Gill, Christopher | Mates, Michael |
| Gillan, Cheryl | Mawhinney, Rt Hon Dr Brian |
| Goodlad, Rt Hon Alastair | Merchant, Piers |
| Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles | Mills, Iain |
| Gorman, Mrs Teresa | Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) |
| Gorst, Sir John | Mitchell, Sir David (NW Hants) |
| Grant, Sir A (SW Cambs) | Moate, Sir Roger |
| Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) | Molyneaux, Rt Hon Sir James |
| Greenway, John (Ryedale) | Monro, Rt Hon Sir Hector |
| Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N) | Montgomery, Sir Fergus |
| Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn | Moss, Malcolm |
| Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archibald | Needham, Rt Hon Richard |
| Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) | Neubert, Sir Michael |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Newton, Rt Hon Tony |
| Hannam, Sir John | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Hargreaves, Andrew | Nicholson, David (Taunton) |
| Haselhurst, Sir Alan | Norrris, Steve |
| Hawkins, Nick | Oppenheim, Phillip |
| Hawksley, Warren | Ottaway, Richard |
| Hayes, Jerry | Page, Richard |
| Heald, Oliver | Paice, James |
| Hendry, Charles | Patnick, Sir Irvine |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence | Pawsey, James |
| Hill, Sir James (Southampton Test) | Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth |
| Hogg, Rt Hon Douglas (G'tham) | Pickles, Eric |
| Horam, John | Porter, Barry (Wirral S) |
| Hordern, Rt Hon Sir Peter | Porter, David (Waveney) |
| Howard, Rt Hon Michael | Portillo, Rt Hon Michael |
| Howell, Sir Ralph (N Norfolk) | Powell, William (Corby) |
| Hughes, Robert G (Harrow W) | Rathbone, Tim |
| Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W) | Renton, Rt Hon Tim |
| Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne) | Richards, Rod |
| Hunter, Andrew | Riddick, Graham |
| Hurd, Rt Hon Douglas | Rifkind, Rt Hon Malcolm |
| Jack, Michael | Robathan, Andrew |
| Jackson, Robert (Wantage) | Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn |
| Jenkin, Bernard | Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S) |
| Jessel, Toby | Robinson, Mark (Somerton) |
| Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) | Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne) |
| Jones, Robert B (W Hertfdshr) | Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent) |
| Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine | Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela |
| Key, Robert | Sainsbury, Rt Hon Sir Timothy |
| King, Rt Hon Tom | Scott, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Kirkhope, Timothy | Shaw, David (Dover) |
| Knapman, Roger | Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey) |
| Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash) | Shephard, Rt Hon Gillian |
| Knight, Rt Hon Greg (Derby N) | Shepherd, Sir Colin (Hereford) |
| Knight, Dame Jill | Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) |
| Kynoch, George (Kincardine) | Shersby, Sir Michael |
| Sims, Sir Roger | Townsend, Cyril D (Bexl'yh'th) |
| Skeet, Sir Trevor | Tracey, Richard |
| Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) | Tredinnick, David |
| Speed, Sir Keith | Trend, Michael |
| Spencer, Sir Derek | Trotter, Neville |
| Spicer, Sir Michael (S Worcs) | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Spink, Dr Robert | Vaughan, Sir Gerard |
| Spring, Richard | Viggers, Peter |
| Sproat, Iain | Walden, George |
| Squire, Robin (Hornchurch) | Walker, Bill (N Tayside) |
| Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John | Waller, Gary |
| Steen, Anthony | Ward, John |
| Stephen, Michael | Wardle, Charles (Bexhill) |
| Stern, Michael | Waterson, Nigel |
| Stewart, Allan | Watts, John |
| Streeter, Gary | Wells, Bowen |
| Whitney, Ray | |
| Sumberg, David | Whittingdale, John |
| Sweeney, Walter | Widdecombe, Ann |
| Sykes, John | |
| Tapsell, Sir Peter | Wiggin, Sir Jerry |
| Wilkinson, John | |
| Taylor, Ian (Esher) | Willetts, David |
| Taylor, John M (Solihull) | Wilshire, David |
| Taylor, Sir Teddy (Southend, E) | Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton) |
| Temple-Morris, Peter | Wolfson, Mark |
| Thomason, Roy | Wood, Timothy |
| Thompson, Sir Donald (C'er V) | Young, Rt Hon Sir George |
| Thompson, Patrick | |
| Thornton, Sir Malcolm | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Thurnham, Peter | Mr. Sebastian Coe and |
| Townend, John (Bridlington) | Mr. Gyles Brandreth. |
| NOES | |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Clarke, Eric (Midlothian) |
| Adams, Mrs Irene | Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) |
| Ainger, Nick | Clelland, David |
| Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE) | Clwyd, Mrs Ann |
| Allen, Graham | Coffey, Ann |
| Anderson, Donald (Swansea E) | Cohen, Harry |
| Anderson, Ms Janet (Ros'dale) | Connarty, Michael |
| Ashton, Joe | Cook, Robin (Livingston) |
| Austin-Walker, John | Corbyn, Jeremy |
| Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Corston, Jean |
| Barron, Kevin | Cousins, Jim |
| Battle, John | Cummings, John |
| Bayley, Hugh | Cunliffe, Lawrence |
| Beckett, Rt Hon Margaret | Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE) |
| Beith, Rt Hon A J | Dalyell, Tam |
| Bell, Stuart | Darling, Alistair |
| Bennett, Andrew F | Davidson, Ian |
| Benton, Joe | Davies, Chris (L'Boro & S'worth) |
| Bermingham, Gerald | Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) |
