Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions |
*1 |
Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): What representations he made at COP4 on the trading of greenhouse gas emission permits as a mechanism for annex 1 countries to meet their targets under the Kyoto protocol. |
| (63565) |
*2 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What estimate his Department has made of the impact on take-up rates of his decision to reduce the discounts to council tenants under the right to buy arrangements. |
| (63566) |
*3 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will make a statement on the status of the leaked document relating to control by the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies of budgets currently managed in London. |
| (63567) |
*4 |
Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West): What representations have been received as a result of the Government's consultation on reform of the processes of home buying and selling. |
| (63568) |
*5 |
Mr Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough): When the Regional Development Agency in Yorkshire and the Humberside will be officially established. |
| (63569) |
*6 |
Mr Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South): What progress is being made in implementing the integrated transport policy. |
| (63570) |
*7 |
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): If he will make a statement on investment in social housing. |
| (63571) |
*8 |
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): What recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on the West Coast Main Line; and if he will make a statement. |
| (63572) |
*9 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): What plans he has to ensure that train companies provide an improved service to passengers. |
| (63573) |
*10 |
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): What plans he has to require rolling stock companies to make arrangements with the Franchise Director and train operating companies for the planned replacement of rolling stock. |
| (63574) |
*11 |
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): How the Single Regeneration Budget fifth programme will be targeted on the areas of greatest need. |
| (63575) |
*12 |
Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): If he will make a statement on the impact which his decision not to announce capping criteria will have on (a) transparency and (b) accountability. |
| (63576) |
*13 |
Laura Moffatt (Crawley): In what way he is encouraging local authorities to improve local transport plans. |
| (63578) |
*14 |
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): If he will make a statement concerning public transport links between the major health service sites in Barnet and Enfield. |
| (63579) |
*15 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact on health of noise from aircraft, with particular reference to night-time noise; and what plans he has to reduce permitted noise levels. |
| (63580) |
*16 |
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian): What plans he has to improve the condition of road networks; and if he will make a statement. |
| (63581) |
*17 |
Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): What plans he has to improve air quality. |
| (63582) |
*18 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): What percentage of the population of England now resides in non-unitary authority areas. |
| (63583) |
*19 |
Mr Keith Vaz (Leicester East): If he will set out his proposals for a successor to City Challenge. |
| (63584) |
*20 |
Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): What actions he has taken to encourage enhanced levels of bus services in rural areas. |
| (63585) |
*21 |
Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire): By how much he estimates council taxes in shire areas to increase over the next three years. |
| (63586) |
*22 |
Mr Eric Martlew (Carlisle): What measures he has taken to ensure that train companies improve their services for passengers. |
| (63587) |
*23 |
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What assessment he has made of traffic congestion on the London to Northampton section of the M1. |
| (63588) |
*24 |
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): What plans he has to ensure his targets for brownfield sites will be met. |
| (63589) |
*25 |
Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): What assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing road user charging. |
| (63590) |
*26 |
Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): What steps he is taking to improve the reliability and quality of rail passenger services. |
| (63591) |
*27 |
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): By what criteria he intends to measure the performance of his integrated transport strategy; and if he will make a statement. |
| (63592) |
*28 |
Sir David Madel (South West Bedfordshire): What plans he has to visit County Hall, Bedford, to discuss the 1999-2000 rate support grant settlement; and if he will make a statement. |
| (63593) |
*29 |
Mr Dennis Turner (Wolverhampton South East): What steps he is taking which will enhance the reliability and quality of passenger rail services. |
| (63594) |
*30 |
Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): What progress he has made in increasing the powers of council tenants to manage their own neighbourhoods. |
| (63595) |
*31 |
Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey): If he will make a statement on government policy in respect of neighbourhood housing allocation. |
| (63596) |
*32 |
Bob Russell (Colchester): If he will make a statement on the delay in paying compensation to the BEST bus pensioners. |
| (63597) |
*33 |
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon and East Chelmsford): When he expects to reach a decision on the PFI bid for the A130 improvement scheme. |
| (63598) |
*34 |
Jacqui Smith (Redditch): What progress is being made in improving passenger rail services. |
| (63599) |
*35 |
Mr Bill Etherington (Sunderland North): What plans he has to encourage the building of homes on recycled urban land. |
| (63600) |
*36 |
Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): What progress is being made on selecting councils for Beacon status. |
| (63601) |
*37 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What plans he has to reform the law relating to people living in houses in multiple occupation. |
| (63602) |
|
Main Business |
+ 1 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL: Second Reading. [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Paul Burstow
Jackie Ballard
Mr Adrian Sanders
Mr Paul Tyler |
| That this House, while welcoming the repeal of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1988 concerning compulsory competitive tendering, declines to give the Local Government Bill a Second Reading because, instead of creating a system of local government that is powerful and free, it grants comprehensive powers to the Secretary of State over local government, amounting to the nationalisation of local government, it creates a culture whereby local government is more concerned with the requirements of Whitehall than the needs of local residents, it retains and incrementally increases capping, thus blurring accountability for Council Tax and service levels, it fails to grant a power of general competence to local authorities, and it alters the way in which Council Tax Benefit subsidy is paid in such a way that poor Council Tax payers will pay for the benefits of the poorest Council Tax payers.
