Order of Business for 26 January 1999

House of Commons

Session 1998-99
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Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Tuesday 26th January 1999

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Tuesday 26 January 1999.

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.

At 2.30 p.m. Prayers

Afterwards

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

*1 Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth):    What steps are being taken to deal with the problems faced by owner occupiers in housing regeneration and improvement schemes.

(65825)

*2 Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie):    If he will make a statement about the supply of nurses in Scotland.

(65826)

*3 Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross):    If he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the maintenance, repair and protection of Scottish war memorials.

(65827)

*4 Dr Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh):    If he will make a statement on the planned levels of expenditure on hospital services over the next three years.

(65828)

*5 Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East):    If he will make a statement on the development of new housing partnerships in Scotland.

(65829)

*6 Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith):    When he will issue guidelines for local healthcare cooperatives.

(65831)

*7 Ms Sandra Osborne (Ayr):    If he will make a statement about the actions the Government is taking to protect the victims of domestic violence and abuse.

(65832)

*8 Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    If he will make a statement on the local government financial settlement for Glasgow for 1999-2000.

(65833)

*9 Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute):    Pursuant to his Answer of 17th December, Official Report, column 688-9, on the A83 closure, if he will ensure that fares on the temporarily enhanced ferry service are charged at a rate which reflects road equivalent tariff.

(65834)

*10 Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest):    What responses he has received on his consultation on land reform.

(65836)

*11 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    If he will make a statement on the progress of the Crown Office in securing a trial of the suspects of the Lockerbie bombing.

(65837)

*12 Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):    If he will make a statement about the economic impact of his proposals for land reform in Scotland.

(65838)

*13 Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries):    What plans he has to promote increased spending on rural public transport.

(65839)

*14 Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood):    What measures have been taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools.

(65840)

*15 Mr Tom Clarke ( Coatbridge and Chryston):    If he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal in Scotland.

(65841)

*16 Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire):    What representations he has received on his proposals to change the land ownership legislation in Scotland.

(65842)

*17 Mrs Irene Adams (Paisley North):    What measures he has taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools.

(65843)

*18 Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney):    What plans he has to compensate landowners in Scotland who are adversely affected by his proposals for land reform.

(65845)

*19 Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale):    What plans he has to promote increased spending on rural public transport.

(65846)

*20 Mr Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South):    If he will make a statement on housing policy in Scotland.

(65847)

*21 Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian):    If he will make a statement on his Department's review of the roads programme.

(65848)

*22 Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire):    When he last met senior representatives of the CBI in Scotland to discuss economic prospects.

(65849)

*23 Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth):    When he last met the Scottish Law Society to discuss changes to the criminal justice system in Scotland.

(65850)

*24 Mr John Bercow (Buckingham):    If he will make a statement on the most recent quarterly industrial trends survey by the CBI in Scotland.

(65851)

*25 Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    When he last met representatives of the Scottish Small Business Federation; and if he will make a statement.

(65852)

*26 Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber):    When he expects to receive advice from the national screening committee about the feasibility of introducing a national screening programme for Type 2 diabetes.

(65853)

*27 Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):    How many landowners in Scotland will be affected by his recommendations for compulsory purchase in his recent land reform proposals.

(65854)

At 3.15 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department

*28 Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle):    What steps he is taking to ensure that judges declare any relevant interests before hearing a case.

(65855)

*29 Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):    In what ways he monitors the adequacy and quality of community legal advice services; and what further action he plans to ensure excellence in such services.

(65856)

*30 Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter):    What progress has been made on securing funding for the proposed new accommodation for the court service in Exeter.

(65857)

*31 Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes):    What steps he is taking to expedite trials in criminal cases.

(65858)

*32 Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North):    What regional consultations he has undertaken in respect of improved public access to legal services.

(65860)

*33 Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South):    What is the cost to date in legal fees to British public funds of the attempt to extradite General Pinochet; and if he will make a statement.

