Order of Business for 22 December 1997

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Order of Business Monday 22nd December 1997

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Monday 22 December 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.
++ These are ordinary written questions of which no previous notice has been given. For other questions for written answer today see the 'Order Book'.

At 2.30 p.m. Prayers

At 2.35 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

*1 Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):    What plans he has to introduce privacy legislation applying to the Press.

(20156)

*2 Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North):    How many meetings he has had since 1st May with members of voluntary organisations to discuss the voluntary sector.

(20157)

*3 Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    If he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on licensing hours for public houses and clubs.

(20158)

*4 Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    If he will make a statement on the proportion of reported crimes which resulted in conviction in (a) 1980 and (b) 1996.

(20159)

*5 Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    What steps he is taking to eliminate corruption in the Metropolitan Police.

(20160)

*6 Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    What plans he has to make special sentencing powers available to courts for repeat offenders.

(20162)

*7 Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    If he will list the drug rehabilitation establishments which the Under Secretary with responsibility has visited since 1st May.

(20163)

*8 Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):    If he will make a statement on the Government's plans to create a new, single offence of corruption.

(20164)

*9 Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam):    What was the total number of police officers in England and Wales in (a) April 1992, (b) March 1997 and (c) September 1997.

(20165)

*10 Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    What representations he has received on problems relating to Czech and Slovak asylum-seekers in Kent.

(20166)

*11 Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    What proposals he has for a national identity card scheme.

(20167)

*12 Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    What representations he has received on the level of the police settlement for 1998.

(20168)

*13 Norman Baker (Lewes):    If he will meet the Chief Constable of the Sussex Police Force to discuss levels of crime.

(20169)

*14 Alice Mahon (Halifax):    What recent representations he has received on tackling incidents of racial violence.

(20171)

*15 Mr David Amess (Southend West):    What proportion of the current prison population were convicted of a drugs-related offence.

(20173)

*16 Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    What steps he is taking to tackle drugs misuse in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

(20174)

*17 Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn):    What plans he has to tackle the link between drugs and crime.

(20175)

*18 Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough):    If he will list the drug rehabilitation establishments which the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Knowsley North and Sefton East has visited since 2nd May.

(20176)

*19 Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk):    What assessment he has made of the extra work which increased use of community sentencing and electronic tagging will place on the police force.

(20177)

*20 Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich):    What measures he will bring forward to improve the relationship between the Government and the voluntary sector.

(20178)

*21 Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    What proposals he has for reducing youth crime.

(20179)

*22 Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    What recent representations he has received on the use of laser pens as a weapon.

(20180)

*23 Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    What percentage of the latest annual police budgets in England and Wales is allocated to meeting the cost of pensions; what was the comparable figure five years ago; and what is his estimated figure for five years ahead.

(20181)

*24 Mr David Winnick (Walsall North):    If he will make a statement on the commission established to inquire into alternative voting systems for Parliamentary elections.

(20182)

*25 Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole):    What priority he plans to give to spending on closed circuit television after 1998.

(20183)

*26 Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne):    If he will ensure that voters have the right to vote for an individual candidate in elections to the European Parliament.

(20184)

*27 Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate):    What assessment he has made of future police numbers in Surrey.

(20185)

*28 Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    How many meetings he has had since 1st May with members of voluntary organisations to discuss assistance for the voluntary sector.

(20186)

*29 Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    What estimate he has made of the proportion of acquisitive crime which is linked to the use of illegal drugs.

(20187)

*30 Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town):    What plans he has to make bribery of honourable Members an offence.

(20188)

*31 Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole):    What plans he has to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are afforded greater protection in court.

(20189)

*32 Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):    What plans he has to reform the police pension scheme.

(20191)

*33 Mr Piara S. Khabra (Ealing, Southall):    What plans he has to implement the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

(20192)

*34 Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham):    How many incidents of racial violence have been recorded in each of the last five years.

(20193)

*35 Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford):    What plans he has to introduce tighter controls on the ownership of shotguns.

(20194)

*36 Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    What plans he has to meet representatives from the Surrey Police and Probation Service to discuss proposed funding levels.

(20195)

At 3.30 p.m. Private Notice Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any)

Main Business

+  1   SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK BILL:    Second Reading.    [Until 10.00 p.m.]

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

+  2   SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK BILL [MONEY]:    Queen's Recommendation signified.    [No debate]

Dawn Primarolo
    That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the School Standards and Framework Bill, it is expedient to authorise--

    (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of--

    (a) any sums required for the making by the Secretary of State of grants or loans under the Act;

    (b) any other expenses of the Secretary of State under the Act; and

    (c) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums so payable by virtue of any other Act; and

    (2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)).