| Berry, Roger | Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'I) |
| Betts, Clive | Denham, John |
| Blunkett, David | Dewar, Donald |
| Boateng, Paul | Dixon, Don |
| Bradley, Keith | Dobson, Frank |
| Bray, Dr Jeremy | Donohoe, Brian H |
| Brown, Gordon (Dunfermline E) | Dowd, Jim |
| Brown, N (N'c'tle upon Tyne E) | Dunwoody, Mrs Gwyneth |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Eagle, Ms Angela |
| Byers, Stephen | Eastham, Ken |
| Caborn, Richard | Etherington, Bill |
| Callaghan, Jim | Evans, John (St Helens N) |
| Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge) | Fatchett, Derek |
| Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) | Faulds, Andrew |
| Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) | Fisher, Mark |
| Campbell-Savours, D N | Flynn, Paul |
| Canavan, Dennis | Foster, Rt Hon Derek |
| Cann, Jamie | Foster, Don (Bath) |
| Carlile, Alexander (Montgomery) | Foulkes, George |
| Chidgey, David | Fraser, John |
| Chisholm, Malcolm | Fyfe, Maria |
| Church, Judith | Galloway, George |
| Clapham, Michael | Gapes, Mike |
| Clark, Dr David (South Shields) | Garrett, John |
| Gerrard, Neil | Meacher, Michael |
| Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John | Meale, Alan |
| Godman, Dr Norman A | Michael, Alun |
| Godsiff, Roger | Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | Milburn, Alan |
| Gordon, Mildred | Miller, Andrew |
| Graham, Thomas | Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby) |
| Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) | Moonie, Dr Lewis |
| Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) | Morgan, Rhodri |
| Grocott, Bruce | Morley, Elliot |
| Gunnell, John | Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wy'nshawe) |
| Hall, Mike | Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley) |
| Hanson, David | Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon) |
| Harman, Ms Harriet | Mowlam, Marjorie |
| Heppell, John | Mudie, George |
| Hill, Keith (Streatham) | Mullin, Chris |
| Hinchliffe, David | Murphy, Paul |
| Hodge, Margaret | Nicholson, Emma (Devon West) |
| Hoey, Kate | O'Brien, William (Normanton) |
| Hogg, Norman (Cumbernauld) | O'Hara, Edward |
| Home Robertson, John | Olner, Bill |
| Hood, Jimmy | O'Neill, Martin |
| Hoon, Geoffrey | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Howarth, Alan (Strat'rd-on-A) | Parry, Robert |
| Howarth, George (Knowsley North) | Pearson, Ian |
| Howells, Dr Kim (Pontypridd) | Pendry, Tom |
| Hoyle, Doug | Pickthall, Colin |
| Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) | Pike, Peter L |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Pope, Greg |
| Hughes, Roy (Newport E) | Powell, Sir Ray (Ogmore) |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark) | Prentice, Bridget (Lew'm E) |
| Hutton, John | Prentice, Gordon (Pendle) |
| Illsley, Eric | Prescott, Rt Hon John |
| Ingram, Adam | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Jackson, Glenda (H'stead) | Purchase, Ken |
| Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H) | Quin, Ms Joyce |
| Jamieson, David | Randall, Stuart |
| Janner, Greville | Raynsford, Nick |
| Jenkins, Brian (SE Staff) | Reid, Dr John |
| Jones, Ieuan Wyn (Ynys Môn) | Rendel, David |
| Jones, Lynne (B'ham S O) | Robertson, George (Hamilton) |
| Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW) | Robinson, Geoffrey (Co'tryN W) |
| Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) | Roche, Mrs Barbara |
| Jowell, Tessa | Rogers, Allan |
| Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald | Rooker, Jeff |
| Keen, Alan | Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) |
| Kennedy, Charles (Ross,C&S) | Rowlands, Ted |
| Kennedy, Jane (L'pool Br'dg'n) | Salmond, Alex |
| Khabra, Piara S | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
| Kilfoyle, Peter | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Short, Clare |
| Lewis, Terry | Skinner, Dennis |
| Liddell, Mrs Helen | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
| Litherland, Robert | Smith, Chris (Isl'ton S & F'sbury) |
| Livingstone, Ken | Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) |
| Llwyd, Elfyn | Soley, Clive |
| Loyden, Eddie | Spearing, Nigel |
| Lynne, Ms Liz | Spellar, John |
| McAllion, John | Squire, Rachel (Dunfermline W) |
| McAvoy, Thomas | Steel, Rt Hon Sir David |
| McCartney, Ian | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Macdonald, Calum | Stevenson, George |
| McKelvey, William | Stott, Roger |
| Mackinlay, Andrew | Strang, Dr. Gavin |
| McLeish, Henry | Sutcliffe, Gerry |
| McMaster, Gordon | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| McNamara, Kevin | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| MacShane, Denis | Timms, Stephen |
| McWilliam, John | Tipping, Paddy |
| Madden, Max | Touhig, Don |
| Maddock, Diana | Trickett, Jon |
| Mahon, Alice | Turner, Dennis |
| Mandelson, Peter | Vaz, Keith |
| Marek, Dr John | Walker, Rt Hon Sir Harold |
| Marshall, David (Shettleston) | Walley, Joan |
| Martin, Michael J (Springburn) | Wareing, Robert N |
| Watson, Mike | Wise, Audrey |
| Welsh, Andrew | Wray, Jimmy |
| Wicks, Malcolm | Wright, Dr Tony |
| Wigley, Dafydd | Young, David (Bolton SE) |
| Williams, Rt Hon Alan (SW'n W) | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Williams, Alan W (Carmarthen) | Mr. Peter Main and |
| Winnick, David | Mr. Jon Owen Jones. |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed, with amendments.