|
+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
House of Commons
Order of Business
Afterwards
|
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
|
 1
|
|
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): What assessment he has made of the involvement of Iran in insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan.
|
|
(122579)
|
2
|
|
Mr Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby): What recent assessment he has made of the case for a missile defence system for the UK.
|
|
(122580)
|
3
|
|
Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough): If he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.
|
|
(122581)
|
4
|
|
Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): What progress has been made in improving basic services in Helmand province.
|
|
(122582)
|
5
|
|
Bob Spink (Castle Point): In what operations in Iraqi Kurdistan British troops are involved; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(122583)
|
6
|
|
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dental treatment for service personnel and their families.
|
|
(122584)
|
7
|
|
Angela Watkinson (Upminster): When he expects the main expenditure decisions to be taken in regard to the future aircraft carriers.
|
|
(122585)
|
8
|
|
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of numbers of military helicopters in Afghanistan.
|
|
(122586)
|
9
|
|
Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes): If he will make a statement on the airbridge between the UK and operational theatres.
|
|
(122587)
|
10
|
|
Dr John Pugh (Southport): How much has been allocated in 2007 for the prevention of missile attacks on the UK.
|
|
(122589)
|
11
|
|
Mark Hunter (Cheadle): What assessment he has made of the adequacy of vehicle and military transport markings in conflict zones identifying them
as British.
|
|
(122590)
|
12
|
|
Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool): What improvements have been made since the Strategic Defence Review in personal equipment, protective equipment and light
weapons.
|
|
(122591)
|
13
|
|
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove): What recent assessment he has made of the impact of current levels of deployment on training in the armed forces.
|
|
(122592)
|
14
|
|
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): What steps his Department is taking to assist peace support training in Sierra Leone.
|
|
(122593)
|
15
|
|
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): When he expects to reduce the upper limit on the number of operationally available nuclear warheads to fewer than 160.
|
|
(122594)
|
16
|
|
Mr Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire): What recent assessment he has made of the ability of service personnel and their families to gain access to NHS dental treatment.
|
|
(122595)
|
17
|
|
Bob Russell (Colchester): What the strength of the Ministry of Defence Police is; and what it was in May 1997.
|
|
(122596)
|
18
|
|
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): What assessment he has made of the extent of Iranian involvement in the internal affairs of neighbouring states where British
armed forces are deployed; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(122597)
|
19
|
|
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): Which Questions for oral answer by the Secretary of State for Defence on today's Order Paper were drafted wholly, or in part,
by a member of the ministerial team, special adviser, civil servant, or on his behalf, by a parliamentary private secretary
or Government Whip; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(122598)
|
20
|
|
Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North): What progress has been made on the joint strike fighter programme.
|
|
(122599)
|
21
|
|
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow): What recent assessment he has made of the case for a missile defence system for the UK.
|
|
(122600)
|
22
|
|
Michael Gove (Surrey Heath): What assessment he has made of the extent of Iranian involvement in the internal affairs of neighbouring states where British
armed forces are deployed; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(122601)
|
|
At 3.30 p.m.
|
Urgent Questions (if any)
|
| |
Ministerial Statements (if any)
|
Main Business
|
1
|
OPPOSITION DAY (7th allotted day)
|
[Until 10.00 p.m.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House notes the assessment of the Government’s 1998 Strategic Defence Review that two Future Aircraft Carriers are
needed in the post-Cold War world to provide a seaborne base from which British military power can be projected and that a
destroyer and frigate fleet of more than 30 ships would be needed to maintain two concurrent medium-scale deployments; views
with concern the view expressed by Admiral Sir Alan West, when First Sea Lord in 2004, that the reduction of the destroyer
and frigate total from 35 to 25, instead of the 32 promised in the Strategic Defence Review, meant that the country was taking
risk on risk; notes with dismay persistent suggestions that six more will be mothballed, leaving an effective destroyer and
frigate force of only 19; demands urgent clarification from the Government about its proposal to close Portsmouth or Devonport
naval bases and calls upon the Government to provide an assessment of the implications for the long-term strategic vulnerability
of the remnants of the surface fleet; sympathises with Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, the current First Sea Lord, that a failure
to proceed with the Future Aircraft Carriers, which have still not been ordered though scheduled in 1998 for deployment by
2012 and 2015, would make his position untenable; and calls on the Government to clarify its intention on naval procurement
in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
|
|
|
As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (State of the Royal Navy):
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes with approval the Government’s very considerable investment in new warship
building, including the new Type 45 destroyers, of which two have already been launched, the new Astute class nuclear submarines,
the first of which will be launched later this year, and the two Future Aircraft Carriers, which will be the largest ships
ever to serve with the Royal Navy; notes that 28 new ships have entered service with the Royal Navy since 1997; views with
concern ill-informed and inaccurate suggestions that warships will be ‘mothballed’; and congratulates the Government for its
responsible stewardship of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during a period of extremely high operational tempo.’.
|
|
| |
INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House believes that all electors are entitled to a free, fair and secure vote; notes that in its Eleventh Report
the Committee on Standards in Public Life found evidence of a continuing threat of fraud in the electoral system and called
for the implementation of secure individual voter registration and other measures to protect integrity; regrets the unwillingness
of the Government to adopt such a system in Great Britain despite calls from the Committee, the Electoral Commission and many
others; welcomes the investigation by the Council of Europe into electoral fraud in the United Kingdom and the visit to London
today of two rapporteurs; expresses concern at Government attempts to introduce electronic voting until such time as adequate
security measures are available; and believes that urgent steps are needed to restore public confidence and integrity in the
electoral system, starting with individual voter registration.
