House of Lords Business

Thursday 27 January 2011 at 10.45am

Lord Magan of Castletown, 
Lord Grade of Yarmouth and 
†Baroness Jenkin of Kennington will be introduced.

*Oral Questions, 30 minutes

*The Countess of Mar to ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency funding the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has for disease outbreaks.

*Lord St John of Bletso to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to assist the government of Zimbabwe to expedite the processes enabling free and fair elections under the new constitution.

*Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that airport authorities will be able to deal adequately with snow and ice in the future.

*Lord Fowler to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to prevent telephone hacking.

†Business of the House Lord Strathclyde to move that the debate on the motion in the name of Lord King of Bridgwater set down for today shall be limited to 2 hours and that in the name of Viscount Younger of Leckie to 3 hours.

†Business of the House Lord Strathclyde to move that leave be given to advance the Report stage of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL] from Tuesday 1 February to Monday 31 January.

Lord King of Bridgwater to call attention to physical and mental rehabilitation of military veterans and their post-service welfare; and to move for papers.

Viscount Younger of Leckie to call attention to the value of tourism to the United Kingdom economy; and to move for papers.

The Lord Bishop of Wakefield to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the military covenant will be covered by the Strategic Defence and Security Review. (1½ hours)

Future Business 

Monday 31 January at 2.15pm

†Baroness King of Bow will be introduced, 
Jennifer Randerson will be introduced as a Baroness, and 
Sir Gulam Noon MBE will be introduced as a Baron.

*Lord Gavron to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the impact on the economy of delays and cancellations at London Heathrow Airport in December 2010.

*Baroness Turner of Camden to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to revise employment law; and, if so, what consultations have been undertaken, and with which organisations.

*Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Monetary Policy Committee missing its monthly inflation target repeatedly over the last ten years.

*Baroness Williams of Crosby to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they have made for temporary exceptions to the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act 2010.

†Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill Committee (day 15) [Lord McNally] 7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee and 6th Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

†Energy Bill [HL] Committee (day 5) [Lord Marland]

Tuesday 1 February at 2.15pm

Claire Tyler will be introduced as a Baroness, 
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup GCB AFC will be introduced as a Baron, and 
Ruth Lister CBE will be introduced as a Baroness.

*Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce road pricing for lorries in the United Kingdom.

*Lord Hoyle to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to limit bonuses to be paid to senior Royal Bank of Scotland staff.

*Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to mark the 40th anniversary of Religions for Peace and its work on war, poverty and the environment.

Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL] Report [Lord Sassoon]

It is expected that the Committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill will continue.

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

The Lord Bishop of Leicester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the safety of children, especially of children in the care of local authorities, from being groomed for sexual exploitation. (1 hour)

Baroness Thornton to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will maintain public confidence and patient safety following the abolition of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority. (1 hour)

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all children with diabetes are able to benefit from an education at school. (1 hour)

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution the railway heritage sector makes to education, tourism and the regional economy. (1 hour)

Wednesday 2 February at 3.00pm

Bryony Worthington will be introduced as a Baroness.

*Lord Walton of Detchant to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase the proportion of multiple sclerosis patients who receive disease-modifying drugs.

*Baroness Parminter to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Japan to persuade them to modify their opposition to a whaling ban in their territorial waters.

*Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next hold talks with Eurozone representatives to discuss the present state of currency markets.

It is expected that the Committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill will conclude.

Thursday 3 February at 11.00am

David Gold Esq and 
Michael Storey Esq CBE will be introduced as Barons.

*The Lord Bishop of Winchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the International Crisis Group’s recent Report Congo: No Stability in Kivu despite Rapprochement with Rwanda.

*Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state.

*Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the interest charged by loan and credit companies.

Lord Northbourne to call attention to the role of good early parenting in preparing a child for success in school; and to move for papers.

The Earl of Clancarty to call attention to public funding for the arts; and to move for papers.

The following two motions are expected to be debated together:

Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011 Lord Sassoon to move that the draft Regulations laid before the House on 10 January be approved. 12th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments

Investment Bank (Amendment of Definition) Order 2011 Lord Sassoon to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 10 January be approved. 12th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments

Monday 7 February at 2.30pm

Nicol Stephen Esq will be introduced as a Baron.

*The Lord Bishop of Wakefield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the recent low prices for milk in the major supermarkets on the United Kingdom dairy industry and its long-term sustainability.

