News
The Prime Minister faces another challenging week as he tries to repair the political damage caused by the misuse of second home allowances. However his proposal for a new £150 daily attendance allowance has not been greeted with open arms, and maybe defeated in a vote on Thursday. On the sidelines there are other developments such as a Government minister placing a bet with bookmakers on Labour not winning the next general election, and a petition on the Downing Street e-petition website calling for Gordon Brown to resign. For the Conservatives it looks as if life in opposition has never been easier, but David Cameron will have to walk on a tight rope over the coming months as he can't give much more information on what his "government of thrift" will mean without putting off voters with detailed tax and spending plans.
In Scotland, Ministers are still digesting and analysing what last week's Budget announcement means for the Scottish Government's plans as Parliament will debate the implications on Thursday. The SNP is likely to blame the UK Government for not being able to realise its policies, but will it convince the wider public? Given the range of expensive pledges made by the SNP in the run up to the 2007 elections, some may ask how feasible the policies were in the first place, with or without last week's Budget announcement.
In Strasburg last week the European Parliament adopted in first reading the proposal for a directive which would allow Europeans to seek healthcare abroad more easily and to be reimbursed for the cost of doing so. In addition, Parliament gave its overwhelming support for plans to reduce roaming charges for mobile phone users. MEPs are obviously keen to remind voters of the good news coming from the European Parliament prior to the elections, but it remains to be seen whether it'll be enough to convince them to go to the ballot box in June.
Scottish Government News
Scotland ready for carbon capture
Scotland is ready to strengthen its European lead in both renewable energy and oil and gas by including carbon capture and storage, First Minister Alex Salmond said. The FM, who will be making an announcement on carbon capture later this week, said Scotland has the potential, ambition and natural resource to lead the way in capturing and safely storing carbon emissions. The UK Government announced last week to establish four carbon capture demonstration projects in the UK. (27 April)
Finance Secretary responds to Budget statement
A real terms cut to the Scottish budget in 2010 - 2011, announced by the Chancellor last week, could cost thousands of Scottish jobs and have dire consequences for business and ordinary working families, Finance Secretary John Swinney said. Mr Swinney was responding to the Chancellor's UK budget announcement which identified £500 million of cuts next year for Scotland. The Finance Secretary said that the Chancellor was putting Scotland's economic recovery at risk by ignoring repeated pleas by the Scottish Government to take bold and targeted action to stimulate the economy. (22 April)
Scottish Government Consultations
The Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plan (Closing 29 April)
Reform of student support in higher education (Closing 30 April)
Draft Guidelines for Saltire Prize Competitions (Closing 30 April)
Draft Technical Guidance for Noise Management Areas (Closing 11 May)
Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down the minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. (Closing 11 May)
The Scottish Parliament – The Week Ahead
Committees
Tuesday 28 April
Review of SPCB Supported Bodies Committee - report
Justice – Coroners and Justice Bill (UK Parliament legislation); Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill
European and External Relations - European Union’s response to the financial crisis; China Plan inquiry; Brussels Bulletin; Review of Scottish Government activity in Malawi
Finance - Strategic budget scrutiny; Public sector pay
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee - Cross-Party Groups; Annual report; Review of Section 2 of the Code of Conduct; Hybrid Bills inquiry; Accuracy of contributions in parliamentary proceedings
Subordinate Legislation - Draft Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Bill; Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill; Draft instruments subject to approval; Instruments subject to annulment; Instruments not laid before the Parliament
Wednesday 29 April
Economy, Energy and Tourism - State of the Scottish economy, tackling unemployment and looking forward (inquiry)
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture - Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill; Subordinate legislation
Health and Sport - Subordinate legislation; Inquiry into child and adolescent mental health services; Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill
Local Government and Communities - Equal pay in Local Government; Subordinate legislation; Annual Report
Public Audit - Section 23 report:Central government’s use of consultancy services; Asset management in the NHS in Scotland; Improving energy efficiency; The First ScotRail passenger rail franchise
Rural Affairs and Environment - Rural housing inquiry
In the Chamber
Wednesday 29 April
2.30pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Housing
followed by Business motion
followed by Members' Business – Developing Telehealth in Scotland (Dr Richard Simpson, Lab)
Thursday 30 April
9.15am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Liberal Democrats Debate: Education
followed by Scottish Liberal Democrats Debate: The Economy
11.40am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15pm Themed Question Time – Health & Wellbeing
2.55pm: Scottish Government Debate: Budget Implications for Scotland
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business Debate – Private Residential Care Home Accountability, Jeremy Purvis (LibDem)
Westminster – The Week Ahead
The House of Commons
Monday April 27
2.30pm: Children, schools and families questions (topical questions at 3.15pm).
followed by Ten minute rule motion: Cheapest Energy Tariff (Information) Bill (John Baron).
followed by Continuation of debate on the Budget: Skills and innovation (John Denham to open).
followed by Adjournment debate: Pedestrian crossing installations and Highways Agency costs (Oliver Letwin).
