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.
MEMORANDUM |
NORTHERN IRELAND GRAND COMMITTEE
|
[Sitting at Westminster on Thursday 23rd October at 2.30 p.m.]
|
| Applications for an adjournment debate for Thursday 23rd October should be submitted to the Speaker's Office by 7.00 p.m. or the rising of the House (whichever is the earlier) on Wednesday 15th October. The ballot will take place on Thursday 16th October.
|
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |
| *1 |
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): If he will make a statement on the work of the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
128486
) |
| *2 |
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): If he will make a statement on the extent of verifiable decommissioning of illegally-held weapons and explosives in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
128487
) |
| *3 |
Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton): If he will make a statement on the use of powers by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to confiscate assets.
|
|
|
(
128488
) |
| *4 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): If he will make a statement on the state of the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
|
|
|
(
128489
) |
| *5 |
Ann Winterton (Congleton): What assessment he has made of the future economic viability of the Northern Ireland sea fishing industry.
|
|
|
(
128491
) |
| *6 |
Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): What recent discussions he has had about the restoration of the devolved Assembly.
|
|
|
(
128492
) |
| *7 |
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): What recent representations he has received regarding the progress of the peace process.
|
|
|
(
128493
) |
| *8 |
Mr Roy Beggs (East Antrim): What plans he has to extend the provisions of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
128494
) |
| *9 |
Eric Joyce (Falkirk West): What the prospects are for agriculture in Northern Ireland following the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.
|
|
|
(
128495
) |
| *10 |
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): What plans he has to meet representatives of small business organisations to discuss regulatory burdens on business in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
128496
) |
| *11 |
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): What progress he is making with increasing inward manufacturing investment into the Province; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
128497
) |
| *12 |
Mr Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on the resumption of power sharing in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
128499
) |
| *13 |
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): If he will make a statement on the number of housing voids in Belfast.
|
|
|
(
128500
) |
| Oral Questions to the Prime Minister |
Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a questions without notice.
| *Q1 |
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 10th September.
|
|
(
128501
) |
| *Q2 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will discuss the military position in Iraq with President Bush.
|
|
(
128502
) |
| *Q3 |
Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside):
|
|
(
128503
) |
| *Q4 |
Mr George Osborne (Tatton):
|
|
(
128504
) |
| *Q5 |
Mr Iain Luke (Dundee East):
|
|
(
128505
) |
| *Q6 |
Phil Sawford (Kettering):
|
|
(
128506
) |
| *Q7 |
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd):
|
|
(
128507
) |
| *Q8 |
Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire):
|
|
(
128508
) |
| *Q9 |
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds):
|
|
(
128509
) |
| *Q10 |
Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold):
|
|
(
128510
) |
| *Q11 |
Tony Cunningham (Workington):
|
|
(
128512
) |
| *Q12 |
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge):
|
|
(
128513
) |
| *Q13 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):
|
|
(
128514
) |
| *Q14 |
Andy King (Rugby & Kenilworth):
|
|
(
128515
) |
| At 12.30 p.m. | Urgent Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any) |
Preliminary Business |
| Ten minute rule Motion
|
| 1 | LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF GANGMASTERS
[Up to 20 minutes]
|
|
|
| That leave be given to bring in a Bill to register and license gangmasters in the agricultural and food processing industries.
|
| 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 (16th allotted day)
[Until 7.00 p.m.]
|
| | FAIRNESS AND SECURITY IN OLD AGE
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr Menzies Campbell
Mr Paul Burstow
Steve Webb
Dr Evan Harris
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House believes that this Government has failed to deliver fairness and security for older people; is concerned that home care services for older people have been cut back and that the Government has presided over the collapse of the care home sector through botched regulations and underfunding; condemns the Government for putting in place rules that allowed thousands of elderly people to be forced to give up their life savings and homes to fund their continuing healthcare; believes that the Government has failed to tackle the pensions crisis both for current and future pensioners, putting in place a complex system of means-tests that fails to get help to the poorest pensioners, whilst heaping extra costs on pensioners by relying on the unfair Conservative council tax to fund local services; is concerned that many pensioners will suffer as a result of the closure of local post offices, a problem made worse by the Government's plans to scrap the pension book and introduce direct payment; and calls on the Government to stabilise the care home and home care sectors, offer security and real choice to older people, simplify the pension system, boost the basic state pension and abolish the council tax and replace it with a tax related to ability to pay.
