Order of Business for 26 October 1998

House of Commons

Session 1997-98
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Order of Business Monday 26th October 1998

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Monday 26 October 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

Afterwards

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

*1 Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston):    If all material held by South Yorkshire Police in respect of the Hillsborough disaster which he ordered to be placed in the Library has now been deposited.

(53506)

*2 Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley):    What plans he has to reduce the proportion of early retirements from the police.

(53508)

*3 Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby):    When he expects the inquiry into financial regulation in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to report.

(53509)

*4 Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham):    How many offenders were given prison sentences of four months or more but less than eight months in the most recent year for which figures are available.

(53510)

*5 Mr Geraint Davies (Croydon Central):    What plans he has to change fire and police service pension arrangements.

(53512)

*6 Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk):    If he will make a statement on progress in implementing his Department's measures relating to crime and disorder.

(53513)

*7 Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    What plans he has to increase the number of televisions available to prisoners.

(53514)

*8 Mr Hugh Bayley (City of York):    What assistance his Department is giving to enable police forces to acquire new communications systems.

(53515)

*9 Mr Tom King (Bridgwater):    What representations he has received from police representatives about the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

(53516)

*10 Mr John Healey (Wentworth):    What steps his Department is taking (a) to recruit young unemployed people under the New Deal and (b) to encourage agencies for which the Department is responsible and suppliers to the Department to do the same.

(53517)

*11 Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East):    What plans he has to make CCTV more widely available.

(53518)

*12 Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington):    If he will make a statement on the Home Office and Metropolitan Police's policy towards the Gordon Warren case.

(53519)

*13 Mr John Randall (Uxbridge):    By how much in real terms police spending will increase in each of the next three years.

(53520)

*14 Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    What criteria are used to determine the employment of a police officer as a dog handler.

(53521)

*15 Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr):    What percentage of police officers currently retire aged (a) under 55, (b) 55 to 60 and (c) 60 to 65 years.

(53523)

*16 Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North):    How many asylum seekers are currently detained under immigration laws.

(53524)

*17 Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    How many asylum seekers who made an application in (a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994, (f) 1995, (g) 1996 and (h) 1997 are awaiting a decision on their application.

(53525)

*18 Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    What plans he has to provide additional resources to the Metropolitan Police.

(53526)

*19 Mr David Amess (Southend West):    What recent representations he has received on total police manpower.

(53527)

*20 Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston):    What action he is taking to prevent child prostitution and to assist those young people already drawn into prostitution.

(53528)

*21 Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon):    If he will make a statement concerning support for victims of mentally-disordered offenders.

(53530)

*22 Mr David Rendel (Newbury):    If he will make a statement about current trends in (a) conviction rates and (b) crime rates.

(53531)

*23 Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans):    What evaluation he undertakes of the relative performance of different police forces.

(53532)

*24 Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    If he will make a statement on the role of uniformed local authority patrols in crime prevention.

(53533)

*25 Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East):    If he will make a statement on the measures he uses to monitor and assess the performance of police authorities.

(53534)

*26 Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    What plans he has to promote DNA technology for crime detection.

(53535)

*27 Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey):    When he last met the Chairman of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service to discuss its work.

(53536)

*28 Bob Russell (Colchester):    What account he takes when allocating police funding of additional costs incurred the following closures of magistrates' courts.

(53537)

*29 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    What progress has been made by Scotland Yard in the case of the murder of WPC Fletcher, since the honourable Member for Linlithgow made an official visit to Assistant Commissioner David Veness.

(53538)

*30 Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West):    If he will make a statement on resources available to police in Greater Manchester in the forthcoming financial year.

(53539)

*31 Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):    What consideration is given when allocating funding to the costs of policing areas of the country that attract seasonal inflows of temporary visitors; and if he will make a statement.

(53540)

*32 Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    What steps he is taking to improve prison education.

(53541)

*33 Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    What progress has been made in halving the time between arrest and sentencing for young offenders.

(53543)

*34 Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    What plans he has to provide greater resources for policing in shire counties.

(53544)

*35 Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East):    What recent discussions he has had about reforming police disciplinary procedures; and when he plans to implement changes.

