Monday 20 November 2006 at 2.30pm

*Oral questions, 30 minutes

*Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning immediate steps to coordinate an early departure of coalition military forces from Iraq.

*Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in light of the report from the European Food Standards Agency and opinion from bird welfare organisations, they will support the imposition of a permanent ban on the import of wild caught birds into the European Union.

*Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place between Ministers, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer, about the introduction and level of new green taxes.

*Lord Corbett of Castle Vale to ask Her Majesty’s Government what legal protection broadcasters and the written media have in repeating statements made in Parliament which if made elsewhere would be in breach of the law.

†Committee of Selection The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move that in accordance with Standing Order 64 a Committee of Selection be appointed to select and propose to the House the names of the members to form each select committee of the House (except the Committee of Selection itself and any committee otherwise provided for by statute or by order of the House) or any other body not being a select committee referred to it by the Chairman of Committees, and the panel of Deputy Chairmen of Committees; and that the following members be appointed to the Committee:

†Queen’s Speech Adjourned Debate on the Motion that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty as follows:

“Most Gracious Sovereign,

We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg leave to thank Your Majesty for the most gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.”

†It is expected that the principal topics for debate will be Foreign and European Affairs, International Development and Defence.

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Future Business

Tuesday 21 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made with the redistribution of funds generated by the 2004 Tsunami appeals.

*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of those dentists who previously provided National Health Service dental services have not signed the new National Health Service dental contract; and whether there is sufficient access to National Health Service dental treatment for all.

*Lord Lamont of Lerwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the invasion of Iraq on the risks of terrorism activity within the United Kingdom.

†Business of the House The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move that, in the event of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Bill being brought from the Commons, Standing Order 47 (No two stages of a bill be taken on one day) be dispensed with tomorrow to allow the bill to be taken through all its stages that day.

It is expected that the debate on the Address will continue and that the principal topics for debate will be Social Affairs, Education and Health.

Wednesday 22 November at 3.00pm

*Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what further help they are considering for veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War with still medically unexplained illnesses and the dependants of those who have died since the conflict.

*Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to make it more expensive to fly than to travel by train for journeys between London and Scotland or Northern England.

*Earl of Dundee to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce the fatal accident rate among drivers aged 17 to 19.

†If the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Bill is received from the Commons, it is expected that it will be taken through all its stages.

Thursday 23 November at 11.00am

*Lord Elton to ask Her Majesty’s Government why at the recent Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Conventional Weapons currently in Geneva they opposed a negotiating mandate on cluster munitions.

*Lord Trefgarne to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the military objectives assigned to United Kingdom forces in (a) Afghanistan, and (b) Iraq.

*Lord Trimble to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all Government departments comply with the duty of candour in judicial review proceedings.

It is expected that the debate on the Address will continue and that the principal topics for debate will be Home, Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

Monday 27 November at 2.30pm

†*Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the European Union’s proposal to make the commercial use of non-metric terms a criminal offence from 1 January 2010.

*Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will implement their policies on combating bullying with regard to young people.

†*Baroness Sharples to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many allotments have been closed over the past five years; and whether any new allotments have been established in the same period.

*Lord Waddington to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the 1,023 foreign national criminals who were released from prison between February 1999 and March 2006 without the appropriate consideration of deportation or removal action had served sentences for crimes of violence; and how many have since been deported.

It is expected that the debate on the Address will continue and that the principal topics for debate will be Industry, Economic and Consumer Affairs.

Tuesday 28 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Selsdon to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many closed circuit television systems have been registered with the Office of the Information Commissioner.

*Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making any changes in their policy towards the Middle East in light of the present foreign policy of the United States.

*Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the recommendations of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change of December 2004 addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

†Mental Health Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Warner]

†National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) (No. 2) Order 2006 Lord Evans of Temple Guiting to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 19 October be approved. 36th Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee, Session 2005-06

†Big Lottery Fund (Prescribed Expenditure) Order 2006 Lord Davies of Oldham to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 11 October be approved. 35th Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee, Session 2005-06

Wednesday 29 November at 3.00pm

*Lord Northbourne to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the current level of prosecutions of young people compares with that of ten years ago; and whether more young people are receiving custodial sentences.

