+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
House of Commons
Order of Business
Afterwards
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
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1
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Anne Main (St Albans): What assessment he has made of the performance of JobCentre Plus in dealing with claimants; and if he will make a statement.
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(93396)
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2
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Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): How many economically inactive teenagers aged 16 and 17 not in full-time education there were at the end of (a) 1998 and (b)
2005; and if he will make a statement.
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(93397)
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3
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Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): Whether he has received an expression of interest for a city strategy on welfare to work from One Nottingham; and if he will
make a statement.
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(93398)
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4
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Mr John Baron (Billericay): If he will make a statement on progress with reforms to the Child Support Agency.
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(93399)
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5
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Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): What further consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on occupational pensions.
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(93400)
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6
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Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire): How many women are expected to reach state pension age before 2010; and if he will make a statement.
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(93402)
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7
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Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): What progress has been made in developing a replacement for the Post Office Card Account for the payment of benefits after
2010.
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(93404)
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8
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Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): What assessment he has made of the compatibility of his Department's communications and computer policy with the Disability
Discrimination Acts.
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(93405)
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9
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Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): If he will make a statement on the take-up of pension credit.
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(93406)
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10
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Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): What assessment he has made of the latest unemployment figures.
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(93407)
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11
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Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): What assessment he has made of the operation of the computer system that administers disability living allowance; and if he
will make a statement.
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(93408)
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12
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Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): What assessment he has made of recent trends in youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement.
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(93409)
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13
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Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): How many people receiving housing benefit face benefit withdrawal rates of more than 40 per cent. against marginal income.
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(93410)
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14
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Hywel Williams (Caernarfon): What assessment he has made of the operation of telephone call centres in the administration of state pensions.
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(93411)
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15
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Meg Hillier (Hackney South & Shoreditch): What assessment he has made of the potential effect on carers of the Government's new pension proposals.
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(93412)
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16
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Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): What steps he is taking to meet the target to halve child poverty by 2010.
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(93413)
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17
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Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): What assessment he has made of the returns to pensioners from private pension schemes; and if he will make a statement.
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(93414)
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At 3.20 p.m.
Oral Questions to the Leader of the House and the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission
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18
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Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Leader of the House, what recent analysis he has carried out of the quality of ministerial answers to written parliamentary
questions.
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(93388)
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19
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Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many new voters' packs have
been sent to constituents in Stoke-on-Trent North.
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(93389)
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20
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Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin): To ask the Leader of the House, if he will make a statement on progress on his plans to reform the funding of political parties.
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(93390)
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21
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Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of the arrangements for tabling questions during the summer recess.
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(93391)
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22
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Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Leader of the House, what the average length of time from First Reading to Royal Assent was for an Act in the 2005-06
session of Parliament.
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(93392)
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23
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David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Leader of the House, what arrangements are in place for the uprating of hon. Members' staff salaries; and if he
will make a statement.
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(93393)
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24
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Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Leader of the House, when he expects a new House of Commons calendar for the Session 2006-07 to be published.
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(93394)
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25
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Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to make the proceedings of the House clearer to the public.
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(93395)
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At 3.30 p.m.
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Urgent Questions (if any)
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Ministerial Statements (if any)
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Main Business
1
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OPPOSITION DAY (19th allotted day)
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[Until 10.00 p.m.]
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FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE NETWORK AND OF ROYAL MAIL
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That this House believes the Government is putting the future of the Post Office network and of Royal Mail at risk by their
continued failure to take the tough and overdue decisions needed; further believes that many local post offices have closed
or are under threat because of the uncertainty over the future of the subsidy to rural post offices after 2008 and the withdrawal
of public sector business from the network, including the pension book, the television licence, passports and the decision
to withdraw the Post Office card account when the existing contract expires in 2010; shares Postcomm’s concern that over 6,500
remaining rural post office branches are vulnerable and could close over the next few years; further believes that the Post
Office network provides significant social and economic benefits and can play a key role in tackling financial exclusion and
helping rural and deprived urban communities to survive and thrive; further believes the delays in finalising the investment
package for Royal Mail is undermining Royal Mail’s ability to compete in the postal market following liberalisation last January
threatening jobs and Royal Mail’s market share; and therefore calls on the Government to end this paralysis in decision-making
at the heart of Government so that the Post Office network and Royal Mail can make the investments they need with greater
certainty about a sustainable and stable commercial future.
