Political News W/C 19th February

Future parliamentary business from Monday 19 February 2024 

 

Provisional parliamentary business has now been announced for this period, including the following that may be of relevance to you. The Commons rise for Easter Recess on Tuesday 26 March and return on Monday 15 April, while the Lords rise on Wednesday 27 March and return on Monday 15 April. Please note, the following may change at short notice. 

 

House of Commons 

Monday 19 February 

First Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, The draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, The draft Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. Location: Room 11, Palace of Westminster (6pm) 

Tuesday 20 February 

Justice Questions (11:30am) 

Westminster Hall debate: Tackling off-road biking – Peter Gibson (2:30pm, 90mins) 

Justice Committee: The Coroner Service: follow-up. Witnesses: Deborah Coles, Director at INQUEST; Dr Georgia Richards, Teaching Fellow in Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) at Oxford University; Roey Burden OBE, Founder and Board of Trustees Hon. Secretary at Coroners Courts Support Service; Angela Geer, CEO at Coroners Courts Support Service. Location: Room 5, Palace of Westminster (2:30pm) 

Westminster Hall debate: Robbery and theft in Carshalton and Wallington constituency – Elliot Colburn (4pm, 30mins) 

Deadline for Home Office Questions (on Monday 26 February) 

Wednesday 21 February 

Home Affairs Committee: Non-contact sexual offences. Witnesses: Lisa Squire, Mother of Libby Squire and campaigner; Professor Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University; Professor Sarah Kingston, Professor of Criminal Justice and Policing at University of Central Lancashire; Professor Katrin Hohl, Independent Advisor to the Rape Review at Independent Advisor to the Rape Review. Location: The Wilson Room, Portcullis House (10am) 

Welsh Affairs Committee: Prisons in Wales. Witnesses: Rebecca Hayward, Governor at HMP Berwyn; Amanda Corrigan, Governor at HMP Cardiff; Heather Whitehead, Director at HMP & YOI Parc; Chris Simpson, Governor at HMP Swansea; Rob Denman, Governor at HMP Usk & Prescoed. Location: Room 15, Palace of Westminster (10am) 

Prime Minister’s Questions (12pm) 

Opposition Day Debate: Debate on a Motion in the name of the Scottish National Party (subject TBA) (from 12:45pm) 

Women and Equalities Committee: The escalation of violence against women and girls. Witnesses: Kathryn Billing, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead at National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC); Daren Mochrie, Chair at The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE); Catherine Hinwood OBE, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Programme Director at NHS England; Assistant Chief Constable Samantha Millar, Strategic Programme Director - VAWG at National Police Chiefs Council; Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy, Professionalism Lead at Metropolitan Police Service. Location: Room 6, Palace of Westminster (2:20pm) 

European Scrutiny Committee: Retained EU law: the progress and mechanics of reform. Witnesses: Professor Kenneth Armstrong, Professor of European Law at University of Cambridge; Martin Howe KC, Barrister at 8 New Square Chambers; Dr Oliver Garner, Maurice Wohl Research Leader in European Rule of Law at Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law. Location: Room 15, Palace of Westminster (2:30pm) 

Human Rights (Joint Committee): Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UK. Witnesses: Paul Rusesabagina; Lewis Mudge, Central Africa Director at Human Rights Watch. Location: Room 16, Palace of Westminster (4:30pm) 

Thursday 22 February 

Business Questions (from 10:30am) 

Deadlines for Prime Minister’s Questions (on Wednesday 28 February), Cabinet Office Questions (on Thursday 29 February) 

Friday 23 February  

Private Members' Bills: Community and Suspended Sentences (Notification of Details) Bill: Second Reading – Ruth Jones (unlikely to be reached) 

Private Members' Bills: Prison Media Bill: Second Reading – Katherine Fletcher (unlikely to be reached) 

House of Peers 

Monday 19 February 

Legislation: Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill – committee stage (day 3) 

Grand Committee orders and regulation: Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2024; Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2024; Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Regulations 2024  

Tuesday 20 February 

Oral question: Assessing the efficacy of violence reduction units in addressing knife crime – Lord Bailey of Paddington (2:40pm) 

Wednesday 21 February 

Oral question: Potential benefits of increasing the national minimum wage to £15 per hour for workers across all age groups – Lord Bird (3:10pm) 

Human Rights (Joint Committee): Human Rights of Asylum Seekers in the UK. See above (4:30pm) 

Legislation: Finance Bill – second reading and all remaining stages 

Thursday 22 February 

No relevant business currently scheduled