| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development |
| *1 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): In what ways she proposes to change the format of her Department's Annual Report to reflect the effect of conflict on the problems of less developed countries; and when she plans to publish it. |
| (62742) |
| *2 |
Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington): What plans she has to offer assistance to Nepal. |
| (62743) |
| *3 |
Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset): What assistance her Department has been able to give to street children projects affected by Hurricane Mitch. |
| (62744) |
| *4 |
Mr Andrew Hunter (Basingstoke): If she will make a statement on UK bilateral and multilateral aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (62745) |
| *5 |
Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): When she last met her colleagues from other member states of the European Union, to discuss the provision of funding for human and civil rights programmes in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. |
| (62746) |
| *6 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): If she will make a statement on her recent visit to Nepal. |
| (62747) |
| *7 |
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): If she will make a statement on the levels of European Union aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (62748) |
| *8 |
Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): What recent discussions she has had with the World Bank about the Bank's role in international development; and if she will make a statement. |
| (62749) |
| *9 |
Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): If she will make a statement on the British aid programme in Zimbabwe. |
| (62750) |
| *10 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If she will make a statement about aid to Zimbabwe. |
| (62752) |
| *11 |
Norman Baker (Lewes): What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of terminator gene technology on developing countries. |
| (62753) |
| *12 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What proposals she has to promote support through market mechanisms for research on pharmaceutical products to combat AIDS in Africa. |
| (62754) |
| *13 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): What steps she has taken to ensure that the objective of sustainability is included in UK aid programmes. |
| (62755) |
| *14 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): If she will make a statement on the work undertaken by her Department to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in the developing world. |
| (62756) |
| *15 |
Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish): What aid her Department is currently providing to Bangladesh. |
| (62757) |
| *16 |
Mr Michael Clapham (Barnsley West and Penistone): What plans she has to assist the South African government in combating AIDS. |
| (62758) |
| *17 |
Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford): If she will make a statement on the role of NGOs in the delivery of aid. |
| (62759) |
| *18 |
Angela Smith (Basildon): What initiatives her Department has taken to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS in developing countries. |
| (62761) |
| *19 |
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): What steps her Department is taking to improve the quality of EC development assistance. |
| (62762) |
| *20 |
Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington): If she will assist programmes of good governance in Nepal ; and if she will make a statement. |
| (62763) |
| *21 |
Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): If she will make a statement on the findings of the experts from her Department on the reconstruction needs of those Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch which they visited. |
| (62764) |
| *22 |
Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): What efforts she has made to involve the churches in raising awareness of the links between debt relief and the eradication of poverty. |
| (62765) |
| *23 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): What progress has been made in the last 12 months on international co-ordination of assistance in response to crisis situations. |
| (62766) |
| *24 |
Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter): What action her Department has taken to help prevent the spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| (62767) |
| *25 |
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): What progress has been made towards providing a corridor of tranquility in Sudan. |
| (62769) |
| *26 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What steps she is taking to promote the outlawing of child labour. |
| (62770) |
| *27 |
Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham): If she will make a statement on her Department's humanitarian work in Kosovo. |
| (62771) |
| *Q1 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62722) |
| *Q2 |
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62723) |
| *Q3 |
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): If he will visit Brixham in order to take a sea voyage on a beam trawler. |
| (62725) |
| *Q4 |
Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62726) |
| *Q5 |
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62727) |
| *Q6 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62728) |
| *Q7 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62729) |
| *Q8 |
Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62730) |
| *Q9 |
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62731) |
| *Q10 |
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62732) |
| *Q11 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62733) |
| *Q12 |
Bob Russell (Colchester): What plans he has to make an official visit to East Anglia. |
| (62734) |
| *Q13 |
Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62735) |
| *Q14 |
Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): When he next intends to pay an official visit to the Congleton constituency. |
| (62736) |
| *Q15 |
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62737) |
| *Q16 |
Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62738) |
| *Q17 |
Mr Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62739) |
| *Q18 |
Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62740) |
| *Q19 |
Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 16th December. |
| (62741) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 3 |
MODERNISATION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS |
| | Margaret Beckett
That this House approves the First Report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on the Parliamentary Calendar: Initial Proposals (HC 60).