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As an Amendment to Sir Menzies Campbell’s Motion (Future of the Post Office network and of Royal Mail):
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Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘acknowledges the important role that post offices play in local communities, particularly
in rural and deprived urban areas; recognises that the business environment in which Royal Mail and the Post Office network
are operating is undergoing radical change with more and more people choosing new electronic ways to communicate, pay bills
and access government services; applauds the Government’s record of working closely with Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd and sub-postmasters
to help them meet these challenges with an unprecedented investment of more than £2 billion made by the Government in supporting
the network; acknowledges the important role post offices can play in tackling financial exclusion while recognising that
the Government must also take due account of the need to deliver services efficiently; and acknowledges that the Government
is committed to bringing forward proposals to help put Royal Mail and the Post Office network onto a sustainable footing.’.
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That this House notes with alarm the rise in carbon emissions since the Government took office in 1997; believes that this
record is in part due to the steady fall in taxation derived from green taxes from 3.6 per cent. of gross domestic product
in 1999 down to 2.9 per cent. last year; notes opinion poll support for a green tax switch from people onto pollution; urges
the Government to move from rhetorical assent on the need for action on climate change to serious policy proposals which will
set annual targets to cut carbon emissions, allowing for natural variations from year to year, and establish an independent
monitoring body to report on progress; and therefore calls on the Government to increase green taxes on new high-emission
cars and on aviation while using revenue generated to cut direct taxes, particularly on low earners, so that there is no overall
rise in the burden of taxation.
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As an Amendment to Sir Menzies Campbell’s Motion (Green tax switch):
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Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘welcomes the UK’s climate change programme which has already put the UK on course
to exceed its Kyoto target of a 12.5 per cent. cut in 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-12 and make further
progress towards the Government’s ambitious target to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. by 2010; recognises the
vital contribution of the Climate Change Levy, which has already saved 28 million tonnes of carbon emissions and by 2010 will
be reducing carbon emissions by over seven million tonnes per year; congratulates the Government on exceeding its recycling
target supported by the Landfill Tax and Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme and contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions; commends introduction in the UK of the world’s first international emissions trading scheme capping emissions from
power stations and energy-intensive industries; further welcomes the Government’s proposals for the second phase of the scheme
in the UK; further welcomes the Government’s energy review, which proposes measures to save up to a further 25 million tonnes
of carbon emissions per year by 2020 and to put the UK economy on a path to a 60 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions
by 2050; congratulates the Government on its commitment to delivering a strong economy based on high and stable levels of
growth and employment as well as high standards of environmental care; and calls upon the Government to continue to put environmental
protection, locally, nationally and globally at the heart of its policies.’.
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The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats (Standing Order No.
14(2)).
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Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.
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2
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NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS
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[No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
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That Gordon Banks and Meg Hillier be discharged from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and John Battle and Mr Denis Murphy
be added.
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If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
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At the end of the sitting:
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Proposed subject: Community involvement in planning (Mr Paul Truswell).
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Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No.9).
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COMMITTEES
STANDING COMMITTEES
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1
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Standing Committee B (Programming Sub-Committee) (Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill)
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6.00 p.m.
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Room 16 (private)
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2
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Standing Committee A (Programming Sub-Committee) (Welfare Reform Bill)
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6.30 p.m.
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Room 13 (private)
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SELECT COMMITTEES
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3
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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3.15 p.m.
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The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
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3.30 p.m.
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(public)
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Subject: UK Government’s “Vision for the CAP”.
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Witnesses: Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Klaus-Dieter Borchardt, Deputy Chef de
Cabinet, and John Bensted-Smith, Director, Economic analyses and evaluation, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural
Development, European Commission.
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4
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Education and Skills
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3.30 p.m.
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The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
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5
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Communities and Local Government
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3.40 p.m.
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The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
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4.00 p.m.
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(public)
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Subject: Is there a future for Regional Government?
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Witnesses: Chris Leslie, Director, New Local Government Network; Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, Phil
Woolas MP, Minister for Local Government and Community Cohesion, Department for Communities and Local Government, and Rt Hon
Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Department of Trade and Industry (at 4.30 p.m.).
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6
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Public Accounts
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4.30 p.m.
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Room 15 (public)
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Subject: Financial Management in the NHS.
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Witnesses: Mr David Nicholson, Chief Executive, NHS, and Mr Richard Douglas, Director General, Finance and Investment, Department
of Health.
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JOINT COMMITTEE
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7
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Human Rights
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4.00 p.m.
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Room 6 (private)
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[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]
Written Ministerial Statements to be made today
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1
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Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: UK National Reform Programme 2006: Update on progress 2006.
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2
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Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Switchover dates announced for Wales, West Country and Granada.
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3
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Secretary of State for Education and Skills: School power to screen pupils for weapons.
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4
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Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Finnish Presidency of the EU: Agenda for the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), 16th-17th October 2006.
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5
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Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland’s European Strategy.
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