The Eleventh Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1997-98, on the Implementation of the Best Value Framework (HC 705-I) and the Government's Response thereto (Cm 4082) are relevant. |
Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
+ 2 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| Mrs Barbara Roche
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Local Government Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of--
(a) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums so payable under any other enactment;
(b) any expenses of the Secretary of State under the Act. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
+ 3 |
SCOTTISH GRAND COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| Margaret Beckett
Mr Secretary Dewar |
|
(i) at its sitting on Monday 1st February, the Scottish Grand Committee shall take questions for oral answer; and
(ii) in respect of that sitting, paragraph (5) of Standing Order No. 94 (Scottish Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)) shall have effect with the substitution of the word "nine" for the word "ten". |
If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
+ 4 |
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| Mr Keith Bradley
That Dawn Primarolo be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Mrs Barbara Roche be added to the Committee. |
If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
5 |
ADJOURNMENT |
| Proposed subject: Local government finance settlement for Buckinghamshire (Mr John Bercow).
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 10 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Water Industry Bill. |
2 |
Standing Committee B |
10.30 a.m.
4.30 p.m. |
Room 12 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Road Traffic (NHS Traffic) Bill. |
3 |
Fifth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 11 (public) |
| To consider the draft Industrial Training Levy (Construction Board) Order 1999 and the draft Industrial Training Levy (Engineering Construction Board) Order 1999. |
SELECT COMMITTEES |
4 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Environment Sub-Committee |
9.45 a.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
5 |
Deregulation |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 20 (private) |
6 |
International Development |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 5 (private) |
7 |
Public Administration |
10.00 a.m.
11.00 a.m. |
Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Annual Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for 1997-98. |
| Witnesses: Sir David Gore-Booth, KCMG, KCVO; Sir John Kerr, KCMG, Permanent Under-Secretary of State and Head of HM Diplomatic Service, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (at 12.00 noon). |
8 |
Trade and Industry |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 21 (public) |
| Subject: Telephone Numbering and the Work of OFTEL. |
| Witnesses: Mr David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, OFTEL; Freephone User Group; Consumer Communications for England. |
9 |
Agriculture |
10.15 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| |
| Witnesses: National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations; Scottish Fishermen's Federation. |
10 |
Home Affairs |
10.15 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subjects: Police Training and Recruitment. |
| Witnesses: Commission for Racial Equality; Metropolitan Black Police Association (at approximately 11.45 a.m.). |
11 |
Foreign Affairs |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 16 (private) |
12 |
Welsh Affairs |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 17 (private) |
13 |
Treasury |
2.30 p.m. |
G39 7 Millbank
(private) |
14 |
Education and Employment: Employment Sub-Committee |
3.45 p.m. |
Room 18 (private) |
15 |
Agriculture |
4.00 p.m. |
Room 20 (private) |
16 |
Statutory Instruments |
Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments |
Room 7 (private) |
JOINT COMMITTEES |
17 |
Parliamentary Privilege |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 4 (private) |
18 |
Statutory Instruments Joint Committee |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
Written Questions tabled on Monday 11th January for answer today++ |
1 | Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what are the key targets for 1998-99 for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. |
| (65478) |
2 | Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will announce the outcome of the Review of the UK National Air Quality Strategy. |
| (65561) |
3 | Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for tackling crime. |
| (65563) |
4 | Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what projects have secured funding from the Invest to Save Budget. |
| (65564) |
5 | Joan Ryan (Enfield North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will announce the membership of the panel looking at the future funding of the BBC; and if he will make a statement. |
| (65562) |
6 | Mr Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what key targets have been set for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Defence Agency for 1998-99. |
| (65635) |
7 | Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Prime Minister, what arrangements he proposes to make for the parliamentary accountability of the Sure Start strategy. |
| (65651) |
8 | Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he will respond to the Social Security Committee's Fifth Report of 1997-98, Pensions on Divorce HC869. |
| (65652) |
9 | Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government plans to respond to the representations made on behalf of the 14 staff dismissed from GCHQ for refusing to give up their trades union membership. |
| (65653) |
|