House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
Publications on the internet
Weekly Information Bulletin

Weekly Information Bulletin: 15th November 2008

Select Committees

A complete list of Select Committee membership and a Factsheet (P2) on the work of Select Committees is available on request from the House of Commons Information Office. The list and Factsheet are also on the Parliament website at:

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/factsheets.cfm

An index to the Select Committee home pages together with links to further pages containing information about their work and publications is on the Parliament website at:

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/parliamentary_committees16.cfm

Membership:

Northern Ireland Affairs:

Mr Gregory Campbell and Sammy Wilson discharged; David Simpson and Mrs Iris Robinson added

Transport:

David Simpson discharged; Sammy Wilson added

Select Committee Meetings
10 - 14 November 2008

Monday 10 November

Children, Schools and Families
Subject: National Curriculum
Witnesses: CBI, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), QCA and Institute of Education, University of London

Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Subject: Geo-engineering
Witnesses: Professor Brian Launder, University of Manchester, Dr Dan Lunt, University of Bristol, and Dr David Santillo, Greenpeace; Professor Stephen Salter, University of Edinburgh, Professor Ken Caldeira, Carnegie Institution, Professor Klaus Lackner, University of Columbia*, and a representative from the Met Office

* witness gave evidence via video-link

Communities and Local Government
Subject: The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government

Witnesses: Birmingham City Council and Manchester City Council; Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council; Westminster City Council and London Borough of Camden

Public Accounts
Subject: The New Dimension Programme - enhancing the Fire and Rescue Service's capacity to respond to terrorist and other large-scale incidents

Witnesses: Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary, Sir Ken Knight, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and Mike Reed, Deputy Director, Department for Communities and Local Government

Tuesday 11 November

Treasury
Subject: Banking Crisis
Witnesses: British Bankers' Association, BBA Financial Reporting Advisory Panel, Association of British Insurers, Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Centre; International Accounting Standards Board, Financial Reporting Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

Business and Enterprise
Subject: Consumer Focus
Witnesses: Lord Whitty, Chairman and Mr Ed Mayo, Chief Executive, Consumer Focus

Culture, Media and Sport
Subject: The Licensing Act 2003
Witnesses: British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers; Feargal Sharkey, Chief Executive, UK Music, Musicians' Union and Equity

Home Affairs
Subject: Draft Citizenship and Immigration Bill
Witnesses: Migrants' Rights Network, and Refugee Council; Sylvia Aboa-Bradwell; Medicins du Monde, British Medical Association, and Terrence Higgins Trust

Welsh Affairs
Subject: The provision of cross-border public services for Wales
Witnesses: Virgin Trains, Arriva, First Great Western; and Ian Johnston CBE, DL, QPM, Chief Constable, British Transport Police

Public Administration
Subject: Equitable Life
Witnesses: Equitable Life Members' Action Group and Equitable Life Trapped Annuitants; and Equitable Life Assurance Society

Justice
Subject: Justice Reinvestment
Witnesses: National Offender Management Service; National Offender Management Service, National Learning and Skills Council and Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion; Southampton City Council, London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Wednesday 12 November

Children, Schools and Families
Subject: Diversity of Schools Provision - Trust Schools
Witnesses: Ashlington Learning Partnership Trust, Capita SIMS, Coventry City Council, Mr John Clemence, Headteacher, Sharnbrook Upper School and Professor Ron Ritchie, University of West England

Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Subject: The work of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Witnesses: Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive and Mr John Armitt, Chairman, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

European Scrutiny
Subject: Scrutiny of European Documents
Witnesses: None

International Development
Subject: The annual autumn meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
Witnesses: Oxfam GB, Bretton Woods Project and the WWF; Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development and officials

Defence
Subject: MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08
Witnesses: Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Defence

Transport
Subject: The Enforcement activities of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
Witnesses: Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association; Passenger Transport Executive Group (pteg) and FirstGroup plc; and VOSA Trade Union Side and Unite the Union

