On the Agenda
This page lists the business taking place in the UK's parliaments and assemblies, along with details of other political events.
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In Brief
Prime minister Gordon Brown chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Downing Street.
Foreign secretary David Miliband holds talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Business secretary Lord Mandelson and President Shimon Peres of Israel attend a City of London event.
Lord Mandelson also launches a national minimum wage awareness campaign.
Children's secretary Ed Balls speaks at a children's plan conference.
Children's secretary Ed Balls also launches a review of child and adolescent mental health services. He will use a speech to directors of children's services to say: "Professionals working with children in this country do a tough job, often in very difficult circumstances. But we must do whatever it takes to strengthen local arrangements to enable children to live and grow up safely."
Home secretary Jacqui Smith makes an announcement on software blocking extremist material.
Transport secretary Geoff Hoon delivers a speech at an Airport Operators' Association conference at the Excel centre in London.
Universities secretary John Denham speaks on day one of the Association of Colleges annual conference 2008 in Birmingham.
Environment secretary Hilary Benn is among the speakers at the Soil Association national conference in Bristol.
Hilary Benn also launches the countryside survey report.
Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown visits Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Housing minister Margaret Beckett and communities minister Iain Wright publish an updated rough sleeping strategy. Wright and shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling are also among the speakers at the Crisis annual conference.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker and the vice-president of Colombia address a conference in Belfast on drugs.
Transport minister Paul Clark attends UK Bus Awards ceremony in Battersea.
Immigration minister Phil Woolas uses an interview with the Guardian to accuse lawyers and charity workers of playing the immigration system. He claims NGOs and legal experts are undermining the legal system and giving false hope to clients who were mainly economic migrants and were not fleeing persecution.
Economic secretary to the Treasury Kitty Usher and Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable are among the speakers at a Guardian debate on debt.
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is among the speakers at an international coaching conference in Twickenham.
Schools minister Jim Knight is among the speakers at the second day of the National College for School Leadership conference on new headteachers.
Conservative leader David Cameron holds a news conference.
Conservative leader David Cameron is among the speakers at the Newspaper Conference annual lunch in London.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove announces Conservative plans to give England's qualifications regulator statutory powers to improve exam standards.
Labour MP John McDonnell chairs a Public and Commercial Services Union public meeting on the tax system.
Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, chairman on the Committee on Climate Change, speaks to the Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies on the aspirations of the committee.
The Welsh government holds its lobby briefings in the Welsh Assembly.
Welsh Assembly Liberal Democrat leadership candidate Kirsty Williams join Powys campaigners and councillors lobbying in the Senedd for a rise in the county's budget settlement.
The Conservatives hold their weekly press conference in the Welsh Assembly.
Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy delivers a speech to the LSE on the politics of mobility.
Sir Michael Pitt and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs official Martin Hurst are among the speakers at a Local Government Association conference looking at the future risk of flooding.
The EU agriculture and fisheries council meets in Brussels.
EU agriculture ministers attend the UN Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Rome.
The Electoral Commission holds a parliamentary reception in Westminster.
The Scottish TUC women's conference continues in Perth.
Demos holds a debate on media and journalism in the network age.
Compass chairman Neal Lawson is among the speakers at a Joseph Rowntree Foundation debate on individualism at the Royal Society of Arts.
Westminster Briefing holds an event on building cohesion in a multi-faith society.
The National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland launch the annual warm homes campaign to raise awareness of the 5.4 million UK households struggling to heat their homes this winter.
The Centre for European Policy Studies holds an event looking at defining the financial architecture of the new international climate change regime.
The National Outsourcing Association holds a sourcing summit in London.
Reports and Statistics
The Commons public accounts committee publishes a report on reducing passenger rail delays by better management of incidents. Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: "Rail passengers pay handsomely to travel on trains (£5.1bn in fares in 2006-07) and yet, through incidents on the network, are still suffering expensive delays (£1bn in lost time in 2006-07). Performance has returned to the levels that existed before the 2000 Hatfield derailment, but increasing congestion on the network means that the consequences of an incident in terms of disruption are magnified."
The Commons environmental audit committee publishes the government's response to its report on making government operations more sustainable.
HM chief inspector of prisons publishes a report calling for "urgent" changes at Wormwood Scrubs prison.
Passenger Focus publishes research revealing that only 34 per cent of passengers are satisfied with how well a train company deals with delays.
The Office for National Statistics publishes consumer price indices for October 2008 and provisional figures on weekly deaths registered in England and Wales.
