House of Lords Business

Friday 22 October 2010 at 10.00am

Contaminated Blood (Support for Infected and Bereaved Persons) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Morris of Manchester]

If the bill is read a second time, Lord Morris of Manchester to move that the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Building Regulations (Review) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Harrison]

If the bill is read a second time, Lord Harrison to move that the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Future Business 

Monday 25 October at 2.30pm

*Baroness Noakes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the leadership of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

*Lord James of Blackheath to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify the responsibilities of charities under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 when placing representatives in war zones.

*Lord Corbett of Castle Vale to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Iraq regarding its undertakings to ensure the safety and security of Iranian refugees at Camp Ashraf.

*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what they expect to be the effect of the limitations on shared ownership for first-time buyers as set out in the Financial Services Authority’s Policy Statement A Specialist Source-Book for Building Societies published in March 2010, stating that a maximum of 15 per cent of a Building Society’s whole mortgage book will be available for non-prime owner-occupied mortgages.

Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Bill [HL] Report [Lord Sassoon]

The following two motions are expected to be debated together:

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (Cm 7944) Lord Avebury to move that the Statement, laid before the House on 1 October, be disapproved.

Two Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 59 and HC 96) Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move that this House regrets that Her Majesty’s Government have laid before the House Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 59, laid on 28 June; and HC 96, laid on 15 July) in a way that limits direct Parliamentary scrutiny of the level of the immigration cap; and further regrets that the Government’s cap policy in relation to highly skilled migrants will damage the UK economy. 4th and 6th reports from the Merits Committee

Tuesday 26 October at 2.30pm

The Lord Bishop of Birmingham will be introduced.

*Lord Haskel to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess value for money when allocating public expenditure.

*Lord Grocott to ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the net cost implications for public expenditure of reducing the number of MPs to 600 and introducing 300 directly elected members into the House of Lords.

*Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote prompt payment of invoices to small businesses by public sector organisations and within the private sector.

†Lord Strathclyde to move that this House approves the nomination of Lord Butler of Brockwell as a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Superannuation Bill Second Reading [Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

†If the bill is read a second time, Lord Wallace of Saltaire to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2010 Lord Wallace of Tankerness to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 1 July be approved. First Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments

†Baroness Smith of Basildon to move that this House takes note of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010. 7th Report from the Merits Committee

Wednesday 27 October at 3.00pm

*Lord Butler of Brockwell to ask the Chairman of Committees whether there are any plans to install a docking station for the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme on the Lords controlled part of the Parliamentary Estate.

*Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to reduce the prison population.

*Lord Graham of Edmonton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that mobile home owners are able to sell their properties at the market rate.

Baroness Wilcox to move that this House takes note of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.

Thursday 28 October at 11.00am

*Lord Campbell of Alloway to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether drafts of all their bills should be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny.

*Lord Craig of Radley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that members of the armed forces are not discriminated against in the provision of goods and services in the United Kingdom, particularly while wearing their uniform.

*Lord Lea of Crondall to ask Her Majesty’s Government how far they expect increased income tax and corporation tax revenues to contribute to the reduction of the deficit.

Baroness Perry of Southwark to call attention to the case for providing excellence in education for all pupils and young people; and to move for papers.

Lord Hunt of Wirral to call attention to the Government’s policy on patient-led health care, the focus on clinical outcomes, and the role of health professionals; and to move for papers.

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what importance they attach to the teaching of modern languages in schools and universities. (1½ hours)

Monday 1 November at 2.30pm

*Baroness Royall of Blaisdon to ask Her Majesty’s Government which are the "specific complaints" about electoral fraud referred to by the Deputy Leader of the House on 5 October (HL Deb, col 10).

*Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to discourage the payment of excessive bonuses to senior executives in United Kingdom banks.

*Baroness Seccombe to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to improve the labelling of British foods in retail stores.

*Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of educational allowances paid to Foreign and Commonwealth Office and associated departmental officials in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and whether they intend to amend the cap on those allowances.

Lord Sassoon to move that this House takes note of the Spending Review 2010.

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

Identity Documents Bill Committee [Baroness Neville-Jones]

Tuesday 2 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Roberts of Conwy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the role of the state.

*Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Chancellor of the Exchequer is co-ordinating fiscal and monetary policy.

*Viscount Goschen to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed to United Kingdom corporate interests by illicit attempts to acquire proprietary technology and other intellectual capital.

Lord Marland to move that this House takes note of the future of energy policy in the light of the climate change challenge.

Wednesday 3 November at 3.00pm

*Lord Renton of Mount Harry to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the relationship between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Payments Agency. [I]

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.

Partnership (with wife and son), vineyard, Sussex

Category 5: Land and property

Farmland and vineyard in Sussex owned jointly with wife, including residential properties

*Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will work for a comprehensive agreement covering all refugees arising from the Middle East since 1948.

*Lord Steel of Aikwood to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage large companies, with regard to contracts and payments, to act considerately towards small and medium-sized enterprises with which they deal.

It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Identity Documents Bill will continue at 3.45pm in the Moses Room and that it will conclude.

Thursday 4 November at 11.00am

*Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have received to their proposals for elected Police Commissioners.

*Lord Clinton-Davis to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the drink-drive limit.

*Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the four Palestinian Members of Parliament being deported from East Jerusalem.

Monday 8 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the net cost to the United Kingdom of membership of the European Union.

*Baroness Trumpington to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any agency is responsible for the removal of those occupying the pavement in Parliament Square.

*Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many responses they have had to their consultation on The Coalition: our programme for government; and how many of those solely endorsed coalition policies.

*The Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government what event precipitated the Department of Health decision to exclude all people who have or have had myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome from donating blood from 1 November 2010.

Tuesday 9 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the assurance given by the government of India that special funds for the support Dalits and other scheduled castes were not used to finance the Commonwealth Games.

*Lord Liddle to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will generate the increase in private sector jobs growth in the north of England to offset the employment impact of the government’s planned cuts in public expenditure.

*Lord Lee of Trafford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the contribution of the tourist industry to the United Kingdom’s economy.

Wednesday 10 November at 3.00pm

*Baroness Murphy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address mental health factors in their public health agenda.

*Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Financial Services Authority’s new affordability rules, what is their assessment of the current housing mortgage market in terms of the availability and price of mortgages.

*Lord Elystan-Morgan to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to provide assistance to the economic recovery of Zambia.

Thursday 11 November at 11.00am

*Lord Fowler to ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards exist to prevent too great a concentration of media power in the United Kingdom.

*Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the definition of "treasure" in the Treasure Act 1996 in the light of the sale at auction of the Roman parade helmet recently found in Cumbria for £2 million.

*Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will table the proposed Legislative Reform Order to change the status of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Friday 12 November at 10.00am

Monday 15 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Phillips of Sudbury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effects on local justice of the closure of magistrates’ and county courts and of holding such courts in multi-use buildings.

*Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they will give to educational psychology.

*Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to control rises in health care costs.

*Lord Walton of Detchant to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the imposition of fixed fee schedules and restricted hospital and consultant networks for the provision of services to private medical insurance subscribers, as now practised by the two principal insurers in this field, is in the public interest.

Tuesday 16 November at 2.30pm

*Lord Sheldon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the number of deaths of women in custody.

*Lord Krebs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what scientific evidence they hold which supports their proposals for control of bovine tuberculosis.

*Lord Knight of Weymouth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost of organisational changes required to implement the proposals to reform the Department of Health’s non-departmental public bodies; and whether the cost will be allocated to that Department’s budget.

Wednesday 17 November at 3.00pm

*Baroness Thornton to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will implement the National Clinical Strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

*Baroness Masham of Ilton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they will give to using prebiotics to prevent Clostridium difficile in a clinical setting, with a view to improving patient experience and saving NHS resources.

*Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their current priorities as they take forward their relationship with Tajikistan.

Thursday 18 November at 11.00am

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have reviewed the process of issuing visas for Iraqi nationals and the location where they are issued.

*Lord Berkeley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will implement their commitment to introduce lorry road user charging.

*Lord Giddens to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of a possible defence pact between the European Union and Russia.

Motions for Balloted Debate 

Ballot on 26 October for debate on 11 November. Time limit 2½ hours

Lord Harrison to call attention to the standards and practices of public and private zoos in the United Kingdom and their relationship to European Union legislation; and to move for papers.

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury to call attention to the contribution of creative and cultural industries to the economic and social wellbeing of the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Baroness Gould of Potternewton to call attention to reform of the law, and to the strategy and support services, in relation to violence against women; and to move for papers.

Viscount Waverley to call attention to developments in central Asia; and to move for papers.

Lord Desai to call attention to measures to alleviate poverty at home and abroad; and to move for papers.

Lord Fowler to call attention to Her Majesty’s Government’s plans for the BBC; and to move for papers.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to human rights abuses worldwide and to the recommendations of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission on how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office pursues human rights questions; and to move for papers.

The Lord Bishop of Wakefield to call attention to the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the military covenant; and to move for papers.

The Lord Bishop of Chester to call attention to the role of marriage and marriage support in British society 11 years after the report on Funding for Marriage Support by Sir Graham Hart; and to move for papers.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth to call attention to the situation of Dalits worldwide; and to move for papers.

Lord Hylton to call attention to Israel’s compliance with international law; and to move for papers.

Lord Bates to call attention to progress towards a United Nations Olympic Truce Resolution for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and to move for papers.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton to call attention to the level of co-ordination between Government departments on the use of soft power in the interests of the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Lord Touhig to call attention to the reorganisation of the National Health Service; and to move for papers.

Lord Hannay of Chiswick to call attention to the case for Britain to have a properly resourced and active diplomacy; and to move for papers.

Lord Janvrin to call attention to the case for encouraging philanthropy; and to move for papers. [I]

Category 1: Directorships

Deputy Chairman, HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd

Category 10: Non-financial interests (b)

Member, Development Committee, St George's Chapel Windsor

Category 10: Non-financial interests (c)

Trustee, National Portrait Gallery

Category 10: Non-financial interests (e)

Chair of Trustees, Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry

Category 10: Non-financial interests (e)

Chair of Trustees, Entente-Cordiale Scholarship Scheme

Category 10: Non-financial interests (e)

Trustee, Gurkha Welfare Trust

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.

Charity consultant, The Parthenon Trust (a grant-making charity)

Lord Patel to call attention to the treatment of cancer patients in England and Wales; and to move for papers.

Lord Moynihan to call attention to the implications of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; and to move for papers.

Lord Turnberg to call attention to proposed new funding arrangements in the National Health Service; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for making greater use of pre-legislative scrutiny; and to move for papers.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to call attention to the levels of electoral registration; and to move for papers.

Baroness McDonagh to call attention to constituency boundaries for seats in the House of Commons; and to move for papers.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to call attention to measures to improve the quality and quantity of life of people with cancer; and to move for papers.

Baroness Hooper to call attention to recent developments in the British Overseas Territories; and to move for papers.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope to call attention to the language and terminology used in the House of Lords and their impact on public understanding of the work of the House; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the current position of the print media market and to the supervision of newspapers published in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Lord Judd to call attention to the political situation in Chechnya and the North Caucausus, and its implications for global security; and to move for papers.

Baroness Browning to call attention to the procedures used to assess for benefits those on the autistic spectrum, those with learning disabilities and those with mental health conditions; and to move for papers.

Lord Boateng to call attention to the role of agriculture and science in achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and to move for papers.

Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank to call attention to the implications of bringing together general practitioners and group practices into consortia; and to move for papers.

