House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07 Publications on the internet Summary Agendas and Orders of Business

Order of Business Wednesday 10 January 2007 Here you can browse the House of Commons Order of Business for Wednesday 10 January 2007.

COMMITTEES

+ indicates Government business. Timings are indicative only. House of Commons Order of Business   At 11.30 a.m.   Prayers Afterwards Notes:   indicates a question for oral answer.   [R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.   Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer   Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer. Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland  1 Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): What recent acts of decommissioning of illegally held weapons and explosives have taken place in Northern Ireland. (113210)  2 Ann Winterton (Congleton): If he will make a statement on the prospects for the agriculture sector in Northern Ireland. (113211)  3 Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): What steps he has taken to encourage greater participation in apprenticeships in Northern Ireland. (113212)  4 Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon): What requirement exists for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive to support the police, the courts and the rule of law. (113213)  5 Mr Eddie McGrady (South Down): If he will make a statement on the outcome of the Strategic Review of Education led by Professor Sir George Bain. (113215)  6 John Mann (Bassetlaw): What steps his Department is taking to reduce the prevalence of suicide in young men in Northern Ireland. (113217)  7 Ms Celia Barlow (Hove): What additional activities he expects to be provided by allowing schools in Northern Ireland to extend their hours through the children and young people funding package. (113218)  8 Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): If he will make a statement on the progress of the peace process. (113219)  9 Ms Dawn Butler (Brent South): What steps he is taking to encourage the provision of more affordable housing in Northern Ireland. (113220)  10 David Simpson (Upper Bann): What criminal record checks are carried out on (a) EU and (b) non-EU foreign nationals entering Northern Ireland. (113221)  11 Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West): What recent discussions have taken place between his Department and representatives of local government on strengthening local democracy in Northern Ireland. (113222)  12 Mr Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South): What plans he has to enable the public sector in Northern Ireland to increase its use of renewable energy. (113223)  13 Barbara Keeley (Worsley): What steps he is taking to improve the skills base in Northern Ireland. (113224)   At 12 noon Oral Questions to the Prime Minister Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a Question without notice.  Q1 Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 10th January. (113123)  Q2 Sarah McCarthy-Fry (Portsmouth North): (113124)  Q3 Sandra Gidley (Romsey): (113126)  Q4 Andrew George (St Ives): (113127)  Q5 Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester South): (113128)  Q6 Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): (113129)  Q7 Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): (113130)  Q8 Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford): (113131)  Q9 Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire): (113132)  Q10 Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): (113133)  Q11 Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): (113134)  Q12 Eric Joyce (Falkirk): (113135)  Q13 Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): (113136)  Q14 Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): (113137) At 12.30 p.m.   Urgent Questions (if any)     Ministerial Statements (if any) Preliminary Business Ten minute rule Motion 1 PROTECTION OF LISTED VEHICLES [Up to 20 minutes] Mr John Randall      That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision for the establishment of a scheme to promote the maintenance and preservation of certain vehicles of cultural value; and for connected purposes. The Member moving and a Member opposing this Motion may each speak for up to ten minutes (Standing Order No. 23). Main Business 2 OPPOSITION DAY (2nd allotted day) [Until 7.00 p.m.]   COMMUNITY MATERNITY SERVICES Mr David Cameron Mr Andrew Lansley Mr John Baron Mr Stephen O’Brien Dr Andrew Murrison Mr Patrick McLoughlin      That this House supports the provision of high quality maternity services designed around the needs and wishes of expectant mothers and reconciling choice, access and safety; values the hard work of health professionals working in maternity care; endorses the need for every woman to be supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy; is deeply concerned at the closure or prospective closure of birth centres and maternity units and the consequent impact upon choice and access to services; regrets that the impacts of financial deficits and the Working Time Directive are forcing closures; welcomes and congratulates the cross-party opposition to such closures; and calls on the Government to respond positively to the demands for a national debate about the future configuration of maternity services.    