Business Today: Chamber for Wednesday 11 February 2015

11.30am Prayers

Followed by

 QUESTIONS

Oral Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

1Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough)
What recent representations he has received on religious organisations and charitable status. (907553)

2Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North)
What progress he has made on implementing his Department's transparency agenda. (907554)

3Valerie Vaz (Walsall South)
What his policy is on promoting the formation of public sector mutuals. (907555)

4Stephen Mosley (City of Chester)
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government Digital Service. (907557)

5Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight)
What change there has been in the proportion of government procurement made through small businesses and the voluntary sector since May 2010. (907558)

6Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)
What system is used for identifying potential candidates for public appointments. (907559)

7Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex)
What plans he has to improve the effectiveness of his Department in co-ordinating planning and implementation across government departments. (907560)

8Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch)
When he last met the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to discuss the extent of her powers and responsibilities. (907561)

9Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk)
What recent discussions he has had with his minsiterial colleagues in other Departments on disposal of redundant government buildings; and if he will make a statement. (907563)

10Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock)
What progress has been made on ensuring that the Government disposes of properties which it no longer needs. (907564)

11Nia Griffith (Llanelli)
What his policy is on the deduction of trade union subscriptions from payroll in the Civil Service. (907565)

12Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
When he last met the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. (907566)

At 11.53am

Topical Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

T1Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. (907582)

T2Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (907583)

T3Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon) (907584)

T4John Mann (Bassetlaw) (907585)

T5Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (907586)

T6Peter Aldous (Waveney) (907587)

T7Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (907588)

T8Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (907589)

T9Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (907590)

T10Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (907591)

At 12.00pm

Oral Questions to the Prime Minister

Q1Mr Tim Yeo (South Suffolk)
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 11 February. (907567)

Q2Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (907568)

Q3Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (907569)

Q4Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (907570)

Q5Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden) (907571)

Q6Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (907572)

Q7Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (907573)

Q8Richard Drax (South Dorset) (907574)

Q9Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) (907575)

Q10Karen Lumley (Redditch) (907576)

Q11John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (907577)

Q12Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (907578)

Q13Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (907579)

Q14Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (907580)

Q15Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North)
If he will commission a new Magna Carta to renew democracy in the UK as part of the celebrations of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta; and if he will make a statement. (907581)

 URGENT QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

12.30pm

Urgent Questions (if any)

Ministerial Statements, including on Francis Report–update and response

 BUSINESS OF THE DAY

1. JOB CREATION POWERS (SCOTLAND): TEN MINUTE RULE MOTION

Up to 20 minutes (Standing Order No. 23)

Ian Murray

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to devolve responsibility for operation of the Work Programme in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament; 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 (17TH ALLOTTED DAY)

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

Compulsory jobs guarantee

Edward Miliband

Rachel Reeves

Ed Balls

Mr Chuka Umunna

Stephen Timms

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House calls on the Government to put a strict limit on the amount of time that people can be left on jobseeker’s allowance without being offered, and required to take up, paid work, by introducing a compulsory jobs guarantee that would ensure that anyone under 25 who has been receiving jobseeker’s allowance for a year, and anyone over 25 who has been receiving jobseeker’s allowance for two years, would be offered a paid job, with training, that they must take up or face losing benefits; and further calls on the Government to ensure this compulsory jobs guarantee be fully funded by a one-off repeat of the tax on bankers’ bonuses and restricting pension tax relief on incomes over £150,000.

Amendment (a)

Angus Robertson

Mr Elfyn Llwyd

Dr Eilidh Whiteford

Caroline Lucas

Jonathan Edwards

Stewart Hosie

Hywel WilliamsPete WishartMr Mike Weir

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil

Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘recognises the high social and economic cost of youth unemployment; notes that youth unemployment has continued to fall as the economy has emerged from recession; acknowledges that some young disabled people, looked after young people, and those with low level qualifications face particular challenges in securing sustained employment; and urges the Government to adopt the European Youth Guarantee as a means to ensure that all young people under 25 receive a good-quality, concrete offer of work, education or training within four months of them leaving formal education or becoming unemployed.’.

