Business Today: Chamber for Thursday 26 March 2015

9.30am Prayers

Followed by

 QUESTIONS

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

1Andrew Stephenson (Pendle)
What plans his Department has to support aerospace engineering in Pendle constituency over the next five years. (908332)

2Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)
What steps his Department is taking to support small businesses. (908333)

3Sir Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire)
What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of steps taken by his Department to encourage more young people to obtain qualifications leading to careers in engineering. (908334)

4Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth)
If he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the practice of firms being asked by large companies to make agreements to pay to become or remain approved suppliers. (908335)

5Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North)
What recent representations he has received from businesses on the importance of infrastructure development to business growth. (908337)

6Valerie Vaz (Walsall South)
What recent estimate he has made of the average level of indebtedness of people who have taken out student loans. (908338)

7Alex Cunningham (Stockton North)
What steps he is taking to ensure that more adults gain basic English and maths skills. (908339)

8Richard Graham (Gloucester)
What recent assessment he has made of the business potential of marine energy for UK suppliers. (908340)

9Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North)
If he will make it his policy to promote origin marking on ceramic products. (908341)

10Paul Flynn (Newport West)
If he will ensure that employees working on zero-hours contracts who are in practice working regular hours over an extended period have the right to a fixed-term contract. (908342)

11Henry Smith (Crawley)
What steps he is taking to promote regional growth. (908343)

12Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North)
What assessment he has made of the effect on the balance of trade of depreciation of the Euro. (908344)

13Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex)
What steps he is taking to increase the number of engineers. (908345)

14Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East)
What his policy is on future funding levels for non-apprenticeship adult education courses. (908346)

15David Rutley (Macclesfield)
What steps he is taking to promote regional growth. (908348)

16Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East)
What his plans are for the cap on student tuition fees. (908349)

17Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
What recent assessment his Department has made of the main causes of insecurity in the workplace. (908350)

18Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon)
What steps he is taking to tackle late payment to small businesses. (908351)

19Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South)
What recent assessment he has made of the contribution of EU membership to business and the economy in the UK. (908352)

20Grahame M. Morris (Easington)
What funding his Department has allocated for adult skills training in east Durham in 2015-16; and what amount was allocated for that purpose in 2014-15. (908353)

21Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
What discussions he has had with mobile phone operators on the effects of adverse weather on their systems; and if he will make a statement. (908354)

22Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North)
What progress his Department has made on the outcomes of the Rebalancing Conference in Nottingham on 6 June 2014. (908355)

23Mark Menzies (Fylde)
What steps he is taking to promote regional growth. (908356)

At 10.15am

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

T1Alex Cunningham (Stockton North)
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. (908357)

T2Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (908358)

T3Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (908359)

T4Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (908361)

T5Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (908362)

T6Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (908363)

T7Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (908364)

T8Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (908365)

T9Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (908366)

 URGENT QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

10.30am

Urgent Questions (if any)

Ministerial Statements (if any)

 BUSINESS OF THE DAY

1. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (24, 25 AND 26 MARCH) (NO. 2)

No debate (Order of 24 March)

Mr William Hague

That the Order of 24 March 2015 (Business of the House (24, 25 and 26 March)) be varied as follows:

In paragraph (9) (Thursday 26 March), before sub-paragraph (a) insert–

“(za) proceedings on the Motions in the name of Mr William Hague relating to the deadline for tabling amendments and new Clauses and Schedules in Committee of the whole House and on report, to the pay for the Petitions Committee Chair, to elections for positions in the House and to Deputy Speakers shall be brought to a conclusion (unless already concluded) one hour after the commencement of proceedings on the first of those Motions;”.

2. MOTIONS RELATING TO PROCEDURE OF THE HOUSE

Up to one hour (If the Business of the House (24, 25 and 26 March) (No.2) Motion is agreed to)

Deadline for the tabling of amendments and new clauses/schedules

Mr William Hague

Tom Brake

That this House takes note of paragraphs 21 to 28 of the Seventh Report of the Procedure Committee, Matters for the Procedure Committee in the 2015 Parliament, HC 1121, concerning the trial of a three day deadline for the tabling of amendments and new clauses/schedules at report stage of all programmed bills; and approves the Committee’s recommendation in paragraph 28 that the trial should be extended for the duration of the first session of the 2015 Parliament, and extended to amendments and new clauses/schedules in Committee of the whole House of all bills and at report stage of un-programmed bills.

Pay for Petitions Committee Chair

Mr William Hague

Tom Brake

That the Resolution of the House of 19 March 2013, relating to Positions for which additional salaries are payable for the purposes of Section 4A(2) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, be amended by inserting after “the Liaison Committee”, “the Petitions Committee,”.

Elections for positions in the House

Mr William Hague

Tom Brake

That this House notes the recommendation of the Procedure Committee in its Fifth Report of Session 2010-12, 2010 Elections for positions in the House, that the House should be invited to decide between a secret ballot or open division where the question at the start of a new Parliament that a former Speaker take the Chair is challenged, and accordingly makes the following change to Standing Orders, with effect from the beginning of the new Parliament:

Standing Order 1A (Re-election of former Speaker) Line 11, at end insert–

“(1A) If that question is contested, it shall be determined by secret ballot, to take place on the same day under arrangements made by the Member presiding, who shall announce the result of the ballot to the House as soon as is practicable.”

