House of Commons
Business Today: Chamber for Thursday 4 February 2016
9.30am Prayers
Followed by
QUESTIONS
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1Scott Mann (North Cornwall)
What steps her Department is taking to monitor and prevent future chemical spills from quarrying in the headwaters of the river Tamar. (903444)
2Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South)
What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the proposals by the European Commission for it to levy fines on vehicle manufacturers that do not meet emissions standards. (903445)
3Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central)
What steps the Government plans to take to meet the UN target of halving food waste by 2030. (903447)
4Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk)
How many schemes will begin construction under the Government's six-year flood defence programme in 2016. (903448)
5Andrew Griffiths (Burton)
What the role is of the Great British Food Unit in promoting British food (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. (903449)
6Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
What assessment she has made of the effect of recent flooding on the agriculture industry. (903450)
7Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
What assessment the Government has made of the contribution of Nature Improvement Areas to habitat creation and wildlife conservation. (903451)
8Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness)
How many acres of farmland she plans will be protected by government investment in flood defences over the next six years. (903452)
9Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock)
What the role is of the Great British Food Unit in promoting British food (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. (903453)
10Richard Graham (Gloucester)
what the role is of the Great British Food Unit in promoting British food (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. (903454)
11Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
What recent assessment she has made of the effect of slow broadband services on farmers and other rural businesses. (903455)
12Paul Flynn (Newport West)
If she will make it her policy to continue funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit. (903457)
13Steven Paterson (Stirling)
What progress she has made on ensuring that farmers receive a fair price for milk. (903458)
14Sir David Amess (Southend West)
What steps the Government is taking to support UK fishermen (a) in general and (b) in the under 10 metre fleet. (903459)
15Andrew Stephenson (Pendle)
What assessment she has made of the adequacy of flood defences in Earby. (903460)
16Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall)
What steps the Government is taking to support UK fishermen (a) in general and (b) in the under 10 metre fleet. (903461)
17Simon Hoare (North Dorset)
What the role is of the Great British Food Unit in promoting food from Dorset (a) in the UK and (b) overseas. (903462)
18Robert Jenrick (Newark)
How many acres of farmland she plans will be protected by government investment in flood defences over the next six years. (903463)
At 10.05am
Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
T1Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South)
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. (903474)
T2Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (903475)
T3Margaret Greenwood (Wirral West) (903476)
T4Wayne David (Caerphilly) (903477)
T5Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (903479)
T6Peter Aldous (Waveney) (903480)
T7Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (903482)
T8Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton) (903483)
At 10.15am
Oral Questions to the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission and the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners
1Ian Blackford (Ross, Skye and Lochaber)
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, What recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential effect of the date of the EU referendum on mayoral, local, and devolved institutions' elections. (903465)
2Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North)
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, What assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effect of the level of policy development grants on the operation of political parties. (903467)
3Dr Matthew Offord (Hendon)
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, What plans the Church of England has to mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (903468)
4Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering)
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, How many street pastor teams the Church of England works with. (903469)
5John Pugh (Southport)
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Church Commissioners' ethical investment policy. (903470)
6Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness)
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, What further steps the Church of England is taking to increase the representation of women and BME groups among its leadership. (903471)
7Richard Graham (Gloucester)
To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, What support the Church of England provides to local credit unions. (903472)
URGENT QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS
10.30am
Urgent Questions (if any)
Business Question to the Leader of the House
Ministerial Statements (if any)
Select Committee Statement on the publication of the Fourth Report from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, The collapse of Kids Company: lessons for charity trustees, professional firms, the Charity Commission, and Whitehall, HC 433: Mr Bernard Jenkin
BUSINESS OF THE DAY
1. BACKBENCH BUSINESS
Until 5.00pm (Standing Order No. 9(3))
Parliamentary sovereignty and EU renegotiations
Mr John Baron
Mr Steve Baker
Mr Douglas Carswell
Sir William Cash
Mr Christopher Chope
John Cryer
Philip DaviesMr David DavisRichard Drax
Mr Nigel EvansFrank FieldPaul Flynn
Mary GlindonMr Roger GodsiffGordon Henderson
Kate HoeyAdam HollowaySir Gerald Howarth
Mr Bernard JenkinMr David JonesDr Julian Lewis
Mr Ian Liddell-GraingerMr Jacob Rees-MoggAndrew Rosindell
Jim ShannonMr Andrew TurnerMr Laurence Robertson
Mr David Nuttall
That this House believes in the importance of Parliamentary sovereignty; and calls for the Government’s EU renegotiations to encompass Parliament’s ability, by itself, to stop any unwanted legislation, taxes or regulation.
Relevant Documents:
Conflict in Yemen
Kirsten Oswald
Mrs Flick Drummond
Keith Vaz
Edward Argar
That this House has considered the conflict in Yemen.
