Order of Business for 4 November 1997

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Tuesday 4th November 1997

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Tuesday 4 November 1997.

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.
+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

At 2.30 p.m. Prayers

At 2.35 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

*1 Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)    What are his priorities for the Scottish criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement.

(12038)

*2 Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth)    What arrangements are in place to ensure high quality training for young people in the welfare to work scheme.

(12039)

*3 Mr William Cash (Stone)    If he will make a statement on his functions within the Council of Ministers.

(12040)

*4 Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West)    What representations he has received about the resources required by councils to provide their statutory services.

(12041)

*5 Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton)    What estimate he has made of the number of extra prison places he expects to create in the next five years.

(12042)

*6 Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough)    What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the use of the Private Finance Initiative to finance new capital projects in the Scottish Health Service.

(12043)

*7 Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West)    If he will make a statement on progress in reducing the Skye Bridge tolls.

(12044)

*8 Mr John McAllion (Dundee East)    What recent discussions he has held with COSLA relating to the financing of Scottish local government.

(12045)

*9 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)    What consultations he has had with (a) the Home Office, (b) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (c) the Department of Health on representation of the United Kingdom in the European Council by a Minister responsible to a Scottish Parliament.

(12046)

*10 Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South)    What progress he has made in respect of the proposals to reduce the number of health trusts in Scotland.

(12047)

*11 Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West)    If he will make a statement about progress of the Government's plans for a Scottish Parliament.

(12048)

*12 Mr David Marshall (Glasgow, Shettleston)    What discussions he has had with the Greater Glasgow Health Board and other bodies in Glasgow on healthy living initiatives.

(12049)

*13 Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South)    When he expects to establish a Criminal Cases Review Authority; and if he will make a statement.

(12051)

*14 Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray)    When he last met European Fisheries Ministers to discuss the problem of quota hopping in Scottish waters.

(12052)

*15 Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East)    What estimate he has made of the additional costs to public funds which would stem from the devolution proposals.

(12053)

*16 Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus)    How many submissions he received in response to his Department's consultation on the Dearing and Garrick reports.

(12054)

*17 Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale)    When he last met the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss the future development of the industry in Scotland.

(12055)

*18 Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South)    When he next plans to meet the Chairman of the Health Boards in Scotland to discuss the reduction of bureaucracy.

(12056)

*19 Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold)    What discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about the use of PFI to finance new prisons.

(12057)

*20 Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot)    If he will make a statement on the proposed powers of the Scottish Parliament in relation to European Union matters.

(12058)

*21 Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill)    What assessment he has made of the future availability of nursery education combined with daycare.

(12059)

*22 Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire)    When he next plans to discuss Scottish agriculture with his European Union counterparts.

(12060)

*23 Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs)    What representations he has received from Scots not currently resident in Scotland who were excluded from voting in the recent referendum.

(12061)

*24 Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford)    When he expects to meet his target for class sizes of 30 pupils.

(12062)

*25 Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead)    What discussions he has had with Her Majesty's Treasury regarding the size of the Scottish block.

(12063)

*26 Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset)    What are his plans for the Forestry Commission after Scottish devolution with particular reference to its responsibilities outside Scotland.

(12064)

*27 Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute)    What plans he has to meet the managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne to discuss their ferry services.

(12065)

*28 Mr Michael Jack (Fylde)    If he will make a statement on his planned increase in health expenditure in Scotland for 1998--99.

(12066)

*29 Mr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde)    What plans he has to modify the regulations governing the registration and inspection of residential and nursing homes for the elderly.

(12067)

At 3.15 p.m.

Oral Questions to the President of the Council, the honourable Member answering for the House of Commons Commission and the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee)

*30 Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on the future work in modernising the House.

(12023)

*31 Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):        To ask the President of the Council, what consideration she has given to time-limiting all contributions to debates in the Chamber.

(12024)

*32 Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):        To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to implement the recommendations contained in the First Report of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons (HC 190, Session 1997--98).

(12027)

*33 Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will introduce proposals to start sittings at 2 pm on Thursdays.

(12028)

*34 Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will move to provide for an additional sub-committee of the Environmental, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee to consider regional affairs; and if she will make a statement.

(12029)

*35 Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):        To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to arrange Parliamentary business so that recesses coincide with school holidays.

(12030)

*36 Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):        To ask the President of the Council, what discussions she has had to encourage greater transparency in the answers to parliamentary questions.

(12031)

*37 Mr Hugh Bayley (City of York):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement about the Government's policy to curb the misuse of drugs.

