Order of Business for 27 January 2003

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
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Order of Business 27 January 2003

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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.

At 2.30 p.m.      Prayers

Afterwards

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

*1 Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West):    What recent representations he has made to EU defence ministers regarding Iraq.

( 93168 )

*2 Paul Flynn (Newport West):    Whether he intends to amend the information which he provided for the dossier on Iraq published on 24th September 2002.

( 93169 )

*3 Mike Gapes (Ilford South):    If he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to NATO's defence capabilities initiative.

( 93170 )

*4 Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe):    What assessment he has made of the progress of weapons inspections in Iraq.

( 93171 )

*5 Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West):    What assessment he has made of the impact of wind farms on military radar; and if he will make a statement.

( 93172 )

*6 Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk):    What the (a) budget and (b) planned delivery dates are for the Defence Information Infrastructure.

( 93173 )

*7 Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow):    What assessment he has made of the military effects of bombing Baghdad.

( 93174 )

*8 Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow, Pollok):    What progress has been made to help deliver major European collaborative procurement projects on schedule.

( 93175 )

*9 Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham):    How he plans to safeguard the archaeological integrity of HMS Sussex.

( 93176 )

*10 Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):    How many new recruits have joined the armed services in each of the last two years, having completed all training courses.

( 93177 )

*11 Mr George Osborne (Tatton):    If he will make a statement on the size of UK armed forces on duty in the Gulf.

( 93178 )

*12 Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford):    What progress his Department has made in its contingency arrangements for military action against Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

( 93179 )

*13 Hugh Bayley (City of York):    What assistance his Department is giving to conflict prevention in Africa.

( 93180 )

*14 John Barrett (Edinburgh West):    What plans he has for the use of military forces in Iraq.

( 93181 )

*15 Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham):    If he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed in the competitive bidding for the contract for aircraft carrier modernisation.

( 93182 )

*16 Mr Mark Simmonds (Boston & Skegness):    If he will make a statement on the assistance the US has requested for possible action in Iraq.

( 93183 )

*17 Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):    What assessment he has made of the length of time forces deployed in the Middle East can remain effective.

( 93184 )

*18 Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North):    What plans he has to assess the health problems of ex-military staff subjected to radiation from A-bomb tests.

( 93185 )

*19 Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    If he will make a statement on the activities of the Royal Navy in the Gulf.

( 93186 )

*20 Mr John Lyons (Strathkelvin & Bearsden):    What role British troops will have in a post-conflict Iraq.

( 93187 )

*21 Mr Nigel Beard (Bexleyheath & Crayford):    What assessment his Department has made of whether the US missile defence system could protect the UK and her allies from ballistic missile attack.

( 93188 )

*22 Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    What recent representations he has received on the subject of British soldiers executed after courts martial in the First World War; and what replies he has given.

( 93189 )

*23 Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    If he will make a statement on the use of Fylingdales for national missile defence.

( 93190 )

*24 Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley):    If he will make a statement on suppliers to his Department based in Lancashire.

( 93191 )

*25 Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford):    If he will make a statement on the operation of the new joint regional teams in Afghanistan.

( 93192 )

At 3.30 p.m. Urgent Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any)

Main Business

    Note: Provision has been made for a Business Motion to be moved at 10.00 p.m. (Standing Order No. 15).

+  1
ELECTRICITY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL: Second Reading.        [Until 10.00 p.m.]

Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr A. J. Beith
Dr Vincent Cable
Brian Cotter
Sir Robert Smith
Mr Andrew Stunell

    That this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill because investment in nuclear power generation by successive Governments has consistently proved to be bad value for money and based on inaccurate budgetary forecasts; because British Energy plc is economically unviable now that wholesale electricity prices are not maintained at an artificially high level; because British Energy plc failed to develop a satisfactory commercial strategy to deal with changes to the electricity generation market; because the provision of assistance to British Energy plc has the effect of disadvantaging other electricity generating firms, including those who generate electricity in an environmentally friendly manner; because there is sufficient excess electricity generating capacity that the security of electricity supply is not threatened by the closure of British Energy plc; because aspects are incompatible with the European Union's restrictions on the provision of Restructuring Aid; and because the United Kingdom currently has no satisfactory solutions to the long-term problems of decommissioning and nuclear waste.

