Monday 15 December 2008
House of Commons
Oral questions
2.30pm: Home office questions (topical questions at 3.15pm).
Main business
Conclusion of the debate on the Queen's speech: the economy, pensions and welfare.
Adjournment debate
Regulation of the grocery sector - Andrew George (Lib Dem, St Ives)
Commons Select Committees
Treasury committee (1.30pm, Grimond room)
Subject: The work of the Financial Services Authority 2007-08.
Witnesses: Nick Prettejohn, Chairman, Financial Services Practitioner Panel, Simon Bolam, Chairman, Smaller Businesses Practitioner Panel, Adam Philips, Acting Chairman, Financial Services Consumer Panel, Peter Vicary-Smith, Chief Executive, Which?; Hector Sants, Chief Executive, Financial Services Authority (at 2.30pm).
Business and enterprise committee (2.30pm, room 6).
Subject: The role of Regional Development Agencies.
Witness: Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Welsh affairs committee (2.30pm, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff).
Subject: The proposed draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Agriculture and Rural Development) Order 2008, relating to the Red Meat Industry.
Witnesses: Elin Jones AM, Minister for Rural Affairs, Welsh Assembly Government; Wayne David MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (at 3.15pm).
Communities and local government committee (4.20pm, Thatcher room)
Subject: The Balance of Power: central and local government.
Witnesses: Jeremy Smith, Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), appearing in a personal capacity and the Institute of Local Government Studies; the Local Government Association (at 5.00pm).
Environment, food and rural affairs committee (4.30pm, room 16).
Subject: Energy efficiency and fuel poverty.
Witnesses: Consumer Focus; Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (at 5.00pm).
Public accounts committee (4.30pm, room 15).
Subject: CDC: Investing to reduce poverty?
Witnesses: Nemat (Minouche) Shafik, Permanent Secretary, and Mark Lowcock, Director General, County Programmes, Department for International Development, and Sir Malcolm Williamson, Chairman, and Richard Laing, Chief Executive, CDC Group.
Delegated legislation committees
First delegated legislation committee (4.30pm, room 9).
Subject: To consider the draft Armed Forces (Alignment of Service Discipline Acts) (No. 2) Order 2008.
Second delegated legislation committee (4.30pm, room 11).
Subject: To consider the draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2008.
Third delegated legislation committee (4.30pm, room 12).
Subject: To consider the draft Heritable Bank plc (Determination of Compensation) Order 2008, the draft Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Limited (Determination of Compensation) Order 2008 and the draft Bradford and Bingley plc Compensation Scheme Order 2008.
House of Lords
2.30pm: Starred questions
Lord Pannick - why they have not implemented the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Hirst v United Kingdom of 6 October 2005 that the disenfranchisement for parliamentary and local government elections of all prisoners is a breach of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights;
Lord Livsey of Talgarth - whether they will introduce emergency legislation to prevent the import of live cattle, sheep and goats from Europe as a control measure against Bluetongue disease;
Baroness Neuberger - what is their response to the Help the Aged survey and report Pain in Older People: Reflections and experiences from an older person’s perspective;
Baroness Sharples - how many outbreaks of tuberculosis there have been in London schools.
Main business
Second reading of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]
Grand committee
Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm
The following three motions are expected to be debated together:
• Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Limited (Determination of Compensation) Order 2008;
• Heritable Bank plc (Determination of Compensation) Order 2008;
• Bradford & Bingley plc Compensation Scheme Order 2008 Consideration in Grand Committee.
• Child Benefit (Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 Consideration in Grand Committee [Lord McKenzie of Luton] First Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.
• Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order 2008 Consideration in Grand Committee [Lord McKenzie of Luton] First Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Criteria and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2008.
• Legislative Reform (Verification of Weighing and Measuring Equipment) Order 2008.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
House of Commons
Oral questions
2.30pm: Health Questions (topical questions at 3.15pm).
Main business
Estimates (1st allotted day): Energy prices, fuel poverty and Ofgem followed by a debate on dental services
At 10.00pm the House will be asked to agree all outstanding estimates.
Adjournment debate
Subject tba.Westminster Hall Debates
9.30am – 11.00am: BBC World Service - Greg Hands (Con, Hammersmith and Fulham).
