Week in Westminster: February 25th – March 1st
After a week's holiday the political theatre returns to Westminster in full force this week. With much of the focus still on the Eastleigh by-election, it will be interesting to see if prime minister's questions is used to frame the last hours of the debate before the polls open on Thursday.
The highlight for political geeks comes when Damian McBride answers questions in front of a select committee. The former Brown ally was swept from Westminster in disgrace after his plot against the Tories was revealed in 2009, but he has become vital reading because of his fascinating blog on life in Downing Street.
House of Commons
Monday 25 February 2013
Oral Questions – Defence, including Topical Questions
Legislation – Children and Families Bill – Second reading
Adjournment – Ankylosing spondylitis – Huw Irranca-Davies
Tuesday 26 February 2013
Oral Questions – Health, including Topical Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion – Regulation of the Private Rented Sector – Jeremy Corbyn
Legislation – Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [HL] – Report stage and third reading
Private Business – Opposed Private Business: Second Reading of the City of London (Various Powers) Bill [HL]; Second Reading of the Humber Bridge Bill
Adjournment – Local government financial settlement in Herefordshire – Bill Wiggin
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Oral Questions – Wales
Prime Minister's Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Motion – Local Authority Devolution and Powers Bill – John Pugh
Debate – Opposition Day (18th allotted day) [Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party] – Subject to be announced
Motion – To approve a Statutory Instrument relating to the draft Bank of England 1998 Macro-prudential Measures Order 2013
Adjournment – Origin of country marking (manufactured goods) – Tristram Hunt
Thursday 28 February 2013
Oral Questions – Transport, including Topical Questions; Leader of the House and House of Commons Commission
Business Statement – Leader of the House
Backbench Business – (i) Kesri Lehar Campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in India (ii) 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide
Adjournment – Future healthcare provision in the London Borough of Sutton – Paul Burstow
Friday 1 March 2013
Legislation – Human Rights Act 1998 (Repeal and Substitution) Bill – Second reading – Charlie Elphicke
Legislation – Landlord Accreditation Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas
Legislation – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Mark Hendrick
Legislation – Social Care (Local Sufficiency) and Identification of Carers Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Barbara Keeley
Legislation – European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Mr Douglas Carswell
Legislation – Family Perinatal Support and Adoption Bill – Second reading – Andrea Leadsom
Legislation – Recall of Elected Representatives Bill – Second reading – Zac Goldsmith
Legislation – Bank of England (Appointment of Governor) Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – John McDonnell
Legislation – Ports Act 1991 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Charlie Elphicke
Legislation – Planning Act 2008 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Phil Wilson
Legislation – Consolidation of Housing Regulations Bill – Second reading – Mr Adrian Sanders
Legislation – Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Frank Field
Legislation – Lords Spiritual Bill – Second reading – Mr Frank Field
Legislation – Regulation of Signage and Ticketing Technology (Publicly-Available Car Parks) Bill – Second reading – Nick Smith
Legislation – United Kingdom Borders Bill – Second reading – Andrew Rosindell
Legislation – Children (Performances) Regulations 1968 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Tim Loughton
Legislation – BBC (Audit Arrangements and Publication of Invoices) Bill – Second reading – Alun Cairns
Legislation – Corporate Accountability and Safeguarding of Adults from Abuse and Neglect Bill – Second reading – Paul Burstow
Legislation – Football (Financial Transparency) Bill – Second reading – Damian Collins
Legislation – Representation of the People (Members' Job Share) Bill – Second reading – John McDonnell
Legislation – Transparency in UK Company Supply Chains (Eradication of Slavery) Bill – Second reading (Day 3) – Michael Connarty
Legislation – Protection of Workers Bill – Second reading – Graeme Morrice
Legislation – Vehicle Fuel Receipts (Transparency of Taxation) Bill – Second reading – Robert Halfon
Legislation – Internships (Advertising and Regulation) Bill – Second reading – Hazel Blears
Legislation – Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill – Second reading – Stephen Williams
Legislation – Energy Efficiency (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Bill – Second reading – Dr Alan Whitehead
Legislation – Offshore Gambling Bill – Second reading (Day 2) – Matthew Hancock
