MONDAY 13TH JULY
*The Lord Campbell of Croy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that advances in medical science and engineering technology have substantially removed the dangers to health, in particular to lungs, of work in deep mining of coal.
*The Lord Lucas—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take the initiative in trying to bring the various parties in Sri Lanka to the negotiating table.
*The Lord Waddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they propose to take to strengthen the safeguards against a government seeking to extend the duration of a Parliament beyond five years.
*The Lord Campbell of Alloway—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether disproportionate industrial action in the public sector will be proscribed as unlawful unless submitted to mandatory arbitration with binding effect.
Statute Law Repeals Bill [HL]— Committee (on re-commitment) [The Lord Chancellor] (Consolidation)
School Standards and Framework Bill—Third Reading [The Baroness Blackstone]
‡The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek to improve the procedures for the election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe so as to ensure that the Parliamentary Assembly is reliably advised about the qualifications of nominated candidates on the basis of a transparent, thorough and fair process of interview by an independent expert committee.
TUESDAY 14TH JULY
*The Earl of Carlisle—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they believe that the Russian Federation has done all in its power, in accordance with its request for membership of the Council of Europe, “to settle outstanding international border disputes according to the principles of international law, abiding by the existing international treaties”.
*The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans for further reform of the liquor licensing laws.
*The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what technical, commercial and frontier control reasons still prevent Eurostar services from operating north of London.
*The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the request of the Royal British Legion that they commission a public enquiry into the way the aftermath of the Gulf War has been handled.
Scotland Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Lord Sewel] [24th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
‡The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any proposals for reviving provincial repertory theatres.
†[If the Teaching and Higher Education [HL] is returned from the Commons, it will be considered as first business this day]
WEDNESDAY 15TH JULY
*The Lord Hooson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the National Museum authorities in Wales resite and rebuild the Industrial Maritime Museum as soon as possible.
*The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to support inexperienced mothers with the care and parenting of their young children.
*The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider labelling all food products which have been exposed to pesticide sprays with a warning similar to that required for raw milk.
*The Lord Burnham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that the persons to be nominated to the Firearms Consultative Committee in August are properly qualified.
†Government of Wales Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Williams of Mostyn]
‡The Lord Montagu of Beaulieu—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their reactions to the recommendations of the Countryside Commission for the future management of the New Forest, in the light of the environmental and economic conditions of that area.
THURSDAY 16TH JULY
[Prayers will have been read]
*The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking with the European Union and other appropriate multilateral organisations to promote an internationally agreed strategy towards migration and towards respect for, and protection of, the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
*The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are proposing to modernise National Health Service hearing aids to close the technological gap between them and privately bought hearing aids.
*The Lord Dean of Beswick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the present rate or number of owner-occupied houses being repossessed by building societies due to the lapse of mortgage repayments.
Northern Ireland (Sentences) Bill—Report [The Lord Dubs]
†‡Houses in Multiple Occupation (Charges for Registration Schemes) Regulations 1998—The Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 22nd June be approved. [39th Report from the Joint Committee]
†‡Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Amendment Regulations 1998—The Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 2nd July be approved. [40th Report from the Joint Committee]
†‡Community Drivers’ Hours and Recording Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 1998—The Baroness Hayman to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 22nd June be approved. [39th Report from the Joint Committee]
†‡Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998—The Baroness Hayman to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 25th March be approved. [26th Report from the Deregulation Committee]
[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Scotland Bill will be continued this day]
FRIDAY 17TH JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
Waste Minimisation Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Hardy of Wath]
†Private Hire Vehicles (London) Bill—Second Reading [The Baroness Gardner of Parkes]
MONDAY 20TH JULY
*The Lord Randall of St Budeaux—To ask the Chairman of Committees what are the main impediments to providing reasonable accommodation for peers in the Palace by October.
*The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the statement made by the Minister of State, Department of Social Security, in a broadcast regarding means-testing of social security benefit on Sunday 31st May represents Government policy.
*The Earl of Longford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the planned expenditure in real terms per prisoner for 1998-99, compared with that in 1995-96.
*The Lord Jenkin of Roding—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the progress of the Global Environmental Facility; and what is their response to the criticism from developing countries that the Facility ignores the most crucial issues affecting the Third World.
National Minimum Wage Bill—Report [The Lord Clinton-Davis]
‡The Lord Campbell of Alloway—To move to resolve, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty should exercise the Prerogative of Mercy to release Guardsmen Fisher and Wright from mandatory life imprisonment in exceptional circumstances as other available mechanisms would unduly delay their release.
