Motion made, and Question put,
That in the opinion of this House:—
(1) No Minister of the Crown should give agreement in the Council of Ministers to any proposal for European Community legislation—
(2) In this Resolution, any reference to agreement to a proposal includes, in the case of a proposal on which the Council acts in co-operation with the European Parliament, agreement to a common position.
(3) The Minister concerned may, however, give agreement:—
(4) The Minister concerned may also give agreement to a proposal which is still subject to scrutiny or awaiting consideration by the House if he decides that for special reasons agreement should be given; but he should explain his reasons—
(5) In relation to any proposal which requires adoption by unanimity, abstention shall, for the purposes of paragraph (4), be treated as giving agreement.— [Mr. Chapman.]
The House proceeded to a Division—
( seated and covered)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wish to draw your attention to motion No. 5, paragraph (5) of which states:
Is there any precedent in the history of British Parliaments for abstention being treated as agreement?"abstention shall, for the purposes of paragraph (4), be treated as giving agreement."
Order. I should not go so far as to say that there was a precedent, but I can inform the hon. Gentleman that it is certainly not a matter for the Chair.
The House having divided: Ayes 165, Noes 8.
Division No. 337]
| [7.46pm
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AYES
| |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Baker, Nicholas(Dorset N) |
| Allen, Graham | Banks, Tony(Newham NW) |
| Arbuthnot, James | Barnes, Harry(Derbyshire NE) |
| Arnold, Jacques(Gravesham) | Barron, Kevin |
| Arnold, Sir Thomas | Beggs, Roy |
| Atkins, Robert | Bendall, Vivian |
| Atkinson, David | Bennett, Nicholas(Pembroke) |
| Baker, Rt Hon K.(Mole Valley) | Benyon, W. |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Boswell, Tim | Leighton, Ron |
| Bottomley, Peter | Lester, Jim(Broxtowe) |
| Bottomley, Mrs Virginia | Lightbown, David |
| Bowis, John | Lilley, Peter |
| Brazier, Julian | Livsey, Richard |
| Bright, Graham | Lloyd, Peter(Fareham) |
| Brooke, Rt Hon Peter | Lofthouse, Geoffrey |
| Browne, John(Winchester) | Lord, Michael |
| Buckley, George J. | Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas |
| Budgen, Nicholas | McKay, Allen(Barnsley West) |
| Burns, Simon | MacKay, Andrew(E Berkshire) |
| Carlisle, Kenneth(Lincoln) | Maclean, David |
| Carrington, Matthew | McLoughlin, Patrick |
| Cash, William | Mans, Keith |
| Channon, Rt Hon Paul | Maples, John |
| Chapman, Sydney | Martin, David(Portsmouth S) |
| Churchill, Mr | Mellor, David |
| Clark, Hon Alan(Plym'th S'n) | Michael, Alun |
| Colvin, Michael | Mitchell, Andrew(Gedling) |
| Conway, Derek | Morrison, Rt Hon P(Chester) |
| Cope, Rt Hon John | Moss, Malcolm |
| Cormack, Patrick | Moynihan, Hon Colin |
| Curry, David | Neale, Gerrard |
| Dalyell, Tam | Needham, Richard |
| Davies, Q.(Stamf'd & Spald'g) | Neubert, Michael |
| Davis, David(Boothferry) | Newton, Rt Hon Tony |
| Dixon, Don | Nicholson, David(Taunton) |
| Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James | Norris, Steve |
| Dover, Den | O'Brien, William |
| Emery, Sir Peter | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Fallon, Michael | Page, Richard |
| Fishburn, John Dudley | Paice, James |
| Flynn, Paul | Patchett, Terry |
| Forsythe, Clifford(Antrim S) | Patnick, Irvine |
| Freeman, Roger | Patten, Rt Hon John |
| Gale, Roger | Pike, Peter L. |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Glyn, Dr Sir Alan | Raffan, Keith |
| Godman, Dr Norman A. | Redwood, John |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | Roberts, Sir Wyn(Conwy) |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Sackville, Hon Tom |
| Graham, Thomas | Sainsbury, Hon Tim |
| Greenway, Harry(Ealing N) | Salmond, Alex |
| Greenway, John(Ryedale) | Shaw, Sir Giles(Pudsey) |
| Griffiths, Peter(Portsmouth N) | Shaw, Sir Michael(Scarb') |
| Grist, Ian | Shelton, Sir William |
| Hague, William | Shepherd, Colin(Hereford) |
| Hanley, Jeremy | Sillars, Jim |
| Hargreaves, A.(B'ham H'll Gr') | Skeet, Sir Trevor |
| Harris, David | Smith, Tim(Beaconsfield) |
| Hawkins, Christopher | Spearing, Nigel |
| Hayhoe, Rt Hon Sir Barney | Steen, Anthony |
| Heathcoat-Amory, David | Stevens, Lewis |
| Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael | Stewart, Andy(Sherwood) |
| Hind, Kenneth | Summerson, Hugo |
| Home Robertson, John | Taylor, Ian(Esher) |
| Hordern, Sir Peter | Taylor, Rt Hon J. D.(S'ford) |
| Howarth, Alan(Strat'd-on-A) | Taylor, John M(Solihull) |
| Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Tebbit, Rt Hon Norman |
| Howell, Rt Hon David(G'dford) | Thompson, D.(Calder Valley) |
| Howells, Geraint | Thompson, Patrick(Norwich N) |
| Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd) | Thurnham, Peter |
| Hughes, Robert G.(Harrow W) | Tracey, Richard |
| Hughes, Simon(Southwark) | Wells, Bowen |
| Hunt, David(Wirral W) | Welsh, Andrew(Angus E) |
| Irvine, Michael | Wheeler, Sir John |
| Irving, Sir Charles | Wise, Mrs Audrey |
| Jack, Michael | Wood, Timothy |
| Jackson, Robert | Woodcock, Dr. Mike |
| Jopling, Rt Hon Michael | Yeo, Tim |
| Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine | Young, Sir George(Acton) |
| Key, Robert | |
| Kilfedder, James | Tellers for the Ayes:
|
| King, Roger(B'ham N'thfield) | Mr. Neil Hamilton and Mr. Timothy Kirkhope.
|
| Knight, Greg(Derby North) | |
| Knowles, Michael |
NOES
| |
| Clay, Bob | Skinner, Dennis |
| Corbyn, Jeremy | Taylor, Teddy(S'end E) |
| Cousins, Jim | |
| Cryer, Bob | Tellers for the Noes:
|
| Knapman, Roger | Mr. Eric Illsley and Mr. Bill Michie.
|
| Nellist, Dave | |
Question accordingly agreed to.