Order of Business Wednesday 11 January 2012

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

House of Commons

Order of Business

 

At 11.30 am

  Prayers

Afterwards

Notes:

  * indicates a question for oral answer.

 

[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.

 

Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer
 

Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

* 1

Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan):  What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on Ministry of Defence police numbers in Scotland.

(88251)

* 2

John Robertson (Glasgow North West):  What assessment he has made of the effect of the Autumn Statement on child tax credit payments in Scotland.

(88252)

* 3

Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan):  What steps he is taking to promote Scotland as a destination for international inward investment.

(88253)

* 4

Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire):  How many young people are not in employment, training or education in Scotland.

(88255)

* 5

Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun):  What assessment he has made of the effect of the Autumn Statement on levels of poverty in Scotland.

(88256)

* 6

Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West):  What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the work capability assessment in Scotland.

(88257)

* 7

Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South):  What representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the holding of a referendum in Scotland on independence from the UK.

(88258)

* 8

Fiona Bruce (Congleton):  What representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the holding of a referendum in Scotland on independence from the UK.

(88259)

* 9

Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran):  What steps he has taken to address youth unemployment in Scotland.

(88260)

* 10

Mark Menzies (Fylde):  What representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the holding of a referendum in Scotland on independence from the UK.

(88261)

* 11

Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes):  What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister for Scotland on the referendum proposed by the Scottish Government on Scotland's independence from the UK.

(88262)

* 12

John Mann (Bassetlaw):  What comparative assessment he has made of the level of subsidy from the public purse for postal, transport and health services in Scotland and the North of England.

(88263)

* 13

Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East):  What assessment he has made of the effect of the Autumn Statement on levels of employment in Scotland.

(88264)

* 14

Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West):  What discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the likely benefits to Scotland of the Green Investment Bank.

(88265)

At 12 noon

Oral Questions to the Prime Minister

Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a Question without notice.

* Q1

Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness):  If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 11 January.

(88196)

* Q2

Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree):

(88198)

* Q3

Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South):

(88199)

* Q4

Andrew Stephenson (Pendle):

(88200)

* Q5

Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West):

(88201)

* Q6

Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West and Royton):

(88202)

* Q7

Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal):

(88203)

* Q8

David Simpson (Upper Bann):

(88204)

* Q9

Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough):

(88205)

* Q10

Valerie Vaz (Walsall South):

(88206)

* Q11

Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):

(88207)

* Q12

Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central):

(88208)

* Q13

Tony Cunningham (Workington):

(88209)

* Q14

Liz Kendall (Leicester West):

(88210)

 

At 12.30 pm

  Urgent Questions (if any)
 

  Ministerial Statements, including on PIP silicone gel breast implants
 

Preliminary Business

Ten minute rule Motion

1

TRADE UNION OFFICIALS (REFUND OF PAY TO EMPLOYERS)

[Up to 20 minutes]

Jesse Norman

 

   That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that pay for hours worked on behalf of trade unions by trade union officials during hours when they are paid by an employer should be refunded to the employer by the trade union; and for connected purposes.

   The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23).

 

Main Business

†

  indicates Government Business

2

OPPOSITION DAY (Un-allotted day)

[Until 7.00 pm]

 

RAIL FARES AND THE COST OF LIVING

Edward Miliband

Maria Eagle

Ed Balls

Rachel Reeves

Lilian Greenwood

Ms Rosie Winterton

 

   That this House believes that the scale of increases to rail and bus fares and the high cost of fuel is significantly increasing the transport sector’s contribution to the cost of living crisis facing households up and down the UK; notes that, despite the Chancellor’s announcement in his Autumn Statement that rail fares would rise this month by 1 per cent. above inflation, many commuters have found their tickets have gone up by as much as 11 per cent.; recognises that this is a direct result of the decision to give back to train companies the right to add a further increase of up to 5 per cent., resulting in the cost of getting to work rising to more than the cost of monthly mortgage or rent payments for many families; notes with concern the National Audit Office’s warning to the Department for Transport that higher rail fares are likely to lead to higher profits for train operating companies; deplores the Government’s decision to levy even higher increases of 3 per cent. above inflation for 2013 and 2014; and calls on the Government to end the right of train companies to increase regulated tickets by more than the cap set by Ministers, so as to prevent fare increases of up to 13 per cent. that could otherwise hit passengers in each of the next two years.

 

ENERGY PRICES AND THE COST OF LIVING

Edward Miliband

Caroline Flint

Ed Balls

Mary Creagh

Luciana Berger

Ms Rosie Winterton

 

   That this House believes that soaring energy bills are driving up inflation, contributing to a cost of living crisis afflicting millions of families, and that the energy market is not serving the public interest; notes the motion passed by this House on 19 October 2011 calling on the Government to investigate mis-selling, simplify tariffs, increase transparency of trading data, require energy companies to use their profits to help with bills this winter and reform the energy market to increase competition and drive down energy bills; regrets that since then the Government has failed to deliver on any of these measures; further notes that consumer efforts to control their energy bills have been undermined by cuts to the Feed-in Tariff and Warm Front scheme, and that there are serious concerns about whether the Green Deal will be taken up by, and work for, consumers; notes that over 90 per cent. of eligible families will not receive the Warm Homes Discount in 2012; calls on the Government to require energy companies to provide the lowest tariff to over 75s and use their profits to ensure that all families eligible for Cold Weather Payments receive the Warm Homes Discount; and further calls on the Government to reform the energy market to make it competitive and responsible, to cut VAT on home improvements to 5 per cent. for 12 months and to ensure that the Green Deal is offered on fair terms to consumers which will deliver real savings in energy bills.