TUESDAY 21ST JULY
*The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they see any early prospect of being able to have the security gates at the entrance to Downing Street removed.
*The Baroness Castle of Blackburn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the leaflet Don’t leave your pension to chance, issued by the Department of Social Security in June, does not refer to the arrangements to make proof against inflation the pension received under SERPS, occupational pension schemes and personal pensions respectively.
*The Lord Newby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking, in conjunction with their European Union partners, to prevent a collapse of the Japanese currency and economy.
*The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of recent developments in Nigeria, they will encourage European Union and Commonwealth countries to lift visa restrictions on Government personnel from Nigeria, with immediate effect, with a view to facilitating dialogue with the new administration.
‡The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have an overall integrated arts strategy for the United Kingdom and, if so, what it is.
†[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Scotland Bill will be continued this day]
WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY
*The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made to broaden the membership of their scientific advisory committees.
*The Lord Waddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine is due to be published, and how soon after receipt of the Report they plan to announce their decision.
*The Lord Methuen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits they expect to accrue from the centralisation of magistrates’ courts at four locations in Derbyshire, and how they expect defendants and witnesses to attend, given the paucity of public transport in parts of Derbyshire.
*The Lord Cadman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that, following their decision to allow the sale of former railway lands to proceed, the land requirements of the rail freight industry will be adequately provided for.
†Crime and Disorder Bill [HL]— Consideration of Commons amendments [The Lord Williams of Mostyn]
†‡Police (Northern Ireland) Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Dubs]
THURSDAY 23RD JULY
*The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the performance of the Radio Authority in consenting to departures from the terms of independent radio licences.
*The Lord Campbell of Croy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have yet approved upgrading to motorway status, as part of the M6, of the stretch of trunk road now confined to two lanes each way from the Scottish Border to Junction 44 near Carlisle.
*The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people since April 1992 have committed suicide in prisons managed by the commercial sector.
†[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Scotland Bill will be continued this day]
MONDAY 27TH JULY
*The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the progress made by companies in ensuring internationally agreed minimum labour standards for overseas workers.
*The Lord Jacobs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they propose to take to ensure that consumers in the United Kingdom do not have to pay as much as twenty per cent more for new cars than consumers in Belgium.
*The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the use of CS spray by police forces.
*The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to discourage spitting in public, particularly at sporting venues.
TUESDAY 28TH JULY
*The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities provide community care for disabled people to match their needs.
*The Lord Chesham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why their treatment of English, Welsh and Northern Irish students at Scottish universities was not part of their election manifesto.
*The Lord Peyton of Yeovil—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are content with the present level of communication between Ministers and leading scientists.
*The Lord Renton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made since 31st December 1997 in reducing the number of bogus asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.
WEDNESDAY 29TH JULY
*The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the comprehensive spending review will affect the number of overseas diplomatic posts.
*The Lord Hooson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the arrangements being made for the adequate translation of documents into the Welsh language in time for the first sitting of the Welsh Assembly in 1999.
*The Lord Dormand of Easington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the progress being made in the training of teachers wishing to become headteachers.
*The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider it to be in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 487 and 687 that the United States should transfer to Israel 25 strike aircraft capable of reaching Iran.
THURSDAY 30TH JULY
*The Lord Barnett—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to improving the working hours and conditions of the House of Lords in line with proposals being put forward for the House of Commons by the Leader of that House.
*The Lord Hurd of Westwell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any intention on their part to discuss the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, or relations between the Falkland Islands and Argentina, with President Menem when he visits the United Kingdom in the autumn.
*The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce ECGD (Export Credits Guarantee Department) cover for Iran; and, if so, when.
MONDAY 3RD AUGUST
*The Earl of Carlisle—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to highlight the dangers of addiction to smoking, when the treatment of smoking-related disease costs the NHS between $1.4 billion and £1.7 billion per year.
*The Lord Willoughby de Broke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the proposals for tax harmonisation contained in the European Commission’s document A package to tackle harmful tax competition in the European Union.
*The Lord Jenkins of Putney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether President Clinton’s new Presidential Decision Directive on United States nuclear doctrine contains any proposals for action towards the elimination of nuclear weapons and interim proposals to seek agreement to take nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert; and, if not, whether they will table such proposals for the consideration of the United Nations Security Council.
