Order of Business Wednesday 27 February 2013

+ 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 Wales

 1 Alison McGovern (Wirral South): What recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's economic policies on Wales; and if he will make a statement. (144371)

 2 Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth): What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the roll-out of universal credit in Wales. (144372)

 3 Mr Peter Hain (Neath): What recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's economic policies on Wales; and if he will make a statement. (144373)

 4 David Rutley (Macclesfield): What recent discussions he has had on the roll-out of superfast broadband in Wales. (144374)

 5 Wayne David (Caerphilly): What recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's economic policies on Wales; and if he will make a statement. (144375)

 6 Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd): What discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government who have partial responsibility for justice and law and order. (144376)

 7 Chris Evans (Islwyn): What recent discussions he has had with Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the roll-out of universal credit in Wales. (144377)

 8 Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent): What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the closure of the army recruitment offices in Wales. (144378)

 9 Guto Bebb (Aberconwy): What discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues and others on building a new prison in North Wales; and what progress has been made. (144379)

 10 Chris Bryant (Rhondda): What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the under-occupancy penalty on social housing in Wales. (144380)

 11 Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South): What recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's economic policies on Wales; and if he will make a statement. (144382)

 12 Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the under-occupancy penalty on social housing in Wales. (144383)

 13 Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): What plans his Department has to support Wales Tourism Week. (144384)

At 12 noon

Oral Questions to the Prime Minister

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

 Q1 Richard Drax (South Dorset): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 27 February. (144286)

 Q2 Albert Owen (Ynys Môn):  (144287)

 Q3 Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire):  (144288)

 Q4 Wayne David (Caerphilly):  (144289)

 Q5 Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles):  (144290)

 Q6 Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central):  (144291)

 Q7 Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth):  (144292)

 Q8 Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle Upon Tyne North):  (144293)

 Q9 Gemma Doyle (West Dunbartonshire):  (144294)

 Q10 Ian Mearns (Gateshead):  (144295)

 Q11 Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill):  (144296)

 Q12 Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):  (144297)

 Q13 John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness):  (144298)

 Q14 John Glen (Salisbury):  (144299)

 Q15 Graham Jones (Hyndburn):  (144300)

At 12.30 pm Urgent Questions (if any)

Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business

Ten minute rule Motion

1 LOCAL AUTHORITY DEVOLUTION AND POWERS [Up to 20 minutes]

John Pugh

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Government to publish a list of the powers of local councils and a code of conduct defining the degree of autonomy attached to those powers and areas where a council may act autonomously; to create a mechanism to identify and adjudicate on breaches of the code by either central or local government; 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

2 OPPOSITION DAY (18th allotted day) [Until 7.00 pm]

HOUSING BENEFIT AND THE UNDER-OCCUPANCY PENALTY

Angus Robertson

Mr Elfyn Llwyd

Caroline Lucas

Dr Eilidh Whiteford

Hywel Williams

Stewart Hosie

Jonathan EdwardsPete WishartMr Mike Weir

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil

That this House deplores and opposes the Government’s introduction of the housing benefit under-occupancy penalty; believes it to be unjust and unworkable; notes growing public anger at its introduction; believes that the Government is showing a reckless lack of care and attention to the consequences of its introduction for low-income households affected by disability; further believes that it will adversely affect, amongst others, families of service personnel, foster families and those struggling with the effects of family breakdown; notes that some parts of the UK will be disproportionately hit because of the mismatch between the available social housing stock and the needs of tenants; further notes that according to the Department for Work and Pensions’ Equality Impact Assessment, 63 per cent of the 660,000 claimants affected by the under-occupancy penalty or their partners are disabled; believes that the measure unfairly penalises tenants in rural and inner-city areas; further believes the under-occupancy penalty will fail to meet its stated objectives; and calls on the Government to abandon this policy immediately.

The Opposition Day is at the disposal of the Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (Standing Order No. 14(2)). The selection of the matter to be debated this day has been made by the Leaders of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party.

Debate may continue until 7.00 pm.

At 7.00 pm

† indicates Government Business

†  DEFERRED DIVISIONS

The Prime Minister

That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motion in the name of Greg Clark relating to Capital Gains Tax.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 41A(3)).

† 3 CAPITAL GAINS TAX [No debate]

Greg Clark

That the draft Building Societies (Core Capital Deferred Shares) Regulations 2013, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 4 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS [Up to one and a half hours]

Greg Clark

That the draft Bank of England Act 1998 (Macro-prudential Measures) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 24 January, be approved.

Relevant documents:

Oral evidence taken before the Treasury Committee on Macroprudential tools, HC 546-i and -ii;

Written evidence reported to the House by the Treasury Committee on 17 July and 20 November 2012 on Macroprudential tools.

The Speaker will put the Question not later than one and a half hours after proceedings begin (Standing Order No. 16(1)).

