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It's the last week before recess but there's still plenty of excitement to be had in Westminster.

Monday in the Commons opens with Eric Pickles and Communities and Local Government ministerial team on their feet, answering questions from MPs. After that, it's an Opposition Day with Labour staging debates on police cuts and the government's green policy.

In the Lords, the Public Bodies Bill will be up for consideration - it's day three of report stage and their lordships - many quangocrats themselves - are still nibbling away at the Bill's provisions. That comes after questions, of course, with some interesting ones from Lord Dykes, on the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch's News International and Lord Dubs on the reorganisation of primary care trusts. I'm just speculating here, but I somehow doubt strong approval will feature in either of their lordships' questions.

Grant Shapps will be hot-footing it from questions in the Commons to the on Monday afternoon, where he'll be talking to MPs there about the audit and inspection of local authorities. This tekky-sounding subject is, in fact, highly controversial - because the present financial watchdog for local government, the Audit Commission is due to be abolished. Is that decision the product of post-election euphoria by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles or has he thought it through properly?

Elsewhere on committee corridor, there is a Joint Committee session on the detention of terrorist suspects with (count 'em) three former home secretaries: Jack Straw, David Blunkett and Charles Clarke - and former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.

The committee will want to hear their views on contingency plans that would allow terrorism suspects to be held for more than 14 days, ask whether the current proposals unnecessarily risk a suspect's right to a fair trial - and discover whether they think the proposals blur the line between Parliament and the courts.

And the Scottish and Welsh Committees are taking wing: the is in Aberdeen to take evidence on the potential impact of government changes to immigration rules on universities in Scotland. The National Union of Students, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Universities Scotland give evidence. Meanwhile, the will hold an evidence session at Swansea University for its inquiry into Inward Investment in Wales. The committee will hear from academics and industry experts on how Wales can improve its chances of attracting investment.

On Tuesday, Nick Clegg faces questions from MPs, followed by a debate on Britain's contribution to humanitarian relief in Libya and then backbench business - the traditional end-of-term debate in which MPs can raise any subject they fancy. This rather amorphous event has been much improved by the Backbench Business Committee, which has grouped the speeches into themes, so that they can get a better answer from a suitable minister.

Meanwhile, the Lords continue to plough through legislation with the Building Regulations (Review) Bill and the EU Bill. Committee-wise, there's a meeting on the future of higher education and a interrogation of the chairman and chief executive of the Premier League, Dave Richards and Richard Scudamore on football governance. Meanwhile, the will be looking at the UK Border Agency and the hacking of mobile phones.

The Commons is in recess on Wednesday; their Lordships forge on. Telephone hacking crops up again in questions in the Lords (Lord Fowler is raising the subject), then the house will consider the Postal Services Bill.

Then it's the Easter recess - and Parliamentarians disappear until 26 April, for three days before the Royal wedding. That's always supposing they are not recalled in the event of stirrings of war in North Africa and the Middle East. You have been warned...

There's also an extensive crop of select committee reports - so here are some highlights: on Saturday, the releases its report on Competition and Choice in Retail Banking. Is the consumer getting a good enough deal following the consolidation in the banking industry created by the financial crisis? On Monday, the reports on the EU Single Market. It is expected to recommend ongoing monitoring, to highlight the economic benefits, and to flag the UK's role in helping to complete it.

Perhaps the most important report of the week emanates from Stephen Dorrell's . Their verdict on NHS Commissioning is likely to be very important to the prospect of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's proposed changes to the system in the Health and Social Care Bill - and may even offer the committee's shopping list of changes to the bill if the planned switch to GP-led commissioning is to help the NHS deliver the improvements to services needed to meet the rising number of elderly people. I hear whispers that there have been ructions over the drafting of this report, so watch this space, and beware of "forms of words" within, which may paper over the cracks in the committee.

The first report containing comment on arms exports to North Africa is published on Tuesday from the - chaired by Sir John Stanley.

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