*The Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current practice of stockpiling new and second-hand cars at RAF Upper Heyford, to prevent a drop in prices, is in breach of restrictive practices legislation.
TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST
*The Lord Ezra—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards vertical integration in the electricity industry.
*The Lord Rowallan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Viagra should be issued through the NHS.
NO DAY NAMED
PART I
The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To call attention to the opportunities for trade with and investment in Latin America; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To call attention to the need for full, enforceable civil rights for chronically sick and disabled people; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Perry of Southwark—To call attention to the importance of higher education policy for the social, economic and intellectual welfare of the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.
The Lord Barnett—To call attention to the prospects for the United Kingdom joining the EMU in the foreseeable future; and to move for papers.
The Lord Armstrong of Ilminster—To move, That a Select Committee be appointed to undertake an inquiry, and within three calendar months to make recommendations, as to how a procedure might be implemented whereby the House would nominate approximately one hundred peers by succession to be voting peers and whereby the remaining peers by succession would renounce their rights to vote but would retain their rights to speak in the House or Committees of the House.
The Lord Moynihan—To call attention to the current situation in Algeria; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Northesk—To call attention to political and economic developments in the South Atlantic; and to move for papers.
The Lord Stone of Blackheath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is a need throughout the United Kingdom for a comprehensive and cohesive policy relating to the commercial, business and financial sectors in towns, cities and other urban areas.
The Earl of Carlisle—To call attention to the number of people from ethnic minorities in senior positions in public life; and to move for papers.
The Lord Sandberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the financial crisis in the Far East is likely to have on the British economy.
The Lord Hooson—To call attention to plans to restructure the United Nations for the next century; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the use of sanctions to support United Nations’ resolutions.
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Charter of the United Nations permits, and the international rule of law can survive, claims by individual member states to a right of unilateral interpretation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and a right to engage in military operations under such unilateral interpretations.
Succession to the Crown—The Lord Alderdice to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to allow that Her undoubted Prerogative and interest may not stand in the way of the consideration of Parliament during the present session of any measure to remove the bar on a person who is not, or who is married to a person who is not, a protestant to succeed to the Crown.
The Baroness Thomas of Walliswood—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to continuing delays in the completion of the Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre.
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to replace measurements of gross domestic product and gross national product, both within the United Kingdom and in international bodies, with measurements that are being developed by the Office for National Statistics which are able to take into account economically significant unpaid and unrecorded work and the reduction through consumption or otherwise of irreplaceable natural resources.
The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote family-friendly working practices to enable people to balance the responsibilities of family life with the demands of paid work.
The Earl of Carlisle—To call attention to the long-term future of Central and Eastern Europe, with particular reference to the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Onslow—To call attention to the science of genetically-modified organisms, and its implications for the breeding of plants and animals; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Hanworth—To call attention to the need to encourage teachers in primary and secondary education, and to the role of OFSTED; and to move for papers.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To call attention to the commitment in the Labour Party manifesto to a “fairer, faster and firmer” asylum procedure; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ackner—To call attention to the case for effectively monitoring the operation of conditional fee agreements; and to move for papers.
The Lord Dholakia—To call attention to the need for a national strategy for dealing with paedophiles; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Ludford—To call attention to the need for firm action by the European Union and its international partners to secure peace and justice in Kosovo; and to move for papers.
The Lord Birdwood—To call attention to changes in the duties of back-bench members of both Houses of Parliament in the last thirty years; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Linklater of Butterstone—To call attention to the implications for rural communities of the closure of their local school; and to move for papers.
The Lord Hardy of Wath—To call attention to the apparent increase in cruelty to animals; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Kinnoull—To call attention to the need to retain a viable British fishing industry beyond 2002; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Clanwilliam—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the industrialisation of farming practices in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Hylton—To move to resolve, That this House deplores the attempted murder of Mr Akin Birdal, President of the Turkish Human Rights Association, on 12th May; the refusal by the Turkish Government to admit United Nations Rapporteurs on Human Rights, or representatives of the OSCE or ICRC; the imprisonment and exile of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; and the banning and dissolution in Turkey of numerous bona fide political parties.
The Lord Janner of Braunstone—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ban or restrict smoking in restaurants, other eating places and other public places.
The Lord Rowallan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their long-term policy towards help lines in the field of health services.
The Earl of Longford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are continuing a policy of cutting expenditure in real terms per prisoner, and of cutting the total expenditure in real terms on the probation service and on prisoner education.