11.00am – 12.30pm: Implications of the Rose Report - Dr Ian Gibson (Lab, Norwich North).
12.30pm – 1.00pm: National Parks in England - Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con, Bridgwater).
1.00pm – 1.30pm: Implementing the Renewable Fuel Transfer Obligation - Paddy Tipping (Lab, Sherwood).
1.30pm – 2.00pm: Secondary school reorganisation in Colchester - Bob Russell (Lib Dem, Colchester).
Commons Select Committees
Business and enterprise committee (10.00am, room 15)
Subject: Banks lending to small and medium-size enterprises.
Witnesses: David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce, Andrew Cave, Head of Policy, Federation of Small Businesses, and Michael Izza, Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; Steve Cooper, Managing Director, Local Business, Barclays Bank, John Maltby, Managing Director, Commercial Banking, Lloyds TSB, Lynne Peacock, Chief Executive Officer, Clydesdale Bank, and Peter Ibbetson, Chairman, RBS Small Businesses, Royal Bank of Scotland (at 11.15am) .
Communities and local government committee (10.20am, Grimond room)
Subject: Housing and the credit crunch.
Witnesses: Council of Mortgage Lenders, National Housing Federation, Home Builders Federation and Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association; Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing, Department for Communities and Local Government, Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive-designate, Homes and Communities Agency, and Peter Marsh, Chief Executive-designate, Tenant Services Authority (at 11.20am).
Environmental audit committee (10.20am, Thatcher room)
Subject: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.
Witnesses: Sustainable Forestry Management Ltd and Carbon Markets and Investors Association; Royal Institute of International Affairs (at 11.10am).
Defence committee (10.30am, room 8)
Subject: Defence equipment.
Witnesses: Quentin Davies MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue KCB CBE, Chief of Defence Materiel, Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures CBE, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability), and Mr Amyas Morse, Defence Commercial Director, Ministry of Defence.
Home affairs committee (11.45am, Wilson room)
Subject: Police authorities.
Witnesses: Local Government Association, and the Association of Police Authorities; Vernon Coaker MP, Minister for Policing, Crime and Security, Home Office (at 12.15pm).
Public administration committee (2.00pm, Thatcher room)
Subject: Good Government.
Witnesses: Natalie Ceeney, National Archives, Professor Christopher Hood, Oxford University, Professor Colin Talbot, Manchester University, and Tony Travers, London School of Economics.
Justice committee (4.15pm, Grimond room)
Subject: Justice reinvestment.
Witnesses: Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, and Alan Campbell MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office.
European Committee
European Committee B (4.30pm, room 10).
Subject: To consider EU Document Nos. 12244/08, 12177/08 and Addendum 1 and 12182/08 and Addendum 1 relating to Management of EU funds in Bulgaria and Romanian and Bulgarian EU Accession.
Delegated Legislation Committees
Fourth delegated legislation committee (10.30am, room 9).
Subject: To consider the draft Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order 2008.
Fifth delegated legislation committee (10.30am, room 11).
Subject: To consider the draft Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009.
Sixth delegated legislation committee (10.30am, room 12).
Subject: To consider the draft Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Criteria and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2008.
Seventh delegated legislation committee (4.30pm, room 9).
Subject: To consider the draft Child Benefit (Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2008.
Eighth delegated legislation committee (4.30pm, room 12).
Subject: To consider the draft Local Authorities (England) (Charges for Property Searches) Regulations 2008.
House of Lords
2.30pm: Starred questions
Baroness Coussins - what steps they are taking to prepare for a multilingual Olympic Games in 2012;
Lord Walton of Detchant - whether they intend to withdraw facilities for the dispensing of medicines from those dispensing general medical practices situated within one mile of a community pharmacist;
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein - whether they support investment in nuclear fusion development;
Topical question
Main business
Second reading of the Banking (No. 2) Bill [HL]
Wednesday 17 December 2008
House of Commons
Oral questions
11.30am: International development questions.
12noon: Questions to the prime minister.
Main business
Proceedings on the Consolidated Fund Bill
Third reading of the Banking Bill
Motion to consider the Value Added Tax (Change of Rate) Order 2008
Motion to approve a resolution relating to parliamentary pensions
Motions relating to the Electoral Commission
Adjournment debate
Subject tba.
