Notes:
* indicates a question for oral answer.
[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.
Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer.
Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.
+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
Private Business |
| Note: Private business is not debated at this time, and may not be proceeded with if opposed.
|
Second Readings
|
| *1. Land at Palace Avenue, Kensington (Acquisition of Freehold) Bill
|
| 2. London Development Agency Bill
|
| 3. Mersey Tunnels Bill
|
[*Bill to be referred to the Examiners]
|
| Afterwards
|
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions |
| *1 |
Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley): What deregulation he proposes for local government services.
|
|
|
(
28435
) |
| *2 |
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead): What recent decisions he has made in respect of the future of London Underground.
|
|
|
(
28436
) |
| *3 |
Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West): What action he is taking to improve the performance of the Metropolitan Line.
|
|
|
(
28437
) |
| *4 |
Mr Alan Simpson (Nottingham South): What plans he has to provide assistance to local authorities to increase the stock of council housing.
|
|
|
(
28438
) |
| *5 |
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): If he will make a statement on his proposals for reform of local government.
|
|
|
(
28439
) |
| *6 |
Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): What measures he is taking to improve the management of social housing.
|
|
|
(
28440
) |
| *7 |
Margaret Moran (Luton South): What measures he intends to take to monitor the number of evictions by social housing landlords.
|
|
|
(
28441
) |
| *8 |
Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): If he will make a statement on which road building proposals are being considered by his Department.
|
|
|
(
28442
) |
| *9 |
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): How much (a) private capital he expects to be needed and (b) public funding he expects to provide to fund his strategic rail plans.
|
|
|
(
28443
) |
| *10 |
Mrs Helen Clark (Peterborough): If he will make a statement about the role of home zones in creating safer communities.
|
|
|
(
28444
) |
| *11 |
Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): What he estimates to be the costs to date of external consultants advising on the administration of Railtrack and its implications for the railway and Ernst and Young.
|
|
|
(
28445
) |
| *12 |
Dr Ashok Kumar (Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland): If he will make a statement on Government investment in local bus services.
|
|
|
(
28446
) |
| *13 |
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): What assessment he has made of the impact his 10 year transport review will have on carbon dioxide levels.
|
|
|
(
28447
) |
| *14 |
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): What the latest estimate is of the percentage increase in council tax planned for 2002-03.
|
|
|
(
28448
) |
| *15 |
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): What measures he is taking to improve the quality of railway carriages.
|
|
|
(
28449
) |
| *16 |
Mr David Atkinson (Bournemouth East): If the Bellwin scheme to reimburse councils for emergency expenditure applies to the cost of cleaning sites used by travellers following unauthorised occupation of public parks and open spaces.
|
|
|
(
28451
) |
| *17 |
Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): If he will introduce council tax bands (a) lower than the current minimum and (b) higher than the current maximum.
|
|
|
(
28452
) |
| *18 |
Mr Charles Hendry (Wealden): What representations he has received from local authorities regarding regional and national housebuilding targets.
|
|
|
(
28454
) |
| *19 |
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): What representations he has received concerning the Planning Green Paper from community organisations.
|
|
|
(
28455
) |
| *20 |
Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): What measures he is taking to reduce accidents due to speeding on roads.
|
|
|
(
28456
) |
| *21 |
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): What steps he is taking to tackle shortages of affordable housing in rural areas.
|
|
|
(
28457
) |
| *22 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): If he will make a statement on the local government finance settlement for the metropolitan authorities.
|
|
|
(
28458
) |
| *23 |
Jim Dobbin (Heywood & Middleton): What measures he is taking to improve the quality of bus services.
|
|
|
(
28459
) |
| *24 |
John Barrett (Edinburgh West): If he will make a statement on progress towards the implementation of recommendations made by Lord Cullen on rail safety.
|
|
|
(
28460
) |
| *25 |
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): What proposals he has to give local government greater independence from central government; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
28461
) |
| *26 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): When the multi-modal study on the M6 corridor will be published.
|
|
|
(
28462
) |
| *27 |
Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy): What the projected level of investment is in the railway system in Wales as included in the Strategic Rail Authority's 10 year plan; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
28463
) |
| *28 |
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): What funding will be made available for the northern distributor scheme in Sittingbourne; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
28464
) |
| *29 |
Norman Baker (Lewes): If he will make a statement on the strategic importance of the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry connection for UK transport links.
|
|
|
(
28465
) |
| *30 |
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): If he will make a statement on the Government's maritime transport policy.
