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Business of the House

Before announcing the business I can tell the House that the Commons calendar, from November this year until October 2008, was published earlier today and is available in the Vote Office. I am sure that hon. Members will be interested to know that we plan to rise for the Christmas recess on Tuesday 18 December. The business for the week commencing 22 October will be: Monday 22 October—Statement by the Prime Minister following the European Council meeting. Motion to approve a Ways and Means resolution on the Serious Crime Bill [Lords]. Remaining stages of the Serious Crime Bill [Lords]. Tuesday 23 October—Carry-over motion for the Crossrail Bill followed by motions relating to the House of Commons Members' Fund and a motion to take note of the outstanding reports of the Public Accounts Committee to which the Government have replied. Details will be given in the Official Report. Wednesday 24 October—Consideration of Lords amendments, followed by consideration of Lords amendments to the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, followed by, if necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. Thursday 25 October—Motions relating to House business, including the report from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and from the Procedure Committee. It may assist the House if I tell hon. Members that I have today published the Government's response to the Modernisation Committee's first report of the 2006-07 Session, ““Revitalising the Chamber: the role of the back bench Member””. It is now available to all hon. Members from the Vote Office. I intend to table the relevant motions in due course. Friday 26 October—The House will not be sitting. The provisional business for the week commencing 29 October will be: Monday 29 October—Consideration of Lords amendments, followed by a debate on Burma on a motion for the Adjournment of the House followed by, if necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. Tuesday 30 October—If necessary, consideration of Lords amendments. The House will be prorogued when Royal Assent to all Acts has been signified. I hope that it will be possible to prorogue no later than Tuesday 30 October. The House will understand that that is subject to the progress of business in both Houses, but that looks the most likely date at the moment. I should also like to inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall in October will be: Thursday 25 October—A debate on the report from the Environmental Audit Committee on the EU emissions trading scheme. I am today bringing forward measures that will allow for corrections to be made in Hansard and for letters from non-departmental public body chairs to be published in Hansard for the first time. Full details are available in written ministerial statements. I am grateful to the Select Committee on Procedure for its advice on both points.