Order of Business for 5 February 1998

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Thursday 5th February 1998

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Thursday 5 February 1998.

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 President of the Board of Trade

*1 Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon):    How many copies of EMU--Practical Guidelines for Business, have to date been circulated to small businesses.

(25684)

*2 Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South):    What steps she is taking to assist British companies to improve their competitiveness.

(25685)

*3 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    Pursuant to her Answer of 18th November, Official Report, column 105, on locating in Scotland, if she will make a statement on the status of the Committee on Overseas Promotion after the establishment of a Scottish Parliament.

(25686)

*4 Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire):    If she will make a statement on the Government's proposals for reform of the Objective 5b criteria.

(25687)

*5 Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):    If the Multilateral Agreement on Investment will include a legal requirement for parties not to lower environmental and labour standards in order to attract foreign investment.

(25688)

*6 Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean):    What action she is taking to tackle unfair contract terms in consumer contracts.

(25689)

*7 Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    What measures her Department has taken since 1st May to help British exporters; and if she will make a statement.

(25690)

*8 Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    If she will make a statement on the long-term future of Britain's coal industry.

(25691)

*9 Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham):    What assessment she has made of the European Union Green Paper on Convergence of the Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology sectors.

(25692)

*10 Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    When she expects the Review of Utility Regulation to present its findings; and if she will make a statement.

(25694)

*11 Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    What discussions she has had with the European Union Commissioner Mr Van Miert about his investigations into the request by the Formula One motor racing industry for exemption from regulations relating to EU competition law.

(25695)

*12 Mr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):    If she will list the construction contracts won by United Kingdom based offshore fabrication yards in the last two years.

(25696)

*13 Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    What representations she has received from exporters on the current value of the pound.

(25697)

*14 Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West):    What steps she is taking to improve the competitiveness of British companies.

(25698)

*15 Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    What plans she has to promote investment in new technology within the electricity industry.

(25700)

*16 Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside):    What additional help she proposes to provide to assist the promotion of manufacturing exports.

(25701)

*17 Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds):    What representations she has received from small businesses regarding the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage.

(25702)

*18 Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):    What representations she has received from her ministerial colleagues with regard to the exclusion of groups of workers, occupations or sectors of industry from the scope of the national minimum wage.

(25703)

*19 Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood):    If she will make a statement about the implementation of the Working Time Directive.

(25704)

*20 Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    What action she is taking to provide information relating to the work of her Department to small and medium sized companies.

(25705)

*21 Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead):    If she will make a statement on the estimated level of inward investment into the United Kingdom this year.

(25707)

*22 Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne):    What progress the Government has made in obtaining Objective 1 status for Cornwall.

(25708)

*23 Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs):    What discussion she has recently held with her counterparts in Asian countries to discuss trading conditions following the recent economic difficulties in the region; and if she will make a statement.

(25709)

*24 Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    What representations she has received on the Post Office's proposals for mail distribution services in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

(25710)

*25 Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth):    When she expects the Low Pay Commission to report.

(25711)

*26 Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton):    If she will make a statement on the current estimate of oil and gas reserves in the United Kingdom.

(25712)

*27 Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East):    If she will make a statement on the level of awareness of the need to take action on the millennium compliance of computer systems in the private sector.

(25713)

*28 Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby):    What discussions have taken place between her Department and the British Brands Group about look-alike products.

(25714)

*29 Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford):    What measures she is taking to help workers in defence-related industries in the Chelmsford area who have been made redundant as a result of the peace dividend; and if she will make a statement.

(25715)

*30 Helen Southworth (Warrington South):    What representations she has received from business about the development of policies to improve Britain's business performance.

(25716)

*31 Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk):    If she will make a statement on trade with South-East Asia.

(25717)

*32 Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South):    What steps she is taking to assist British companies to improve their competitiveness.

(25718)

*33 Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    What progress her Department has made in preparing United Kingdom businesses for EMU.

(25719)

*34 Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    If she will make a statement on the future of competition in the electricity industry.

(25720)

*35 Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    What action her Department is taking to make up the shortfall in university capital equipment identified in the Dearing Report.