At the end of the sitting:

  3   ADJOURNMENT

    Proposed subject: Economic development of Withernsea and South-East Holderness     (Mr James Cran    ).

    Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

SELECT COMMITTEE

1   Selection 4.15 p.m Room 13 (private)

Written Questions tabled on Friday 19th November for answer today++

1
   Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's practices of permitting some professional businesses to work out their profits for tax purposes on a cash basis.

(22436)

2
   Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update the information given in the July 1996 Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs booklet.

(22437)

3
   Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire):    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to transfer the responsibility for Government debt and cash management from the Bank of England to the Treasury.

(22438)

4
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure that persons whose applications for British citizenship are being refused are given the reasons for such decisions.

(22439)

5
   Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 4th and 5th December.

(22440)

6
   Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what arrangements will be made in Scotland following the fundamental review of the functions of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.

(22471)

7
   Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to ensure that local authorities have greater involvement in the transfer of Scottish Homes stock.

(22472)

8
   Mr John Swinney (North Tayside):    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the take-up rate in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) family credit, (iv) disability living allowance, (v) disability working allowance, (vi) housing benefit, (vii) council tax benefit and (viii) severe hardship allowance.

(22473)

9
   Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West):    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the total number of releases under the open government initiative.

(22474)

10
   Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West):    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has for the regulation of contaminated land, pursuant to the recommendations made in the Environment Committee's Second Report of Session 1996-97 on contaminated land (HC 22) and the responses received by his Department to consultation on draft statutory guidance and regulations to be issued under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

(22475)

11
   Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will issue the housing revenue account subsidy determination for 1998-99.

(22476)

12
   Joan Ryan (Enfield North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Government will institute an inquiry into bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant CJD; and if he will make a statement.

(22477)

13
   Joan Ryan (Enfield North):    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's objectives for the multi-annual guidance programme (MAGP IV) now adopted by the European Commission and announced on 17th December.

(22478)

14
   Margaret Moran (Luton South):    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the outcome of the fundamental review of the functions of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and if he will make a statement.

(22479)

15
   Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has for the regulation of contaminated land, pursuant to the recommendations made by the Environment Committee in its Second Report of Session 1996-97 (HC22) on contaminated land and the responses received by his Department to consultation on draft statutory guidance and regulations to be issued under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

(22491)

Standing Committee Notices

    Standing Committee B will meet on Thursday 15th January at 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to consider the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Bill.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

*1	Mr Richard Ottaway (Croydon South): What plans he has to introduce privacy legislation applying to the Press.
	(20156)
*2	Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North): How many meetings he has had since 1st May with members of voluntary organisations to discuss the voluntary sector.
	(20157)
*3	Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East): If he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government on licensing hours for public houses and clubs.
	(20158)
*4	Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston): If he will make a statement on the proportion of reported crimes which resulted in conviction in (a) 1980 and (b) 1996.
	(20159)
*5	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What steps he is taking to eliminate corruption in the Metropolitan Police.
	(20160)
*6	Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham): What plans he has to make special sentencing powers available to courts for repeat offenders.
	(20162)
*7	Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will list the drug rehabilitation establishments which the Under Secretary with responsibility has visited since 1st May.
	(20163)
*8	Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey): If he will make a statement on the Government's plans to create a new, single offence of corruption.
	(20164)
*9	Mr Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam): What was the total number of police officers in England and Wales in (a) April 1992, (b) March 1997 and (c) September 1997.
	(20165)
*10	Mr Damian Green (Ashford): What representations he has received on problems relating to Czech and Slovak asylum-seekers in Kent.
	(20166)
*11	Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington): What proposals he has for a national identity card scheme.
	(20167)
*12	Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): What representations he has received on the level of the police settlement for 1998.
	(20168)
*13	Norman Baker (Lewes): If he will meet the Chief Constable of the Sussex Police Force to discuss levels of crime.
	(20169)
*14	Alice Mahon (Halifax): What recent representations he has received on tackling incidents of racial violence.
	(20171)
*15	Mr David Amess (Southend West): What proportion of the current prison population were convicted of a drugs-related offence.
	(20173)
*16	Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): What steps he is taking to tackle drugs misuse in prisons; and if he will make a statement.
	(20174)
*17	Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn): What plans he has to tackle the link between drugs and crime.
	(20175)
*18	Mr Paul Stinchcombe (Wellingborough): If he will list the drug rehabilitation establishments which the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, the honourable Member for Knowsley North and Sefton East has visited since 2nd May.
	(20176)
*19	Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): What assessment he has made of the extra work which increased use of community sentencing and electronic tagging will place on the police force.
	(20177)
*20	Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): What measures he will bring forward to improve the relationship between the Government and the voluntary sector.
	(20178)
*21	Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): What proposals he has for reducing youth crime.
	(20179)
*22	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): What recent representations he has received on the use of laser pens as a weapon.
	(20180)
*23	Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): What percentage of the latest annual police budgets in England and Wales is allocated to meeting the cost of pensions; what was the comparable figure five years ago; and what is his estimated figure for five years ahead.
	(20181)
*24	Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): If he will make a statement on the commission established to inquire into alternative voting systems for Parliamentary elections.
	(20182)
*25	Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole): What priority he plans to give to spending on closed circuit television after 1998.
	(20183)
*26	Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): If he will ensure that voters have the right to vote for an individual candidate in elections to the European Parliament.
	(20184)
*27	Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): What assessment he has made of future police numbers in Surrey.
	(20185)
*28	Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): How many meetings he has had since 1st May with members of voluntary organisations to discuss assistance for the voluntary sector.
	(20186)
*29	Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): What estimate he has made of the proportion of acquisitive crime which is linked to the use of illegal drugs.
	(20187)
*30	Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Canning Town): What plans he has to make bribery of honourable Members an offence.
	(20188)
*31	Mr Ian Cawsey (Brigg and Goole): What plans he has to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are afforded greater protection in court.
	(20189)
*32	Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): What plans he has to reform the police pension scheme.
	(20191)
*33	Mr Piara S. Khabra (Ealing, Southall): What plans he has to implement the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
	(20192)
*34	Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham): How many incidents of racial violence have been recorded in each of the last five years.
	(20193)
*35	Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): What plans he has to introduce tighter controls on the ownership of shotguns.
	(20194)
*36	Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): What plans he has to meet representatives from the Surrey Police and Probation Service to discuss proposed funding levels.
	(20195)

