Order of Business for 16 February 1998

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Monday 16th February 1998

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Monday 16 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 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

*1 Mr Michael Foster (Hastings and Rye):    What assessment he has made of the contribution sport can make to measures to reduce social exclusion.

(27584)

*2 Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East):    What plans he has to reform the rules that concern the issuing of concessionary television licences.

(27585)

*3 Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire):    What representations he has received recently concerning the distribution of National Lottery grants; and if he will make a statement.

(27586)

*4 Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    If he will make a statement on the introduction of digital television in Wales.

(27587)

*5 Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth):    How the reforms to the National Lottery will help children's development out of school hours.

(27588)

*6 Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire):    If he will make a statement on the future status of televised test cricket.

(27589)

*7 Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South):    What plans he has to develop information services in public libraries.

(27591)

*8 Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North):    What action his Department is taking to assist the Government's initiative on social exclusion.

(27592)

*9 Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    What steps he is taking to tackle problems encountered by groups who win Lottery funding but fail to raise matched funding.

(27593)

*10 Mr Damian Green (Ashford):    If he will make a statement on his plans to change the mechanism for disbursement of lottery money.

(27594)

*11 Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover):    If he will make a statement on the equity of lottery grant distribution.

(27595)

*12 Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury):    What representations he has received on the management of the Royal Opera House.

(27596)

*13 Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    What recent discussions he has had with Rupert Murdoch or his representatives on diversity in the British media; and if he will make a statement.

(27597)

*14 Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington):    What plans he has to make applications for lottery funding simpler for small community organisations in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

(27598)

*15 Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    What plans he has to encourage the use of libraries by children.

(27599)

*16 Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst):    If he will make a statement on prospects for the British film industry.

(27600)

*17 Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West):    What progress he is making in increasing the figures for British cinema audiences watching British films.

(27601)

*18 Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South):    If he will make a statement on the equity of lottery funds distribution as between London and the rest of the United Kingdom.

(27602)

*19 Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    What plans he has to increase the proportion of public financial support for theatre which is devoted to activities.

(27603)

*20 Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    When he plans to meet the Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission to discuss its code of practice.

(27604)

*21 Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston):    What plans he has to encourage use of information technology in libraries.

(27605)

*22 Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham):    How many representations he has received from organisations concerned with drug abuse in response to the National Lottery white paper.

(27606)

*23 Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough):    What plans he has to ensure that National Lottery distributors take account of local needs in the East Anglian region.

(27607)

*24 Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    What steps he is taking to ensure women's interests are properly reflected in Lottery awards.

(27608)

*25 Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the future of musical instrument tuition.

(27609)

*26 Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):    If he will make a statement on the role of his Department in combating social exclusion.

(27610)

*27 Bob Russell (Colchester):    If he will provide financial support for football clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League and feeder leagues to improve spectator facilities.

(27611)

*28 Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South):    How the new Tourism Forum will help the tourist industry in the Yorkshire region.

(27612)

*29 Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford):    What representations he has received on his proposals for a sixth good cause from healthcare projects in the Bexley and Greenwich area of South East London.

(27613)

At 3.10 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Minister without Portfolio, in respect of the Millennium Experience

*30 Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    What representations he has received on the advantages of the Millennium Dome project being run on a commercial basis by a leisure management company with expertise in this area.

(27614)

*31 Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    If he will make a statement on the regional content of the Millennium Experience.

(27615)

*32 Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome):    What estimate he has made of the number of people from the South West of England who will visit the Millennium Experience.

(27616)

*33 Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    What is his estimate of the cost of the Millennium Experience.

(27617)

*34 Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    To what extent the contents of the Millennium Dome will reflect Welsh and Scottish identities.

(27618)

*35 Norman Baker (Lewes):    If he will assess the possibility of creating a worthwhile Millennium Dome project at a significantly lower cost.

(27619)

*36 Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North):    If he will make a statement on progress in securing financial sponsorship for the Millennium Exhibition.

(27620)

*37 Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    If he will make a statement on the work of M and C Saatchi in respect of the Millennium Experience.

(27621)

*38 Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East):    What consultations he has held with the appropriate local authorities about the impact of traffic relating to attendance at the Dome in Greenwich.

