Forthcoming Business of the House of Lords
3 - 6 December 2007

Monday 3 December (2.30pm)

Oral questions - Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the Governor of the Bank of England regarding the global credit crunch. Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progress made in implementing the Charities Act 2006. Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of spectators will have a roof over them in the new design for the main stadium for the 2012 Olympics. Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is still the intention of the Prime Minister not to attend the forthcoming summit meeting of the leaders of the African Union and European Union countries in Portugal if Mr Mugabe attends

Legislation - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] (Committee stage 1st day)

Question for short debate - On why adult learners seeking a second qualification at an equivalent or lower level to that already held must pay full cost fees (B. Sharp of Guildford)

Tuesday 4 December (2.30pm)

Oral questions - Lord Quirk to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will increase the amount of support and encouragement for adults to pursue part-time higher education. Lord Judd to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their target date for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Human Trafficking; and what progress has been made on their action plan. Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty's Government how many councils in England are subject to a moratorium or severe restrictions on granting planning permission for new housing

Legislation - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] (Committee stage 2nd day)

Delegated Legislation - Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Order 2007 - Motion to approve

Wednesday 5 December (3.00pm)

Oral questions - Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty's Government what discussion they have had with the government of Gibraltar about tightening the regulation of on-line gambling. Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their proposals for reform of the law on rape. Lord Lamont of Lerwick to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan any changes in the extradition arrangements between the United States and the United Kingdom

Debate - on the forthcoming European Council in Lisbon (B. Ashton of Upholland)

Thursday 6 December (11.00am)

Oral questions - Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will alleviate any economic problems facing farmers affected by foot-and-mouth disease and blue tongue restrictions by making part payments of the Single Farm Payments at the beginning of the payment window which opens in December. Lord Rosser to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for promoting women's football. Baroness Warsi to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any proposals for a national motto; and, if so, whether such a motto will improve community relations. Baroness Shephard of Northwold to call attention to the role of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in securing the efficient and effective delivery of policies and funds that support and promote the farming industry in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers. Baroness Perry of Southwark to call attention to the case for an action plan to make opportunity more equal in the United Kingdom by raising school standards and increasing the number of good school places; and to move for papers

Legislation - Local Transport Bill [HL] (Committee stage day 1, Grand Committee, Moses Room, 2pm)

Debate - on the role of DEFRA in supporting farming in the United Kingdom, and to move for papers

(B. Shephard of Northwold); on the case for an action plan to make opportunity more equal by raising school standards, and to move for papers (B. Perry of Southwark)

Provisional Future Business of the House of Lords
10 - 14 December 2007

Monday 10 December (2.30pm)

Oral questions - Lord Ahmed to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking through the United Nations and European Union to promote the rights to self-determination of the people of Kosovo. Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty's Government what action they propose to take to encourage shops, offices and other workplaces to save energy by switching off unnecessary electrical equipment such as lights, computers and fax machines especially at night and during weekends and holidays. Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty's Government what further consideration they are giving to the problems and needs of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War with still medically unexplained illnesses, and of the dependants of those who have died since the conflict. Lord Tebbit to ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not answer Lord Tebbit's Written Question (HL5443) concerning the apportionment of the time of Mr Des Browne MP between his duties as Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland, tabled on 9 October and due for answer on 23 October, before Prorogation on 30 October; and why they have not written to him on this matter

Legislation - Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] (Committee stage 3rd day)

Legislation - Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL] (Committee stage 1st day, Grand Committee, Moses Room, 3.45pm)

Question for short debate - on the support to be given to Liverpool in preparation for its role as European Capital of Culture 2008 (L. Harrison)

Tuesday 11 December (2.30pm)

Oral questions - Lord Bishop of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards acceding to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourse Convention), which seeks to alleviate tensions between nations with shared water resources. Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty's Government what projections they have made of the anticipated size of the prison population in England and Wales in 2010. Lord Ezra to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will be taking new initiatives to stimulate energy saving

Legislation - Climate Change Bill (Committee stage 1st day)

Legislation - Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL] (Committee stage 2nd day, Grand Committee, Moses Room, 3.30pm)

Wednesday 12 December (3.00pm)

Oral questions - Baroness Knight of Collingtree to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to intervene in the workings of the Family Courts to ensure full reasons are provided for parents whose children are removed from their care. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering making the oral contraceptive pill directly available from community pharmacists. Lord Ramsbotham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to remove Crown immunity from prisons insofar as health and safety legislation is concerned

Legislation - Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] (Committee stage 4th day)

Legislation - Local Transport Bill [HL] (Committee stage day 2, Grand Committee, Moses Room, 3.45pm)

Thursday 13 December (11.00am)

Oral questions - Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received against the use of x-rays as an aid to age determination in immigration control. Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they are making with their hearts and minds campaign among the people of Afghanistan. Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty's Government whether patients at end of life are receiving the care to which they are entitled under the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare which came into operation on 1 October

Debate - on the causes and consequences of conflict in Africa, and to move for papers (L. Alton of Liverpool); on the case of the construction of a Severn Barrage, and to move for papers (L. Livsey of Talgarth)

Delegated Legislation - Local Authorities (Alcohol Disorder Zones) Regulations 2007; Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2007; Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2007- motions to approve

Delegated Legislation - Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007; Legislative Reform (Local Authority Consent Requirements) (England and Wales) Order 2007; European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Enlargement of the European Economic Area) Order 2007- motions to approve (Grand Committee, Moses Room, 2.00pm)