*Lord Sheikh to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to focus international development aid on fragile and conflict-affected states.

*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether individuals currently receiving Disability Living Allowance who have invested money and payments in aids and adaptations will be disadvantaged as a result of the proposals in chapter two of the consultation paper on Disability Living Allowance reform published in December 2010.

*Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent developments in Sudan.

Tuesday 8 February at 2.30pm

*The Lord Bishop of Chester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the rules for reporting the arrest and questioning of individuals by the police before they are charged with any criminal offence.

*Lord Smith of Clifton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy regarding the growing gap between the rich and the poor in the United Kingdom.

*Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will exercise their right to opt out of the police and justice provisions of the Lisbon Treaty after 2014.

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes A, B and D) Order 2011 Baroness Neville-Jones to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 17 November 2010 be approved. 9th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and 14th Report from the Merits Committee, considered in Grand Committee on 25 January

It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Energy Bill [HL] will continue at 3.30pm in the Moses Room and that it will conclude.

Wednesday 9 February at 3.00pm

*Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what role they forecast small businesses will play in the Big Society.

*Lord Donoughue to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to monitor the ratio of the average total remuneration of a chief executive of a FTSE company to the median wage.

*Lord Trefgarne to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they provided to the Northern Ireland authorities during their recent difficulties with water supplies.

Transport for London Bill [HL] Second Reading [The Chairman of Committees]

Thursday 10 February at 11.00am

*The Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to meet the aim stated in their equality strategy to tackle the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood.

*Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to counter the spread of Sudden Oak Death in trees.

*Lord Chidgey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the constitutional changes passed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s lower house on 11 January that eliminate a second round of voting in this year’s presidential elections in the Congo.

The Lord Bishop of Chester to call attention to the role of marriage and marriage support in British society 12 years after the report on Funding for Marriage Support by Sir Graham Hart; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Lord Addington to call attention to the future of NATO and changing relations within its membership; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Monday 14 February at 2.30pm

*Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they held with the Financial Reporting Council before the Council issued its proposals to allow companies to stop providing hard copies of annual reports and accounts.

*Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements ensure that deported asylum seekers needing medical care and medication are able to be treated in the country to which they are deported.

*Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the report Early Intervention: The Next Steps will affect their policies on children.

*Baroness Benjamin to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that a proportion of the funding provided by the UK Film Council to the British Film Institute will be ring-fenced for the production of films whose target audience is children.

Lord Hill of Oareford intends to move the following two motions en bloc: but if any Lord objects the motions must be moved separately.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 Lord Hill of Oareford to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 14 October 2010 be approved. 4th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, considered in Grand Committee on 25 January

Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 Lord Hill of Oareford to move that the draft Regulations laid before the House on 18 November 2010 be approved. 9th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, considered in Grand Committee on 25 January

Tuesday 15 February at 2.30pm

*The Lord Bishop of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review prisoner transfer agreements.

*Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the impact on universities of the proposed changes to the student immigration system.

*Lord Spicer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan for London Heathrow Airport to continue to be the world’s busiest airport in respect of international passenger traffic.

Wednesday 16 February at 3.00pm

*Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have concerning the relationship between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England, in his capacity as Chairman of the Monetary Policy Committee.

*Lord Anderson of Swansea to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any proposals to build on the recent treaties with France on bilateral defence co-operation by exploring initiatives for diplomatic and foreign policy co-operation.

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to make a decision on the criteria for granting Tier 1 Post-study Work visas, following the recent consultation paper.

Motions for Balloted Debate 

Ballot on 15 February for debate on 10 March. Time limit 2½ hours

Lord Harrison to call attention to the standards and practices of public and private zoos in the United Kingdom and their relationship to European Union legislation; and to move for papers.

Lord Desai to call attention to measures to alleviate poverty at home and abroad; and to move for papers.

Lord Fowler to call attention to Her Majesty’s Government’s plans for the BBC; and to move for papers.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth to call attention to the situation of Dalits worldwide; and to move for papers.

Lord Hylton to call attention to Israel’s compliance with international law; and to move for papers.

Lord Bates to call attention to progress towards a United Nations Olympic Truce Resolution for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and to move for papers.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton to call attention to the level of co-ordination between Government departments on the use of soft power in the interests of the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Lord Turnberg to call attention to proposed new funding arrangements in the National Health Service; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for making greater use of pre-legislative scrutiny; and to move for papers.

