The week in Westminster: February 14th – 18th
The rush to secure the electoral reform referendum will dominate business managers’ minds in parliament this week.
Whips must get the parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill to royal assent stage by Wednesday if the public are to give their view on the alternative vote system on May 5th.
With Labour peers continuing to drag their feet, nothing will be certain until the bill becomes law.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – work and pensions
Legislation – budget responsibility and national audit
Adjournment debate – city status for Southend
Tuesday
Questions – justice
Ten minute rule motion – masters’ degree (minimum standards)
Legislation – parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill
Adjournment debate – TBC
Wednesday
Questions – international development, PMQs
Ten minute rule motion – criminal justice (amendment)
Opposition day debate
Adjournment debate – incinerators in Hertfordshire and the Government’s waste management strategy
Thursday
Questions – business, innovation and skills
Business statement – leader of the House
Motion – relating to the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2011 and the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2011
Adjournment debate – reform of single room rate in housing
LORDS
Monday
Questions – hard copies of annual reports, asylum seekers, early intervention, British Film Institute
Legislation – parliamentary voting system and constituencies bill
Short debate – mental health strategy
Tuesday
Questions – prisoner transfer agreements, student immigration system, Heathrow airport
Legislation – pensions bill
Wednesday
Questions – chancellor – governor of Bank of England relations, bilateral defence cooperation with France, tier one post-study work visas
Legislation – postal services bill
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Tuesday
10:45 – Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, before culture, media and sport committee, on: Football governance
Wednesday
15:00 – Michael Heseltine, before Northern Ireland affairs committee, on: Northern Ireland as an enterprise zone
Thursday
10:00 – international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, before international development committee, on: The Humanitarian Response to the Pakistan Floods
