House of Lords Business

Monday 18 April 2016 at 2.30pm

*Oral Questions, 30 minutes

*Lord Spicer to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish their decision for additional runway capacity at London’s airports.

*Baroness Wilcox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which general road traffic laws are enforced in respect of cyclists.

*Lord Lee of Trafford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union would have on the United Kingdom’s tourism and hospitality industries. [I]Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
Chairman, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

*Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that the fifth principle contained in the report of the Smith Commission that the package of powers agreed through the Smith Commission process "should not cause detriment to the UK as a whole nor any of its constituent parts" will be complied with when railway policing is devolved.

Housing and Planning Bill Report (day 3) [Baroness Williams of Trafford] 20th, 21st, 26th and 27th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee

Future Business 

Tuesday 19 April at 2.30pm

*Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings have been arranged between Home Office ministers and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on historic sex abuse allegation enquiries.

*Lord Fowler to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that the details of the forthcoming Royal Charter for the BBC are subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament.

*The Earl of Clancarty to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered the effect on scientific and medical research, the arts, campaigning organisations and other bodies of the anti-lobbying clause in government grant agreements to be introduced on 1 May as a condition of public funding.

Topical oral question. Ballot to be drawn at 1pm on Friday 15 April.

Enterprise Bill [HL] Consideration of Commons Amendments [Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

Trade Union Bill Report (day 2) [Baroness Neville-Rolfe] 1st Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights

Wednesday 20 April at 3.00pm

*Baroness Barker to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much revenue they estimate will be generated in 2016–17 by local authorities using their power to increase council tax to offset the cost of social care.

*Lord Steel of Aikwood to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to co-ordinate the implementation of the Scotland Act 2016 with the Scottish Government.

*Lord Wallace of Saltaire to ask Her Majesty’s Government what further discussions they have had with Overseas Territories since last year’s Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council about moves towards greater transparency of beneficial ownership for companies registered within their jurisdiction, in the light of the United Kingdom’s chairmanship of the International Anticorruption Summit in May 2016.

Topical oral question. Ballot to be drawn at 1pm on Monday 18 April.

It is expected that the Report stage of the Housing and Planning Bill will continue.

Viscount Astor to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made towards the introduction of the Horserace Betting Right. (Dinner break business, 1 hour)

Thursday 21 April at 11.00am

*Baroness Boothroyd to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the powers of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

*Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce uniform standards and a national tariff payment in order to achieve high quality outcomes for wheelchair users.

*Baroness Mobarik to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iraqi troops British forces are expected to help train this year to fight Daesh.

Topical oral question. Ballot opens at 3pm on Friday 15 April, to be drawn at 1pm on Tuesday 19 April.

§Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan) Bill Committee [Lord Dunlop]

Lord Best to move that this House takes note of the Report from the Communications Committee BBC Charter Review: Reith not revolution (1st Report, HL Paper 96).

Friday 22 April at 10.00am

Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Bill Report [Lord Ramsbotham]

Road Traffic Act 1988 (Alcohol Limits) (Amendment) Bill [HL] Report [Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe]

House of Commons Members’ Fund Bill Second Reading [Lord Naseby]

Council Tax Valuation Bands Bill [HL] Committee [Lord Marlesford]

Monday 25 April at 2.30pm

*Baroness Pidding to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many young people they expect to benefit from the Prime Minister’s commitment to expand the mentoring programme for disengaged young people.

*Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government which areas of England will be most affected by shortages of places for secondary school pupils in September, and how they intend to tackle the number of secondary schools that are above their capacity.

*Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to promote co-operative housing. [I]Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
Member, Council of the London Borough of Lewisham

*Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the closures of regional museums, particularly in the North of England, and the impact of those closures on the United Kingdom’s creative industry and on the educational services provided to local schools and colleges.

Tuesday 26 April at 2.30pm

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are undertaking to ensure that small businesses can protect their intellectual property and reduce the legal costs of enforcing it, in the light of World Intellectual Property Day.

*Baroness Sharp of Guildford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what considerations have led them to recommend the abolition of the statutory position of parent governors on school and academy governing boards

*Lord Harris of Haringey to ask Her Majesty’s Government why, when advertising the post of Chair of Healthwatch England, the Department of Health stipulated that the successful candidate would require private sector experience, and why the governance arrangements for Healthwatch England have been changed so that its Chief Executive is subordinate to the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission.

