1,327 ingested motions from United Kingdom introduced in 2000. Year filters use the introduced date shown on each card. Walk years back as far as this source still publishes.
That this House congratulates Conservative-controlled Kent County Council on its efficient financial management and for its continuous and evolutionary approach to the Government's agenda for modernising local government; notes that the statement by the honourable Member for Gravesham of 10th May, Official Report, column 837, that the Council is already overspent by ú10 million in the current year, has been completely refuted by the Council's Chief Executive as inaccurate and incredible; and further notes that the County Solicitor has formally challenged the honourable Member to substantiate or withdraw his further allegation, made under parliamentary privilege, that the Council has acted unlawfully in respect of the Access to Information Act 1985.
That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to review licensing procedures for insulin-treated diabetic drivers of Group II vehicles; notes the conclusions of the Third Report from the Science and Technology committee, HC (1999-2000) 206, into the Scientific Advisory System on Driving Licences and Diabetes which describes current blanket restrictions as 'illogical' and 'arbitrary'; notes that the current regulations automatically deny 100,000 drivers the right to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and many passenger carrying vehicles, and calls on the Government to replace the prejudicial blanket ban with a system of individual assessment of fitness to drive.
That this House acknowledges the humanitarian and valuable work carried out by Amnesty International world-wide, tirelessly campaigning for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners and an end to torture; and congratulates the Bolton and Bury Amnesty International Group, which is celebrating 20 years of campaigning for human rights.
That this House notes that whilst second home owners enjoy a 50 per cent. council tax discount at an annual cost to the taxpayer of ú168 million, many thousands of disadvantaged permanent occupants of mobile homes pay a council tax for a property band up to four times their market value; considers that it is wrong that taxpayers should subsidise the better off to have their second homes whilst many thousands of local people cannot afford their first home; and believes that, in its forthcoming rural areas White Paper, the Government should at least abolish the discount for second homes and create a new council tax band for mobile home residents which more accurately reflects the true value of their property.
That this House welcomes the great level of cross party support that exists for protecting wildlife, and notes that 349 honourable Members signed EDM 11 in the last session, in support of the Wildlife Bill proposed by the honourable Member for Brighton Pavilion, and also by a cross-party group of honourable Members; welcomes the inclusion of many clauses from the Wildlife Bill in Part III (Nature Conservation and Wildlife Protection) of the Government's Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, but notes that it does not contain those key clauses that relate to species and habitat action plans; and, reaffirming the strong cross-party support for these clauses, urges the Government to amend the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill to provide a legislative footing for species and habitat recovery, since this would deliver a real difference for wildlife in wider countryside, outside of protected sites.
That this House calls for the UN Peacekeeping force to intervene urgently to stop the continuing genocide of ethnic Tamils in the North East of Sri Lanka.
That this House joins with the rest of the country in celebrating International Nurses Day on 12th May, the birth date of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale; expresses its admiration and support for the hard work, skill, sensitivity and commitment of the 634,000 nurses in the United Kingdom and millions of nurses throughout the world; acknowledges the vital role that nursing has to play in the modernisation and development of this country's health services; and looks forward to welcoming the continued contribution of nurses to the health services in the years to come.
leave out from 'welcomes' to end and insert 'the retention of control by the Liberal Democrats of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, and the reduction of the Labour Group to its smallest size for years; and deeply regrets that accusations without any basis of fact have now been made by the disappointed losers that serve only to diminish respect for service in local government.'.
That this House is concerned by the failure of the UK banking system either to generate effective competition or to accept responsibility for problems of financial exclusion due to poverty; age and geographical isolation as reflected in the large scale programme of branch closures; notes the conclusions of the Cruickshank Report that there are 'profound competition problems and inefficiencies in the market for money transmission services' due to 'a series of unregulated networks mostly controlled by the same large banks who in turn dominate the market for services to SME's and personal consumers'; further notes the analysis of the Cruickshank Report suggesting that the banks consistently make 'excessive' returns to shareholders worth up to ú5 billion per annum at the expense of customers by exploiting lack of effective competition and regulatory privileges; regrets the Government's lack of urgency and radicalism in addressing the problems of an industry crucial to the UK economy as it competes in an e-commerce world; calls on the Government to ensure that banks are exposed to the full rigours of competition law and in particular that the Competition Commission investigates anti-competitive practices and excessive charges by members of the ATM LINK network, apparently in breach of sections 2 and 18 of the Competition Act 1998; calls on the Government to ensure that all prospective bank mergers are referred to the Competition Commission; calls on the Government to introduce into the Financial Services and Markets Bill a requirement that the Regulator upholds the interests of vulnerable consumers, particularly the elderly, disabled and geographically isolated, as is already the case in the Utilities Bill; and, in the absence of effective competition and a substantial voluntary contribution by the banks to social banking, calls on the Government to examine other mechanisms for curbing excess profits in the sector such as a levy on bank profits.