(65861)

*34 Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset):    What is the current workload of the Land Registry; and what assessment he has made of the employment prospects of Land Registry staff as a result of the change in demand and the increased use of information technology.

(65862)

*35 Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull):    What representations he has received from interested parties with regard to the proposed changes to the qualifications required of a clerk to a magistrates' court.

(65863)

*36 Caroline Flint (Don Valley):    What was the average time taken to process guilty pleas for minor offences through the magistrates' courts in the last year for which figures are available.

(65864)

*37 Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin):    How many magistrates have been suspended or dismissed in each of the last five years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the main reasons.

(65865)

*38 Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South):    What progress his Department has made in reviewing the current working practices of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.

(65867)

*39 Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath):    What cost savings he estimates will accrue from his planned reforms to the legal system and its administration.

(65868)

*40 Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield):    What proposals he has to review the role of sheriffs.

(65869)

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

Preliminary Business

Ten minute rule Motion

MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ (PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL) [Up to 20 minutes]

Mr Tam Dalyell

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the prior approval, by a simple majority of the House of Commons, of military action by United Kingdom forces against Iraq.

The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23).

Main Business
+ 2	TAX CREDITS BILL: Second Reading. *[Until 10.00 p.m.]*
	Mr William Hague Mr Francis Maude Mr Iain Duncan Smith Mr Eric Pickles Mr Nick Gibb Mr James Arbuthnot
	That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Tax Credits Bill because it will increase the costs of social security when the Prime Minister has pledged to cut those costs; and it will increase benefit dependency, stigma, fraud and business costs, whilst undermining family structures.
	Mr Paddy Ashdown Mr A. J. Beith Mr Malcolm Bruce Mr David Rendel Steve Webb Mr Paul Tyler
	That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Tax Credits Bill because, whilst additional money for lower paid workers and for disabled people is welcome, the proposed working families tax credit represents a highly inefficient way of spending public money; paying the credit through the paypacket will penalise many women, will place unnecessary burdens on businesses, will adversely affect recipients at times of family or job change and will increase the scope for fraud; and the Bill fails to tackle the particular incentive problems faced by low-paid homebuyers, and contains proposals for a childcare tax credit which would be poorly targeted. The First Report from the Social Security Committee, Tax and Benefits: Implementation of Tax Credits (HC 29) and the Government Response contained in the Second Special Report from the Social Security Committee (HC 176) are relevant.
*Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.*
+ 3	TAX CREDITS BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. *[No debate]*
	Mrs Barbara Roche That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Tax Credits Bill, it is expedient to authorise-- (a) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenses incurred by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in consequence of that Act; (b) any increase attributable to that Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other Act; and (c) the payment into the Consolidated Fund of any increase attributable to that Act in the sums payable into that Fund under any other Act.
*To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)).*

At the end of the sitting:

