The week in Westminster: February 7th – 11th
The coalition’s economic policies face another week of scrutiny in parliament.
New shadow chancellor Ed Balls will take on George Osborne across the despatch box for the first time in Treasury questions in the Commons on Tuesday.
On the following afternoon, after another PMQs surely dominated by the economy after last week’s love-fest, Danny Alexander and Oliver Letwin face the cold light of the public accounts committee.
The week won’t be over after that, though – we’ve got a free vote on prisoner voting rights to look forward to on Thursday.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – education
Opposition day debate – fuel costs
Adjournment debate – OFT and supermarket acquisitions in Birtley, Tyne and Wear
Tuesday
Questions – Treasury
Ten minute rule motion – BBC license fee payers (voting rights) bill
Legislation – education bill
Adjournment debate
Wednesday
Questions – Northern Ireland, PMQs
Ten minute rule motion – former metal mines bill
Police grant and local government finance motions
Adjournment debate
Thursday
Questions – energy and climate change
Business statement – leader of the House
Backbench business – voting by prisoners
Adjournment debate
Friday
Private members’ bills – legislation (territorial extent) bill; planning (opencast mining separation zone) bill; and others
Adjournment debate
LORDS
Monday
Questions – milk prices, aid for fragile states, disability living allowance, Sudan
Legislation – budget responsibility and national audit bill
Tuesday
Questions – arrest reporting, rich-poor gap, Lisbon treaty
Motion to approve the draft Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) Revision of Codes A, B and D) Order 2011
Legislation – energy bill
Wednesday
Questions – small businesses in Big Society, FTSE 100 executive wages, Northern Ireland water supply problems
Legislation – Transport for London bill
Thursday
Questions – sexualisation of childhood, Sudden Oak Death, Democratic Republic of Congo
Debate – role of marriage
Debate – future of Nato
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Monday
14:00 – foreign secretary William Hague, before foreign affairs committee, on: The work of the FCO in UK government
Wednesday
09:30 – work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, before work and pensions committee, on: white paper on universal credit
15:30 – Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin and chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, before public accounts committee, on: comprehensive spending review – department spending plans
