1 | ADJOURNMENT [Until 2.00 p.m.] |
| The Prime Minister |
| That this House do now adjourn. |
| Subjects proposed to be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House: |
| 9.30 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. | Mr David Hinchliffe (Health Committee) | Welfare of former British child migrants. |
| The Third Report from the Health Committee, Session 1997-98, on The Welfare of Former British Child Migrants (HC 755) and the Government's response thereto (Cm 4182) are relevant. |
| 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. | Mrs GwynethDunwoody (Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee) | Regional Eurostar services. |
| The Fifth Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1998-99, on Regional Eurostar Services (HC 89) and the Government's response thereto (Cm 4314) are relevant. |
| The above two subjects have been selected by the Liaison Committee (Standing Order No. 10(4). |
| 12.30 p.m. - 1.00 p.m. | Mr David Chaytor | Primary schools in Bury. |
| 1.00 p.m. - 1.30 p.m. | Steve Webb | Impact of legislation on primary school admission policies. |
| 1.30 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. | Mr Brian H. Donohoe | Boundary walls in Scotland. |
| The Motion for the Adjournment of the House will lapse at 2.00 p.m. and the sitting will be suspended until 2.30 p.m. (Standing Order No. 10). |
|
Oral Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office |
*1 |
Mr Tom Clarke ( Coatbridge and Chryston): What progress has been made in providing Her Majesty's Government's publications in readable form for people with sight impairment and other disabilities. |
| (83639) |
*2 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What steps he is taking to evaluate the work of people's panels. |
| (83640) |
*3 |
Jacqui Smith (Redditch): What plans he has for the promotion of the Charter Mark scheme. |
| (83642) |
*4 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): If he will make a statement on the maintenance of political balance in public appointments. |
| (83643) |
*5 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on the progress made by the Ministerial Group on Better Governement. |
| (83644) |
*6 |
Mr David Amess (Southend West): What recent representations he has received on the Service First Programme. |
| (83645) |
*7 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What progress he has made in ensuring that people from a wider range of backgrounds are appointed to public office. |
| (83646) |
*8 |
Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): If he will list the initiatives taken by the Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator over the last 12 months in relation to reducing the level of drug misuse in prisons in England and Wales. |
| (83647) |
*9 |
Mr Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): If he will make a statement on progress in increasing the amount of government information available to the public by electronic means. |
| (83648) |
*10 |
Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton): What steps he is taking to improve access to public services by older people. |
| (83649) |
*11 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): In what circumstances the Chancellor of the Duchy's flag is flown on public buildings. |
| (83650) |
*12 |
Dr David Clark (South Shields): What discussions he has had with the Home Department on changes to the Code of practice on Access to Government Information. |
| (83652) |
*13 |
Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase): What plans he has to extend the range of public appointments covered by the Public Appointments Commissioner. |
| (83654) |
*14 |
Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey): What independent auditing he plans of the Government's Annual Report. |
| (83655) |
*15 |
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): If he will make a statement on the progress of the review of public sector ombudsmen in England. |
| (83656) |
*16 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): Pursuant to his oral Answer of 21st April, Official Report, column 896 on biotechnology, if he will make a statement on the research sponsored by the Government into cross-pollination from genetically-modified crops. |
| (83657) |
*17 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): If he will make a statement on the work of the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator. |
| (83658) |
*18 |
Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): What measures he plans to put in place to ensure that targets for the use of new technology announced in the modernising Government White Paper are directed towards collecting views from the public on the quality of public services. |
| (83659) |
*19 |
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): How many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the Better Regulation task force this year. |
| (83660) |
*20 |
Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): What plans he has to support one-stop shops for access to both local and national government services. |
| (83661) |
*21 |
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): What progress he has made in recruiting and retaining black and Asian civil servants in higher grades. |
| (83662) |
*22 |
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): If he will list the total budget of all departments for special advisers (a) in the current year and (b) in 1996-97. |
| (83664) |
*23 |
Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): What plans he has to promote the use of electronic red boxes for ministers. |
| (83665) |
*24 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What progress he has made in investigating the case for a code of conduct on the use of public funds for the purpose of opinion research. |
| (83666) |
*25 |
Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): What proportion of the office space at the old Department of Environment buildings at Marsham Street is empty; and for how long such space has been empty. |
| (83667) |
*26 |
Paul Flynn (Newport West): What forecast he has made of the date by which there will be a reduction in illegal drug use. |
| (83668) |
Oral Questions to the Prime Minister |
*Q1 |
Mr Andy King (Rugby and Kenilworth): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83669) |
*Q2 |
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83670) |
*Q3 |
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): What plans he has for reform of the funding mechanisms for post-16 education and training. |
| (83671) |
*Q4 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83672) |
*Q5 |
Mr John Randall (Uxbridge): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83673) |
*Q6 |
Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83674) |
*Q7 |
Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83675) |
*Q8 |
Mrs Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83676) |
*Q9 |