Westminster Hall Debates
9.30am – 11.00am: Operation of libel laws - Denis MacShane (Lab, Rotherham).
11.00am – 11.30am: Freeze on settlement building in the occupied Palestinian Territories - Martin Linton (Lab, Battersea).
2.30pm – 4.00pm: Support for the British motor industry - Sandra Gidley (Lib Dem, Romsey).
4.00pm – 4.30pm: Dartford river crossing tolls - James Brokenshire (Con, Hornchurch).
4.30pm – 5.00pm: Single and double summer time - David Kidney (Lab, Stafford).
Commons Select Committees
Children, schools and families committee (9.45am, Wilson room)
Subject: Looked-after children.
Witnesses: Association of Directors of Children’s Services, British Association of Social Workers, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and Professor Judith Masson, University of Bristol.
Work and pensions committee (10.00am, Grimond room)
Subject: Pension, Disability and Carers Service.
Witness: Terry Moran, Chief Executive, Pension, Disability and Carers Service.
European scrutiny committee (As soon as convenient after 2.30pm, room 19)
Subject: Scrutiny of European Documents.
Transport committee (2.45pm, Wilson room)
Subject: Taxes and charges on road users.
Witnesses: Automobile Association, RAC Rescue Services, Association of British Drivers, National Alliance Against Tolls, and Drivers’ Alliance Ltd; Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Natural England, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, and Transport & General Workers Union (Unite) (at 3.45pm).
Northern Ireland affairs committee (3.00pm, room 5).
Subject: Cross-border co-operation.
Witness: Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Public accounts committee (3.30pm, room 15).
Subject: End of life care.
Witnesses: David Nicholson, Chief Executive, NHS, Professor Christine Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer, and Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director, Department of Health.
Grand Committee
Welsh Grand Committee (9.00am & 2.00pm, room 14).
Subject: Public Expenditure in Wales
Delegated Legislation Committee
Ninth delegated legislation committee (2.30pm, room 9).
Subject: To consider the draft OGCbuying.solutions Trading Fund (Extension and Amendment) Order 2008.
House of Lords
3.00pm: Starred questions:
Lord Clement-Jones - whether the planned independent anti-doping agency will be operational by October 2009;
Lord Roberts of Conwy - what are the latest figures for (a) total unemployment in the United Kingdom; and (b) claimants of unemployment benefit;
Baroness Cox - what is their response to the recent violence in Jos, Nigeria.
Topical question
Main business
Second reading of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]
Lords Committee
European Union sub-committee E (Law and institutions) (4.00pm)
Subject: Common frame of reference.
Witness: Lord Bach, parliamentary under secretary of state, Ministry of Justice.
Thursday 18 December 2008
House of Commons
Oral questions
10.30am: Treasury questions (topical questions at 11.15am).
11.30am: Business statement and Leader of the House questions.
Main business
Motion on the Christmas recess adjournment
House of Lords
11.00am: Starred questions:
Baroness Walmsley - what is their response to Report Card 8—The Child Care Transition, to be published by UNICEF on 11 December;
Lord Roberts of Llandudno - whether they will take steps to make the number of physicians per capita in the United Kingdom equivalent to the European Union average;
Baroness O’Cathain - how much they have borrowed so far this year per capita;
Topical question
Main business
The following two motions are expected to be debated together:
• Privileges The Chairman of Committees to move that the 3rd Report of Session 2007-08 from the Select Committee be agreed to. (HL Paper 189);
• Privileges The Chairman of Committees to move that the 4th Report of Session 2007-08 from the Select Committee be agreed to. (HL Paper 205).
Short debate on recent developments in India (Baroness Cox)
Short debate on the case for enhancing Parliament’s ability to communicate with members of the public (Lord Norton of Louth)
Royal AssentLords Committee
European Union sub-committee G (Social policy and consumer affairs) (10.10am).
Subject: The EU Commission’s proposals for a directive on patients' rights in cross border healthcare.
Witnesses: Unite; and Unison.
Recess Dates
Constituency week:
Thursday 7 - Monday February 18 2008
Easter:
Thursday 3 - Monday April 21 2008
Whitsun:
Thursday May 22 - Monday June 2 2008
Summer:
Tuesday July 22 - Monday October 6 2008