(25722)

*36 Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield):    If she will make a statement on the prospects for manufacturing industry.

(25723)

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

Main Business
+ 1	LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
	Mr Secretary Prescott That the Local Government Finance Report (England) 1998-99 (HC 506), which was laid before this House on 2nd February, be approved.
+ 2	LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
	Mr Secretary Prescott That the Special Grant Report (No. 31) (HC 507), which was laid before this House on 2nd February, be approved.
+ 3	LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
	Mr Secretary Prescott That the Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts (Relevant Notional Amounts) Report (England) 1998-99 (HC 508), which was laid before this House on 2nd February, be approved. *The Speaker will put the Questions on the above three Motions in the name of Mr Secretary Prescott not later than Ten o'clock (Order of 3rd February).*

At the end of the sitting:

4	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: *Tin mining in Cornwall; the closure of South Crofty mine*(Ms Candy Atherton). *Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).*

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
STANDING COMMITTEES
1	Standing Committee A	10.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.	Room 12 (public) (public)
	Further to consider the School Standards and Framework Bill.
2	Standing Committee D	10.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.	Room 11 (public) (public)
	Further to consider the National Minimum Wage Bill.
3	Standing Committee E	10.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.	Room 9 (public) (public)
	Further to consider the Regional Development Agencies Bill.
4	Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation	10.30 a.m.	Room 10 (public)
	To consider the draft Department of Transport (Fees) (Amendment) Order 1998.
SELECT COMMITTEES
5	Health	10.30 a.m.	Room 6 (private)
6	Culture, Media and Sport	10.15 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: Audiovisual Communications and the Regulation of Broadcasting.
	Witnesses: Microsoft Ltd; Astra Marketing Ltd (11.15 a.m.); Video Networks Ltd (at 12.00 noon).
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Wednesday 4th February for answer today++
1	Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what would be the average council tax for each local authority in England if each authority's net revenue expenditure 1998-99 was set at the provisional capping level and, excepting the receipts from each local authority's share of NNDR, had to be met entirely from council tax receipts.
	(28285)
2	Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the Severn caseload scheme at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital; and what plans he has to expand the scheme across the country.
	(28286)
3	Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the current status of the Partnering Arrangement between the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency and Flagship Training Limited.
	(28287)
4	Mr John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she plans to publish the 1997-98 Report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.
	(28448)
5	Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the membership of the Expert Group recommended by the Kerbs Report on Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers.
	(28492)
6	Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the European Monetary Institute's opinion concerning the Bank of England Bill under Article 109f(6) of the Treaty establishing the European Community and Article 5.3 of the Statute of the EMI.
	(28493)
7	Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when the green paper on improving Scotland's health will be published; and if he will make a statement.
	(28494)
8	Kali Mountford (Colne Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what conclusions he has drawn from the consultation exercise on managing vehicles on byways conducted by his Department.
	(28561)
9	Ms Tess Kingham (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement about the Cotswold Way.
	(28562)
10	Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the future provision of helicopter flying for the Royal Family.
	(28563)
11	Yvette Cooper (Pontefract and Castleford): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what arrangements have been put in place for the future management of the British Coal Corporation.
	(28564)

Standing Committee Notices

Standing Committee B will meet on Tuesday 10th February at 10.30 a.m. to consider the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill.

The First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Tuesday 10th February at 10.30 a.m. to consider the draft Valuation and Rating (Exempted Classes) (Scotland) Order 1998.

The Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Tuesday 10th February at 4.30 p.m. to consider the draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) Order 1998.

The Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Wednesday 11th February at 4.30 p.m. to consider the draft Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Exclusion Order 1998, the draft Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998, the draft Construction Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and the Draft Scheme for Construction Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 1998.

The Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Wednesday 11th February at 4.30 p.m. to consider the draft Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

The Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Thursday 12th February at 10.30 a.m. to consider the draft Carriage by Air Acts (Application of Provisions) (Fourth Amendment) Order 1998.