The Scottish government publishes statistics on cancer waiting times April-June 2008.
The Welsh Assembly government publishes transport statistics on licensing and vehicle ownership; road freight and road traffic.
The Agenda in Westminster
Commons Chamber
2.30pm: Communities and local government questions (topical questions at 3.15pm).
Main business
Motion to approve a ways and means resolution on the Energy Bill.
Consideration of Lords amendments to the Energy Bill.
Consideration of Lords amendments to the Climate Change Bill [HL].
Adjournment debate: NHS services for secondary breast cancer patients (Linda Riordan).
Westminster Hall
9.30am-11.00am: Government policy on people with strokes (Graham Allen).
11.00am-12.30pm: Regional broadcasting (Paul Rowen).
12.30pm-1.00pm: Consular support to UK nationals and the case of April Nord (Eric Illsley).
1.00pm-1.30pm: Digital broadcasting and the use of relays in West Dorset (Oliver Letwin).
1.30pm-2.00pm: Mobility component of disability living allowance (Martin Caton).
Commons Select Committees
Treasury committee (9.30am, Thatcher room).
Subject: Banking Crisis – Nationalised banks.
Witnesses: Richard Pym, Chief Executive, and Rod Kent, Chairman, Bradford and Bingley; Gary Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer, and Ron Sandler CBE, Non-Executive Chairman, Northern Rock (at 10.30am).
Environmental audit committee (10.20am, room 6).
Subject: Reducing CO2 and other emissions from shipping.
Witnesses: Dr Alice Bows, Tyndall Senior Research Fellow, and Dr Terry Barker, Programme Leader, Integrating Frameworks, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Gillian Reynolds, Principal Environment and Sustainability Adviser, Lloyd’s Register, and Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering (at 10.55am); Association of British Ports and Port of London Authority (at 11.30am).
Business and enterprise committee (10.30am, room 16).
Subject: Pub Companies.
Witnesses: Fair Pint Campaign, Federation of Small Businesses, and Paul Daly; Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, David Morgan, and Simon Clarke (at 11.30am).
Culture, media and sport committee (10.30am, room 8).
Subject: Commercial Operations of the BBC.
Witnesses: Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman, BBC Trust, and Mark Thompson, Director General, BBC; John Smith, Chief Executive, and Etienne De Villiers, Non-Executive Chairman, BBC Worldwide, and Zarin Patel, Director of Finance, and Caroline Thomson, Chief Operating Officer, BBC (at 11.30am).
Defence committee (10.30am, Grimond room).
Subject: Defence Equipment.
Witnesses: Defence Industries Council, Society of British Aerospace Companies, Defence Manufacturers Association and BAE Systems plc.
Home affairs committee (10.30am, Wilson room).
Subject: Monitoring of UK Border Agency.
Witnesses: UK Border Agency, and the Independent Monitor.
International development committee (10.30am, room 15).
Subject: DfID and China.
Witnesses: Professor Stephen Chan, School of Oriental and African Studies, and Dr Jing Gu, Institute of Development Studies.
Welsh affairs committee (10.30, room 5).
Subject: The provision of cross-border public services for Wales.
Witnesses: Lord Adonis, Minister of State, Department for Transport; Network Rail (at 11.15am).
Justice committee (4.15pm, Grimond room).
Subject: Justice Reinvestment.
Witnesses: Chief Officers of Probation, and Prison Governors’ Association; Howard League for Penal Reform, CLINKS and Local Government Information Unit (at 4.55pm); General Lord Ramsbotham GCB, CBE (at 5.35pm).
Commons General and Bill Committees
Joint Committee
Human rights joint committee (1.45pm, room 5).
Subject: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Witness: Jonathan Shaw MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions.
Grand committee
Northern Ireland grand committee (4.30pm, room 14).
Subject: The matter of organised crime in Northern Ireland.
Public Bill committees
Banking Bill committee (10.30am and 4.30pm, room 9).
Subject: Further to consider the Bill.
Political Parties and Elections Bill committee (10.30am and 4.30pm, room 11).
Subject: Further to consider the Bill.
Lords Chamber
2.30pm: Oral questions:
Lord Wallace of Saltaire - how they intend to work with other governments to ensure that offshore financial centres respect the principles of openness and disclosure with a view to restoring financial stability in international markets;
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock - what consideration they have given to removing the need for citizens of the Republic of Macedonia to have a visa when visiting the United Kingdom;
Lord Sheldon - what is the proportion of wealth currently held by the richest 10 per cent of the population;
Lord Craig of Radley - whether they intend to reduce the size of the Defence Intelligence Staff, and if so why.