Tax avoidance

Edward Miliband

Ed Balls

Mr Chuka Umunna

Shabana Mahmood

Cathy Jamieson

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House notes with concern that following the revelations of malpractice at HSBC bank, which were first given to the Government in May 2010, just one out of 1,100 people who have avoided or evaded tax have been prosecuted; calls upon Lord Green and the Prime Minister to make a full statement about Lord Green’s role at HSBC and his appointment as a minister; regrets the failure of the Government’s deal on tax disclosure with Switzerland, which has raised less than a third of the amount promised by ministers; welcomes the proposals of charities and campaigning organisations for an anti-tax dodging bill; and further calls on the Government to clamp down on tax avoidance by introducing a penalty regime for the General Anti-Abuse Rule, which is currently too weak to be effective, closing the Quoted Eurobonds exemption loophole, ensuring that hedge funds trading shares pay the same amount of tax as other investors, introducing deeming criteria to restrict false self-employment in the construction industry, and scrapping the shares for rights scheme, which the Office for Budget Responsibility has warned could cost £1 billion in avoidance.

Amendment (a)

The Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

Mr Danny Alexander

David Gauke

Priti Patel

Andrea Leadsom

Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes that while the release of information pertaining to malpractice between 2005 to 2007 by individual HSBC accountholders was public knowledge, at no point were Ministers made aware of individual cases due to taxpayer confidentiality or made aware of leaked information suggesting wrongdoing by HSBC itself; notes that this Government has specifically taken action to get back money lost in Swiss bank accounts; welcomes the over £85 billion secured in compliance yield as a result of that action, including £850 million from high net worth individuals; notes the previous administration’s record, where private equity managers could pay a lower tax rate than their cleaners, very wealthy homebuyers could avoid stamp duty and companies could shift their profits to tax havens; further recognises that this Government has closed tax loopholes left open by the previous administration in every year of this Parliament, introduced the UK’s first General Anti-Abuse Rule, removed the cash-flow advantage of holding onto the money whilst disputing tax due with HMRC, and allowed HMRC to monitor, fine and publicly name promoters of tax avoidance schemes; notes this Government’s leading international role in tackling base erosion and profit shifting; welcomes the commitment to implement the G20-OECD agreed model for country-by-country reporting and rules for neutralising hybrid mismatch arrangements; notes the role of the diverted profits tax in countering aggressive tax planning by large multinationals; supports the Government’s adoption of the early adopters initiative; and recognises that as a result the UK is collecting more tax than ever before.’.

Notes:

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

Relevant documents:

Thirty-eighth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Tax Avoidance: the role of large accountancy firms: a follow-up, HC 1057

Eighteenth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, HMRC’s progress in improving tax compliance and preventing tax avoidance, HC 458

Thirty-fourth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2013-14, HMRC Tax Collection: Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13, HC 666, and the Treasury Minute, Cm 8819

Ninth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2013-14, Tax Avoidance–Google, HC 112, and the Treasury Minute, Cm 8697

Forty-fourth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2012-13, Tax avoidance: the role of large accountancy firms, HC 870, and the Treasury Minute, Cm 8652

Twenty-ninth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2012-13, Tax avoidance: tackling marketed avoidance schemes, HC 788, and the Treasury Minute, Cm 8613

3. INFRASTRUCTURE BILL [LORDS]: PROGRAMME (NO. 3)

No debate (Standing Order No. 83A(7))

Secretary Patrick McLoughlin

That the following provisions shall apply to the Infrastructure Bill [Lords] for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 8 December 2014 (Infrastructure Bill [Lords] (Programme)) and 26 January 2015 (Infrastructure Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2)):

Consideration of Lords Message

(1) Any Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

(2) Proceedings on that Message shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement at today’s sitting.

Subsequent stages

(3) Any further Message from the Lords may be considered forthwith without any Question being put.

(4) The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after their commencement.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE BILL [LORDS]: CONSIDERATION OF LORDS AMENDMENTS

Up to one hour (if the Infrastructure Bill [Lords] Programme (No. 3) Motion is agreed to)

Notes:

Proceedings will be taken in accordance with the Infrastructure Bill [Lords] Programme (No. 3) Motion if it is agreed to by the House.

For amendments, see separate paper (also available on the documents webpage for the Bill).

None of the Lords Amendments engage financial privilege.

5. FORESTRY

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

Secretary Elizabeth Truss

That the draft Public Bodies (Abolition of the Home Grown Timber Advisory Committee) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 2 December 2014, be approved.