Legislation – Micro Businesses and Energy Contract Roll-Over Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas
Legislation – Local Services (Planning) Bill – Second reading – Dr Julian Huppert
Legislation – Land Value Tax Bill – Second reading – Caroline Lucas
Legislation – Plastic Glasses and Bottles (Mandatory Use) Bill – Second reading – Ian Lucas
Legislation – Supermarket Pricing Information Bill – Second reading – Mr John Denham
Legislation – Equality (Marriage) (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Edward Leigh
Legislation – Multinational Motor Manufacturing Companies (Duty of Care to Former Employees) Bill – Second reading – Geraint Davies
Legislation – Housing Market Reform Bill – Second reading – Mr Gareth Thomas
Legislation – Smoke-free Private Vehicles Bill [HL] – Second reading (Day 2) – Alex Cunningham
Legislation – Free School Meals (Children over the age of 16) Bill – Second reading – Nic Dakin
Legislation – Cosmetic Surgery (Minimum Standards) Bill – Second reading – Ann Clwyd
Legislation – Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Nicholas Brown
Legislation – Building Regulations (External Retaining and Load-Bearing Walls) Bill – Second reading – Stephen Mosley
Legislation – United Kingdom Membership of the European Union (Referendum) Bill – Second reading – Mr John Baron
Legislation – House of Lords (Cessation of Membership) Bill [HL] – Second reading – Mrs Eleanor Laing
Legislation – Science, Technology and Engineering (Careers Information in Schools) Bill – Second reading – Peter Luff
Adjournment – Fixed odds betting terminals – Graham Jones
House of Lords
Monday 25 February 2013
Oral Questions – Steps to ensure cultural diversity and promotion of equality in the media and creative industries – Baroness Benjamin; Progress in discontinuing funding for the Republic of Ireland’s aids to navigation – Lord Berkeley; Discussions with energy providers about recent increases in prices – Lord Touhig; Report by the Royal College of Midwives stating that there is a shortage of around 5,000 midwives – Baroness Cumberlege
Legislation – Partnerships (Prosecution) (Scotland) Bill [HL] – Report stage – Lord Wallace of Tankerness
Legislation – Defamation Bill – Third reading – Lord McNally
Legislation – Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill – Committee of the whole House – Baroness Stowell of Beeston
Short Debate – Anorexia and eating disorders – Lord Giddens
Tuesday 26 February 2013
Oral Questions – Self-immolations in Tibet and China’s approach to human rights in that region – Lord Alton of Liverpool; The new UK Citizenship test – Lord Roberts of
Llandudno; Ending the use of the death penalty worldwide – Lord Sheldon; Electricity generating capacity after the expected closure of coal and nuclear plants – Lord Ezra
Legislation – Presumption of Death Bill – Committee of the whole House – Baroness Kramer
Legislation – Mobile Homes Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Best
Legislation – Public Service Pensions Bill – Third reading – Lord Newby
Legislation – Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill – Report stage – Lord Marland/Viscount Younger of Leckie
Short Debate – Cost/benefit ratio and environmental and social impact of High Speed 2 – Lord Truscott
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Oral Questions – Assessment of the role of ratings agencies and the impact of any downgrade of the UK’s rating – Lord Barnett; Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dr David Livingstone – Lord Steel of Aikwood; Amending the Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Lord Wills
Legislation – Antarctic Bill – Committee of the whole House – Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Report stage – Baroness Hanham
Short Debate – The report of the Independent Panel on Forestry, published on 4 July 2012 – The Lord Bishop of Liverpool
Thursday 28 February 2013
Oral Questions – Current situation in Burma, with reference to the Kachin, Shan and Rohingya ethnic national peoples – Baroness Cox; Ensuring that all dyslexics have access to the assistance recommended by Ofqual when taking apprenticeship qualifications – Lord Addington; Support provided for the International Rare Diseases Research
Consortium – Lord Avebury
Legislation – Succession to the Crown Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Wallace of Tankerness
Short Debate – Implications of Research Council UK’s open access policy – Lord Krebs
Friday 1 March 2013
No business has been announced for this day.
Pick of the select committees
Monday 25 February 2013
Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards
Subject: Banking Standards
Witness(es): Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Public Administration
Subject: Future of the civil service
Witness(es): Damian McBride; Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, Local Government Association and Mr Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive, London Borough of Lambeth
Location: Room 16, Palace of Westminster
