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Order of Business Thursday 8 December 2011

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

House of Commons

Order of Business

 

At 10.30 am

  Prayers

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 Business, Innovation and Skills

* 1

Tristram Hunt (Stoke-on-Trent Central):  What recent steps his Department has taken to support the manufacturing sector.

(85391)

* 2

Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth):  What recent progress his Department has made on its employment law review being undertaken as part of the red tape challenge.

(85392)

* 3

Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge):  When he plans to publish his innovation and research strategy.

(85393)

* 4

Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):  What steps his Department is taking to help small and medium-sized businesses to access export markets.

(85395)

* 5

Margot James (Stourbridge):  What steps his Department is taking to support the commercialisation of new discoveries in life sciences.

(85396)

* 6

Keith Vaz (Leicester East):  What recent steps he has taken to ensure that the liquidation of Bank of Credit and Commerce International is complete.

(85397)

* 7

Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire):  What steps he is taking to assist unemployed people to start new businesses.

(85398)

* 8

Esther McVey (Wirral West):  What assessment he has made of the effect of the Regional Growth Fund on private sector investment.

(85399)

* 9

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk):  How he proposes that his Department's investment in Graphene will be spent.

[R] (85400)

* 10

Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North):  What assessment he has made of the benefit to UK business of the investment in low-cost radar satellites announced in the Autumn Statement.

(85401)

* 11

Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove):  What steps he is taking to promote adult and community learning.

(85402)

* 12

Glenda Jackson (Hampstead and Kilburn):  What recent progress he has made on the Green Investment Bank.

(85404)

* 13

Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton):  What recent progress his Department has made on its employment law review being undertaken as part of the red tape challenge.

(85405)

* 14

Graham Evans (Weaver Vale):  When he plans to publish his innovation and research strategy.

(85406)

* 15

Robert Halfon (Harlow):  What steps he is taking to ensure that apprenticeships offer a route to higher-level skills.

(85407)

* 16

Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North):  What plans he has to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to offer apprenticeships.

(85408)

* 17

Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon):  What recent progress his Department has made on its employment law review being undertaken as part of the red tape challenge.

(85410)

* 18

George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth):  What progress his Department has made in assessing applications by further education colleges for Phase 2 of the Enhanced Renewal Grant.

(85411)

* 19

Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough):  What assessment he has made of the effect on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises of planned reductions in the level of taxation; and if he will make a statement.

(85413)

* 20

Neil Carmichael (Stroud):  What recent assessment he has made of the performance of the manufacturing sector.

(85415)

At 11.15 am

Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

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

* T1

Sajid Javid (Bromsgrove):  If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

(85416)

* T2

Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark):

(85417)

* T3

David Rutley (Macclesfield):

(85418)

* T4

Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover):

(85419)

* T5

Julie Hilling (Bolton West):

(85420)

* T6

Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham):

(85421)

* T7

Naomi Long (Belfast East):

(85422)

* T8

Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire):

(85423)

* T9

Mark Menzies (Fylde):

(85424)

 

At 11.30 am

  Urgent Questions (if any)
 

  Business Question to the Leader of the House
 

  Ministerial Statements (if any)
 

Main Business

†

  indicates Government Business

1

OPPOSITION DAY (un-allotted half day)

[Up to three hours]

 

PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS

Hywel Williams

Dr Eilidh Whiteford

Mr Elfyn Llwyd

Angus Robertson

Jonathan Edwards

Stewart Hosie

Pete Wishart   

Mr Mike Weir   

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil

John McDonnell
 

   That this House recognises and appreciates the valuable work done by public sector workers; believes that they should receive pensions which are affordable, sustainable and fair; further believes that the changes announced since June 2010 by the Government are primarily for the purposes of deficit reduction rather than a move to secure the long-term sustainability of public sector pensions; notes that these changes are unfair on public sector workers who will have to work longer, pay more and receive less in their pension when they retire; further notes the findings of the National Audit Office that the 2007-08 pensions re-negotiation changes will generate estimated savings of 14 per cent. by 2059-60 and the conclusions of the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts’ Thirty-eighth Report of this Session on the Impact of the 2007-08 changes to public sector pensions (HC 833), that the cost of public service pensions has reduced substantially because of these changes; agrees with criticism in both reports of the failure to develop a long-term strategy for the role of pensions in recruitment and retention to the public sector; condemns the Government’s threat to cut devolved administrations’ budgets if they do not implement the Government’s immediate levy on pensions contributions; and calls on the Government to reverse its unfair changes to public sector pensions.

   As an Amendment to Hywel Williams’ proposed Motion (Public sector pensions):

Edward Miliband

Ed Balls

Margaret Curran

Mr Peter Hain

Rachel Reeves

Ms Rosie Winterton

(a)

 

   Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes that the previous administration negotiated a deal to ensure the cost of public sector pensions could not become unsustainable; understands that this would have required difficult decisions in this Parliament, including some increases in pension contributions and a change to the retirement age; further notes that the Government has unilaterally changed the indexation of public sector pensions from RPI to CPI, wiping 11 per cent. off the value of pensions, and that this permanent measure will remain even after the deficit is gone; believes that the unilateral imposition of a 3 per cent. surcharge for all employees is not only unfair in the short term but risks the sustainability of public sector pension schemes in the long term; is concerned that Ministers claim to have made their ‘final offer’ and that they refuse to negotiate on the 3 pence in the pound rise in pension contributions; recognises that some proposed reforms, including to the pension age and to average salary schemes, are sensible and should form part of a negotiated settlement; further believes that a negotiated settlement is only possible if both sides in the dispute give some ground; notes with concern that the Government has been deliberately provocative and undermined negotiations by refusing to discuss the issue of pension contributions; and further recognises that Scottish Ministers have powers relating to certain public sector pensions and have the responsibility to use these powers in the best interests of public sector workers in Scotland.’.

   The selection of the matter to be debated this day has been made by the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

   Proceedings on the Motion may continue, though opposed, for three hours and will then lapse if not previously disposed of; paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 31 (Questions on amendments) shall apply as if the day were an Opposition Day; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) will not apply (Order of 1 December).

†

2

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN (AMENDMENT) BILL [MONEY]: Queen’s Recommendation signified.

[Up to 45 minutes]

Mark Hoban

 

   That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money provided by Parliament of any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided.

   The Speaker will put the Question not later than 45 minutes after proceedings begin (Standing Order No. 52(1)(b)).

 

At the end of the sitting:

3

ADJOURNMENT

  

   Proposed subject: Extending the approved use of low-dose naltrexone  (Nia Griffith).

   Debate may continue until 6.30 pm or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

 

COMMITTEES

SELECT COMMITTEES

1

Liaison

9.15 am

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House (private)

2

Political and Constitutional Reform

9.45 am

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

10.00 am

(public)

   Subject: Mapping the Path to Codifying–or not Codifying–the UK’s Constitution.

   Witnesses: Rt Hon Tony Benn, Professor Richard Gordon QC, and Frank Vibert, Department of Government, London School of Economics.

3

Home Affairs

12 noon

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (private)

 

12.30 pm

(public)

   Subject: UK Border Checks during Summer 2011.

   Witness: Jonathan Sedgwick, International Group Director, UK Border Agency.

4

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

2.30 pm

Stade Hall, Hastings, East Sussex (public)

   Subject: Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

   Witnesses: East Sussex fishermen: David Scott, Fish Producer Organisation Board Member and past President of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, Bill Brook, South Western Fish Producer Organisation, Paul Joy, co-chair of the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association and South-East representative, Graham Doswell, New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association South-East representative and chairman of Eastbourne’s Fishermen’s Association; Nick Hales, local restaurateur, Adam Whittle, Billingsgate Seafood School, Philip MacMullen and Hazel Curtis, Seafish representative and chairman of Eastbourne’s Fishermen’s Association (at 3.30 pm).

JOINT COMMITTEE

5

Draft Financial Services Bill

9.30 am

Room 3 (private)

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

 

PUBLICATION OF SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

Thursday 8 December

Time of publication

No.

1

Public Administration

9.00 am

HC 910

   Appointment of the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority (Sixteenth Report).

2

Standards and Privileges

11.00 am

HC 1689

   Registration of Staff of All-Party Groups (Twenty-first Report).
 

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: Innovation and research strategy.

2

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: Unlocking growth in cities.

3

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Bank levy double taxation agreement between the United Kingdom and Germany.

4

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: RDEL revisions.

5

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Local government finance.

6

Secretary of State for Defence: Libya (Operation Ellamy).

7

Secretary of State for Defence: Submarine service.

8

Secretary of State for Education: Academies funding transfer for 2011-12 and 2012-13.

9

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Publication of New Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning Financing.

10

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Water White Paper.

11

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Afghanistan: Outcomes of the Bonn International Conference, 5 December 2011.

12

Secretary of State for Health: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: 2 December 2011.

13

Secretary of State for Health: Update on Winterbourne View and ongoing reviews and investigations.

14

Secretary of State for the Home Department: Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action.

15

Secretary of State for the Home Department: G6 meeting, Paris, 1 December 2011.

16

Secretary of State for the Home Department: Provisional police funding announcement.

17

Secretary of State for Justice: Abolition of committals: Commencement of Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

18

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland: Fourth Annual Report of the Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007.

19

Secretary of State for Transport: Court notification of drink-driving offences.

20

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 1 December 2011, Brussels.

 

General Committee Notices

        The First Delegated Legislation Committee will meet on Monday 12 December at 4.30 pm to consider the draft Open-Ended Investment Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and the draft Finance Act 2011 (Bank Levy: Amendment of Netting Agreements Provisions) Order 2011.

        The Second Delegated Legislation Committee will meet on Monday 12 December at 4.30 pm to consider the draft Elected Local Policing Bodies (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2011 and the draft Local Policing Bodies (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2011.

        The Third Delegated Legislation Committee will meet on Monday 12 December at 4.30 pm to consider the draft Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions and Community Energy Saving) (Amendment) Order 2011.

        The Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee will meet on Tuesday 13 December at 4.30 pm to consider the draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Jobseeking and Work for Your Benefit) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2012.

 

Prepared 8th December 2011