Next week's business
Monday is red letter day for fans of Eric Pickles. Not only will the Communities Secretary be on his feet in the Commons answering Communities and Local Government questions; it is also the second reading of the Localism Bill, his department's legislative flagship, which covers everything from giving local people more power over local councils to sweeping changes in housing policy and the kind of tenancies that may be offered for social housing in the future.
But it is the Lords where a real test of political will is brewing. The has been stretched on the rack of committee stage in their lordships house for eight long days, with no end in sight. This is the ninth; and there is talk of a long session, well into the early hours - comfy chairs are being placed in the Peers Library so that noble lords will have somewhere to slump. Toasted sandwiches will be available in the small hours, and the peers-only Bishops' Bar is braced for a marathon opening.
Monday's committee day could be open-ended - a "till they drop" legislative session that will not conclude until some real progress is made. It could even go on 'till Friday, if both sides dig their heels in. Labour wants to split the bill so that the section dealing with redrawing the constituency map of Britain can be dealt with at length - while the part authorising a referendum in May on changing the voting system could go ahead. But the two sections are deliberately yoked together under the Lib-Con Coalition Agreement, and the government will be loath to change the whole deal upon which it is based - or to have to put the constituency section of the bill back in front of the Commons, where MPs know that it abolishes 50 of their number and condemns many more to seek reselection in radically redrawn seats...they hated these provisions when they passed them first time around. The whips may not fancy a second turkeys/Early Christmas exercise.
Nick Clegg will be appearing at his monthly question session on Tuesday; a chance for some Labour mockery following the Oldham and Saddleworth by-election, perhaps? ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz will be proposing a Ten Minute Rule Bill on the succession to the crown; and then we see the remaining stages of the , which sets the parliamentary term at five years. Over in the Lords, after questions we'll perhaps see another day of the Parliamentary Voting Bill at committee stage. This is day 10. Another mammoth session?
Committees get going in earnest on Tuesday; the will be talking to Virgin Money and Santander representatives about competition and choice in the banking sector - an emphasis on the high street, rather than the rarefied world of investment banking as represented by last week's witness Bob Diamond from Barclays.
Also of interest: Keir Starmer, Director of Public Prosecutions, in front of the , on NHS productivity in hospitals, thetalking to Ed Vaizey on the future of the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, on police financing and extradition, and on the future of the much criticised development agency CDC.
Wednesday sees David Cameron and Ed Miliband duelling once again at PMQs - a more even-tempered session this time? Pundits' verdicts were fairly united that ; but Mr Miliband will have a by-election victory to gloat over. After that, it's an Opposition Day Debate on the Educational Maintenance Allowance and the evening will see former deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst returning to the shop floor to introduce an adjournment debate.
Guess what their lordships are up to? Yes, it is - theoretically, at least - day 11 of the committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting Bill. If it's not beginning to feel like Groundhog Day, we could see some end in sight. Certainly, day eight of the committee stage of the Public Bodies Bill is pencilled in for Wednesday too - an oasis at the end of a legislative Sahara for their lordships?
Wednesday's slew of committees includes an inquiry by the into the UK Border Agency and the termination of a contract with Glasgow City Council to provide housing for asylum seekers; a decision which is going to have a huge impact on that city.
The will be talking to a number of important civil servants about "accounting officer accountability". This could be a fascinating committee session: chair Margaret Hodge has the chance to ask Sir Gus O'Donnell (Cabinet Secretary, head of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Civil Service) and Sir Nicholas Macpherson (top civil servant at the Treasury), as well as two representatives of the Cabinet Office about the dry-sounding issue of civil service accountability. Unusually these include a minister - Francis Maude. The PAC does not normally take evidence from politicians - and this could be an important precedent. Mr Maude will be supported by Lord Browne, who is leading the Efficiency and Reform Board. And the will be talking to that veteran bruiser Ken Clarke in its annual session on justice.
Then on Thursday, Culture Secretary Jeremy (ahem) Hunt will answer questions in the Commons, where the News International bid for complete ownership of Sky TV seems bound to feature, followed by the usual Business Statement; and then Backbench Business on a motion relating to the future of the horse racing levy and improving life for disadvantaged children.
If they're not too exhausted by now, the Lords will be holding a debate on the constitutional and Parliamentary effect of a coalition government, proposed by Baroness Symons. Their lordships obviously haven't had enough constitutional meat to chew over this week.
On Friday, both MPs and peers are sitting again: the Commons to discuss private members' bills. In the Commons, Procedure Committee Chair Greg Knight will be attempting to tidy up anomalies in the law of inheritance, including what happens when the person who should normally inherit property killed the person who owned it.
Another bill on the order paper deals with the sale of tickets for sporting events; and the Lords debate the Marine Navigation Aids Bill and further bills on the rehabilitation of offenders and dog control.
A couple of dogs not barking this week are the and . Foreign Affairs are putting the finishing touches to their potentially very contentious report on Afghanistan and Pakistan, while Defence are holding a series of private briefings while they plan their future activities. Both plan to be back in action fairly soon.
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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