The Week in Westminster: 28-24 January 2013
Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday should be a passionate little squabble, with David Cameron likely to criticise Ed Miliband for Labour's reluctance to promise an EU Referendum and Ed Miliband accusing the PM of pandering to UKIP and his own backbenchers.
It's hard to say how the issue will play in the long-term but Cameron might be advised to remember his party's history on Europe; it's a toxic subject for the party, not so much with electorate as with its own self. Ed Miliband had a bit of a dig when he suggested pro-European Michael Heseltine produce one of his now rather well-known reports on the consequences of leaving the EU. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if Labour continued to exploit the tensions within the Conservative party, who are increasingly in danger of chasing their own tail down the plug hole over the EU, as they keep on coming back to it, criticising their own leaders, and drawing attention to the party splits, over and over, like a child picking a scab.
On Tuesday, there will be a Westminster Hall debate about the role of the RSPCA as prosecutor, following the recent case against the Heythrop. The debate is happening on the request of Simon Hart MP, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance. With arguments over Europe still ringing in everyone's ears, the Conservative party will want to be very cautious about looking as if they're excessively close to the hunting lobby, as it would be an own goal to allow themselves to be painted as out of touch with irrelevant priorities: no-one has ever suggested the right to hunt with dogs is the most important issue to the majority of Brits.
Much more relevant to most people will be the debate that same afternoon brought forward by John Hemming MP, about the charging of council tax to benefit claimants, and the debate the following day about the government policy on horse meat in food.
Monday 28 January 2013
Oral questions – Work and Pensions, including Topical Questions
Legislation – Succession to the Crown Bill – Report stage
Legislation – Succession to the Crown Bill – Third reading
Adjournment – Funding for basketball – Stephen Mosley
Tuesday 29 January 2013
Oral Questions – Treasury, including Topical Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion – Equality (Marriage) (Amendment) – Mr Edward Leigh
Legislation – Electoral Registration and Administration Bill – Consideration of Lords amendments
Legislation – HGV Road User Levy Bill – Report stage
Legislation – HGV Road User Levy Bill – Third reading
Adjournment – Government support for people with epilepsy – Kate Hoey
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Oral Questions – International Development, including Topical Questions
Prime Minister's Question Time
Ten Minute Rule Motion
Housing market reform – Mr Gareth Thomas
Debate – Europe
Adjournment – Use of partial stalls in the European pig industry – Mr Richard Bacon
Thursday 31 January 2013
Oral Questions – Energy and Climate Change, including Topical Questions
Business Statement – Leader of the House
Consideration of any Lords amendments – Canterbury City Council Bill, Leeds City Council Bill, Nottingham City Council Bill and the Reading City Council Bill
Private Business – The Chairman of Ways and Means is expected to name opposed private business for consideration
Backbench Business – Liaison Committee's Report on Select Committee effectiveness, resources and powers – Sir Alan Beith
Adjournment – UK vehicle registration mark regime – Steve McCabe
Friday 1 February 2013
Legislation – Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code Of Conduct) Bill – Second reading – Thomas Docherty
Legislation – Armed Forces (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill – Second reading – Thomas Docherty
Legislation – Executive Pay and Remuneration Bill – Second reading – Thomas Docherty
Legislation – Train Companies (Minimum Fares) Bill – Second reading – Thomas Docherty
Legislation – Homeowners’ Mortgage Interest Rates Bill – Second reading – Thomas Docherty
Legislation – Plastic Glasses and Bottles (Mandatory Use) Bill – Second reading – Ian Lucas
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 – Multinational Motor Manufacturing Companies (Duty of Care to Former Employees) Bill – Second reading – Geraint Davies
Legislation – Supermarket Pricing Information Bill – Second reading – Mr John Denham
Legislation – Property Boundaries (Resolution of Disputes) Bill – Second reading – Charlie Elphicke
Legislation -Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (Amendment) Bill – Second reading – Mr Nicholas Brown
Legislation – Suicide (Prevention) Bill – Second reading – Dr William McCrea
Adjournment – Chalk stream abstraction in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire – Mr Charles Walker
Monday 28 January 2013
Oral Questions – Record-low sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean during the past year – Lord Giddens;
Government projection of the likely future of oil prices – Lord Sheldon;
Reducing inequalities in health provision in line with the objectives of the NHS Mandate – Baroness Williams of Crosby;
Plans to train and register health care support workers – Lord Willis of Knaresborough
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 2) – Baroness Hanham
Short Debate – Future of Air Passenger Duty – Lord Palmer
Tuesday 29 January 2013
Oral Questions – Greater international recognition of Kosovo as an independent state – Earl of Sandwich;
Regional impact of the New Homes Bonus – Lord Greaves;
Reflecting the recommendations of the Better Communication Research Programme in local authorities' local offers – Lord Ramsbotham;
Legal Services Commission decision to cease funding the Advice Services Alliance, the Law Centres Network and the Royal Courts of Justice Citizens’ Advice Bureau after 1 April – Lord Bach
Debate – UK economy and the Government’s role in promoting growth – Lord Deighton
Short Debate – Future role of cultural projects and the arts in regional and economic regeneration – Baroness Quin
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Oral Questions – Impact of Government economic policies during their 1,000 days in office – Lord Mitchell;
UK tourism in 2013 – Lord Lee of Trafford;
Resolution of the disputed border between Ethiopia and Eritrea since the death of Meles Zenawi – Lord Chidgey;
Legislation – Growth and Infrastructure Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 3) – Baroness Hanham
Short Debate – Combating neglected tropical diseases – Baroness Hayman
Thursday 31 January 2013
Royal Assent
Oral Questions – Tackling wildlife crime – Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer;
Comparing the level of railway fares in the UK with those in Europe – Lord Bradshaw;
Impact of the £250 million fund set up to help local councils in England maintain or restore weekly bin collections – Lord Storey;
Debate – Prime Minister’s speech on Europe on 23 January – Baroness Noakes
Debate – Impact of student visa policy on admissions to universities in the UK and Northern Ireland – Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market
Short Debate – Industry and recent economic developments in the north-east of England – Lord Bates
Friday 1 February 2013
Legislation – Antarctic Bill – Second reading – Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Legislation – Presumption of Death Bill – Second reading – Baroness Kramer
Legislation – Mobile Homes Bill – Second reading – Lord Best
Future Parliamentary business is provisional and is subject to change.
