| No. 69 |
MONDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 1997 |
2099 |
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ORDER PAPER |
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* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer
Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant registered interest has been declared
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs relating to Overseas Development will begin not later than 3.05 p.m.
Questions to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission will begin not later than 3.20 p.m.
Questions to the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, will start not later than 3.25 p.m.
| *1 |
Mr Hugh Dykes (Harrow East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what are the main priorities of the Government's principal medium-term social policies. |
| 15515 |
| *2 |
Mr Nick Ainger (Pembroke): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he intends to meet unions representing civil servants to discuss job security. |
| 15516 |
| *3 |
Mr William O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent review he has conducted of the co-ordination of Government policy; what conclusions were arrived at; and if he will make a statement. |
| 15517 |
| *4 |
Mr D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what arrangements are in place to ensure the periodic review of deregulation measures. |
| 15518 |
| *5 |
Mr Bruce Grocott (The Wrekin): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent estimate he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's work on the co-ordination of Government policy. |
| 15521 |
| *6 |
Sir Teddy Taylor (Southend East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what role he has in respect of the co-ordination of Government policy in respect of public information on European Union issues and statistics. |
| 15522 |
| *7 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he plans next to meet the Minister without Portfolio to discuss the co-ordination of Government policies. |
| 15524 |
| *8 |
Mr Tim Rathbone (Lewes): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the benefits of the deregulation initiative for small businesses. |
| 15525 |
| *9 |
Mr Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what new proposals he has in respect of the deregulation of the leisure industry. |
| 15526 |
| *10 |
Mr Tony Banks (Newham North West): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what proposals he has to ensure more openness in Government. |
| 15527 |
| *11 |
Mr Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what criteria he uses for assessing the effectiveness of his responsibilities for co-ordinating Government policy. |
| 15528 |
| *12 |
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what measures he proposes to increase the international competitiveness of British manufacturing. |
| 15530 |
| *13 |
Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer of 4th February, Official Report , column 525, if he will introduce measures to ensure that severance payments to Cabinet Ministers leaving office will be based on the salary scale in force on polling day. |
| 15531 |
| *14 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations contained in the Scott Report relating to ministerial accountability have been implemented. |
| 15532 |
| *15 |
Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes (Wimbledon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what consultations he has had in his role as Chairman of the Local Government Cabinet Committee, in respect of the proper functioning of local government. |
| 15533 |
| *16 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South East): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he next intends to meet leaders of district and borough councils to discuss his responsibilities for local government. |
| 15535 |
| *17 |
Mr Richard Spring (Bury St. Edmunds): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what efforts are being made to introduce deregulation initiatives into the rural economy. |
| 15536 |
| *18 |
Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to increase the number of Next Steps agencies. |
| 15537 |
| *19 |
Mr Nigel Spearing (Newham South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement concerning the financial viability of the Millennium Exhibition at the Greenwich peninsula site. |
| 15538 |
| *20 |
Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what new proposals he has to co-ordinate the presentation of government policy. |
| 15539 |
| *21 |
Mr John Gunnell (Morley and Leeds South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on (a) the role and (b) the length of tenure of his political adviser. |
| 15540 |
| *22 |
Mr Harry Greenway (Ealing North): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he next intends to meet leaders of British industry to discuss deregulation; and if he will make a statement. |
| 15541 |
| *23 |
Sir Michael Neubert (Romford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what priorities he has given in his plans for the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich to the provision of facilities for visiting the site by river. |
| 15542 |
| *24 |
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what representations he has received on the presentation of Government policy in relation to the deregulation initiative. |
| 15543 |
| *25 |
Mr John Marshall (Hendon South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he last met EU ministers to discuss deregulation. |
| 15544 |
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs relating to Overseas Development will begin not later than 3.05 p.m.
| *26 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance his Department is currently providing towards the destruction of landmines worldwide. |
| 15545 |
| *27 |
Mr Jacques Arnold (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the performance of ODA projects in Latin America. |
| 15546 |
| *28 |
Mr John Marshall (Hendon South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement about the work of the Know How Fund in Central Europe. |
| 15547 |
| *29 |
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received concerning the overseas aid budget and the UN target for development expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. |
| 15548 |
| *30 |
Mr William O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the progress of Her Majesty's Government towards achieving the UN target of 0\7 per cent. of gross national product to development assistance. |
| 15549 |
| *31 |
Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action his Department is taking via (a) the Know How Fund and (b) other initiatives to assist EU applicant countries in respect of their economic and commercial structure. |
| 15552 |
| *32 |
Mr Nigel Spearing (Newham South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evaluation has been made by Her Majesty's Government of the joint aid agencies report, Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda; and what subsequent change of policy has been (a) evaluated and (b) decided arising from that report. |
| 15553 |
Questions to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission will begin not later than 3.20 p.m.
| *33 |
Sir Teddy Taylor (Southend East): To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, how many staff of the National Audit Office are employed in auditing expenditure relating to EU programmes. |
| 15555 |
| *34 |
Mr D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington): To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, what proposals exist for further review of the National Audit Office's powers. |
| 15556 |
Questions to the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, will start not later than 3.25 p.m.