As Amendments to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Community maternity services): Sir Menzies Campbell Dr Vincent Cable Norman Lamb Sandra Gidley Dr John Pugh Mr Paul Burstow      Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes that the Government is far from achieving the promise in its last manifesto of offering all women one to one midwife care and choice over where and how they have their babies; notes that this vision cannot by delivered with the Government’s inconsistent and short-termist approach to workforce planning, which has seen in the past year a fall in the headcount number of midwives working in the NHS, a drop in the number of student midwife places and large numbers of newly qualified midwives jobless after graduation; condemns the Government mismanagement which has led to nationwide deficits and soft targets such as maternity services being cut; and urges the Government to listen more closely to the needs of local communities in configuring maternity services.’. The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Reid Ms Secretary Hewitt Ivan Lewis      Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘welcomes the extra investment in NHS maternity services under this Government; further welcomes the endorsement by the Royal College of Midwives of the ambitious vision for maternity services; notes that this investment has funded 2,400 more midwives than in 1997 and supported a 44 per cent. increase in students entering the midwifery profession, and that the latest surveys show that 8 out of 10 women say they are satisfied with their maternity care; recognises the preparatory work underway to deliver the Government’s manifesto commitment that by 2009 all women will have the choice over where and how they have their baby and what pain relief to use, and that every woman will be supported by the same midwife throughout her pregnancy, with this support linked to other services provided in children’s centres; supports the focus of services to tackle inequalities; and recognises that maternity services will need to continue to change in order to deliver this commitment and to ensure that the NHS provides the safest and most effective maternity care for babies, parents and families and the best possible value for money for taxpayers.’.   FUTURE OF THE SUB-POST OFFICE NETWORK Mr David Cameron Mr Oliver Letwin Mr Alan Duncan Charles Hendry Mrs Theresa May Mr Patrick McLoughlin      That this House recognises the contribution that sub-post offices make in communities across the country; pays tribute to sub-postmasters and postmistresses for the service they provide; believes that sub-post offices have a key role to play in delivering new services in those communities for local councils, businesses and consumers; condemns the Government’s short-sighted plan to close 2,500 sub-post offices; and urges the Government to allow sub-post offices greater freedom to develop their businesses.    As an Amendment to Mr David Cameron’s proposed Motion (Future of the sub-post office network): The Prime Minister Mr Secretary Prescott Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Secretary Darling Mr Secretary Hain Mr Secretary Alexander      Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘acknowledges the important role that post offices play in local communities, particularly in rural and deprived urban areas; recognises that the business environment in which Royal Mail and the post office network are operating is undergoing radical change, with more and more people choosing new electronic ways to communicate, pay bills and access Government services; applauds the Government’s record of working closely with Royal Mail, Post Office Ltd. and sub-postmasters to help them meet these challenges with an unprecedented investment of more than £2 billion made by the Government in supporting the network since 1999; endorses the Government’s firm commitment to ensuring the continuation of the network, while acknowledging the widely held view that its present size is unsustainable; supports the Government’s approach of allowing Royal Mail the freedom to respond to future commercial challenges and opportunities, and in particular enabling Post Office Limited to determine the future shape of the network within clear Government rules governing criteria for local access, a requirement to develop new “outreach” services, full public consultation on proposals for each affected area and a continuing commitment to social network payments by the Government to reflect sub-post offices’ social role; and welcomes the Government’s renewed commitment to allowing the public to get their pensions and benefits in cash from post offices if they choose to do so, including a successor to the Post Office card account when the current contract expires in 2010.’. Debate may continue until 7.00 p.m. The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)).   At the end of the sitting: 3 ADJOURNMENT      Proposed subject: Rail level crossing safety in North Essex (Mr Bernard Jenkin).

Debate may continue until 7.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
1	Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee	2.30 p.m.	Room 9 (public)
To consider the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Variation of the Finance Act 2003) Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 3237).