(12033)

*38 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will set up a Select Committee on the re-analysis by the Metropolitan Police of the circumstances surrounding the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

(12034)

*39 Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) :    To ask the President of the Council, what progress she has made on assessing the advantages of a semicircular seating arrangement for the House.

(12035)

*40 Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):        To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on the progress made in respect of the proposals from the Modernisation of the House Committee.

(12036)

*41 Paul Flynn (Newport West):        To ask the President of the Council, what assessment she has made of the result of the Government's strategy on the reduction in the use of illegal drugs.

(12037)

3.30 p.m.

Private Notice Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business
Ten minute rule Motion

PROHIBITION OF BULL BARS [Up to 20 minutes]

Mr Richard Spring

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the fitting of bull bars to motor vehicles.

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 [3rd allotted day] [Until 10.00 p.m.] GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS FOR STUDENT FINANCE
		Mr William Hague Mr Peter Lilley Mr Michael Howard Mr Stephen Dorrell Mr Michael Ancram Mr Tim Yeo That this House welcomes the expansion of higher education which has taken place in recent years; shares the view of the Dearing Committee that a further period of expansion is desirable; believes that part of the cost of this expansion should be met by students themselves, but agrees with the Dearing Committee that means-tested maintenance grants make an important contribution to improving access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds and deeply regrets the Government's hurried decision to reject this advice; and finds incomprehensible the Government's proposal that students from other EU countries should be able to attend four-year courses at Scottish universities on terms more favourable than those available to home students living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Government Proposals for Student Finance):
		The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Cook Mr Secretary Blunkett Mr Secretary Dewar Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add, 'welcomes the decisive response of Her Majesty's Government to the report of the National Committee of Enquiry into Higher Education and to the crisis of funding in higher education bequeathed by the previous administration; notes with approval the new arrangements for supporting students, including fair repayment arrangements and targeted help for the most disadvantaged; and welcomes the commitment to ensuring that more people will have opportunities to participate in high-quality education to their benefit and to the benefit of the country as a whole.'.
		Mr Paddy Ashdown Mr A. J. Beith Mr James Wallace Mr Richard Livsey Mr Don Foster Mr Paul Tyler

Mr Phil Willis

		Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add 'joins the Government in condemning the last Government for its failure to invest in higher education; congratulates the Government on the commendable target of 500,000 extra higher education and further education students by 2002; condemns however the Government's proposals to introduce student tuition fees, a poll tax on those in higher education; believes that the Government's plans will do nothing to bring in extra funds to meet the immediate crisis in higher education; warns the Government that the introduction of fees will seriously affect the number of students choosing to continue in education; further warns the Government that the number of students dropping out of university mainly due to problems of poverty, already one in eight students, will increase; believes that the Government's proposals fail to avoid further problems and inequities; and, whilst retaining absolute opposition to the introduction of tuition fees, calls on the Government not to continue with its proposals until it has resolved the issue of redefinition of the accounting rules that treat lending as spending, which would enable significant sums to be invested in higher education, to seek additional sources of finance from both the state and employers, to increase the size of students' maintenance loans to help avoid the issue of student poverty, to increase access to university by boosting stay-on rates post-16, and to treat all students over the age of 18 as independent adults.'. THREATS TO RURAL LIFE AND THE RURAL ECONOMY
		Mr William Hague Mr Peter Lilley Mr Michael Howard Mr Michael Jack Mr Tim Yeo Mr James Arbuthnot That this House expresses its concern about the economic and environmental pressures currently affecting the rural economy and rural life; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to respond to this situation by protecting farmers from the effects of the appreciation of sterling, withdrawing the Government-imposed ceiling on the weight of cattle entering the BSE over thirty months scheme and undertaking without precondition discussions with farmers and their representatives about the level of payments to be made through the 1997--98 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances scheme; and condemns the proposals to extend access to the countryside by means of a legal right to roam rather than voluntary agreement, not to introduce policies to protect small village shops and rural post offices, to create urban-based regional development agencies, to weaken planning controls designed to protect the Green Belt and the countryside, and to threaten the pursuit of traditional country sports. As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Threats to Rural Life and the Rural Economy):
		The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Cook Mr Secretary Straw Dr John Cunningham Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add, 'deplores the neglect of the countryside and rural areas over the past eighteen years by the previous administration; congratulates the Government on its commitment to the countryside; welcomes the Government's intention to create the conditions necessary to let the rural economy flourish, to protect and enhance the rural environment and to enable everyone to enjoy the countryside; and further welcomes the start already made, notably on the reform of the CAP, the review of the Organic Aid Scheme, introducing Arable Stewardship, and reviewing the legislation for the protection of hedges and SSSIs.'.
		Mr Paddy Ashdown Mr A. J. Beith Mr James Wallace Mr Richard Livsey Mr Charles Kennedy Mr Paul Tyler Line 2, leave out from 'life' to end and add 'notes that many such concerns were much in evidence under the previous administration; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation by abandoning its stated proposal to freeze Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances and instead restore them to earlier levels, to alleviate the income losses suffered as a result of the strength of sterling through accessing relevant EU funds, to reverse the cuts imposed in the Over Thirty Months Scheme payments, to protect the future role of the Rural Development Commission within the context of the proposed Rural Development Agencies, to strive for CAP reform which takes account of the potential impact of modulation upon UK agriculture, and to pursue policies which encourage employment in the rural areas through enhanced emphasis on the environment and the maintenance of the family farm.'.
		The selection of the matter to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition, pursuant to Standing Order No. 14(2).
Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

