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 Northern Ireland |
| *1 |
The Reverend Martin Smyth (Belfast South): If he will make a statement on the political process towards re-establishment of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208434
) |
| *2 |
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): What steps he is taking to ensure there are mechanisms for accountability of Ministers in his Department to electors in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208435
) |
| *3 |
Lady Hermon (North Down): What the total cost of the Northern Ireland Assembly has been since its suspension in October 2002; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
208436
) |
| *4 |
Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell): If he will make a statement on the restoration of devolved government.
|
|
|
(
208437
) |
| *5 |
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): What assessment he has made of the implications for the peace process of the recent theft from the headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast.
|
|
|
(
208438
) |
| *6 |
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): What plans he has to convene talks between political parties on a political settlement in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208439
) |
| *7 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What recent developments there have been on decommissioning in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208440
) |
| *8 |
Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): How often he receives intelligence briefings from the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208441
) |
| *9 |
Dr Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): If he will make a statement on the peace process.
|
|
|
(
208442
) |
| *10 |
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What steps are being taken to encourage banks and other premises where large amounts of cash are held to increase security.
|
|
|
(
208443
) |
| *11 |
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): What plans he has to broaden the types of religious and other value system education available in schools in Northern Ireland.
|
|
|
(
208444
) |
| *12 |
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): What assessment he has made of recent illegal activity by paramilitary organisations; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
|
(
208445
) |
| *13 |
Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby): What assessment he has made of the willingness of Sinn Fein to pursue its political agenda by solely peaceful and legal means.
|
|
|
(
208446
) |
| *14 |
Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): What discussions he has had with the Chief Constable about improving the intelligence gathering capacity of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in respect of criminal activity by paramilitary organisations.
|
|
|
(
208447
) |
| *15 |
Mrs Iris Robinson (Strangford): How many people linked to (a) Loyalist paramilitary organisations, (b) Republican paramilitary organisations and (c) criminal gangs have been investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency; and what the most recent figures are for the proportion of investigations in each case which led to recovery of assets.
|
|
|
(
208448
) |
| Oral Questions to the Prime Minister |
Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a Question without notice.
| *Q1 |
Ann McKechin (Glasgow Maryhill): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19th January.
|
|
(
209301
) |
| *Q2 |
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow):
|
|
(
209302
) |
| *Q3 |
Mr Eric Forth (Bromley & Chislehurst):
|
|
(
209303
) |
| *Q4 |
Charles Hendry (Wealden):
|
|
(
209304
) |
| *Q5 |
Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry):
|
|
(
209305
) |
| *Q6 |
Mr David Marshall (Glasgow Shettleston):
|
|
(
209306
) |
| *Q7 |
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney):
|
|
(
209307
) |
| *Q8 |
Mr Bill Wiggin (Leominster):
|
|
(
209308
) |
| *Q9 |
Mr Michael Weir (Angus):
|
|
(
209309
) |
| *Q10 |
Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East):
|
|
(
209310
) |
| *Q11 |
Dr Doug Naysmith (Bristol North West):
|
|
(
209311
) |
| *Q12 |
Dr John Pugh (Southport):
|
|
(
209312
) |
| *Q13 |
Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough):
|
|
(
209313
) |
| *Q14 |
Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North):
|
|
(
209314
) |
| *Q15 |
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):
|
|
(
209315
) |
| At 12.30 p.m. | Urgent Questions (if any)
Ministerial Statements (if any) |
Main Business |
| 1 | OPPOSITION DAY (2nd allotted day)
[Until 7.00 p.m.]
|
| | VALUE FOR TAXPAYERS' MONEY
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mr Oliver Letwin
Mr George Osborne
Mr Mark Francois
Mr Andrew Tyrie
David Maclean
|
| That this House notes that the Government has increased taxes 66 times and has failed to give value for taxpayers' money; is concerned that independent commentators believe that taxes will have to be increased under the Government's spending plans; and calls for a change of direction away from the path of more waste and higher taxes to a path of value for money and lower taxes.
|
| As Amendments to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (Value for taxpayers' money):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Secretary Reid
Secretary Ruth Kelly
Mr Paul Boateng
|
|
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `believes that economic stability is the foundation for continued investment in public services; welcomes therefore the lowest inflation since the 1960s, lowest interest rates for 40 years and the longest period of economic growth for 200 years; further welcomes this Government's record investment in public services; believes that it is important to ensure taxpayer value for money and therefore welcomes the fact that the Government is making efficiency savings to release resources into frontline services; further welcomes the fact that Sir Peter Gershon has identified over £20 billion efficiency savings across the public sector and notes that he said that to go further than the efficiencies he identified would put at risk the delivery of frontline public services; and further believes that any proposal to make cuts in public spending would not only damage frontline public services but the economy as a whole.'.
