Forthcoming Business of the House of Lords
21 March - 24 March

Enquiries about Lords business may be put to the Lords Information Office on 020 7219 3107

Monday 21 March (2.30.pm)

Oral Questions - What steps are being taken to curb the activities of companies which make unsolicited telephone calls to householders with the intention of inducing them to ring premium rate phone lines to claim non-existent prizes (L. Faulkner of Worcester); What response is there to the admission by the government of North Korea that it possesses nuclear weapons and to that government's failure to re-engage in the six nations talks (L. Alton of Liverpool); Whether discussions will be held with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about the introduction of democratic procedures (L. Dykes); Whether the condition of NATO is considered to be satisfactory (L. Blaker).

Legislation - Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] (consideration of Commons amendments); Identity Cards Bill (second reading); Charities Bill [HL] (Grand Committee, 8th day, Moses Room).

Tuesday 22 March (2.30.pm)

Oral Questions - Whether personal taxation of an average earner has increased over the last eight years; and, if so, by how much (L. Geddes); By how much recorded violent crime and gun use has increased in the last eight years compared to the previous eight years (E. of Shrewsbury); Whether the current Disabled Facilities Grant review will consider the full costs and benefits of abolishing the means-test for families with disabled children (L. Rix).

Legislation - Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill (report stage); Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill (second reading).

Delegated Legislation - Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (Amendments L. Glentoran & L. Smith of Clifton); Stipends (Cessation of Special Payments) Measure; Care of Cathedrals (Amendment) Measure; Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure; Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004 (Relaxation of Restriction on Disclosure) Order 2005; Community Legal Service (Asylum and Immigration Appeals) Regulations 2005; (Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Regulations 2005; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (Amendment) Order 2005; Extradition Act 2003 (Part 3 Designation) (Amendment) Order 2005; Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005; Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Accommodation to Failed Asylum-Seekers) Regulations 2005; Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (Code of Practice) Order 2005 (Motions for approval - Grand Committee, committee rooms 3A&4B).

Unstarred Question - What progress has been made on the Plan of Action agreed at the United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995 (B. Gould of Potternewton).

Wednesday 23 March (2.30.pm)

Oral Questions - Whether the Human Rights Act 1998 alters existing legislation concerning primogeniture, the succession to the Crown and the prohibition on the Monarch marrying a Roman Catholic (L. Lamont of Lerwick); Whether poultry in the United Kingdom are at risk from avian influenza (bird flu) and, if so, what steps they are taking to protect them (B. Masham of Ilton); What steps are being taken to help restore constitutional government in Nepal (E. of Sandwich).

Debates - On School Discipline (B. Perry of Southwark); Planning policies on new house building and traveller sites (L. Howard of Rising).

Legislation - Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Bill (second reading and remaining stages).

Delegated Legislation - Open-Ended Investment Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2005; Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Carrying on Regulated Activities by Way of Business) (Amendment) Order 2005; Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2005; Child Trust Funds (Appeals) Regulations 2005; Child Trust Funds (Appeals) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2005; Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) (Child Trust Funds) Regulations 2005 (Motions for approval).

Unstarred Question - What progress has been made on the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Report 2002 (B. Walmsley, Moses Room).

Thursday 24 March (11.00.am)

Oral Questions - Whether the action that has been taken to encourage the development of wave power is commensurate with the view stated on the Department of Trade and Industry website that "wave energy has the potential to provide as much renewable energy as the wind industry" (B. Miller of Chilthorne Domer); What measures have been taken to ensure that members of the armed forces were registered by 11th March for participation in the elections on 5th May (L. Garden); What assessment has been made of the effect that the lifting of the European Union Embargo on Weapons to China will have on relations between the United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan (L. Howell of Guildford).

Delegated Legislation - Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Regulations 2005; Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (Amendment) Order 2005; Extradition Act 2003 (Part 3 Designation) (Amendment) Order 2005; Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2005; Immigration & Asylum (Provision of Accommodation for Failed Asylum-Seekers) Order 2005; Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (Code of Practice) Order 2005 (Motions for approval).

Debate - On Procedure of the House, First Report from the Select Committee (Chairman of Committees); Amendments to the Procedure Committee First Report (L. Rodgers of Quarry Bank, B. Lockwood).

Legislation - Child Benefit Bill (third reading); Mental Capacity Bill [HL] (third reading); if necessary Charities Bill [HL] (Grand Committee 9th day, Moses Room).

EASTER RECESS