|
+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.
House of Commons
Order of Business
|
At 2.30 pm
|
Prayers
|
| |
Ministerial Statements (if any)
|
Afterwards
|
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
|
 1
|
|
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): What discussions he has had with the City of Nottingham Council on its proposed workplace parking levy; and if he will make
a statement.
|
|
(261704)
|
2
|
|
Ann Winterton (Congleton): What recent assessment he has made of levels of rail fares.
|
|
(261705)
|
3
|
|
Anne Snelgrove (South Swindon): What plans he has to improve levels of safety and accessibility at railway stations; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(261706)
|
4
|
|
Mr Douglas Carswell (Harwich): What plans he is making for high-speed rail connections between London and the North of England.
|
|
(261707)
|
5
|
|
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): When he next expects to meet representatives of train operating companies to discuss catering on trains.
|
|
(261708)
|
6
|
|
Mr David Clelland (Tyne Bridge): If he will bring forward proposals for a national strategy for integrated ticketing across different modes of transport.
|
|
(261709)
|
7
|
|
Sandra Gidley (Romsey): What recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on changes to ticket office opening hours at railway stations.
|
|
(261710)
|
8
|
|
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): What assessment he has made of the cost to local authorities to date of providing the national concessionary bus fares scheme.
|
|
(261711)
|
9
|
|
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells): If he will amend his Department's criteria for the allocation of capital expenditure under local transport plans to provide
for greater devolution of responsibilities to local government.
|
|
(261712)
|
10
|
|
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East): Which sections of the M4 and M5 in the Bristol area he plans to include in the hard shoulder motorway widening scheme.
|
|
(261713)
|
11
|
|
Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): What plans he has to extend the use of active traffic management systems across the country; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(261714)
|
12
|
|
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): What recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on changes to ticket office opening times at railway stations.
|
|
(261715)
|
13
|
|
Damian Green (Ashford): What discussions he has had with train operating companies on the commercial viability of their franchises in the current
economic situation.
|
|
(261716)
|
14
|
|
John Barrett (Edinburgh West): What recent assessment he has made of the capacity of the rail network.
|
|
(261717)
|
15
|
|
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): What recent assessment he has made of reimbursement rates to local authorities for their expenditure under the national concessionary
bus fares scheme; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(261718)
|
16
|
|
Laura Moffatt (Crawley): What steps he plans to take to reduce the number of drivers under 25 years old who die in road accidents.
|
|
(261719)
|
17
|
|
Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): When he expects to make a decision on the proposed electrification of the East Midlands Line.
|
|
(261720)
|
18
|
|
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What assessment he has made of the merits of easing the restriction on the volume of liquids permissible in air passengers'
hand baggage; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(261721)
|
19
|
|
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): What recent representations he has received on the restoration of passenger services on the National Forest Line between Burton-on-Trent
and Leicester; and if he will make a statement.
|
|
(261722)
|
20
|
|
Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): What measures are in place to ensure that registered sex offenders may not operate as driving instructors.
|
|
(261723)
|
At 3.05 pm
|
Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
|
|
The Members listed below have been selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question.
|
T1
|
|
Martin Linton (Battersea): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
|
|
(261724)
|
T2
|
|
Ms Angela C. Smith (Sheffield, Hillsborough):
|
|
(261725)
|
T3
|
|
Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove):
|
|
(261726)
|
T4
|
|
Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):
|
|
(261727)
|
T5
|
|
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire):
|
|
(261728)
|
T6
|
|
Mark Hunter (Cheadle):
|
|
(261729)
|
T7
|
|
John Robertson (Glasgow North West):
|
|
(261730)
|
T8
|
|
Mr Philip Dunne (Ludlow):
|
|
(261731)
|
At 3.15 pm
|
Oral Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality
|
1
|
|
Lyn Brown (West Ham): Whether the proposed new equality duty will apply to equality of opportunity in respect of religion and belief.
|
|
(261694)
|
2
|
|
Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): What safeguards she plans to include in the Equality Bill to protect employees and service users against discrimination by
religious organisations providing public services.
|
|
(261695)
|
3
|
|
Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): What steps she plans to take to increase the number of women in public life; and if she will make a statement.
|
|
(261696)
|
4
|
|
Christopher Fraser (South West Norfolk): What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding arrangements for rape crisis centres.
|
|
(261697)
|
5
|
|
Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): What discussions she has had with the Second Church Estates Commissioner on the employment of women in the church.
