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 Reading
|
Mersey Tunnels Bill. (By Order.)
|
| Mr Ben Chapman
Stephen Hesford
Mr Robert N. Wareing
|
| On Second Reading of the Mersey Tunnels Bill, to move, That the Bill be read a second time upon this day six months.
|
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development |
| *1 |
Mr David Rendel (Newbury): What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her poverty reduction strategy in reducing poverty.
|
|
|
(
54737
) |
| *2 |
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): If she will make a statement on progress towards the goal of universal primary education.
|
|
|
(
54738
) |
| *3 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): If she will make a statement on the IMF and World Bank assessments of the contributions to Tanzania's development of air traffic control equipment supplied from the UK.
|
|
|
(
54739
) |
| *4 |
Tony Baldry (Banbury): When she next expects to meet Commissioner Patten to discuss the proportion of the external affairs budget which is allocated to poor countries.
|
|
|
(
54740
) |
| *5 |
Mr George Howarth (Knowsley North & Sefton East): What action she is taking to strengthen the work of the Ethical Trading Initiative in promoting core labour standards in developing countries.
|
|
|
(
54741
) |
| *6 |
Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk): What progress is being made on debt relief for poor countries.
|
|
|
(
54742
) |
| *7 |
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury): What discussions she has had with the MoD over restoring payments from her budget to military units engaged in peace-keeping for local development work in (a) the Balkans and (b) Chechnya.
|
|
|
(
54744
) |
| *8 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): Pursuant to her oral statement of 17th April, Official Report, column 558, on Afghanistan, what action she has taken to provide farmers with a chance of making a living by planting crops other than poppies.
|
|
|
(
54745
) |
| *9 |
Mr Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): What progress is being made with the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
|
|
|
(
54746
) |
| *10 |
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): What discussions her Department has had about programmes to support the development of civil society and to combat social problems in Kaliningrad.
|
|
|
(
54747
) |
| *11 |
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): What progress is being made on debt relief for poor countries.
|
|
|
(
54748
) |
| *12 |
Ross Cranston (Dudley North): What support her Department is giving to strengthening political systems in developing countries.
|
|
|
(
54749
) |
| *13 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): If she will make a statement on the work of her Department in Malawi.
|
|
|
(
54750
) |
| *14 |
Mr Michael Connarty (Falkirk East): What was agreed at the UN Children's Summit.
|
|
|
(
54751
) |
| *15 |
Mr Peter Viggers (Gosport): What progress is being made in reforming the EU aid budget.
|
|
|
(
54752
) |
| *16 |
Paul Flynn (Newport West): What further steps she plans to take to assist Georgia.
|
|
|
(
54753
) |
| *17 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): If she will make a statement on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
|
|
|
(
54754
) |
| *18 |
Ann McKechin (Glasgow, Maryhill): What reforms she plans to support the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative when the issue is discussed at the autumn meetings of the World Bank and the IMF.
|
|
|
(
54755
) |
| *19 |
Patrick Hall (Bedford): What support her Department is providing to the Ethical Trading Initiative in 2002-03.
|
|
|
(
54756
) |
| *20 |
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): What assistance her Department is giving to help developing nations negotiate effectively in international organisations; and if she will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
54757
) |
| *21 |
Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham): What action her Department is taking to address the issue of debt sustainability for those countries which have qualified under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative.
|
|
|
(
54758
) |
| *22 |
Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): What improvement there has been in the way EU development funds are allocated since 2000.
|
|
|
(
54759
) |
| *23 |
Vera Baird (Redcar): What progress towards cancellation of unpayable debt owed by the poorest countries to the IMF and World Bank she expects from the G8 Summit in Canada.
|
|
|
(
54760
) |
| *24 |
Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): What action her Department is taking to help promote socially responsible business practice by UK companies that invest in developing countries.
|
|
|
(
54761
) |
| *25 |
Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): What representations her Department has made to the EU with regard to removing barriers to trade for developing countries.
|
|
|
(
54762
) |
| *26 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What aid her Department is providing to Zimbabwe; for what purpose; and what steps they are taking to ensure that it reaches the intended destination.