Wednesday 27 April at 3.00pm

*Baroness Jenkin of Kennington to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prioritise the wellbeing of children when their parents are going through separation.

*Baroness McDonagh to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the recently published figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government are correct in stating that in 2009–10 Her Majesty’s Government built 33,000 social rent properties that were let at 40–50 per cent of market rent, and spent £22.4 billion in real terms on housing benefit, and that in 2014–15 they are predicted to have built 9,600 social rent properties that were let at 40–50 per cent of market rent, and to have spent £24.7 billion on housing benefit.

*Lord Strasburger to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether clause 217 of the Investigatory Powers Bill will give them the power to force a company to break its own encryption in a similar manner to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s abandoned attempt to make Apple break the security of an iPhone.

Thursday 28 April at 11.00am

*Baroness Tyler of Enfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment has been undertaken of the likely impact on the quality of mental health care of removing mental health quality premium measures from NHS England’s Quality Premium Guidance for 2016–17.

*Baroness Wheatcroft to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people they expect to benefit from the new state pension, and what will be the average increase per person.

*Baroness Featherstone to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the funding for the new interferon-free Hepatitis C treatment will come from the National Health Service or HM Treasury.

Tuesday 3 May at 2.30pm

*Lord Watson of Invergowrie to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any evidence that academies automatically perform better than local authority maintained schools, particularly those that are already categorised as high-performing.

*Lord Whitty to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce any safeguards as part of their reform of the local government pension scheme (LGPS) in order to ensure that British wealth funds conduct their investment strategies solely in the interest of their LGPS members.

*Lord Triesman to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the current and long-term crises in the governance of a number of sports, including allegations of corruption and doping, whether they intend to introduce legislation to establish standards by which sports governing bodies should conduct their affairs in order to restore public confidence in the fairness and efficacy of competition.

Wednesday 4 May at 3.00pm

*Lord Bird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will conduct audits of the poverty programmes they support, and publish the results; and if not, why not.

*Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to amend the Railways Act 1993 in order to oblige the Office of Rail and Road, when deciding an open access application, to take into account the interests of passengers, of the public purse and of subsequent franchise competitions.

*Lord Lennie to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to improve access to apprenticeships that offer career progression and high skill employment, particularly for those under 26 years old.

Thursday 5 May at 11.00am

*Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to take forward the recommendations of the report Third Party Election Campaigning-Getting the Balance Right by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts.

*Lord Oates to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the national living wage on providers of social care.

*Baroness Doocey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to tackle banking fraud, including internet and telephone scams.

Monday 9 May at 2.30pm

*Baroness Falkner of Margravine to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on the European Union granting market economy status to China.

*Lord Robathan to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a list of organisations and individuals in public life, including members of both Houses of Parliament, who have previously urged that the United Kingdom should join the euro.

*Baroness Ludford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what retrospective checks they intend to make, if any, into the financial backgrounds of foreign citizens, predominantly from Russia and China, who were granted United Kingdom residence through Tier One Investor visas, in the light of the reductions in applications and acceptances since the introduction of prior money-laundering checks in 2015.

*Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their continuing policy to deport failed unaccompanied asylum seekers on reaching 18 years of age.

Tuesday 10 May at 2.30pm

*Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to undertake an urgent review into the financial sustainability of high street trade in England and Wales in the light of the growth of online retail and the increase in overhead costs for shops trading on the high street.

*Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of net immigration continuing at over 300,000 people per year, and the latest Office for National Statistics projections indicating an increase in the United Kingdom population, including births, of 500,000 per year for the next six years, what plans they have to limit immigration and to build more hospitals, schools, housing and prisons to meet an increase in demand.

*Lord Addington to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to placing a duty on all publicly funded and professional sporting bodies to co-operate actively in identifying and punishing anyone damaging the integrity of sport.

Wednesday 11 May at 3.00pm

*Lord Holmes of Richmond to ask Her Majesty’s Government what the current economic and technological case is for continuing with Hinkley Point.

*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that carers employed by care service agencies provide the care for elderly, disabled and other people for which they are paid.

