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Business of the House

With permission, before I give the business of the House, may I say that, having been a Member of the House for 25 years, it is an enormous privilege to be its leader—a member of the Government, of course, but leader of the whole House. I will always want to see, of course, that the Government are able to get through the laws that we have promised, but I and my ministerial team will do everything that we can to protect the rights of Back Benchers, to hold the Government to account, to ensure proper and timely scrutiny of legislation, and to enable the House to hold the most open, effective and best informed democratic debates in the world. The business for next week will be: Monday 9 July—Estimates [3rd allotted day]. There will be a debate on scientific advice, risk and evidence-based policy making, followed by a debate on the Rural Payments Agency, the implementation of the single payments scheme and the UK Government’s ““Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy””. Details will be given in the Official Report. At 10 pm the House will be asked to agree all outstanding estimates. Tuesday 10 July—Proceedings on the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No.2) Bill, followed by a motion to approve the draft Terrorism Act 2006 (Disapplication of Section 25) Order 2007, followed by a motion to approve the draft Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisation) (Amendment) Order 2007, followed by Second Reading of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill [Lords]. It is also expected that there will be a statement on children, schools and families. Wednesday 11 July—Opposition day [16th allotted day]. There will be a debate entitled ““Stroke Services”” and a debate entitled ““Mending the Broken Society””. Both debates arise on an Opposition motion, followed by if necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. Thursday 12 July—If necessary, consideration of Lords amendments, followed by remaining stages of the Further Education and Training Bill [Lords]. Friday 13 July—The House will not be sitting. I should also like to inform the House that the provisional business for the following week will include: Monday 16 July—Opposition day [17th allotted day]. There will be a debate on a Liberal Democrat motion, subject to be announced. Tuesday 17 July—If necessary, consideration of Lords amendments, followed by remaining stages of the Parliament (Joint Departments) Bill [Lords]. Wednesday 18 July—Consideration of Lords amendments. Thursday 19 July—If necessary, consideration of Lords amendments, followed by a debate on Zimbabwe on a motion for the Adjournment of the House. Friday 20 July—The House will not be sitting. It is the Government’s intention to make an oral statement on the content of the draft legislative programme to the House before it rises. Following are the relevant documents: The Seventh Report from the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2005-06, HC 900, Scientific Advice, Risk and Evidence-Based Policy Making, and the Government Response thereto, First Special Report, Session 2005-06, HC 307. Third Report, from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Session 2006-07, HC 107, on the Rural Payments Agency and the implementation of the Single Payment Scheme; and Fourth Report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Session 2006-07, HC 546, on the UK Government’s ““Vision for the Common Agricultural Policy””.