Relevant Documents:
Oral evidence taken before the International Development Committee on 27 January 2016, on the crisis in Yemen, HC 532
Correspondence between the International Development Committee and Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, relating to the crisis in Yemen, reported to the House on 2 February 2016, HC 532
Notes:
The subjects for these debates were chosen by the Backbench Business Committee.
ADJOURNMENT DEBATE
Until 5.30pm or for half an hour (whichever is later) (Standing Order No. 9(7))
Delay Repay scheme for rail commuters: Tom Brake
BUSINESS TODAY: WESTMINSTER HALL
ORDER OF BUSINESS
The sitting will last for three hours (Standing Order No. 10(1))
1.30pm
That this House has considered the role of men in preventing violence against women: Gavin Newlands, Jess Phillips, Andrew Percy
The sitting will be interrupted and time added if divisions take place in the main Chamber (Standing Order No. 10(3)).
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
WRITTEN STATEMENTS
Statements to be made today
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
1.General Data Protection Regulation
Secretary of State for Defence
2.Gifting of Surplus Accommodation to the Northern Ireland Executive
Secretary of State for Education
3.Publication of Reformed GCSE and A Level Content
Secretary of State for the Home Department
4.Police Grant Report England & Wales 2016/17
Notes:
Texts of Written Statements are available from the Vote Office and on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/.
COMMITTEES MEETING TODAY
The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be changed without notice.
Public Bill Committees
Energy Bill [Lords]
Further to consider the Bill
Room 12
11.30am (public)
Energy Bill [Lords]
Further to consider the Bill
Room 12
2.00pm (public)
Select Committees
High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill
Subject: High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill
Witnesses: Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP; JP Boden and Co Limited; Osbourne Investments Limited; Quattro Holdings Limited; Quattro (UK) Limited; Thomas James and Eamon O'Loughlin; Thomas James and Colin Marron; Park Score Limited; Thomas James; Canal and River Trust; The Inland Waterways Association; British Overseas Bank Nominees Limited and W.G.T.C. Nominees Limited; Friends Life Ltd and Axa Real Estate Investment Managers Ltd; Zurich Assurance Ltd; Threadneedle Asset Management Limited and Threadneedle Property Investments Limited; BBC Pension Trust Limited; and Stop HS2
Room 5
9.30am (public)
COMMITTEE REPORTS PUBLISHED TODAY
STANDARDS
2nd Report: Mr Geoffrey Cox, HC 803
Time of publication: 11.00am
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FORTHCOMING END OF DAY ADJOURNMENT DEBATES
Tuesday 9 February to Thursday 11 February (ballot closed)
The ballot for 9 February to 11 February will take place today. Applications for this ballot have now closed.
Monday 22 February to Monday 29 February (deadline 10 February)
Applications should be made in writing to the Table Office by 7.00pm or rise of the House, whichever is the earlier, on Wednesday 10 February. The ballot will take place on Thursday 11 February.
Tuesday 1 March to Monday 7 March (deadline 24 February)
Applications should be made in writing to the Table Office by 7.00pm or rise of the House, whichever is the earlier, on Wednesday 24 February. The ballot will take place on Thursday 25 February.
FORTHCOMING WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATES
Applications for 90, 60 and 30-minute debates should be made to the Table Office by 10.00pm or rise of the House, whichever is the earlier, on the deadline dates listed below. Members may submit applications to the Table Office in person, or from their own email account, or send a signed application through the post. Application forms are available from the Table Office or through the intranet at http://intranet.parliament.uk/tableoffice/.
The ballot takes place on the day following the deadline. Members will be informed of the outcome by the Speaker’s Office.
Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 February (deadline 8 February)
The following Departments will answer:
Business, Innovation and Skills; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Health; International Development; Leader of the House; Northern Ireland; Treasury; Work and Pensions.
Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March (deadline 22 February)
The following Departments will answer:
Attorney General; Cabinet Office; Communities and Local Government; Education; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Home Office; Justice; Scotland; Transport; Wales; Women and Equalities.
Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 March (deadline 29 February)
The following Departments will answer:
Business, Innovation and Skills; Culture, Media and Sport; Defence; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Health; International Development; Leader of the House; Northern Ireland; Treasury; Work and Pensions.
Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 March (deadline 7 March)
The following Departments will answer:
Attorney General; Cabinet Office; Communities and Local Government; Education; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Home Office; Justice; Scotland; Transport; Wales; Women and Equalities.
ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE
Nominations
Nominations must be received in writing in the Table Office by 5pm on Monday 8 February 2016.
In accordance with the House’s decision of 3 June 2015 only members of the Labour Party may be candidates in this election.
Each nomination shall consist of a brief signed statement made by the candidate declaring their willingness to stand for election, accompanied by the signatures of 15 Members elected to the House as members of the same party as the candidate. Statements may (optionally) be accompanied by signatures of up to five Members elected to the House as members of any party other than that to which the candidate belongs, or members of no party.
