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Mr Kevin Hughes

Mr Kevin Hughes

LAB Labour Former MP
Last served Doncaster North (1992-04-09 – 2005-05-05)
61
Total votes
27
Ayes
34
Noes
0
Other

Parliamentary History

9 Apr 1992 – 5 May 2005 (13 yrs)

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

February 2005 8 votes
Division Date Vote
These arguments have not persuaded many. Justice, the all-party law reform group, has also addressed the arguments advanced by the Government. It states: "If the intelligence services of the United States, France, Israel, Canada and Australia can survive the use of such evidence in their courts, then British spies are surely equal to the challenge." The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdona... 7 Feb 2005 NO
Mr Deputy Speaker then proceeded to put the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that hour. Amendment made: No. 106, in page 187, line 38, leave out 'racial and religious hatred' and insert 'hatred against persons on racial or religious grounds'.— [Mr. Heppell.] 'The offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel are abolished.'.— [Dr. Evan Harris] Brought up, and read th... 7 Feb 2005 NO
That is an important division between the two sides of the House. The hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) said that the right to free speech would be infringed. It is a matter of judgment for Members whether such an infringement would be appropriate. It was my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (David Winnick) who said, 35 years ago, "I deeply regret any restriction of free... 7 Feb 2005 NO
"be removed or suspended except after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice." It would defy my understanding of the rules of debate if I were not allowed to argue that the question of removal or suspension should include reference to clause 106(3). In conclusion, the words "neglect of duty" have been omitted from that subsection, although the draftsman included the words "misbehaviour or inabil... 1 Feb 2005 NO
I only want to intervene briefly to say that the obverse could apply. If the tribunal has made that recommendation, it would be a peculiar decision by any member of the Executive, whether Prime Minister or Lord Chancellor, to go against the advice. That is properly a matter for a subsequent clause, however. The hon. Gentleman says that it would be a peculiar Prime Minister. It is not unknown to ha... 1 Feb 2005 AYE
The input of the current Law Lords is highly valued in the scrutiny of legislation, particularly in Committee, where they bring their technical experience of interpreting legislation. In addition, they contribute informed criticism on social issues, drawing on their practical experience in the courts. They also help to promote the type of legal reform measures that can sometimes be a low legislati... 1 Feb 2005 NO
With this it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 367, in page 17, leave out lines 24 and 25. It is time to repatriate to post-devolution Scotland final appellate jurisdiction in Scots civil law cases. The Bill as it stands represents a missed opportunity, which the amendments are designed to rectify. Given the constitutional importance of the matter, it is a great pity that no other Scotti... 1 Feb 2005 NO
I am a practising solicitor and, technically, a solicitor of the Supreme Court. The Minister may wish to consider the fair point made by the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) that there are complications surrounding the use of the words "supreme court". Those will need to be dealt with if the Bill is passed in its current state. The arguments against the creation of th... 1 Feb 2005 NO
January 2005 22 votes
Division Date Vote
or—and it is either/or so obviously one does not have to be a High Court judge—to have "practised as a qualifying practitioner . . . for at least 12 years". Under clause 22, a qualifying practitioner must have "a Supreme Court qualification" under section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, which states that a person must have rights of audience in all the proceedings of the Supreme Cour... 31 Jan 2005 NO
I congratulate the Select Committee on footnote 21, which deals with the relevant recommendation and states: "Nothing in the use of the word "Lord" necessarily indicates membership of the House of Lords: eg Lord President of the Council and Lord Privy Seal have frequently been members of the House of Commons." Clearly, the title is not important. My right hon. Friend's Committee may well recall th... 31 Jan 2005 NO
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for putting forward that plea. Does my hon. and learned Friend accept that one advantage of new clause 8 is that it places a duty on the Lord Chancellor to do something specific—namely, to "use his best endeavours to ensure that the rule of law is respected"— and, I would add in parenthesis, to do so in the Cabinet? At least the conscience role of the Lord Chancello... 31 Jan 2005 NO
Division 46 25 Jan 2005 AYE
The concessions include time scales for implementation, the ability to keep products on the market until the EFSA had ruled on them, and the guarantee that the dossier presented by 12 July need not be exhaustive. We also got a substantial lead-in time to enable our industry to present its arguments on vitamins and minerals. Our aim is to ensure that the directive is implemented in a way that allow... 25 Jan 2005 NO
The tough powers in the Licensing Act 2003 also means that, as we have underlined, anyone who sells unlawfully to people who are drunk puts their business at risk. Will the Secretary of State give way? No, I am not giving way. The answer to the problems that we have lies in local democracy, a more responsible drink industry and police with the power to take on the yobs. The problems have developed... 25 Jan 2005 NO
