The Week in Westminster June 17th – June 21st
By Jo-Anna K. Burnett
On Tuesday, editors from the Independent and the Financial Times will testify on press regulation and Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations in the culture, media and sport committee meeting, and Lord Hoyle will discuss the proposed badger cull in the upper house.
David Cameron addresses the G8 Summit after PMQs on Wednesday. While Simon Hughes tackles the issue of foreigners buying residential properties in Britain. Lady Falkner takes up the political situation in Turkey on Thursday.
House of Commons
Monday 17 June
Oral Questions – Defence, including Topical Questions
Legislation – Pensions Bill – Second reading
Adjournment – UK policy on lethal autonomous robotics – Nia Griffith
Tuesday 18 June
Oral Questions – Foreign & Commonwealth Office, including Topical Questions
Motion – To approve a European Document relating to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
Motion – To approve a European Document relating to Enhanced Co-operation and a Financial Transaction Tax and documents relating to Economic and monetary union
Motion – To approve a European Document relating to the European Elections 2014
Backbench Business – Sudan
Adjournment – Proposed changes to the Education Act and travelling families – Richard Graham
Wednesday 19 June
Oral Questions – Cabinet Office, including Topical Questions
12pm Prime Minister's Question Time
Statement – G8
Summit – Mr David Cameron
Debate – Opposition day [3rd allotted day] – (i) Economic and Social Importance of Regional Arts and the Creative Industries (ii) Subject to be announced
Adjournment – Future of the National Media Museum in Bradford – Mr George Galloway
Thursday 20 June
Oral Questions – Culture, Media & Sport, including Topical Questions; Women & Equalities
Business Statement – Leader of the House
Backbench Business – (i) Carers (ii) East Coast Mainline Franchise
Adjournment – Purchase of residential property in the UK by foreign owners – Simon Hughes
Friday 21 June
The House will not be sitting.
House of Lords
Monday 17 June
Oral Questions – Findings of the campaign by the National Autistic Society 'Push for Action' – Lord Touhig
Ability of the Royal Navy’s escort vessels to meet the UK’s maritime commitments – Lord Lee of Trafford
Increasing the number of women on boards – Baroness Thornton
Average time taken to assess and process an overseas visitor’s application for a visa – Baroness Smith of Basildon
Legislation – Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Committee of the whole House – Baroness Stowell of Beeston
Orders and Regulations – Town and Country Planning (Temporary Stop Notice) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2013 – Motion to Regret – Lord Avebury/Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Tuesday 18 June
Oral Questions – Proposed badger cull – Lord Hoyle
Discussions regarding the right to security for Palestinian children living in the Gaza Strip – Baroness Tonge
Ensuring all children have access to sex and relationship education, including responsible use of the internet and social media – Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Compensation for victims of torture and ill-treatment during the Kenyan Emergency – Lord Steel of Aikwood
Legislation – Energy Bill – Second reading – Baroness Verma
Wednesday 19 June
Oral Questions – Preventing the re-emergence of the payment of referral fees through the use of Alternative Business Structures – Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts
Protecting children from easily accessing pornography and other adult material online – Baroness Benjamin
Future of the Army Reserve Forces and in particular for the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry – The Earl of Shrewsbury
Legislation – Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – Committee of the whole House (Day 2) – Baroness Stowell of Beeston
Short Debate – Review by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel 'When laws become too complex' – Lord Bates/Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Thursday 20 June
Oral Questions – 'Deeds or Words?' by the End Violence Against Women coalition – Baroness Howe of Idlicote
Action with other EU member states to tackle youth unemployment – Lord Roberts of Llandudno
Political situation in Turkey – Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Debate – Level of education support and mental health provision available to children who are severely bullied at school – Baroness Brinton
Debate – Report of the Commission on a British Bill of Rights – Lord Lester of Herne Hill
Orders and Regulations – Draft National Health Service (Direct Payments) (Repeal of Pilot Schemes Limitation) Order 2013 – Earl Howe
Orders and Regulations – Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Code of Practice) Order 2013 – Baroness Randerson
Short Debate – Alternatives to the payday lending industry – Lord Kennedy of Southwark/Viscount Younger of Leckie
Friday 21 June
The House will not be sitting.
Pick of Select Committees
Monday 17 June
Business, Innovation and Skills – Subject: Implications of Scottish Independence on business; higher education & research; and postal services
Witness(es): Business for Scotland, CBI Scotland and Federation of Small Businesses; NUS Scotland, Universities Scotland and University and College Union Scotland; Consumer Futures, Communication Workers Union and Royal Mail
Location: Senate Room, Glasgow University
Public Accounts – Subject: Clinical trials – Tamiflu
Witness(es): Dr Ben Goldacre, Wellcome Research Fellow in Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief, British Medical Journal; Una O'Brien, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Professor Sir Kent Woods, Chief Executive, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health
Location: Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Transport – Subject: Cost of motor insurance: whiplash
Witness(es): James Dalton, Assistant Director, Head of Motor and Liability, Association of British Insurers, Dominic Claydon, Director of Claims, Aviva UK, David Fisher, Catastrophic and Injury Claims Technical Manager, Axa Insurance and Steve Maddock, Director of Claims, Direct Line Group; Desmond Hudson, Chief Executive, Law Society of England and Wales, Matthew Stockwell, President, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers , Nigel Teasdale, Forum of Insurance Lawyers, Craig Budsworth, Chairman, Motor Accident Solicitors Society and Andrew Ritchie QC; Andrew Wigmore, Policy Director, Claims Standards Council, Russell Atkinson, Managing Director, National Accident Helpline and Peter Gradwell, Owner and Managing Director, Exchange Insurance Services
Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
National Security Strategy Joint Committee
Subject: National Security Strategy,
Witness(es): at 4.30pm evidence will be heard from Professor Michael Cox, London School of Economics, Xenia Dormandy, Senior Fellow, Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and Professor Anatol Lieven, King’s College London
Location: Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster
Communities and Local Government – Subject: Planning Issues
Witness(es): Nick Boles MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government
Location: The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Tuesday 18 June
Welsh Affairs – Subject: The Severn Crossings Toll: follow up
Witness(es): Stephen Hammond MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport
Location: Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Culture, Media and Sport – Subject: Regulation of the press
Witness(es): Lionel Barber, Editor, Financial Times and Mr Chris Blackhurst, Editor, The Independent
Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Foreign Affairs – Subject: The UK's relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Witness(es): Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Minister for International Security Strategy, Ministry of Defence; Alistair Burt MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jon Davies, Director, North Africa and Gulf, FCO and Sarah Macintosh, Director, Defence and International Security, FCO
Location: The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Communications – Subject: Media plurality
Witness(es): (at 3.30pm) evidence will be heard from Professor Richard Collins, City, Huddersfield and the Open universities and (at 4.15pm) from Professor Steven Barnett, University of Westminster
Location: Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
Economic Affairs – Subject: Corporate Taxation
Witness(es): at 3.35pm evidence will be heard from Edward Troup, Tax Assurance Commissioner and Second permanent Secretary, HM Revenue & Customs, Jim Harra, Director General for Business Tax, HM Revenue & Customs and Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director, Corporate Tax, HM Treasury.
Location: Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster
Thursday 20 June
Political and Constitutional Reform – Subject: Role and powers of the Prime Minister: fixed term parliaments
Witness(es): Rt Hon Peter Riddell CBE, Director, Institute for Government; Miss Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform, Cabinet Office
Location: The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