Deputy Speakers

Mr William Hague

Tom Brake

That, at the start of the 2015 Parliament, the Speaker may nominate no more than three Members as Deputy Speakers to serve until the House has elected Deputy Speakers in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 2A; and that the Members so nominated shall exercise all the powers vested in the Chairman of Ways and Means as Deputy Speaker.

3. BACKBENCH BUSINESS

Until 4.30pm (Order of 24 March)

Valedictory debate

Sir George Young

That this House has considered matters to be raised before the forthcoming dissolution.

Notes:

The Backbench Business Committee has recommended that this debate be used by Members who are not standing again to make short valedictory speeches.

The House may also be asked to consider any Lords Amendments and Lords Messages which may be received (up to one hour (Order of 24 March)).

A Royal Commission is expected.

The Speaker will not adjourn the House before a Message has been received from the Lords Commissioners (Order of 24 March).

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

 Statements to be made today

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

1.Support for UK Coal

2.Triennial Review of the Land Registration Rules Committee

Minister for the Cabinet Office

3.Statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

4.Homelessness Update

5.Housing and Planning Delivery

6.Local Government Delivery

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

7.First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund

Deputy Prime Minister

8.Commencement of Succession to the Crown Act 2013

9.Section 155 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

10.Triennial Review of the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions

Secretary of State for Defence

11.Iraq Update and Training the Syrian Moderate Opposition

Secretary of State for Education

12.Condition Improvement Fund

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

13.Publication of the Triennial Reviews of Defra’s Science Advisory Council and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

14.Ministerial Correction

15.Review of the Government’s overseas scholarship schemes

Secretary of State for Health

16.Advisory Non–Departmental Public Bodies: Triennial Reviews

Leader of the House

17.Legislation in the 2014-15 Session of Parliament

Prime Minister

18.Machinery of Government Change: Architecture policy

Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

19.Electoral Commission and Local Government Boundary Commission England Main Estimates 2015–16

Secretary of State for Transport

20.DfT Motoring Agencies Business Plans for 2015-16

21.The Government response to the draft Cycling Delivery Plan consultation

22.The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Business Plan for 2015-16

23.Triennial review of the Traffic Commissioners

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/.

COMMITTEE REPORTS PUBLISHED TODAY

 BACKBENCH BUSINESS

1st Special Report: Work of the Committee in the 2010–15 Parliament, HC 1106

Time of publication: 00.01am

 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

6th Report: Tourism, HC 614

Time of publication: 00.01am

 DEFENCE

11th Report: Decision-making in Defence policy, HC 682

Time of publication: 00.01am

 HOME AFFAIRS

19th Report: Counter-terrorism: foreign fighters, HC 933

Time of publication: 00.01am

 PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

49th Report: The effective management of tax reliefs, HC 892

Time of publication: 00.01am

50th Report: Improving tax collection, HC 974

Time of publication: 00.01am

 POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

10th Report: Government formation post-election, HC 1023

Time of publication: 00.01am

 SCOTTISH AFFAIRS

6th Report: Our Borderlands–Our Future, HC 571

Time of publication: 00.01am

8th Report: Land Reform: Final Report, HC 274

Time of publication: 11.00am

 ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

7th Special Report: Energy network costs: transparent and fair?: Government response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1144

Time of publication: 10.00am

8th Special Report: Protecting consumers: Making energy price comparison websites transparent: Government response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1145

Time of publication: 10.00am

9th Special Report: Smart meters: progress or delay?: Government response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1146

Time of publication: 10.00am

 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

6th Special Report: Dairy prices: Government response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1147

Time of publication: 10.00am

7th Special Report: Food security: demand, consumption and waste: Government response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1148

Time of publication: 10.00am

8th Special Report: Rural broadband and digital-only services: Government response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1149

Time of publication: 10.00am

9th Special Report: Defra performance in 2013–14: Government response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2014–15, HC 1150

Time of publication: 10.00am

 HIGH SPEED RAIL (LONDON - WEST MIDLANDS) BILL

1st Special Report: High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill Select Committee, HC 338

Time of publication: 10.00am

 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

15th Report: International Development Committee: the Legacy–Parliament 2010–15, HC 1138

Time of publication: 3.00pm

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 EFFECT OF PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION ON QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS

Prorogation is expected on Thursday 26 March, in anticipation of the Dissolution of Parliament, which under the provisions of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 will take place on Monday 30 March.

All Questions fall at Prorogation, and cannot be answered after Prorogation. No further Questions may be tabled in the present Parliament.

All Motions fall at Prorogation. No new Motions (including Early Day Motions) may be tabled on the day of Prorogation nor may any names be added to existing Motions on that day.

 TABLING QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT

The date of meeting of the new Parliament has not yet been announced. Members may table Questions and Motions from the Table Office’s opening time of 9.00am on the day of the State Opening. Detailed guidance on arrangements for tabling Questions and Motions will be issued once the new Parliament has met.