| 1 | CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND PRESCRIPTION CHARGES | 17:5:05 |
| Bob Russell | | Mr James Clappison | | Andrew Stunell | | John Mann | | Tom Brake | | Tim Farron |
| That this House believes people with cystic fibrosis should not have to pay prescription charges. |
| 48 | FUTURE OF COUNCIL HOUSING | 17:5:05 |
| Simon Hughes | | Paul Holmes | | Tom Brake | | Tim Farron | | Mr David Heath | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| | Mr Adrian Sanders | Helen Goodman |
| That this House supports the proposal from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Select Committee for an investment allowance to create a level playing field for council housing and enable local authorities to finance borrowing under the prudential framework to meet the Decent Homes Standard as an alternative to the Government's three current options of stock transfer, private finance initiative and arm's length management organisations; shares the concerns expressed in the critical reports by the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office on the cost-effectiveness of stock transfer; believes that a fourth option, allowing councils to improve their own stock, can be funded by re-investing all the income from tenants' rents, capital receipts and savings on expensive set-up costs; notes the broad consensus of support from tenants, the Local Government Association and local authorities, the TUC and trade unions for the fourth option; welcomes the recognition by the Deputy Prime Minister on 26th September that `public financing of housing doesn't treat local authorities on a level playing field and I want to see that changed and I promised to do that and look at an inquiry into it'; and urges him to stand by this promise so that tenants can have a real choice, councils can compete on a level playing field and the public housing stock can be repaired, refurbished and expanded to make its contribution to the growing need for public rented housing, instead of wasting millions to give it away. |
| 67 | MOBILE PHONE MASTS | 17:5:05 |
| Mrs Caroline Spelman | | Tim Loughton | | Mr John Randall | | Dr Vincent Cable | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Derek Conway |
| That this House notes that industry sources have recently indicated that 3G technology will require a substantial increase in the number of mobile phone masts, with as many as four times the present number, suggesting up to 200 more masts in every constituency; believes that the current planning process in England is inadequate, failing to consider local, environmental and safety concerns; observes that the Government is reviewing planning regulations for masts and that tougher protection is already in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland; and calls on the Government to introduce full planning permission for all masts, including Network Rail and TETRA masts, and to allow health concerns to be taken into account near homes, schools and hospitals. |
| As an Amendment to Mrs Caroline Spelman's proposed Motion (Mobile Phone Masts): |
| Hywel Williams | | Albert Owen | | Mr Fabian Hamilton | | Mr David Jones | | Mark Williams |
| Line 4, after `England', insert `and Wales'. |
| Alan Simpson | | Mr Don Foster | | Mr David Amess | | Dr Vincent Cable | | Tim Farron | | Mr Adrian Sanders |
| That this House notes the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published in 1999 that highlighted that over four million people in the United Kingdom do not have reasonable access to a healthy diet; further notes reports by the Malnutrition Advisory Group that show that up to 5,000 people in each parliamentary constituency may be malnourished and that one in seven people over 65 years are malnourished or at serious risk of malnourishment; recognises that this situation can be caused by a number of factors such as inadequate income, lack of reasonable access to shops or other outlets selling healthy food and inadequate information; further notes that one of the causes of childhood obesity is inadequate access to, or information concerning, healthy food; and therefore supports the provisions in the Food Justice Strategies Bill which was introduced in the last Parliament and supported by over 200 honourable Members. |
| 85 | PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN ARMED CONFLICT | 17:5:05 |
| Mr Neil Gerrard | | Norman Baker | | Alan Simpson | | Paul Flynn | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Adrian Sanders |
| That this House believes that the decision to deploy British armed forces in conflict is of the most serious nature possible; notes that this is a decision to be taken by Ministers via the Royal Prerogative and that Parliament has no right to decide on the matter or even to be consulted; further notes that the Public Administration Select Committee has recommended in its report of 4th March 2004 that this situation should be ended and that Parliament should have the right to decide this matter in advance, or in cases of emergency retrospectively; further notes that in the last session of Parliament over 200 honourable Members supported this view; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce legislation to this effect. |
| 92 | ANIMAL TESTING OF DRUGS | 17:5:05 |
| Mr Mike Hancock | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Peter Bottomley | | Paul Holmes | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Dr John Pugh |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mrs Ann Cryer | Janet Anderson | | | Mr Joe Benton | Danny Alexander | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House, in common with Europeans for Medical Progress, expresses its concerns regarding the safeguarding of public health through data obtained from laboratory animals, particularly in light of large numbers of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions that were not predicted by animal studies; is concerned that the Government has not commissioned or evaluated any formal research on the efficacy of animal experiments, and has no plans to do so; and, in common with 83 per cent. of general practitioners in a recent survey, calls upon the Government to facilitate an independent and transparent scientific evaluation of the use of animals as surrogate humans in drug safety testing and medical research. |
| 98 | WELFARE OF ANIMALS | 17:5:05 |
| Mr Mike Hancock | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Tom Brake | | David Taylor | | Mr Roger Godsiff | | Bill Etherington |
| | Mr Piara S. Khabra | Mr Jimmy Hood |
| That this House believes that all animals should be treated as sentient beings and is concerned that unacceptable practices where animals are treated as objects continue; further believes that all animals, at whatever stage of evolution, deserve protection and recognition; welcomes New Zealand's decision to introduce a bill to grant apes certain basic rights; and calls upon the Government to improve the welfare and status of all animals in the United Kingdom. |
| 102 | ASTHMA AND FREE NHS PRESCRIPTIONS | 17:5:05 |
| Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Bill Etherington | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Mr Anthony Wright | | Jeff Ennis |
| That this House commends the role of the charity Asthma UK and its campaigns on behalf of UK sufferers; is alarmed that the number of emergency hospital admissions due to asthma remains unacceptably high in the UK and accepts that part of the reason for this may be individuals' inability to pay for their prescribed medication; and believes such a strategy to be both unjust and economically negative, as limiting asthma treatment in such a way not only prolongs suffering and a deterioration in patients' qualities of life, but also burdens valuable NHS resources with further spiralling ongoing costs for treatment. |
| 128 | PARENTING TIME PRESUMPTION | 18:5:05 |
| Mrs Theresa May | | Tim Loughton | | David Taylor | | Mr Edward Garnier | | Michael Fabricant | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Sir John Butterfill | Mr Alan Duncan | Mr David Curry | | | Dr Richard Taylor | Peter Law | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House believes that separated parents should each have a legal presumption of contact with their children, so that both parents can continue to parent their children and children are able to benefit from being parented by both their parents, as well as from contact with any grandparents and extended family members able and willing to play a role in their upbringing; and urges the Government to replace the legal term `contact' with `parenting time' and to ensure that parenting time orders can be and are made and enforced by the courts, save where a child's safety would be at risk. |
| 174 | DRAFT MARINE BILL | 24:5:05 |
| Paddy Tipping | | Linda Gilroy | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Mr John Randall | | Norman Baker | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Nia Griffith | Sir Peter Soulsby |
| That this House welcomes the inclusion of a draft Marine Bill in the 2005 legislative programme; notes that, in the light of increasing degradation of the marine environment and decline in its wildlife, the United Kingdom urgently needs a strategic and co-ordinated approach for managing and protecting its marine resources; therefore believes that this Marine Bill must be based on a system of spatial planning which allows different activities in the marine environment to be developed in a coherent and rational way and seeks to reduce conflict between the many users of the seas; further believes that the Bill must include reform of inshore fisheries; further believes that, given that more than half of the UK's wildlife is found in the sea, the Bill must put protection of wildlife at the heart of marine policy through measures including the designation of a network of nationally important marine sites; and calls on the Government to introduce a comprehensive Marine Bill at the earliest opportunity. |
| As an Amendment to Paddy Tipping's proposed Motion (Draft Marine Bill): |
| Robert Key | | Andrew Stunell | | Mr Michael Fallon | | Mr Jeremy Hunt | | Dr Evan Harris | | Mr Nick Clegg |
| Line 11, after `sites;' insert `further believes that new provisions for marine archaeology must be included;'. |
| Mr Michael Meacher | | Mr John Gummer | | Norman Baker | | Vera Baird | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mr David Chaytor |
| | Dr Phyllis Starkey | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House agrees with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser that climate change is a threat to civilisation; welcomes the cross-party agreement in favour of major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and particularly in carbon dioxide emissions, by 2050; believes that such a long-term target will best be met through a series of more regular milestones; and therefore notes the Climate Change Bill that was presented by a cross-party group of honourable Members in the final days before the General Election, and hopes that such a Bill will be brought forward in this Parliament so that annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3 per cent. can be delivered in a framework that includes regular reporting and new scrutiny and corrective processes. |
| 197 | STUDENT BURSARIES FOR TRAINEE MIDWIVES | 24:5:05 |
| Chris McCafferty | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Jim Dobbin | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Tony Lloyd | | Bob Russell |
| | Paul Farrelly | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House recognises the vital role that midwives play in the NHS; notes that many student midwives face financial problems during their training and that, according to the Royal College of Midwives' poll, around a fifth of midwives fail to complete their studies due to financial hardship; and therefore supports the RCM campaign to provide a £10,000 non-means tested bursary for all student midwives, ensuring more students are attracted to midwifery, are able to complete their course and go on to become practising midwives. |
| 220 | REVIEW OF NHS FUNDING FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPICES | 25:5:05 |
| Jeff Ennis | | Mr Fabian Hamilton | | Mr Terry Rooney | | Mr Anthony Wright | | Roger Berry | | Bob Russell |
| That this House calls on the Government to undertake an urgent review of NHS funding for children's hospices through lead primary trusts; and given that children's hospices often serve wide geographical areas, believes that alternative models of NHS funding need to be explored, preferably involving local strategic health authorities. |
| 237 | COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNTS AND THE IMPORTATION OF SEAL PRODUCTS INTO THE UK | 26:5:05 |
| Mr Eric Martlew | | Lynne Jones | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Peter Bottomley | | David Lepper | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Peter Luff | Dr William McCrea | Mr Gregory Campbell | | | Mr Lee Scott |
| That this House notes with grave concern the killing of 317,672 seals in Canada's cruel commercial hunt in 2005; is appalled by the unacceptable cruelty of the hunt; notes that a team of independent veterinarians who observed the Canadian seal hunt in 2001 found that 42 per cent. of the seals skulls examined were found to have minimal or no fractures, suggesting that these animals were conscious when skinned; is concerned that the current level of killing is unsustainable for the harp seal population; further notes that trade data shows that thousands of seal skins were imported into the UK between 1995 and 2003; further notes that the US banned imports of all seal products in 1972 and that Belgium and Italy currently have initiatives to ban such trade; and calls on the Government to prohibit the import of all seal products into the UK. |
| 241 | EXTRADITION ACT 2003 | 26:5:05 |
| Mr Boris Johnson | | Lynne Jones | | Damian Green | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | Paul Holmes |
| | Mr Robert Walter | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House urges the Government to defer approving the extradition to the United States of any British subjects until such time as the United States Senate ratifies the Extradition Treaty of March 2003; further calls upon the Government to amend the Extradition Act 2003 (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003 and replace it with a new Order which requires the United States to supply prima facie evidence to accompany its extradition requests to the United Kingdom, as the UK has to do in relation to an extradition from the US; and further calls upon the Government to amend the Extradition Act 2003 to reflect the terms of Article 7 of the European Convention of Extradition on Place of Commission. |
| 260 | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO MYALGIC ENCEPHALOPATHY/ENCEPHALOMYELITIS | 6:6:05 |
| David Taylor | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Dr Desmond Turner | | John Robertson | | Mr David Heath | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| | Mr Robert Walter | Mr Nick Clegg |
| That this House notes that 2005 is the 50th anniversary of the first description in medical literature of the illness myalgic encephalopathy/encephalomyelitis (ME); is concerned by the subsequent lack of scientific research into the illness during that time, which has been a cause of distress to the quarter million ME sufferers in the UK; reminds the Government of the study, ME: Cost to the Nation, that put the annual economic cost of ME at £3.5 billion; is dismayed to learn that one of the few contemporary scientific studies into the causes of this illness, carried out at Glasgow University, is under threat from lack of funds; and calls on the Government to provide the necessary funds to secure and promote this and other studies into the cause and treatment of ME. |
| As an Amendment to David Taylor's proposed Motion (Scientific Research into Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis): |
| Andrew Selous | | Anne Milton | | Tim Loughton | | Dr Liam Fox | | Sandra Osborne | | Mr Laurence Robertson |
| Line 9, at end add `by prioritising this study within existing research budgets.'. |
| 355 | HUMAN AND TRADE UNION RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA | 16:6:05 |
| Mr Frank Doran | | Sir Menzies Campbell | | Tony Lloyd | | Peter Bottomley | | John Battle | | Mr Robert Walter |
| | Mr Alan Beith | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House notes with concern the continuing human rights crisis in Colombia and the increase in assassinations of Colombian trade unionists last year; further notes that the vast majority of abuses are carried out by paramilitary groups that have documented links to the Colombian state security forces and that reports of extrajudicial executions carried out directly by the armed forces increased in 2004; calls on the Colombian Government fully to implement UN human rights recommendations in line with the policies of Colombian and international human rights organisations such as the TUC-backed Justice for Colombia coalition; and calls on the UK Government to freeze military aid to Colombia. |
| 366 | FROZEN PENSIONS | 20:6:05 |
| Nick Harvey | | Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Andrew George |
| That this House believes that British pensioners living in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Zimbabwe suffer unfairly because the value of their pensions is frozen and not up-rated annually in line with inflation; notes that approximately 480,000 out of the UK's 900,000 expatriate pensioners live in these five countries; considers that treating these pensioners differently from those living in other countries is a grave injustice; welcomes the opinion given by Lord Carswell in the House of Lords on 26th May that once it is accepted that pensions should be paid to contributing pensioners resident abroad, then no justification remains for paying some less than others and less than UK residents; recalls the noble Lord's observation that `The Government may have been entitled under domestic law to take this course if it so chose, but for the reasons which I have indicated I consider that article 14 of the Convention [ECHR] operates to prevent such discrimination'; and urges the Government to expand the up-rating of pensions for all British pensioners living abroad. |
| 378 | CHILDREN'S FOOD | 21:6:05 |
| Mary Creagh | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | David Taylor | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Paul Holmes |
| | Mr Nigel Evans | Mr Alistair Carmichael |
| That this House believes that, while the Government has introduced some measures to improve school meals, the crisis in children's diet-related health remains; notes that data from the Health Survey for England shows that between 1995 and 2003, the prevalence of obesity among children under 11 years rose from 9.9 per cent. to 13.7 per cent; welcomes the British Medical Association's report calling for tough action to tackle this alarming increase; recognises that in order to defuse the Food Standard Agency's `diet timebomb', additional measures are needed to address a number of factors, including marketing to children of foods containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt, the poor composition of foods on sale in schools, the lack of practical cooking skills in the national curriculum and insufficient promotion to children of healthy foods; and therefore supports in principle the provisions under the Children's Food Bill, introduced in the last Parliament and supported by 248 honourable Members and 137 national organisations, which seek a range of statutory measures to improve children's diets and future health. |
| Colin Challen | | Mr David Chaytor | | Mark Lazarowicz | | Peter Bottomley | | Norman Baker | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| That this House notes that around £80 million a year is spent by National Grid on `response', a control system for handling unpredictable fluctuations in electricity demand; further notes that this is achieved largely by running thermal power plant at variable rates and partly loaded, a practice that reduces the efficiency and leads to additional carbon-dioxide emissions of around two million tonnes a year; further notes that the increasing use of renewables such as wind, solar and wave power will lead to a greater variability of generation; welcomes therefore the formation of the Dynamic Demand campaign to promote the use of very cheap controllers in industrial or domestic refrigerators and other suitable appliances which enable them, whenever acceptable operationally, to switch off during shortages of capacity and on at times when there is surplus capacity on the Grid; and calls on the Government to ensure this technology is widely adopted in order to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and to facilitate the integration of an increasing proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources. |
| 391 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY BILLS | 22:6:05 |
| Mark Lazarowicz | | Dr Alan Whitehead | | Mr John Denham | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Andrew Stunell | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Mr Jonathan Djanogly | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House believes that climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today and so views with concern the continuing increase in emissions of carbon dioxide; believes that new initiatives are needed to deal with these problems; therefore welcomes the introduction with cross-party support of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill and the Management of Energy in Buildings Bill by the honourable Members for Edinburgh North and Leith and Southampton, Test respectively; and notes that these Bills taken together would require the Prime Minister to report annually to Parliament on greenhouse gas emissions, require the Chancellor of the Exchequer to implement a fiscal strategy to promote energy efficient microenergy generation, require targets to be set for microgeneration, introduce a number of policies to help achieve those targets including the granting of permitted development status and the use of building regulations to ensure that new building will include a minimum standard for energy generation, introduce a renewable heat obligation requiring utility companies to supply heat from renewable sources, and would also facilitate the development of small community based sustainable energy schemes. |
| 452 | COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON TRAFFICKING | 29:6:05 |
| Sandra Gidley | | Chris McCafferty | | John Bercow | | Bob Spink | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George |
| | Kerry McCarthy | Mr Shahid Malik |
| That this House notes with concern that trafficking of women, children and men is a growing problem in the UK, and that 32 out of 33 London boroughs have identified a problem with trafficked children; welcomes the fact that trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation are criminal offences in the UK, but is dismayed at the lack of measures needed to protect and support people who have been trafficked into the country, including safe housing and emergency medical support; and calls upon the Government urgently to sign and ratify the new Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking, which is specifically aimed at protecting trafficked people's rights, and for the UK to use its presidency of the EU to encourage other member states to do the same. |
| 468 | CIRCUS ANIMAL WELFARE | 29:6:05 |
| Norman Baker | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | David Taylor | | Mr John Randall |
| That this House is concerned about the welfare of wild animals in circuses; notes the large body of evidence collected by the Born Free Foundation, Animal Defenders International, RSPCA and others showing that a circus environment cannot provide for the needs of wild animals, including Anne the elephant; is appalled that Anne the elephant is still being moved around the country with Bobby Roberts Super Circus even though she suffers from arthritis; asserts that it would be in her best interests to be retired from circus life; recognises that the proposed duty of care requirement cannot be met in a circus environment; and calls on the Government to introduce measures to end the use of wild animals in circuses in the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill. |
| Dr Desmond Turner | | David Lepper | | Ms Celia Barlow | | Lynne Jones | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House calls on the Government clearly to condemn the inhumane treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and to urge the United States Administration either to charge them, to prosecute them under due process of law, to keep them in acceptable prison conditions, or to release them if there is no reasonable evidence against them, and in particular to make representations to the United States Administration for the release of Omar Deghayes, a Libyan national and refugee normally resident in Brighton Kemptown constituency. |
| 596 | ECUMENICAL ACCOMPANIMENT PROGRAMME OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES | 14:7:05 |
| Sir Menzies Campbell | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Mr David Drew | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell |
| That this House welcomes the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme of the World Council of Churches in arranging for human rights observers to work in Israel and Palestine; and encourages the UK Government to work with intergovernmental organisations to establish a human rights observation force in the Occupied Territories, and to press for an end to the occupation in a just and peaceful solution to the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions and the international rule of law. |
| 622 | USE OF 0870 TELEPHONE NUMBERS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS | 19:7:05 |
| Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | | David Simpson | | Mrs Iris Robinson | | Bob Spink | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| That this House notes the proliferation of 0870 prefix telephone numbers used by a range of Government Departments for members of the public to get in touch; recognises the fact that they can cost up to two and a half times more than regional numbers, and that in some cases departments make substantial profits from such numbers; further notes that last year the Government's Central Office of Information urged Departments not to use 0870 numbers as the cost could act as a barrier to communicating information that the citizen should have access to as a right; and calls upon the Government to take action to end this indefensible practice. |
| 641 | SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES BILL | 20:7:05 |
| Julia Goldsworthy | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Alan Simpson | | Matthew Taylor |
| | Mr James Arbuthnot | Miss Julie Kirkbride | Mr Jonathan Djanogly |
| That this House welcomes the Sustainable Communities Bill introduced into the House before the General Election and supported by over 200 honourable Members; notes that the bill requires the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Afairs and the National Assembly for Wales, in conjunction with local authorities and local communities, to draw up and implement strategies to promote local services and local economic activity and measures for protecting the environment, social justice and greater political involvement; further notes that the bill specifically enables councils and communities significantly to influence Government policy and actions on these issues; further notes too that this philosophy is in accord with the idea of localism being espoused by many honourable Members; and therefore hopes that the bill will be re-introduced in this Parliament. |
| 697 | MODERNISING COMPANY LAW | 10:10:05 |
| Sarah McCarthy-Fry | | Martin Salter | | Lyn Brown | | Helen Goodman | | Mr Sadiq Khan | | Mike Gapes |
| | Dr William McCrea | Mrs Iris Robinson | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House believes companies are critical in achieving the aims of sustainable development and to making poverty history, but that in order to be able to do so their freedom to operate must be balanced with clear responsibilities to society and the environment; and urges the Government to enshrine in new company law a duty for directors to identify, consider, act and report on any negative social and environmental impacts caused by a company's activities in the UK or overseas. |
| As Amendments to Sarah McCarthy-Fry's proposed Motion (Modernising Company Law): |
| Mr Ian Taylor | | Mr John MacDougall | | Colin Burgon | | Mr Kevan Jones | | Mr Barry Sheerman | | Mike Wood |
| Line 4, leave out from `urges' to end and insert `companies to embrace corporate social responsibility by engaging in activities most suitable to their own objectives and resources'. |
| Line 6, after `overseas', add `and further urges that such a duty should place a lesser responsibility on small businesses, in recognition of the already heavy burden of regulation on small business, while holding larger corporations to account.'. |
| 728 | HYPOTHYROIDISM | 11:10:05 |
| Mr Mark Oaten | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Bob Spink | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| | Mr David Curry | Mark Lazarowicz |
| That this House calls on the Government to raise awareness of hypothyroidism and the dangers of misdiagnosing an underactive thyroid and to promote the use of a range of treatments including thyroxine to address the current inadequacy of testing, diagnosis and treatment of the condition. |
| 729 | CHILDREN AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 11:10:05 |
| Mr Greg Pope | | Mr Kevin Barron | | Mr Paul Burstow | | Helen Goodman | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Dr Richard Taylor |
| | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr David Clelland | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House notes the July 2005 report from the Council of Europe Committee of Social Rights, monitoring conformity with the European Social Charter, which finds the UK in breach of human rights obligations by failing to afford children the same protection under the law on assault that adults take for granted; and believes that this modernising and progressive reform proposal is a fundamental issue of equality and human rights that has been trivialised for too long. |
| 750 | CASH MACHINE CHARGES | 12:10:05 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Jim Dobbin | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew |
| That this House condemns the sharp rise in the number of cash machines which charge customers for removing their money; notes that convenience machines placed at locations such as supermarkets, public houses, post offices, factories, amusement parks and service centres charge customers in the region of £2.00 for each transaction, with the number of machines charging rising each year; further notes that overall this is costing an estimated £125 million a year, hitting those on low incomes hardest; and calls on the firms operating the machines to remove these charges. |
| 783 | ALCOHOL TREATMENT | 18:10:05 |
| Dr Howard Stoate | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Martin Caton | | Laura Moffatt |
| That this House welcomes the campaign by Alcohol Concern to increase investment in alcohol treatment; notes that eight million people in the United Kingdom drink at harmful or hazardous levels; is concerned that alcohol misuse causes around 22,000 deaths each year and costs the UK £18 billion a year; recognises the excellent work of alcohol treatment services for individuals and for society; further notes the recent study showing a saving of £5 for every £1 spent on treating people with alcohol problems; and calls upon the Government to make alcohol treatment the priority it should be. |
| 787 | LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME | 18:10:05 |
| Paddy Tipping | | Judy Mallaber | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Joan Walley | | Helen Jones | | Mr David Drew |
| | Gwyn Prosser | Mr Don Foster |
| That this House welcomes the successful discussions between Government and public sector trade unions on future pension provision; notes that the retirement age will normally remain at 60 years for present employees; acknowledges that, given an ageing population, pension changes are necessary for the future; believes that these changes are best achieved by meaningful discussion between employers and employees; and looks forward to an early and successful settlement on the Local Government Pension Scheme. |
| 816 | HOUSING BENEFIT REFORM | 20:10:05 |
| Mr Andrew Love | | Dr Brian Iddon | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Clive Efford | | Jon Cruddas | | Dr Desmond Turner |
| That this House notes that October marks the ninth anniversary of the introduction of the single room rent restriction on housing benefit available to single, childless under 25 year-old claimants; notes that research published by the Department for Work and Pensions in July records single room rent (SRR) claimants as experiencing an average shortfall of £35.14 per week between their benefit and the rent they owe; notes that this is more than double the average £16.34 shortfall faced by non-SRR housing benefit claimants; is concerned this has left many vulnerable young people facing serious rent arrears, eviction and homelessness; notes that the Department for Work and Pensions research concludes that the July 2001 changes, designed to reflect more adequately the costs of shared accommodation, have had no more than a marginal impact on the level of benefit shortfalls and access to accommodation; and supports the call by Centrepoint, Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Crisis, Shelter and the YMCA to persuade Ministers not to carry additional restrictions for young people into the local housing allowance being introduced in the forthcoming Housing Benefit Reform Bill. |
| 869 | WORKING OF THE CHILDREN ACT 2004 | 26:10:05 |
| Mr Eric Pickles | | James Brokenshire | | Mr Mark Field | | Vera Baird | | Mrs Iris Robinson | | Mr Brian Jenkins |
| | Norman Lamb | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House urges the Government to remove the veil of secrecy from the workings of the Children Act 2004; considers that the closed door policy of the family courts breeds suspicion and a culture of secrecy which does nothing to instil confidence in those using them, which affects not just the courts but the social services departments of local authorities; and believes that it is possible to preserve the anonymity of children involved in the proceedings without the cumbersome rules which obstruct parents from receiving advice and support, which in particular works to the disadvantage of parents with special learning difficulty. |
| 902 | UN SECURITY COUNCIL INTERVENTION IN BURMA | 31:10:05 |
| Vera Baird | | John Bercow | | Sir Menzies Campbell | | Dr Liam Fox | | Mr Alistair Carmichael | | Joan Ruddock |
| That this House warmly welcomes the report Threat to Peace-A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma, commissioned by Desmond Tutu and Vaclav Havel from DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, which finds that Burma meets the criteria for the United Nations Security Council to intervene in the crisis in that country; supports a resolution that would outline the major reasons for the Security Council intervention, focusing on the threat to the peace caused by the regimes; requires the Government of Burma to work with the Secretary-General's office in implementing a plan for national reconciliation and a restoration of a democratically-elected government; requests the Secretary-General to remain engaged with the dispute resolution process and requires that he report to the Security Council on a regular basis: urges the Government of Burma to ensure immediate, safe, and unhindered access to all parts of the country for United Nations and international humanitarian organisations to provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons; calls for the immediate unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all prisoners of conscience; and calls on the Government to work with UN Security Council members to ensure a resolution in such terms is passed. |
| 908 | SAFETY ON THE THAMES | 1:11:05 |
| Mr Alan Duncan | | Mr Julian Brazier | | Mr John Hayes | | Mr Greg Knight | | Justine Greening | | Mr David Evennett |
| | Mr Iain Duncan Smith | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House salutes the robust standards for qualifying as a waterman on the River Thames introduced since the loss of 51 lives on board the Marchioness in 1989; welcomes the introduction of a national Boatmasters' licence for other waterways as a result of a European Directive, but observes that it requires lower standards than the existing requirements for Watermen of the Thames; is concerned that the new licence will diminish the standards and experience demanded of Watermen on the Thames; notes that 77 per cent. of the responses to the recent consultation were from Thames practitioners, all expressing similar concerns; and calls on the Government to make arrangements with the European Union which continue to allow special arrangements to be made for the Thames, as proposed for the Rhine and Danube. |
| 922 | HORSE RIDING ESTABLISHMENTS AND INSURANCE | 2:11:05 |
| Mr Stephen Crabb | | Mr Roger Williams | | Mark Williams | | Mr Richard Benyon | | Sandra Gidley | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| | Mrs Maria Miller | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House notes that horse-riding establishments are encountering difficulty with insurance claims following accidents and in obtaining insurance cover generally following the House of Lords interpretation of the Animals Act 1971 in the case of Mirvahedy v Henley [2003] 2 AII ER 401; further notes that this decision has limited the availability of insurance and increased the cost, adversely affecting the commercial viability of the equine sector; further notes the petition of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which attracted 911 signatures at country shows in 2005; and supports the CLA in its calls on the Government to remedy this situation by way of legislative amendment as soon as possible. |
| 957 | RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT | 7:11:05 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Mr David Heath | | Andrew George | | Mike Penning | | Peter Bottomley | | Derek Wyatt |
| That this House urges the Government to extend legislation on access to the countryside to allow canoeists and users of other non-powered craft the same access rights as those provided for walkers; acknowledges that the most successful Olympic canoeing nation, Germany, requires land owners to tolerate the use of non-powered craft on their waterways; and believes that with increased access to waterways, there will be greater participation in canoeing leading both to obvious health benefits for the nation and to increased chances of future Olympic success. |
| As Amendments to Mr John Grogan's proposed Motion (River Access for Non-Powered Craft): |
| Martin Salter | | Mr Martyn Jones | | Mark Tami | | Jon Cruddas | | Robert Key | | Mr Mark Lancaster |
| Line 1, Line 1, leave out from `House' to first `to' and insert `notes the campaign'. |
| Martin Salter | | Mr Martyn Jones | | Mark Tami | | Jon Cruddas | | Robert Key | | Mr Mark Lancaster |
| Line 3, Line 3, leave out from `walkers' to end and insert `but urges the Government not to alter riparian rights; recommends that any increase in access to canoeists and non-powered craft be by voluntary access agreements only, which have been proven to work in both England and Wales; believes that the users of all canoes and non-powered craft on inland waterways should be subject to the same restrictions as anglers, and the same penalties for infringements; further believes that the Environment Agency should have the power to close any waterway to any craft in the interests of protecting sensitive aquatic environments; and considers that, notwithstanding the forthcoming Olympic Games, it should be remembered that angling is a sport which has 4 million participants in England and Wales with an annual economy of £3.5 billion and which has had great success in recent World Championships.'. |
| 967 | COMBATING CASH DELIVERY CRIME | 8:11:05 |
| Daniel Kawczynski | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mike Penning | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Nigel Dodds |
| | Mr David Crausby | Mr Nicholas Brown |
| That this House deplores the number of cash and valuables in transit (CVIT) attacks on security industry staff over the past two years; is concerned about the increased use of violent weapons such as guns and knives in such attacks; notes that in 2004 a member of the public was tragically killed and a number of staff were shot and stabbed; commends the bravery of the crews who deliver the cash; recognises that the provision of cash is an essential service to consumers and business alike; welcomes the joint initiatives pursued by Group 4 Securicor, GMB union, BSIA and police forces in order to prevent attacks and protect employees and the general public; calls on the Government to recognise CVIT attacks as a human rather than purely a business crime and to tackle this problem urgently as part of its wider organised crime agenda. |
| 969 | STABILITY FOR BABIES IN PUBLIC CARE | 8:11:05 |
| Ms Dari Taylor | | Tim Loughton | | Annette Brooke | | Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Mr Julian Brazier | | Vera Baird |
| That this House believes that no baby in public care should have more than two placement moves in its first year of life and supports the campaign by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering to require Government and local authorities to publish annual statistics about how many times these children are moved and to invest in concurrent planning. |
| 999 | RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN CHINA | 10:11:05 |
| Mr David Burrowes | | Steve Webb | | Mike Penning | | Andrew Selous | | Mr Mark Lancaster | | Mr David Gauke |
| That this House expresses grave concern at the persecution suffered by Christians in China, through imprisonment, torture, financial penalties and other mistreatment; condemns the numerous arrests of Christians which have taken place in recent months, especially those accompanied by beating resulting in serious injury, and condemns the ongoing incarceration of several church leaders who are in poor health; notes in particular the sentencing of Pastor Cai Zhuohua, his wife and brother-in-law in Beijing on 8th November to three years', two years' and one-and-a-half years' imprisonment respectively for charges relating to the production of bibles and religious literature; expresses concern at the prosecution of religious activities under the guise of economic crimes; and calls on the Chinese Government to refrain from those acts which defeat the object and purpose of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects the right of the individual to religious freedom, and to which it is a signatory, and to discontinue treating with impunity those who perpetrate human rights abuses against religious believers in violation of international human rights standards. |
| 1001 | UPRATING OF FROZEN PENSIONS | 10:11:05 |
| Mr David Laws | | Nick Harvey | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Danny Alexander | | Sandra Gidley |
| | John Bercow | Mr John Whittingdale | Mr Robert Walter | | | Miss Julie Kirkbride | Mr Bob Laxton | Mr Joe Benton | | | Mrs Linda Riordan | Mr Greg Hands | Rosie Cooper | | | Jeremy Wright |
| That this House believes that British pensioners living in countries where the value of their pensions are frozen and not uprated annually in line with inflation is an injustice that should not be allowed to continue given that they have paid taxes and national insurance for their pensions; considers that treating these pensioners differently from those living in other overseas locations who have their pensions automatically uprated is increasingly out-dated in a world of great freedoms; further believes that the state's role is to support individuals in planning and retirement security and that this cannot be achieved if for no logical reason an individual's entitlement is affected by where they retire; and calls on the Government as it considers proposals for future pension reform to meet groups representing pensioners affected by frozen pensions to discuss how reform of the pension system to one fit for the 21st century will affect them, and how a just system of pension provision can be secured for those who move overseas. |
| 1020 | FUNDING FOR PRIMARY CARE TRUSTS TO PROVIDE HERCEPTIN | 14:11:05 |
| Mr Andrew Lansley | | Mr John Baron | | Mr Crispin Blunt | | Mr Simon Burns | | Tim Loughton | | Dr Andrew Murrison |
| That this House welcomes the decision of North Stoke Primary Care Trust (PCT) to fund the cancer drug Herceptin for Ms Elaine Barber; expresses concern over recent reports that many women with breast cancer are being denied funding for Herceptin; believes that all women suffering from both early-stage and advanced breast cancer should have access to Herceptin where it is clinically appropriate; notes that a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that where women are HER2 positive Herceptin can cut the risk of breast cancer returning in women by up to half; recognises that, although Herceptin is not yet licensed for early-stage breast cancer, many clinicians are prepared to accept liability for prescribing it; notes with concern that many PCTs are already burdened by deficits and unable to provide the drug; and therefore calls on the Government to make funding available for PCTs to provide Herceptin for early-stage breast cancer until such time as the drug is approved by NICE. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Andrew Lansley's proposed Motion (Funding For Primary Care Trusts To Provide Herceptin): |
