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Phil Hope: I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.
Madam Deputy Speaker: With this we may consider Lords amendment No. 19.
Phil Hope: The amendments amend schedule 1 to make minor consequential amendments to the Local Government Act 1985 and the Severn Bridges Act 1992. Unfortunately, the need for these amendments was not picked up at an earlier stage of drafting, so the changes were made during the Bill's consideration in the Lords.
Mr. Hammond: It is more sloppy drafting due to the pressure of legislation, the artificial curtailment of debate and the improper consideration of Bills.
There may be those who think that there could be no question to ask on these amendments, but I have one question for the Minister. Lords amendment No. 19 deletes the reference to
"fire authority under the Fire Services Acts 1947 to 1959"
and substitutes the term "fire and rescue authority". We understand why: the Bill introduces that term. Why is it not necessary to provide a statutory reference to the term—in other words to a fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004—when
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clearly the architecture of the Severn Bridges Act previously required the term "fire authority" to be clarified by the words
"under the Fire Services Act 1947 to 1959"?
I know that the Minister will have given consideration to that point and I would be grateful if he could clarify that apparent inconsistency.
Phil Hope: I was, of course, well aware of the concern that the hon. Gentleman has expressed. Unfortunately, I am unable to respond at this precise moment, but I can assure him that the change is of minor consequence. I will write to him and clarify the point that he has raised. [Interruption.] Inspiration has arrived. Lords amendment No. 19 amends section 8 of the Severn Bridges Act 1992 so that it refers to fire and rescue authorities under the Bill rather than fire authorities under the 1947 Act. It is consequential to the primary legislation.
Lords amendment agreed to.
Lords amendment No. 19 agreed to.
PETITIONS
The Causeway Campaign
7.43 pm
Roger Casale (Wimbledon) (Lab): I rise to present a petition on behalf of more than 1,700 of my constituents who are supporters of The Causeway campaign—The Causeway being a road that runs across Wimbledon common.
Declares that the status of The Causeway, SW19, as a free parking area should be safe-guarded and brought within the jurisdiction of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons pass legislation to clarify or otherwise amend the provisions of The Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871 such that The Causeway be brought within the jurisdiction of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators and remain a free parking area.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
Post Office Closures
7.44 pm
Mr. Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): I present a petition on behalf of no fewer than 783 constituents of mine in Romford from the Rush Green and Crowlands areas of the Romford constituency.
The people of those communities are very concerned that two local post offices could be closed following a review by Post Office Ltd. They are the Rush Green post office and the Crowlands post office. Both post offices look after the western side of my constituency, covering two thirds of the Brooklands ward, close to the border with Dagenham. They serve a diverse community of many elderly people and young families as well. Many local shopkeepers and residents are worried that if both post offices were to shut, that would have a detrimental effect on the local community.
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The Rush Green post office is situated in the Dagenham road and serves both the Dagenham and the Romford constituencies. The petition is supported by members of St. Augustine's church in Rush Green and St. Andrew's and St. Agnes' church in central Romford. It is also supported by the local councillors for the Brooklands ward, Councillor Jean Gower and Councillor Barry Tebbit. The main signatory is Robert Benham, the Brooklands ward co-ordinator.
The Petition of the People of the Rush Green and Crowlands areas of Romford Declares that the Rush Green and Crowlands Post Offices are threatened with closure. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons does all in its power to keep Rush Green and Crowlands Post Offices open.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
Department of Trade and Industry (Job Cuts)
7.45 pm
John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): In the interests of productivity I have two petitions to present. The first is on behalf of the staff of the Department of Trade and Industry and states:
The staff in the Department of Trade and Industry have grave concerns about the recent announcement of job cuts in the Department of Trade and Industry; and express their opposition to any compulsory redundancies within the Department or compulsory relocations.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to further consider the implications of the job cuts and relocations and the effect on the staff in the Department, and further urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reconsider his recent announcement of further job cuts and relocations.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
Department for Education and Skills (Job Cuts)
7.46 pm
John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): The second petition is on behalf of the staff of the Department for Education and Skills—more than 1,400 petitioners—and declares
that the petitioners have grave concerns about the recent organisational review within the Department for Education and Skills, especially the proposed job cuts; and express their opposition to any compulsory redundancies, site closures, contracting out or increases in workload.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to further consider the implications of the organisational review and the effect on the staff in the Department, and to amend his decision.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
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Penistone Recreation Ground
7.47 pm
Mr. Michael Clapham (Barnsley, West and Penistone) (Lab): I present the petition of the Penistone against greenspace encroachment campaign and others. It declares
that the Petitioners object to Planning Application B/03/2171/PU which allows "Busy Bees" to build on Penistone Recreation Ground. The Petitioners further declare that the loss of the playground and re-positioning of other facilities on the Recreation Ground will be detrimental to the community as well as to the traditional events held there, including Penistone Agricultural Show.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Deputy Prime Minister to call in "Busy Bees" Planning Application B/03/2171/PU for his own assessment.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
To lie upon the Table.
Police Officers (Southend)
7.48 pm
Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of a great campaigning local newspaper, the Yellow Advertiser (Southend). The petition has been signed by more than 2,000 local residents in Southend, West, who feel that Southend is in desperate need of extra police officers who are properly trained to patrol the streets of Southend in order to make it a safer place in which to live, work and socialise.
The petition of the Yellow Advertiser Newspaper, Southend and others
Declares that Southend Police Division is in need of 10 extra police officers to patrol the streets.
The Petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to pass legislation to provide for the deployment of extra police officers in Southend.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
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