News

Another sure sign of an impending election is the almost daily stream of polling data which starts to show some significant swings to and fro. This weekend saw the Tory poll lead narrow to two points prompting predictions of a Labour minority government. From now on every statistic will be pored over and analysed exhaustively including the next GDP figures which are due to be published on St George's Day April 23. Expectations are that they may show growth at the end of 2009 was merely drawn down from the start of 2010 and subsequent figures may slip back as a result. Meanwhile, the Conservatives appeared to emerge from their Spring conference in Brighton unscathed if a little unconvincing not least amongst their own ranks. Tory dissent against the leadership is bubbling under the surface in a way that Labour never did in 1997.

Voting intentions will be occupying Scottish party leaders too following a comprehensive survey of Scottish opinion which indicated Labour leads in both the Westminster and Holyrood polls over the SNP. First Minister Alex Salmond's approval ratings also took a dent, depending on which survey you read, and these look unlikely to be aided by accusations of close co-operation with TV broadcasters to promote the Scottish Government's agenda.

Although in most European countries further cuts and job losses are looming, in Brussels, the European Parliament has approved an increase in MEPs' allowances and plans to hire an extra 150 staff at a cost of 13.4 million euros. However, these budget changes will need to be approved by the Commission and are somewhat controversial in the wake of the European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee Report which criticised MEPs for abusing the expenses system and called for improved management, transparency and more frequent internal spending audits. This week, the focus will be on the ten-year strategy to reinvigorate the European economy due to be published by the Commission this week, especially after the latest European economic report suggested that Europe's "fragile" and slow recovery is posing a risk to Europe's competitiveness.

Scottish Government News

Draft Referendum Bill Consultation Paper published
The Scottish Government has published its draft referendum bill consultation paper which asks if Scotland should be independent or whether it should be granted further powers. The Bill is now open for consultation for 9 weeks.
(Scottish Government 25 February)
(Draft Referendum Consultation Paper, 25 February)

Poor reading and writing skills discovered
The annual education Scottish Survey of Achievement reported that two third of 13-year-olds at secondary school do not meet reading and writing target standards. Reading attainments rates also decreased from primary into secondary education.
(Scottish Survey of Achievement (23 February)

Further University Funding approved
Scottish Universities and colleges are to receive a further £42.9million of funding from the Scottish Government in 2010-11.
(Scottish Government, 26 February)

Proposal for increased corporate liability
SNP MSP Bill Wilson has lodged a Members Bill which would allow courts to impose equity fines on public companies found guilty of criminal offences. The Bill now requires cross-party support over the next four weeks before it can proceed.
The Scottish Parliament

Lower voting age proposed
First Minister Alex Salmond proposes to reduce the voting age at elections to 16 to allow the younger generation to have a say in the constitutional future of Scotland.
(Scottish Government, 26 February)

Healthy eating campaign boosted
The Scottish Government has pledged funding of £1.3million to Scottish retailers in order to promote healthier food choices.
(Scottish Government 28 February)

Scottish Government Consultations

Revised Code of Practice issued under section 60 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (Closing 02/03/2010)

Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture in Scotland (Closing 05/03/2010)

The Scottish Parliament - The Week Ahead

Committees

Tuesday 2 March

Justice - Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill; Subordinate legislation; Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (Stage 2, day 1); Legal Services (Scotland) Bill (in private).

End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill - Declaration of interests; Choice of Convener; Choice of Deputy Convener; End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill (consideration of Stage 1 scrutiny.

Finance - Subordinate legislation (draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2009 Amendment Order 2010; Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill (consideration Stage 2 (day 5)); Scottish Parliamentary Commissions and Commissioners etc. Bill: (evidence on Financial Memorandum)

Public Petitions - Consideration of current petitions; Consideration of new petitions; Notification of new petitions.

Rural Affairs and Environment - Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill (evidence, Stage 1).

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change - Forth Crossing Bill (evidence, Stage 1); Subordinate legislation; Inquiry into the relationship between transport and land use planning policies; Forth Crossing Bill (consideration).

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments - Cross Party Group (application from proposed Cross-Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy); Standing Orders Rule 9.7.6 - consideration of amendments at Stage 2; Review of Volume 2, Section 2 of the Code of Conduct (in private).

Subordinate Legislation - Subordinate legislation (evidence on Water Quality (Scotland) Regulations); Housing (Scotland) Bill (consideration of delegated powers provisions, Stage 1); Draft instruments subject to approval; Instruments subject to annulment; Instruments not laid before the Parliament.

