The week in Westminster: December 19th - December 24th

It's Chriiiiistmas - but before the festive recess MPs and peers are packing as much as they can into a shortened parliamentary week.

In the Commons, Nick Clegg will face questions on Tuesday before a pot pourri of issues are raised by backbenchers in their pre-Christmas free-for-all.

The Lords are busy too, continuing their work on the government's NHS reforms and putting forward questions on everything from London lorries to legal aid.

Tuesday also sees the Ministry of Justice busy with two of its ministers busy in the committee rooms. Will Ken Clarke move the Human Rights Act controversy forward before the seasonal break?

COMMONS

Monday

Questions - defence
Debate - apprenticeships
Adjournment debate - proposed closure of the inpatient mental health unit in Burton

Tuesday

Questions - deputy prime minister
Ten minute rule motion - NHS (right to treatment)
Backbench business - matters to be raised before the forthcoming adjournment
Adjournment debate - abduction of Lydia Hunt

LORDS

Monday

Legislation - health and social care bill
Questions - lorries in London, 1986 riot damages claims, winter fuel payment, immigration
Legislation - health and social care bill
Short debate - money laundering

Tuesday

Questions - private capital, personal injury claims, Cyprus' EU presidency
Legislation - legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offenders bill
Legislation - consumer insurance (disclosure and representations bill)

Wednesday

Questions - elected second chamber, disabled children, government IT projects
Legislation - Bank of Ireland (UK) plc bill, EU membership (economic implications) bill, health and social care bill

PICK OF THE COMMITTEES

Tuesday

11:00 - policing and criminal justice minister Nick Herbert, before home affairs committee, on: Extradition, Policing Protocol, Work of the UK Border Agency (August-November 2011)

14:20 - justice secretary Ken Clarke, before joint committee on human rights, on: government's human rights policy and human rights judgments

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