Select Committee Reports 

The date on which the report was published is in italics

Lord Vallance of Tummel to move that this House takes note of the Report of the Economic Affairs Committee on Private Finance Projects and off-balance sheet debt (First Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 63). 17 March 2010 [I]

Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.

Member, Supervisory Board, Siemens AG (engineering and services)

Lord Teverson to move that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Combating Somali Piracy: the EU’s Naval Operation Atalanta (12th Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 103). 14 April 2010

Lord Carter of Coles to move that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Adapting to climate change: EU agriculture and forestry (8th Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 91) 30 March 2010.

Baroness Young of Hornsey to move that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Making it work: the European Social Fund (9th Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 92). 30 March 2010.

Other Motions for Debate 

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to human rights abuses worldwide and to the recommendations of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission on how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office pursues human rights questions; and to move for papers.

The Earl of Sandwich to call attention to Her Majesty’s Government’s proposals for international development policy; and to move for papers.

Lord Lucas to call attention to the place of trust in society; and to move for papers.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to the 150th anniversary of the Opium Wars and to China’s role in the world in the 21st century; and to move for papers.

Lord Hylton to move to resolve that the European Union should use its powers to prevent access to the European Union without a visa by Israeli citizens and to remove duty-free access for Israeli goods if Israeli breaches of international law continue.

Lord Selsdon to call attention to the future role of non-departmental public bodies; and to move for papers.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope to call attention to the ceremonial aspects of the House of Lords and their impact on public understanding of the work of the House; and to move for papers.

Lord Crisp to call attention to the new generation of diagnostic and therapeutic agents available for cancer; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for reducing the size of the House of Lords; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the case for co-ordinated European Union defence policies; and to move for papers.

†Viscount Waverley to call attention to United Kingdom’s Global Export Promotion Programme; and to move for papers.

Questions for Short Debate 

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale to ask Her Majesty’s Government what further measures they will take in respect of Iran over human rights, nuclear developments and its role in neighbouring countries. [I]

Category 7: Overseas visits

Visit to Paris with wife, 20-21 June 2009, to speak at rally in defence of freedom in Iran; return rail fare, transport, meals and overnight hotel for self and wife paid for by members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that fellow signatories to the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets fulfil the obligations of the Declaration in relation to the restitution of wrongfully seized property.

Lord Grocott to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the operation of proportional representation for elections to the European Parliament.

Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their proposals for the bus industry.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to preserve United Kingdom academic health partnerships.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the Diabetes UK report Putting feet first and its implications for the treatment of diabetes.

Lord Crisp to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the principles of global health are taught at all levels of medical education.

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the United Kingdom of future world population growth.

Lord Jay of Ewelme to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the economic and security implications of the melting of the Arctic ice cap.

Lord Jay of Ewelme to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are they taking to support African countries in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the value of manufacturing to the United Kingdom economy.

Baroness Byford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce regulatory burdens on British agriculture.

Baroness Gale to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recommendations of the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Parkinson’s Disease, Please mind the gap: Parkinson’s disease services today.

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in their relations with Azerbaijan.

Viscount Bridgeman to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of hospices in England.

Baroness Greengross to ask Her Majesty’s Government what public procurement lessons they have learnt from the railways.

The Lord Bishop of Wakefield to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the military covenant will be covered by the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Lord Berkeley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making with the decennial review of the Civil List and grant-in-aid to the Royal Family.

Baroness Ford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to increase the provision of epilepsy services.

Viscount Astor to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider changing the voting arrangements for British citizens residing abroad and members of the armed forces serving abroad.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking with international partners to bring to trial Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army at the International Criminal Court.

Lord Crisp to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to introduce the new generation of diagnostic and therapeutic agents available for cancer.

The Lord Bishop of Leicester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the safety of children, especially of children in the care of local authorities, from being groomed for sexual exploitation.