Oral Questions to the President of the Board of Trade
*1	Mr Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): How many copies of EMU--Practical Guidelines for Business, have to date been circulated to small businesses.
	(25684)
*2	Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): What steps she is taking to assist British companies to improve their competitiveness.
	(25685)
*3	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): Pursuant to her Answer of 18th November, Official Report, column 105, on locating in Scotland, if she will make a statement on the status of the Committee on Overseas Promotion after the establishment of a Scottish Parliament.
	(25686)
*4	Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): If she will make a statement on the Government's proposals for reform of the Objective 5b criteria.
	(25687)
*5	Dr Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park): If the Multilateral Agreement on Investment will include a legal requirement for parties not to lower environmental and labour standards in order to attract foreign investment.
	(25688)
*6	Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): What action she is taking to tackle unfair contract terms in consumer contracts.
	(25689)
*7	Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What measures her Department has taken since 1st May to help British exporters; and if she will make a statement.
	(25690)
*8	Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch): If she will make a statement on the long-term future of Britain's coal industry.
	(25691)
*9	Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham): What assessment she has made of the European Union Green Paper on Convergence of the Telecommunications, Media and Information Technology sectors.
	(25692)
*10	Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): When she expects the Review of Utility Regulation to present its findings; and if she will make a statement.
	(25694)
*11	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): What discussions she has had with the European Union Commissioner Mr Van Miert about his investigations into the request by the Formula One motor racing industry for exemption from regulations relating to EU competition law.
	(25695)
*12	Mr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): If she will list the construction contracts won by United Kingdom based offshore fabrication yards in the last two years.
	(25696)
*13	Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford): What representations she has received from exporters on the current value of the pound.
	(25697)
*14	Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West): What steps she is taking to improve the competitiveness of British companies.
	(25698)
*15	Mr David Rendel (Newbury): What plans she has to promote investment in new technology within the electricity industry.
	(25700)
*16	Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside): What additional help she proposes to provide to assist the promotion of manufacturing exports.
	(25701)
*17	Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds): What representations she has received from small businesses regarding the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage.
	(25702)
*18	Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge): What representations she has received from her ministerial colleagues with regard to the exclusion of groups of workers, occupations or sectors of industry from the scope of the national minimum wage.
	(25703)
*19	Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood): If she will make a statement about the implementation of the Working Time Directive.
	(25704)
*20	Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk): What action she is taking to provide information relating to the work of her Department to small and medium sized companies.
	(25705)
*21	Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): If she will make a statement on the estimated level of inward investment into the United Kingdom this year.
	(25707)
*22	Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne): What progress the Government has made in obtaining Objective 1 status for Cornwall.
	(25708)
*23	Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): What discussion she has recently held with her counterparts in Asian countries to discuss trading conditions following the recent economic difficulties in the region; and if she will make a statement.
	(25709)
*24	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): What representations she has received on the Post Office's proposals for mail distribution services in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.
	(25710)
*25	Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): When she expects the Low Pay Commission to report.
	(25711)
*26	Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): If she will make a statement on the current estimate of oil and gas reserves in the United Kingdom.
	(25712)
*27	Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East): If she will make a statement on the level of awareness of the need to take action on the millennium compliance of computer systems in the private sector.
	(25713)
*28	Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): What discussions have taken place between her Department and the British Brands Group about look-alike products.
	(25714)
*29	Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): What measures she is taking to help workers in defence-related industries in the Chelmsford area who have been made redundant as a result of the peace dividend; and if she will make a statement.
	(25715)
*30	Helen Southworth (Warrington South): What representations she has received from business about the development of policies to improve Britain's business performance.
	(25716)
*31	Mr Richard Spring (West Suffolk): If she will make a statement on trade with South-East Asia.
	(25717)
*32	Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): What steps she is taking to assist British companies to improve their competitiveness.
	(25718)
*33	Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter): What progress her Department has made in preparing United Kingdom businesses for EMU.
	(25719)
*34	Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): If she will make a statement on the future of competition in the electricity industry.
	(25720)
*35	Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): What action her Department is taking to make up the shortfall in university capital equipment identified in the Dearing Report.
	(25722)
*36	Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): If she will make a statement on the prospects for manufacturing industry.
	(25723)



© Parliamentary copyright 1998	Prepared 5 February 1998