What's coming up?
Parliament's half-term break has begun - the Commons, the Lords, and this blog will resume on Monday 28 February.
There have been a couple of sulphurous comments attached to earlier posts mentioning the half-term, to the effect that lazy legislators should work just as hard as everybody else. Which rather assumes they're all off to assorted ski slopes, tropical paradises etc.
Some may indeed be holidaying - but I suspect rather a lot of MPs will be putting themselves about in their constituencies. In some cases, they will be campaigning for elections due in May - as any experienced agent will tell you, it's never too early, unless you're the voter whose favourite soap opera is interrupted by some politician on the doorstep. Others will be out and about in their constituencies, using the Westminster break as a chance to visit and be visible.
Bluntly, a lot of MPs are afraid of their constituents in a way that would shock previous parliamentary generations. So they want to be seen amongst their people, listening, connecting, campaigning. Even the most assiduous MP can't make it to every street and hamlet on their patch but many will be having a go - because their voters are now a hanging jury, and they have to take every possible chance to put the case for the defence.
I, on the other hand, am having a bit of a holiday. But first, here's a look at what will be happening over the break, and when Parliament comes back:
During the break, the , the Commons public spending watchdog, publishes a report on Defence Procurement. And given the tone of some of their hearings, expect a fairly brutal duffing-up for the MoD.
Monday 28 February
The main business in the Commons is a Backbench Business Committee debate on (drumroll)...the Big Society - a chance to examine David Cameron's big idea.
The Lords will be continuing their detailed scrutiny of the Public Bodies Bill - which gives the government sweeping powers to axe quangos. This may include the promised amendments to remove provisions to abolish the Forestry Commission, following the government's climbdown on that issue.
And on the committee corridor, the begins an investigation into Pfizer's decision to close its research and development facility in Sandwich. Witnesses include Pfizer management and the D-G of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
Tuesday 1 March
The Commons will be taking a look at the much-heralded Protection of Freedoms Bill (which is supposed to scrap all kinds of burdensome regulation and interference, from cowboy car clamping, to retention of DNA samples fingerprinting of schoolchildren).
In the Lords, peers feeling withdrawal symptoms after disposing of the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Act get a fresh fix of high-powered constitutional legislation with the second reading debate on the Fixed Term Parliaments Bill. Enjoy.
The begins its follow-up inquiry into NHS commissioning - this follows its hard-hitting report into commissioning issues earlier this year, which raised serious doubts about the government's restructuring of the health service.
The - shaping up as pretty aggressive interrogators - will have its first encounter with David Higgins, the new head of Network Rail. And the holds that pre-demonstration session ahead of the TUC's planned demo on 26 March. Key witnesses include Carl Roper, the chief steward for the march, and Assistant Commissioner Lynne Owens of the Metropolitan Police. (See earlier blogpost).
Wednesday 2 March
In the Commons, MPs will debate the annual motion to renew the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act - and opposition motions on Sure Start and HM Revenue and Customs. Meanwhile peers will be continuing their detailed scrutiny of the Energy Bill - which allows people to fund home insulation and other energy-saving measures from the savings to their, er, energy bills.
The opens its inquiry into the impact of the EU Directive banning battery cages for egg producers. The will be looking at public sector pensions and the will be quizzing ministers about the role and performance of the schools watchdog, Ofsted.
One minor oddity is a three-in-one appearance by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts who will be speaking to the Science and Technology Committee about (1) strategically important metals (2) the Pfizer closure (see entry above, for Monday) and (3) the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation.
Thursday 3 March
We will see a Commons debate chosen by the Democratic Unionist Party, while the Lords will be holding a debate tied to International Women's Day.
The only committee hearing I'm aware of is a look at the issues around student visas - with the star witness the omnipresent David Willetts.
Friday 4 March
Both Houses are sitting, with the Commons debating a series of private members' bills, starting with Jonathan Lord's Sports Ground Safety Authority Bill. It would rename the Football Licensing Authority as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and enable it to provide advice about safety at sports grounds generally.
Next on the agenda are two bills from Conservative awkward squaddie Christopher Chope. First the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill - enabling the national minimum wage to be lowered to reflect local labour market conditions. And next, the Further and Higher Education (Access) Bill requiring all publicly funded universities and colleges to allocate student places purely on merit - effectively outlawing social or other quotas.
There are also private members' bills in the Lords - Lord Redesdale's Dog Control Bill (see earlier posting), Lord Clement-Jones' Live Music Bill and the Building Regulations (Review) Bill proposed by Lord Harrison.
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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