*Baroness Masham of Ilton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to ensure that the number of specialist nurses for long-term conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis will not be reduced within the National Health Service.

*Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the consultation on rape includes the issue of false accusations.

†Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [HL] Second Reading [Baroness Ashton of Upholland]

Thursday 30 November at 11.00am

*Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made to fulfil the agreement made at the 2005 G8 Conference in Gleneagles to ensure that all those who have need for access to treatment for AIDS do so by 2010.

*Lord Watson of Richmond to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current view concerning the meeting of the five economic tests to join the Eurozone.

*Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the United Nations Security Council concerning the threat of international conflict in Somalia.

Monday 4 December at 2.30pm

*Baroness Perry of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in view of the number of vacancies for the post of head teacher, particularly in primary schools, they will take urgent action to encourage more well-qualified applicants for these posts.

*Lord Ezra to ask Her Majesty’s Government what further measures they have in mind to stimulate energy efficiency in households in the light of the recent report by the Energy Saving Trust.

*Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the fatal attack on a British Armed Forces patrol boat near Basra on 12 November.

*Baroness Sharp of Guildford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the results of the 2005-06 evaluation of the “Every Child a Reader” initiative are yet available; and whether extra support is now being given to primary schools to help pupils catch up before the transition to secondary school.

Tuesday 5 December at 2.30pm

*Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they will take to ensure that the gas industry improves the United Kingdom public’s awareness of gas safety issues and in particular awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning.

*Baroness Wilcox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of passenger trains in the United Kingdom continue to discharge raw sewage on the tracks; and when they expect the practice to end.

*Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider it appropriate to use the Parliament Acts to enact legislation on House of Lords reform.

Wednesday 6 December at 3.00pm

*Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the wrecks of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse from the activities of foreign nationals undertaking penetration dives and disturbing the human remains which lie there.

*Lord Razzall to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in light of the ongoing Serious Fraud Office investigation, they have reassessed their view of the granting of an export licence for the sale of an air traffic control system from BAE to the government of Tanzania.

Thursday 7 December at 11.00am

*Lord Berkeley to ask the Chairman of Committees what progress has been made in the World Squares project for Parliament Square and Old Palace Yard and the consequent impact on security.

*Lord Livsey of Talgarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to extending the period for Hill Farming Allowance payments for a further three years after 2006-07.

*Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar (Burma) over reports of continuing offensives against ethnic national groups.

Monday 11 December at 2.30pm

*Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they hold records relating to the ethnicity of those whose DNA is collected for the national DNA database.

*Lord Wallace of Saltaire to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to communicate to both Houses of Parliament on the United Kingdom contribution to the development of European Security and Defence Policy.

*Baroness Trumpington to ask Her Majesty’s Government why Bow Street Magistrates’ Court was closed.

*Baroness Rawlings to ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of projects funded by the Department for International Development address climate change concerns in developing countries.

Tuesday 12 December at 2.30pm

*Viscount Falkland to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept Commissioner Verheugen’s estimate that European Union regulation is costing €660 billion per annum to European Union member states’ economies.

*Lord Hoyle to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the consequences to National Health Service patients of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s decision not to approve the drug Velcade.

*Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all the emergency services in London now have a radio system that operates below and above ground.

Wednesday 13 December at 3.00pm

*Baroness Miller of Hendon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ministers giving evidence to committees of enquiry of foreign legislatures are bound by the Official Secrets Act 1989 and rules about the confidentiality of Cabinet discussions.

*Lord Sheldon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they are making to allow special advisers to give evidence to select committees.

*Lord Lee of Trafford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what options they are considering in relation to the siting of regional or “super” casinos.

Thursday 14 December at 11.00am

*Lord Janner to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cyclists were killed and how many injured in the United Kingdom in hours of darkness during each of the last three years for which records are available.

*Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government why National Health Service trusts can recover VAT paid to employment agencies for nurses but not for other health professionals.

†*Lord Teverson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of regional assemblies in England, outside London.

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Motions for Balloted Debate

Ballot on 21 November for debate on 30 November. Time limit 2½ hours

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to call attention to the present franchising system for the railway industry; and to move for papers.

