Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales |
*1 |
Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): If he will make a statement on the state of tourism in Wales, with particular reference to raising standards of bed and breakfast accommodation. |
| (88521) |
*2 |
Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon): What plans he has to introduce amendments to legislation dealing specifically with the needs of Wales with regard to (a) the Government of Wales Act 1998, (b) the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, and (c) the Welsh Language Act 1993; and if he will make a statement. |
| (88522) |
*3 |
Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): When he next intends to meet the Assembly Secretary responsible for agricultural issues to discuss problems in the beef industry. |
| (88524) |
*4 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What representations he has received regarding the number of EU export approved abattoirs in Wales. |
| (88525) |
*5 |
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove): When he last met the Assembly Secretary with responsibility for health to discuss the funding of the NHS in Wales. |
| (88526) |
*6 |
Mr Barry Jones (Alyn and Deeside): When he intends to meet Assembly Secretaries to discuss the assisted area map of Wales. |
| (88527) |
*7 |
Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): When he expects exports of beef products to resume from Wales. |
| (88528) |
*8 |
Mr Ted Rowlands (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney): If he will make a statement on the preparation of concordats between the National Assembly and Whitehall Departments. |
| (88530) |
*9 |
Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset): What proportion of his working time is taken up by his duties as Secretary of State for Wales; and how he separates his responsibilities to this House and to the National Assembly. |
| (88531) |
*10 |
Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): When he plans to have discussions with the Assembly Secretary for Education up to age 16 about funding of schools in Wales. |
| (88532) |
*11 |
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): What representations he has received with regard to the Barnett formula in relation to Wales; and if he will make a statement. |
| (88533) |
*12 |
Mr Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): If he will make a statement on the Welsh Development Agency's support for the manufacturing sector in Wales. |
| (88534) |
*13 |
Mr Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire): What discussions he has had with the Assembly Secretary for Social Services and Health on the provision of care for the elderly. |
| (88535) |
*14 |
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): What representations he has received concerning the arrangements for the European elections in Wales. |
| (88536) |
*15 |
Mr Alan W. Williams (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): When he next intends to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss match funding for Objective 1 for West Wales and the Valleys from January 2000. |
| (88537) |
*16 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): When he next intends to meet the Chairman of the Assembly Economic Committee to discuss the performance of the agricultural sector. |
| (88538) |
*17 |
Mr Robert Syms (Poole): When he last met Assembly Secretaries to discuss moves to increase turnout at elections. |
| (88539) |
*18 |
Mr John Bercow (Buckingham): If he will make a statement on measures to help the young unemployed in Wales. |
| (88540) |
*19 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on his plans to encourage structural change in economic activity in Wales. |
| (88541) |
*20 |
Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend): When he plans to meet the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services to discuss the funding of the Childcare Strategy for Wales. |
| (88542) |
*21 |
Mr Llew Smith (Blaenau Gwent): When he plans to meet the Assembly Secretary for post-16 Education and Training to discuss funding to increase access to further education in Wales. |
| (88543) |
*22 |
Sir Raymond Powell (Ogmore): When he intends to meet the Chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Assembly to discuss economic regeneration in former mining areas. |
| (88544) |
*23 |
Mr Martin Caton (Gower): When he will meet the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services to discuss funding the Childcare Strategy for Wales. |
| (88545) |
*24 |
Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn): When he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to discuss the New Deal in Wales. |
| (88546) |
*25 |
Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West): What plans he has to meet the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss broadcasting in Wales. |
| (88547) |
*26 |
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): What discussions he has had with the National Assembly on measures to encourage more GPs to practise in the valleys of South Wales. |
| (88548) |
*27 |
Mr Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): When he will meet the Assembly Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training to discuss funding to increase access to further education in Wales. |
| (88549) |
*28 |
