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.
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
| *1 |
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): How many young people were unemployed and claiming benefit in Nottingham North on 1st December (a) 1997 and (b) 2004.
|
|
|
(
203844
) |
| *2 |
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): What funding additional to the £400 million already announced will be available to former employees of ASW Sheerness, whose occupational pension scheme is in administration.
|
|
|
(
203845
) |
| *3 |
Mr Bill Tynan (Hamilton South): When he expects individuals who lost pension entitlement due to scheme closures will benefit from the financial assistance scheme.
|
|
|
(
203846
) |
| *4 |
Iain Wright (Hartlepool): What estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in Hartlepool living in households suffering from fuel poverty; and how this number has changed since 1997.
|
|
|
(
203849
) |
| *5 |
Ms Dari Taylor (Stockton South): How his Department's policies have affected female pensioners since 1997.
|
|
|
(
203852
) |
| *6 |
Mr Huw Edwards (Monmouth): How many pensioners in Wales receive pension credit.
|
|
|
(
203853
) |
| *7 |
James Purnell (Stalybridge & Hyde): What the effect of his Department's policies on female pensioners has been since 1997.
|
|
|
(
203854
) |
| *8 |
Andrew Rosindell (Romford): If he will make a statement on his plans for incapacity benefit reform.
|
|
|
(
203855
) |
| *9 |
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): What plans he has to encourage an increase in private pension provision.
|
|
|
(
203856
) |
| *10 |
Mrs Anne Campbell (Cambridge): If he will make a statement on the impact of the State Second Pension on women.
|
|
|
(
203857
) |
| *11 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): If he will make a statement on the operation of IT systems in the Child Support Agency.
|
|
|
(
203858
) |
| *12 |
Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): If he will make a statement on the State Second Pension and its impact on women.
|
|
|
(
203859
) |
| *13 |
Mr Harry Barnes (North East Derbyshire): What assessment he has made of the likely impact on the living standards of lone parents of the continuation of current uprating policies for income support and child tax credit by 2010.
|
|
|
(
203860
) |
| *14 |
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What assessment he has made of the impact of the New Deal for Lone Parents.
|
|
|
(
203861
) |
| *15 |
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): What plans he has to reduce the numbers of pensioners on means-tested benefits.
|
|
|
(
203862
) |
| *16 |
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton): If he will make a statement on the support given by his Department to elderly people caring for older members of the family.
|
|
|
(
203864
) |
| *17 |
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): What recent assessment has been made of his Department's IT procurement strategy.
|
|
|
(
203865
) |
| *18 |
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): If he will make a statement on the issuing of National Insurance numbers.
|
|
|
(
203866
) |
| *19 |
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): If he will reform the housing and council tax benefit rules to exclude pension credit receipts from the calculation of entitlements.
|
|
|
(
203867
) |
| *20 |
Mr Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central): If he will make a statement on the working of the Child Support Agency.
|
|
|
(
203868
) |
| At 3.30 p.m. | Urgent Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any) |
Preliminary Business |
| Notice of Presentation of Bill
|
| + 1 | CHILD BENEFIT
[No debate]
|
| Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
|
| Bill to make provision for and in connection with altering the descriptions of persons in respect of whom a person may be entitled to child benefit.
|
| Formal first reading: no debate or decision.
|
|
Main Business |
| 2 | OPPOSITION DAY (1st allotted day)
[Until 10.00 p.m.]
|
| | SCHOOL DISCIPLINE
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mr Tim Collins
Charles Hendry
Mr Mark Hoban
Angela Watkinson
David Maclean
|
| That this House notes that the vast majority of pupils are well-behaved and eager to learn but is concerned that their ability to do so is increasingly undermined by a disruptive minority; regrets the fact that an assault takes place on a teacher every seven minutes, as reported by teaching unions; further notes that incidents involving poor behaviour, intimidation, violence, guns and drugs in schools are all increasing; deplores the announcement by the Government that it will force every state school, irrespective of the wishes of its head teacher, to take a share of pupils with disruptive or even violent backgrounds; believes that head teachers should be given, unequivocally, the final say on expulsions by abolishing independent appeals panels; calls for a six-fold increase in the number of places to be provided for high-quality, intensive but separate education of those whose behavioural difficulties make them unsuitable for inclusion in mainstream schools; is confident that the ability of teachers to exercise discipline would be greatly enhanced by protecting them from the fear of false allegations of abuse, and urges swift legislation to guarantee anonymity for teachers facing accusations at least up to the point where a formal criminal charge is brought; recognises that teachers, parents and pupils all, overwhelmingly, want to see stronger action on discipline and have the right to expect it; and consequently, further believes that it is time for the rights of the majority of pupils, parents and teachers to be given greater weight.
|
| As an Amendment to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (School discipline):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Clarke
Mr Peter Hain
Mr Stephen Twigg
|
|
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the high priority the Government gives to improving behaviour and discipline in schools; supports Government measures to promote positive behaviour by empowering headteachers to deal with badly behaved pupils; celebrates the success that is evident, including attendance being at its highest ever level and Ofsted reporting behaviour satisfactory or better in 99 per cent. of primary schools and 95 per cent. of secondary schools; affirms the Government's commitment to tackle problems that remain; further supports the Government's reform of exclusions to strengthen the power of headteachers; deplores attempts to destroy that system, which would expose headteachers to litigation; welcomes the fact that headteachers, local education authorities and staff are endorsing Government plans for Foundation Partnerships which help schools co-operate to put pupils back on the right track; notes that capacity of pupil referral units has almost doubled under this Government to 13,000 places; considers that to multiply this capacity by six would not represent cost-effective spending on behaviour; deplores the suggestion that privatised borstals are the answer to every problem; endorses the action that the Government is taking to keep drugs and knives out of schools; further endorses the Government's drive to ensure that parents play their part in ensuring that children attend school regularly and behave well; further supports the Government's reforms for dealing with allegations against teachers swiftly and fairly; and agrees with the Government that no pupil has the right to disrupt the education of others and that every pupil, not just the few, should have the opportunity to succeed in life and to contribute.'.
