The Week in Westminster 24th November – 28th November
It’s going to be hard to see past the Pre-Budget Report on Monday. For the time being all eyes are on Alistair Darling. The government has done its best to raise expectations over the course of the last month. Persistent references to tax cuts and further help “very, very soon”, as Gordon Brown put it during last week’s PMQs, mean the government now has to impress.
This administration has a track record of buildings things up without paying sufficient attention to how they might play out – think of the election that never was, for instance. But analysts are expecting surprising things from Monday’s report. The most likely result is some form of additional tax credit. If so, expect a lukewarm reaction – at best – from commentators, most of whom view credits as a sort of quasi tax cut.
Beyond Monday, in time if not subject, the banking bill hits its report stage on Wednesday, right after prime minister’s questions. With cross-party support the bill will easily pass, but watch the contributions for signs of unease or suggestions the government might later pick up.
On other matters there’s a children (protection of privacy) ten minute rule bill on Tuesday, made particularly relevant by the Baby P outrage.
On Wednesday Lord Malloch-Brown reports back to peers on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We’ll have to wait and see how much he tells his colleagues about the protest by female victims of violence he faced there this week.
Monday
Commons
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Work and Pensions; including Topical Questions
Statement:
Pre-Budget Report – Chancellor of the Exchequer
Legislation:
Planning Bill – Lords Amendments
Adjournment:
Care farming and disadvantaged groups – Mr Mark Todd
Lords
2pm
Oral Questions:
Promoting disability equality in schools – Baroness Howe of Idlicote
International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan – Lord Morris of Aberavon
Carbon dioxide emissions – Lord Lawson of Blaby
Methane emissions from cows – Lord Tyler
Legislation:
Counter-Terrorism Bill – Commons Amendment – Lord West of Spithead
Debate:
Her Majesty’s armed forces – Baroness Taylor of Bolton
3.30pm
Short Debate:
Joint Committee on Human Rights report on Government’s response to Human Rights Judgments – Lord Lester of Herne Hill/Lord Bach
Science and Technology Committee report on Air Travel and Health – Lord Sutherland of Houndwood/Lord Tunnicliffe
General Committees
4.30pm
Room 10, Palace of Westminster
European Committee B:
Subject: EU Document No.16488/07 and Addenda 1 and 2, relating to Procurement in the fields of defence and security
4.30pm
Room 10, Palace of Westminster
European Committee B:
Subject: EU Document Nos. 12149/08 and Addenda 1 and 2, 13713/08 and Addenda 1 and 2 and 14317/08, relating to Financial Services
Tuesday
Commons
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Transport; including Topical Questions; Women and Equality
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Children (Protection of Privacy) – Kerry McCarthy
Legislation:
Pensions Bill – Lords Amendments
Consideration of any other Lords Amendments
Adjournment:
Subject to be announced
Lords
2.30pm
Oral Questions:
Coalition on ‘Charging into Poverty’ report – Lord Ashley of Stoke
Takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB – Lord Hamilton of Epsom
Teaching of Latin in schools – Lord Faulkner of Worcester
Orders and Regulations:
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2008 – Baroness Meacher/Lord West of Spithead
Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules:
Lord Avebury to move that the statement, laid before the House on 4 November, be disapproved
Westminster Hall
9.30am – 11am
Fire services in Hertfordshire – Anne Main
11am – 12.30pm
Equitable Life – Jo Swinson
12.30pm – 1pm
Information sharing by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency – James Brokenshire
1pm – 1.30pm
Administration of the education maintenance allowance – Mr Gordon Prentice
1.30pm – 2pm
Supervision of paedophiles – Mr Rob Wilson
Lords Committees
10.35am
EU Sub-Committee A: Economic and Financial Affairs, and International Trade
Subject: EU Response to the Financial Market Turbulence
Witness(es): Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, Chairman, Financial Services Authority (FSA)
11am
Science and Technology
Subject: Pandemic Influenza
Witness(es): Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister of State, Department of Health
1.45pm
Joint Committee on Human Rights
Subject: Police and Protest
Witness(es): Representatives of the Police Federation; the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO); and the etropolitan Police
3.35pm
Room 3a, Palace of Westminster
Merits of Statutory Instruments
Subject: Cumulative impact on Schools of Statutory Instruments
Witness(es): (a) Dr Chris Nichols, Chair, Implementation Review Unit; and (b)Ms Kathryn James, National Association of Head Teachers
Wednesday
Commons
11.30am
Oral Questions:
Wales
Prime Minister’s Question Time:
Ten Minute Rule Bill:
Children (Provision of Care) – Mark Lancaster
Legislation:
Banking Bill – Report stage
Consideration of any Lords Amendments
Adjournment:
Subject to be announced
Lords
3pm
Oral Questions:
American forces in Iraq – Lord Eden of Winton
Sri Lankan and Maldive applicants for UK visas – Lord Naseby
Future Rapid Effect System – Lord Astor of Hever
Legislation:
Energy Bill – Commons Amendment – Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Debate:
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Lord Malloch-Brown
Westminster Hall
9.30am – 11am
Temporary housing – Mr Neil Gerrard
11am – 11.30am
Future of secondary education in Croxteth, Liverpool – Mr Robert N Wareing
2.30pm – 4pm
Sex education in schools – Philip Davies
4pm – 4.30pm
Effect of interest rates on mortgage holders – John Barrett
4.30pm – 5pm
Compensation for pleural plaques victims – Jim Sheridan
Thursday
Commons
10.30am
Oral Questions:
Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Church Commissioners, Public Accounts Commission; Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission
Business Statement:
Leader of the House
Legislation:
Consideration of any Lords Amendments
Adjournment:
Subject to be announced
Lords
11am
Oral Questions:
Public Sector Procurement Initiative of British pork and bacon – Lord Hoyle
Facilities for dispensing of medicines – Lord Walton of Detchant
Bluetongue vaccination coverage – Countess of Mar
Friday
Commons
The House will not be sitting.
Lords
The House will not be sitting.