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire): If he will make a statement on the prospects for the Welsh livestock industry. |
| (88550) |
Oral Questions to the Prime Minister |
*Q1 |
Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath and Crayford): What plans he has to visit Bexleyheath and Crayford. |
| (88551) |
*Q2 |
Mr John Heppell (Nottingham East): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88552) |
*Q3 |
Mr Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88553) |
*Q4 |
Mr Jonathan R. Shaw (Chatham and Aylesford): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88555) |
*Q5 |
Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88556) |
*Q6 |
Mr Christopher Gill (Ludlow): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88557) |
*Q7 |
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88558) |
*Q8 |
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88559) |
*Q9 |
Mr Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88560) |
*Q10 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88561) |
*Q11 |
Mr William Thompson (West Tyrone): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88562) |
*Q12 |
Mr Piara S. Khabra (Ealing, Southall): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88563) |
*Q13 |
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88564) |
*Q14 |
Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88565) |
*Q15 |
Mr Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88566) |
*Q16 |
Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88567) |
*Q17 |
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88568) |
*Q18 |
Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88569) |
*Q19 |
Ms Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 7th July. |
| (88570) |
|
Main Business |
4 |
OPPOSITION DAY [17th allotted day]. [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| DAIRY INDUSTRY
|
| Mr William Hague
Mr Tim Yeo
Mrs Angela Browning
Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr James Paice
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| That this House notes that, since 1st May 1997, the farm gate price of milk has fallen by over a quarter, the price received by farmers for cull cows has fallen by over one third and the income of dairy farmers has collapsed; condemns the Government's failure in recent CAP negotiations to secure any immediate increase in milk quota for mainland Britain whilst conceding increases for other EU countries; deplores the delay in publishing the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on Milk Marque, thus needlessly damaging confidence in the industry; expresses concern that outbreaks of TB have risen substantially; and urges the Government to remedy this crisis by addressing these issues, ending its disgraceful neglect of the dairy industry, strengthening Milk Marque and implementing the Krebs Report without further delay.
As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Dairy Industry): |
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Cook
Mr Nicholas Brown
Mr Secretary Byers |
| (a) |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `recognises the economic difficulties faced by the dairy industry; supports the Government's efforts to reform the Common Agricultural Policy during the recent Agenda 2000 negotiations in order to move towards a freer, more competitive market; welcomes the publication of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of raw milk; notes its conclusions and looks forward to a new selling system being in place which meets the needs both of consumers and the dairy industry; endorses the Government's view that the industry itself must help shape its own future; and congratulates the Government for its support for industry initiatives to achieve this.'. |
| Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr Andrew George
Mr Richard Livsey
Mr Paul Tyler |
| (b) |
| Line 8, leave out from `substantially' to end and add `notes the failure of successive governments to permit Milk Marque to act as an effective producer co-operative; regrets the disgraceful failure of the present Government and its Conservative predecessors to introduce measures to alleviate the devastating impact on the dairy industry of bovine tuberculosis and the previous Government's abdication of responsibility in respect of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and calls on the Government to implement measures to mitigate 20 years of neglect of the dairy sector as a matter of the utmost urgency.'. |
4 |
CHOICE AND DIVERSITY IN EDUCATIONĚ |
| Mr William Hague
Mrs Theresa May
Mr Tim Boswell
Mr James Clappison
Mr John Bercow
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| That this House deplores the reduction in choice and diversity in education caused by the Government's abolition of grant maintained status, introduction of ballots to close grammar schools and restriction on the ability of schools to determine their own ethos; notes with concern the threat posed to school sixth forms by the Government's review of post-16 education; condemns the pursuit of uniformity at the expense of diversity; believes that the increasing bureaucratic burdens placed on schools, teachers and governors by the Government and its practice of holding back funding at the centre, to be allocated on the basis of a complicated bidding process, have a particularly adverse impact on rural schools; and further believes that these policies will damage children's education.