Wednesday 3 March

Economy, Energy and Tourism - Evaluation of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 initiative; Subordinate legislation; The way forward for Scotland's banking, building society and financial services sector (in private)(consideration of draft report).

Health and Sport - Subordinate legislation (evidence on draft Community Care (Personal Care and Nursing Care) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI/2010/draft) and on draft Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (Treatment of Office or Body as Specified Authority) Order 2010 (SSI/2010/draft); Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill (evidence, Stage 1); Inquiry into the Clinical Portal Programme and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth (in private) (consideration of revised draft report).

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture - Scottish Government class size policy (evidence); Budget Strategy 2011-12.

Local Government and Communities - Subordinate legislation (draft Housing Support Grant (Scotland) Order 2010, draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010) ; Subordinate legislation (negative instruments.

Forth Crossing Bill - Forth Crossing Bill (evidence, Stage 1); Forth Crossing Bill (consideration).

In The Chamber

Wednesday 3 March

2.30pm: Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Followed by Final Stage Debate: Ure Elder Fund Transfer and Dissolution Bill
Followed by Scottish Government Debate: Regeneration
Followed by Business Motion
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00pm: Decision Time
Followed by Members' Business -Bill Butler (Labour): Fairtrade Fortnight 2010

Thursday 4 March

9.15am: Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
11.40am: General Question Time
12.00pm: First Minister's Question Time
2.15pm: Themed Question Time - Finance and Sustainable Growth
2.55pm: Scottish Government Debate: Educating Children and Young People to Compete in a Globalised 21st Century
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00pm: Decision Time
Followed by Members' Business -Linda Fabiani (SNP): South Lanarkshire College Unveils Aurora House, a First in Scotland

Westminster - The Week Ahead

The House of Commons

Monday 1 March

2.30pm: Culture, media and sport questions including topical questions
3.20pm: Olympics questions.
Followed by Opposition day debate (4th allotted day) - The government's record on defence.
Followed by Motion to approve the draft Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.
Followed by Motion to approve the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2010.
Followed by Adjournment debate on Warmfront scheme and the case of Mr D R Thatcham (Richard Benyon).

Tuesday 2 March

2.30pm: Foreign and commonwealth questions including topical questions
Followed by Ten minute rule motion - Major Capital Contracts (Skills Training Requirements) Bill (John Mann).
Followed by Motion to approve a money resolution on the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill.
Followed by Remaining stages of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill.
Followed by Adjournment debate on digital exclusion (Ben Chapman).

Wednesday 3 March

11.30am: International development questions.
12 noon: Prime minister's questions.
Followed by Second reading of the Bribery Bill.
Followed by Adjournment debate on the proposed Poole bridge (Robert Syms).

Thursday 4 March

10.30am: Business, innovation and skills questions including topical questions
Followed by Motion to approve a statutory instrument.
Followed by Consideration of a procedural motion.
Followed by Adjournment debate on the proposed sale of homes by the Crown Estate (Frank Dobson).

Friday 5 March

9.30am: Second readings of private members' Bills:

• Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill (Albert Owen);
• Warsaw Convention (Carrier Liability) Bill (John Smith);
• Care Homes and Sheltered Accommodation (Domestic Pets) Bill (Nigel Waterson);
• Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Reports) Bill (David Cairns);
• Sheltered Accommodation (Residents) Bill (Andrew Dismore);
• Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority) Bill (Andrew Dismore);
• Pedicabs Bill (Mark Field);
• Compensation Act 2006 (Amendment) Bill (Jeremy Wright);
• Department for Work and Pensions (Electronic File Retention) Bill (Harry Cohen).

Followed by Adjournment debate on the inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly (Norman Baker).

Westminster Hall Debates

Tuesday 2 March

9.30am: Housing in London (Andy Slaughter).
11.00pm: Unitary proposals for Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon (Keith Simpson).
12.30pm: No fault liability scheme for miners' knee (Michael Clapham).
1.00pm: Opportunities for reduction of NHS expenditure (Richard Taylor).
1.30pm: Peripheral arterial disease (Brian Iddon).

Wednesday 3 March

9.30am: Home energy efficiency and fuel poverty (Malcolm Bruce).
11.00am: Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care Trust (Andrew Turner).
2.30pm: Paying for hon Members' constituency communications (Keith Hill).
4.00pm: Situation of private tenants and leaseholders in London (Jeremy Corbyn).
4.30pm: Closure of the Land Registry Office in Peterborough (Stewart Jackson).

