Select Committees

A complete list of Select Committee membership and a Factsheet (P2) on the work of Select Committees is available on request from the House of Commons Information Office. The list and Factsheet are also on the Parliament website at:

http://www.parliament.uk/factsheets

An index to the Select Committee home pages together with links to further pages containing information about their work and publications is on the Parliament website at: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/cmsel.htm

Select Committee Meetings
21 - 24 February 2005

Membership

European Scrutiny: Mr. Liam Byrne added

Monday 21 February
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Subject: Subjects: (i) Department of Trade and Industry: Renewable Energy; (ii) National Audit Office Supply Estimate 2005-06; (iii) Northern Ireland Audit Office Supply Estimate 2005-06 Witnesses: (i) Sir Robin Young KCB, Permanent Secretary and Mr Roy Collins, Head of Renewables Obligation Review Team, Department of Trade and Industry; (ii) Sir John Bourn KCB, Comptroller & Auditor General, Mr Michael Whitehouse, Assistant Auditor General, and Mr Phil Woodward, Director of Finance, National Audit Office; (iii) Mr John Dowdall CBE, Comptroller & Auditor General, and Mr Ciaran Moore, Assistant Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit Office
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS: PROGRESS ON PESTICIDES SUB-COMMITTEE Subject: Progress on Pesticides Witnesses: Professor Barry Dent, Chairman of the Voluntary Initiative Steering Group; Professor David Coggon, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, and Professor David Forman, Epidemiologist on the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Tuesday 22 February
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Subject: Arts Development : Theatre Witnesses: Royal Shakespeare Company and Regional Theatres
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS Subject: The operation of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) Witnesses: Ian MacDonald QC, Neil Garnham QC, Martin Chamberlain, Special Advocate, and Gareth Peirce, Civil Rights Solicitor; Eric Metcalfe, JUSTICE, Shami Chakrabarti, Liberty and Livio Zilli, Amnesty International
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: HOUSING, PLANNING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS Subject: Local Government Consultations Witnesses: Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA); Royal Town Planning Institute
TRADE AND INDUSTRY Subject: Fuel Prices Witnesses: European Commission officials: DG Competition; DG Energy
SCOTTISH AFFAIRS Subject: Meeting Scotland's Future Energy Needs Witness: Professor James Lovelock
HOME AFFAIRS Subject: Anti-Social Behaviour Witnesses: Association of Directors of Social Services, Barnado's and Youth Justice Board; Housing Corporation, National Landlords Association and Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Subject: Darfur, Sudan: Crisis, response and lessons Witnesses: Dr Mukesh Kapila, World Health Organisation (formerly the UN's Resident Humanitarian Co-ordinator for the Sudan)
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION Subjects: (i) The National Audit Office's Estimate for 2005-06 (ii) The Northern Ireland Audit Office's Estimate for 2005-06 Witnesses: (i) Sir John Bourn KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Phil Woodward, Director of Finance, and Mr Michael Whitehouse, Assistant Auditor General (ii) Mr John Dowdall CB, Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland, and Mr Ciaran Moore, Assistant Auditor General Secretary: Mr DOIG
Wednesday 23 February
EDUCATION AND SKILLS Subject: Tuition fees and student bursaries Witnesses: Universities UK, Campaign for Mainstream Universities; The University of Huddersfield; The University of Oxford Higher Education Direcetorate and The Open University
TRADE AND INDUSTRY Subjects: ECGD's anti-corruption measures; Coal Health Compensation Schemes Witnesses: Mr Douglas Alexander MP, Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry and Foreign & Commonwealth Office; The Claimants' Solicitors Groups
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Subject: Climate Change: Looking Forward Witnesses: Energy Saving Trust; Local Government Association; Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP, Co-chair of the International Climate Change Taskforce
TRANSPORT Subject: The Future of Light Rail and Modern Trams in Britain Witness: National Audit Office
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Subject: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Foot and Mouth Disease: Applying the Lessons Witnesses: Sir Brian Bender KCB, Permanent Secretary, Ms Debby Reynolds, Chief Veterinary Officer and Director General for Animal Health and Welfare, and Ms Glenys Stacey, Chief Executive Designate of the State Veterinary Service, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
PROCEDURE Subject: Sub Judice Rule of the House of Commons Witness: Rt Hon Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE Subject: Air Transport Services in Northern Ireland Witnesses: Department for Transport Officials
HEALTH Subject: Public Health White Paper Witnesses: Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP, Secretary of State for Health, Melanie Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Minister for Public Health) Department of Health
EUROPEAN SCRUTINY Subject: Health Care and Long-Term Care Witness: Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Minister of State for Health, Department of Health
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Subject: (i) Responses to the Asian tsunami earthquake disaster (ii) Darfur, Sudan: Crisis, response and lessons Witness: Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development
Thursday 24 February
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Subject: Civil Service Effectiveness Witnesses: Mr Jonathan Baume, General Secretary of First Division Association, Mr Charles Cochrane OBE, Secretary of the Council of Civil Service Unions, Mr Paul Noon, General Secretary of Prospect and Mr Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS: PROGRESS ON PESTICIDES SUB-COMMITTEE Subject: Progress on Pesticides Witnesses: Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and HM Treasury
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Subject: The future of EU Development Policy Witness: Mr Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