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

+  2
ELECTRICITY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL (PROGRAMME)        [No debate]

Mr Robin Cook
Ms Secretary Hewitt

    That the following provisions shall apply to the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill:

Committal

    1.   The Bill shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Proceedings in Committee, on Report and on Third Reading

    2.—(1)   Proceedings in Committee, any proceedings on consideration and proceedings on Third Reading shall be completed at one day's sitting.

              (2)   Proceedings in Committee, and any proceedings on consideration, shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour before the moment of interruption on the day on which those proceedings are commenced.

              (3)   Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the moment of interruption on that day.

Other proceedings

    3.   Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments or any further messages from the Lords) may be programmed.

To be decided without debate (Orders of 28th June 2001 and 29th October 2002).

+  3
ELECTRICITY (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL [MONEY]: Queen's recommendation signified.        [No debate]

Ruth Kelly

    That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, it is expedient to authorise—

(1)   the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred with the approval of the Treasury by the Secretary of State with a view to or in connection with—

(a)   the provision by the Secretary of State of financial assistance to British Energy plc or any company which either is or immediately before the passing of the Act was a subsidiary of British Energy plc (within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985);

(b)   the acquisition by the Secretary of State or his nominee or by a Crown company of—

            (i)   any securities of any of those companies;

            (ii)   any part of the undertaking or assets of any of those companies;

(c)   the carrying on of any undertaking acquired as mentioned in paragraph (b)(ii) or any undertaking using assets so acquired; and

(2)   any increase in the sums payable out of money so provided under Schedule 12 to the Electricity Act 1989 which is attributable to the repeal by the Bill of paragraph 4 of that Schedule or to any other amendment of that Schedule.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 52(1)(a)).

At 10.00 p.m.

+
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE        [No debate]

The Prime Minister

    That at this day's sitting the Motion relating to Select Committees in the name of Mr Robin Cook may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 15).

+  4
SELECT COMMITTEES        [Until any hour]

Mr Robin Cook

    That—

    (1)   Standing Order No. 152 (Select Committees related to Government departments) be amended as follows:

    In the Table

    Item      7,      column      2,      leave out from `Office;' to `and administration' in line 7 of that item;

    After item 8 insert—

`Lord Chancellor's Department Lord Chancellor's Department (including the work of staff provided for the administrative work of courts and tribunals, but excluding consideration of individual cases and appointments) 11';

    and

    (2)   the Order of 5th November 2001 relating to Liaison Committee (Membership) be amended as follows: Paragraph (2), after `International Development' insert `Lord Chancellor's Department'.

Debate may continue until any hour, if the 10.00 p.m. Business Motion is agreed to.

+  5
RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGEMENTS IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS AND IN MATTERS OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY        [No debate]

Ms Rosie Winterton

    That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 8395/02, draft Council Regulation concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 and amending Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 in matters relating to maintenance, and the unnumbered explanatory memoranda of 14 November 2002 and 9 January 2003 from the Lord Chancellor's Department and Scottish Executive Justice Department on the Presidency proposals for amendment of the draft Regulation; supports the underlying aim of extending the principle of mutual recognition to decisions on parental responsibility by establishing a clear and coherent set of rules for attributing jurisdiction, and putting in place arrangements for co-operation between the courts and central authorities of the Member States; considers that the proposed amendments would achieve the objectives of the United Kingdom in relation to child abduction; and welcomes the reinforcement of support for the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction whilst providing Community measures to supplement its provisions to enable enhanced European co-operation against the wrongful removal and retention of children.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).

+  6
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW        [No debate]

Mrs Secretary Liddell

    That the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 12th December, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

+  7
NORTHERN IRELAND        [No debate]

Mr Secretary Murphy

    That the draft Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 18th December, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

  8
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY        [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]

Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection

    That Mr Mark Hoban be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Mr Robert Key be added to the Committee.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.

  9
TREASURY        [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]

Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection

    That Kali Mountford be discharged from the Treasury Committee and Angela Eagle be added to the Committee.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.

At the end of the sitting

  10
ADJOURNMENT

    Proposed subject: Disabled facilities grants and access to low-level showers (Helen Jackson).

    Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEE

1 First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation 4.30 p.m. Room 11 (public)

To consider the draft Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

SELECT COMMITTEES

2 Education and Skills 3.45 p.m. The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

3 Public Accounts 4.00 p.m. Room 16 (public)

Subject: Using call centres to deliver public services.

Witnesses: Mr Andrew Pinder, e-Envoy, Office of the Envoy, Ms Ursula Brennan, Group Director, Working Age and Children, Department for Work and Pensions, Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chief Executive, Environment Agency, Mr Gary Austin, Chief Executive, Driving Standards Agency, and Mr Bernard Herdan, Chief Executive, UK Passport Service, Passport and Records Agency.

4 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions 4.30 p.m.

4.45 p.m. Room 15 (private)
(public)

Subject: (i) Annual Report and Estimates 2002, (ii) The Effectiveness of Government Regeneration Initiatives.

Witnesses: Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister, and Mavis McDonald CB, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

JOINT COMMITTEE

5 Human Rights 4.30 p.m. Room 3 (private)

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1 Secretary of State for Transport: Safeguarding of Aerodromes and Navigation Facilities.

2 Secretary of State for Defence: Gulf veterans' mortality rates.

3 Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department: Extended court sitting hours
pilots in magistrates' courts.

	and
	(2) the Order of 5th November 2001 relating to Liaison Committee (Membership) be amended as follows: Paragraph (2), after `International Development' insert `Lord Chancellor's Department'.
	Debate may continue until any hour, if the 10.00 p.m. Business Motion is agreed to.
+ 5	RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGEMENTS IN MATRIMONIAL MATTERS AND IN MATTERS OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY [No debate]
	Ms Rosie Winterton
	That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 8395/02, draft Council Regulation concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 and amending Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 in matters relating to maintenance, and the unnumbered explanatory memoranda of 14 November 2002 and 9 January 2003 from the Lord Chancellor's Department and Scottish Executive Justice Department on the Presidency proposals for amendment of the draft Regulation; supports the underlying aim of extending the principle of mutual recognition to decisions on parental responsibility by establishing a clear and coherent set of rules for attributing jurisdiction, and putting in place arrangements for co-operation between the courts and central authorities of the Member States; considers that the proposed amendments would achieve the objectives of the United Kingdom in relation to child abduction; and welcomes the reinforcement of support for the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction whilst providing Community measures to supplement its provisions to enable enhanced European co-operation against the wrongful removal and retention of children.
	To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).
+ 6	CONSTITUTIONAL LAW [No debate]
	Mrs Secretary Liddell
	That the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 12th December, be approved.
	To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
+ 7	NORTHERN IRELAND [No debate]
	Mr Secretary Murphy
	That the draft Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, which was laid before this House on 18th December, be approved.
	To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
8	SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
	Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
	That Mr Mark Hoban be discharged from the Science and Technology Committee and Mr Robert Key be added to the Committee.
	If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
9	TREASURY [No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
	Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
	That Kali Mountford be discharged from the Treasury Committee and Angela Eagle be added to the Committee.
	If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
At the end of the sitting
10	ADJOURNMENT
	Proposed subject: Disabled facilities grants and access to low-level showers* (Helen Jackson).*
	Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

COMMITTEES
STANDING COMMITTEE
1	First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation	4.30 p.m.	Room 11 (public)
	To consider the draft Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
SELECT COMMITTEES
2	Education and Skills	3.45 p.m.	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
3	Public Accounts	4.00 p.m.	Room 16 (public)
	Subject: Using call centres to deliver public services.
	Witnesses: Mr Andrew Pinder, e-Envoy, Office of the Envoy, Ms Ursula Brennan, Group Director, Working Age and Children, Department for Work and Pensions, Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chief Executive, Environment Agency, Mr Gary Austin, Chief Executive, Driving Standards Agency, and Mr Bernard Herdan, Chief Executive, UK Passport Service, Passport and Records Agency.
4	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions	4.30 p.m. 4.45 p.m.	Room 15 (private) (public)
	Subject: (i) Annual Report and Estimates 2002, (ii) The Effectiveness of Government Regeneration Initiatives.
	Witnesses: Rt Hon John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister, and Mavis McDonald CB, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
JOINT COMMITTEE
5	Human Rights	4.30 p.m.	Room 3 (private)
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]