| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions |
| *1 |
Mr John Healey (Wentworth): If he will make a statement on the Government's proposals for determining the SSA settlement for local authorities for 2000-01. |
| (99006) |
| *2 |
Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): If he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal for Communities in Luton. |
| (99007) |
| *3 |
Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): If he will make a statement on protection of the green belt in Mill Hill and Totteridge Valley. |
| (99008) |
| *4 |
Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish): If he will make a statement about parks. |
| (99009) |
| *5 |
Mr Tom Levitt (High Peak): What measures the Government is taking to promote increased accessibility of housing for the elderly and disabled. |
| (99010) |
| *6 |
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): What representations he has received concerning the operation of bus services in North Eastern Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. |
| (99012) |
| *7 |
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds): What representations he has received regarding the level of business rates. |
| (99013) |
| *8 |
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): What steps he is taking to cut the costs of auditing the accounts of parish councils. |
| (99014) |
| *9 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What his policy is on supporting rural rail services. |
| (99015) |
| *10 |
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): What progress he has made in establishing regional Eurostar services north of London. |
| (99016) |
| *11 |
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): If he will make a statement on the future of parish councils. |
| (99017) |
| *12 |
Mr Ernie Ross (Dundee West): What assessment he has made of local strategies for regional development. |
| (99019) |
| *13 |
Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test): What impact the establishment of the South East Economic Development Agency has had on the South East Region. |
| (99020) |
| *14 |
Norman Baker (Lewes): What steps he is taking to encourage train operating companies to reduce fare levels. |
| (99021) |
| *15 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What assessment he has made of the impact of the M4 bus lane on average journey times. |
| (99022) |
| *16 |
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): When the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force is expected to issue a report on its findings. |
| (99024) |
| *17 |
Mr Geraint Davies (Croydon Central): What progress has been made in the development of local transport plans by local authorities. |
| (99025) |
| *18 |
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): If he will make a statement on the impact on road safety of the introduction of 20 mph zones. |
| (99026) |
| *19 |
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): What plans he has to alleviate traffic congestion problems in Dobwalls, South East Cornwall. |
| (99027) |
| *20 |
Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre): What assessment he has made of the strategy for regional development in the North West. |
| (99028) |
| *21 |
Dr George Turner (North West Norfolk): If he will make a statement on his plans for further millennium villages. |
| (99030) |
| *22 |
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): When he expects to make an announcement regarding increasing the number of transatlantic air routes from Heathrow Airport. |
| (99031) |
| *23 |
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): What plans he has to encourage the use of cleaner fuels. |
| (99032) |
| *24 |
Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What plans he has to introduce legislation on maximum passenger numbers in railway carriages for safety reasons. |
| (99033) |
| *25 |
Valerie Davey (Bristol West): What assessment he has made of the impact of best value on the provision of local services to the public. |
| (99034) |
| *26 |
Mrs Virginia Bottomley (South West Surrey): What plans he has to visit the A3 at Hindhead to discuss environmental safety and economic issues. |
| (99035) |
| *27 |
Mr Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton): What effect pricing levels set by OFWAT for 2000-2005 will have on the cost of services to consumers. |
| (99037) |
| *28 |
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): How he intends to proceed with his plans for an integrated transport strategy; and if he will make a statement. |
| (99038) |
| *29 |
Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): How the Government plans to strengthen the protection of sites of special scientific interest. |
| (99039) |
| *30 |
Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering): What plans he has to promote less polluting types of fuel. |
| (99040) |
| *31 |
Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West): What action he is taking to encourage the refurbishment of rail stations. |
| (99041) |
| *32 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What powers he has to prevent the dumping in rural areas of worn-out tractors and other agricultural vehicles. |
| (99042) |
| *33 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What assessment he has made of the operation of London Underground's current safety regime. |
| (99043) |
| *34 |
Ms Ruth Kelly (Bolton West): If he will make a statement on the impact of the Regional Development Agency in the North West. |
| (99044) |
| *35 |
Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): If he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal for Communities in Sheffield. |
| (99045) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 2 |
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL: Second Reading. [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| | Mr William Hague
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr David Lidington
Mr Nigel Evans
Mr James Arbuthnot |
| | That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Representation of the People Bill because the Government has failed to undertake a sufficiently comprehensive public consultation on such important and far-reaching changes to the conduct of elections and the publication of electoral registers, because Members of this House have had no time in which to consult with local authorities and interested parties in their constituencies, because only one month has elapsed since the publication of the report of the Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures whose recommendations the Bill is designed to implement, and because more careful consideration of the costs and long-term implications of the measures contained in the Bill is required.
The Fourth Report from the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1997-98, on Electoral Law and Administration (HC 768), and the Government response published in the Committee's Fourth Special Report, Session 1998-99, (HC 856) are relevant. |
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| + 3 |
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL [MONEY]: Queen's Recommendation signified. [No debate] |
| | Mr Stephen Timms
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Representation of the People Bill, it is expedient to authorise--
(1) the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other Act are payable out of money so provided;
(2) the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums which under any other Act are payable out of that Fund. |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)). |
| + 4 |
NORTHERN IRELAND [Up to 1.5 hours] |
| | Mr Secretary Mandelson
That the draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Appointed Day) Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 29th November, be approved.
The Instrument has not yet been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.
