The week in Westminster 13th October – 17th October 2008
It’s not every week the Lords take centre stage in Britain’s political life, but this week is one of those weeks.
Peers are set to debate the government’s latest counter-terrorism bill throughout the week, but keep your eyes peeled for Monday, when the 42-day detention proposals gets a good kicking. It’ll take a miracle for the second chamber to pass it.
Barring an act of God, the bill will be making its way back to the Commons by Tuesday morning. What happens then is anyone’s guess. Gordon Brown can try to get it through the Commons again – although it will be even harder this time – until he’s eventually forced to use the Parliament Act after a third referral from the Lords.
Or he could just let it drop. That’s the option most parliamentary insiders are expecting after a series of barely concealed briefings over the weekend from government ministers. The government will probably draw up a bill with 42-days in it that can be implemented quickly in the event of a terrorist emergency.
Monday
Commons:
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Children, Schools and Families including Topical Questions
3.30pm
Statement:
Financial Markets – Alistair Darling
Debate:
Promoting Democracy and Human Rights
8.30pm
Statement:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Jacqui Smith
Debate:
Promoting Democracy and Human Rights
Adjournment:
Deaths of Ann Mawer and Sue Barker in December 2007 – Shona McIsaac
Lords:
Introduction(s):
Lord Mandelson
Oral Questions:
Treatment by the State Peace and Development Council in Burma of ethnic national people – Baroness Cox
Afghanistan – Lord Eden of Winton
Safety regulations applying to road freight through the Channel Tunnel – Lord Berkeley
Report of Parliamentary Ombudsman into Equitable Life – Baroness Noakes
Legislation:
Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill [HL] – Third reading – Lord Lee of Trafford
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Committee stage (day 2) – Lord West of Spithead
Statement:
Financial markets – Lord Davies of Oldham
Short Debate:
Gaza and the West Bank – Lord Dykes/Lord Malloch-Brown
Legislation:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Committee stage – Lord West of Spithead
Estimated Rising Time: The rising time is not fixed. The House may rise earlier or later than the time shown.
Select committees:
4.15pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Subject: DIUS Departmental Report 2008
Witness(es): Ian Watmore, Permanent Secretary, Bill Dickinson, Director General, Finance and Corporate Services, and Zina Etheridge, Director, Strategy and Communications, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
4.30pm
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject: English pig industry
Witness(es): British Pig Executive and National Pig Association; British Meat Processors Association, Tulip Ltd and Bowes of Norfolk (at 5.15 p.m.)
4.40pm
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Communities and Local Government
Subject: Communities and Local Government’s Departmental Annual Report 2008
Witness(es): Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary, Richard McCarthy, Director General, Housing and Planning, David Rossington, acting Director General, Communities Group, Hunada Nouss, Director General, Corporate Delivery and Sir Ken Knight, CBE, DL, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government
General committees:
4.30pm
Room 10, Palace of Westminster
European Committee A:
Subject: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles
4.30pm
Room 11, Palace of Westminster
First Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject: Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 1554)
Tuesday
Commons:
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Communities and Local Government; including Topical Questions at 3:15pm
3.30pm
Statement:
National Curriculum Tests – Ed Balls
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Trading of Primates as Pets (Prohibition)Bill – Mark Pritchard
Legislation:
Banking Bill – Second reading
Adjournment:
South Central rail franchise – Sir John Stanley
Lords:
Oral Questions:
Green Paper on social care – Lord Ashley of Stoke
Abolition of Pensions Appeal Tribunal in England and Wales – Lord Craig of Radley
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Governor of the Bank of England last officially met – Lord Barnett
Withdrawal of Russian troops – Lord Hylton
Statement:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Lord West of Spithead
Legislation:
Planning Bill – Committee stage (day 3) – Baroness Andrews
Orders and Regulations:
European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008 – Lord Trefgarne
Westminster Hall:
9.30am – 11am
Digital television switchover – Mr Michael Moore
11am – 12.30pm
Treatment of rare and complex medical conditions – Dr Doug Naysmith
12.30pm – 1pm
Noise pollution and congestion on the M3 – Mrs Maria Miller
1pm – 1.30pm
Humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka – Joan Ryan
1.30pm – 2pm
Testing of cosmetics on animals – Mr Oliver Letwin
Select committees:
10.30am
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Culture, Media and Sport
Subject: The Licensing Act 2003
Witness(es): Local Government Association and the Association of Town Centre Management; Association of Chief Police Officers and the Police Federation (at 11.10 a.m.); Magistrates Association (at 11.50 a.m.)
