Week in Westminster: February 25th - March 1st

Week in Westminster: February 25th – March 1st

Week in Westminster: February 25th – March 1st

After a week's holiday the political theatre returns to Westminster in full force this week. With much of the focus still on the Eastleigh by-election, it will be interesting to see if prime minister's questions is used to frame the last hours of the debate before the polls open on Thursday.

The highlight for political geeks comes when Damian McBride answers questions in front of a select committee. The former Brown ally was swept from Westminster in disgrace after his plot against the Tories was revealed in 2009, but he has become vital reading because of his fascinating blog on life in Downing Street.

House of Commons

Monday 25 February 2013

Oral Questions – Defence, including Topical Questions

Legislation – Children and Families Bill – Second reading

Adjournment – Ankylosing spondylitis – Huw Irranca-Davies

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Oral Questions – Health, including Topical Questions

Ten Minute Rule Motion – Regulation of the Private Rented Sector – Jeremy Corbyn

Legislation – Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [HL] – Report stage and third reading

Private Business – Opposed Private Business: Second Reading of the City of London (Various Powers) Bill [HL]; Second Reading of the Humber Bridge Bill

Adjournment – Local government financial settlement in Herefordshire – Bill Wiggin

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Oral Questions – Wales

Prime Minister's Question Time

Ten Minute Rule Motion – Local Authority Devolution and Powers Bill – John Pugh

Debate – Opposition Day (18th allotted day) [Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party] – Subject to be announced

Motion – To approve a Statutory Instrument relating to the draft Bank of England 1998 Macro-prudential Measures Order 2013

Adjournment – Origin of country marking (manufactured goods) – Tristram Hunt

Thursday 28 February 2013

Oral Questions – Transport, including Topical Questions; Leader of the House and House of Commons Commission

Business Statement – Leader of the House

Backbench Business – (i) Kesri Lehar Campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in India (ii) 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide

Adjournment – Future healthcare provision in the London Borough of Sutton – Paul Burstow

Friday 1 March 2013

Legislation – Human Rights Act 1998 (Repeal and Substitution) Bill – Second reading – Charlie Elphicke

Legislation – Landlord Accreditation Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas

Legislation – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Mark Hendrick

Legislation – Social Care (Local Sufficiency) and Identification of Carers Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Barbara Keeley

Legislation – European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Mr Douglas Carswell

Legislation – Family Perinatal Support and Adoption Bill – Second reading – Andrea Leadsom

Legislation – Recall of Elected Representatives Bill – Second reading – Zac Goldsmith

Legislation – Bank of England (Appointment of Governor) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – John McDonnell

Legislation – Ports Act 1991 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Charlie Elphicke

Legislation – Planning Act 2008 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Phil Wilson

Legislation – Consolidation of Housing Regulations Bill – Second reading – Mr Adrian Sanders

Legislation – Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Frank Field

Legislation – Lords Spiritual Bill – Second reading – Mr Frank Field

Legislation – Regulation of Signage and Ticketing Technology (Publicly-Available Car Parks) Bill – Second reading – Nick Smith

Legislation – United Kingdom Borders Bill – Second reading – Andrew Rosindell

Legislation – Children (Performances) Regulations 1968 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Tim Loughton

Legislation – BBC (Audit Arrangements and Publication of Invoices) Bill – Second reading – Alun Cairns

Legislation – Corporate Accountability and Safeguarding of Adults from Abuse and Neglect Bill – Second reading – Paul Burstow

Legislation – Football (Financial Transparency) Bill – Second reading – Damian Collins

Legislation – Representation of the People (Members' Job Share) Bill – Second reading – John McDonnell

Legislation – Transparency in UK Company Supply Chains (Eradication of Slavery) Bill – Second reading (Day 3) – Michael Connarty

Legislation – Protection of Workers Bill – Second reading – Graeme Morrice

Legislation – Vehicle Fuel Receipts (Transparency of Taxation) Bill – Second reading – Robert Halfon

Legislation – Internships (Advertising and Regulation) Bill – Second reading – Hazel Blears

Legislation – Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill – Second reading – Stephen Williams

Legislation – Energy Efficiency (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Bill – Second reading – Dr Alan Whitehead

Legislation – Offshore Gambling Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Matthew Hancock