|
|
(261698)
|
6
|
|
Julie Morgan (Cardiff North): If she will commission research to examine whether there is a relationship between major sporting events and levels of domestic
violence.
|
|
(261699)
|
7
|
|
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall): What provision she plans to make in the Equality Bill for the use of positive action to redress inequalities at work.
|
|
(261700)
|
8
|
|
Anne Moffat (East Lothian): What support the Government is giving to women affected by the economic downturn.
|
|
(261701)
|
9
|
|
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): When the Government plans to bring into force section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.
|
|
(261702)
|
10
|
|
Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North): What steps the Government is taking to reduce the gender pay gap.
|
|
(261703)
|
|
At 3.30 pm
|
Urgent Questions (if any)
|
| |
Ministerial Statements (if any)
|
Preliminary Business
Ten minute rule Motion
|
1
|
BANKERS’ PENSIONS (LIMITS)
|
[Up to 20 minutes]
|
|
|
|
| |
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for the pensions of board members of banks that are wholly or partly
in public ownership to be limited in certain circumstances; 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 (7th allotted day)
|
[Until 10.00 pm]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House notes that unemployment rose by 146,000 to 1.97 million in the three months to December 2008, the highest
level since August 1997, that the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in January 2009 rose by 73,800 to 1.23 million,
and that the number of vacancies in the UK fell by 76,000 in the three months to January 2009 to 504,000, the lowest figure
since records began; further notes that unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds was 616,000 in the three months to November,
the highest total since 1995; further notes that the Government has failed to establish a national loan guarantee scheme to
increase the flow of credit to businesses, and calls on the Government to establish such a scheme; further notes that the
Government failed to introduce necessary welfare reform during the years of economic growth; further calls on the Government
to relax the rules on jobseeker’s allowance to allow unemployed people rapidly to take up training opportunities; believes
that the Government should immediately cut taxes for firms taking on new employees who have been unemployed for three months;
notes with concern the failure of the procurement process for Flexible New Deal, and further calls on the Government not to
backtrack on the use of the private and voluntary sectors in welfare-to-work provisions; and calls on the Department for Work
and Pensions to expand the use of an ‘invest to save’ approach to welfare-to-work services, allowing the full potential of
the expertise in these sectors to be realised.
|
|
|
As Amendments to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Unemployment in the UK):
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes the Government is predicted to spend £12.4 billion on a cut in value added
tax (VAT) which will offer little help to people hit by the recession; calls on the Government immediately to reverse the
VAT cut and invest in a programme to create in excess of 90,000 jobs and a legacy of affordable housing, energy-efficient
public buildings and sustainable public transport; notes with concern that increasing numbers of people are coming into contact
with Jobcentre Plus for the first time and feel let down by the level of support available; recognises the hard work and dedication
of Jobcentre staff but further notes that they are prevented from offering a personalised service to jobseekers by centrally
imposed, over-prescriptive programmes; believes that these programmes, which withhold intensive and specialist support from
the majority of jobseekers for 12 months, are inadequate to meet jobseekers’ needs; further calls on the Government to reform
Jobcentre Plus to provide customers with a broader range of services to meet their needs during periods of unemployment, such
as debt and mortgage advice; further calls on the Government to reform Jobcentre Plus in line with the changing demographic
of the unemployed population which has rendered existing Jobcentre Plus provision inadequate; further believes that the involvement
of private and voluntary sector providers in welfare to work should be evidence-based; and calls on Ministers to publish all
data on private provider performance as soon as it is available.’.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b)
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes that unemployment is rising in Britain and across the world; believes that
unemployment is never a price worth paying and that as unemployment rises the amount of support that is offered should be
increased; further notes that the Government is investing nearly £2 billion extra into giving additional assistance for the
unemployed and that this will provide additional help to people losing their jobs, including a national rapid response service
to react to redundancy situations, advice from day one of unemployment on skills and finding a job, assistance to pay mortgage
bills to prevent people losing both their jobs and their homes, cash incentives for employers to recruit and train unemployed
people, more training opportunities to help people back to work and more places on the New Deal employment programme; believes
that it is preferable to invest millions into helping people now than to spend billions of pounds of public money on benefits
in the future; further notes that in previous recessions the numbers on inactive benefits were allowed to increase dramatically;
further believes that the mistakes of previous recessions must be avoided by investing now to prevent people becoming long-term
unemployed today; and further believes that the Government should increase the support offered to people trapped on benefits
by previous recessions.’.