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further consideration they are giving to improving Service Pensions and War and War Widows’ Pensions; and when they expect to announce any improvements.
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their intentions for taxing pesticides, and what will be the implications of such a tax for farming and the countryside.
The Lord Tope—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the problem of bullying of pupils in secondary schools.
The Baroness Maddock—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to improve the quality of the housing stock following the recent publication of the English House Condition Survey for 1996.
The Viscount Chelmsford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that the link between the United Kingdom’s Balance of Payments and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) by the nation’s leaders and managers is sufficiently understood.
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the economic and business opportunities presented by the information age, which was the subject of a Government paper published in April by the Central Office of Information.
The Lord Vinson—To call attention to the case for using nuclear energy to meet the United Kingdom’s Kyoto Conference obligations for the reduction of CO2 emissions; and to move for papers.
The Lord Borrie—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to modernise the regulation of the utility industries so as to provide a fair deal for consumers in general and vulnerable consumers in particular.
The Lord Hayhoe—To call attention to the case for establishing an Independent Statutory Commission responsible for the conduct of referendums, their organisation and administration along the lines proposed by the Commission on the Conduct of Referendums chaired by Sir Patrick Nairne which reported in November 1996; and to move for papers.
PART II
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS
[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
The Lord Kingsland—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Enhancing Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Third Pillar (6th Report, HL Paper 25). [12th September]
The Lord Slynn of Hadley—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Select Committee on the Public Service (HL Paper 55). [19th January]
The Baroness Hilton of Eggardon—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Sustainable Landfill (17th Report, HL Paper 83). [7th April]
The Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee, Resistance to Antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents (7th Report, HL Paper 81). [23rd April]
The Lord Hoffmann—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Acquired Rights Revisited (22nd Report, HL Paper 98). [18th May]
The Lord Barnett—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on the European Central Bank (24th Report, HL Paper 112). [9th June]
The Lord Wallace of Saltaire—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Student Mobility in the European Union (27th Report, HL Paper 116). [3rd July]
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled or amended on 9th July]
The Baroness Young of Old Scone—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made in meeting the service delivery targets set out in “Commitment to Service”. (HL2498)
The Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what responses they have received to the Consultation Paper Unification of the Stipendiary Bench published on 1st April. (HL2499)
The Lord Grenfell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the recent Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests, there has been a change of policy on nuclear-related exports to India and Pakistan, and on contacts between British nuclear industry officials and their Indian and Pakistani counterparts. (HL2500)
The Earl of Dundonald—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to protect the wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout from sea lice predation on the fisheries of the West coast of Scotland. (HL2501)
The Earl of Dundonald—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the findings of the Pitlochry freshwater fisheries laboratory, the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen and St Andrews University, on sea lice predation hosted by commercial salmon farming operations on the runs of wild salmon and sea trout. (HL2502)
The Earl of Dundonald—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that Scottish National Heritage takes full responsibility for protecting the wild Atlantic salmon. (HL2503)
The Earl of Dundonald—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take either against the operators of commercial salmon farms, or with their co-operation, to prevent a further decline in stocks of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout caused by sea lice. (HL2504)
The Earl of Dundonald—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether and, if so, how they will compensate shellfish farmers for the restriction on the movement of farmed oysters under the notice issued by the marine laboratory, Aberdeen, on 19th June (ref. D11/2G/1). (HL2505)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date they received the findings of the inter-departmental study on all aspects of the asylum system, and why they have not yet announced their findings. (HL2506)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests have been made in each year since the coming into operation of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for information in the area of immigration; how many of these requests were granted in each year; how many of these requests were declined, and for what reason they were declined. (HL2507)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests have been made for each year since the coming into operation of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for information in the area of law enforcement; how many of these requests were granted in each year; how many of these requests were declined, and for what reason they were declined. (HL2508)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether before the coming into force of the proposed Human Rights Act a Minister of the Crown in charge of a bill in either House of Parliament will, before second reading of the bill—
(a) make a statement to the effect that in his or her view the provisions of the bill are compatible with the rights in the European Convention on Human Rights; or