(53545)

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

Main Business
+ 1	BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*
	Margaret Beckett That, at this day's sitting, paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments) shall apply to proceedings on the Motions in the name of Mr Paddy Ashdown as if this day were one of the Opposition Days allotted under paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 14 (Arrangement of public business).
*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*
2	THE ECONOMY *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*
	Mr Paddy Ashdown Mr A. J. Beith Mr Malcolm Bruce Mr David Chidgey Mr Edward Davey Mr Paul Tyler
	That this House notes that the macro-economic policies of this Government have led to an uncompetitive and unstable pound, high real short-term interest rates and an unbalanced economy, that as a consequence of these problems, and the recent global economic slowdown, economic growth forecasts for the UK for 1999 are being revised downwards and unemployment forecasts are being revised upwards, that jobs in manufacturing industry are already being lost at the rate of over 300 per day and that agricultural employment is also declining sharply; and calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to resist pressures and temptations to compromise the operational independence of the Bank of England, recognise the role of fiscal policy in stabilising economic growth in order to avoid excessive reliance on interest rates for such a purpose, make an early Declaration of Intent of the Government's commitment to join the European Single Currency, agree and establish a joint Six-Monthly Report on Convergence by the Treasury and the Bank of England to the Treasury Committee, take further actions to tackle skills shortages, and maintain the recent plans for additional investment in key public services such as the NHS and schools.
	As an Amendment to Mr Paddy Ashdown's proposed Motion (The Economy):
	The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Cook Mr Secretary Smith Mr Secretary Straw
	Line 1 , leave out from `House' to end and add `notes that the Government inherited an economy in which public sector net borrowing was £28 billion, inflation was set to rise sharply above target because of the failure of the previous Government to take the necessary action on interest rates; recalls that the previous Government presided over a boom and bust economy where interest rates reached 15 per cent. and inflation reached 10 per cent., doubled the national debt in the 1990s, worsened inequality and failed to tackle the weaknesses in the British economy; commends the actions of this Government which is steering a course of stability in an uncertain and unstable world, has established a credible framework for monetary policy that has led to the lowest long-term interest rates in 35 years, and inflation hitting its 2\5 per cent. target, and has taken tough action to cut government borrowing by £20 billion; and welcomes the increase in employment of 400,000 since the election, the launch of the New Deal, reform of the tax and benefit system to tackle unemployment and poverty traps, support for British business through cuts in corporation tax and small business tax to their lowest levels ever, and the extra investment of £40 billion in education and health over the next three years.'.
*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*
3	FARMING AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*
	Mr Paddy Ashdown Mr A. J. Beith Mr Charles Kennedy Mr Andrew George Mr Richard Livsey Mr Paul Tyler
	That this House welcomes moves made by Her Majesty's Government in recent weeks to address some of the problems facing the British agricultural industry but believes these problems would be more successfully addressed by measures such as accessing agri-monetary compensation funds, ensuring that animal welfare standards are enforced uniformly across the EU and that UK standards are applied to imports, encouraging supermarkets to support British farming in their buying policies and addressing the imbalance in the bargaining power between producers and the supermarkets, implementing a `Buy British' policy in central government and its agencies and encouraging local government to do likewise wherever possible, retaining the Calf Processing Scheme, reducing inspection charges on farmers, ensuring that payments to farmers are made promptly, stabilising exchange rates by making an early declaration of intent of the Government's commitment to join the European Single Currency, implementing longer-term measures that are also needed to secure the future of British farming, including the clear labelling of products including imports, and ensuring that CAP reform does not discriminate against British farmers and any uptake of an early retirement scheme does not lead to compulsory amalgamation of holdings; further believes that confidence in the safety and quality of British food will only be restored when a fully independent and authoritative Food Standards Agency is established; and regrets any delay in its creation.
	As an Amendment to Mr Paddy Ashdown's proposed Motion (Farming and the Food Industry):
	The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Cook Mr Secretary Smith Mr Nicholas Brown
	Line 1 , leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the Government's strong commitment to the UK farming industry and to the wider rural economy; welcomes in particular the steps which the Government has taken since May 1997 to support the beef and sheep industry via EU agri-monetary compensation and relief from charges; acknowledges the steps taken specifically to help the sheep, pig and cereal sectors with targeted EU measures; and endorses the Government's intention to bring about a secure and viable future for the UK farming and food industries through a market-orientated reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.'.
*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*

At the end of the sitting:

