| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence |
| *1 |
Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): If he will make a statement on progress in providing public access to his Department's land. |
| (113688) |
| *2 |
Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush): What proposals he has to increase recruitment from the ethnic minority communities into the armed forces. |
| (113689) |
| *3 |
Mr Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington): If he will make a statement on the United Kingdom military's contribution to the Mozambique aid effort. |
| (113690) |
| *4 |
Ann Coffey (Stockport): What steps his Department is taking to improve access to schools for service families. |
| (113691) |
| *5 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): When he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss defence procurement. |
| (113692) |
| *6 |
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): What recent representations he has received on the level of the defence budget. |
| (113693) |
| *7 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): How much his Department spent in providing assistance for crisis relief missions in each of the past five years. |
| (113694) |
| *8 |
Mr David Rendel (Newbury): What plans he has to extend the existing contractual arrangements at AWE until the DTI report on BNFL has been published. |
| (113695) |
| *9 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What action has been taken by the Army to tackle race discrimination; and if he will make a statement. |
| (113696) |
| *10 |
Angela Smith (Basildon): What review he has made of the criteria on which his Department allows access to his Department's land. |
| (113697) |
| *11 |
Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire Moorlands): What steps his Department is taking to improve access to schools for service families. |
| (113698) |
| *12 |
Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): If he will make a statement on the Army's state of readiness in Northern Ireland in relation to the threat posed by the Real IRA. |
| (113699) |
| *13 |
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): If he will make a statement on the recent progress of the Government's Learning Forces Initiative. |
| (113701) |
| *14 |
Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): What plans his Department has to improve leave entitlements for service personnel. |
| (113702) |
| *15 |
Mr Peter Brooke (Cities of London and Westminster): When the RAF vacated RAF Chilmark; and when they envisage disposing of the site. |
| [R](113703) |
| *16 |
Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham): What plans he has to improve leave entitlements for service personnel. |
| (113704) |
| *17 |
Mr Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East): If he will make a statement on the method used for calculating charges made to other Government departments for the use of military equipment in connection with emergency situations and natural disasters. |
| (113706) |
| *18 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): What financial provisions he has made for providing humanitarian relief overseas from his Department's budget. |
| (113705) |
| *19 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): How much in addition to existing spending plans the Government plans to spend in real terms on the Defence Medical Services over the next four years. |
| (113707) |
| *20 |
Mr Jim Murphy (Eastwood): If he will make a statement about the ability of the planned European Rapid Reaction Force to act in instances of natural disaster. |
| (113708) |
| *21 |
Bob Russell (Colchester): When he expects work to commence on the new barracks at Colchester Garrison. |
| (113709) |
| *22 |
Mr Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead): What has been the total cost to the UK (a) of operation Desert Fox and (b) of subsequent operations in Iraq; and what is the current monthly cost. |
| (113710) |
| *23 |
Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West): What steps his Department its taking to improve access to schools for service families. |
| (113711) |
| *24 |
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): What is the current strength of the Army; and what was its strength in March 1999. |
| (113712) |
| *25 |
Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East): What further progress has been made in the disposal and development of the old and new ranges in Shoeburyness. |
| (113713) |
| *26 |
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury): What assessment has been made by his Department of the threat to the UK from weapons of mass destruction. |
| (113714) |
| *27 |
Mr Martin Bell (Tatton): If the cause of the crash of RAF Chinook ZD 576 on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994 has been established absolutely beyond doubt. |
| (113715) |
| *28 |
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): If he will make a statement on the future of Serle's House, Winchester. |
| (113716) |
| *29 |
Paul Flynn (Newport West): What is his latest estimate of the sales of Eurofighter in the first five years of operation. |
| (113717) |
| *30 |
Mr Malcolm Savidge (Aberdeen North): What progress has been made in the Government's plans to procure replacements for the current Invincible Class of aircraft carriers. |
| (113718) |
| *31 |
Mr Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): What plans his Department has to increase the proportion of accredited training and education in the armed forces. |
| (113719) |
| *32 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will make a statement on the actions of British forces defending (a) Serbs and (b) Albanian civilians in Kosovo. |
| (113720) |
| *33 |
Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip-Northwood): What estimate he has made of the (a) payload, (b) range, (c) fuselage volume, (d) cost and (e) availability of the (i) Boeing C17 and (ii) Antonov 100-124 aircraft for the Royal Air Force's short-term strategic aircraft requirements. |
| (113721) |
| *34 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What recent representations he has received seeking the payment of ex-gratia compensation to prisoners of war held in the Far East during World War II. |
| (113723) |
| *35 |
Mr Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford): If he will make a statement on the number of private sector firms invited to tender for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Life Extension Programme. |
