Wednesday 13 December 2006 at 3.00pm
Prayers will have been read

*Oral questions, 30 minutes

*Baroness Miller of Hendon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ministers giving evidence to committees of enquiry of foreign legislatures are bound by the Official Secrets Act 1989 and rules about the confidentiality of Cabinet discussions.

*Lord Sheldon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they are making to allow special advisers to give evidence to select committees.

*Lord Lee of Trafford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what options they are considering in relation to the siting of regional or “super” casinos.

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the extent to which the recommendations of the Gowers review into intellectual property are in the long-term interests of the United Kingdom’s creative industries.

†Business of the House The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move that Standing Order 47 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be dispensed with on Monday 18 December to allow the Consolidated Fund Bill to be taken through its remaining stages that day.

†Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL] Lord Davies of Oldham to move that it be an instruction to the Grand Committee to which the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL] has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:

Further Education and Training Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Adonis]

If the bill is read a second time, Lord Adonis to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Lord Renton of Mount Harry to move that this House takes note of the report of the European Union Committee on Managing Nuclear Safety and Waste: the role of the EU. (37th Report, HL Paper 211, Session 2005-06)

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.45pm

Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [HL] [Baroness Ashton of Upholland] 2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

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Future Business

Thursday 14 December at 11.00am

*Lord Janner of Braunstone to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cyclists were killed and how many injured in the United Kingdom in hours of darkness during each of the last three years for which records are available.

*Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government why National Health Service trusts can recover VAT paid to employment agencies for nurses but not for other health professionals.

*Lord Teverson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of regional assemblies in England, outside London.

†*Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report on the training of the Afghanistan police force prepared by the State Department and the Department of Defense of the government of the United States.

Lord Fowler to call attention to the Government’s policy on HIV/AIDS and sexual health; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Lord Hylton to call attention to the human consequences of current immigration and asylum law and practice and to possible improvements in the systems of assessment, care and support; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Petroleum Act 1998 (Third Party Access) Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 20 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

Science and Technology Facilities Council Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 20 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

Technology Strategy Board Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 23 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

It is expected that the above two motions will be debated together.

Employment Act 2002 (Amendment of Schedules 3, 4 and 5) Order 2006 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 23 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill will continue at 2.00pm in the Moses Room.

Friday 15 December at 11.00am

Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Dubs]

European Union (Information, etc.) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Dykes]

Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Ashley of Stoke]

Monday 18 December at 2.30pm

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current estimate of the costs of the building programme for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

*Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many outstanding single farm payments are still to be made for 2005; and what proportion are for full or part payment.

*Baroness Byford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect fish stocks around United Kingdom shores.

*Lord Bishop of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the ecological principles behind the Building Schools for the Future Programme.

†Consolidated Fund Bill Second Reading [Lord McKenzie of Luton] (Money Bill)

Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses Bill Committee [Lord McKenzie of Luton]

Lord McKenzie of Luton to move that this House takes note with approval of the Government’s assessment as set out in the Pre-Budget Report 2006 for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993.

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] [Lord Truscott] 2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

Tuesday 19 December at 11.00am

*Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current prospects for peace and multi-party democracy in Nepal.

*Lord Renton of Mount Harry to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a review of the standards set by the Health and Safety Executive in view of its assessment of the risks posed by trees on National Trust land.

*Baroness Wilkins to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their response to the report, Reviewing the disabled facilities grant programme, published in October 2005.

†Travel Expenses for Lords’ spouses, civil partners and children The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move to resolve that this House approves the following proposals with respect to travel expenses incurred by spouses, civil partners and children of Members of this House on or after 1 January 2006—

(1)   The Resolution of 27 November 1996 is amended as follows.

(2)   In paragraph (1) after “spouse” insert “or civil partner” and after “18” insert “, or any child in full-time secondary education, during the academic year in which they become aged 18,”.

(3)   In paragraph (3) after “spouse” insert “or civil partner” and after “18” insert “, or any child in full-time secondary education, during the academic year in which they become aged 18,”.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill Second Reading [Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

If the bill is read a second time, Baroness Scotland of Asthal to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

†Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to efforts to eradicate contemporary slavery.

Monday 8 January at 2.30pm

*Lord Trimble to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are under an obligation by European law or European directives to grant European Union nationals access to posts in the United Kingdom Civil Service; and whether they have any plans to do so.

*Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in improving the air bridge for transporting troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the recovery of scrap aluminium sent from the United Kingdom to areas outside the European Union for recycling is carried out in an environmentally sound manner and to the standard required for recycling industries operating within the United Kingdom under the European Union integrated pollution prevention and control regulations.

*Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the European Union targeted measures against Zimbabwe to be removed when they expire in February 2007.

†Mental Health Bill [HL] Committee [Lord Warner] 2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

†Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to further the independence of West Papua. (Dinner break business, 1 hour)

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

†Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL] [Lord Davies of Oldham]

Tuesday 9 January at 2.30pm

*Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held during 2006 with the International Atomic Energy Authority concerning the proposal for a new international nuclear fuel bank.

*Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will name the accuser in the Leslie Warren rape case and false accusers where cases of persons convicted of rape have been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the Court of Appeal as unsafe due to false allegations.

*Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Gambling Commission about requiring betting organisations to conclude information-sharing agreements with sports governing bodies as a licence condition for accepting bets on those sports.

†Legal Services Bill [HL] Committee [Lord Falconer of Thoroton]

†Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 Lord Morrow to move that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 24 November, be annulled. 3rd Report from the Merits Committee (Dinner break business, 1 hour)

†It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill will continue at 3.30pm in the Moses Room.

Wednesday 10 January at 3.00pm

*Lord De Mauley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much rubbish collected in the United Kingdom for recycling is recycled.

*Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether in the light of their work-life balance policies they will support the British Cleaning Council’s campaign to promote a return to daytime office cleaning.

*Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact of current green taxes on climate change.

†Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take in response to the report by the Youth Justice Board, published on 2 November, on research into Anti-social Behaviour Orders given to young people between January 2004 and January 2005. (Dinner break business, 1 hour)

†It is expected that the Committee stage of the Mental Health Bill will continue.

Thursday 11 January at 11.00am

*Baroness Turner of Camden to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the effectiveness of lay involvement in the governance of trust-based and contract-based workplace pension schemes.

*Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next meet members of the government of Germany to discuss the German European Union Presidency and their principal matters of interest.

*Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to ensure that the United Kingdom is the world leader in tackling the problems caused by online and other gambling.

†Baroness Whitaker to call attention to the Government’s White Paper, Making governance work for the poor, Cm. 6876; and to move for papers.

†Baroness Kingsmill to call attention to the United Kingdom’s competitiveness in a global economy; and to move for papers.

†Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to meet relief and development needs in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Thursday 18 January at 11.00am

†Earl of Listowel to call attention to issues relating to the social care workforce; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

†Lord Chidgey to call attention to the present franchising system for the railway industry; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

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Motions for Balloted Debate

†Ballot on 16 January for debate on 8 February. Time limit 2½ hours

Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe to call attention to the economic impact of higher education institutions; and to move for papers.

Lord Tombs to call attention to issues facing the electricity supply industry and to the case for a strategic decision mechanism; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the present financial situation of the Channel Tunnel; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for changing the form in which legislation is presented to Parliament; and to move for papers.

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Other Motions for Debate

Lord Dykes to call attention to the economic and social conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; and to move for papers.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to call attention to developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.

Lord Northbourne to call attention to the rights of the child and to the role of stability and family life in the well being of children; and to move for papers.

Baroness Stern to move that this House takes note of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, Cm. 6907, presented to Parliament on 24 July; and requests that Her Majesty’s Government do not ratify it until the Joint Committee on Human Rights has reported on its implications.

Baroness Masham of Ilton to call attention to the role that specialist nurses play in the treatment and support of patients with long-term conditions; and to move for papers.

†Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to conflict in Africa; and to move for papers.

†Baroness Byford to call attention to services to the public in rural areas; and to move for papers.

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Questions for Short Debate

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they agree with the First Report from the Committee for Privileges, Code of Conduct and Members’ Interests, (Session 2003-04, HL Paper 69) in particular its recommendation that Members of the House in receipt of pensions from the European Union do not normally need to declare such pensions as a financial interest when taking part in debates on European Union matters; and, if so, why.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to honour their commitment that family carers of people with lifelong severe intellectual impairment should be at the heart of decision-making about their relatives’ accommodation, health care and support.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Botswana about its treatment of the bushmen of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current state of relations between the government of Israel and the various Palestinian political organisations.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits are expected from the International Polar Year 2007-08 following the British hosting of the Antarctic Treaty consultative meeting in Edinburgh in June.

