The week in Westminster: October 24th – October 28th
A new defence secretary, a series of clashes on Britain's involvement in the EU and a couple of piracy victims will make the headlines this week.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – work and pensions
Statement – European Council
Backbench business – motion relating to national referendum on the EU
Adjournment debate – live animal exports from Port of Ramsgate
Tuesday
Questions – Foreign Office
Ten minute rule motion – European Union Act 2011 (Amendment) (no 2) bill
Legislation – public bodies bill
Adjournment debate – future constitutional status of Scotland
Wednesday
Questions – International Development
PMQs
Ten minute rule motion – national curriculum (emergency life support skills)
Opposition day debate
Adjournment debate – funding from public purse of trade union officials
Thursday
Questions – business, innovation and skills
Business statement
Debate – UK chairmanship of Council of Europe
Adjournment debate – BAE Systems losses in Lancashire
LORDS
Monday
Introductions – Lord Singh of Wimbledon and Lord Carry of Kirkharle
Questions – paediatric cardiac services, regulating healthcare assistants, Youth Justice Board, improving teaching of sex and relationships education in schools
Legislation – coinage (measurement) bill, education bill
Short debate – changing regulations governing experiments on animals
Tuesday
Questions – youth services, appointment of a new civil service post of Director General for External Affairs by the First Minister of Scotland, companion to Lords standing orders
Legislation – health and social care bill
Wednesday
Questions – individual voter registration, Saudi Arabian driving licences, restorative justice
Legislation – dog control bill
Legislation – terrorist prevention and investigation measures bill
Thursday
Questions – future of the euro, House of Lords size, council tax freeze in Wales
Debate – changing world of employment
Debate – government policies on family budgets
Short debate – transforming water from source of conflict into basis for cooperation in Middle East
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Monday
17:10 – piracy victims Paul and Rachel Chandler, before foreign affairs committee, on: Piracy off the coast of Somalia
Tuesday
09:30 – Bank of England governor Mervyn King, before Treasury committee, on: quantitative easing
Wednesday
14:30 – defence secretary Phillip Hammond, before defence committee, on: operations in Libya
