Order of Business for Tuesday 6 March 2007

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
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Order of Business Tuesday 6 March 2007

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Tuesday 6 March 2007.

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

House of Commons

Order of Business

At 2.30 p.m.

  Prayers

Afterwards

Private Business

Note: Private Business is not debated at this time, and may not be proceeded with if opposed.

Second Reading

Broads Authority Bill (By Order).

Mr Richard Bacon

Mr Keith Simpson

   On Second Reading of the Broads Authority Bill, to move, That the Bill be read a second time upon this day six months.

Afterwards

Notes:

indicates a question for oral answer.

[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.

Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer

Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

1

Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): What plans he has to hold operators and local authorities to account for the performance of local bus services.

(125109)

2

Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test): What action he plans to take to encourage greater use of biofuels in advance of the introduction of the Renewable Transport Fuel obligation.

(125110)

3

Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk): What response he has made to the European Commission Green Paper on Maritime Transport Policy.

(125112)

4

Mr Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): If he will visit Belford, Northumberland to discuss plans for re-opening the railway station.

(125113)

5

Ann Coffey (Stockport): What assessment he has made of responses to his Putting Passengers First proposals on buses.

(125114)

6

Hugh Bayley (City of York): What rights GNER employees will have to employment with the successful applicant for the new East Coast Main Line rail franchise.

(125115)

7

Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk): What recent assessment his Department has made of the quality of rail services between Manningtree and London.

(125117)

8

Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East): How his Department decides whether to fund local transport projects; and if he will make a statement.

(125118)

9

Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): How many sets of points of the same type as those at Grayrigg are to be found on the railway network.

(125119)

10

Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): How much his Department has spent on the West Coast Main Line upgrade.

(125121)

11

Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): What steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding on the railways.

(125122)

12

Mr John Spellar (Warley): What discussions Ministers have had since Christmas 2006 with the British Airports Authority on passenger congestion at London's airports.

(125124)

13

Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): What recent measures he has taken to improve airport security.

(125125)

14

Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): Whether the targets for railway punctuality and reliability (a) between Holyhead and Euston and (b) across the UK have been met.

(125126)

15

Ann McKechin (Glasgow North): What progress has been made towards meeting the 2010 road safety targets.

(125127)

16

Ann Winterton (Congleton): What steps his Department is taking to encourage improvements in railway timetabling to improve access to connecting services.

(125128)

At 3.10 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs

17

John Mann (Bassetlaw): When she expects regulation of claims handlers to commence.

(125129)

18

Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): What changes she expects there to be to legal aid support for advice services in London; and if she will make a statement.

(125130)

19

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): When the Government plans to bring forward its proposals for reform of legal aid procurement.

(125131)

20

Philip Davies (Shipley): What mechanisms are in place to verify the legitimacy of postal votes.

(125132)

21

Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): What progress has been achieved in locating community courts in Nottingham; and if she will make a statement.

(125133)

22

Chris Bryant (Rhondda): What the average (a) waiting time for and (b) duration of an inquest was in the last period for which figures are available.

(125134)

23

Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of specialist domestic violence courts.

(125135)

24

Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): What measures her Department is taking to encourage the registration of electors.

(125136)

25

Ann Winterton (Congleton): If she will make a statement on the funding of magistrates' courts.

(125137)

26

Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): How many eligible voters are estimated to be missing from the electoral register in Bolton South East constituency.

(125138)

27

Andrew George (St Ives): What assessment she has made of the constitutional status of (a) the Duchy of Cornwall, (b) Cornwall and (c) the Isles of Scilly.

(125139)

28

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): What progress has been made in her policy of providing legal advice to rape victims; and if she will make a statement.

(125140)

29

Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What proposals she has to modernise the Coroners Service.

(125141)

30

Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): What further mechanisms she plans to put in place to prevent fraud in the electoral process.

(125142)

31

Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire): What mechanisms are in place to verify the legitimacy of postal votes.

(125143)

At 3.30 p.m.

  Urgent Questions (if any)

  Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business

Notice of Presentation of Bill

1

RETAIL PACKAGING RECYCLING

[No debate]

Andrew Stunell

   Bill to require that certain retailers shall provide free of charge a collection point for any packaging materials sold or supplied by them; and to require them to recycle or safely dispose of such materials.

Formal first reading: no debate or decision

Ten minute rule Motion

2

PRIVATE PARKING (REGULATION)

[Up to 20 minutes]

David Wright

   That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make further provision about penalties relating to parking on private land; to make provision about compliance with notices concerning parking for disabled people on private land; and for connected purposes.

   The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23).

Main Business

†

indicates Government Business

†

3

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (RETENTION OF A BICAMERAL PARLIAMENT)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House supports the principle of a bicameral parliament.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Retention of a Bicameral Parliament)):

Mr George Howarth

Mr Greg Pope

Barbara Keeley

Mr Alan Meale

Mr David Hamilton

Mr David Borrow

Ian Stewart

Jim Sheridan

Jim Dowd

Keith Vaz

Mr David Crausby

Graham Stringer

Helen Jones

Andrew Miller

Mr Terry Rooney

John Smith

Mr Mark Hendrick

(f)

   Line 1, leave out ‘a bicameral parliament’ and insert ‘abolition of the House of Lords’.

