|
+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
House of Commons
Order of Business
|
At 11.30 a.m.
|
Prayers
|
| |
Ministerial Statements (if any)
|
Afterwards
|
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
|
 1
|
|
Dr Hywel Francis (Aberavon): What recent assessment he has made of employment trends in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(197224)
|
2
|
|
Nia Griffith (Llanelli): What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential effects of introducing regional pay arrangements in Government
agencies and services in Wales.
|
|
(197225)
|
3
|
|
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on hospital waiting times for cross-border in-patients.
|
|
(197226)
|
4
|
|
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): When he next expects to meet governors of prisons in Wales to discuss combating drugs in prisons.
|
|
(197228)
|
5
|
|
Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on neighbourhood policing in Wales.
|
|
(197229)
|
6
|
|
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What discussions he has had with the First Minister on the consequences of climate change for Wales.
|
|
(197230)
|
7
|
|
Alun Michael (Cardiff South & Penarth): When he last discussed the provision of police resources to cover accident and emergency departments in Wales with the Secretary
of State for the Home Department; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(197231)
|
8
|
|
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth): What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on bringing forward legislative proposals to increase the number
of members of the National Assembly for Wales.
|
|
(197232)
|
9
|
|
James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on economic inactivity in Wales.
|
|
(197233)
|
10
|
|
Mrs Betty Williams (Conwy): If he will make a statement on measures in Budget 2008 designed to address child poverty in Wales.
|
|
(197234)
|
11
|
|
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What discussions he has had with the First Minister on the condition of flood defences in Wales.
|
|
(197235)
|
12
|
|
Ian Lucas (Wrexham): If he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on UK Government funding for
research in Wales.
|
|
(197236)
|
13
|
|
Ben Chapman (Wirral South): What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on consultation on cross-border health service issues.
|
|
(197237)
|
14
|
|
Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire): What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on offender management in Wales.
|
|
(197238)
|
At 12 noon
|
Oral Questions to the Prime Minister
|
|
Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a Question without notice.
|
Q1
|
|
Eric Joyce (Falkirk): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 2nd April.
|
|
(198129)
|
Q2
|
|
Mr Jim Devine (Livingston):
|
|
(198130)
|
Q3
|
|
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey):
|
|
(198131)
|
Q4
|
|
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside):
|
|
(198132)
|
Q5
|
|
Mr Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton):
|
|
(198133)
|
Q6
|
|
Mr John Baron (Billericay):
|
|
(198134)
|
Q7
|
|
Mr Mark Todd (South Derbyshire):
|
|
(198135)
|
Q8
|
|
Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East & Washington West):
|
|
(198136)
|
Q9
|
|
Mr John Spellar (Warley):
|
|
(198137)
|
Q10
|
|
Peter Bottomley (Worthing West):
|
|
(198138)
|
Q11
|
|
Mr David Anderson (Blaydon):
|
|
(198139)
|
Q12
|
|
Mr Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney):
|
|
(198140)
|
Q13
|
|
Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South):
|
|
(198141)
|
Q14
|
|
Norman Baker (Lewes):
|
|
(198142)
|
Q15
|
|
Mr Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South):
|
|
(198143)
|
|
At 12.30 p.m.
|
Urgent Questions (if any)
|
| |
Ministerial Statements (if any)
|
Preliminary Business
Ten minute rule Motion
|
1
|
ILLEGALLY LOGGED TIMBER (PROHIBITION OF SALE AND DISTRIBUTION)
|
[Up to 20 minutes]
|
|
|
|
| |
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make it an offence for any importer or distributor to sell or distribute in the
United Kingdom any wood harvested, manufactured or otherwise dealt with illegally in the country from which the wood originated
or through which it passed or was transhipped; 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 (9th allotted day)
|
[Until 7.00 p.m.]
|
|
| |
THE ECONOMY, REPOSSESSIONS AND THE HOUSING MARKET
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House notes with concern the risk of recession in the United Kingdom economy; recognises that although the collapse
of the United States mortgage market and the global ‘credit crunch’ are a catalyst to the current downturn in the United Kingdom
economy, record levels of personal debt and the extreme bubble in the housing market were already major destabilising factors;
further notes that because of inflation and weak public finances there is little scope for stimulating demand; applauds the
efforts of central banks to reintroduce stability into the world money markets, but warns against the use of taxpayers’ money
in bailouts which cause serious concerns about moral hazard; further notes with dismay rising levels of personal debt, exacerbated
by high mortgage interest rates; further notes the rising evidence of a major slowdown in the United Kingdom housing market;
registers with concern the increasing number of people requesting help regarding mortgage payments; further notes with concern
that repossession orders are now at the same level as in 1990; regrets the Government’s failure both to admit the current
problems in the housing market and to act to prevent mass home repossessions; calls upon the Government to consider options
being used in the United States, particularly to encourage banks to explore options other than repossession; and further calls
upon the Bank of England to include house prices in the measure of inflation.