At the end of the sitting:

	3	ADJOURNMENT
		Proposed subject: Roads in East Sussex (Mr Nigel Waterson).
		*Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).*

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
STANDING COMMITTEE
1	Standing Committee B	10.30 a.m.	Room 11 (public)
		4.30 p.m.	(public)
	Further to consider the Social Security Bill
SELECT COMMITTEES
2	Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Environment Sub-Committee	9.00 a.m.	Room 17 (private)
		9.15 a.m.	(public)
	Subject: Sewage Treatment and Disposal Witnesses: Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage; National Environment Research Council and the Soil Survey, Land Research Centre, Cranfield University (at 10.15 a.m.)
3	Agriculture	10.00 a.m.	Room 8 (private)
		10.30 a.m.	(public)
	Subject: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Intervention Board Departmental Report 1997 Witnesses: Rt Hon Dr John Cunningham, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Mr Richard Packer, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Mr George Trevelyan, Chief Executive, Intervention Board
4	Foreign Affairs	10.00 a.m.	Room 15 (private)
		10.30 a.m.	(public)
	Subject: The Treaty of Amsterdam Witnesses: Rt Hon Robin Cook, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Mr Simon Gass, Head of European Union Department (Internal); Mr Ian Hendry, Legal Counsellor, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
5	Trade and Industry	10.00 a.m.	Room 6 (private)
		10.30 a.m.	(public)
	Subject: The work of the Department of Trade and Industry Witnesses: The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, MP, President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Mr Michael Scholar, CB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry
6	Home Affairs	10.15 a.m.	Room 21 (private)
		10.30 a.m.	(public)
	Subject: Police Disciplinary and Complaints Procedures Witnesses: Police Federation
7	Public Administration	10.30 a.m.	Room 20 (private)
8	Standards and Privileges	10.30 a.m.	Room 16 (private)
9	Welsh Affairs	10.30 a.m.	Room 18 (private)
10	European Legislation	11.30 a.m.	Room 19 (private)
11	Culture, Media and Sport	2.30 p.m.	Room 15 (public)
	Subject: The Royal Opera House Witnesses: Rt Hon Chris Smith, MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Arts Council of England (at 3.45 pm approximately); Royal Opera House (at 4.15pm approximately)
12	Education and Employment: Employment Sub-Committee	3.45 p.m. 4.00 p.m.	Room 19 (private) (public)
	Subject: The New Deal Witnesses: Federation of Small Businesses
13	Agriculture	4.00 p.m.	Room 8 (private)
		4.15 p.m.	(public)
	Subject: CAP Reform: Agenda 2000 Witnesses: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officials
14	Administration	5.00 p.m.	Room 13 (private)
15	Statutory Instruments	Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee	Room 7 (private)
JOINT COMMITTEE
16	Statutory Instruments	4.15 p.m.	Room 7 (private)