† 5 PENSIONS [No debate]

Secretary Iain Duncan Smith

That the draft National Employment Savings Trust (Amendment) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 15 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT [No debate]

Secretary Eric Pickles

That the draft East Hertfordshire and Stevenage (Boundary Change) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 7 LOCAL GOVERNMENT [No debate]

Secretary Eric Pickles

That the draft Gateshead and Northumberland (Boundary Change) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 22 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 8 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS [No debate]

Greg Clark

That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 9 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS [No debate]

Greg Clark

That the draft Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 10 FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS [No debate]

Greg Clark

That the draft Financial Services Act 2012 (Misleading Statements and Impressions) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 11 COMPANIES [No debate]

Greg Clark

That the draft Uncertificated Securities (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which were laid before this House on 28 January, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

At the end of the sitting:

12 PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC PETITION [No debate]

Human rights in India (Mr Jim Cunningham).

Presentation of petitions: no debate or decision (Standing Order No. 153).

13 ADJOURNMENT

Proposed subject: Country of origin marking (manufactured goods) (Tristram Hunt).

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

COMMITTEES

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE

To consider European Union Documents No. 15938/11, a draft Regulation on markets in financial instruments and amending Regulation [EMIR] on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories, and No. 15939/11 and Addenda 1 and 2, a draft Directive on markets in financial instruments repealing Directive 2004/39/EC.

DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEES

To consider the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Threshold Conditions) Order 2013, the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (PRA-regulated Activities) Order 2013, the draft Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2013 and the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) Order 2013.

To consider the Motion in the name of Mr Andrew Lansley relating to the Electoral Commission.

To consider the draft Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013.

SELECT COMMITTEES

Subject: Pre-appointment Hearing for the Post of Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Witness: Christine Tacon (the Government’s preferred candidate).

Subject: Water Quality.

Witnesses: Thames Water, RPS Group, on behalf of the Environmental Industries Commission, and Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry; Natural Environment Research Council, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Rob Collins, Rivers Trust, on behalf of the Blueprint for Water Coalition (at 10.05 am); Dr Sue Kinsey, Marine Conservation Society, and Professor Richard Thompson, Plymouth University (at 10.50 am).

Subject: Role of School Governing Bodies.

Witnesses: School Governors’ One-Stop Shop, GL Education Group, Pat Smart, Executive Headteacher, Greet and Conway primary schools and National Leader of Education, National College for School Leadership, and Dr Bridget Sinclair, Chair of National Co-ordinators of Governor Services and Governors Service Manager of Swindon Governor Services; Michael Jeans, Chairman of Haberdashers Education Committee, The Haberdashers Company, Mark Taylor, Director of Schools, Cambridge Education, Islington, and designated Director of School and Young People’s Services, London Borough of Islington, Nicola Cook, Governor Services Manager, Children and Young People’s Services, Buckinghamshire County Council, and Darren Northcote, National Official (Education) (at 10.30 am).

Subject: Transforming Rehabilitation.

Witness: Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

Subject: Future of the Civil Service.

Witnesses: Damian McBride; Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, Local Government Association, Derrick Anderson CBE, Chief Executive, London Borough of Lambeth (at 10.30 am).

Subject: Draft Pensions Bill.

Witnesses: Age UK, Carers UK, Dr Ros Altmann, independent expert, and TUC; Pensions Policy Institute, Paul Johnson, Director, and Gemma Tetlow, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Baroness Hollis of Heigham, and Women’s Budget Group (at 10.30 am).

Subject: Insects and Insecticides.

Witnesses: Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and Professor Ian Boyd, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Dave Bench, Director of Science, Engineering, Analysis and Chemicals Regulation, Health and Safety Executive.

Subject: Implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland.

Witness: Rt Hon Mark Francois MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence.

Subject: Bovine TB Vaccination.

Witnesses: British Cattle Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Association and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Subject: Private Members’ Bills.

Witnesses: Members of Parliament; Dr Rowena Daw, and Tom Mullarkey (at 3.45 pm).

Subject: (i) Early Action Landscape Review; (ii) Autism Strategy.

Witnesses: (i) David Robinson, Co-founder, Community Links, Centre for Social Justice, and New Economics Foundation; Una O’Brien, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education and Julian Kelly, Director General, Public Services, HM Treasury (at 4.00 pm); (ii) Una O’Brien, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, and Shaun Gallagher, Director General, Social Care (at 5.00 pm).

JOINT COMMITTEES

Subject: Banking Standards.

Witnesses: Martin Wheatley, Managing Director, Financial Services Authority and Chief Executive Officer Designate, Financial Conduct Authority, and Lord Turner, Executive Chairman, Financial Services Authority.

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

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: EU Competitiveness Council 18-19 February 2013.

2Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Publication of the Government response to the consultation Renewable Heat Incentive: Providing Certainty, Improving Performance.

3Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Agriculture Council item on horsemeat fraud.

4Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Bovine tuberculosis.

5Secretary of State for Transport: Uninsured and untraced drivers’ agreements.

6Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Agenda of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council 28 February 2013, Brussels.