The week ahead in Westminster

By Alicia McCarthy The Record presenter

The Record is BBC Parliament's regular round-up of the preceding day's stories in Westminster

Monday kicks off with Work and Pensions questions in the Commons, whilst the Schools Minister, Jim Knight, appears in front of his departmental select committee to talk about the National Curriculum.

The Lords, meanwhile, look set to pass a bill forcing the collection of data on Special Educational Needs provision in England, a piece of legislation that started life as a Private Member's Bill - from the Labour backbencher, Sharon Hodgson.

Things step up a gear on Tuesday - when MPs rush through all the stages of the new legislation allowing witnesses in some court cases to give evidence anonymously.

It follows the recent decision by Law Lords that a trial had been unfair, because some witnesses had given evidence anonymously.

Up on the Committee corridor, the Joint Committee on Human Rights is hearing from the Director of Public Prosecutions about the plans.

Elsewhere in the Committees, BBC Director General Mark Thompson and the Chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons, are appearing in front of the Culture, Media and Sport committee on the BBC's annual report.

Meanwhile, peers busy themselves discussing the Counter Terrorism Bill, which would extend to 42 days the time terror suspects can be held without charge.

Wednesday brings Prime Minister's Questions, whilst in the Lords Lord Barnett, a former Treasury Minister, asks what the government's policy is on commercial banks going bankrupt.

The Environmental Audit Committee continues its inquiry into Car Tax and hears from the Treasury Minister, Angela Eagle.

The Lords debate the Witness Anonymity bill on Thursday, whilst Alistair Darling is due in the Commons for his monthly round of Treasury Questions.

In the alternative debating chamber of Westminster Hall there's a debate on restructuring Afghanistan. Neither House will sit on Friday.

When the Houses are sitting, you can watch The Record every weeknight at 2300 repeated at 0900 Monday and overnight throughout the week.

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