Business Today: Chamber for Wednesday 27 November 2013

11.30am Prayers

Followed by

 QUESTIONS

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

1 Naomi Long (Belfast East )
What assessment she has made of the Amnesty International report entitled Northern Ireland: time to deal with the past, published in September 2013; and if she will make a statement. (901223)

2 Bob Blackman (Harrow East)
What recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on building a shared future in Northern Ireland. (901224)

3 Karl M c Cartney (Lincoln)
What recent discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on policing and security issues. (901225)

4 Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East )
What steps she is taking to reduce worklessness in Northern Ireland. (901226)

5 Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth )
What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's welfare reforms on Northern Ireland. (901227)

6 Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe)
What steps she is taking to reduce worklessness in Northern Ireland. (901228)

7 Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire)
What assessment she has made of the effect of the Investment Conference held in Belfast in October 2013. (901229)

8 Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith)
What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's welfare reforms on Northern Ireland. (901230)

9 Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down)
What assessment she has made of the effect of the rate of VAT on the tourism sector in Northern Ireland. (901232)

10 Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire)
What steps she is taking to reduce worklessness in Northern Ireland. (901233)

11 David Simpson (Upper Bann)
What recent progress has been made on the Haass talks. (901234)

12 Mark Durkan (Foyle)
What recent discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues and Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on the changes to Annually Managed Expenditure and the introduction of the welfare cap. (901235)

13 Alex Cunningham (Stockton North)
What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's welfare reforms on Northern Ireland. (901237)

At 12.00 pm

Oral Questions to the Prime Minister

Q1 Stephen McPartland (Stevenage)
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 27 November. (901283)

Q2 Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (901284)

Q3 Richard Fuller (Bedford) (901285)

Q4 Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (901286)

Q5 Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (901287)

Q6 Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) (901288)

Q7 Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (901289)

Q8 Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (901290)

Q9 Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (901291)

Q10 Teresa Pearce (Erith and Thamesmead) (901292)

Q11 Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (901293)

Q12 Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (901294)

Q13 Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (901295)

Q14 Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay ) (901296)

Q15 Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) (901297)

 URGENT QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

12.30pm

Urgent Questions (if any)

Ministerial Statements (if any)

 BUSINESS OF THE DAY

1. Winter Fuel Allowance Payments (Off Gas Grid Claimants): Ten Minute Rule Motion

Up to 20 minutes (Standing Order No. 23 )

Mr Mike Weir

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the early payment of winter fuel allowance to eligible persons whose residences are not connected to the mains gas grid and whose principal source of fuel is home fuel oil, liquid petroleum gas or propane gas; and for connected purposes.

Notes:

The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to 10 minutes.

2. OPPOSITION DAY (13th ALLOTTED DAY)

Until 7.00pm (Standing Order No. 9(3) )

Cost of living and the Government’s economic policy

Edward Miliband

Ed Balls

Chris Leslie

Mr Chuka Umunna

Catherine McKinnell

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House notes that the Government has failed to meet its own economic goals over the last three years with prices rising faster than wages for 40 out of 41 months, average earnings for working people £1,600 a year lower in real terms than in May 2010, economic growth far slower than expected, the Government’s pledge to balance the books by 2015 set to be broken and the UK’s credit rating downgraded; further notes that growth of 1.5 per cent is needed in every quarter between now and May 2015 in order to catch up the lost ground from three damaging years of flat-lining growth; believes the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement should take action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis which means that for most families there is still no economic recovery and to ensure recovery delivers rising living standards for all, is balanced and built to last; and calls on the Government to bring forward measures including an energy price freeze and long-term reforms to the energy market, an extension of free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds, action to boost long-term housing supply and a compulsory jobs guarantee for young people and the long-term unemployed.

Business rates

Edward Miliband

Hilary Benn

Mr Chuka Umunna

Ed Balls

Shabana Mahmood

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House recognises that the cost of living crisis is affecting businesses as well as families; notes that business rates have been rising and are due to increase further in April 2014, owing to their being linked to the 3.2 per cent Retail Price Index increase in September 2013; and calls on the Government to take action to ease the burden of business rates.

Amendment (a)

The Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary Eric Pickles

Brandon Lewis

Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘acknowledges that this Government is taking decisive action to back business and make Britain’s economy work for everyone; notes that the Government has cut business rates, National Insurance and corporation tax for small firms despite the need to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration; observes that the value of small business rate relief has trebled since the General Election and small business rate relief will be considered in the Autumn Statement; notes how the overall multiplier has been frozen in real terms; applauds the abolition of the unfair port taxes; welcomes the Localism Act which has made small business rate relief easier to claim and allows councils to introduce local discounts; notes with approval the rate relief in 24 enterprise zones; further welcomes the new empty rate relief for new build in contrast to the last Administration’s increases in empty rates; endorses the way in which local rate retention now gives councils further new incentives to support local enterprise; and rejects the policy proposals from Her Majesty’s Opposition on rates which would involve increasing corporation tax on all firms, undermining British jobs and businesses.’.

Notes:

Both debates will arise on an Opposition Motion.

The selection of the matters to be debated has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)).

3. EUROPEAN UNION

No debate (Standing Order No. 118(6) )

Secretary Vince Cable

That the draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Colombia and Peru Trade Agreement) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 21 October, be approved.

Notes:

If this item is opposed after 7.00pm, the division will be deferred.

4. HOUSING

No debate (Standing Order No. 118(6) )

Secretary Eric Pickles

That the draft Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Approval and Designation of Schemes) (England) Order 2013, which was laid before this House on 25 October, be approved.

