+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence |
| *1 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): What estimate he has made of the expected cost to the Government of maintaining a military presence in Iraq in financial year (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06.
|
|
|
(
173149
) |
| *2 |
Mr Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon): If he will make a statement on manning levels in the RAF.
|
|
|
(
173150
) |
| *3 |
Mr John Wilkinson (Ruislip - Northwood): If he will make a statement on the progress made in delineating tasks between the EU and NATO in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
|
|
|
(
173151
) |
| *4 |
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): What assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) availability of British infantry to respond to additional urgent deployments.
|
|
|
(
173152
) |
| *5 |
Charles Hendry (Wealden): If he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173153
) |
| *6 |
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): Whether UK armed forces personnel have been based at the Abu Ghraib detention facility since 1st May 2003.
|
|
|
(
173154
) |
| *7 |
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): What arrangements have been made for counselling troops in units that have suffered casualties in Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173155
) |
| *8 |
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): If he will make a statement on his assessment of the reports by (a) the International Committee of the Red Cross and (b) Amnesty International on the role of British troops in operating prisons in southern Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173156
) |
| *9 |
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney & Shetland): If he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173157
) |
| *10 |
Patrick Mercer (Newark): How many British armed forces personnel are deployed to the Gulf region.
|
|
|
(
173158
) |
| *11 |
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): If he will make it his policy to ensure that all reports received from Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning the behaviour of British forces are drawn immediately to the attention of Ministers.
|
|
|
(
173159
) |
| *12 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): What (a) special and (b) specific training has been given to non-Royal Military Police soldiers who are being employed as guards in detention camps in Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173160
) |
| *13 |
Hugh Bayley (York, City of): What (a) civil service and (b) military responsibilities he plans to relocate from London and the South East to the northern regions of England.
|
|
|
(
173161
) |
| *14 |
Ross Cranston (Dudley North): What contribution UK armed forces are making to reconstruction in Afghanistan.
|
|
|
(
173162
) |
| *15 |
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): What role the armed forces will play in the 300th anniversary celebrations in Gibraltar.
|
|
|
(
173163
) |
| *16 |
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater): What his policy is on the positioning of wind farms near military ranges.
|
|
|
(
173164
) |
| *17 |
Mr John MacDougall (Central Fife): If he will make a statement on the issues that will be discussed at the Istanbul NATO Summit in June.
|
|
|
(
173165
) |
| *18 |
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): If he will make a statement on his Department's relations with BAe Systems.
|
|
|
(
173166
) |
| *19 |
Mr David Kidney (Stafford): What changes he has made to defence logistics operations in the light of lessons learned from Operation Telic.
|
|
|
(
173167
) |
| *20 |
Angela Watkinson (Upminster): When the Future Rapid Effects System will enter service with the Army.
|
|
|
(
173168
) |
| *21 |
Claire Ward (Watford): If he will make a statement on the progress of investigations into allegations of abuse by the military in Iraq.
|
|
|
(
173169
) |
| *22 |
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): What plans there are to change the (a) number and (b) composition of British troops serving in southern Iraq; and how regularly this is reviewed.
|
|
|
(
173170
) |
| *23 |
Mr Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Govan): If he will make a statement on progress with the aircraft carrier orders placed with BAe Systems.
|
|
|
(
173171
) |
| *24 |
Jim Knight (South Dorset): If he will make a statement on the measures the Ministry of Defence is taking to promote defence exports.
|
|
|
(
173172
) |
| *25 |
Mr David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber): What recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on the implementation of the Joint Strike Fighter programme.
|
|
|
(
173173
) |
Main Business |
| 1 | OPPOSITION DAY [11th allotted day]
[Until 10.00 p.m.]
|
| | SECURITY SITUATION IN IRAQ
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Sir Menzies Campbell
Mr Michael Moore
Mr Paul Keetch
Tom Brake
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House notes with concern the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and the Middle East and the impact on public opinion in Iraq of the reports of mistreatment of Iraqi citizens and detainees; believes that progress in Iraq is only possible if the role of the United Nations is expanded and enhanced and the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis on 30th June is real and visible; recalls that on 18th March 2003 when this House endorsed military action against Saddam Hussein it did so on an understanding that progress on the road map for a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians would be a priority for Her Majesty's Government; expresses its disappointment that recent events have made the achievement of a negotiated two state solution more difficult and less likely; recognises the bravery and professionalism of British armed forces serving in Iraq in difficult and dangerous circumstances; calls upon Her Majesty's Government not to commit any further troops unless requested by United Kingdom commanders in Iraq for the purposes of securing the safety of British forces and the fulfilling of Britain's legal obligations under international law towards the inhabitants of Iraq; and further declares that any such troops should remain under United Kingdom operational command and within the area currently under United Kingdom control.
|
| | As Amendments to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (Security situation in Iraq):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Straw
Mr Secretary Hoon
Mr Secretary Benn
|
| | Mr Bill Rammell |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the work being done by the UK and its Coalition partners to establish stability and security in Iraq; regards any mistreatment of Iraqis by Coalition forces to be unacceptable; recognises the bravery and professionalism of British forces in Iraq in assisting the Iraqi people in rebuilding Iraq; applauds the work of the UN Secretary-General's special adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, for his contribution to helping establish a sovereign Iraqi Interim Government which will assume power by 30th June; and supports the Government in its efforts to secure a new Security Council resolution and deliver the wishes of the Iraqi people for a sovereign, stable and democratic Iraq.'.