That this House congratulates Bolton Wanderers for reaching the play-offs for promotion from the First Division to the Premiership; and wishes them well alongside all the other teams in their play-off matches.
That this House welcomes the recommendation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence that the anti-cancer drug Taxol should be available routinely as a first-line treatment for women with ovarian cancer regardless of where they live; notes that as many as one-third of health authorities do not currently fund Taxol for all women who could benefit from it; recognises the financial constraints faced by health authorities; and calls on the Government to ringfence sufficient funding to pay for treatments recommended by NICE, so that patients are no longer denied access to effective drugs on the basis of cost.
That this House, in the light of the declaration made on 3rd May by the Metropolitan Police that its officers behaved unlawfully during the Chinese state visit in October 1999 by removing Tibetan flags from demonstrators; and calls upon the Home Secretary to order an independent inquiry into how that unlawful behaviour came about, and why the Metropolitan Police's own internal review failed to identify such behaviour as unlawful.
That this House condemns Tory-controlled Kent County Council's failure to allow its new cabinet system of government to be properly held to account by the scrutiny committee which is dominated by Conservative members and has been accused of agenda fixing by Kent's Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders; believes that the council is abusing its power by failing to provide open government as enshrined in the Access to Information Act 1985; urges the Government to provide adequate measures in the current Local Government Bill to require all local authorities to practise open government in a transparent and inclusive manner; and congratulates newspapers such as the East Kent Mercury, the Dover Mercury and all the titles published by the Kent Messenger Group on their continuing campaign for more open and transparent government, which they have entitled 'Your Right to Know'.
That this House recognises the fundamental importance of access to good quality, affordable housing; understands that decent housing is essential to good health and improved opportunity in education and employment; believes that housing providers, drawing on both public and private resources, have a key role to play in economic and social regeneration; and believes that to achieve the aspiration of a decent home for all, as set out in the Housing Green Paper, including the commitment to tackle the ú19 billion backlog of council housing repairs, investment in housing and in particular affordable housing, must be increased in the Government's forthcoming spending review.
That this House, in paying its respect to the profession of nursing on International Nursing Day, 12th May - the birthday of Florence Nightingale - acknowledges the very real pressures facing a profession whose members continue to provide the majority of care to all honourable Members' constituents at the most vulnerable times of their lives and without whom the NHS would cease to function; notes that at this time of great change in the provision of healthcare in this country, nursing staff, both trained nurses and untrained health care assistants are facing the challenge of equipping the NHS's workforce with the appropriate skills for delivering modern health services; and calls on the Government and the profession to encourage an holistic view when considering the regulation and training of all those involved in the delivery of those services.
That this House welcomes the development of national standards for adoption services and believes that the additional measures needed if more children who are looked after by local authorities are to have the opportunity of adoption are a new adoption act, effective systems for the recruitment of potential adopters, the consideration of adoption at the statutory reviews of all looked-after children, a national register of families approved as adopters and children for whom adoption is the plan, a standardised system of adoption allowances available throughout the country, an effective post-adoption service for adopters and their children and paid adoption leave; and recognises above all that adoption is a service for children in which their best interests must always be paramount.
That this House is gravely concerned to learn that the London-based Rio Tinto, the largest mining company in the world, has made a series of false statements to the effect that during its operation of the Capper Pass Tin Smelter in Hull, it had fully complied with all environmental, health and safety regulations; notes that there is incontrovertible evidence that the Health and Safety Executive had served a statutory improvement notice identifying contravention of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc, Act 1974 and section 63 of the Factories Act 1961 and that the Health and Safety Executive had also served upon the company a major report identifying the extremely limited competence of safety management, and major breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1989, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980 and the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985; further notes that there were repeated breaches of environmental regulations and statutory licences governing discharge of toxic substances into the River Humber; deplores the refusal of Rio Tinto to answer the specific allegations put to its Executive Chairman on 7th October 1999 concerning the promulgation of those false statements by senior executives of the company; and urges Her Majesty's Government to institute a full public inquiry and report back to this House.
