The Week in Westminster 10th November – 14th November
It’s a fairly diverse bunch of attractions this week. A smattering of counter-terrorism legislation here, some licensing laws investigations there.
Lord West of Spithead continues the Lords’ thorough investigation into the government’s counter-terrorism bill. It keeps on having bits fall off it the longer the Lords peruse it – a bit of 42-day detention here, some private coroners’ inquests here. Who knows? If it hangs around much longer it may fall to pieces entirely.
On Tuesday, the culture, media and sport select committee has a look at Britain’s licensing laws, asking questions from the British Beer and Pub Association as well as the Musicians’ Union. Expect some inquiries into the ramifications of scrapping closing-up time.
On Wednesday, prime minister’s questions are followed by a ten minute rule bill on interest rates, all of which will be perfectly topical.
Things look overseas towards the end of the week as John Hutton has to present the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) annual report to the defence committee. He hasn’t been there long, but any hint of not being on top of his brief and MP’s will be all over him.
In the Lords on Thursday, Lord Skidelsky is asking about the accession of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO, giving us an insight into how the second chamber looks on this particular dilemma.
Monday
Commons
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Culture, Media and Sport; including Topical Questions; Minister for the Olympics
Debate:
Opposition Day (20th allotted day) (Liberal Democrats) – i)Economic crisis; ii) Renewal of the Post Office Card Account
Adjournment:
Support for Gloucester City Football Club – Mr Parmjit Dhanda
Lords
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
EU Emissions Trading Scheme – Lord Berkeley
VAT on repairs to and the renovation of housing and listed buildings – Lord Cope of Berkeley
Safety of the Channel Tunnel – Lord Dykes
Provision of aid to Ethiopia – Baroness Rawlings
Legislation:
Planning Bill – Report stage (day 2) – Baroness Andrews
Orders and Regulations:
Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2008 – Baroness Thomas of Winchester
Select committees
3.45pm
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Children, Schools and Families
Subject:
National Curriculum
Witness(es):
CBI, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), QCA and Institute of Education, University of London
4.15pm
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Subject:
Geo-engineering
Witness(es):
Professor Brian Launder, University of Manchester, Dr Dan Lunt, University of Bristol, and Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace; Professor Stephen Salter, University of Edinburgh, Professor Ken Caldeira, Carnegie Institution, Professor Klaus Lackner, University of Columbia*, and a representative from the Met Office (at 5.00 pm) * witness will give evidence via video-link
4.20pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Communities and Local Government
Subject:
The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government
Witness(es):
Birmingham City Council and Manchester City Council; Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council (at 5.00 pm); Westminster City Council and London Borough of Camden (at 5.40 pm)
4.30pm
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Public Accounts
Subject:
The new dimension programme – enhancing the fire and rescue service’s capacity to respond to terrorist and other large-scale incidents
Witness(es):
Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary, Sir Ken Knight, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and Mike Reed, Deputy Director, Department for Communities and Local Government
General committees
4.30pm
Room 11, Palace of Westminster
First Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Functions of a Designated Regulator) Order 2008
Tuesday
Commons
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office; including Topical Questions
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Police (Justice Commissioners) – Mr Douglas Carswell
Legislation:
Consideration of any Lords Amendments
Debate:
Adding capacity to Heathrow Airport
Adjournment:
Lockerbie rail services – David Mundell
Lords
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Use of EU funds – Baroness of Pimlico
Regulation of the use of pesticides in the EU – Lord Willoughby de Broke
Bank leverage – Lord Lee of Crondall
Gas and electricity prices – Baroness Wilcox
Legislation:
Torture (Damages) Bill [HL] – Third reading – Lord Archer of Sandwell
Legislation:
Education and Skills Bill – Third reading – Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
Legislation:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Report stage (day 2) – Lord West of Spithead
Westminster Hall
9.30am – 11am
Housing provision in Greater London – Jeremy Corbyn
11am – 12.30pm
Law relating to assisted dying – Dr Evan Harris
12.30pm – 1pm
