Wednesday 7th May
At Prime Minister's Questions Nick Clegg asked about compensation for those hit by the doubling of the 10p rate. Chris Huhne responded to a statement on reclassification of cannabis, asking the Home Secretary to agree “that her move will not accelerate the falls in cannabis use or the falls in psychosis, nor will it cut crime?” In Westminster Hall Annette Brooke obtained a short debate on green belt policy. Making reference to her own constituency, Annette said that people prized their local countryside and saw development and urban sprawl as the biggest threats to it. She expressed concern about a threat to the permanency of green belt boundaries.

The main business today was a Conservative Opposition Day debate Safeguarding the Impartiality of the Civil Service. Susan Kramer said the Liberal Democrats wanted a bill that would enshrine in statute the impartiality of the civil service. Earlier, Bob Russell proposed a 10 Minute Rule Bill to amend immigration rules to give indefinite leave to enter and remain in the UK to all Gurkhas. Describing Gurkhas as “the bravest of the brave”, Bob concluded, “The Bill seeks to give voice to what I believe is the will of the British people. Let the Gurkhas stay! I commend the Bill to the House.”

Thursday 8th May
Today's main debate was a general debate on Defence in the World. Nick Harvey said that traditional defence planning was now out of date. “We need a force that is flexible and able to endure the various challenges that it might be faced with? If we cannot make more resources available, we will need to have a fundamental rethink about what we are trying to do.” In Westminster Hall there was a debate on a report from the Health Committee on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Sandra Gidley agreed that NICE “does a good job in difficult circumstances, but what we have heard today indicates that it could probably do so quicker and that implementation could be better.”

Friday 9th May
MPs debated a Private Member's Bill, the Planning and Energy Bill, at its report stage and third reading. Julia Goldsworthy welcomed the Bill for the Liberal Democrats, saying it would “make a real and tangible change to the approach to climate change, particularly in respect of development.”  At the end of the day's business, Vince Cable obtained a short debate on care home charges. He focused on the question of cross-subsidy in relation to care home charging, and the related problem of third party top-ups.

Monday 12th May
MPs debated the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill at second reading. Norman Lamb welcomed the fact that a bill had now come forward, after detailed deliberation. He said the Liberal Democrats would have free votes on all parts of the Bill, but offered the personal view that it must be right to consider the use of human admixed embryos. He said he hoped the debate would be conducted on the basis of evidence and in a measured tone.