10.30am
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs
Subject: Human Trafficking
Witness(es): NewsQuest; *Europol (at 10.45 a.m.); *European Commission (at 11.15 a.m.) (*Witnesses will be giving evidence via video-link)
10.30am
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Treasury
Subject: Economics of the Housing Market
Witness(es): Nationwide, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Council of Mortgage Lenders, Professor John Muellbauer, Nuffield College, Professor David Miles, Imperial College London
10.30am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Business and Enterprise
Subject: The role of regional development agencies
Witness(es): Advantage West Midlands, East Midlands Development Agency
1.45pm
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Joint Committee on Human Rights
Subject: Equality and Human Rights Commission
Witness(es): Mr Trevor Phillips, Chairman, and Mr John Wadham, Legal Director, Equality and Human Rights Commission
4.15pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Justice
Subject: Sentencing Commission
Witness(es): Professor Mike Hough, King’s College London, and Professor Andrew Ashworth QC, University of Oxford
General committees:
10.30am
Room 9, Palace of Westminster
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL] Bill Committee :
Subject: To consider the Bill
10.30am
Room 11, Palace of Westminster
Employment Bill [HL] Bill Committee:
Subject: To consider the Bill & 4:30PM
Lords select committees:
Joint Committee on Human Rights
Subject: –
Witness(es): Trevor Phillips, Chair, and John Wadham, Legal Director, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Wednesday
Commons:
11.30am
Oral Questions:
Northern Ireland
Prime Minister’s Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Rape (Defences) Bill – Harry Cohen
Motion:
Supplementary estimate relating to HM Treasury
Legislation:
Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 3) Bill – proceedings
Debate:
on Local Government delivering for local people
Adjournment: Allocation of research funding for universities – Mr Chris Mullin
Lords:
3pm
Oral Questions:
Independent Police Complaint’s Commission report ‘Police custody as a “Place of Safety”: Examining the Use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983’ – Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
Non-natural deaths in Prison Service custody – Baroness Stern
Status of Department of International Development’s office in Georgia – Baroness Rawlings
British combat forces in southern Iraq – Lord Lee of Trafford
Legislation:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Committee stage (day 3) – Lord West of Spithead
Orders and Regulations:
Remand on Bail (Disapplication of Credit Period) Rules 2008 – Lord Bach
Westminster Hall:
9.30am – 11am
British business in China – Mr Bill Olner
11am – 11.30am
Rugby League – Derek Twigg
2.30pm – 4pm
Treatment for people with learning difficulties in the NHS – Mr Richard Benyon
4pm – 4.30pm
Electronic identification of sheep – Mark Williams
4.30pm – 5pm
Treatments of refractory angina – Mr George Howarth
Select committees:
2.30pm
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Treasury
Subject: Administration and Expenditure of the Chancellor’s Departments 2007-08
Witness(es): Government Actuary’s Department, Debt Management Office, Valuation Office Agency
2.30pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Foreign Affairs
Subject: FCO Departmental Report 2007-08
Witness(es): Rt Hon Lord Kinnock of Bedwellty, Chair, Martin Davidson, Chief Executive, and Bidesh Sarkar, Director, Resources, British Council; Nigel Chapman, Director, and Richard Thomas, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance, BBC World Service (at 3.30 p.m.)
2.30pm
Room 19, Palace of Westminster
European Scrutiny
Subject: Scrutiny of European Documents
3pm
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject: Waste Strategy for England 2007
Witness(es): Environment Agency; Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (at 3.45 p.m.); WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) (at 4.30 p.m.)
3.30pm
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Transport
Subject: School Travel
Witness(es): Association of School and College Leaders, National Association of Head Teachers and Modeshift; Stagecoach Group, Confederation of Passenger Transport, and First Group (at 4.30 p.m.)
General committees:
2.30pm
Room 10, Palace of Westminster
Second Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject: Draft Mental Health Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008
2.30pm
Room 12, Palace of Westminster
Third Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject: Draft Remand on Bail (Disapplication of Credit Period) Rules 2008
2.30pm
Room 9, Palace of Westminster
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill Committee:
Subject: Further to consider the Bill
Lords committees:
10.30am
Communications
Subject: Government Communications
Witness(es): Mr Nick Gurr, Director-General of Media & Communications, Ministry of Defence; Mr Ian Hargreaves, Strategic Communications Director, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; and Ms Sian Jarvis, Director-General of Communications, Department of Health
10.40am
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee II
Subject: Genomic Medicine
Witness(es): Prof Rory Collins, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator, UK Biobank; Prof Andrew Morris, Professor of Diabetic Medicine, University of Dundee, and Chairman of the Generation Scotland Scientific Committee; Prof David Porteous, Chair of Human Molecular Genetics & Medicine, University of Edinburgh, and Founder of Generation Scotland; and Prof Julian Sampson, Head of Medical Genetics, University of Cardiff
11am