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Sir Menzies Campbell
Dr Vincent Cable
Mr David Laws
Norman Lamb
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the additional investment in public services since 1999; is concerned by evidence of continuing Government failure to deliver first class public services due to the extent of central control and direction, as well as flawed expenditure priorities; and calls for a new strategy based upon devolved power to deliver services, tough and credible choices to focus public spending as key priorities, and the development of a fairer tax system.'.
|
| | NEEDS OF FARMING AND RURAL COMMUNITIES
|
| Mr Michael Howard
Mr Tim Yeo
Mr James Paice
Mr James Gray
Mr Owen Paterson
David Maclean
|
| That this House regrets that self-sufficiency in indigenous food and drink products has fallen significantly since 1997; supports the principle in CAP reform of decoupling support from production but believes that the Government has failed to consider the implications for the countryside and food security of its inept implementation of this reform by creating a complex system of entitlements and cross-compliance wholly contrary to the objective of simplification whilst failing to reduce the current burden of regulation or to enable farmers to compete with imported food not produced to British standards; laments the fact that there are now more officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs than there are dairy farmers in Britain, and that the workforce in agriculture has fallen by 15 per cent.; recognises that many landscape features of the English countryside were created by historic farming practices and believes that the promotion of biodiversity and care of the countryside is best achieved by a profitable agricultural industry; and considers that the continued attacks on the countryside through unacceptable levels of development, an obsession with wind farms and the closure of rural services are the actions of a Government with no instinctive understanding of the needs of farming and rural communities.
|
| As Amendments to Mr Michael Howard's proposed Motion (Needs of farming and rural communities):
|
| The Prime Minister
Mr Secretary Prescott
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
Mr Peter Hain
Mr Secretary Darling
Ms Secretary Hewitt
|
Secretary Margaret BeckettMr Alun Michael
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the Government's commitment to farming and rural communities set out in the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food and Rural Strategy 2004; applauds the Government's commitment to invest more than £500 million over three years in sustainable food and farming; commends the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy secured by the Government in June 2003, which will be implemented at the earliest possible opportunity in 2005; congratulates the Government's record on public service delivery in rural areas; further commends the £239 million allocated over six years to 2003-04 through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant for new and improved rural transport services; further applauds the increase in the resources available for regional development agencies to regenerate the rural economy; further welcomes schemes in place to provide affordable housing in rural areas; praises the efforts to retain the rural post office network; further congratulates the Government's action to protect and enhance the rural environment; and calls upon the Government to continue pursuing a strategy based on long term policies to regenerate British agriculture, improve rural services and revitalise the rural economy as a whole.'.
|
| Mr Charles Kennedy
Sir Menzies Campbell
Andrew George
Mr Roger Williams
Sir Robert Smith
Mr Andrew Stunell
|
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and add `recognises that momentous challenges face UK farmers in the coming years following the welcome change from production supports to single farm payments; notes that more farmers have gone out of business in recent years than in any comparable period since 1945 and that a third of all dairy farms have gone out of production since the Labour Government took office in 1997; recognises that a very limited number of retailers now dictate market conditions and farm gate prices; believes that whilst many farming sectors struggle to make a living, supermarkets continue to take the lion's share of profit from the food supply chain and considers that firm action is needed to protect the interests of farmers and consumers; and further believes that strong Government action is required to deliver desperately needed affordable housing rather than swamping the countryside with thousands of homes that are out of reach of country people on rural incomes.'.
|
| 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 7.00 p.m.
|
| + | DEFERRED DIVISIONS [No debate]
|
| |
| That, at this day's sitting, Standing Order No 41A (Deferred Divisions) shall not apply to the Question on the Motion in the name of Mr Peter Hain relating to the Electoral Commission.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 41A (3)).
|
|
| + 2 | ELECTORAL COMMISSION
[No debate]
|
| |
| That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty will re-appoint as Electoral Commissioners, with effect from 19th January 2005:
|
| (1) Pamela Joan Gordon for the period of two years; and
|
| (2) Sir Neil William David McIntosh KBE for the period of three years.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6) and Order of 21st December 2004.
|
| + 3 | LOCAL GOVERNMENT
[No debate]
|
| |
| That the draft Local Authorities' Plans and Strategies (Disapplication) (England) Order 2005, which was laid before this House on 10th January, be approved.
|
| To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
| + 4 | PUBLIC PETITIONS
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
| That this House approves the recommendations in paragraphs 5 and 8 of the Fifth Report from the Procedure Committee, Session 2003-04, on Public Petitions (HC 1248).
|
| An Explanatory Memorandum is available in the Vote Office. |
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 5 | DELEGATED LEGISLATION
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
| That the Fire and Rescue Services (National Framework) (England) Order 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 3217), dated 7th December 2004, be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| + 6 | DELEGATED LEGISLATION
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
| |
| That the Non-Domestic Rating (Small Business Rate Relief) (England) Order 2004, (S.I., 2004, No. 3315), dated 14th December 2004, be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
|
| If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
| At the end of the sitting:
|
| 7 | ADJOURNMENT
|
| Proposed subject: Sale of school playing fields (Mr Liam Byrne).
|
| 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 | Standing Committee A | 6.00 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| (Programming Sub-Committee) (Road Safety Bill). |
| 2 | Third Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 2.30 p.m. | Room 9 (public) |
| To consider the draft Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) (City of London) Order 2005. |
| 3 | Fourth Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation | 2.30 p.m. | Room 12 (public) |
| To consider the Value Added Tax (Food) Order 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 3343). |
|
| 4 | Science and Technology | 9.00 a.m.
