The Week in Westminster: December 17th – 20th
By Charles MaggsFollow @charlesmaggs
David Cameron will make two appearances in front of the House this week, and will get a likely grilling from both sides.
On Monday he will announce the outcome of this weekend's European summit. Will his EU loathing backbenchers give him an easy ride? Then on Wednesday it's the usual funfair of PMQs.
The energy bill also goes to a second reading this week, where Liberal Democrats may raise concerns over the controversial plan to start fracking.
The highlight of the select committees sees the chairs of the country's top exam marking boards face the education committee to answer for the English GCSE shambles last year that saw pupils taking the exam in the summer marked differently to those in January.
COMMONS
Monday
Communities & local government questions
Statement from the prime minister – European Council
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Report stage
Adjournment Impact of retail banks on small business growth in Hazel Grove
Tuesday
Oral questions – justice Ten minute rule motion –welfare cash card
Legislation – Justice and Security Bill [HL] – Second reading
Motion – European document relating to the fund for European aid to the most deprived
Adjournment – UK exposure to high carbon investment
Wednesday
Oral Questions – Cabinet Office, including Topical Question
Prime Minister's Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Motion – Charities Act 2011 (Amendment)
Legislation – Energy Bill – Second reading
Adjournment – Portland search and rescue helicopter
Thursday
Oral Questions – Business, Innovation and Skills, including Topical Questions
Business Statement – Leader of the House
Backbench Business – (i) Launch of a report by the Energy and Climate Change Committee on Consumer Engagement with Energy Markets and a new inquiry on Energy prices, profits and poverty (ii) Pre-recess Adjournment debate
Adjournment – Human rights in Azerbaijan
Lords
Monday
Funding allocated by the NHS for R&D at major teaching hospitals provided to the researchers themselves and administrators of funding
800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June 2015
Long-term solution to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Introducing a screening programme for hearing loss for over 65s
Legislation – Caravan Sites Bill [HL] – Third reading
Legislation – Statute Law (Repeals) Bill [HL] – Third reading
Orders and Regulations – Public Bodies (Abolition of the Railway Heritage Committee) Order 2013 – Motion to regret
Debate – Recent developments in the European Union
Legislation – European Union (Croation Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill – Second reading
Legislation – European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] – Second reading –
Short Debate – Impact on health and wellbeing of an active lifestyle
Debate – European Union Committee report on Deprived Persons Fund: Recommendation for a Reasoned Opinion
Tuesday
Oral Questions – Safeguarding the position of the National Lottery
Discussions with the government of Algeria in relation to the situation in Mali
Priorities of the humanitarian aid programmes of the UK and the EU in view of the number of refugees in countries bordering Syria
Prevention of money-laundering by UK banks
Wednesday
Oral Questions – Members of the armed forces who have sustained life-changing injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan and their long-term care
Progress on proposals for a EU–US free trade agreement
Goals of the World Sepsis Declaration; and improving knowledge and skills regarding sepsis
Legislation – Disabled Persons' Parking Badges Bill – Committee of the whole House Legislation – Public Service Pensions Bill – Second reading
Royal Assent
Pick of the select committees
Monday
National Security Strategy – home secretary Theresa May comes before the National Security Strategy Committee.
Tuesday
Transport – Sam Laidlaw, non-executive director, Department for Transport and Ed Smith, non-executive director, Department for Transport answer to the Transport Select Committee about the West Coast Mainline franchise shambles.
Wednesday
Education – Andrew Hall, Chief Executive Officer, AQA and Gareth Pierce, Chief Executive, WJEC; Mark Dawe, Chief Executive, OCR and Ziggy Liaquat, Managing Director, Edexcel are to be quizzed about GCSE English marking that saw pupils taking the exam in different months get graded differently. ]
Committee on Arms Export Controls – William Hague and Vince Cable will be quizzed out Britain's role in the arms trade.
