| 4 | USE OF ANIMALS TO TEST FOOD ADDITIVES | 6:11:07 |
| Bob Russell | | Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Kerry McCarthy | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr David Drew | | Andrew George |
| | Mr Paul Burstow | Susan Kramer | Lyn Brown |
| That this House notes that the Home Office's Statistics for Scientific Procedures on Living Animals for 2006 recorded a 368.4 per cent. rise in the number of animals used to test food additives, from 862 animals in 2005 to 4,038 animals in 2006; is concerned at the Written Answer of 11th October 2007 that states that these animals are being used to test ingredients such as stabilisers, sweeteners, colorants and flavouring agents; further notes that the 2006 statistics also recorded a 30.2 per cent. rise in the number of animals used for the purposes of other foodstuffs, from 5,742 animals in 2005 to 7,477 animals in 2006; and calls on the Government to back the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection's call to stop granting licences for experiments on animals for the purpose of testing food additives and other foodstuffs as a matter of urgency. |
| 74 | OMBUDSMAN AND SUFFERING IN ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS | 6:11:07 |
| Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr David Drew | | Paul Flynn | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Bill Etherington | | John McDonnell |
| That this House notes the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's (PHSO) investigation report PA-2823, which rejects Uncaged's complaint against the Home Office's regulation of Imutran's pig-to-primate organ transplant research, laid before Parliament in December 2006; further notes that Uncaged won a legal battle having asserted Home Office maladministration in this case; further notes that at least 17 primates used in Imutran procedures categorised as of only moderate severity were found dead or in a collapsed state, rather than being euthanased before they suffered a significant departure from their health as required by the moderate severity limit according to published policy; is deeply concerned at the PHSO's erroneous reasoning at paragraph 13, which confuses the degree of harm caused by death in itself with the level of harm involved in this case where the experiments were allowed to continue until the animal is found dead as a direct result of the experiment; notes that the PHSO has repeatedly refused to respond substantively to Uncaged's expert submissions regarding this unsound reasoning; and asks the Government to establish an independent inquiry into the numerous significant outstanding concerns regarding the regulation of this research programme in the light of PHSO's flawed investigation. |
| 88 | LAND RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE | 6:11:07 |
| Martin Horwood | | Dr Evan Harris | | Mr Adrian Sanders | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Mike Weir |
| That this House welcomes the Government's support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in September 2007, as well as its acknowledgement at that time that `indigenous peoples have suffered many historic injustices and continue to be amongst the poorest and most marginalised peoples of the world'; believes that these injustices will be brought to an end and their poverty alleviated only if the land rights of indigenous peoples are recognised and respected; further believes that a major step forward in achieving this is International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Tribal and Indigenous Peoples, which puts those rights on a firm legal footing; regrets the Government's current refusal to ratify the Convention on the ground that there are no indigenous people in the UK; notes that this has not prevented other European countries like Spain and the Netherlands from ratifying the Convention; recognises that it is particularly important for the UK to do so because British interests are often involved in overseas projects which affect the lives of these peoples; and calls upon the Government to ratify Convention 169 without further delay. |
| 114 | PALESTINIAN OLIVE GROVES | 7:11:07 |
| Mr Mike Weir | | Andrew George | | Peter Bottomley | | Tom Brake | | Andrew Stunell | | Mr Colin Breed |
| That this House notes that olive groves are an important part of the Palestinian economy; further notes that the separation wall currently being constructed by Israel separates many Palestinian farmers from their olive groves and that the United Nations has stated that one million trees will be inaccessible or access restricted behind the barrier once the route is completed; recognises that economic progress is vital for peace; and calls upon the Government to make strong representations to the government of Israel to allow Palestinian farmers full access to their olive groves. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Mike Weir's proposed Motion (Palestinian Olive Groves): |
| Line 4, after `completed', insert `further recognises that security measures of Jewish settlements prevent Palestinian farmers collecting their olives and other crops in all parts of the West Bank.'. |
| 118 | MICROGENERATION TARGETS | 7:11:07 |
| Mr David Drew | | Colin Challen | | Mr Mike Weir | | Chris Huhne | | Andrew George | | Peter Bottomley |
| | Mr Mark Oaten | Mr Michael Fallon | Mr Adrian Sanders | | | Joan Walley | Mr John Grogan | Andrew Stunell | | | Mr Ian McCartney | Mr Russell Brown | Mark Hunter |
| That this House notes the passing of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006; further notes the importance of setting targets for microgeneration in order to achieve reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide, as specified in section 4 of the Act; emphasises the views of the industry, that targets are crucial to secure investor confidence in order to train installers, establish mass market delivery channels and obtain funding for large scale investment in mass production; further notes that such developments will reduce the cost of microgeneration technologies, thereby ensuring a shorter pay-back period for customers and enabling microgeneration to move from a niche market to a mass market product and further contribute to reducing climate change at no cost to the public purse; and urges the Government to work in conjunction with industry in order to set a challenging but achievable target within the timescale required by the Act. |
| 119 | EVENTS IN ARMENIA BETWEEN 1915 AND 1923 | 7:11:07 |
| Andrew George | | Mr David Drew | | Dr Rudi Vis | | John Bercow | | Kelvin Hopkins | | Mrs Betty Williams |
| That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians and over half a million Assyrians between 1915 and 1923 was an act of genocide; further believes that it is in the long-term interests of those countries involved to acknowledge this; and calls upon the Government to join others in formally recognising these events as constituting genocide. |
| John Hemming | | Mr Dai Davies | | Mr Colin Breed | | Sandra Gidley | | Kate Hoey | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| That this House regrets the Government's proposals to retain secrecy within the family courts; believes that this secrecy permeates bad practice throughout the whole system of children services; feels that it is possible to protect the identity of the child while allowing parents to talk and seek advice publicly about their treatment in the family courts, and that professional witnesses should be uniquely identified to monitor consistency; further believes that every case should have an anonymised judgement handed to the parents that they can discuss publicly; and calls on the Government to recognise that there are very serious problems in the system that have been postponed rather than resolved by the limited proposals contained within the consultation document. |
| Mr James Paice | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Bill Wiggin | | Gregory Barker | | Miss Anne McIntosh | | Mr Richard Benyon |
| That this House notes with concern that carbon dioxide emissions from food transport for UK consumption increased by five per cent. last year; further notes that imports by air increased by 31 per cent. in 2006, equivalent to 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide; believes that the British farming industry and British consumers can play a key role in reducing food miles; calls on the Government to facilitate this by introducing country of origin food labelling; and urges public bodies to do everything they can within EU rules to source food for schools, hospitals and other public institutions locally. |
| 157 | EU 20 PER CENT. RENEWABLES TARGET BY 2020 | 8:11:07 |
| Colin Challen | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Chris McCafferty | | Kelvin Hopkins | | David Taylor |
