| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence |
| *1 |
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury): What steps he is taking to ensure that Territorial Army units can continue to conduct unit level exercises and participate, as units, in formation-level training. |
| (16794) |
| *2 |
Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne): If he will make a statement on the (a) financial and (b) service personnel impact for the Royal Engineers of his Department's landmines strategy. |
| (16795) |
| *3 |
Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): If Her Majesty's Government will repay to former prisoners of war the amount deducted from their pay on which they had paid taxes and which was not refunded to the German and Italian governments in a post-war settlement. |
| (16796) |
| *4 |
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): If he will make a statement on the total cost of the British nuclear deterrent over the next four years. |
| (16797) |
| *5 |
Mr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): What recent representations he has received anent the future of the Royal Yacht `Britannia'. |
| (16798) |
| *6 |
Jacqui Smith (Redditch): If he will make a statement on the Government's plans for a defence diversification agency. |
| (16799) |
| *7 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): What estimates his Department has made of the potential for disposal of its land and buildings over the next five years. |
| (16800) |
| *8 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): What assessment he has made of the cost to Her Majesty's Government of NATO expansion. |
| (16801) |
| *9 |
Mr Robert Syms (Poole): If he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Yacht `Britannia'. |
| (16802) |
| *10 |
John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): What assessment he has made of the adequacy of heavy lift transport aircraft in Royal Air Force service. |
| (16804) |
| *11 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): What assessment he has made of the importance of the regimental system. |
| (16805) |
| *12 |
Alice Mahon (Halifax): What steps his Department is taking to improve levels of recruitment from the United Kingdom's ethnic minorities. |
| (16806) |
| *13 |
Mr John McAllion (Dundee East): How many representations his Department has received on the Trident nuclear weapons system since 1st May; and how many (a) supported and (b) opposed retention of Trident. |
| (16808) |
| *14 |
Laura Moffat (Crawley): What steps his Department is taking to expand employment opportunities for women in the armed forces. |
| (16809) |
| *15 |
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): What is the level of Her Majesty's forces currently deployed in the Persian Gulf. |
| (16810) |
| *16 |
Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): If he will instigate a review of the policy relating to the distribution and striking of medals and the protocols relating to their display. |
| (16811) |
| *17 |
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): What guidance he has given to the Chief of the General Staff on the selection and commissioning of army officers. |
| (16812) |
| *18 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): When he intends publishing the RAF's operational requirement for the Future Large Aircraft. |
| (16813) |
| *19 |
Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury): If he will make a statement about the future of the TAVR. |
| (16814) |
| *20 |
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): If he will make a statement on the review of the Defence Medical Service. |
| (16815) |
| *21 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): If he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for the provision of new surface ships for the Royal Navy. |
| (16817) |
| *22 |
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): If he will publish the cost of refurbishing his Department's headquarters. |
| (16818) |
| *23 |
Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside): What is the estimated value of the Astor project; and when he expects to announce his decision on this project. |
| (16819) |
| *24 |
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): How many service personnel are currently deployed overseas on duties related to the current situation in Iraq; and what plans he has to add to these numbers. |
| (16820) |
| *25 |
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): If he will restore the planned reduction in financial support towards the maintenance of the Yorks and Lancaster Regimental Museum in Rotherham. |
| (16821) |
| *26 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If the cost of the United Kingdom's contribution in the former Yugoslavia will continue to be met from the Contingency Reserve. |
| (16822) |
| *27 |
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): What is the current level of Britain's military contribution to the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia. |
| (16823) |
| *28 |
Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): If he will ensure that the armed forces participate in New Deal employment initiatives. |
| (16824) |
| *29 |
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton): What steps his Department took to ensure that his report following the review of the administration of the pay of officer prisoners of war and protected personnel in German and Italian hands during the Second World War published on 23rd July, reflected the first hand experiences of the officers involved. |
| (16825) |
| *30 |
Mr John Hutton (Barrow and Furness): If he will make a statement on his plans for defence diversification. |
| (16826) |
| *31 |
Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): What was discussed at his recent meeting with Russian defence officials; and if he will make a statement. |
| (16827) |
| *32 |
Sir George Young (North West Hampshire): If he will make a statement on the factors underlying the delay in completing the Strategic Defence Review. |
| (16828) |
| Oral Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, and to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission. |
| *33 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the impact of the contacts between the Church's Ethical Investment Working Group and GEC on GEC's arms-exporting policy. |
| (16829) |
| *34 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the impact of pension provisions on the number of people applying for a career in the Church since Parliament approved the current pension provisions. |
| (16831) |
| *35 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, how many lawyers are employed by the National Audit Office. |
| (16832) |
| *36 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Commissioners' management of the property portfolio. |
| (16833) |
|
| Main Business |
| 2 |
OPPOSITION DAY [5th allotted day] [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| |
GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON WELFARE, PENSIONS AND DISABLED PEOPLE |
| | Mr William Hague |
| | Mr Peter Lilley |
| | Mr Michael Howard |
| | Mr Iain Duncan Smith |
| | Mrs Angela Browning |
| | Mr James Arbuthnot
That this House deeply regrets the unnecessary delay to proposals on pension and welfare reform; finds it inconceivable that having attacked reductions to lone parent benefits proposed by the previous Government this Government now plans to implement the same reductions; and urges the Government to take this opportunity to reassure people with disabilities that they will not tax Disability Living Allowance or transfer disability benefits from disabled individuals to bureaucracies such as local government's social services departments.
