Forthcoming Business of the House of Lords
17 - 20 January 2005

Monday 17 January (2.30.pm)

Oral Questions - What steps are being taken to secure the wellbeing of children living in temporary accommodation provided for homeless families (L. Laming); What progress has been made towards achieving the target for Combined Heat and Power as a contribution to reducing carbon emissions (L. Ezra); What plans there are to expand the use of Britain's railway network (L. Bradshaw); What alternatives there are to the proposed Lorry Road User Charging scheme to deal with the problem of lorries using lower taxed foreign fuel on United Kingdom roads (E. Attlee).

Debate - On developments in defence (L. Bach).

Legislation - Disability Discrimination Bill [HL] (2nd day Grand Committee).

Tuesday 18 January (2.30.pm)

Oral Questions - Why the plans for the National Health Service University have been changed (B. Perry of Southwark); What are the priorities for the intergovernmental conference to be hosted by Finland and Tanzania in February 2005 to prepare for an International Arms Trade Treaty (L. Judd); Whether government and public sector purchasing of imported products, especially from developing countries, is based on fair-trading and ethical standards (L. Hylton).

Legislation - Borough Freedom (Family Succession) Bill [HL] (third reading); Education Bill [HL] (Committee stage 3rd day); Inquiries Bill [HL] (1st day Grand Committee).

Unstarred Question -Whether they will review the role and functioning of the United Nations and its agencies (B. Cox).

Wednesday 19 January (2.30.pm)

Introduction - Lord Patten of Barnes will be introduced.

Oral Questions - What are the plans for funding knowledge transfer and links with industry and higher education (B. Lockwood); Whether active service in Her Majesty's Armed Forces is regarded as a factor to be taken into account in deciding whether an applicant should be granted a British passport (L. Marlesford); Whether a trustee task force will be established to improve the governance of occupational pension schemes and to promote lay trustees (B. Turner of Camden).

Legislation - Inquiries Bill [HL] (2nd day Grand Committee).

Debates - On the state of mathematics teaching in schools (L.Peston); the problems in the electricity supply industry created by the absence of a strategic decision mechanism (L.Tombs).

Unstarred Question - What steps are being taken to ensure the independence and integrity of H M Inspector of Prisons in the light of the proposed consultation on merging criminal justice inspectorates (B. Stern).

Thursday 20 January (11.00.am)

Oral Questions -What advice is being given to British tourists planning to visit Burma (L. Faulkner of Worcester); What is the response to the recent statement in the BMA News on the present state of academic medicine (E. Howe); What contingency plans have been made for a possible breach of the Chancellor's Golden Rule on public borrowing (L. Barnett).

Legislation - Charities Bill [HL] (2nd reading); Disability Discrimination Bill [HL] (3rd day Grand Committee).

Debate - On the Report of the European Union Committee on EU Development Aid in Transition (L. Bowness).

Provisional Future Business
25 - 27 January 2005

Monday 24 January (2.30.pm)

Legislation - Education Bill [HL] (4th day committee stage); Disability Discrimination Bill (4th day Grand Committee).

Tuesday 25 January (2.30.pm)

Legislation - Mental Capacity Bill (1st day committee stage); Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill [HL] (1st day Grand Committee).

Wednesday 26 January (2.30.pm)

Debates - On Her Majesty's Government's policies to reduce poverty in developing countries (B. Whitaker); the report of the Labour Peers' Working Group on reform of the powers, procedures and conventions of the House of Lords (L. Hunt of Kings Heath).

Legislation - Disability Discrimination Bill (5th day Grand Committee).

Thursday 27 January (11.00.am)

Legislation - Mental Capacity Bill (2nd day committee stage); Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill [HL] (2nd day Grand Committee).

Delegated Legislation - Local Authorities' Plans and Strategies (Disapplication) (England) Order 2005; Local Authorities (Contracting Out of BID Levy Billing, Collection and Enforcement Functions) Order 2004; Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) (City of London) Order 2005 (L. Rooker)