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mr Michael Ancram
Mr Nicholas Soames
Mr Gerald Howarth
Mr Gary Streeter
David Maclean
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `notes the serious security situation in Iraq and pays tribute to the courageous, professional and effective manner in which British armed forces are responding to it; condemns malicious attempts in certain quarters to damage the reputation of the armed forces in Iraq by false accusations; supports future requests from British commanders on the ground for further equipment or manpower to enable them to fulfil their task; criticises the Government for its damagingly confused reaction to reports alleging prisoner abuse; further criticises the Government for its failure to set out clearly the post-conflict strategy for Iraq in terms of humanitarian, economic and political impact, which has exacerbated the sense of incompetence that currently surrounds Government policy towards Iraq; looks forward to a genuine transfer of power to a representative Iraqi Interim Government on 30th June to which, as the civil power, the United Kingdom can continue to give aid as required; and reaffirms the goal of helping to create a stable, democratic and prosperous Iraq which can become a beneficial influence within the region as a whole.'.
|
| | LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Sir Menzies Campbell
Mr Edward Davey
Matthew Green
Richard Younger-Ross
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| That this House notes that council tax has risen by 70 per cent. since Labour came to power and that the Budget Red Book forecasts a rise in council tax receipts next year of over 7 per cent; further notes that these rises are hitting particularly hard those on low and modest incomes because of the way council tax was designed by the last Conservative Government; is concerned that this manifest unfairness of council tax now means that the poorest 10 per cent. of people pay over four times more of their income in council tax than the richest 10 per cent; notes that the whole system of local government finance needs major reform owing to the problems caused by the dependency of councils on central government grants that produces the gearing effect whereby on average councils must raise council tax by 4 per cent. to offset a grant reduction of one per cent; believes that the Labour Government have made the bad situation they inherited from the Conservative Government even worse by their excessive reliance on ring-fencing, passporting and centrally-imposed targets and regulations; and therefore calls on the Government's Balance of Funding Review to make far-reaching proposals for reform when it reports shortly, including the introduction of a local income tax to replace council tax, the return of business rates to local authorities, reformed in line with land values, and a radical reduction in central government interference.
|
| As Amendments to Mr Charles Kennedy's proposed Motion (Local government finance):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Blunkett
Mr Peter Hain
Mr Nick Raynsford
|
| | Phil Hope |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the Government support for local government with its 30 per cent. real terms increase in grant since 1997; notes that the average increase in council tax in 2004-05 is the lowest for nine years; supports the Government's proposals to take action against a number of authorities which have set excessive budgets and council tax increases in 2004-05; and looks forward to the report of the Balance of Funding Review of how local government in England is funded which is due in summer 2004.'.
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mrs Caroline Spelman
Mr Eric Pickles
Mr Bernard Jenkin
Mr David Cameron
David Maclean
|
| Line 4, leave out from `incomes' to end and add `recognises that council tax levels have risen across the country because of burdens imposed by central Government; notes that even given the unfairness of Labour's funding system, Conservative councils still, on average, charge less than either Liberal Democrat or Labour councils for a Band D dwelling; and further notes that the policy of a local income tax, recommended by the Liberal Democrats, would hit typical working families with significant extra tax bills while doing nothing to address the problem of the unfair and opaque grant system.
|
| 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.
|
| + 2 | HUMAN RIGHTS
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the draft Human Rights Act 1998 (Amendment) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 22nd April, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No.
118(6)).
|
| + 3 | NORTHERN IRELAND
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 1164), dated 20th April, a copy of which was laid before this House on 20th April, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No.
118(6)).
|
| + 4 | NORTHERN IRELAND
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the direction given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under section 51B(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on 28th April 2004, which was laid before this House on 28th April, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No.
118(6)).
|
| + 5 | CO-OPERATION WITH THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP
[No debate]
|
| |
| That this House takes note of European Union Document No.
12441/03, draft regulation amending Council Regulation (EC)
No.
1734/94 on financial and technical cooperation with the Occupied Territories; welcomes this amendment; and supports the European Commission's continued support for Palestinian development and the Middle East Peace Process.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No.
119(9)).
|
| + 6 | BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
[No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
|
| |
| That, for the purposes of its approval, the draft Guidance proposed to be issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, which was laid before this House on 23rd March, shall be treated as if it were an instrument subject to Standing Order No.
118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation).
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
|
| At the end of the sitting:
|
| 7 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Bus re-regulation in Manchester (Mr Graham Stringer).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
COMMITTEES |
|
| 1 | Standing Committee B (Programming Sub-Committee) (Energy Bill [Lords]) | 6.00 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
|
| 2 | Education and Skills | 3.30 p.m.
3.45 p.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: National Skills Strategy: 14-19 Education. |
| Witnesses: Bryan Sanderson CBE, Chairman, and Mark Haysom, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Council. |
| 3 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: GM Planting Regime Sub-Committee | 3.50 p.m.
4.00 p.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: GM Planting Regime. |
| Witnesses: GeneWatch UK, Greenpeace and Soil Association; National Farmers' Union; and Agricultural Biotechnology Council and Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops. |
| 4 | Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning Local Government and the Regions: Urban Affairs Sub-Committee | 4.00 p.m.
4.15 p.m. | The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Role and Effectiveness of the Housing Corporation. |
| Witness: Rt Hon Keith Hill MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. |
| 5 | Information | 4.30 p.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private) |
| 6 | Public Accounts | 4.30 p.m. | Room 15 (public) |
| Subject: The Drug Treatment and Testing Order: early lessons. |
| Witnesses: Mr Martin Narey, Chief Executive, National Offender Management Service, Mr Paul Hayes, Chief Executive , National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, and Mr Stephen Murphy CBE, Director General, National Probation Service for England and Wales. |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
