News

There's been uncomfortable reading yesterday at the Sunday breakfast table for some MPs as newspapers continue their disclosure of expenses at tax-payer's cost. With an endless string of revelations, attempts to explain or excuse the news - by blaming the system for example - are doomed to fail, and day-to-day policy-making seems to have come to a halt. The real eye-opener for politicians however is likely to come next month when the electorate has had chance to have their say in the local and European elections.

At Holyrood, allowances controversies are not an unknown phenomenon, but a range of reforms have been put in place to make the system more transparent. On the parliamentary agenda this week is a debate by the Government into Scotland's relation with the US and Canada. Cynical observers may say that this friendship has been reinvigorated as the financial powers of some the federal states have been held up as an aspiration for Scotland, after the arc of prosperity of small independent Nordic nations, held up previously by the SNP as role models for Scotland, turned out not to be as prosperous after all after the collapse of the banking system. At the end of this week, the Scottish Tories will gather in Perth for their conference where Mr Cameron is likely to find a party in high spirit, but fully aware that a lot of work lies ahead of them if they want their only Scottish MP to have some colleagues at Westminster after the next general elections.

A sigh of relief must have gone through the ranks of EU officials and politicians last week when the Czech Senate ratified the Lisbon treaty. Now all eyes are on Ireland where a referendum is expected in the autumn. MEPs might also feel with the MPs who are suffering from too much transparency at the moment. Last month a researcher published a statistic on a website listing MEPs' contributions, or the lack of it, to parliamentary activities. MEPs responded swiftly, and the website had to be closed. If only we could do the same, some MPs might think.

Scottish Government News

Poverty in Scotland
Housing Minister Alex Neil has said that poverty and income inequality in Scotland 'shames the nation'. The minister's comment followed statistics which showed that the proportion of individuals in relative poverty in Scotland remains unchanged at 17 per cent of the population. Mr Neil said that a range of policies implemented by the Scottish Government sought to increase the proportion of income earned by the bottom 30 per cent of Scotland's population by 2017.

Climate Change Bill strengthened
The Climate Change (Scotland) Bill passed Stage 1 last week and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson has announced that the Government is to take further steps to strengthen it. The minister said the targets to reduce harmful greenhouse gases will now include a new interim target to cut emissions by 34 per cent by 2020. Furthermore, Ministers intend to introduce an amendment to the Bill to ensure this rises to at least 42 per cent as soon as the EU agrees to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020. If passed, the Bill will be one of the most ambitious pieces of legislation dealing with this issue.

Food and Drink Summit
Food Ministers from all four UK governments are attending a food summit in Edinburgh today to discuss the global challenges facing the food and drink sector. The meeting, chaired by Environment Minister Richard Lochhead, will also discuss sustainable farming and global challenges relating to population growth. The industry is important to Scotland, generating over £7.5 billion to the economy and will be bolstered by Scotland's first-ever National Food and Drink Policy.

Scottish Government Consultations

Technical Guidance, Noise Action Plans, Candidate Noise Management Areas to Noise Management Areas (Closing 11/05)

Transposition of Council Directive 2007/43/EC on the Welfare of Meat Chickens (Closing 15/05)

Commission Proposal to Replace Directive 93/119 with a Regulation on the Protection of Animals at the time of Killing (Closing 22/05)

Consultation on Regulation of Energy Efficiency under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (Closing 22/05)

The Scottish Parliament - The Week Ahead

Committees

Tuesday 12 May

Justice - Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill; Subordinate legislation; Budget process 2010-11 - appointment of adviser; Annual report; Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill (in private); Proposed future business

Finance - Strategic budget scrutiny; Proposed future business

Subordinate Legislation - Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill; Instruments subject to annulment; Instruments not laid before the Parliament; Proposed future business

Wednesday 13 May

Economy, Energy and Tourism - Determining and delivering Scotland’s energy future (in private); Determining and delivering Scotland’s energy future; Proposed future business

Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture - Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill; Consideration of petition PE1022; Proposed future business

Health and Sport - Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill; Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services (in private); Pathways into sport inquiry (in private); Proposed future business

Local Government and Communities - Subordinate legislation; Child poverty in Scotland inquiry (in private); Proposed future business

Rural Affairs and the Environment - Decision on taking business in private; Subordinate legislation; Work programme; Pig industry; Marine (Scotland) Bill (in private); Proposed future business

Scottish Commission for Public Audit - Audit Scotland’s response to the Commission’s 2nd Report 2008 on Audit Scotland’s Expenditure Proposals for 2009-10, and Audit Scotland’s provisional budget estimate for 2010-11; Economy, efficiency and effectiveness examination of Audit Scotland; Proposed future business

In the Chamber

Wednesday 13 May

2.30pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motion
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – HBOS/Lloyds TSB Merger, Margo MacDonald (Ind)

Thursday 14 May

9.15am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time: Finance and Sustainable Growth
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Scotland’s Engagement in the United States of America and Canada
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business – RNID Hearing Matters Campaign, Cathy Jamieson (Lab)

Westminster – The Week Ahead

The House of Commons

Monday 11 May

2.30pm Oral Questions: Work and Pensions, including Topical Questions
followed by Legislation: Equality Bill – Second Reading
followed by Adjournment Debate: Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin - Des Browne (Lab, Kilmarnock & Loudoun)