That this House notes with dismay that Kent County Council is to make redundant 17 front-line social service care workers in East Kent and that this will include 75 per cent. of the care workers at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Thanet and will inevitably lead to people remaining too long in hospital with consequential bed blocking and rising waiting lists for elective treatment throughout East Kent; believes that this move will jeopardise the plans of the East Kent Health Authority and the East Kent National Health Service Hospital Trust to improve patient services in East Kent; rejects completely the suggestion that the existing team of community care workers will be able to step in and replace these services; is deeply concerned that this step was taken without consultation with trades unions or the staff affected; believes that this action has come about entirely because of the mismanagement of the County's budget and observes that it was arranged in secret and announced on the day following the local elections; and calls upon the Government to investigate urgently the action of the County Council.
That this House notes official figures released in April showing that unemployment nationally has fallen to 5.9 per cent., the lowest level since the ILO measure was introduced in 1984, with over 850,000 more people in work since the 1997 general election and employment up by 258,000 in the last year; also notes that under the New Deal for 18-24 year-olds, 185,000 people have moved into work and 121,000 young people have been helped with education, training or work experience; further notes that over 67,000 employers have now signed up for the New Deal; welcomes the success of the Government's New Deal in helping young people get new skills and jobs and in equipping them with the skills and experience they need to succeed; and congratulates Job Centre and Benefits Agency staff in Teesside and across the country on their hard work in assisting young people to find work through the New Deal and to move off welfare and into employment, training or community-orientated work.
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 1121), dated 18th April 2000, a copy of which was laid before this House on 19th April, be annulled.
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I., 2000), No. 1120), dated 18th April 2000, a copy of which was laid before this House on 19th April, be annulled.
That this House welcomes the news of the report on policing in rural areas produced by ORH Limited; notes its conclusion that it takes a police officer in a rural area three times as long to reach the scene of a crime or incident as a police officer in an urban area; further acknowledges its conclusion that current standard spending assessment formulae do not take sufficient account of the challenges and additional costs of policing rurally isolated locations; notes that many honourable Members representing rural constituencies have consistently called for the Government's acceptance of this problem; and calls on the Government to act on the recommendations of its own report, to rectify this inequality and to implement the necessary changes to funding formulae for rural police forces with all possible speed.
That this House congratulates the Government on its successful auction of the third generation mobile phone licences; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider using this windfall in part to introduce a substantial increase in the basic state pension and the extension of free television licences to all pensioners.
That this House welcomes the decision of the electorate in Stockport to reduce the number of Liberal councillors on Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council on 4th May, so ending their control of the Council; deeply regrets their decision to offer Independent Councillor Goddard a place back on the planning committee in exchange for his becoming a Liberal councillor; notes that he resigned from the Labour Group because the Labour Party decided not to re-appoint him to the planning committee in May 1999; further notes that this was because of his friendship with a property developer, and the apparent use of his position on the planning committee to help that developer and in particular to gain planning permission for him for building in the green belt; and believes in local government matters it is essential that local councillors are both honest and seen to be honest, and that the Liberal Group on Stockport Council is setting an appalling example in bribing Councillor Goddard to support them so they can cling on to power.
That this House is saddened to hear of the death of Stanley George Hurrell MBE on 5th May after a long fight against cancer; notes that he and his family have supplied the House with newspapers for 80 years, 365 days a year and that the news-stand outside Westminster Underground has been patronised by many from all over the world; and sends its condolences to his wife Kirsten (Gwennie) Hurrell, their family, including his brother Jim, the partner in his business until his retirement 12 years ago.
That this House warmly congratulates Shrewsbury Town Football Club for beating the drop into the Nationwide Conference against all the odds; genuinely commiserates with Chester City Football Club who in spite of a spirited fightback in the last few weeks were relegated; praises the Blues' Chairman, Mr Roland Wycherley, the Board, the management team, the backroom staff at the Gay Meadow, the main sponsors RMW Electrical Contractors, the players and especially the fans for their pride, passion and determination to continue their fifty year history in the football league; recognises the terrific support of the local media including the Shrewsbury Chronicle, BBC Radio Shropshire, Beacon Radio and especially the Shropshire Star for their Golden Shot award and enthusiasm to motivate supporters; and believes that the football club is very important to Shrewsbury economically, socially and culturally and that a fresh start can now be made to secure a new stadium, new investment and new young talent; and looks forward to the fans' loyalty being rewarded next season with the club's promotion and a long cup run.