Baroness McDonagh to call attention to the levels of electoral registration; and to move for papers.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to call attention to constituency boundaries for seats in the House of Commons; and to move for papers.

Baroness Hooper to call attention to recent developments in the British Overseas Territories; and to move for papers.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope to call attention to the language and terminology used in the House of Lords and their impact on public understanding of the work of the House; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the current position of the print media market and to the supervision of newspapers published in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Lord Judd to call attention to the political situation in Chechnya and the North Caucasus, and its implications for global security; and to move for papers.

Baroness Browning to call attention to the procedures used to assess for benefits those on the autistic spectrum, those with learning disabilities and those with mental health conditions; and to move for papers.

Lord Boateng to call attention to the role of agriculture and science in achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and to move for papers.

Lord Barnett to call attention to the case for a change in the Barnett formula to a basis of need; and to move for papers.

Lord McColl of Dulwich to call attention to obesity and its implications for public health in the next decade; and to move for papers.

Lord Crickhowell to call attention to the case for the early introduction of a statutory lane rental scheme for the management of roadworks in London; and to move for papers.

Lord Boswell of Aynho to call attention to the Government’s third response to the all-party Parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism; and to move for papers.

Baroness Knight of Collingtree to call attention to the custody arrangements for children of defendants in the British courts; and to move for papers.

Lord Kakkar to call attention to the impact of the European Union on healthcare in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

Lord Avebury to call attention to the situation in Zimbabwe; and to move for papers.

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne to call attention to the progress of the Friends of Yemen Group and the Government’s plans for the Group’s forthcoming conference in Riyadh; and to move for papers.

Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank to call attention to the interim report of the Hutton Review of Fair Pay in the Public Sector; and to move for papers.

Lord Luce to call attention to the stability of the region of Yemen, the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean; and to move for papers.

Lord Parekh to call attention to the role of Christianity in British public life; and to move for papers.

Lord Morris of Aberavon to call attention to the progress of the war in Afghanistan; and to move for papers.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to the report of the Rt Hon Frank Field MP Foundation Years: preventing poor children becoming poor adults, published in January 2011; and to move for papers.

Lord Crisp to call attention to the role of childhood immunisation in developed and developing countries; and to move for papers.

Baroness Wheeler to call attention to the role and responsibility of carers and the support they require from public services and the voluntary and independent sectors; and to move for papers.

Select Committee Reports 

The date on which the report was published is in italics

Lord Carter of Coles to move that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Adapting to climate change: EU agriculture and forestry (8th Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 91) 30 March 2010.

Lord Sutherland of Houndwood to move that this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research (3rd Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 104). 1 April 2010

Lord Broers to move that this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Radioactive Waste Management: a further update (2nd Report, Session 2009–10, HL Paper 95). 25 March 2010

Other Motions for Debate 

The Earl of Sandwich to call attention to Her Majesty’s Government’s proposals for international development policy; and to move for papers.

Lord Lucas to call attention to the place of trust in society; and to move for papers.

Lord Hylton to move to resolve that the European Union should use its powers to prevent access to the European Union without a visa by Israeli citizens and to remove duty-free access for Israeli goods if Israeli breaches of international law continue.

Lord Selsdon to call attention to the future role of non-departmental public bodies; and to move for papers.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope to call attention to the ceremonial aspects of the House of Lords and their impact on public understanding of the work of the House; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for reducing the size of the House of Lords; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the case for co-ordinated European Union defence policies; and to move for papers.

Lord Mawson to call attention to the case for a co-ordinated approach towards regeneration, in particular the new metropolitan districts in north west England and east London; and to move for papers.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to call attention to the levels of annual interest charged and other practices by some loan and credit companies; and to move for papers.

Lord Selsdon to call attention to the future role of the Royal Navy; and to move for papers.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to the security situation on the Korean peninsula and the response of the international community; and to move for papers.

Lord Avebury to call attention to the human rights situation in Bahrain; and to move for papers.

Questions for Short Debate 

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours

Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that fellow signatories to the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets fulfil the obligations of the Declaration in relation to the restitution of wrongfully seized property.

Lord Grocott to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the operation of proportional representation for elections to the European Parliament.

