Order of Business for Tuesday 8 January 2008

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
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Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Tuesday 8 January 2008

Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Tuesday 8 January 2008.

+ 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 Readings

   1. Bournemouth Borough Council Bill [Lords]

   2. Manchester City Council Bill [Lords]

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 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

1

Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin): How many UK embassies and diplomatic missions were closed in 2007.

(175891)

2

Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East): What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the effect of the provisions to the Treaty of Lisbon on the ability of EU member states to agree effective policies on environmental protection.

(175892)

3

Ben Chapman (Wirral South): If he will make a statement on the future of the British Council's offices in St Petersburg.

(175893)

4

Norman Baker (Lewes): What steps he is taking to encourage the Chinese government to adhere to pledges it has made in respect of human rights and press freedom, with particular reference to occupied Tibet.

(175894)

5

Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): If he will make a statement on the operation of the British Council in Russia.

(175895)

6

Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): What assessment he has made of the safety of women in Basra province who do not adhere to Islamic dress and behaviour codes.

(175896)

7

Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): What recent steps have been taken by the International Crime and Drugs Department in co-operation with the border authorities of states of the Western Balkans to reduce illegal immigration and trafficking of people.

(175897)

8

Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What assessment he has made of recent political developments in South Africa.

(175898)

9

Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): What assessment he has made of the observance of human rights by the government of Colombia.

(175899)

10

Chris Bryant (Rhondda): How much grant-in-aid the British Council received in each of the last three years.

(175900)

11

Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): If he will make a statement on the agenda of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

(175901)

12

Ann McKechin (Glasgow North): If he will make a statement on the political situation in Gaza.

(175902)

13

Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): If he will make a statement on the political situation in Kosovo.

(175904)

14

Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): What steps the Government is taking to help Lebanon hold democratic elections.

(175905)

15

Lyn Brown (West Ham): What account he takes of the need to ensure the security of Israel and its people and to reduce hardship among Palestinians in his Middle East policy.

(175906)

16

Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): What his policy is on relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement.

(175907)

17

Hugh Bayley (City of York): What assessment he has made of the contribution of the EU to securing international agreement at Bali on action to tackle climate change.

(175908)

18

Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): What recent discussions he has had with the US administration on Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement.

(175909)

19

Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North): What assessment he has made of progress made on redevelopment of Iraq's industrial base.

(175910)

20

Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): When he will next meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

(175911)

21

Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): What steps he is taking to increase diplomatic pressure on the Burmese regime.

(175912)

22

Robert Neill (Bromley & Chislehurst): What recent progress has been made in establishing a UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.

(175913)

23

Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): If he will make a statement on the political situation in Pakistan.

(175914)

24

Tony Baldry (Banbury): If he will make a statement on the political situation in Pakistan.

(175915)

At 3.15 p.m.

Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

The Members listed below have been selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question.

T1

Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

(175840)

T2

Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington):

(175841)

T3

Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell):

(175842)

T4

Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):

(175843)

T5

Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South):

(175844)

T6

Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering):

(175845)

T7

Mr Siôn Simon (Birmingham, Erdington):

(175846)

T8

Mr Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley):

(175847)

T9

Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North):

(175848)

T10

Mr Andrew Robathan (Blaby):

(175849)

At 3.30 p.m.

  Urgent Questions (if any)

  Ministerial Statements (if any)

Preliminary Business

Ten minute rule Motion

1

UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD (DONATION)

[Up to 20 minutes]

Mr David Burrowes

   That leave be given to bring in a Bill to promote the donation of cord blood from women after giving birth; 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

2

OPPOSITION DAY (5th allotted day)

[Until 10.00 p.m.]

PERFORMANCE OF NETWORK RAIL

Mr David Cameron

Mrs Theresa Villiers

Stephen Hammond

Mr Robert Goodwill

Jeremy Wright

Mr Patrick McLoughlin

   That this House is deeply concerned by the track work over-runs by Network Rail on the West Coast Main Line and at Liverpool Street station over the Christmas and New Year period; believes that the disruption caused to passengers was unacceptable and that Network Rail failed to plan properly for the successful completion of works on time; further notes that Network Rail was created by the present Government and believes that these recent incidents illustrate that the organisation is insufficiently accountable to its customers; and calls on the Government to take steps to ensure that Network Rail is made more accountable to the travelling public so that efficiency is improved and a much better quality of service is provided to passengers in the future.