Baroness Jay of Paddington to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the effectiveness of palliative care services; and on what basis decisions to fund additional services are taken.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the statutory regulation of the professions of psychology, psychotherapy and counselling in the past six years.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would support moves towards developing an inclusive semi-permanent conference table to address the problems of the Middle East.

Lord Holme of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of Chinese investment in Africa.

Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to combat AIDS across the world and its effect on children.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether physical restraints, including seclusion and strip searching, are used on children in custody.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the future of British architecture.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government why civil justice costs must be recovered in their entirety from those who become suitors before the court.

Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to address the present problems facing the bus industry.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on their capital building programme.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to prevent malnutrition in hospitals, as highlighted in the Age Concern report, Hungry to be Heard.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the British Medical Association’s report, Child and adolescent mental health—a guide for healthcare professionals, published in June 2006.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether current or proposed methods of allocating research funds amongst universities are sufficient to support basic research infrastructures or to promote innovative and applied research.

Lord Hanningfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to alleviate the financial pressures facing local authorities in relation to adult social care and to minimise the impact that this has on the delivery of other services.

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they will seek in formulating their response to the Chief Medical Officer’s report, Good Doctors, Safer Patients.

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase provision of contraceptive services, prevent the closure of specialist community clinics and increase the availability of training in contraceptive services and sexual health.

Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to help provide homes for homeless and overcrowded families.

Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop the education of young people in custody.

Lord Burnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of inheritance tax.

Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce their decision on the provision of Alternatively Secured Pensions.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, along with international partners, to secure peace in Darfur.

Lord Taverne to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will withdraw financial support which encourages farmers to convert to organic farming.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the development of the Central American Integration System.

Lord Woolmer of Leeds to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the Yorkshire and Humber region to the United Kingdom economy.

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role and contribution of the creative industries to the economy and well being of the United Kingdom.

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they will make for the teaching of English for speakers of other languages in England in the next academic year.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are supporting Liverpool in preparing for its role as European Capital of Culture 2008.

†Lord Ashley of Stoke to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to promote the United Nations Convention on disability.

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Questions for Written Answer

Tabled on 12 December and due for answer on 27 December.

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposals for electors to provide a signature at polling stations will be introduced for the elections in May 2007; and, if not, what are the reasons. HL788

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the fastest, average and slowest journey times on through services between Manchester and Glasgow in the current railway timetable; and what the equivalent times will be when the services are taken over by Trans-Pennine Express. HL789

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the policy purpose of set-aside under the single farm payment scheme; and whether this has changed with the introduction of single farm payments. HL790

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are proposing to make any changes in the set-aside rules for 2007-08 and subsequent years. HL791

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of set-aside in the current year is respectively in single field plots and in six to ten metre strips along field margins. HL792

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Warrington Young Offender Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL793

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Wetherby Young Offender Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL794

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Vinney Green Young Offender Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL795

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Swanwick Lodge Local Authority Secure Children’s Home in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL796

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Sutton Place Local Authority Secure Children’s Home in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL797

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Red Bank Local Authority Secure Children’s Home in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL798

Lord Tebbit to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the United Kingdom’s share of the expenditure of the European Union on overseas aid. HL799

Lord Tebbit to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 November (WA 197), whether their research into the causes of crime suggests that the disparity of two-to-one in the propensity of males and females to commit crime arises either from social or from biological factors. HL800

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 27 March (WA 91) on British Coal respiratory disease litigation, what is the current total of all expenditure incurred to date in that litigation, broken down between payments made to—

(a) Capita and its predecessors;

(b) medical service providers;

(c) all other contractors;

(d) the solicitors’ co-ordinating group;

(e) individual claimants’ solicitors;

(f) Vendside Limited;

(g) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers; and

(h) defendants’ solicitors and counsel;

and what compensation has been paid to the claimants. HL801

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 27 March (WA 92) on the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, what is the current total of all expenditure incurred to date in that litigation, broken down between payments made to—

(a) Capita and its predecessors;

(b) medical service providers;

(c) all other contractors;

(d) the solicitors’ co-ordinating group;

(e) individual claimants’ solicitors;

(f) Vendside Limited;

(g) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers; and

(h) defendants’ solicitors and counsel;

and what compensation has been paid to the claimants. HL802

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the practice whereby solicitors subject to Law Society adjudication decisions in respect of complaints made by retired miners and widows under the British Coal litigation, use the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as an appeal court, a right denied to the complainants; whether denial of a corresponding right of appeal to the complainants constitutes a breach of the Human Rights Act 1998; and whether they have plans to amend the Solicitors Act 1974 to prohibit such conduct. HL803