| Line 3, after `Herceptin', insert `including Mrs Joanne Leese of Alsager'. |
| 1024 | PARDONS FOR SOLDIERS EXECUTED DURING THE GREAT WAR | 14:11:05 |
| Andrew Mackinlay | | David Lepper | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan | | Mr Alistair Carmichael | | John Cummings |
| That this House regrets that 13 years have passed since the tabling of a motion which requested the restoration of the names and reputations of the 307 soldiers of the British Empire Forces court martialled and executed, mostly on the Western Front in the four years from 1914 to 1918, and now reiterates that request; recalls that those men faced charges ranging from desertion, cowardice, quitting posts, sleeping at posts, disobedience, striking a superior officer and casting away arms; regrets the deficiences in their opportunity to prepare adequate defence and appeals; recognises that these soldiers endured long periods of severe cold and damp, lack of food and sleep coupled with the stress associated with constant shellfire; considers that the vast majority of the 307 executed were as patriotic and brave as their million other compatriots who perished in the conflict, and that even if the behaviour of a small minority of the 307 may have fallen below that of the highest standards then time, compassion and justice dictates that all of these soldiers should now be treated as victims of the conflict; and urges the Prime Minister to recommend a posthumous pardon for all 307, thus bringing to a close a deeply unhappy and controversial chapter in the history of the Great War. |
| 1026 | LYMPHOMA MANIFESTO | 15:11:05 |
| Mr David Lidington | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr Paul Burstow | | Mr John Baron | | Daniel Kawczynski | | Mike Penning |
| | Derek Wyatt | Peter Luff | Lembit Öpik | | | Mr Jonathan Djanogly | Lynne Featherstone | David T. C. Davies |
| That this House applauds the Lymphoma Association, Leukaemia CARE, Leukaemia Research Fund and CancerBACUP on the launch of the Lymphoma Manifesto; notes that every hour of every day one person in the UK is diagnosed with lymphatic cancer; further notes that given the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time, many lymphoma patients can have their disease managed effectively or even be cured; recognises that successful treatment of lymphoma depends on accurate diagnosis; believes that all patients should have access to the best treatment regardless of where they live; agrees that every patient deserves high quality care and support throughout diagnosis and treatment; acknowledges that treating the patients of tomorrow requires investment in research today; and calls on the Government to respond constructively to the Lymphoma Manifesto objectives of securing accurate diagnosis, universal access to treatment, quality care and information, and investment in research that will ensure that lymphoma patients receive the best treatment, by making lymphoma care and research a high priority within overall NHS spending and investment. |
| 1031 | PLANNING AND RENEWABLE ENERGY | 15:11:05 |
| Norman Baker | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Joan Walley | | Norman Lamb | | Dr Alan Whitehead | | Gregory Barker |
| | Mr Michael Mates | Mr Tim Yeo |
| That this House acknowledges that climate change is a significant threat which must be tackled; recognises that reducing energy consumption is the most sustainable response to climate change; believes that a broad range of renewable technologies have an important role to play in a low carbon economy; supports the need for effective community involvement in considering renewable energy projects; notes that the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Report on the Practicalities of Renewables concluded that planning should not be seen as an obstacle to new renewables development; further recognises that the land use planning process plays a vital role in ensuring projects are planned sensitively and community concerns addressed; expresses concern that under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 decisions over renewable energy projects over 50 megawatts are taken outside the planning process; and calls for amendments to the Act to address this democratic deficit by ensuring only onshore wind projects above 200 megawatts that are of a genuine strategic nature are considered in this way. |
| 1038 | END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CAMPAIGN | 15:11:05 |
| Vera Baird | | Mike Penning | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Martin Caton | | Jim Sheridan | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| | Mr Simon Burns | Colin Burgon | Mr Jimmy Hood | | | Mr Peter Robinson | Colin Challen | Kerry McCarthy | | | Mr Shailesh Vara | Mr Shahid Malik | Danny Alexander | | | Emily Thornberry |
| That this House condemns all forms of violence against women; notes that almost half of women experience domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking in their lifetime and that at least 200 women are forced into marriage and 2000 women are trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation each year; and therefore supports the End Violence Against Women Campaign's call for an integrated approach to addressing violence against women in all its forms. |
| 1046 | BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC PLACES | 16:11:05 |
| Annette Brooke | | Paul Farrelly | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Julie Morgan | | Jo Swinson | | Sandra Gidley |
| That this House recognises the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and welcomes the provisions of the recently introduced Breastfeeding etc. Bill which propose to address some of society's attitudes to breastfeeding; notes that research shows that breast milk is the ideal first food for most babies; regrets that the UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with just one in five babies receiving breastmilk by the time they are six months old, although the World Health Organisation recommends that babies need nothing other than breastmilk for the first six months of life; is deeply concerned that many mothers report having been harassed for breastfeeding in public, while others have stopped breastfeeding early or chosen not to breastfeed as they have anticipated embarrassment or difficulties in feeding their babies whilst in public; supports UNICEF's call for legislation to protect breastfeeding mothers' rights to feed their babies in public areas and the Baby Friendly Initiative; appreciates that social attitudes are slowly changing but that there is a long way to go; and calls for greater understanding and positive attitudes to ensure that breastfeeding is a normal part of everyday life. |
| 1068 | INTEREST RATES CHARGED BY DOORSTEP LENDERS | 17:11:05 |
| Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Paul Holmes | | Bob Russell | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House is appalled by the extortionate interest rates that doorstep lenders charge low-income households; welcomes the Pathway to Financial Inclusion campaign launched by the National Housing Federation and Debt on Our Doorstep; calls on honourable Members to support its three step approach; urges the Government to reduce the average annual percentage interest rate of 177 per cent. charged by doorstep lenders by placing a ceiling on interest rates; recommends that the Government provide a pathway into financial inclusion by requiring doorstep lenders to register borrowers' repayment records with credit reference agencies, thus allowing them to build up a credit history; and recommends that the Government investigate legislation which will introduce the right to a basic bank account for every UK citizen, giving the one in 12 households without access to a bank account, 60 per cent. of them social housing tenants, access to mainstream banking. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Andrew Dismore's proposed Motion (Interest Rates Charged by Doorstep Lenders): |
| David Taylor | | David Lepper | | Andrew George | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mark Durkan | | Mr David Drew |
| Line 12, after `banking', insert `; and calls on the Government to do more to promote the virtues of community credit unions as an excellent means of extending financial inclusion and discouraging people on low incomes from using doorstep lenders.'. |
| 1085 | SUNDAY TRADING HOURS | 22:11:05 |
| Mr Brian Jenkins | | Mr Simon Burns | | Mr Alan Beith | | Mr Edward Leigh | | Charlotte Atkins | | Mrs Janet Dean |
| That this House cherishes the importance of Sundays as a collective day of rest and worship and as a day for families to spend together; believes that deregulation of Sunday trading would have a detrimental impact on Britain's 2.7 million shopworkers, on the police, security, banking, distribution, transport, health and catering staff who also have to work when shops are open, on the children and families of all these staff and on the communities around large stores which already suffer congestion and noise for six and a half days a week; welcomes the NOP poll that shows that 62 per cent. of the public do not want any extension of the current six hours of Sunday opening by large stores; agrees with the public that 150 hours per week is enough for anyone to do their shopping; and believes that any extension of Sunday trading hours of large stores would have a serious impact on neighbourhood and community stores and would lead to job losses in this sector and a deterioration in local services. |
| 1102 | POLICE INJURY RETIREMENT PENSIONS | 23:11:05 |
| Mr Edward Garnier | | Patrick Mercer | | Mrs Cheryl Gillan | | Mr Jonathan Djanogly | | Chris Grayling | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| | Mr Michael Moore | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House notes that a number of retired police officers who have been receiving injury awards face having those awards cut when they reach statutory retirement age; further notes that many of those officers believed that the awards would be paid to them for life; further notes that awards of this kind were normally made to officers injured while engaged in protecting the interests of the public; and calls on the Government to investigate whether officers have been misled about the rules that would apply to their awards. |
| Mr David Chaytor | | Joan Ruddock | | Sir Menzies Campbell | | Mr Michael Moore | | Mr Desmond Swayne | | Mr Tobias Ellwood |
| That this House welcomes the Government's decision to launch a public debate on the future of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons; recognises the significantly changed international circumstances from those in which the current Trident missile system was conceived, designed and constructed; is aware that there are a number of options available to the Government in considering replacements for the current system; and, therefore, calls on the Government to publish a consultation paper setting out the issues, including threat assessments, estimated costs and all nuclear and non-nuclear options, as a basis for the public debate. |
| 1125 | LOCATION OF FEE-CHARGING CASH MACHINES | 28:11:05 |
| Dan Norris | | Bob Russell | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mark Durkan | | Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Brian Iddon |
| | Dr Doug Naysmith | Mr Bill Olner | Mr John Grogan |
| That this House strongly condemns the fees levied by a rapidly growing number of cash machine operators who charge bank customers to access their own money; and calls on the banks to assist customers who wish to boycott fee-charging machines initially by widely publicising their exact location, following the example of the Bristol Evening Posts's `Don't Feed the Money Monsters' campaign, and ultimately by working with the firms which operate the machines to remove these charges for the benefit of all bank customers across the UK. |
| 1126 | ARMS TRADE TREATY | 28:11:05 |
| John Bercow | | Roger Berry | | Tony Baldry | | Sir Menzies Campbell | | Malcolm Bruce | | Mike Gapes |
| | Annette Brooke | Mrs Madeleine Moon |
| That this House is dismayed at the continued uncontrolled proliferation of arms around the globe which results in one death every minute, undermines development, fuels conflict and enables criminal activity to flourish; notes that the UK is the second biggest arms exporter in the world and has a particular responsibility better to control this trade; acknowledges that the development of an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) would ensure all states were bound by better rules governing arms transfers; congratulates the UK Government for its leadership in the promotion of such a treaty, which now has the support of over 40 countries across the world; further notes the Government's intention to begin negotiations for an ATT within the UN General Assembly during 2006; and calls on all hon. Members to use every chance to promote the ATT over the coming months, particularly with their international counterparts, in order to ensure that next year's historic opportunity is not missed and that negotiations begin. |
| 1138 | MOTORWAY DRIVING (No. 2) | 29:11:05 |
| Kitty Ussher | | David Taylor | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Graham Stringer | | Mrs Iris Robinson | | Mr David S. Borrow |
| | Julie Morgan | Emily Thornberry | Nia Griffith |
| That this House recognises the importance of improving the quality of motorway driving; and urges the Government to introduce measures to make it compulsory for newly qualified drivers to undertake some form of motorway tuition, such as Pass Plus, before obtaining a driving licence permitting driving on motorways, to reduce the present number of motorway accidents. |
| 1141 | CONTRACTION AND CONVERGENCE APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE | 29:11:05 |
| Colin Challen | | David Taylor | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Alan Meale | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House welcomes the presentation of the Climate Change (Contraction and Convergence) Bill, which seeks to establish a clear, full-time framework for tackling climate change; notes that humankind has no choice but to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a sustainable level within a defined period; further notes that it is unlikely that any international framework will succeed if it is not based on the principle of equity through the equal distribution of emissions rights, and that any solution put forward which does not solve the problem of climate change faster than the problem is created is no solution at all; and calls upon members of parliaments around the world to put forward similar bills in their own legislatures. |
| 1162 | ESTABLISHMENT OF A DAILY NEWSPAPER IN WELSH | 30:11:05 |
| Hywel Williams | | Julie Morgan | | Bill Wiggin | | Mark Williams | | Mr Angus MacNeil | | Mark Durkan |
| That this House concurs with the view expressed in 2003 by the Committee of Experts monitoring UK implementations of the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages that the lack of daily news in printed form in Welsh is an anomaly when compared with other regional or minority languages in Europe; welcomes plans to establish a daily newspaper in Welsh as an important contribution to democracy in Wales; notes the return of the Committee of Experts in December; and calls on the Government and devolved administration to take all possible steps to facilitate the establishment of a daily newspaper in Welsh. |
| 1170 | CAMPAIGN FOR A TRADE UNION FREEDOM BILL | 30:11:05 |
| Tony Lloyd | | John McDonnell | | Alan Keen | | Mr Frank Doran | | Jon Cruddas | | Frank Dobson |
| | Ms Celia Barlow | Mary Creagh |
| That this House recognises that free and independent trade unions are a force for good in UK society and around the world, and are vital to democracy; welcomes the positive role modern unions play in providing protection for working people and winning fairness at work; notes the 1906 Trades Disputes Act granted unions the legal freedom to take industrial action; regrets that successive anti-union legislation has meant that trade union rights are now weaker than those introduced by the Trades Disputes Act; notes the overwhelming support at both the Trades Union Congress and Labour Party Conference for the Gate Gourmet workers and for improvements in union rights, including measures to simplify ballot procedures and to allow limited supportive action, following a ballot, in specific circumstances; further notes that these conferences called for legislation which conformed to International Labour Organisation Conventions ratified by the UK; and therefore welcomes the decision of the 2005 Trades Union Congress to campaign for a Trade Union Freedom Bill to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Trades Disputes Act. |
| As an Amendment to Tony Lloyd's proposed Motion (Campaign for a Trade Union Freedom Bill): |
| Peter Bottomley | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| Line 4, leave out from `work' to end. |
| 1186 | NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE REPORT ON TREATING STROKES | 1:12:05 |
| Mr Andrew Lansley | | Ben Chapman | | Mr Michael Jack | | Judy Mallaber | | Dr Doug Naysmith | | Mark Hunter |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the National Audit Office's (NAO's) report on stroke, Reducing Brain Damage; believes that through treating stroke as a medical emergency much more can be done to ensure efficacy in stroke care; is concerned at the shortfalls identified in service provision, despite some recent progress; notes with concern the huge cost to society, the NHS and the wider economy that stroke represents each year; is disturbed at the large disparities in investment and service provision between stroke and coronary heart disease revealed in the report; shares the view of the NAO and the Stroke Association that stroke should be given a much higher priority by the Government and the NHS; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to address the NAO's recommendations, not least to tackle the alarming lack of awareness of stroke. |
| 1197 | REPLACEMENT FOR TRIDENT WEAPONS | 5:12:05 |
| Mr Michael Meacher | | Graham Stringer | | Dr Ian Gibson | | David Lepper | | Mr Ken Purchase | | Lynne Jones |
| That this House believes there should be the fullest possible public debate on a decision to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system; notes that a successor to Trident could cost as much as £25 billion, therefore affecting significantly other public spending options; calls on the Government to produce a Green Paper on Trident replacement that considers all possible options, including non-replacement; and further calls on the Government not to conclude any agreements, or to engage in preparations to build a new generation of nuclear weapons, until after this debate and a deciding vote held in Parliament. |
| 1198 | DECENNIAL CENSUS RECORDS | 5:12:05 |
| Mr Mike Hancock | | Bob Russell | | Graham Stringer | | Mr David Heath | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink |
| | John Bercow | Charles Hendry | Mr Rob Wilson |
| That this House notes that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 repealed the 100-year closure period for decennial census records, but that, nevertheless, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the National Archives assert that it is Government policy that the 1911 Census shall remain closed to inspection for 100 years; and urges the Information Commissioner to take an early opportunity to publish his advice on this matter. |
| 1252 | INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY | 13:12:05 |
| Ann McKechin | | John Battle | | John Bercow | | Mr Nicholas Brown | | John Barrett | | Dan Norris |
| | Graham Stringer | Malcolm Bruce | Mark Hunter |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the Private Member's Bill of the right hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill on international development; notes that the Bill promotes the target of spending 0.7 per cent. of gross national investment on overseas development assistance and embraces the Millennium Development Goals; further notes that the Bill calls for an annual report to Parliament and promotes greater accountability, effectiveness and transparency in overseas development assistance; and urges all hon. Members to attend the Second Reading of the Bill on 20th January 2006. |
| As an Amendment to Ann McKechin's proposed Motion (International Development Reporting and Transparency): |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Lynne Featherstone | | Lorely Burt | | Nia Griffith | | Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods |
| Line 7, after `Members', insert `who can'. |
| 1259 | INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS | 13:12:05 |
| Mr David Amess | | Mr Paul Burstow | | Bob Spink | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Angela Watkinson | Mr Brian Binley |
| That this House welcomes the launch of the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Inflammatory Arthritis; recognises that over 750,000 people in the UK are living with a form of inflammatory arthritis; supports all efforts to raise awareness of a range of "Everyday Everests" - which are everyday activities which inflammatory arthritis patients find difficult or impossible to carry out; believes that the disease deserves a higher public profile; calls on all parliamentarians to help prioritise this worthwhile cause; and urges the Government to take action to improve the lives of the thousands of people around the country affected by inflammatory arthritis. |
| 1281 | PROCUREMENT IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR | 15:12:05 |
| Mr Mark Oaten [R] | | Bob Spink | | Mr Adam Holloway | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mrs Iris Robinson | | Annette Brooke |
| | Mr Frank Field | John Thurso |
| That this House is concerned that the Government's policy on procurement in the healthcare sector will undermine patient choice, innovation and patient care, particularly with the provision of stoma care products and services, pressure area care, chemical reagents and wound care, where patients, industry and professionals are expressing alarm at the potential for increased risk to patient safety and well-being; recognises that an emphasis on financial savings could be counter-effective in passing the cost on to other areas of public sector provision; notes that the Assistive Technology sector of medical devices, in particular, is highly service-orientated and failure to recognise this in value for money calculations will result in patients being seriously disadvantaged; and calls for the current policy to be brought to an immediate halt and for more appropriate models to be reviewed urgently in conjunction with patients, industry and professionals. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1293 | ZIMBABWEAN ASYLUM SEEKERS AND THE RIGHT TO WORK | 19:12:05 |
| Kate Hoey | | Mr Graham Stuart | | Annette Brooke | | Peter Bottomley | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Mike Penning |
| | Patrick Hall | Emily Thornberry |
| That this House accepts that Zimbabweans refused asylum in the UK cannot be returned to Zimbabwe because of conditions prevailing in that country; is concerned that their ineligibility for state benefits renders many destitute; and calls on the Home Secretary to grant them the right to work so they can support themselves financially and make a contribution to society during their time in the UK while developing their professional and technical skills in order to contribute to the rebuilding of Zimbabwe once political change renders it safe for them to return. |
| 1300 | TERMINATOR TECHNOLOGY | 19:12:05 |
| Andrew George | | Mr Michael Meacher | | Alan Simpson | | Joan Ruddock | | Angus Robertson | | Mr Peter Ainsworth |
| | David Lepper | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Jamie Reed | | | Mr Rob Wilson | Philip Davies |
| That this House notes the recent efforts to commercialise Terminator Technology, a genetic use restriction technology, which is designed to prevent through genetic modification farm-saved seeds from germinating; further notes the recent granting of a Terminator patent in Europe; is concerned that this technology will force farmers to purchase new seed each season, thus increasing corporate control of the food supply and threatening the food security of people in developing countries; is not convinced that this technology will prevent GM contamination of non-GM crops, food and feed supplies; is further concerned that this technology may present a threat, especially to farmers' and indigenous peoples' livelihoods, health and biodiversity; and urges the UK Government to follow the precautionary principle and therefore continue to defend, in upcoming meetings of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and elsewhere in 2006, the existing decision that products incorporating Genetic Use Restriction Technologies should not be approved for field testing and commercialisation. |
| 1325 | SCOPE'S SPEAK FOR YOURSELF CAMPAIGN | 9:1:06 |
| Roger Berry | | Bob Russell | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House notes the significant difficulty many people with communication impairments face in getting the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) equipment and on-going support they need to communicate; further notes that without the means to communicate people cannot express themselves freely, discuss ideas or make choices, which severely limits their life chances; further notes that current statutory provision is a lottery based on age, postcode and impairment type; regrets that there is no statutory right to AAC equipment; further regrets that local equipment budgets often will not meet the high costs of complex assessment, AAC equipment and on-going training and support that AAC users need; further regrets that the Communication Aids Project, which has provided much needed additional funding for communication equipment for more than 4,000 children since 2002, is set to end in March 2006; and calls on the Government to establish a statutory right to AAC and national standards for provision of AAC services to ring-fence adequate funding so that every person with a communication impairment in the UK can speak for themselves. |
| 1338 | LAW RELATING TO UNMARRIED COUPLES | 10:1:06 |
| Mary Creagh | | John Bercow | | Steve Webb | | Mr Andrew Dismore [R] | | Joan Ruddock | | Ms Sally Keeble |
| That this House believes that the law relating to unmarried couples is shambolic and in urgent need of reform because there is little or no legal protection for cohabitants on relationship breakdown; and, while welcoming the introduction of civil partnerships for same sex couples, calls on the Government to introduce a new law to provide a safety net for couples of whatever sexual orientation who live together as its next priority. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| Norman Baker | | Michael Jabez Foster | | Mr David Curry | | Mr Paul Keetch | | Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods | | Greg Clark |
| That this House notes with concern the increased incidence of flooding in the UK, a situation which the onset of climate change can only exacerbate; acknowledges the increased investment in flood defence monies which the Government has provided; notes however that a national assessment of needs for flood defences, commissioned by the Government last year, predicts that the current level of funding will fall short of what is needed by £700 million over the next 10 years; agrees with the Association of British Insurers that `investment must continue to rise in real terms over a sustained period'; and calls on the Treasury to respond accordingly. |
| As an Amendment to Norman Baker's proposed Motion (Flooding): |
| Bob Spink | | Lembit Öpik | | Mr Brooks Newmark | | Julia Goldsworthy | | Sir Michael Spicer | | Daniel Kawczynski |
| Line 4, after `that', insert `the Government's policy of scrapping local flood committees has been unhelpful and that'. |
| 1373 | PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY RESEARCH LABORATORIES | 16:1:06 |
| Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Norman Baker | | Mr Alan Duncan | | Mr Dan Rogerson | | Gregory Barker | | David Howarth |
| That this House notes with concern the proposal to close the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology scientific laboratories at Monk's Wood, Banchory and Winfrith; believes that their closure would severely impair the long-term monitoring and study of ecological change; further believes it would reduce the quality of independent science-based advice to Government on environmental matters, including climate change; and would dissipate the expertise of up to 200 experienced scientists; further believes that the savings expected from the closures will be more than offset by associated restructuring costs; supports the campaign by leading environmental charities to prevent the closure; applauds the work of the centres over many years; and calls on the National Environment Research Council and the Government to ensure their survival. |
| 1387 | SUPPLY OF STOMA CARE PRODUCTS | 17:1:06 |
| Bob Spink | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | Ann Winterton | | Mike Penning |
| That this House notes the excellent and expert care and advice given by specialist nurses on the use of stoma care products to ostomates; is concerned that the Secretary of State for Health has issued a consultation document on the purchase and supply of stoma care products and the care of people with stomas; and calls on the Secretary of State to continue the current efficient, effective and convenient stoma care and product supply arrangements and to continue to support stoma nurses. |
| 1397 | EDUCATION COALITION 2010 (No. 2) | 17:1:06 |
| Dr Ian Gibson | | Paul Farrelly | | Tim Farron | | Mr John Grogan | | Nick Harvey | | Mr George Mudie |
| That this House welcomes the launch of the Coalition 2010 campaign fronted by the National Union of Students, National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, AUT, National Union of Teachers, Association of Teachers and Lecturers and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers; supports the Coalition's aim to fight against the removal of the £3,000 cap during the lead up to the Government's review of education funding beginning in 2008; questions whether the Government's pledge to widen participation in education can be reconciled with the prospect of ever-growing fees for students; believes that the removal of this cap will serve to deter students from poorer and less traditional backgrounds from going to university; and urges the Government not to increase the £3,000 cap following the review period. |
| 1408 | WAR PENSION JUSTICE FOR GILLIAN CAMPAIGN | 18:1:06 |
| Mr Richard Benyon | | Hon Nicholas Soames | | Danny Alexander | | Susan Kramer | | Martin Salter | | Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| | Dr Evan Harris | Mr Mark Harper |
| That this House is deeply concerned by the revelation that the late William Norbury was denied his due war disability pension by the Government following the failure of the Kenyan Government to pay it after independence in 1962; recalls with admiration the award of the Military Cross in the field, given to Lt Norbury for the charging of Japanese lines in the course of which he was severely wounded; regrets that he suffered from his resultant disabilities until the end of his life; and accordingly calls on the Government belatedly to re-instate this pension for the benefit of his widow, Gillian, together with an appropriate sum of arrears, so that she no longer has to live in straitened circumstances which bring shame on this country. |
| 1412 | GROWING THE RAILWAYS CAMPAIGN | 18:1:06 |
| Dr Alan Whitehead | | Tom Brake | | Mr John Horam | | Bob Spink | | Mike Penning | | Bob Russell |
| | Patrick Hall | Dr Phyllis Starkey | Mr Robert Walter | | | Mr Bill Olner | Dr Richard Taylor | Sarah McCarthy-Fry | | | Mr Nick Clegg |
| That this House welcomes the increasing demand for rail travel but is concerned that no plans currently exist to increase capacity on the railways, and alleviate congestion on parts of the rail network which are already congested; and, therefore, supports Transport 2000's Growing the Railways campaign, as endorsed by 21 organisations, which calls on the Government to draw up a clear investment planning framework for rail, through the High Level Output Statement, which ensures that money spent is used more efficiently, promotes partnership working, appraising rail projects fairly, and, above all, plans for an expanding railway for passengers and freight. |
| 1416 | TONY BANKS AND THE CANADIAN SEAL HUNT | 18:1:06 |
| Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr David Amess | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Dr Nick Palmer |
| That this House notes with great sadness the sudden death of Tony Banks (Lord Stratford); recognises his tremendous work in the field of animal welfare and pays tribute to his efforts and dedication; further notes his commitment to end the cruel slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seal pups for their fur each spring in Canada and his wish that the UK end its trade in seal products in line with public opinion; and calls on the Government to prohibit the trade in all harp and hooded seal products in the UK as soon as possible. |
| Gordon Banks | | Mr David Anderson | | Mr Jim Devine | | Mrs Siān C. James | | Mr David Hamilton | | Rosie Cooper |
| That this House acknowledges the role played by the Bevin Boys, who served this nation during the period 1943 to 1948; notes that many paid the ultimate price in their endeavour to rid Europe of Nazi tyrants; and calls upon the Government officially to recognise by the way of an award similar to that available to military veterans the importance of the Bevin Boys to victory in the Second World War. |
| John Bercow | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Dr Evan Harris | | Peter Law | | Mr Anthony Wright | | Mr James Arbuthnot |
| That this House notes that 16,000 people each year, including 450 children, are diagnosed with brain tumours; is disturbed that brain tumours have become the biggest single disease killing children; acknowledges that survival rates have not increased in line with the rate for childhood leukaemia and some other adult cancers; applauds the work of scientists and clinicians; supports the efforts of United Kingdom brain tumour charities which support research and raise awareness of issues surrounding brain tumour care; further notes that NHS expenditure on brain tumour patients is well below that devoted to other cancers; recognises the problems faced by brain tumour patients in accessing treatment; seeks improved NHS funding and care, including approved access to radiotherapy and rehabilitation services and treatments, such as carmustine implants and temozolomide, which are better tolerated, offer the best hope of improved survival and/or rehabilitation; and calls upon the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to act quickly to approve clinically and cost effective new treatments so that they are available to all NHS patients. |
| 1443 | GLOBAL AIDS TARGETS | 23:1:06 |
| Mr Jeremy Hunt | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Malcolm Bruce | | Mr Andrew Mitchell | | Hugh Bayley | | Nick Herbert |
| | Dr Phyllis Starkey | Mr John Whittingdale | Mr Andrew Love | | | Dr Doug Naysmith | Charlotte Atkins | Mr David Hamilton | | | Kerry McCarthy | Mr Shahid Malik | Ms Celia Barlow |
| That this House strongly welcomes the target to provide universal access to anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS sufferers by 2010 as an invaluable contribution to economic growth and poverty reduction in the world's poorest countries; notes that the UK Department for International Development is co-chairing the UN steering group with responsibility for the 2010 target; believes that any strategy to promote the availability of HIV/AIDS treatment drugs must go together with an increased emphasis on preventing the spread of the disease; and strongly urges the Government to secure the agreement of the international community for interim targets to be put in place and published which commit the UK and other G8 nations to concrete and measurable milestones between now and 2010 to ensure that the universal access target is met. |
| 1452 | SAVE THE CHILDREN'S REPORT ON BRITAIN'S POOREST CHILDREN REVISITED | 23:1:06 |
| John Battle | | Mr David Laws | | Bob Spink | | David Taylor | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Simon Hughes | Ms Celia Barlow | Emily Thornberry | | | Mr Brian Binley |
| That this House welcomes Save the Children's recent report, Britain's Poorest Children Revisited; notes with extreme concern the findings that one million children in Great Britain live in severe and persistent poverty; further notes that additional action is needed if the Government is to meet its targets and if disadvantaged young people are to be given opportunities to fulfil their full potential; and urges the Government to measure the number of children living in severe and persistent poverty and commit to a strategy that explicitly targets these children, who may number up to one million. |
| 1464 | NEW COMMITTEE ON RADIATION EFFECTS | 24:1:06 |
| Mr Michael Meacher | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Mike Weir | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mr John Leech |
| That this House notes that the National Public Health Service Wales and the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) have accepted a report from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) denying the reality of a serious excess of childhood cancer and leukaemia around the Menai Strait in North Wales; further notes that a countervailing report has been published on the web site of the Low Level Radiation Campaign and by the journal European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics; further notes that WCISU stands accused of recklessly using false data for populations in the study area with the effect of minimising the risks apparent in the cancer cases observed despite having been warned of an exactly similar error in 2001; is concerned that COMARE's endorsement of WCISU calls its epidemiological expertise into question; and calls on the Government to replace COMARE with a Committee on the Health Effects of Ionising Radiation with a neutral chair, a full-time civil service secretariat, a budget sufficient to permit independent research, and a membership paid for their work on the Committee and which represents all shades of relevant scientific opinion. |
| 1468 | BIKE AND RAIL INTEGRATION | 24:1:06 |
| Emily Thornberry | | Peter Bottomley | | Andrew Stunell | | Nia Griffith | | Gwyn Prosser | | Stephen Hammond |
| | Patrick Hall | Dr Phyllis Starkey | Dr Howard Stoate | | | Mr Edward Davey | Mr Robert Walter | Joan Walley | | | Sarah McCarthy-Fry |
| That this House notes that individual railway companies have different policies towards cycling and that provision for cyclists at railway stations and on trains is patchy at best but generally remains completely inadequate; further notes that the winding up of the Strategic Rail Authority and the transfer of authority to the Department for Transport provides an excellent opportunity for ministers to issue minimum standards to railway franchises and Network Rail to improve provision for bicycles on trains and at railway stations; and believes that bicycle and rail transport should be integrated and promoted to provide a seamless and environmentally sound `doorstep to destination' alternative to car travel. |
| 1487 | GOOGLE AND CENSORSHIP WITHIN CHINA | 26:1:06 |
| Norman Baker | | Peter Bottomley | | Graham Stringer | | Lynne Jones | | Mr Mike Weir | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House deplores Google's decision to launch a censored version of its search engine in China; believes this can only encourage China to continue its draconian policy on freedom of expression and democracy; and calls on the Government to make clear to the Chinese authorities its strong concern and doubt about China's commitment to bring democracy and freedom of expression to its people in the light of its continued policy to only allow companies that have signed a censorship agreement to run internet-based businesses within the People's Republic of China. |
| 1488 | ENFORCEMENT OF THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM TRACEABILITY AND LABELLING REGULATIONS | 26:1:06 |
| Norman Baker | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Joan Ruddock | | Mr Dan Rogerson | | Mr James Paice | | Mr David Drew |
| | Mr Michael Clapham | Emily Thornberry |
| That this House notes the all-party support for the genetically modified content of food and animal feed to be clearly labelled to ensure that consumers and farmers have the right to choose products free of GM ingredients and to enable potential health and environmental impacts of GM crops to be monitored post-marketing; expresses concern about the illegal import over four years of GM Bt10 maize into the EU from the United States which went undetected; further notes the conclusions of a survey carried out by GM Freeze in 2005 that the current level of enforcement of the GMO Traceability and Labelling Regulations across the United Kingdom cannot be said to guarantee the accuracy of GM labelling on food or feed or that no unapproved GM varieties have been imported into the United Kingdom and entered the food chain; and therefore calls upon the Government and the Food Standards Agency to recognise the importance of enforcement at local level, ensure that port health authorities monitor every incoming cargo which may contain GM and take a positive lead in enforcement by providing clear guidance and advice. |
| 1494 | ASSISTED DYING IN THE UK AND OVERSEAS | 26:1:06 |
| Joan Ruddock | | Dr Evan Harris | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Anne Milton | | Sandra Gidley | | Dr Tony Wright |
| | Glenda Jackson | Julie Morgan |
| That this House is saddened by the death of the terminally ill doctor Anne Turner who chose to travel to Switzerland to receive assistance to die; hopes that her son and daughters who accompanied her are treated with compassion and sensitivity by the authorities on their return to the UK; is concerned that this is the 42nd case of its kind in the past three years and yet the Director of Public Prosecutions still refuses to publish guidance as to whether family members who accompany their relatives overseas for an assisted death are breaking the law; notes that recent research by Clive Seale from Brunel University has uncovered that, on average, there are eight illegal assisted deaths performed by doctors in the UK every day; and believes this sensitive issue should be further discussed in this House. |
| As an Amendment to Joan Ruddock's proposed Motion (Assisted Dying in the UK and Overseas): |
| Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr David Crausby | | Ann Winterton | | Paul Rowen | | Mr Angus MacNeil | | Jim Dobbin |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Geraldine Smith | | Mr Joe Benton |
| Line 1, leave out from `of' to end and insert `Dr Ann Turner and regrets the manner in which her assisted suicide in Switzerland was politicised by the euthanasia lobby to promote the legalisation of euthanasia; notes that what was described in The Times as as a `grisly travelling theatre of death' for which a television team and other journalists were present throughout has been used relentlessly by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society to promote Lord Joffe's Bill to legalise assisted suicide; notes however that Dr Turner was not terminally ill and would not have qualified under the proposed legislation which requires a prognosis of death within six months whereas Dr Turner had six to eight years to live; further notes that she was diagnosed as having progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 2004 for which the average survival is 10 years; further notes that the clinical course of PSP is not unlike Parkinson's disease and, although not curable, treatment is available that considerably improves the quality of life; hopes the authorities treated Dr Turner's son and daughters who accompanied her with compassion; nonetheless reminds the Government that every Disability Rights group in the UK is opposed to the Joffe Bill and any form of euthanasia because they consider it would totally undermine the basic rights of disabled people; and calls on the Government to invest extensively in research into PSP and similar diseases, to finance major extensions to the hospice movement and to oppose euthanasia.'. |
| Mr Paul Burstow | | Ann Keen | | Mr Andrew Pelling | | Hywel Williams | | Mr Mike Weir | | Mr Nigel Dodds |
| | Mr Malcolm Moss | Nia Griffith | Ed Balls | | | Mr Nick Clegg |
| That this House condemns the abuse of older people as a national shame; supports the Help the Aged campaign, which is being taken forward in partnership with Action on Elder Abuse, to raise awareness of abuse and increase recognition that all should take responsibility for putting a stop to the abuse of older people; believes that older people have the right to live free from fear and harm; urges immediate action to prevent and tackle elder abuse; and calls for improved mechanisms to address elder abuse through more effective regulatory systems and law enforcement, vetting and barring of health and social care workers and increased access to advocacy and support for people affected by elder abuse. |
| 1503 | GAMING MACHINE STAKE AND PRIZE LEVELS | 26:1:06 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Mr Don Foster | | Mr Malcolm Moss | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House notes with concern that the Government has not implemented the Gaming Board of Great Britain's recommendation to raise the prize level for Category C machines to £35 nor to implement its own proposal to raise the stake to 50 pence; recognises the lack of a suitable stake and prize has been damaging to many leisure sectors which have seen a severe decline in income in recent years; further notes that the effect is felt particuarly in rural and community pubs and local bingo halls where the income stream generated by low stake and prize gaming is of vital importance to those businesses; and notes that the leisure industry as represented by the BBPA, BACTA, BALPPA, BISL and the Bingo Association are urging the Government to introduce the stake and prize increase as a matter of urgency under the current arrangements which provide sufficient safeguards in an existing and established market. |