†Lord Avebury to call attention to the role of the international community in the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh; and to move for papers.

†Lord Wright of Richmond to call attention to the prospects for a lasting peace settlement in the Middle East; and to move for papers.

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Other Motions for Debate

Lord Dykes to call attention to the economic and social conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; and to move for papers.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to call attention to developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.

Lord Northbourne to call attention to the rights of the child and to the role of stability and family life in the well being of children; and to move for papers.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to the implications of North Korea’s decision to conduct its first nuclear test; and to move for papers.

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Questions for Short Debate

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to efforts to eradicate contemporary slavery.

Lord Howarth of Newport to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase support for the conservation of historic places of worship.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they agree with the First Report from the Committee for Privileges, Code of Conduct and Members’ Interests, (Session 2003-04, HL Paper 69) in particular its recommendation that Members of the House in receipt of pensions from the European Union do not normally need to declare such pensions as a financial interest when taking part in debates on European Union matters; and, if so, why.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to honour their commitment that family carers of people with lifelong severe intellectual impairment should be at the heart of decision-making about their relatives’ accommodation, health care and support.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Botswana about its treatment of the bushmen of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the United Nations resolution on diabetes.

Lord Anderson of Swansea to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have for the future status of Kosovo.

Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current prospects for peace and multi-party democracy in Nepal.

Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to meet relief and development needs in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Baroness Greengross to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the indirect social costs of clinical decisions are being met by Government departments other than the Department of Health.

Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current state of relations between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take in response to the report by the Youth Justice Board, published on 2 November, on research into Anti-social Behaviour Orders given to young people between January 2004 and January 2005.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits are expected from the International Polar Year 2007-08 following the British hosting of the Antarctic Treaty consultative meeting in Edinburgh in June.

Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to help to provide homes for homeless and overcrowded families.

Baroness Jay of Paddington to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the effectiveness of palliative care services; and on what basis decisions to fund additional services are taken.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the statutory regulation of the professions of psychology, psychotherapy and counselling in the past six years.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would support moves towards developing an inclusive semi-permanent conference table to address the problems of the Middle East.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to further the independence of West Papua.

Lord Holme of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of Chinese investment in Africa.

Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to combat AIDS across the world and its effect on children.

Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they are putting forward to promote the peace process in Israel and Palestine.

Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what developments have been made in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will bring forward legislation to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether physical restraints, including seclusion and strip searching, are used on children in custody.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the future of British architecture.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government why civil justice costs must be recovered in their entirety from those who become suitors before the court.

Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to address the present problems facing the bus industry.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on their capital building programme.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to prevent malnutrition in hospitals, as highlighted in the Age Concern report, Hungry to be Heard.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the British Medical Association’s report, Child and adolescent mental health—guide for healthcare professionals, published in June 2006.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether current or proposed methods of allocating research funds amongst universities are sufficient to support basic research infrastructures or to promote innovative and applied research.

Lord Hanningfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to alleviate the financial pressures facing local authorities in relation to adult social care and to minimise the impact that this has on the delivery of other services.

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they will seek in formulating their response to the Chief Medical Officer’s report, Good Doctors, Safer Patients.

†Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase provision of contraceptive services, prevent the closure of specialist community clinics and increase the availability of training in contraceptive services and sexual health.

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Questions for Written Answer

Tabled on 16 November and due for answer on 30 November.

Baroness Thomas of Winchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, bearing in mind their stated policy of encouraging more choice of healthcare providers, they issue planning policy guidance to local planning authorities for the development of new hospitals. HL77

Duke of Montrose to ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the total funding by (a) the European Union, and (b) the Government for the agri-environment schemes for each of the past five years. HL78

Lord Ouseley to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 2 November (WA 73), how the Security Industry Authority will meet the deficit of £3.1 million incurred in 2005-06; and how the Authority will meet the projected deficit of £3.7 million in 2006-07. HL79

Lord Ouseley to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to provide any resources to offset the deficits incurred by the Security Industry Authority (SIA); and, if not, how and when the SIA will become a self-supporting organisation. HL80

Lord Ouseley to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 2 November (WA 72), whether the Security Industry Authority has met its objectives. HL81