That this House notes admissions by leading members of the euthanasia lobby such as Professor Sheila McLean that the withdrawal of treatment, including food and fluid, to end the lives of PVS patients and others who are not dying endorses 'a form of non-voluntary euthanasia'; regrets that the Department of Health has done nothing to halt such practices; observes wide scale newspaper reports that the denial of resuscitation and of assisted food and fluid to elderly and some sick patients is spreading alarmingly; notes that this attitude reflects aspects of the BMA guidelines on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Medical Treatment which advocate extending the withdrawal of treatment, including tube feeding to a wide range of patients who are not in PVS; notes that the Deputy Minister for Community Care in Scotland has stated that doctors who follow the BMA Guidelines would be open to a criminal prosecution; regrets the failure, nonetheless, of the Department of Health to make if clear that the BMA Guidelines are not legal guidelines; notes that the Department must therefore accept responsibility for the treatment of elderly patients in some sectors of the NHS; further notes that throughout the debates on the Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill the Department of Health also supported misinformed attacks by the BMA to obstruct the Bill; and invites the Government to reconsider its position and honour its stated opposition to euthanasia and to ensure the Bill is given adequate time to complete all stages.
That this House congratulates Garstang Town Council, Garstang Oxfam Group, Garstang business and Garstang people on the designation of Garstang as the world's first fairtrade town; welcomes the initiative to promote fairtrade produce throughout the town; recognises that fairtrade has a particular resonance for people in a rural area where farmers and growers are having their prices driven down by the successive demands of big business; acknowledges that producer co-operatives have a role throughout the world; and commends this superb initiative to every community throughout the land.
That this House deplores the decision of the Sri Lankan President, Mrs Kumaratunga, to impose a new series of emergency regulations; notes that the regulations, imposed on 3rd May, restrict press freedom, limit freedom of association, authorise detention without trial and negate the right to private property; further notes that this is wholly counter to the spirit of the recent EU note to the Sri Lankan Government calling for respect for human rights and in direct contravention of the UN Charter on Human Rights; and urges the Foreign Secretary to make urgent representations to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London, making clear his deep concern at the draconian new regulations which impose a wholly unacceptable restriction on legitimate political activity and the freedom of the press ahead of the Sri Lankan general election, and seeking assurances that these elections will be conducted in an atmosphere free of intimidation and violence.
That this House notes that the practice of tethering horses without access to adequate food, water and shelter is cruel; and recognises that the law needs to be amended to protect these animals against such barbaric practices.
That this House notes that over four years have now passed since the publication of the Scott Report into the arms to Iraq affair; which highlighted serious flaws in the current system of arms export controls; and shares the concerns of organisations such as Amnesty International and Oxfam that as yet no legislation has been introduced to implement the Inquiry's recommendations.
That this House welcomes the decision of the Meat Hygiene Service to hold an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to the closure of the Mead Webber abattoir at Eardisley in Herefordshire; and believes that a tribunal affording the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses will be the most effective method of ensuring that the investigation is genuinely open and transparent.
That this House congratulates the Government on the success of the DTI's campaign to protect the consumer from 'rip off' Britain; notes the recent survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres, which has found that high street mobile phone operators are selling inappropriate and expensive mobile phone packages to consumers; believes that high street retailers are influenced by the commission they receive from operators for selling mobile packages with year long contracts; therefore supports Virgin Mobile's industry-wide transparency campaign; calls upon the Department of Trade and Industry and Oftel to regulate the advice given by independent high street mobile retailers; and further recommends that such retailers make clear to customers any formal links they have with a mobile operator and what commission they receive from operators.
That this House notes that the Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales), whose aim is to help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels and thus promoting their health, rest and education, celebrates its 70th birthday in 2000, is a leading charity serving the recreational and educational needs of young people, has 295,000 members of all ages and socio-economic groups and over 230 youth hostels in England and Wales with 14,000 beds, is a major contributor to Britain's tourism earnings, provides a unique base for environmental education and safe outdoor activities for all, including those with disabilities and those who may otherwise be excluded from such interests, meets expectations of high standards while maintaining low prices and is an active member of the International Youth Hostel Federation which embraces 60 countries, with 5,000 youth hostels and 4,000,000 members; and believes that it should be congratulated on its achievements.