EU Sub-Committee D: Environment and Agriculture
Subject: Inquiry into The Revision of the EU’s Emissions Trading System
Witness(es): Damien Meadow, a representative of the European Commission
Thursday
Commons:
10.30am
Oral Questions:
Innovations, Universities and Skills including Topical Questions
Business Statement:
Leader of the House
Topical Debate:
Energy providers
Debate:
on access to Primary Care
Adjournment:
Healthcare in Bexley – Mr David Evennett
Lords:
11am
Introduction(s):
Mr Stephen Carter CBE
Oral Questions:
Relations between Georgia and the Ukraine – Lord Dykes
Encouraging walking and cycling in urban areas – Lord Krebs
Short selling shares – Lord Hoyle
Legislation:
Planning Bill – Committee stage (day 3) – Baroness Andrews
Orders and Regulations:
Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2008 – Baroness Vadera
Westminster Hall:
2.30pm – 5.30pm
A debate on Jobs for the Girls: Two Years On, Second Report from the Business and Enterprise Committee,
HC 291-I, and the Government response, HC 634
Select committees:
10am
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Public Administration
Subject: Good Government
Witness(es): Ms Zenna Atkins, Mr Geoff Mulgan, Sir Steve Robson CB and Mr Matthew Taylor
10am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Health
Subject: NHS Next Stage Review
Witness(es): Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman, Council of the British Medical Association (BMA), Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive, NHS South West, Margaret Edwards, Chief Executive, NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, and Mike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS North West
General committees:
8.55am
Room 12, Palace of Westminster
Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject: Draft Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
9am
Room 9, Palace of Westminster
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL] Bill Committee :
Subject: Further to consider the Bill & 1:00pm
9.25am
Room 11, Palace of Westminster
Employment Bill [HL] Bill Committee:
Subject: To consider the Bill & 1:00pm
Lords committees:
10.35am
EU Sub-Committee C: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy
Subject: Western Balkans
Witness(es): Mr Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Friday
Commons
9.30am
Private Members’ Bills:
Planning and Energy Bill – Mr Michael Fallon (LA); Broadcasting (Television Licence Fee Abolition) Bill – Mr Christopher Chope (2R); Umbilical Blood (Donation) Bill – Mr David Burrowes (2R); Union Flag Bill – Andrew Rosindell (2R); Forces Widows’ Pensions (Equality of Treatment) Bill – Mr Michael Mates (Adj Deb; 2R); Fireworks Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill – Rob Marris (2R); Local Authority Powers (Election Campaigns) Bill – Mr Tobias Ellwood (2R); Sustainable Energy (Local Plans) – Alan Simpson (2R); Illegally logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale and Distribution) Bill – Barry Gardiner (2R); Education (Children with Autism) Bill – Mr Lee Scott (2R); Citizens Initiative (legislation) Bill – Mr Douglas Carswell (2R); Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) (No. 2) Bill – Bob Russell (2R); Management of Dementia in Care Homes Bill – David Taylor (2R); Adults with Autism Bill – Angela Browning (2R); Committee on the Grant of Honours, decorations and Medals Bill – Mr Don Touhig (2R); Right to Roam (Mobile Phones) Bill – Greg Clark (2R); Members of Parliament (Pay and Responsibilities) Bill – Mr Peter Lilley (2R); Bank Holiday (Contribution of Polish Citizens) Bill – Daniel Kawczynski (2R); Expenses of Public Servants (Publication) Bill – Norman Baker (2R); Public Sector Buildings (Energy Performance) Bill – Anne Snelgrove (2R; Criminal Justice (Raves) Bill – Christopher Fraser (2R); Pedlars (Street Trading Regulations) Bill – Dr Brian Iddon (2R); Alcohol Sales (Regulation of Prices and Promotion) Bill – Sally Keeble (2R); Sale of Wine (Measures) Bill – Greg Mulholland (2R); DNA Database (Removal of Samples) Bill – Jenny Willott (2R); Land Use (Garden Protection) Bill – Ms Caroline Spelman (2R); Local Authorities (Social Equality Audits) Bill – Ms Karen Buck (2R); Sex Encounters Establishments (Licensing) Bill – Dr Roberta-Blackman-Woods (2R); Runaway and Missing Children Bill – Helen Southworth (2R); Iraq War Inquiry (No.2) Bill – Mr Edward Davey (2R); Sovereignty of Parliament (European Communities) Bill – Mr Christopher Chope (2R);; Road Traffic (Congestion Reduction) Bill – Mr Christopher Chope (2R); Leasehold Reform Bill – Simon Hughes (2R); Citizens’ Convention Bill – Julia Goldsworthy (2R); Fixed Term Parliaments Bill – David Howarth (2R); Drugs (Roadside Testing) Bill – Mr Christopher Chope (2R); Drugs (Reclassification) Bill – Mr Christopher Chope (2R); Protection of Bats and Newts Bill – Mr Andrew Robathan (2R); Vehicle Safety (Loads) Bill – Janet Anderson (2R); Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill – Mr Andrew Dismore (2R); Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public function) Bill – Mr Andrew Dismore (2R); Transparent Taxation (Receipts) Bill – Mr Nigel Evans (2R); British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Bill – Andrew Rosindell (2R); Public Contracts (UK Tax Requirements) Bill – Nia Griffith (2R); Cannabis Seeds (Prohibition) Bill – Tom Brake (2R); Safety of Medicines (Evaluation) Bill – Dr Ian Gibson (2R); Press Complaints Commission (Breaches of odes of Practice) Bill – Jim Sheridan (2R); Closed Circuit Television (Monitoring and Promotion) Bill – Ann McKechin (2R); Microgeneration and Local Energy Bill – Dr Alan Whitehead (2R); Theft from Shops (Penalties) Bill – Miss Anne McIntosh (2R)
Adjournment:
Regulations governing disconnection of gas supplies – Siobhan McDonagh