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83677) |
*Q10 |
Mr Oliver Letwin (West Dorset): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83678) |
*Q11 |
Mr David Amess (Southend West): What plans he has to visit Southend West. |
| (83679) |
*Q12 |
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83680) |
*Q13 |
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83681) |
*Q14 |
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83682) |
*Q15 |
Mr Gwyn Prosser (Dover): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83683) |
*Q16 |
Mr Shaun Woodward (Witney): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83684) |
*Q17 |
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83685) |
*Q18 |
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83686) |
*Q19 |
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): If he will make a statement on places in Northern Ireland for Kosovo refugees. |
| (83687) |
*Q20 |
Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th May. |
| (83688) |
|
Main Business |
3 |
OPPOSITION DAY [13th allotted day] [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| FRAUD IN THE EUROPEAN UNION BUDGET
|
| Mr William Hague
Mr Peter Lilley
Mr Francis Maude
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory
Mr John Whittingdale
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| That this House notes that for four successive years the European Court of Auditors has declined to provide assurance that the transactions underlying payments from the European budget are legal and regular; regrets the failure of the UK Presidency to achieve any concrete measures to tackle fraud and mismanagement in the EU budget; congratulates Mr Paul Van Buitenen on his courageous action in exposing the incompetence and unwillingness of the European Commission to tackle fraud; condemns the action of Labour MEPs, urged on by the British Government, in seeking to protect the Commission from censure; notes that, despite the vote in the European Parliament to censure the Commission, no Commissioner has yet left office; believes that confidence will only be restored if all existing Commissioners are replaced forthwith; and calls on the Government to ensure that genuine and effective measures to tackle fraud in all of the institutions of the European Union are taken as a matter of urgency. |
| As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Fraud in the European Union Budget): |
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Cook
Mr Secretary Straw
Mr Secretary Blunkett |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the efforts of the Government to work with fellow Member States and European institutions to crack down on fraud against the EU budget; notes the real practical progress made in this regard by the Government during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EU; welcomes the Chancellor's initiative for a strong head of fraud investigations heading an independent fraud prevention office; welcomes the role played by Labour MEPs in securing the establishment of the Committee of Independent Experts; joins the Government in calling for recent events to be used as an opportunity for root and branch reform of the Commission; calls on Romano Prodi, following his recent nomination as President-elect of the European Commission, to place the fight against fraud at the top of the new Commission's agenda; and believes that the only way of reforming Europe is the Government's strong leadership and constructive engagement rather than the Opposition's weak leadership, division and isolationism.'. |
| Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Malcolm Bruce
Mr Menzies Campbell
Dr Vincent Cable
Mr Paul Tyler |
| Line 11, leave out from `forthwith' to end and add `regrets the failure of Ministers in successive Conservative and Labour Governments to engage with the UK's European partners in the root and branch reform necessary to tackle fraud, promote transparency and ensure accountability in all of the institutions of the European Union; and urges Her Majesty's Government to take this opportunity to set out fully its programme for reform as a matter of top priority.'. |
| CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF NHS PERSONNEL
|
| Mr William Hague
Mr Peter Lilley
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr Alan Duncan
Mr Philip Hammond
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| That this House notes the proposal of Her Majesty's Government to raise the agreed working hours of junior doctors to 65 per week; notes also its failure to deliver to nurses the pay increases which were promised to be implemented in full from April 1999; notes further the anxiety and disappointment caused to consultants by its failure to implement the recommendations of the Pay Review Body; notes the concerns of Professions Allied to Medicine; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise that increased expectations followed by disappointment have profoundly damaged morale among loyal and hardworking NHS staff.
As an Amendment to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Conditions of Service of NHS Personnel): |
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Dobson
Mr Secretary Michael
Mr Secretary Reid |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `recognises and applauds the massive contribution the staff make to providing the fairest and most efficient healthcare system in the world; regrets the shambles in the NHS that the Government inherited which was demoralising to staff and damaging to patients; welcomes the action the new Government has taken to make things better for staff and patients alike, including £21 billion extra for the NHS over the next three years, record capital investment in new buildings, equipment and facilities to enable the staff to provide top-quality care, the biggest real-terms pay rise for nurses for 10 years paid nationally in full, proposals for radical pay reform to give fairer rewards to staff who extend their roles, widen their skills and work in teams to care for patients, negotiations on a new consultants' contract to ensure rewards go to those who contribute most to the NHS, ambitious targets to improve the quality of the working lives of NHS staff, including tough action to crack down on violence and racism at work, the promotion of family-friendly employment policies and investment in training and continuing professional development; welcomes the Government's commitment to reducing junior doctors' hours in line with the draft European Working Time Directive vehemently opposed by the Conservative Party and carefully planned so as not to damage improvements in patient care; and accepts no lectures about conditions of service for NHS personnel from a Party that did more in Government to demoralise the staff than any other in living memory and which spends most of its time in Opposition running down the achievements of the NHS staff and saying the Health Service can no longer cope.'.
