| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security |
| *1 |
Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham): What assessment he has made of the likely impact of the reform of the Child Support Agency on child poverty. |
| (98745) |
| *2 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What representations he has received on reform of the CSA; and if he will make a statement. |
| (99060) |
| *3 |
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury): What estimates he has made of the numbers of people receiving means-tested benefits (a) in May 1997 and (b) in May 2001. |
| (99061) |
| *4 |
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): What plans he has to improve the confidence of the public in the handling of individual cases by the CSA; and if he will make a statement. |
| (99062) |
| *5 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): If he will make a statement on the progress being made by his Department in improving the accuracy of testing for eligibility for disability living allowance. |
| (99065) |
| *6 |
Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): What research his Department is currently evaluating into the advantages and disadvantages of means-testing benefits. |
| (99066) |
| *7 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): If he will make a statement on his plans to reform the Child Support Agency. |
| (99067) |
| *8 |
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): What assessment he has made of the obstacles raised by social security rules to volunteering. |
| (99068) |
| *9 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What assessment he has made of the impact of the planned reform of the Child Support Agency on the income of the poorest lone parents. |
| (99069) |
| *10 |
Mr Owen Paterson (North Shropshire): If he will make a statement on his Department's forecasts for expenditure on social security payments. |
| (99070) |
| *11 |
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): If he will make a statement on his policy on the link between pensions and increases in pay. |
| (99071) |
| *12 |
Mr Clive Efford (Eltham): What steps he is taking to review the Benefits Agency Medical Service. |
| (99073) |
| *13 |
Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): What estimate he has made of the number of pensioners benefiting from the minimum income guarantee. |
| (99074) |
| *14 |
Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): What plans he has for reforming the Child Support Agency. |
| (99076) |
| *15 |
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove): If he will make a statement on the gap between the rich and the poor, as measured by household income. |
| (99077) |
| *16 |
Mr Hilary Benn (Leeds Central): If he will make a statement on steps his Department is taking to improve customer service in the social security system. |
| (99078) |
| *17 |
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire): When he will review the limits on savings relating to benefits administered by his Department. |
| (99079) |
| *18 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): What estimate he has made of the cost of imposing a threshold of £125 in relation to incapacity benefit. |
| (99080) |
| *19 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): How many reduced earnings allowance cases are currently in the appeal system. |
| (99081) |
| *20 |
Mr Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock and Loudoun): What measures he intends to take to allow information about income presently in the possession of the Inland Revenue to be shared with the Child Support Agency. |
| (99082) |
| *21 |
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): If he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for reducing the numbers of pensioners reliant on means-tested benefits. |
| (99083) |
| *22 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): If he will make a statement on his proposals to reform housing benefit. |
| (99084) |
| *23 |
Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): When he last met the Carers National Assocation to discuss support for carers. |
| [R](99086) |
| *24 |
Mr Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire): If he will make a statement on the results available from the pilot schemes to increase the rate of take-up of means-tested benefits for those past state retirement age. |
| (99087) |
| *25 |
Mr David Rendel (Newbury): What representations he has received concerning the use of a default rate to calculate maintenance payments under the new proposals for reforming child support. |
| (99088) |
| *26 |
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): What action he plans to take to reduce fraud in benefits. |
| (99089) |
| *27 |
Mr John Grogan (Selby): If he will make a statement about the Government's policy towards increasing take-up of income support by pensioners. |
| (99090) |
| *28 |
Mr John Healey (Wentworth): If he will make a statement on the progress to date of the ONE service pilots. |
| (99092) |
| *29 |
Mr Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby): If he will make a statement on the progress of the pilot scheme for the New Deal for the disabled as it affects Scarborough and Whitby. |
| (99095) |
| *30 |
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): If he will make a statement on the effects of his reforms to the system of benefits for disabled people. |
| (99097) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 1 |
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BILL: Second Reading. [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr William Hague
Mrs Angela Browning
Mr Alan Duncan
Mr Nick Gibb
Mr Patrick McLoughlin
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| | That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Electronic Communications Bill because it introduces a completely unnecessary element of regulation in the supervision of electronic commerce which will damage the United Kingdom's lead in this field and because no proper consideration has been given to the manner in which United Kingdom law will interact with impending EU law, in particular with regard to the jurisdiction that will govern electronic trade.