| That this House welcomes the new EU target of 20 per cent. renewables as a proportion of total energy by 2020; notes that the United Kingdom currently delivers 1.75 per cent. total energy from renewables, the lowest percentage in Europe apart from Luxembourg and Malta; further notes that the EU average is 7 per cent., with countries like Denmark on 16.21 per cent. demonstrating that renewables output can be doubled in a single decade; urges the Government to adopt a more ambitious approach to the United Kingdom's exceptional renewable resources, making use of the United Kingdom's considerable engineering and academic expertise; further recognises that the United Kingdom is the second largest economy in Europe, and the world's fifth biggest economy and sixth biggest manufacturing economy, and therefore has the knowledge and resources to deliver a step change in the delivery of renewable energy, creating significant employment and export opportunities; further urges the Government to offer strong leadership on United Kingdom renewables and to adopt a positive approach to EU negotiations on the EU target to achieve an outcome which supports the rapid expansion of renewable energy in the United Kingdom; and urges the Government to adopt the Renewable Energy Association and British Wind Energy Association's call for a 2020 Renewable Taskforce to ensure that Government works in partnership with key industries and the energy regulator to deliver as close to 20 per cent. renewables by 2020 as possible. |
| Ms Katy Clark | | Mr Jim Devine | | Tom Brake | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Bob Spink | | John McDonnell |
| That this House notes that over a year has passed since the Christmas saving company Farepak collapsed; further notes that the collapse forced many families into the arms of debt lenders who charge extortionate rates of interest; believes that the victims of Farepak are entitled to justice and that those responsible for the Farepak collapse should be held accountable for their actions; notes that many of the innocent victims of the Farepak collapse have not received any compensation; believes that compensation must now be made available; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to ensure that a Farepak-style collapse cannot happen again and for the Government to publish the report into the collapse of Farepak. |
| 212 | LOST OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS | 12:11:07 |
| Mr Nigel Waterson | | Chris Grayling | | Mr James Clappison | | Andrew Selous | | Mr Mark Harper | | Peter Bottomley |
| That this House expresses its deep concern about the continued distress of all those affected by the loss of their occupational pensions on wind-up; notes the reports from both the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Public Administration Select Committee which identify the need for the Government to take the lead in putting together an effective rescue package, as well as the judgment of the High Court; is concerned that the measures introduced so far have been unacceptably slow to deliver relief to the intended beneficiaries and are heavily constrained by the limits on the level of funding available; and therefore calls on the Government to reconsider its opposition and introduce as a matter of urgency a Lifeboat Fund which will combine non-taxpayer sources of additional funding, such as unclaimed financial assets, with taxpayer-funded sources already committed, so as to deliver a more generous and expeditious package of help to those devastated by occupational scheme failures than that available under the failing Financial Assistance Scheme, thus helping to restore trust and confidence in the entire pension system. |
| 218 | CAMPAIGN MEDAL FOR BOMBER COMMAND | 13:11:07 |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | | David Lepper | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House considers that it is more than time that a campaign medal should be issued for those who served in Bomber Command between 1940 and victory in 1945; recognises the enormous achievement of Bomber Command's volunteer pilots' air crew in crippling the Nazi war machine and paving the way for the 1944 invasion of Europe, in the course of which Bomber Command lost 1,500 heavy bombers and 56,000 lives, mainly air crew, all sacrificed for their country; and further considers that the failure of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals at the end of the war to recognise service in Bomber Command as an operational qualification for decorations was a mistake that should now be rectified for this unique service. |
| 222 | MICROGENERATION AND LOCAL ENERGY BILL | 13:11:07 |
| Dr Alan Whitehead | | Mr Michael Meacher | | Mr Elliot Morley | | Charles Hendry | | Mr David Curry | | Chris Huhne |
| That this House expresses support for the provisions contained within the Microgeneration and Local Energy Bill introduced in the last session by the hon. Member for Southampton Test, on promoting microgeneration, local energy and energy conservation; believes that these measures would make a significant contribution to combating climate change; and looks forward to such provisions being brought forward in the 2007-08 Session. |
| 287 | NHS PROVISION OF SPECIALIST UROLOGY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | 15:11:07 |
| Mr David Drew | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Stewart Jackson | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Jim Cousins |
| | Mr Adrian Bailey | Mr Russell Brown |
| That this House notes that 350,000 people use prescription continence appliances regularly to help them manage their conditions; acknowledges that innovative and technologically advanced prescription products help users to maintain their independence and quality of life and to continue working, thus contributing to society and reducing burdens on NHS and social services; expresses concern at current Health Department proposals significantly to reduce the prices the NHS pays for stoma and urology appliances; further notes the concerns of patient groups that these price cuts will lead to large numbers of products being withdrawn from the market causing disruption to users, reduction of patient choice and stifling of product innovation; further notes that such disruption will increase the burden on overworked specialist nurses who will be required to reassess patients and prescribe alternative products; notes with concern that this outcome would impact on patients and their carers currently living at home with multiple sclerosis, spinal injury, bladder cancer, spina bifida, stroke, bowel cancer and many other serious conditions; welcomes the launch of the Urology Trade Association (UTA) representing 95 per cent. of the urology appliance manufacturing industry; and calls on the Department of Health to reconsider its proposals and work with the UTA, patient organisations and all other stakeholders to ensure that any changes to the current payment system do not lead to withdrawal of specialist NHS prescription products or otherwise adversely impact upon patients' quality of life. |
| 329 | NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE AND YOUNG WORKERS | 20:11:07 |
| Ms Katy Clark | | Ian Stewart | | Linda Gilroy | | Jim Sheridan | | Dr Gavin Strang | | Ms Dawn Butler |
| That this House welcomes the rise in the national minimum wage in October 2007 to £5.52 an hour; notes however that the rate for 18 to 21 year olds is £4.60 an hour and the rate for 16 to 17 year olds is £3.40 an hour; notes that this means that young workers are paid 17 per cent. and 38 per cent. less respectively than the full adult national minimum wage whilst in many cases doing the same work; believes that some employers are using the different wage rates as an opportunity to use young workers as low-wage labour; congratulates UNITE (TGWU) on the lobby of Parliament organised by their young members on 31st October; believes that the Government should ensure full compliance by employers with the national minimum wage; and further calls on the Government to take steps to remove the age discrimination in the national minimum wage and establish one rate for all workers irrespective of age. |
| As an Amendment to Ms Katy Clark's proposed Motion (National Minimum Wage and Young Workers): |
| Mr Ian McCartney | | John Bercow | | Mike Wood |
| Line 11, at end add `, and as a first step award the full adult minimum wage rate from age 18 at the earliest opportunity.'. |
| 332 | GOVERNANCE OF BRITAIN NATIONAL CONSULTATION | 20:11:07 |
| Keith Vaz | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Jim Devine | | David Taylor | | Mr Brian Jenkins | | Bill Etherington |
