The week in Westminster: January 10th – 13th
Parliament starts back after the Christmas break in a rather lethargic manner.
The select committees don’t really get going until next week and the tempo won’t really pick up until next Monday.
But there is one potential explosion, in the form of the European Union Bill. Cameron presented the bill as a scrap of meat to his irritated eurosceptic backbenchers but they appear ready to throw it back in his face. Many of them are preparing amendments for this committee stage, and if the government rejects them it could face defeat. The key point is that a minister will decide when European reforms are substantive enough to warrant a referendum – not a judge. Tory backbenchers don’t like that one, and neither, frankly, do many constitutional experts.
Keep your eyes on it. There’s been little chatter so far, but this could cause serious trouble for the coalition.
Monday
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions, including Topical Questions
Legislation
Armed Forces Bill – Second reading
Adjournment
Unscrupulous lenders – Derek Twigg
Lords
Introduction(s)
Susan Kramer, Patience Wheatcroft and Alistair Cooke Esq OBE
Oral Questions
Excluding expenditure on accounts for the Budget signed off by the European Court of Auditors from the contribution imposed on member states – Lord Campbell of Alloway
in the light of the launch of UN Women on 1 January, what plans they have to provide a financial contribution to the new agency – Baroness Prosser
Equal rights of succession to the Throne for daughters of the sovereign and Roman Catholics – Lord Dubs
omitting from school league tables children on free school meals or statemented as having special educational needs – Baroness Williams of Crosby
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 7) – Lord McNally
Short Debate
Report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Parkinson’s Disease, Please mind the gap: Parkinson’s disease services today – Baroness Gale
Tuesday
Oral Questions
Justice, including Topical Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion
Food Labelling Regulations (Amendment) – Mr Richard Bacon
Legislation
European Union Bill – Committee of the whole House
Adjournment
Pre-and post-16 benefit entitlements for disabled people: the case of Joanna Cranfield – Mr David Amess
Lords
Introduction(s)
Nicholas True CBE, Judith Jolly and Richard Spring
Oral Questions
financial impact on consumers of the changes proposed to the United Kingdom’s private electricity networks – Lord Berkeley
Effect of Air Passenger Duty revenue on UK competitiveness – Lord Borrie
European Union policy priorities to be promoted by the UK during the Hungarian presidency – Lord Dykes
Legislation
Public Bodies Bill [HL] – Committee of the whole House (Day 6) – Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Short Debate
Issuing of visas and passports in Latin America – Baroness Hooper
Wednesday
Oral Questions
International Development
Prime Minister’s Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Motion
Dairy Farming – Stephen Phillips
Legislation
Postal Services Bill – Report stage
Legislation
Postal Services Bill – Third reading
Adjournment
Education Maintenance Allowance and Walsall North constituency – Mr David Winnick
Lords
Introduction(s)
Tina Stowell MBE and Paul Strasburger
Oral Questions
Level of underwriting fees in the UK finance and insurance market – Lord Harrison
Guidance on the dimensions and weight of mobility scooters suitable for use on public transport – Baroness Gardner of Parkes
Hand-luggage restrictions operated by airlines on professional musicians – Lord Clement-Jones
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 8) – Lord McNally
Legislation
Re-Export controls Bill [HL] – Third reading – Lord Alton of Liverpool
Short Debate
Millennium Development Goal Five on improving maternal health and morbidity – Lord Patel
Thursday
Commons
Oral Questions
Business, Innovation and Skills, including Topical Questions
Business Statement
Leader of the House
Legislation
National Insurance Contributions Bill – Report stage
Legislation
National Insurance Contributions Bill – Third reading
Adjournment
Future of careers advice services in schools – Esther McVey
Lords
Introduction(s)
Jonathan Marks, Gordon Wasserman and Julian Fellowes
Oral Questions
Statutory regulation of qualified and competent herbal medicine practitioners – Lord Pearson of Rannoch
Victoria and Albert Museum’s Purchase Grant Fund – Lord Howarth of Newport
Importance of behavioural and procedural conventions in the Chamber – Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Debate
The strategic role of Turkey in Europe and the Middle East – Baroness Hussein-Ece
Debate
Violence against women – Baroness Gould of Potternewton
Short Debate
The proposed changes to the NHS – Lord Turnberg
Pick of the committees
Tuesday:
European Union
Subject: The EU Financial Framework from 2014
Witness(es): Professor Iain Begg, London School of Economics and Dr. Jorge Nunez Ferrer, Centre for European Policy Studies.
Location: Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday:
Home Affairs (EU Sub-Committee F)
Subject: The EU Internal Security Strategy
Witness(es): Hugo Brady, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform.
Location: Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster
