The week in Westminster: December 12th – December 16th
Last week's news could be the biggest event of this week, as David Cameron updates the Commons on the outcome of the Brussels summit.
Commons business managers are pushing through a number of actually quite important motions, while there are the usual rather more quirky debates: from illegal downloading of music to flue gas systems – and MPs' expenses, of course.
COMMONS
Monday
Questions – Home Office
Statement – EU council
Debate – immigration
Adjournment debate – pregnancy counselling
Tuesday
Questions – justice
Presentation of bill – flue gas systems (strategy)
Ten minute rule motion – public festivals, holidays and commemorations
Motion – to approve the appointment of the chairman of the statistics board
Legislation – charities bill
Motion – to approve a statutory instrument relating to financial restrictions (Iran)
Opposition day debate – DUP
Adjournment debate – illegal downloading of music
Wednesday
Questions – Cabinet Office
Prime minister's questions
Ten minute rule motion – victims of crime (code of practice)
Motion – standing orders relating to ways and means; and supply
Motion – scrutiny of draft orders under the public bodies bill
Opposition day debate – TBA
Adjourment debate – pedestrian access through railway stations
Thursday
Questions – culture, Olympics, media and sport
Business statement – leader of the House
Backbench business – MPs' expenses, financial education
Adjournment debate – whistleblowing in the NHS
LORDS
Monday
Questions – Heathrow peak times, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, disability benefits, household food waste
Legislation – welfare reform bill
Short debate – human rights and political situation in Saudi Arabia
Tuesday
Questions – police officer numbers, adoption process, findings of Professor Colin Pritchard’s study published recently in the British Journal of Cancer
Legislation – health and social care bill
Legislation – devolution (time) bill
Wednesday
Questions – pre-trial publicity, armed forces housing, ethical values in business
Legislation – European Union membership (economic implications) bill
Legislation – welfare reform bill
Thursday
Questions – deficit reduction, intercept evidence, party funding
Short debate – marriages and civil partnerships (approved premises) regulations 2011
Legislation – health and social care bill
Statement – questions on autumn statement
PICK OF THE COMMITTEES
Monday
14:15 – Times editor James Harding and Mail on Sunday editor Peter Wright, before joint committee on privacy and injunctions
Tuesday
14:15 – energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne, before energy and climate change committee, on: outcomes from Durban UNFCCC COP 17
Wednesday
12:50 – environment, food and rural affairs secretary Caroline Spelman, before environmental audit committee, on: Green economy