I believe that we now have a Bill that will give greater protection to the public, a vital role for local authorities, a fair deal for the industry and the prospect of more and better jobs for industry employees. Indeed, right hon. and hon. Members on the Labour Benches will know about the strong support given to the Bill by the GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union, and also by the Labo... 24 Jan 2005 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. It was my impression that, previous to the votes on this group of amendments, my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) discussed amendment No. 1 and began and ended by expressing his wish to move it. In that circumstance, should we not be able to have a vote on amendment No. 1? I advise the hon. Gentle... 24 Jan 2005 NO
Question accordingly negatived. On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. An amendment has been moved to limit the number of category A gambling machines. Will you be putting that to a vote? 24 Jan 2005 NO
"Betting shops are adult-only and do not have a licence to sell alcohol." [ Official Report, Standing Committee B , 2 December 2004 ; c. 379.] We already knew about that point, which was made in the context of bingo halls, but he gave no justification as to why fixed-odds betting terminals were banned from adult gaming centres. We are not saying now that we want the current number of FOBTs in bett... 24 Jan 2005 NO
A constituent told me the other day: "My 9 year old daughter will win a smaller teddy bear than she can at present, which will apparently stop her becoming a gambling addict. It's ludicrous." As Michelle Thomas said, "Costs are going up at a time when seaside economies are struggling. Why give them a kick for no reason? We feel very strongly indeed that this is wrong." The Minister is friendless. ... 24 Jan 2005 NO
I would like to say to the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) that, if one could respond in a fair way to the existing industry, one would do so. The last thing that we want to do is to put our own industry at a disadvantage. Equally, however, we must assure the House that what we are doing reflects what hon. Members want, not just in relation to certain proposals but the entire Bill. I acknow... 24 Jan 2005 NO
Division 37 19 Jan 2005 AYE
In the constituency of the hon. Member for North Wiltshire, there are now 2,365 more nurses, and 849 more doctors, in his strategic health authority area. North Wiltshire has 290 more teachers than in 1997, and Wiltshire has 63 more police officers. Unemployment has fallen 63 per cent. since 1997. None of that was mentioned in the criticisms that he levelled. That comes on top of announcements thi... 19 Jan 2005 NO
"The tax plans unveiled by the Tories fail the credibility test." It is worth reading a little more. It says: "The White Queen in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland claimed she had believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. The Conservatives are less ambitious in wanting voters to believe in only three". One thing we do know is that even on the basis of those numbers that fail th... 19 Jan 2005 NO
That the following provisions shall apply to the Constitutional Reform Bill [ Lords ]: 1. The following shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House— (a) Clauses 1 to 7, 20, 21, 37, 94, 95 and 105 to 109; (b) Schedule 8; (c) any new Clauses amending section 12 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002; 17 Jan 2005 AYE
We are still consulting on that, as the hon. and learned Gentleman knows as a court recorder. It specious to suggest that the House of Lords will lose expertise. Retired Law Lords can remain in the House and contribute if they wish. There has been discussion about the location of the new court, as I said. Lord Millett said: "The fact is that this House can no longer provide the accommodation, reso... 17 Jan 2005 NO
Several hon. Members said that there should be more scope for statutory instruments in the Bill—for example, to allow the Minister, if he so wishes, to set interest rate ceilings or to increase the £50,000 fine if it is found to be inadequate. At the moment, I am not persuaded that we should go down that route, although I understand the points that have been made. Again, I will discuss it with my ... 13 Jan 2005 AYE
I sometimes wonder whether the Opposition are the only people who read regulatory impact assessments— And one or two more attentive Labour Back Benchers. Throughout the debate, I have asked for the Government's estimate of the total number of people who will be brought into training as a consequence of the measure. I still have not received an answer. That is the most basic information that we nee... 12 Jan 2005 AYE
The hon. Member for South Suffolk said how differently we in this country treat deaths on the road from deaths arising from rail or air crashes, or other causes. Other hon. Members made the same point, including my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) . I think that we are going through a gradual cultural change in this matter. I am glad to say that the number of people injured is falli... 11 Jan 2005 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Queen's recommendation having been signified— Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (Money resolutions and ways and means resolutions in connection with bills) , 10 Jan 2005 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Main Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Amendment on Second or Third Reading) , and agreed to. 10 Jan 2005 AYE
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