| 1504 | CAP ON RENEWABLES OBLIGATION CERTIFICATES FOR COFIRING WITH BIOMASS | 26:1:06 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Richard Ottaway | | Mike Penning | | Glenda Jackson | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink |
| That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to secure, sustainable and affordable energy and a balanced mix of electricity generation; notes that cofiring biomass with coal is significantly lowering carbon dioxide emissions and appreciates the potential for further reductions; observes with regret the Government's decision to reduce the cap on renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) for cofiring with biomass from 25 per cent. to 10 per cent. effective from 1st April, representing a 60 per cent. cut in the use of biomass; is concerned that this may lead to an over-supply of cofired ROCs, causing a collapse in their price and a consequent loss of confidence in the short-term energy crop market for farmers and the suppliers of biomass; and therefore calls on the Government to revise the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2004, or alter the ROC pricing system to prevent a collapse in the market. |
| 1507 | JAPANESE WHALING IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN SANCTUARY | 30:1:06 |
| Daniel Kawczynski | | Mr Adrian Sanders | | Andrew Stunell | | Mike Penning | | Bob Russell | | Bob Spink |
| That this House condemns the government of Japan for its scientific whaling within the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; deplores the cruelty of Japanese whaling operations as shown in recent film footage of harpooned minke whales suffering long and painful deaths; regrets deeply that more than 6,800 minke whales have been killed in the name of science in Antarctic waters since the moratorium on commercial whaling was introduced in 1986; fears that Japan is close to commanding a majority bloc in the International Whaling Commission; welcomes the 17-nation demarche in January, which included the UK, calling on the government of Japan to cease immediately its lethal scientific research and curtail its plans to catch 935 minke whales and 10 endangered fin whales; notes the huge public interest in, and sympathy for, the northern bottlenose whale recently found in the Thames; and strongly urges the UK Government to recognise the public interest in whales and put further pressure on the government of Japan at the highest diplomatic levels to cease its whaling programme. |
| 1514 | AGRICULTURE (S.I., 2005, No. 3459) | 30:1:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Gregory Barker | | Mr James Paice [R] | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross-compliance) (England) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 3459), dated 14th December 2005, a copy of which was laid before this House on 19th December, be annulled. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1515 | AGRICULTURE (S.I., 2005, No. 3460) | 30:1:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Gregory Barker | | Mr James Paice [R] | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 3460), dated 14th December 2005, a copy of which was laid before this House on 19th December, be annulled. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1516 | AGRICULTURE (S.I., 2005, No. 3433) | 30:1:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Gregory Barker | | Mr James Paice [R] | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 3433), dated 8th December 2005, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13th December, be annulled. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1517 | TOXIC PROPERTIES OF ASPARTAME | 30:1:06 |
| Mr Roger Williams | | Bob Spink | | David Taylor | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| That this House expresses deep concern over the numerous independent toxicological studies and thousands of subjective reports attesting to the toxic effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame on human health; notes that aspartame, once patented as a biochemical warfare agent, is the synthetically produced methyl ester of a dipeptide which is readily broken down in the gut to release methanol; further notes that in naturally occurring foodstuff methanol is either not released into the body or present together with natural defence mechanisms that mitigate its toxic effects; recognises that methanol is a well known poison and is further converted into formaldehyde, a class A carcinogen according to the World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer; accepts that severe health concerns occur from the gradual accumulation of formaldehyde in the body which cannot be excreted and that further research has shown that long term low level exposure to formaldehyde induces leukaemia and nasopharyngeal cancer in humans; acknowledges that of the 166 studies conducted on aspartame's safety deemed relevant to humans, 92 per cent. of independently sponsored studies identified one or more problems with aspartame's safety whereas industry-sponsored studies found unanimously in favour of aspartame's safety; and urges the Government to abide by the precautionary principle and make use of Statutes 13 and 16 of the 1990 Food Safety Act to remove aspartame from the permitted list of additives on the UK market. |
| 1531 | ABOLITION OF THE POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT | 31:1:06 |
| Kate Hoey | | Mr Owen Paterson | | Mr Alan Reid | | Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody | | The Reverend Ian Paisley | | Mr Iain Duncan Smith |
| | Hugh Bayley | Mr David Chaytor | Janet Anderson | | | Mr Iain Wright | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House is gravely concerned by the Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision to withdraw support for the Post Office Card Account when the existing contract expires in 2010 and in particular by the Department's attempt to kill off the Account in advance of 2010, through pilot schemes being introduced immediately when it will deny to new benefit claimants the option of opening a Post Office Card Account, inform 35,000 existing customers that they will have to use a bank or building society instead of the Post Office Card Account and require them to provide their account details, and pay benefits of 2,500 existing customers into a bank account rather than the Post Office Card Account, ignoring the preferences they made when their benefit books were stopped; condemns the fact that, in breach of all plans, these pilot schemes are being introduced without consultation; and calls on the Government to halt these pilot schemes immediately and to institute an immediate review of the DWP's proposal to abolish the Post Office Card Account by 2010. |
| 1540 | UNIVERSITY SALARIES | 31:1:06 |
| Mr Gordon Marsden | | Helen Jones | | Chris McCafferty | | Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr David S. Borrow | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Patrick Hall | Steve Webb | Dr William McCrea | | | Mark Williams | Emily Thornberry |
| That this House believes universities, and the staff who work within them, are a valuable part of society and the economy; applauds how well university staff have performed in addressing the many challenges in the sector over the last two decades, not least the expansion in student numbers; notes with concern that student-staff ratios have increased by nearly 150 per cent., so that whereas one lecturer taught nine students in 1976, they now on average teach 21; remains concerned that university salaries are still uncompetitively low despite this improved productivity and the recent increases in funding for higher education; supports the Association of University Teachers and NATFHE, the university and college lecturers' union, in their campaign for at least a third of additional future income from top-up fees and other sources to be invested in university staff salaries; and urges university vice chancellors to make their staff a priority and to seek a settlement to the current pay dispute which is in the interests of staff, students and the country as a whole. |
| 1542 | LEGAL SERVICE COMMISSION'S DECISION TO END FUNDING FOR SPECIALIST SUPPORT IN ENGLAND AND WALES | 31:1:06 |
| Julie Morgan | | Vera Baird | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mr Roger Williams | | Mr David Jones | | Barbara Keeley |
| | Miss Julie Kirkbride | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House condemns the Legal Service Commission's (LSC) recent decision to end all funding of specialist support services in England and Wales from July 2006 despite the outcome of its own review in 2003-04 which recognised the value and importance of specialist support advice, mentoring and training in complex areas of social welfare law for LSC approved agencies working directly with the public; notes that this will mean, in Wales, the end of the Wales Specialist Support Service, which provides expert help and training in housing, welfare benefits and debt, and across England and Wales, the loss of essential advice and training in mental health, community care, employment, HIV/AIDS, immigration and human rights, as well as housing, welfare benefits and debt, provided by acknowledged expert agencies such as the Child Poverty Action Group, Disability Law Service, Citizens Advice, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Liberty, MIND, Shelter, Terrence Higgins Trust and others; further regrets the implications of this cut in funding for vulnerable clients who are not in a position to employ specialist advisers; and calls on the Government to restore funding for specialist support and to strengthen the provision of legal advice for those in the greatest need. |
| Vera Baird | | Jenny Willott | | Mr John Gummer | | Mark Durkan | | Peter Bottomley | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House is extremely concerned at the plight of British National, Linda Carty, who has spent more than three years on Death Row in Texas, convicted of a murder she has always denied, solely on the evidence of other suspects who avoided the death penalty themselves by testifying against her; is further concerned that the US authorities failed to notify the British Consul of her arrest, so that Linda Carty, who was suffering the aftermath of both rape and domestic violence at the time, had no support to obtain a good lawyer, being allocated a weak one with a poor record, who failed properly to represent or even consult her; and calls on the Government to take all possible steps to safeguard her legitimate interests. |
| 1553 | BETTER DEAL FOR CANCER PATIENTS CAMPAIGN (No. 2) | 1:2:06 |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Dr Howard Stoate | | Peter Bottomley | | Jo Swinson | | Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods |
| That this House recognises that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime; notes that 39 per cent. of working age cancer patients have experienced significant financial difficulties as a result of cancer; further recognises that disability due to cancer is often sudden and unpredictable and that many cancer patients make up to 60 trips to hospital in total for life-saving treatment and often travel long distances for radiotherapy; is concerned by the National Audit Office finding that 77 per cent. of cancer patients are not given information about financial benefits and the Public Accounts Committee finding that there is a scandalous lack of benefits take-up for some cancer patients; therefore applauds Macmillan Cancer Relief's Better Deal campaign which calls on the Government to inform all cancer patients about their eligibility for financial benefits through effective referral mechanisms such as benefits awareness training for healthcare professionals and access to specialist benefits advice; and calls on the Government to revise the qualifying criteria for disability living allowance and attendance allowance which unfairly discriminate against cancer patients, to review fast-tracking procedures for terminally-ill patients and to exempt cancer patients travelling for treatment from road tolls and charges and from hospital car parking charges. |
| 1562 | ITV NEWS WHO CARES? CAMPAIGN | 2:2:06 |
| Dr Hywel Francis [R] | | Barbara Keeley | | Tony Baldry | | Mr Paul Burstow | | Lady Hermon | | Hywel Williams |
| | John Bercow | Mr Barry Sheerman |
| That this House recognises the needs and the role of the UK's six million people who care for their elderly, sick or disabled relatives, partners or friends which is being highlighted by the ITV News Who Cares? Campaign; realises that despite the work already undertaken to support carers, many still face significant challenges; is concerned that carers still can face poverty as a result of caring, can find it difficult to combine work and care and that they are statistically more likely to suffer ill-health as a result of caring; commends Carers UK for its work in bringing these issues to the fore and for working with others to find solutions; notes that carers' support saves £57 billion a year; and calls for the appointment of a champion within Government to overcome these barriers for carers to ensure that they have choices and opportunities for a better life. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1564 | DEBATE AND VOTE ON NUCLEAR POWER | 6:2:06 |
| Jenny Willott | | Lembit Öpik | | Mark Williams | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Nia Griffith | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House notes the consultation under way over future energy policy; further notes the considerable amount of public concern over the possibility of building a new generation of nuclear power stations across the UK; further notes the huge importance of such a decision in terms of prudence over public finances, security of energy supply, climate change, public health, environmental protection and national security; further notes that such a decision will have a long-lasting impact and represents a major crossroads in UK energy policy; believes that such an extraordinary decision must be legitimised by a strong element of democratic accountability; and calls on the Government to give Parliament a full debate and vote on whether or not to build a set of new nuclear power stations before any final decision from the Government is made. |
| 1570 | ELECTRIC SHOCK COLLARS | 6:2:06 |
| Tony Baldry | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | David Taylor | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Edward Vaizey |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Dr Brian Iddon | Paul Farrelly |
| That this House condemns the sale and use of remote control electric shock collars to train and control dogs; considers the use of such devices to be cruel and unnecessary; understands that alternative positive training methods produce dogs which are trained more quickly and reliably with no potential for abuse or cruelty; recognises that because dogs are highly reactive to learning experiences and have a strong bond with humans that their natural instincts can be utilised to train them easily; and calls upon the Government to introduce a complete ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars as part of the Animal Welfare Bill. |
| 1574 | VIRGIN CROSS COUNTRY | 6:2:06 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | John McDonnell | | Mr Alan Meale | | Graham Stringer | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Rob Marris |
| That this House is deeply concerned at the ongoing dispute between Virgin Cross Country and the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT); is further concerned at reports that Virgin may be compromising the safety of passengers by the use of untrained and medically restricted personnel on strike days; regrets that Virgin has refused to return to the negotiating table; and therefore calls on Richard Branson to urge his company immediately to re-open negotiations with the RMT. |
| 1575 | BETTER MENTAL HEALTH ACT CAMPAIGN | 6:2:06 |
| Lynne Jones | | Angela Browning | | Sandra Gidley | | Gwyn Prosser | | Mrs Madeleine Moon | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Michael Jabez Foster | Mr David Amess | Simon Hughes | | | Peter Luff | Mrs Maria Miller | Mr Andrew Pelling |
| That this House regrets the Government's decision to reject many of the pre-legislative scrutiny committee's recommendations on the 2004 draft Mental Health Bill; believes that unless the measures proposed in the draft Bill are significantly altered as proposed by the committee, the resultant new Mental Health Act will seriously restrict the rights, choices and wellbeing of people with mental distress and force too many people into compulsory treatment; calls for a new Bill that ensures that powers to treat people compulsorily are only used when there is a definite therapeutic benefit and that compulsion is only used when a person's ability to make a decision about accepting treatment is significantly impaired as a result of mental disorder; supports the committee's view that compulsory treatment in the community is appropriate in only a relatively small number of cases whose clinical characteristics should be clearly defined; further believes that people must have access to voluntary care and treatment when they need it in order to achieve the Government's declared aim of minimising the risk of people with a mental health problem deteriorating to the point where the need for consideration of compulsory treatment arises; calls on the Government to provide evidence for its assertion, in its response to the committee, that the general public does not share the committee's belief that the Bill is inappropriately concerned with public safety; and supports the Mental Health Alliance's campaign for a better Mental Health Act. |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | Alan Simpson | | Dr Phyllis Starkey | | Richard Burden | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Mr Andrew Love | Simon Hughes | Mr Jim McGovern | | | Mike Penning | Sir Peter Soulsby |
| That this House expresses concern that the Government may be considering diluting laws relating to the arrest of alleged war criminals and torturers entering or residing in the UK; notes that no good reason has been given to alter the status quo and that the current system wherein a judge makes a decision whether to grant an arrest warrant has worked satisfactorily to date; further notes that such arrest warrants have been issued very infrequently and that this would indicate that the granting of them is taken very seriously indeed by the judiciary which is a safeguard against frivolous applications; calls upon the Government to uphold the UK's duty and right to arrest and prosecute alleged war crimes suspects if they arrive on or reside in its territory and to fund the police and immigration authorities adequately to enable such arrests to be made so that this country cannot be regarded as a safe haven for such persons. |
| 1581 | UNETHICAL PRACTICES BY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES | 7:2:06 |
| Paul Flynn | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | David Taylor | | Graham Stringer | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House deplores the violation of privacy arising from the release of confidential general practitioner NHS patient records to a representative of Merck pharmaceutical company and the routine access to hospital confidential records to nurse advisers employed by pharmaceutical companies; is alarmed that a nurse adviser employed by Glaxo Smith Kline used her access to patient records to push the company's drug Seretide and that the Wyeth company offered general practitioners financial inducements to prescribe its drugs; believes the activities of nurse advisers, trained and employed by drug companies, distort clinical priorities and lead to the unethical over-prescription and mis-prescription of medicines; and calls for an inquiry into the practice of allowing employees of drugs companies access to NHS patients and influence over prescribing decisions. |
| 1582 | HON. MEMBER FOR BEACONSFIELD | 7:2:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Mr Michael Howard | | Mr William Hague | | David Davis | | Sir Michael Spicer | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| That this House congratulates the hon. Member for Beaconsfield on recently being named Channel 4 Opposition Politician of the Year, in addition to receiving the House Magazine's Award for the Opposition Politician of the Year and the Spectator's Award for Parliamentarian of the Year; recognises the contribution made by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield to the high standard of debate in this House; and, while acknowledging the calibre of all those short-listed for these awards, further recognises that it is a remarkable achievement to have won all of these prestigious awards in one year. |
| 1599 | GM CONTAMINATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS | 7:2:06 |
| Alan Simpson | | Chris McCafferty | | David Taylor | | Mr Alan Meale | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Glenda Jackson |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Steve McCabe | John Battle | | | Mr Michael Meacher | Ann McKechin | Mr Mark Francois | | | Mr Richard Bacon | Mr Andrew Pelling | Mr Angus MacNeil | | | Mr Brian Binley | Tim Farron |
| That this House notes the proposal by the European Commission to revise the EU Organic Regulation and impose on organic products a threshold of 0.9 per cent. for contamination by genetically modified (GM) organisms; further notes the expansion of organic farming in the last decade and its positive contribution to the farming economy and the environment; further notes the wishes of the majority of European consumers to avoid any GM content in food; recognises that most organic certification bodies operate to the practical detection limit of 0.1 per cent.; is concerned that the imposition of a GM threshold for organic food above the detectable level will damage the reputation of organic produce and lead to increasing GM contamination over time; and calls upon the Secretary of State to support non-GM food production and farmer and consumer choice by opposing the use of a 0.9 per cent. threshold as a reference in co-existence measures or in the EU Organic Regulation, ensuring that strict liability rules put the cost of GM contamination on the polluters and not on taxpayers or the non-GM sector, recognising the importance of independent organic certification and the need to protect this system by ensuring that organic means no GMOs, and ensuring that the threshold for all non-GM seed is set at the practical limit of detection. |
| 1604 | ABUSES OF HONOURS | 8:2:06 |
| Mr Gordon Prentice | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Paul Flynn | | Mr Martin Caton | | Lynne Jones | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House notes that since the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 was put on the Statute Book there has been only one prosecution, in 1933; and believes with the passage of such a long time without prosecutions, organisations such as the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust should be reminded of its existence. |
| 1606 | GUIDANCE ON PRE-MOVEMENT TESTING | 8:2:06 |
| Mr James Paice | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr David Curry | | Mr Peter Atkinson | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Gregory Barker |
| That this House recognises the importance of livestock markets to rural communities; further recognises the role of such markets in enabling a farmer to obtain a fair price for his or her stock at auction; notes the coming into force later this month of the Tuberculosis (England) Order 2005; further notes the introduction by the order of a requirement for pre-movement testing of cattle for bovine TB; welcomes measures to combat the urgent problem of TB in cattle; further recognises that livestock markets are ideally placed to monitor compliance by farmers with the provisions of the order; further notes the Government's failure to provide any guidance to livestock markets on the practical operation of the order or the conditions for being granted the status necessary to continue offering an open market for both finished and unfinished cattle; calls on the Government to provide such guidance as a matter of urgency; and urges the Government to work with the Livestock Auctioneers' Association to ensure that the order is implemented in a manner which is administratively workable and which enables all farmers to continue to achieve a fair price for their cattle within the context of an open auction. |
| 1608 | BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION REPORT ON THE STAFF AND ASSOCIATE SPECIALISTS GROUP OF DOCTORS | 9:2:06 |
| Dr Howard Stoate | | Mr Andrew Lansley | | Steve Webb | | Michael Connarty | | Lady Hermon | | Hywel Williams |
| | Joan Ruddock | Mr David Jones |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the British Medical Association's recent report, The Hidden Heroes of the NHS; notes the significant contribution that the Staff and Associate Specialists group of doctors play in providing patient care in the NHS; further notes that their contribution in delivering patient care has been largely unacknowledged; believes that recognition of and investment in this group of 12,500 or so senior doctors is much needed as they are an untapped resource and essential to the modernisation of the NHS; and calls on the Government to invest in this group of doctors to enable them to help deliver improvements across the NHS. |
| 1614 | TRIDENT AND THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY | 9:2:06 |
| Mr Neil Gerrard | | Richard Younger-Ross | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mr David Drew | | Jim Cousins | | Mr Michael Clapham |
| | Dr Gavin Strang | Sir Peter Soulsby |
| That this House notes that the Government when elected in 1997 committed itself to working for multilateral nuclear disarmament; further notes that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commits nuclear weapon states to negotiate the elimination of their nuclear arsenals and that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons affirms an obligation `to negotiate in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament'; further notes that any programme to replace Trident nuclear weapons systems would pre-empt and undermine the effectiveness of such negotiations; and calls upon the Government to support the international rule of law by implementing the obligations of the NPT which would preclude a replacement of Trident. |
| 1616 | SLAVERY AND TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE | 9:2:06 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Andrew George | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House welcomes the unanimous decision of the Church of England Synod to acknowledge and apologise for the complicity of the Church in the slave trade; pays tribute to the decade-long campaign led by African countries and representatives of the African diaspora to gain international recognition for the injustices perpetrated in the era of slave trade and to address the lasting legacy of poverty and discrimination; recognises the inspiration derived from Pope John Paul II in his 1991 apology for the `sins of Christian Europe against Africa'; believes that, on the eve of the 2007 bicentenary anniversary of abolition, it is no longer sufficient merely to express regret that slavery occurred; urges the Government to prepare a declaration that recognises slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity; and calls upon the Home Office Bicentenary Advisory Group to identify a suitable opportunity for an apology to be made on behalf of the nation. |
| 1621 | PRESERVATION OF ORANG-UTANS AND THEIR HABITATS | 9:2:06 |
| Andrew Rosindell | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Sammy Wilson | | Bob Russell | | Mr David Amess | | Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews |
| | Michael Jabez Foster | Angela Watkinson | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House notes the distressing plight of the orang-utan in Borneo whose numbers are so disturbingly low as to make their extinction a possibility within 12 years; further notes the effects of mass deforestation for logging and palm-oil plantations, illegal hunting, the notorious pet trade and forest fires as grave threats to this primate's existence; acknowledges the outstanding efforts of the World Wildlife Fund in attempting to save this intelligent species from extinction through education of the public and creating sanctuaries for orang-utans; urges supermarkets and other suppliers to act responsibly when considering the purchase of palm-oil-based products from areas that have been deforested; and calls on the Government to do everything possible to support the preservation of the orang-utan's natural habitat and safety so that these magnificent creatures may continue to thrive and survive. |
| 1622 | OFFENSIVE MATERIALS IN NEWSAGENTS | 9:2:06 |
| Ms Diane Abbott | | Peter Bottomley | | Annette Brooke | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Andrew George | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| | Tom Brake | Linda Gilroy | Mr William Cash | | | Liz Blackman | Mike Wood | Mr Barry Sheerman | | | John Battle | Ann Winterton | Mr Nigel Evans | | | Dr Ashok Kumar | Frank Cook | Mr Andrew Pelling | | | Chris Huhne | Mike Penning | James Brokenshire | | | Emily Thornberry | Nia Griffith | Alison Seabeck | | | Anne Main |
| That this House notes that there is still no legislation in place to ensure that adult titles, including so called lads mags, newspapers and tabloids containing disturbing pornographic material, are kept out of reach and sight of children; acknowledges that most newsagents adhere to the voluntary Code of Practice as set out by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents; welcomes local campaigners all over the UK who are putting pressure on WH Smith to recognise certain tabloid titles as pornography; and calls on the Government once again to consider introducing legislation to ensure offensive material is kept well out of reach and sight of children. |
| As an Amendment to Ms Diane Abbott's proposed Motion (Offensive Materials in Newsagents): |
| Mr Gerald Howarth | | Mr Julian Brazier | | Mark Hunter | | Mr David Burrowes |
| Line 2, after `tabloids' add `; and magazines such as More which treat sexual matters in an entirely mechanical fashion, virtually devoid of any moral content and are therefore detrimental to the well-being of young people to whom they are marketed by unscrupulous adults'. |
| 1625 | ANIMAL WELFARE LABELLING SCHEME | 13:2:06 |
| Mr James Paice | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Bill Wiggin | | Andrew Rosindell | | Gregory Barker | | Mr Tim Boswell |
| That this House welcomes the European Commission proposal to create an animal welfare label for meat and fish products which would differentiate between food produced to basic welfare standards and that obtained with higher standards; believes this would improve the protection and welfare of farmed animals, would enable consumers to make more informed choices, and would help British farmers, with their high standards of production to compete against low quality imports which can be passed off as British under current rules; and calls on the Government to give active support to and to promote this scheme for the benefit of consumers, animal welfare and the British agriculture industry. |
| 1626 | ANIMAL WELFARE (No. 2) | 13:2:06 |
| Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Bob Russell | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr John Leech | | Harry Cohen |
| | Mr David Amess | Linda Gilroy | Richard Burden | | | Mr David Crausby | Janet Anderson | Mr Martyn Jones | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Hywel Williams | Mr David Hamilton | | | Rob Marris | Mr David Anderson | Kerry McCarthy | | | Danny Alexander | Mark Pritchard | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House commends the work of Animal Defenders International in collecting video evidence of the abnormal behaviour and suffering of animals in travelling circuses, and notes this shows that travelling circuses cannot adequately provide for the basic welfare needs of their animals and as such fail the welfare test of the Animal Welfare Bill; notes that circus animals spend excessive periods of time shut in transporters, whether travelling or not, are forced to live in temporary facilities lacking appropriate space and environmental enrichment, and often in inappropriate groupings of animals; further notes that violence is commonplace and part of the circus culture, and no other working animals spend such a long time, normally at least eight months, in temporary mobile accommodation, thus making animal transport regulations difficult to police and enforce, and that the arrangements for circus animals are entirely different from the higher quality accommodation and transport arrangements of animals being transported for racing, horse shows, dog shows and similar events; and therefore urges that the Animal Welfare Bill is used to end the use of animals in travelling circuses and to take measures to protect performing animals in permanent facilities through regulation and to end the currently legal use of violence to train animals for the purposes of entertainment. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Mike Hancock's proposed Motion (Animal Welfare (No. 2)): |
| Peter Luff | | Mr Edward Vaizey |
| Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and insert `deplores the use of misleading film footage by Animal Defenders International to make false claims about animal cruelty in circuses in the UK, noting that the vast bulk of the footage was filmed abroad, and that the footage showing abuses in the UK was extremely old and does not reflect current practices; acknowledges that only three touring circuses in the UK use wild animals; regrets the deliberate failure by campaigners to distinguish between wild and domestic animals in circuses; notes the scientific evidence in the Kiley-Worthington Report, commissioned by the RSPCA and written by a respected animal behaviourist, which found that, rather than being intrinsically harmful to captive animals, circuses can provide them with a beneficial mixture of exercise, stimulation and human contact; recognises that circuses' transport records show that the times and conditions for animals in transit exceed the legal requirements; supports the independent inspections that are conducted by local authorities with the full cooperation of circuses; praises the leading circuses for adopting an independent code of conduct and the wider industry for working together with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in order to formulate the proposed regulations for the use of animals in circuses; and vigorously defends the right of touring circuses to continue to use domestic animals such as horses, dogs and budgerigars in full compliance with the welfare test of the Animal Welfare Bill'. |
| 1627 | ANNIVERSARY OF HUNTING ACT 2004 | 13:2:06 |
| Paul Flynn | | Tony Lloyd | | Mr Gordon Prentice | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Mr John Leech |
| That this House celebrates the first anniversary of the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004 and the end of the gratuitous cruelty of traditional hare-coursing, stag hunting and foxhunting; congratulates the hunts who changed to drag hunting, eliminating the prolonged pursuit and barbaric deaths of defenceless animals; is delighted that the Act did not destroy 35,000 jobs or the economy of the countryside nor lead to the putting down of thousands of hounds and horses; regrets that some compassionate concessions in the Act have been exploited to continue some blood sport activity; understands the cautious approach of the police in the past year but now calls for rigorous vigilance and prosecutions of breaches of the Act; and anticipates further advances in the welfare of game birds and circus animals and is confident that no future legislators will bring back the cruelty inherent in traditional hare-coursing, stag hunting and foxhunting. |
| 1632 | ROYAL MAIL AND PRESSTREAM | 13:2:06 |
| Miss Julie Kirkbride | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Derek Conway | | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | | Stephen Williams | | Mr Nigel Dodds |
| That this House notes with concern the recommendation of Postcomm to remove the second-class magazine delivery service, Presstream 2, from price control from April 2006; believes that this is abdicating its responsibility to control prices chargeable by a dominant supplier, Royal Mail, whose de facto monopoly has been granted by Postcomm; fears that magazine publishers will be exposed to significant price increases due to lack of regulatory controls and no notable competitive option for at least the next five years to the ultimate detriment of consumers; and urges the Government to suggest to Postcomm that it looks again at this recommendation following, as it does, so soon after the introduction of size-based pricing and the changes that Royal Mail have introduced in the move from weight to size-based delivery. |
| 1633 | HIV TREATMENT AND NHS PRESCRIPTION CHARGES | 13:2:06 |
| Mr Paul Burstow | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr John Leech | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Ms Sally Keeble | Mr Andrew Pelling |
| That this House notes that the regulations specifying conditions which qualify for prescription charge exemptions have not changed since 1968, and remain a significant barrier to the health care and quality of life of patients living with HIV; recognises that living with HIV, an infection first diagnosed 14 years after this legislation was introduced, can cause considerable physical and financial hardship; and calls on the Government to fulfil the commitment it made whilst in Opposition finally to review the list of conditions currently exempt from prescription charges with a view to adding HIV to the list. |
| 1635 | INDEPENDENT PRESCRIBING | 13:2:06 |
| Laura Moffatt | | Dr Doug Naysmith | | Dr Andrew Murrison | | Sandra Gidley | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr John Leech |
| That this House welcomes the Government's recent announcement on independent prescribing powers for pharmacists and nurses; recognises that pharmacy and nursing professionals will have to undergo significant training to be granted these extended powers and will operate within an agreed range of competencies; notes that this new way of working will relieve pressure on general practitioners and vastly improve the speed at which patients will be able to access treatment and medicines; and urges the Government to ensure that these proposals are implemented in full through regulations as soon as possible. |
| 1640 | INTERNATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER DAY 2006 | 14:2:06 |
| Mr Andrew Lansley | | Mr John Baron | | Mr Crispin Blunt | | Tim Loughton | | Dr Andrew Murrison | | Mr Stephen O'Brien |
| That this House notes that Wednesday 15th February is International Childhood Cancer Day 2006; further notes that cancer and leukaemia are the biggest killer diseases of children in the UK and that five new cancer cases in children and young people are diagnosed every day; recognises that cancers in children develop in different parts of the body and impact upon health in different ways compared to those which emerge in adults; believes that children living with cancer benefit when they receive rapid treatment at specialist centres; applauds the invaluable work of the UK's 22 child cancer units, including the one at Barts and the Royal London Hospital; further notes that a number of events are taking place in the UK and worldwide to mark International Childhood Cancer Day, including a continuation of the Through My Eyes: A Day in the Life of Children with Cancer Around the World project, through which children living with cancer tell their own story by taking photographs of their school and hospital; and calls on the Government to raise public awareness of cancers in children and promote research into effective treatment of these cancers and leukaemia. |
| 1648 | COLLIERY SURFACE WORKERS CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE SCHEME | 14:2:06 |
| Mr Michael Clapham | | Mr David Hamilton | | Mr Kevan Jones | | Mr David Anderson | | Mr Denis Murphy | | Mr Dennis Skinner |
| That this House notes that the Department of Trade and Industry laid a minute before Parliament on 10th July 2000 accepting liability for surface workers who worked in dusty jobs; welcomes the fact that 84,000 mixed cases have been settled, but points out that many were exposed to more dust on the surface; considers it unjust that a surface worker with underground service who contracts the disease from a dusty surface job receives compensation but a man with surface-only service does not; is aware that on two occasions, in the debate on 7th February 2006, the Minister of Energy stated that the Department of Trade and Industry did not deny liability in all such cases; is concerned that many firms of solicitors have received hundreds of denial letters for such claims; and calls on the Minister to end this injustice by negotiating with the mining unions a no-fault liability scheme for surface workers. |
| 1652 | NOMINATION OF JEFF HALPER AND GHASSAN ANDONI FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE | 15:2:06 |
| Richard Burden | | Andrew George | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr David Hamilton | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Richard Younger-Ross |
| That this House congratulates Jeff Halper from Israel, and Ghassan Andoni from Palestine, on being nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize; recognises the important contribution that they have made as grassroots peace activists against the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza; notes their work to increase co-operation and understanding and their determination to strive for equality between their peoples within the framework of sovereign and democratic states; and welcomes their nomination by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). |
| 1653 | PRESCRIPTION PRICING AUTHORITY AND THE CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME | 15:2:06 |
| Mr John Leech | | Paul Holmes | | Mark Hunter | | David Howarth | | Andrew George | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| That this House recognises that the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) is an efficient, cost-effective public service run by public sector staff with the interests of patients and the NHS at heart; notes that the Capacity Improvement Programme (CIP), first announced in December 2003, aimed to increase the PPA's prescription processing capacity to deal with the increased workload without the need significantly to increase staff numbers; recognises that it was assumed that roll-out of the CIP would not be completed until March 2008; notes with concern that this roll-out is now to be phased in over one year between April 2006 and March 2007 and that it is designed significantly to reduce staff numbers to meet the Business Services Agency (BSA) targets for savings; further notes that the CIP is, as yet, untested and that there is a real concern among staff that rushing in a new system poses risks to service delivery; and therefore urges the BSA to extend the roll-out of CIP to ensure the smooth and effective transfer of service delivery and to rule out compulsory redundancies. |
| 1656 | TREATMENT OF SANJAR UMAROV IN UZBEKISTAN | 15:2:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Mark Durkan | | Peter Bottomley | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Greg Pope | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House notes with regret the detention of Sanjar Umarov, leader of the Sunshine Coalition, by Uzbekistan authorities in October 2005; further notes the appalling treatment he has suffered in detention; calls on the Government and others to make the strongest representations to the Uzbekistan government to ensure respect for human rights including the right to a fair trial for all of those in detention; and urges the Uzbekistan government to provide proper medical care and access to independent legal representation to Mr Umarov as soon as possible. |
| 1664 | NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK | 15:2:06 |
| Colin Challen | | Mr Nick Hurd | | John Battle | | David Howarth | | Emily Thornberry | | Joan Walley |
| That this House welcomes the thirteenth National Science Week from 10th to 19th March 2006, which is coordinated by the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA) and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and incorporates ESRC Social Science Week; supports the aim of National Science Week to celebrate the role of science in the UK; notes that over half a million people are expected to take part in around 1,500 events across the UK; welcomes the BA's `Click for the Climate' campaign with its focus on personal responsibility towards tackling climate change; encourages all hon. Members to pledge to take their own individual steps to reduce their personal energy consumption during the week; and supports the BA's invitation to supermarkets to reduce the price of their energy-saving light bulbs. |
| 1667 | SEVERN BEACH RAILWAY LINE | 16:2:06 |
| Stephen Williams | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Lynne Jones | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr John Leech | | Andrew George |