(27622)

*39 Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood):    What percentage of his total personal ministerial travel, accommodation and related subsistence expenditure in respect of his work on the Millennium Experience has been devoted to visits to EU countries.

(27623)

At 3.20 p.m.

Oral Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, and to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission

*40 Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what recent review the Church Commissioners have undertaken on ethical investment.

(27624)

*41 Norman Baker (Lewes):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what plans he has to transfer resources from higher-paid clergy to lower-paid clergy.

(27625)

*42 Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what representations he has received about the effect on church finances of incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights.

(27626)

*43 Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch):    To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Commission's policy on management of land assets.

(27627)

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

Main Business

+  1   HUMAN RIGHTS BILL [LORDS]:    Second Reading. (Queen's Consent to be signified).    [Until 10.00 p.m.]

Mr William Hague
Mr Peter Lilley
Sir Brian Mawhinney
Mr Michael Howard
Sir Nicholas Lyell
Mr James Arbuthnot

    That this House, while confirming its strong belief in human rights, expresses its deep concern at the constitutional implications and deficiencies of the Human Rights Bill [Lords] because the Bill weakens one of the foundations of everyone's human rights and fundamental freedoms, which is an effective political democracy; because the Bill creates in the United Kingdom an additional, separate, and potentially incompatible, constitutional framework; because the Bill fails adequately to respect and maintain the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary fundamental in a democratic society and will therefore lead to a further increase in the power of the executive, the diminution of Parliament, and the politicisation of the judiciary; and declines to give the Bill a Second Reading.

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

+  2   HUMAN RIGHTS BILL [LORDS] [MONEY]:    Queen's Recommendation signified.    [No debate]

Dawn Primarolo
    That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Human Rights Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise--

    (a) the payments out of money provided by Parliament of any expenses incurred by a Minister of the Crown--

    (i) in consequence of an award of damages or costs in proceedings under the Act;

    (ii) as administrative expenses resulting from the provisions of the Act;

    (iii) in connection with judicial training;

    (b) the payment out of such money or the Consolidated Fund of sums in respect of any additional judicial salary, or of contributions or benefits in respect of judicial pensions, arising in connection with the appointment of the holder of a judicial office as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights;

    (c) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment.

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

+  3   NORTHERN IRELAND GRAND COMMITTEE    [No debate]

Mrs Ann Taylor
Secretary Marjorie Mowlam

    That--

    (1) the draft Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; and

    (2) at the sitting on Thursday 26th February the Committee shall consider, pursuant to Standing Order No. 115, the instrument referred to it under paragraph (1) above.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 115 (1)).

At the end of the sitting:

4   ADJOURNMENT

    Proposed subject: Education funding for Rutland (Mr Alan Duncan).

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

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

SELECT COMMITTEES

1   Welsh Affairs 1.30 p.m.

2.00 p.m. Welsh Office, Cathays Park, Cardiff (private)
(public)

    Subject: The present crisis in the Welsh livestock industry.

    Witness: Mr Win Griffiths, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales.

2   Foreign Affairs: Entry Clearance Sub-Committee 3.30 p.m.
3.45 p.m. Room 15 (private)
(public)

    Subject: Entry clearance procedures at overseas posts (with particular reference to Islamabad and New Delhi) and related matters.

    Witnesses: To be confirmed.

3   Education and Employment 3.45 p.m. Room 18 (private)

4   Education and Employment: Education Sub-committee Immediately after the meeting of the full
committee
4.15 p.m. Room 18 (private)

(public)

    Subject: Disaffected children.

    Witnesses: Dr Michael Young and Mr Ken Spours, Institute of Education, University of London.

6   Agriculture 4.00 p.m. Room 20 (private)

7   Information 4.30 p.m. Room 13 (private)

8   Public Accounts 4.30 p.m. Room 16 (public)

    Subject: The management of building projects at English Higher Education Institutions.

    Witnesses: Professor Brian Fender, CMG, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council.

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

Written Questions tabled on Friday 13th February for answer today++

1
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve the family court welfare work of the Probation Service and other related services.