The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)). |
Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
+ 4 |
SECTION 5 OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (AMENDMENT) ACT 1993 [No debate] |
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Cook
Mr Secretary Straw
Mr Secretary Blunkett |
| That this House takes note with approval of the Government's assessment as set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1999-2000 and the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1999-2000 for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6) and Order of 22nd April). |
+ 5 |
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Byers
That the draft Unfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal (Variation of Qualifying Period) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 28th April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 6 |
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Cook
That the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Framework Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States and the Republic of Korea) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 21st April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 7 |
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Cook
That the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States and the United Mexican States) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 26th April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 8 |
SOCIAL SECURITY [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Darling
That the draft Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, which were laid before this House on 4th May, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 9 |
SOCIAL SECURITY [No debate] |
| Mr Keith Vaz
That the draft Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations 1999, which were laid before this House on 21st April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 10 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Prescott
That the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 47) on rural bus subsidy grants for 1999-2000 (HC 407), which was laid before this House on 27th April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 11 |
DEFENCE [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Robertson
That the draft International Headquarters and Defence Organisations (Designation and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 15th April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
+ 12 |
DEFENCE [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Robertson
That the draft Visiting Forces and International Headquarters (Application of Law) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 15th April, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
STANDING COMMITTEES |
1 |
Standing Committee D |
11.00 a.m. |
Room 11 (public) |
| To consider the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Bill. |
2 |
Second Scottish Standing Committee |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill. |
3 |
European Standing Committee B |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 10 (public) |
| To consider European Union Document No. 5263/99 relating to assistance to NIS and Mongolia. |
4 |
Tenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 10 (public) |
| To consider the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 438). |
5 |
Eleventh Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 12 (public) |
| To consider the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 46), Private Finance Initiative (HC 408). |
SELECT COMMITTEES |
6 |
Education and Employment: Education Sub-Committee |
9.30 a.m. |
Room 18 (private) |
7 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs |
9.30 a.m.
9.45 a.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: UK Climate Change Programme. |
| Witness: Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP, Minister for the Environment Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. |
8 |
Modernisation |
9.30 a.m. |
Room 21 (private) |
9 |
Northern Ireland Affairs |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Operation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989: Ten years on. |
| Witness: Rt. Hon. Marjorie Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. |
10 |
Scottish Affairs |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Work of the Scottish Office. |
| Witnesses: Mr Geoff Scaife, Chief Executive, NHS Management Executive, Mrs Nicola Munro, Public Health Policy Unit, Mrs Agnes Robson, Director of Primary Care. |
11 |
Broadcasting |
10.15 a.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
12 |
Defence |
11.00 a.m. |
Room 16 (private) |
13 |
Accommodation and Works |
11.30 a.m. |
Portcullis House (private) |
14 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Transport Sub-Committee |
3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Tendered Bus Services. |
| Witnesses: Arriva plc, FirstGroup plc and Stagecoach Holding plc. |
15 |
Foreign Affairs |
3.45 p.m.
4.15 p.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: 1. Cologne European Council. 2. Kosovo. |
| Witness: Rt. Hon. Robin Cook MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. |
16 |
Science and Technology |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 20 (private) |
17 |
European Scrutiny |
4.00 p.m.
4.05 p.m. |
Room 19 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Pre-Council Scrutiny; Justice and Home Affairs Council 27-28 May 1999. |
| Witness: Kate Hoey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office. |
18 |
Procedure |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 6 (private) |
19 |
Selection |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
20 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: The 1992 and 1998 Information Management and Technology Strategies of the NHS Executive. |
| Witnesses: Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive, Miss Ann Harding, Acting Chief Executive, NHS Information Authority, NHS Executive. |
21 |
Home Affairs |
6.00 p.m. |
Room 21 (private) |
JOINT COMMITTEE |
22 |
Financial Services and Markets |
3.30 p.m. |
Room 3 (public) |
| Witness: Ms Patricia Hewitt MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Mr Sydney Kentridge QC and Mr James Eadie. |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
Written Questions tabled on Tuesday 18th May for answer today++ |
1 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what performance targets have been set for the Rate Collection Agency in 1999-2000. |
| (84929) |
2 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she plans to publish details of the targets for the Child Support Agency; and if she will make a statement. |
| (84930) |
3 | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, when the report of the Prior Options Quinquennial Review of the Teacher Training Agency announced on 3rd February will be published. |
| (84971) |
4 | Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has for the withdrawal of British army units from Germany. |
| (84972) |
5 | Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he proposes to designate regional chambers for the purposes of regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement. |
| (84973) |
6 | Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many people are sleeping rough in England. |
| (85035) |
7 | Jean Corston (Bristol East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he proposes to issue new guidance to local authorities on the training of councillors involved in planning decisions. |
| (85053) |