| That this House welcomes the launch of the regional consultation events on the Governance of Britain green paper in Leicester on 10th December; believes that the green paper outlines a number of proposals to make the executive more accountable and clarify the rights and responsibilities of British citizens; further welcomes the fact that these regional events will allow for direct dialogue with members of the public and community groups; and hopes that this engagement will result in a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for those living in the United Kingdom. |
| 356 | KHALED AL-MUDALLAL AND THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION | 21:11:07 |
| Dr Brian Iddon | | Mr Alistair Carmichael | | Ms Karen Buck | | Richard Burden | | Mr Neil Gerrard | | Mr Colin Breed |
| That this House is concerned at the situation facing Bradford University student Khaled Al-Mudallal who has been detained in Gaza since June 2007 as a result of restrictions on his movement imposed by Israeli authorities; notes that, according to Israeli human rights organisation Gisha, Mr Al-Mudallal is one of an estimated 670 students who have visas and places to study outside Gaza but have been prevented from leaving; further notes that Gisha is legally challenging the restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on Mr Al-Mudallal, and has pointed out `that Mr Al-Mudallal has not been able to leave Gaza, not because he has chosen not to, but because he is prevented from doing so'; recognises that Mr Al-Mudallal has a British residency permit allowing him to stay in the UK to study until 2010; believes that Mr Al-Mudallal should be allowed back to Bradford to complete his degree in business and management; and urges the Government to make representations to the Israeli government to allow Khaled's right to leave Gaza to continue his education at the University of Bradford and for the rights of all Palestinian students to access education. |
| 412 | POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNTS | 27:11:07 |
| Mr David Drew | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Mr Alan Meale |
| That this House, in the light of the disastrous loss of data discs containing child benefit details, urges the Government to re-assess the value of the Post Office Card Account (POCA) as an alternative means of paying pensions and child benefit direct into bank accounts; and urges recipients to realise that POCAs are a safer, better and more cost-effective method of receiving payments. |
| 414 | DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN LEGISLATORS | 27:11:07 |
| Dr Phyllis Starkey | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | David Lepper | | Mr Alan Meale | | Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| That this House notes with increasing disquiet the continuing detention without trial of many democratically elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council by Israel including the seizures of Hatim Qafisheh on 6th November 2007 and Maryam Saleh and Khalid Tafish on 11th November 2007 and the further extension of arrest without charge of the Minister of Public Works, Abder-Rahman Zeidan on 26th November 2007; considers democracy to be the most powerful response to those who hold that there is a military solution to the conflict; further considers that the unreasonable detention of so many Palestinian legislators perpetuates and deepens the conflict by indicating to Palestinians that they have little or nothing to gain from following the political path; and calls upon the Government to demand of Israel that these legislators be released without delay. |
| 423 | MASS EXTINCTION OF AMPHIBIANS | 28:11:07 |
| Mr Charles Walker | | Mr Dai Davies | | Philip Davies | | Mr Mark Lancaster | | Mark Pritchard | | Mr Siôn Simon |
| | Mr James Clappison | Gwyn Prosser | Mr Bruce George | | | Mr Edward Garnier | Ms Sally Keeble | Mr Alan Meale | | | Sir Gerald Kaufman | Mr Robert N. Wareing | David Maclean | | | Sandra Osborne | Mr Tom Clarke | Annette Brooke | | | Pete Wishart | Mr Mark Francois | Mrs Maria Miller | | | Mr David Jones | David Mundell | Jo Swinson |
| That this House registers its concern at the continuing decline of the planet's amphibian species which include frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians; notes that after thriving for over 360 million years up to one half of all amphibians could disappear in our lifetime, an event that will be the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs; and, given the need to avert this environmental disaster, urges the Government to take the lead in promoting the conservation and preservation of the globally important habitats which sustain these wonderful amphibians and the many other creatures that share them. |
| Mr Tobias Ellwood | | Bill Wiggin | | Mr James Paice | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Mr Nick Hurd | | Mr Alan Duncan |
| | Mrs Betty Williams | Annette Brooke |
| That this House notes that foie gras is traditionally produced by over-feeding ducks and geese by forcing metal pipes down their throats until their livers have swollen to around 10 times the normal size; recognises that the production (but not the sale) of foie gras is banned in the UK; and calls upon the restaurant trade to consider moving to new brands of faux gras which has the support of the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming, are produced from free-range ducks and geese and do not involve any force-feeding. |
| As an Amendment to Mr Tobias Ellwood's proposed Motion (Foie Gras): |
| Michael Fabricant | | Jo Swinson |
| Line 6, at end add `and congratulates Waitrose on being the first grocer to introduce faux gras for sale into the United Kingdom and for their achievements as a leading promoter of compassionate farming.'. |
| 494 | POLICE PAY ANNOUNCEMENT | 6:12:07 |
| Bob Spink | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Andrew George | | Bob Russell | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Lee Scott |
| That this House notes that, over the years, the salaries and benefits of police officers have been eroded, yet demands on them are increased all the time; is concerned about the Government's leaked policy on police pay which will be seen by dedicated and hard working police officers across Britain as yet another insult; notes that in real terms a 2.5 per cent. increase leaves officers again with a falling real level of pay; recalls that last year the Government forced police officers to wait three months for their pay increase and that this year's increase will not be backdated to September; and further notes that this effectively reduces the increase to 1.9 per cent.; believes that this is unacceptable, and that this makes recruitment into the police more difficult; and therefore calls on the Government to review its policy as a matter of urgency. |
| 504 | ITV AND REGIONAL NEWS | 6:12:07 |
| Mr John Grogan | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Derek Conway | | Mr Graham Brady | | Nick Harvey | | Mr Oliver Heald |
| That this House celebrates the contribution of ITV Regional News to the DNA of ITV, providing programming that strongly reflects the cultural and social lives of the UK regions; reflects that regional news has been a key obligation of the Channel 3 licence holder since its launch in 1954; notes comments by the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport that `in the interests of plurality it would be regrettable if regional news in any area were to become solely the preserve of the BBC'; recognises that Ofcom's first public service broadcasting (PSB) review concluded that the existing commercial PSB model would not be sustainable following digital switchover but also notes Michael Grade's comments in June 2007 that `if ITV got an advertising credit for its national and regional programmes ... Immediately ITV would have an added incentive to invest in programming for the nations and regions'; strongly opposes the Chairman of ITV's precipitate plan announced in September 2007 to cut regional news budgets from £90 million today to £40 to £50 million in the future, reduce regions from 17 (11 regions and six sub regions) to nine and merge distinct areas such as Tyne Tees with Border, West and West Country, East and West Midlands, the Meridian and Thames Valley; and calls on Ofcom and the Government to work together with ITV to find a solution that enables ITV to generate sufficient income to maintain a regional news network of which both the country and our regions are rightly proud. |
| 560 | ARCHER INQUIRY INTO TAINTED BLOOD | 12:12:07 |
| Jenny Willott | | Mr Edward O'Hara | | Bob Spink | | Lynne Featherstone | | Pete Wishart | | Mr Martin Caton |
| | Mr David Amess | Mr Dennis Skinner | John Barrett | | | Mrs Linda Riordan | Lorely Burt |