(b) make a statement to the effect that although he or she is unable to make a statement of compatibility, the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the bill. (HL2509)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the level of security at the Clive House headquarters of the Independent Commission on the Voting System. (HL2510)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is possible for citizens to give an input to the Independent Commission on the Voting System at the Commission’s office in Clive House; and what general literature is available to the public in the office of the Independent Commission on the Voting System on its remit and other relevant matters. (HL2511)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how and when the Independent Commission on the Voting System invited submissions; and what individuals and organisations were approached. (HL2512)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, apart from the public meetings, what attempts did the Independent Commission on the Voting System make to obtain the views of the public on questions of electoral reform. (HL2513)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the fact that an appointment is needed to visit the office of the Independent Commission on the Voting System to make a general inquiry is compatible with their policies of openness, transparency and accountability. (HL2514)
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what members of the Independent Commission on the Voting System are or have been associated with the Constitution Unit or its financing arrangements in any way. (HL2515)
The Lord Jenkins of Putney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support at the United Nations a proposal to move towards their aim of eliminating nuclear weapons by means of a Convention similar to those banning chemical and biological weapons. (HL2516)
The Lord Jenkins of Putney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Strategic Defence Review contains no information on the efforts they have made and will make to achieve their aim of bringing about the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and whether they will now give such information. (HL2517)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made, or will make, an analysis of the reasons for the higher expenditure on aid as a percentage of gross domestic product—
(a) in Ireland, at 0.3 per cent;
(b) in France, at 0.45 per cent; and
(c) in Holland, at 0.81 per cent;
compared with the United Kingdom at 0.26 per cent (according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures for 1997); and whether any special factors emerge from such an analysis. (HL2518)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any assessment of the effect of small-scale employment of women in selected rural areas of India or East Africa, in particular the effects of income-generation or microcredit programmes designed for women of child-bearing age, on the acceptance of family planning. (HL2519)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the report of the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee on Energy Policy (HC471-I) which at paragraph 42 states “there are no reasons on grounds of security of supply, or in terms of long term availability, to resist the growing use of gas”, why they cite security of supply as a justification for increasing or at least maintaining the amount of coal burned. (HL2520)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they still intend to honour their commitment to a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010; and, if so, whether they will publish their plans with projected annual reductions and the assumptions that these projections are based on. (HL2521)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what specific measures they have taken to combat anti-competitive coal subsidies in Germany and Spain; and what benefits have been achieved as a result of these actions. (HL2522)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their priority in developing an energy policy is to create or maintain the maximum number of jobs in the long term, to minimise prices for the consumer or to minimise pollution. (HL2523)
The Baroness Wharton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to reach a final conclusion on the consultation exercise which they have recently conducted in relation to the proposed new restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements. (HL2524)
The Baroness Wharton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many submissions they received in response to their recent consultation exercise on the proposed new restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6 supplements; and how many, and what percentage of those submissions (a) broadly supported and (b) broadly opposed the proposed new restrictions. (HL2525)
The Baroness Wharton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to be able to respond to the recent report of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee on vitamin B6 (HC753). (HL2526)
The Baroness Jeger—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the present annual subsidy being paid from the Common Agriculture Policy funds to tobacco growers in the European Union; and what proportion of this is paid by United Kingdom taxpayers. (HL2527)
The Baroness Jeger—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual cost to the United Kingdom taxpayers of campaigns in this country to reduce smoking. (HL2528)
The Baroness Jeger—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many licenced taxis operating in London do not have passenger seat belts; and whether, to avoid further injuries, they will consider bringing forward from the year 2000 the requirement to fit passenger seat belts in all such vehicles. (HL2529)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought advice regarding the prescription of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept); if so, from whom and whether the advice has been acted upon. (HL2530)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from the Alzheimer’s Disease Society and others regarding the prescription of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept). (HL2531)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that the forthcoming green paper on public health safety will contain a commitment to raising the health standards of those over the age of 65; and whether specific health targets will be set for older people. (HL2532)
The Lord Brightman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they refused to include in the Competition Bill an Index of Defined Expressions (60 in number) as in the Government of Wales Bill, the Scotland Bill, the School Standards and Framework Bill and the Data Protection Bill enabling the reader to ascertain instantly whether a particular word has a meaning and where that meaning is to be found. (HL2533)