|
|
|
(
54763
) |
| *27 |
Mr Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): If she will make a statement on how much aid has been given to the Palestinian Authority.
|
|
|
(
54764
) |
| *28 |
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): What support she plans to give to Sierra Leone.
|
|
|
(
54765
) |
| *29 |
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): If she will make a statement on the impact of recent Israeli military actions on British and EU-funded development projects in the West Bank and Gaza.
|
|
|
(
54766
) |
| Oral Questions to the Prime Minister |
| *Q1 |
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54767
) |
| *Q2 |
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54768
) |
| *Q3 |
Ian Lucas (Wrexham): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54769
) |
| *Q4 |
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54770
) |
| *Q5 |
Mr Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54771
) |
| *Q6 |
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54772
) |
| *Q7 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54773
) |
| *Q8 |
Mr David Chidgey (Eastleigh): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54774
) |
| *Q9 |
Mr Paul Tyler (North Cornwall): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54775
) |
| *Q10 |
Hywel Williams (Caernarfon): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54776
) |
| *Q11 |
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54777
) |
| *Q12 |
Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow, Cathcart): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54778
) |
| *Q13 |
Ms Claire Ward (Watford): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54779
) |
| *Q14 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54780
) |
| *Q15 |
Pete Wishart (North Tayside): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54781
) |
| *Q16 |
Annabelle Ewing (Perth): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54782
) |
| *Q17 |
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54783
) |
| *Q18 |
Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54785
) |
| *Q19 |
Helen Jones (Warrington North): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 15th May.
|
|
(
54786
) |
| At 3.30 p.m. | Private Notice Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any) |
Preliminary Business |
| Ten minute rule Motion
|
| 1 | NATIONAL CANCER [Up to 20 minutes]
|
| Dr Ian Gibson
|
| That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for cancer services and to establish priority for the treatment of cancer in the allocation of resources within the National Health Service.
|
| 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 (13th allotted day) [Until 10.00 p.m.]
|
| | POST OFFICE CLOSURES AND ROYAL MAIL DELIVERIES
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr A. J. Beith
Dr Vincent Cable
Steve Webb
Mr David Heath
Mr Archy Kirkwood
|
| Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House is deeply concerned that, with 10 months left for the transition to automatic credit transfer for the Post Office's 16 million benefit and pension customers, there is great uncertainty and confusion hanging over the network; believes that, in the absence of new sources of income to replace the lost £400 million, many post offices will close, including a third of all urban post offices; is alarmed by reports that new initiatives promised under the PIU Report are failing, in particular that the Your Guide programme is being downgraded and that planning of the Post Office Card Account is well behind schedule; has little confidence that the commercial banks have the ability or motivation to meet the financial needs of many of those Post Office customers expected to migrate to the use of bank accounts; notes that the network's problems coincide with growing losses in Consignia and the threat to its mail services and to the universal service obligation; and calls on the Government to set out a clear policy and timetable for heading off a potentially disastrous collapse of the rural and urban network.
|
| As an Amendment to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (Post Office closures and Royal Mail deliveries):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Robin Cook
Mr Secretary Darling
Ms Secretary Hewitt
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `applauds the Government's decision to accept all 24 of the PIU recommendations in its June 2000 report Counter Revolution—Modernising the Post Office Network"; notes that Consignia is committed to preventing avoidable closures of rural post offices and has drawn up a code of conduct on how this is to be implemented in conjunction with the consumer watchdog, Postwatch; further applauds the decision of the Government to grant the greater commercial freedom to Consignia that management and unions had long called for; welcomes the action of the Government in appointing a new chairman of Consignia and a new chief executive of Post Office Ltd. and to enshrine in legislation the primary duty of the regulator to preserve the universal service; further applauds the commitment of the Government to a national network of post offices; and further notes the commitment by Post Office Ltd. to ensure that 95 per cent. of people in urban areas will live within a mile of a post office, and the majority within half a mile.'.
