BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
2 - 6 DECEMBER 1996

MONDAY 2 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Wales; Attorney General

Private Notice Question - Mr John Owen Jones on Meningitis outbreak (Cardiff) (Mr William Hague)

Debate - Budget resolutions and economic situation (4th day)

Adjournment Debate - Mr Roger Gale on Community Care in Margate and Herne Bay

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Health; Prime Minister

Statement - Economic and Finance Council (Mr Kenneth Clarke)

Ten Minute Rule Bill - Local Authorities (Youth Expenditure) (Mr Andrew Rowe)

Debate - Budget resolutions and economic situation (5th day, concluded) (Agreed to, with divisions. Amendments by Mr Tony Blair on Ways and Means motion and on public expenditure, negatived on division)

Adjournment Debate - Mr Llew Smith on incapacity benefits

WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER

The House sat at 9.30am

Private Members' Debates

Mr Denis MacShane on compensation for former prisoners-of-war held by the Japanese; Mr Tim Yeo on sustainable development; Mr Alan Simpson on listing of Brazilian Mahogany on Appendix II of Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES); Mr Ian Bruce on Uniform Business Rates in Dorset; Mr John Home Robertson on effects of Government policies on electricity generation industry in East Lothian

The sitting was suspended from 2.00 - 2.30 pm

Oral Questions - Trade and Industry

Ten Minute Rule Bill - Partial-Birth Abortion (Mrs Elizabeth Peacock)

Legislation - Firearms (Amendment) Bill, Allocation of time motion and remaining stages (Amendments negatived on division. Bill amended and read a third time without division)

Adjournment Debate - Mr Jonathan Aitken on Kent Capital Challenge bid

THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Home Office; Prime Minister

Business Statement

Delegated Legislation - Port of Tyne Authority (Transfer of Undertakings) Order 1996 (Motion to approve agreed to on division)

Delegated Legislation - Social Security (Disability Living Allowance and Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (Motion to revoke negatived on division)

Delegated Legislation - Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (Fees) (No 1) Order 1996 (Approved, no division)

Adjournment Debate - Hilary Armstrong on hospital services in North Durham

FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER

This Bulletin goes to press before the actual proceedings on Friday are known

Debate - On a motion for the adjournment of the House on trade and inward investment

Adjournment Debate - Sir John Gorst on emergency medical arrangements for Edgware district of North West London

FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 9 - 13 DECEMBER 1996

MONDAY 9 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Deputy Prime Minister / Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Overseas Development; Public Accounts Commission; Church Commissioners

Legislation - Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Bill, 2nd reading

Adjournment Debate - Mr Chris Davies on policing the streets

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Social Security; Prime Minister

Ten Minute Rule Bill - Licensing (Reform) (Mr Paddy Tipping)

Debate - On the Estimates (Vote on Account, Class XVIII, Vote 1 Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service) on access to Government information (1st allotted Estimates day - 1st part)

Legislation - Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, Lords amendments

Legislation - Consolidated Fund Bill

Adjournment Debate - Mr Michael Fabricant on party political broadcasts on national radio

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER

Private Members' debates

Mr Frank Field (Social Security Committee) on unfunded pension liabilities in the European Union; (11.00 am) Mr Andrew F Bennett (Environment Committee) on World Trade and the environment

The above two subjects have been selected by the Liaison Committee pursuant to Standing Order No 10(4)

(12.30 pm) Mr Barry Field on Prison Estate on the Isle of Wight; (1.00 pm) Mr Tom Cox on UK policy on Cyprus; (1.30 pm) Mr John Marshall on compensation for haemophiliacs infected with Hepatitis C

Oral Questions - Education and Employment

Ten Minute Rule Bill - Fire Safety (Mr John Heppell)

Debate - On a motion for the adjournment of the House on the European Union (Government motion, 1st day)

Adjournment Debate - Mr Paul Flynn on misuse of medicinal drugs

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - Northern Ireland; Prime Minister

Debate - On the European Union (2nd day, concluded)

Adjournment Debate - Sir John Stanley on widening of the M20 between junctions 3 and 5

FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER

Private Members' Bills

Consideration of Private Members' Bills may include a lengthy debate on the first-named Bill and sometimes debate also on those named subsequently. These Bills and, without debate, any not reached by 2.30pm may go through the stage named, and further stages, if objections are not made.

