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Session 2003 - 04
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Order of Business 13 January 2004

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for 13 January 2004.

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 11.30 a.m.      Prayers
Afterwards
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
*1 Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    What estimate he has made of the cost to the Scottish whisky industry of introducing a duty paid stamping scheme.
( 146391 )
*2 Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    What assessment he has made of the implications for Scotland of the Miles report on housing finance.
( 146392 )
*3 Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield):    What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about cross-border health issues.
( 146393 )
*4 Mr Alex Salmond (Banff & Buchan):    When he last met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry to discuss the Scottish fishing industry.
( 146394 )
*5 Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on energy policy.
( 146395 )
*6 Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen Central):    If he will make a statement on the impact of the North Sea oil and gas industry on the Scottish economy.
( 146396 )
*7 Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South):    What recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the reclassification of cannabis.
( 146397 )
*8 Ann Winterton (Congleton):    If he will make a statement on the findings of the Electoral Commission in its report on elections in Scotland.
( 146398 )
*9 Angela Watkinson (Upminster):    How many pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt of means tested benefits.
( 146399 )
*10 Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh & Berwickshire):    If he will make a statement on the outcome of last month's EU Fisheries Council and its consequences for the North Sea fleet in Scotland.
( 146400 )
*11 Mr Calum MacDonald (Western Isles):    What recent steps the Government has taken to promote the dispersal of civil service jobs from central London to Scotland.
( 146401 )
*12 Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham):    What assessment he has made of the contribution of defence establishments in Scotland to the economy of Scotland.
( 146402 )
*13 John Robertson (Glasgow Anniesland):    What representations he has (a) received from stakeholders in Scotland and (b) made to the Ministry of Defence in connection with the orders for Type 45 destroyers.
( 146403 )
*14 Sir Teddy Taylor (Rochford & Southend East):    What recent meetings he has had with the Scottish Executive on the economic impact on Scotland of the Defence White Paper.
( 146404 )
*15 Mr Iain Luke (Dundee East):    If he will make a statement on innovation and enterprise in Scotland.
( 146405 )

At 11.55 a.m.
Oral Questions to the Advocate General
*16 Ann McKechin (Glasgow Maryhill):    What devolution issues she has considered since 2nd December 2003.
( 146406 )
*17 Annabelle Ewing (Perth):    What devolution issues have been raised since 2nd December 2003.
( 146407 )
*18 Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland):    What devolution issues have been raised with her since 2nd December 2003.
( 146408 )
*19 Mr Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute):    What devolution issues she has considered since 2nd December 2003.
( 146409 )
*20 Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):    What devolution issues she has considered since 2nd December 2003.
( 146410 )

At 12 noon
Oral Questions to the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs
*21 Mr Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North & Leith):    What representations he has received on where the proposed UK Supreme Court should sit when considering devolution issues.
( 147116 )
*22 Norman Baker (Lewes):    What plans he has to amend the law relating to party funding.
( 147117 )
*23 Tony Wright (Cannock Chase):    Whether the Government intends to separate membership of the second chamber from the honours system.
( 147118 )
*24 Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk):    When he next expects to meet representatives of the magistracy from East Anglia to discuss court closures.
( 147119 )
*25 Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North):    What progress he has made since 2nd December 2003 regarding lawyers' fees for former miners' claims for compensation and the role of the Office for Supervision of Solicitors.
( 147120 )
*26 Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon):    What steps he is taking to ensure that adequate legally-aided advice and representation is available to asylum seekers.
( 147121 )
*27 Vera Baird (Redcar):    If he will make a statement on the number of successful appeals made against individual judges.
( 147123 )
*28 Mr David Chaytor (Bury North):    What representations he has received on the proposal for the creation of a supreme court.
( 147125 )
*29 Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire):    Whether he plans to have further consultation on his proposals for reform of the House of Lords.
( 147126 )
*30 Mr David Kidney (Stafford):    What recent representations he has received about the efficiency of the Court of Protection.
( 147127 )
*31 David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):    What initiatives are planned to improve the oversight of supervision of solicitors; and if he will make a statement.
( 147128 )
*32 Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West):    If he will make a statement on his plans for further reform of the House of Lords.
( 147129 )
*33 Mrs Betty Williams (Conwy):    What measures are being taken to encourage witnesses and victims to come forward to give evidence in court.
( 147130 )

