As MPs return to Westminster pressure is building on the prime minister to make a statement on Iraq.

Tony Blair will address the parliamentary Labour party tonight, but following the execution of British hostage Ken Bigley he is facing calls to update the whole House of Commons on the security situation in the country.

On Tuesday foreign secretary Jack Straw is set to face MPs' questions on his visit to the region last week and the recent publication of the Iraq Survey Group's report confirming Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction.

However he could be forced to come back early from an EU meeting in Luxembourg this evening to brief the House.

Number 10 said on Monday it was "not aware of any plans at this stage to have a statement".

"These are matters for the speaker to decide on and I'm sure he will make his decision in the usual way," the official spokesman said.

The weapons report has also led anti-war MPs to demand a "long overdue" full two day debate.

The call was set to be made to Blair at the PLP meeting tonight, although Downing Street is likely to resist it.

"The ISG report just proves everything we've been saying," left-wing Halifax MP Alice Mahon said.

Hunting

The first sitting of parliament since the party conference season will also see the row over the government's bill to ban fox hunting come to the fore as the Lords debate the legislation later this week.

The upper chamber is expected to reject the proposal despite government threats to use the Parliament Act to force through the changes.

However there have been reports that Blair is seeking a compromise between the opposing sides in the long running dispute.

Another contentious issue passing through the Lords is the Civil Partnerships Bill that gives same-sex couples some rights currently enjoyed only by married people.

Pensions will also be a focus of attention with the government commissioned Turner report's interim findings published on Tuesday.

Secretary of state Alan Johnson could make a statement on the report while shadow spokesman David Willetts was setting out the Conservative's eight-point point action plan on the issue on Monday.

On Wednesday Tony Blair will face his first prime minister's question session since his heart operation and the announcement of his intention to remain in office for a full third term if re-elected.

Iraq is sure to feature high up the agenda then with critics set to put him on the spot over his justification for war.

Questions to the prime minister are preceded on Wednesday by international development questions, with foreign affairs on Tuesday and Treasury issues on Thursday.