The Week Ahead

The House of Representatives returns from the Thanksgiving break on Tuesday. Twenty five bills are expected to be considered under the suspensions procedure. Major business will include conference reports on H.R. 2082 - Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Rep. Reyes – Intelligence) and H.R. 1585 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Rep. Skelton – Armed Services). There may be Motions to go to Conference should they become available and possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.

The Senate meets for legislative business on Monday. On Tuesday the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs , Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine credit card practices, focusing on unfair interest rate increases.

In the House of Commons, highlights include

Monday 3 December
* Defence Questions: Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill - Remaining stages

Tuesday 4 December
* Westminster Hall Private Members' Debates - 13.00-13.30 Ministerial accountability to Parliament
* Transport Questions; Statement - Publication of the enquiry into the Nimrod crash Debate; Opposition Day (3rd allotted day) - i) Politicalisation of the Civil Service; ii) Performance of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Wednesday 5 December
* Oral Questions - International Development; Prime Minister: Debate - Standards of conduct in public life

Thursday 6 December
* DEFRA Questions: Business Statement - Leader of the House: Consolidated Fund Bill - First, Second and Third readings - Topical Debate.

House of Lords

Monday & Tuesday - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (Committee Stage on the floor of the House)
Wednesday - debate on Europe, ahead of the summit next week
Thursday - debates initiated by the Conservative Opposition