|
|
| |
EUROPEAN WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House opposes the forthcoming blanket imposition in Britain of the 48-hour working week under the European Working
Time Directive in August 2009; welcomes improvements in the workplace which improve safety and general well-being but does
not believe that the further implementation of the Directive is necessary to deliver this; notes in particular the potential
impact on patient safety arising from reduced and inflexible working hours for NHS doctors; recognises the additional constraints
imposed on the NHS by the SiMAP and Jaeger judgements; is disturbed by the negative impact of the Directive on medical training
and on the viability of some frontline services; further notes that the New Deal for Doctors in 1991 would have secured the
necessary reduction in junior doctors’ hours; regrets a series of missed opportunities to amend the worst aspects of the Directive
since 2003; expresses solidarity with other member states who are finding the Directive impracticable, including the 15 countries
that currently depend on derogation; further notes that the loss of the opt-out and the distinction between active and inactive
on-call time would also be deeply damaging to British business and other public services such as those provided by retained
fire-fighters; fully agrees with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform that the UK should
stand firm in support of the opt-out; deeply regrets that most Labour Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have failed
to support the Government’s position; advises Labour MEPs to support the retention of the opt-out; and urges the Government
to give full consideration to alternative solutions.
|
|
|
As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (European Working Time Directive):
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
| |
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘agrees it is right that no worker should be required to work longer than 48 hours
per week averaged over 26 weeks unless he or she freely chooses to do so; notes the Government’s manifesto commitment to maintaining
the individual opt-out from the European Working Time Directive; further notes the importance of the individual opt-out which
is used by the UK along with 14 other EU member states; recognises that maintaining the individual opt-out is a key part of
the UK’s flexible labour market and of particular importance during the current economic climate; understands the particular
concerns related to the working of excessive hours in the medical professions and welcomes the significant progress that has
been made in the NHS to reduce junior doctors’ hours; further notes the challenges faced as a result of the SiMAP and Jaeger
judgements; further recognises that a solution is required in order to bring back much needed flexibility to the treatment
of on-call time and compensatory rest time; welcomes the significant progress made in introducing the Working Time Directive
across all clinical and staff groups within the NHS; further recognises that an extended derogation is necessary for a limited
number of specialties and isolated, rural locations in order to ensure the efficient implementation of the Directive; and
supports the continuing action to work with staff, clinicians, the British Medical Association and the Royal Colleges to ensure
the workable implementation of the Working Time Directive to the benefit of patients and staff.’.
|
|
|
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 pm.
|
|
†
|
3
|
CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL: Second Reading.
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
Third Reading will also be taken.
|
|
The Questions on Second and Third Reading of the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill will be put without debate (Standing
Order No. 56).
|
|
†
|
4
|
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That the draft Parliamentary Constituencies (England) (Amendment) Order 2009, which was laid before this House on 29 January,
be approved.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).
|
|
†
|
5
|
ADJOURNMENT (EASTER)
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House, at its rising on Thursday 2 April 2009, do adjourn till Monday 20 April 2009.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 25).
|
|
†
|
6
|
ADJOURNMENT (WHITSUN)
|
[No debate]
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House, at its rising on Thursday 21 May 2009, do adjourn till Monday 1 June 2009.
|
|
|
To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 25).
|
|
†
|
7
|
USE OF THE CHAMBER (UNITED KINGDOM YOUTH PARLIAMENT)
|
[No debate after 10.00 pm]
|
|
|
|
| |
That this House welcomes the work of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament in providing young people with an opportunity to
engage with the political process and bring about social change; notes that many hon. Members from all parts of the House
are actively involved in the work of the UK Youth Parliament; and accordingly resolves that the UK Youth Parliament should
be allowed for this year alone to hold its 2009 annual meeting in the Chamber of this House.
|
|
|
As an Amendment to Ms Harriet Harman’s proposed Motion (Use of the Chamber (United Kingdom Youth Parliament)):
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
| |
Line 6, leave out ‘the Chamber’ and insert ‘Committee Room 14’.
|
|
|
If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 pm.
|
At the end of the sitting:
|
|
|
Proposed subject: Government policy on regulation of the legal profession (Nadine Dorries).
|
|
Debate may continue until 10.30 pm or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).
|
|
|
COMMITTEES
|
PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEES
|
|
1
|
Coroners and Justice Bill Committee
|
10.30 am
|
Room 14 (public)
|
| |
4.00 pm
|
(public)
|
|
Further to consider the Bill.