As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed motion (Government policies on welfare, pensions and disabled people): |
| | The Prime Minister |
| | Mr Secretary Prescott |
| | Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer |
| | Mr Secretary Cook |
| | Mr Secretary Blunkett |
| | Secretary Harriet Harman
Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `congratulates the Government for the progress that has already been made on reforming the welfare state to tackle social exclusion and welfare dependency; backs the Government's strategy of offering hope, opportunity and a better standard of living for people through its welfare to work programmes for lone parents, disabled people and those with long-standing illness, young unemployed people and the long-term unemployed, and the National Childcare Strategy, in contrast to the previous Government's approach of writing millions of people off to a life dependent on benefit; welcomes the Government's determination to ensure security in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners through the pensions review and the action the Government has already taken to get help to Britain's pensioners, particularly the poorest pensioners, by cutting VAT on fuel and through the £20 winter fuel payment to pensioner households and the £50 winter fuel payment to pensioner households on Income Support; and congratulates the Government for keeping its promises and delivering its manifesto commitments to the British people.'. |
| | Mr Paddy Ashdown |
| | Mr A. J. Beith |
| | Mr David Rendel |
| | Steve Webb |
| | Mr Paul Burstow |
| | Mr Paul Tyler
Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `whilst mindful of the need for consensus and long-term stability in considering pensions and welfare reform, urges the Government to publish its plans with all possible speed; deplores the Government's betrayal of lone parents by its adoption of Conservative proposals for cuts in lone parents benefits in contrast to promises made before the election; whilst broadly welcoming the Government's Welfare-to-Work proposals, recognises that there will always be some families in which no member is in paid employment; finds it extraordinary that the Government is going well beyond Conservative proposals for restricting the back-dating of benefit claims even where the claimant has good cause for making a late claim; and urges the Government to take this opportunity to reassure people with disabilities that their benefits will be safe in the Government's hands.'. |
| |
BURDENS ON BUSINESS |
| | Mr William Hague |
| | Mr Peter Lilley |
| | Mr Michael Howard |
| | Mr John Redwood |
| | Mr Michael Fallon |
| | Mr James Arbuthnot
That this House regrets the damage to business and jobs represented by the actions and inactions of this Government; condemns the broken promises to the coal industry, the lack of clarity over ministerial duties, the persistent tax raids on business and the threats posed by new legislation; and urges the President of the Board of Trade to set out a clear energy, competition and business policy that is in the interests of British companies.
As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed motion (Burdens on business): |
| | The Prime Minister |
| | Mr Secretary Prescott |
| | Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer |
| | Mr Secretary Blunkett |
| | Secretary Margaret Beckett |
| | Dr David Clark
Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add, `welcomes the speedy action taken by Her Majesty's Government to foster an environment in which business can flourish, with macro-economic stability, low rates of corporation tax, a clear new competition policy, and a review of utility regulation; contrasts this with the boom and bust policies of the previous administration which led to the collapse of thousands of firms and unemployment for millions; and welcomes Her Majesty's Government's partnership with business to improve UK competitiveness.'. |
| | Mr Paddy Ashdown |
| | Mr A. J. Beith |
| | Mr David Chidgey |
| | Mr Colin Breed |
| | Mr Brian Cotter |
| | Mr Paul Tyler
Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `regrets the damage to business and jobs caused by the policies of the previous Government; condemns their broken promises on the control of inflation, reducing business burdens, and creating economic stability; and calls on this Government to lighten the burdens on business by investing in education and training, shifting taxation away from employment, encouraging the growth of small business, simplifying bureaucratic obligations, promoting competition, and providing guidance for resolving the year 2000 computer problem.'.
The selection of the matters 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. |
| + 3 |
WELSH GRAND COMMITTEE [No debate] |
| | Mrs Ann Taylor |
| | Mr Secretary Davies
That the Welsh Grand Committee shall meet at Westminster on Tuesday 16th December at half-past Ten o'clock to take questions under Standing Order No. 103 (Welsh Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)), and to consider the matter of government expenditure in Wales in 1998-99 under Standing Order No. 107 (Welsh Grand Committee (matters relating exclusively to Wales)). |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 108). |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Education and Employment: Employment Sub-Committee |
3.30 p.m. |
Offices of the UK Permanent Representation, Brussels (public) |
| Subject: EU Employment Issues. |
| Witness: Mr Padraig Flynn, European Commissioner. |
| 2 |
Foreign Affairs |
4.00 p.m. 4.15 p.m. |
Room 15 (private) (public) |
| Subject: Luxembourg European Council and the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union. |
| Witnesses: The Rt. Hon. Robin Cook, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials. |
| 3 |
Information |
4.30 p.m. |
Derby Gate Library (private) |
| 4 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Vacant Office Property. |
| Witnesses: Mr John Christopher Locke, Chief Executive, Mr Malcolm Bowles, Director, Policy and Planning, Mr Barry Redfern, Director, Corporate Services, Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. |
| 5 |
Modernisation of the House of Commons |
6.00 p.m. |
Room 21 (private) |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
