The Week in Westminster: 4-8 February 2013
On Monday John Denham MP’s adjournment debate on the persecution of the Hazara community in Pakistan will hopefully be given the careful discussion it deserves. Alan Johnson MP, who has often spoken on behalf of Hazaras, is likely to make some valuable contributions, but whether the discussion will prove particularly fruitful in the greater scheme of things is a different matter.
Plenty of fun and games to be had by all with the second reading of the marriage (same sex couples) bill, with more and more Conservatives – the most recent being Andrea Leadsom MP – coming out against the concept of equal marriage, despite insisting that she "respects the love" of gay couples. Expect an endless cycle of odd comments from both past and present statements by politicians being printed, circulated, and reprinted again. Highlights so far have been Defence Secretary Philip Hammond admitting he compared gay marriage to sibling marriage, and Bob Blackman calling for section 28 to be reinstated, panicking about the sanctity of marriage, and then being reported to have cheated on his wife.
It will be interesting to see if all the MPs who object to the marriage bill on the basis that there are more important things to be getting on with all turn up on Thursday to debate the subsidisation of nuclear power and – crucially – the closures of hospital A&E wards.
House of Commons
Monday 4 February 2013
Oral Questions – Communities and Local Government, including Topical Questions
Legislation – European Union (Approvals) Bill [HL] – Second reading
Adjournment – Persecution of the Hazara community in Pakistan – Mr John Denham
Tuesday 5 February 2013
Oral Questions – Justice, including Topical Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion – Building Regulations (External Retaining and Load-bearing Walls) – Stephen Mosley
Legislation – Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Second reading
Adjournment – Participation in outdoor pursuits – David Rutley
Wednesday 6 February 2013
Oral Questions – Cabinet Office, including Topical Questions
Prime Minister's Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Motion – United Kingdom membership of the European Union (Referendum) – Mr John Baron
Debate – Opposition Day (16th allotted day) [Democratic Unionist Party] – Suicide prevention in the UK
Adjournment – Green paper on future electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales – Geraint Davies
Thursday 7 February 2013
Oral Questions – Business, Innovation and Skills, including Topical Questions
Business Statement – Leader of the House
Backbench Business
(i) Subsidies for new nuclear power (ii) Closure of A&E departments
Adjournment – Upgrading and dualling of the A47 – George Freeman
Friday 8 February 2013
The House will not be sitting.
House of Lords
Monday 4 February 2013
Oral Questions – Shipping off the coast of Somalia regarding HM Navy's rules of engagement and their compliance with international maritime law – Lord James of Blackheath
Building affordable homes in rural areas – Lord Knight of Weymouth – Nuclear research and development in the United Kingdom – Viscount Hanworth
Derogations and opt-outs from European Union legislation – Lord Dykes
Legislation – Mental Health (Discrimination) (No. 2) Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Stevenson of Coddenham
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 4) – Baroness Hanham
Short Debate – The contribution of academies and free schools to educational provision in the United Kingdom – Baroness Perry of Southwark
Tuesday 5 February 2013
Oral Questions – Resources and staff for the full collection of tax – Lord Harrison
Reviewing the arrangements for enforcement and monitoring of the Ministerial Code – Lord Campbell-Savours
Official visits to food banks made by Ministers of both Houses since May 2010 – Lord Dubs
Introduction of legislation to establish the Public Forest Estate management body – Lord Greaves
Legislation – Scrap Metal Dealers Bill – Report stage – Baroness Browning
Legislation – Defamation Bill – Report stage – Lord McNally
Orders and Regulations – NHS Bodies and Local Authorities (Partnership Arrangements, Care Trusts, Public Health and Local Healthwatch) Regulations 2012 – Motion to Regret – Lord Collins of Highbury
Wednesday 6 February 2013
Oral questions – Factors contributing to the rise in childhood obesity – Lord Sharkey
Helping people reduce their sugar consumption – Lord Rennard
Whether the Government intend to proceed with any reforms of the composition of the House of Lords – Lord Howarth of Newport
Legislation – Prisons (Property) Bill – Committee of the whole House – Lord Ramsbotham
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 5) – Baroness Hanham
Short Debate – Assisting local and regional democracy in Europe following the UK’s recent chairmanship of the Council of Europe – The Earl of Dundee
Thursday 7 February 2013
Oral Questions – Bilateral and multilateral discussions on the regulation of the civil and military use of drones – Lord Judd
Improving social housing stock during 2013 – Baroness King of Bow
Ensuring young people have a proper understanding of managing personal finances before leaving school – Lord Kennedy of Southwark
Motion – To move that, notwithstanding the practice of the House, this House resolves that no introductions of new Peers shall take place until the recommendations in paragraphs 36, 47, 57, 63, and 67 of the First Report of the Leader’s Group on Members Leaving the House, chaired by Lord Hunt of Wirral (HL Paper 83, session 2010–12), have been implemented – Lord Steel of Aikwood
Legislation – HGV Rad User Levy Bill – Second reading – Earl Attlee
Legislation – HGV Road User Levy Bill – Committee of the whole House – Earl Attlee
Legislation – HGV Road User Levy Bill – Report stage – Earl Attlee
Legislation – HGV Road User Levy Bill – Third reading – Earl Attlee
Debate – Report of the Constitution Committee on The accountability of civil servants (6th Report, HL Paper 61) – Baroness Jay of Paddington
Short Debate – The role of civil society in promoting peace in Israel and Palestine – Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Friday 8 February 2013
No business has been announced for this day.
