The week in Westminster: October 18th to 22nd
It’s not hard to pick this week’s highlight.
On Wednesday George Osborne will inform the Commons of the government’s comprehensive spending review, the impact of which will shape Britain’s politics for the next decade.
Arguing that international development secretary Andrew Mitchell’s appearance before his department’s select committee, or that Wednesday’s adjournment debate on health services in north-east London, might be worthy sort of misses the point, doesn’t it?
Actually there is one other major event to look forward to: the strategic defence and security review’s findings on Tuesday is of huge significance. We’re going to be busy.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – work and pensions
Legislation – parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill
Adjournment debate – provision of education psychology services
Tuesday
Questions – justice
Statement – strategic defence and security review
Ten minute rule motion – House of Commons disqualification (amendment)
Legislation – parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill
Adjournment debate – VAT and charities
Wednesday
Questions – Cabinet Office
PMQs
Statement – comprehensive spending review
Ten minute rule motion – police terms and conditions of service (redundancy)
Legislation – parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill
Adjournment debate – analogue and digital television and radio reception in Thanet and East Kent
Thursday
Questions – communities and local government
Business statement – leader of the House
Legislation – local government bill
Adjournment debate – health services in north-east London
Friday
Private members’ bills – lawful industrial action (minor errors) bill; sports grounds safety authority bill; and others
Adjournment debate – consular services and British citizens killed or injured abroad
LORDS
Monday
Lord Williams of Baglan
Questions – Marshall scholarships, north-west rail services, voting rights of prisoners, allotments
Legislation – identity documents bill
Short debate – financial provision on divorce
Tuesday
Questions – corruption in cricket, EU renewables directive, osteoporosis fractures
Legislation – Leeds city council bill, Reading borough council bill, Canterbury city council bill, Nottingham city council bill
Short debate – benefits of adult education
Wednesday
Questions – tax avoidance, Irish cross-border crime, UN climate change conference in Cancun
Motion – Political Parties, Elections and Referendums (Civil Sanctions) Order 2010
Debate – EU committee report on seasonal employment of third-country nationals
Thursday
Questions – BBC and British Council
Debate – immigration in the UK
Debate – special educational needs
Debate – teaching of modern languages
Friday
Legislation – contaminated blood (supported for infected and bereaved persons) bill
Legislation – building regulations (review) bill
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Tuesday
10:30 – former minister and memoir writer Chris Mullin, before public administration select committee, on: Smaller Government: What do Ministers do?
Thursday
10:00 – Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin, before political and constitutional reform committee, on: Lessons from the process of government formation after the 2010 general election
10:00 – international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, before international development committee, on: The 2010 Millennium Development Goals Review Summit