Tuesday April 28
2.30pm: Treasury questions (topical questions at 3.15pm).
followed by Ten minute rule motion: Protection of Children (Publicity) Bill (Jacqui Lait).
followed by Conclusion of debate on the Budget: Employment (James Purnell to open).
followed by Adjournment debate: Hon Members' addresses & personal security (Julian Lewis).
Wednesday April 29
11.30am: Wales questions.
12noon: Prime minister’s questions.
followed by Ten minute rule motion: Prevention of Excessive Charges Bill (Mohammed Sarwar).
followed by Opposition day debate (10th allotted day): Debate on erosion of civil liberties and freedoms; debate on Sri Lanka (both debates are on Liberal Democrat motions).
followed by Adjournment debate: Humberside Probation Service (Elliot Morley).
Thursday April 30
10.30am: Innovation, universities and skills questions (topical questions at 11.15am).
11.30am: Business statement.
followed by House business
followed by Adjournment debate: Closure of Visteon factory in Basildon (Angela E Smith).
Friday May 1st
House is not sitting
Westminster Hall Debates
Tuesday April 28
9.30am Electricity generation and consumption in Scotland (Gordon Banks).
11.00am Pub ownership and the brewing industry (John Pugh).
12.30pm Review of listed sporting events (John Grogan).
1.00pm Performance of Thames Valley Probation Service (Tony Baldry).
1.30pm United Nations conference on anti-racism in Geneva (John Mann).
Wednesday April 29
9.30am Honey bee health (John Penrose).
11.00am UK relations with Libya (David Kawczynski).
2.30pm Recognition of British heroes of the Holocaust (Russell Brown).
4.00pm Tall buildings and planning policy (Martin Linton).
4.30pm Policing in Croydon (Andrew Pelling).
Thursday April 30
2.30pm Debate on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Darwin Initiative
House of Lords
Monday April 27
2.30pm Oral questions: Lord Tyler - when they expect to publish the planned draft clauses on House of Lords reform in the light of responses to the White Paper An Elected Second Chamber: Further reform of the House of Lords.
followed by Baroness Stern - how they plan to reduce delays in the parole system.
followed by Lord Astor of Hever - what political and financial support they are giving to the United Kingdom defence industry in bidding for contracts for the re-equipment of the Iraqi armed forces.
followed by Lord Craig of Radley - when they will announce their reaction to the Congressionally-mandated Research Advisory Committee’s inquiry into Gulf War Illness, published in November 2008
followed by Committee stage (day 5) of the Postal Services Bill.
followed by Motion to take note of the Social Security (Flexible New Deal) Regulations 2009.
Tuesday April 28
2.30pm: Oral questions: Lord Dykes - when they next expect to hold discussions on climate change issues with the Czech Presidency of the European Union.
followed by Baroness Warsi - what is their position on polygamous marriage in the United Kingdom.
followed by Lord James of Blackheath - what current financial exposure is faced by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD); and what plans they have for the ECGD.
followed by Topical question.
followed by Report stage (day 1) of the Health Bill.
followed by Short debate on what steps the government will take to ensure that the United Nations can act in accordance with the objectives outlined in the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations (Baroness Howells of St Davids).
Grand committee
Second reading of the Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill [HL].
followed by Motions to approve the draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Order 2009.
followed by Motion to take note of the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Reservations and Interpretative Declaration.
Wednesday April 29
3.00pm: Oral questions: Lord Geddes - whether subjects of the Crown will have to supply personal information and their travel plans in advance of leaving the country.
followed by The Lord Bishop of Liverpool - what plans they have to ensure that the economic stimulus package in the United Kingdom will contribute to the development of a low-carbon economy.
followed by Lord Ashley of Stoke – what steps they are taking to protect the interests of people in need of social care.
followed by Topical question.
followed by Second reading of the Welfare Reform Bill.
Grand Committee
Committee stage (day 1) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill.
Thursday April 30
11.00am: Oral questions: Lord Trefgarne - what positions within the NATO military structure will be assumed by French officers when France rejoins the structure in the near future.
followed by Lord Pearson of Rannoch – to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the analysis in The hard sell: EU communication policy and the campaign for hearts and minds, published by Open Europe, which maintains that the European Union spent €2.4 billion in 2008 promoting itself and its aim of ever closer union.
followed by Lord Tebbit – to ask the Leader of the House, further to her Written Answer on 4 March (WA 169-70), whether she will ascertain what the constraints were which delayed the answer to Lord Corbett of Castle Vale’s Question for Written Answer tabled on 3 December 2008 until 3 March (WA 140-41) and that of Lord Hylton tabled on 8 December 2008 until 11 February (WA 196).
followed by Topical question.
followed by Debate on the contribution made by British armed forces to the defence of the United Kingdom and to peace-keeping activities around the world (Lord King of Bridgwater).
followed by Debate on the government’s public health agenda (Baroness Knight of Collingtree).
followed by Committee stage (day 1) of the Cohabitation Bill [HL].
Grand committee
Committee stage (day 2) of the Political Parties and Elections Bill.
Friday May 1st
House is not sitting |
