Order of Business for 23 July 1998

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Order of Business Thursday 23rd July 1998

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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.

Private Business

Note: Private business is not debated at this time, and may not be proceeded with if opposed.

Second Reading

Alliance and Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords]. (By Order.)

Mr John McWilliam

    On Second Reading of the Alliance and Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) Bill [Lords], to move, That the Bill be read a second time upon this day six months.

At 2.35 p.m.

Oral Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

*1 Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    What estimate he has made of the number of house buyers likely to switch their mortgages from lenders trading in sterling to those trading in the euro.

(50487)

*2 Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East):    What representations he has received on proposals in the Comprehensive Spending Review in terms of the funding of the NHS.

(50488)

*3 Barbara Follett (Stevenage):    What recent discussions he has had regarding the European Court's decision that certain EU budget lines had no legal basis.

(50489)

*4 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    If he will make a statement on Customs and Excise policy in relation to the illegal importation of coral reef products.

(50490)

*5 Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan):    If he will make a statement on the priorities for public spending set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(50491)

*6 Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge):    What assessment he has made of the effects of the current level of pay rises amongst senior business executives.

(50492)

*7 Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes):    What progress has been made towards meeting the criteria which the Government has set for joining EMU.

(50493)

*8 Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):    How many representations he has received since 1st May 1997 about the debt problems of the poorest countries in the world.

(50494)

*9 Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):    If he will make a statement on the impact of the proposals set out in his comprehensive spending review on the United Kingdom's net contributions to the European Union.

(50495)

*10 Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall):    What steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to ensure that the European Investment Bank properly assesses applications for investment.

(50496)

*11 Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch):    When he last met his counterparts in the European Union to discuss tax harmonisation.

(50497)

*12 Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):    What estimate he has made of the annual costs to the United Kingdom general public of exchange costs related to European currencies.

(50498)

*13 Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham):    If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment for 1999-2000.

(50499)

*14 Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    When he last met employers to discuss the implications of the current exchange rate.

(50500)

*15 Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    On what date he proposes to publish the confidential parts of the Bingham Report.

(50501)

*16 Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands):    What representations he has received on the priorities for public spending over the planning period contained in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(50503)

*17 Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    What measures he is taking to encourage the growth of the level of savings.

(50504)

*18 Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton):    If he will make a statement on his priorities for public spending for 1999-2000.

(50505)

*19 Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford):    What representations he has received from charities regarding the abolition of dividend tax credits.

(50506)

*20 Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey):    What plans he has for the simplification of personal taxation.

(50507)

*21 Paddy Tipping (Sherwood):    If he will make a statement on the reordering of priorities for public spending as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(50508)

*22 Mr Robert Syms (Poole):    If he will make a statement on his policy on tax relief for savings.

(50509)

*23 Mr John McAllion (Dundee East):    What recent discussions he has held with the Scotch whisky industry relating to the level of tax on Scotch whisky.

(50510)

*24 Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak):    On what basis he has determined that a prudent level for public debt is less than 40 per cent. of gross domestic product.

(50511)

*25 Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South):    If he will make a statement about the proposals relating to capital expenditure in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(50512)

*26 Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East):    What plans he has to replace public funding of capital projects in health and education with private finance.

(50513)

*27 Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    What representations he has received in support of his proposals for CAT marking of ISA financial products; and when he expects to produce his final regulations.

[R](50514)

*28 Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth):    What steps he intends to take to promote capital expenditure projects.

(50515)

*29 Mr Stephen Day (Cheadle):    When he expects to complete his review of charities taxation.

(50516)

*30 Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):    What is his policy on the European Commission's proposal for a Europe-wide withholding tax on cross-border savings.

(50517)

*31 Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment.

(50518)

*32 Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley):    What representations he has received concerning the impact of the strength of the pound on manufacturing industry.

(50519)

*33 Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West):    If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment for the next three years.

(50520)

*34 Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):    What representations he has received on the Comprehensive Spending Review and its impact on levels of public infrastructure investment.

(50521)

*35 Gillian Merron (Lincoln):    What representations his Department has received on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the regional distribution of resources, with particular reference to Lincolnshire.

(50522)

*36 Steve Webb (Northavon):    What representations he has received about the mis-selling of free-standing additional voluntary contributions to pension schemes.

(50523)

*37 Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):    What incentives he is assessing to stimulate investment in design, technology and innovation.

(50524)

*38 Mr Andrew George (St Ives):    If he will make a statement on the provision of Inland Revenue offices in remote rural locations.

