| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security |
| *1 |
Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): How many staff are employed in Benefits Agency offices (a) in Inverclyde and (b) in Scotland as a whole; and what was the equivalent figure in (i) 1990, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1996. |
| (83991) |
| *2 |
Dr Stephen Ladyman (South Thanet): What progress has been made in improving co-ordination between the Benefits Agency and local authorities in combating fraud. |
| (83992) |
| *3 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): What estimate he has made of the number of people in Warrington North who will benefit from the minimum pension guarantee. |
| (83993) |
| *4 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): When he last reviewed his target for the reduction of benefit fraud for the year 1999-2000. |
| (83994) |
| *5 |
Mr Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): What training will be provided for those people reviewing disability living allowance awards under the new periodic review process. |
| (83995) |
| *6 |
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): What plans he has to improve the take-up of war pensions amongst ex-service personnel and civilians injured by hostile acts in World War Two. |
| (83996) |
| *7 |
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): What steps he is taking to ensure that all pensioners receive the benefits to which they are entitled. |
| (83997) |
| *8 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What representations he has received on housing allowances for students from (a) Scotland and (b) England. |
| (83998) |
| *9 |
Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill): What is the intended minimum weekly income for (a) a single adult who is disabled and unable to work and (b) a single adult who is considered partially disabled but who is unable to find work. |
| (83999) |
| *10 |
Mr Christopher Fraser (Mid Dorset and North Poole): If he will make a statement on the proposed changes to severe disablement allowance. |
| (84000) |
| *11 |
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland South): What plans he has to increase local authority discretion in respect of the payment of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. |
| (84001) |
| *12 |
Mr Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst): If he will make a statement on his policy for the detection of organised benefit fraud. |
| (84002) |
| *13 |
Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): What estimate he has made of the cost of linking the minimum income guarantee for pensions to average earnings. |
| (84003) |
| *14 |
Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden): What plans he has to assist mothers with the costs of maternity. |
| (84004) |
| *15 |
Mr Derek Twigg (Halton): What plans he has to minimise fraud in the administration of housing benefit. |
| (84005) |
| *16 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What recent discussions he has had with Ministers from the Department of Health on the documentation required by claimants seeking exemption or partial exemption from prescription charges. |
| (84006) |
| *17 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): What plans he has to change the all work test application forms; and if he will make a statement. |
| (84007) |
| *18 |
Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): What representations he has received on the reform of housing benefit. |
| (84008) |
| *19 |
Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): What steps his Department is taking to improve social security appeals procedures. |
| (84009) |
| *20 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on his plans for reforming the European Social Model. |
| (84010) |
| *21 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): When he proposes to publish a White Paper on the reform of the Child Support Agency. |
| (84011) |
| *22 |
Mr David Amess (Southend West): What recent representations she has received on disability living allowance. |
| (84012) |
| *23 |
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): What steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of information available to individuals on making adequate provision for retirement. |
| (84013) |
| *24 |
Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): What steps he is taking to increase members' confidence in their occupational pensions. |
| (84015) |
| *25 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What assessment he has made of the potential cost benefits to those working in industries with high labour turnover rates of using the new stakeholder pension. |
| (84016) |
| *26 |
Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey): What remedies are available to people whose (a) social security benefit and (b) child support payments are delayed through no fault of the claimant or applicant. |
| (84017) |
| *27 |
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): What targets he has set for reducing fraud in the benefits system. |
| (84018) |
| *28 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): If he will set targets for the numbers of lone parents who leave income support as a consequence of the New Deal for Lone Parents. |
| (84020) |
| *29 |
Mr Robert Syms (Poole): What the publication date is for the draft legislation for the reform of the Child Support Agency. |
| (84021) |
| *30 |
Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement about the value for money provided by Motability cars. |
| (84022) |
| *31 |
Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington): What progress has been made on the review of housing benefit. |
| (84023) |
| *32 |
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): What representations he has had in response to the Green Paper on the Child Support Agency. |
| (84024) |
| *33 |
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): What assessment he has made of the responses to the Pensions Green Paper. |
| (84025) |
| *34 |
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): What studies his Department has carried out into the disincentives to save created by means-tested benefits. |
| (84026) |
| *35 |
Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): If he will make a statement on improvements proposed through the introduction of new technology in his Department. |
| (84027) |
| *36 |
Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): If he will make a statement on plans to change the all work test. |
| (84029) |
| *37 |
Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): What progress he is making on the introduction of a citizenship pension for carers. |
| (84030) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 1 |
COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL [LORDS]: Second Reading.
