House of Lords back to business

• What’s on: House of Lords
• Parliament TV: watch proceedings in the House of Lords

Tributes will be paid to the former Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman.

Lord Laming will sit in the chamber as the new Convenor of the Crossbench Peers for the first time. Baroness D’Souza is the former Convenor of the Crossbench Peers.

Business this week

Oral questions

Among other tabled questions, the Government will be asked about the steps it is taking to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS in the UK (Monday); the arrangements to ensure appropriate ministerial cover during the summer recess (Monday); and the computerisation of NHS records (Thursday).

Lord Barnett has tabled a question on the change in public expenditure in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s deficit reduction plan (Tuesday).

Legislation

The Localism Bill begins its report stage on Monday. Discussion will start with amendments to clause 132, which concerns the preparation of and modifications to local housing authority tenancy strategies.

The Bill contains provisions for local government and community empowerment, planning, housing and the governance of London.

• Bills before Parliament: Localism Bill
• Lords news: Localism Bill committee stage, day 10

The Scotland Bill will have its second reading on Tuesday. The Bill makes changes to the devolution settlement for Scotland and gives effect to the recommendations as set out in the Calman Commission report on Scottish Devolution, published in 2009.

• Bills before Parliament: Scotland Bill
• Calman Commission report  – Serving Scotland Better: Scotland and the United Kingdom in the 21st Century [external website]

Debates

Members of the Lords will debate the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the continuing role of the Commonwealth to mark the CPA’s 100th anniversary on Thursday. 

The debate takes place the day ahead of a Commonwealth Youth Parliament event in the Lords chamber also marking the centenary. Young parliamentarians from around the Commonwealth will debate the issues surrounding climate change.

• Government Whips Office: Speakers list [external website]
• Commonwealth Youth Parliament 2011 

Committees

Lords select committee work resumes with inquiries into the following:

• The Communications Committee begins a new inquiry into the future of investigative journalism.
• A new inquiry into EU drugs policy by the EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee gets under way.
• The Economic Affairs Committee inquiry into the economics of development aid resumes with an evidence session with officials on 6 September at 3.35pm.
• The Science and Technology Committee is inquiring into the role of Chief Scientific Advisers.
• The Constitution Committee is looking at the judicial appointments process in England and Wales.
• The European rail market and role of the Channel Tunnel is under scrutiny by the EU Internal Market, Energy and Transport Sub-Committee.

Public committee sessions are open to everyone, including the press.

• House of Lords select committees

Further information

Members of the public can also attend House of Lords debates and follow proceedings from the public gallery.

• Visiting Parliament: Attend debates and meetings