(30171)

2
   Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review alternative methods to jury trial in serious fraud cases.

(30172)

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
*1	Mr Michael Foster (Hastings and Rye): What assessment he has made of the contribution sport can make to measures to reduce social exclusion.
	(27584)
*2	Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): What plans he has to reform the rules that concern the issuing of concessionary television licences.
	(27585)
*3	Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): What representations he has received recently concerning the distribution of National Lottery grants; and if he will make a statement.
	(27586)
*4	Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): If he will make a statement on the introduction of digital television in Wales.
	(27587)
*5	Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): How the reforms to the National Lottery will help children's development out of school hours.
	(27588)
*6	Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): If he will make a statement on the future status of televised test cricket.
	(27589)
*7	Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): What plans he has to develop information services in public libraries.
	(27591)
*8	Mr Barry Gardiner (Brent North): What action his Department is taking to assist the Government's initiative on social exclusion.
	(27592)
*9	Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): What steps he is taking to tackle problems encountered by groups who win Lottery funding but fail to raise matched funding.
	(27593)
*10	Mr Damian Green (Ashford): If he will make a statement on his plans to change the mechanism for disbursement of lottery money.
	(27594)
*11	Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover): If he will make a statement on the equity of lottery grant distribution.
	(27595)
*12	Mr Tony Baldry (Banbury): What representations he has received on the management of the Royal Opera House.
	(27596)
*13	Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): What recent discussions he has had with Rupert Murdoch or his representatives on diversity in the British media; and if he will make a statement.
	(27597)
*14	Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington): What plans he has to make applications for lottery funding simpler for small community organisations in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
	(27598)
*15	Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What plans he has to encourage the use of libraries by children.
	(27599)
*16	Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst): If he will make a statement on prospects for the British film industry.
	(27600)
*17	Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West): What progress he is making in increasing the figures for British cinema audiences watching British films.
	(27601)
*18	Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on the equity of lottery funds distribution as between London and the rest of the United Kingdom.
	(27602)
*19	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): What plans he has to increase the proportion of public financial support for theatre which is devoted to activities.
	(27603)
*20	Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): When he plans to meet the Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission to discuss its code of practice.
	(27604)
*21	Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston): What plans he has to encourage use of information technology in libraries.
	(27605)
*22	Mr Stephen Timms (East Ham): How many representations he has received from organisations concerned with drug abuse in response to the National Lottery white paper.
	(27606)
*23	Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): What plans he has to ensure that National Lottery distributors take account of local needs in the East Anglian region.
	(27607)
*24	Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What steps he is taking to ensure women's interests are properly reflected in Lottery awards.
	(27608)
*25	Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on the future of musical instrument tuition.
	(27609)
*26	Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow): If he will make a statement on the role of his Department in combating social exclusion.
	(27610)
*27	Bob Russell (Colchester): If he will provide financial support for football clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League and feeder leagues to improve spectator facilities.
	(27611)
*28	Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): How the new Tourism Forum will help the tourist industry in the Yorkshire region.
	(27612)
*29	Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford): What representations he has received on his proposals for a sixth good cause from healthcare projects in the Bexley and Greenwich area of South East London.
	(27613)

Oral Questions to the Minister without Portfolio, in respect of the Millennium Experience
*30	Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham): What representations he has received on the advantages of the Millennium Dome project being run on a commercial basis by a leisure management company with expertise in this area.
	(27614)
*31	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): If he will make a statement on the regional content of the Millennium Experience.
	(27615)
*32	Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What estimate he has made of the number of people from the South West of England who will visit the Millennium Experience.
	(27616)
*33	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): What is his estimate of the cost of the Millennium Experience.
	(27617)
*34	Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): To what extent the contents of the Millennium Dome will reflect Welsh and Scottish identities.
	(27618)
*35	Norman Baker (Lewes): If he will assess the possibility of creating a worthwhile Millennium Dome project at a significantly lower cost.
	(27619)
*36	Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North): If he will make a statement on progress in securing financial sponsorship for the Millennium Exhibition.
	(27620)
*37	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If he will make a statement on the work of M and C Saatchi in respect of the Millennium Experience.
	(27621)
*38	Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East): What consultations he has held with the appropriate local authorities about the impact of traffic relating to attendance at the Dome in Greenwich.
	(27622)
*39	Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): What percentage of his total personal ministerial travel, accommodation and related subsistence expenditure in respect of his work on the Millennium Experience has been devoted to visits to EU countries.
	(27623)