Lord Jay of Ewelme to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are they taking to support African countries in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

Baroness Byford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce regulatory burdens on British agriculture.

Viscount Astor to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider changing the voting arrangements for British citizens residing abroad and members of the armed forces serving abroad.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking with international partners to bring to trial Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army at the International Criminal Court.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve corporate governance and accountability with respect to social and environmental issues.

Baroness Hooper to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effects of the recent European Union trade agreement concerning banana imports, and its impact on African, Caribbean and Pacific banana producers.

The Lord Bishop of London to ask Her Majesty’s Government what they expect to be the effects on listed places of worship of the ending of the listed places of worship grant scheme in March 2011.

Baroness Morris of Bolton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the United Nations International Year of Youth; and, if so, how.

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will work with the government of the United States to ensure that Israel complies with United Nations resolutions and international law.

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of progress in the Middle East peace process.

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they propose to encourage people to participate in the Big Society.

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take measures to increase the display of European Union flags alongside the national flag on official buildings in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Young of Hornsey to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support and promote the ethical and sustainable fashion and clothing industry.

Baroness Murphy to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, No Health without Public Mental Health: the Case for Action.

Viscount Bridgeman to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the disparity between procedures for health professionals from outside the European Union seeking to practise in the United Kingdom and the requirements for those coming from within the European Union.

Lord Norton of Louth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to establishing a Royal Commission on the law governing drug use and possession.

Baroness Thomas of Winchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current provision of specialist neuromuscular services in England.

The Earl of Clancarty to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the points-based visa system introduced in November 2008 as it affects non-European Union artists, performers, academics and others intending to work in the United Kingdom.

Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in securing funding for the Women’s Community Projects established under the Diverting Women from Custody Programme, when Government funding ends in March 2011.

Lord Wills to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage early diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis and to ensure appropriate treatment.

Lord McKenzie of Luton to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will implement proposals for auto-enrolment and specifically the recommendations of the Department for Work and Pensions review Making automatic enrolment work.

Lord McKenzie of Luton to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will implement the recommendations in the Common Sense Common Safety report by Lord Young of Graffham.

Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report of the Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Anti-social Behaviour.

Lord Trefgarne to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the present arrangements for monitoring and patrolling motorways.

Baroness Benjamin to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Air Passenger Duty banding on the Caribbean and other developing economies.

Baroness Crawley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to recognise the contribution made by women put on active service by the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War.

Lord Mitchell to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve interfaith dialogue in multicultural Britain.

Lord Dholakia to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the impact of the Spending Review 2010 on the National Probation Service.

Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change the Barnett Formula to a basis of need.

Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to offer support to 16–18-year-old students in full-time education.

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what provisions they are making to support Sudan following the forthcoming referendum.

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government how the recent election in Burma will affect their policy towards the pro-democracy movement and the provision of humanitarian aid.

The Earl of Selborne to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to implement the agreement reached at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.

Lord Pannick to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to increase the retirement age for all Supreme Court Justices to 75.

Baroness Rendell of Babergh to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase public awareness of female genital mutilation in the United Kingdom and to bring prosecutions under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

Lord McColl of Dulwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce obesity in the United Kingdom.

Viscount Younger of Leckie to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to secure the future of sports in maintained schools in the context of Spending Review 2010.

Viscount Tenby to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their strategy to reduce casualties and promote safety on the roads.

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking regarding tax avoidance by business figures in the United Kingdom.

Lord Boswell of Aynho to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to tackle anti-Semitism and what assessment they have made of the success of the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism.

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote paediatric continence.

Baroness Wheeler to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the continued support of user-led organisations that support disabled people and the personalisation agenda.

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they view relations between the United Kingdom and Taiwan, and what plans they have to improve them.

Lord Patel to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to implement the proposals in the Public Health White Paper.

Lord Parekh to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of economic, political and cultural relations between the United Kingdom and India.

Baroness Andrews to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have for promoting social enterprise.

Baroness Hussein-Ece to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the strategic importance of Turkey in Europe and the Middle East.

Viscount Waverley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress of democracy in Nigeria, and whether Nigeria is best served by the current form of its political structures.

Lord Luce to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the stability of the region of Yemen, the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Lord Rotherwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the range of provisions and facilities for general aviation.

Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current situation in Kosovo.