Lord Ouseley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what initiatives are envisaged to encourage the 2,000 security companies which have not sought approved contractor status to do so. HL82

Lord Ouseley to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they can indicate which of the 267 companies with approved contractor status are satisfied with the performance of the Security Industry Authority. HL83

Baroness D’Souza to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will press for a renewal in February 2007 of the current sanctions against official and personal travel first imposed on President Mugabe and 19 of his senior associates by the European Union in February 2002. HL84

Baroness D’Souza to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in collaboration with their international parties, they will promote and support a resolution on Zimbabwe at the United Nations Human Rights Council to endorse the resolution passed by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights during its 38th Session in 2005. HL85

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many local educational authorities (LEAs) have competitive school teams playing in local leagues; and what would be the cost of ensuring that all LEAs have competitive school teams playing in local leagues. HL86

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the statistic that over 50 per cent of British Olympic medal winners attended schools in the independent sector; and whether they will take steps to address this issue. HL87

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to implement the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s pledge on 25 October that every child will have at least four hours of sport within the school curriculum by 2010. HL88

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the curriculum which includes at least four hours sport for each child per week within the school curriculum; and whether this will include classes on lifestyle management. HL89

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to undertake a comprehensive assessment of school sport and recreational facilities to ensure that their policy that every school should have access to playing fields and better sports facilities is achieved; and when they expect all schools to have access to such facilities. HL90

Baroness Verma to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is meant by the term sport in the context of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s commitment on 25 October to ensure that every child will have at least four hours of sport within the school curriculum by 2012. HL91

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures under the National Lottery Act 1993 have been put in place to ensure that the Chairman of UK Sport avoids any conflict of interest in discharging her responsibilities in that role with her chairmanship of the Youth Sports Trust. HL92

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many grants have been made to the Youth Sports Trust from UK Sport for each year since its creation; and whether all such awards were the result of an open tender process. HL93

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government when UK Sport last reviewed its role and responsibilities under the Royal Charter. HL94

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether paid advisers to the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are eligible to chair lottery fund distribution panels; and, if so, what procedures have been put in place to ensure the distribution of lottery funds is independent of Government influence. HL95

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government on what occasions since 2003 Top Goods has been in receipt of Government or lottery funding; what was the value of each award made; and whether these awards were subject to competitive tendering. HL96

Lord Luke to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has asked the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment to review issues relating to possible conflicts of interest and compliance with the Nolan Principles in UK Sport. HL97

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government, given their role in securing United Nations Security Council resolution 1706, what pressure they are exerting in their relationship with the government of Sudan to ensure that the resolution is implemented. HL98

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s whether inviting the head of the Sudanese intelligence services, Sallah Abdullah Gosh, to the United Kingdom to hold talks with the Assistant Secretary of State on African affairs, Jendayi Frazer, in March and September 2006, contributed to exerting pressure on the government of Sudan to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1706. HL99

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government, given that the government of Sudan has thus far failed to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Darfur Peace Agreement as well as mandatory United Nations Security Council resolutions, and given its recently reinforced military campaign in Darfur, on what basis they claim that the government of Sudan makes a trustworthy partner in peace and is a credible signatory to the Darfur Peace Agreement. HL100

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to respond if the government of Sudan fails to fulfil its commitment to and obligations under United Nations Security Council resolution 1556 to disarm the Janjaweed within two months. HL101

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to enforce targeted sanctions under United Nations Security Council resolution 1591; and whether targeting the economic assets of Khartoum, its security agencies and fraudulent charities will deter the government of Sudan from perpetrating atrocities in Darfur. HL102

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to assist the African Union in protecting women against sexual attack in and around camps for internally displaced people; and whether they will make representations to the government of Sudan to implement the reform necessary to ensure that legal recourse is available to women. HL103

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests for information concerning radioactive materials such as uranium they have received in recent years; and how many of these requests have been granted. HL104

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention have yet to be implemented in (a) the European Union, and (b) the United Kingdom. HL105

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many arrests have been made under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005; and by which police authorities. HL106