The Second Report from the International Development Committee, Session 1998-99, on The Provisions of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [Lords] (HC 212), the Eighth Report from the International Development Committee, Session 1997-98, on The Future of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (HC 936) and the Government's Response thereto (HC 1100 of Session 1997-98) are relevant. |
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| + 2 |
COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BILL [LORDS] [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| | Mrs Barbara Roche
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill [Lords ], it is expedient to authorise--
(1) the issuing out of the National Loans Fund of sums required by the Secretary of State for making loans to the Commonwealth Development Corporation or a company associated with it;
(2) the charging on and issuing out of the Consolidated Fund of sums required by the Treasury for fulfilling any guarantee given for the discharge of financial obligations of the Corporation;
(3) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of--
(i) sums required by the Secretary of State for fulfilling any guarantee given for the discharge of financial obligations of companies associated with the Corporation;
(ii) sums required by the Secretary of State in connection with the acquisition of, or of rights to subscribe for, securities issued by the Corporation and companies associated with it;
(iii) any increase attributable to the Act in the administrative expenses of the Secretary of State or the Treasury;
(iv) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under any other Act;
(4) the extinguishing of liabilities of the Corporation and of companies associated with it in respect of guarantees under the Act and advances and guarantees under the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1978;
(5) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund or the National Loans Fund. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 3 |
MODERNISATION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS [Up to 3 hours] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That this House approves the Second Report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on Sittings of the House in Westminster Hall (House of Commons Paper No. 194). |
| | As an Amendment to Margaret Beckett's proposed Motion (Modernisation of the House of Commons): |
| | Mr Eric Forth
Mr Nicholas Winterton |
| | Line 3 , at end add `except for paragraphs 17 and 24, and considers that the new sittings should be known as the Commons Committee; that the Wednesday morning sitting devoted to private members' business should not be transferred to Westminster Hall; and that the seating plan to be adopted should be as set out in Appendix 2 of the Report.'.
The Second Report from the Procedure Committee, Session 1998-99, on Procedural Consequences of Devolution: Second Interim Report (HC 376) is relevant. |
| + 4 |
SITTINGS IN WESTMINSTER HALL |
| | Margaret Beckett
That in the next Session of Parliament the Standing Orders and practice of the House shall have effect subject to the modifications set out below:
(1) On days on which the House shall sit there shall be a sitting in Westminster Hall--
(a) on Tuesdays between ten o'clock and one o'clock;
(b) on Wednesdays between half-past nine o'clock and two o'clock; and
(c) on Thursdays beginning at half-past two o'clock and continuing for up to three hours (and in calculating that period no account shall be taken of any period during which the sitting may be suspended owing to a division being called in the House or a committee of the whole House).
(2) Any Member of the House may take part in a sitting in Westminster Hall.
(3) Subject to paragraph (12) below, the business taken at any sitting in Westminster Hall shall be such as the Chairman of Ways and Means shall appoint.
(4) The Chairman of Ways and Means or a Deputy Chairman shall take the chair in Westminster Hall as Deputy Speaker; and the House may appoint not more than four other members of the Chairmen's Panel to sit in Westminster Hall as Deputy Speaker.
(5) Any order made or resolution come to at a sitting in Westminster Hall (other than a resolution to adjourn) shall be reported to the House by the Deputy Speaker and shall be deemed to be an order or resolution of the House.
(6) If a motion be made by a Minister of the Crown that an order of the day be proceeded with at a sitting in Westminster Hall, the question thereon shall be put forthwith, but such motion may be made only with the leave of the House and may not be made on a Friday.
