Next week's committees
Just three live days on the committee corridor next week, as Parliament winds down to its half-term break, and the committees concentrate on report-writing and generally clearing the decks before the election. Still, as ever, a couple of gems....
On Monday, the probes the stalled attempt to amalgamate fire control operations in England. The idea was to move from 46 local centres, directing the movements of fire-engines and so forth, to nine super-duper computerised regional centres. The programme is now very late and substantially over budget. "Riveting" evidence is expected.....
The will be looking at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's handling of major sporting events like the Olympics, following , which suggested better planning and after-the-match analysis of the Beeb's performance was needed. Members have been visibly licking their chops at the chance of quizzing Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Trustee Jeremy Peat, and Director General Mark Thompson. And a few of them are keen to venture a little off-piste and ask about the salaries of big-name sports presenters.
Elsewhere, the continues its investigation into young people not in education, employment or training - NEETs as they're known in the trade. The committee will hear from representatives from business and the third sector, which, I believe, means charities and voluntary groups. They'll be asked if they think government policies are effective in reducing the numbers of NEETs.
The will publish its latest report: The Role of Carbon Markets in Preventing Dangerous Climate Change.
Key questions to address are: is the price of carbon high enough to drive the required investment in carbon capture systems, energy efficiency and renewables? Has the recession left big firms with more pollution permits than they need? Should the government consider a carbon tax to set a floor price for carbon credits? Tekky, but maybe planet-saving....
Finally, the new decamps to Stratford Old Town Hall, in east London, to continue probing the preparations for the 2011 census, and in particular, the issue of whether London's population is being counted accurately - and the knock on effects this has for the funding of public services in the Capital.
On Tuesday, the gets down to cases in its inquiry into financial institutions which are too important to fail. They'll be hearing from John Varley, the chief executive of Barclays, who helped steer his bank through the banking crisis, relatively unscathed. He's said he doesn't think that size, or diversity of activity, are necessary a good indicator of a bank's riskiness. This is the first of a series of banking bosses, from assorted institutions, who'll get the once over.
- will be taking evidence from a minister and a galaxy of quangos about further education funding and the Skills Funding Agency. And the will hear from the Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, and Britain's top bureaucrat, the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, about the relationship between Wales and Whitehall.
But the day's highlight will almost certainly be the hearing with the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth. He was due to talk about Afghanistan (where several committee members recently visited British forces - ) but following the publication of the new Defence Green Paper, which will pave the way for a full-scale post election review of Britain's defence spending, he will be asked about that, as well.
With multi-billion pound contracts for new aircraft carriers and fighters in the balance, and talk of a far-reaching reconfiguration of the armed forces, there are some huge issues at stake here. The committee is also due to publish a report entitled Readiness and Recuperation of the Armed Forces: Looking towards the Strategic Defence Review.
It is expected to be a hard-hitting look at the consequences of overstretch of personnel, equipment and budgets, revealing, for example that major exercises are being cancelled and almost no training takes place in night landing and taking off from aircraft carriers because everything has to focus on the Afghan operation - such is the strain on resources.
The continues its inquiry into the the government's approach to crime prevention with the Jill Dando Institute for Crime Science. And it will quiz Schools Minister Vernon Coaker and Justice Minister Maria Eagle about the joined-up-ness of the government's approach. Assorted community groups will also give evidence.
The will publish its report on decision-making and appeals in the benefits system, looking at whether the system and the appeals process are fair, and how they could be improved.
And the reports on teacher training, the effectiveness of recruitment and retention, training and professional development.
Now, anoraks on, zips up, hoods down, and do up those toggles, you at the back: Wednesday sees thefinal session on the National Policy Statements on Energy.
These are a key part of the new planning system for dealing with essential national infrastructure projects, which is supposed to expedite vital projects that would otherwise get bogged down in some years-long public inquiry. Critics say the new system will ride roughshod over democratic decision-making and local objections.
There is an overarching statement on energy, and within that six separate statements covering different sectors, like gas, and, crucially, nuclear. . And there's huge legal argument around the nuclear NPS, which lists possible sites for new nuclear power stations.
One of the most vexed questions is whether or not there is a viable underground storage site for nuclear waste. If there isn't - and many observers are doubtful - then Friends of the Earth is said to be gearing up to demand a judicial review of the NPS.
And if the committee ends up unconvinced, they can demand a debate on the floor of the Commons - and they've been promised by the government that one will be granted. The witness is the responsible minister, Lord Hunt of King's Heath.
Elswhere, the Childrens' Schools and Families Committee continues to take evidence on the teaching of STEM subjects, science, technology, engineering and maths.
The concludes its inquiry into British dairy farming by hearing from the former CEO of the Dairy Farmers of Britain, Malcolm Smith. Their last hearing was quite a fraught affair, with one witness accusing another of lying to the committee.
And the hears from the Europe Minister Chris Bryant, in its continuing investigation into cooperation between the Scottish and Westminster governments.
And at the close of play, on Wednesday, Parliament takes a half-term break till Monday, 22 February - probably MPs' last chance for R&R until the general election is done.
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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