The week in Westminster: December 14th – January 5th
The week in Westminster: December 14th January 5th
Parliament is in recess for the Christmas break from Wednesday 14th to the first week of the new year.
But until then, there are some interesting things on offer. The Treasury committee is doing most of the legwork this week. They grill a huge group of economic experts on Monday, the Treasury team on Tuesday and Alistair Darling himself on Wednesday in an effort to get to the bottom of the Pre-Budget Report.
The Lords give the equality bill its second reading on Tuesday, so expect some angry peers to make clear their grievances against Harriet Harman’s baby then.
And then, rather charmingly, Wednesday wraps up right after PMQs with a motion on the Christmas recess.
Commons
Monday
Questions – Home Office, including topical questions
Legislation – personal care at home bill second reading
Legislation – consolidated fund bill proceedings
Adjournment – processing of freedom of information requests – Gordon Prentice
Tuesday
Questions – Treasury, including topical questions
Legislation – flood and water management bill second reading
Motion – to approve a Statutory Instrument relating to Welsh language
Adjournment – Aircraft movements at London City Airport – James Brokenshire
Wednesday
Questions – Northern Ireland
Prime Minister’s Questions
Motion – on the Christmas recess adjournment
Adjournment – transparency in financial reporting and Birmingham City Council – Richard Burden
Lords
Monday
Questions – quantitative easing – Lord Barnett
Titles used by the husbands of female Members of the House of Lords – Baroness Deech
Department for International Developments aid in Afghanistan – Baroness Rawlings
Patients with dementia in hospital – Baroness Greengross
Debate – review body on senior salaries report: review of financial support for Members of the House of Lords – Lord Brabazon of Tara
Tuesday
Questions – public debt and deficits – Baroness O’Cathain
Points-based visa system and non-EU visiting artists and academics denied entry – Lord Clement-Jones
The Barnett Formula – Lord Anderson of Swansea
Debate – Motions to approve procedure committee reports – Lord Brabazon of Tara
Legislation – equality bill second reading – Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Wednesday
Questions – negotiations for a global arms trade treaty – Lord Judd
Unemployment in the UK – Lord Roberts of Conwy
Convicted criminals paid compensation in respect of denial of drugs – Lord Tebbit
Legislation – consolidated fund bill second reading and remaining stages – Lord Myners
Debate – Pre-Budget Report 2009 – Lord Myners
Royal Assent
Pick of the committees
Monday
15:15: Sheila Dow, professor of economics, University of Stirling; Karen Ward, chief UK economist, HSBC; Robert Chote, director, Institute for Fiscal Studies, and Martin Weale, director, National Institute of Economic and Social Research; Robert Chote, director, Institute for Fiscal Studies; John Whiting OBE, tax policy director, Chartered Institute of Taxation and Low Incomes Tax Reform Group; David Harker, chief executive, Citizens Advice, and David Heald, professor of Accountancy, University of Aberdeen talk to the Treasury committee about the Pre-Budget Report.
Tuesday
13:45: Harriet Harman, equalities minister and Jonathan Rees, director general of the government equalities office, answer questions on the work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for the joint committee on human rights.
Wednesday
14:30: Alistair Darling, chancellor, answers questions on his Pre-Budget Report to the Treasury committee.