|
|
|
As an Amendment to Mr Nick Clegg’s proposed Motion (The Economy, Repossessions and the Housing Market):
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘acknowledges the resilience of the United Kingdom economy, which grew faster than
any other major economy in 2007 and in which employment is at record levels; notes that the record of economic stability since
1997 has laid the foundation for rising home ownership, with the number of owner-occupier households rising by 1.8 million
since 1997; further notes that household finances remain strong, with household assets worth over £7.5 trillion, more than
five times the level of personal debt; believes that the United Kingdom is well placed to respond to the challenges arising
from the continuing international financial turbulence; applauds the Government for managing the public finances within its
fiscal rules; recognises that the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee has cut interest rates twice in recent months;
further acknowledges that mortgage interest rates are currently around half the level of those reached in the early 1990s
and that the proportion of repossessions is less than one third of the rate in the peak year of 1991; welcomes the Council
of Mortgage Lenders’ recent statement, which sets out the steps that the industry is taking to support borrowers facing repossession,
including working with debt advisers, pro-actively identifying at-risk borrowers and only repossessing as a last resort; and
supports the Government’s initiatives to assist home ownership, including new measures to encourage long term fixed rate borrowing
and new forms of shared equity.’.
|
|
| |
GOVERNMENT POLICY ON HEATHROW AIRPORT
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House recognises the urgent need to curb carbon dioxide emissions to tackle climate change; condemns the Government
for following policies that will instead lead to significant growth in emissions from the aviation sector; particularly condemns
plans to allow a third runway at Heathrow; believes that the consultation paper Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport was deeply
flawed and is concerned at the undue influence BAA played in the drafting of the paper; notes that the paper significantly
overstated the economic case for a third runway while greatly underplaying the serious environmental consequences, including,
as well as the extra emissions from flights, the increase in intensity and distribution of noise for those living under the
flight path through runway alternation and the threat of forced relocation for the inhabitants of Sipson village; and calls
on the Government to withdraw permanently plans for a third runway at Heathrow, to keep the present cap of 480,000 flights
per year as opposed to the 700,000 envisaged in the consultation document, to rule out any further increase in airport capacity
in the South East, and to indicate to the aviation sector that it will have to live within its existing infrastructure capacity.
|
|
|
As Amendments to Mr Nick Clegg’s proposed Motion (Government Policy on Heathrow Airport):
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘recognises that the Government’s policy on airport expansion is consistent with its
long term, balanced and sustainable aviation strategy as set out in the 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport, that
its support for emissions trading represents the most effective way of tackling climate change concerns, that the Adding Capacity
at Heathrow Airport consultation is a robust document that is the product of a lengthy period of comprehensive analysis, that
the consultation process followed best practice as set out by the Cabinet Office, that the economic case for the expansion
of Heathrow Airport, as set out in the consultation, accurately reflects the Government’s current understanding of all the
relevant costs and benefits, and that Ministers should base their forthcoming decisions on the future of Heathrow on all the
evidence available, including the responses to the consultation’.
|
|
|
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘recognises’ to end and add ‘believes that the Government has not made out the case for a third runway or
an end to runway alternation at Heathrow Airport; further believes that the analysis of the economic case in the consultation
document Adding Capacity at Heathrow and the Oxford Economic Forecasting report on Heathrow is inadequate and pays insufficient
regard to the costs of pollution and noise in the surrounding areas; considers that the Government has not demonstrated that
expansion is consistent with meeting key environmental tests, including complying with EU rules on nitrous oxide emissions,
which are binding from 2010, ensuring there is no increase in the overall noise footprint of Heathrow, achieving a progressive
reduction of that footprint in the medium term, or meeting climate change targets for cutting carbon dioxide emissions; calls
for full consideration to be urgently given to other means of dealing with capacity constraints at Heathrow, including progress
towards more high speed rail in the United Kingdom; condemns the Government for running a sham consultation when it is already
determined to build a third runway regardless of the results of the consultation; and regrets the Government’s heavy dependence
on data supplied by BAA in assessing the case for expansion.’.
|
|
|
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)).
|
|
Debate may continue until 7.00 p.m.
|
|
†
|
3
|
IMMIGRATION
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That the draft Immigration (Registration Card) Order 2008, which was laid before this House on 5th March, be approved.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
|
†
|
4
|
DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL (JOINT COMMITTEE)
|
[No debate after 7.00 p.m.]
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House concurs with the Lords Message of 20th March, that it is expedient that a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons
be appointed to consider and report on any draft Constitutional Renewal Bill presented to both Houses.
|
|
| |
That a Select Committee of eleven Members be appointed to join with the Committee appointed by the Lords to consider the draft
Constitutional Renewal Bill (Cm. 7342).
|
|
| |
That the Committee should report on the draft Bill by 17th July 2008.
|
|
| |
That the Committee shall have power—
|
|
|
(i) to send for persons, papers and records;
|
|
|
(ii)
|
to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House;
|
|
|
(iii)
|
to report from time to time;
|
|
|
(iv)
|
to appoint specialist advisers; and
|
|
|
(v)
|
to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom.
|
|
| |
That Mr Alistair Carmichael, Mr Geoffrey Cox, Michael Jabez Foster, Mark Lazarowicz, Martin Linton, Ian Lucas, Fiona Mactaggart,
Mr Virendra Sharma, Emily Thornberry, Mr Andrew Tyrie and Sir George Young be members of the Committee.