| That this House notes that 6th March marks 141 years since the opening of the Severn Beach railway line in Bristol; further notes that this line served a vital purpose during the First World War in carrying munitions and today carries thousands of commuters per week; acknowledges that Thomas Cook has listed this line as one of the most scenic routes in Europe; and calls on the Government to ensure that this valuable line is maintained for the benefit and enjoyment of the local community and visitors. |
| 1669 | PRICE FOR MILK PAID BY BRITISH SUPERMARKETS | 16:2:06 |
| Daniel Kawczynski | | Richard Younger-Ross | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Sandra Osborne | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| That this House notes with concern and disdain the way in which British supermarkets treat British dairy farmers; and urges the setting up of an all-parliamentary group of hon. Members who feel passionately about British agriculture and who will collectively seek to lobby supermarket bosses to ensure that they pay a fair price for the milk they buy domestically. |
| 1678 | ENVIRONMENTAL CASE FOR RAIL | 16:2:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Dr Gavin Strang | | Joan Walley | | Mr David Drew | | Graham Stringer | | Ms Katy Clark |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House notes that transport accounts for more than a third of total UK carbon dioxide emissions; is concerned that carbon dioxide emissions from transport are predicted to rise by almost 10 per cent. between 2000 and 2010; supports an integrated transport system in which different transport modes complement rather than compete with each other; further notes that the railways produce substantially less carbon dioxide emissions than cars, road freight or aviation; and therefore urges the Government to ensure that the protection and expansion of the rail network is central to its policy of reducing carbon emissions. |
| 1679 | JOB CUTS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS | 16:2:06 |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | | John McDonnell | | Tony Lloyd | | Angus Robertson | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House expresses its grave concern at the hundreds of jobs, including those of many journalists, which have been cut at local newspapers in recent weeks, including more than one in five journalists at the Manchester Evening News; notes that profit levels are up to 37 per cent. in some parts of the newspaper industry and that all local newspaper groups are making substantial profits; is concerned that coverage of local news, local and national politics, sport, arts and other events will suffer as a result of the cuts and mergers; and therefore urges newspaper proprietors to put investment in quality journalism at the heart of their future strategies. |
| 1680 | DELIVERING SAFER RAIL STATIONS | 16:2:06 |
| Kelvin Hopkins [R] | | John McDonnell | | Mr Ian Davidson | | Ms Katy Clark | | Mrs Linda Riordan | | Alan Simpson |
| That this House notes the Public Accounts Committee Report `Maintaining and Improving Britain's Railway Stations'; welcomes the Committee's findings that passengers would like stations to be safe and secure with staff and good quality information available; further notes that research for the Department for Transport found that improvements in station safety would increase rail use by up to 11 per cent.; further notes the need for safer stations has been demonstrated by the British Transport Police report that violent crime on trains has risen by 43 per cent. in the last five years; therefore welcomes the RMT study which concluded that the £200 million saved by bringing train operating companies back into public ownership would pay for more than 1,600 extra station staff and double the stations' improvements budget; and therefore calls on the Government to return the train operating companies to public ownership to help finance properly staffed, safer stations. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1681 | RAIL WORKERS' PENSIONS | 16:2:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Alan Simpson | | Ms Katy Clark | | Mrs Linda Riordan | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Kelvin Hopkins [R] |
| | Mr Neil Gerrard | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House is deeply alarmed at the attempts by railways employers substantially to increase employee pension contributions; notes this will not only be detrimental to rail workers' earnings but will threaten the future viability of the Railways Pension Scheme by forcing existing members to opt out, and deterring new members from joining; is concerned that rail employers are considering closing scheme sections, raising retirement ages and reducing benefits; believes the threat to rail workers' pensions is a direct result of the fragmentation of the Railways Pension Scheme and of employers taking pension holidays; strongly supports the rail unions' campaign to cap employees' contributions, maintain existing benefit rates, simplify the Railways Pension Scheme's structure and open the Scheme to all staff; and therefore urges the Government to do all within its power to protect the pensions of rail workers. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1682 | PUBLIC HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH | 16:2:06 |
| Lynne Jones | | Tim Loughton | | Sandra Gidley | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr Paul Burstow |
| | Ms Sally Keeble | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House believes that mental health should form a central part of mainstream public health reforms; is appalled that people with severe mental illness can expect to live 10 years less than other people; congratulates Rethink, the charity for people affected by severe mental illness, for campaigning to ensure that people with severe mental illness should be a top priority for programmes on obesity, exercise and smoking cessation because of the high levels of physical health problems among this group; urges the Government to fulfill its commitment to tackling health inequalities through the Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health, and the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; and calls on the Government to reassert its commitment to keep mental health as one of its three health priorities. |
| 1683 | VICTIM SUPPORT WEEK 2006 | 16:2:06 |
| Mr Edward Davey | | Richard Younger-Ross | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Lynne Jones | | Mike Penning | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| | John Bercow | Mr Iain Wright |
| That this House welcomes Victim Support Week, running from 20th to 24th February; congratulates the charity Victim Support on reaching its 32nd year of providing support to witnesses, victims, their families and friends in the community and when they go to court; notes that since 2003 Victim Support has had a witness service in every criminal court in England and Wales; and commends the work of Victim Support in raising awareness of victims' and witnesses' rights and in providing support for all people affected by crime. |
| 1686 | HOME OXYGEN SUPPLIES | 27:2:06 |
| Mrs Linda Riordan [R] | | Bob Spink | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Lynne Jones | | Jim Dobbin |
| That this House expresses serious concern at the decision to transfer the delivery of oxygen away from local pharmacies to private companies; regrets that this means the provision will not be made by these pharmacies, who were community-based and aware of patients' needs; is concerned that the 60,000 people across the country who rely on oxygen will now have to wait longer to receive their supplies; and calls on the Government to think again about this decision, as well as resisting any future plans to move away from localised provision of key health services such as these. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1688 | CAMPAIGN TO BAN DIVING IN FOOTBALL | 27:2:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House supports the efforts of the Supporters Say No To Diving campaign; applauds the Football Association, Professional Footballers' Association and the League Managers' Association for supporting the campaign; hopes that the message will be spread so that the World Cup is not overshadowed by diving controversies; calls on professionals to remember their responsibilities as role models for the young; and hopes the campaign will be successful in eradicating diving from football. |
| 1689 | IRAQI TRADE UNIONS | 27:2:06 |
| Mr David Anderson | | Joan Ruddock | | Mr Dai Havard | | Rob Marris | | Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House supports the independent and democratic Iraqi trade union movement, mainly centred around the newly merged Iraqi Workers' Federation (IWF) and the Kurdish trade unions, which play an important role in the re-building of Iraq's devastated national economy and consolidating the current political process in order to create a democratic, united and federal state after years of repression and hardship at the hands of the deposed dictatorship of Saddam Hussein; is, therefore, deeply disturbed that on 8th August 2005 the Iraqi Council of Ministers issued decree 8750 which declared that union finances would be taken over by the government and that a new law on trade unionism would be developed by the government, without mentioning freedom of association, which is a basic human right and one of the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), or the involvement of the Iraqi trade union movement; is further disturbed at recent reports that the Iraqi government has replaced the leadership of the independent engineers' union with its own appointeees in a prima facie breach of freedom of association; welcomes the decision of Iraqi professional organisations to create jointly with the IWF an umbrella organisation to oppose decree 8750; congratulates the TUC for initiating global protests against decree 8750 and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions for supporting the IWF's complaint formally requesting that the ILO intervene directly with the Iraqi government; and supports the IWF and others in all available democratic means to stop this undemocratic practice against Iraqi workers. |
| 1691 | BRITISH TROOPS AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT | 27:2:06 |
| Harry Cohen | | Lynne Jones | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mark Durkan | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| | Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews |
| That this House disagrees with the Secretary of State for Defence that the International Criminal Court should have no role in cases where British soldiers are alleged to have committed war crimes; and considers that such immunity if granted to British troops would be damaging to the operation and legitimacy of the court. |
| 1694 | JAMIL EL-BANNA AND BRITISH RESIDENTS IN GUANTANAMO BAY | 27:2:06 |
| Sarah Teather | | Sandra Gidley | | Mr Jeremy Browne | | Norman Lamb | | Peter Bottomley | | Lynne Jones |
| That this House applauds the Times Series Newspapers on their `Justice for Dad' campaign with its call to the British Government and US Administration to bring justice to Jamil el-Banna, a British resident held in Guantanamo Bay for over three years without charge or trial; regrets the Prime Minister's use of the word `anomaly' to describe the camp at Guantanamo Bay and suggests that he uses the term `international disgrace' in the future; and calls on the British Government to acknowledge its moral duty towards British residents held in Guantanamo Bay, particularly those such as Jamil el-Banna who have British children, and to make immediate representations to the US Administration calling for Jamil el-Banna and other British residents either to be given a fair trial or to be released without further delay. |
| 1695 | VAT ON DOMESTIC BUILDING WORK | 27:2:06 |
| Gordon Banks [R] | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Gordon Prentice | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| | Mr Don Foster | Mr Paul Keetch | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House notes that the Government has the right until 31st March to propose a reduced rate of VAT for domestic building work; supports the Government in its drive to improve the quality of domestic building work through the TrustMark initiative; and urges the Government to support the TrustMark by reducing the rate of VAT on domestic building work to five per cent., thereby depriving rogue builders of their commercial advantage. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1696 | ACTION MESOTHELIOMA DAY | 27:2:06 |
| Mr Michael Clapham | | John Battle | | Jim Sheridan | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Nia Griffith | | Mrs Madeleine Moon |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Danny Alexander | | | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House welcomes the first Action Mesothelioma Day on 27th February and the campaign, led by the British Lung Foundation, which aims to raise awareness of mesothelioma, the asbestos cancer; regrets that one person in the UK dies from mesothelioma every five hours, in most cases 20 to 40 years after their exposure to asbestos; further regrets that incidence of the disease is rising and is not expected to peak until 2015; supports the 15 point Mesothelioma Charter which calls for faster diagnosis, better treatment and care services, more funding for research and prevention of future asbestos exposure; and urges the Government and the Cancer Tsar to make mesothelioma a national priority. |
| 1700 | ARCHIVES FOR AFRICA INITIATIVE | 27:2:06 |
| Dr Brian Iddon [R] | | Mr Mark Lancaster [R] | | Willie Rennie | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Jim Dobbin |
| That this House congratulates the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) on the launch in the House on Tuesday 28th February of its excellent Archives for Africa initiative; applauds the free access that the Society is proposing to give in African countries to the RSC's extensive collection of historical scientific journals which stretches back to 1841; notes that this launch is being supported by right hon. and hon. Members on all sides of the House, including the right hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development, Mr Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and Mr Andrew George MP, Shadow International Development Secretary for the Liberal Democrat Party; and believes that Archives for Africa will play a significant part in building scientific capacity in African countries by fostering scientific knowledge and research. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1702 | CUTS IN LOCAL RAIL FUNDING FOR THE SEVERN BEACH LINE | 27:2:06 |
| Kerry McCarthy | | Dan Norris | | Roger Berry | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Alison Seabeck | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| That this House condemns the decision by Liberal Democrat councillors on Bristol City Council to recommend ending financial support for local rail services on the Severn Beach railway line in Bristol by cutting the entire £138,000 rail support grant from the local authority transport budget; believes that this decision puts the future of existing local rail services into doubt at a time when rail users are calling for an expansion of local rail services; notes that from December 2006 it is proposed to substitute a bus service for an existing through-train service along the line; supports the campaign to save Bristol's rail services; and calls on Bristol City Council to reverse this decision. |
| As an Amendment to Kerry McCarthy's proposed Motion (Cuts in Local Rail Funding for the Severn Beach Line): |
| Stephen Williams | | Mr John Leech | | Andrew Stunell | | John Hemming | | Steve Webb |
| Line 1, leave out from` House' to end and insert `notes that the terms of the new rail franchise for the West of England require the maintenance of existing services without any need for subsidy from local authorities and that the new franchise holder, First Great Western, has indicated that current services on the Severn Beach line will continue; and further notes that at Bristol City Council's budget meeting on 28th February the opposition Labour group did not table any amendments to the controlling Liberal Democrat group's budget.'. |
| 1703 | RIGHT TO READ CHARTER FOR PRINT DISABLED PEOPLE | 28:2:06 |
| Annette Brooke | | Mr David Heath | | John Battle | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew | | Bob Spink |
| That this House expresses its concern that one year after the Right to Read Charter was handed in to Number 10 Downing Street with over 32,000 signatures, no Government funding has been made available to increase the amount of books available in large print, audio and Braille; notes that each year less than five per cent. of books become available in formats accessible to people with a visual impairment, dyslexia or other reading-related disability; further notes that this figure has not changed in the last year; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent steps to end the exclusion of print disabled people from being able to gain access to books, magazines and newspapers. |
| 1704 | USE OF PRIMATES IN SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES | 28:2:06 |
| Mr David Drew | | Mr Alan Meale | | David Taylor | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Mike Weir | | David Lepper |
| | Mr Paul Keetch | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Martin Caton | | | Mr David Hamilton | Mrs Linda Riordan | Mr Nick Clegg |
| That this House notes the use of thousands of non-human primates each year in scientific procedures in the United Kingdom and across the EU; further notes that their level of sentience and highly developed social instincts make it extremely difficult to meet their behavioural needs in a laboratory setting; further notes that physical differences between human beings and other primates may make it impossible to predict reliably human outcomes from primate procedures; further notes public opposition to the use of primates; calls upon the Government to extend the current ban on the use of great apes to all primates as a matter of urgency; and further calls on the Government to press for an EU-wide ban on primate experiments as part of the impending review of European Union Directive 86/609/EEC. |
| 1705 | SQUARE ROUTE GROUP | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Fraser Kemp | | Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Mike Weir | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House notes that the Square Route Group, a group of women on Wearside, have transformed their community in New Herrington by the creation of a doorstep green in the centre of their community; further notes that they have just completed the funding of road markings and new art features including four trees fired in metal, to be officially launched in May; and congratulates them for the achievement of true people power and for raising more than half a million pounds to reach their outstanding goal. |
| 1706 | TRADE UNION RECOGNITION | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Fraser Kemp | | Mark Durkan | | Mr Alan Meale | | Jim Dobbin | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Dr Howard Stoate | Dr Doug Naysmith | Mr John Grogan | | | Mr David Crausby | Ms Dari Taylor | John Robertson | | | Mr David Hamilton | Kitty Ussher | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House notes that Asda Wal-Mart has been fined £850,000 in the United Kingdom for offering employees a pay rise to give up union rights at their depot in Washington Tyne and Wear; congratulates the GMB union on its successful campaign on the legal right to maintain union recognition which is fundamental to society; expresses concern over the role of the Portland public relations company in its attempts to discredit the GMB; and further notes that trade unions play a constructive role in the United Kingdom for employees and employers. |
| 1707 | TOURETTE SYNDROME | 28:2:06 |
| Robert Key | | Vera Baird | | Mr David Heath | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | David T. C. Davies | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Mr David Hamilton | Lynne Featherstone | Emily Thornberry |
| That this House notes that Tourette syndrome can affect one school child in a hundred; is aware that people with this syndrome may have obsessive-compulsive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders that can be more important for their school and social functioning than the involuntary movements (tics) and occasional involuntary vocalisations including swearing (vocal tics) that cause great distress; believes it is probably inappropriate to serve Tourette syndrome patients with anti-social behaviour orders; acknowledges the national shortage of specialists for diagnosis and treatment; is concerned that requests for a statement of educational needs are frequently turned down by schools and by local education authorities; calls on the Government to improve inter-departmental co-operation for Tourette syndrome patients across health, education, employment and social services; and recommends a review of relevant research funding in the United Kingdom. |
| 1708 | ABUSE OF NHS STAFF | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Paul Murphy | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan | | Mr David Heath | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Mr Jamie Reed |
| That this House notes with concern the results of a recent Royal College of Nursing survey that shows that 40 per cent. of nurses have been attacked or harassed at work in the past year; recognises the distress that such threats, verbal abuse and physical attacks on nursing staff can cause to nurses already facing the pressures of a challenging profession; commends nurses and other healthcare professionals on the tremendous contribution that they make to the NHS; and supports measures to deal with those who harass, abuse or attack hospital staff using the full available force of the law. |
| 1709 | COMMONWEALTH DAY, MONDAY 13th MARCH | 28:2:06 |
| Mr David Marshall | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | John Austin | | Sir John Butterfill | | Jenny Willott | | Mr George Mudie |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Mr Brian Binley |
| That this House, in common with all parliaments of the Commonwealth, gladly observes Commonwealth Day on Monday 13th March; sincerely supports this year's theme of Health and Vitality - The Commonwealth Challenge, emphasising the Commonwealth's commitment to health and fitness to bring hope to the world; and recognises the excellent work done by the United Kingdom branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in partnership with its sister branches in the advancement of parliamentary democracy and good governance throughout the Commonwealth. |
| 1710 | DRUGSLINE CHABAD | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Lee Scott | | Mr John Hayes | | Daniel Kawczynski | | Mr Richard Benyon | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan |
| That this House welcomes the work done by London charity Drugsline Chabad to tackle the problems caused by drug and alcohol addiction; welcomes the progress made by Drugsline Chabad to reach people from all parts of society; notes that the charity hopes to see a significant increase in the number of individuals accessing support via its helpline in 2006 and to reach an additional 50,000 schoolchildren through its education programme; calls on the Government to provide encouragement to privately-funded charities providing drugs education through specialist workers; and notes that information and education at an early age help to prevent the damage caused by drug addiction in later life. |
| 1711 | STAND UP FOR SOCIAL CARE CAMPAIGN | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Paul Burstow | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Lorely Burt | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan | | Mr David Heath |
| | Mr Alan Beith | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House believes that the social care elements of the Health and Social Care White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, must be properly resourced as highlighted by the Community Care magazine's Stand Up For Social Care campaign; further notes the risk of cost-shunting between the NHS and social care where the costs of continuing care are pushed on to local authorities; and believes that these budget issues must be resolved first if service users are to be supported to make the most of their lives in the way that the White Paper suggests. |
| 1712 | BEST PRACTICE IN LANDSCAPE AND HORTICULTURE AT THE OLYMPICS | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe | | Mr David Marshall | | Mr Christopher Fraser | | Mr Brian Jenkins | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George |
| That this House welcomes the efforts of the UK landscape and horticulture industry to seek a partnership with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to provide an environmentally sustainable Olympic park that demonstrates the very best in United Kingdom best practice in green landscaping and planting; and calls upon the ODA to ringfence the money for green landscaping and horticulture early in the development process and to ensure that plants are sourced early and in an environmentally sustainable manner. |
| 1713 | MANUFACTURE OF TARTAN FOR THE ARMED FORCES | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Jim McGovern | | Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Mike Weir | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House is deeply concerned about the Ministry of Defence's decision to remove the stipulation that the bulk purchase of tartan material required for the new super-regiment should be produced by traditional and quality methods; believes that value for money should not be simply about price but should also take note of quality; further believes that no decision should be made that jeopardises the quality of ceremonial kilts for the armed forces; congratulates the previous suppliers, Robert Noble, who have done a fantastic job supplying the armed forces for the last 150 years; and urges the Ministry of Defence to reverse its decision. |
| 1717 | ROYAL MAIL FINE | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Roger Godsiff | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Martin Caton | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House notes that the Royal Mail has recently been fined £11.7 million for allowing millions of letters and parcels to be lost or stolen through lack of managerial supervision; further notes that the industry's regulator, Postcomm, who levied the fine, believed that the fault lay overwhelmingly with the management and was not a reflection on the dedication and commitment of postmen and postwomen; and agrees with consumer groups, including Postwatch, that customers will welcome the penalty as it will send a clear message to the Royal Mail that the service continues to be far from satisfactory. |
| 1719 | CARDIAC RISK IN THE YOUNG (No. 2) | 28:2:06 |
| Tim Loughton | | Ms Dari Taylor | | Mr Kevin Barron | | Dr Vincent Cable | | Mr Simon Burns | | Mr John Baron |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House congratulates Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on its work to raise awareness of the 1st anniversary of the new Chapter 8 in the National Service Framework on Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death published on 4th March 2005, which aims to reduce the average eight cardiac-related deaths of fit young people a week; welcomes the launch on 1st March of the results of a recent survey of primary care trusts, general practitioners and the public addressing issues pertinent to the new Chapter 8; recognises the work of CRY's cardiac specialists and CRY's sports and schools screening programmes, the donation of over £400,000 of cardiac equipment to general practitioners surgeries and hospitals and the development of a network of bereavement supporters; and looks forward to the next CRY Raising Awareness Week from 3rd to 8th July. |
| 1722 | ENERGY PRICES AND WINTER DEATHS | 28:2:06 |
| Mr Mike Weir | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Mark Durkan | | Mr Nigel Dodds |
| That this House notes with concern the immoral increases in energy, and in particular gas, prices recently announced; believes that such substantial price rises are indefensible; notes Age Concern's estimate that 150,000 pensioners died from cold-related illnesses during the last five winters, and that more than 20,000 pensioners could die this winter; further notes that due to the rising cost of energy, notwithstanding agreements against disconnection and the Government's winter fuel allowance scheme, many pensioners and other vulnerable groups will be fearful of adequately heating their homes; believes that it is completely immoral that in an energy-producing nation such a situation should be allowed to develop; and calls upon the Government to look again at both the adequacy of the existing schemes and the actions of the energy companies. |
| 1724 | DC STEPHEN OAKE AND THE GEORGE CROSS | 28:2:06 |
| Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Andrew Mackay | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Bob Spink |
| | Mr George Howarth | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House pays tribute to Detective Constable Stephen Oake of Poynton in the Macclesfield constituency, who was fatally stabbed whilst on operational duty with Greater Manchester Police during an anti-terrorist raid on a flat in Manchester on 14th January 2003; deeply regrets that the Cabinet Office's George Cross Committee has decided not to recommend DC Stephen Oake posthumously to receive the George Cross in recognition of his bravery whilst protecting fellow officers during the incident; notes that the George Cross is the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed by men or women when not in the face of the enemy; and recognises that this decision will have been received with disappointment and sadness by DC Stephen Oake's family and his many police colleagues and friends in the village where he lived. |
| 1726 | WATER SPRINKLERS IN SCHOOLS | 1:3:06 |
| Ms Celia Barlow | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan | | Lynne Jones | | Mr Alan Meale | | David Taylor |
| | Michael Jabez Foster | John McDonnell | Mr Richard Shepherd | | | Richard Burden | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Robert N. Wareing |
| That this House notes that more than 2,000 schools are damaged by fire each year at an estimated cost of £100 million to local education authorities; further notes that the National Governors' Association has been working with the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to raise awareness of fire risk assessment among head teachers and governors; looks forward to their joint publication of a guide for governors on fire risk; and calls upon the Government to broaden its recommendations to make the installation of sprinklers in all new build and major refurbishments of maintained schools mandatory. |
| 1727 | CHILDREN IN PRISON | 1:3:06 |
| Dr Rudi Vis | | Mark Durkan | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | David Taylor | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| | Lynne Featherstone | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House welcomes the investigation commissioned by the Howard League for Penal Reform, conducted by Lord Carlile, into the use of physical restraint, solitary confinement and strip searching of children in prisons and privately run child jails; and calls on the Government to implement all 45 recommendations in order to protect children, end the use of pain and isolation as methods of control and punishment, and to improve the care of children in custody in order to reduce the 90 per cent. reconviction rate. |
| 1728 | EXECUTION OF POLITICAL PRISONER, HOJJAT ZAMANI, BY THE IRANIAN REGIME | 1:3:06 |
| Dr Rudi Vis | | Bob Spink | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| That this House notes with great concern the ever worsening state of human rights in Iran and the intensification of repression in that country since President Ahmadinejad took office in August 2005; further notes reports by the United Nations, the European Union and international human rights organisations condemning the widespread abuse of human rights in Iran including systematic discrimination against and abuse of women and religious and ethnic minorities, limitations on freedom of expression, the use of inhumane punishments and widespread executions including those of minors; observes the recent exertion of yet further pressure on political prisoners in Iran; condemns in the strongest possible terms, the execution by the Iranian regime on 7th February 2006 of Hojjat Zamani, a member of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran, who had endured physical and psychological torture since his imprisonment in the summer of 2001, because he remained steadfast in his political beliefs; calls on the Government to abandon its failed policy of engagement with the Iranian regime and instead to adopt a firm policy beginning with referral of the Iranian regime's human rights abuses to the UN Security Council; and urges the Government and the United Nations unequivocally to condemn the Iranian regime and to take concrete steps to save the lives of other political prisoners in Iran who are on death row. |
| 1730 | BRITISH RESIDENTS IN GUANTANAMO BAY (No. 2) | 1:3:06 |
| Clare Short | | Mr Michael Ancram | | Sarah Teather | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Desmond Turner | | Mr Edward Davey |
| | Mr Andrew Love | Keith Vaz | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House is deeply concerned that the UK Government is failing to represent the interests of the British residents who remain in detention without trial in Guantanamo Bay, many of whom are on hunger strike; believes that people who have sought asylum in the UK and have their families here cannot possibly be represented by the governments from whom they fled or safely return to their countries of origin; and calls on the Government to take action to demand that the eight individuals concerned are brought to trial or returned to live with their families in the UK. |
| 1731 | ENERGY PRICES AND FUEL POVERTY | 1:3:06 |
| Mrs Linda Riordan | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Nigel Dodds | | Jeff Ennis | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Dr Ian Gibson |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House is concerned that the large rise in energy prices will force many people into fuel poverty; and calls on the Government to set up a statutory scheme with energy companies and relevant charities to put in place energy audits and fuel payments for those most in need. |
| 1732 | RESOURCING THE WORKSTEP PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED PEOPLE | 1:3:06 |
| Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | David Taylor | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Jeff Ennis | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House supports the Government objective of helping disabled people into employment; applauds the success of the Workstep programme in enabling people with one or more disabilities facing complex barriers to work to develop the confidence and skills they need to secure useful employment; recognises that the people this programme can assist need support that is ongoing, flexible, long-term and focused on the individual; notes that this might take the form of training, specialist equipment or hands-on assistance from a helper; is concerned, however, that Workstep provides for around 23,555 people across the UK, whilst it is estimated that more than 300,000 disabled people could benefit from the programme; and calls on the Government therefore to increase resources for this work so that the real demand for Workstep can be met. |
| 1733 | WORKSTEP PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED PEOPLE | 1:3:06 |
| Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Jeff Ennis | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the Department for Work and Pensions research report, Desirable Outcomes of Workstep, which reports the views of disabled people who have used Workstep, including positive comments on its role in developing higher self-esteem and confidence levels, facilitating greater independence and progression to open employment; notes the recommendations in the report for improving the service provided by Workstep, including introducing more flexibility in the way disabled people join the programme and better information distribution, both to disabled people and providers; and urges the Government to act on the proposals as soon as possible. |
| 1734 | ST PATRICK'S DAY AND ANTI-RACISM | 1:3:06 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | John McDonnell | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| That this House warmly welcomes the initiative taken by the Battersea and Wandsworth TUC, Amicus and the Left Field at Glastonbury Festival to bring an anti-racist theme to this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations through the release of a single `Everybody's Welcome to the Hooley!' by north London band Neck; notes that the song draws on an image from a London guest house in the 1950s with a sign in the window saying `No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs' and so is a rallying call for the continuing campaign against all forms of racial discrimination and intolerance; further notes that all profits from the record will be donated to the Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) campaign and will assist LMHR in their important work in taking the anti-racist message out to young people through music. |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Alan Meale | | Bob Russell | | Glenda Jackson | | Mr Colin Breed |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House notes with concern the findings of the report by the Women and Work Commission which highlighted the fact that women in full-time work are earning on average 17 per cent. less than men; believes that unequal pay based on sex discrimination is completely unacceptable; recognises that following the Equal Pay Act over 30 years ago more needs to be done to address this pay differential; and calls on the Government to introduce mandatory pay audits which would require employers to track and correct gender wage discrepancies as one important measure to correct the unacceptable wage imbalance between men and women. |
| 1740 | PAPUA NEW GUINEA RAINFOREST | 2:3:06 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Alan Meale | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | Glenda Jackson |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House notes with concern the amount of illegal logging which is threatening to wipe out the natural forests in Papua New Guinea according to a report conducted by Forest Trends; further notes that logging companies are violating laws intended to protect the rainforest with most of the timber being exported to China and often turned into products for the West; recognises that presently the Papua New Guineans are not getting an acceptable return for the logging while one of the country's precious natural resources is dwindling; and calls for present laws, which are sufficient, to be enforced so that the Papua New Guinea rainforest is not wiped out and the country receives the correct return for any logging which takes place. |
| 1742 | WELFARE OF GREYHOUNDS | 2:3:06 |
| Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Philip Hollobone | | Bob Russell | | Mr Henry Bellingham | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Andrew Stunell |
| | Mr David Amess | Dr Evan Harris | Mr Joe Benton | | | Mr Alan Beith | Mr David Hamilton | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House calls on the Government to address animal welfare concerns within greyhound racing; notes that 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year, only 2,000 of which are known to be re-homed; welcomes provisions for improving racing greyhound welfare in the Animal Welfare Bill; and calls on the Government to bring forward measures, including the possible introduction of compulsory levies, to ensure that proper levels of funding are made available from within the industry towards the cost of greyhound welfare. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Alan Meale's proposed Motion (Welfare of Greyhounds): |
| Line 7, at end add `and congratulates The Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club for their work in extending care and welfare for greyhounds retired from racing.'. |
| 1744 | ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING STATISTICS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST STAFF | 2:3:06 |
| Vera Baird | | Mr Kevin Barron | | Mrs Nadine Dorries | | Mike Penning | | Julia Goldsworthy | | Sandra Gidley |
| | Mr Austin Mitchell | Frank Cook |
| That this House notes with alarm the Royal College of Nursing's statistics showing that four out of 10 nurses have suffered a physical or verbal assault in the last 12 months; further notes that this increase in incidence is having an adverse effect on staff morale and retention within the profession; and urges the Government to address the issues with nursing staff representatives. |
| 1747 | FUTURE OF THE GROCERY MARKET | 2:3:06 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Keith Vaz | | Mr Nigel Evans [R] | | Dr John Pugh | | Andrew George | | Mrs Janet Dean |
| That this House welcomes the independent report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Small Shops; acknowledges the importance of consumer choice and diversity in the grocery market; recognises the high level of concern in the retail industry and many communities about an unbalanced trading environment; calls on the Government to respond fully to the recommendations made in the report; and urges the Office of Fair Trading to allow a full review of the grocery market in the light of these threats to local shops. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1749 | MERGER OF GRAMPIAN AND SCOTTISH TELEVISION STATIONS | 2:3:06 |
| Pete Wishart | | Lynne Jones | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Jim Devine | | Willie Rennie | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| That this House notes that Scottish Media Group are to merge their two stations in Scotland, Scottish Television and Grampian, into one rebranded channel called STV; believes the rebranding of the new station as STV signifies that this is less of a merger and more of a takeover since Scottish Television was previously known as STV; notes that since the takeover of Grampian Scottish Media Group in 1998 there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of local programmes being produced in or about the north of Scotland; further notes that Ulster TV are strengthening their regional identity and achieving a 50 per cent. lead in audience share over the BBC; expresses concern about these developments, their impact on regional programming and the trend towards centralisation in broadcasting in the UK; and calls on Scottish Media Group to explain in detail how it will strengthen its regional broadcasting throughout the North of Scotland. |
| 1750 | NATIONAL FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT | 6:3:06 |
| John Barrett | | Peter Bottomley | | David Taylor | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | Alan Simpson |
| | Mr David Hamilton | Mr Iain Wright |
| That this House welcomes the start of the Fairtrade Fortnight on 6th March with its theme `Make Fairtrade Your Habit'; acknowledges the unique significance of Fairtrade in providing disadvantaged farmers and workers with a better deal from trade and in raising awareness of trade issues amongst UK consumers and citizens; further welcomes continued growth in the awareness of Fairtrade products; notes that in 2005 the UK was the world's leading market for Fairtrade goods; further welcomes the fact that there are now 150 Fairtrade towns, cities, boroughs and villages across the UK; congratulates those towns who will achieve Fairtrade status during the fortnight; and calls on the Government to encourage actively schools, local authorities and retailers to adopt fair trade principles. |
| 1751 | COMMERCIAL MINICAB SIGNAGE | 6:3:06 |
| Mr Lee Scott | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Graham Stringer | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Ann Winterton |
| | Mr John Horam | Mr Mark Field |
| That this House notes with concern that a large number of women are sexually assaulted every year in London by illegal minicab drivers; further notes that the Public Carriage Office is considering permitting commercial signage on the exterior of licensed minicabs; is concerned that this will lead to the public being deceived by `imitation' unlicensed minicabs using bogus signage as a badge of respectability; believes that commercial signage will increase illegal touting in London and threaten to reverse the downward trend in sexual assaults against women; acknowledges that the Metropolitan Police Cab Enforcement Unit is already overstretched; is alarmed that the Public Carriage Office consultation only proposes one option for consideration and not the status quo; and calls on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to rule out the introduction of commercial signage for minicabs. |
| 1753 | AGRICULTURE (S.I., 2006, No. 225) | 6:3:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Gregory Barker | | Mr James Paice [R] | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Hill Farm Allowance Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 225), dated 1st February 2006, a copy of which was laid before this House on 6th February, be annulled. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| Mr Chris Mullin | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Ken Purchase | | Mr Jim Devine | | Mrs Sharon Hodgson |
