Political News W/C 15th January

Future parliamentary business from Monday 15 January 2024

Provisional parliamentary business has now been announced for this period, including the following that may be of relevance to you. The Commons rises for February Recess on Thursday 8 February and returns on Monday 19 February, while the Lords rises on Wednesday 14 February and returns on Monday 19 February. Please note, the following may change at short notice.

House of Commons

Monday 15 January

Home Office Questions (2:30pm)

First Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Immigration Act 2014 (Residential Accommodation) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2023, The draft Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2023. Location: Room 11, Palace of Westminster (4:30pm)

Tuesday 16 January

Criminal Justice Bill Committee: Further to consider the Bill. Location: Room 10, Palace of Westminster (9:25am, 2pm)

Finance Bill Committee: To consider the Bill. Location: Room 14, Palace of Westminster (9:25am, 2pm)

Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, Committee of the Whole House (day one) (from 12:45pm)

Justice Committee: Work of the Lady Chief Justice. Witness: The Rt Hon Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales. Location: Room 5, Palace of Westminster (2:30pm)

Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (Composition of Tribunal) Regulations 2023. Location: Room 11, Palace of Westminster (2:30pm)

Wednesday 17 January

Work and Pensions Committee: Statutory Sick Pay. Witnesses: Dr Gareth Millward, Assistant Professor at University of Southern Denmark; Professor Matt Padley, Co-Director at Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University; Professor Chris Rauh, Professor of Economics and Data Science at University of Cambridge; Nicola Smith, Head of Rights at Social and Economics, Trades Union Congress; Amanda Walters, Director at Centre for Progressive Change; Thomas Hamilton-Shaw, Policy Manager for Work and Welfare at Scope. Location: Room 5, Palace of Westminster (9:25am)

Welsh Affairs Committee: Prisons in Wales. Witnesses: Dr Robert Jones, Data Curator and author of the annual Prisons in Wales factfile at Cardiff University; Terry McCarthy, National Executive Committee Representative for North Wales at Prison Officers Association; Bryn Hall, Senior Development Officer for Wales at Clinks; Katie Fraser, Head of Prisons and Participation at Women in Prison. Location: Room 8, Palace of Westminster (10am)

Women and Equalities Committee: The escalation of violence against women and girls. Witnesses: Jo Todd CBE, Chief Executive at Respect; Suzanne Jacob OBE, Chief Executive at SafeLives; Nicky Park, Director of Criminal Justice and Women's Services at St Giles Trust; Kim Thornden-Edwards, Chief Probation Officer for England and Wales at HM Prison and Probation Service; Alice Adamson, Deputy Director Rehabilitation Strategy and interventions at HM Prison and Probation Service. Location: The Grimond Room, Portcullis House (10am)

Prime Minister’s Questions (12pm)

Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, Committee of the Whole House (day two) (from 12:45pm)

Human Rights (Joint Committee): Safety in Rwanda (Asylum & Immigration) Bill. Witnesses: Zoe Bantleman, Legal Director at Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA); Tyrone Steele, Interim Legal Director at JUSTICE; Enver Solomon, Chief Executive at Refugee Council; Professor Tom Hickman, Professor of Public Law at UCL, and Professor of Public Law at Blackstone Chambers; Rashmin Sagoo, International Law Programme Lead at Chatham House; Professor Sarah Singer, Refugee Law Initiative/School of Advanced Study at University of London. Location: Room 16, Palace of Westminster (3pm)

Westminster Hall debate: Public sector pay round for financial year 2024-25 – Beth Winter (4:30pm, 60mins)

Thursday 18 January

Cabinet Office Questions (9:30am)

Business Questions (from 10:30am)

Criminal Justice Bill Committee: Further to consider the Bill. Location: Room 10, Palace of Westminster (11:30am, 2pm)

Finance Bill Committee: Further to consider the Bill. Location: Room 14, Palace of Westminster (11:30am, 2pm)

Deadline for Prime Minister’s Questions (on Wednesday 24 January)

Friday 19 January

No relevant business currently scheduled

House of Peers

Monday 15 January

No relevant business currently scheduled

Tuesday 16 January

Oral question: Letter to the government by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment – Lord Moylan (2:40pm)

Grand Committee orders and regulations: Immigration Act 2014 (Residential Accommodation) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2023; Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control (Maximum Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2023

Wednesday 17 January

Human Rights (Joint Committee): Safety in Rwanda (Asylum & Immigration) Bill. See above (3pm)

Thursday 18 January

Grand Committee short debate: Current pathways for newly recognised refugees to integrate in the UK – Lord German (1pm)