|
|
|
(
28466
) |
| *31 |
Laura Moffatt (Crawley): If he will make a statement on progress with the first schemes funded under the 10-year Transport Plan to encourage local transport improvements.
|
|
|
(
28468
) |
| *32 |
Mrs Ann Cryer (Keighley): What measures he has taken to improve facilities at railway stations in the last 12 months.
|
|
|
(
28469
) |
| *33 |
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): What progress he has made towards tackling overcrowding on the rail network.
|
|
|
(
28470
) |
| *34 |
Mr John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan): What responses he has received from the rail industry to the Strategic Plan for the railways.
|
|
|
(
28471
) |
| *35 |
Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham): What recent representations he has received on his plans to involve the private sector in the London Underground.
|
|
|
(
28472
) |
| *36 |
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): What action he is taking to improve rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel.
|
|
|
(
28473
) |
| *37 |
Mr John Baron (Billericay): What recent representations he has received from local authorities concerning regional and national housebuilding targets.
|
|
|
(
28474
) |
| At 3.30 p.m. | Private Notice Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any) |
Preliminary Business |
| Ten minute rule Motion
|
| 1 | ROAD SAFETY AND SPEED [Up to 20 minutes]
|
| Chris Grayling
|
| That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make further provision for road safety measures in residential areas and for the indication of speed limits.
|
| The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23).
|
|
Main Business |
| 2 | OPPOSITION DAY [9th allotted day] [Until 10.00 p.m.]
|
| | GOVERNMENT'S MANAGEMENT OF THE POST OFFICE
|
| Mr Iain Duncan Smith
Mr John Whittingdale
Mr Robert Key
Mr Nigel Waterson
Mr Philip Hammond
David Maclean
|
| That this House notes that under this Government the Post Office has gone from a profitable organisation to a business that is making half-yearly operating losses of £100 million, has the worst strike record of any business in the country and is consistently failing to meet its delivery targets; deplores its reported intention to abandon its morning delivery guarantee; condemns the Government for retaining Consignia in full public ownership while at the same time refusing to take any responsibility for its failures; further notes that in the last financial year another 547 sub post offices closed; regrets the Government's determination to press ahead with the withdrawal of benefit payments across the counter despite its failure to put in place any alternative source of income, thus threatening the survival of thousands more; and further condemns the Government's total mismanagement, which has created the crisis that is facing the Post Office today.
|
| As Amendments to Mr Iain Duncan Smith's proposed Motion (Government's management of the Post Office):
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr A. J. Beith
Dr Vincent Cable
Brian Cotter
Mr David Heath
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `notes that the dire financial position of the Post Office originates in confusion and uncertainty over its status under successive governments and the extraction of Treasury dividends of £2.5 billion over two decades instead of investment to meet new competition; notes with alarm the warnings of the head of the National Audit Office that increased competition introduced by the regulators and leading to further losses will jeopardise the Universal Service Obligation; deplores the Government's failure to prevent closures of sub post offices and, in particular, the failure to ensure sufficient replacement income to prevent the further closure of up to 40 per cent. of Post Office Counters branches following the introduction of Automated Credit Transfer in 2003; expresses its concern that the Universal Bank will not be operational in April 2003 to ensure that payments of benefits and tax credits will be available over the Post Office counter to those who need them; and calls on the Government to suspend dividend payments in 2001-02, to explain delays in the appointment of the new Consignia chairman and to bring forward as a matter of urgency substantive proposals for income generation in the Counters network, including a national rollout of ?Your Guide?".'.
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Darling
Secretary Margaret Beckett
Ms Secretary Hewitt
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `condemns the running down of the Post Office under 18 years of Conservative government, which saw 3,500 post offices close, hundreds of thousands of days lost through industrial action, a lack of investment which allowed the Post Office to slip behind its competitors, a failure to give the Post Office the commercial freedom it needed to invest and compete; congratulates the current Government for giving the Post Office commercial freedom to make its own decisions, enshrining the universal service obligation in legislation, establishing a new regulatory framework, bringing in new managers, modernising and supporting the post office network and encouraging partnership between employers and unions; and furthermore notes that Consignia invested £296 million in the last financial year, is addressing its cost base, strengthening its management and striving to achieve a world class service in Britain.'.
