The week in Westminster

Friday, 4 April 2008 12:00 AM

A Commons clash between Harriet Harman and William Hague provided political analysts with an amusing session on Wednesday.

The pair were subbing for Gordon Brown and David Cameron's usual prime minister's questions in a refreshing series of boisterous exchanges.

Apart from a brief period when Ms Harman was forced to admit the UK economy faces a troubling 2008, the senior party representatives entertained MPs with matters only marginally relating to politics.

Stab vests, baseball caps and "a lot less than 30 women" were all up for debate as the "Punch and Judy" politics once derided by Mr Cameron dominated.

Read politics.co.uk's analysis of the week's PMQs here.

Other Westminster news

Hips under attack

The Conservatives used Monday's second reading of the housing and regeneration bill to call for an end to the government's controversial home information packs (Hips) initiative. These documents, now mandatory for all those wishing to sell a residential property in England and Wales, were dismissed as having "failed in every respect" by Tory housing spokesman Grant Shapps.

To read our issue brief on home information packs, click here.

42-day detention

Tuesday night saw the counterterrorism bill receive its second reading unopposed, but MPs pledged to challenge clauses allowing the detention of terror suspects without charge for 42 days in committee stage. The government insists counterterrorism law needs to evolve, but opponents believe there is little evidence justifying the move to 42 days.

MPs' expenses

The latest development in the long-running furore over MPs' expenses saw a freedom of information request reveal the breakdown of six prominent MPs' spending on Friday. Tony Blair, John Prescott, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy were among those whose claims were published.

Forthcoming parliamentary business

Parliament is now in recess but will resume the current session on April 21st. The finance bill gets its second reading in the Commons on Monday 21st, while the pensions bill is set for its remaining stages the following day. Mr Brown makes his return to PMQs on Wednesday, while Friday sees private members' bills struggling for survival in their second readings.

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