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to notification by the Law Society that, in proceedings against solicitors in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal consequent upon their conduct in the British Coal litigation, the complainant miners and widows are not recognised as parties and do not, therefore, have any rights of appearance or representation, save to attend the hearing as members of the public. HL804

Earl Howe to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out (a) for National Health Service primary care trusts; and (b), so far as the cost is not included in (a), in National Health Service hospitals. HL805

Earl Howe to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans are in place, or under discussion, to make electronic patient records accessible in prisons. HL806

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to recent statements about harm to human health from alpha radiation from polonium 210, whether assurances given to sick veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War that alpha radiation from depleted uranium used in the conflict was not harmful to their health are now being reviewed; and what information they have on the extent to which depleted uranium (U238) contains traces of the more dangerous isotopes U235 and U233. HL807

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), where, in the letter from the Minister for Veterans to which he referred, details are given of steps which the Ministry of Defence is taking to avoid any repetition of the finding communicated by the Chairman of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee that information given to Parliament by the Ministry of Defence in an explanatory memorandum had proved to be inaccurate. HL808

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), where, in the letter from the Minister for Veterans to which he referred, details are given of steps which the Ministry of Defence has taken to ensure that in future the Ministry of Defence’s consultation procedures are reliable, “not least to be able to inform Parliament properly about the impact of the measures proposed”. HL809

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 1 December (WA 104), what account was taken when drafting the letter to which he refers of the Gulf War veterans and their families who have no access to the internet. HL810

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the framework agreement between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry, signed at the Farnborough Air Show on 27 July 2000, has been incorporated into British law; and, if so, how it has been incorporated. HL811

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 11 December (HL Deb, col 1362), how they reconcile her remarks with Article 1(h) of the framework agreement between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry which states that one of the objectives of the Agreement is “to promote harmonisation of the military requirements of the Armed Forces”; and whether, in view of this framework agreement, they will correct the remarks of Baroness Royall of Blaisdon. HL812

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 11 December (HL Deb, col 1362), how they reconcile her remarks with Article 4 of the framework agreement between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry which states that, “the parties recognise that the likely consequences of industrial restructuring will be the creation of TDCs (Trans-National Defence Companies), possible abandonment of national industrial capacity and thus the acceptance of mutual dependence”; and whether, in view of this framework agreement, they will correct the remarks of Baroness Royall of Blaisdon. HL813

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 11 December (HL Deb, col 1362), how they reconcile her remarks with Article 46 of the framework agreement between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry which states that, “This would constitute a framework for harmonised defence related research and technology policy”; and whether, in view of this framework agreement, they will correct the remarks of Baroness Royall of Blaisdon. HL814

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 11 December (HL Deb, col 1362), whether any other European Union member states have signed the framework agreement between France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European defence industry since it was first signed. HL815

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures are in place to minimise the risk of the Afghan National Army engaging in action outside the United Kingdom’s operational boundaries or rules of engagement while with embedded trainers. HL816

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the roles of United Kingdom operational mentor and liaison teams partnered and deployed alongside Afghan forces differ from the roles of embedded trainers. HL817

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements the Helmand Provincial Security Co-ordination Centre has for working with other Provinces in Afghanistan. HL818

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government when updates to Joint Warfare Publication 1-10 were completed; what changes were made; and how these changes will affect operational practice towards detainees in Afghanistan. HL819

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the different categories of attack directed against United Kingdom military forces deployed in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. HL820

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to address any rise in the use of (a) improvised explosive devices, and (b) suicide bombings against United Kingdom forces deployed in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. HL821

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a ban on the sale of cigarettes in packets of fewer than 20 cigarettes, similar to the ban being introduced in the Republic of Ireland, to discourage teenagers from starting to smoke. HL822

Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost both to farmers and to the Government of the National Fallen Stock Scheme in the last 12 months. HL823

Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional levels of carbon dioxide have been generated by incineration of carcasses that would hitherto have been buried; and what additional carbon dioxide was generated by the vehicles collecting fallen stock in the last 12 months. HL824

Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek a derogation under the European Union subsidiarity arrangements to enable the United Kingdom to dispose of fallen sheep by traditional burial. HL825