|
| As Amendments to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (Fairness and Security in Old Age):
|
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd
Mr Alex Salmond
Annabelle Ewing
Hywel Williams
Pete Wishart
Mr Simon Thomas
|
| Line 16, at end add `; and believes that the interests and welfare of older people in Wales and Scotland would be best served by developing, extending and properly funding a full range of public services with the powers to deliver them transferred from Westminster to the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament.'.
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Peter Hain
Mr Secretary Reid
Mr Secretary Smith
|
| | Malcolm Wicks Dr Stephen Ladyman |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes that from 2004-05 Government will be spending £9.2 billion extra per year in real terms on pensioners compared with the 1997 system; notes this is £5.7 billion more than if the basic state pension had been linked to earnings; recognises that the poorest third of pensioners will be £1,600 a year better off in real terms compared with the 1997 system; applauds Government action for older people on health and social care, fuel poverty, transport and lifelong learning; approves of action to stabilise the care home sector by increasing resources available to councils to increase care home fees where required; supports the Government's commitment to increase resources available for social services by on average six per cent. a year in real terms over the next three years, the expansion of intensive home care support, and the largest ever sustained increase in funding for the NHS; welcomes the real terms increase of 25 per cent. in grant to local authorities since 1997, and the review of the balance of funding between central and local government; further welcomes the successful introduction of universal banking services, giving Post Office access through a number of current accounts, basic bank accounts and the Post Office card account; congratulates Government on its intention to bring in Pension Credit from October; notes eligible households stand to gain on average £400 a year; and applauds the actions of the Government which result in over 1 million people being ready to receive Pension Credit who will gain more money than they had before.'.
|
| | ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN IRAQ
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Mr Menzies Campbell
Dr Jenny Tonge
Mr Paul Keetch
Mr Michael Moore
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House welcomes the publication of the recent draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council on Iraq; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to honour the Prime Minister's commitment to give the United Nations a vital role in the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq through a new Security Council Resolution which would expedite the restoration of sovereignty and democratic control to the Iraqi people, place the process of political transition under the auspices of the United Nations, transfer the whole responsibility for the economic recontruction and rebuilding of Iraq to an Iraqi provisional government assisted as necessary by the United Nations and replace existing security arrangements with a multinational force under unified command obliged to report to the Security Council.
|
| As an Amendment to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (Role of the United Nations in Iraq):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Straw
Mr Secretary Hoon
Hilary Benn
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `supports the vital role played by the United Nations in Iraq as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolutions 1483 and 1500 (2003); pays tribute to the Secretary General's Special Representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello and his colleagues brutally murdered in the terrorist atrocity of 19th August; welcomes the determination of the United Nations Secretary General to remain engaged in Iraq; further welcomes the initiation of discussions on a new UN Security Council Resolution on Iraq, which aims to reaffirm the United Nations' support for the work of the Governing Council, calls on the Governing Council to submit a timetable and programme for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections, proposes a United Nations-mandated multinational force under existing unified command arrangements and encourages UN Member States and international organisations to help the Iraqi people by providing resources for rehabilitation and reconstruction at next month's conference in Madrid.'.
|
| 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 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 3 | STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
|
|
| (1) There shall be a standing committee, called the Standing Committee on the Inter-Governmental Conference on the Future of Europe.
|
| (2) At any sitting of the standing committee, the chairman may permit a Minister or Ministers to make statements on the Inter-Governmental Conference, and questions may then be put thereon by Members:
|
| Provided that no proceedings under this paragraph may continue after the expiry of a period of one and a half hours from their commencement, except with the leave of the chairman.
