THE figure for the tied vote in the Commons on Thursday night was

wrong because of a counting error. This was disclosed at the start of

business yesterday by the Leader of the House, Mr Tony Newton.

A careful check of Hansard showed that the vote on the Labour

amendment was not tied at 317. The Government had in fact defeated it by

one vote. Had this been known Speaker Betty Boothroyd would not have had

to give her casting vote in favour of the Government.

Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover--Lab) said the Government had not even got

whips and tellers who could count.

The Government was defeated on the substantive motion on Thursday

night by 324 votes to 316.