On the Agenda
This page lists the business taking place in the UK's parliaments and assemblies, along with details of other political events.
If you would like to provide us with details of any upcoming event, please email editorial@ePolitix.com.
In Brief
Home secretary Jacqui Smith announces proposals on changes to the law on prostitution.
Foreign secretary David Miliband is among the speakers at First Magazine's responsible capitalism awards in London.
Work and pensions secretary James Purnell and his Conservative shadow Chris Grayling are among the speakers at an Institute for Public Policy Research conference on personal welfare advisers.
Children's secretary Ed Balls speaks at the Howard League For Penal Reform's annual general meeting in London.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, London mayor Boris Johnson, British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan and 2012 Games chairman Lord Coe attend a London Olympic Board meeting in London.
Business minister Baroness Vadera is among the speakers at the National Everywoman conference for female entrepreneurs in London.
Health minister Ann Keen is among the speakers at the launch of an all-party parliamentary group for Parkinson's disease inquiry into access to health and social services.
Employment relations minister Pat McFadden launches a consultation on plans to stop tips and service charges counting towards the national minimum wage.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley is among the speakers at the National Association of Primary Care annual conference in Liverpool.
Shadow universities secretary David Willetts is among the speakers at day two of the Association of Colleges annual conference.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps and Liberal Democrat housing spokeswoman Sarah Teather are among the speakers at a Shelter-ROOF conference chaired by Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable.
Vince Cable is also among the speakers at a Local Government Association Smith Square debate looking at local solutions to housing boom and bust.
Speaking to ePolitix.com ahead of his 10-minute rule bill in the Commons, Labour MP Brian Iddon calls for legislation to ensure that people involved in road traffic accidents are eligible for compensation even when liability can not be established. "What we are trying to do is flag this up hoping that either the insurance industry will change their regulations to pay out in these cases or the government will do something about it," he says.
The chairman of the Commons culture committee, Conservative MP John Whittingdale, is among the speakers at a Royal Television Society debate on Ofcom.
Conservative peer Lord Patten, the chancellor of Oxford and Newcastle universities, delivers a speech to the LSE on "surviving the 21st century".
Scotland's enterprise minister Jim Mather is among the speakers at the CBI's Scotland Tayside dinner.
Scotland's transport minister Stewart Stevenson is among the speakers at a Holyrood conference on demand-responsive transport.
The Welsh Assembly government launches a sustainable development scheme.
Welsh Assembly Liberal Democrat leadership candidate Kirsty Williams chairs the first meeting of the cross-party group on black and minority ethnic issues.
The EU's committees of permanent representatives (COREPER I and COREPER II) meet in Brussels.
Department of Health official Glen Mason and General Social Care Council chief executive Mike Wardle are among the speakers at a Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar on the adult social care workforce strategy.
Department for Children, Schools and Families programme manager Alison Hadley and Andrea Duncan from the Department of Health's sexual health team are among the speakers at a Local Government Association seminar on teenage pregnancy.
The TUC calls on the chancellor to use next week's pre-Budget report to cut taxes for those on low and middle incomes. General secretary Brendan Barber said: "The government has shown the rest of the world the way in how to rescue the financial system. Now it must show the same commitment to making the recession as short and as shallow as possible."
As the Commons Treasury committee takes evidence on pay in the banking sector, the Unite union calls for a complete overhaul of banking remuneration policies and publishes research on the pay of senior executives. Joint general secretary Derek Simpson says: "We need action in the long-term to end the current rot across Britain's boardrooms. Boardroom pay practices are not only unjust - they have contributed to the worst financial crisis in decades."
Cancer Research UK calls on the government to close the loophole allowing tobacco to be displayed at the point of sale, to prohibit the sale of tobacco from vending machines and to make plain packaging for tobacco products compulsory.
Chatham House holds an event looking at the financial crisis and the global economy.
The Council for Arab-British Understanding, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Jews for Justice for Palestinians lobby Parliament over settlement issues and the Gaza crisis.
The Centre for European Policy Studies holds an event looking at the reform of credit rating agencies
The Fatherhood Institute holds an event on working with fathers in social care.
Bircham Dyson Bell hosts a conference in London looking at the Marine Bill.
Reports and Statistics
The National Audit Office warns in a new report that almost a quarter of pupils are not reaching the expected level in maths by their final year of primary school. Tim Burr, the head of the NAO, calls on ministers to "improve how teachers assess pupils' progress throughout the primary years, so that they can support every child to do their best in mathematics".
Ofsted publishes its 2007/08 annual report on children's services and skills.
The British Museum and the Department for Culture Media and Sport launch the treasure annual report looking at archaeological items and pieces of treasure discovered by members of the public over the past year.
The Institute for Public Policy Research launches its 'Red and Green Taxes' project looking at how to create a more progressive tax system. It calls for the €72m estimated to be raised through the sale of the UK's carbon emissions allocation to be spent on initiatives to meet the country's climate change obligations.