Lord Vinson to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in view of the fact that farmers can currently be licensed to incinerate fallen stock, they will license the burial of sheep where there is no danger of water pollution and a potential reduction of energy costs and pollution caused by incineration. HL826

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the level of litter on the eastbound lay-by on the A14 adjacent to the M6 is satisfactory; and what steps they will take with a view to the cost-effectiveness of the contractors responsible. HL827

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will oblige local authorities to enforce rules of use for all discretionary disabled parking places. HL828

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers amongst United Kingdom hospital patients in light of the finding of the Your Turn campaign, supported by the Tissue Viability Nurses Association, that the condition is preventable in 98 per cent of cases. HL829

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take in response to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants’ call to align the requirements on small businesses with regard to the provision of data and business information, so as to avoid duplication. HL830

Lord Steel of Aikwood to ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the 7th Report of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (HC 860, Session 2005-06) which recommended that they should support full membership of the World Health Organisation for Taiwan. HL831

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government which Ministerial office accommodation in Stormont Parliament Building is currently occupied; by whom it is occupied; and from when they have occupied the accommodation. HL832

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is possible for the vote of a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly who has died to be exercised; if so, how; and since when this has been possible. HL833

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government why they charged the Northern Ireland Water Service an interest rate of 5.8 per cent when such projects in Scotland are charged an interest rate of 5.1 per cent. HL834

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the targeting of Syrian nationals by militant groups in Iraq; and whether they will make representations to the government of Iraq to enhance the protection given to Syrian nationals and other foreign communities. HL835

Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Truscott on 30 November (WA 79), whether they propose to withdraw the statement that the minutes of the Royal British Legion’s Gulf Group meeting held on 5 September mis-recorded the Group’s discussion and were in error, given that the Group’s members have confirmed that the minutes were a correct record; and whether they will now respond to the original question. HL836

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Questions unanswered after 14 days

The questions asked on the dates shown in bold were due for answer by the dates in brackets. The Government department responsible for answering each Question is shown in square brackets.

15 November (29 November)

HL36 Lord Pearson of Rannoch [DoH]

HL57 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL71 Lord Powell of Bayswater [DoH]

16 November (30 November)

HL123 Baroness Wilkins [DoH]

HL142 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL146 Lord Laird [NIO]

20 November (4 December)

HL163 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL165 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [HO]

HL167 Lord Turnberg [DoH]

HL173 Lord Morris of Manchester [DoH]

HL179 Lord Fowler [DoH]

HL184 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL185 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL186 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL187 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL188 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL189 Lord Tyler [DoH]

HL190 Baroness Verma [DoH]

21 November (5 December)

HL231 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL232 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL233 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL234 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL235 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL236 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL243 Lord Tebbit [HO]

HL249 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL250 Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall [DTI]

HL256 Baroness Harris of Richmond [HO]

HL258 Baroness Harris of Richmond [HO]

22 November (6 December)

HL277 Lord Hylton [FCO]

23 November (7 December)

HL325 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL326 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL329 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL333 Countess of Mar [MoD]

HL361 Lord De Mauley [MoD]

HL362 Lord De Mauley [MoD]

HL363 Lord Dykes [MoD]

27 November (11 December)

HL379 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL380 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL381 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL383 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL388 Lord Clement-Jones [FCO]

HL392 Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer [CoC]

HL398 Lord Morris of Manchester [MoD]

HL400 Lord Morris of Manchester [MoD]

HL404 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL405 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL406 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL407 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL408 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL409 Lord Laird [NIO]

28 November (12 December)

HL411 Lord Hylton [HO]

HL413 Baroness Barker [DoH]

HL414 Baroness Barker [DoH]

HL415 Lord Berkeley [DfT]

HL418 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL419 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL421 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL425 Lord Rana [NIO]

HL426 Lord Rana [NIO]

HL428 Lord Rana [FCO]

HL430 Lord Luke [CO]

HL441 Lord Laird [DoH]

HL443 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL444 Lord Laird [NIO]

Number of questions allocated to each department which are unanswered after 14 days.

