House of Commons

Session 2008 - 09
Publications on the internet
Weekly Information Bulletin

Weekly Information Bulletin: 7th November 2009

Select Committees

Select Committees are set up to examine the work of Government Departments, and now constitute the main investigatory system by which the House overseas the exercise of Government responsibilities and the development of public policy and expenditure.

The following information on Select Committees is available on the Parliament website:

Select Committee membership: www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/selmem.cfm

Links to Select Committee home pages containing information on the work of the Select Committee and its publications: www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/parliamentary_committees16.cfm

For further information on Select Committees see HCIO Factsheet P2 produced by the House of Commons Information Office, available in hardcopy on request or to download from the Parliament website.

Membership announcements and changes:

Children, Schools and Families

Mr Andy Slaughter discharged; Ms Karen Buck added

Communities and Local Government

Emily Thornberry discharged; Mr Andy Slaughter added

Select Committee Meetings
2 - 6 November 2009

Monday 2 November

South West Regional
Subject: Transport in the South West
Witnesses: RAC Foundation, First Great Western Trains, National Express, SW Regional Ports Association, Exeter Airport, and Passenger Focus; Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Exmoor National Park Authority, Cornwall Council, Dorset County Council, Devon and Cornwall Business Council, and St Germans Rail Users Group.

Children, Schools and Families
Subject: Sure Start Children's Centres
Witnesses: Professor Edward Melhuish, Executive Director, National Evaluation of Sure Start, Professor Iram Siraj-Blatchford, Institute of Education, and Dr Margy Whalley, Director, Pen Green Research Centre.

Business, Innovation and Skills
Subject: Broadband Speed
Witnesses: BT, Vtesse, The TalkTalk Group, and Avanti Communications; Commission for Rural Communities, Consumer Focus, Intellect, and IT Support Line Ltd.

Committee on Issue of Privilege (Police Searches on Parliamentary Estate)
Witnesses: Rt Hon Lord Martin of Springburn

Public Accounts
Subject: Contracting for Highways Maintenance
Witnesses: Graham Dalton, Chief Executive, Stephen Dauncey, Director of Finance, and Derek Turner, Director of Network Operations, The Highways Agency.

Communities and Local Government
Subject: Departmental Annual Report 2009
Witnesses: Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State, Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister for Housing, and Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Coordination, Department for Communities and Local Government.

Tuesday 3 November

Treasury
Subject: (i) The Walker Review (ii) Proposals for European macro and micro prudential financial regulation
Witnesses: (i) Sir David Walker (ii) Dr Jon Danielsson, London School of Economics and Political Science, and Dr Kern Alexander, Centre for Financial Analysis and Policy, Cambridge University.

Environmental Audit
Subject: Green Jobs and Skills
Witnesses: Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and David Kidney MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Business, Innovation and Skills
Subject: Motor sport and aerospace industries
Witnesses: Airbus, BAE Systems, Royal Aeronautical Society, and Aerospace, Defence and Security Group Ltd.

Welsh Affairs
Subject: Potential benefits of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games for Wales - follow up
Witnesses: Aberystwyth University, Newport City Council, and Wrexham County Borough Council; Swansea Council, Swansea University, and the Welsh Assembly Government.

North East Regional Committee
Subject: Industry and Innovation in the North East of England
Witnesses: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Government Office for the North East.

Justice
Subject: Justice issues in Europe
Witnesses: Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice.

Wednesday 4 November

Energy and Climate Change
Subject: Low carbon technologies in a green economy
Witnesses: Desertec, UK PV Manufacturers Association, and Solar Trade Association; Carbon Capture and Storage Association, and Professor Jon Gibbins, Imperial College London.

Home Affairs

Subject: Work of the UK Border Agency

Witnesses: Ms Lin Homer, Chief Executive, UK Border Agency, and Mr Phil Woolas, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, Home Office.

Science and Technology Sub-Committee
Subject: Evidence Check: Literacy Interventions
Witnesses: Professor Bob Slavin, Director of the Institute for Effective Education, University of York, Jean Gross, Director, Every Child a Chance Trust, and Professor Greg Brooks, Research Director, Sheffield National Research and Development Centre, University of Sheffield; Dr Chris Singleton, Director, Lucid Research Ltd, Professor Julian Elliott, Director of Research in the School of Education, Durham University, and Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Dyslexia Action.

