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 notes that all 16 head teachers in high schools in Northumberland have signed an open letter on the funding problems facing schools in Northumberland, where half of the county's schools are in the red, up to a total of more than ú500,000 already and a 1 per cent. cut in funding agreed by Northumberland County Council will deepen the financial crisis; and agrees with Councillor Ted Weeks, Chair of Education, that the Council has been doing what it can, but maybe the Government will listen to people at the chalkface who have first-hand experience.
That this House notes that tinnitus affects around one in 10 of the population, including an even higher proportion of older people, and that, following the advances in various therapies to counter the effects of tinnitus, a pharmacological solution is now a real possibility; and urges the Government to encourage appropriate research to this end by all means at its disposal.
That this House is concerned that there is still no clear legal basis defining who in the food chain will be strictly liable for harm caused by GM food or crops; notes that farmers are being told they have no insurance cover for (i) loss in farm land values, (ii) loss of GM-free status and (iii) crop damage from cross pollination, which result from GM crop planting on their own or adjacent lands; and calls on the Government to support the GM Foods and Producer Liability Bill, making biotechnology companies full and wholly responsible for all such releases.
That this House expresses its disgust with and contempt for the Chairman of Cable and Wireless Communications Ltd, who has not bothered to reply to two letters to him from the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 22nd November and 20th December, on behalf of Mrs S. Bennett, a sick old lady who has suffered a bereavement and who is being dunned by Cable and Wireless Communications for an alleged debt of ú17.07 by Mrs Bennett, when in fact it is Cable and Wireless Communications who owe Mrs Bennett ú15; and is appalled that an extremely highly-paid functionary of an immensely wealthy organisation should not take the trouble to end the harassment of someone far more vulnerable and far less affluent than himself.
That this House recognises that the reduction of VAT on fuel, winter allowances for all pensioner households, the new minimum income guarantee and free eye tests from the age of 60 years have benefited senior citizens; welcomes the decision by the Government to provide free television licences from the age of 75 years; and calls on the Government to consider extending provision of free television licences to all senior citizens from the age of 65 years.
That this House congratulates the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society on their publication, Chasing Dolphins; notes with concern its documentation of the increasing harassment of marine mammals by pleasure boats; particularly wetbikes; draws attention to the need for comprehensive measures to ensure conservation in the marine environment; and calls upon the Government to introduce legislation enabling local authorities to create exclusion zones for the protection of marine wildlife as soon as possible.
That this House believes that social housing activities by registered social landlords should not be charged corporation tax at the same rate as commercial companies; also believes that this is not in the interests of improved investment in Britain's housing stock; understands that, while charitable RSLs are exempt from such tax, many offer too broad a range of services to qualify for charitable status; notes that the National Housing Federation estimates the cost of exemption at approximately ú30 million a year and contrasts this figure with the ú300 million cost of reducing the corporation tax rate for commercial companies in 1998-99; further notes that this ú30 million represents a 6 per cent. increase in internally generated funds available for social housing activities; and calls on the Chancellor to boost investment in social housing by considering exempting social housing activities from corporation tax liability.
That this House recognises the opportunity of the 2000 Millennium General Assembly and Summit Meeting of the United Nations to address shared international concerns for peace, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction; affirms the need for the quality of global governance to rise up the international agenda, and particularly for the UN itself to be strengthened at the Millennium General Assembly; notes with approval the proposals made in this connection by Charter 99 (A Charter for Global Democracy), based on principles of sustainability, security, equity and justice; and endorses the importance of the Government playing a positive role in the reform of the UN and other international bodies, with a view to both greater efficiency and greater accountability.
That this House believes that a democratically-elected Parliament should reflect the makeup of its population; notes that while women make up 51 per cent. of the United Kingdom population, over 80 per cent. of elected members of Parliament are men; considers such an imbalance to be unacceptable in the 21st century; calls on all political parties to put in place positive measures to address gender inequality; and supports the amendment of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to remove any ambiguity over the legality of such measures.
That this House congratulates T&GWU members, union officials and supporters for gaining a recognition agreement at Pricecheck; and recognises that in the long dispute members suffered harassment and loss of jobs but that their steadfastness has won through.
That this House recognises that the Henry Watson Music Library in Manchester is one of the most important music libraries in the country: and expresses its deep concern at the proposal by Manchester City Council to disperse the Henry Watson Music Library's holdings among other parts of the Manchester Central Library and perhaps, at the same time, to dispose of some of its valuable holdings.
That this House reiterates its alarm at the entry of Haider's Freedom Party into the Austrian government, which has occurred despite the fact that 73 per cent. of the Austrian electorate opposed the Freedom Party; notes that Haider has praised aspects of Hitler's policies and that the Freedom Party used Goebbels' slogan of 'ueberfremdung' (overcrowding) in its election campaign; believes that the entry of the extreme racist right into mainstream European politics must not be legitimised or appeased; believes that strong action to boycott Austria is needed; congratulates the Prince of Wales and those who advised him on his decision not to attend the trade fair; calls on the Government to use its influence to prevent Austria being a venue for international sporting or cultural events and similar actions at EU level; and supports the campaign of the National Assembly against Racism for a boycott of Austrian travel and goods.