The Trade and Industry Committee reported on the Draft Electronic Communications Bill in its Fourteenth Report of Session 1998-99, HC 862. Its Seventh Report, on Building Confidence in Electronic Commerce: The Government's Proposals, HC 187, and the Government's response thereto, contained in Promoting Electronic Commerce, Cm 4417, are also relevant. |
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| + 2 |
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| | Mr Stephen Timms
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Electronic Communications Bill, it is expedient to authorise--
(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of--
(a) any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State for or in connection with the carrying out of his functions under the Act; and
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums so payable out of money so provided under any other Act; and
(2) the payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 3 |
ESTIMATES [No debate] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That this House agrees with the Report [23rd November] of the Liaison Committee. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 145). |
| + 4 |
ADJOURNMENT (CHRISTMAS) [No debate] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That this House, at its rising on Tuesday 21st December, do adjourn till Monday 10th January 2000. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 25). |
| + 5 |
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Margaret Beckett
That, at the sitting on Tuesday, 21st December, the Speaker shall not adjourn the House until she shall have notified the Royal Assent to Acts agreed upon by both Houses. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| + 6 |
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr Keith Bradley
That Maria Eagle be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Mr Nigel Griffiths and Mr Jim Murphy be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| + 7 |
DENTISTS [No debate] |
| | Mr Secretary Milburn
That the draft Dental Auxiliaries (Amendment) Regulations 1999, which were laid before this House on 2nd November, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 8 |
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE [No debate] |
| | Mr David Lock
That the draft Maximum Number of Stipendiary Magistrates Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 3rd November, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)). |
| + 9 |
TAXATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES [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 of European Union Documents Nos. 8484/1/99, the second progress report from the ECOFIN Council to the European Council on reinforced tax policy co-operation, 6615/98, a draft Directive on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments, 8781/98, and draft Directive to ensure a minimum of effective taxation of savings income within the Community, and 8329/99, a Commission Communication on the action plan for implementing the framework for financial markets; supports the Government's objective of amending the draft Savings Directive to ensure the competitiveness of EU financial markets, including the City of London, are not damaged, through securing among other things an exemption for eurobonds and other similar instruments; and welcomes the Commission's efforts to develop further the single market in financial services. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)). |
| 10 |
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Mr Richard Livsey be discharged from the Agriculture Committee and Mr Lembit Opik be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 11 |
CATERING COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Rosemary McKenna be discharged from the Catering Committee and Mr Gerald Bermingham be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 12 |
DEFENCE COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Mr John McWilliam be discharged from the Defence Committee and Mr Mike Gapes be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 13 |
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Yvette Cooper, Mr John Healey, Mrs Eleanor Laing and Mr Malcolm Wicks be discharged from the Education and Employment Committee and Mr Michael Foster (Worcester), Mr Stephen O'Brien, Mr Ian Pearson and Mr Barry Sheerman be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 14 |
HEALTH COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Julia Drown be discharged from the Health Committee and Mrs Eileen Gordon be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 15 |
SCOTTISH AFFAIRS COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Mr John McAllion, Ms Sandra Osborne and Mr David Stewart be discharged from the Scottish Affairs Committee and Mr Russell Brown, Mr Mohammed Sarwar and Mr Bill Tynan be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 16 |
SOCIAL SECURITY COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Kali Mountford, Mr Chris Pond and Ms Debra Shipley be discharged from the Social Security Committee and Mr Andy King and Mr Gareth Thomas (Clwyd West) be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| 17 |
TREASURY COMMITTEE [No debate after 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
That Jacqui Smith be discharged from the Treasury Committee and Mr James Plaskitt be added to the Committee. |
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m. |
| | |