| (113724) |
| *36 |
Mr Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): If he will list all support from the services sent to Mozambique to assist flood victims; and what was the income to his Department from leasing equipment and aircraft. |
| (113725) |
| *37 |
Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill): If he will discuss with the Secretary of State for International Development a plan for future provision of helicopters and other aircraft, as well as personnel, in cases of emergencies in countries overseas. |
| (113726) |
| *38 |
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): If he will make a statement on the Government's plans to procure replacements for the Invincible Class of aircraft carriers. |
| (113727) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 1 |
COUNTRYSIDE AND RIGHTS OF WAY BILL: Second Reading [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr William Hague
Mr Archie Norman
Mr Tim Yeo
Mr Damian Green
Mr Patrick McLoughlin
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| | That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill because, although it contains worthwhile provisions on protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and wildlife protection, the provisions on access to the countryside impose heavy-handed and unjustifiable infringements on the rights of private property owners, and provisions for compensation are negligible; because it introduces access to "open country" in a form which will be damaging to the interests of hard-pressed farmers and will threaten wildlife and conservation sites which other parts of the Bill are designed to protect; because it fails to provide sufficient improvements in the Rights of Way network which is a more important mechanism for improving access for most people; and because it gives no extra protection to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and misses the opportunity to deal with many of the real problems affecting the countryside in England and Wales.
The Thirteenth Report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1997-98, on The Protection of Field Boundaries, HC 969-I, and the Government's response thereto, Cm 4200, are relevant. |
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| + 2 |
COUNTRYSIDE AND RIGHTS OF WAY BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| | Mr Stephen Timms
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Countryside and Rights of Way 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 required by the Secretary of State for making grants to the Countryside Agency or the Nature Conservancy Council for England;
(b) any administrative expenses of a Minister of the Crown which are attributable to the Act;
(c) any other expenditure of a Minister of the Crown or government department which is attributable to the Act; and
(d) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other enactment are payable out of money so provided. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 3 |
LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION [No debate] |
| | Mr David Lock
That the draft Community Legal Service (Cost Protection) Regulations 2000, which were laid before this House on 21st February, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 4 |
LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION [No debate] |
| | Mr David Lock
That the draft Community Legal Service (Scope) Regulations 2000, which were laid before this House on 21st February, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 5 |
LEGAL SERVICES [No debate] |
| | Mr David Lock
That the draft Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 21st February, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 6 |
ACCESS TO JUSTICE [No debate] |
| | Mr David Lock
That the Funding Code prepared by the Legal Services Commission in accordance with section 8 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 and as first approved by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with section 9(4) of that Act, which was laid before this House on 28th February, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 7 |
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW [No debate] |
| | Mr Secretary Smith
That the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Adaptation of Functions etc.) Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 1st March, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 8 |
SOCIAL SECURITY [No debate] |
| | Dawn Primarolo
That the draft Tax Credits Up-rating Order 2000, which was laid before this House on 3rd March, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 9 |
DELEGATED LEGISLATION [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That the Competition Act 1998 (Director's Rules) Order 2000 be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 10 |
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Mr Nigel Beard be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Dr Brian Iddon be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| STANDING COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 53) on Rural Bus Subsidy Grants for 2000-01 (HC Paper No. 302), and the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 54) on Rural Bus Challenge 1999 (HC Paper No. 303). |
| 2 |
Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 11 (public) |
| To consider the Local Government Finance (England) Special Grant Report (No. 55) on 1999-2000 Special Grant for Asylum Seekers' Support (Adults and Families of Asylum Seekers) (HC Paper No. 304). |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 3 |
Treasury |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 6 (private) |
| 4 |
Health |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 8 (private) |
| 5 |
Public Accounts |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 15 (public) |
| Subject: MAFF: Sheep Annual Premium Scheme. |
| Witnesses: Mr Richard Carden, Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr Paul Elliott, Principal Finance Officer and Mr Peter Watson, Regional Director, North East Regional Service Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. |
| 6 |
Science and Technology |
5.30 p.m.
6.00 p.m. |
Room 5 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: EQUAL (Extend Quality Life). |
| Witness: The Baroness Sally Greengross of Notting Hill, Director General, Age Concern, England. |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