That this House welcomes the announcement by the honourable Member for Norwich South in response to an adjournment debate on the case of PC Tooley, killed in the line of duty in Shoreham at the hands of a dangerous driver, that an official working group has been set up to report to Ministers, on a review of the penalties relating to causing death by dangerous driving; urges the Minister to consult as widely as possible with all those groups and members of the public concerned with improving safety on the roads involving both better education and more effective deterrents for offenders; welcomes an integrated approach between the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions; and calls for early proposals which will result in the worst cases of death caused by dangerous driving being published by severe penalties, more appropriate to the severity of the crime than now available.
That this House congratulates the Government on the institution of a Review of Criminal Justice under the chairmanship of Sir Robin Auld; notes that the scope of the review includes mode of trial in either way offences; and calls upon the Government to postpone any legislation on this issue until at least the publication of this review.
That this House welcomes the increased opportunities for children to participate in leisure schemes during school holidays; is concerned that some children are needlessly prevented from participating in such schemes because of their medical conditions; believes that any appropriate first aid treatment approved for use in schools by the local authority should be extended for use by approved staff in charge of leisure schemes, particularly in the case of anaphylactic shock where administration of adrenalin auto-injectors should be readily available; and calls on the Government to issue clear guidance or statutory regulation to protect staff where insurance cover is necessary for the administration of adrenalin.
That this House welcomes the establishment of an inquiry into the removal of body tissue and organs over many years from Children at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool; believes that the credibility of the inquiry will be measured by its scope and thoroughness; notes that the catchment area of the hospital covers the North West of England, North Wales and beyond; and trusts that appropriate measures will be taken to identify and assist any affected parents in this wide area who have evidence which they may wish to give to the inquiry.
That this House notes that as a result of EU infraction proceedings, the Government is required to end the exemption from air passenger duty for the return leg of domestic flights; welcomes the Chancellor's commitment, in his pre-budget statement, to meet these requirements through revenue-neutral changes to air passenger duty; and urges the Chancellor to consider achieving this by exempting children from this tax.
That this House believes that if a lasting peace is to be achieved in Northern Ireland, every effort must be made to put all weapons and explosives beyond use; regrets that in addition to the estimated 3,000 firearms held by paramilitary groups, 116,892 rifles, shotguns and handguns are licensed to private individuals and gun clubs in Northern Ireland; notes that virtually all of these weapons are held by members of Northern Ireland's unionist community; and urges that legislation banning private ownership of firearms in England, Wales and Scotland be extended to Northern Ireland.
That this House regrets the decision of Her Majesty's Government to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive set up under the Good Friday Agreement; and calls for their immediate re-establishment without any preconditions, accompanied by a clear statement by the Government that the powers conferred under the Northern Ireland Act 2000 to suspend them at any time, will not be exercised during the lifetime of this Parliament.
That this House welcomes the publication of the RAC Report on Motoring; notes with concern its finding that five per cent. of motorists admit that they have been driven by a motorist under the influence of an illicit drug, compared with four per cent. who had been driven by a motorist who had consumed more than the legal blood alcohol limit; welcomes the reports that the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions has commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to undertake some experiments on the effects of cannabis on drivers; believes that there is growing evidence that the use of illicit drugs whilst driving could be more prevalent than that of drink driving; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to undertake a national publicity campaign, as advocated by the RAC Foundation, to warn all motorists about driving whilst using illicit and prescription drugs.
That this House strongly welcomes the statement from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment reaffirming his opposition to university top-up fees; believes that top-up fees would create a two-tier university system and would discourage access by poorer students because loans would not be available to meet the costs of top-up fees for these students.
That this House notes the positive international leadership of Her Majesty's Government in negotiating the Kyoto Protocol in Japan in 1997 and in subsequent international fora leading towards the important sixth Conference of the Parties in The Hague later this year; further notes that a successful outcome in The Hague will be critical in helping the world avert dangerous climate change; further notes that Mr Lee Raymond, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Exxon (Esso) Corporation of Irving, Texas has spoken in London as guest of honour of The Institute of Petroleum at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane and that he has consistently sought to deny the existence of climate change and, through his funding of the Global Climate Coalition, to frustrate international processes that seek to tackle the issue; and therefore expresses its serious concern and condemnation of the interventions of the Exxon Corporation and particularly Mr Raymond in blocking and delaying progress during those negotiations, thereby preventing democratically elected governments from reaching necessary, constructive and prompt agreements that allow the world to move forward on this most critical of global issues.
That this House supports enthusiastically the initiative of the noble Baroness Lady Flather, the Right honourable and noble Lord Weatherill and the noble Viscount Slim, with all party support, in establishing the Memorial Gates Trust in order to recognise the enormous contribution made in both World Wars by the peoples of the Indian Sub-Continent, Africa and the Caribbean; notes that the Memorial Gates, to be erected on Constitution Hill, will honour the sacrifices made by over five million volunteers from these regions; notes that the gates will also be a proud symbol of the descendants of those who fought so bravely and are now an integral part of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society; congratulates the Memorial Gates Trust and the Millennium Commission for its partnership funding; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to continue to support the project.