Main Business
+ 1	SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK BILL: Second Reading. *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*

*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*

+ 2	SCHOOL STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORK BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. *[No debate]*
	Dawn Primarolo That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the School Standards and Framework Bill, it is expedient to authorise-- (1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of-- (a) any sums required for the making by the Secretary of State of grants or loans under the Act; (b) any other expenses of the Secretary of State under the Act; and (c) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums so payable by virtue of any other Act; and (2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund.
*To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)).*

3	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: *Economic development of Withernsea and South-East Holderness* (Mr James Cran ). *Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).*

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
SELECT COMMITTEE
1	Selection	4.15 p.m	Room 13 (private)

Written Questions tabled on Friday 19th November for answer today++
1	Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue's practices of permitting some professional businesses to work out their profits for tax purposes on a cash basis.
	(22436)
2	Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will update the information given in the July 1996 Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs booklet.
	(22437)
3	Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to transfer the responsibility for Government debt and cash management from the Bank of England to the Treasury.
	(22438)
4	Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will ensure that persons whose applications for British citizenship are being refused are given the reasons for such decisions.
	(22439)
5	Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 4th and 5th December.
	(22440)
6	Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what arrangements will be made in Scotland following the fundamental review of the functions of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.
	(22471)
7	Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to ensure that local authorities have greater involvement in the transfer of Scottish Homes stock.
	(22472)
8	Mr John Swinney (North Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what is the take-up rate in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) family credit, (iv) disability living allowance, (v) disability working allowance, (vi) housing benefit, (vii) council tax benefit and (viii) severe hardship allowance.
	(22473)
9	Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the total number of releases under the open government initiative.
	(22474)
10	Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proposals he has for the regulation of contaminated land, pursuant to the recommendations made in the Environment Committee's Second Report of Session 1996-97 on contaminated land (HC 22) and the responses received by his Department to consultation on draft statutory guidance and regulations to be issued under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	(22475)
11	Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will issue the housing revenue account subsidy determination for 1998-99.
	(22476)
12	Joan Ryan (Enfield North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Government will institute an inquiry into bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant CJD; and if he will make a statement.
	(22477)
13	Joan Ryan (Enfield North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's objectives for the multi-annual guidance programme (MAGP IV) now adopted by the European Commission and announced on 17th December.
	(22478)
14	Margaret Moran (Luton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the outcome of the fundamental review of the functions of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and if he will make a statement.
	(22479)
15	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what proposals he has for the regulation of contaminated land, pursuant to the recommendations made by the Environment Committee in its Second Report of Session 1996-97 (HC22) on contaminated land and the responses received by his Department to consultation on draft statutory guidance and regulations to be issued under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	(22491)