| That this House applauds the work of the ongoing independent public inquiry headed by the Rt. hon. Lord Archer of Sandwell QC into how over 4,800 haemophiliacs were infected with hepatitis C through contaminated NHS blood products, with 1,200 also infected with HIV; notes the inquiry has taken evidence from patients, bereaved dependents, former health ministers and other eminent witnesses; calls on the relevant Government departments and affiliated bodies to offer their full co-operation through providing all relevant material and witnesses requested by the inquiry; and further calls on the Government to respond positively to the inquiry. |
| 594 | DEMENTIA CARE IN CARE HOMES | 17:12:07 |
| Jeremy Wright | | Tim Farron | | Joan Walley | | Angela Watkinson | | Mr Stephen Crabb | | Sir Nicholas Winterton |
| That this House welcomes the publication of the Alzheimer's Society report Home from Home which highlights large variations in the quality of care experienced by people with dementia in care homes; believes that good quality care improves quality of life for individuals living in care homes; notes that 420,000 people live in care homes in the UK and two thirds of care home residents have dementia; further notes that the primary function of care homes is now caring for people with dementia, many of whom will have complex needs; further notes that Government policy in recent years has focused on supporting people in their own homes; further believes that it is important that Government policy also considers the needs of the care home population; further notes that caring for residents with dementia is a highly skilled task; is concerned that only a minority of care home staff have adequate dementia training; believes the formation of the Commission for Quality Care should be used as an opportunity to ensure the new regulation and inspection systems focus on outcomes that matter to people with dementia, including access to outside space and activities; and urges the Government to ensure the National Dementia Strategy addresses the needs of the care home population. |
| 616 | CHINESE ENGAGEMENT IN AFRICA | 18:12:07 |
| Ann McKechin | | Eric Joyce | | Hugh Bayley | | John Robertson | | Dr Gavin Strang | | Mr David Anderson |
| That this House notes the increasing engagement of the People's Republic of China in sub-Saharan Africa; warmly welcomes responsible Chinese developmental, commercial and diplomatic involvement; calls on the Government to encourage the Chinese government to ensure its activities, and the activities of Chinese enterprises and organisations, fully reflect the need for transparency, good governance, democratic accountability, corporate responsibility, and environmental protection; and further calls on the Government to engage systematically with China on these issues and to encourage other nations to do so and to work together to ensure international standards for bilateral aid, government-supported commercial agreements and similar projects are developed and respected. |
| 617 | NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS PROGRAMME (NISP) | 18:12:07 |
| Martin Horwood | | Mr David Drew | | David Taylor | | Mr David Kidney | | Dan Rogerson | | Dr Alan Whitehead |
| | Mr Adrian Bailey | Mr Russell Brown |
| That this House congratulates the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) on its achievements since its commencement in 2005 in enabling its 9,500 industry members to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 1.8 million tonnes, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million tonnes, reduce industrial water use by over 2.5 million tonnes, together with a saving of over 5.4 million tonnes in the use of virgin raw material, delivering not only environmental savings but also generating additional industry sales of more than £99 million and a net fiscal impact of over £10.3 million; is aware that resource recovery and reuse requires substantially less carbon than the use of virgin materials; notes that NISP has gained European exemplar eco-innovation status and that NISP is now working with developing economies, including China and Mexico, to deliver real benefits in resource efficiency; and recognises that NISP is strongly positioned to support many of the recommendations in the recent CEMEP report on environmental markets and has the ability to deliver 5 per cent. of the UK's Kyoto Protocol commitment for carbon reduction by 2011. |
| 624 | CIVILIANS IN GAZA | 18:12:07 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Dr Brian Iddon | | Dr Ian Gibson | | Mr David Drew | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House notes the financial pledges of around £7.4 billion from 90 countries to be made to Palestine in the follow-up to the formal re-launch of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations last month in Annapolis; notes with considerable alarm Israel's overnight extrajudicial killings of 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in a series of air attacks, bringing the number of extrajudicial killing operations launched since September 2000 to at least 256, killing at least 612 Palestinians; and calls upon the Government to apply what pressure it can to ensure Israel ceases these extrajudicial killings which have become symbolic of its disregard for international law in Articles 6 and 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. |
| 637 | DISABILITY POVERTY IN THE UK | 7:1:08 |
| Roger Berry | | John Bercow | | Mr Mark Oaten | | David Simpson | | Hywel Williams | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House notes that the Leonard Cheshire Disability report Disability Poverty in the UK finds that disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty; further notes that disabled people can experience poverty in a number of ways including financial poverty, poverty of aspiration and poverty of opportunity; further notes that average basic living costs are much higher for disabled people; further notes that disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed and seeking work than non-disabled people and that disabled people who are not expected to work are often trapped in inescapable poverty; believes that the extent of disability poverty in the UK today is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to make tackling disability poverty a priority. |
| 687 | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLITIS AND CROHN'S DISEASE | 14:1:08 |
| Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Ian Taylor | | Dr Rudi Vis | | Bill Etherington | | Mr Ronnie Campbell | | Andrew George |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Norman Baker | Mr Peter Lilley | | | Mr Anthony Wright | Steve Webb | Mr John Spellar | | | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Paul Truswell | Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas | | | Ms Dari Taylor | Mr Stephen Hepburn | Sarah Teather | | | Mr Charles Walker | Greg Mulholland | Philip Davies | | | Gordon Banks | Ms Katy Clark | Mark Hunter |
| That this House records its thanks for the outstanding work of the National Association of Colitis and Crohn's Disease, the voluntary organisation working to improve the lives of people affected by inflammatory bowel conditions; notes its campaign to highlight, amongst other things, the importance of the provision and training of specialist nurses to help care for sufferers of such diseases; recalls that the Department of Health is currently reviewing its strategy on managing chronic illnesses; and calls upon the Government to deliver the necessary financial and technical support needed for the effective management of such illnesses. |
| 693 | BLACK, MINORITY ETHNIC AND REFUGEE WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | 14:1:08 |
| Mrs Linda Riordan | | Ms Dawn Butler | | Chris McCafferty | | Lorely Burt | | Julie Morgan | | John McDonnell |
| That this House notes that the Government has brought forward new legislation on domestic violence; draws attention to the acute under-funding of black, minority ethnic and refugee (BMER) women's services; further notes that research conducted by BMER women's organisations such as IMKAAN reveals that many BMER services are facing closure, takeover by mainstream organisations and reductions in funding, thereby dangerously reducing BMER women's access to places of safety; considers that women suffering from abuse and violence, who do not have settled immigration status in the UK, are prevented from seeking protection due to the no recourse to public funds requirement; believes that securing alternative safe housing, benefits and specialist services are often prerequisites to leaving an abusive relationship; calls upon the Government to acknowledge the value of small-sized grassroots specialist BMER women's projects and sustain investment in them; urges the Government to meet the demands made by IMKAAN and its network of over 40 BMER refuges across the UK, Saheli Ltd., Southall Black Sisters, Newham Asian Women's Project, Asian Women's Resource Centre and African Women's Care to abolish the no recourse to public funds requirement for all women with insecure status who are subject to violence and abuse in the contexts of marriage, domestic work and trafficking; and further calls upon the Government to set up a national cross-governmental violence against women strategy and, within that, a strategy around the needs of BMER women and children. |