(7) The quorum at a sitting in Westminster Hall shall be three.
(8) If at a sitting in Westminster Hall the opinion of the Deputy Speaker as to the decision of a question (other than a question for adjournment) is challenged, that question shall not be decided, and the Deputy Speaker shall report to the House accordingly; and any such question shall be put forthwith upon a motion being made in the House.
(9) If any business other than a motion for adjournment is under consideration at a sitting in Westminster Hall, and not fewer than six Members rise in their places and signify their objection to further proceeding, that business shall not be further proceeded with in Westminster Hall, and the Deputy Speaker shall report to the House accordingly, and any order under paragraph (6) above relating thereto shall be discharged.
(10) At the end of each sitting in Westminster Hall, unless a question for adjournment has previously been agreed to, the Deputy Speaker shall adjourn the sitting without putting any question; and proceedings on any business which has been entered upon but not disposed of shall lapse.
(11) The provisions of Standing Orders No. 29 (Powers of chair to propose question), No. 36 (Closure of debate), No. 37 (Majority for closure or proposal of question), No. 38 (Procedure on divisions), No. 39 (Voting), No. 40 (Division unnecessarily claimed), No. 41 (Quorum), No. 43 (Disorderly conduct), No. 44 (Order in debate), No. 45 (Members suspended, &c. to withdraw from precincts), No. 45A (Suspension of salary of Members suspended) and No. 163 (Motions to sit in private) shall not apply to sittings in Westminster Hall.
(12) The House shall meet on Wednesdays at half-past two o'clock, and paragraphs (1) and (2) of Standing Order No. 9 (Sittings of the House) shall have effect on Wednesdays; and Standing Order No. 10 (Wednesday sittings), so far as it relates to business taken before two o'clock, shall apply only to sitting in Westminster Hall, and shall have effect as if paragraph (3) were omitted.
As Amendments to Margaret Beckett's proposed Motion (Sittings in Westminster Hall): |
| | Mr Eric Forth
Line 25 , leave out `three' and insert `six'. |
| | Mr Eric Forth
Line 32 , leave out `six' and insert `three'. |
| | Mr Eric Forth
Line 48 , leave out paragraph (12).
The Speaker will put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the above two Motions in the name of Margaret Beckett not later than three hours after the commencement of those proceedings (Order of 21st May). |
| + 5 |
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, at the sitting on Wednesday 26th May--
(1) the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the names of Margaret Beckett or Mrs Marion Roe relating to--
(a) the First Report from the Administration Committee, on the Proposal to Re-open the Line of Route during the Summer Adjournment (HC 394), not later than two hours after the Motion has been entered upon;
(b) Members' Travel to EU Institutions not later than one hour after the Motion has been entered upon; and
(c) Financial Assistance to Opposition Parties not later than one and a half hours after the Motion has been entered upon;
and the last foregoing Motion may be entered upon and proceeded with, though opposed, after Ten o'clock; and (2) the Motion in the name of Margaret Beckett relating to Select Committees (Quorum) may be entered upon and proceeded with, though opposed, after Ten o'clock. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Health |
3.30 p.m. |
Room 6 (private) |
| 2 |
Defence |
4.00 p.m.
4.30 p.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Royal Ordnance Bishopton. |
| Witness: Rt. Hon. George Robertson MP, Secretary of State for Defence. |
| 3 |
Treasury |
4.15 p.m.
4.30 p.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Confirmation Hearings. |
| Witnesses: Dr Sushil Wadhwani; Mr Ian Plenderleith (at approximately 5.00 p.m.) |
| 4 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Inheritance Tax: A Progress Report. |
| Witnesses: Mr Nick Montagu, Chairman, Mr Edmund McKeegan, Director, Capital Taxes Office, Mr David Hartnett, Director, Capital and Savings Division, Inland Revenue. |
| JOINT COMMITTEE |
| 5 |
Financial Services and Markets |
3.30 p.m. |
Room 3 (private) |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