The Northern Way group warns in a series of new reports that any short-term fall in traffic levels brought about by an economic slowdown must not be used as an excuse to avoid tackling the long-term economic problem of congested roads.
The Home Office publishes statistics on immigration for Q3 of 2008.
The Office for National Statistics publishes a feasability report on local area short-term immigration estimates; the international migration first release calendar year 2007; mid-2007 LSOA and MSOA population estimates; mid-2007 population estimates by marital status; population estimates by nationality and country of birth; a report on subnational population projections consultation on projection variants and statistics on: average weekly earnings; the employment of foreign workers; labour costs per hour and inter-regional migration movements within the UK.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publishes statistics on the UK uptake of sea fish quotas and on TB in cattle.
The General Register Office for Scotland publishes statistics on centenarians in Scotland from 2003-07.
The Welsh Assembly government publishes population and migration outputs statistics and a survey of agriculture and horticulture in Wales for June 2008.
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee publishes the minutes of this month's meeting.
The Confederation of British Industry publishes its monthly industrial trends survey.
The British Retail Consortium publishes October's Scottish retail sales monitor.
The Agenda in Westminster
Commons Chamber
11.30am: Northern Ireland questions.
12noon: Prime minister’s questions.
Ten minute rule motion: Road Traffic (Accident Compensation) Bill (Dr Brian Iddon).
Main business
Consideration of Lords amendments to the Counter-Terrorism Bill.
Adjournment debate: Lymington River and the Habitats Directive (Desmond Swayne).
Westminster Hall
9.30am-11.00am: Policy on the Stern report (Peter Lilley).
11.00am-11.30am: RAF support to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (Mark Lancaster).
2.30pm-4.00pm: Rail links to the continent (David Kidney).
4.00pm-4.30pm: Parliamentary accountability of nuclear industry finances (Paul Flynn).
4.30pm-5.00pm: Remploy and public procurement (Annette Brooke).
Commons Select Committees
Innovation, universities, science and skills (9.30am, Thatcher room).
Subject: Engineering in Government.
Witnesses: Professor David Fisk, Imperial College London, Professor Michael Kelly, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Council for Science and Technology; Lord Broers and Professor Christopher Snowden, Royal Academy of Engineering (at 10.15am).
Work and pensions committee (9.30am, Grimond room).
Subject: DWP IT Procurement.
Witnesses: Joe Harley, IT Director General and CIO Corporate IT,
Dean James, Corporate IT Chief Operating Officer, and Malcolm Whitehouse, Group Applications Director, Department for Work and Pensions.
Health committee (10.00am, room 15).
Subject: Health Inequalities.
Witnesses: Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State, and Hugh Taylor CB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health.
Scottish affairs committee (2.15pm, room 16).
Subject: Office of the Advocate General for Scotland.
Witness: Lord Davidson of Glen Clova QC, Advocate General for Scotland.
Foreign affairs committee (2.30pm, Grimond room).
Subject: Global Security: Non-Proliferation.
Witnesses: Mr Daniel Feakes, University of Sussex, Dr Brian Jones, Southampton University, and Mr Nicolas Sims, London School of Economics.
Treasury committee (2.30pm, Wilson room).
Subject: Banking Crisis – Executive remuneration.
Witnesses: Carol Arrowsmith, Deloitte, Ronnie Fox, Principal, Fox Law Firm, Peter Hahn, Sir John Cass Business School, and Charles Cotton, Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development; Brendan Barber, Secretary-General, TUC, Peter Montagnon, ABI, Jonathon Taylor, LIBA, and Miles Templeman, Director-General, Institute of Directors (at 3.30pm).
Environment, food and rural affairs (3.00pm, Thacther room).
Subject: Waste Strategy for England 2007.
Witnesses: ASDA, John Lewis Partnership and Brecknell Willis; Bovis Lend Lease and Constructing Excellence (at 3.40pm).
Northern Ireland affairs committee (3.00pm, room 5).
Subject: Cross-border co-operation.
Witness: HM Revenue and Customs.
Public accounts committee (3.30pm, room 15).
Subject: UK’s future nuclear deterrent capability.
Witnesses: Sir Bill Jeffrey KCB, Permanent Under Secretary of State, Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE, Director of Strategic Requirement, Guy Lester, Director of General Equipment, and Rear Admiral A D H Mathews CB, Director General, Submarines, Ministry of Defence.
Lords Chamber
3.00pm: Oral questions:
Lord Bishop of Liverpool - further to the answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 10 June (HL Deb, cols 473-75), what discussions they have had with the British Medical Association about drug dependency in prisons;
Baroness Linklater of Butterstone - what is their response to the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons The Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection: A Thematic Review;
Baroness Perry of Southwark - whether they plan to change the funding arrangements for students pursuing a course in higher education which is lower than or equivalent to their existing qualification.
Topical question: Lord Ramsbotham to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to reduce the budget of the Probation Service.