Legislation – Micro Businesses and Energy Contract Roll-Over Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas

Legislation – Local Services (Planning) Bill – Second reading – Dr Julian Huppert

Legislation – Land Value Tax Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas

Legislation – Plastic Glasses and Bottles (Mandatory Use) Bill – Second reading – Ian Lucas

Legislation – Supermarket Pricing Information Bill – Second reading – Mr John Denham

Legislation – Equality (Marriage) (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Edward Leigh

Legislation – Multinational Motor Manufacturing Companies (Duty of Care to Former Employees) Bill – Second reading – Geraint Davies

Legislation – Housing Market Reform Bill – Second reading – Mr Gareth Thomas

Legislation – Smoke-free Private Vehicles Bill [HL] – Second reading (Day 2) – Alex Cunningham

Legislation – Free School Meals (Children over the age of 16) Bill – Second reading – Nic Dakin

Legislation – Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum Standards) Bill – Second reading – Ann Clwyd

Legislation – Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Nicholas Brown

Legislation – Building Regulations (External Retaining and Load-Bearing Walls) Bill – Second reading – Stephen Mosley

Legislation – United Kingdom Membership of the European Union (Referendum) Bill – Second reading – Mr John Baron

Legislation – House of Lords (Cessation of Membership) Bill [HL] – Second reading – Mrs Eleanor Laing

Legislation – Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools) Bill – Second reading – Peter Luff

Adjournment – Fixed odds betting terminals – Graham Jones

House of Lords

Monday 25 February 2013

Oral Questions – Steps to ensure cultural diversity and promotion of equality in the media and creative industries – Baroness Benjamin; Progress in discontinuing funding for the Republic of Ireland’s aids to navigation – Lord Berkeley; Discussions with energy providers about recent increases in prices – Lord Touhig; Report by the Royal College of Midwives stating that there is a shortage of around 5,000 midwives – Baroness Cumberlege

Legislation – Partnerships (Prosecution) (Scotland) Bill [HL] – Report stage – Lord Wallace of Tankerness

Legislation – Defamation Bill – Third reading – Lord McNally

Legislation – Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill – Committee of the whole House – Baroness Stowell of Beeston

Short Debate – Anorexia and eating disorders – Lord Giddens

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Oral Questions – Self-immolations in Tibet and China’s approach to human rights in that region – Lord Alton of Liverpool; The new UK Citizenship test – Lord Roberts of

Llandudno; Ending the use of the death penalty worldwide – Lord Sheldon; Electricity generating capacity after the expected closure of coal and nuclear plants – Lord Ezra

Legislation – Presumption of Death Bill – Committee of the whole House – Baroness Kramer

Legislation – Mobile Homes Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Best

Legislation – Public Service Pensions Bill – Third reading – Lord Newby

Legislation – Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill – Report stage – Lord Marland/Viscount Younger of Leckie

Short Debate – Cost/benefit ratio and environmental and social impact of High Speed 2 – Lord Truscott

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Oral Questions – Assessment of the role of ratings agencies and the impact of any downgrade of the UK’s rating – Lord Barnett; Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dr David Livingstone – Lord Steel of Aikwood; Amending the Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Lord Wills

Legislation – Antarctic Bill – Committee of the whole House – Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Report stage – Baroness Hanham

Short Debate – The report of the Independent Panel on Forestry, published on 4 July 2012 – The Lord Bishop of Liverpool

Thursday 28 February 2013

Oral Questions – Current situation in Burma, with reference to the Kachin, Shan and Rohingya ethnic national peoples – Baroness Cox; Ensuring that all dyslexics have access to the assistance recommended by Ofqual when taking apprenticeship qualifications – Lord Addington; Support provided for the International Rare Diseases Research 

Consortium – Lord Avebury

Legislation – Succession to the Crown Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Wallace of Tankerness

Short Debate – Implications of Research Council UK’s open access policy – Lord Krebs

Friday 1 March 2013

No business has been announced for this day.

Pick of the select committees

Monday 25 February 2013

Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards

Subject: Banking Standards

Witness(es): Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Public Administration

Subject: Future of the civil service

Witness(es): Damian McBride; Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, Local Government Association and Mr Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive, London Borough of Lambeth
Location: Room 16, Palace of Westminster