Knives; Prisons (Alcohol Testing); Telecommunications (Fraud); Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland); Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Consents) (2nd readings)

Adjournment Debate - Mr Colin Pickthall on labelling of genetically engineered food

PROVISIONAL FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 16 - 19 DECEMBER 1996

This business was announced with that above and is subject to alteration

MONDAY 16 DECEMBER

Oral Questions - National Heritage; Lord Chancellor

Legislation - Protection from Harassment Bill, further stages

Adjournment Debate - Mr Tim Smith on protection of the Green Belt

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER

Ten Minute Rule Bill - Companies (Millennium Computer Compliance) (Mr David Atkinson)

Christmas recess - Thursday 19 December to Monday 13 January

FORTHCOMING BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
9 - 13 DECEMBER

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

MONDAY 9 DECEMBER (2.30pm)

Oral Questions - Operation Granby: Circumstances in which solicitor/client and practitioner/patient confidentiality may be broken (C. of Mar); Water companies long-term sustainable water resource and drought contingency plans: Powers of the Environment Agency (L. Dubs); Plight of single-parent families (L. Ashley of Stoke); Future of the Royal Observatories (L. Haskel).

Humble Address - Succession to the Crown (L. Archer of Weston-Super-Mare) - Motion for approval.

Legislation - Scottish Borders Council (Jim Clark Memorial Rally) Order Confirmation Bill (third reading); Western Isles Council (Berneray Causeway) Order Confirmation Bill (third reading); Theft (Amendment) Bill [HL] (report stage); Civil Procedure Bill [HL] (report stage); Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Bill (committee stage).

Delegated Legislation - High Court and County Courts Jurisdiction (Amendment) Order 1996; European Police Office (Legal Capacities) Order 1996; European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Latvia) Order 1996; European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Lithuania) Order 1996; European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Europe Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Estonia) Order 1996 - Motions for approval; Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules - Motion to disapprove.

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER (2.30pm)

Introduction - Lord Bishop of Ely.

Oral Questions - Application of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention to conflict in Turkey (L. Hylton); Banking secrecy in Switzerland (L. Dubs); Report of the Medical Royal Colleges on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (E. Baldwin of Bewdley); Agreement of HMG of the conclusion of the report The Theatre Commission: a Report on Subsidised Theatre in the United Kingdom (L. Donoughue).

Legislation - Horserace Totalisator Board Bill [HL] (third reading); Theft (Amendment) Bill [HL] (third reading); Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Bill [HL] (committee stage).

Delegated Legislation - Port of Tyne Authority (Transfer of Undertaking) Order 1996 - Motion for approval.

Unstarred Question - Replacement of HMY Britannia (L. Ashbourne).

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER (2.30pm)

Oral Questions - Manchester city centre: Funds received after IRA bombing (L. Dean of Beswick); Appointment of chairmen and vice-chairmen of the boards of visitors of prisons by Ministers of the Crown (L. Harris of Greenwich); Housing for families of Gurkhas relocated to the United Kingdom (L. Holme of Cheltenham); Long-term health of British oak trees: Imports of seedlings (L. Campbell of Croy).

Debates - Role of the family (L. Northbourne).

Legislation - Education (Special Educational Needs) Bill [HL] (committee stage).

Unstarred Question - Effects on the United Kingdom art market of European harmonisation directives on VAT and artists' resale rights (V. Blakenham).

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER (3.00pm)

Oral Questions - Humanitarian needs in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (L. Judd); Estimated cost of the Trident nuclear fleet (L. Jenkins of Putney); Representations of the Training and Enterprise Councils' National Council on training programmes for the unemployed (L. Dormand of Easington).

Legislation - National Heritage Bill [HL] (third reading); Welfare of Broiler Chickens Bill [HL] (committee stage); British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill [HL] (second reading); Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill [HL] (second reading).

Delegated Legislation - Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1997; Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland Consequential Amendments) Order 1997; Town and Country Planning (Fees for Application and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 1997; Town and Country Planning (Fees for Application and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) Regulations 1997; Financial Services Act 1986 (Extension of Scope of Act) Order 1996 - Motions for approval.

Unstarred Question - ELBS (Education Low-Priced Book Scheme) replacement: Promotion by the ODA (Overseas Development Agency) (L. St. John of Bletso).

PROVISIONAL FUTURE BUSINESS

MONDAY 16 DECEMBER

Legislation - Civil Procedure Bill [HL] (third reading); Firearms (Amendment) Bill (second reading).

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER

Legislation - National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [HL] (committee stage).