The Speaker will put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the five Motions in the name of Margaret Beckett relating to Modernisation of the House of Commons, Sittings of the House and Meetings of Standing Committees not later than 8.00 p.m. or four hours after proceedings begin (Order of 15th December). |
| + 4 |
SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE (No. 1) |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, with effect from Monday 11th January until the end of the present session of Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the modifications set out below:
(1) the House shall meet on Thursdays at half-past eleven o'clock, and will first proceed with private business, motions for unopposed returns and questions;
(2) proceedings on business on Thursdays shall be interrupted at seven o'clock; and
(3) in their application to Thursday sittings of the House, reference to a specified time in the Standing Orders shall be interpreted as reference to a time three hours before the time so specified, save that reference to half-past ten o'clock shall be substituted for reference to twelve o'clock in Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration). |
| | As an Amendment to Margaret Beckett's proposed Motion (Sittings of the House (No. 1)): |
| | Sir George Young
Sir Peter Emery
Mr Nicholas Winterton
Mr Richard Shepherd
Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody |
| | Line 4, leave out from `will' to end and add `proceed with public business, which may include a motion for the adjournment of the House;
(2) at two o'clock on Thursdays, the Speaker shall interrupt the business without question put and the sitting shall be suspended until half-past two o'clock; the House will then proceed with private business, motions for unopposed returns and questions, after which any business interrupted at two o'clock shall be resumed;
(3) proceedings on business on Thursdays shall be interrupted at seven o'clock; and
(4) in their application to Thursday sittings of the House, reference to a specified time in the Standing Orders shall be interpreted as reference to a time three hours before the time so specified, save that reference to a quarter to three o'clock in Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business), to half-past three o'clock in Standing Order No. 21 (Time for taking questions) and to twelve o'clock in Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) shall remain unaltered.'. |
| + 5 |
SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE (No. 2) |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, with effect from Monday 11th January until the end of the present session of Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the modifications set out below:
(1) the House shall meet on Thursdays at half-past eleven o'clock, and will proceed with public business, which may include a motion for the adjournment of the House;
(2) at two o'clock on Thursdays, the Speaker shall interrupt the business without question put and the sitting shall be suspended until half-past two o'clock; the House will then proceed with private business, motions for unopposed returns and questions, after which any business interrupted at two o'clock shall be resumed;
(3) proceedings on business on Thursdays shall be interrupted at seven o'clock; and
(4) in their application to Thursday sittings of the House, reference to a specified time in the Standing Orders shall be interpreted as reference to a time three hours before the time so specified, save that reference to a quarter to three o'clock in Standing Order No. 20 (Time for taking private business), to half-past three o'clock in Standing Order No. 21 (Time for taking questions) and to twelve o'clock in Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration) shall remain unaltered.
Note: the above Motion will not be moved if Margaret Beckett's Motion on Sittings of House (No. 1) is agreed to. |
| + 6 |
MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES (No. 1) |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, with effect from Monday 11th January until the end of the present session of Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the modifications set out below:
Meetings of standing committees:
Standing committees shall have leave to sit at any hour and notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, subject to the following provisions:
(a) on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the House is sitting, no standing committee sitting at Westminster shall sit between the hours of one o'clock and half-past three o'clock, except as provided in paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 88 (Meeting of standing committees); and
(b) on Thursdays when the House is sitting, no standing committee sitting at Westminster shall sit between the hours of half-past eleven o'clock and half-past twelve o'clock, except as provided in paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 88 (Meetings of standing committees) with the substitution in that paragraph of "half-past eleven o'clock" for "one o'clock" and "a quarter to twelve o'clock" for "a quarter past one o'clock".
Note: The above Motion is expected to be moved only if Margaret Beckett's Motion on Sittings of the House (No. 1) is agreed to. |
| + 7 |
MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES (No. 2) |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, with effect from Monday 11th January until the end of the present session of Parliament, the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the modifications set out below:
Meetings of standing committees:
Standing committees shall have leave to sit at any hour and notwithstanding any adjournment of the House, subject to the following provisions: on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when the House is sitting, no standing committee sitting at Westminster shall sit between the hours of one o'clock and half-past three o'clock, except as provided in paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 88 (Meeting of standing committees).
Note: The above Motion is expected to be moved only if Margaret Beckett's Motion on Sittings of the House (No. 1) is not agreed to and if her Motion on Sittings of the House (No. 2) is agreed to. |
| + 8 |
LEGAL AID AND ADVICE (SCOTLAND) [No debate] |
| | Mr Secretary Dewar
That the draft Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Prescribed Proceedings) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 1st December, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 9 |
LEGAL AID AND ADVICE (SCOTLAND) [No debate] |
| | Mr Secretary Dewar
That the draft Advice and Assistance (Assistance by Way of Representation) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 1st December, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 10 |
EDUCATION [No debate] |
| | Mr Secretary Blunkett
That the draft Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations 1998, which were laid before this House on 3rd December, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| STANDING COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Welsh Grand Committee |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 10 (public) |
| (i) To take oral questions. |
| (ii) To consider the matter of Government Expenditure in Wales 1999-2000 to 2001-02. |
| 2 |
Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the Town and Country Planning (Minerals) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 2913) and the Town and Country Planning (Compensation for Restrictions on Mineral Working and Mineral Waste Depositing) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (S.I., 1998, No. 2914). |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 3 |
Education and Employment: Education Sub Committee |
9.20 a.m.