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject: Waste Strategy for England 2007
Witnesses: Environmental Services Association; Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (at 3.45 pm); British Metals Recycling Association

Public Accounts
Subject: Reducing alcohol harm: Health services in England for alcohol misuse
Witnesses: Hugh Taylor, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Dr Will Cavendish, Director of Health and Well-Being

Thursday 13 November

Health
Subject: Health Inequalities
Witnesses: Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Food Standards Agency

Public Administration
Subject: Equitable Life
Witnesses: Sir Howard Davies, Lord Norton of Louth, Mr Tom Winsor, Mr Patrick Collinson, The Guardian, and Mr Ian Cowie, The Daily Telegraph and Mr John Kay, Financial Times

Home Affairs
Subject: The work of the Home Office
Witnesses: Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department

Friday 14 November

None

Forthcoming Select Committee Meetings
17 - 21 November 2008

Monday 17 November

Children, Schools and Families Subject: National Curriculum Witnesses: Cambridge Assessment, QCA, and Specialist Schools and Academies Trust	3:45pm	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Subject: Geo-engineering Witnesses: Dr Phil Williamson, Research Councils UK, Professor Nick Jenkins, Royal Academy of Engineering, Dr Tim Fox, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and Professor Steve Rayner, University of Oxford; Rt Hon Lord Drayson, Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Joan Ruddock MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, and Professor Bob Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (at 5.00 pm)	4:15pm	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Communities and Local Government Subject: The Balance of Power: central and local government Witnesses: Local Government Information Unit, New Local Government Network and London Councils; Ann Keen MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, and Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State, Home Office (at 5.00 pm); NHS Confederation and Association of Chief Police Officers (at 5.40 pm)	4:20pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Public Accounts Subject: Renewing the physical infrastructure of the English further education colleges Witnesses: Ian Watmore, Permanent Secretary, and Susan Pember OBE, Director, Further Education and Skills, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and Mark Haysom, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Council	4:30pm	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

Tuesday 18 November

Treasury* Subject: Banking Crisis - Nationalised banks Witnesses: Richard Pym, Chief Executive, and Rod Kent, Chairman, Bradford and Bingley; Gary Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer, and Ron Sandler CBE, Non-Executive Chairman, Northern Rock (at 10.30 am)	9:30am	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Environmental Audit Subject: Reducing CO2 and other emissions from shipping Witnesses: Witnesses: Dr Alice Bows, Tyndall Senior Research Fellow, and Dr Terry Barker, Programme Leader, Integrating Frameworks, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Gillian Reynolds, Principal Environment and Sustainability Adviser, Lloyd's Register, and Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering (at 10.55 am); Association of British Ports and Port of London Authority (at 11.30 am)	10:20am	Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Business and Enterprise Subject: Pub Companies Witnesses: Fair Pint Campaign, Federation of Small Businesses, and Paul Daly; Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, David Morgan, and Simon Clarke (at 11.30 am)	10:30am	Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Culture, Media and Sport* Subject: Commercial Operations of the BBC Witnesses: Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman, BBC Trust, and Mark Thompson, Director General, BBC; John Smith, Chief Executive, and Etienne De Villiers, Non-Executive Chairman, BBC Worldwide, and Zarin Patel, Director of Finance, and Caroline Thomson, Chief Operating Officer, BBC (at 11.30 am)	10:30am	Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Defence Subject: Defence Equipment Witnesses: Defence Industries Council, Society of British Aerospace Companies, Defence Manufacturers Association and BAE Systems plc	10:30am	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs Subject: (i) Monitoring of UK Border Agency (ii) Security Industry Authority Witnesses: (i) UK Border Agency, and the Independent Monitor (ii) Security Industry Authority (at 11.30 am)	10:30am	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
International Development Subject: DFID and China Witnesses: Professor Stephen Chan, School of Oriental and African Studies, and Dr Jing Gu, Institute of Development Studies	10:30am	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Welsh Affairs Subject: The provision of cross-border public services for Wales Witnesses: Lord Adonis, Minister of State, Department for Transport; Network Rail (at 11.15 am)	10:30am	Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Joint Committee on Human Rights Subject: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Witnesses: Jonathan Shaw MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions	1:45pm	Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Justice Subject: Justice Reinvestment Witnesses: Chief Officers of Probation, and Prison Governors' Association; Howard League for Penal Reform, CLINKS and Local Government Information Unit (at 4.55 pm); General Lord Ramsbotham GCB, CBE (at 5.35 pm)	4:15pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Wednesday 19 November

Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Subject: Engineering in Government Witnesses: Professor David Fisk, Imperial College London, Professor Michael Kelly, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Council for Science and Technology; Lord Broers and Professor Christopher Snowden, Royal Academy of Engineering (at 10.15 am)	9:30am	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Work and Pensions Subject: DWP IT Procurement Witnesses: Joe Harley, IT Director General and CIO Corporate IT, Dean James, Corporate IT Chief Operating Officer, and Malcolm Whitehouse, Group Applications Director, Department for Work and Pensions	9:30am	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Health Subject: Health Inequalities Witnesses: Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State, and Hugh Taylor CB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health	10:00am	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Scottish Affairs Subject: Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Witnesses: Lord Davidson of Glen Clova QC, Advocate General for Scotland	2:15pm	Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Foreign Affairs Subject: Global Security: Non-Proliferation Witnesses: Mr Daniel Feakes, University of Sussex, Dr Brian Jones, Southampton University, and Mr Nicolas Sims, London School of Economics	2:30pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Treasury*
Subject: Banking Crisis - Executive remuneration
Witnesses: Carol Arrowsmith, Deloitte, Ronnie Fox, Principal, Fox Law Firm, Peter Hahn, Sir John Cass Business School, and Charles Cotton, Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development; Brendan Barber, Secretary-General, TUC, Peter Montagnon, ABI, Jonathon Taylor, LIBA, and Miles Templeman, Director-General, Institute of Directors (at 3.30 pm)

2:30pm The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject: Waste Strategy for England 2007
Witnesses: ASDA, John Lewis Partnership and Brecknell Willis; Bovis Lend Lease and Constructing Excellence (at 3.40 pm)

3:00pm The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

Northern Ireland Affairs
Subject: Cross-border co-operation
Witnesses: HM Revenue and Customs

3:00pm Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Public Accounts
Subject: UK's future nuclear deterrent capability
Witnesses: Sir Bill Jeffrey KCB, Permanent Under Secretary of State, Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE, Director of Strategic Requirement, Guy Lester, Director of General Equipment, and Rear Admiral A D H Mathews CB, Director General, Submarines, Ministry of Defence

3:30pm Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

Thursday 20 November

Health Subject: Patient Safety Witnesses: Professor Richard Thomson, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Newcastle, and Professor Alastair Gray, Professor of Health Economics, University of Oxford; Mr Martin Bromiley, Chairman of the Clinical Human Factors Group, Ms Josephine Ocloo, World Health Organization Patient Safety Champion, and Mrs Clare Bowen (at 11.15 am)	10:00am	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Public Administration Subject: Official Statistics Witnesses: Sir Michael Scholar KCB, Chair, Karen Dunnell, Chief Executive, and Richard Alldritt, Head of Assessment, UK Statistics Authority	10:00am	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs* Subject: Draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill Witnesses: Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State, Home Office	10:30am	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Business and Enterprise Subject: Creating a higher value-added economy Witnesses: Technical Strategy Board	11:00am	Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Friday 21 November

None

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice]

All public select committee meetings are webcast Select committees marked with * will be taken by BBC Parliament Please note: The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded, and the place altered without notice and Committees which sit at short notice may not be included in this list.