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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

February 2005 16 votes
Division Date Vote
Question accordingly agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83(A) , 23 Feb 2005 NO
Question accordingly negatived. Main Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Amendment on Second or Third Reading) :— 23 Feb 2005 NO
As to the contribution of the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson) , does he accept that there is a serious threat, which I thought was fairly common ground? Does he accept that some people cannot be prosecuted through a conventional legal system? Does he accept that detention in prison under part 4 is not sustainable in the light of the Law Lords' judgment? Frankly, in those circumstances, what w... 23 Feb 2005 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Bill read a Second time. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 83(A) , 9 Feb 2005 NO
Question accordingly negatived. Main Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 62 (Amendment on second or third reading) 9 Feb 2005 NO
What, alas, we have heard today in too many speeches from the main Opposition party is language to appease UKIP and not promote Britain. I would say to the Conservative party, appeasement and isolation is never the way forward. Every other mainstream Conservative party in Europe understands the need to support this new treaty. I have to say, on the day after President Bush sends his Secretary of S... 9 Feb 2005 AYE
My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird) again rightly emphasised that prosecutions are our preferred route. She said that the Conservative Opposition would need a fall-back position. We have all been worried by the polarisation of the Conservatives, who said simply that we should either proceed through trial and prosecution or release with no controls. That is not a tenable p... 8 Feb 2005 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Clause read a second time, and added to the Bill. 7 Feb 2005 NO
"any highway or any place to which at the material time the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission". One demonstration could take place, having given notice, but there might then be no opportunity for another demonstration to take place at the same time on what could be a hugely important and divisive issue... 7 Feb 2005 NO
over the switch "and at the moment I have not heard one". That is a fairly damning assessment. A similar view was expressed by West Yorkshire police, so there are doubts even at senior levels about that change. The Government's proposals have yet to allay those concerns. The main thrust of the Minister's argument in Committee—I hope that I am not unfairly summarising—was that SOCA is a brand new e... 7 Feb 2005 AYE
The words have been chosen to make the language precise, because the provisions refer to "a relevant act"; we wanted to give some more detail on that. The definition is of a relevant act, so both subsections 3(a) and 3(b) refer to an act that amounts to a criminal offence and a tortious act. There is nothing unusual in that wording, which is intended to make the clause more precise. The hon. Gentl... 7 Feb 2005 AYE
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 AYE
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 AYE
I want the Paymaster General to become an advocate for a change— Order. Before we proceed, let me say that general discussion about programming is not appropriate. The debate is about programming for this particular Bill. Indeed, and I wish to keep to that. My right hon. Friend is making a powerful and cogent case, but does he not accept that when Government impose timetables unnecessarily—when th... 3 Feb 2005 NO
I am aware that the Minister is keen to respond even in the limited time we have to discuss the limited time that we have to discuss the Bill on Report. I have a few brief points. The Minister said that the Government held the debate today so that they could listen to what was said. She has heard from across the House blanket condemnation of the motion. Will she now withdraw it? No, I will not. I ... 3 Feb 2005 NO
January 2005 14 votes
Division Date Vote
I would have preferred such a review to take place before the merger proceeded. However, it is now going to proceed, so it is a good idea for us to be able to come back in two years' time to find out what the costs and benefits are. I certainly support new clause 1 and I think that my hon. Friend the Member for Chichester has attracted more and more support for it as the debate has unfolded. I hop... 26 Jan 2005 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Order [ 24 January ], 26 Jan 2005 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Order [ 24 January ], 26 Jan 2005 AYE
and insert— 'or Tuesday, four o'clock on'. (l), in line 77, leave out from 'insert' to 'Wednesdays' in line 80 and insert— 'or Tuesdays, between the hours of twenty-five minutes past eleven o'clock in the morning and half-past one o'clock in the afternoon on'.— [Mr. Donohoe.] Amendment proposed: (m), in line 64, at end insert— 26 Jan 2005 NO
Hon. Members on all sides of the argument would be well advised to listen to my next point, which I want to emphasise. If the motion in the name of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House were to fall, in the next Parliament we would have to revert to the hours of 2.30 pm to 10 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and to the hours of 11.30 am to 7 pm on Thursdays. I do not think that even ... 26 Jan 2005 AYE
Division 46 25 Jan 2005 NO
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 AYE
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 AYE
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 NO
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 AYE
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 AYE
"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 AYE
Division 37 19 Jan 2005 NO
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 AYE
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