Notes:

If this item is opposed after 7.00pm, the division will be deferred.

 PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC PETITIONS

No debate or decision (Standing Order No. 153)

Gas and electricity bills: Nic Dakin

Gas and electricity bills: Tom Blenkinsop

 ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

Until 7.30pm or for half an hour (whichever is later) (Standing Order No. 9(7))

Administration and insolvency: Steve Rotheram

 

 

BUSINESS TODAY: WESTMINSTER HALL

 ORDER OF BUSINESS

The first part of the sitting will last for two hours. The second part of the sitting will last for two and a half hours (Standing Order No. 10(1)).

9.30am

Nationalisation of Bradford & Bingley plc: Philip Davies

11.00am

Creating skills and apprenticeships in the North East: Guy Opperman

Notes:

The sitting will be suspended from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

2.30pm

Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis worldwide: Nic Dakin

4.00pm

Helicopter transport over the North Sea: Mr Frank Doran

4.30pm

Department for Work and Pensions offices on the Fylde: Paul Maynard

The debate will arise on a motion for the adjournment, to be moved by a Minister.

The second part of the sitting will be suspended and time added if divisions take place in the main Chamber (Standing Order No. 10(1)).

 

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

 Statements to be made today

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

1. Spanish interference with UK Government official communications

Notes:

Texts of Written Statements are available from the Vote Office and on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-written-statements/.

 

COMMITTEES MEETING TODAY

The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be changed without notice.

 Delegated Legislation Committees

Eighth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Categories of Gaming Machine (Amendment) Regulations 2014

Room 9

8.55am (public)

Ninth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft International Tax Enforcement (Marshall Islands) Order 2013, the draft Double Taxation Relief (China) Order 2013, the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Brunei Darussalam) Order 2013, the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Spain) Order 2013, the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (India) Order 2013 and the draft Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Albania) Order 2013

Room 9

2.30pm (public)

 Select Committees

Business, Innovation and Skills

Subject: Royal Mail privatisation

Witnesses: Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State and Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mark Russell, Chief Executive, Shareholder Executive and William Rucker, Chief Executive, Lazard

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

9.00am (private), 9.30am (public)

Science and Technology

Subject: variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD)

Witnesses: Professor James Ironside, Professor of Clinical Neuropathology, National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit, University of Edinburgh, Dr Roland Salmon, Joint Chair, Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens TSE Sub Group, and Professor John Collinge, Professor of Neurology, UCL Institute of Neurology and Director of the MRC Prion Unit.

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

9.00am (private), 9.05am (public)

Education

Subject: Residential children’s homes

Witnesses: Superintendent Laurence Taylor, Sussex Police, Chief Constable Patrick Geenty, Wiltshire Police, Association of Chief Police Officers lead on missing people, Jane Booth, Independent Chair, Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board, and Iryna Pona, Policy Adviser, Children’s Society; Kamran Abassi, Service Development Director, Advanced Childcare, Andrew Webb, President, Association of Directors of Children’s Services and Corporate Director, Services for People, Stockport Council, and Tim Parlow, Senior LAC/SEN Category Manager, North London Strategic Alliance (at 10.30am)

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

9.15am (private), 9.30am (public)

Work and Pensions

Subject: Progress with child maintenance reforms

Witnesses: Steve Webb MP, Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Room 16

9.15am (private), 9.30am (public)

Environmental Audit

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

1.45pm (private)

European Scrutiny

Room 19

2.00pm (private)

Regulatory Reform

Room 8

2.00pm (private)

Treasury

Subject: EU Financial Regulation

Witnesses: Dr Gerard Lyons, Chief Economic Advisor to the Mayor of London, Jim O’Neill, Visiting Research Fellow, Bruegel, Chair, Cities Growth Commission and former Chair, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and Sir Nigel Wicks, Chairman, British Bankers’ Association

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

2.00pm (private), 2.15pm (public)

Northern Ireland Affairs

Room 5

2.15pm (private)

Education

Room 17

3.00pm (private)

Procedure

Room 20

3.00pm (private)

Statutory Instruments

Room 7

As soon as convenient after 3.45pm (private)

Selection

Room 13

4.45pm (private)

Liaison

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

6.00pm (private)

 Joint Committees

Statutory Instruments

Room 7

3.45pm (private)

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS PUBLISHED TODAY

 European Scrutiny

22nd Report, HC 83 -x x

Time of publication: 11 .00 am

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Forthcoming End of Day Adjournment Debates

Tuesday 3 December to Monday 9 December

Applications should be made in writing to the Table Office by 7pm or rise of the House, whichever is the earlier, on Wednesday 27 November. The Ballot will take place on Thursday 28 November.

 FUTURE DEPARTMENTS ANSWERING IN WESTMINSTER HALL

Week beginning 9 December

The following Departments will answer:

Business, Innovation and Skills; Deputy Prime Minister; Education; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Home Office; International Development; Justice; Leader of the House; Scotland; Transport; Work and Pensions

Week beginning 16 December

The following Departments will answer:

Attorney General; Cabinet Office; Communities and Local Government; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Energy and Climate Change; Health; Northern Ireland; Treasury; Wales; Women and Equalities

 Determination of Business by the Backbench BUSINESS Committee

Wednesday 4 December in the Chamber

General debate on rural communities: Miss Anne McIntosh

Thursday 5 December in the Chamber

General debate on modern-day slavery: Fiona Mactaggart , Mr Frank Field