That this House congratulates St. Mirren Football Club on their promotion to the top flight of Scottish football, the premier division; recognises the hard work and coaching skills of the manager, Tom Hendrie, and the excellent football that has been played by this young and exciting team; and wishes them every success in their bid to win the Premier division in the coming season.
That this House recognises that the level of economic activity varies from area to area within the United Kingdom; believes that the ú22 billion mobile phone fund secured from the Treasury should be used, where appropriate, for economic stimulation by means of capital investment in those areas suffering from economic under-performance; and calls on the Treasury to make ú1.1 billion of this fund available immediately to the National Assembly for Wales to invest in the Welsh economic and social infrastructure.
That this House deplores the actions of the Right honourable Member for Fylde in supporting a proposal to build a motorway link across glorious countryside near Claughton in the Lancaster and Wyre constituency; is astounded at the discourtesy of the Right honourable Member in assisting such an initiative without any reference to the honourable Member for Lancaster and Wyre, parish councils or local people; considers that the arrogance, nimbyism and lack of regard for the countryside and consultation shows that Conservatives have learnt nothing from their crushing defeat three years ago; calls upon Conservative-controlled Wyre Borough Council and Conservative Members of the European Parliament and transport spokesman, Sir Robert Atkins, to disassociate themselves from this plan; and urges the Deputy Prime Minister to dismiss it out of hand.
That this House condemns the Conservative-supported idea to shift traffic congestion from the outskirts of Preston to the delightful rural area around Claughton-in-Wyre, with the opening of an unwanted and unnecessary motorway junction; instead supports the proposal in the North West Regional Transport Strategy for a new railway station for Gastar; commends the efforts of Lancashire County Council and the Moss Roads Action Group to reconstruct the roads that rural communities do need; applauds this Government for backing the Gastar Super 8 minibus scheme to bring regular, accessible public transport to many Wyre villages; and recognises that a sustainable, integrated transport strategy will support Wyre rural communities while a motorway junction would wreck them.
That this House congratulates Swansea City Football Club on its promotion to the Second Division; notes that manager, John Hollins, and the team achieved their success without spending large sums of money in the transfer market; and thanks them all for the entertainment they have provided for their fans and the pleasure their achievement has given sports-lovers throughout Swansea.
That this House Notes that the Public Order Act 1986 allows police to order the removal of masks if they believe the wearer intends to commit an offence; also notes the difficulty of assessing intending before the act; and asks the Government to consider strengthening the power to allow police to order removal of masks if they think it conductive to public order.
That this House welcomes World Asthma Day on 3rd May; notes that the National Asthma Campaign estimates that there are 3.4 million people with asthma in the United Kingdom, including one in seven children in every constituency, and that asthma is on the increase world-wide; believes that people with asthma have the right to expect equal access to the best possible asthma care without having to rely on the postcode lottery of care; believes that people with asthma deserve care to be delivered by experienced and trained health professionals according to nationally-agreed evidence-based guidelines; notes that expert patient management of their own asthma has the potential to save National Health Service resources as well as helping people with asthma take control of their own condition; and calls for NICE to evaluate and endorse the British Guidelines on Asthma Management as soon as practicable.
That this House welcomes the Government's Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review and the comprehensive coverage of the report with its continuing commitment to fisheries and environmental issues, but is very concerned about the impact of the proposed ú1.5 million cut to Grant in Aid to the Environment Agency in April 2001 for its fisheries work, given that similar cuts have been undertaken throughout the 1990s; notes that further cuts will make it difficult for the Agency to do its fisheries work adequately; and therefore calls upon the Government to reverse its decision and to implement the review Group's recommendation that funds should be significantly increased to 1994 levels in real terms, in order to ensure that the Environment Agency's fisheries work continues vigorously and effectively.