   The Fourth Report from the Energy and Climate Change Committee on Electricity Market Reform, HC 742, and the Government’s response thereto (Sixth Special Report, HC 1448), and the Sixth Report from the Committee on Ofgem’s Retail Market Review, HC 1046, and the Government’s response thereto (Eighth Special Report, HC 1544) are relevant.

   The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition and paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments) shall apply (Order of 10 January).

Debate may continue until 7.00 pm.

†

3

DELEGATED LEGISLATION

[No debate after 7.00 pm]

Sir George Young

 

   That the Motion in the name of Sir George Young relating to the Electoral Commission shall be treated as if it related to an instrument subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 118 (Delegated Legislation Committees) in respect of which notice of a motion has been given that the instrument be approved.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 pm.

 

At the end of the sitting:

4

ADJOURNMENT

  

   Proposed subject: Government policy on the drug khat (Mark Lancaster).

   Debate may continue until 7.30 pm or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

 

COMMITTEES

PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEE

1

Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill Committee

9.30 am

Room 9 (public)

   To consider the Bill.

SELECT COMMITTEES

2

Education

9.15 am

Room 15 (private)

 

9.30 am

(public)

   Subject: Child Protection System in England.

   Witnesses: NSPCC, Barnardo’s, and The Children’s Society.

3

Work and Pensions

9.15 am

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

9.30 am

(public)

   Subject: Automatic Enrolment in Workplace Pensions and the National Employment Savings Trust.

   Witness: The Pensions Regulator.

4

Energy and Climate Change

9.30 am

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

9.40 am

(public)

   Subject: Fuel Poverty in the Private Rented and Off-grid Sectors.

   Witnesses: Calor Gas, Federation of Petroleum Suppliers, Office of Fair Trading and UKLPG; Allendale domestic oil buying group and North Tyne Valley domestic oil buying group (at 10.40 am); Consumer Focus and National Energy Action (at 11.00 am).

5

Public Administration

9.30 am

Room 16 (private)

6

International Development

10.00 am

Room 13 (private)

7

Justice

10.15 am

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)

8

Defence

2.00 pm

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

9

Environmental Audit

2.00 pm

Room 16 (private)

10

European Scrutiny

2.00 pm

Room 19 (private)

11

Scottish Affairs

2.00 pm

Room 6 (private)

 

2.30 pm

(public)

   Subject: Health and Safety in Scotland.

   Witnesses: Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, Director of King’s Centre for Risk Management, King’s College, London, and Chair of the independent review of health and safety legislation, Sarah Veale, Trades Union Congress, and member of the review advisory panel, Adam Marshall, British Chamber of Commerce, and member of the review advisory panel; Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Minister of State for Employment, Judith Hackitt, Chair, Health and Safety Executive, and Dr Paul Stollard, Director Field Operations, Health and Safety Executive Scotland (at 3.30 pm).

12

Treasury

2.00 pm

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

2.15 pm

(public)

   Subject: Independent Commission on Banking: Final Report.

   Witness: Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

13

Northern Ireland Affairs

2.15 pm

Room 15 (private)

 

2.30 pm

(public)

   Subject: Fuel Laundering and Smuggling.

   Witnesses: Barra McGrory QC, Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and Stephen Herron, Assistant Director of Fraud and Departmental Section, Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.

14

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

2.30 pm

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

3.00 pm

(public)

   Subject: Natural Environment White Paper.

   Witnesses: Pavan Sukhdev, Study Leader, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, and PricewaterhouseCoopers; Balfour Beatty plc, United Utilities Group plc and British Aggregates Association (at 3.45 pm).

15

Procedure

3.00 pm

Room 20 (private)

 

3.05 pm

(public)

   Subject: Sittings of the House and the Parliamentary Calendar.

   Witnesses: Ken Gall, President, Trade Union Side, House of Commons, Will Conway, Branch Chair, GMB, Sian Norris-Copson, Chair, Members’ and Peers’ Staff Association, and Max Freedman, Chair, Unite Parliamentary Branch; John Thurso MP, Chair, Finance and Services Committee, and Rt Hon Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, Chair, Administration Committee (at 3.45 pm).

16

Selection

4.45 pm

Room 13 (private)

17

Liaison

5.00 pm

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)

OTHER COMMITTEE

18

Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

3.00 pm

Room 21 (private)

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

 

PUBLICATION OF SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

Wednesday 11 January

Time of publication

No.

1

Public Accounts

00.01 am

HC 1627

   Means Testing (Sixty-second Report).
 

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Equitable Life Payment Scheme.

2

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Social housing.

3

Secretary of State for Education: National Curriculum in England: Information and Communication Technology.

4

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Single payment scheme.

 

Prepared 11th January 2012