House of Commons
Thursday 26 November 1998
The House met at half-past Two o'clock
PRAYERS
[Madam Speaker in the Chair]
Business of the House
2.33 pm
Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire): May I ask the Leader of the House to give us the business for next week?
The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett): As the House is aware, the Debate on the Address in reply to the Gracious Speech will be brought to a conclusion on Tuesday 1 December.
The business following the conclusion of the Debate on the Humble Address will be as follows:
Wednesday 2 December--Until 2 o'clock, there will be debates on the motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Consideration of allocation of time motion relating to the European Parliamentary Elections Bill.
Proceedings on the European Parliamentary Elections Bill.
Thursday 3 December--Debate on the European Union on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Friday 4 December--The House will not be sitting.
The provisional business for the following week will be as follows:
Monday 7 December--Second Reading of the Water Industry Bill.
Tuesday 8 December--Second Reading of the Road Traffic (NHS charges) Bill.
Wednesday 9 December--Until 2 o'clock there will be debates on the motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Opposition Day [1st Allotted Day]
There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, subject to be announced.
Thursday 10 December--Estimates Day [1st Allotted Day]
There will be a debate on prison sentences and alternatives to prison sentences. Followed by a debate on New Deal Pathfinders and Pathways into Work for Lone Parents. Details will be given in the Official Report.
At 10 o'clock the House will be asked to agree the winter supplementary estimates, the votes on account and supplementary defence votes.
Friday 11 December--The House will not be sitting.
[Thursday 10 December:
Estimates Day [1st Allotted Day]--Class 1V, Votes 1 and 2: Home Office administration, police probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales and
prisons, England and Wales, in so far as they relate to prison sentences and alternatives to prison sentences. Relevant Reports: the Third Report from the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1997-98, on Alternatives to Prison Sentences (HC 486).
Class 1, Votes 1 and 3: Department for Education and Employment, programmes and central services and Employment Service and Class X11; Department of Social Security, in so far as they relate to New Deal Pathfinders and Pathways into Work for Lone Parents. Relevant Reports: the Seventh Report from the Education and Employment Committee, Session 1997-98, Pathways into Work for Lone Parents (HC646); and the Eighth Report from the Committee, Session 1997-98, New Deal Pathfinders (HC 1059).]
Sir George Young:
The House is grateful for next week's business and for an indication of the business for the week after. Can the right hon. Lady confirm that, very shortly, there will be a statement on the local government revenue support grant? Can she possibly tell the House the date when that is expected?
On General Pinochet, we understand your ruling, Madam Speaker, that this matter is sub judice. However, if the Home Secretary exercises his discretion, and it is no longer sub judice, can she confirm that the Home Secretary will make an oral statement to the House? Can the Home Secretary find a way of explaining how he plans to use his discretion--discretion that the House has given to him--on this subject?
On Wednesday, when we deal with the European Parliamentary Elections Bill, may we have confirmation that there will be the normal Committee stage? On the Bill dealing with the House of Lords, can the right hon. Lady confirm that it will begin in the House, and that all stages of this constitutional measure will be taken on the Floor of the House? Will she consider allocating extra time for a debate on the Second Reading of the Greater London Authority Bill, many stages of which we would again expect to be taken on the Floor of the House?
Finally, on the Christmas recess, is it her intention that the House should sit in Christmas week? Can she give us an indication of the dates of the Christmas recess?
Mrs. Beckett:
On the right hon. Gentleman's first point, the date of the revenue support grant settlement will be 2 December--next Wednesday. The statement will be made here, then.
On the matter of General Pinochet, I, like the right hon. Gentleman, am conscious of your ruling, Madam Speaker. The right hon. Gentleman asked me to ask the Home Secretary to explain how he intends to use his discretion. I am not entirely sure that that can be reconciled with the ruling that he has just mentioned, but I take on board that he is anxious to have the issue explored.
The right hon. Gentleman asked about the handling of the Bill on House of Lords reform. Obviously, that will be subject to discussion. I anticipate that the Bill will begin in the House. He asked me for it all to be taken on the Floor of the House. I hope that that can be subject to discussion and agreement through the usual channels in the ordinary way.
The right hon. Gentleman pressed me to provide extra time for the Greater London Authority Bill, and to take much of it on the Floor of the House. Again, the issue of
what and how much should be taken on the Floor can be discussed--and, I hope, agreed--through the usual channels. As for whether we should have more than the normal first day for the Bill on the Floor, he makes a fair point. I am not at all unsympathetic, and I will certainly consider giving the extra time that he seeks.
The right hon. Gentleman asked about the proceedings on the European Parliamentary Elections Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will go through the proper proceedings. The Government motion will be published next week.
The right hon. Gentleman asked about the Christmas recess, and I sympathise. I realise that we are much nearer to the Christmas recess than perhaps is entirely comfortable for hon. Members before publishing the dates. Equally, he will appreciate that we are, literally, in the first week of the new Session. I am afraid that I cannot give him the dates today. I shall give the House the information as soon as I can.
Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North):
Will we have a statement next week on the court judgment in Japan on the allied prisoners of war? Is my right hon. Friend aware that this matter has been raised on a number of occasions, when colleagues from both sides of the House have referred to the unspeakable treatment which British and other allied prisoners suffered at the hands of the Japanese--one of whom is my constituent, Stephen Long? Should not the British Government take up this matter with the Japanese, because those people who served so bravely in the war and were treated in such a terrible and evil manner are simply asking for an apology from the Japanese Government, and for compensation? Yesterday, we had an excellent decision on human rights, but the decision by the Japanese on the subject has been very poor.
Mrs. Beckett:
I understand my hon. Friend's strong views and the concerns of his constituents. The whole House sympathises deeply with those who brought the case for the suffering that they have endured, and we understand their disappointment. I fear that I am not in a position to offer my hon. Friend a statement next week, but it will not have escaped his notice that we are to have a debate on foreign affairs in the House tomorrow.
Mr. Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):
Liberal Democrats welcome the decision to move ahead quickly with the European Parliamentary Elections Bill. Can the Leader of the House give us an assurance that the Government will push ahead speedily to ensure that all stages of the legislation are in place in time for there to be fair and proportional elections in Europe next year, and that we can overcome the obstructions of the House of Lords?
Will there be time for a debate on the Acheson report on public health, which was one of the central planks of Labour's manifesto at the general election? It would be right and proper for the House to have an opportunity to discuss the important recommendations in the report.
May I draw the attention of the Leader of the House to early-day motion 33,
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