Work and Pensions
Subject: Working Better: Meeting the changing needs of families, workers and employers in the 21st century
Witnesses: Baroness Prosser OBE, Deputy Chair, and Anne Madden, Head of Education, Skills and Employability Policy, Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Northern Ireland Affairs
Subject: Television Broadcasting in Northern Ireland
Witnesses: Siôn Simon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Keith Smith, Deputy Director-Media, and Phillip Bland, Private Secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Treasury
Subject: (i) UK Financial Investments Ltd (ii) Proposals for European macro and micro prudential financial regulation
Witnesses: (i) UK Financial Investments Ltd (ii) Lord Myners CBE, Financial Services Secretary, HM Treasury.

Foreign Affairs
Subject: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental Annual Report 2008-09
Witnesses: Martin Davidson, Chief Executive, Gerard Lemos, Acting Chairman, and Sue Beaumont, Regional Director Near East and North Africa, British Council; Peter Horrocks, Director, Richard Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, and Behrouz Afagh, Head of Asia Pacific Region, BBC World Service.

Transport
Subject: (i) Update on Road Safety - UK Statistics Authority (ii) Secretary of State: Question time
Witnesses: (i) Richard Alldritt, Head of Assessment and Board member of the UK Statistics Authority (ii) Rt Hon Lord Adonis, Secretary of State, for Transport.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Subject: Waste Strategy for England 2007
Witnesses: Environment Agency; Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Public Accounts
Subject: The Equality and Human Rights Commission Accounts
Witnesses: Jonathan Rees, Director General, Government Equalities Office, and Neil Kinghan CB, Interim Director, Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Thursday 5 November

Welsh Affairs
Subject: The National Assembly for Wales (Culture and Other Fields) (Local Government) Order 2009
Witnesses: Alun Ffred Jones AM, Minister for Heritage, Welsh Assembly Government; Wayne David MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office.

Health
Subject: Social Care
Witnesses: Raphael Wittenberg, Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, and Professor Carol Jagger, Leicester Nuffield Research Unit, University of Leicester; Richard Humphries, The King's Fund, James Lloyd, Social Market Foundation, and Donald Hirsch.

Public Administration
Subject: Work of the Ombudsman 2008-09
Witnesses: Ann Abraham, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Friday 6 November

None

Forthcoming Select Committee Meetings
2 - 6 November 2009

Monday 9 November

Children, Schools and Families Subject: Sure Start Children's Centres Witnesses: Naomi Eisenstadt, former Head of Sure Start Unit, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Witness will be giving evidence via video link).	3:45pm	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Committee on Issue of Privilege (Police Searches on Parliamentary Estate)* Witnesses: Dr Malcolm Jack, Clerk of the House, Jacqy Sharpe, Clerk of Committees, Michael Carpenter, Speaker's Counsel, and Veronica Daly, Assistant Speaker's Counsel.	4:15pm	Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Science and Technology Sub-Committee Subject: Evidence Check: Literacy Interventions Witnesses: Diana R Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and Carole Willis, Director of Research and Analysis, Department for Children, Schools and Families.	4:15pm	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Work and Pensions Subject: Decision-making and appeals in the benefits system Witnesses: Judge Robert Martin, President of the First Tier; Jonathan Shaw MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Work and Pensions, and Kevin Saddler, Chief Executive, Tribunal Service (at 5.00pm).	4:15pm	Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Subject: Dairy Farmers of Britain Witnesses: Milk Link; Stephen Yates, former Chairman of the Dairy Farmers of Britain Members Council (at 5.00pm).	4:30pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Public Accounts Subject: Promoting participation with the Historic Environment Witnesses: Jonathan Stephens, Permanent Secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive, English Heritage.	4:30pm	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Communities and Local Government Subject: Beyond Decent Homes Witnesses: Southwark Borough Council, and Birmingham City Council; Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Homes, Sandwell Borough Council, and Sandwell Homes (at 5.05pm); National Housing Federation, Circle Anglia, and Hanover (at 5.30pm).	4:40pm	Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Tuesday 10 November