Main business
Motion to approve the following Orders:
• European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement) Order 2008;
• International Organization for Migration (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2008;
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2008;
• Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (Amendment) Order 2008;
• Legal Services Act 2007 (Functions of a Designated Regulator) Order 2008.
Third reading of the Pensions Bill.
Consideration of Commons amendments to the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL].
Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage the co-ordination of fire safety and emergency services across the European Union. (1½ hours).
Lords Committees
Science and technology committee II (10.40am and 11.40am).
Subject: Genomic medicine.
Witnesses: Evidence will be heard from (a) Professor Peter Littlejohns, Director, Clinical & Public Health Directorate, National Institute for Clinical Excellence; Mr Richard Gutowski, Head of Compliance and European Business Medical Devices, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; and Mr Thomas Lönngren, Executive Director, European Medicines Agency; and (b) from Professor Maggie Kirk, Head of Research/ Leader Genomics Policy Unit, and Lead Professional Specialist (Nursing Professions), NHS National Genetics Education & Development Centre, University of Glamorgan; Dr Hilary Harris, GP and former member of the Human Genetics Commission; and Mr Paul Streets, Chief Executive, Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.
Constitution Committee (10.45am).
Subject: Surveillance inquiry.
Witnesses: Evidence will be heard from Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Policing, Crime & Security.
The Agenda in the Scottish Parliament
In Parliament
2.30pm: time for reflection.
followed by: parliamentary bureau motions.
followed by: ministerial statement on fuel poverty.
followed by: Scottish government debate on ID cards.
followed by: business motion.
followed by: parliamentary bureau motions.
5.00pm: decision time.
followed by: debate on Parkinson's disease.
In Committee
10.00am: Health and sport committee takes evidence on the Health Boards (Membership and Elections) (Scotland) Bill.
10.00am: Education, lifelong learning and culture committee takes evidence on the draft Provision of School Lunches (Disapplication of the Requirement to Charge) (Scotland) Order 2008
10.00am: Local government and communities committee takes evidence on its inquiry into child poverty in Scotland.
10.00am: Rural affairs and environment committee takes evidence on the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill.
The Agenda in the Welsh Assembly
In Plenary
1.30pm: questions to the minister for finance and public service delivery.
followed by: questions to the minister for children, education, lifelong learning and skills.
followed by: a debate seeking the Assembly's leave to introduce a member-proposed measure for special educational needs information.
followed by: time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives.
followed by: short debate.
followed by: votes and proceedings.
followed by: record of proceedings.
In Committee
9.00am: Health, wellbeing and local government committee takes evidence on its inquiry into local government scrutiny.
9.00am: Communities and culture committee considers its inquiry on promoting Welsh arts and culture on the world stage.
9.30am: Enterprise and learning committee considers the teacher workload agreement.
The Agenda in the Northern Ireland Assembly
In Plenary
The Northern Ireland Assembly is not sitting in plenary.
In Committee
10.00am: Committee for finance and personnel meets in public.
10.00am: Committee for education considers alternative education provision.
10.30am: Committee for regional development meets in public.
10.30am: Committee for employment and learning receives a departmental briefing on vocational qualification reform.
2.00pm: Committee on procedures considers its inquiry into assembly questions.
2.00pm: Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister takes evidence on the Construction Industry Group.
time tbc: Committee on standards and privileges visits Westminster.
time tbc: Committee for health, social services and public safety visits Wales.
The Agenda in the London Assembly
In Plenary
10.00am: apologies for absence and chairman's announcements.
followed by: declarations of interests.
followed by: questions to chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Lord Coe.
followed by: debate on the answers to the questions asked.
followed by: report on mayoral appointment to the office of chairman of the London cultural strategy group.
followed by: motions.
followed by: date of next meeting set for Wednesday December 3.
followed by: any other urgent business.
The Agenda in the European Parliament
In Parliament
9.00am to 11.20: joint debate on defence and security.
followed by: report on the transfers of defence-related products.
followed by: report on public contracts in the fields of defence and security.
followed by: end of joint debate.
11.30am to midday: votes.
followed by: motions for resolutions on EU PNR data.
followed by: texts on which debate is closed.
midday to 12.30pm: formal sitting with Sir Jonathan Sacks, the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
12.30pm to 1.00pm: continuation of votes.
3.00pm to 6.00pm: joint debate on the conditions of entry of third-country nationals for the purposes of employment.
followed by: report on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment.
followed by: report on the single application procedure for residence and work.
followed by: end of joint debate.
followed by: oral question on European space policy.
followed by: oral question on whether the convention on cluster munitions needs to come into effect before the end of 2008.
6.00pm to 7.30pm: Commission question time.
9.00pm to midnight: Council and Commission statements on demographic tendencies and their economic and social impacts.
followed by: Council and Commission statements on early diagnosis and early care of HIV/AIDS.
followed by: oral question on the review of recommendation 2001/331/EC providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspection in the member states.
followed by: (possibly) reports under Rule 134.