|
|
|
As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Integrity of the electoral system):
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘believes that the Government has introduced a range of sensible and proportionate
measures to ensure that elections are safe and secure; recognises that public confidence in the electoral process is paramount;
believes that the Government is taking an appropriate and sensible approach in testing and trialling e-voting before making
any decision to introduce it or not; supports the action being taken by the Government to ensure that electoral registers
are comprehensive and accurate; and notes that these issues were debated during the passage of the Electoral Administration
Act 2006 through Parliament.’.
|
|
|
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 10.00 p.m.
|
|
†
|
2
|
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL [MONEY]: Queen’s Recommendation signified.
|
[Up to 45 minutes]
|
|
|
|
| |
That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Sustainable Communities Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment
out of money provided by Parliament of—
|
|
|
(a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the Act by a Minister of the Crown or government department, and
|
|
|
(b) any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other Act.
|
|
|
The Speaker will put the Question not later than 45 minutes after proceedings begin (Standing Order No. 52(1)(b)).
|
|
†
|
3
|
NORTHERN IRELAND
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That the draft District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2006, which was laid before this
House on 30th November, be approved.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
|
†
|
4
|
SOCIAL SECURITY
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That the draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2007, which were laid
before this House on 22nd January, be approved.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
|
†
|
5
|
EUROPEAN ENFORCEMENT ORDER AND THE TRANSFER OF SENTENCED PRISONERS
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House takes notes of European Union Document No. 13080/06, Draft Council Framework Decision on the application of
the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation
of liberty for the purpose of their enforcement in the European Union; and supports the Government’s intention to secure adoption
of this agreement.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 119(9)).
|
|
6
|
PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION
|
[No debate after 10.00 p.m.]
|
|
|
|
| |
That Grant Shapps be discharged from the Public Administration Committee and Mr Charles Walker be added.
|
|
|
If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.
|
At the end of the sitting:
|
|
|
Proposed subject: Flooding in South West Norfolk (Mr Christopher Fraser).
|
|
Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
|
|
COMMITTEES
|
PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEE
|
|
1
|
UK Borders Bill Committee [Programming Sub-Committee].
|
6.15 p.m.
|
Room 13 (private)
|
|
|
EUROPEAN STANDING COMMITTEE
|
|
2
|
European Standing Committee
|
4.30 p.m.
|
Room 10 (public)
|
|
To consider an Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 28 November 2006, EU Documents 11399/06, 11660/06 and Addenda 1-2,
an Unnumbered Explanatory Memorandum dated 10 October 2006, EU Documents 14431/06 and Addendum 1, and 14630/06 and Addendum
1 relating to Financial Management.
|
|
DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEES
|
|
3
|
First Delegated Legislation Committee
|
4.30 p.m.
|
Room 9 (public)
|
|
To consider the draft Part 7 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Extension to Animal Pathogens) Order 2007
and draft Schedule 5 to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Modification) Order 2007.
|
|
4
|
Second Delegated Legislation Committee
|
4.30 p.m.
|
Room 11 (public)
|
|
To consider the draft Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007, draft Smoke-free (Penalties and Discounted Amounts)
Regulations 2007 and draft Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc) Order 2007.
|
|
SELECT COMMITTEES
|
|
5
|
Education and Skills
|
3.30 p.m.
|
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
3.45 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Future Sustainability of the Higher Education Sector.
|
|
Witnesses: Professor Claire Callender, London South Bank University, Professor David Latchman, Master of Birkbeck, University
of London, and Professor David Vincent, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy, planning and external affairs), The Open University;
Professor Robert Burgess, Vice Chancellor, Leicester University and Chair of the Burgess Group on Credit and Qualification
Frameworks (at 4.45 p.m.).
|
|
6
|
Work and Pensions
|
4.00 p.m.
|
Room 8 (private)
|
|
|
7
|
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|
4.10 p.m.
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
8
|
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: British Waterways Sub-Committee
|
4.15 p.m.
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
4.30 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: British Waterways.
|
|
Witnesses: Inland Waterways Association; England’s Regional Development Agencies (at 5.45 p.m.); Institution of Civil Engineers
(at 6.15 p.m.).
|
|
9
|
Communities and Local Government
|
4.20 p.m.
|
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
10
|
Public Accounts
|
4.30 p.m.
|
Room 15 (public)
|
|
Subjects: (i) National Audit Office Supply Estimate 2007-08 (ii) Northern Ireland Audit Office Supply Estimate 2007-08 (iii)
The Efficiency Programme: A Second Review of Progress.
|
|
Witnesses: (i) Sir John Bourn KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General, Michael Whitehouse, Assistant Auditor General, Phil Woodward,
Director of Finance, National Audit Office (ii) John M Dowdall CB, Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit
Office (at 4.40 p.m.) (iii) John Oughton, Chief Executive, and David Rossington, Director of the Efficiency Programme, Office
of Government Commerce, John Kingman, Managing Director, Public Services and Growth, HM Treasury (at 4.50 p.m.).
|
|
JOINT COMMITTEE
|
|
11
|
Human Rights
|
4.00 p.m.
|
Room 4a (private)
|
|
[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]
|
Written Ministerial Statements to be made today
|
|
1
|
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN).
|
|
|
2
|
Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs: Boundary Commission for England Report and draft Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order.
|
|
|
3
|
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: The Enterprise Act 2002.
|
|
|
4
|
Secretary of State for Transport: Road safety strategy.
|
|
|
5
|
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Review of the independent living funds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