Lord James of Blackheath to ask Her Majesty’s Government how their plans for disposing of the Tote take account of the interests of horse and dog racing.

Lord Patel to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to meet Millennium Development Goal Five on improving maternal health.

Lord Moynihan to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to strengthen the governance of sport and recreation in the United Kingdom to assist clubs, voluntary organisations and governing bodies.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all children with diabetes are able to benefit from an education at school.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve corporate governance and accountability with respect to social and environmental issues.

Baroness Hooper to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effects of the recent European Union trade agreement concerning banana imports, and its impact on African, Caribbean and Pacific banana producers.

Baroness Hooper to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to review the work of the UK Border Agency with particular reference to the issuing of visas and passports in Latin America.

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the proposed changes to the National Health Service will not damage front-line and specialised services.

The Lord Bishop of London to ask Her Majesty’s Government what they expect to be the effects on listed places of worship of the ending of the listed places of worship grant scheme in March 2011.

The Lord Bishop of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of progress at the climate talks in Cancún.

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the United Nations International Year of Youth; and, if so, how.

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will work with the government of the United States to ensure that Israel complies with United Nations resolutions and international law.

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of progress in the Middle East peace process.

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they propose to encourage people to participate in the Big Society.

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their priorities in relation to the individual countries of Central Asia.

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take measures to increase the display of European Union flags alongside the national flag on official buildings in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Young of Hornsey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support and promote the ethical and sustainable fashion and clothing industry.

Baroness Murphy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, No Health without Public Mental Health: the Case for Action.

Baroness Thornton to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will maintain public confidence and patient safety following the abolition of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority.

Viscount Bridgeman to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the disparity between procedures for health professionals from outside the European Union seeking to practise in the United Kingdom and the requirements for those coming from within the European Union.

Lord Norton of Louth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to establishing a Royal Commission on the law governing drug use and possession.

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution the railway heritage sector makes to education, tourism and the regional economy.

Baroness Thomas of Winchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current provision of specialist neuromuscular services in England.

†The Earl of Clancarty to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the points-based visa system introduced in November 2008 as it affects non-European Union artists, performers, academics and others intending to work in the United Kingdom.

Questions for Written Answer 

Tabled on 21 October and due for answer by 4 November.

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are working with the Council of Zimbabwe to assist the rehabilitation of Zimbabwe.   HL2952

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government what development and humanitarian aid they are providing to Zimbabwe; and for what purposes.   HL2953

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the work of the Movement for Democratic Change within the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe.   HL2954

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given any support this year to education and health services in Zimbabwe.   HL2955

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of progress in Zimbabwe since the formation of the Government of National Unity.   HL2956

Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government by what (a) amount, and (b) percentage, Communities and Local Government has reduced budgets for each Fire Authority following Spending Review 2010.   HL2957

Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the duties and responsibilities of the police and crime commissioners referred to in Spending Review 2010.
   HL2958

Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many police and crime commissioners there will be; and what areas will they represent.   HL2959

Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government who will be eligible to elect police and crime commissioners; and when and how elections will be held.   HL2960

Baroness Smith of Basildon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether police and crime commissioners will be paid; and what is the estimated overall cost of the posts.   HL2961

Lord Bach to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Judicial Review applications have been issued in relation to the proposed new legal aid contracts for civil (non-family) law.   HL2962

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Sir Philip Green has been given the opportunity to examine property leases held by the Government and those of agencies and non-departmental public bodies and, if so, which organisations have had their banking arrangements examined.   HL2963

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comments by Sir Philip Hampton, Chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, that the issue of bankers’ bonuses "can only be decisively resolved through regulation".   HL2964

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to introduce rules limiting the ownership by any one party of a controlling equity interest in a central clearing party or swap execution facility for equities and/or derivatives.   HL2965

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many COP 9 letters have been issued in each quarter since these letters were introduced by HM Revenue and Customs.   HL2966