The Speaker will put the Question not later than 1.5 hours after proceedings begin (Standing Order No. 16). |
| + 5 |
WELSH GRAND COMMITTEE [No debate] |
| | Margaret Beckett
Mr Secretary Murphy |
| | That the Welsh Grand Committee shall meet on Tuesday 14th December at half past Ten o'clock at Westminster to take questions under Standing Order No. 103, (Welsh Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)), and to consider the matter of the Government's legislative programme as outlined in the Queen's Speech and the Chancellor's Pre-budget Report as they relate to Wales, under Standing Order No. 107 (Welsh Grand Committee (matters relating exclusively to Wales)). |
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 108). |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| STANDING COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Standing Committee A |
10.30 a.m.
4.30 p.m. |
Room 10 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Financial Services and Markets Bill. |
| 2 |
First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation |
4.30 p.m. |
Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the draft Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000. |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 3 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Environment Sub-Committee |
9.45 a.m.
10.00 a.m. |
Room 16 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Environment Agency. |
| Witnesses: Environmental Services Association; Water UK (at 10.40 a.m.); British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (at 11.20 a.m.); Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (at 11.40 a.m.) |
| 4 |
Agriculture |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 20 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Segregation of GM Foods. |
| Witnesses: Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC); Novartis UK Ltd; Cargill PLC. |
| 5 |
Culture, Media and Sport |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 8 (public) |
| Subject: Funding of the BBC. |
| Witnesses: ITV; ONDigital (at 10.50 a.m.); and BSkyB (at 11.40 a.m.) |
| 6 |
Environmental Audit |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 19 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Pre-Budget Report. |
| Witnesses: RSPB and The Pesticides Trust; National Farmers Union, British Agrochemicals Association and Water UK (at 11.15 a.m.); The Environment Agency (at 12 noon). |
| 7 |
International Development |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 5 (private) |
| 8 |
Home Affairs |
10.15 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Managing Dangerous People with Severe Personality Disorder. |
| Witnesses: The Rt. Hon. Paul Boateng MP, Minister of State, Home Office; Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of Nursing (at 11.30 a.m.). |
| 9 |
Public Administration |
10.30 a.m.
11.00 a.m. |
Room 21 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Innovations in Citizen Participation in Government. |
| Witnesses: Professor John Stewart, University of Birmingham; Jo Lenaghan, Public Involvement Programme, IPPR, Jane Steele, Public Management Foundation, Anna Cooke, King's Fund and Mr Steven Harrison, Nuffield Institute, Leeds (at 12 noon). |
| 10 |
Standards and Privileges |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
| 11 |
Treasury |
10.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m. |
Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: International Monetary Fund. |
| Witnesses: Mr Kevin Watkins, Oxfam and Ms Angela Wood, Bretton Woods; Dr Ngaire Woods, Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University College, Oxford, and Professor Nick Stern, Chairman, London Economics. |
| 12 |
Welsh Affairs |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 17 (private) |
| 13 |
Education and Employment Committee |
3.45 p.m. |
Room 18 (private) |
| 14 |
Foreign Affairs |
3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Helsinki European Council. |
| Witness: The Rt. Hon. Robin Cook MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. |
| 15 |
Public Administration |
3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. |
Room 21 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Innovations in Citizen Participation in Government. |
| Witnesses: Vivien Lowndes, Mr Steve Leach, and Mr Lawrence Pratchett, De Montfort University. |
| 16 |
Procedure |
4.00 p.m.
4.15 p.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Delegated Legislation. |
| Witness: Mr W. R. McKay CB, Clerk of the House of Commons. |
| 17 |
Administration |
5.00 p.m. |
Room 17 (private) |
| 18 |
Statutory Instruments |
Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments |
Room 7 (private) |
| JOINT COMMITTEES |
| 19 |
Joint Committee on a Special Procedure Order |
10.30 a.m.
2.00 p.m. |
Room 4 (public)
(public) |
| Subject: City of Stoke-on-Trent Tunstall Northern By-Pass Local Government Act Compulsory Purchase Order 1997. |
| 20 |
Statutory Instruments |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
| Written Questions tabled on Monday 29th November for answer today++ |
1
| Mr Stephen Pound (Ealing North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of one Bedford truck to ACORD. |
| (100909) |
2
| Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the review of the information available on the chemical warfare mental incapacitants known as Agent 15. |
| (100910) |
3
| Caroline Flint (Don Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what progress has been made by the Peat Working Group. |
| (100993) |
4
| Mr Michael Foster (Worcester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide financial assistance to Worcester City Council under the Bellwin Scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area between 27th October and 3rd November 1998. |
| (101102) |
5
| Mrs Diana Organ (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide financial assistance to Herefordshire District Council under the Bellwin Scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area on three occasions during 1998-99. |
| (101103) |
6
| Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who has awarded the contract to conduct the research into stipendiary and lay magistrates by the Lord Chancellor's Department. |
| (101120) |
7
| Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what objectives he will be determining for policing in 2000-01. |
| (101121) |
8
| Mrs Helen Brinton (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the achievements of staff in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate over the past year. |
| (101122) |
9
| Mr Phil Woolas (Oldham East and Saddleworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he intends to publish the Government's reply to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report into aviation safety published on 21st July. |
| (101123) |
10
| Gillian Merron (Lincoln): To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he intends to respond to the report of the Social Security Select Committee, The 1999 Child Support White Paper [HC 798]. |
| (101124) |
|