4	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: A34 at Botley and Kidlington* (Dr Evan Harris).* *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.	Room 11 (public)
	To consider the Greater London Authority Bill (except Clauses 1 to 4 and Schedules 1 and 2).
2	Standing Committee B	10.30 a.m.	Room 12 (public)
	To consider the Local Government Bill.
3	First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation	10.30 a.m.	Room 9 (public)
	To consider the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice
SELECT COMMITTEES
4	Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Environment Sub-Committee	9.45 a.m. 10.00 a.m.	Room 16 (private) (public)
	Subject: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Consumer Products.
	Witnesses: Friends of the Earth and the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection; The Body Shop International and B&Q (at 10.40 a.m.); Mr Alan Meale, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department of Trade and Industry officials (at 11.20 a.m.).
5	Agriculture	10.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 21 (private) (public)
	Subject: Sea Fishing.
	Witnesses: Sea Fish Industry Authority; Association of Sea Fisheries Committees of England and Wales.
6	Foreign Affairs	10.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 15 (private) public
	Subject: Kosovo.
	Witnesses: Mr Tony Lloyd, MP, Minister of State and Mr Peter Ricketts, Deputy Political Director, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
7	International Development	10.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m.	Room 6 (private) (public)
	Subject: Women and Development: Gender Mainstreaming.
	Witnesses: Dr Kate Young, Executive Director, Womankind Worldwide, Mr Richard Edwards, Director, Social Development and Gender, The British Council and Ms Helen O'Connell, Gender and Development Network.
8	Trade and Industry	10.00 a.m.	Room 20 (public)
	Subject: Electronic Commerce.
	Witnesses: E-Centre UK; CBI; Federation of Small Businesses.
9	Public Administration	10.15 a.m. 11.00 a.m.	Room 5 (private) (public)
	Subject: Annual Report of the Health Service Commissioner for 1997-98.
	Witnesses: Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust.
10	Treasury	10.30 a.m. 10.45 a.m.	Room 8 (private) (public)
	Subject: The Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN)
	Witnesses: Ms Patricia Hewitt, MP, Economic Secretary, HM Treasury and HM Treasury officials.
11	Welsh Affairs	12.30 p.m. 12.45 p.m.	The Dafydd Orig Chamber, Gwynedd Council Offices, Caernarfon (private) (public)
	Subject: Childcare in Wales.
	Witnesses: Wales Pre-School Playgroup Association; Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin; National Childminders Association.
12	Education and Employment	3.45 p.m. 4.00 p.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: Access for All? A Survey of Post-16 Participation.
	Witnesses: Professor Martin Harris, Chairman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester, Professor Christine King, Vice-Chancellor, University of Staffordshire and Ms Diana Warwick, Chief Executive, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP); Mr Alan Tuckett, Director, Ms Sue Cara and Ms Jeannie Sutcliffe, National Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) (at approximately 4.30 p.m.).
13	Procedure	4.15 p.m. 4.30 p.m.	Room 8 (private) (public)
	Subject: Procedural Consequences of Devolution.
	Witness: Mr Peter Atkinson, MP.
14	Foreign Affairs	4.30 p.m.	Room 16 (private)
15	Statutory Instruments	Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments	Room 7 (private)
JOINT COMMITTEES
16	Parliamentary Privilege	10.00 a.m.	Room 4 (private)
17	Statutory Instruments	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 25th January for answer today++
1	Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many initial letters inviting lone parents to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents have been issued; how many initial interviews have been booked; how many initial interviews have been carried out; how many lone parents have agreed to participate; and how many jobs have been obtained by lone parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents.
	(68045)
2	Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what strategic guidance and targets he has set for the enlarged Welsh Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.
	(68046)
3	Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he will publish (a) the draft Food Standards Bill and (b) his proposals for funding the Food Standards Agency.
	(68082)
4	Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what representations he has received following the consultation paper, Draft Town and Country Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations: 1999, to give effect to the land use planning requirements of the EC Directive (96/82/EC); and if he will make a statement.
	(68083)
5	Joan Ryan (Enfield North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to respond to the report of General Sir John Learmont on the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.
	(68123)
6	Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he will publish the Government's Education White Paper; and if he will make a statement.
	(68124)