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 1, leave out ‘bicameral’ and insert ‘unicameral’.

Mr William Cash (b)

   Line 1, at end add ‘but believes that the functions of the Upper Chamber within a bicameral parliament should be defined before decisions are taken on its composition.’.

Dr Nick Palmer

David Taylor (c)

   Line 1, at end add ‘but believes that the Upper House should have a primarily revising function with limited and prescribed powers to delay legislation which has been approved by the House of Commons.’.

Mr William Cash (d)

   Line 1, at end add ‘in accordance with the convention that the House of Commons has primacy in financial matters.’.

Mr William Cash (e)

   Line 1, at end add ‘and that the upper chamber shall under its own Standing Orders prohibit the whipping of legislative business after Second Reading.’.

†

4

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 1)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be fully appointed.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition No. 1)):

Mr Douglas Hogg (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘that the appointment should be made by an independent statutory Appointments Commission; and that where the political parties submit nominations to the Appointments Commission for appointment to the reformed House of Lords, they shall submit a list of names which contains at least 50 per cent. more names than the places to be allocated to that party and the Appointments Commission shall be free to make an unfettered selection from that list.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

†

5

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 2)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be composed of 20 per cent. elected members and 80 per cent. appointed members.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 2)):

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and supports the removal of any state religious representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Edward Leigh (d)

   Line 2, at end add ‘provided that the elected members of the House of Lords should not be permitted to be appointed as Ministers of the Crown.’.

†

6

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 3)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be composed of 40 per cent. elected members and 60 per cent. appointed members.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 3)):

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and supports the removal of any state religious representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Edward Leigh (d)

   Line 2, at end add ‘provided that the elected members of the House of Lords should not be permitted to be appointed as Ministers of the Crown.’.

†

7

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 4)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be composed of 50 per cent. elected members and 50 per cent. appointed members.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 4)):

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and supports the removal of any state religious representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Edward Leigh (d)

   Line 2, at end add ‘provided that the elected members of the House of Lords should not be permitted to be appointed as Ministers of the Crown.’.

†

8

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 5)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be composed of 60 per cent. elected members and 40 per cent. appointed members.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 5)):

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and supports the removal of any state religious representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr William Cash (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that any such election shall be conducted by the system of first-past-the-post.’.

Mr William Cash (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘but only if both the constituencies for which members are elected and the election cycle are distinctly different from those of the House of Commons and not based on European Parliamentary election cycles or constituency boundaries.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (d)

   Line 2, at end add ‘that the elected Members of the reformed House of Lords should represent multi-member constituencies comprising approximately 700,000 electors; that they should be elected for renewable five year terms; and that a third of their number should be elected every five years by a form of proportional election other than a list system.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (e)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (f)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Edward Leigh (g)

   Line 2, at end add ‘provided that the elected members of the House of Lords should not be permitted to be appointed as Ministers of the Crown.’.

†

9

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 6)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be composed of 80 per cent. elected members and 20 per cent. appointed members.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 6)):

Pete Wishart

Mr Alex Salmond (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and supports the removal of any state religious representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr William Cash (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that any such election shall be conducted by the system of first-past-the-post.’.

Mr William Cash (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘but only if both the constituencies for which members are elected and the election cycle are distinctly different from those of the House of Commons and not based on European Parliamentary election cycles or constituency boundaries.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (d)

   Line 2, at end add ‘that the elected Members of the reformed House of Lords should represent multi-member constituencies comprising approximately 700,000 electors; that they should be elected for renewable five year terms; and that a third of their number should be elected every five years by a form of proportional election other than a list system.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (e)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

Dr Nick Palmer (f)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and considers that either all major belief systems in the UK or none should have statutory representation in the Upper Chamber.’.

Mr Edward Leigh (g)

   Line 2, at end add ‘provided that the elected members of the House of Lords should not be permitted to be appointed as Ministers of the Crown.’.

†

10

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (OPTIONS FOR REFORM OF COMPOSITION: No. 7)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that a reformed House of Lords should be fully elected.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Options for Reform of Composition: No. 7)):

Mr Douglas Hogg (a)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that all the Members of the reformed House of Lords should represent multi-member constituencies comprising approximately 700,000 electors; that they should be elected for renewable five year terms; and that a third of their number should be elected every five years by a form of proportional election other than a list system.’.

Mr Douglas Hogg (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘and that Ministers of the Crown should not be permitted to sit in the reformed House of Lords.’.

†

11

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM (HEREDITARY PLACES)

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House is of the opinion that the remaining retained places for peers whose membership is based on the hereditary principle should be removed.