|
| (3) At the conclusion of proceedings under paragraph (2), the committee may consider either of the following—
|
| (a) when a written report has been laid before Parliament by a Minister or Ministers, a Motion proposed from the chair `That the committee has considered the report of [date] on the Inter-Governmental Conference'; or
|
| (b) a Motion for the adjournment of the committee, provided that a Minister of the Crown has given notice of a subject relating to the Inter-Governmental Conference for the debate on the adjournment not later than five days before the sitting.
|
| (4)(a) The chairman shall put any Questions necessary to dispose of the proceedings on any Motion under paragraph (3)(a), if not previously concluded, when the committee shall have sat for two and a half hours; and the chairman shall thereupon report that the committee has considered the report of [date] on the Inter-Governmental Conference, without putting any further Question;
|
| (b) in case of a Motion under paragraph (3)(b), the chairman shall adjourn the committee without putting any question, not later than two and a half hours after the committee has begun sitting.
|
| (5)(a) Notwithstanding Standing Order No. 86, the standing committee shall consist of those Members of the House nominated for the time being to the European Scrutiny Committee (appointed under Standing Order No. 143) and to the Foreign Affairs Committee (appointed under Standing Order No. 152); and
|
| (b) any Member of the House, not being a member of the committee, may take part in the proceedings of the committee and be counted in the quorum, but shall not vote or make any motion, except that any member of the government may move a Motion under paragraph (3)(b).
|
| (6) Members of the House of Lords may participate in the committee's proceedings, but no member of that House may vote or make any motion or be counted in the quorum.
|
| That this Order be a Standing Order of the House until the end of the next Session of Parliament.
|
| An explanatory Memorandum relating to this Motion is available in the Vote Office.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 4 | MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT CHANGES: AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
|
|
| (1) Standing Order No. 94 (Scottish Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)) be amended in line 2 by leaving out the second `Scottish' and inserting `Scotland';
|
| (2) Standing Order No. 103 (Welsh Grand Committee (questions for oral answer)) be amended in line 2 by leaving out the second `Welsh' and inserting `Wales';
|
| (3) Standing Order No. 119 (European Standing Committees) be amended in the table in paragraph (6), as follows:
|
| (a) in line 5, by leaving out `Transport, Local Government and the Regions' and inserting `Transport; Office of the Deputy Prime Minister';
|
| (b) in line 12, by leaving out `Lord Chancellor's Department' and inserting `Department for Constitutional Affairs (excluding those responsibilities of the Scotland and Wales Offices which fall to European Standing Committee A)';
|
| (4) Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) be amended in the Table in paragraph (2), as follows:
|
| |
| `1 Constitutional Affairs | Department for Constitutional Affairs| 11';
| |
| (b) leave out the item relating to the Lord Chancellor's Department inserted on 27th January;
|
| (c) in item 16, leave out `Welsh Office (Office of the Secretary of State for Wales (including relations with the National Assembly for Wales))' and insert `Wales Office (including relations with the National Assembly for Wales)'; and
|
| (5) the Order of 5th November 2001 relating to Liaison Committee (Membership) be amended, in paragraph (2), by leaving out `Lord Chancellor's Department' and inserting `Constitutional Affairs'.
|
| An explanatory Memorandum relating to this Motion is available in the Vote Office.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 5 | ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| Mr Peter Hain
Mr Bob Ainsworth
|
| That Mr Michael Meacher be discharged from the Environmental Audit Committee and Mr Elliot Morley be added.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 6 | COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
| That Geraint Davies and Mr George Howarth be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Jon Cruddas and Jim Sheridan be added.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| At the end of the sitting:
|
| 7 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Asperger Syndrome and mental health services (Mrs Angela Browning).
|
| Debate may continue until 7.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9 and Order of 29th October 2002).
|
COMMITTEES |
|
| 1 | European Standing Committee A | 2.30 p.m. | Room 10 (public)
|
| To consider European Union Document No. 8566/03 relating to Maritime Transport Security. |
|
| 2 | Education and Skills | 9.00 a.m.