Main business
Third reading of the Planning Bill.
Consideration of Commons amendments to the Local Transport Bill [HL].
Debate on the report of the constitution committee on relations between the executive, the judiciary and parliament (Lord Goodlad).
Grand committee
Short debate: whether the proposals in Dignity in Dying’s Charter for Dignity at the End of Life will be taken into account as they take forward their end of life care strategy (Lord Warner).
Short debate: why they propose to end the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Scheme relating to the whole Commonwealth (Lord Luce).
The Agenda in the Scottish Parliament
In Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is not sitting in plenary.
In Committee
10.00am: Equal opportunities committee takes evidence on the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Bill.
10.15am: Justice committee takes evidence on the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
10.30am: European and external relations committee considers the latest issue of the Brussels bulletin.
2.00pm: Finance committee takes evidence on the draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2008 amendment order 2008.
2.00pm: Public petitions committee considers current and new petitions.
2.00pm: Transport, infrastructure and climate change committee takes evidence on its inquiry into the potential benefits of high-speed rail services.
2.15pm: Standards, procedures and public appointments committee chooses a new convener.
2.15pm: Subordinate legislation committee considers various statutory instruments.
The Agenda in the Welsh Assembly
In Plenary
1.30pm: questions to the first minister.
followed by: business statement and announcement.
followed by: debate on the draft Budget.
followed by: debate on co-operatives and enterprise.
followed by: votes and proceedings.
followed by: record of proceedings.
In Committee
8.45am: Proposed Welsh red meat industry LCO committee considers the National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Agriculture and Rural Development) Order 2008.
8.45am: Subordinate legislation committee meets in public.
9.30am: Proposed local government measure committee takes evidence on the proposed local government (Wales) measure.
time tbc: Business committee meets in private.
The Agenda in the Northern Ireland Assembly
In Plenary
10.30am: prayers.
followed by: motion on 16- to 19-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
followed by: motion on rural out of hours ambulance coverage.
followed by: motion on reaffirmation of executive matters.
followed by: adjournment debate on sexual assault in South Belfast.
In Committee
10.30pm: Committee for agriculture and rural development considers the Diseases of Animals Bill.
11.00am: Assembly and executive review committee meets in private before beginning a public session from 12.15pm.
12.30pm: Business committee meets in private.
12.30pm: Audit committee considers the draft Northern Ireland Audit Office corporate plan.
time tbc: Assembly commission meets in private.
The Agenda in the London Assembly
In Plenary
The London Assembly is not sitting in plenary.
In Committee
10.00am: Environment committee considers a report on GLA group environmental performance.
The Agenda in the European Parliament
In Parliament
9.00am: possible votes on requests for urgent procedure.
9.00am to 11.50am: joint debate on the common agricultural policy.
followed by: report on support schemes for farmers under the CAP.
followed by: proposal for a Council regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers.
followed by: report on modifications to the common agricultural policy by amending regulations.
followed by: report on a proposal for a Council regulation amending regulation on support for rural development by the European agricultural fund for rural development.
followed by: report on the Community strategic guidelines for rural development.
followed by: end of joint debate.
followed by: report on the school fruit scheme.
midday to 1.00pm: votes.
followed by: report on the proposal for a Council and Commission decision on the conclusion of the protocol to the partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities and their member states, of the one part, and the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.
followed by: report on a joint undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system.
followed by: report on statutory markings for two- or three-wheel motor vehicles.
followed by: report on company law concerning single-member private limited-liability companies.
followed by: report on the driver's seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.
followed by: report on establishing a guarantee fund for external actions
followed by: report on a convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters.
followed by: report on a European system of national and regional accounts in the Community.
followed by: report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Statistics.
followed by: report on rules on aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails.
followed by: report on the mobilisation of the European globalisation adjustment fund.
followed by: report on amending budget no. 9/2008: Economic and Social Committee.
followed by: recommendation for second reading of rules on community statistics on public health and health and safety at work.
followed by: texts on which debate is closed.
3.00pm to 6.00pm: debate on the commission's legislative and working plan for 2009.
6.00pm to 7.00pm: Council question time.
9.00pm to midnight: report on the publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies.
followed by: report on disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts.
followed by: report on the amendment of the single CMO regulation.
followed by: oral question on the situation in the bee-keeping sector.