|
| Mr Alex Salmond
Mr Elfyn Llwyd
Mr Michael Weir
Mr Hywel Williams
|
| Line 5, leave out from `guarantee' to `further' in line 7 and insert `condemns the Government for refusing to take any responsibility for Consignia's failures, which are the result of both New Labour and Tory policy mistakes;'.
|
| Mr Alex Salmond
Mr Elfyn Llwyd
Mr Michael Weir
Mr Hywel Williams
|
| Line 12, at end add `deplores the redundancies sought by Consignia; demands assurances that there will be guarantees on the quality of service and no compulsory redundancies; notes that any job losses will jeopardise the future of post offices that serve rural areas and undermine these already fragile communities; and calls for responsibility for the Post Office in Scotland and Wales to be transferred from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, and be maintained and developed in the public sector.'.
|
| 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.
|
| + 3 | LOCAL GOVERNMENT [No debate]
|
| Mr Secretary Byers
|
| That the draft Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, which were laid before this House on 19th December 2001, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 4 | ADJOURNMENT [No debate]
|
| Mr Robin Cook
|
| That this House, at its rising on Thursday 14th February, do adjourn till Monday 25th February 2002.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 25).
|
| At the end of the sitting
|
| 5 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Long term care of elderly people on the Isle of Wight (Mr Andrew Turner).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9.).
|
COMMITTEES |
|
| 1 | Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill Programming Sub-Committee (of Standing Committee F) | 8.30 a.m. | Room 9 (private) |
| 2 | Standing Committee B | 10.30 a.m.
4.30 p.m. | Room 11 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Proceeds of Crime Bill. |
| 3 | Standing Committee E | 10.30 a.m.
4.30 p.m. | Room 12 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Office of Communications Bill [Lords]. |
| 4 | Standing Committee F | 10.30 a.m.
4.30 p.m. | Room 9 (public)
(public) |
| Further to consider the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. |
| 5 | Eighth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 4.30 p.m. | Room 10 (public) |
| To consider the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3980) and the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001 (S.I., 2001, No. 3969). |
|
| 6 | Deregulation and Regulatory Reform | 9.30 a.m. | Room 19 (private) |
| 7 | Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Urban Affairs Sub-Committee | 9.45 a.m.
10.00 a.m. | Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Tall Buildings. |
| Witnesses: Bristol City Council and Birmingham City Council; Chelsea Society and Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee (at 10.40 a.m.); Mr Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London (at 11.15 a.m.). |
| 8 | International Development | 10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. | Room 5 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development. |
| Witnesses: Professor Martin Parry, Jackson Environment Institute, University of East Anglia, Professor Nigel Arnell, Department of Geography and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Southampton, Professor Robert Nicholls, Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, and Professor Andy Haines and Ms Sari Kovats, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr Neil Adger, School of Environmental Sciences and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, and Dr Katrina Brown, School of Development Studies and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia (at approximately 11.15 a.m.); Dr Benito Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and Dr Saleemul Huq, Director, Climate Change Programme, International Institute for Environment and Development (at approximately 11.45 a.m.). |
| 9 | Home Affairs | 10.15 a.m. | Room 7 (private) |
| 10 | Culture, Media and Sport | 10.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m. | Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Communications. |
| Witnesses: ITV Network; Channel 5 (at 11.45 a.m.); BSkyB (at 12.15 p.m.). |
| 11 | Standards and Privileges | 10.30 a.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 12 | Standards and Privileges | 4.00 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 13 | Statutory Instruments | Immediately after the meeting of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments | Room 7 (private) |
JOINT COMMITTEE |
| 14 | 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 28th January for answer today++
|
| 1 |
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to increase the number of student permits allowed for seasonal agricultural work; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(
31695
) |
| 2 |
Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give the latest estimate of the total cost of refunding tax to those retired Army personnel or their widows and widowers who are, or were, in receipt of a service invalidity pension.
|
|
(
31696
) |
| 3 |
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the Report and recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.
|
|
(
31723
) |
| 4 |
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement about the determination of the 41st horserace betting levy scheme.
|
|
(
31818
) |
| 5 |
Mr Vernon Coaker (Gedling): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, when the Highways Agency Business Plan for 2002-03 will be published; and what targets he has set.
|
|
(
31848
) |
| 6 |
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Energy and Industry Council of 4th and 5th December 2001.
|
|
(
31932
) |
| 7 |
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will publish summary information on DTI recruitment for the 15 months from 1st January 2000 to 31st March 2001 and the use of permitted exceptions to the principles of fair competition and selection on merit.
|
|
(
31933
) |
|