9.15 a.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Secondary Education: Schools Admissions. |
| Witnesses: Professor Anna West, London School of Economics, John Fitz, University of Cardiff, and John Coldron, Sheffield Hallam University. |
| 3 | Work and Pensions | 9.30 a.m.
9.45 a.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Departmental Report. |
| Witnesses: Rt Hon Andrew Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Departmental officials. |
| 4 | European Scrutiny | 1.20 p.m.
1.30 p.m. | Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Inter-Governmental Conference on the draft Treaty. |
| Witness: Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Foreign Office officials. |
| 5 | Procedure | 2.00 p.m.
2.15 p.m. | Room 21 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Sessional Orders and Resolutions. |
| Witnesses: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Mr Nicholas Soames MP, and Dr Jenny Tonge MP |
| 6 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 2.15 p.m.
2.30 p.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Alternative Uses for Crops: Biofuels |
| Witnesses: UK Petroleum Industries Association; Renewable Power Association; Agricultural Biotechnology Council |
| 7 | Treasury Sub-Committee | 2.15 p.m.
2.30 p.m. | The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: HM Treasury Departmental Report |
| Witnesses: Mr Gus O'Donnell, Permanent Secretary, Mr Nicholas Macpherson, Managing Director, Public Services, Hilary Douglas, Managing Director, Corporate Services and Development, HM Treasury, Mr Peter Gershon, Chief Executive, Office of Government Commerce and Mr John Kingman, Head of Enterprise, HM Treasury. |
| 8 | Transport | 2.30 p.m.
2.45 p.m.
| Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Departmental Annual Report |
| Witnesses: Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State and Mr David Rowlands, Permanent Secretary, Department of Transport. |
| 9 | Defence | 2.30 p.m.
3.00 p.m.
| The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Lessons of Iraq |
| Witnesses: Air Chief Marshall Sir Malcolm Pledger, KCB OBE AFC, Chief of Defence Logistics, Brigadier Derek Jeffrey, Director of Operations, Secretariat and Communications, Defence Logistics Organisation, Colonel David Martin, Assistant Director Supply Chain, Operations, Brigadier Seumas Kerr CBE, Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics, PJHQ, Brigadier Shaun Cowlam CBE, Joint Forces, Logistics Component Commander, Operation Telic, Ministry of Defence. |
| 10 | Environmental Audit | 3.30 p.m. | Ministerial Conference Room, Lower Ground Floor (private) |
| 11 | Public Accounts | 3.30 p.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (public) |
| Subject: Progress on 15 major capital projects funded by Arts Council England |
| Witnesses: Ms Sue Street, Permanent Secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Mr Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive, Arts Council England. |
| 12 | Modernisation of the House of Commons | 3.45 p.m. | Room N
Portcullis House (private) |
| 13 | Northern Ireland Affairs | 4.15 p.m. | Room E
7 Millbank (private) |
| 14 | Selection | 4.45 p.m. | Room 7 (private) |
OPPOSED BILL COMMITTEE |
| 15 | London Local Authorities Bill | 10.00 a.m. | Room 5 (public) |
JOINT COMMITTEE |
| 17 | Draft Mental Incapacity Bill | 3.30 p.m.
3.45 p.m.
| Room 3 (private)
(public) |
| Witnesses: The Law Society of Scotland, (at approximately 3.45 p.m.), Professor Tom McMillan, Mr Mark Ramm, Dr Donald Lyons, Dr Keith Bowden (at approximately 4.45 p.m.). |
[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 Work and Pensions: Inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of the London Borough of Hackney Council. |
| 2 | Secretary of State for Health: Government's response to the Third Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health, on sexual health. |
| 3 | Secretary of State for Defence: Review of logistic support to the armed forces. |
| 4 | Deputy Prime Minister: Publication of Government Response to the ODPM Select Committee Report on Reducing Regional Disparities in Prosperity. |
|