|
| | UK ROLE IN THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr A. J. Beith
Malcolm Bruce
Dr Jenny Tonge
Mr Colin Breed
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House welcomes the fact that the Prime Minister will be attending the Johannesburg Earth Summit in September, but regrets that the UK is not providing co-ordinated internal or external leadership to ensure the Summit's success, particularly given rising emission of carbon dioxide in the last two years in the UK and the apparent emphasis by the Government on UK business interests ahead of the needs of developing countries; notes with concern the United States' role in the removal of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change's Chair and for their reneging on the Kyoto Protocol; further notes the damage such events may have on the relationship between rich and poor nations in the run-up to the Summit and the potential negative impact on both environmental and political stability, particularly in view of the close co-operation between the UK Government and US Administration and concern by leading NGOs that the Summit, aiming to reduce inequalities between rich and poor nations and promote an improving world order, may be heading for failure; calls on the Government to take a greater role in leading international discussions in the run-up to Johannesburg and promoting related activities in the UK, particularly the need to employ more sustainable solutions and set long-term targets for the use of renewable energy; and calls on the Government genuinely to put the environment at the heart of government, developing the policies and conditions which will promote local action for truly sustainable agriculture, waste, water management, energy and transport.
|
| As an Amendment to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (UK role in the Johannesburg Summit and promoting sustainability):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Robin Cook
Secretary Clare Short
Secretary Margaret Beckett
|
| Mr Michael Meacher
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `applauds the leadership the UK is showing domestically and within the European Union, the G8 and the United Nations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development; welcomes the fact that the Prime Minister intends to attend the Summit; further welcomes the UK's climate change programme which is estimated to overshoot its Kyoto target of a 12.5 per cent. cut in 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012, reaching a cut of 23 per cent.; commends the introduction in the UK last month of the world's first economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme; further welcomes the commitment in the Budget to significant increases in the landfill tax to promote recycling and waste minimisation; further applauds the fact that drinking water, river water and bathing water are at the highest ever quality; and calls upon the Government to continue to tackle global poverty through sustainable development.'.
|
| The Third Report from the Environmental Audit Committee, Session 2001-02, on UK Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, HC 616, is relevant.
|
| The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party (Standing Order No. 14(2)).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.
|
| + 3 | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION [No debate]
|
| Secretary Margaret Beckett
|
| That the draft Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, which were laid before this House on 26th March, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 4 | PET TRAVEL SCHEME [No debate]
|
| Mr Elliot Morley
|
| That this House takes note of European Union Documents numbers 11596/00 and 12488/01, draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals; and congratulates the Government on securing for the United Kingdom, during the subsequent negotiations, the continuation, for at least five years, of arrangements similar to those contained in the successful United Kingdom Pet Travel Scheme.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).
|
| + 5 | PUBLIC ACCOUNTS [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
|
| Mr Keith Hill
|
| That Mr Frank Field, Mr George Howarth and Mr Nigel Jones be added to the Committee of Public Accounts.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
|
| At the end of the sitting
|
| 6 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Future of magistrates' courts in Wiltshire (Dr Andrew Murrison).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
COMMITTEES |
|
| 1 | European Standing Committee C | 4.30 p.m. | Room 9 (public) |
| To consider EU Document No. 15194/01 relating to Packaging and Packaging Waste. |
| 2 | Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 4.30 p.m. | Room 12 (public) |
| To consider the draft Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002. |
|
| 3 | Catering | 9.30 a.m.
9.45 a.m. | Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: House of Commons Refreshment Facilities. |
| Witnesses: Lord Colwyn CBE, Chairman, Refreshment Sub-Committee, House of Lords; Parliamentary Press Gallery (at approximately 10.15 a.m.); Trade Union Side, House of Commons Whitly Committee (at approximately 10.40 a.m.). |
| 4 | Education and Skills | 9.30 a.m.
9.45 a.m. | The Wilson Room,
Portcullis House
(private)
(private) |
| Subject: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. |
| Witnesses: Sir William Stubbs, Chairman, Beverley Evans, Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Chris Jones, Head of Curriculum Division, and Mr Keith Weller, Head of Qualifications Division, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. |
| 5 | Modernisation of the House of Commons | 9.30 a.m. | Room 21 (private) |
| 6 | Welsh Affairs | 9.45 a.m. | Room 18 (private) |
| 7 | Foreign Affairs | 10.00 a.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 8 | Transport, Local Government and the Regions | 10.00 a.m. | Room 15 (private) |
| 9 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 10.15 a.m.