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will require major banks to maintain significantly higher minimum capital requirements than those proposed under Basel III by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.   HL2967

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the rules relating to the handling of client monies by fund managers and bank custodians; and whether they will require clear segregation.   HL2968

Lord Jones of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding the recent increase in lawlessness in the Territory; and what plans they have to assist the Governor and local agencies in restoring order and bringing those responsible to justice.   HL2969

Lord Jones of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of welfare reforms announced in the emergency budget and Spending Review 2010 on multiple birth families.   HL2970

Lord Jones of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to reduce "out of work" and "in work" poverty among multiple birth families.   HL2971

Lord Jones of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the availability of childcare provision for mothers of multiple birth children who wish to return to work after maternity leave.   HL2972

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will provide support for poorer students wishing to enter higher education.   HL2973

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the European Parliament’s vote in favour of an increase in maternity leave to 20 weeks fully paid.   HL2974

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the European Parliament’s vote in favour of a six per cent rise in next year’s European Union budget.   HL2975

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will promote economic growth.
   HL2976

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will support Britain’s overseas diplomatic presence.   HL2977

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government what areas of work on treatment for dementia will be prioritised and benefit from protected spending, as stated in Spending Review 2010.   HL2978

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government what spending on health research will be protected as stated in Spending Review 2010.   HL2979

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many train operators have announced plans for the purchase of new rolling stock which is to be funded by raising the cap on regulated rail fares as announced in Spending Review 2010.   HL2980

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the train operators plan to improve passenger conditions as a result of the increase in the cap on rail fares announced in Spending Review 2010.
   HL2981

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government which major rail investments around Cardiff, Barry and Newport will go ahead as announced in Spending Review 2010.   HL2982

Lord Beecham to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement repeated by Lord Sassoon on 20 October (HL Deb, col 838), how much of the estimated £5 billion lost through benefit fraud can be attributed to (a) fraud, (b) claimant error, and (c) administrative error.   HL2983

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ECPAT Report on child trafficking in the United Kingdom.   HL2984

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the reduction in the Home Office budget will have on that Department’s ability to combat child trafficking.   HL2985

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will destructure the national referring mechanism to create a separate system to deal with cases of children who may have been trafficked.   HL2986

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will give overall responsibility for policy on safeguarding child victims of trafficking to the Government Department with lead responsibility for child protection.   HL2987

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place to provide safe accommodation for all child victims of trafficking in the form of specialist foster care.
   HL2988

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that multi-agency child safeguarding teams operate at main United Kingdom ports to identify and respond to concerns about children and young people arriving or leaving the United Kingdom.
   HL2989

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they include self-inflicted terrorist deaths in any calculation of the victims of the 1969–98 unrest in Northern Ireland; and, if so, why.   HL2990

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether banks will be required to contribute to the funding of the Independent Commission on Banking.   HL2991

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government when the terms of reference for the Independent Commission on Banking will be published.   HL2992

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government what obligations a tenant has to pay housing benefit to a landlord; and, if none, what plans they have to introduce such a requirement.   HL2993

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether deaths of terrorists are included in the calculation of victims of terrorism in Great Britain.   HL2994

Lord Higgins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the Spending Review 2010 will have on aggregate demand for each of the years covered by the review.   HL2995

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect, by income decile, reforms relating to the Department for Work and Pensions outlined in the emergency budget will have on household income in (a) cash terms, and (b) percentage terms.   HL2996

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect, by income decile, reforms relating to the Department for Work and Pensions outlined in the Spending Review 2010 will have on household income in (a) cash terms, and (b) percentage terms.   HL2997

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the combined effect, by income decile, of reforms relating to the Department for Work and Pensions in the emergency budget and the Spending Review 2010 on household income in (a) cash terms, and (b) percentage terms.   HL2998

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the exception of working tax credit from the benefits cap announced in the Spending Review 2010 will apply to all households that receive working tax credit, or just to families with children.   HL2999