Oral Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, and to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission
*40	Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what recent review the Church Commissioners have undertaken on ethical investment.
	(27624)
*41	Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what plans he has to transfer resources from higher-paid clergy to lower-paid clergy.
	(27625)
*42	Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what representations he has received about the effect on church finances of incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights.
	(27626)
*43	Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the Commission's policy on management of land assets.
	(27627)

Main Business
+ 1	HUMAN RIGHTS BILL [LORDS]: Second Reading. (Queen's Consent to be signified). *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*
	Mr William Hague Mr Peter Lilley Sir Brian Mawhinney Mr Michael Howard Sir Nicholas Lyell Mr James Arbuthnot
	That this House, while confirming its strong belief in human rights, expresses its deep concern at the constitutional implications and deficiencies of the Human Rights Bill [Lords] because the Bill weakens one of the foundations of everyone's human rights and fundamental freedoms, which is an effective political democracy; because the Bill creates in the United Kingdom an additional, separate, and potentially incompatible, constitutional framework; because the Bill fails adequately to respect and maintain the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary fundamental in a democratic society and will therefore lead to a further increase in the power of the executive, the diminution of Parliament, and the politicisation of the judiciary; and declines to give the Bill a Second Reading.
*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*
+ 2	HUMAN RIGHTS BILL [LORDS] [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. *[No debate]*
	Dawn Primarolo That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Human Rights Bill [Lords], it is expedient to authorise-- (a) the payments out of money provided by Parliament of any expenses incurred by a Minister of the Crown-- (i) in consequence of an award of damages or costs in proceedings under the Act; (ii) as administrative expenses resulting from the provisions of the Act; (iii) in connection with judicial training; (b) the payment out of such money or the Consolidated Fund of sums in respect of any additional judicial salary, or of contributions or benefits in respect of judicial pensions, arising in connection with the appointment of the holder of a judicial office as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights; (c) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment.
*To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)).*
+ 3	NORTHERN IRELAND GRAND COMMITTEE *[No debate]*
	Mrs Ann Taylor Secretary Marjorie Mowlam
	That-- (1) the draft Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 be referred to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; and (2) at the sitting on Thursday 26th February the Committee shall consider, pursuant to Standing Order No. 115, the instrument referred to it under paragraph (1) above.
*To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 115 (1)).*

4	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: *Education funding for Rutland* (Mr Alan Duncan).
	*Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).*

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
SELECT COMMITTEES
1	Welsh Affairs	1.30 p.m. 2.00 p.m.	Welsh Office, Cathays Park, Cardiff (private) (public)
	Subject: The present crisis in the Welsh livestock industry.
	Witness: Mr Win Griffiths, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales.
2	Foreign Affairs: Entry Clearance Sub-Committee	3.30 p.m. 3.45 p.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: Entry clearance procedures at overseas posts (with particular reference to Islamabad and New Delhi) and related matters.
	Witnesses: To be confirmed.
3	Education and Employment	3.45 p.m.	Room 18 (private)
4	Education and Employment: Education Sub-committee	Immediately after the meeting of the full committee 4.15 p.m.	Room 18 (private) (public)
	Subject: Disaffected children.
	Witnesses: Dr Michael Young and Mr Ken Spours, Institute of Education, University of London.
6	Agriculture	4.00 p.m.	Room 20 (private)
7	Information	4.30 p.m.	Room 13 (private)
8	Public Accounts	4.30 p.m.	Room 16 (public)
	Subject: The management of building projects at English Higher Education Institutions.
	Witnesses: Professor Brian Fender, CMG, Chief Executive, Higher Education Funding Council.
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Friday 13th February for answer today++

1	Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to improve the family court welfare work of the Probation Service and other related services.
	(30171)
2	Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to review alternative methods to jury trial in serious fraud cases.
	(30172)