*Lord Wood of Anfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the scope and purposes of the involvement of United Kingdom security forces in military action in Yemen.

†Thursday 12 May at 11.00am

†*Lord Kinnock to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to emphasise the importance to citizens, particularly young people, of registering to vote to enable them to participate in the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union on 23 June.

†*Baroness Sheehan to ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence they have to support their claim that "pull factors" are responsible for the mass movement of people from the Middle East and North Africa in recent years.

†*Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to alert the public to the dangers of alcohol and its causal links with hypertension, depression, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

The full lists of Other Motions for Debate and Questions for Short Debate are available online daily. The list of all Questions for Short Debate currently tabled are printed below.

Select Committee Reports 

The dates on which the reports were published are in italics.

Lord Best to move that this House takes note of the Report from the Communications Committee Press Regulation: where are we now? (3rd Report, Session 2014–15, HL Paper 135). 23 March 2015

Baroness Morgan of Huyton to move that this House takes note of the Report from the Digital Skills Committee (Session 2014–15, HL Paper 111). 17 February 2015

Baroness Prashar to move that this House takes note of the Report from the European Union Committee The EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling (4th Report, HL Paper 46). 3 November 2015

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to move that this House takes note of the Report from the European Union Committee EU energy governance (6th Report, HL Paper 71). 18 December 2015

The Earl of Selborne to move that this House takes note of the Report from the Science and Technology Committee Genetically modified insects (1st Report, HL Paper 68). 17 December 2015

Lord Boswell of Aynho to move that this House takes note of the Report from the European Union Committee The EU referendum and EU reform (9th Report, HL Paper 122). 30 March 2016

Other Motions for Debate 

Lord Saatchi to move that Standing Order 46 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be dispensed with to allow any Bill in the form in which the Medical Innovation Bill [HL] was approved by this House and sent to the Commons on 23 January 2015 in the last Parliament to be taken through all its remaining stages on one day.

Baroness Thomas of Winchester to move to resolve that this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to change the eligibility criteria in the Moving Around section of the Personal Independence Payment assessment form to enable those who can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres, but no more than 50 metres, to receive enhanced rate mobility payment.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to move to resolve that this House concurs with resolution 75 of the United States Congress, resolution 2016/2529(RSP) of the European Parliament, the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the recent declaration of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, that religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria are suffering genocide; and calls on Her Majesty’s Government to refer those resolutions to the United Nations Security Council with a view to conferring jurisdiction on the International Criminal Court or to having the Security Council establish an independent fact-finding commission of experts to investigate the allegations of genocide.

Motions relating to Delegated Legislation 

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move that this House takes note of the National Health Service (Mandate Requirements) Regulations 2016 and regrets that, in setting the budget for NHS England for the next five years, the Government have made wholly unrealistic assumptions about the financial viability of the National Health Service thereby putting patient safety and quality of service at risk (SI 2016/51). 24th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move that this House regrets that the National Health Service Trust Development Authority (Directions and Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) Regulations 2016 fail either to establish a statutory basis for the creation of NHS Improvement or to put in place transparent governance arrangements; fail to identify how NHS Improvement is to be run appropriately given that its two constituent parts-Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority-are governed by completely different statutory arrangements; fail to safeguard the future of NHS Foundation Trusts; and fail to resolve the potential conflict of interest in NHS Improvement between its regulatory role and that of an agency in securing and improving the safety of services (SI 2016/214).

Lord Grantchester to move that this House regrets that the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2016 fail to determine the extent to which the scheme contributes to the United Kingdom’s target that 15 per cent of energy consumption is to come from renewable sources by 2020, and that the accompanying explanatory memorandum fails to provide sufficient information about the instrument’s policy objective and intended implementation (SI 2016/257). 29th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee

Questions for Short Debate 

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours.

