Next week's business
On Monday, George Osborne will be making his autumn statement. This statement follows the Chancellor's budget in June - and the . I'm not quite sure what he'll have to add to his Comprehensive Spending Review of a few weeks ago - perhaps some economic forecasts and a promise of tax cuts on the "squeezed middle" when the economic storms have passed?
After that, the Backbench Business Committee has chosen banking reform and the regulation of independent financial advisers as subjects for debate. The Banking Reform debate is on a motion from Labour's Michael Meacher calling for tougher regulation of the financial markets. The Lords will be discussing the Public Bodies Bill in the second day of a committee of the whole house.
Tuesday is a day for opposition debates in the Commons; two dealing with recent controversies - school sport funding and tuition fees. Meanwhile, the Lords begin their detailed scrutiny of the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill - the bill to hold a referendum on switching to the alternative vote electoral system, and to cut the number of Commons seats to 600, while standardising their size. This is the start of a bit of a marathon for peers - who will have five days of committee stage debate on this bill before Christmas, with a promise of more in the new year. Yummy.
The hearing on British extradition policy should be a real cracker - the star witness is Janis Sharp, the mother of hacker Gary McKinnon, who is fighting extradition to America, where he is accused of hacking into Pentagon and NASA computer systems, eight years ago. With her will be Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty. And the appetiser will be former Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Secretary David Blunkett - who brought in the 2003 Extradition Act, under which Mr McKinnon may be sent to the US. He will appear along with Jago Russell of Fair Trials Abroad.
And there will also be a "topical slot" when the witness will be the former Chief of Police in New York, Bill Bratton - talking about his "zero tolerance" crime cutting strategy.
The inquiry into transport and the economy inquiry moves on to consider HS2 - the controversial scheme for a high speed rail link, which is attracting strong opposition in the constituencies affected by the proposed route.
And the will be questioning Chancellor George Osborne. Former Chancellor Lord Lawson is one of this distinguished committee; so it's far from an easy ride for Mr Osborne.
On Wednesday, the Commons polishes off the Fixed Term Parliaments Bill - having so far defeated all attempts to amend it. That should allow enough time for the Bill to have its second reading in the Lords before Christmas.
Former Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis will be revisiting his decision to ban flights when the ash-cloud from the Iceland volcanic eruption enveloped Europe, as part of the inquiry into the scientific advice given to ministers in emergencies. Former Health Secretary Andy Burnham will discuss the advice he received over the swine flu epidemic. And the Security Minister Baroness Neville-Jones will chip in with her thoughts about cyber-security. Proceedings will be rounded off with evidence from the minister in charge of science policy, David Willetts.
And on Thursday, we'll see Adam Afriyie's long-awaited debate on IPSA and the MPs' expenses system held, under the aegis of the Backbench Business Committee. I understand there's been extensive lobbying of ministers and party leaders, to try to defuse any fears that addressing MPs' concerns about IPSA's shortcomings would re-open this particular can of worms.
The ("Cleggwatch") will be examining the relationship between local and national government, with the councils' umbrella group, the Local Government Association. There seems to be a bit of overlap between their inquiry and the Communities and Local Government Committee's inquiry into the currently popular doctrine of "Localism". Last week the Cleggwatchers found themselves quizzing local government guru Tony Travers, who's advising the CLG committee - which all concerned found a bit odd.
At the end of the week, there are more Private Members' Bills in the Commons - including a bill on Daylight Saving Time from Conservative Rebecca Harris, and a bill to extend legislation on gangmasters to the Construction Industry from Labour's David Hamilton.
In the Lords, the former Liberal Leader David Steel brings back an updated version of his Private Members' Bill for minimalist reform of the Upper House. It would phase out the hereditary peerage by not replacing them when they die, cap the size of the Lords so that it had no more members than the Commons, guarantee that no one party or governing coalition had an outright majority, and revamp the process for new appointments to the House.
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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