| 732 | HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA (No. 2) | 21:1:08 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | John McDonnell | | Bob Russell | | Mark Durkan | | Peter Bottomley | | Paul Holmes |
| That this House is appalled at the continued and wholly preventable humanitarian crisis in Gaza; unreservedly condemns Israel for cutting off fuel supplies and preventing other vital supplies entering from Israel; and calls upon the Government to make all efforts to ensure that Israel lifts the siege with immediate effect. |
| 742 | TEACHERS' PAY SETTLEMENT | 22:1:08 |
| Jon Trickett | | Colin Burgon | | Mark Fisher | | Mrs Linda Riordan | | David Taylor | | Dr Ian Gibson |
| | Mr Paul Burstow | Mr Michael Meacher | Mr Frank Field |
| That this House applauds the work done by public sector workers; in particular recognises the vital role that teachers play in the lives of millions of young people; believes that those working in the public sector should receive a real terms pay increase; further believes that the retail price index, which is currently 4 per cent. should be used as a reference point for setting public sector pay rather than the consumer price index; recognises that the teachers' pay settlement of 2.45 per cent. this year will in effect mean a pay reduction; and calls on the Government not to return to the days of boom and bust in teachers' and public sector pay with the consequential problems that this causes in relation to recruitment and retention and the maintenance of morale. |
| 750 | INTERNATIONAL WATERCOURSES CONVENTION | 22:1:08 |
| Mr Fabian Hamilton | | Ann McKechin | | John Barrett | | Mr John Gummer | | Lynne Featherstone | | John Bercow |
| That this House notes that water is the source of life and that many poor communities around the world rely upon fresh water in rivers and lakes for their livelihoods; recognises international concern that the over-exploitation of water resources and the consequences of climate change will place serious strain on rivers and lakes in the future; is concerned that pre-existing political tensions in fragile parts of the world could be exacerbated by competing claims for limited freshwater sources; acknowledges the need to promote dialogue between nations with shared river and lake catchments in order to encourage their equitable and sustainable use and protection; further notes that the Japanese Prime Minister has recently pledged that water and climate change will be important issues in next year's G8 meeting; further notes that in May 1997 the UK Government was a co-sponsor of the UN Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses which seeks to promote effective water resource management and to reduce potential conflict over access to water; further notes that 16 other countries have now ratified the Convention, including Germany which signed in 2007; and calls upon the UK Government to accede without delay to the Convention and to use its principles to guide wider water resources programmes, at domestic and international levels. |
| 783 | COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNTING AND THE IMPORTATION OF SEAL PRODUCTS INTO THE UK | 24:1:08 |
| Mr Elliot Morley | | Judy Mallaber | | Mark Pritchard | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Shona McIsaac | | Andrew George |
| | Dr Vincent Cable | Mr Adrian Bailey | Jim Sheridan |
| That this House congratulates Belgium and the Netherlands for banning the trade in seal products; welcomes these bans as a step towards an EU-wide ban; is disappointed at the decision of the Canadian government to pursue consultations at the World Trade Organisation against these bans; believes these bans are wholly justified due to the public outrage caused by the cruel killing methods in seal hunts; notes evidence in the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority released in December 2007 on the Animal Welfare Aspects of Killing and Skinning Seals that, in practice, effective killing does not always occur, that during Canada's commercial seal hunt, animals suffer pain and distress and that sealers often do not comply with regulations; and urges the Government to follow the example of Belgium and the Netherlands and ban the trade in seal products in the UK. |
| 785 | PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES | 24:1:08 |
| Mr David Anderson | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Martin Caton | | Jeremy Corbyn | | Lynne Jones | | Mr David Drew |
| That this House is concerned by the exponential growth of private military and security companies (PMSCs) since the invasion of Iraq; is disturbed by the substantial rise of reported incidents of civilian killings and human rights abuses by PMSC guards in Iraq who remain unregulated and unaccountable; further notes that problems posed by proliferation of PMSCs were highlighted in a Green Paper in February 2002 that originated in a request from the Foreign Affairs Committee but that, six years later, there is still no United Kingdom legislation regulating PMSCs; believes that self-regulation by the industry is not appropriate in this instance; and urges the Government to bring forward legislative proposals for the control of the PMSC sector as an urgent priority. |
| 797 | ARMENIAN GENOCIDE | 28:1:08 |
| Mr Andrew Dismore | | Bob Spink | | Paul Holmes | | Peter Bottomley | | Andrew George | | Mr Gregory Campbell |
| | Mr George Galloway | Sarah Teather | Danny Alexander |
| That this House unreservedly condemns the desecration of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Cardiff on Holocaust Memorial Day 2008; congratulates all bodies which have recognised the truth of the Armenian Genocide including The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, The Aegis Trust, The European Parliament, The National Assembly of Wales, The Edinburgh, Ealing and Gwynedd Councils, The United Nations Association Wales, The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and the Kurdish parliament in exile; and calls upon the UK Government formally to recognise the 1915 genocide of Armenians and Assyrians. |
| 805 | PROTECTION OF VILLAGE SCHOOLS | 29:1:08 |
| Mr Nigel Evans | | Peter Bottomley | | Andrew George | | Peter Luff | | Bob Spink | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| That this House recognises the importance of village schools to their communities; notes that plans to close village schools across the UK represent yet another example of the systematic dismantling of the rural way of life; and calls on the Government to honour its pledge made in 1998 for the protection of village schools and to provide local authorities with the requisite support. |
| 814 | GREENING THE UK CAMPAIGN | 29:1:08 |
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe | | Mr Jim Cunningham | | Jim Sheridan | | Mr Brian Jenkins | | John Bercow | | Geraldine Smith |
| That this House calls upon the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to recognise the 50 per cent. drop in green space included in new developments in urban areas over the last 10 years, as identified by Horticulture Trades Association research, and the environmental consequences of this; and calls upon her to support the gardening industry campaign Greening the UK, which aims to reverse this trend by calling on local authorities to increase specification of green space in planning documents and to more aggressively enforce planting that has been specified on approved planning applications. |
| 816 | SUPPORTING PRISONERS' FAMILIES CAMPAIGN | 30:1:08 |
| Mr Andrew Dismore | | Bob Spink | | Mr David Heath | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Gordon Prentice |
| That this House notes that prisoners who receive visits from their family are significantly less likely to re-offend, three times more likely to have accommodation on release and twice as likely to gain employment on release; further notes seven per cent. of children in their school years will experience their father's imprisonment and about 160,000 children a year have a parent sent to custody; is disturbed that no reliable information is collected on the children of prisoners and that there is no clear statutory responsibility for supporting prisoners' families and children; and calls on the Government to support the Agenda for Action produced by Action for Prisoners' Families, Clinks, Prison Advice and Care Trust and the Prison Reform Trust calling for the Inter-Ministerial Group on Reducing Re-offending to commit to developing policy and practice to address the needs of children and families with a parent or close relative in prison. |
