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:

Fourteenth Report from the European Scrutiny Committee, on UK Government's renegotiation of EU membership: Parliamentary sovereignty and scrutiny, HC 458

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 *

 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:

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).

 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

Select Committees Webpage

Recent Select Committee Reports

 Standing Orders Relating to Public Business

Text of Standing Orders relating to public business