What's happening?
It's just as well most MPs are still grappling with the organisational chores involved in setting up shop as representatives and legislators - and with the seemingly endless rounds of elections needed to set up - because there is not yet much in the way of actual legislation for them to chew on.
This week's business in the on UK policy in the Middle East and on emerging economies. Interesting and important subjects to be sure - but general debates tend to invite long-playing platitudes, while ministers snooze gently behind attentive expressions.
If it's Tuesday, it must be a day debating "House business"; in this instance the setting up of the long-awaited Backbench Business Committee, and the number of days to be allocated to debate private members' bills. Important stuff, because the long awaited Backbench Business Committee will control 35 days a year of Commons debates (although there's some question about how many of those days will be in the chamber of the Commons, and how many will be relegated to Westminster Hall) and is supposed to be the first step towards the Commons taking far more control over what MPs debate and vote on. Important, but internal - this is not an issue to set pulses racing anywhere outside Westminster.
Wednesday brings an opposition day debate on government support for industry and Thursday a general debate on building a high skill economy. Next Monday there's yet another general debate - this time on the impending Defence Review, so at least a little red meat, and then there's the Budget and the subsequent debate on its contents.
Please note the absence of actual legislation. To be sure, it is only a month since the election, but the only actual bill seen by MPs thus far has been the one to abolish the ID card system - something officials in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Office doubtless prepared in advance, to offer their new masters.
Is this a sign that, behind the scenes, Coalition committees are fighting a war of attrition over every clause of every bill? Or that the new team of ministers is so immersed in a cuts-making exercise that they have not yet had a chance to dabble in law-making.
Or both?
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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