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many arrests and how many convictions were made in connection with the Sack Parliament demonstration on 9 October; under which Acts such arrests and convictions were made; and whether prior permission for the demonstration was sought. HL107

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of the police operation in connection with the Sack Parliament demonstration on 9 October. HL108

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government, for the purposes of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, what is their definition of demonstration and what is the statutory basis for that definition; and, for the purposes of section 134 of the Act, what degree of risk is necessary before a condition may be imposed restricting the right to freedom of speech. HL109

Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 16 October (WA 174), what proportion of the £20,000 to £25,000 spent by the Medical Research Council on reviews research into Gulf War illnesses was spent on, or in connection with, the one day meeting held in London on 27 January 2003. HL110

Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 16 October (WA 174), which individuals represented the Royal British Legion and the Gulf War Veterans and Families Association at the meeting on 27 January 2003 arranged by the Medical Research Council; and whether the organisers considered inviting Professor Malcolm Hooper and Dr Norman Jones to assist with the review of relevant research into Gulf War Illnesses. HL111

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom will adopt the euro as its currency, in light of the decision by the government of the Republic Cyprus to join the Eurozone on 1 January 2008; and, if so, when. HL112

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will commission a research study to ascertain whether there is a correlation between changes in the Department of Communities and Local Government count figures for Gypsy and Traveller caravans, and the corresponding accommodation needs assessments; and, if so, what steps they will take to ensure that less thorough needs assessments do not result in lower obligations for the local authorities in the regional spatial strategies. HL113

Lord Willoughby de Broke to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Rural Payments Agency has satisfactorily tested information technology systems for a partial payments system. HL114

Lord Willoughby de Broke to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to resolve the employment status of the former Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency. HL115

Baroness Ludford to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they reconcile their encouragement of airport expansion in the Future of Air Transport White Paper of December 2003 with the finding of the Stern report that there is a need to reduce air travel. HL116

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government in which 20 local authority areas they are piloting the extension of the weekly entitlement to free nursery education to 15 hours; and what is the current political control of the authorities concerned. HL117

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average cost per head of providing nursery education in maintained settings by local authority area. HL118

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government on what statutory basis business costs should not be apportioned equally across all the hours in which nursery education is offered by private providers. HL119

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide in tabular form for each local education authority in England—

(a) the value per child eligible for the nursery education grant of the total payments made to the local authority in respect of nursery education; and

(b) the level of nursery education grant per head paid by each local authority to private and independent providers in respect of nursery education pupils in their area. HL120

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government why no regulatory impact assessment was undertaken before the issuing of the Department for Education and Skills Code of Practice for Nursery Education Provision for Three- and Four-years Olds 2006; and how the decision that there would be no impact on providers as a result of issuing the Code was reached. HL121

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any representations from private and voluntary providers against the Department for Education and Skills Code of Practice for Nursery Education Provision for Three- and Four-years Olds 2006; what has been the substance of such representations; and what has been their response. HL122

Baroness Wilkins to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Lord Warner on 25 July (HL Deb, col 1642) regarding procurement of an additional 300,000 audiology service pathways from the independent sector, whether this initiative will result in additional capacity; and whether service commissioners could opt to use this scheme to transfer existing resources from the National Health Service to the independent sector. HL123

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the Ministry of Defence is taking to avoid any repetition of the finding communicated to the Ministry by the Chairman of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee that the Explanatory Memorandum on the draft Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) Amendment Regulations 2006 “proved to be inaccurate”. HL124

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps the Ministry of Defence is taking in response to the call communicated to the Ministry by the Chairman of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee for certainty in future that the Ministry’s consultation procedures “are reliable, not least to be able to inform Parliament properly about the impact of the measures proposed”. HL125

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will now publish the correspondence to date between the Ministry of Defence and the President of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales on the draft Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) Amendment Regulations 2006. HL126

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 November (WA 36) on medical care for veterans, whether the aftercare following hospitalisation is adequate and of a suitable quality; and what lessons were learned from the case of Corporal Corrigan. HL127

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 November (WA 34) on Gulf War illnesses, on what date they first became aware of the research at Wright State University in Ohio into autonomic dysfunction following low-level Sarin exposure and its possible relevance to illnesses among British veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War. HL128

