LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – It’s suddenly a new period with a new prime minister, a new Cabinet, a new plan to deal with the variety of problems filling Whitehall’s in-trays, and a new round of parliamentary skirmishes. Find out what is happening in Parliament next week.Â
September 5, Monday
The Commons (14:30) begins with Home Office questions; following that, anticipate a deluge of urgent post-holiday questions and government comments, which may last several days.
The second reading discussion of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which addresses international data transfers, personal data, and other issues, will be the primary legislative activity.
Look out for an urgent question (Private Notice Question in peer speak) on the possibility of a sizable wave of new people being appointed in honours list of Boris Johnson’s resignation, despite worries over the already high number of membership of the upper House. The Lords resume at 14:30 with the first of eight days of detailed committee consideration of the Energy Bill (the initial phase of detailed discussion, when votes aren’t often held).Â
September 6, Tuesday
Questions from the Foreign Office kick off The Commons (11:30). The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill second reading discussion, which codifies the most recent post-Brexit trade deal into UK law, is the primary item on the agenda. In reality, all that is needed are a few minor changes to the laws governing public procurement, but Labour is likely to make light of some of the insults directed at the Conservative Party’s trade policy during the contest for the party’s leadership, particularly those made by Trade Secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan about Penny Mordaunt’s performance as her junior minister.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, will be questioned by the Digital Culture Media and Sport panel at 10:00 about the future of the licence fee, the BBC’s business model in the context of contemporary media.
The Social Housing (Regulation) Bill is the primary topic of discussion in the Lords at 14:30.
September 7, WednesdayÂ
This initial meeting will be extremely significant since it will set the tone for what looks to be a quite eventful few months.
Despite the fact that lithium ion battery storage is a growingly popular energy management technology and has been linked to several fires in the US and UK, former Cabinet minister Maria Miller has proposed a Ten Minute Rule bill to regulate it.
The Financial Services and Markets Bill, a post-Brexit bill designed to tailor financial services regulation to UK markets and preserve the UK’s status as an open and global financial hub, will thereafter be given a second reading.
Among the Select Committee’s activities is Treasury’s 10:00 grilling of Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, and a supporting cast of officials about the most recent Monetary Policy Reports. The markets will be paying attention as there is discussion of changing the Bank’s mandate and a dramatic increase in inflation.
Work and Pensions (09:30) hears evidence on impoverished children and the Child Maintenance Service. Home Affairs (09:45) focuses on violence against women and girls and hears testimony from Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, and HM Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher.Â
More in-depth discussion of the Energy Bill will take place in the Lords at 15:00.
September 8, Thursday
Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs questions take up the first half hour of the Commons’ opening session (09:30).
The Social Security (Special Rules for the End of Life) Bill, which modifies the regulations that expedite disability compensation for those with a terminal illness, will then be swiftly passed through all stages by MPs. A 12-month end-of-life approach is necessary since people with terminal illnesses are now living longer because of medical advancements.
Backbench discussions about the role of primary and community care in enhancing patient outcomes as well as the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss on food security are taking place in the Lords at 11:00.
September 9, Friday
The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill from Labour’s Dan Jarvis offers up a few more pieces of a sort of self-assembly employment bill during the Commons’ second Private Members Bill Friday (09:30), which is time allocated to laws presented by individual MPs.
The Carers’ Leave Bill from Wendy Chamberlain, Lib Dem Chief Whip will come next. It isn’t known if there will be enough time for discussion of the third measure on the list, Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill by Lib Dem Wera Hobhouse.
Private Members Bills are also being considered in the Lords at 10:00.
There are second readings for the Government of Wales (Devolved Powers) Bill from former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Wigley, the Ofcom (Duty Regarding Prevention of Serious Self-Harm and Suicide) Bill from crossbench or independent peer Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, the House of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill from conservative constitutionalist Lord Norton of Louth, the Coroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill [HL] from St Alban’s Bishop and from the Conservative Baroness Hodgson the Women, Peace and Security Bill.
