THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR THE WEEK COMMENCING 10TH OCTOBER 2016:
MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER
The House meets at 2:30pm for Education Questions
Motion to Approve the Second Report 2016-17 from the Committee of Privileges
Second Reading of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill
TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER
The House meets at 11:30am for Health Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion: Unlawful Killing (Recovery of Remains)
Second Reading of the Small Charitable Donations and Childcare Payments Bill
WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER
The House meets at 11:30am for Scotland Questions
At 12 noon: Prime Minister’s Questions
Ten Minute Rule Motion: Stalking (Sentencing) –
Opposition Day Debate.
THURSDAY 13TH OCTOBER
The House will meet at 9:30am for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions and Church Commissioners and House of Commons Commission and Public Accounts Commission and Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission
At 10:30am: Business Questions
General Debate on Baby Loss
Debate on a Motion on the inquiry into Hormone Pregnancy
FRIDAY 14TH OCTOBER
The House will not be sitting.
ALEC’S VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER
The return from conference recess sees us jump back into important legislation. Usually after a recess there could be at least two statements made by Government on issues that the House will need to be informed about since we last met, this often has the knock on effect of a very late finish on our first day back, probably into the early hours of the morning.
The main debate on Monday on the Neighbourhood Planning Bill is part of a huge agenda for the Government on how we can deliver affordable homes that fit in with local communities and give people real options and access to owning their own home.
The ability for young people to get on the housing ladder is raised regularly on the doorstep, but also against the backdrop of people being opposed to villages and facilities being overwhelmed with too much new housing in their area. The key issue I keep raising is the need for supporting infrastructure alongside any new development.
The bill being brought forward by the government seeks to balance these issues so that a ready supply of housing is available whilst giving local authorities the power to find the most suitable locations.
This week Monday starts with Education questions and it will be fascinating to see the questions from across the House relating to the Grammar School policy. I am delighted that the new Prime Minister has brought forward a consultation paper before any legislative is produced as questions will certainly need to be answered before any policy comes forward.
Tuesday’s Health questions will see a very wide range of subjects raised as the Government recently announced plans to recruit a further 1,500 doctors a year in Britain and, of course, the British Medical Association announced it is backing down on their threat of strike action.
The Backbench Business Debate on Thursday is likely to be a more emotional debate for many of my colleagues who are expected to bring the tragedy of their own experiences of baby loss to a debate on the same topic.