| *35 |
Mr Peter Hardy (Wentworth): To ask the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Church Commissioners' role in the Church of England's submission to Her Majesty's Government in regard to the ecclesiastical heritage. |
| 15557 |
| *36 |
Mr Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey): To ask the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what projection of (a) church attendances and (b) contributions per church member are used by the Church Commissioners in carrying out their responsibilities for budgeting in respect of church finances. |
| 15558 |
| *37 |
Mr Tony Banks (Newham North West): To ask the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Church Commissioners' projected income for the next financial year. |
| 15559 |
| *38 |
Mr Harry Greenway (Ealing North): To ask the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many bishops (a) are and (b) are not provided with a car and chauffeur; at what annual cost; and if he will make a statement. |
| 15560 |
| *39 |
Mr Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Right honourable Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the difference in the value of clergy pensions under the new pension scheme and its predecessor. |
| 15561 |
ORDERS OF THE DAY AND NOTICES OF MOTIONS
Those marked thus * are Government Orders of the Day
|
| 1 |
OPPOSITION DAY [6th allotted day] |
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NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
| |
Mr Tony Blair
Mr John Prescott
Mr Chris Smith
Mr Tom Clarke
Mr Doug Hoyle
Mr Donald Dewar
That this House expresses its deep concern at the continuing deterioration of the National Health Service in the provision of both acute services and community care; notes with alarm the publication of the highest ever figures for people waiting for treatment; condemns Her Majesty's Government's continuing failure to rule out completely the commercialisation of General Practitioner services in its National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords]; believes that the imposition of the internal market system in the health service has fragmented decision-making, has set hospital against hospital and doctor against doctor, and has generated expensive and unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy; wants to see a transfer of resources from bureaucracy to patient care; salutes the dedication of staff at all levels within the Service who have held it together despite government policies, but expresses grave concern at the damaging impact those policies are having on staff morale; believes that government policy towards disabled people has failed to match the aspirations of disabled people themselves; believes that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 does not provide effective means for tackling disadvantage and discrimination affecting disabled people; calls for the establishment of a Disability Rights Commission to consider how best to achieve comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people; believes that under this Government community care has become a discredited term associated with inadequate care for those in need and inadequate protection for the general public; and confirms that the National Health Service is not safe in this Government's hands.
As Amendments to Mr Tony Blair's proposed Motion (National Health Service): |
|
The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Heseltine
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Howard
Mr Secretary Lilley
Mr Secretary Dorrell
Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add 'is committed to the National Health Service as a public service, promoting health and providing high-quality care more quickly than ever before; expresses its support for the continuing development of primary care and community health services; welcomes the Government's commitment to a growing budget for the National Health Service throughout the next five years; supports the Government's policies to increase independence, choice and opportunities for people with disabilities; and welcomes the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as a landmark in legislation for disabled people, of which there is no equal in the European Union.'. |
|
Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Alex Carlile
Mr James Wallace
Mr Archy Kirkwood
Line 1, leave out from 'concern' to end and add 'that both the Labour and Conservative Parties are proposing far too few additional resources to meet the minimum demands for the National Health Service and social care; believes that there should be immediate payment of the National Health Service salary increases recommended earlier this month by independent pay review bodies, an immediate halt to finance-driven closures of beds, hospitals and services which represent a reduction of services, pending an independent report into National Health Service demand and provision, an additional commitment of £200 million each year for recruitment, training and retention of National Health Service staff and a commitment to find the extra resources which would enable the reduction of waiting lists to a maximum of six months within a three-year period; and believes that the National Health Service and social care will not be safe in Conservative or Labour hands unless and until they make commitments of this sort.'.
The selection of the matter to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition pursuant to Standing Order No. 13(2).
|
| *2 |
BIRDS (REGISTRATION CHARGES) BILL: Second Reading. (The Second Reading Committee has recommended that the Bill ought to be read a second time.) |
| To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 90(6).
|
| 3 |
BIRDS (REGISTRATION CHARGES) BILL [WAYS AND MEANS] |
|
Mr Michael Jack
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Birds (Registration Charges) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment of any sums received by the Secretary of State into the Consolidated Fund.
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 50A(1)(a).
|
| 4 |
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |
|
Mr Secretary Rifkind
That the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the State of Israel) Order 1997, which was laid before this House on 10th February, be approved.
To be decided forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 101(6).
|
| 5 |
DATA PROTECTION:Queen's Recommendation signified. |
|
Mr Michael Jack
That the Data Protection Registrar shall, with effect from 1st April 1996, be paid a salary of £60,153 per annum.
Standing Order No. 14B does not apply to the above Motion, pursuant to Order [19th February].
|
| 6 |
ADMINISTRATION |
|
Mr Bob Dunn, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Mr Ken Purchase be added to the Administration Committee.
|
| On the Motion for the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 Mr David Hinchliffe proposes to raise the subject of human growth hormone and CJD. |
| COMMITTEES |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Treasury |
4.00 p.m. |
Room 8 (private) |
|
|
4.15 p.m. |
(public) |
|
Subject: Taxation: Self Assessment.
Witnesses: Officials of the Board of Inland Revenue. |
| 2 |
Information |
4.30 p.m. |
Conference Room, Communications Directorate, 10 Great George Street (private) |
| 3 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
|
Subject: Ministry of Defence: Management of Utilities.
Witness: Mr Richard Mottram, Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence. |
| 4 |
Standards and Privileges |
6.30 p.m. |
Room 19 (private) |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]
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