Lord Lucas to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for a new generation of polytechnics to address the technical skills gap. (15 October)

Lord Lipsey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recommendations on long-term care made by the Dilnot Commission. (19 October)

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to review the provision of National Health Service maternity services. (19 October)

Baroness Gould of Potternewton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to extend civil partnerships to heterosexual couples. (20 October)

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress and impact of neighbourhood plans. (22 October)

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to determine whether there is a link between congenital malformations and applications of hormone pregnancy tests. (22 October)

Baroness Afshar to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Iran concerning the treatment of human rights campaigners in that country, as part of the negotiations on lifting sanctions. (2 November: amended on 3 November)

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they plan to take to relieve pressure on public services due to the consumption of alcohol. (11 November)

Lord Brabazon of Tara to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek an opt-out from provisions relating to e-cigarettes under Article 20 of the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU), coming into force in May 2016. (17 November)

Lord Wigley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the development of British–Argentinian relations during 2015. (24 November)

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the state of the rural economy. (30 November)

Lord Patel to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the financial sustainability of the five-year NHS plan. (1 December)

Lord Berkeley of Knighton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent NHS figures showing that 1,036 women and girls were treated for female genital mutilation during the period April to June 2015. (1 December)

Baroness King of Bow to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current assessment of diversity in the British media. (8 December)

Baroness Greengross to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage people to work longer and be adequately re-trained in later life, as part of their goal to resolve the challenge of skill shortages in certain sectors of the economy. (15 December)

Baroness Hayman to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in supporting Sierra Leone to recover from the effects of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. (21 December)

Lord Norton of Louth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that civil servants who advise ministers are knowledgeable as to the role and processes of Parliament and the constitutional relationship between Parliament and the executive. (12 January)

Lord Mitchell to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve broadband quality in the United Kingdom. (13 January)

Lord Lingfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the educational attainment of boys of all ages at state schools. (19 January)

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the accountability, diversity and governance of international standard-setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Regulation. (19 January)

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the review of the Muslim Brotherhood (HC 679), in particular its implications for the security of the United Kingdom. (20 January)

Baroness Corston to ask Her Majesty’s Government why they plan to close HMP Holloway. (21 January)

Lord Blencathra to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ask HM Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct an inquiry into the Metropolitan Police Service’s handling of historical sexual abuse allegations made by the person known as "Nick". (21 January)

Lord Allen of Kensington to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to achieve closer working between Innovate UK, Research Councils UK, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and other UK funding bodies in order to improve UK competitiveness. (25 January)

Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to improve the testing, treatment and care of individuals with blood-borne viruses in prisons and secure establishments. (26 January)

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to ensure that those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity against minorities in Syria and Iraq are brought to justice. (27 January)

Lord Leigh of Hurley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on tackling tax avoidance and tax evasion in the United Kingdom. (27 January)

Baroness Donaghy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs and circumstances of the self-employed are fully taken into account when developing their policies on taxation, savings, employment and social security. (27 January)

Lord Popat to ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises has had on encouraging firms to export (Session 2012–13, HL Paper 131). (27 January)

Baroness Barker to ask Her Majesty’s Government what the National Health Service is doing to meet the needs of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. (28 January)

Lord Harris of Haringey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are considering to enhance the independence and effectiveness of Healthwatch England and of local Healthwatch groups. (1 February)

Lord Boateng to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to reinstating the Department for International Development’s country programme in Burundi. (1 February)

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect the natural resources of the occupied Palestinian territories. (2 February)

Baroness Randerson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of trends in the provision of bus services in England and the environmental impact of those trends. (3 February)

Baroness Doocey to ask the Leader of the House what systems are in place to monitor the quality of responses given by government departments to parliamentary written questions. (3 February)

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to help achieve social, economic, cultural and political parity for women in the United Kingdom. (4 February)

Lord Willoughby de Broke to ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Rural Payments Agency has failed to make payments to qualifying farmers within the timetable set out by ministers. (8 February)

Lord O’Shaughnessy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of schools in promoting social integration. (8 February)

Baroness Humphreys to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of bilingualism and multilingualism to the enrichment of communities in the United Kingdom. (8 February)

Baroness McGregor-Smith to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the issues faced by black and minority ethnic people in the workplace in Britain. (9 February)

Baroness Falkner of Margravine to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made regarding the political situation in Turkey. (9 February)

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of anaerobic digestion, including its contribution to the United Kingdom economy in general, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in enhancing farm resilience, and in improving soil condition. (9 February)

Lord Grantchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reform the Pet Travel Scheme in the light of evidence of abuse. (10 February)

The Earl of Glasgow to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for a hub airport in the United Kingdom, and where it should be located. (10 February)