At 12.20 p.m.
Oral Questions to the Leader of the House and the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission
*34 Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of options for post-legislative scrutiny.
( 147108 )
*35 Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): To ask the Leader of the House, how many draft bills have been subject to on-line consultation.
( 147109 )
*36 Vera Baird (Redcar): To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to assess the need for childcare facilities for honourable Members if the House were to revert to its former sitting hours.
( 147111 )
*37 Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what criteria are used in making decisions on allocating exhibition space in the House; and if he will make a statement.
( 147112 )
*38 Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley): To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has to improve access for tours of the House by constituents.
( 147113 )
*39 Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): To ask the Leader of the House, what recent discussions he has had with Government departments and select committee chairmen on the programme for pre-legislative scrutiny; and if he will make a statement.
( 147115 )

At 12.30 p.m.Urgent Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any)

[R] Relevant registered interest declared.

Main Business

  1  

OPPOSITION DAY (2nd allotted day)

[Until 7.00 p.m.]

  

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE REPORT ON OPERATION TELIC

      Mr Michael Howard
      Mr Nicholas Soames
      Mr Gerald Howarth
      Mr Keith Simpson
      Mr Desmond Swayne [R]
      David Maclean
        That this House congratulates Her Majesty's Armed Forces on their outstanding contribution to the success of the Coalition campaign in Iraq; welcomes the positive findings of the National Audit Office Report on Operation TELIC—United Kingdom Military Operations in Iraq; endorses the conclusions and recommendations of that Report, but is gravely concerned about its criticisms of major deficiencies in the supply of vital equipment to UK forces in theatre; deplores the fact that approximately 200,000 sets of enhanced combat body armour issued since 1989 seem to have disappeared and that few troops received their full complement of the extra quantities of clothing and boots ordered from late 2002 onwards; is particularly appalled that there was a 40 per cent. shortfall in tactical nerve-agent detection systems, vital to alert personnel that an attack was underway, and that the operational filters needed to protect Challenger 2 tanks from radiological, chemical and biological attack were not delivered to frontline units until months after the fall of Saddam, given that the Government's casus belli was fear that the Iraqi regime possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that might be used at short notice; condemns as totally unacceptable the extreme peril to which these supply failures exposed service men and women, because of the perceived WMD danger; and calls upon the Government urgently to address the deficiencies identified in the Report.

            As an Amendment to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (National Audit Office Report on Operation TELIC):
      The Prime Minister
      Mr Secretary Prescott
      Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
      Mr Secretary Straw
      Mr Secretary Hoon
        Line      2,      leave out from `Iraq' to end and add `and welcomes the report of the National Audit Office Operation TELIC—United Kingdom Military Operations in Iraq", which is consistent with the main conclusions of the Ministry of Defence's own report Operations in Iraq—Lessons for the Future".'.

  

FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE NETWORK

      Mr Michael Howard
      Mr Oliver Letwin
      Mr Stephen O'Brien
      Mr Henry Bellingham
      Michael Fabricant
      David Maclean
        That this House deplores the programme to close 3,000 urban post offices because closure decisions are being made without taking adequately into account the needs of post office customers; believes that honourable Members are insufficiently consulted when proposed closures are announced; regrets the lack of time available to provide for a full consultation period and the failure of the consultation process to influence the closure programme; condemns the Government as the sole shareholder of Royal Mail plc's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Post Office Ltd., for its failure to intervene in order to rectify the way in which the Urban Reinvention Programme is being implemented; expresses its great concern about the programme to implement Post Office card accounts, which is failing to reflect the needs of customers, especially for the most vulnerable, including elderly and disabled people; calls on the Government to give a firm indication that an Exceptions Service will be introduced and to provide the House with the details of how such a system will operate after 2005; and further calls on the Government to make a statement on the sustainability of the funding of rural post offices beyond 2006.

            As an Amendment to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (Future of the Post Office Network):
      The Prime Minister
      Mr Secretary Prescott
      Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
      Mr Secretary Smith
      Secretary Patricia Hewitt
      Mr Stephen Timms
        Line      1,      leave out from `House' to end and add `congratulates the Government for its commitment to modernise and invest in the national network of post offices while keeping them easily accessible to all customers; notes that the choice of account for customers into which they wish their benefits paid is entirely a matter for the customer concerned and congratulates the Government on ensuring that all the necessary information is available to customers to make an informed choice; applauds the Government's £2 billion investment in the Post Office network and its success in reducing the rate of rural post office closures; notes the Post Office's commitment to ensuring that 95 per cent. of the urban population live within a mile of a post office, and the majority within half a mile, and that honourable Members are consulted on proposed closures as part of an agreed process between the Post Office and Postwatch; further notes that 3,500 post offices closed under the previous administration; and condemns those who seek to undermine confidence in Britain's postal services.'.