Lord Rennard to ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice or requests have been given in the past to local authorities about the appropriateness of making charges to close roads for the purpose of facilitating Remembrance Sunday parades; and whether there is any current advice.   HL3000

Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to instruct the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency to look into the re-use of spent nuclear waste rather than burying it, given recent rises in the world price of uranium.   HL3001

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government what acquisition cost they will now be paying for each A400M aircraft.   HL3002

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the through-life cost of each A400M aircraft.   HL3003

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government when is the next break point in the contract for A400M aircraft.   HL3004

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many A400M aircraft were originally ordered by each country in the procurement consortium.   HL3005

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many A400M aircraft are now on order by each country in the procurement consortium.   HL3006

Lord Gilbert to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many orders for the A400M aircraft have been received from non-consortium countries (a) in NATO, and (b) not in NATO.   HL3007

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prisoners have outstanding complaints about their exclusion from the right to vote in British elections.   HL3008

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the written answer by Lord McNally on 21 October (HL2419), what action they will take to ensure that 100 per cent of personal identifiers for postal voters will be verified in the elections on 5 May 2011 for local authorities in England and for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly, and for the proposed referendum on the voting system.
   HL3009

Lord Shipley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much was received per head of population in 2009–10 from central government by each local authority in England.   HL3010

Lord Shipley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of net expenditure in 2009–10 each local authority in England received (a) from central government, and (b) from council tax and fees and charges raised locally.   HL3011

Lord Shipley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they spent in 2009–10 in each of the English regions and in each of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.   HL3012

Lord Shipley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much tax revenue they received from all sources in each of the English regions; and in each of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.   HL3013

The Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the decision by the South-West Research Ethics Committee to approve a pilot research study into the effects of the Lightning Process on children is consistent with the ethical guidance issued by the Medical Research Council to the effect that clinical trials should only include children where the relevant knowledge cannot be obtained by research on adults, and that research involving adults cannot provide the same benefits.   HL3014

The Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Appropriate Persons have been determined concerning remediation of Brofiscin Quarry; and, if so, whether they will be named.
   HL3015

Lord Williams of Elvel to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom courts have any jurisdiction over decisions by the International Cricket Council which affect United Kingdom citizens.   HL3016

Questions unanswered after 10 working days 

5 October (19 October)

HL2223 Lord Inglewood [CO]

HL2259 Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer [DfE]

HL2264 Lord Quirk [DfE]

HL2293 Lord Stoddart of Swindon [CO]

6 October (20 October)

HL2330 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2331 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2332 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2333 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2334 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2335 Lord Roberts of Llandudno [CO]

HL2371 Lord Mawhinney [HMT]

7 October (21 October)

HL2388 Lord Hunt of Kings Heath [CO]

HL2390 Lord Hunt of Kings Heath [CO]

HL2401 Lord Knight of Weymouth [HMT]

HL2406 Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead [DfID]

HL2413 Lord Myners [DfT]

HL2416 Lord Condon [DfE]

HL2424 Lord Laird [DH]

HL2430 The Earl of Clancarty [HO]

HL2434 The Earl of Clancarty [HO]

HL2436 Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay [MoD]

HL2437 Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay [HMT]

HL2438 Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay [HO]

HL2445 Baroness Thomas of Winchester [DCMS]

HL2446 Baroness Thomas of Winchester [DH]

HL2449 Lord Newby [DfE]

HL2451 Lord Newby [DECC]

Number of questions allocated to each department which are unanswered after 10 working days.

Bills in Progress 

Affirmative Instruments in Progress 

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

Negative Instrument 

Instrument reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee

Legislative Reform Order in Progress 

National Policy Statements 

Remedial Order in Progress under Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998 

Committees 

Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheet. Only the next meeting of each Committee is listed below. Further details of these meetings, and of planned further meetings, may be found in the House of Lords Committees Weekly Bulletin.

Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday 21 October 2010 

The House met at 11.00am.

Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Blackburn.

Public Business

1  BBC and British Council A question was asked by Lord Judd and answered by Lord Howell of Guildford.

2  Pensions A question was asked by Baroness Greengross and answered by Lord Sassoon.

3  Cyclists: deaths A question was asked by Lord Janner of Braunstone and answered by Earl Attlee.

4  Housing A question was asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth and answered by Baroness Hanham.

5  Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL] Lord Sassoon presented a bill to make provision for a Charter for Budget Responsibility and for the Publication of Financial Statements and Budget Reports; to establish the Office for Budget Responsibility; to make provision about the Comptroller and Auditor General and to establish a body corporate called the National Audit Office; to amend Schedules 5 and 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 in relation to the Auditor General for Wales; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 23).

6  Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL] The Explanatory Notes on the bill were ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 23–EN)

7  Business of the House Lord Strathclyde moved that the debate on the motion in the name of Baroness Valentine set down for today shall be limited to 3 hours and that in the name of Baroness Warnock to 2 hours. The motion was agreed to.

8  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved that the 4th Report from the Select Committee on The Conduct of Lord Paul (HL Paper 37) be agreed to. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

9  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved to resolve that Lord Paul be suspended from the service of the House for four months. The motion was agreed to.

10  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved that the 5th Report from the Select Committee on The Conduct of Lord Bhatia (HL Paper 38) be agreed to. The motion was agreed to.

11  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved to resolve that Lord Bhatia be suspended from the service of the House for eight months. The motion was agreed to.

12  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved that the 6th Report from the Select Committee on The Conduct of Baroness Uddin (HL Paper 39) be agreed to. The motion was agreed to.

13  Privileges and Conduct The Chairman of Committees moved to resolve that Baroness Uddin be suspended from the service of the House until the end of the current session of Parliament. The motion was agreed to.

14  Immigration (3-hour debate) Baroness Valentine moved for papers relating to the economic and cultural impacts of immigration in the United Kingdom. After debate, the motion was withdrawn.

15  Education: special educational needs (2-hour debate) Baroness Warnock moved for papers relating to the Government’s policy on special educational needs, following the Ofsted special educational needs and disability review published in September. After debate, the motion was withdrawn.

The House adjourned at 5.11pm until Friday 22 October at 10.00am.

Michael Pownall

Clerk of the Parliaments

Papers 

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

Command Paper

The following paper was presented to the House by command of Her Majesty:

   Banking-Government response to the 6th Report of the House of Commons Treasury Committee, Session 2009–10, on the failure of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.    (7959)

Affirmative Instruments

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

1 Draft Legislative and Regulatory Reform (Regulatory Functions) (Amendment) Order 2010, laid under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.

  2 (1) Draft National Assembly for Wales Referendum (Assembly Act Provisions) (Referendum Question, Date of Referendum Etc.) Order 2010

(2) Draft National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Amendment of Schedule 7 to the Government of Wales Act 2006) Order 2010

laid under the Government of Wales Act 2006.

3 Draft National Assembly for Wales Referendum (Assembly Act Provisions) (Limit on Referendum Expenses Etc.) Order 2010, laid under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House:

  1 (1) National Health Service Bodies (Membership and Procedure) Amendment Regulations 2010 
       (2538)

   (2) Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment Regulations 2010   (2539)

laid under the National Health Service Act 2006.

   2 Health Protection Agency (Amendment) Regulations 2010, laid under the Health Protection Agency Act 2004.   (2540)

   3 Education (Student Support) Regulations 2009 (Amendment) Regulations 2010, laid under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998.   (2546)

   4 Structural Funds (National Assembly for Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010, laid under the European Communities Act 1972.   (2567)

Paper not subject to Parliamentary Proceedings

The following paper was laid before the House:

Accounts for 2009–10 of the Funds in Court in England and Wales, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, laid under the Administration of Justice Act 1982.