Forthcoming Select Committee Meetings
28 February - 3 March 2005

Monday 28 February
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: HOUSING, PLANNING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS URBAN AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE Subject: Empty Homes and Low-demand Pathfinders Witnesses: Audit Commission and the Chartered Institute of Housing; Housing Corporation (at approximately 4.45 p.m.); Rt Hon Lord Rooker, Minister of State for Regeneration and Renewal and Rt Hon Keith Hill MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (at approximately 5.10 p.m.)	4.15 p.m.	8
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Subject: Strategic science provision in English universities Witnesses: Professor Ian Diamond, Research Councils UK, Professor Sir Keith O'Nions, Director General of the Research Councils; Nick Buckland, South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), Ed Metcalfe, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Dr Bob Bushaway, Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL) (at approximately 5.15 p.m.)	4.15 p.m.	16
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS* Subject: Improving school attendance in England Witnesses: Sir David Normington KCB, Permanent Secretary, and Mr Peter Housden, Director General for Schools, Department for Education and Skills	4.30 p.m.	15
Tuesday 1 March
TRADE AND INDUSTRY Subject: Ofcom Strategic Telecoms Review Witnesses: Ofcom; UK Competitive Telecoms Association (UKCTA) (at approximately 10.00 a.m.); Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) (at approximately 10.45 a.m.); AOL and Wanadoo (at approximately 11.30 a.m.)	9.15 a.m.	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS* Subjects: (i) Legal Aid: asylum appeals (ii) The operation of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) Witnesses: (i) Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (ii) Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, and Alex Allen, Permanent Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (at approximately 10.15 a.m.)	9.30 a.m.	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE Subject: Air Transport Services in Northern Ireland Witnesses: Belfast International Airport; Rt Hon John Spellar MP, Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (at approximately 11.00 a.m.)	9.30 a.m.	Senate Chamber, Parliament Building, Stormont, Belfast
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: HOUSING, PLANNING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS Subject: Local Government Consultation Witnesses: MORI; Brighton & Hove City Council, London Borough of Lewisham and Leicester City Council	9.30 a.m.	15
HOME AFFAIRS* Subject: Terrorism and Community Relations Witness: Ms Hazel Blears MP, Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety, Home Office	2.30 p.m.	15
TRADE AND INDUSTRY Subject: Coal Health Compensation Schemes Witnesses: ATOS Origins; Capita-IRISC (at approximately 3.05 p.m.); Department of Trade and Industry (at approximately 3.40 p.m.)	2.45 p.m.	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS: SUB-COMMITTEE ON DRAFT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL COMMUNITIES BILL Subject: Draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill Witnesses: Environment Agency; Regional Development Agencies (at approximately 3.30 p.m.); Countryside Agency (at approximately 4.00 p.m.); Local Government Association (at approximately 4.30 p.m.)	3.00 p.m.	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
SCOTTISH AFFAIRS Subject: Meeting Scotland's Future Energy Needs Witness: Scottish and Southern Energy	3.15 p.m.	17
Wednesday 2 March
EDUCATION AND SKILLS* Subject: The Work of the Department for Education and Skills Witness: Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills	9.30 a.m.	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Subjects: (i) Science question time (ii) Strategic science provision in English universities Witnesses: (i) Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Minister for Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (ii) Professor Bob Boucher, Royal Academy of Engineering, Dr Simon Campbell, Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Peter Main, Institute of Physics, Professor Sir Tom Blundell, Biosciences Federation, Professor Amanda Chetwynd, London Mathematical Society; Professor Richard Bruckdorfer, and Malcolm Keight, Association of University Teachers (AUT) (at approximately 11.00 a.m.)	9.30 a.m.	8