Baroness Benjamin to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to reduce the number of imprisoned mothers with their infants; and what alternative plans they have to address this situation.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the violence against Egypt’s Coptic minority.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security situation on the Korean peninsula and the response of the international community.

Lord Judd to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the political situation in Chechnya and the North Caucasus, and its implications for global security.

Lord Patel to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the Academy of Medical Sciences A new pathway for the regulation and governance of health research.

Baroness Greenfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of digital technologies on the mind.

Lord Kakkar to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the European Union on healthcare in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Wheeler to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address variations in health and social care support for people after stroke identified in the Care Quality Commission’s special review, Supporting Life After Stroke.

Lord Crisp to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the work of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations; and what their plans are to support it.

†Lord Addington to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to ensure that the quality of teaching of school-age sport increases the levels of participation in sport in later life.

Questions for Written Answer 

Tabled on 26 January and due for answer by 9 February.

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 January (WA 88–9), whether people residing in non-European Economic Area countries without social security reciprocal agreements are paid (a) contributory employment and support allowance, (b) long-term incapacity benefit, (c) winter fuel payment, (d) disability living allowance (care component), (e) attendance allowance, (f) carer’s allowance, (g) maternity and paternity benefits, (h) child benefit, and (i) child tax credit.   HL6271

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 January (WA 88–9), why winter fuel payments are paid to persons residing in warm countries. 
   HL6272

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 January (WA 117–8), how many state pension claimants reside in (a) Bangladesh, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) Spain, (d) Pakistan, (e) the United States, and (f) India; how many in total reside outside the United Kingdom; and why the median age of female pensioners in Pakistan and Bangladesh is between four and six years greater than in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.   HL6273

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 24 January (WA 112), whether the ten largest public sector employers follow the UK Border Agency recommendation that document checks to prove a right to work in the United Kingdom are conducted on all prospective employees, including British, Irish and European Economic Area citizens.   HL6274

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 January (WA 88), how many recipients of the state pension living abroad were found not to be alive last year after data matching or checking life certificates; and whether incapacitated pensioners are required to present themselves to a recognised foreign authority to have their life certificate signed. 
   HL6275

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 January (WA 88), what are the high-risk cohorts based on age of recipients of the state pension living abroad; and in which countries they live.   HL6276

Lord Ahmed to ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance and aid they have provided to the government of south Sudan annually since the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.   HL6277

Lord Ahmed to ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance and aid they have provided to the government of Sudan annually since the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. 
   HL6278

The Duke of Montrose to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the statement of acceptance of the possible outcome of the south Sudanese referendum by spokesmen of the ruling National Congress Party in Khartoum.   HL6279

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their loan to the Republic of Ireland has been documented, signed and drawn; and whether it is open to them to renegotiate any terms of the loan.   HL6280

Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they approved the proposed cuts in the funding of the BBC World Service; and what is their assessment of the impact of those cuts on global audience reach and editorial capability.   HL6281

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 24 January (WA 114–15), how many of the 300 representations received on the proposals for the 2011–12 local government finance settlement were supportive of the proposals. 
   HL6282

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 January (WA 7), when they expect to conclude a reciprocal health agreement with Jersey.   HL6283

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 29 November 2010 (WA 404–5), whether they have estimated the number of staff employed by the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats who have passes giving access to Downing Street.   HL6284

Lord Kennedy of Southwark to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the costs of the National Health Service reorganisation.   HL6285

Baroness Butler-Sloss to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their proposals on human trafficking; and how many non-governmental organisations they have met to discuss the proposals.   HL6286

Baroness Butler-Sloss to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a Home Office minister will meet the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking to discuss the Government’s proposals on human trafficking before their publication.   HL6287

Lord Birt to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for working with the relevant national and international organisations to improve the experience of air travellers from check-in to exit from the destination airport.   HL6288

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many inter-species embryos have been created since 2008.   HL6289

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 January (WA 96–7), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not comment on previous decisions of its licence committees.   HL6290

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 24 January (WA 96–7), whether no information was communicated to Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority members prior to 16 March 2005 in which the autoimmune nature of type 1 diabetes was highlighted or queried in relation to licensing the use of cells from diabetics for human embryo cloning.   HL6291

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the internal background note for each parliamentary question tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool and answered by the Department of Health on 24 January 2011.   HL6292