Thursday 4 March

2.30pm: Debate on the foreign affairs committee report on global security and non-proliferation.

Lords Chamber

Monday 1 March

2.30pm: Oral questions - What is the latest quarterly figure for total unemployment in the United Kingdom; and what is the latest monthly total number of claimants of unemployment benefit (Lord Roberts of Conwy); What action they plan to take to deal with unsolicited computer-generated telephone calls offering to resolve any and all debt and financial problems (Baroness Gardner of Parkes); How many Sure Start programmes were set up during the past year; and how they will be evaluated (Baroness Massey of Darwen); What consultations they have held about declaring 1 March, St David's Day, an official Bank Holiday in Wales (Lord Roberts of Llandudno).
Followed by Third reading of the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Bill [HL].
Followed by Committee stage (day 2) of the Personal Care at Home Bill.
Followed by Report stage (day 1) of the Digital Economy Bill [HL].
Followed by Motion to approve the draft Jobseeker's Allowance (Skills Training Conditionality Pilot) Regulations 2010. Baroness Thomas of Winchester has tabled a motion of regret.

Grand Committee

3.30pm: Consideration of the following draft orders and regulations:

• Draft Electronic Commerce Directive (Hatred against Persons on Religious Grounds or the Grounds of Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2010;
• Draft Data Protection (Monetary Penalties) Order 2010 - Consideration in Grand Committee;
• Draft Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010 - Consideration in Grand Committee; Draft National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010 - Consideration in Grand Committee; Draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010;
• Draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement) (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Order 2010;
• Draft Health Protection (Local Authority Powers) Regulations 2010; Draft Health Protection (Part 2A Orders) Regulations 2010; Draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2010.

Tuesday 2 March

2.30pm: Oral questions - What action they are taking to reduce the number of people being treated in hospital for alcohol-related conditions (Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville); What steps they will take to promote a resumption of direct talks between Palestinian representatives and Israel to seek a full agreement (Lord Dykes); What assessment they have made of the regulatory burdens facing voluntary sports clubs; and what steps they are taking to reduce them (Lord Clement-Jones);Topical question.
Followed by Motion on the report stage of the Child Poverty Bill.
Followed by Report stage (day 1) of the Equality Bill.
Followed by Second reading and remaining stages of the Corporation Tax Bill.

Grand Committee

3.30pm: Consideration of the following:

• Draft Welsh Zone (Boundaries and Transfer of Functions) Order 2010;
• Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local Government Bodies; Code of Audit Practice 2010 for Local NHS Bodies;
• Draft Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010;
• Draft Legislative Reform (Dangerous Wild Animals) (Licensing) Order 2010;
• Draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2010;
• Draft Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2010;
• Draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

Wednesday 3 March

3.00pm: Oral questions - What measures are being considered to improve pest control in the Lords' part of the Palace of Westminster (Baroness Finlay of Llandaff); What assistance they are providing to the government of Afghanistan for managing minerals and gemstone resources (Baroness Rawlings); What proposals they have for reducing the amount of paperwork associated with granting licences for the export of military components to NATO allies (Lord Astor of Hever); Topical question.
Followed by Report stage (day 2) of the Digital Economy Bill.
Followed by Motion to approve the Draft Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 (Continuation in Force of Sections 1 to 9). Lord Lloyd of Berwick has tabled a motion of regret.

Thursday 4 March

11.00am: Oral questions - What plans they have to strengthen protection of cultural heritage assets in waters beyond 12 nautical miles offshore (Lord Howarth of Newport); What plans they have for the future of 24-hour alcohol licensing (Lord Lyell); What measures they propose to protect small and medium-sized businesses from late payment of debts by large companies and government departments (Viscount Montgomery of Alamein);Topical question.
Followed by Motion on the committee stage of the Financial Services Bill.
Followed by Debate to call attention to the significance for society and the economy of policies to provide and support teaching excellence in schools, colleges and universities (Baroness Shephard of Northwold).
Followed by Debate to call attention to the International Women's Day global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women (Baroness Miller of Hendon).
Followed by Consideration of the draft Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) (Amendment) Order 2010 and the draft Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2010

Grand Committee

2.00pm: Consideration of the Draft National Policy Statement for Ports.

Friday 5 March

10.00am: Committee stage of the Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill [HL];
Followed by Committee Stage of the Powers of Entry etc. Bill [HL];
Followed by Committee stage of the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill [HL].
Followed by Second reading of the Anti-Slavery Day Bill.