Politics

We aim to keep you informed of all relevant Westminster parliamentary business, including select committee activity and early day motions. Members and associates can also track key bills as they pass through the legislative process, and keep up to date with our public affairs work through our activities page.

Highlights of parliamentary business during the week beginning 8 March –

•  In a speech on the economy this week, the prime minister announced that the Budget statement will take place on 24 March and will focus on “protecting and advancing the recovery”. He also touched upon financial regulation saying the new requirement that banks hold more and higher quality capital will be introduced “gradually and taking account of the needs of the real economy for credit”. The process of bank recapitalisation, he said, must be finished and as with regulation stressed that the government would ensure the timing of this meets the needs of the economy.
  
• Alongside Brown’s speech the Labour Party is published a new document outlining the government’s strategy for the economic recovery, comparing this with the plans of the Conservative Party.
  
• The chancellor launched a new free money advice service, funded by a levy on the financial sector, to be rolled out around the country.
  
• Housing minister John Healey announced a second round of funding (£83 million) for the Kickstart programme to get 5,700 new and affordable homes stalled by the recession back on track.
  
• In an interview with the Independent, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg spelled out the four "tests" he will set for Labour and the Conservatives if they are to seek his party's support in a hung Parliament following the upcoming general election. These are: raising the tax thresholds to £10,000, with higher taxes for the rich; a boost to education spending; a switch to a greener economy less dependent on financial services; and political reform including a new voting system for Westminster elections. This interview took place as a trailer to the Liberal Democrat spring conference taking place this weekend.
  
• The Commons Treasury select committee published evidence given by FSA chairman Lord Turner in respect of the committee’s financial institutions – too important to fail inquiry.
  
• The Commons Scottish Affairs committee published a report on banking in Scotland. 

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