Notes:

The Scottish Parliament has passed a Legislative Consent Resolution in respect of this Order. Copies of the Resolution are available in the Vote Office.

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

6. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

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

Secretary Chris Grayling

That the draft Freedom of Information (Designation as Public Authorities) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved.

Notes:

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

7. PENSIONS

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

Secretary Iain Duncan Smith

That the draft Automatic Enrolment (Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 19 January, be approved.

Notes:

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

8. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS

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

Andrea Leadsom

That the draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2015, which was laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.

Notes:

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

 ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

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

Diversity in radio broadcasting and Premier Christian Radio: Stephen Timms

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

Operation of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments Scheme: Steve Rotheram

11.00am

Housing in Horden, County Durham: Grahame M. Morris

Notes:

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

2.30pm

Lessons from the war in Afghanistan: Mr Keith Simpson

4.00pm

Quality of mental health care in the NHS: Mr Mike Hancock

4.30pm

Environmental issues with commercial waste recycling site at Eccles: Barbara Keeley

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

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

1.ECOFIN: 27 January 2015

Secretary of State for Defence

2.Ministry of Defence Votes A Annual Estimate 2015–16

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

3.Investment in the Food and Environment Research Agency

House of Commons Commission

4.House of Commons–Governance

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

5.Automatic transfers: A framework for consolidating pension savings

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

Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015

Room 9

8.55am (public)

Twelfth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2015

Room 11

8.55am (public)

Thirteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, the draft Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2015, the draft Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2015 and the draft Tax Credits (Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2015

Room 12

8.55am (public)

Fourteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, the draft Immigration (Biometric Registration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015, the draft Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2015, the draft Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 and the draft British Nationality (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Room 9

2.30pm (public)

Fifteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Road Safety Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2015

Room 11

2.30pm (public)

Sixteenth Delegated Legislation Committee

To consider the draft Community Right to Challenge (Business Improvement Districts) Regulations 2015

Room 12

2.30pm (public)

 Select Committees

Science and Technology

Room 15

9.00am (private)

Education

Subject: Evidence check: National College for Teaching and Leadership

Witnesses: Peter Kent, President, Association of School and College Leaders, James Noble-Rogers, Executive Director, Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers, Ben Thomas, National Officer, UNISON Education and Children’s Services, and Amanda Timberg, Executive Director, Programme, Teachfirst; Charlie Taylor, Chief Executive, National College for Teaching and Leadership (at 10.15am)

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

9.15am (private), 9.30am (public)

Work and Pensions

Subject: Pre-appointment hearing for the post of Pensions Ombudsman

Witnesses: Anthony Arter, Department for Work and Pensions’ preferred candidate for the post of Pensions Ombudsman

The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

9.15am (private), 9.30am (public), 10.30am (private)

Home Affairs

Subject: Statutory Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Witnesses: The Honourable Justice Lowell Goddard, Chair-designate of the Statutory Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

1.45pm (private), 2.00pm (public)

Public Accounts

Subject: Wrap-up report on tax

Witnesses: Lin Homer, Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary, Jim Harra, Director General Business Tax, Jennie Grainger, Director General Enforcement and Compliance, and Edward Troup, Tax Assurance Commissioner, HM Revenue and Customs, and Indra Morris, Director General, Tax and Welfare, HM Treasury

Room 15

1.45pm (private), 2.15pm (public)

Environmental Audit

Subject: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Witnesses: Officials from Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Energy and Climate Change, and Department for International Development

Room 6

2.00pm (private), 2.15pm (public)

European Scrutiny

Subject: Scrutiny inquiry follow up: scheduling of EU business

Witnesses: Rt Hon William Hague MP, Leader of the House of Commons

Room 18

2.00pm (private), 2.30pm (public)

High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill

Subject: High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill

Witnesses: Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP; and Department for Transport

Room 5

2.00pm (public)

Northern Ireland Affairs

Room 19

2.00pm (private)

Scottish Affairs

Room 21

2.00pm (private)

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Subject: Work of the Committee 2010-15

Witnesses: Richard Macdonald, former Chair of the Independent Farming Regulation Task Force and former Chair of the Implementation Group, and George Eustice MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Room 16

2.30pm (private), 3.00pm (public)

Committee of Privileges

Room 8

3.00pm (private)

Procedure

Room 20

3.00pm (private)