As Amendments to Mr William Hague's proposed Motion (Choice and Diversity in Education): |
| Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Don Foster
Mr Phil Willis
Mr Paul Keetch
Mr Paul Tyler |
| (a) |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `deplores the Conservatives' record in government, which reduced choice by extending central control over education policy, weighed schools and teachers down with bureaucratic burdens, caused damaging competition between schools and denied all sectors of education the investment necessary to extend opportunity to all; welcomes the Government's abolition of the nursery voucher and assisted places schemes, which provided choices for a few at the expense of the many; but regrets, however, the Government's erosion of local choice and accountability in education, their failure to prevent further falls in funding per student in spite of the introduction of tuition fees, thereby threatening to undermine choice and standards in higher education, their reliance on competitive bidding in funding decisions, which fails to allocate resources on the basis of need, their decision to concentrate an ever-greater share of education spending at the centre, thereby denying local authorities the ability to provide adequate advisory and monitoring services to schools, and their insistence on an over-prescriptive attitude towards schools, teachers and their pupils even in the early years.'. |
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Cook
Mr Secretary Straw
Mr Secretary Blunkett |
| (b) |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the Government's success in cutting infant class sizes after 10 years of rising class sizes and the successful introduction of the literacy hour, which is restoring phonics, spelling and grammar to the primary school curriculum; notes the plans to extend daily numeracy lessons nationwide from September, which will place strong emphasis on mental arithmetic; recognises the Government's strong commitment to diversity through the rapid expansion of specialist schools and beacon schools; welcomes the success to date of the Government's policy in support of failing schools; supports the considerable work already undertaken to reduce bureaucracy in schools following years of neglect; supports the Government's new code of practice on school admissions; welcomes the new White Paper on reform of post-16 education and the clear guarantees it offers on sixth form funding; supports the Government's plans to reward good teaching; and believes that the extra £19 billion allocated to education is beginning to make a real difference to the money available to schools, not least in tackling the substantial repairs and maintenance backlog.'.
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. |
+ 5 |
CIVIL AVIATION [No debate] |
| Mr Secretary Prescott
That the draft Stansted Airport Aircraft Movement Limit (Amendment) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 16th June, be approved. |
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
STANDING COMMITTEE |
1 |
European Standing Committee B |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 10 (public) |
| To consider European Union Document Sec (1999) 600: 2000 Preliminary Draft Budget-Overview. |
SELECT COMMITTEES |
2 |
Education and Employment: Education Sub Committee |
9.30 a.m.
10.00 a.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Highly Able Children: Follow up. |
| Witnesses: Estelle Morris MP, Minister for School Standards and officials from the Department for Education and Employment. |
3 |
Modernisation of the House of Commons |
9.30 a.m. |
Room 21 (private) |
4 |
Defence |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 16 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Research Expenditure. |
| Witnesses: Sir John Chisholm, Chief Executive of DERA, Mr Joe Carr, Chief Executive of the Defence Diversification Agency. |
5 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs |
10.00 a.m.
10.15 a.m. |
Room 5 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Revision of PPG3: Housing. |
| Witnesses: Urban Task Force; Rt. Hon. Richard Caborn MP, Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning (at 11.15 a.m.). |
6 |
Social Security |
10.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Contributory Principle. |
| Witnesses: Child Action Poverty Group; Disability Alliance (at approximately 11.30 a.m.); Centre for Policy Studies (at approximately 12.15 p.m.). |
7 |
Education and Employment: Employment Sub-Committee |
3.45 p.m. |
Room 18 (private) |
8 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Transport Sub-Committee |
3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Young and Newly Qualified Drivers: Standards and Training. |
| Witnesses: Officials from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. |
9 |
Northern Ireland Affairs |
3.45 p.m. |
Room 8 (private) |
10 |
Science and Technology |
3.45 p.m. |
Room 20 (private) |
11 |
European Scrutiny |
4.00 p.m.
4.05 p.m. |
Room 19 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Social Affairs Council of 25 May. |
| Witnesses: The Rt. Hon. Ian McCartney MP, Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry, Rt. Hon. Andrew Smith MP, Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities, Department for Education and Employment. |
12 |
Selection |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
13 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Giving Customers a Choice-the Introduction of Competition into the Domestic Gas Market. |
| Witnesses: Mr Callum McCarthy, Director General, Mr Tony Boorman, Deputy Director General, Office of Gas Supply and Office of Electricity Regulation. |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
Written Questions tabled on Tuesday 6th July for answer today++ |
1 | Mrs Joan Humble (Blackpool North and Fleetwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to phase in the effects of the 2000 revaluation on non-domestic rate bills in England. |
| (90495) |
2 | Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what performance targets have been set for National Savings for 1999-2000. |
| (90496) |
3 | Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what key targets have been set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office Defence Agency for the financial year 1999-2000. |
| (90524) |
4 | Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what key targets have been set for the Duke of York Royal Military School for the financial year 1999-2000. |
| (90573) |
5 | Mr Tony Colman (Putney): To ask the Trade and Industry, what plans he has to help business to implement the Working Time Regulations. |
| (90594) |
6 | Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what progress has been made with the Trailblazer Round of the Sure Start programme. |
| (90595) |
|