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
*1	Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth): What steps are being taken to deal with the problems faced by owner occupiers in housing regeneration and improvement schemes.
	(65825)
*2	Mr Tony Worthington (Clydebank and Milngavie): If he will make a statement about the supply of nurses in Scotland.
	(65826)
*3	Mr Robert Maclennan (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross): If he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the maintenance, repair and protection of Scottish war memorials.
	(65827)
*4	Dr Gavin Strang (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh): If he will make a statement on the planned levels of expenditure on hospital services over the next three years.
	(65828)
*5	Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): If he will make a statement on the development of new housing partnerships in Scotland.
	(65829)
*6	Mr Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith): When he will issue guidelines for local healthcare cooperatives.
	(65831)
*7	Ms Sandra Osborne (Ayr): If he will make a statement about the actions the Government is taking to protect the victims of domestic violence and abuse.
	(65832)
*8	Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok): If he will make a statement on the local government financial settlement for Glasgow for 1999-2000.
	(65833)
*9	Mrs Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute): Pursuant to his Answer of 17th December, Official Report, column 688-9, on the A83 closure, if he will ensure that fares on the temporarily enhanced ferry service are charged at a rate which reflects road equivalent tariff.
	(65834)
*10	Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): What responses he has received on his consultation on land reform.
	(65836)
*11	Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will make a statement on the progress of the Crown Office in securing a trial of the suspects of the Lockerbie bombing.
	(65837)
*12	Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): If he will make a statement about the economic impact of his proposals for land reform in Scotland.
	(65838)
*13	Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries): What plans he has to promote increased spending on rural public transport.
	(65839)
*14	Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): What measures have been taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools.
	(65840)
*15	Mr Tom Clarke ( Coatbridge and Chryston): If he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal in Scotland.
	(65841)
*16	Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): What representations he has received on his proposals to change the land ownership legislation in Scotland.
	(65842)
*17	Mrs Irene Adams (Paisley North): What measures he has taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools.
	(65843)
*18	Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney): What plans he has to compensate landowners in Scotland who are adversely affected by his proposals for land reform.
	(65845)
*19	Mr Jimmy Hood (Clydesdale): What plans he has to promote increased spending on rural public transport.
	(65846)
*20	Mr Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South): If he will make a statement on housing policy in Scotland.
	(65847)
*21	Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian): If he will make a statement on his Department's review of the roads programme.
	(65848)
*22	Mr Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire): When he last met senior representatives of the CBI in Scotland to discuss economic prospects.
	(65849)
*23	Ms Roseanna Cunningham (Perth): When he last met the Scottish Law Society to discuss changes to the criminal justice system in Scotland.
	(65850)
*24	Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): If he will make a statement on the most recent quarterly industrial trends survey by the CBI in Scotland.
	(65851)
*25	Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): When he last met representatives of the Scottish Small Business Federation; and if he will make a statement.
	(65852)
*26	Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber): When he expects to receive advice from the national screening committee about the feasibility of introducing a national screening programme for Type 2 diabetes.
	(65853)
*27	Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): How many landowners in Scotland will be affected by his recommendations for compulsory purchase in his recent land reform proposals.
	(65854)

Oral Questions to the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department
*28	Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What steps he is taking to ensure that judges declare any relevant interests before hearing a case.
	(65855)
*29	Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): In what ways he monitors the adequacy and quality of community legal advice services; and what further action he plans to ensure excellence in such services.
	(65856)
*30	Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter): What progress has been made on securing funding for the proposed new accommodation for the court service in Exeter.
	(65857)
*31	Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): What steps he is taking to expedite trials in criminal cases.
	(65858)
*32	Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What regional consultations he has undertaken in respect of improved public access to legal services.
	(65860)
*33	Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): What is the cost to date in legal fees to British public funds of the attempt to extradite General Pinochet; and if he will make a statement.
	(65861)
*34	Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset): What is the current workload of the Land Registry; and what assessment he has made of the employment prospects of Land Registry staff as a result of the change in demand and the increased use of information technology.
	(65862)
*35	Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull): What representations he has received from interested parties with regard to the proposed changes to the qualifications required of a clerk to a magistrates' court.
	(65863)
*36	Caroline Flint (Don Valley): What was the average time taken to process guilty pleas for minor offences through the magistrates' courts in the last year for which figures are available.
	(65864)
*37	Mr Peter Bradley (The Wrekin): How many magistrates have been suspended or dismissed in each of the last five years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the main reasons.
	(65865)
*38	Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): What progress his Department has made in reviewing the current working practices of the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.
	(65867)
*39	Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): What cost savings he estimates will accrue from his planned reforms to the legal system and its administration.
	(65868)
*40	Mr David Hinchliffe (Wakefield): What proposals he has to review the role of sheriffs.
	(65869)