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The Rev Martin Smyth

The Rev Martin Smyth

Last served Belfast South (1986-01-23 – 2005-05-05)
63
Total votes
32
Ayes
31
Noes
0
Other

Parliamentary History

23 Jan 1986 – 5 May 2005 (19 yrs 3 mo)

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

April 2005 6 votes
Division Date Vote
This is a matter of principle, as my noble Friend Lord Davies explained clearly in the other place earlier today, on which the Government are unwilling and, indeed, unable to move. In that context, the House should be clear that to lose the Railways Bill because of this matter would be unfortunate, not least because of the level of consensus on the Bill in this and the other place. The speed at wh... 6 Apr 2005 NO
I beg to move, That the Bill be considered in the following order, namely, clause 18, clauses 1 to 17, new clauses, new schedules, clause 19, schedules 1 and 2, clause 20 and remaining proceedings on the Bill. The proposed order of consideration will ensure that we can deal with the reasons why the Government are amending clause 18. I know that it is a remaining area of concern, and I want hon. Me... 6 Apr 2005 NO
Question accordingly agreed to. Lords amendment agreed to. 5 Apr 2005 NO
Question accordingly negatived. Motion made, and Question put, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.— [Mr. Ainger.] 5 Apr 2005 NO
"makes it explicit that the Bill does not give authority to doctors, proxies or other third parties considering a patient's best interests to make any decision that is motivated by a desire to kill the person." Will my hon. Friend give way? Will the Minister give way? I just want to follow up with the rest of the letter. The archbishop goes on to say: "But this amendment still leaves a major gap. ... 5 Apr 2005 AYE
The Conservative version of the Bill will have all the teeth that the measure currently possesses. That is a reasonable commitment. The hon. Member for Leicester, East was right to say that members of all sectors of our society must be given opportunity on merit but, sadly, some parties on the fringes of British politics do not agree. I hope that very few people cast votes for those parties in the... 5 Apr 2005 NO
March 2005 21 votes
Division Date Vote
Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation) , That the draft Renewables Obligation Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 9th February, be approved.— [Mr. Ainger] Question agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Del... 15 Mar 2005 NO
There are wider considerations. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, there may well be an inquest into a death that bears on the state function that led to that death. I can think of inquests in which that has been the case, certainly in the context of my constituents. In any state, the legal mechanisms—which may include an inquiry, an inquest or even criminal proceedings—will have a bearing on our ... 15 Mar 2005 NO
Question accordingly negatived. Amendment proposed: (b), in line 5, leave out from "effect" to end.—[Mr. Lidington.] 10 Mar 2005 AYE
Does the Secretary of State agree that Sinn Fein should take note of the fact that those who have sought and sustained a constructive dialogue nevertheless find themselves with no alternative but to support the sanctions? That is a consequence of the strains that the IRA's actions have now placed on the process. Sinn Fein really must reflect—I am sure that it will—on our debate and start visibly t... 10 Mar 2005 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Lords amendment: No. 9 9 Mar 2005 NO
Question accordingly agreed to. Lords amendment, as amended, agreed to. 9 Mar 2005 NO
Far more important than that almost but not quite arcane point about the standard of proof is the condition that the suspect must have the best opportunity to answer the case against him. I have been greatly cheered by the attitude of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to reviewing the system of special advocates. Will my hon. and learned Friend give way? No, I do not have time and others wan... 9 Mar 2005 NO
Question accordingly agreed to. Lords amendment disagreed to. 9 Mar 2005 NO
I cannot give way to the right hon. Gentleman. I will just complete my five minutes before I resume my place. I realise that he is on the side of the angels but his particular angel is being too naive if he thinks that we are half way near to getting the sort of terrorism legislation that the House should approve, in any circumstances, once it is given the proper time to debate it. I regret that I... 9 Mar 2005 NO
(c) in Northern Ireland, when a notice is served on the clerk of the petty sessions under Article 76(2)(a) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.'.— [Mr. Jamieson.] I beg to move amendment No. 9, in page 47, line 43, after 'passengers', insert '(a)'. With this it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 10, in page 47, line 43, at end add (b) at end insert "or a vehicle which... 8 Mar 2005 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. 'In section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52) (regulation of construction, weight, equipment and use of vehicles), at the end of subsection (2) insert— "(m) for prohibiting the modification or retrofitting to the front of a motor vehicle any equipment which in the opinion of the Secretary of State may render the vehicle more likely to cause injury to a third p... 8 Mar 2005 AYE