Lord Watson of Invergowrie to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their proposal to prevent civil society organisations from objecting to violations of the School Admissions Code, what assessment they have made of the extent to which compliance with that Code is monitored and enforced. (10 February)

Lord Oates to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide funding to allow the construction of a memorial to enslaved Africans in Hyde Park. (11 February)

Baroness Hollins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in tackling the rate of premature deaths among people with a learning disability. (22 February)

Lord Flight to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the private rental market to meet the country’s housing needs. (22 February)

Baroness Harris of Richmond to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to those affected by the recent flooding in the north of England. (22 February)

Baroness Thomas of Winchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to promote the benefits of hydrotherapy for certain long-term progressive conditions, and for rehabilitation after stroke or injury. (22 February)

Baroness Sheehan to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make it easier for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children with relatives in the United Kingdom to enter the country. (24 February)

Lord Mawson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of NHS Property Services in contributing to integrated models of primary health care. (25 February)

Lord Loomba to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that their aid strategy is focused on those countries and regions where needs are greatest. (25 February)

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan regarding offences against civilians in Blue Nile and South Kordofan by government forces. (29 February)

Lord Tyler to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to make data about meetings between ministers and external organisations more consistent, easily accessible and easily searchable; and whether they have plans to make regulations on that subject under section 2(5) of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. (29 February)

Lord Young of Cookham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to reduce the incidence of smoking-related diseases. (1 March)

Baroness Hooper to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards the Pacific Alliance. (2 March)

Lord Farmer to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to deliver the Life Chances Strategy to transform the lives of the most disadvantaged people in Britain, as outlined by the Prime Minister on 11 January. (2 March)

Lord Hussain to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the situation in Sudan in the light of the threat posed by Islamic extremists in the surrounding countries. (2 March)

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations made by the report of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information. (3 March)

Baroness Suttie to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current political strategy towards Tunisia and what plans they have to develop further economic, security and cultural relations with that country, particularly in the light of the situation in Libya. (3 March)

Lord Hain to ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional steps are being taken to address the proposals in official reports since 2009, and the Stormont House Agreement, on Northern Ireland’s past. (7 March)

Lord Sheikh to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the United Kingdom’s bilateral relationship with Kazakhstan and its bid to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. (10 March)

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they propose to take to ensure that providers of financial services act at all times under a duty to achieve their customers’ best interests, so as to reduce the need for regulatory intervention, prevent future mis-selling, and speed up culture change in the financial sector. (11 March)

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the extent to which the Competition and Markets Authority, in meeting its objective of promoting competition, is doing so "for the benefit of consumers", as required in section 25(3) of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. (11 March)

Lord Purvis of Tweed to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve the nutrition of women and children in developing countries. (15 March)

Baroness Hooper to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between the British Overseas Territories and the European Union. (15 March)

Lord Kerslake to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve the quality and provision of care to those with dementia living at home. (16 March)

Lord Bilimoria to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of chartered institutes to the United Kingdom’s economy and competitiveness. (17 March)

Lord Hunt of Chesterton to ask the Chairman of Committees what plans the House has to provide newly appointed peers with training about the legislative process and how best to hold the Government to account; and whether such plans could include refresher courses for longer-standing peers. (21 March)

†Lord Colwyn to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider leaving out activity targets when developing the new dental contract. (14 April)

Questions for Written Answer 

Tabled on 14 April and due for answer by 28 April.

Lord Brougham and Vaux to ask Her Majesty’s Government how planning is progressing for the dualling of the A303 from Stonehenge westward; when they expect construction to commence; how long construction will take; and what is the estimated cost of those works.   HL7660

Lord Butler of Brockwell to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many treaties to which the UK is a party would have to be renegotiated if the UK were to leave the EU.   HL7661

Lord Grocott to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 7 March (HL6442), whether they support the application to join the EU of (1) Turkey, (2) Macedonia, (3) Montenegro, (4) Albania, and (5) Serbia.   HL7662

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government why the South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group is going ahead with its proposals to tender out its £227 million Out of Hospital Programme in the light of (1) the review of such contracts that is being conducted following the review by David Stout into the causes of the termination of the Uniting Care Partnership Contract, and (2) the criticism by the local acute Foundation Trust of that process.   HL7663

