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WHAT HAPPENED ON 17th December 1996?
16th December 1996
PM CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP NOT COERCION
The Prime Minister has said the European Union must be a flexible partnership of member states. Countries not wishing to integrate further "must not be forced into unwanted obligations which build up resentment" he told the Commons. He said the EU should be "more than a free trade area but very much less than an embryo European state". Mr Major was reporting to MPs following the EU summit in Dublin at the weekend.
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
WE WERE FOUND OUT ADMITS EX-MINISTER
A former minister says the Tories regret tactics they used in winning Monday's fishing vote by a margin of 11 Three absent Tory MPs were "paired" with both Labour & Liberal MPs instead of just one or the other. Sir Archie Hamilton said: "We were found out. I think it was something the Government might now regret." He accused Labour of foul play yesterday. Labour Deputy Leader John Prescott said the Government was devious & cheating
16th December 1996
LABOUR ATTACK ON BSE AND ERM POLICIES
Labour leader Tony Blair has launched a two-pronged attack on the Government. Mr Blair challenged the Prime Minister to produce the deal reached with the EU to lift the ban on British beef. He accused the Government of "serial incompetence" in the affair & he said compensation claims would top £3bn. And speaking after the EU summit he said Tories were more divided than ever over a single currency with 147 Tory candidates coming out against EMU.
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
BANK OF ENGLAND CRITICISED OVER BARINGS
The Bank of England has been criticised over the collapse of Barings Bank with debts of £800m incurred by Nick Leeson. The Commons Treasury Select Committee accused the Bank of England of a break down in its supervisory system internal controls & communications. Committee member Tim Yeo said the Bank's primary duties were to protect the currency & to maintain stability. A Bank of England spokesman called the report a "constructive contribution".
16th December 1996
PM CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP NOT COERCION
The Prime Minister has said the European Union must be a flexible partnership of member states. Countries not wishing to integrate further "must not be forced into unwanted obligations which build up resentment" he told the Commons. He said the EU should be "more than a free trade area but very much less than an embryo European state". Mr Major was reporting to MPs following the EU summit in Dublin at the weekend.
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
BANK OF ENGLAND CRITICISED OVER BARINGS
The Bank of England has been criticised over the collapse of Barings Bank with debts of £800m incurred by Nick Leeson. The Commons Treasury Select Committee accused the Bank of England of a break down in its supervisory system internal controls & communications. Committee member Tim Yeo said the Bank's primary duties were to protect the currency & to maintain stability. A Bank of England spokesman called the report a "constructive contribution".
16th December 1996
Although he does not realise it Frank
Perkins (letters 15/12) has given the main argument against a single European currency. Lancashire Yorkshire England & Wales all have the same government. Do we want to give up the right to govern ourselves? In other words do we want a federal European state? Ronald Forrest Haverfordwest.
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
SAUNDERS CONSIDERS OPTIONS AFTER RULING
Ex-Guinness chairman Ernest Saunders says he is considering what action to take after the European Court of Human Rights ruled his trial had been unfair. The Court said Government officials had forced him to answer questions thereby breaching his right to silence. He would have been acquitted if such evidence had been ruled inadmissible Mr Saunders told a news conference. He was jailed for five years in 1990 but served 10 months.
16th December 1996
CHARLES KENNEDY
(Lib Dem Ross Crom Skye) QWhat has been your biggest disappointment in politics? AThe SDP split at the time of the foundation of the Liberal Democrats. QAnd the high-point? AApart from being elected and then re-elected it would be my small role in the merger process. >>>>>
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
MINISTERS MEET TO REVIEW STALKING BILL
Ministers are to hold an urgent meeting to decide how to proceed with the Government's anti-stalking Bill. The move comes after Opposition parties combined to defeat the Government on a Labour amendment. But Labour & the Liberal Democrats say they will co-operate with the Government on the Bill which is due to complete its Commons passage today. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Alan Beith said nobody would vote against it
16th December 1996
RICHARD BURDEN
(Lab B'ham Northfield) QWhich piece of legislation would you most like to bring to the statute book? AConstitutional reform to create a more open system of government ` especially electoral reform. Q Which piece of legislation would you like to overturn? A The Tory market mechanism in the NHS & ensure patients come first
17th December 1996
OPPOSITION CLAIMS FISH VOTE "CHEATING"
Labour & the Liberal Democrats are to suspend all pairing arrangements with the Government from the return of the Commons in January. The move comes after allegations of "cheating" in last night's fishing vote They have accused the Government of double-pairing Tory MPs with Opposition MPs to give them an unfair advantage. Pairing is the system whereby an MP is matched to an opposite MP; if one does not go to a vote neither does the other
17th December 1996
NO CASES WILL BE REFERRED SAYS HOWARD
The Home Secretary has said there are "no grounds" for reopening the cases of 14 convicted IRA terrorists. Michael Howard was speaking after the the publication of a report into contamination of a centrifuge machine at the Forensic Explosives Laboratory. He said Professor Brian Caddy's report did not minimise the "omissions" that left the contamination undetected. And he hinted he would consider setting up an Inspectorate of Forensic Medicine