| | Dr Ian Gibson | Mr Andrew Love | Simon Hughes | | | Roger Berry | Miss Julie Kirkbride | Mr Bill Olner | | | Mr Dennis Skinner | Mike Wood | Mr David Clelland | | | Mr David Marshall | Mr Mike Weir | Annette Brooke | | | Paul Farrelly | Dr John Pugh | Kerry McCarthy | | | Mr Shahid Malik | Jo Swinson | Chris Huhne | | | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House recognises that the bearskin hats worn by the five guards regiments have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty; and invites the Government to end their use and substitute hats made from fake fur. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Chris Mullin's proposed Motion (Bearskin Hats): |
| Mr Ben Wallace | | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | | Mike Penning | | Mr Crispin Blunt | | Mr Tobias Ellwood | | Dr Julian Lewis |
| Mr Desmond Swayne | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Tim Yeo | | Mr James Gray | | David Maclean | | Derek Conway | | Adam Price | | Mr Dan Rogerson | | Lynne Featherstone | | Mr Robert Goodwill | | Stephen Hammond |
| Line 1, leave out from `bearskin' to end and add `cap worn by the five Regiments of Footguards plays an important part in highlighting the regiments' glorious military traditions and service to the Sovereign throughout the centuries; further notes that the bearskin pelts used for them are sourced from a necessary cull of Canadian bears carried out by the indigenous Inuit people every year; further notes that previous trials of artificial fur have failed to find an appropriate replacement and that many bearskins last for many decades especially after the grooming that guardsmen are required to administer to them; further notes with concern that any attempt to remove the bearskin from the Footguards would mean a loss of one of the British Army's trademark images that identifies them across the world; and uges the Government to commit itself to using genuine bearskin in any future manufacture of the bearskin cap.'. |
| 1757 | GENDER PAY GAP IN THE CIVIL SERVICE | 6:3:06 |
| Julie Morgan | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | John McDonnell | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Sandra Gidley | | Helen Goodman |
| | Mr David Hamilton | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House notes with concern that women in the Civil Service earn on average 25 per cent. less than men, meaning that Government employees suffer greater pay inequality than the national average; believes that to address this the Government must consider introducing department-wide equal pay audits to identify pay inequality, and a national pay framework to provide equal pay for work of equal value; further believes that the Government should make available better flexible working options, and pay and promotion systems that do not discriminate against those who choose to work flexibly; notes that the Treasury's stricter pay regime for the Civil Service has jeopardised many of the pay systems put in place to address structural equal pay problems; and therefore calls on the Treasury actively to encourage departments to include business cases to address equal pay problems as part of their pay remit submissions, and to provide additional funding to support departmental action. |
| 1758 | FAIRTRADE DRINKS ON VIRGIN TRAINS | 7:3:06 |
| Mr John Leech | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | David Taylor | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Brian Iddon |
| That this House congratulates Virgin Trains on becoming the first train operator in the UK to replace its entire range of hot drinks with produce from Fairtrade suppliers; and encourages all other train operators to follow suit. |
| 1759 | ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS WEEK | 7:3:06 |
| Annette Brooke | | John McDonnell | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | David Taylor | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House welcomes Endometriosis Awareness Week, on 6th to 12th March; congratulates the National Endometriosis Society and the SHE Trust on their success at putting endometriosis as a medical condition on the political agenda; recognises that endometriosis can severely impact on a woman's quality of life due to chronic pain, infertility, the inability to complete an education or sustain a career; notes that there is a significant financial implication to the individual and the state with an estimated £2.8 billion cost just from days lost at work due to delayed and incorrect diagnosis as well as ineffective hit-and-miss treatments; is concerned that endometriosis, which takes an average of eight years to diagnose, is still a relatively unknown disease despite an estimated two million sufferers in the UK; fears that endometriosis is not a current national or primary care trust priority; encourages the scientific community to bring forward high quality research applications on endometriosis to the Medical Research Council; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to accord this the utmost importance to ensure that women in the UK with endometriosis receive earlier diagnosis and the specialist care they need but which many are presently not receiving. |
| 1760 | INHERITANCE TAX | 7:3:06 |
| Mike Penning | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Mr Douglas Carswell | | Daniel Kawczynski | | James Brokenshire | | Mr Peter Bone |
| | Mr David Amess | Mr David Burrowes | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House notes the phenomenal response to the campaign organised by the Daily Express newspaper to abolish inheritance tax, culminating in a 200,000 signature petition to the Treasury; believes that the failure of inheritance tax thresholds to keep pace with house price inflation has meant that millions of ordinary households are now liable for death duty and that inheritance tax is an inefficient and an immoral tax for the recently bereaved; and urges the Government urgently to consider abolishing inheritance tax. |
| 1763 | ACADEMIC SALARIES | 7:3:06 |
| Mr Boris Johnson | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mike Penning |
| That this House applauds the success of the university sector; recognises the vital contribution universities make to economic, cultural and intellectual well-being; believes that the expansion of higher education has been generally a good thing for individuals and for society; notes, however, that resources per student have shrunk as a result of this expansion; recognises that over the last 20 years, many in the public sector have seen their salaries rise by a greater amount than those of academics; and, while regretting that students will be unfairly penalised by the current strike action, congratulates the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers of Further and Higher Education for their belated recognition that the best long-term hope for sustainable funding of higher education is some form of co-payment mechanism. |
| 1764 | INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND MICROFINANCE | 7:3:06 |
| Annette Brooke | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Paul Holmes |
| That this House acknowledges the significant impact that microfinance loans have on women and their families in the developing world; congratulates the vital work of Opportunity International and other organisations in their commitment to supporting microfinance facilities and business training for poor but entrepreneurial women; recognises that over 37 million women have already gained access to finance due to microfinance projects but that many more remain financially excluded; notes that women are highly motivated savers and where microfinance programmes exist, especially within the credit union framework, they repay their loans at a very high rate as well as re-investing their income on their families, particularly children; especially welcomes the importance of microfinance in meeting the Millennium Development Goals; further notes that microfinance reduces hunger and poverty, has been shown to widen access to education as women invest in their children's education and improves the health and nutrition of women and children; welcomes the fact that microfinance empowers women to be more involved in family and community decisions; and on International Women's Day wishes to promote microfinance as a tool to improve gender equality and increase sustainable development. |
| As an Amendment to Annette Brooke's proposed Motion (International Women's Day and Microfinance): |
| David Taylor | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Bob Russell | | Helen Goodman | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Lynne Featherstone |
| Line 7, after `exist', insert `especially within the credit union framework'. |
| 1766 | PROTECTION OF HARES | 7:3:06 |
| Dr William McCrea | | David Simpson | | Sammy Wilson | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House welcomes the announcement by the Department of Environment Northern Ireland that it will establish a temporary protection order to prevent the killing, taking and trade in Irish hares; is concerned that the results of the 2005 Irish Hare Survey show a 40 per cent. reduction in the population from 2004 figures; notes that this raises concerns about the long-term viability of the hare population; recognises the role that legal and illegal coursing have played in the decline of the hare population; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation as soon as possible to ensure permanent protection for the Irish hare to help secure the long-term survival of the species. |
| 1767 | FORCE-FEEDING AT GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION CAMP | 7:3:06 |
| Nick Harvey | | Clare Short | | Peter Bottomley | | John Penrose | | Sarah Teather | | Mr Roger Godsiff |
| | Mr Andrew Love | Keith Vaz | Mr David Hamilton | | | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House notes with concern allegations made by Guantįnamo Bay detainee Fawzi al-Odah in a BBC interview that hunger strikers were strapped to a chair and force-fed through a tube three times a day at the detention camp; further notes that Mr Odah was one of 84 hunger strikers at Guantįnamo in December 2005; further notes that fellow inmate Mohammed Bawazir has launched a legal challenge against the force-feeding policy under the US McCain Torture Law; further notes that the US administration has since suggested that this law may not apply to Cuba; and calls upon the Government to restate publicly its opposition to the use of torture in all its forms and to express its support for Mr Bawazir's court challenge. |
| 1770 | BROWNFIELD FIRST APPROACH FOR NEW HOUSING | 8:3:06 |
| Mr David Drew | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Jeff Ennis | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | David Taylor |
| That this House welcomes the progress made on recycling brownfield land and increasing the supply of housing with house building reaching its highest level for 16 years and 72 per cent. of homes now built on brownfield sites; notes the positive role played by planning policy in housing provision, especially the sequential brownfield first approach in PPG3; and, in the light of this achievement, is concerned and perplexed by the emphasis the Government's draft planning policy on housing places on meeting market demand where it arises, rather than where capacity for development exists; further notes the lack of a clear sequential approach which ensures urban brownfield development takes priority over greenfield development and the lack of measures and resources to secure more affordable housing and encourage urban regeneration; and calls on the Government to retain a strong emphasis on the sequential brownfield first approach when it publishes its new planning policy on housing later this year. |
| As an Amendment to Mr David Drew's proposed Motion (Brownfield First Approach for New Housing): |
| Line 1, leave out from `land' to end and add `but deplores the over development of small sites and the replacement of small homes by massive blocks of flats which is putting too much pressure on the infrastructure'. |
| 1771 | SECTION 106 PLANNING POWERS | 8:3:06 |
| Mr David Drew | | Mr Adrian Sanders | | Margaret Moran | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Jeff Ennis |
| | Ms Diane Abbott | Steve McCabe |
| That this House welcomes the Government's intention to retain section 106 planning powers, which allow local authorities to secure affordable housing as part of private housing developments; notes that this is the primary mechanism by which local authorities can ensure that new developments contain an appropriate mix of property types, from luxury houses to affordable rented homes; recognises that the new Planning Gain Supplement can provide funding but not land for affordable housing; is concerned that without the ability to secure land, affordable homes will be pushed to the outskirts and unpopular areas of developing towns; is further concerned that many villages will lose any opportunity to secure land for much-needed affordable homes; and calls on the Deputy Prime Minister and his team to ensure that proposals for a scaled-back, statutory section 106 to deliver affordable housing are not lost during the consultation and subsequent legislation. |
| 1772 | FUEL POVERTY AND DOMESTIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY | 8:3:06 |
| Alan Simpson | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew | | Jeff Ennis |
| | Mr David Amess | Mr David Hamilton | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House is deeply concerned that recent gas and electricity price increases will make the Government's fuel poverty objectives impossible to attain given current levels of investment and existing programmes; recognises that, whilst cost-effective energy efficiency improvements represent the most rational and sustainable solution to fuel poverty, many households will remain fuel poor after heating and insulation improvements provided under existing fuel poverty programmes; calls on the Government to increase the range and extent of energy saving measures for vulnerable households; and urges the Government to undertake discussions with energy supply companies, fuel poverty campaigning organisations and consumer agencies to develop a national strategy to address escalating fuel costs. |
| 1773 | DEMOCRACY IN BELARUS | 8:3:06 |
| Mr Gary Streeter | | Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | | Mr Andrew Mackay | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Dr Evan Harris | Simon Hughes | Mr Shailesh Vara | | | Mike Penning | Mr Christopher Fraser |
| That this House deplores the recent arrests of opposition activists in Belarus who were campaigning for the Presidential elections on 19th March 2006, including the leaders of reputable political parties; notes that this forms part of a wide scale pattern of arrest, intimidation and oppression by forces loyal to President Lukashenko; believes that the international community should apply more pressure on the government of Belarus to ensure that these elections are free and fair; and looks forward to the day when the 10 million people of this European country can enjoy the freedoms that British people take for granted. |
| Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew | | Lynne Jones | | Glenda Jackson |
| That this House deeply regrets that a leading Iranian newspaper has launched a competition asking people to submit cartoons about the Holocaust; and views this development as a bad reaction to a bad action from a Danish newspaper. |
| Mr Paul Keetch | | Andrew Mackinlay | | Daniel Kawczynski | | Richard Younger-Ross | | Mr Greg Pope | | Mark Pritchard |
| | Norman Baker | Dr Evan Harris | Mr Don Foster | | | Lembit Öpik | Mr David Laws | Mike Penning | | | Lynne Featherstone |
| That this House welcomes the lifting of the 10 year ban on the export of British beef to the EU; urges the Government to work with the industry to promote British beef throughout Europe; encourages British tourists in Europe to ask for British beef at shops and restaurants; and calls upon British embassies and military bases in Europe to begin serving British beef with pride. |
| 1776 | WORLD KIDNEY DAY 2006 | 8:3:06 |
| Mr Stewart Jackson | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew | | Jeff Ennis |
| That this House supports World Kidney Day on 9th March 2006, held to raise awareness of the significant increase in the incidence of kidney disease; recognises the importance of early detection and prevention in tackling chronic kidney disease, particularly among at risk groups such as those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and those from ethnic minorities; congratulates the Peterborough-based Kidney Research UK's ABLE programme, which targets South Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities by working with them to identify and prevent kidney disease through better awareness and education; notes that more funding is required for renal research; and calls on the Government to make sure effective assessment, education and treatment programmes are in place to promote early detection and prevention, as set out in the markers of good practice for Part II of the Renal National Service Framework, which could reduce kidney failure by up to 50 per cent. |
| 1777 | NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION | 8:3:06 |
| James Brokenshire | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr David Drew | | Lynne Jones | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Stewart Jackson |
| | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr John Greenway | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House believes that universal access to newpapers and magazines as provided through widespread national distribution is an essential part of protecting freedom of speech; and accordingly urges the Department of Trade and Industry to take all appropriate steps within its powers to protect this freedom and support moves to create a new industry code of practice to promote more effective distribution as has been agreed by independent retailers, magazine publishers, newspaper publishers and wholesalers. |
| 1779 | WITHDRAWAL OF LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION SPECIALIST SUPPORT SERVICES | 8:3:06 |
| Mr Jonathan Djanogly | | Mr Oliver Heald | | Mr Dominic Grieve | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Keith Vaz | | Mr Stewart Jackson |
| | Mr Keith Simpson | Mr Christopher Fraser |
| That this House believes that the Legal Services Commission's decision to end its specialist support services from July is an incomprehensible error; further believes it will impact heavily on the poorer and most vulnerable members of the community and create an even larger shortfall in provision than already exists; deplores the axing of the telephone specialist support service which provides back-up support for solicitors from expert lawyers, involving free telephone advice, help with casework and external supervision and training for legal advisers; notes the severe effect it will have on high street solicitor firms on the frontline dealing with complex legal issues in the areas of housing, employment, immigration, human rights, mental health, welfare benefits, community care and debt that are covered by the service; and further believes that this proposal will not save money for the Government and will only lead to the same sums being spent in a less efficient way on an alternative and less effective scheme. |
| 1781 | FEDERATION OF YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER POLICE FORCES | 8:3:06 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Mr David Curry | | Mrs Linda Riordan | | Philip Davies | | Jeff Ennis | | Alan Simpson |
| | Mr John Greenway | Mr Barry Sheerman | Mr Robert Goodwill |
| That this House supports the formation of a federation of the four police authorities in Yorkshire and the Humber; believes this option would allow greater collaboration between forces on protective services whilst maintaining their independence and existing well supported structures of accountability to local people; recognises that the four different forces in Yorkshire and the Humber face very different challenges; and therefore believes that the federal option rather than a forced merger is the one which is likely to command most support across the region and ensure high quality policing in both urban and rural areas. |
| 1782 | TELEVISION LICENCE FEE SCHEME FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE REFUGES | 8:3:06 |
| Jo Swinson | | Mr Don Foster | | Sandra Gidley | | Natascha Engel | | Mary Creagh | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House is deeply concerned that women who have fled to refuge centres due to domestic abuse are responsible for purchasing a television licence immediately should they have a television in their room; notes that many women in such a distressed and displaced position are particularly reliant upon television, especially to entertain their children; is aware that women are at the greatest risk of homicide when they have fled their abuser; further notes that violent men who stalk their ex-partners often pose as officials to gain access to properties when seeking the women; believes that women who have fled a violent partner should not feel threatened by an enforcement officer arriving unannounced at the refuge; further notes that the Government's own targets for local authorities is one refuge bed space per 10,000 population, totalling 6,000 across the UK; further notes that women often do not know how long they will need to stay in a refuge; expresses concern that funds from charities and organisations which run refuge centres are being diverted to pay for television licences for the rooms available to sheltered women; recognises that the hospitality sector already benefits from television licence concessions; further recognises that it is the Government's stated policy to assist the vulnerable in accessing television services; and therefore calls for women's refuge centres to be included in the same television licence fee scheme as hotels and guesthouses. |
| 1783 | FRANCHISING OF POST OFFICES | 8:3:06 |
| Clive Efford | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Mr David Hamilton | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House calls on the Post Office to stop its programme of privatisation of post offices; demands that it review all current contracts to determine whether contractual obligations are being complied with by franchise operators; further demands that where these contractual obligations are not being met that post offices are brought back under direct management of the Post Office; notes that the privatisation of Eltham post office has resulted in the deterioration of the level of service to the point where there is no service at all; is appalled that staff at this post office are relying on customers to tell them how to carry out routine transactions; believes that the Post Office has failed to carry out any reasonable checks to determine whether the franchise operator of Eltham post office is capable of delivering any form of basic service; and calls on the Government to halt the privatisation of post offices forthwith. |
| 1784 | RESUMPTION OF THE EXPORT OF LIVE CALVES | 8:3:06 |
| Gwyn Prosser | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr Martin Caton | | David Taylor | | Lynne Jones | | Alan Simpson |
| That this House regrets that the lifting of the beef ban will result in an escalation of live animal exports out of Dover and allow the resumption of the cruel practice of transporting young calves to veal farms in continental Europe; notes that scientific research shows that young calves are not well adapted to cope with transport and so suffer considerably during sea crossings and long journeys; further notes that once they reach the continent, many of the calves will be kept in veal crates, which remain lawful in the European Union until the end of 2006, or in barren units in which they are kept on concrete or slatted floors without any straw or other bedding; further notes that such barren systems are illegal under UK legislation which requires calves to be provided with bedding until the age of six months; urges dairy farmers not to resume the export of calves to continental veal farms; further notes that the Government wants to see a trade in meat rather than live animals; and urges the Government to discourage dairy farmers from returning to this inhumane trade and to help them find welfare-friendly and economically viable uses for male dairy calves. |
| 1785 | END OF EUROPEAN UNION EMBARGO ON BRITISH BEEF | 9:3:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Andrew George | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | Mr John Leech |
| That this House welcomes the announcement of the end of the European Union's embargo on British beef; notes that due to especially vigorous testing and vetting procedures British beef is now of the best quality and safest in the world; applauds the efforts and commitment of the British farming community in overcoming this difficult period; and calls upon other countries, including the United States, to repeal their ban on European beef imports. |
| 1787 | UNION OF CONSTRUCTION ALLIED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS POLITICAL FUND BALLOT | 9:3:06 |
| Mr Michael Clapham | | Harry Cohen | | Joan Walley | | Mr Stephen Hepburn | | Mr Ian Davidson | | Mr David Hamilton |
| | Mr David Anderson | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House congratulates the members of the Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians for delivering a resounding 93.3 per cent. yes vote in the union's political fund ballot; considers that the current legislation is punitive towards democratic and accountable trade unions; and calls for the abolition of trade union political fund ballots. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Michael Clapham's proposed Motion (Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians Political Fund Ballot): |
| Line 3, after `ballot', insert `believes that members should have the individual choice as to which political party should receive their political fund levy;'. |
| 1789 | CHILD TRUST FUNDS AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES | 9:3:06 |
| Mr Adrian Bailey | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr David Drew | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Dr Evan Harris | Mr Andrew Love | Alan Keen | | | Linda Gilroy | Charlotte Atkins | Mr Bill Olner | | | Steve McCabe | Mr David Hamilton | Mr David Anderson | | | Mr Ian Austin | Sarah McCarthy-Fry |
| That this House notes that of the 1,305,000 Child Trust Fund accounts reported by the Inland Revenue as opened at 5th January 2006, 567,000 have been lodged with friendly societies; recognises that this represents nearly 44 per cent. of all child trust funds to date; further notes that friendly societies are mutual organisations that offer investment and financial protection to people in all walks of life; commends their strong contribution to the delivery of this key policy to develop a regular savings habit among United Kingdom citizens; and calls upon the Government fully to appreciate the important contribution that friendly societies make when targeting tax incentives to encourage savings. |
| Mr Edward O'Hara [R] | | Mr Alan Meale [R] | | Dr Rudi Vis [R] | | David Lepper [R] | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Bob Spink |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House takes note of the set of proposals on Cyprus submitted by the Turkish government to the Secretary General of the United Nations on 20th January 2006; shares the stated wish of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs for priority to be given to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, and his gratification at the continued engagement of the Secretary-General with the matter; notes with concern however the proposals for a quadripartite meeting between Turkey, Greece, the Greek-Cypriot side and the Turkish-Cypriot side, the outcome of which would subsequently be endorsed by the Security Council of the UN; regards this as an attempt to elevate the secessionist Turkish Cypriot administration to the same status as the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus, and as an attempt to involve the UN in what is properly a matter of Turkey's responsibilities to the EU as an applicant member; further notes with concern the proposal to render legitimacy to the secessionist entity by granting it governmental functions in contravention of international legality and successive UN resolutions; regretfully concludes that the purpose of these proposals is to evade Turkey's legal obligations towards the EU in respect of the extension of the additional Protocol of its Customs Union Agreement to the 10 new EU members including Cyprus; and calls upon Turkey to commit itself to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus in accordance with UN resolutions, the founding principles of the EU and its obligations to the EU as an applicant member. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1793 | GURKHA VETERANS | 10:3:06 |
| Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Mr Adam Holloway | | Mr Mark Lancaster | | Mr Paul Keetch | | Mr Colin Breed | | Ms Diane Abbott |
| | Mr David Hamilton | Mr David Anderson | Mr Brian Binley |
| That this House welcomes the Government's overdue steps towards producing Gurkhas' terms and conditions of service which are equitable and fair and which begin to remedy the injustice caused by discriminatory conditions of service; but believes that the Gurkha veterans who served the British Army from the Second World War to 1997 are no less affected by the injustice caused to Gurkhas by the discriminatory terms of service; and therefore urges the Government to take steps to remedy the impact of those discriminatory terms before it is too late for the veterans affected. |
| 1794 | NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTER | 10:3:06 |
| Danny Alexander | | Mark Durkan | | Mr John Leech | | Mr Mike Weir | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Lynne Jones |
| | Mark Fisher | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House recalls that the establishment of a National Firearms Register was one of the principal recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry that followed the tragic massacre at Dunblane on 13th March 1996; notes that the establishment of the National Firearms Register was subsequently agreed by Parliament in the Firearms Amendment Act 1997; is concerned that, 10 years after the Dunblane tragedy, such a register is still not in place; further notes reports that resources within the Home Office have been directed away from the establishment of the Firearms Register to the national identity card project; and calls on the Government to complete the introduction of the Register without any further prevarication and to provide a full report to the House on the reasons for its delay. |
| 1796 | NATIONAL ASYLUM SUPPORT SERVICE VOUCHER SYSTEM | 13:3:06 |
| Ms Diane Abbott | | John Bercow | | Mr Alan Meale | | Bob Russell | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Lynne Jones |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Norman Baker | Simon Hughes | | | Mr Paul Burstow | Mr Colin Breed | Mr Phil Willis | | | Mr Alan Beith | Lembit Öpik | Julie Morgan | | | Mr Michael Moore | Colin Challen | Mr David Laws | | | Mr David Anderson | Jenny Willott | Martin Horwood | | | Mr Dan Rogerson | Jo Swinson | Lorely Burt | | | Tim Farron | Willie Rennie |
| That this House notes that the National Asylum Support Service voucher system for asylum claimants was scrapped in 2001 after a campaign by trade unions, non-governmental organisations and refugee organisations; believes that vouchers are costly, fail to meet asylum seekers' needs, stigmatise this most vulnerable group and leave them open to hostility and abuse; further believes that vouchers should not be used as a method of support for asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers at any stage of the process; and calls on the Government to provide for those on section 4 support in cash rather than vouchers. |
| 1798 | DEFENCE EXPORT SERVICES ORGANISATION | 13:3:06 |
| Mr Charles Kennedy | | Andrew George | | David Taylor | | Mr John Leech | | Rob Marris | | Paul Holmes |
| That this House notes that the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) is the unit of the UK Ministry of Defence which helps UK companies sell their military equipment and services overseas; further notes that through DESO, the UK taxpayer subsidises the export of arms into areas of conflict and to governments that abuse human rights; further notes that the trade in military equipment damages economic development at global, regional and local economic levels; and calls on the Government to close the DESO, not to transfer its functions elsewhere in the public sector nor to allocate public funds to enable them to be undertaken in the private sector. |
| 1799 | SEX EQUALITY AND COMMISSION FOR EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 13:3:06 |
| Vera Baird | | Julie Morgan | | Miss Anne Begg | | Joan Ruddock | | Tony Lloyd | | Stephen Hesford |
| | Martin Salter | John Austin | Dr Brian Iddon | | | Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas | Annette Brooke | Meg Hillier |
| That this House notes the 30th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act; commends the work of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and its contribution to progressing action on sex equality over the last 30 years; recognises that over the coming year the EOC will be required to take the lead in promoting the new gender equality duty on public bodies, due to come into force in April 2007; further recognises that the EOC has been a strong supporter of the proposed Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), sharing the Government's vision for that new body; further recognises that the EOC has played a pivotal role in fostering cross-party consensus around the CEHR and also across a range of sex equality stakeholders as well as a leading role within the Equality and Diversity Forum; values that contribution as fundamental to a successful transition to the CEHR in 2007; and urges the Government to ensure that this contribution is not undermined by a lack of funding for the EOC in 2006-07 and 2007-08. |
| 1802 | CONTROL ORDERS AND MENTAL ILL HEALTH | 13:3:06 |
| Harry Cohen | | Bob Spink | | Bob Russell | | Mr Alan Meale | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr John Leech |
| | Paul Holmes | Annette Brooke |
| That this House believes that the Government should bring forward proposals for better arrangements in relation to people with mental ill-health who are affected by control orders. |
| 1803 | BETHLEHEM AND RACHEL'S TOMB | 13:3:06 |
| Roger Berry | | Mr Crispin Blunt | | Mr Colin Breed | | Angus Robertson | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Dr Phyllis Starkey |
| | Dr Ian Gibson | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr David Anderson | | | Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods | Mr Jamie Reed | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House calls attention to the completion of the section of the 8-metre high concrete wall separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem; notes that around 40 Bethlehem families will be cut off from schools and medical facilities; recalls the ruling of the International Court of Justice in July 2004 that the building of the wall on occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful; further notes that the shrine of Rachel's Tomb, sacred to the three major religions, has been purposefully enveloped by the route of the walls and is therefore barred to Palestinians, whether Christian or Muslim; takes heed of widespread anxiety that new Israeli settlement building on the confiscated land around the Tomb may be about to begin with the consequence that Bethlehem may follow the example of Hebron, where recent Israeli settlements are embedded in the midst of the local Palestinian population, causing great provocation; and further notes the warning of Bethlehem's mayor, Dr Victor Batarseh, that `the ghettoization of Bethlehem is not only destroying ancient communities, but is destroying the prospects of peace in the Middle East and the whole concept of international law'. |
| 1806 | SENTENCING GUIDELINES COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS ON RAPE SENTENCES | 13:3:06 |
| Greg Mulholland | | Mike Penning | | Bob Spink | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Tim Farron |
| That this House is deeply concerned by the Sentencing Guidelines Council recommendation that future sentences for rape be cut by 15 per cent.; rejects the conclusion that any reduction could be justified because the prison regime is now more demanding; agrees with Rape Crisis's reaction that to reduce sentences sends out the wrong message to future offenders and to victims who are trying to decide whether to give evidence in court; notes Refuge's views that this would be a backward step and believes that sex crimes should be treated more seriously in this country, not less; strongly believes that these proposals risk damaging public confidence in the legal system; and calls on the Government not to implement these recommendations which come at a time when the number of reported rapes is rising each year but conviction rates are falling. |
| 1807 | JIMMY JOHNSTONE | 13:3:06 |
| Mr Jim Devine | | Mr Jim McGovern | | Steve McCabe | | Mr Wayne David | | Mrs Louise Ellman | | Dr Gavin Strang |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House notes with sadness the passing of Celtic and Scotland legend Jimmy Johnstone and offers his family its condolences at this difficult time. |
| 1808 | POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT | 13:3:06 |
| Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Bill Etherington | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Bob Spink | | Bob Russell |
| | John Austin | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | | | Mr David Hamilton | Mr David Anderson | Mr Brian Binley | | | Mark Pritchard | Tim Farron |
| That this House is aware that the Department for Work and Pensions has recently announced its intention to close the Post Office Card Account in 2010; believes such a strategy to be both wrong and shortsighted as it will inevitably lead to difficulties for the most vulnerable in their communities through the loss of much of the Post Office network; and calls upon the Government to cease its seemingly endless pursuit of tactics highly favourable to high street banks and instead to recognise the real value and worth of post and sub-post offices whose activities are central to local community life. |
| 1809 | DEEPCUT INQUIRY | 13:3:06 |
| Pete Wishart | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Sandra Osborne | | Lembit Öpik | | Mark Durkan | | Michael Jabez Foster |
| That this House notes that, having heard evidence given at the inquest into the death of 17 year-old Private James Collinson on 23rd March 2002, the jury has ruled out suicide and returned an open verdict; further notes that in order to prevent the recurrence of fatalities, Her Majesty's Coroner has exercised his duty to report matters raised at the inquest to the Secretary of State for Defence and urged him to `take whatever steps are necessary to restore public confidence in the recruitment and training of young soldiers whether at Deepcut or elsewhere'; further notes the Coroner's belief that matters brought to his attention `need further examination or at least balanced public exposure', his suggestion that the Minister `should have nothing to fear from an inquiry held in public where the issues can be explored in greater depth' and that the armed forces `deserve these matters to be addressed thoroughly and independently so that rumour and speculation can be met head on'; and urges the Secretary of State to respond to the Coroner without delay and announce a judicial public inquiry with sufficiently broad terms of reference to address public concern over non-combat deaths and ill-treatment issues raised at Deepcut and elsewhere. |
| 1811 | FUTURE OF PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FORUMS | 14:3:06 |
| Mr John Leech | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Derek Conway | | David Taylor | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Stephen Williams |
| | Mr Don Foster | Mr David Drew | Mr Brian Jenkins | | | Frank Cook | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House welcomes the work of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forums to secure improvements in health services in many constituencies; notes that the Government is still reviewing the future of patient and public involvement in health and is concerned at suggestions that local authority overview and scrutiny committees could take on the work of PPI forums; believes the overview and scrutiny process is often highly politicised and can be used as a rubber stamp of executive decision-making, and that committees are already overstretched; further believes that the strength of PPI forums is that they are people-focused and work outside the party political arena; and therefore urges the Government not to retreat from supporting independent patient and public involvement bodies. |
| As an Amendment to Mr John Leech's proposed Motion (Future of Patient and Public Involvement Forums): |
| Peter Bottomley | | Dr Vincent Cable | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| Line 9, at end add `and recommends the recreation of community health councils in England.'. |
| 1812 | ST. PATRICK'S DAY | 14:3:06 |
| Mr Eddie McGrady | | Mr Alan Meale | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Simon Hughes | Mr Brian Jenkins | Clare Short | | | Frank Cook | Mr David Anderson |
| That this House calls on the Government to provide for St. Patrick's Day, 17th March, to become an annual public holiday in Northern Ireland in recognition of the feast day of Ireland's Patron Saint and the celebrations that are organised by local government authorities and community groups across the communities, and as a measure to assist reconciliation, as Saint Patrick is espoused by all traditions. |
| 1813 | BATTLE OF THE SOMME REMEMBRANCE | 14:3:06 |
| Tim Farron | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr Greg Hands | | Mike Penning | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | Mr David Anderson | | | Mark Pritchard | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916 and remembers the 420,000 casualties suffered by the British Army during the battle, which lasted until 18th November; praises the Royal British Legion for its continuing work to raise funds to support ex-service men and women, with events including a four day cycle ride from 14th to 18th June to the key locations of the battle; and recognises the vital importance of this work in helping to ensure that the sacrifice, efforts and the interest of past and present service personnel will never be forgotten. |
| 1814 | BRITISH COUNCIL OFFICES IN GAZA AND RAMALLAH | 14:3:06 |
| Derek Wyatt | | Mr Alan Meale | | Derek Conway | | Mr Ken Purchase | | Peter Bottomley | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| | Richard Burden | Jeff Ennis | Mr David Anderson |
| That this House recognises the outstanding work done by the British Council overseas; notes the critical part it plays in the UK's public diplomacy; expresses its thanks that no staff have been hurt by the fires that have occurred in their offices in Gaza and Ramallah; and looks forward to them being re-opened as soon as is practical. |
| 1815 | GLASGOW AWARD OF FAIRTRADE CITY STATUS | 14:3:06 |
| Ann McKechin | | Mr Ian Davidson | | John Robertson | | Mr Tom Harris | | Mr Mohammad Sarwar | | Mr David Marshall |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | Annette Brooke | | | Mr David Hamilton | Mr David Anderson | Jo Swinson | | | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House congratulates the city of Glasgow in achieving Fairtrade City status in March; notes that Glasgow is the largest retail centre in the United Kingdom to date to achieve such status; welcomes the firm commitment by Glasgow City Council together with numerous local organisations, retailers, schools, universities, churches, faith groups and charities in supporting the extension of Fairtrade products and outlets throughout the city; and urges the Government to continue to assist the Fairtrade campaign in Glasgow and throughout the UK in encouraging consumers to provide practical help to poor producers in the developing world and in continuing to call for fairer trade terms for the world's poorest nations. |
| 1816 | LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONS | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Mr David Drew | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | | | Mr David Hamilton | Mr David Anderson | Sammy Wilson | | | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House is aware that the Government is bringing forward new arrangements to alter the minimum retirement age and early retirement provision in the Local Government Pension Scheme which will alter the present position, especially in relation to its 85 year rule criteria and other established early retirement formulae; believes such an approach to be misguided; and calls upon the Government not to follow such a path, but to guarantee previously negotiated schemes with all public sector workers affected. |
| 1817 | FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DIRECTIVE AND CONSUMER CHOICE | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Stephen O'Brien | | Mr Andrew Lansley | | Kate Hoey | | Tim Loughton | | Mr Austin Mitchell | | Mr John Baron |