Delegated Legislation - Social Security (Child Maintenance Bonus) Regulations 1996; Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 1996; Social Security (Incapacity for Work and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996; Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Allocation of Housing and Homelessness Functions) Order 1996 - Motions for approval.

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER

Debates - Role of the media in a democratic society (L. Chalfont); Human rights situation in China and Tibet (L. Avebury).

Legislation - Obscenity Bill [HL] (second reading).

THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER

Debate - Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Civil Service (B. Hayman).

Christmas Recess - Thursday 19 December 1996 to Monday 13 January 1997.

MONDAY 13 JANUARY

Legislation - Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Bill [HL] (report stage).

THURSDAY 16 JANUARY

Unstarred Question - Establishment of a unit within the Ministry of Defence responsible for the welfare of ex-service personnel and their dependents (B. Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde).

WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY

Introduction - Lord Bishop of Hereford.

Debate - Economic value of the international work of the City of London and systems of corporate governance (E. of Gowrie).

HOUSE OF LORDS SELECT COMMITTEES: PUBLIC MEETINGS

Meetings of the following Committees (and their sub-committees) only are listed: Delegated Powers and Deregulation Committee (formerly Delegated Powers Scrutiny Committee); European Communities; Public Service; Science & Technology.

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER

PUBLIC SERVICE, COMMITTEE ON 4.15pm

Evidence will be heard.

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee I (Framework Programme) 10.45am

Evidence: From (i) Professor T. M. Husband, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Salford; (ii) Professor R. Sibson, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Kent at Canterbury; (iii) Professor R. C. Floud, Provost, London Guildhall University, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and (iv) Sir William Stewart, FRSE, FRS.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions) 4.30pm

Evidence: From (i) Consumers' Association; (ii) the National Consumer Council; (iii) Consumers in Europe Group and (iv) the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, on Consumer Guarantees.

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee II (Towards Zero Emissions for Road Transport) 10.45am

Evidence: From Dr Elizabeth Garnsey, University of Cambridge and (ii) Mr Pendarell Kent, Bank of England.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee B (Energy, Industry, Transport and the Working Environment) 10.45am

Evidence: From Mr James Knapp, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and President of the Railway Workers Section of the International Transport Workers Federation on Community Railway Strategy.

PROVISIONAL FUTURE BUSINESS

TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER

PUBLIC SERVICE, COMMITTEE ON 4.15pm

Evidence: From (i) Mrs Ann Bowtell, CB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Social Security and (ii) Miss Ann Chant, Chief Executive, Child Support Agency.

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee B (Energy, Industry, Transport and the Working Environment) 10.45am

Evidence: From (i) Mr Martin Brennan, Director of Freight Regulation, the Office of the Rail Regulator and (ii) Mr John Watts MP, Minister for Railways and Roads, Department of Transport, on Community Railway Strategy.

Sub-Committee C (Environment, Public Health and Education) 11.00am

Evidence: From the Confederation of British Industry and possibly others, on Environmental Policy: Monitoring, Enforcement and Transparency.

Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions) 4.30pm

Evidence: From (i) the British Retail Consortium and (ii) the Confederation of British Industry, on Consumer Guarantees.

Christmas Recess - Thursday 19 December 1996 to Monday 13 January 1997.

TUESDAY 14 JANUARY

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee I (Framework Programme) 10.45am

Evidence: From Sir Dai Rees.

WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee C (Environment, Public Health and Education) 11.00am

Evidence may be heard on Environmental Policy: Monitoring, Enforcement and Transparency.

Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions) 4.30pm

Evidence will be heard on Consumer Guarantees.

TUESDAY 21 JANUARY

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee A (Economic and Financial Affairs, Trade and External Relations) 10.45am

Evidence will be heard.

WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee II (Towards Zero Emissions for Road Transport) 10.45am

Evidence: From Mr William Castell, FCA, Chief Executive, Amersham International.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions) 4.30pm

Evidence will be heard on Consumer Guarantees.

TUESDAY 28 JANUARY

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee A (Economic and Financial Affairs, Trade and External Relations) 11.00am

Evidence: From Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies, Directorate-General XVI, Regional Policy and Cohesion.

WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee II (Towards Zero Emissions for Road Transport) 10.45am

Evidence: From Mr David Quysner, Chairman, British Venture Capital Association and (ii) the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions) 4.30pm

Evidence will be heard on Consumer Guarantees.

TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE

Sub-Committee A (Economic and Financial Affairs, Trade and External Relations) 10.45am

Evidence: From Sr Speciale, Chairman, Regional Policy committee.