        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 7.00 p.m.

At the end of the sitting:

  2  

ADJOURNMENT

        Proposed subject:      Research and development into anti-malarial treatments (Mr Tony Colman).

        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

STANDING COMMITTEES

1Standing Committee A9.30 a.m.
2.30 p.m.
Room 11 (public)
(public)
Further to consider the Child Trust Funds Bill.
2Standing Committee B9.10 a.m.
2.30 p.m.
Room 12 (public)
(public)
Further to consider the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill.
3Standing Committee D9.30 a.m.
2.30 p.m.
Room 14 (public)
(public)
To consider the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Bill.
4Second Standing Commmittee on Delegated Legislation2.30 p.m.Room 9 (public)
To consider the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Common Electoral Principles) Order 2004.

SELECT COMMITTEES

5Constitutional Affairs9.00 a.m.


9.15 a.m.
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public)
Subject: Asylum and Immigration Appeals.
Witnesses: His Honour Judge Henry Hodge OBE, Chief Adjudicator, Immigration Appellate Authority, Rt Hon Lord Newton of Braintree OBE, Chairman, Council on Tribunals, and Mr Charles Blake, The Council of Immigration Judges.
6Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions9.00 a.m.
9.15 a.m.
Room 15 (private)
(public)
Subject: Decent Homes.
Witnesses: Bethnal Green and Victoria Park Housing Association, and the Riverside Housing Association; Sunderland Housing Group, and the Atlantic Housing Group (at approximately 9.45 a.m.); Tenant Participation Advisory Service, and Mr Mel Cairns, Environmental Health Consultant (at approximately 10.15 a.m.); Crawley Borough Council (at approximately 10.45 a.m.).
7Public Administration9.15 a.m.
9.30 a.m.
Room 8 (private)
(public)
Subject: The Honours System.
Witness: Professor Colin Blakemore FRS, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council.
8Treasury9.15 a.m.The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
9Home Affairs9.30 a.m.Room 6 (private)
10Standards and Privileges9.30 a.m.Room 13 (private)
11Culture Media and Sport10.00 a.m.


11.00 a.m.
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public)
Subject: National Lottery Reform.
Witnesses: The Lotteries Council; The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, and the Coalfields Community Campaign (at approximately 11.45 a.m.).
12Scottish Affairs2.00 p.m.Room 19 (private)
13Statutory InstrumentsImmediately after JCSIRoom 7 (private)
14International Development2.15 p.m.
2.30 p.m.
Room 8 (private)
(public)
Subject: Migration and Development
Witnesses: Dr Nicholas Van Hear, Senior Researcher, Centre on Migration Policy and Society, University of Oxford, Dr Cecilia Tacoli, Senior Research Associate, International Institute for Environment and Development, and Ms Catherine Barber, Economic Policy Adviser, Oxfam.
15Environmental Audit2.10 p.m.


2.30 p.m.
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public)
Subject: GM Food—Evaluating the Farm Scale Trials.
Witness: Mr Elliot Morley MP, Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
16Home Affairs2.15 p.m.Room 6 (private)

JOINT COMMITTEES

17Draft Gambling Bill10.00 a.m.
10.15 a.m.
Room 5(private)
(public)
Witnesses: Professor Leighton Vaughan Williams, Nottingham Trent University, Mrs Bridgid Simmons, and Mr Ian Wilkie, Business in Sport and Leisure, Mr John Kelly, Cross-Industry Group on Gaming Deregulation; Mr John Healey MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and officials (at approximately 11.35 a.m.).
18Statutory Instruments4.15 p.m.Room 7 (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 Northern Ireland:      Northern Ireland—Priorities and Budget 2004-06.
2    Minister for the Cabinet Office:      Report to Parliament on delegations/authorisations made in 2003 under the Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992.

Written Question tabled on Monday 12th January for answer today‡

1 Mrs Jackie Lawrence (Preseli, Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on developments in financial services.
( 148151 )


 

 
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Prepared 13 January 2004