Local government boundary review in Devon – Mr Adrian Sanders
1pm – 1.30pm
Government policy on bank lending – Mr George Mudie
1.30pm – 2pm
Funding of schools in Torridge and West Devon – Mr Geoffrey Cox
Select committees
9.45am
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Treasury
Subject:
Banking Crisis
Witness(es):
British Bankers’ Association, BBA Financial Reporting Advisory Panel, Association of British Insurers, Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Centre; International Accounting Standards Board, Financial Reporting Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (at 10.30 am)
10.30am
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Business and Enterprise
Subject:
Consumer Focus
Witness(es):
Lord Whitty, Chairman and Mr Ed Mayo, Chief Executive, Consumer Focus
10.30am
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Culture, Media and Sport
Subject:
The Licensing Act 2003
Witness(es):
British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers; Feargal Sharkey, Musicians’ Union and Equity (at 11.30 am)
10.30am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs
Subject:
Draft Citizenship and Immigration Bill
Witness(es):
Migrants’ Rights Network, and Refugee Council; Medicins du Monde, British Medical Association, and Terrence Higgins Trust (at 11.15 am
10.30am
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Welsh Affairs
Subject:
The provision of cross-border public services for Wales
Witness(es):
Virgin Trains, Arriva, First Great Western; and Ian Johnston CBE, DL, QPM, Chief Constable, British Transport Police (at 11.15 am)
2pm
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Public Administration
Subject:
quitable Life
Witness(es):
Equitable Life Members’ Action Group and Equitable Life Trapped Annuitants; and Equitable Life Assurance Society (at 3.15 pm)
4.15pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Justice
Subject:
Justice Reinvestment
Witness(es):
National Offender Management Service; National Offender Management Service, National Learning and Skills Council and Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (at 4.45 pm); Southampton City Council, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Detective Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, West Yorkshire Police (at 5.20 pm)
Lords committees
4.30pm
European Union
Subject:
The October European Council
Witness(es):
Caroline Flint MP, Minister for Europe
General committees
10.30am
Room 9, Palace of Westminster
Banking Bill Committee:
Subject:
To further consider the Bill & 4:30pm
10.30am
Room 11, Palace of Westminster
Political Parties and Elections Bill Committee:
Subject:
To further consider the Bill & 4:30pm
10.30am
Room 12, Palace of Westminster
Second Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft International Criminal Court (Remand Time) Order 2008
.30pm
Room 10, Palace of Westminster
Third Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008
4.30pm
Room 12, Palace of Westminster
Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2008
Wednesday
Commons
11.30am
Oral Questions:
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Prime Minister’s Question Time:
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Interest Rates (Maximum Limit) – Mr Jim Devine
Motions:
Relating to: Regional Committees; European Scrutiny; Modernisation of the House of Commons; Speakers Conference
Motion:
House of Commons Members Fund
Adjournment:
Licence fees levied by the Performing Right Society – Alison Seabeck
Lords
3pm
Oral Questions:
Compensation awarded to disabled servicemen and women – Lord Selkirk of Douglas
Remit of the Bank of England regarding interest rates – Lord Barnett
Rate of UK unemployment – Lord Roberts of Conwy
Legislation:
Planning Bill – Report stage (day 3) – Baroness Andrews
Orders and Regulations:
General Medical Council (Constitution) Order 2008 – Baroness Finlay of Llandaff/Baroness Thornton
Westminster Hall
9.30am – 11am
Housing supply in the current economic situation – Mr Clive Betts
11am – 11.30am
Children of prisoners – Kerry McCarthy
2.30pm – 4pm
Proposals for a British Day – Andrew Rosindell
4pm – 4.30pm
Developments in financial markets – Mr Andrew Pelling
4.30pm – 5pm
Local government reform in Gloucestershire – Mr David Drew
Select committee
9.30am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Children, Schools and Families
Subject:
Diversity of Schools Provision – Trust Schools
Witness(es):
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, Capita SIMS, and John Clemence, Headteacher, Sharnbrook Upper School
9.30am
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Subject:
he work of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Witness(es):
Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive and Mr John Armitt, Chairman, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
11am
Room 19, Palace of Westminster
European Scrutiny
Subject:
Scrutiny of European Documents
2.15pm
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
International Development
Subject:
