📅 Business of the House

• Future Business Schedule:
  • Monday 7 April: Debates on road maintenance and neighbourhood policing/town centre crime.
  • Tuesday 8 April: Debates on posthumous Victoria Cross for Blair Mayne and pre-Easter recess matters.
  • Easter Recess: From the end of business on 8 April to 22 April.
  • Tuesday 22 April: Second Reading of the Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill.
  • Wednesday 23 April: Opposition day debate led by the Liberal Democrats.
  • Thursday 24 April: Remaining stages of the Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill.
  • Friday 25 April: Private Members’ Bills.
  • Monday 28 April: Second Reading of the Football Governance Bill.
  • Tuesday 29 April: Remaining stages of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
  • Wednesday 30 April: Committee and remaining stages of the Sentencing Guidelines Bill.
  • Thursday 1 May: Business determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
  • Friday 2 May: House not sitting.
• Easter Wishes and Economic Concerns:
  • Members wished each other a happy Easter, acknowledging the upcoming holiday.
  • Concerns were raised about the impact of national insurance rises, tariffs, and inflation on the economy, making it harder to hire and affecting young people’s job opportunities.
• Birmingham City Council Issues:
  • A strike by Unite union over bin collections has led to 17,000 tonnes of rubbish piling up, causing a public health crisis.
  • Criticism was directed at the government for not addressing the union’s role in the crisis, despite receiving significant donations from Unite.
  • The government’s handling of union relations was questioned, especially in light of taking direct control of the NHS.
• Sky Redundancies:
  • Sky announced nearly 2,000 job cuts, affecting employees in Stockport, Leeds, and Sheffield.
  • Concerns were raised about the process and support for affected employees, prompting calls for a debate on how Sky treats its staff.
• Hillsborough Law Update:
  • The 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster is approaching, and there is a push for the Hillsborough law, including a duty of candour for public servants.
  • The government is working on the legislation but emphasized the need to ensure it meets the expectations of the affected families.
• Brass Band Achievements:
  • Whitburn Band from Scotland won the Scottish brass band championships and will represent Scotland in national and European competitions.
  • A call was made for a debate on the cultural contribution of brass bands to UK communities.
• Backbench Business Committee:
  • Disappointment was expressed over the lack of Backbench Business time on 24 April, missing opportunities for debates on St George’s Day and Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
  • Upcoming debates include topics like residential estate management, Lesbian Visibility Week, and the EU trading relationship.
• UN Special Rapporteur Concerns:
  • Concerns were raised about the reappointment of Francesca Albanese as the UN special rapporteur on the occupied territories due to her controversial statements.
  • A call was made for a government statement on how the UK will vote at the UN regarding her reappointment.
• Education and Sixth-Form Closures:
  • Concerns were raised about the closure of sixth-form provisions at Nether Stowe school and Neale-Wade Academy, affecting students’ A-level opportunities.
  • Calls were made for meetings with education ministers to discuss post-16 education planning.
• Maternal Health Inequalities:
  • A debate was requested on health inequalities and racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, highlighting higher mortality rates among black and Asian women.
• Community Clean-Up Efforts:
  • Appreciation was expressed for community groups participating in litter picks, such as in Bracknell, to keep areas clean.
• Energy Bill Increases:
  • Criticism was directed at the government for rising energy bills despite promises to reduce them, prompting a call for a debate on this issue.
• Assisted Dying Bill:
  • Questions were raised about the impact assessment and future stages of the assisted dying Bill, with Report stage scheduled for 25 April.
• Council Housing Issues:
  • Concerns were raised about void council properties in Northumberland, leading to lost rental income and long waiting lists for social housing.
  • A debate was requested on ensuring council properties are not left empty.
• Support for Self-Employed Adopters:
  • The issue of financial support for self-employed adopters was raised, with a call for clarity on a parental leave review.
• Horizon Scandal Compensation:
  • A case was highlighted where a retired postmistress affected by the Horizon scandal has not received her compensation, prompting a request for assistance.
• Ukrainian Visa Issues:
  • Problems with the conversion to e-visas for Ukrainian refugees were raised, with a call for a Home Office statement to clarify the situation.
• Credit Union Appreciation:
  • Thanks were given to the trustees of Hertsavers credit union for providing affordable finance options to the community.
• Welsh Public Services Funding:
  • Concerns were raised about the funding disparity for Welsh public services due to increased national insurance contributions, prompting a call for a debate on this issue.

The session displays a moderate level of disagreement, primarily between Jesse Norman (Conservative) and Lucy Powell (Labour), the Leader of the House. The disagreements are evident but are not intense or pervasive throughout the session. Here are the key points of disagreement and their analysis:

1. Birmingham City Council Strike: Jesse Norman criticizes the situation in Birmingham, attributing the city’s problems to the Labour-controlled council and the union Unite. He questions the government’s reluctance to criticize Unite, suggesting a possible influence due to union donations to Labour MPs. Lucy Powell acknowledges the dire situation in Birmingham and criticizes Unite for not returning to negotiations, but she also defends the government’s actions and points out the historical failures of the council under different administrations, including a Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition. This exchange shows a clear disagreement on the handling of the situation and the political implications, but it remains within the bounds of parliamentary debate without escalating to personal attacks or significant disruption.

2. Industrial Action and Government Policy: Norman criticizes the Labour government’s handling of industrial actions, suggesting that their financial support to unions without negotiated improvements could lead to future problems, particularly with the NHS. Powell counters by highlighting the end of industrial actions under Labour’s watch and the improvements in NHS waiting lists, while also pointing out the higher number of industrial action days under the previous Conservative government. This disagreement is focused on policy effectiveness and past performance, showing a clear difference in perspective but maintaining a professional tone.

3. Economic Policies and Tariffs: There is a brief mention of new tariffs and their impact on British businesses, with Powell stating the government’s commitment to protecting British interests. Norman indirectly criticizes the government’s economic policies by mentioning the impact of national insurance rises on inflation and employment. This disagreement is more implied than direct, suggesting a difference in economic strategy but not escalating into a heated debate.

Overall, while there are clear points of disagreement, they are addressed in a manner that is typical of parliamentary discourse. The disagreements do not dominate the session, which also includes several non-contentious topics and congratulatory remarks. Therefore, a rating of 2 is appropriate, reflecting a moderate level of disagreement without significant conflict or disruption.