House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill — Short title, commencement and extent — 1 Mar 2001

I beg to move amendment No. 4 in page 1, line 9, at end insert--

'or Bishop of the Church of England'.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

I beg to move amendment No. 11, in page 1, line 17, at end insert--

'(1A) This Act shall come into force on the day after the general election for the Parliament after that in which it is passed, and shall apply only to persons elected to the House of Commons after that date.'.

It being Five o'clock, The Chairman put the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Orders [7 November and 6 February].

Amendment negatived.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedules 1 and 2 agreed to.

Bill reported, without amendment.

Order for Third Reading read.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

In commending the Bill to the House, I should say that I am grateful for the very constructive way in which it has been considered. I am also grateful for the strong support that the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) has given the Bill and for other Opposition Members' support for the principles behind it. I also express my gratitude to my hon. Friends, in particular my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh). She has been trying to bring the issue before the House for some time and to convince me that it is right to change the law, and I agree with her.

Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:--

The House divided: Ayes 196, Noes 15.

Historical Hansard | Online Hansard |