Communities and Local Government Subject: Beyond Decent Homes Witnesses: Care and Repair, Aged Concern/Help the Aged, and Foundations; National Energy Action, Sustainable Development Commission, and Sustainable Housing Partnership (at 11.00am).	10:25am	Committee Room 20, Palace of Westminster
Defence Subject: Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09 Witnesses: Sir Bill Jeffrey KCB, Permanent Secretary, and Jon Thomson, Director General Finance, Ministry of Defence.	10:30am	Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Home Affairs* Subject: (i) The Home Office's Response to Terrorist Attacks (ii) The Cocaine Trade Witnesses: Assistant Commissioner John Yates, Metropolitan Police Service; Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Sir Ken Macdonald QC (at 11.15am); HE Mauricio Rodriguez-Munera, Ambassador of Colombia (at 12 noon).	10:30am	Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Culture, Media and Sport Subject: The Future of Local and Regional Media Witnesses: Rob Woodward, Chief Executive, and Bobby Hain, Director, Broadcast Services and Regulatory Affairs, STV.	10:30am	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Welsh Affairs Subject: The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Housing) Order 2009 Witnesses: Ann Jones AM; Jane Davidson AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Welsh Assembly Government (at 11.00am); Wayne David MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (at 11.30am).	10:30am	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Public Administration* Subject: Ministerial and other appointments from outside Parliament Witnesses: Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH ACIB.	11:00am	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Joint Committee on Human Rights* Subject: The work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Witnesses: Trevor Phillips OBE, Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission.	1:45pm	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Committee Subject: The Work of Yorkshire Forward Witnesses: Local Government, Yorkshire and Humber; Learning and Skills Council Yorkshire and Humber, and Yorkshire Universities (at 4.05pm).	3:15pm	Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Defence* Subject: The Green Paper and readiness and recuperation of the Armed Forces Witnesses: Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Secretary of State for Defence.	4:00pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Justice Subject: Justice issues in Europe Witnesses: Professor Steve Peers, University of Essex.	4:15pm	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Home Affairs* Subject: Role of the Home Secretary in relation to the UK-US Extradition Treaty Witnesses: Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office.	5:00pm	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

Wednesday 11 November

Energy and Climate Change Subject: Low Carbon Technologies in a Green Economy Witnesses: Sustainable Development Commission; British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association, and Energy Services and Technology Association (10.15am).	9:15am	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Public Accounts Subject: Train to Gain: Developing the Skills of the Workforce Witnesses: Simon Fraser, Interim Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Geoff Russell, Acting Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Council.	3:30pm	Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Transport Subject: Priorities for investment in the railways Witnesses: Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn and Greengauge21; Association of Train Operating Companies, Virgin Group, and National Express (at 4.15pm); Network Rail (at 5.15pm).	3:45pm	Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Subject: Defra's Departmental Annual Report 2009 Witnesses: Dame Helen Ghosh DCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.	4:30pm	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Treasury Sub Committee Subject: Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's departments, 2008-09 Witnesses: Sir Nicholas Macpherson KCB, Permanent Secretary, and Louise Tullett, Group Director, Finance, Procurement and Operations, HM Treasury.	4:30pm	The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Northern Ireland Affairs Subject: Omagh: a decade after the bomb Witnesses: Norman Baxter, former Head of Serious Crime Branch, and David McWilliams, former Detective Chief Inspector, Police Service for Northern Ireland.	5:00pm	Committee Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Foreign Affairs Subject: Global Security: UK/US Relations Witnesses: Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House, Dr Dana Allin, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Dr David Dunn, Reader in International Politics, University of Birmingham; Lord Wallace of Saltaire, and Professor Chalmers, Royal United Service Institute (at 6.30pm).	5:30pm	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Thursday 12 November

Health
Subject: Social Care
Witnesses: Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair, Care Quality Commission, and UNISON; General Social Care Council, and Skills for Care (at 11.15am).

10:00am

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Friday 13 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
Recorded information about forthcoming select and standing committee meetings over the next two sitting days is available on:[Tel 020 7219 2033]. 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.