| | Mrs Cheryl Gillan | Mr David Amess | Dr Julian Lewis | | | Mr Adrian Sanders | Mr Brian Jenkins | Andrew Selous | | | Anne Milton | Mr Christopher Fraser | Mark Pritchard | | | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House notes the continuing concern about the potential impact of the Food Supplements Directive upon consumer choice in vitamin and mineral supplements; further notes that Ministers have accepted the recommendation of the Board of the Food Standards Agency that their approach to the interpretation of the key provisions of this legislation should be to work in Europe for maximum permitted levels for nutrients in supplements to be set on the basis of safety, whilst securing an enduring flexibility to permit onto the United Kingdom market safe and popular products which lie outside the otherwise restrictive provisions of this legislation; understands that the European Commission will shortly be consulting about the setting of such maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; urges the Government immediately to adopt and implement a co-ordinated strategy for the achievement of their stated objectives for this process; and invites Ministers to keep this House fully informed of the progress that they are making in securing the support of the European Commission and other member states for the principle that consumers should not be denied access to safe supplements of their choice. |
| 1818 | MARKET HARBOROUGH'S ACHIEVEMENT OF FAIRTRADE STATUS | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Edward Garnier | | Bob Spink | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Andrew Rosindell | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House congratulates Market Harborough on becoming the first Leicestershire town to achieve Fairtrade status; notes the tremendous amount of hard work done by the Fairtrade Status Steering Group to enrol the support of local business, local schools, local retailers and the local council to encourage people to use Fairtrade products in their daily lives; and supports Market Harborough in its future efforts to increase the awareness of the Fairtrade Foundation and use of its products. |
| 1819 | TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN DIDCOT AND LONDON | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Edward Vaizey | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Derek Conway | | Lynne Jones | | Mr Mark Lancaster | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| That this House condemns the Government's proposal to reduce early morning and evening mainline train services between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington; notes that the withdrawal of the 05.46 and 06.12 service in particular would significantly lengthen journey times for early morning commuters; further notes that there will now be two 40-minute gaps in service for evening commuters; believes that if such changes are made, there will be a significant increase in overcrowding; brings to the Government's attention the increase in population in the surrounding area which is likely to lead to an increase in the number of rail users in the coming years; and calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to reverse his decision. |
| 1820 | COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 15:3:06 |
| Hugh Robertson | | Mr Hugo Swire | | Mr Malcolm Moss | | Mr Mark Field | | Andrew George | | Bob Spink |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr David Hamilton | Jo Swinson | | | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House welcomes the opening of the Commonwealth Games by Her Majesty The Queen in Melbourne; wishes the very best of luck to all competitors but particularly to those representing the home nations; and thanks Australia for hosting this unique and enjoyable event. |
| 1821 | TAXPAYERS' CHARTER | 15:3:06 |
| Stephen Williams [R] | | Mr Quentin Davies | | Rob Marris | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr David Hamilton | | | Lorely Burt | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House believes that the fair and effective financing of public services in today's world requires a clear understanding by taxpayers and tax administration alike of their respective rights and responsibilities and is concerned that the clear vision of these may be obscured by the complexity of much tax management legislation; notes that, prior to the merger into HM Revenue and Customs, both the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise had Taxpayers' Charters but that with the merger the status of these is unclear and that they have not been reviewed for many years, meaning less protection for the taxpayer; further notes that in the meantime the use of Charters and Bills of Rights to confirm and codify taxpayers' rights and responsibilities and build support for a co-operative relationship between taxpayers and tax administration has developed extensively in many countries; and calls for a set of principles expressed in legislation or a Taxpayers' Charter to set down the rights and obligations of the taxpayer and the tax administration under the Finance Act requiring the Commissioner of Revenue and Customs to bring forward a proposed Charter for ratification by the House. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1822 | NUFFIELD SPEECH AND LANGUAGE UNIT | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Edward Davey | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Bob Spink | | Derek Wyatt | | Dr John Pugh |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Mr Brian Jenkins | Susan Kramer | | | Sammy Wilson | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House notes that the Nuffield Speech and Language Unit at the Royal Free Hospital is a national centre of excellence, providing diagnosis and treatment of hearing, speech and language disorders in children with needs that cannot be properly met by local provision; further notes that the Unit requires only 14 children to remain financially viable; expresses extreme concern that the distinct lack of referrals for the 2006-07 academic year may lead to the Unit's closure; believes that local NHS and neighbouring education authorities have failed to take enough proactive action to ensure the Unit is known about by parents, doctors and speech therapists; and urges the Government to do all it can to support the Unit and promote sufficient awareness to guarantee that the UK does not lose this important national resource. |
| 1823 | COVENT GARDEN THEATRE MUSEUM | 15:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Peter Luff | | Pete Wishart | | Adam Price | | Glenda Jackson | | Alan Keen |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Ms Diane Abbott | Mr David Drew | | | Mr Brian Jenkins | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House pays tribute to the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, which is London's only gallery devoted to the performing arts and which hosts one of the best theatre collections in the world; notes that the Heritage Lottery Fund has rejected its £2.5 million bid for funding for the second time; is gravely concerned at reports that the trustees of the museum are planning to close the collection; and calls upon the Government to intervene to save this valuable cultural asset. |
| As an Amendment to John McDonnell's proposed Motion (Covent Garden Theatre Museum): |
| Mr William Cash | | Sir Michael Spicer [R] |
| Line 5, after collection, insert "calls upon the Trustees to defer their decision until the matter has been debated in Parliament and considered by the Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport" |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1824 | FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT | 15:3:06 |
| Mr Andrew Mitchell | | Mark Simmonds | | Mr Francis Maude | | Mr George Osborne | | Mr William Hague | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| | Mrs Cheryl Gillan | Mr David Amess | Dr Julian Lewis | | | Mr Adrian Sanders | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | | | Annette Brooke | Andrew Selous | Mr David Anderson | | | Mark Williams | Jo Swinson | Anne Milton | | | Mr Christopher Fraser | Mr Robert Goodwill | Mark Pritchard |
| That this House congratulates the organisers of Fairtrade Fortnight on their success in raising awareness of Fairtrade products; celebrates Fairtrade as an example of how voluntary consumer choice in the developed world can generate real improvements in the lives of poor people; believes it is important that the momentum generated by Fairtrade Fortnight is carried forward and reflected in British government policy; and calls on the Government to push hard for the EU to table an ambitious offer on agriculture at the World Trade Organisation so as to break the deadlock in the Doha Round of trade talks and to secure a comprehensive deal on freeing up global trade. |
| Mr Fraser Kemp | | Bob Spink | | Derek Conway | | Jeremy Corbyn | | John Cummings | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr David Anderson |
| That this House welcomes plans to renovate and extend the Kepier, which was founded by Royal Charter in 1574 as the first school in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, and remained an educational establishment until after the First World War; notes that it is currently used by many local community groups and organisations especially to offer education to all, in keeping with the founders' wishes; further notes that a preliminary report recommends that work should commence on urgent repairs, renovations and to extend amenities; calls upon all hon. Members of the House and the local community in Houghton to back this worthwhile scheme being overseen by the Kepier Trust; and hopes that the Kepier will serve the community for another 432 years. |
| 1826 | JOB LOSSES IN DUNDEE WEST | 16:3:06 |
| Mr Jim McGovern | | Mr Jim Devine | | Anne Moffat | | Jim Sheridan | | Michael Connarty | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Mr Brian Jenkins | Clare Short | | | Jeff Ennis | Helen Jones | Mr Joe Benton | | | Mr Martyn Jones | Paul Flynn | Mrs Betty Williams | | | Mr Frank Doran | Ann McKechin | Mr David Hamilton | | | Colin Challen | Mr David Anderson | Kerry McCarthy | | | Jo Swinson | Ms Celia Barlow | Nia Griffith | | | Mr John Leech | Jessica Morden | Willie Rennie |
| That this House is extremely concerned at the decision of Tesco to cut over 400 jobs in Dundee and to close its Dundee depot; notes that this was a unilateral decision taken without consultation with the trade unions, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, representatives from Dundee City Council, Dundee Chamber of Commerce nor the local politicians in Dundee; condemns this action as showing lack of respect to the city of Dundee; believes that the workers who are losing their jobs should either be relocated with the same terms and conditions of employment or offered an equitable redundancy package; supports the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers in its efforts to ensure this happens; and calls on Tesco to engage constructively with the unions and local politicians in order to salvage some positive outcome from this announcement. |
| Tony Baldry | | Bob Spink | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Derek Conway | | Mr Michael Ancram |
| | Mr Bernard Jenkin | Mr Mike Hancock | Mr Humfrey Malins | | | Richard Ottaway | Mr Andrew Love | Steve Webb | | | Mr Adrian Sanders | Mr Robert Walter | Mr David Drew | | | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mrs Betty Williams | Sir Robert Smith | | | Paul Holmes | Andrew Selous | Mr Shailesh Vara | | | Mr Jim McGovern | Mr Adam Holloway | Mr Brian Binley | | | Susan Kramer | Anne Main | Mr Edward Vaizey |
| That this House is concerned at the threat to church pipe organs from the EU Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances which will ban the use of lead in pipe organs and as from July will make it illegal to build new organ pipes or to move old ones from one church to another unless they are blown by hand; believes that such a ban will have a serious impact on England's cultural and liturgical life and will mean an end to English organ building; and calls on the Government to negotiate with the European Commission to find a way to protect traditional pipe organs for cathedrals, concert halls, colleges and churches. |
| 1828 | LOANS TO POLITICAL PARTIES AND HONOURS | 16:3:06 |
| Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Lynne Jones | | Glenda Jackson | | Jeremy Corbyn | | David Taylor |
| | Dr Vincent Cable | Mr David Drew | Paul Holmes |
| That this House calls for the Electoral Commission to bring forward recommendations to provide for the declaration of loans to political parties, whether or not they are intended to be repaid, on the same basis as donations, including proposals for amendment of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 if necessary; further calls for the Department for Constitutional Affairs to establish an inquiry to determine whether the recommendation of Mr Chai Patel for a peerage was linked to his provision of finance for the Labour Party and at what stage the Prime Minister, and other senior members of the Labour Party, were first informed of the loan from Mr Patel to the party; and urges the Committee for Standards in Public Life to consider both the status of loans to political parties and the relationship between political party funding and honours. |
| 1829 | PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION | 16:3:06 |
| Dr Evan Harris | | Andrew George | | Mike Penning | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Peter Bottomley | | Derek Conway |
| | Mr David Drew | Mr Brian Jenkins | Andrew Stunell | | | Paul Holmes | Mr John Leech | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House is concerned by the results of Pulse magazine's investigation into services for managing depression which revealed that patients are waiting many months for assessment and treatment; notes the acute shortage of therapists to deliver psychological interventions which are supported by good evidence of effectiveness, and that this shortage has been acknowledged by the National Director for Mental Health; urges the Government to instigate a concerted programme of training and recruitment to meet demand; and requests that GPs are provided with interim guidance on how to manage depression in the absence of access to interventions recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. |
| 1830 | INSTITUTE OF GRASSLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION AT GOGERDDAN | 16:3:06 |
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Adam Price | | Hywel Williams | | Pete Wishart | | Stewart Hosie | | Mr Angus MacNeil |
| | Mrs Betty Williams | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House notes the vital importance of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) station at Gogerddan near Aberystwyth for the economy and research base of the area; recognises the station's international reputation and the historic and continuing excellence of its work in plant-breeding, animal science and nutrition and other agri-environmental research, and its importance in enabling farmers in Wales and elsewhere to meet the challenge of adaptation and diversification; further notes the unique status of IGER Gogerddan as the only research council-funded science research station in Wales; expresses its concern at the effect of the recently-announced reduction of £3 million per annum in funding by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Areas (DEFRA) and the resultant loss of 40 jobs; is concerned at the potential threat to the station resulting from the possible merging of IGER with Rothamsted Research; and calls upon DEFRA and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, working with the Welsh Assembly Government, to ensure that the crucial role of IGER Gogerddan is maintained. |
| 1831 | UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS FAIRTRADE STATUS | 16:3:06 |
| Greg Mulholland | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Mike Weir | | Peter Bottomley | | Derek Conway |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | Annette Brooke | | | Mr David Anderson | Jo Swinson | Mr John Leech |
| That this House congratulates the University of Leeds on achieving Fairtrade University status; praises the University, the Student Union and pays tribute to the efforts of both staff and students at the University for promoting and selling goods which ensure a fair deal for Fairtrade producers; further congratulates other organisations in Leeds for their commitment to the Leeds Fairtrade City initiative, including Leeds Metropolitan University who secured Fairtrade status in 2005; encourages other universities and colleges to achieve Fairtrade status; and recognises the important role this can play in improving the lives of producers in developing countries by promoting Fairtrade products. |
| 1832 | PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE CAMPAIGN | 16:3:06 |
| Steve Webb | | Colin Challen | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Andrew George | | Mike Penning | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Miss Ann Widdecombe | Mr Edward Davey | Mr Adrian Sanders | | | Mr David Drew | Mr Brian Jenkins | Clare Short | | | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Paul Truswell | Mrs Betty Williams | | | Lembit Öpik | Paul Holmes | Annette Brooke | | | Mr David Anderson | Jo Swinson | Mr John Leech | | | Tim Farron |
| That this House supports Breast Cancer Care's `Prescription for change' campaign to raise awareness about the impact of prescription charges on cancer patients; is concerned at the campaign's findings that many breast cancer patients experience financial difficulty as a result of paying prescription charges; is further concerned that some breast cancer patients cannot afford to get their prescriptions dispensed and are therefore not taking the drugs they have been prescribed; and calls for an urgent review of the list of conditions that are exempt from prescription charges. |
| 1833 | VICTORIA THEATRE, HALIFAX | 16:3:06 |
| Mrs Linda Riordan | | Lynne Jones | | Bob Spink | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle |
| That this House supports the continued prosperity of traditional local theatres like the Victoria Theatre in Halifax; and welcomes the recent investment at the theatre which has enabled the venue to attract top name acts such as former Smiths front man Morrissey. |
| Tim Loughton | | Mr Michael Fallon | | Peter Bottomley | | Derek Conway | | Bob Spink | | Mr Greg Hands |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr Shailesh Vara |
| That this House notes with concern the case of Craig Alden, a British national detained in Brazil since July 2002; supports the ongoing efforts of Mr Alden's family and supporters to raise the profile of his case; and calls on the Government to give its fullest attention to his welfare. |
| 1835 | CLOSURE OF SUSSEX UNIVERSITY'S CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT | 16:3:06 |
| Tim Loughton | | Hon Nicholas Soames | | Nick Herbert | | Gregory Barker | | Mr Nigel Waterson | | Charles Hendry |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mr Peter Kilfoyle | Ms Celia Barlow | | | Mr John Leech |
| That this House expresses regret at Sussex University's decision to close its successful chemistry department despite being awarded a grade 5 rating under the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) which monitors university standards and attracting academic staff of world renown, including two Nobel prize winners; notes the discrepancy between this closure and applications to the Sussex University chemistry course being 34 per cent. higher than the average increase in applications for university places; is alarmed that this closure is part of a worrying general trend in closure of chemistry departments nationally; is concerned that not enough is being done to reverse the decline in the number of applicants accepting places to study chemistry; and further notes that this decline in teaching physical sciences will have major detrimental effects on the future success of the UK's economy, its international competitiveness and on future scientific developments. |
| 1836 | PURBECK ICE CREAM TASTING DAY | 16:3:06 |
| Annette Brooke | | Mr Robert Syms | | Mr Tobias Ellwood | | Mr Oliver Letwin | | Mr Robert Walter | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Mark Williams | Jo Swinson |
| That this House welcomes the decision of the House of Commons Refreshment Department to invite Purbeck Ice Cream to hold a tasting day in Portcullis House on 22nd March 2006; congratulates Purbeck Ice Cream on its award-winning innovative products; recognises the company's success in using local small-scale production based in Dorset; further welcomes the company's use of natural, GM-free ingredients without artificial or added colours; and encourages hon. Members and parliamentary staff to visit the tasting stand and try the distinctly different flavours and exceptional quality of this fresh, natural and wholesome Dorset made ice cream. |
| 1837 | RACIAL SEGREGATION IN BARNSLEY | 16:3:06 |
| Mr Eric Illsley | | Jeff Ennis | | Mr Michael Clapham | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House rejects the findings of the State of the English Cities report commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which labels the town of Barnsley the most racially segregated place in England; notes that the ethnic minority population of Barnsley is less than two per cent., about 4,000 people, the vast majority of whom live in the same area as the hon. Member for Barnsley Central in close proximity to Barnsley District General Hospital where many work; and calls upon the Government to reject this sensationalist, over-simplistic and statistically-flawed piece of work as an insult to the people of Barnsley and, in particular, to those there who work tirelessly to oppose racism and racial segregation. |
| 1838 | STOP THE WAR CAMPAIGN | 16:3:06 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | Adam Price | | John McDonnell | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | Mr Michael Clapham |
| That this House welcomes the continued hard work of those dedicated to stopping all wars from within and without parliament via their efforts toward reversing the aggressive international policies initiated by the United States of America with British support and in particular to promote the demand to bring UK troops home from Iraq, as urged by many of the families of soldiers who have died in this unnecessary conflict; notes that on 18th March, the third anniversary of the attack on Iraq, another large anti-war demonstration organised by the Stop the War Coalition and supported by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain will take place in London while similar protests will take place on the streets of major cities thoughout the world, including Baghdad and Basra, in protest at the crisis in Iraq which is now on the verge of a civil war; calls for support for these protests; and further expresses grave concern at the plans to deploy thousands of British troops to Afghanistan in 2006 in support of another US-led occupation facing increasing resistance. |
| 1839 | TELEPHONE BOXES | 16:3:06 |
| Mr Nigel Evans | | Derek Conway | | Kate Hoey | | Mr Eric Pickles | | Mr Martyn Jones | | Mr Philip Dunne |
| | Mr David Amess | Mr Mike Hancock | Mr John Horam | | | Mr David Drew | Mr Brian Jenkins | Jeff Ennis | | | Frank Cook | Mrs Betty Williams | Mr David Hamilton | | | Angela Watkinson | Helen Goodman | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House is greatly concerned about the new rules announced by Ofcom that could allow British Telecom to axe 6,000 telephone boxes without public consultation; calls on Ofcom to rescind the regulation that allows BT to remove phone boxes without consultation if there is another telephone box within 400 metres; notes that telephone boxes provide a vital service, especially in rural areas and during emergencies, and where there are often mobile phone coverage black spots; and recognises that not everyone has a mobile phone. |
| 1840 | EUROPEAN UNION'S WATER INITIATIVE | 17:3:06 |
| Mr David Burrowes | | Emily Thornberry | | Mr Don Foster | | Peter Bottomley | | Andrew George | | Mrs Joan Humble |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Joan Ruddock | Roger Berry | | | Joan Walley | Mr Brian Jenkins | Clare Short | | | Richard Burden | Lynne Jones | Jeff Ennis | | | Mike Wood | Mrs Betty Williams | Lembit Öpik | | | Mr Frank Doran | Mr Alex Salmond | Michael Connarty | | | Malcolm Bruce | Ann McKechin | Annette Brooke | | | Mr David Hamilton | Peter Law | Mr David Anderson | | | Kerry McCarthy | Jo Swinson | Rosie Cooper | | | Sarah McCarthy-Fry | Mr Edward Vaizey | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House notes with concern that 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water and 2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation; further notes that the European Union's Water Initiative (EUWI), established in 2002 as the EU's main contribution to meeting the water and sanitation millennium development goals, has not yet made any of the policy or practice changes which would have helped extra people to receive access to water or sanitation; further notes that clear commitments to increase aid effectiveness generally have been made in the donors' Paris Declaration; and urges the Government to work with its European counterparts to push for a radical overhaul of the EUWI by incorporating into it the Paris Declaration agenda, setting measurable targets for better donor co-ordination in each country where the Initiative operates and by providing regular reports of progress at country level to ensure that more people really are gaining access to safe water and sanitation. |
| 1841 | LEICESTER'S CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL | 17:3:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Bob Spink | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Ms Diane Abbott | Mr Brian Jenkins | Lynne Jones | | | Mrs Betty Williams | Mr John Leech |
| That this House notes with surprise and disappointment that Leicester's Caribbean Carnival, which has been running for 22 years and attracts over 100,000 visitors to Leicester each year, has been cancelled; further notes that it has been the biggest carnival of its kind outside London; recognises the part the carnival has played in making Leicester one of the leading multi-cultural cities in Europe; and hopes that the carnival will be able to return to Leicester in 2007. |
| 1842 | PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS WEEK | 17:3:06 |
| Mr John Baron | | Dr Howard Stoate | | Tim Loughton | | James Brokenshire | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Nigel Waterson |
| | Dr Vincent Cable | Mr Adrian Sanders | Mr David Drew | | | Mr Brian Jenkins | Lynne Jones | Jeff Ennis | | | Andrew Stunell | Mrs Betty Williams | Mr David Hamilton | | | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone | Mr John Leech | | | Tim Farron | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates The Prostate Cancer Charity, the largest UK voluntary organisation focused on prostate health, for organising Prostate Cancer Awareness Week which is running from 20th to 26th March; notes with concern new ICM research showing continued public uncertainty about the main risk factors for prostate cancer, particularly that one in four people over the age of 55 fail to identify increasing age as a key risk; welcomes the wide range of initiatives being taken during Prostate Cancer Awareness Week to focus public attention on the disease, including the distribution of three quarters of a million information leaflets and drinks mats, internet-based competitions and extensive community events; is encouraged by the planned public awareness pilot being jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action, an influential voluntary sector campaigning group; and calls on the Government to roll out a national awareness campaign if the pilot proves successful. |
| 1843 | SCOTTISH COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALLISTS | 17:3:06 |
| Mr Angus MacNeil | | Mr Alex Salmond | | Mr Mike Weir | | Angus Robertson | | Stewart Hosie | | Pete Wishart |
| | Mr Brian Jenkins | Lynne Jones | Mrs Betty Williams | | | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates Scottish gold medallists Caitlin McLatchey and David Carry on their achievement in the swimming events and bronze medallist Chris Hoy on his success in the one kilometre cycling time trial at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games; notes the positive effects this can have on domestic sport and the enhanced international profile of Scotland as a result of the participation of a Scottish representative team; commends all members of the Scotland team for the remainder of the Games; and recognises the efforts of all athletes from throughout the Commonwealth to make the Games a success. |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Bob Laxton | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Bob Spink |
| | David Lepper | Mr Brian Jenkins | Lynne Jones | | | Mrs Betty Williams |
| That this House congratulates Jason Queally on winning a silver medal in the men's one kilometre time trial at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; pays tribute to his efforts in winning his third successive Commonwealth silver in the one kilometre cycling pursuit; expresses delight at the early successes of British athletes representing England, Scotland and Wales; and wishes them every success for the duration of the Games. |
| 1845 | CHILDREN IN DETENTION | 17:3:06 |
| Mr Neil Gerrard | | Peter Bottomley | | Andrew George | | Glenda Jackson | | Harry Cohen | | Jeremy Corbyn |
| | Ms Diane Abbott | Joan Ruddock | Dr Vincent Cable | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | Joan Walley | | | Lynne Jones | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Paul Truswell | | | Andrew Stunell | Frank Cook | Mrs Betty Williams | | | Malcolm Bruce | Paul Holmes | Mr Mark Field | | | Annette Brooke | Helen Goodman | Mark Williams | | | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone | Mr John Leech | | | Tim Farron | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House is concerned by the detention of children in UK immigration detention centres as part of the standard immigration procedure; recognises the negative impact on children's mental and physical health and the disruption of their education; welcomes the work conducted by Save the Children, the Refugee Council, Bail for Immigration Detainees, the Scottish Refugee Council and the Welsh Refugee Council to bring an end to this unjust policy; supports their recommendations that children should be treated as children first and foremost and their needs and rights protected; calls for alternatives to detention to be piloted; and urges the Government to make detailed statistics available on an ongoing basis regarding the ages of, and numbers of, children held in detention and the length of time each is held in detention. |
| 1846 | STAFFORDSHIRE AMBULANCE SERVICE No. 2 | 17:3:06 |
| Charlotte Atkins | | Dr Tony Wright | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr David Kidney | | Mr Brian Jenkins | | Mr Robert Flello |
| That this House recognises that Staffordshire Ambulance Service is the best performing ambulance service in the country with outstanding response times; believes that it should be seen as an exemplar of innovative public service; and further believes that there should be no question of it losing its operational independence or entering a merger with a regional ambulance service unless and until its performance is matched by others. |
| 1847 | JOE CALZAGHE AND THE 2012 OLYMPICS | 20:3:06 |
| Peter Law | | Bob Spink | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Derek Conway | | Mr Jim McGovern | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Paul Flynn | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House congratulates Joe Calzaghe on winning his fight against Jeff Lacy on 5th March and thus unifying the WBO and IBF super-middleweight titles; believes his victory has brought pleasure to many boxing fans across the nation, and particularly in Newbridge in Blaenau Gwent, his home town; believes that if the United Kingdom is to continue to provide world sporting champions, particularly in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games, then the sporting facilities for young people need to be improved through significant sporting infrastructure and training investment across the country; and looks forward to further world sporting champions coming from Wales. |
| 1848 | 30th ANNIVERSARY OF SPORTSAID | 20:3:06 |
| Mr Mark Lancaster | | Mr Clive Betts | | Mr Don Foster | | Rosie Cooper | | Dr Desmond Turner | | Miss Ann Widdecombe |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | | | Jo Swinson |
| That this House congratulates SportsAid, the charity for sports people, on its 30th anniversary in 2006; acknowledges the £20 million distributed by the charity in this time; welcomes its relaunch in the regions through the roadshows taking place this year aiming to raise awareness of its mission and objectives; recognises the vital role it plays in funding future sports stars between the ages of 11 to 16 years when other forms of funding are unavailable; notes SportsAid's active role in the Government-backed Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme providing the critical link between participation and excellence without which many emerging stars such as Shelley Rudman would have had to give up on their ambitions; understands the assistance that SportsAid gave to sporting legends such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson; acknowledges that SportsAid helped 15 of the 17 British Gold Medallists and over half the British Team at Athens 2004; believes that it is vital for the success of UK athletes at London 2012 and beyond to continue to receive financial assistance from SportsAid through public and private sector donations and associations; supports the role of SportsAid as a critical conduit for private sector funding to complement Government funding; and calls on all possible partners to support SportsAid in its work allowing young people to reach their full sporting potential. |
| Dr Vincent Cable | | Susan Kramer | | Mr John Grogan | | Mr Nigel Evans [R] | | Jim Dowd | | Mr Richard Shepherd |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mr John Horam | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | Sir Malcolm Rifkind | | | Jo Swinson |
| That this House values the diversity and choice offered by small independent and local shops in the face of the growing dominance of national chains; recognises the increasing difficulties that small independent and local shops are facing with large rent rises in town centres and high streets; applauds the Evening Standard's Save our Small Shops campaign; encourages the public to make use of small, independent, local shops; condemns those landlords who raise rent excessively, letting only to chain stores; urges consideration of new business conservation areas that cap the number of chain stores; supports the proposal for small shop loyalty card schemes for every borough; and urges simplification of the regulation to which small shops are obliged to adhere. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1850 | ANIMALS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH | 20:3:06 |
| Dr Evan Harris | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr Jonathan Djanogly | | Lynne Jones | | Mr Alan Duncan | | Bob Spink |
| That this House notes that UK regulation of animal research is among the tightest in the world, that animal research is only permitted where there is no better alternative and that pain and suffering are minimised and balanced against the potential benefit to humans and animals; recognises that good facilities enable scientists to conduct world-class research, potentially leading to new treatments for a number of life-threatening diseases, including leukaemia, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease and that such research has already produced many lifesaving drugs including penicillin and other antibiotics, insulin for diabetes, chemotherapy for childhood leukaemia, and medicines for asthma, high blood pressure and ulcers; therefore supports the building of the new state of the art biomedical research laboratory at Oxford University, which will improve the facilities currently used to house research animals and so enhance animal welfare; applauds the Pro-Test movement in Oxford for their support of scientific research including animal based research; condemns unlawful animal rights extremism, including any violence, harassment or intimidation of those associated with lawful animal research; and supports the well-regulated use of animals in medical research. |
| 1851 | SOCIAL SECURITY (S.I., 2006, No. 712) | 20:3:06 |
| Sir Menzies Campbell | | Mr David Laws | | Danny Alexander | | Jenny Willott | | Sir Robert Smith | | Andrew Stunell |
| | Mr Mark Oaten | Mr Colin Breed | Mr Robert Walter | | | Mr Peter Kilfoyle | Mr Alan Beith | John Thurso | | | Dr John Pugh | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 712), dated 9th March 2006, a copy of which was laid before this House on 16th March, be annulled. |
| 1852 | NATIONAL OBESITY AWARENESS WEEK AND THE OBESITY AWARENESS AND SOLUTIONS TRUST | 20:3:06 |
| Mr David Amess | | Mr Kevin Barron | | Jim Dowd | | Dr Evan Harris | | Mr David Burrowes | | Dr Richard Taylor |
| | Laura Moffatt | Mr Andrew Dismore | Dr Hywel Francis |
| That this House notes that the annual Parliamentary Reception of The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) was held in the Terrace Marquee of the House on 15th March and attended by Right honourable and honourable Members from both Houses and all political parties, as well as by healthcare professionals, charities and various other organisations and stakeholders in this field; welcomes the annual National Obesity Awareness Week 2006 which began on 12th March designed to raise awareness of the multifaceted nature of obesity; congratulates TOAST on the valuable contribution it has made to the fight against obesity through its work, including running the National Help and Information line to support those living with obesity and their families and offering training courses to enable workers in public, private and volunteering sectors to develop the skills to recognise the issues relating to obesity and to provide the tools to manage them; invites the Department of Health to reconsider its decision not to assist TOAST with funding for such initiatives; and extends to TOAST its best wishes for continuing success in highlighting the scale and causes of obesity and in providing practical support for those who are overweight and obese. |
| 1853 | FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TURKEY | 20:3:06 |
| Mr Martin Caton | | Bob Spink | | Rob Marris | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Mr Jim Devine | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mr Ken Purchase | Paul Flynn | | | Jo Swinson |
| That this House congratulates Amnesty International on its Turkey-Freedom of Expression campaign; recognises that the new Turkish penal code which came into force on 1st June 2005 includes many positive changes, including the removal of provisions that discriminated against women; is concerned however, that it has retained restrictions on freedom of expression, especially in Articles 301 and 305, that breach the European Convention on Human Rights; commends those Turkish writers, academics and human rights activists who continue to make the case for free speech; and urges the Turkish authorities to abolish those sections of the penal code that may lead to people being prosecuted for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, as recognised in international law, and to release all prisoners arrested solely for the non-violent expression of their opinions. |
| 1854 | F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER | 20:3:06 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Bob Laxton | | Jim Dobbin | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Mr Ben Wallace |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Dr Hywel Francis |
| That this House notes with concern the decision taken by the Bush Administration to withhold from the UK access to top-secret stealth technology in the new F-35 joint strike fighter; further notes the decision taken by George Bush to cancel plans for a second engine which was to be jointly built by Rolls-Royce and GE; supports the statement made by Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement, that the UK would not buy the 150 aircraft it currently plans to order unless technology transfer takes place; and calls on the Government to ensure that it continues to place the interests of the UK aerospace sector at the forefront of its negotiations with the US Administration. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Lindsay Hoyle's proposed Motion (F-35 Joint Strike Fighter): |
| Line 7, leave out 'aerospace sector' and insert 'armed forces'. |
| 1856 | TAIWAN AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION | 21:3:06 |
| Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Derek Conway | | Derek Wyatt |
| That this House notes with regret that the World Health Organisation (WHO), at its World Health Assembly (WHA) meetings in Geneva in recent years, opposed including on the agenda Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer; believes that it is fully justifiable to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer; welcomes the support given by the United States of America and Japan in recent years to Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer; further notes that the Government strongly supports the principle enshrined in the WHO constitution that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being; is disappointed that the Government has not supported Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer by arguing that there are difficulties over Taiwanese involvement in a United Nations forum, where statehood is a prerequisite for full membership, while ignoring the precedents that The Holy See, Palestine and the Sovereign Order of Malta have been granted observer status at WHA meetings; further welcomes the Explanation of Vote by the European Union at the WHA meeting in Geneva in May 2004; and strongly encourages the Government to support the request being made by Taiwan for observer status at the WHA and to ensure Taiwan's meaningful participation in the WHO. |
| 1857 | COMMONWEALTH GAMES GOLD MEDAL FOR DEAN MACEY | 21:3:06 |
| Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Keith Vaz | | Dr William McCrea |
| | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | David Simpson |
| That this House congratulates Castle Point's Dean Macey on winning an historic gold medal in the Commonwealth Games gruelling decathlon competition; recognises the strength of character and determination, over many years of training, that is necessary to deliver the ultimate success of a gold medal; and urges young athletes across the UK to follow in Dean's sporting tradition. |
| 1858 | ESTATE AGENTS' VALUATIONS | 21:3:06 |
| Mr Gregory Campbell | | David Simpson | | Mark Durkan | | Andrew George | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | Mr Nigel Evans | | | Paul Flynn |
| That this House notes that many estate agents across the UK carry out their business in a legal, justifiable and exemplary fashion; is concerned at the number of reported incidents involving a small number of estate agents who appear to be able to invent offers for properties and falsely inflate estimated valuations to enhance possible commissions; recognises the lack of regulation which exists in the industry; commends those reputable journalists who have helped expose some practices; and calls upon the Government to ascertain the extent of this activity and to implement such legislation as is necessary to prevent abuses of this type. |
| 1859 | SAFE MOTHERHOOD CAMPAIGN | 21:3:06 |
| Ms Sally Keeble | | Chris McCafferty | | Joan Ruddock | | Andrew George | | Mr David Kidney | | Ann Winterton |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Ken Purchase | | | Mr Paul Truswell | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Jo Swinson | Mark Durkan |
| That this House notes that 600,000 women die needlessly in childbirth every year, almost all of them in developing countries; supports the call to action by the World Health Organisation and Commonwealth Secretariat to improve maternity services worldwide; and calls on the UK Government to press for securely funded health systems worldwide with universal coverage of critical health interventions for women and girls, an end to financial barriers in accessing healthcare and respect for women's decisions in all matters relating to their health and well-being. |
| 1860 | EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS | 21:3:06 |
| David T. C. Davies | | Mr John Hayes | | Mr Peter Bone | | Bob Spink | | Philip Davies | | Mr Stewart Jackson |
| That this House notes with grave concern that numerous violent offences are committed by prisoners who have been released under early release schemes; recognises that there is little public awareness that most prisoners in the UK serve half or less of the sentence that was passed down to them by the Court; further notes that press reports of crimes committed by prisoners on early release have undermined confidence in the justice system; congratulates newspapers such as The Sun which have campaigned to bring this issue to the wider attention of the public; and calls on the Government to end all forms of early release on licence and to give assurances that all sentences will be served in full. |
| 1861 | NATURAL HEALTH WEEK | 21:3:06 |
| Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr Mark Todd | | Richard Younger-Ross | | David Taylor | | Jim Dobbin | | Ann Winterton |
| | Laura Moffatt | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Jeff Ennis | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Jo Swinson |
| That this House notes the launch of Natural Health Week that will be held from 27th March to promote awareness of the contribution that natural health products can make in helping people to achieve and maintain optimum health; further notes that the project has the active support of the National Association of Health Stores, Consumers for Health Choice and the publishers of Health Food Business Magazine; and urges the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency to continue their dialogue with the natural health sector in order further to improve public health, enhance quality of life, and reduce burdens on the National Health Service. |