That this House takes note of the recent undertaking of the honourable Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey 'on behalf of my party that we will seek to deal with any matter in our party that other people are concerned about'; accordingly calls upon him and his party leadership to investigate and repudiate the unethical, misleading and on occasions deliberately untruthful campaigning tactics of Liberal Democrat candidates in the Manchester, Gorton constituency in the current local elections; condemns the Liberal Democrats in the Manchester, Gorton constituency for putting about the deliberately untruthful scare story about 'Labour's proposals to force benefits claimants to be paid through their bank accounts' when the Prime Minister has made absolutely clear that all benefits claimants will continue to have the right to collect their benefits from the local post office, to collect their benefits weekly if they so wish and to collect their benefits in cash; further condemns them for seeking to deceive local people about their vote in the Council against the proposal for a new high school on the Spurley Hey site, a proposal supported by both the governors and the staff of the current school and endorsed by the Secretary of State; points out to the people of Gorton that, if the Liberal Democrats had had their way, there would be an empty, derelict site at Spurley Hey; and is tired of the Liberal Democrat policy of seeking to mislead voters into supporting them either by telling outright lies or else by pretending that they are responsible for the achievements of others.
That this House condemns the Liberal Democrats in the Manchester, Gorton constituency for seeking to deceive the people of Gorton about the Liberal Democrats' role in the Friends of Gorton Park organisation, which the Liberal Democrats seek to imply they have some responsibility for, when the excellent work of the voluntary officer and members is in an organisation whose formation was suggested by Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, and of which that Right honourable Member is President; further condemns the Liberal Democrats in the Manchester, Gorton constituency for seeking to deceive local people about the Liberal Democrats' non-existent role in the Gorton Monastery Charitable Trust; notes that the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton sponsored a promotional reception for the trust at the House, that that same Right honourable Member the week before Easter had a meeting at the House with Dr Eric Anderson, Chairman of the National Heritage Lottery Trust, and that in the week after Easter the Lottery offered the Gorton Monastery Trust a ú2.7 million grant together with development money and that the Chairman of the trust, Mrs Elaine Griffiths, in that week wrote to the Right honourable Member offering 'thanks for all you are doing to help us, it is very much appreciated'; and questions why the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Rusholme ward gives his address in his election propaganda as 20 Lowestoft Street, M14, which is inside the ward, when his name is not on the election register for that address but for 263 Barlow Road, Manchester 19, which is in a different ward.
That this House expresses its contempt for the Liberal Democrats in the Manchester, Gorton constituency for pretending that they have been active in the campaign against North-West Water's disgraceful plan to build a business park called Waterside Park, when the Liberal Democrats have been almost invisible in a campaign which has been organised jointly by the Labour Party and Fairfield Gold and Sailing Club, as a result of which 40,000 signatures were gathered for a petition which helped to persuade the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to order a public inquiry into this pestilential project, when the main opposition at the inquiry was organised by the party and the club and when the Liberal Democrats were scarcely to be seen at the inquiry; points out that there need never have been a privatised North West Water if the Liberals in the House had not voted in support of the former Right honourable Member for Finchley to bring down the previous Labour government; and further condemns the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Rusholme ward for seeking to deceive local people into believing that he has played an active part in the Friends of Platt Fields organisation when he only started attending this organisation's meetings a short while ago and scarcely ever opens his mouth at the meetings, and when the excellent work of the officers and members of Friends of Platt Fields is in an organisation which was suggested by the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton, and of which that Right honourable Member is President.
That this House notes that the Conservative Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Wellingborough has issued a press release entitled 'Bogus asylum-seekers swamp Northamptonshire', in which he claims that he has visited a nursery school in Wellingborough that has seen the level of language support staff for its ethnic minority children substantially reduced, as these staff have been switched to the children of asylum-seekers; notes that the headteacher of that nursery school has condemned the claim as 'untrue' and has written to the candidate to express the school's shock at his actions, stating that 'We have worked very hard over the years to promote racial harmony in our nursery and are shocked that you have used a goodwill visit to provide false evidence to stir up hostile feelings against a vulnerable section of our community'; condemns outright all lies and half-truths about asylum-seekers because of the racial hostility that they inflame; and, accordingly, calls upon the Leader of the Opposition to condemn the untrue and inflammatory comments of the Conservative Party's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Wellingborough.
That this House commends the members of the Scottish Parliament who supported so overwhelmingly the introduction and first stage of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill, sponsored by Mr Sheridan MSP, the honourable Member for Dundee East and Mr A McNeil MSP; notes with regret the hostile opposition of Conservative MSPs to this enlightened legislative measure; and looks forward to the day when the Scottish Parliament finally consigns to history the pernicious debt-recovery procedures of poindings and warrant sales.
at end add 'further notes that the BBC's increased licence fee makes it essential that as part of its public service remit it takes responsibility for enabling the digitally disadvantaged.'.