BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
23 - 25 OCTOBER 1996

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

State Opening of Parliament - The Commons was summoned to the House of Lords to hear the Queen's Speech at 11.30 am. The sitting was suspended until 2.30 pm.

Among the proposals for legislation were:

legislation to widen choice and diversity, improve discipline and raise standards in schools;

a Bill to reform sentencing and supervision of serious and persistent offenders;

legislation to fight organised crime and establish a National Crime Squad;

a Bill to strengthen controls on firearms;

legislation to protect the coastline from pollution by merchant shipping;

re-introduction of Bill for construction of Channel Tunnel rail link;

legislation to improve primary health care;

a Bill to combat social security fraud;

legislation to reform parish and community councils and for rate relief to village shops;

legislation to abolish early prison release in Scotland;

a Bill to transfer crofting estates to crofting trusts;

reform of a civil court procedure and other law reform;

legislation to provide for decommissioning of weapons in Northern Ireland

(The Speech is published by The Stationery Office, £1.55, ISBN 0104211970)

Debate on the Address (1st Day) - On a motion by Sir Norman Fowler to thank Her Majesty for the Gracious Speech, seconded by Mr Barry Field

Adjournment Debate - Mr Peter Butler on the Institute of Chartered Accountants (case of Mr A G Aiyer, FCA)

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

Business Statement - For details see FORTHCOMING BUSINESS

Debate on the Address (2nd Day) - Led by Mr Malcolm Rifkind, on foreign affairs and defence

Adjournment Debate - Mr David Rendel on hospital services in Newbury

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

Debate on the Address (3rd Day) - On social policy

Adjournment Debate - Mr Matthew Banks on security in the Middle East

FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

28 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER 1996

MONDAY 28 OCTOBER

Oral Questions - Transport; House of Commons Commission; Lord President of the Council

Debate on the Address (4th Day) - On home affairs

Adjournment Debate - Mr Graham Allen on industrial accidents in Nottingham

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER

Oral Questions - Defence; the Prime Minister (at 3.15pm)

Debate on the Address (5th Day) - On education and local government

Adjournment Debate - Mr Iain Duncan Smith on racecourse betting cartels

WEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER

The House will sit at 9.30am

Private Members' debates

Sir Hector Munro on wind farms and telecommunications towers in Scotland; (11.00am) Mr Joe Ashton on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; (12.30pm) Sir Colin Shepherd on veterinary education in Europe; (1.00pm) Kate Hoey on a British Sports Academy; (1.30pm) Mr Richard Spring on taxation of racing industry.

The sitting will be suspended from 2.00pm until 2.30pm

Oral Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Debate on the Address (6th and Final Day) - On the economy

Adjournment Debate - Mr Paul Tyler on organophosphate pesticides

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER

Oral Questions - Treasury; the Prime Minister (at 3.15pm)

Business Statement

Legislation - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Bill (2nd reading)

Adjournment Debate - Sir Roger Sims on British citizenship (the Downham family)

N.B. The Ballot for Private Members' Bills will take place at midday on Thursday 31 November. Telephone the Public Information Office on 0171 219 4272 after 1.00pm for details.

FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Debate - On the Improving Schools programme

Adjournment Debate - Mr Edward O'Hara on UK relations with Greece

PROVISIONAL FUTURE BUSINESS

Friday 8 November is a non-sitting day

A debate on Hong Kong led by the Foreign Secretary has been announced for Thursday 14 November

FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

28 OCTOBER - 31 OCTOBER

Enquiries about Lords business may be put to the Lords Information Office 0171-219 3107

MONDAY 28 OCTOBER (2.30pm)

Oral Questions - Religious worship in secondary schools (E. of Longford); Presentation of Gibraltar's interests in talks between the United Kingdom and Spain under the Brussels Agreement (L. Merrivale); Franco-German proposals for a more flexible Union and the abolition of the United Kingdom's veto (L. Bruce of Donington); Use of police camera evidence to charge motorists using telephones while driving (L. Campbell of Croy).

Debate - Debate on the Address (2nd day). The debate will concentrate on foreign affairs, overseas aid and defence.

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER (2.30pm)

Introductions - L. Thomas of Gresford; L. Currie of Marylebone.

Oral Questions - Study of the Gospels in religious education (E. of Longford); Marketing of dessert apples smaller than the Community prescribed minimum (L. Bruce of Donington); Registration and supervision of model agencies (L. Campbell of Croy); Sale of playing fields by schools and local education authorities (L. Taylor of Blackburn).

Debate - Debate on the Address (3rd day). The debate will concentrate on environment, agriculture, local government and education.

WEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER (2.30pm)

Introductions - L. Vincent of Coleshill; L. Taylor of Warwick.

Oral Questions - Reduction in violence, crime, sex and aggressive behaviour on television (L. Renton); Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Effects of signatures (L. Jenkins of Putney).

Debate - Debate on the Address (4th day). The debate will concentrate on industry and economic affairs; Amendment to the Motion for a Humble Address (L. Peston).

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER (3.00pm)

Oral Questions - Reduction in education funding in Northern Ireland (L. Holme of Cheltenham); Assessment of the humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the United Kingdom's response (L. Judd); Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the use of nuclear weapons (L. Jenkins of Putney).

Legislation - Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill (Committee on Re-commitment - if brought from the Commons).

Delegated Legislation - Open-ended Investment Companies (Investment Companies with Variable Capital) Regulations - Motion for Approval.

PROVISIONAL FUTURE BUSINESS

MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Legislation - National Heritage Bill [HL] (second reading).

TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Legislation - Civil Procedure Bill [HL] (second reading).

WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER

Introduction - L. Hussey of North Bradley.

Debates - Labour debates.