| 1862 | WITHDRAWAL OF ERYTHROPOIETIN AS A TREATMENT FOR CANCER THERAPY INDUCED ANAEMIA | 21:3:06 |
| Mr Dai Havard | | Dr Brian Iddon | | David T. C. Davies | | Andrew Mackinlay | | Andrew George | | Mr Stephen Crabb |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Nigel Evans |
| That this House is dismayed at the final recommendation, subject to appeal, from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to withdraw erythropoietin (EPOs) as an approved treatment for cancer induced anaemia; notes that this decision will have a hugely detrimental effect on the quality of life of UK cancer sufferers, interfering with courses of cancer treatment and undermining the National Cancer Plan; understands that blood transfusions are the only suitable alternative for treatment; is concerned that this decision is in direct contravention of the Chief Medical Officer's advice that alternatives to blood transfusions should be sought due to the UK's already restricted blood supply; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Health and NICE to consider the wider implications of how supportive care drugs and therapies should be reviewed to give UK patients access to a treatment that is an accepted standard of care across Europe. |
| 1864 | INSTITUTE FOR GRASSLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH | 21:3:06 |
| Mark Williams | | Mr Roger Williams | | Lembit Öpik | | Jenny Willott | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Dr Hywel Francis | Jo Swinson |
| That this House salutes the importance of the vision of the Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) in its work to develop economically viable and sustainable dairy and beef systems based on high forage diets, minimising the impact of livestock farming systems on the environment, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, and helping to contribute important health benefits to the United Kingdom consumer; pays tribute also to the work of IGER in researching the potential of crops for energy, and recognises the significant contribution that manipulating animal diets and obtaining energy from biomass could make to reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions; is therefore concerned to learn that 40 posts could soon be cut at the IGER which will have a significant impact on the ability of IGER to deliver much needed environmental research across the entire grassland-based, land-use sector; and calls on the Government to reconsider its decision to withdraw funding from IGER leaving a £2 million shortfall for the financial year 2006-07. |
| 1865 | WEST LOTHIAN DISTRICT COUNCIL | 21:3:06 |
| Mr Jim Devine | | Michael Connarty | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Martin Caton | | Alan Simpson | | Lynne Jones |
| | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | Paul Flynn | | | Mr David Hamilton |
| That this House congratulates West Lothian District Council for being voted Great Britain's best performing council; and further congratulates Grahame Morrice, the council leader, and fellow councillors, Alex Linkston, Chief Executive, and staff for this magnificent achievement. |
| 1866 | CHELMSFORD AWARD OF FAIRTRADE STATUS | 21:3:06 |
| Mr Simon Burns | | Mr Mark Francois | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | Mr Mike Weir | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | Mr Nigel Evans | | | Jo Swinson |
| That this House congratulates the town of Chelmsford in achieving Fairtrade status; notes that Chelmsford was the first town in Essex and only the third in the Eastern region to be awarded Fairtrade status, and that recently this status was renewed for a second year; welcomes the firm commitment by Chelmsford Borough Council together with numerous local organisations, retailers, schools, universities, churches, faith groups and charities in supporting the extension of Fairtrade products and outlets throughout the town; further congratulates Chelmsford High Street, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford Cathedral, Writtle College and Essex County Council offices for their work and dedication in hosting Fairtrade events; and urges the Government to assist Fairtrade campaigns throughout the UK to encourage consumers to provide practical help to poor producers in the developing world and in continuing to call for fairer trade terms for the world's poorest nations. |
| 1867 | NEWSFAX AND THE LONDON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY | 21:3:06 |
| Derek Wyatt | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Martin Caton | | Keith Vaz | | Jim Dowd |
| | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Austin Mitchell |
| That this House understands that the London Development Agency (LDA) has so far failed to reach agreement over compensation with Newsfax, the largest manufacturing employer in the area with 450 staff, nearly half of whom come from ethnic minorities and a further 1,000 among suppliers reliant upon the company; notes that the company is subject to a compulsory purchase order as a result of the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid; is concerned by the fact that unless the LDA advances funds to the company before 31st March 2006, Newsfax will be unable to transfer its business to a new site by July 2007, the date by which the LDA requires vacant possession; is further concerned that the LDA is suggesting closure of part of the business with the loss of 200 staff, rather than relocation of the whole operation; and strongly urges the LDA to reach an agreement with Newsfax as soon as possible. |
| 1868 | PENSION SHORTFALLS | 21:3:06 |
| Sandra Osborne | | Mr Frank Field | | Rosemary McKenna | | Jim Sheridan | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Brian H. Donohoe |
| | Mr Mark Oaten | Mr Peter Lilley | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | Paul Flynn | | | Dr William McCrea | Mr David Hamilton | Mark Durkan |
| That this House believes that the first call on the unclaimed assets of banks and building societies should be to make good the pensions shortfall of those workers not covered by the Pensions Protection Fund. |
| 1870 | HIGHER EDUCATION IN LONDON | 21:3:06 |
| Jim Dowd | | Bob Spink | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Harry Cohen | | Keith Vaz | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House believes that London enjoys a first class higher education sector which generates four per cent. of London's gross domestic product and is well placed to be the knowledge capital of the world; notes that London attracts 65,000 international students from over 200 countries who study and live in the capital; further notes that London provides first class education for over 350,000 students, producing over 66,000 highly qualified employees each year; recognises that these employees generate as much as £11.7 billion during their working lives; further notes that higher education institutions in London employ 58,000 staff and that each of these jobs generates another elsewhere in the UK economy; acknowledges the role played by London's higher education institutions in helping to secure London's 2012 Olympic bid; welcomes the work undertaken by organisations such as London Higher in promoting higher education in London; and calls on hon. Members to support London Higher and London's higher education institutions in their work for the capital and England. |
| 1871 | MEDALS FOR SCOTTISH ATHLETES IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Angus MacNeil | | Mr Alex Salmond | | Angus Robertson | | Pete Wishart | | Mr Mike Weir | | Stewart Hosie |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Dr Hywel Francis | David Simpson |
| That this House congratulates Scotland swimmers David Carry, Gregor Tait, Caitlin McLatchey, Euan Dale, Kirsty Balfour, Craig Houston, Todd Cooper, Robbie Renwick and Kris Gilchrist on their achievements in the swimming events, Chris Hoy, Ross Edgar, Craig Maclean, James McCallum and Kate Cullen on their success in the veledrome and Sheena Smart, Susan Jackson, Neil Stirton and Martin Sinclair on their prowess in the shooting events at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games; notes the positive effects such success can have on domestic sport and the enhanced international profile of Scotland as a result of the participation of a Scottish representative team; commends all members of the Scotland team for the remainder of the Games; and recognises the efforts of all athletes from throughout the Commonwealth to make the Games a success. |
| 1872 | CHRIS BAILLIE'S MEDAL FOR SCOTLAND IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Angus MacNeil | | Mr Alex Salmond | | Angus Robertson | | Pete Wishart | | Mr Mike Weir | | Stewart Hosie |
| That this House congratulates Chris Baillie on winning the silver medal in the 110 metre hurdles at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, noting in particular his achievement in the heats of breaking the Scottish national record in the event, previously held by his late brother, Ross; and looks forward to further success in track and field events for Scottish athletes before a home crowd when Glasgow secures the 2014 Games. |
| 1873 | PROTOCOL 5 OF THE CONVENTION ON CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS | 22:3:06 |
| Frank Cook | | Andrew George | | Harry Cohen | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Mike Weir | | Alan Simpson |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House recognises the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and is conscious of the need to minimise the risks and effects of ERW; notes the significant contribution made by the UK to date in post-conflict clearance of ERW but is deeply concerned that despite an assurance made by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces in April 2004 that the UK would aim to ratify Protocol 5 of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) by the end of 2004, the Protocol has still not been ratified; believes that the UK should be one of the first 20 nations to ratify Protocol 5 of the CCW to set an example to other state parties; and therefore calls upon the Government to ratify the Protocol at the earliest opportunity. |
| 1874 | TEST MATCH VICTORY | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Sadiq Khan | | Andrew George | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Derek Conway | | Peter Bottomley | | Tim Loughton |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House congratulates the England cricket team on its superb performance in the Third Test Match against India, achieving its first victory in the country since 1984-85; recognises that this result ensures that England remains second in the International Cricket Council Test rankings, which will act as an additional boost to the popularity of cricket in this country; and commends both teams involved in a thoroughly competitive series. |
| Jim Dobbin | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Andrew George | | Derek Conway | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | | | Mr Paul Truswell | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House notes that all major domestic energy suppliers have implemented significant consumer price increases in response to rising wholesale gas costs; further notes the recent European Commission report which found that anti-competitive practices by continental energy companies are keeping UK wholesale prices artificially high; welcomes the Government's commitment to ensure market abuses on the continent are tackled in order to bring prices down; further notes with concern that vulnerable people will be most affected by rising energy prices; and calls on all energy suppliers in the UK to follow the lead set by British Gas and EDF Energy to introduce social tariffs for their most vulnerable customers to mitigate the worst effects of recent rises. |
| 1876 | SEVERN TIDAL BARRAGE | 22:3:06 |
| Stephen Williams | | Martin Horwood | | Andrew George | | Peter Bottomley | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | Paul Flynn |
| That this House notes that the problem of global warming is the greatest environmental threat the world has ever seen; further notes that the long proposed Severn Tidal Barrage would generate an estimated six per cent. of the UK's current energy needs, leaving the UK less dependent on nuclear power, coal or foreign oil for energy production; further notes that the barrage would generate 2,000 MW of renewable, green energy per year, equivalent to three nuclear power stations, or 10 million tonnes of coal; further notes that the proposed barrage was blocked in previous decades primarily by environmental concerns in the estuary, but that those concerns pre-dated the realisation of the numerous and consequential environmental problems now faced from global warming, many of which would be countered by the barrage; and urges the Government to include a serious reappraisal of the barrage, including an environmental impact study, as part of its Energy Review. |
| 1877 | UK SWIMMERS AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 22:3:06 |
| Alison Seabeck | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Derek Conway | | Peter Bottomley | | Laura Moffatt | | Derek Wyatt |
| | John Austin | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Don Foster | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Ms Dari Taylor | Paul Flynn | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | Julia Goldsworthy | | | Meg Hillier | Ms Celia Barlow | Ms Diana R. Johnson | | | Stephen Hammond |
| That this House congratulates the swimming teams from the countries of the United Kingdom on their brilliant success, medal winning performances and personal best times at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia; and acknowledges the progress being made by swimmers, their clubs and coaches, as the 2012 Olympics approach. |
| 1878 | PENSIONER TRAVEL | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David S. Borrow | | Geraldine Smith | | Mr Mark Hendrick | | Rosie Cooper | | Alan Simpson |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | Kitty Ussher | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House notes with concern the inability of the 12 district authorities in Lancashire to reach an agreement so that pensioners can travel free on buses during off peak hours throughout Lancashire following the Government's scheme for free off peak bus travel within borough boundaries due to start this year; further notes the failure of Stagecoach to ensure that all buses are equipped with the necessary machinery for the new swipe card system by April, resulting in a delay in the implementation of free local bus travel for pensioners in Lancashire; pays tribute to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for announcing free off-peak national bus travel for all pensioners from 2008; and calls on the Government to work with the district authorities in Lancashire to ensure that reciprocal agreements are entered into and pensioners travel free across the county so that pensioners are not penalised for the next two years until the Chancellor's new national scheme is introduced. |
| 1879 | COUNCIL TAX ASSISTANCE FOR PENSIONERS | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Harry Cohen | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Martin Caton | | Mr David Drew |
| That this House warmly welcomes the Chancellor's Budget, which includes an extra £585 million for schools, free national bus travel for pensioners and increases in Child Tax Credit; calls on the Chancellor to look again at his decision not to provide assistance to pensioners to pay council tax bills, many of whom struggle on fixed incomes to pay the increases in their council tax; and calls on the Chancellor to re-introduce the £100 payment to all pensioners to assist them in paying their council tax. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Lindsay Hoyle's proposed Motion (Council Tax Assistance for Pensioners): |
| David Taylor | | Jim Dobbin | | Mark Durkan | | Paul Flynn | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| Line 5, leave out `£100' and insert `£200'. |
| 1880 | SUPPORT FOR SHORT SEA AND WATERWAY SHIPPING | 22:3:06 |
| Gwyn Prosser | | Mr Michael Howard | | Paul Rowen | | Derek Conway | | Peter Bottomley | | Alan Simpson |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Ken Purchase | | | Mr Bob Laxton | Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the Case for Water report by Sea and Water; acknowledges that Sea and Water call not for long-term subsidy for the water freight sector but a level playing field for all transport modes; recognises that the water freight industry makes a major contribution to the UK's economy, employs more than 200,000 people and has the potential to boost the employment of British seafarers and shore staff; notes that moving freight by water is environmentally sustainable and takes lorries off the congested road network; believes that, with proper political encouragement, the water freight sector can meet growing demand; acknowledges that the Government's proposed system of road pricing will enable the true cost of road freight transport to be paid, but that until this is instituted water freight should be supported and helped by easing the tortuous planning procedures; and calls on the Government to back the water freight industry with policies to develop and maintain the inland waterway network and allow the appropriate expansion of UK ports. |
| 1881 | PRIVATISATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | 22:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Harry Cohen | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | | | Chris McCafferty | Paul Flynn | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House expresses its concern at the proposals of the Defence Information Initiative to award the bulk of a £1 billion contract for the provision of IT support and infrastructure in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) without going through a full competitive tendering process or consideration of an in-house bid; notes that the major company within the ATLAS consortium is EDS, a company with a long history of failure in delivering public sector IT projects; believes that as the current MoD contract involves battlefield deployed and secret military IT systems any failure with these systems could have a devastating effect on UK military operations; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State to ensure that the rest of the contract specifically dealing with IT support is subject to a full risk analysis and full competitive tendering process, including consideration of an in-house option. |
| 1882 | ATTACKS ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE PHILIPPINES | 22:3:06 |
| Mr Neil Gerrard | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | Peter Bottomley | | Alan Simpson | | Mr Martin Caton | | Dr John Pugh |
| | Alan Keen | Dr Rudi Vis | John McDonnell | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr John Grogan | | | Chris McCafferty | Colin Burgon | Jon Trickett | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | Michael Connarty | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr John MacDougall | Jon Cruddas | | | Anne Moffat | Mr Dai Havard | Jim Sheridan | | | Rosie Cooper | Ms Katy Clark | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House notes with serious concern the detention of opposition politicians and trade union and community leaders during the recent State of Emergency declared by President Arroyo in the Philippines (Presidential Proclamation 1017); notes that many of those arrested remain in detention despite the lifting of the State of Emergency, and in particular Congress member Crispin Beltran, who is 73 years old and a long-time trade union leader and representative of workers and farmers in the Philippine Congress; notes with concern that five other members of the House of Representatives (Satur Ocampo, Teodor Casino, Joel Virador, Liza Maza and Rafael Mariano) are unable to leave the Congress building, which is surrounded by police under orders to arrest them, despite the fact that no judge has issued any arrest warrant; notes the rising number of disappearances and killings of trade union and community leaders in the Philippines, including Napoleon Pornasdoro, Secretary of the Teachers' Alliance in Southern Luzon, who was gunned down on 28th February, immediately after he criticised the government's proclamation of a State of Emergency; and urges the Government to express to President Arroyo and the government of the Philippines its deep concern at the ongoing attacks on human rights in the Philippines, the continued detention of Congressman Crispin Beltran, and the current harassment of senior opposition politicians. |
| 1883 | OFFSHORING OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACT JOBS IN NATIONAL SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS | 22:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Jim Cousins | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Dr Gavin Strang | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House is gravely concerned by the proposal by Siemens to offshore 240 Government contract jobs in National Savings and Investments (NS&I) to India; notes that this is the second proposal by Siemens to offshore NS&I work and that when the Government agreed the offshoring of 240 NS&I jobs in 2004 it did so on the basis that there would be no redundancies amongst the UK workforce, and on the agreement that the Minister retained his right to exercise a veto on any future proposals; further notes that the proposal would result in one-third of NS&I work being delivered from overseas and that the only rationale for the proposal is the far cheaper labour costs in India; believes that there will be no benefit to the Government or taxpayer; is concerned that if the Government agrees to this proposal it will be setting a dangerous precedent for public services for other Government contractors to offshore work; believes that this will have serious consequences for the service and the workforce; and therefore strongly urges the Government to veto this proposal. |
| 1884 | SALE OF FINANCIAL PRODUCTS | 22:3:06 |
| Lorely Burt | | Mr John Greenway | | Mr Andrew Love | | Derek Conway | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Mike Weir |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Paul Flynn | Stephen Williams | | | Lynne Featherstone |
| That this House recognises the importance of life insurance and protection products in helping families to cope financially with the loss of income following bereavement, ill-health or unemployment; acknowledges the need to ensure that when purchasing such products providers take into consideration the consumer's personal circumstances and the suitability of the product being sold; notes with growing concern the dramatic increase in recent years in the sale of life insurance and other protection products on a non-advised basis and the subsequent potential for large scale mis-buying; is concerned by the general lack of consumer awareness that purchasing such products without advice may restrict their ability to seek redress where products are later found to be unsuitable; and therefore calls on the Government to take action to require those selling without advice to act responsibly by making clear the possible limitations of their product in the context of the other options available, and posting clearer consumer warnings prior to the purchase of protection products highlighting the impact of non-advised sales on the level of consumer protection offered. |
| 1885 | ST GEORGE'S DAY | 23:3:06 |
| Rob Marris | | Bob Spink | | Mr John Leech | | David Taylor | | Derek Wyatt | | Mr Greg Knight |
| | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Martin Caton | | | Stephen Williams | Philip Davies |
| That this House believes that St. George's Day, 23rd April, should henceforth each year be a bank holiday in England. |
| 1886 | Mr ABDUL RAHMAN | 23:3:06 |
| Andrew Selous | | Mr Tom Harris | | Dr John Pugh | | Mr Desmond Swayne | | Mr Nigel Dodds | | Andrew Miller |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Mr Martin Caton | Jo Swinson | Mr David Burrowes | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House expresses its profound concern that Mr Abdul Rahman is facing the death penalty in Afghanistan after being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity; calls on the Afghan government to respect both its own constitution which guarantees its citizens' rights to choose their own faith and the international human rights treaties, which also guarantee this right which Afghanistan has signed; and calls on the Government to make immediate representation to the Afghan government on this matter, given the UK's significant financial and military support for Afghanistan. |
| 1887 | DEATH OF MARGARET EWING, MSP | 23:3:06 |
| Mr Alex Salmond | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Mr Tom Clarke | | Mrs Eleanor Laing | | Jo Swinson | | Angus Robertson |
| | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | Jeff Ennis | | | Paul Flynn | Mr Martin Caton | Miss Anne Begg | | | Michael Connarty | Dr Hywel Francis | David Simpson |
| That this House celebrates the lifetime achievements of Margaret Ewing, MSP for Moray and former Parliamentary Leader of the Scottish National Party; recognises her substantial contribution to parliamentary and public life; and expresses heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends. |
| 1888 | CARE OF OLDER PEOPLE | 23:3:06 |
| Joan Walley | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Roger Berry | | Mr Edward O'Hara | | Dr John Pugh |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Jeff Ennis | Chris McCafferty | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Dr William McCrea | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Stephen Williams | David Simpson | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the Channel 4 documentary series The Trouble with Old People, to be screened in the week of 27th March 2006, which tackles the issue of care for older people; is deeply concerned about the lack of community-based support to enable older people to stay at home; notes that two thirds of people living in care homes have dementia; calls on the Government to develop strategies for supporting vulnerable older people with dementia to live at home and to improve access to primary care services for people in long-term care; welcomes the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say on health and social care and its commitment to provide training for staff looking after people at the end of their lives; urges the Government to ensure that this commitment extends to training for those in care homes; further welcomes the Government's commitment in the White Paper to emergency respite for carers; and further calls on the Government to commit itself to a timetable for implementation of these policies as soon as possible and to ensure adequate funding. |
| 1889 | WORLD STOP TUBERCULOSIS DAY AND TUBERCULOSIS ALERT CAMPAIGN | 23:3:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | John Barrett | | Tony Baldry | | Bob Russell | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Chris McCafferty | Mr Paul Truswell | | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | Paul Flynn | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton | Michael Connarty | Dr William McCrea | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Ann McKechin | Jo Swinson | | | David Simpson | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes World Stop TB Day on 24th March 2006; congratulates TB Alert, on its campaigns to raise awareness of TB; further congratulates all other groups working to tackle this serious disease; notes that TB leads to 1.75 million deaths worldwide every year from a curable disease; welcomes the launch of the Global Ten Year Plan to Stop TB and endorses its aim to save 14 million lives by 2015; looks forward to major British contributions to achieving this aim; regrets that despite continuing developments in the diagnosis and treatment of TB, annual incidence in the UK has increased by 33 per cent. over the past decade; looks forward to the forthcoming guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on clinical diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom; and hopes that this document will provide accurate and comprehensive guidance, detailing the most advanced testing regimes available to health professionals. |
| 1890 | SCOTLAND'S AIRPORTS | 23:3:06 |
| John Barrett | | Mr Frank Doran | | Mr Ian Davidson | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Jim Sheridan | | Ann McKechin |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Jo Swinson | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House recognises the efforts being made to increase the number of international visitors to Scotland and acknowledges the importance of Scottish business in an increasingly global and competitive market; believes a key factor in achieving these aims is the provision of direct international flights to and from Scotland; and believes the effective branding and marketing of Scotland's international image is critical in attracting new international routes and new foreign visitors and that this work is supported by keeping Scotland's main airports named after the cities they serve, each of which has proud individual brands in its own right, brands that are recognised throughout the world. |
| 1891 | WORLD TB DAY AND THE GLOBAL PLAN TO STOP TB CAMPAIGN | 23:3:06 |
| John Barrett | | Mr Andrew Mitchell | | Keith Vaz | | Nick Herbert | | Bob Russell | | Bob Spink |
| | Kelvin Hopkins | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | Chris McCafferty | | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | Paul Flynn | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton | Ann McKechin | Stephen Williams | | | Jo Swinson | Mr Stewart Jackson | Lorely Burt | | | Stephen Hammond |
| That this House acknowledges in the run up to World TB day that each year nearly two million people die and nine million become sick with TB despite the disease being both preventable and curable; recognises that TB is a global pandemic and an emergency in Africa and Eastern Europe; further notes that TB is the biggest killer of people with HIV/AIDS; welcomes the launch of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006 to 2015 which if implemented will lead to 14 million more lives being saved over the next decade and Millennium Development Goal targets on TB being met; and calls upon the UK Government to contribute to the development and financing of the Global Plan. |
| 1892 | FAIRTRADE CAMPAIGN IN UNIVERSITIES | 23:3:06 |
| John Barrett | | Mark Lazarowicz | | Bob Russell | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Brian Iddon |
| | Kelvin Hopkins | Laura Moffatt | Dr Rudi Vis | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mr David Drew | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Ken Purchase | | | Jeff Ennis | Chris McCafferty | Mr Paul Truswell | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr David Hamilton | | | Stephen Williams | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House congratulates the National Union of Students Services Limited (NUSSL), the buying consortium for NUS affiliated students' unions, on its decision to become 100 per cent. Fairtrade for hot beverages subject to approval at the forthcoming NUSSL Annual General Meeting; supports moves by the National Union of Students (NUS) to encourage its entire membership to opt-in to Fairtrade status; recognises that Edinburgh University Students' Association along with others has submitted a motion to NUS Annual Conference supporting this move; notes that the motion will allow the NUS to encourage all student unions to embrace Fairtrade and ensure that the millions of students across the UK will drink Fairtrade products as the default in their unions; further recognises the importance of Fairtrade products for securing a fair deal for farmers in developing countries; and calls on the Government to continue to do all it can to support the continued growth of the Fairtrade market in the UK. |
| 1893 | PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT ON OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS | 23:3:06 |
| Mr David Laws | | Danny Alexander | | Sandra Gidley | | Jenny Willott | | Dr Vincent Cable | | Bob Spink |
| | Dr Evan Harris | Mr Don Foster | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mr Alan Beith | Paul Flynn | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Dr William McCrea | Mr Mike Weir | Stephen Williams | | | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone | Tim Farron | | | David Simpson | Willie Rennie |
| That this House notes the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recent report on occupational pensions; further notes the Ombudsman's conclusion that Government information on occupational pensions was `inaccurate, incomplete, unclear and inconsistent'; expresses its concern for all those who have lost their hard-earned pensions; and calls upon the Government to respond to the Ombudsman's clear recommendations and bring forward urgently proposals to offer reasonable compensation to those who have lost out. |
| 1894 | UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION | 23:3:06 |
| Ms Dari Taylor | | Dr Doug Naysmith | | Rob Marris | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr David Anderson | | Vera Baird |
| | Kelvin Hopkins | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | | | Chris McCafferty | Andrew Miller | Helen Jones | | | Paul Flynn | Mrs Betty Williams | Julie Morgan | | | Mr Martin Caton | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr Dai Havard | | | Mr Kevan Jones | Chris Bryant | Stephen Williams | | | Mr Jamie Reed | Ms Diana R. Johnson | Alison Seabeck | | | Mr Robert Flello |
| That this House applauds the success of the university sector; recognises the vital contribution universities make to economic, cultural and intellectual well-being; believes that the expansion of higher education has been generally a good thing for individuals and for society; supports the principle that all those who have the ability should have the right to access higher education; regrets that the opportunities and advantages arising from a university education are still not accessed equitably by students from poorer and less traditional backgrounds; rejects the proposition that growing numbers of those entering higher education are not, or will not, benefit from it; notes in particular that there will be an increased need to support opportunities to access higher education by mature full-time and part-time undergraduates as the number of 18 year olds declines after 2010; recognises that any policy which had reduction of participation in higher education as an objective would undermine individual opportunity, capacity for regional regeneration, innovation and the development of a professional and skilled workforce and would run directly counter to the expansionist higher education policies being pursued and funded by China and other emerging, competitor economies; and urges the Government to re-state the economic case for funding improved participation in higher education. |
| As an Amendment to Ms Dari Taylor's proposed Motion (University Participation): |
| Line 16, at the end add `; and looks forward to the day when tuition fees and top-up fees are abolished.'. |
| 1895 | TESTING THE NATION'S HEARTS CAMPAIGN | 23:3:06 |
| Mr Andrew Lansley | | Dr Doug Naysmith | | Steve Webb | | Mr David Amess | | Sandra Gidley | | Laura Moffatt |
| | Kelvin Hopkins | Dr Julian Lewis | Tim Loughton | | | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | Chris McCafferty | | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Dr William McCrea | | | Stephen Williams | Jo Swinson | David Simpson | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House is concerned that cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of death in the UK, killing more people than cancer and accounting for four out of 10 of all deaths; notes that raised cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease and that raised blood pressure is a major risk factor in strokes; further notes that the cost to the NHS in treating high cholesterol levels through lipid regulating drugs was £769 million in 2004 and that stroke cost the NHS over £2.8 billion in 2005; welcomes the efforts of HEART UK in raising awareness that everyone can benefit from knowing what they can do to reduce the risk of CVD; supports the charity's forthcoming Testing the Nation's Hearts campaign to undertake a major cholesterol and blood pressure testing and education programme across the UK; and calls on the Government to support this campaign to raise awareness of the risks of unhealthy levels of cholesterol and blood pressure among the general population together with the importance of primary prevention. |
| 1896 | COMMUNITY HOSPITALS ACTING NATIONALLY TOGETHER PARLIAMENTARY RALLY | 23:3:06 |
| Mr Boris Johnson [R] | | Mr Graham Stuart [R] | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Ann Winterton | | Mr Nigel Evans |
| | Dr Julian Lewis [R] | Tim Loughton | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | | Mr Stewart Jackson |
| That this House notes with concern that many community hospitals remain under threat of imminent closure; supports Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together's (CHANT) ongoing work in raising awareness of and campaigning against these closures; further and specifically supports the CHANT rally of Parliament being held on 28th March 2006; and calls on the Government to listen to local communities and save these vitally important hospitals. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1897 | DOUBLE SUMMER TIME | 23:3:06 |
| Mr Greg Hands | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | Mr Adrian Sanders | | Mr Greg Knight | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Robert Key | Chris McCafferty | | | Paul Flynn | Stephen Williams |
| That this House supports moving clocks forward an additional one hour in England and Wales to create a system of summer time/double summer time which could lead to a reduction in deaths and serious injuries of some 2,500 per annum, would create an extra hour's afternoon light every day for sports and outdoor activities of all kinds and would give relief from night time aircraft noise. |
| 1898 | MICHAEL GAULT AND UK SHOOTING SUCCESS AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 23:3:06 |
| Mr Martyn Jones | | Bill Wiggin | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr John Whittingdale |
| | Kate Hoey | David Taylor | Paddy Tipping | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Frank Cook | Mr Peter Atkinson | | | Mr Martin Caton | Dr William McCrea | Dr Hywel Francis | | | Philip Davies | David Simpson |
| That this House congratulates home nation medal winners in the shooting events at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; further congratulates Michael Gault on winning his 14th Commonwealth Games medal and becoming the UK's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete; further congratulates all members of the home nations' shooting teams; notes the continuing success that UK shooters have at major championships and the Olympic Games; recognises the important contribution that UK shooters will make at the 2012 Olympic Games in London; and supports responsible gun ownership. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Martyn Jones's proposed Motion (Michael Gault and UK Shooting Success at the Commonwealth Games): |
| Line 8, at end add `but is dismayed at the lack of honours the team has won despite its outstanding success over the last decade.'. |
| 1900 | NEW NATIONAL FEDERATION OF RETAIL NEWSAGENTS' CODE OF PRACTICE ON OFFENSIVE MATERIALS IN NEWSAGENTS | 27:3:06 |
| Ms Diane Abbott | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George | | Mark Durkan | | Jim Dobbin | | Lynne Jones |
| | Derek Wyatt | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Paul Flynn | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton | Mr Mike Weir | Lynne Featherstone | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the new code of conduct outlined by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) to prevent children being exposed to grown up titles in newsagents; notes that the new more elaborate guidelines relate not only to adult top-shelf titles but cover also what are known as `lads mags' as well as tabloids and other newspapers which carry images of women, along with written content which is potentially harmful not only to children but to gender equality issues in general; applauds the NFRN for being responsive to the growing number of consumer complaints relating to inappropriate display of `lads mags' and newspapers which contain degrading images of women; is concerned that the code remains entirely voluntary; and calls for the scrutiny of the implementation of this code of practice and for a statutory code to govern the display of offensive materials if adherence levels under voluntary arrangements are unsatisfactory. |
| 1901 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME (No. 2) | 27:3:06 |
| Derek Wyatt | | Bob Spink | | Mark Durkan | | Jim Dobbin | | Lynne Jones | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Paul Flynn | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House commends the Government for recognising the problem of occupational pension schemes in deficit by introducing the Pensions Protection Fund and the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS); notes that the FAS has an initial budget of £400 million; suggests that because this sum is to be used for approximately 85,000 employees and former employees in over 160 schemes the fund will have a substantial shortfall; and calls on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to bring forward a final payment solution that will remedy the issue as soon as possible. |
| As an Amendment to Derek Wyatt's proposed Motion (Financial Assistance Scheme (No. 2)): |
| David Taylor | | Mr David Drew |
| Line 6, after `shortfall;', insert `notes that, taking into account the costs of compensation, the total cost of the scheme over a 60 year period would be £100 million per year net present value;'. |
| 1902 | READING FOOTBALL CLUB AND THE PREMIER LEAGUE | 27:3:06 |
| Martin Salter | | Bob Russell | | Angela Eagle | | Stephen Pound | | Mr Stephen Hepburn | | Mr Richard Benyon |
| | Damian Green | Jonathan Shaw | Derek Wyatt | | | Laura Moffatt | Martin Linton | Alan Keen | | | Dr Rudi Vis | John McDonnell | Frank Dobson | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Kate Hoey | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Mr Adrian Bailey | Dr Nick Palmer | Mr John Grogan | | | Jeff Ennis | Andrew Miller | Mr Nigel Evans | | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | | | Dr William McCrea | Dr Hywel Francis | Mr Kevan Jones | | | Huw Irranca-Davies | Mr Shahid Malik | David Mundell | | | Mr Sadiq Khan | David Simpson | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House congratulates Reading Football Club on securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in its 135 year history in record breaking time which included a record run of 33 games without defeat; congratulates Club Chairman John Madejski, Manager Steve Coppell, Captain Graeme Murty and all the players and staff at Reading Football Club on their fantastic achievement; applauds the importance of the partnership between Reading Football Club and Reading Borough Council which helped deliver the Premiership quality Madejski Stadium vital for the Club's success; and looks forward to Reading FC achieving further success next season with victories against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. |
| 1903 | NEW VISION FOR CANCER DOCUMENT | 27:3:06 |
| Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr John Baron | | Sandra Gidley | | Dr Richard Taylor | | Bob Russell | | Andrew George |
| | Derek Wyatt | Tim Loughton | Dr Rudi Vis | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Colin Breed | | | Mr David Drew | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | | | Chris McCafferty | Sir Nicholas Winterton | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Dr William McCrea | | | Dr Hywel Francis | Stephen Williams | David Simpson |
| That this House supports the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer's New Vision for Cancer which can be seen at www.appg-cancer.org.uk; notes that improvements in cancer care have been realised thanks to recent increases in funding and to the dedicated work of NHS staff; nevertheless regrets that postcode prescribing remains a concern and that the UK lags behind other European countries when it comes to access to new cancer treatments; believes that a new, comprehensive, cross-departmental cancer strategy is urgently needed to bridge the gap between health and social care, and which will set enforceable national standards and entitlements to cover the entire patient journey; further believes that a New Vision for Cancer should educate professionals and the public, improve prevention diagnosis and treatment, and facilitate research into genetics, and the causes of, and treatments for cancer; and urges the Government to advance health policy to ensure this Vision becomes a reality. |
| 1904 | SCOTTISH COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM | 27:3:06 |
| Mr Angus MacNeil | | Pete Wishart | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Mike Weir |
| That this House congratulates the England Commonwealth Games team's tremendous success in finishing in second place; further congratulates Paul Bush and his Scottish Commonwealth Games team, who finished sixth overall in the medals table; notes that an amazing 18 per cent. of the Scottish team won medals, with 72 per cent. of the team finishing in the top eight or better; further notes that Scotland finished higher than 25 other nations who are entitled to compete in the Olympics; and further notes that if Scotland and England were to compete as independent teams in the Olympics, many more people could participate and win many more medals. |