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes they propose to make in the new contract for doctors in training in the light of the equality analysis undertaken under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.   HL7664

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what mitigating actions they propose to take with regards to the new contract for doctors in training in the light of the equality analysis undertaken under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 showing that certain features of that contract will have an adverse impact on those who work part-time, who are predominantly women.   HL7665

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what mitigating actions they propose to take in the light of the equality analysis undertaken under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 showing that certain features of the new contract for doctors in training will have an adverse impact on women who take maternity leave.   HL7666

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what mitigating actions they propose to take in the light of the equality analysis undertaken under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 showing that certain features of the new contract for doctors in training will have an adverse impact on carers, who are disproportionately women.   HL7667

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the recommendation of the report of the equality analysis undertaken under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 that a number of steps be taken to amend the draft new contract for doctors in training to address the position of part-time doctors in order to advance equality of opportunity between men and women doctors.   HL7668

Lord Mancroft to ask Her Majesty’s Government when NHS England expects to publish its operational framework for hepatitis C.   HL7669

Lord Mancroft to ask Her Majesty’s Government which current policy document or guidance, if any, specified a five-year rollout for the prioritised treatment of hepatitis C patients.   HL7670

Lord Mancroft to ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact assessment they made of the introduction of CQUIN scheme BI1 Improving HCV Treatment Pathways through ODNs, and whether they will publish a copy of that assessment.   HL7671

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether children of a first marriage are disadvantaged compared with the children of subsequent marriages under current inheritance tax rules.   HL7672

Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost and headcount implications of moving the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills office from Sheffield to London by 2018, as indicated in BIS2020 Finance and Headcount.   HL7673

Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date they were informed that NHS England was considering implementing a sugar tax in NHS premises by 2020.   HL7674

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost, per successfully trained recruit, of (1) Phase One and Two training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, (2) Phase One training at the Army Training Centre Pirbright, and (3) Phase One training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate, including trainee salaries and associated costs, in the most recent financial year for which figures are available.   HL7675

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many soldiers who enlisted (1) aged under 18 years, and (2) aged 18 years or above, left the army before completing their Phase Two training in each financial year since 2007–08.   HL7676

Lord Touhig to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the annual operating cost of the Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College.   HL7677

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of the UK leaving the EU, they intend to advise UK citizens living in EU member states to take citizenship in their country of residence in order to protect their legal rights.   HL7678

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the event of the UK leaving the EU, how they intend to change the status of domicile, if at all, in relation to UK citizens living in EU member states.   HL7679

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of the UK leaving the EU, UK citizens living in EU member states would continue to be treated as all other UK citizens in the event of their death, in particular regarding their domicile status and death duties on their estates.
   HL7680

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government why UK citizens who have been resident in other EU member states for more than 15 years who pay taxes and social security in the UK and are treated as domiciled in the UK have been excluded from voting in the referendum on 23 June.
   HL7681

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of freedom of expression in Bangladesh, including the threats of criminal defamation against individual journalists and editors, and whether they will raise any specific concerns with the government of Bangladesh.   HL7682

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Bangladesh Law Commission’s proposed new law, now entitled Bangladesh Liberation War (Denial, Distortion, Opposition) Crime Law, and its implications for freedom of expression in that country.   HL7683

Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether cases before the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh have been conducted in accordance with international fair trial standards.   HL7684

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the reports of the high flooding risks in 57 stations on the London Underground.   HL7685

Questions unanswered after 10 working days 

26 February (11 March)

HL6501 Baroness Tonge [CO]

2 March (16 March)

HL6668 Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town [CO]

HL6669 Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town [CO]

HL6670 Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town [CO]

17 March (4 April)

HL7167 Lord Tebbit [CO]

21 March (6 April)

HL7250 Lord Hunt of Chesterton [CO]

HL7262 Lord Ahmed [HO]

22 March (7 April)

HL7278 Baroness Jowell [HO]

HL7312 Baroness Tonge [CO]