TRADE AND INDUSTRY Subject: Occupational Segregation and the Gender Pay Gap Witnesses: (tbc)	9.15 a.m.	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Subject: Arts Development: Theatre Witnesses: Equity, BECTU, The Musicians' Union; Joan Bakewell CBE, Chair, Victoria Todd, Director, National Campaign for the Arts, Mr Giles Croft, Nottingham Playhouse, Sir Peter Hall, Kingston Theatre, SuAndi OBE, Black Arts Alliance (at approximately 10.30 a.m.); Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund (at approximately 11.15 a.m.); Department for Culture, Media and Sport (at approximately 12 noon)	9.45 a.m.	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
TRANSPORT Subject: Search and Rescue Witnesses: RNLI; PCS and NUMAST (at approximately 3.20 p.m.); Maritime and Coastguard Agency (at approximately 4.00 p.m.); David Jamieson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, Phil Hope MP, Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Fiona Mactaggart MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (at approximately 4.40 p.m.)	2.30 p.m.	6
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS: SUB-COMMITTEE ON DRAFT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL COMMUNITIES BILL Subject: Draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill Witnesses: English Nature; The Wildlife Trusts, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Campaign to Protect Rural England (at approximately 3.30 p.m.); Lord Whitty, Minister for Farming, Food and Sustainable Energy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (at approximately 4.15 p.m.)	3.00 p.m.	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT Subject: Sustainable Procurement Policy Witnesses: The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply; and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (at approximately 4.00 p.m.)	3.20 p.m.	20
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Subjects: (i) Department for Employment and Learning: Jobskills (ii) Local Management of Schools Witnesses: (i) Mr Will Haire, Permanent Secretary, Mr Tom Scott, Director of Corporate Services, and Ms Heather Stevens, Director of Skills and Industry, Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning (ii) Mr Gerry McGinn, Permanent Secretary, and Ms Katrina Godfrey, Head of Resource Allocation, Northern Ireland Department of Education (at approximately 4.45 p.m.)	3.30 p.m.	16
Thursday 3 March
HEALTH* Subject: The Uses of New Medical Technologies Witnesses: Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Association of British Healthcare Industries, Royal College of Pathologists, Tunstall Group Ltd, The Medical Technologies Group, and Professor Carl May; Department of Health officials and Healthcare Industries Task Force (at approximately 11.30 a.m.)	10.30 a.m.	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Subject: Civil Service Effectiveness Witnesses: Professor Christopher Hood, Dr Martin Lodge and Professor Colin Talbot	2.30 p.m.	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Subject: Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against Terrorism Witness: Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister for the Middle East, Foreign and Commonwealth Office	3.00 p.m.	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice]

All public select committee meetings are webcast

Select committees marked * will be taken by BBC Parliament

Recorded information about forthcoming select and standing committee meetings over the next two sitting days is available on: [Tel 020 7219 2033]. Please note: The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded, and the place altered without notice and Committees which sit at short notice may not be included in this list. The list is correct as at press (12 noon Friday); For confirmation see Select Committee home pages on the Internet (www.parliament.uk) or telephone the Committee Office general enquiry lines: Tel 020 7219 3267/4300