"The information is not collected centrally."—[ Official Report , 26 April 2004; Vol. 420, c.765W . ] During the last Session, I tabled early-day motion 1186 on that very issue, expressing disappointment, and it seemed to me that the Road Safety Bill would be a very appropriate means by which to introduce a new clause on the subject. "crash direction and force data can markedly improve injury pred... 8 Mar 2005 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. 'If a person causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place while disqualified from driving by order of a court he is guilty of an offence.'. —[ Mr. Chope.] Brought up, and read the First time. 8 Mar 2005 AYE
Will the Minister address the point that I raised earlier—whether the penalties should be the same in all parts of the jurisdiction and whether it is not unfair that in some parts of the country, there can be a trade-off between a speed awareness course and a penalty, whereas in others there is no option? It is the case that these courses have been pioneered in some parts of the country. Because t... 8 Mar 2005 AYE
The Minister is guilty of many sins, but when she was a Treasury Minister she was the first person to see to it that there were no longer fibs on death certificates. She ensured that the cause of death was properly recorded. Previously, pneumonia and septicaemia might be put down as the cause of death, when the truth was that the death was MRSA-related. My hon. Friend remedied that. However, now t... 2 Mar 2005 AYE
The Tories proposals are fool's gold. There is no money to give away to pensioners in council discounts. The Tories £35 billion of cuts means full spread council tax and an increase for council tax for all, not just pensioners. Even if memories among those pensioners were not very strong, however, they would know about the track record of Tory councils and about the average council tax, which is £... 2 Mar 2005 AYE
First, it was originally proposed by myself, his hon. Friend the Member for Worthing, West (Peter Bottomley) and my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Dudley, North (Ross Cranston) , who is, sadly, to retire from the House, despite his distinguished service in the Government and on the Select Committee on Constitutional Affairs. It is obvious that when the three individuals concerned all signe... 1 Mar 2005 NO
Clause 78, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Government amendments Nos. 271 to 275 made. Clause 79, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Government amendments Nos. 276, 612, 277, 278, 613, 279 and 614 made. Clause 80, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. 1 Mar 2005 NO
It is absolutely right that Lord Chancellors have no such statutory restriction, but equally, because they are judges they are in fact constrained in what they can do when they cease to hold that office. But not in a ministerial context, and I am surprised that— [Interruption.] Statutorily, there is no such bar on former Lord Chancellors holding other ministerial posts. I shall elaborate on some o... 1 Mar 2005 AYE
"duty to ensure the provision of resources for the efficient and effective support of the courts for which I am responsible." I may add that the following sentence is: "So help me God." The Lord Chancellor will certainly need divine assistance if he is to fulfil that obligation. I made the point in an intervention that it would be extraordinary to single out the Lord Chancellor to swear an oath to... 1 Mar 2005 AYE
Government new schedule 3— Renaming of the Supreme Courts of England and Wales and Northern Ireland . Government amendments Nos. 651 to 666. This group of amendments gives effect in part to the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Bill in the other place that the supreme court of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland should be renamed and, when necessa... 1 Mar 2005 NO
February 2005 3 votes
Division Date Vote
Question accordingly negatived. Motion made, and Question put , That clauses 1 to 13 stand part of the Bill, and That the schedule be the schedule to the Bill:— 28 Feb 2005 NO
(a) the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; (b) conduct which knowingly facilitates the commission, preparation or instigation of such acts, or which is intended to do so; and (c) conduct which knowingly gives encouragement to the commission, preparation or instigation of such acts, or which is intended to do so. (11) Evidence established to have been obtained under tortur... 28 Feb 2005 AYE
Order. I remind the hon. Gentleman that, although there has been some latitude, he is again going very wide of the amendments under discussion. I am grateful for your guidance, Mrs. Heal. Let me ask the Home Secretary a question that I asked the Minister when I thought that she would respond to this brief debate. I urge the Home Secretary to tell us that we will have a proper chance to discuss ame... 28 Feb 2005 AYE
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