The Lord Brightman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the inclusion in the Competition Bill of an Index of Defined Expressions would or would not be user-friendly. (HL2534)
The Earl of Haddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the annual report of the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland for the year 1996-97. (HL2535)
The Earl of Haddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer given by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 24th June (WA 20), whether they will estimate the disproportionate cost of obtaining and placing in the Library of the House copies of all invoices paid by the Home Office for, and to, the Association of Chief Police Offices, England, Wales and Northern Ireland for their financial year 1996-97. (HL2536)
The Earl of Haddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House full copies of the annual reports of the Association of Chief Police Offices, England, Wales and Northern Ireland for each year since 1992. (HL2537)
The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the monthly attendance figures at the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside in—
(a) the year prior to the introduction of admission charges on 8th July 1997; and
(b) the year following the introduction of admission charges; and
what percentage change in total visitor numbers this represents between the two years. (HL2538)
The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the monthly attendance figures at the National Museums of Scotland in—
(a) the year prior to the introduction of admission charges on January 1998; and
(b) the year following the introduction of admission charges; and
what percentage change in total visitor numbers this represents between the two years. (HL2539)
The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will hold an official inquiry into the leaking of the proposals and the recent statement on the Child Support Agency in advance of their presentation to Parliament. (HL2540)
The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the article on page 10 of The Financial Times of Thursday 9th July anticipating a statement by the Secretary of State for Social Security to the House of Commons on the subject of pilot projects to help the disabled was the result of either an official briefing or a leak. (HL2541)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding arrangements exist for indoor and outdoor powered wheelchair provision in the United Kingdom. (HL2542)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the budget for the provision of indoor and outdoor powered wheelchairs remains ring-fenced. (HL2543)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what performance management procedures exist for the indoor and outdoor powered wheelchair funding scheme and the separate wheelchair voucher scheme. (HL2544)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information has been made publicly available, locally and nationally, about progress with the implementation of the indoor and outdoor powered wheelchair funding scheme, specifically in accordance with section 26 of the Health Service Guidelines, HSG(96)34. (HL2545)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information has been made publicly available on how health authorities are monitoring the quality of the wheelchair service, specifically in accordance with section 27 of Health Service Guidelines, HSG(96)34. (HL2546)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information has been made publicly available, locally and nationally, specifically in accordance with section 30 of Health Service Guidelines, HSG(96)53. (HL2547)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
Waiting for Second Reading
Finance (No. 2) (Money Bill—2nd July)
Prime Minister (Ecclesiastical Functions) [HL]
Pensions (Amendment) [HL] [10th July]
Private Hire Vehicles (London) [17th July]
Waste Minimisation [17th July]
Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee
City of Westminster [HL] [23rd July]
Recommitted to an Unopposed Bill Committee
London Local Authorities [HL]
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Pharmacists [HL]
Regional Development Agencies
Sexual Orientation Discrimination [HL] [10th July]
Scotland [14th July]
Recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House
Statute Law Repeals [HL] [13th July]
Waiting for Report
Lord Chancellor (Tenure of Office) (Amendment) [HL]
National Minimum Wage [20th July]
European Parliamentary Elections
Northern Ireland (Sentences) [16th July]
Waiting for Third Reading
Police (Northern Ireland) [22nd July]
School Standards and Framework [13th July]
Government of Wales [15th July]
Tamar Bridge
Sent to the Commons
Coordinated Universal Time [HL]
Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Amendment) [HL]
Geneva Conventions (Amendment) [HL]
British Nationality (St. Helena) [HL]
Human Rights [HL]
Local Government (Experimental Arrangements) [HL]
Business Improvement Districts [HL]
Electricity Generation [HL]
Mental Health (Amendment) (No. 2) [HL]
Building Regulations (Energy Rating Information) (Amendment) [HL]
Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) [HL]
Bodmin Moor Commons [HL]
Lloyds TSB [HL]
Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council [HL]
Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) [HL]
Waiting for consideration of Commons amendments
Crime and Disorder [HL] [22nd July]
Data Protection [HL] [10th July]
Competition [HL]
Returned to the Commons amended
Returned to the Commons further amended
Teaching and Higher Education [HL]
AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (Charges for Registration Schemes) Regulations 1998
Draft Community Drivers’ Hours and Recording Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 1998
Draft Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 1998
Draft Security for Private Road Works (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998
Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) (No. 2) Order 1998
(S.I. 1998/1582)
Draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Amendment Regulations 1998
Draft Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 1998
Draft Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
DEREGULATION PROPOSALS IN PROGRESS
Proposal laid under s.3(3) referred to the Deregulation Committee
Draft Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1998
Draft Deregulation (Pipe-lines) Order 1998
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998 [26th Report]
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
MONDAY 13TH JULY