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the Leonard Cheshire Ready to Start initiative to assist disabled people to start businesses; and what assessment has been made of its importance. HL129

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the actions of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the Warren Blackwell case to reveal prison convictions (unrelated to the crime of rape) for robbery and theft by the accused in that case were in line with the CPS duty to ensure the disclosure of relevant material to the defence team; and what guidance is now being given to CPS staff involved in rape prosecutions. HL130

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment the Attorney General has made of the extent to which the guidelines on disclosure were applied in the case of the accuser and the accused during the Warren Blackwell legal proceedings and investigation for the crime of rape. HL131

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidelines on the issue of dishonesty are now being provided to police forces investigating allegations of rape. HL132

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the extent to which the code of practice governing the conduct of identity parades is adhered to, in the light of the investigation of the case of Warren Blackwell and allegations of rape made against him. HL133

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the extent to which the evidence gathered during the conduct of identity parades is admissible as reliable evidence at trial, in the light of evidence gathered in the case of Warren Blackwell. HL134

Lord Glentoran to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to issue Section Five permits to those hoping to compete for Britain in shooting events in the next two Olympic Games; and whether this will allow competitors to store their pistols and train at licensed United Kingdom ranges in the run-up to both the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the London Olympic Games in 2012. HL135

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the report published in July by Price Waterhouse Coopers, Enterprise in the United Kingdom: Impact of the United Kingdom Tax Regime for Private Companies; and, in particular, whether they have analysed its findings that awareness of tax incentives and reliefs are low and that only 25 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises are aware of Government schemes permitting capital allowance relief on energy-saving technologies or contaminated land relief. HL136

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will respond to European Union Commissioner Verheugen’s paper to cut red tape in the European Union by 25 per cent by 2012; and to German Chancellor Merkel’s proposal for the German Presidency in 2007 to promote better European Union regulation and introduce de-bureaucratisation for small firms. HL137

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to take action against illegal and unsafe roadside billboards, including those found on the Britain’s motorway network. HL138

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the tonnage tax on merchant shipping introduced in 2000 and, in particular, its effect on employment levels of British officers and British ratings. HL139

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Seamen Recruited Abroad Order 2003 introduced any racial discrimination in respect of foreign national seafarers, particularly in relation to remuneration rates. HL140

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the May-June Health and Safety Executive Height Awareness Campaign, in light of the fact that most injuries occur when people fall from lower than head height. HL141

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes have been made this year to the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (applications by young people for Highly Skilled Migrant status); why they were made; when; after what consultation; and when they come into force. HL142

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the appeals procedure in connection with the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (applications by young people for Highly Skilled Migrant status); what is the expected length of time involved; and whether a person involved can remain in the United Kingdom during that period. HL143

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications were received under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (applications by young people for Highly Skilled Migrant status) in each of the last five years; and, of those, how many were successful. HL144

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service are entitled to annual sick leave without a doctor’s certificate; if so, how much sick leave they are entitled to; and what are the reasons for this entitlement. HL145

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, regarding the decision of Mr Justice Girvan of 9 November, in the High Court in Belfast in the Brenda Downes’s judicial review, whether they intend to appeal the decision; and, if not, whether they intend to take any action in respect of the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the permanent secretary of the Northern Ireland Office following criticisms by the judge about a public appointment in Northern Ireland. HL146

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the St Andrews Agreement of 2006 is binding in international law; and whether it has the same status as the 1998 Belfast Agreement. HL147

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 192), for each of the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, how much the United Kingdom collected (gross, before deduction of the 25 per cent handling charge) in import or customs duties on goods, excluding agricultural, fishing, hunting, forestry and aquaculture produce, which were imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. HL148

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 192), for each of the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, how much the United Kingdom collected (gross, before deduction of the 25 per cent handling charge) in import or customs duties on goods on agricultural, fishing, hunting, forestry and aquaculture produce, which were imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. HL149

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 193), for each of the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, what was the value of agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. HL150

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 193), for each of the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, what proportion by value of goods, excluding agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce, imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union, effectively bore no import or customs duties in respect of goods for which the full rate of customs duty was zero and of goods for which there was a positive rate of customs duty but preferential arrangements allowed a zero rate to be claimed. HL151

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, what was the value of goods, excluding agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce, imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. HL152

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Bills in Progress

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Affirmative Instruments in Progress

The Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee has drawn attention to certain instruments in the reports indicated

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Negative Instruments

Instruments reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee

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Regulatory Reform Order in Progress

The Regulatory Reform Committee has reported on Orders in the reports indicated

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Committees

Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheet

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Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday 16 November

The House met at 9.45am.
Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Truro.