10.20 a.m. |
Room 18 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Highly Able Children. |
| Witnesses: Primary teachers and headteachers: Mr Geoffrey Thompson, Ms Julie Glasson, Ms Ann Hayes and Mr Phil Beswick; Secondary teachers and headteachers: Mr Graham Able, Ms Sue Singer, Ms Cynthia Savage and Ms Sue Macmillan (at approximately 10.50 a.m.). |
| 4 |
Foreign Affairs |
9.30 a.m.
10.00 a.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| |
| Witnesses: Rt Hon Robin Cook, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Mr Tony Lloyd, MP, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. |
| 5 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee |
10.00 a.m.
10.15 a.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Integrated Transport White Paper. |
| Witnesses: B&Q PLC, Boots Company PLC and Marks & Spencer PLC; National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and Transport and General Workers Union (at 10.45 a.m.); Passenger Transport Executive Group (at 11.15 a.m.); Transport 2000 and Council for the Protection of Rural England (at 11.45 a.m.). |
| 6 |
Social Security |
10.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m. |
Room 21 (private)
(public) |
| |
| Witnesses: Mr Andrew Dilnot, Institute for Fiscal Studies; Professor Ruth Lister (at approximately 11.30 a.m.); Ms Holly Sutherland (at approximately 12.15 p.m.). |
| 7 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Transport Sub-Committee |
3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Eurostar Regional Services. |
| Witnesses: Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd. (at 4.00 p.m.); Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (at 4.45 p.m.). |
| 8 |
Northern Ireland Affairs |
3.45 p.m.
4.15 p.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Operation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. |
| Witnesses: Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Northern Ireland. |
| 9 |
Science and Technology |
3.45 p.m.
4.15 p.m. |
Room 20 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Engineering and Physical Sciences Based Innovation. |
| Witnesses: Mr Robert Foster, Director, Technology and Standards Directorate, Dr Alistair Keddie, Director, Innovation Unit, and Mr Peter Bunn, Director, Innovation, Research and Technology Policy Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry. |
| 10 |
Accommodation and Works |
4.00 p.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
| 11 |
European Scrutiny |
4.00 p.m. |
Room 19 (private) |
| 12 |
Selection |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
| 13 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Controls to Prevent and Detect Fraud in Family Practitioner Service Payments. |
| Witnesses: Mr Paul Simpson, Chief Executive, Health and Social Services Executive (Northern Ireland). |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
| Written Questions tabled on Tuesday 15th December for answer today++ |
1
| Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to make an announcement about the distribution to local authorities of housing capital resources for 1999-2000. |
| (64485) |
2
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide financial assistance to Cherwell District Council and Melton Borough Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding on the weekend of 9th to 12th April 1998. |
| (64486) |
3
| Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what action he is taking to assist Brazil in dealing with its current economic difficulties. |
| (64556) |
4
| Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on progress made in the review of personal pensions mis-selling. |
| (64557) |
5
| Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 14th and 15th December. |
| (64558) |
6
| Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he has reached conclusions on the status of the British Board of AgreĞment; and if he will make a statement. |
| (64559) |
7
| Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement about the provision of regional selective assistance in euros. |
| (64552) |
8
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what are the key targets for 1998-99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruitment Agency. |
| (64627) |
9
| Laura Moffatt (Crawley): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what are the key targets for 1998-99 for the Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre. |
| (64625) |
10
| Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Swiss investment exchanges carry out investment business in the United Kingdom. |
| (64626) |
11
| Mr Eric Clarke (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in allocating resources to help with the regeneration of Scotland's former coalmining communities. |
| (64628) |
12
| Mr Phil Hope (Corby): To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee, if he will make a statement on biotechnology and genetic modification, following the establishment of the ministerial group. |
| (64629) |
13
| Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the allocation of capital resources for expenditure on local transport infrastructure. |
| (64630) |
14
| Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when decisions will be issued to applicants under the scheme of redress for extreme and exceptional hardship for those affected by blight from Channel Tunnel Rail Link route options between 1990 and 1994. |
| (64631) |
15
| Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will make an announcement on this year's Rural Bus Challenge competition. |
| (64632) |
16
| Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress has been made on destroying over thirty months Scheme tallow stocks since his Answer of 13th July, Official Report, column 88. |
| (64670) |
|