   As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Performance of Network Rail):

The Prime Minister

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

Ms Harriet Harman

Secretary Ruth Kelly

Mr Secretary Hutton

Mr Tom Harris

   Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘applauds the Government for taking decisive action to correct the flaws of rail privatisation; welcomes the fact that the railway is carrying 40 per cent. more passengers and 47 per cent. more freight than in 1997 with improving punctuality and safety standards and record investment in infrastructure; and looks forward to seeing the results of the investigation by the Office of Rail Regulation into Network Rail’s performance, following the unacceptable engineering overruns experienced by passengers during Christmas and the New Year.’.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND ADULT LEARNERS

Mr David Cameron

Mr David Willetts

Mr Boris Johnson

Mr John Hayes

Adam Afriye

Mr Patrick McLoughlin

   That this House is concerned that the Government’s decision to withdraw funding from institutions for equivalent or lower qualification students will have a disproportionate impact on the part-time sector in general and on specific institutions such as Birkbeck and the Open University; and urges the Government to consider ways in which it can minimise the damage this measure will do to lifelong learning and the delivery of the Leitch agenda objectives.

   As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Higher Education and Adult Learners):

The Prime Minister

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

Mr Secretary Balls

Mr Secretary Johnson

Mr Secretary Denham

Bill Rammell

   Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘supports the Government’s decision to reprioritise some funding currently supporting the teaching of higher education students who already hold an equivalent or lower qualification, in order to enable approximately 20,000 additional full-time equivalent students to enter higher education for the first time; notes the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation which proposes that transitional protection will be put into place to ensure that no provider loses in cash terms, that the change to the funding methodology will protect Foundation Degrees, employer co-financed programmes, and strategic subjects, and that the premium paid to support the costs of part-time provision will be increased; notes that HEFCE and Ministers have been engaging constructively with the Open University and Birkbeck on this issue; and believes that the Government is right to give priority to first-time students.’.

   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.

At the end of the sitting:

3

ADJOURNMENT

   Proposed subject: Carbon monoxide detectors in homes (Tom Levitt).

   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

Health and Social Care Bill Committee

10.30 a.m.

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (public)

4.00 p.m.

(public)

   To take evidence on the Bill*.

   Witnesses (a.m.): Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (until no later than 12.30 p.m.); Health Protection Agency (until no later than 1.00 p.m.).

2

Planning Bill Committee

10.30 a.m.

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (public)

4.00 p.m.

(public)

   To take evidence on the Bill*.

   Witnesses (a.m.): Confederation of British Industry (until no later than 11.40 a.m.); UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy (until no later than 12.20 p.m.); UK Major Ports Group (until no later than 1.00 p.m.).

*Subject to the agreement of the Committee to the programme motion.

*Subject to the agreement of the Committee to the programme motion.

SELECT COMMITTEES

3

Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

10.00 a.m.

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

10.30 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: (i) Recent Developments in Trade; (ii) Trade and Investment Opportunities with India (at 11.30 a.m.).

   Witnesses: Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Mr Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

4

Communities and Local Government

10.00 a.m.

Room 20 (private)

5

Environmental Audit

10.00 a.m.

Room 16 (private)

6

Welsh Affairs

10.00 a.m.

Room 15 (private)

10.30 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: Globalisation and its impact on Wales.

   Witness: Competition Commission.

7

Culture, Media and Sport

10.15 a.m.

Room 8 (private)

10.30 a.m.

(public)

   Subject: Tourism.

   Witnesses: British Hospitality Association, British Beer and Pub Association, and People 1st; UK Inbound (at 11.30 a.m.).

8

Foreign Affairs

3.00 p.m.

Justus Lipsius Building, 175 Rue de la Loi, Brussels (private)

9

Defence

4.00 p.m.

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)

4.30 p.m.

(public)

   Subject: Future of NATO and European Defence.

   Witness: Rt Hon Des Browne MP, Secretary of State for Defence.

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

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2007.

2

Secretary of State for Defence: Dates for Bosnia and Northern Ireland commemorations.

3

Secretary of State for Defence: Future of Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut.

4

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Gibraltar: mixed competence conventions.

5

Secretary of State for Justice: National Offender Management Service information technology.