Tuesday 12 May

2.55pm Oral Questions: Health, including Topical Questions
followed by Ten Minute Rule Bill: Surface Water and Highway Drainage Charges (Exemption) Bill - Mike Hall (Lab, Weaver Vale)
followed by Legislation: Finance Bill – Consideration in Committee of the whole House
followed by Adjournment Debate: Road deaths and obstructive sleep apnoea - Meg Munn (Lab/Co-op, Sheffield, Heeley)

Wednesday 13 May

11.30am Oral Questions: International Development
followed by Prime Ministers Question Time
followed by Presentation Bill: School Bus (Safety) Bill - Malcolm Bruce (Lib Dem, Gordon)
followed by Ten Minute Rule Bill: Goalpost Safety Bill - Brooks Newmark (Con, Braintree)
followed by Legislation: Finance Bill - Conclusion of consideration in Committee of the whole House
followed by Adjournment Debate: Adverse reactions to vaccinations against cervical cancer - Crispin Blunt (Con, Reigate)

Thursday 14 May

10.30am Oral Questions: Transport, including Topical Questions; Women and Equality
followed by Business Statement: Leader of the House
followed by Debate: Swine Influenza
followed by Adjournment Debate: Future of the under ten metre fishing fleet - Michael Jabez Foster (Lab, Hastings & Rye)

Friday 15 May

9.30am Private Members' Bills, Second Readings: Special Educational Needs and Disability (Support) Bill – John Bercow (Con, Buckingham); Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill – Andrew Dismore (Lab, Hendon); Employment Opportunities Bill – Christopher Chope (Con, Christchurch); British Museum Act 1963 (Amendment) Bill – Andrew Dismore (Lab, Hendon); Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill – Willie Rennie (Lib Dem, Dunfermline & West Fife)
followed by Adjournment Debate: Government policy on reported violence and police corruption in Brazilian cities - Mark Hendrick (Lab/Co-op, Preston)

Westminster Hall Debates

Tuesday 12 May

9.30am India – David Amess (Con, Southend West)
11.00am Consumer rights – Mark Lazarowicz (Lab/Co-op, Edinburgh North & Leith)
12.30pm Police crowd control techniques – Diane Abbott (Lab, Hackney North & Stoke Newington)
1.00pm Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Middle East peace process – Andrew Gwynne (Lab, Denton & Reddish)
1.30pm Funding for the private rented housing sector – Lorely Burt (Lib Dem, Solihull)

Wednesday 13 May

9.30am Betting on sport and the integrity of sport in the UK – Dr Ian Gibson (Lab, Norwich North)
11.00am Gangmasters in the construction industry – Jim Sheridan (Lab, Paisley & Renfrewshire North)
2.30pm Condition of rivers in England – Oliver Heald (Con, North East Hertfordshire)
4.00pm Case of Alan Louthwaite Irwin and Helios Airways Flight ZU 522 – Nadine Dorries (Con, Mid Bedfordshire)
4.30pm Regional Development Agency support for Gloucester – Parmjit Dhanda (Lab, Gloucester)

Thursday 14 May

2.30pm A debate on the 1st Report from the Health Select Committee, HC 53 I-II (Session 2008-09) entitled ‘NHS Next Stage Review’, and the Government response, Cm 7558

House of Lords

Monday 11 May

2.30pm Oral Questions: Attitudes towards the EU - Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Other); Human trafficking - Lord Sheikh (Con); Drugs policies - Lord Cobbold (Crossbench); Panel on Fair Access to the Professions report - Lord Lea of Crondall (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill [HL], Second Reading - Lord Bach (Lab)
3.00pm Legislation: Postal Services Bill [HL] - Report (day 1) - Lord Mandelson (Lab)
followed by Orders and Regulations: Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2009 – Motion to regret - Baroness Thomas of Winchester/ Lord McKenzie of Luton (Lib Dem/Lab)

Tuesday 12 May

2.30pm Oral Questions: Recognition of Great War veterans - Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab); Unacceptability of objecting to wind turbines - Lord Willoughby de Broke (Other); Wilton Park - Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (Crossbench); East Coast main line franchise - Lord Berkeley (Lab)
3.00pm Legislation: Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] – Third Reading - Lord Ashley of Stoke (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Health Bill [HL] - Third reading - Lord Darzi of Denham (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL] - Report (day 2) - Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
followed by Short Debate: Role of Privy Councillors - Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank/ Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lib Dem/Lab)

Wednesday 13 May

3.00pm Oral Questions: British pork and bacon in House of Lords refreshment outlets - Lord Hoyle (Lab); PVL and Staphylococcus infections - Baroness Masham of Ilton (Crossbench); Introduction of legislation regarding the Civil Service - Lord Sheldon (Lab)
followed by Legislation: Postal Services Bill [HL] - Report (day 2) - Lord Mandelson (Lab)
followed by Orders and Regulations: Climate Change Act 2008 (2020 Target, Credit Limit and Definitions) Order 2009; Carbon Budgets Order 2009; Carbon Accounting Regulations 2009 - Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)

Thursday 14 May

11.00am Oral Questions: UN convention on the rights of disabled people - Lord Morris of Manchester (Lab); Governance of universities - Baroness Sharp of Guildford (Lib Dem); Climate change and developing countries - Lord Stern of Brentford (Crossbench)
11.30am Debate: Government’s policies on the wellbeing of children and families - Baroness Massey of Darwen/ Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Lab/Lab)
followed by Debate: Opportunities for UK tourism's growth and greater contribution to all parts of the economy - Lord Pendry (Lab)
followed by Short Debate: Formal recognition for men and women of Bomber Command - Lord Richard/ Lord Tunnicliffe (Lab/Lab)
2.00pm Estimated Rising Time