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 January (WA 96–7), whether the practice of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has always been that "future licensing decisions will be made in the light of the best scientific and other relevant information available at the time".   HL6293

Lord Alton of Liverpool what consideration was given by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s licence committee members or any of its peer reviewers to the experience of physicians at the University of Minnesota since 1984 in requiring immunosuppression for multiple transplants from non-diabetic identical twin donors to their diabetic twin counterparts before concluding that cloning offered a means of avoiding "the likelihood of rejection of the transplanted cells"; and what assessment the Authority had made of epigenetic defects associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer, both generally and in relation to its latter critique of iPS cells.   HL6294

Lord Moonie to ask the Chairman of Committees what is the cost of implementing the upgrade of members of the House of Lords’ computers to Windows 7; what were the forecast advantages of doing so; and what testing was done in advance of the upgrade on the requirements for any additional features of the upgraded package.   HL6295

Lord Moonie to ask the Chairman of Committees how much time is being spent on problems experienced by members of the House of Lords from the upgrade of their computers to Windows 7; what efficiencies have been gained by PICT; what difficulties are being experienced by PICT staff; and what training will be introduced to enable members to understand the new system.   HL6296

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they will use to determine which parts of the forestry estate will be sold during the spending review period; to which types of bodies they may be sold; how such sales will take place; and what terms and conditions will be put on them. 
   HL6297

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government which plots of land in the forestry estate they plan to sell this year.   HL6298

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government why a commons registration authority may refuse registration of a town or village green following an application under section 15(8) of the Commons Act 2006.   HL6299

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek to ensure that the protection given by EU Regulation 1049/2001 on access to documents of the European Union institutions is not weakened during the current revision process.   HL6300

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will advocate the extension of access to documents at European Union level to documents, particularly scientific studies, used by member states when elaborating their positions in Council of Ministers meetings. 
   HL6301

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had in the European Union on the possible impact of the European Union–India free trade agreement on India’s ability to manufacture key generic medicines.   HL6302

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to intervene to prevent the European Union negotiating strict intellectual property rules that would undermine access to medicines in the negotiations on a European Union–India free trade agreement.   HL6303

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have taken a position on including strict intellectual property rules, particularly on data exclusivity, in the current European Union–India free trade agreement being negotiated.   HL6304

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have taken a position on including strict intellectual property enforcement measures, such as border controls, in the European Union–India free trade agreement being negotiated.   HL6305

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will propose in the Council of Ministers increased take-up of European Financial Stability Facility bonds following the latest issue.   HL6306

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they intend to make about the President of the Palestinian Authority following election laws and submitting himself for re-election. 
   HL6307

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to include Hamas and Hizbollah in wider middle east peace negotiations.   HL6308

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to amend the Ministerial Code to reduce the level of contact between ministers and overseas-based media owners who do not usually pay direct taxes in the United Kingdom.   HL6309

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that media competition regulators are not subject to lobbying by media owners which exceeds guidelines or the law.   HL6310

Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to prevent social contact between media owners and representatives and ministers ahead of any competition investigations into media ownership.   HL6311

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of maintained secondary schools set a benchmark of between 50 per cent and 90 per cent for take-up of a modern foreign language at GCSE.   HL6312

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of maintained secondary schools have shortened Key Stage 3 to two years; and what effect that has had on the teaching and learning of modern foreign languages.   HL6313

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take account of alternative accreditation to a languages GCSE when awarding the English Baccalaureate.   HL6314

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Key Stage 2 language advisers and consultants employed by local education authorities have had their funding withdrawn, or will have had their funding withdrawn by 31 March 2011, because languages at Key Stage 2 are no longer to be part of the national curriculum.   HL6315

Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of schools in (a) the maintained sector, and (b) the independent sector, have 75 per cent or more pupils studying a modern foreign language at Key Stage 4.   HL6316

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent economic growth figures.   HL6317

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to provide more funding to support the work of carers.   HL6318

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of last quarter’s gross domestic product figures on poorer families.   HL6319

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage private sector recruitment.   HL6320

Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage consumers to spend more.   HL6321

Lord Bowness to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House details of meetings (including informal meetings) of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Ministerial Council; and how, in future, they will inform Parliament of the details of such meetings.   HL6322

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the eight formal recommendations in the National Audit Office’s report Reducing losses in the benefits system caused by customers’ mistakes.   HL6323