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Judicial Business

For judicial business see page 23

The House adjourned. The House resumed.

Private Business

1   London Local Authorities Bill [HL] The Chairman of Committees informed the House that, in accordance with SO 150A (Suspension of Bills), the bill had been deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments together with the declaration of the agent. The bill was presented and read a first time. It was then deemed to have been read a second time, reported from the Select Committee and from the Unopposed Bill Committee.

2   Transport for London Bill [HL] The Chairman of Committees informed the House that, in accordance with SO 150A (Suspension of Bills), the bill had been deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments together with the declaration of the agent. The bill was presented and read a first time. It was then deemed to have been read a second time, reported from the Select Committee and re-committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee.

3   Whitehaven Harbour Bill [HL] The Chairman of Committees informed the House that, in accordance with SO 150A (Suspension of Bills), the bill had been deposited in the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments together with the declaration of the agent. The bill was presented and read a first time. It was then deemed to have been read a second time and committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee.

Public Business

4   Mental Health Bill [HL] Lord Warner presented a bill to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in relation to mentally disordered persons. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 1)

5   Mental Health Bill [HL] The Explanatory Notes on the bill were ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 1-EN)

6   Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] Lord Truscott presented a bill to make provision for the establishment of the National Consumer Council and its functions; to make provision for the abolition of other consumer bodies; to make provision about the handling of consumer complaints by certain suppliers and provision requiring certain suppliers to be members of redress schemes in respect of consumer complaints; to amend the Estate Agents Act 1979; to make provision about the cancellation of certain contracts concluded away from business premises; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 2)

7   Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] The Explanatory Notes on the bill were ordered to be printed.(HL Bill 2-EN)

8   Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill [HL] Lord Lester of Herne Hill presented a bill to make provision for protecting individuals against being forced to enter into marriage without their free and full consent; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 3)

9   Palliative Care Bill [HL] Baroness Finlay of Llandaff presented a bill to make provision about palliative care for persons who are suffering from terminal illness; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed.(HL Bill 4)

10   Queen’s Speech The debate on the motion that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty was resumed and, after further debate, was again adjourned until Monday 20 November.

11   Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [HL] Baroness Ashton of Upholland presented a bill to make provision about tribunals and inquiries; to establish an Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council; to amend the law relating to judicial appointments; to amend the law relating to the enforcement of judgments and debts; to make further provision about the management and relief of debt; to make provision protecting cultural objects from seizure or forfeiture in certain circumstances; to amend the law relating to the taking of possession of land affected by compulsory purchase; to alter the powers of the High Court in judicial review applications; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 5)

12   Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [HL] The Explanatory Notes on the bill were ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 5-EN)

The House adjourned at 4.35pm until Monday 20 November at 2.30pm.

Paul Hayter

Clerk of the Parliaments

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Papers

All statutory instruments laid before the House are accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum presented by command of Her Majesty, unless otherwise indicated.

Instrument Withdrawn

The following instrument, laid before the House on 15 November, was withdrawn:

Draft Petroleum Act 1998 (Third Party Access) Order 2006.

Affirmative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House for approval by resolution:

1   Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment No. 2) (England and Wales) Order 2006, laid under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

2   (1)   Draft Compensation (Claims Management Services) Regulations 2006

   (2)   Draft Compensation (Specification of Benefits) Order 2006

   (3)   Draft Compensation (Regulated Claims Management Services) Order 2006

laid under the Compensation Act 2006.

3   Draft Asylum (First List of Safe Countries) (Amendment) Order 2006, laid under the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004.