The annual autumn meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
Witness(es):
Oxfam GB, Bretton Woods Project and the WWF; Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development and officials (at 3.15 pm)
2.30pm
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Defence
Subject:
MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08
Witness(es):
Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Defence
2.45pm
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Transport
Subject:
The Enforcement activities of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
Witness(es):
Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association; Passenger Transport Executive Group (pteg) and FirstGroup plc (at 3.30 pm); and VOSA Trade Union Side and Unite the Union (at 4.15 pm)
3pm
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject:
Waste Strategy for England 2007
Witness(es):
Environmental Services Association; Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (at 3.45 pm); British Metals Recycling Association (at 4.15 pm)
3.30pm
Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Public Accounts
Subject:
Reducing alcohol harm: Health services in England for alcohol misuse
Witness(es):
Hugh Taylor, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Dr Will Cavendish, Director of Health and Well-Being
Lords committees
10.40am
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee II
Subject:
Genomic Medicine
Witness(es):
(a) Dr Chris Chamberlain, Global Head Medical Genetics, Roche; Dr Annette Doherty, Head of Research and Site Head, Pfizer Global R&D, Sandwich; Dr Philip Wright, Director of Science and Technology, Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI); and (b) from Prof James Scott, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College; Prof Anne Ferguson-Smith, Professor of Developmental Genetics, University of Cambridge; Prof Amanda Fisher, Director of the Clinical Sciences Centre, Group Head of Lymphocyte Development, Imperial College; Prof Mark Hanson, Director of the Centre for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, University of Southampton.
General committees
2.30pm
Room 9, Palace of Westminster
Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (Amendment) Order 2008
2.30pm
Room 12, Palace of Westminster
Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee:
Subject:
Draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Social Welfare and Other Fields) Order 2008
Thursday
Commons
10.30am
Oral Questions:
Energy and Climate Change; Leader of the House of Commons and House of Commons Commission
Business Statement:
Leader of the House
Topical Debate:
Subject to be announced
Legislation:
Consideration of any Lords Amendments
Debate:
International Aid – Transparency
Adjournment:
Thames Water’s proposals for a reservoir in Oxfordshire – Mr Edward Vaizey
Lords
11am
Oral Questions:
Transport by sea and global warming – Lord Higgins
Accession of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO – Lord Skidelsky
Killings and disappearances in Nepal – Earl of Sandwich
Legislation:
Children and Young Persons Bill [HL] – Commons Amendment – Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
Legislation:
Employment Bill – Commons Amendment – Baroness Vadera
Orders and Regulations: B
radford & Bingley plc Transfer of Securities and Property etc. Order 2008 – Viscount Eccles
Royal Assent:
Westminster Hall
2.30pm – 5.30pm
Debate on the 10th Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Harmful content on the Internet and in video games, HC 353-I, and the Government’s response, Cm 7477
Select committees
10am
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Health
Subject: Health Inequalities
Witness(es):
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Food Standards Agency (at 11.15 am)
10am
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Public Administration
Subject: Equitable Life
Witness(es):
Sir Howard Davies, Lord Norton of Louth, Mr Tom Winsor, Mr Patrick Collinson, The Guardian, and Mr Ian Cowie, The Daily Telegraph
12pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs
Subject:
The work of the Home Office
Witness(es):
Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department
Lords committees
10.10am
EU Sub-Committee G: Social Policy and Consumer Affairs
Subject:
Inquiry into the EU Commission’s proposals for a directive on patients’ rights in cross border healthcare
Witness(es):
The Nursing and Midwifery Council; and Patient Liaison Group, Royal College of Surgeons England
General committees
10.10am
EU Sub-Committee G: Social Policy and Consumer Affairs
Subject:
Inquiry into the EU Commission’s proposals for a directive on patients’ rights in cross border healthcare
Witness(es):
The Nursing and Midwifery Council; and Patient Liaison Group, Royal College of Surgeons England
Friday
Commons
Not sitting
Lords
10am
Debate:
EU Committee report on increasing the supply of donor organs in the EU – Baroness Howarth of Breckland
Debate:
Economic Affairs Committee report on immigration – Lord Wakeham