9.30 a.m. | Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subjects: Human reproductive technologies and the law. |
| Witnesses: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; Miss Melanie Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Ms Liz Woodeson, and Mr Ted Webb, Department of Health (at approximately |
| 5 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Progress on Pesticides Sub-Committee | 9.20 a.m.
9.30 a.m. | Room 16 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Progress on Pesticides. |
| Witnesses: Crop Protection Association; Agricultural Industries Confederation (at approximately 10.10 a.m.); National Farmers' Union (at approximately 10.50 a.m.). |
| 6 | Modernisation of the House of Commons | 9.30 a.m. | Room 18 (private) |
| 7 | Work and Pensions | 9.30 a.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private) |
| 8 | Broadcasting | 10.00 a.m. | Room 7 (private) |
| 9 | Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Environmental Education | 10.00 a.m.
10.15 a.m. | Room 20 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Environmental Education: a follow-up to Learning the Sustainability Lesson. |
| Witnesses: Mr Derek Twigg MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, Department for Education and Skills; National Association of School Governors (at approximately 11.15 a.m.); Geographical Association (at approximately 11.45 a.m.). |
| 10 | Procedure | 2.00 p.m.
2.15 p.m. | Room 18 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Sub Judice Rule of the House of Commons. |
| Witness: Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith QC, Attorney General. |
| 11 | Administration | 2.30 p.m. | Room 21 (private) |
| 12 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 2.30 p.m.
3.00 p.m. | The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Climate Change: Looking Forward. |
| Witnesses: Our World Foundation; Friends of the Earth (at approximately 3.45 p.m.); WWF-UK (at approximately 4.30 p.m.). |
| 13 | European Scrutiny | 2.30 p.m. | Room 19 (private) |
| 14 | Transport | 2.30 p.m.
2.45 p.m. | Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Road Pricing. |
| Witnesses: Local Government Association and Transport for London; West Midlands Chief Engineers & Planning Officers Group, West Midlands Regional Assembly and Advantage West Midlands England (at approximately 3.30 p.m.); Friends of the Earth, Transport 2000 and Campaign to Protect Rural England (at approximately 4.15 p.m.). |
| 15 | Environmental Audit | 3.00 p.m.
4.00 p.m. | Room 20 (private)
(public) |
| Subjects: (i) International Leadership on Climate Change and (ii) Pre-Budget 2004: the way ahead. |
| Witness: Sir Digby Jones, Director General, CBI. |
| 16 | Welsh Affairs | 3.00 p.m. | Room 5 (private) |
| 17 | Northern Ireland Affairs Sub-Committee | 3.30 p.m.
3.45 p.m. | The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Air Transport Services in Northern Ireland. |
| Witnesses: Belfast City Airport; Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland (at approximately 4.30 p.m.). |
| 18 | Public Accounts | 3.30 p.m. | Room 16 (public) |
| Subject: Energywatch and Postwatch: Helping and protecting consumers. |
| Witnesses: Professor Edward Gallagher CBE, Chairman, and Mr Allan Asher, Chief Executive, Energywatch, and Mr Gregor McGregor, Chief Executive, Postwatch. |
| 19 | Scottish Affairs | 4.15 p.m.
4.30 p.m. | The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Meeting Scotland's Future Energy Needs. |
| Witnesses: UKAEA. |
| 20 | Selection | 4.45 p.m. | Room 13 (private) |
| 21 | Northern Ireland Affairs | 5.00 p.m.
5.10 p.m. | The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The functions of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. |
| Witness: Ian Pearson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office. |
JOINT COMMITTEES |
| 22 | Draft Mental Health Bill | 9.30 a.m.
9.45 a.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)
(public) |
| Witnesses: Ms Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State, Department of Health, Paul Goggins MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office. |
| 23 | Draft Mental Health Bill | 2.30 p.m. | The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private) |
| 24 | Human Rights | 4.15 p.m.
4.30 p.m. | Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subjects: (i) UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and (ii) Review of Human Rights Instruments. |
| Witnesses: (i) Commission for Racial Equality, (ii) David Lammy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs. |
[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: List of Ministerial Responsibilities (January 2005). |
| 2 | Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Contingencies Fund advance for the Gambling Commission. |
| 3 | Secretary of State for Defence: Gulf War 1990-91: Veterans' mortality data. |
| 4 | Secretary of State for the Home Department: Launch of Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: the Government's strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion. |
| 5 | Prime Minister: Tenth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. |
| 6 | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Phase II Work Programme. |
| 7 | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People. |
|