|
|
2
|
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill Committee
|
10.30 am
|
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (public)
|
|
Further to take evidence on the Bill.
|
|
Witnesses am: Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (until no
later than 1.00 pm).
|
|
3
|
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill Committee
|
4.00 pm
|
Room 10 (public)
|
|
To consider the Bill.
|
|
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE
|
|
4
|
European Committee A
|
4.30 pm
|
Room 12 (public)
|
|
To consider EU Document No. 12832/08 and Addenda 1 to 3 relating to the Control of Ozone-Depleting Substances.
|
|
DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEES
|
|
5
|
Third Delegated Legislation Committee
|
10.30 am
|
Room 9 (public)
|
|
To consider the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 2928).
|
|
6
|
Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee
|
4.30 pm
|
Room 11 (public)
|
|
To consider the draft Child Support (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2009.
|
|
SELECT COMMITTEES
|
|
7
|
Regulatory Reform
|
9.30 am
|
Room 19 (private)
|
| |
9.35 am
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Themes and Trends in Regulatory Reform.
|
|
Witnesses: William Sargent, Executive Chair and Jitinder Kohli, Chief Executive, Better Regulation Executive.
|
|
8
|
Defence
|
10.00 am
|
Room 15 (private)
|
|
|
9
|
Environmental Audit
|
10.00 am
|
Room 5 (private)
|
|
|
10
|
North West Regional Affairs
|
10.00 am
|
Room 17 (private)
|
|
|
11
|
Welsh Affairs
|
10.00 am
|
Room 6 (private)
|
| |
10.30 am
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Digital Inclusion.
|
|
Witnesses: BT Wales; Geo Networks and Virgin Media (at 11.15 am).
|
|
12
|
Business and Enterprise
|
10.15 am
|
Room 8 (private)
|
| |
10.30 am
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Digital Britain.
|
|
Witness: Lord Carter of Barnes CBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory
Reform.
|
|
13
|
Culture, Media and Sport
|
10.15 am
|
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
10.30 am
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Press Standards, Privacy and Libel.
|
|
Witness: Max Mosley.
|
|
14
|
Home Affairs
|
10.15 am
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
11.00 am
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Knife Crime.
|
|
Witnesses: West Midlands Mediation and Transformation Service, Kids Company and Damilola Taylor Trust; Philip Hearne, former
Principal, Paddington Academy (at 11.50 am); Philip Lawrence Awards (at 12.10 pm).
|
|
15
|
Culture, Media and Sport
|
2.15 pm
|
The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
2.45 pm
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Press Standards, Privacy and Libel.
|
|
Witnesses: Gerry McCann, Clarence Mitchell and Adam Tudor, Carter-Ruck Solicitors.
|
|
16
|
Justice
|
4.00 pm
|
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
4.15 pm
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: (i) Work of the Crown Prosecution Service (ii) Work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
|
|
Witnesses: (i) Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Attorney General (ii) Criminal Cases Review Commission (at 5.15 pm).
|
|
17
|
South East Regional Affairs
|
5.00 pm
|
Room 17 (private)
|
|
|
JOINT COMMITTEE
|
|
18
|
Human Rights
|
1.30 pm
|
Room 5 (private)
|
| |
1.45 pm
|
(public)
|
|
Subject: Children’s Rights.
|
|
Witnesses: Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children’s Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young
People, Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales and Patricia Lewsley, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and
Young People.
|
|
OTHER
|
|
19
|
Speaker’s Conference
|
10.00 am
|
The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)
|
| |
10.40 am
|
(public)
|
|
Witnesses: UK Youth Parliament and UpRising; Citizenship Foundation and the Association for Citizenship Teaching (at 11.10
am); Parliamentary Education Service and Department of Information Services, House of Commons (at 11.40 am).
|
[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: ECOFIN: 10 March 2009.
|
|
|
2
|
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Office of Fair Trading report regarding the impact on competition of public support to Northern Rock.
|
|
|
3
|
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: VAT and duties tribunals.
|
|
|
4
|
Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Taxation of foreign currency transactions.
|
|
|
5
|
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: Contingency Fund borrowing for the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).
|
|
|
6
|
Secretary of State for the Home Department: Migration reform: Points-based system.
|
|
|
7
|
Secretary of State for the Home Department: Race Relations (Immigration and Asylum) (War Crimes etc.) Authorisation 2007 and the Race Relations (Nationality) (War Crimes
etc.) Arrangements 2007.
|
|
|
8
|
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Publication of Working Together: Public Services on your side.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