   As Amendments to Mr Jack Straw’s proposed Motion (House of Lords Reform (Hereditary Places)):

Mr Douglas Hogg (a)

   Line 2, leave out ‘removed’ and insert ‘reduced by abolition of the provision for by-elections following the deaths of hereditary peers.’.

Sir Patrick Cormack

Peter Luff (b)

   Line 2, at end add ‘by ending the system of by-elections for vacant places.’.

Mr David Cameron

Sir Menzies Campbell

Mrs Theresa May

Mr David Heath

Mr Paul Burstow

Mr Patrick McLoughlin (c)

   Line 2, at end add ‘once elected members have taken their places in a reformed House of Lords.’.

Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m.

   Note: The Speaker will put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings, on all the Motions relating to House of Lords reform, including on any amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved not later than 5.30 p.m. tomorrow (Order of 27th February).

†

12

ESTIMATES

[No debate]

Mr Jack Straw

   That this House agrees with the Report [2nd March] of the Liaison Committee.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 145).

†

13

SITTINGS IN WESTMINSTER HALL

[No debate after 10.00 p.m.]

Mr Jack Straw

   That, on Thursday 29th March, there shall be no sitting in Westminster Hall.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 p.m.

At the end of the sitting:

14

ADJOURNMENT

   Proposed subject: Digital dividend review: radio microphones (Peter Luff).

   Debate may continue until 10.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

COMMITTEES

PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEES

1

Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill Committee

10.30 a.m.

Room 12 (public)

4.30 p.m.

(public)

   Further to consider the Bill.

2

UK Borders Bill Committee

10.30 a.m.

Room 11 (public)

4.30 p.m.

(public)

   Further to consider the Bill.

EUROPEAN STANDING COMMITTEE

3

European Standing Committee

4.30 p.m.

Room 10 (public)

   To consider EU Documents Nos. 17066/06, 17067/06 and Addendum 1 and Document 17068/06 relating to Taxation.

SELECT COMMITTEES

4

Defence

9.30 a.m.

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)

10.00 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: UK Defence: Commitments and Resources.

   Witness: Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup GCB, Chief of the Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence.

5

Regulatory Reform

9.30 a.m.

Room 19 (private)

6

Treasury

9.30 a.m.

Room 8 (private)

9.45 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England: Ten Years On.

   Witnesses: Professor Anton Muscatelli, Heriot-Watt University, Professor Simon Wren-Lewis, Oxford University, Ray Barrell, NIESR, and Professor Tim Congdon CBE; Michael Saunders, Citigroup, Professor Jagjit S. Chadha, BNP Paribas, and Laurence Sanders, Bank of Ireland Global Markets UK (at 10.45 a.m.).

7

Culture, Media and Sport

9.45 a.m.

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)

10.00 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: Self-regulation of the Press.

   Witnesses: Mr Mike Jempson, Director, the MediaWise Trust, Professor Chris Frost, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, and Mr Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, the National Union of Journalists; Mr Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner and Mr Mick Gorrill, Head of the Regulatory Action Division (at 10.30 a.m.); Mr Les Hinton, Executive Chairman, News International, and Chairman of the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, Mr Arthur Edwards MBE, The Sun, Mr Paul Horrocks, Editor, Manchester Evening News and President, Society of Editors, and Mr Bob Satchwell, Director, Society of Editors (at 11.00 a.m.); Mr Eugene Duffy, Group Managing Editor, MGN Ltd, and Mr Robin Esser, Executive Managing Editor, Daily Mail (at 11.30 a.m.); Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, Chairman, and Mr Tim Toulmin, Director, Press Complaints Commission (at 12.00 noon).

8

Environmental Audit

10.00 a.m.

Room 6 (private)

10.20 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: The Voluntary Carbon Offset Market.

   Witnesses: Sustainable Forestry Management; Silverjet and Virgin Atlantic (at 11.00 a.m.).

9

Home Affairs

10.00 a.m.

Room 15 (private)

10

International Development

10.30 a.m.

Room P, Portcullis House (private)

11

Standards and Privileges

10.30 a.m.

Room 13 (private)

12

Trade and Industry

10.45 a.m.

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)

11.00 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: Future of UK Manufacturing: Skill Shortages.

   Witnesses: Bill Rammell MP, Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Department for Education and Skills; Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Science and Innovation, Department of Trade and Industry (at 12.00 noon).

13

Public Administration

3.00 p.m.

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

3.15 p.m.

(public)

   Subject: The Work of the Cabinet Office.

   Witness: Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office.

14

Scottish Affairs

4.00 p.m.

Room 19 (private)

4.15 p.m.

(public)

   Subject: Poverty in Scotland.

   Witnesses: Ms Sue Middleton, Loughborough University, and Mr Guy Palmer.

[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: Avoidance in financial products.

2

Secretary of State for Defence: Release of the ALI’s Better Training Report.

3

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Afghan counter-narcotics.

4

Secretary of State for the Home Department: Domestic violence: An MP’s guide.