|
| | FAMILY JUSTICE
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mrs Theresa May
Mr Dominic Grieve
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Tim Loughton
David Maclean
|
| That this House agrees that on the separation of parents, priority should be given to the interests of the children; believes that it is in the best interests of all children for both parents to be fully involved in their upbringing and hence that separated parents should each have a legal presumption of reasonable contact with their children, except where a child's safety would be at risk, so that children are able to benefit from being parented by both their parents, as well as from contact with any grandparents and extended family members able and willing to play a role in their upbringing; regrets the Government's opposition to such a legal presumption, which will lead to yet more children being denied access to both their parents and their extended families; views with concern the Government's failure to implement the Early Intervention Project; and calls on the Government to replace the legal term `contact' with `parenting time', to introduce a legal presumption of co-parenting and to introduce early intervention in parental separation, with court-backed mediation and guidelines on parenting-time.
|
| As an Amendment to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (Family justice):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Blunkett
Mr Secretary Clarke
Margaret Hodge
|
|
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `believes that, on the separation of parents, the welfare of the children should be the paramount consideration in any family court proceedings concerning the upbringing of a child, and recognises that children benefit from a meaningful relationship with both parents after separation, so long as it is safe; congratulates the Government on the proposals in its consultation document Parental Separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities, which addresses the realities of the reform that is needed in family justice, including its commitment to legislate to improve facilitation of contact and enforcement of contact orders; notes that the use of the term `parenting time' in place of `contact' fails to recognise the important role of the extended family, including children's siblings, in children's upbringing and that contact orders are not only made in relation to parents; and deeply regrets the official Opposition's view that any presumption is needed in law beyond the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount.'.
|
| 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 10.00 p.m.
|
| + 3 | CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL: Second Reading
[No debate]
|
| The Questions on Second and Third Reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill will be put without debate (Standing Order No. 56).
|
| + 4 | CRIMINAL LAW
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the draft Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Categories of Offences) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 15th November, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 5 | SOCIAL SECURITY
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the draft Social Security, Child Support and Tax Credits (Decisions and Appeals) Amendment Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 11th November, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 6 | SOCIAL SECURITY
[No debate]
|
| Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
|
| That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, which were laid before this House on 16th November, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 7 | BUILDING SOCIETIES
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the draft Building Societies Act 1986 (International Accounting Standards and Other Accounting Amendments) Order 2004, which was laid before this House on 11th October, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 8 | FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT—FLOOD PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND MITIGATION
[No debate]
|
| |
| That this House takes note of European Union Document No. 11422/04, Commission Communication on Flood risk management—Flood prevention, protection and mitigation; and supports the Government's view that cooperation and sharing of good practice with other EU Member States on the issue of flood risk management will be of benefit to the United Kingdom.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).
|
| 9 | INFORMATION
[No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
|
| Mr John McWilliam, on behalf of the Committee of Selection
|
| That Jim Sheridan be discharged from the Information Committee and Chris Mole be added.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
|
| At the end of the sitting:
|
| 10 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Government support for crown green bowling (Helen Jackson).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
COMMITTEES |
|
| 1 | Standing Committee A (Programmimg Sub-Committee) (Railways Bill) | 5.45 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 2 | European Standing Committee B | 4.00 p.m. | Room 10 (public) |
| To consider EU Document No. 15130/04 relating to Procedure for the Adoption of Measures Relating to Visas Asylum and Immigration. |
| 3 | First Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 4.30 p.m. | Room 11 (public) |
| To consider the draft Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (Legal Capacities) Order 2004. |
| 4 | Second Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 4.30 p.m. | Room 12 (public) |
| To consider the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Chargeable Amounts) (England) Regulations 2004. |
| 5 | Fifteenth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 4.30 p.m. | Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the draft Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys Order 2004. |
|
| 6 | Education and Skills | 3.30 p.m.
4.00 p.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Every Child Matters. |
| Witnesses: Mr David Bell, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Ofsted, Mr Steve Bundred, Chief Executive, Audit Commission, Mrs Anna Walker, Chief Executive, Healthcare Commission and Mr David Behan CBE, Chief Executive, Commission for Social Care Inspection. |
| 7 | Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Urban Affairs Sub-Committee | 3.30 p.m.
3.45 p.m. | Room 15 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Role and Effectiveness of CABE. |
| Witnesses: CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment); Rt Hon Keith Hill MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Rt Hon Lord McIntosh of Haringey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Media and Heritage, Department for Culture, Media & Sport (at approximately 4.45 p.m.). |
| 8 | Public Accounts | 4.30 p.m. | Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Reducing Crime: the Home Office working with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. |
| Witnesses: Mr Leigh Lewis CB, Permanent Secretary for Crime, Policing, Counter Terrorism and Delivery, and Professor Paul Wiles, Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research, Development and Statistics, Home Office. |
| 9 | Trade and Industry | 5.00 p.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private) |
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
Written Ministerial Statements to be made today |
| 1 | Minister for the Cabinet Office: Autumn Performance Report. |
| 2 | Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Public service pensions. |
| 3 | Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Video taken on Burnside Farm. |
| 4 | Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Government's updated statement on policy for intermediate level radioactive waste substitution. |
| 5 | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Report of the Employer Task Force on Pensions. |
|