(50525)

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

Main Business
+ 1	NORTHERN IRELAND BILL: Committee [2nd allotted day] (Progress reported 22nd July). *[Up to 6 hours]*
For Amendments, see separate Paper.
	*Proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at the times specified below, starting from the time of commencement of the proceedings on the Bill (Order of 17th July).*

*Clause 23*	*three hours or Seven o'clock (whichever is the earlier)*
*Clauses 14 to 22, Schedule 5*	*six hours*

+ 2	ROAD TRAFFIC *[No debate]*
	Mr Secretary Prescott That the draft Community Drivers' Hours and Recording Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 22nd June, be approved. *To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).*
+ 3	ANIMALS *[No debate]*
	Mr Secretary Straw That the draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 25th June, be approved. *To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).*
+ 4	ROADS AND BRIDGES (SCOTLAND) *[No debate]*
	Mr Secretary Dewar That the draft Security for Private Road Works (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 30th June, be approved. *To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).*
+ 5	SOCIAL SECURITY *[No debate]*
	Mr Secretary Prescott That the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Worker's Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Amendment Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 2nd July, be approved. *To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).*

At the end of the sitting:

6	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: *Junction 8 on the M62* (Helen Jones). *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	Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation	10.30 a.m.	Room 9 (public)
	To consider the draft International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 1998.
2	Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation	4.30 p.m.	Room 9 (public)
	To consider the draft Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 1998.
SELECT COMMITTEES
3	Education and Employment: Employment Sub-Committee	9.30 a.m. 10.45 a.m.	Room 6 (private) (public)
	Subject: The Performance and Future Role of the Employment Service.
	Witnesses: Manpower plc, Reed Personnel Services plc, Corporate Services Group plc.
4	Culture, Media and Sport	10.00 a.m.	Room 21 (private)
5	Environmental Audit	10.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 17 (private) (public)
	Subject: Energy and the Environment.
	Witnesses: Professor John Cheshire, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex and Mr Nick Hartley, Managing Consultant, Oxford Economic Research Associates.
6	Health	10.00 a.m.	Room 5 (private)
7	Welsh Affairs	10.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m.	Room 8 (private) (public)
	Subject: Investment in Industry in Wales.
	Witnesses: Mr Peter Hain, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales and Welsh Office officials.
8	Defence	10.15 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: The Strategic Defence Review.
	Witness: Mr Tony Lloyd, MP, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
9	Foreign Affairs	10.30 a.m.	Room 16 (private)
10	Foreign Affairs: Entry Clearance Sub-Committee	Immediately after the meeting of the main committee.	Room 16 (private)
11	Defence	4.15 p.m. 4.30 p.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: The Strategic Defence Review.
	Witness: Rt Hon George Robertson, MP, Secretary of State for Defence.
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Wednesday 22nd July for answer today++
1	Mr Mike Hall (Weaver Vale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what are the Government's proposals for the payment of board members of the new regional development agencies.
	(52281)
2	Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Reading West of 2nd April, Official Report, column 601, how many responses have been received to the consultation exercise for amending the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and Waste Management Licensing Regulations.
	(52282)
3	Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park and Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes he proposes to make to the arrangements for overseas domestic workers who accompany their employers to the United Kingdom.
	(52283)
4	Mr Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for August and the major European Union events for the next six months.
	(52364)
5	Mr Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to release more records of the wartime Special Operations Executive.
	(52365)
6	Mr Syd Rapson (Portsmouth North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures Her Majesty's Government has taken to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 (1998) which imposed further sanctions on UNITA as from 1st July.
	(52366)
7	Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review was for the Ordnance Survey.
	(52367)
8	Mr Ross Cranston (Dudley North): To ask Mr Attorney General, if he will make a statement on the role of Government lawyers in England and Wales.
	(52368)
9	Mr Giles Radice (North Durham): To ask the Prime Minister, when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.
	(52369)
10	Mr Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham): To ask the Prime Minister, when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Security Service Act 1989 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.
	(52370)
11	Mr Derek Foster (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Prime Minister, when the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under section 8(1) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.
	(52371)
12	Mr Clive Efford (Eltham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will lay before Parliament the ninth Annual Report of the Firearms Consultative Committee.
	(52417)
13	Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will lay before Parliament the Annual Report for the Forensic Science Service.
	(52418)
14	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will publish the consultation paper on fishing vessel accidents and the recovery of those lost at sea; and if he will make a statement.
	(52419)
15	Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when the Employment Service Annual Report and Accounts for 1997-98 will be laid before Parliament.
	(52420)
16	Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress has been made on the review of training and enterprise councils in England.
	(52421)
17	Mr Alan Keen (Feltham and Heston): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what conclusions he has reached as a result of his Department's Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.
	(52422)
18	Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the Medicines Control Agency.
	(52423)
19	Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston): To ask Mr Attorney General, when the Director of Public Prosecutions will publish her Annual Report.
	(52517)
20	Dr Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place a copy of the report by the European Union Troika mission on East Timor in the Library.
	(52541)
21	Mr Nick Ainger (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make statement about the RAF aircraft deployed in the Gulf.
	(52542)
22	Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when he expects to announce the Chairman of the Scottish Fee Support Review Committee to be established under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998.
	(52543)
23	Ms Rosie Winterton (Doncaster Central): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to carry out the review of policy on chemicals in the environment announced by the Deputy Prime Minister last year.
	(52544)
24	Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the Annual Report and Accounts for 1997-98 of the NHS Estates Executive Agency.
	(52574)
25	Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how his Department, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence performed against last year's targets for reducing empty government homes; and what new targets have been set for 1998-99.
	(52611)

Standing Committee Notices

The First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Wednesday 29th July at 10.30 a.m. to consider the draft Undertaking by the Secretary of State for Scotland for the provision of passenger ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.

The Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Wednesday 29th July at 4.30 p.m. to consider the Special Grant Report Scotland: Grant in aid of expenditure on rural public passenger transport for 1998-99 (HC 941).

The Sixth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Tuesday 28th July at 10.30 a.m. to consider the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1998 (CM 3978) and the Comprehensive Spending Review (CM 4011) for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, (PGA 1993 CH32).

The Ninth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Tuesday 28th July at 10.30 a.m. to consider the draft Conditional Fee Arrangements Order 1998.

The Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will meet on Tuesday 28th July at 10.30 a.m. to consider the draft Education (Student Support) Regulations 1998 and the draft Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 1998.

Oral Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
*1	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What estimate he has made of the number of house buyers likely to switch their mortgages from lenders trading in sterling to those trading in the euro.
	(50487)
*2	Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): What representations he has received on proposals in the Comprehensive Spending Review in terms of the funding of the NHS.
	(50488)
*3	Barbara Follett (Stevenage): What recent discussions he has had regarding the European Court's decision that certain EU budget lines had no legal basis.
	(50489)
*4	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will make a statement on Customs and Excise policy in relation to the illegal importation of coral reef products.
	(50490)
*5	Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): If he will make a statement on the priorities for public spending set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
	(50491)
*6	Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): What assessment he has made of the effects of the current level of pay rises amongst senior business executives.
	(50492)
*7	Mr Brian White (North East Milton Keynes): What progress has been made towards meeting the criteria which the Government has set for joining EMU.
	(50493)
*8	Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): How many representations he has received since 1st May 1997 about the debt problems of the poorest countries in the world.
	(50494)
*9	Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): If he will make a statement on the impact of the proposals set out in his comprehensive spending review on the United Kingdom's net contributions to the European Union.
	(50495)
*10	Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): What steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to ensure that the European Investment Bank properly assesses applications for investment.
	(50496)
*11	Mr John Cryer (Hornchurch): When he last met his counterparts in the European Union to discuss tax harmonisation.
	(50497)
*12	Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington): What estimate he has made of the annual costs to the United Kingdom general public of exchange costs related to European currencies.
	(50498)
*13	Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment for 1999-2000.
	(50499)
*14	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): When he last met employers to discuss the implications of the current exchange rate.
	(50500)
*15	Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): On what date he proposes to publish the confidential parts of the Bingham Report.
	(50501)
*16	Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): What representations he has received on the priorities for public spending over the planning period contained in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
	(50503)
*17	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What measures he is taking to encourage the growth of the level of savings.
	(50504)
*18	Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton): If he will make a statement on his priorities for public spending for 1999-2000.
	(50505)
*19	Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford): What representations he has received from charities regarding the abolition of dividend tax credits.
	(50506)
*20	Mr Michael Colvin (Romsey): What plans he has for the simplification of personal taxation.
	(50507)
*21	Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): If he will make a statement on the reordering of priorities for public spending as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
	(50508)
*22	Mr Robert Syms (Poole): If he will make a statement on his policy on tax relief for savings.
	(50509)
*23	Mr John McAllion (Dundee East): What recent discussions he has held with the Scotch whisky industry relating to the level of tax on Scotch whisky.
	(50510)
*24	Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): On what basis he has determined that a prudent level for public debt is less than 40 per cent. of gross domestic product.
	(50511)
*25	Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): If he will make a statement about the proposals relating to capital expenditure in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
	(50512)
*26	Mr Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): What plans he has to replace public funding of capital projects in health and education with private finance.
	(50513)
*27	Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham): What representations he has received in support of his proposals for CAT marking of ISA financial products; and when he expects to produce his final regulations.
	[R](50514)
*28	Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth): What steps he intends to take to promote capital expenditure projects.
	(50515)
*29	Mr Stephen Day (Cheadle): When he expects to complete his review of charities taxation.
	(50516)
*30	Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): What is his policy on the European Commission's proposal for a Europe-wide withholding tax on cross-border savings.
	(50517)
*31	Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment.
	(50518)
*32	Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): What representations he has received concerning the impact of the strength of the pound on manufacturing industry.
	(50519)
*33	Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): If he will make a statement on his plans for public investment for the next three years.
	(50520)
*34	Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): What representations he has received on the Comprehensive Spending Review and its impact on levels of public infrastructure investment.
	(50521)
*35	Gillian Merron (Lincoln): What representations his Department has received on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the regional distribution of resources, with particular reference to Lincolnshire.
	(50522)
*36	Steve Webb (Northavon): What representations he has received about the mis-selling of free-standing additional voluntary contributions to pension schemes.
	(50523)
*37	Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): What incentives he is assessing to stimulate investment in design, technology and innovation.
	(50524)
*38	Mr Andrew George (St Ives): If he will make a statement on the provision of Inland Revenue offices in remote rural locations.
	(50525)