| 820 | VIOXX COMPENSATION | 30:1:08 |
| Tim Farron | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Andrew George | | Mr Alan Meale | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Paul Flynn |
| That this House is concerned that, in comparison to their American counterparts, British victims of the arthritis drug Vioxx have not had access to compensation; recognises that Vioxx has ruined the lives of hundreds of British citizens through increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke; calls for money to be made available to mount a legal challenge against the makers of Vioxx, Merck and Co; celebrates that Merck and Co have agreed to settle 95 per cent. of outstanding Vioxx claims in the US; and calls upon Merck and Co to offer a compensation package to victims of the drug in the UK. |
| 861 | NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY CAMPAIGN FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM | 4:2:08 |
| Emily Thornberry | | Mr Tim Boswell | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Mr Lee Scott | | Annette Brooke |
| That this House agrees that all adults with autism should be supported to achieve their potential, including those with Asperger's syndrome; recognises that too many adults with autism are isolated and ignored, struggle to access support and are heavily dependent on their families; congratulates The National Autistic Society for highlighting these issues in its campaign, Think Differently About Autism - I Exist; believes that recording the number of adults with autism nationally and locally would help to improve the planning and delivery of services; further believes that the barriers that prevent adults with autism from accessing services can be overcome; further believes that social support and person-centred services for adults with autism are required; and calls on the Government to develop its expertise in autism and work with local authorities and primary care trusts to put in place the changes that will transform the lives of adults with autism. |
| 872 | LOCAL TRANSPORT BILL AND DETERMINATION OF QUALITY CONTRACTS | 5:2:08 |
| Graham Stringer | | Peter Bottomley | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Stephen Williams | | Jim Dobbin | | Mr Martin Caton |
| That this House welcomes the Local Transport Bill which will give passenger transport executives and other local transport authorities a broader range of powers with which to tackle the cuts in services, decline in patronage and inflation-plus fares rises which have been the hallmark of 20 years of bus deregulation; but calls for the Bill to be strengthened to ensure that the franchising of bus networks through quality contracts is determined by the local democratically-elected authority rather than being subject to two tiers of quango adjudication which could result in a veto by quangos of democratically-elected politicians' plans to improve what is a key public service relied upon by the most vulnerable and socially excluded sections of society. |
| 890 | FEED-IN TARIFFS FOR RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY | 5:2:08 |
| Alan Simpson | | Charles Hendry | | Steve Webb | | Mark Durkan | | Peter Bottomley | | Mr Andrew Dismore |
| That this House notes that massive expansion of renewable energy generating capacity is essential in order to cut the UK's carbon emissions significantly and to meet the EU renewable energy targets; further notes that the UK generates just five per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources; recognises that many European countries have adopted a feed-in tariff system with considerable success, paying a long-term, guaranteed premium price for renewable electricity exported to the grid; appreciates that a feed-in tariff has played a transformational role in Germany which now generates 13 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources and employs 236,000 people in the renewable energy sector; further notes the finding of the Stern Review that `comparisons between deployment support through tradeable quotas and feed-in tariff price support suggest that feed-in mechanisms achieve larger deployment at lower costs'; believes that there is an urgent need for a feed-in tariff to support smaller scale renewable electricity schemes; recognises that a UK feed-in tariff could work alongside other policy mechanisms that support large scale renewable electricity generation; and calls on the Government to introduce the necessary enabling powers for a feed-in tariff in the current Energy Bill and give a commitment to introduce, following appropriate consultation, a UK feed-in tariff to support smaller non-merchant renewable electricity generation. |
| 898 | CHILD SURVIVAL APPEAL CAMPAIGN | 6:2:08 |
| Ann McKechin | | Hugh Bayley | | Malcolm Bruce | | Mr Andrew Mitchell | | Mr Stephen Crabb | | Mr Michael Moore |
| | Mr Adrian Bailey | Mary Creagh |
| That this House welcomes Save the Children's report on child survival, which includes a new Wealth and Survival Index; notes with grave concern that almost 10 million children die before the age of five each year; further notes that the world is currently off track to meet Millennium Development Goal 4 calling for a reduction of child mortality between 1990 and 2015; recognises it is possible to save millions of children's lives by tackling common killers, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, as well as addressing underlying structural causes like poverty, inequality and discrimination; and calls on the Government to take concerted action and to play a global leadership role to ensure that all countries and institutions play their full part in the drive to ensure that all children and their mothers get access to basic healthcare, adequate nutrition, clean water and safe sanitation, and opportunities for education. |
| As an Amendment to Ann McKechin's proposed Motion (Child Survival Appeal Campaign): |
| Bob Spink | | Mr Paul Keetch | | Jenny Willott |
| Line 6, after first `as', insert `malaria,'. |
| 903 | OVERSEAS HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES | 6:2:08 |
| Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr David Crausby | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Andrew George | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Mrs Ann Cryer |
| That this House notes that one in seven of the heaviest lorries on UK roads now comes from overseas; recognises that these vehicles contribute nothing towards the costs they impose in terms of road wear and air quality, which in turn gives them an unfair competitive advantage over UK hauliers, who face higher duties; and calls on the Government to introduce a vignette (Brit disc) which will act as a daily charge levied on a non-national vehicle operating in another EU state. |
| 912 | WOMEN AND GIRLS AND HIV/AIDS | 7:2:08 |
| Hilary Armstrong | | Ms Sally Keeble | | Laura Moffatt | | Mike Gapes | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Spink |
| That this House recognises that around the world women and girls are being disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS; notes that gender inequality, violence and discrimination are driving the feminisation of the pandemic; recognises that many HIV and AIDS programmes do not adequately address the specific needs and rights of women and girls; and therefore calls on the Government to show international leadership by placing them at the centre of its revised HIV and AIDS strategy, ensuring men are actively involved as part of the solution. |
| 914 | GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR EDUCATION | 7:2:08 |
| Mr Michael Moore | | Peter Bottomley | | Michael Jabez Foster | | Mr Alistair Carmichael | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Lynne Jones |
| That this House notes that at least 72 million children worldwide do not receive any primary education and that 57 per cent. of these children are girls and 33 per cent. have a disability; further notes the Millennium Development Goal to achieve universal primary education by 2015 and is dismayed that according to the UN's most recent assessment the international community will not meet this target in sub-Saharan Africa and across Asia; supports the Global Campaign for Education and its belief that education is a universal human right and the key to poverty alleviation and sustainable human development; and therefore calls on the Government and the international community to redouble their efforts towards achieving free access to primary education worldwide by 2015. |
| 919 | SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL | 18:2:08 |
| Sir Peter Soulsby | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Dr Ian Gibson | | David Taylor | | Dr Desmond Turner |
| That this House notes with concern the recent Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant reductions to physics and astronomy research in UK universities and cuts to important programmes such as the Gemini Telescopes and the SPEAR radar; is further concerned at the impact this will have on the UK's international reputation in advanced physics; and calls for a change in the structure and leadership of the STFC. |
| 927 | CLEAR LABELLING FOR REAL FUR PRODUCTS | 18:2:08 |
| Mr Elliot Morley | | Mr Eric Martlew | | Mr David Amess | | Miss Ann Widdecombe | | Judy Mallaber | | Mr Mike Hancock |
| That this House notes that recent advances in the quality and look of fake fur make it difficult for many consumers to tell the difference between items made with fake fur and those made with real fur; further notes that there is now evidence that consumers are confused and some may be purchasing items made or trimmed with real fur believing the fur to be fake; further notes that the Trade Descriptions (Sealskin Goods) (Information) Order 1980 requires that all products made from or containing sealskins carry a label; further notes that a new law came into force in November 2007 in New York State requiring all real fur and fur-trimmed clothing to carry a label saying real fur; and calls upon the Government to introduce, as soon as possible and as a measure to protect consumers, a labelling order requiring all other real fur on sale to carry a label that clearly states that the item is made using real animal fur. |
| 965 | ANIMAL WELFARE IN CIRCUSES | 19:2:08 |
| Mark Pritchard | | Mr Mike Hancock | | David Taylor | | Mr David Drew | | Mrs Siân C. James | | Mrs Betty Williams |
| That this House notes with concern that the Circus Working Group disregarded substantial amounts of evidence on the welfare of animals in circuses as a result of the methodology imposed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; believes that the report of the Chair of the Circus Working Group fails to provide reliable information on this subject; and urges the Government to maintain its commitment to ban the use of wild species in travelling circuses and to restrict and limit the use of domesticated species under a strict, accountable and open licensing system. |
| As an Amendment to Mark Pritchard's proposed Motion (Animal Welfare in Circuses): |
| Line 7, at end add `but only if the Government maintains its further promise to base any such ban or restriction strictly on scientific evidence, and further notes that the evidence that currently exists provides no support for such action.'. |
| Gordon Banks | | Mr Jim Devine | | Mark Durkan | | Peter Bottomley | | Lynne Jones | | Stephen Williams |
| That this House welcomes both the recommendations contained in the report from the Organ Donation Taskforce and the Prime Minister's comments that the current system of consent limits the chances of transplant for those awaiting organs; recognises the fine work carried out by NHS staff in difficult circumstances and supports proposals to increase resources to organ transplant teams across the UK; expresses concern that around 8,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants and that 1,000 people die each year due to a shortage of available organs; considers that this is an avoidable tragedy; and urges the Government to implement the recommendations of the Organ Donation Taskforce and move to an `opt out' system of donation as soon as possible. |
| 969 | THE ANTHONY NOLAN TRUST AND THE NATIONAL CORD BLOOD PROGRAMME | 19:2:08 |
| Mr David Burrowes | | Mike Penning | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Robert Key | | Jim Dobbin | | Tim Farron |
| That this House salutes the pioneering work of the Anthony Nolan Trust in establishing and maintaining a national database of bone marrow donors for which they recruit and tissue-type more than 20,000 new entrants each year, giving around 6,000 children and adults a chance of new life since 1974; notes with interest that the Trust, with the support of the East Midlands Development Agency, has begun the establishment of a new Cord Blood Bank which could become a National Cord Blood Programme of a scale to provide a truly national resource for access to umbilical blood stem cells for future treatment and research; believes that this development offers great hope for the future treatment of a wide range of serious medical conditions; and invites the Secretary of State for Health to take a lead in welcoming the Trust's five year aim to collect 50,000 cord blood units with 30,000 able to be used for research purposes. |
| 992 | PROPOSED CHANGES TO DOMESTIC WORKER VISA | 21:2:08 |
| Chris McCafferty | | John Bercow | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Keith Vaz | | Peter Bottomley | | Bob Russell |
| That this House notes the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers to exploitation and forced labour and the benefits of the existing domestic worker visa, which does not allow recourse to public funds, but does give the right to change employer, renew a visa (if in work) and apply for settlement after five years; believes strongly that the proposal to introduce a business visitor visa that will remove the right to change employer and restrict the maximum stay to six months will dramatically increase the power of abusive employers and the incidence of domestic slavery in the UK; and therefore strongly urges the Government to drop this proposal and retain the protections in the current visa system. |
| 1006 | EMPLOYMENT BILL AND SEAFARERS | 21:2:08 |
| Gwyn Prosser | | Ms Katy Clark | | John McDonnell | | Mr Joe Benton | | Bill Etherington | | Ms Diane Abbott |
| That this House welcomes the introduction of the Employment Bill which seeks to clarify and strengthen the enforcement framework for the national minimum wage; further welcomes the fact that the minimum wage applies to non-UK workers provided that they are employed in a UK workplace; is extremely concerned that non-domiciled seafarers working in UK territorial waters or on UK-registered ships are excluded from this protection; is alarmed that this has contributed to poverty wages and widespread exploitation of non-domiciled seafarers on UK ships and in UK territorial waters; therefore urges the Government to amend the Employment Bill to ensure that all seafarers employed in UK territorial waters and on UK ships receive the protection of the national minimum wage; notes that such changes to the minimum wage for seafarers were first recommended by the Low Pay Commission in 2000 and would also be consistent with other protective measures already in place for all seafarers such as the Hours of Work Regulations, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Corporate Manslaughter Act. |
| 1013 | LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE TELEVISION | 21:2:08 |
| Ian Stewart | | Mr Russell Brown | | Ann McKechin | | Mr Bill Olner | | Mr Andrew Love | | Jon Cruddas |
| That this House congratulates Ofcom in finding a means to deliver local television to every household across the UK on Freeview; and looks to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to introduce a licence for the provision of local public service television during the rollout of digital switchover. |
| 1016 | SHELTER AND ITS STAFF | 22:2:08 |
| John McDonnell | | Mr Lindsay Hoyle | | Mr Dai Davies | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Andrew George | | Mr Michael Clapham |
| That this House acknowledges the excellent record of the housing campaign organisation Shelter over its 41-year history in campaigning to highlight the issues of homelessness in Britain; expresses its regret at the actions of Shelter's management in seeking to impose upon Shelter's dedicated staff cuts in pay, longer working hours and the undermining of conditions of employment; expresses its solidarity with Shelter's members of the Transport and General Workers' Union currently in dispute; and urges the board of directors to work co-operatively with the union to resolve this dispute amicably to enable Shelter to continue to play its invaluable role in our society. |
| 1019 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY PRODUCTION | 22:2:08 |
| Colin Challen | | Mr Peter Ainsworth | | Mr Martin Caton | | Steve Webb | | Gregory Barker | | Norman Baker |