4	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: *The CSA and the self-employed* (Mr Tony McNulty). *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	1.00 p.m. 1.30 p.m.	National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff (private) (public)
	Subject: The closure of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum.
	Witnesses: Cardiff Bay Development Corporation; The National Museums and Galleries of Wales.
2	Information	4.30 p.m.	Room 13 (private)
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Questions tabled on Friday 23rd October for answer today++
1	Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he plans to take to investigate the circumstances behind the two revisions to the average earnings figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 6th October and 14th October and to assess whether best practice is being employed in compiling this series.
	(56990)

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
*1	Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston): If all material held by South Yorkshire Police in respect of the Hillsborough disaster which he ordered to be placed in the Library has now been deposited.
	(53506)
*2	Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): What plans he has to reduce the proportion of early retirements from the police.
	(53508)
*3	Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): When he expects the inquiry into financial regulation in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to report.
	(53509)
*4	Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham): How many offenders were given prison sentences of four months or more but less than eight months in the most recent year for which figures are available.
	(53510)
*5	Mr Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): What plans he has to change fire and police service pension arrangements.
	(53512)
*6	Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk): If he will make a statement on progress in implementing his Department's measures relating to crime and disorder.
	(53513)
*7	Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): What plans he has to increase the number of televisions available to prisoners.
	(53514)
*8	Mr Hugh Bayley (City of York): What assistance his Department is giving to enable police forces to acquire new communications systems.
	(53515)
*9	Mr Tom King (Bridgwater): What representations he has received from police representatives about the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
	(53516)
*10	Mr John Healey (Wentworth): What steps his Department is taking (a) to recruit young unemployed people under the New Deal and (b) to encourage agencies for which the Department is responsible and suppliers to the Department to do the same.
	(53517)
*11	Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): What plans he has to make CCTV more widely available.
	(53518)
*12	Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): If he will make a statement on the Home Office and Metropolitan Police's policy towards the Gordon Warren case.
	(53519)
*13	Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): By how much in real terms police spending will increase in each of the next three years.
	(53520)
*14	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What criteria are used to determine the employment of a police officer as a dog handler.
	(53521)
*15	Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): What percentage of police officers currently retire aged (a) under 55, (b) 55 to 60 and (c) 60 to 65 years.
	(53523)
*16	Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): How many asylum seekers are currently detained under immigration laws.
	(53524)
*17	Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): How many asylum seekers who made an application in (a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994, (f) 1995, (g) 1996 and (h) 1997 are awaiting a decision on their application.
	(53525)
*18	Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): What plans he has to provide additional resources to the Metropolitan Police.
	(53526)
*19	Mr David Amess (Southend West): What recent representations he has received on total police manpower.
	(53527)
*20	Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston): What action he is taking to prevent child prostitution and to assist those young people already drawn into prostitution.
	(53528)
*21	Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): If he will make a statement concerning support for victims of mentally-disordered offenders.
	(53530)
*22	Mr David Rendel (Newbury): If he will make a statement about current trends in (a) conviction rates and (b) crime rates.
	(53531)
*23	Mr Kerry Pollard (St. Albans): What evaluation he undertakes of the relative performance of different police forces.
	(53532)
*24	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If he will make a statement on the role of uniformed local authority patrols in crime prevention.
	(53533)
*25	Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): If he will make a statement on the measures he uses to monitor and assess the performance of police authorities.
	(53534)
*26	Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): What plans he has to promote DNA technology for crime detection.
	(53535)
*27	Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): When he last met the Chairman of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service to discuss its work.
	(53536)
*28	Bob Russell (Colchester): What account he takes when allocating police funding of additional costs incurred the following closures of magistrates' courts.
	(53537)
*29	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What progress has been made by Scotland Yard in the case of the murder of WPC Fletcher, since the honourable Member for Linlithgow made an official visit to Assistant Commissioner David Veness.
	(53538)
*30	Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): If he will make a statement on resources available to police in Greater Manchester in the forthcoming financial year.
	(53539)
*31	Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): What consideration is given when allocating funding to the costs of policing areas of the country that attract seasonal inflows of temporary visitors; and if he will make a statement.
	(53540)
*32	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): What steps he is taking to improve prison education.
	(53541)
*33	Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): What progress has been made in halving the time between arrest and sentencing for young offenders.
	(53543)
*34	Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): What plans he has to provide greater resources for policing in shire counties.
	(53544)
*35	Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): What recent discussions he has had about reforming police disciplinary procedures; and when he plans to implement changes.
	(53545)



© Parliamentary copyright 1998	Prepared 26 October 1998