The week in Westminster: March 29th – April 2nd
Intense Budget scrutiny is set to dominate Westminster this week.
The Commons will wrap up its lengthy Budget debates on Monday and Tuesday, while chancellor George Osborne gets a grilling from the Treasury select committee on Tuesday afternoon.
A more interesting performance might be expected on Thursday morning, when business secretary Vince Cable gets questioned by MPs in both the committee rooms and Commons chamber.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – work and pensions
Ten minute rule motion – protection of bowling greens (development control)
Budget debate
Adjournment debate – Implementation of the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 – Caroline Lucas
Tuesday
Questions – justice
Ten minute rule motion – children (access to parents)
Budget debate
Adjournment debate – future of rail engineering jobs
Wednesday
Questions – international development, PMQs
Ten minute rule motion – alcohol marketing
Legislation – police reform and social responsibility bill
Adjournment debate – provision of community facilities at Flitch Green, Essex
Thursday
Questions – business, innovation and skills
Business statement – leader of the House
Legislation – police reform and social responsibility bill
Adjournment debate – future of the Zurbaran paintings at Auckland Castle
Friday
Private members’ bills – coinage (measurement) bill; broadcasting (public service content) bill; and others
Adjournment debate – future of A-levels
LORDS
Monday
Legislation – London local authorities and Transport for London (No. 2) bill
Questions – homeless in London, Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Cardiff Valley rail electrification, shale gas and UK energy policy
Tuesday
Questions – preventable sight loss, flood defence allocations, ethanol content in petrol
Legislation – building regulations (review) bill
Legislation – fixed-term parliaments bill
Short debate – reducing regulatory burdens on British agriculture
Wednesday
Questions – physical education, further education, women’s shelters in Afghanistan
Legislation – pensions bill
Thursday
Questions – Olympic Truce for London 2012, trade union recognition, Lords prayers
Debate – supporting economic growth and promoting investment, innovation, technology, infrastructure, skills and job creation
Debate – standards of care and the commissioning of services in the NHS
Motion – Endorsement of the proposal of the European Union Committee for Future inter-parliamentary scrutiny of EU foreign, defence and security policy
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Monday
16:00 – international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, before international development secretary, on: The Future of DFID’s Programme in India
Tuesday
16:00 – chancellor George Osborne, before Treasury committee, on: Budget 2011
Wednesday
10:00 – culture, media and sport secretary Jeremy Hunt, before culture, media and sport committee, on: responsibilities of DCMS
Thursday
10:00 – business secretary Vince Cable, before business, innovation and skills committee, on: the government’s strategy for growth