Selection

Room 13

4.45pm (private)

Treasury

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

5.00pm (private)

Statutory Instruments

Room 7

As soon as convenient after 3.45pm (private)

 Joint Committees

Human Rights

Subject: The UK’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Witnesses: Paola Uccellari, Director, Children's Rights Alliance for England, Natalie Williams, Policy Adviser, The Children's Society, Dragan Nastic, Senior Policy Adviser, Unicef UK, and Kate Aubrey-Johnson, Youth Justice and Strategic Litigation Fellow, Just for Kids Law

Room 3A

9.30am (private), 9.45am (public)

Statutory Instruments

Room 7

3.45pm (private)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Forthcoming End of Day Adjournment Debates

Monday 23 February to Monday 2 March

Applications should be made in writing to the Table Office by 7pm or rise of the House, whichever is the earlier, on Wednesday 11 February. The Ballot will take place on Thursday 12 February.

 Future Departments Answering in Westminster Hall

Week beginning 2 March

Communities and Local Government; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Health; Northern Ireland; Scotland; Treasury; Women and Equalities; Work and Pensions

Week beginning 9 March

Attorney General; Business, Innovation and Skills; Cabinet Office; Deputy Prime Minister; Education; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Home Office; International Development; Justice; Leader of the House; Transport; Wales

 february ADJOURNMENT 2015–TABLING OF PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Members wishing to table questions in person may do so in the usual way through the Table Office until 5.30pm or the rising of the House, whichever is earlier, on Thursday 12 February. Thereafter, Members may table questions for oral and written answer electronically or by post. Questions for written answer received after 12 February and before 4.30pm on Friday 20 February will be treated as if tabled on 20 February.

Questions for oral answer

Under Standing Order No. 22(6), the Speaker has made the following arrangements for tabling Questions for oral answer when the House returns:

The results of the shuffles on 12 February will be published on 13 February. They will be available from the Vote Office and on the internet at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmfutoral/futoral.pdf

For further details of last tabling days for other departments and answering bodies, see the Order of Questions rota available from the Vote Office and on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-table-office/order-of-oral-questions1.pdf

Notes:

* The latest time for tabling is 12.30pm on each of these days

** First sitting day after adjournment

Questions for written answer

The latest day for tabling a Question for written answer on a named day before the February Adjournment was Monday 9 February (for answer on Thursday 12 February).

 FEBRUARY ADJOURNMENT 2015–TABLING OF AMENDMENTS TO PUBLIC BILLS

Members wishing to table amendments to public bills in person, or via introduced staff, may do so in the usual way in the Public Bill Office until the rise of the House on Thursday 12 February. Such amendments will be available online, and in the printed provisional papers (‘the blues’), on Friday 13 February. During the recess, Members may submit amendments in person, via introduced staff or, if signed, by other staff or by post.

The table below shows the deadlines, selection eligibility and first publication time, for amendments handed in during the recess.

The deadline for amendments for the Report stage of the Serious Crime Bill on Monday 23 February is 4.30pm on Wednesday 18 February.

*Amendments are generally available online the morning following the deadline–provisionally ‘marshalled’ into the order in which they relate to the bill. In the printed ‘blues’, they appear in the order in which they were submitted.

 Determination of Business by the Backbench BUSINESS Committee

Monday 23 February in Westminster Hall

General debate on an e-petition relating to ending non-stun slaughter to promote animal welfare: Mr Philip Hollobone

Tuesday 24 February in the Chamber

General debate on mental health and unemployment: Paul Burstow, Mr Kevan Jones, Mr Charles Walker

Thursday 26 February in the Chamber

Select Committee Statement on the publication of the Fourth Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Future of the BBC, HC 315: Mr John Whittingdale

Debate on a motion relating to Equitable Life: Bob Blackman, Fabian Hamilton, Stephen Lloyd

General debate on epilepsy: Laura Sandys, Mrs Cheryl Gillan

Thursday 26 February in Westminster Hall

General debate on low carbon electricity generation: Mr Tim Yeo

Monday 2 March in Westminster Hall

General debate on an e-petition relating to Harvey’s Law: Derek Twigg

Appointment of a debate in Westminster Hall by the Chairman of the Ways and Means following a recommendation by the Backbench Business Committee

Tuesday 24 February at 9.30am: Yemen: Keith Vaz