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will produce an impact assessment on the effect of underpayment or overpayment owing to customer error or fraud when making changes to the welfare system or to routine benefits processing.   HL6324

Lord German to ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they give to Jobcentre Plus staff about customer contact and information provision by text message, email and other forms of electronic and digital communication.   HL6325

Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Freud on 25 January (WS 31–2), why benefit claimants are described as customers.   HL6326

Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following reports of local authorities stopping weekly refuse collections and the decision of Wokingham Borough Council to introduce a collection limit of 80 bags of ordinary refuse per annum, they will re-examine the operation of the European Union directive on the landfill of waste (1999/31/EC) and seek to amend it. 
   HL6327

Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Freud on 25 January (WS 35–6), to what extent European Union member states have exclusive competence for employment policies; and what steps they are taking to prevent any increases in the European social fund.   HL6328

Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to restore the 70 miles per hour speed limit on the M4 between junction 4 and the Chiswick flyover following the removal of the bus lane.   HL6329

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government, following Israel’s withdrawal from Ghajar, what steps they have taken to ensure that Hizbollah are not able to use it as a base to attack Israel. 
   HL6330

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they have given to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to ensure that it can work in safety.   HL6331

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of any savings made by transferring the Health Protection Agency to the Department of Health.   HL6332

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many general practitioner "Pathfinder" consortia have been instituted; and how many expressions of interest they have received.   HL6333

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether general practitioner "Pathfinder" consortia are operating with a defined devolved budget.   HL6334

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what role primary care trusts are playing in the funding of active general practitioner "Pathfinder" consortia.   HL6335

Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions in the last six months of 2010 prisoners in HMP Bullwood Hall were required to use chamber pots at night because of the failure of the night sanitation arrangements.   HL6336

Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the average number of prisoners in HMP Gloucester without work, training or education in the last six months of 2010; and what was the average number of hours they spent locked in their cells.   HL6337

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 7 December 2010 (WA 34–5), in which sub-section of Section 12 of the York report A Systematic Review of Water Fluoridation can be found the statement appearing on the website of the National Fluoride Information Centre that areas of past concern about fluoridation no longer require further investigation.   HL6338

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 15 November 2010 (WA 156), why the words "(level B)" were omitted after "evidence" in the quotation from the York report on water fluoridation.   HL6339

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the lowering in 2007 of the concentration of fluoride in the water supply in the Republic of Ireland from 1.0 to 0.7 parts per million, the recent similar lowering in Canada, the current proposals for a lowering to 0.7 in the United States, and the setting of an upper limit of 0.8 ppm under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2007, has had on their stance on the suggestion by the York report on water fluoridation in 2000 that the concentration in the United Kingdom might be lowered to around 0.8 ppm.   HL6340

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in considering the concentration of fluoride in water supplies in the United Kingdom, they have assessed which other countries in the same geographical latitude as England continue to fluoridate their water supplies at a concentration of 1 part per million.   HL6341

Questions unanswered after 10 working days 

1 December (15 December)

HL4848 Lord Hunt of Kings Heath [HO]

10 January (24 January)

HL5595 Lord Beecham [HMT]

HL5601 Lord Myners [CO]

HL5619 Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope [CO]

HL5620 Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope [CO]

HL5621 Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope [CO]

HL5632 Lord Condon [DfT]

HL5636 Lord Taylor of Warwick [HO]

HL5643 Lord Laird [CO]

HL5654 The Countess of Mar [DfT]

HL5685 Lord Berkeley [MoD]

11 January (25 January)

HL5779 Lord Condon [HO]

12 January (26 January)

HL5795 Lord Moonie [CO]

HL5808 Lord Berkeley [DfT]

HL5815 Lord Myners [HMT]

HL5824 Lord Bradshaw [DfT]

HL5844 Lord Marlesford [MoD]

Number of questions allocated to each department which are unanswered after 10 working days.

Bills in Progress 

Affirmative Instruments in Progress 

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

Negative Instruments 

Instruments reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee

Legislative Reform Order in Progress 

National and Marine Policy Statements 

Remedial Order in Progress under Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998 

Committees 

Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheet. Only the next meeting of each Committee is listed below. Further details of these meetings, and of planned further meetings, may be found in the House of Lords Committees Weekly Bulletin.

Minutes of Proceedings of Wednesday 26 January 2011 

The House met at 3.00pm.

Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Hereford.

1  Lord Kestenbaum Jonathan Andrew Kestenbaum, Esquire, having been created Baron Kestenbaum, of Foxcote in the County of Somerset, for life by Letters Patent dated in the forenoon of 24 January 2011, was introduced between Lord Sainsbury of Turville and Lord Puttnam, took and subscribed the oath and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.

2  Baroness Morgan of Ely Mair Eluned Morgan, having been created Baroness Morgan of Ely, of Ely in the City of Cardiff, for life by Letters Patent dated in the afternoon of 24 January 2011, was introduced between Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, took and subscribed the oath and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.

Select Committee Reports

3  Statutory Instruments 
The following Report from the Joint Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

13th Report on certain statutory instruments, including the following affirmative instruments:

Draft Control of Donations and Regulation of Loans etc. (Extension of the Prescribed Period) (Northern Ireland) Order 2011 
Draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Stabilisation and Association Agreement) (Republic of Serbia) Order 2011 
Draft Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. (HL Paper 93)

4  Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform 
The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

9th Report, on the following bills: 
National Insurance Contributions Bill 
Pensions Bill [HL] 
Postal Services Bill. (HL Paper 94)

Public Business

5  European Arrest Warrant and Investigation Order A question was asked by Lord Vinson and answered by Baroness Neville-Jones.

6  Elections: second home owners A question was asked by Lord Teverson and answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach.

7  Design A question was asked by Baroness Whitaker and answered by Baroness Wilcox.

8  Unemployment A question was asked by Lord Young of Norwood Green and answered by Lord Freud.

9  Counter-terrorism review Baroness Neville-Jones repeated a ministerial statement made in the House of Commons.

10  Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill The bill was further considered in Committee, beginning with amendment 89BA. Amendment 89BA was disagreed to (see division list). The House resumed for a statement.

11  BBC World Service Lord Howell of Guildford repeated as a ministerial statement the answer given to an Urgent Question in the House of Commons.

The House adjourned. The House resumed.

12  Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill The bill was further considered in Committee, beginning with amendment 90C. The House resumed after amendment 93.

The House adjourned at 11.48pm until Thursday 27 January at 10.45am.

Michael Pownall

Clerk of the Parliaments

Grand Committee Business

The Grand Committee met in the Moses Room at 3.45pm.

Energy Bill [HL] The Grand Committee further considered the bill, beginning with amendment 21ZA. Amendments were considered. The Committee adjourned after clause 65 was agreed to.

The Committee adjourned at 7.58pm.

Papers 

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

Instrument Withdrawn

The following instrument, laid before the House on 9 March 2010, was withdrawn:

Youth Rehabilitation Order (Review by Specified Courts) Order 2010.

Command Papers

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

Terrorism-

   (1) Review of Counter-Terrorism and Security Powers: Report by Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, QC.    (8003)

   (2) Review of Counter-Terrorism and Security Powers: Review Findings and Recommendations. 
    (8004)

   (3) Review of Counter-Terrorism and Security Powers: Summary of Responses to the Consultation.    (8005)

   (4) Review of Counter-Terrorism and Security Powers: Equality Impact Assessment.    (8006)

Affirmative Instrument

The following instrument was laid before the House for approval by resolution:

Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance (Work Experience) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, laid under the Jobseeekers Act 1995.

Negative Instrument

The following instrument was laid before the House:

   Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2011, laid under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.    (133)

Paper not subject to Parliamentary Proceedings

The following paper was laid before the House:

Report and Accounts for 2009–2010 of the Alcohol Education and Research Council, laid under the Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Act 1981.

Division on 26 January 2011 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Division No. 1

Lord Touhig moved amendment 89BA, in clause 11, page 11, line 26, at end to insert:

"(5) If the number of constituencies allocated to Wales under sub-paragraph (3) is fewer than 35, an additional allocation shall be made to Wales to ensure that it has 35 constituencies.

(6) Where an additional allocation is made under sub-paragraph (5) above, sub-paragraph (7) shall apply in place of rule 2.

(7) The electorate of any constituency in Wales shall be―

(a) no less than 95% of the Welsh electoral quota; and

(b) no more than 105% of that quota;

the "Wales electoral quota" meaning W/P, where W is the electorate of Wales and P is the number of constituencies allocated to Wales."

The Committee divided:

Contents 149

Not-contents 196