The week ahead in Westminster

By Neil Bennett BBC Parliament

Tuesday will see will see the main party leaders attend the Speaker's Conference

Monday in the House of Commons will see Prime Minister Gordon Brown making a statement on the recent European Council meeting in the chamber.

The PM received an early treat just before Halloween with the news that the EU has reached a conditional deal on global warning, ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit.

MPs will get their chance to rail against the annual problems of egging, toilet-papering and other petty vandalism that often accompanies the trick or treating season with a short debate on anti-social behaviour on the floor of the chamber.

And over to someone who has been monstered in the press, former speaker Lord Martin of Springburn will appear before the Committee on the Issue of Privileges giving evidence on the police search of Damian Green's parliamentary offices.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will have questions from MPs on Tuesday whilst the Lords will consider the Policing and Crime Bill. The Bill covers a wide variety of areas ranging from tighter controls on the licensing of lap dancing clubs to new restrictions on special alcoholic drink promotions.

Any sparks not already set aside for Fireworks Night will surely fly on Wednesday at Prime Minister's Questions, set to be the highlight of the week, as Gordon Brown faces David Cameron, Nick Clegg and the rest of the House.

This will lead straight into the Leader of the House Harriet Harman's statement on the outcome of the Kelly Review into MPs expenses, press reports have speculated that the Sir Christopher Kelly's review will propose an end to mortgage claims, MPs employing relatives and grants for retiring MPs.

In the select committee rooms, UK Financial Investments Ltd, the body set up to run the taxpayers' stake in commercial banks, will appear before the Treasury committee. Expect the annual Christmas bonus bonanza for highflying bankers to be raised.

Thursday will return to the issue of climate change, with MPs holding a debate ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit whilst the general public uses Fireworks Night as an excuse to raise the national temperature.

The Lords are sitting on Friday this week for a debate on the Armed Forces and future defence policy, expect to see plenty of former defence chiefs and defence ministers weighing in on Afghanistan, the Nimrod review and military equipment.

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