Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)
I wish to present a petition on behalf of a number of my constituents concerning the proposals of the city council to close Humberstone Heights golf course in Leicester. Some 1,800 people have signed the petition—[Interruption.]
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)
Order. I am sorry to interrupt you, Mr Vaz, but I am having difficult in hearing your presentation of the petition because of the noise in the Chamber. I ask Members to leave quietly. Mr Vaz, may I suggest that you start again with the presentation of your petition?
Keith Vaz
Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I wish to present a petition on behalf of a number of residents of Leicester concerning the proposal to close Humberstone Heights golf club in Humberstone. I was there last Saturday and, as you have correctly said, it is much quieter on a golf course than it is in the Chamber of the House of Commons. I accepted a petition that had been led by Mr Mark Boddice, the club captain, Mrs Heather Smith, the lady captain, Mr Raj Kotak, a past captain, Paul Maurice, Alan Taylor, Jay Marsh, Tony Palmer, Ashok Mistry, Mark Smith, Gaz Kilby, Bruce Frazer, Colin McKenzie, Peter Walker, Michael Pearson and Master David Dewbery. It was signed by 1,800 other people who play regularly at Humberstone Heights golf course. I am grateful to so many right hon. and hon. Members, from all parts of the United Kingdom, for staying for the presentation of this petition. Clearly, the Humberstone Heights golf course has achieved great fame beyond Leicester, reaching the very corners of the United Kingdom. I therefore wish to present this petition on their behalf. If people are able to be more involved in leisure, they will have longer and fitter lives.
The petition states:
The Petition of residents of the UK,
Declares that Humberstone Heights Golf Course is a popular leisure facility in Leicester and further that the Petitioners believe that the planned closure of the Golf Course will have a detrimental impact on the local community.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Leicester City Council to reconsider their decision to close Humberstone Heights Golf Course, which is an important community facility.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P001342]
Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. In the last round of Divisions, I had intended to move new clause 7, but new clause 7 was not called, and new clause 6 was called instead. I realise of course that human error can play its part in some of these things, but I would like your opinion on the matter.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)
Mr MacNeil, I think there was a genuine misunderstanding with regard to new clauses 6 and 7. I regret to say that the intention was not clear to me at the time in the Chair, and I do not feel that I can take the matter any further than that, but I am sure that the record will show the hon. Gentleman’s intention, even if that was not fulfilled through to a vote because of a misunderstanding. I hope that that clarifies the matter.