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

Standing Committee Notices
WELSH GRAND COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
Notices of Questions for oral answer on Tuesday 18th November may be given on Tuesday 4th November.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
*1	Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) What are his priorities for the Scottish criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement.
	(12038)
*2	Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) What arrangements are in place to ensure high quality training for young people in the welfare to work scheme.
	(12039)
*3	Mr William Cash (Stone) If he will make a statement on his functions within the Council of Ministers.
	(12040)
*4	Mr Donald Gorrie (Edinburgh West) What representations he has received about the resources required by councils to provide their statutory services.
	(12041)
*5	Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton) What estimate he has made of the number of extra prison places he expects to create in the next five years.
	(12042)
*6	Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough) What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the use of the Private Finance Initiative to finance new capital projects in the Scottish Health Service.
	(12043)
*7	Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) If he will make a statement on progress in reducing the Skye Bridge tolls.
	(12044)
*8	Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) What recent discussions he has held with COSLA relating to the financing of Scottish local government.
	(12045)
*9	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow) What consultations he has had with (a) the Home Office, (b) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and (c) the Department of Health on representation of the United Kingdom in the European Council by a Minister responsible to a Scottish Parliament.
	(12046)
*10	Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Cunninghame South) What progress he has made in respect of the proposals to reduce the number of health trusts in Scotland.
	(12047)
*11	Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) If he will make a statement about progress of the Government's plans for a Scottish Parliament.
	(12048)
*12	Mr David Marshall (Glasgow, Shettleston) What discussions he has had with the Greater Glasgow Health Board and other bodies in Glasgow on healthy living initiatives.
	(12049)
*13	Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South) When he expects to establish a Criminal Cases Review Authority; and if he will make a statement.
	(12051)
*14	Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) When he last met European Fisheries Ministers to discuss the problem of quota hopping in Scottish waters.
	(12052)
*15	Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East) What estimate he has made of the additional costs to public funds which would stem from the devolution proposals.
	(12053)
*16	Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) How many submissions he received in response to his Department's consultation on the Dearing and Garrick reports.
	(12054)
*17	Mr Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) When he last met the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss the future development of the industry in Scotland.
	(12055)
*18	Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) When he next plans to meet the Chairman of the Health Boards in Scotland to discuss the reduction of bureaucracy.
	(12056)
*19	Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) What discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about the use of PFI to finance new prisons.
	(12057)
*20	Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) If he will make a statement on the proposed powers of the Scottish Parliament in relation to European Union matters.
	(12058)
*21	Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill) What assessment he has made of the future availability of nursery education combined with daycare.
	(12059)
*22	Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire) When he next plans to discuss Scottish agriculture with his European Union counterparts.
	(12060)
*23	Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs) What representations he has received from Scots not currently resident in Scotland who were excluded from voting in the recent referendum.
	(12061)
*24	Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford) When he expects to meet his target for class sizes of 30 pupils.
	(12062)
*25	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead) What discussions he has had with Her Majesty's Treasury regarding the size of the Scottish block.
	(12063)
*26	Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset) What are his plans for the Forestry Commission after Scottish devolution with particular reference to its responsibilities outside Scotland.
	(12064)
*27	Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute) What plans he has to meet the managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne to discuss their ferry services.
	(12065)
*28	Mr Michael Jack (Fylde) If he will make a statement on his planned increase in health expenditure in Scotland for 1998--99.
	(12066)
*29	Mr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde) What plans he has to modify the regulations governing the registration and inspection of residential and nursing homes for the elderly.
	(12067)

*30	Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on the future work in modernising the House.
	(12023)
*31	Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the President of the Council, what consideration she has given to time-limiting all contributions to debates in the Chamber.
	(12024)
*32	Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to implement the recommendations contained in the First Report of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons (HC 190, Session 1997--98).
	(12027)
*33	Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish): To ask the President of the Council, if she will introduce proposals to start sittings at 2 pm on Thursdays.
	(12028)
*34	Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the President of the Council, if she will move to provide for an additional sub-committee of the Environmental, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee to consider regional affairs; and if she will make a statement.
	(12029)
*35	Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the President of the Council, what plans she has to arrange Parliamentary business so that recesses coincide with school holidays.
	(12030)
*36	Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the President of the Council, what discussions she has had to encourage greater transparency in the answers to parliamentary questions.
	(12031)
*37	Mr Hugh Bayley (City of York): To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement about the Government's policy to curb the misuse of drugs.
	(12033)
*38	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): To ask the President of the Council, if she will set up a Select Committee on the re-analysis by the Metropolitan Police of the circumstances surrounding the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
	(12034)
*39	Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) : To ask the President of the Council, what progress she has made on assessing the advantages of a semicircular seating arrangement for the House.
	(12035)
*40	Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the President of the Council, if she will make a statement on the progress made in respect of the proposals from the Modernisation of the House Committee.
	(12036)
*41	Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the President of the Council, what assessment she has made of the result of the Government's strategy on the reduction in the use of illegal drugs.
	(12037)