10.30 a.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Future of UK Agriculture: Farming Beyond Subsidies? |
| Witnesses: Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Secretary of State, and Lord Whitty, Minister for Food and Farming, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. |
| 10 | European Scrutiny | 10.30 a.m.
10.40 a.m. | Room 19 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: E-Communications Regulatory Framework. |
| Witness: Mr Douglas Alexander MP, Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, Department of Trade and Industry. |
| 11 | Work and Pensions | 10.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Government's Employment Strategy. |
| Witnesses: Officials from the Department for Education and Skills, officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, and officials from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. |
| 12 | Health | 3.45 p.m.
4.10 p.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Role and Functioning of the NHS Appointments Commission. |
| Witnesses: Sir William Wells, Chairman, and Dr Roger Moore, Chief Executive, NHS Appointments Commission. |
| 13 | Northern Ireland Affairs | 3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. | Room 21 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Impact in Northern Ireland of cross-border road fuel price differentials: three years on. |
| Witnesses: Mr Roger King, Chief Executive, Weybridge, Mr Phil Flanders, Regional Director, Scotland and Northern Ireland Region, and Mrs Val Smith, Senior Vice Chairperson, Road Haulage Association, Mr Robert Armstrong, Executive Director, and Mr Christopher Campbell, Manager, Northern Ireland, Freight Transport Association. |
| 14 | Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Transport Sub-Committee | 3.45 p.m.
4.00 p.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Bus Industry. |
| Witnesses: Office of Fair Trading; Association for Transport Co-ordinating Offices (at approximately 4.40 p.m.); Transport for London and Surrey County Council (at approximately 5.10 p.m.); Transport and General Workers Union (at approximately 5.40 p.m.). |
| 15 | Environmental Audit | 4.00 p.m. | Room 20 (private) |
| 16 | Science & Technology | 4.00 p.m.
4.30 p.m. | Room 18 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The work of the Office of Science and Technology. |
| Witnesses: Professor David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, and Dr John Taylor, Director General of the Research Councils. |
| 17 | Public Accounts | 4.00 p.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (public) |
| Subject: Construction of Portcullis House, the new parliamentary building. |
| Witnesses: Sir William McKay KCB, Clerk of the House, Mr Andrew Walker, Director of Finance and Administration, and Mr Michael Barram, Director of Finance Policy, Department of Finance and Administration, and Mr Henry Webber, Director of Estates, and Mr Andrew Makepeace, Project Sponsor, Parliamentary Estates Directorate, Department of the Serjeant at Arms, House of Commons. |
| 18 | Selection | 4.15 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 19 | Procedure | 4.30 p.m. | Room 7 (private) |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
| |
|
| |
Written Questions tabled on Tuesday 14th May for answer today++
|
| 1 |
Mr Gareth R. Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what capital investment her Department is making in prisoners' education; and if she will make a statement.
|
|
(
57251
) |
| 2 |
Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what performance targets he has set the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre Executive Agency for 2002-03.
|
|
(
57291
) |
| 3 |
Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions with the Spanish Foreign Minister on 15th May.
|
|
(
57316
) |
| 4 |
Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what goods subject to strategic controls have recently been approved for export to Iraq.
|
|
(
57317
) |
| 5 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what changes have been made to the 2002-03 allocations of the regional development agencies since 16th April.
|
|
(
57318
) |
| 6 |
Mr David Borrow (South Ribble): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what decisions she has made about the membership of the boards of the regional development agencies outside London.
|
|
(
57319
) |
| 7 |
Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Social Exclusion Unit has made in its project on transport and social exclusion.
|
|
(
57434
) |
| 8 |
Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to publish the results of the monitoring programme for pesticide residues in fruit supplied to the National School Fruit Scheme.
|
|
(
57435
) |
Standing Committee Notices |
| The Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation will now meet on Wednesday 15th May at 4.30 p.m. to consider the draft Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002.
|
|