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Bills in Progress

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Affirmative Instruments in Progress

The Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee has drawn attention to certain instruments in the reports indicated

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Negative Instruments

Instruments reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee

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Regulatory Reform Orders in Progress

The Regulatory Reform Committee has reported on Orders in the reports indicated

Examination of Petitions for Private Bills

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Committees

Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheet

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Minutes of Proceedings of Tuesday 12 December 2006

The House met at 2.30pm
Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury

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Select Committee Reports

1   Economic Affairs Committee   
The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

First Report on the Current State of Monetary Policy. (HL Paper 14)

2   Merits of Statutory Instruments   
The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

4th Report. (HL Paper 16)

Public Business

3   European Union: regulation A question was asked by Viscount Falkland and answered by Lord Bassam of Brighton.

4   London: emergency services A question was asked by Lord Naseby and answered by Baroness Andrews.

5   Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 A question was asked by Lord Geddes and answered by Lord Truscott.

6   Anti-social behaviour: Comptroller and Auditor General report A question was asked by Baroness Seccombe and answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal.

7   Consolidated Fund Bill A bill to authorise the use of resources for the service of the years ending with 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2008 and to apply certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the years ending with 31 March 2007 and 31 March 2008, certified by the Speaker as a money bill, was brought from the Commons and read a first time.

8   Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL] Lord Davies of Oldham moved that the bill be now read a second time. After debate, the motion was agreed to and the bill was committed to a Grand Committee.

9   Pensions: personal accounts A statement was repeated by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.

10   Iraq A statement was repeated by Lord Triesman.

11   Health: clinical decisions A question was asked by Baroness Greengross and, after debate, answered by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon.

The House adjourned at 7.07pm until Wednesday 13 December at 9.45am for judicial business, 3.00pm for public business.

Paul Hayter

Clerk of the Parliaments

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Papers

All statutory instruments laid before the House are accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum presented by command of Her Majesty, unless otherwise indicated.

Command Papers

The following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty:

1   Pensions—Personal accounts: a new way to save: Government proposals.   (6975)

2   Departmental Performance—Autumn Performance Report for 2006 of UK Trade & Investment.
            (7001)

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House:

1   Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2006, laid under the Medicines Act 1968.   (3264)

2   Asylum (Designated States) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2006, laid under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.   (3275)

3   Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006, laid under the European Communities Act 1972.   (3289)

4   Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variation) Order 2006, laid under the Public Lending Right Act 1979.   (3294)

5   (1)   Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006   (3304)

   (2)   Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006   (3305)

laid under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Papers not subject to parliamentary proceedings

The following papers were laid before the House:

1   Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment) Order 2006, laid under the Immigration Act 1971.      (3277)

2   Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of Monitor: Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts, laid under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003.

3   Report and Accounts for 2005 of the General Medical Council, laid under the Medical Act 1983.

4   Birth Statistics: Review for 2005 by the Registrar General on births and patterns of family building in England and Wales, laid under the Registration Service Act 1953.

5   Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards, laid under the Northern Ireland Act 2000.

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Judicial Business

Tuesday 12 December

1   R (on the application of Scholes) (FC) (Petitioner) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) The petition of Yvonne Scholes praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee. The petitioner’s certificate of public funding was lodged (lodged 19 October).

2   McGrath and another (as joint liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales) (Appellants) and others v Riddell and others (Respondents) (as joint provisional liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales)

3   McGrath and another (as joint liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales) and others (Appellants) v Riddell and others (Respondents) (as joint provisional liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales)

(Conjoined Appeals)

The appeals were set down for hearing and referred to an Appellate Committee.

4   Appeal Committee The 13th Report from the Appeal Committee was agreed to and the following Order was made:

R (on the application of Stellato) (Respondent) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Petitioner) That leave to appeal be given and that there be a stay of paragraph 2 of the Court of Appeal Order of 1 December 2006 and implementation thereof continued until withdrawal or determination of the appeal or further order; and that the petition of appeal be lodged by 26 December.

Wednesday 13 December at 9.45am

Judgment in the causes:

Tweed (Appellant) v Parades Commission for Northern Ireland (Respondents) (Northern Ireland)

R (on the application of Clift) (FC) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent)

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) v Hindawi (FC) (Appellant) and another

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) v Hindawi and another (FC) (Appellant)

(Conjoined Appeals)

R (on the application of Laporte) (FC) (Original Appellant and Cross-respondent) v Chief Constable of Gloucestershire (Original Respondent and Cross-appellant)

Robb (Appellant) v Salamis (M & I) Limited (formerly known as Salamis Marine & Industrial Limited) (Respondents) (Scotland)

At 10.30am
In Committee Room No. 1

Hearing by the Appellate Committee in the cause:

R v H (Appellant) (On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division))