| 1905 | 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISSION TO SEAFARERS | 27:3:06 |
| Mr Julian Brazier | | Chris Grayling | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Tim Loughton | | Gwyn Prosser | | Bob Russell |
| | Mr Gerald Howarth | Dr Julian Lewis | Derek Wyatt | | | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mr David Drew | Mr Ken Purchase | | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Mr Nigel Evans | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Dr William McCrea | Mr Mike Weir | | | Stephen Williams | Stephen Hammond | David Simpson | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House salutes the Mission to Seafarers in its 150th anniversary year; notes the many travails and traumas suffered on an increasingly regular basis by merchant seafarers and is especially concerned at the dramatic increase in piracy and crew abandonment on the high seas; commends the Mission and its chaplains for their sterling work looking after the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of seafarers, be they British or foreign, of any faith or none; recognises their efforts in improving the lot of seafarers through work at the United Nations, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Labour Organisation; and wishes them every success in the coming century. |
| 1906 | QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL GATESHEAD | 27:3:06 |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | John Cummings | | Lynne Jones | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Paul Flynn | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House congratulates the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead on being judged the third best hospital in the country in Saga's recent study of UK hospitals; notes that this was assessed on standards of quality of care, patient experience, staff numbers, infection control, handling of MRSA and waiting times; further notes that such national recognition is long-deserved for a hospital widely recognised in the North East as a standard-setter; and wishes it future success in further improving the health of the people of Gateshead and Washington. |
| 1907 | FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL PROBATION SERVICE | 27:3:06 |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Dr Ian Gibson | | David Taylor | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | Lynne Jones | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Colin Breed | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Ken Purchase | | | Jeff Ennis | Chris McCafferty | Mr Paul Truswell | | | Jim Dobbin | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Mr John Leech |
| That this House sees the privatisation of the National Probation Service in England and Wales as a fundamental misjudgement of the nature of its work; believes that it is likely to reduce the effectiveness of the service at the cost of communities; and further believes that instead the Government should ensure the service is properly funded in its current form. |
| 1908 | ENGLISH AS THE BUSINESS LANGUAGE OF EUROPE | 27:3:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Bob Spink | | John Cummings | | James Brokenshire | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Dr Rudi Vis | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mrs Janet Dean | Chris McCafferty | | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Stephen Williams |
| That this House welcomes the statement of Ernest-Antoine Seilliere at the Spring European Council that English is now the accepted language of business in Europe; notes that 70 per cent. of 18 to 24 year olds in Europe speak English; further notes that 83 per cent. of high school students in the European Union are learning English; hopes that President Chirac can be present for Mr Seilliere's next presentation on resisting national protectionism in Europe; and calls on the European Union to recognise the predominant position of English in such areas as establishing a European Patent Office. |
| 1909 | TURNER BEQUEST | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Bob Spink |
| That this House is concerned that the trustees of the National Gallery continue to disregard JMW Turner's intentions for his first art bequest to the nation with the consequence that they deprive the people of Great Britain of the opportunity to make this bequest a Royal Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II on her 80th Birthday as Champion of Humanity's Progress in Peace; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to intervene and require the National Gallery to display properly this crown jewel of Turner's output in time for HM the Queen's Birthday on 21st April; and to review and reform the Trustee system of the National Gallery which is unaccountable to the British people who own the art therein. |
| 1910 | MICROFINANCE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD | 28:3:06 |
| Keith Vaz | | Andrew George | | Mark Durkan | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr John Leech | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Martin Caton | Bob Spink | | | Mr Mike Weir | Stephen Williams | Jo Swinson |
| That this House supports the efforts of governments and non-governmental organisations in providing microfinance schemes to those living below the poverty line in the developing world; recognises that in order to become self-employed the poorest of the developing world lack the relatively tiny sums of investment capital required to start a business; further notes the recent report of the Microcredit Summit Campaign that in 2004 more than 66 million of the world's poorest people, 84 per cent. of them women, received tiny loans last year to start or expand micro businesses; and fully supports microfinance projects as effective and efficient schemes that tackle poverty, reduce the need for aid, empower women and spur development. |
| 1911 | READING FOOTBALL CLUB PROMOTION TO PREMIERSHIP | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Rob Wilson | | Mr Oliver Heald | | Mr Richard Benyon | | Angela Browning | | Damian Green | | Mr Andrew Mackay |
| | Mrs Theresa May | Mr Mike Hancock | Dr Rudi Vis |
| That this House congratulates Reading Football Club on its successful season, culminating in promotion to the Premiership; notes the massive contribution made by club Chairman John Madejski OBE and Manager Steve Coppell; and welcomes the anticipated boost to the town's profile and economy that Premiership football should bring. |
| 1913 | STATEMENT OF UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON IRANIAN BAHį'IS | 28:3:06 |
| Lembit Öpik | | Bob Russell | | Mark Durkan | | Mr John Leech | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Andrew George | Mr Adrian Sanders | | | Peter Luff | Mr Nigel Evans | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House expresses grave alarm at the news that Iran's military and intelligence apparatus are identifying and monitoring all of that country's Bahį'i minority, as revealed by a recent statement of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief; registers deepest concern at the mounting threat to the Bahį'i community, who have faced prolonged persecution; and urges Her Majesty's Government to seek immediate guarantees for the safety of the Bahį'is from the Iranian authorities. |
| 1914 | DEREGISTRATION OF WELSH LABOUR | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Adam Price | | Hywel Williams | | Mr Mike Weir |
| That this House notes the demise of Welsh Labour as an official unit of the Labour Party; further notes that the Electoral Commission does not recognise Welsh Labour as a distinct political unit; and is surprised that the leader of New Labour in Wales was not aware of the decision to scrap Welsh Labour. |
| 1915 | WELSH COMMONWEALTH TEAM | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | Adam Price | | Hywel Williams | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Mike Weir | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Mr Nigel Evans | Bob Spink | Dr Hywel Francis | | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House congratulates the Welsh Commonwealth Games team on their performance and success in Melbourne, especially the 18 medal winners, gold medallists David Davies, Michaela Breeze and Dave Phelps, silver medallists David Eaton, Julie Crane, Elizabeth Morgan, Robert Weale and Kevin Evans, and bronze medallists Nicola Cooke, Hayley Tullett, Beverley Jones, David Roberts, David Davies, Geraint Thomas, Gruffudd Morgan, David Phelps, Johanne Brekke and Jamie Cress; wishes them the best for the future; and congratulates all athletes and staff connected with the Welsh Commonwealth team. |
| 1916 | MASSACRE OF REPATRIATED SLOVENE SOLDIERS IN 1945 | 28:3:06 |
| John Austin | | Mr David Amess | | Adam Price | | Mr Paul Keetch | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Andrew George | Mr Nigel Evans | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | | Mr Martin Caton | Mr Mike Weir |
| That this House notes with regret that the repatriation of disarmed Slovene soldiers at the end of World War II against their wishes resulted in the summary execution of many by their political enemies in their home country; believes a mistake was made by the British authorities that resulted in the loss of some 12,000 lives; notes that this regrettable act, albeit at a time of some confusion and chaos in southern Austria in May 1945, has never been acknowledged publicly by the United Kingdom Government; believes that as a contribution to post-war reconciliation, it is time to be honest and open about this matter to Slovenia, which is now a partner in the EU and ally in NATO, contributing to peace-keeping efforts in many parts of the world and sharing common values of democracy and transparency; and calls on the Government and the Foreign Secretary officially to express their sincere regrets for this mistake, as they did to the relatives of those massacred at Srebrenica. |
| 1917 | BRITISH COUNCIL JOBS IN MANCHESTER | 28:3:06 |
| Mr John Leech | | Mr Martin Caton | | Jeff Ennis | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House notes with concern that the British Council is reported to be considering moving jobs from Manchester to London; recognises that this would be in stark contrast to the current trend of moving jobs from London out to the regions; and therefore calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in their discussions with the British Council to remind management of the benefits of retaining jobs in Manchester. |
| 1918 | 150th ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF WILLIAM MASSEY | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | | Mr Peter Robinson | | Mrs Iris Robinson | | Dr William McCrea | | Bob Spink |
| That this House notes the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Ferguson Massey, born in Limavady, Northern Ireland, on 26th March 1856; further notes that his familiy emigrated to New Zealand; recognises the outstanding acheivements of Massey, who became Prime Minsiter of New Zealand and remained so from 1912 untill his death in 1925; and warmly commends the fond memory of Massey which the peoples of Northern Ireland and New Zealand share. |
| 1919 | POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT (No. 3) | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Mike Weir | | Mark Durkan | | Mr John Leech | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | | John Cummings | | Andrew George |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Jeremy Corbyn | Bob Spink |
| That this House notes with concern that Citigroup, who operated the Post Office Card Account on behalf of the Post Office, indicated that they transferred the business to an alternative provider on 6th March before holders of such accounts were informed of the intention to do so; believes that such action undermines further confidence in the Post Office Card Account, coming after the revelation that the Department of Work and Pensions intends to remove support from the account in 2010; further believes that the Post Office Card Account is an important vehicle for many people, many of whom do not have access to a bank, and that its end will increase financial exclusion; and calls upon the Government urgently to review their policy on the account and to reverse the stance of the Department of Work and Pensions. |
| 1920 | HOPE NOT HATE TOUR | 28:3:06 |
| Jon Cruddas | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Rob Marris | | Keith Vaz | | Tony Lloyd | | Mr Robert N. Wareing |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Dr Ian Gibson | | | Dr Rudi Vis | Glenda Jackson | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Andrew George | Mr David Drew | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Ken Purchase | Jeff Ennis | | | Jim Dobbin | John Cummings | Mr Nicholas Brown | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Stephen Williams | | | Mr Ian Austin | Mr John Leech | Ms Katy Clark | | | Mark Durkan | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House congratulates the trade union movement for its continued work in combating the rising threat of racism and fascism, in both the workplace and the community; welcomes Billy Bragg's Hope not Hate tour, supported by Amicus, GMB, RMT and UNISON, together with Love Music Hate Racism, Unite Against Fascism, Searchlight and the Left Field; and fully supports the campaign's objectives of highlighting the dangerous, fascist and racist threat posed by the BNP, whilst noting that the tour will be hoping to portray a positive, anti-fascist and anti-racist message of Hope not Hate in various workplaces and communities, in towns and cities in the run up to the May local elections. |
| 1921 | SETTLEMENT OF EQUAL PAY CASES IN THE PRISON SERVICE | 28:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Julie Morgan | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Sandra Gidley | | Bob Russell |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Dr Ian Gibson | | | Dr Rudi Vis | Glenda Jackson | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jeremy Corbyn | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Bob Spink | | | Stephen Williams | Mr John Leech | Ms Katy Clark | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the settlement of over 3,000 equal pay cases of predominately female members of staff working in the Prison Service after seven years of litigation; pays tribute to the thousands of members of the Public and Commercial Services Union who work in prisons across the country in administrative, executive and support roles and congratulates them on their victory, which ensures they will receive equal pay regardless of gender; believes that closing the gender pay gap is a priority and more positive action from the Government needs to be taken in order to address this problem across all Civil Service departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies; urges the Government to lead by example to ensure comprehensive equal pay audits are completed in each Government department, agency and non-departmental public body to ensure public servants are paid equally, regardless of their gender; and further urges the Government to introduce class actions so as to end the unnecessary bureaucracy inherent in the Equal Pay Act, which requires each individual employee to submit a tribunal claim. |
| 1922 | BURTON HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | 28:3:06 |
| Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr Mark Todd | | Mr Brian Jenkins | | David Taylor | | Mr David Kidney | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle |
| | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | Mr Martin Caton | | | Dr Hywel Francis |
| That this House congratulates the Chairman, Chief Executive and staff at Queen's Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent for their hard work in reducing the projected deficit of the Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for the current financial year from a predicted £2.4 million last April, £1.2 million in October to a current projected deficit now of £500,000; condemns the misinformation contained in an article in the Daily Telegraph of 21st March 2006 in which a dossier of deficits compiled by the Conservative Party quoted the Burton Hospitals NHS Trust as having a predicted overspend of £31 million, asserting this to be £29,850,000 more than expected in September; recognises that the Conservative Party has admitted that there was a typing error but believes that the mistake caused considerable distress to everyone at Queen's Hospital, undermining the great progress the Trust has made over the past year. |
| 1923 | SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS (No. 2) | 28:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Gwyn Prosser | | John Austin | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Bob Russell | | Dr Rudi Vis |
| | Derek Wyatt | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Mr Robert N. Wareing | Mr Martin Caton | | | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House notes with regret that on 1st April 2006, South Eastern Trains, which is currently in the public sector, will be privatised; is deeply concerned that this will be the first outright privatisation of a train operating company under a Labour Government and that this is in contradiction to a Labour Party policy of an integrated, accountable and publicly-owned railway; believes that public ownership of the railway would provide a better deal for the passenger and tax payer; and believes that the privatisation of South Eastern Trains represents a missed opportunity to get the railways back on track. |
| 1924 | PUBLIC SERVICES | 28:3:06 |
| Michael Connarty | | Jon Cruddas | | Julie Morgan | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Colin Burgon |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Dr Ian Gibson | Dr Rudi Vis | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | Mrs Janet Dean | | | Mr Ken Purchase | Mr Dennis Skinner | Jim Dobbin | | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Mr Robert N. Wareing | John Cummings | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | Mr Mike Weir | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House expresses its concern at the increasing trend in Government for the privatisation of public services, including the promotion of contestability and outsourcing, which puts at risk the accountable and effective delivery of a wide range of public services and a large number of public sector jobs in health, education, the Civil Service, prisons and probation, defence, transport, fire safety and community services; and welcomes the launch of the Public Services Not Private Profit campaign, which brings together trade unions across the public sector, calling upon the Government to introduce a moratorium on privatisation and to engage in a constructive dialogue over how Government, local communities and the trade unions can work together to provide the high quality public services the country needs. |
| 1925 | ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL AND BRITON FERRY | 28:3:06 |
| Dr Hywel Francis [R] | | Mr Roger Williams | | Mr Stephen Crabb | | Hywel Williams | | Mr Martyn Jones | | Mrs Siān C. James |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr David Drew | Mr Ken Purchase | Mr Nigel Evans | | | John Cummings | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Martin Caton | | | Bob Spink | Stephen Williams | Mr John Leech | | | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the many celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the world's greatest engineers; congratulates volunteers in Briton Ferry who have campaigned to restore the Brunel Dock, its floating gate and tower as major features of a local regeneration project; notes that restoration work will soon begin thanks to funding mainly from the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council; and pays tribute to local schools and colleges for the celebrations they are planning in co-operation with the National Waterfront Museum and the Institute of Civil Engineers. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 1926 | HEALTH AND SAFETY (S.I., 2006, No. 557) | 28:3:06 |
| Mr David Cameron | | Chris Grayling | | Mr Julian Brazier | | Stephen Hammond | | Mr Owen Paterson | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin |
| | Dr Julian Lewis | Mr Nigel Evans | Bob Spink |
| That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority for Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 2006 (S.I., 2006, No. 557), dated 2nd March 2006, a copy of which was laid before this House on 9th March, be annulled. |
| 1927 | GRETNA FOOTBALL CLUB AND THE SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL | 28:3:06 |
| David Mundell | | Mr Angus MacNeil | | Mr Rob Wilson | | Jim Sheridan | | Mr Ben Wallace | | Mr Alistair Carmichael |
| | Dr Ian Gibson | Dr Rudi Vis | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Mr Mike Weir | Jo Swinson | | | Mr John Leech | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House congratulates Gretna Football Club on winning the Scottish Second Division Championship; wishes them well for their historic Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Saturday 1st April; congratulates a club which made its debut in senior football in 2002 and its owner Brooks Mileson, Chairman Ron MacGregor, Secretary Helen MacGregor, Manager Rowan Atkinson and all the players and staff at the club on their fantastic achievement; and looks forward to Gretna FC achieving further success next season. |
| 1928 | LAUNCH OF NATIONAL BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMME (No. 2) | 28:3:06 |
| Steve Webb | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mike Penning | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mark Durkan | | Mr John Leech |
| | Mr Mike Hancock | Derek Wyatt | Dr Rudi Vis | | | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | Andrew George | | | Mrs Janet Dean | Jeff Ennis | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Mr Martin Caton | Bob Spink | | | Philip Davies | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House notes that bowel cancer kills 16,000 people a year and is the second biggest cause of cancer death in the UK; observes that early screening reduces mortaility rates by about 15 per cent.; welcomes the Government's commitment to introduce a National Bowel Cancer Screening Programmme in April 2006, which will be the first NHS cancer screening programme in England for men as well as women; but is alarmed that no funding has yet been allocated despite the fact that it will then take another six months for services to be commissioned; notes the recent British Medical Journal editorial which stated that the NHS financial crisis is clearly the cause of the delay; and calls on the Government to ensure that the planned screening programme is begun without further delay and that the necessary funds are released as a matter of urgency. |
| 1929 | OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT ON OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS | 28:3:06 |
| Mr Philip Hammond | | Dr Liam Fox | | Mr Andrew Mitchell | | Mr Andrew Lansley | | Mr David Willetts | | Mrs Theresa May |
| | Mr Andrew Mackay | Dr Julian Lewis | Mr Mike Hancock | | | Sir John Butterfill | Robert Key | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | | Mr Nigel Evans | Bob Spink | Mr Mike Weir | | | Mr Stewart Jackson | Philip Davies |
| That this House condemns the Government's rejection of the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman's report Trusting in the Pensions Promise, which found the Government guilty of maladministration which misled thousands of people as to the security of their occupational pensions; further condemns the Government's use of an unsubstantiated figure of £15 billion as the cost of compensation to those identified by the Ombudsman's report, which is not discounted to reflect a net present value, and further wholly rejects the Welfare Reform Minister's incorrect calculation that this is equivalent to six pence on the basic rate of income tax; is critical of the Financial Assistance Scheme as it currently exists because of its limited scope and because only 27 people who have lost pensions and are eligible for help under the scheme have so far received any payment; and calls on the Government urgently to look at whether the Financial Assistance Scheme can be reconstructed to help a wider group of people who have suffered loss of pension rights through no fault of their own and to investigate the possible use of unclaimed assets to support the Financial Assistance Scheme. |
| 1930 | EXEMPTIONS FOR THE SPORT OF OLYMPIC PISTOL SHOOTING | 28:3:06 |
| Kate Hoey | | Mr Martyn Jones | | Mr Peter Atkinson | | Mr Roger Williams | | Frank Cook | | Mr Andrew Mackay |
| | Derek Wyatt | Robert Key | Paddy Tipping | | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | Bob Spink | Stephen Williams | | | Philip Davies |
| That this House recognises the importance of the success of Michael Gault in the pistol shooting events in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne; and conscious of the fact that most of his training and that of other world-class pistol shooters has had to take place outside Great Britain due to the gun laws; calls on the Home Secretary to exempt the sport of Olympic pistol shooting from the handgun ban to allow athletes for the London Olympics to train at home. |
| 1931 | BLUE PETER BADGES AND INTERNET AUCTION SITES | 29:3:06 |
| John Barrett | | Andrew George |
| That this House recognises the importance and value of Blue Peter badges in this country; notes that these badges entitle the recipient to free entry to over 200 UK events and attractions; believes that such badges should be earned, not bought or sold; expresses concern that unscrupulous buying and selling of these badges on internet auction sites serves to devalue their status; regrets that visitor attractions such as Edinburgh Zoo have been forced to abandon free visits for badge holders due to misuse and subsequent financial loss; and calls on internet auction sites to take action to prohibit the selling of these badges online. |
| 1932 | CITIZENS' PENSION | 29:3:06 |
| That this House welcomes the report from the Pensions Policy Institute calling for a flat rate pension to lift pensioners out of poverty and for reform of the current system of tax relief on private pensions; notes that the Turner Commission and the Government in its initial response specifically ruled out reform of tax relief; and believes that this stance is misguided and that reform of the current unfair system of tax relief is essential and would provide much of the funding required to introduce a Citizens' Pension for all pensioners. |
| 1933 | BLUE BADGE PARKING PERMITS | 29:3:06 |
| Mr Robert Flello | | Charlotte Atkins | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr Iain Wright | | Joan Walley | | Mr Brian Jenkins |
| | Dr Tony Wright | Mr Khalid Mahmood | Paul Farrelly |
| That this House notes with concern that local authorities can effectively write their own rules regarding the display in vehicles of the blue badge disability parking permits; notes that this can lead to a disparity between different parts of the UK; calls upon the Government to bring about national mandatory rules for parking permit display that are clear and unambiguous; and further calls on the Government to require local authorities to train parking attendants fully and ensure they actively look for permits. |
| 1934 | CHASE FARM HOSPITAL | 29:3:06 |
| Mr David Burrowes | | Mr Charles Walker | | Mrs Theresa Villiers | | Mr Andrew Love |
| That this House opposes the proposal by the Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust to dismantle Chase Farm Hospital's Accident and Emergency department which ignores the overwhelming public opposition in the Boroughs of Enfield, Barnet and Broxbourne to such a proposal; notes the worrying consequences of the proposed transfer of Chase Farm's Women and Children's Unit to Barnet; commends the hard work and dedication of hospital staff and volunteers; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Health to urgently review the proposals and restore a commitment to locally delivered accessible healthcare. |
| 1935 | NATIONAL DEPRESSION WEEK | 29:3:06 |
| Mr Andrew Lansley | | Tim Loughton | | Mr Stephen O'Brien | | Mr John Baron | | Dr Andrew Murrison | | Mr Crispin Blunt |
| That this House congratulates the Depression Alliance on their organisation of National Depression Week which runs from 17th to 23rd April this year; notes that more than 2.9 million people in the UK are diagnosed as having depression at any one time and that one in five people will be affected by depression at some point in their lives; further congratulates the Depression Alliance for arranging a series of events during National Depression Week which aim to increase awareness of depression; supports the decision by the Depression Alliance to theme this year's National Depression Week around the availability of complementary therapies; agrees with the Depression Alliance that those suffering from depression would often benefit from access to complementary therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, nutritional advice and exercise; further notes that the waiting lists for many alternative therapies are unacceptably long and that the number of people suffering from depression is rising; and believes that urgent action is needed to ensure that all people suffering from mental illness receive the treatment best fitted to their personal circumstances. |
| 1936 | BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF IK BRUNEL | 29:3:06 |
| Stephen Williams | | Jenny Willott | | Kerry McCarthy | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Andrew George |
| That this House notes the bicentenary of the birth on 9th April 1806 of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel; acknowledges that much of Brunel's work endures to this day, most notably the line of the Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, the extension of the line to Cornwall including the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar and the Taff Vale Railway from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare; further notes that the greatest concentration of Brunel's achievements was in the City of Bristol where he designed the Clifton Suspension Bridge and built the world's first iron-clad propeller-driven ocean-going liner, the SS Great Britain; further notes that Bristol plans a series of commemorative events throughout 2006; and recognises that the achievements of Brunel in the 19th century stand as an inspiration to the engineers and designers of today. |
| 1937 | UK SUPERMARKETS AND CANADIAN FISH AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS | 29:3:06 |
| Mr David Drew | | Judy Mallaber | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Mr David Amess | | Norman Baker |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Bob Russell | Mr Andrew Love | | | John Austin | Dr Rudi Vis | Mr Andrew Dismore | | | Jim Dowd | Andrew George | Charlotte Atkins | | | Richard Burden | Mr Alan Meale | Mike Wood | | | Mr Paul Truswell | Andrew Miller | Mr David Chaytor | | | Tony Lloyd | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Frank Cook | | | Paul Flynn | Mrs Betty Williams | Julie Morgan | | | Mark Tami | Mrs Linda Riordan | Rosie Cooper |
| That this House notes with grave concern the Canadian government's decision to increase the quota of seal pups to be killed in this year's commercial seal hunt on Canada's east coast to 325,000; expresses its revulsion at the unacceptable cruelty of the hunt; recognises the damage it is doing to Canada's international reputation; notes the Respect for Animals campaign, spearheaded by Sally Banks (Lady Stratford) the widow of the late Tony Banks (Lord Stratford) urging UK supermarkets and consumers to boycott Canadian fish and seafood products; believes that a boycott of those Canadian products will be popular with consumers and the wider British public, who are overwhelmingly opposed to this vicious hunt; notes that such a boycott would send the strongest economic signal to Canada that the hunt must stop; reiterates its call on the UK Government to prohibit the import of all seal products into the UK; and urges UK supermarket chains to boycott Canadian fish and seafood imports until the hunt is brought to an end. |
| 1938 | SCALDING INJURIES FROM HOT BATH WATER | 29:3:06 |
| Mary Creagh | | Mrs Siān C. James | | Dr Alasdair McDonnell | | Mr Robert Walter | | Mr Stewart Jackson | | Sandra Gidley |
| | Kelvin Hopkins | John Bercow | David Lepper | | | Norman Baker | Bob Russell | Mr Mike Hancock | | | Peter Bottomley | Mr Anthony Wright | Dr Ian Gibson | | | Ann Keen | Tom Brake | John Austin | | | Alan Keen | Mr Andrew Dismore | Jeremy Corbyn | | | Harry Cohen | Andrew George | Mr Brian Jenkins | | | Mr Bill Olner | Steve McCabe | Lynne Jones | | | Jeff Ennis | Colin Burgon | Jon Trickett | | | Mrs Ann Cryer | Mr Paul Truswell | Ann Winterton | | | Mr David Chaytor | Jim Dobbin | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | Mrs Betty Williams | Miss Anne Begg | | | Mr Brian H. Donohoe | Mr John McFall | Michael Connarty | | | Dr William McCrea | John Smith | Bob Spink | | | Mr Mike Weir | Mr Gregory Campbell | Annette Brooke | | | Mr Kevan Jones | Vera Baird | Dr John Pugh | | | Albert Owen | Mrs Madeleine Moon | Kitty Ussher | | | Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods | Natascha Engel | Mr Ian Austin | | | Mrs Sharon Hodgson | Ms Diana R. Johnson | Rosie Cooper | | | Mr John Leech | Jessica Morden | Sarah McCarthy-Fry | | | Mr Robert Goodwill | Lynda Waltho | Mr Sadiq Khan | | | Barbara Keeley | Mark Durkan | David Simpson | | | Mark Hunter | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House notes that every day a child under five years is admitted to hospital with serious injuries resulting from scalding hot bath water, that scalding hot bath water kills 20 people a year, three-quarters of whom are pensioners and that scalding disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society; therefore welcomes the introduction with cross-party support of the Prevention of Scalding Injuries (Bathing in the Home) Bill by the hon. Member for Wakefield; further notes that this Bill is supported through the Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign by Age Concern, the British Burns Association, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the Children's Fire and Burn Trust, Help the Aged and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents; and further notes that this Bill would require a change to the building regulations so that thermostatic mixing valves are installed as standard to regulate the temperature of bath water to a maximum of 48 degrees centigrade, that this temperature would protect those most vulnerable in society but enable everyone to continue to enjoy safe hot baths and that the Scottish Parliament has implemented new regulations to this effect which come into force in May. |
| 1939 | GAMBLING ADDICTION | 29:3:06 |
| John Penrose | | Mrs Joan Humble | | Jenny Willott | | James Brokenshire | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Andrew George |
| | Bob Russell | Stephen Williams |
| That this House recognises and is concerned by the damage through debt and family breakdown that gambling addiction causes in all parts of society; is particularly concerned about the potential for children to become gambling addicts if gambling is not conducted in a responsible and controlled fashion; applauds the work of Gamblers Anonymous, the Responsibility in Gambling Trusts, and others in helping compulsive gamblers to conquer their addiction; and calls on the Government, through the Gambling Commission, to work with the gambling industry to initiate a public information campaign about gambling addiction of the kind which has run successfully in countries such as South Africa, to establish a momentum behind efforts to reduce the number of gambling addicts in the UK as the Gambling Act comes fully into force. |
| 1940 | PUBLIC SERVICES NOT PRIVATE PROFIT CAMPAIGN | 29:3:06 |
| John McDonnell | | Michael Connarty | | Jon Cruddas | | Julie Morgan | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Mrs Joan Humble |
| | Bob Russell | Glenda Jackson | Kate Hoey | | | Mr David Drew | Mark Fisher | Clare Short | | | David Taylor | Alan Simpson | Mr Austin Mitchell | | | Mr Michael Clapham | Chris McCafferty | Colin Burgon | | | Jon Trickett | Jim Cousins | Paul Flynn | | | Mrs Betty Williams |
| That this House expresses concern at the increasing trend in Government for the privatisation of public services, including the promotion of contestability and outsourcing, which puts at risk the accountable and effective delivery of a wide range of public services and a large number of public sector jobs in health, education, the Civil Service, prisons and probation, postal services, public service broadcasting, defence, transport, fire safety and community services; and welcomes the launch of the Public Services Not Private Profit campaign, which brings together trade unions across the public sector, calling upon the Government to introduce a moratorium on privatisation and to engage in a constructive dialogue over how Government, local communities and the trade unions can work together to provide the high quality public services our country needs. |
| 1941 | IMPROVING PAYMENT PRACTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY | 29:3:06 |
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas | | Mr John Spellar | | Tony Baldry | | Richard Younger-Ross |
| That this House believes that security of payment in the construction industry especially for small and medium-sized businesses is a prerequisite to achieving trust and collaboration in the industry; therefore, urges the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to use the opportunity presented by the current review of Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, initiated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to amend the Act to ensure that there is a statutory mechanism for defining the amount to be paid at the date for payment, that all conditional payment provisions and cross contract set-off are outlawed, that progress payments start from commencement of contract and that the Act provides effective protection for firms in the supply chain from `upstream' insolvencies; and believes that payment security will be a major factor in the successful delivery of the construction projects for the 2012 London Olympics. |
| 1942 | SINGLE FARM PAYMENT | 29:3:06 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Andrew George |
| That this House notes with concern that many farmers in England have not received their entitlement under the Single Farm Payment Scheme; further notes that farmers in Scotland and Wales have been paid while farmers in England continue to struggle without the money that they are owed; and calls on the Government to provide farmers with interim payments as a matter of urgency with farmers being granted a compensation payment for the period of delay. |
| 1943 | MR DAVID BEATTIE'S SHOOTING MEDAL IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES | 29:3:06 |
| David Simpson | | Dr William McCrea | | Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Sammy Wilson |
| That this House congratulates Mr David Beattie of Portadown, Co. Armagh on winning the silver medal in the shooting competitions at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. |
| 1944 | PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY OF EU LEGISLATION | 29:3:06 |
| That this House notes that in the combined 2003-04 and 2004-05 parliamentary sessions only eight hours thirty minutes was spent in this House on considering EU documents, out of 1,746 hours available; further notes that other national parliaments in the European Union have established closer structural links with their counterparts in the European Parliament; recognises that European politics can no longer be considered in isolation from the business of the House; and calls on all political parties to look at ways to better scrutinise European legislation. |
| 1945 | PAID LEAVE FOR ALL OFFSHORE WORKERS | 29:3:06 |
| Geraldine Smith | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Kevan Jones | | Jim Dobbin | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr Bob Laxton |
| That this House notes that the working time regulations Horizontal Amended Directive came into effect in August 2003 which extended the provision for four weeks' paid leave for offshore workers for the first time; is concerned that employers argue that the Directive does not apply beyond territorial waters, a 12-mile radius from the coastline, which accounts for about 99 per cent. of offshore installations; and calls on the Government to clarify or amend the legislation to ensure that all offshore workers enjoy paid leave. |
| 1946 | INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE IRAQ WAR | 29:3:06 |
| Alan Simpson | | John McDonnell | | Mr Robert N. Wareing | | Ms Diane Abbott | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Dr Ian Gibson |
| | Mr Robert Marshall-Andrews |
| That this House notes that Office of the United Nations Secretary General, in reply to detailed evidence submitted to him asking for an inquiry into breaches of the United Nations Charter, the Hague and Geneva Conventions and the 1945 Nuremberg Charter during the war against Iraq, has replied to say that the matters raised `are of extremely serious concern' and has referred the matter to the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights; and calls for the appointment of a Select Committee to examine this evidence and report to the House as soon as possible. |
| 1947 | SOLAR PYRAMID IN STAVELEY | 29:3:06 |
| Natascha Engel | | Lembit Öpik | | Tom Levitt | | Mr Nick Clegg | | Mr Mark Todd | | Judy Mallaber |
| | Martin Salter | Michael Jabez Foster | Andrew Mackinlay | | | Mr Mike Hancock | Jonathan Shaw | Gwyn Prosser | | | Paul Clark | Derek Wyatt | Martin Linton | | | Tom Brake | Stephen Pound | Mr Andrew Love | | | Ms Diane Abbott | Mr Andrew Dismore | Frank Dobson | | | Harry Cohen | Kate Hoey | Roger Berry | | | Mr David Drew | Mr David Winnick | Mr Adrian Bailey | | | Mr Dennis Skinner | Mr Bob Laxton | Liz Blackman | | | Mr Patrick McLoughlin | David Taylor | Mr Graham Allen | | | Jeff Ennis | Mr Michael Clapham | Mr Terry Rooney | | | Mr David Crausby | Dr Brian Iddon | Jim Dobbin | | | Mrs Joan Humble | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | Mr Gordon Prentice | | | Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas | Mr George Howarth | Ms Dari Taylor | | | Mr Chris Mullin | Chris Ruane | Paul Flynn | | | Mr Elfyn Llwyd | Miss Anne Begg | Mr Eddie McGrady | | | Mark Tami | Mr John MacDougall | Jon Cruddas | | | Mr Tom Harris | Vera Baird | Huw Irranca-Davies | | | Mr Iain Wright | Mr David Anderson | Kerry McCarthy | | | Stephen Williams | Kitty Ussher | Jenny Willott | | | Edward Miliband | Jo Swinson | Lynne Featherstone | | | Ms Diana R. Johnson | Danny Alexander | Greg Mulholland | | | Jessica Morden | Ed Balls | Mr Sadiq Khan | | | Mary Creagh | Barbara Keeley | Mr Jim Devine |
| That this House welcomes the construction of the Solar Pyramid in Staveley, a sundial that will be the UK's largest public work of art and the world's largest timepiece; is certain that it will be a landmark regeneration project of national and international significance; recognises that it will be a powerful stimulus to and symbol of the economic, cultural and scientific renaissance of the UK's former coal and steel heartland; and wishes the project every success. |
| 1948 | NUCLEAR, THE RIGHT ANSWER CAMPAIGN | 29:3:06 |
| Michael Connarty | | Andrew Miller | | Anne Moffat | | Mr John Spellar | | Mr Russell Brown | | Mr Jamie Reed |
| | Mr John MacDougall | Jim Sheridan |
| That this House notes the lobby of Parliament by 60 representatives of the 60,000 employees from the UK's 12 nuclear electricity generating sites who put the case for Nuclear, The Right Answer; accepts that their sites generate 20 per cent. of the UK's energy needs and that the nuclear contribution has been allowed to fall from 28 per cent. thereby increasing dependence on climate damaging carbon-based fuels; further notes that the UK is failing to meet the target it set for carbon dioxide emission reductions and has been economically damaged by spiralling prices for oil and gas; recognises that increasing nuclear electricity generation could assist in reducing climate change as it does not contribute to carbon dioxide emissions and could assist with problems of security of energy supply in a time of growing energy demand in the UK and worldwide; and calls on the Government to recognise these facts in its Energy Review and to ensure that it puts in place policies that would facilitate a programme of new replacement nuclear power stations as a necessary contribution to the UK's long-term energy requirements. |
| 1949 | PAYMENTS BY RESULTS TARIFF | 29:3:06 |
| Rosie Cooper | | Helen Jones | | Mrs Sharon Hodgson | | Ms Celia Barlow | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle |
| | Mrs Ann Cryer | Andrew Miller | Geraldine Smith | | | Angela Eagle | Mrs Betty Williams | Julie Morgan | | | Meg Hillier |
| That this House recognises that under the current Payment by Results Tariff arrangements, which are underpinned by the market forces factor adjustment, NHS trusts with newly or recently built facilities are unfairly penalised by only attracting an allocation based on average overhead costs; and, in order to avoid financially penalising clinically efficient, clean and modern facilities in favour of low cost inefficient provision, calls upon the Secretary of State for Health to correct this wholly unfair anomaly by adjusting funding allocations to such compromised NHS trusts. |
NAME WITHDRAWN
| John McDonnell has withdrawn his name. |
NOTICE OF MOTION WITHDRAWN
| 1899 | | SCALDING INJURIES FROM HOT BATH WATER No 1: |
| Mr Stewart Jackson has withdrawn his motion. |
|