| That this House recognises the global imperative of tackling climate change; notes the importance of decarbonising the UK's energy production in order to meet this imperative; is therefore concerned by current plans to develop over 10GW of new coal power stations in Britain, resulting in 50 million extra tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from the UK economy per annum; and asks the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to hold a public inquiry before making a decision on the application for consent to build a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, in order that full consideration is given to the implications of the proposed development for the UK's climate change and energy policies. |
| Christopher Fraser | | Nigel Griffiths | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Dr Ashok Kumar | | Stephen Hammond | | Mr Roger Williams |
| That this House acknowledges the 80th birthday and celebrates the prolific career of Bruce Forsyth CBE; applauds his outstanding contribution to the British entertainment industry and the general happiness he has brought to the nation; acknowledges his standing as a national institution and one of Britain's most popular and influential light entertainment performers in theatre, television and film; notes his success in popular shows such as Sunday Night at the London Palladium, The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price is Right and Strictly Come Dancing; and calls on the Government to give proper recognition for this success and his longevity in the industry spanning over 60 years and his unstinting work for charity with a well-deserved knighthood. |
| 1057 | UNITE (TGWU) PARLIAMENTARY STAFF BRANCH | 26:2:08 |
| Ian Stewart | | Linda Gilroy | | Mr Andrew Love | | Dr Gavin Strang | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Mr Russell Brown |
| | Patrick Hall | John Austin | Dr Tony Wright | | | Mrs Louise Ellman | Mr Frank Doran |
| That this House congratulates the Unite (TGWU) Parliamentary Staff Branch on its recent recruitment drive; believes hon. Members' staff perform a remarkable public service; and calls on the House authorities to look at ways in which the branch could gain consultation rights so that it could have a say on matters such as terms and conditions. |
| 1091 | RECENT ARREST AND DETENTION OF ETHNIC INDIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN MALAYSIA | 3:3:08 |
| Jeremy Corbyn | | John McDonnell | | Bob Spink | | Peter Bottomley | | Lynne Jones | | Bob Russell |
| That this House notes with concern the recent arrest and detention without trial in Malaysia of five ethnic Indian human rights defenders from the organisation Hindraf following a peaceful gathering demanding basic rights; further notes that these men are being held by the Internal Security Act which allows detention without trial for an unspecified period; further notes that these arrests come on top of other actions taken by the Malaysian government to curtail the human rights of the minority Indian community in Malaysia including the freedom of religion; calls on the Government to make representations to the government of Malaysia on serious human rights violations against the ethnic minority Indian community; calls on Malaysia to ensure that the internationally protected rights of ethnic minority community, to peaceful assembly, expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion are protected in accordance with international standards; and calls for the immediate release of the five held without trial. |
| 1102 | HEADACHE DISORDERS | 4:3:08 |
| Mr Stephen O'Brien | | Mrs Janet Dean | | Sir Nicholas Winterton | | Mrs Betty Williams | | Norman Lamb | | Dr Brian Iddon |
| | Miss Ann Widdecombe | Mr Adam Holloway |
| That this House notes that up to 15 per cent. of the population in the UK suffer from headache disorders and in the wider population headache is an almost universal experience; notes that headaches and migraines are under-diagnosed and inadequately treated in the UK and that quality of life implications are not appreciated; is concerned that there is a lack of research and adequate provision of training and services; and asks the Government to give this urgent consideration. |
| 1115 | BANNING OF LOOPED BLIND CORDS | 4:3:08 |
| Gordon Banks | | Mr Jim Devine | | Mr Gregory Campbell | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | David Taylor | | Mr Eric Martlew |
| | Mr Adrian Bailey | Mr Russell Brown |
| That this House acknowledges that in the last 10 years up to 20 children are reported to have lost their lives in the UK as a result of incidents involving looped blind cords; recognises that the US banned the use of looped blind cords in the 1990s and Australia followed suit in 2004; calls on the British Standards Institute to introduce a new British Standard banning the use of looped blind cords; and urges the Government to begin immediate discussions with the British Standards Institute to prevent further avoidable deaths. |
| 1123 | RIGHTS FOR HOMEWORKERS | 5:3:08 |
| John Battle | | Mr Fabian Hamilton | | Mr George Mudie | | Mr Paul Truswell | | Mr Alan Meale | | Lynne Jones |
| | Dr Desmond Turner | Mr Adrian Sanders | Joan Walley | | | Mr Austin Mitchell | Mr Alan Reid | Mr Alistair Carmichael | | | Martin Horwood | Emily Thornberry | Ms Katy Clark |
| That this House believes that homeworkers deserve equal treatment with those employed in factories, offices or other places of work; is concerned that homeworkers are currently vulnerable to exploitation as their rights are unclear under existing English law; believes that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 177 on Homework provides a positive framework for delivering decent rights and protections to homeworkers; and calls upon the Government to take all necessary steps to make good its intention, stated in 1997, to ratify ILO Convention 177. |
| 1126 | ADVOCACY FOR LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN | 5:3:08 |
| Mrs Joan Humble | | Dr Doug Naysmith | | Tom Levitt | | Paul Rowen | | Geraldine Smith | | Mr Gordon Marsden |
| That this House is concerned that looked-after children are still not routinely involved when key decisions are being made about their lives; recognises that access to professional independent advocacy empowers children to have their views taken seriously, keeps children safe, leads to better decision-making and improves children's outcomes as a result; and calls on the Government to ensure that more looked-after children have access to professional independent advocacy. |
| 1155 | PHOTOGRAPHY IN PUBLIC AREAS | 11:3:08 |
| Mr Austin Mitchell | | Peter Luff | | Mr David Wilshire | | Peter Bottomley | | Mrs Ann Cryer | | Paul Holmes |
| | Mr Dominic Grieve | Andrew George | Mr David Crausby | | | Jim Cousins | Mr Brian H. Donohoe | Adam Price |
| That this House is concerned to encourage the spread and enjoyment of photography as the most genuine and accessible people's art; deplores the apparent increase in the number of reported incidents in which the police, police community support officers (PCSOs) or wardens attempt to stop street photography and order the deletion of photographs or the confiscation of cards, cameras or film on various specious ground such as claims that some public buildings are strategic or sensitive, that children and adults can only be photographed with their written permission, that photographs of police and PCSOs are illegal, or that photographs may be used by terrorists; points out that photography in public places and streets is not only enjoyable but perfectly legal; regrets all such efforts to stop, discourage or inhibit amateur photographers taking pictures in public places, many of which are in any case festooned with closed circuit television cameras; and urges the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to agree on a photography code for the information of officers on the ground, setting out the public's right to photograph public places thus allowing photographers to enjoy their hobby without officious interference or unjustified suspicion. |
| 1180 | MEHDI KAZEMI AND THE TREATMENT OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN IRAN | 12:3:08 |
| Ms Diane Abbott | | Mr Nigel Evans | | Andrew George | | Mr Andrew Dismore | | Mr Mike Hancock | | Kelvin Hopkins |
| That this House is concerned by the case of Iranian teenager Mehdi Kazemi who is currently living in Holland; notes reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was forced by Iranian authorities to denounce other gay men, including Mr Kazemi himself; is appalled at reports that Mr Kazemi's boyfriend was then hanged for the offence of homosexuality; believes that Mr Kazemi's life is in serious danger if he were returned to Iran; further notes that the Dutch authorities have rejected Mr Kazemi's appeal for asylum in Holland and are likely to deport him to the UK; believes that the Home Office view that Iran is safe for homosexuals as long as they hide their sexuality is contrary to human rights standards on sexual freedom; and calls on the Government to uphold its asserted posi |
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