No Member may sign more than one such statement; if any Member does so, their signature shall no longer be valid.
Ballot
If there is more than one candidate, the ballot will take place between 10.00am and 1.30pm on Wednesday 10 February 2016 in Committee Room 16.
As soon as practicable after the votes have been counted the Speaker will announce to the House the results of the ballot.
For further details, please see the Briefing Note available in the Vote Office and on the internet: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/executive/Commons-Briefing-Note5-Election-of-the-Chair-of-the-EAC.pdf
MEMBERS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION AS CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE
Only the first fifteen names of a candidate’s own party validly submitted in support of a candidature are printed.
UP TO AND INCLUDING WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2016
New nominations are marked thus *
Candidate | Mary Creagh |
Nominated by (own party) | Karin Smyth, Diana Johnson, Angela Smith, Toby Perkins, Stephen Timms, Catherine McKinnell, Mike Kane, Derek Twigg, Mr Ben Bradshaw, Mr Jim Cunningham, Yvette Cooper, Fabian Hamilton, Christina Rees, Alison McGovern, Caroline Flint |
Nominated by (other parties) | Neil Carmichael, Mr Bernard Jenkin, Mr Richard Bacon, Graham Stuart, Karen Lumley |
Candidate | Geraint Davies |
Nominated by (own party) | Meg Hillier, Stephen Kinnock, Liz McInnes, Mrs Sharon Hodgson, Bill Esterson, Mr David Hanson, Lyn Brown, Wes Streeting, Sir Alan Meale, Kate Osamor, Mr Steve Reed, Ruth Cadbury, Angela Rayner, Joan Ryan, Helen Goodman |
Nominated by (other parties) | Dr Sarah Wollaston, Stephen Metcalfe, Sir William Cash, John Mc Nally, Jonathan Edwards |
Candidate | Chris Evans |
Nominated by (own party) | John Mann, Mr Stephen Hepburn, Tom Blenkinsop, Andy McDonald, Yasmin Qureshi, Frank Field, Mary Glindon, Helen Jones, Gerald Jones, Robert Flello, Gareth Thomas, Paul Flynn, Stephen Pound, Liz Kendall, Dr Rupa Huq |
Nominated by (other parties) | Christopher Pincher, Craig Tracey |
Relevant interests declared | Brother-in-law owns a recycling business (TXO based in Chepstow) and my wife is employed there. |
Candidate | Barry Gardiner* |
Nominated by (own party) | Valerie Vaz, Julie Elliott, Keir Starmer, Jonathan Ashworth, Lisa Nandy, Dr Alan Whitehead, Mr Iain Wright, Kate Green, Dawn Butler, Jo Cox, Mr Barry Sheerman, Mr Geoffrey Robinson, Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, Teresa Pearce, Matthew Pennycook |
Nominated by (other parties) | Mrs Maria Miller, Bob Stewart, James Cleverly, Angus Brendan MacNeil, Dr Eilidh Whiteford |
Relevant interests declared | European Region Vice President and Director of GLOBE (Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment) International AISBL (Non-remunerated position) |
FEBRUARY ADJOURNMENT–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 11 February. Thereafter, Members may table questions for oral and written answer electronically or by post. Questions for written answer received after 11 February and before 4.30pm on Friday 19 February will be treated as having been tabled on 19 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:
Last date of tabling* | Date for answer | Departments etc. |
Thursday 11 February | Monday 22 February ** | Home Office (T)*** |
Thursday 11 February | Tuesday 23 February | Foreign and Commonwealth Office (T) |
Thursday 11 February | Wednesday 24 February | Wales |
Prime Minister | ||
Monday 22 February ** | Thursday 25 February | Attorney General |
Women and Equalities |
The results of the shuffles on 11 February will be published on 12 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.
*** (T) denotes that there are Topical questions for this Department.
Questions for written answer
The latest time for tabling a Question for written answer on a named day before the February Adjournment is 10.30pm or the rise of the House, whichever is earlier, on Monday 8 February (for answer on Thursday 11 February).
Time of tabling | Earliest date for named day answer |
Monday 8 February before 10.30pm or rise of House | Thursday 11 February |
From Tuesday 9 February until 5.30pm or rise of House on Thursday 11 February | Monday 22 February |
From rise of House on Thursday 11 February until 4.30pm on Friday 19 February | Wednesday 24 February (Each Member may table up to five named day questions during this period.) |
Monday 22 February | Thursday 25 February |
FURTHER INFORMATION
Business of the Day
Documents and reports relating to the business being held in the Chamber are available on the Commons Business Briefings webpage
Written Statements
Text of today’s Written Statements
Select committees
Recent Select Committee Reports
Standing Orders Relating to Public Business
Text of Standing Orders relating to public business