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

[CO] 7

[HO] 2

Bills in Progress 

	Type of Bill	To be considered
Waiting for Second Reading
Chancel Repairs [HL]	Private Member’s
Assisted Dying [HL]	Private Member’s
Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) [HL]	Private Member’s
European Union Citizens (Electoral Rights) [HL]	Private Member’s
Divorce (Financial Provision) [HL]	Private Member’s
Cohabitation Rights [HL]	Private Member’s
Referendums (Local Authority Governance) [HL]	Private Member’s
European Union (Information, etc.) [HL]	Private Member’s
Medical Innovation [HL]	Private Member’s
Welfare of Cats (Breeding and Sale) [HL]	Private Member’s
Armed Forces Deployment (Royal Prerogative) [HL]	Private Member’s
Automatic Electoral Registration [HL]	Private Member’s
Referendums (Franchise) [HL]	Private Member’s
Right to Die at Home [HL]	Private Member’s
Polling Day (Saturday) [HL]	Private Member’s
Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) [HL]	Private Member’s
International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
Welfare of Women (Fertility Treatments) [HL]	Private Member’s
Carers (Leave Entitlement) [HL]	Private Member’s
Duchy of Cornwall [HL]	Private Member’s
Bat Habitats Regulation [HL]	Private Member’s
Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
Student Fees (Qualifying Persons) (England) [HL]	Private Member’s
Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
International Development (Population Dynamics) [HL]	Private Member’s
Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions Etc. [HL]	Private Member’s
Bread and Flour Regulations (Folic Acid) [HL]	Private Member’s
Natural Environment [HL]	Private Member’s
House of Commons Members’ Fund	Private Member’s	22 April
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Charity [HL]	Private
Faversham Oyster Fishery Company [HL]	Private
New Southgate Cemetery [HL]	Private
Committed to a Select Committee
High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands)	Government
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Council Tax Valuation Bands [HL]	Private Member’s	22 April
Property Boundaries (Resolution of Disputes) [HL] (Queen’s and Prince of Wales’s Consents to be signified)	Private Member’s
Succession to Peerages [HL] (Queen’s Consent to be signified)	Private Member’s
Advertising of Prostitution (Prohibition) [HL]	Private Member’s
Mesothelioma (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
Planning (Subterranean Development) [HL] (Queen’s Consent to be signified)	Private Member’s
Direct Planning (Pilot) [HL]	Private Member’s
Age of Criminal Responsibility [HL]	Private Member’s
Public Advocate [HL]	Private Member’s
Gambling (Categorisation and Use of B2 Gaming Machines) [HL]	Private Member’s
Driving Instructors (Registration)	Private Member’s
Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan)	Government	21 April
Waiting for Report
Online Safety [HL]	Private Member’s
Constitutional Convention [HL]	Private Member’s
Trade Union (Welsh Legislative Consent Motion rejected)	Government	19 April
Armed Forces (Scottish Legislative Consent Motion passed)	Government
Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information)	Private Member’s	22 April
Road Traffic Act 1988 (Alcohol Limits) (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s	22 April
Housing and Planning (Welsh and Northern Irish Legislative Consent Motions passed, Welsh Legislative Consent Motion rejected)	Government	18 April
Waiting for Third Reading
Airports Act 1986 (Amendment) [HL]	Private Member’s
Sent to the Commons
Accessible Sports Grounds [HL]	Private Member’s
Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) [HL]	Private Member’s
Regulation of Political Opinion Polling [HL]	Private Member’s
Bank of England and Financial Services [HL]	Government
Access to Palliative Care [HL]	Private Member’s
Returned to the Commons with Amendments
Immigration (Welsh Legislative Consent Motions passed)	Government
Energy [HL]	Government
Waiting for Consideration of Commons Amendments
Enterprise [HL] (Welsh and Scottish Legislative Consent Motions passed, Northern Irish Legislative Consent Motion rejected)	Government	19 April
Transport for London [HL]	Private

Affirmative Instruments in Progress 

The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has drawn attention to certain instruments in the reports indicated

	Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee	To be considered
Waiting for consideration by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments
Draft Licensing Act 2003 (Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Licensing Hours) Order 2016
Draft Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Draft Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) (Family Proceedings) (Amendment) Order 2016
Draft Pubs Code etc. Regulations 2016
Draft Pubs Code (Fees, Costs and Financial Penalties) Regulations 2016
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015	7th Report
Draft Nuclear Installations (Liability for Damage) Order 2016
Draft Building Societies (Floating Charges and Other Provisions) Order 2016 (20th Report from the JCSI)
Draft Limited Liability Partnerships, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Audit) Regulations 2016
Draft Education (Repeal of Arrangements for Vocational Qualifications Awarded or Authenticated in Northern Ireland) Order 2016
Draft Modern Slavery Act 2015 (Code of Practice) Regulations 2016
Draft Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2016
Draft Crown Court (Recording) Order 2016

Negative Instruments 

Instruments reported by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee

	Praying time expires	To be considered
24th Report
National Health Service (Mandate Requirements) Regulations 2016	16 March
29th Report
Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2016	28 April
30th Report
Care Quality Commission (Fees) (Reviews and Performance Assessments) Regulations 2016	25 April
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2016	6 May
31st Report
Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Surcharge) (Amendment) Order 2016	13 May
Social Housing Rents (Exceptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2016	13 May
Instrument not reported by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
National Health Service Trust Development Authority (Directions and Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) Regulations 2016	25 April

Retirements 

The following members of the House have given notice of their intention to retire.

	Date of retirement
Lord Cameron of Lochbroom	21 April
Baroness Perry of Southwark	26 May

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.

Tuesday 19 April
European Union	Justice Sub-Committee	10.30am
Communications	Select Committee	3.15pm
Economic Affairs	Select Committee	3.30pm
Secondary Legislation Scrutiny	Select Committee	3.45pm
European Union	Select Committee	4.00pm
Wednesday 20 April
European Union	Financial Affairs Sub-Committee	10.00am
Constitution	Select Committee	10.15am
European Union	Home Affairs Sub-Committee	10.30am
European Union	Energy and Environment Sub-Committee	10.30am
Statutory Instruments	Joint Committee	3.45pm
Information	Domestic Committee	4.00pm
Thursday 21 April
European Union	External Affairs Sub-Committee	10.00am
European Union	Internal Market Sub-Committee	10.00am
Monday 25 April
Audit	Domestic Committee	4.00pm
Palace of Westminster	Joint Committee	4.00pm
Tuesday 26 April
Science and Technology	Select Committee	10.30am
Refreshment	Domestic Committee	4.10pm
Thursday 28 April
Administration and Works	Domestic Committee	12 noon
Wednesday 4 May
Works of Art	Domestic Committee	4.15pm in Committee Room G

Minutes of Proceedings of Thursday 14 April 2016 

The House met at 11.00am.

Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Coventry.

1 Retirement The Lord Speaker informed the House of the retirement with effect from 14 April 2016 of Lord Renton of Mount Harry under section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014.

2 Retirement The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the House that he had received written notice from Lord Cameron of Lochbroom under section 1 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 stating that he would retire from the House on 21 April 2016.

Public Business

3 Marine litter A question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch and answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble.

4 Regional Schools Commissioners A question was asked by Lord Shipley and answered by Lord Nash.

5 Apprenticeships: women A question was asked by Baroness Prosser and answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe.

6 Planning: trees A question was asked by Lord Scriven and answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford.

7 House Committee The Chairman of Committees moved that the Report from the Committee Access and use of facilities by retired members (1st Report, HL Paper 115) be agreed to. The motion was agreed to.

8 High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon moved that the bill be now read a second time. After debate, the motion was agreed to and the bill was committed to a Select Committee.

The House adjourned at 4.44pm until Monday 18 April at 2.30pm.

David Beamish

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:

Health-Government response to the 2nd Report of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee: Science in Emergencies: UK lessons from Ebola.    (9236)

Affirmative Instruments

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

1 Draft Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) (Family Proceedings) (Amendment) Order 2016, laid under the Access to Justice Act 1999.

  2 (1) Draft Pubs Code etc. Regulations 2016

(2) Draft Pubs Code (Fees, Costs and Financial Penalties) Regulations 2016

laid under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2016.

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House:

1 Social Security, Child Support and Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, laid under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.   (SR 208)

2 Draft Modifications to the Smart Energy Code (Smart Meters No. 3 of 2016), laid under the Energy Act 2008.

Paper not subject to Parliamentary Proceedings

The following paper was laid before the House:

Rights and obligations of European Union membership, laid under the European Union Referendum Act 2015.