|
|
|
If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 7.00 p.m.
|
At the end of the sitting:
|
|
|
Proposed subject: Biosimilar medicines (Dr Brian Iddon).
|
|
Debate may continue until 7.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
|
|
COMMITTEES
|
DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
|
|
1
|
Third Delegated Legislation Committee
|
2.30 p.m.
|
Room 9 (public)
|
|
To consider the draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008.
|
|
SELECT COMMITTEES
|
|
2
|
Business and Enterprise
|
9.00 a.m.
|
The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
9.15 a.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Creating a Higher Value-Added Economy.
|
|
Witnesses: National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts; The Work Foundation (at 10.15 a.m.).
|
|
3
|
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
|
9.00 a.m.
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
4
|
Children, Schools and Families
|
9.15 a.m.
|
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
5
|
Work and Pensions
|
9.15 a.m.
|
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
6
|
Foreign Affairs
|
2.00 p.m.
|
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
2.30 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Global Security: Japan and Korea.
|
|
Witnesses: Ms Norma Kang Muico, Amnesty International; Sir Stephen Gomersall KCMG and Dr Jim Hoare (at 3.30 p.m.).
|
|
7
|
European Scrutiny
|
2.30 p.m.
|
Room 19 (private)
|
| |
As soon as convenient after 2.30 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Scrutiny of European Documents.
|
|
8
|
Northern Ireland Affairs
|
2.30 p.m.
|
Room 16 (private)
|
| |
3.00 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Policing and Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.
|
|
Witnesses: British Irish Rights Watch; Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers’ Association (at 4.00 p.m.).
|
|
9
|
Procedure
|
2.30 p.m.
|
Room 20 (private)
|
|
|
10
|
Transport
|
2.30 p.m.
|
Room 6 (private)
|
| |
2.45 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: The Blue Badge (Disabled Parking) Reform Strategy.
|
|
Witnesses: Rob Smith CB, Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and Mobilise; Disability Alliance, Help the Aged, Citizens
Advice, and Technical Advisors Group (at 3.30 p.m.); Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State, and Miranda Carter, Head
of Accessibility and Equalities Unit, Department for Transport (at 4.15 p.m.).
|
|
11
|
Environmental Audit
|
2.40 p.m.
|
Room 8 (private)
|
| |
3.00 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Climate change and local, regional and devolved government.
|
|
Witnesses: Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government.
|
|
12
|
Public Accounts
|
3.30 p.m.
|
Room 15 (public)
|
|
Subject: Preparing for sporting success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
|
|
Witnesses: Jonathan Stephens, Permanent Secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and John Steele, Chief Executive,
and Liz Nicholl OBE, Director of Elite Sport, UK Sport.
|
|
13
|
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|
4.15 p.m.
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
|
|
14
|
Selection
|
4.45 p.m.
|
Room 13 (private)
|
|
|
15
|
Statutory Instruments
|
As soon as convenient after 4.00 p.m.
|
Room 7 (private)
|
|
|
JOINT COMMITTEE
|
|
16
|
Statutory Instruments
|
4.00 p.m.
|
Room 7 (private)
|
|
|
OPPOSED BILL COMMITTEE
|
|
17
|
Transport for London [Lords]
|
10.00 a.m.
|
Room 5 (private)
|
| |
10.15 a.m.
|
(public)
|
| |
1.30 p.m.
|
(public)
|
|
[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: New reverse designs for United Kingdom coinage.
|
|
|
2
|
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Continuation of suspension of adoptions from Cambodia.
|
|
|
3
|
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Qualifications Regulation: Next Steps.
|
|
|
4
|
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Strengthening the school admissions system.
|
|
|
5
|
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Protection of school playing fields.
|
|
|
6
|
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Local government.
|
|
|
7
|
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Draft Heritage Protection Bill.
|
|
|
8
|
Secretary of State for Defence: Continued call-out of reservists for operations in the Balkans.
|
|
|
9
|
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills: Artist’s resale right: Statement by the UK Government.
|
|
|
10
|
Secretary of State for International Development: Funding for the Palestinian Authority.
|
|
|
11
|
Secretary of State for Justice: Tribunals Service key performance indicators 2008-09.
|
|
|
12
|
Secretary of State for Justice: Legal aid reform.
|
|
|
13
|
Secretary of State for Justice: Best value in probation.
|
|
|
14
|
Secretary of State for Justice: Extension of appointment of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
|
|
|
15
|
Secretary of State for Transport: Award of additional Transport Innovation Fund pump priming and development funding.
|
|
|
16
|
Secretary of State for Transport: Highways Agency roadside facilities policy.
|
|
|
17
|
Secretary of State for Transport: Update on bulk mail handling procedures.
|
|
|
|
|
Written Question tabled on Tuesday 1st April for answer today‡
|
1 |
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 25th
March 2008, to the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, Official Report, columns 89-90W, on Freedom of Information, what further
steps the Members Estimate Committee plans to take regarding Freedom of Information requests for data held by the House. |
|
(199136)
|
|
