The week ahead in Westminster

By Keith Macdougall The Record presenter

The circumstances surrounding Michael Martin's forced resignation as Commons Speaker will be forgotten this week when MPs pay tribute to his time in Parliament.

Just ahead of the Speaker's departure, the Commons on Wednesday will stage a special session when Michael Martin will make a farewell speech in the chamber.

MPs will then speak about the contribution he's made during his nine years in the Speaker's chair. There will be no shortage of compliments and he will be given best wishes for his future.

The election for the next Commons Speaker takes place on Monday 22nd June. There are plenty of candidates!

The impact of the recession on rural communities is the subject for a Commons debate this Monday.

Meanwhile, over in the Lords, peers discuss in detail the sensitive issue of funding political parties - part of the government's Political Parties and Elections Bill.

Later on Monday Tory MP Nadine Dorries holds a brief debate on the government's new car scrappage scheme designed to keep the British car industry ticking over.

The familiar arguments over the future of the European Union, and in particular the tortured ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, will be aired in the Commons on Tuesday.

Gordon Brown faces the weekly round of prime minister's questions on Wednesday.

At Lords question time on the same day, peers will be discussing the current state of bank lending.

It is only three years until the London Olympics and Lord Coe, chair of the whole Olympic project, leads a Lords debate on the event on Thursday.

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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