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House:

1   Pensions Act 2004 (Disclosure of Restricted Information) (Amendment of Specified Persons) Order 2006, laid under the Pensions Act 2004.   (2937)

2   (1)   Encouraging Electoral Participation (Reimbursement of Expenses) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006   (2972)

   (2)   Absent Voting (Transitional Provisions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006   (2973)

laid under the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

3   Political Donations and Regulated Transactions (Anonymous Electors) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, laid under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.   (2974)

4   Electricity Act 1989 (Exemption from the Requirement for a Generation Licence) (England and Wales) Order 2006, laid under the Electricity Act 1989.   (2978)

Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings

The following papers were laid before the House:

1   Report of the making of a call out order of members of the Reserve Forces, laid under the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

2   Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the National Crime Squad, laid under the Police Act 1997.

3   Report and Accounts for 2004 of the General Medical Council, laid under the Medical Act 1983.

4   Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, laid under the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.

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Judicial Business

Thursday 16 November

1   Standard Commercial Property Securities Limited and others (Respondents) v. Glasgow City Council (Appellants) and others (Scotland)

2   Standard Commercial Property Securities Limited and others (Respondents) v. Glasgow City Council and others (Appellants) (Scotland)

(Conjoined Appeals)

It was moved by Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead that the 1st Report from the Appellate Committee be agreed to; the motion was agreed to. It was ordered and adjudged, That the appeals be allowed; that the Interlocutor of the First Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland of 3 December 2004 be recalled and the Interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary of 1 June 2004 restored; and that, in each appeal, the respondents do pay to the appellants their costs of the appeal in this House. [2006] UKHL50

3   In re D (a child) It was moved by Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead that the 2nd Report from the Appellate Committee be agreed to; the motion was agreed to. It was ordered and adjudged, That the appeal be allowed; that the Order of the Court of Appeal of 25 May 2006 and also the Order of Mrs Justice Hogg DBE in the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice of 28 March 2006 be set aside; that the originating summons of 14 February 2003 and the proceedings be dismissed; and that the question of costs in this House and in the courts below be adjourned in order that all the parties may make written submissions within 14 days. [2006] UKHL51

4   Clarke (Appellant) v. Fennoscandia Limited (Respondent) (Scotland) The appeal of Robert Clarke was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 15 January.

5   R v. G (Appellant) (On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) The appeal of G was presented and ordered to be prosecuted subject to the procedures applicable thereto.

6   Saber (AP) (Original Appellant and Cross-respondent) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (Original Respondent and Cross-appellant) (Scotland) The cross-appeal of the Secretary of State for the Home Department was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 15 January (lodged 13 November).

7   R (on the application of Begum and others) (FC) (Petitioners) v. Returning Officer for London Borough of Tower Hamlets The petition of Sultana Begum, Mohammed Hassan and Fayaz Ali praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. The petitioners’ certificates of public funding were lodged (lodged 6 November).

8   R (on the application of Haw) (FC) (Petitioner) v. Secretary of State of the Home Department and another (Respondents) The petition of Brian Haw praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. The petitioner’s certificate of public funding was lodged (lodged 10 November).

9   Chikwamba (FC) (Petitioner) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) The petition of Sylvia Chikwamba praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. The petitioner’s certificate of public funding was lodged.

10   In re Leachman (Petitioner) (application for a writ of Habeas Corpus) The petition of Winston Elijah Leachman praying for an extension of time within which the petition may be lodged and for leave to appeal in accordance with the Administration of Justice Act 1960, was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee.

11   Grieves (Appellant) v. F T Everard & Sons Limited and others (Respondents) The appeal was set down for hearing and referred to an Appellate Committee (lodged 10 November).

12   Principal and Fellows of Newnham College in the University of Cambridge (Respondents) v. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (Appellants) The appeal was set down for hearing and referred to an Appellate Committee (lodged 10 November).

13   Appeal Committee The following Order was made pursuant to the 127th Report :

R v. Carmona (Petitioner) That leave to appeal be refused.

Monday 20 November at noon

In Committee Room No. 1

Hearing by the Appellate Committee in the cause:

Douglas and another and others (Appellants) v. Hello! Limited and others (Respondents)