That this House regrets the steady reduction in British registered and owned ships, and the cuts in the numbers of British officers and ratings employed, since the 1940s; welcomes the Government's decision to take seriously the problems of the industry, through the setting up of a Shipping Working Group, with shipping owners and unions working in partnership; welcomes the formulation of a realistic policy, including a tonnage tax, to halt this decline; and urges the Government to secure a future for the core workforce of British ratings for economic, social and strategic reasons, and to promote the use of British crews.
That this House, noting the Government's desire to divert housing activity from greenfield to brownfield sites, urges the Chancellor to introduce a harmonised rate of VAT for building at below 10 per cent., thus ending the anomaly whereby new building is zero-rated while conversions and repairs are VAT-rated at 17.5 per cent.; and further urges him to apply this new harmonised rate for all conversions, repairs and refurbishment of historic buildings and churches as well as existing domestic properties, thus helping to conserve the countryside, encourage urban regeneration and benefit hard-pressed heritage sites which benefit the Exchequer through millions of pounds of tourism revenue.
That this House welcomes the recent Home Office research project report which identified the additional costs of policing rural areas due to population sparsity; and urges the Government to include a sparsity factor in the police funding formula from next year.
That this House notes the deep public concern surrounding the death of Robert Hamill, a 25 year old Catholic, who was attacked and killed by a large crowd in Portadown on 27th April 1997, the alleged behaviour of the RUC in connection with this case, and the fact that no one has been convicted of this brutal murder; and, in common with Amnesty International, the International Relations Committee of the United States Congress, the SDLP, Sinn Fein, Alliance and Women's Coalition political parties in Northern Ireland, believes an independent judicial inquiry within the meaning of the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 should be held into the circumstances of Robert Hamill's murder.
That this House is appalled by the evidence of abuse, incompetence and neglect detailed by the Waterhouse Report, Lost in Care, and recognises that change is underway; but calls upon the Government to ensure that it achieves a fundamental improvement of all aspects of the care system within the duration of this Parliament.
That this House Welcomes recommendation 1 of the 72 recommendations of the Waterhouse Inquiry that 'an Independent Children's Commissioner for Wales should be appointed'; recognises that this would be a service for all children in Wales; regards it as essential that such a post is also established in England; and calls upon the Government to bring forward the necessary legislation without delay.
leave out from 'notes' to end and add 'with concern the inclusion of the Austrian Freedom Party as part of a coalition government, but further notes that its position in the Austrian Parliament reflects the level of support it secured in a free and fair election; that it is for the Austrian people to determine the composition of their Parliament and the method of election; and that extremes tend to be weakened by the inevitable compromises of coalition politics.'.
That this House commends the Isle of Man Government for its humanitarian attitude shown towards the families of the crew of the 'Solway Harvester' by agreeing to the families' wishes to recover the bodies of their loved ones, and believes that such operations should be a public responsibility; urges Ministers to give a firm undertaking that policy in this matter will be changed and to charge a public agency with the responsibility of examining the feasibility of recovering bodies from boats lost at sea and reaching a considered judgement based on safety and technical considerations; and criticises the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for not coming forward with the Government's response to the consultation paper, Fishing Vessel Accidents and the Recovery of those Lost at Sea, one year after publishing the responses received and over two years after the loss of the Peterhead-registered fishing boat 'Sapphire'.
That this House notes that it is 150 years since the first reading of the Public Libraries Act enabling town councils to establish public libraries; applauds the great contribution made to people's lives by public libraries in terms of literacy and lifelong learning and engendering a love of books and acknowledges the vital part played in local communities by libraries over the last 150 years; further agrees that libraries of all kinds have an essential and continuing role to play in the new century as the information society unfolds; and lastly, congratulates the Library Association, the chartered body for librarians and information managers on the contribution of its members to our nation's cultural, educational, scientific and literary life.
That this House welcomes the Government's commitment not to sell arms to countries that might use them for internal repression or external aggression; further welcomes the publication of an annual report on strategic exports as a first step towards improved transparency; notes that 15th February is the fourth anniversary of the publication of the Scott Report; is concerned that without new legislation to address the problems identified in the Scott Report and other loopholes in the current control regime, the Government cannot ensure that UK arms transfers do not contribute to human rights violations, fuel conflict or undermine development; and calls on the Government to introduce comprehensive and effective legislation to strengthen the control on strategic exports in the next parliamentary session.
That this House commends the Health Service Commissioners (Amendment) Bill to close the current loophole in the Health Service Commission Act 1993 which allows doctors to retire in order to avoid investigation by the Ombudsman; further notes with concern that currently doctors who retire from the National Health Service in order to avoid investigation can continue to practice as a locum or privately; and calls on the Government to support the Bill, which will help strengthen the accountability of the medical profession.
That this House is appalled that there is currently no control over the potentially lethal rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate; is concerned that estimates show that 30 per cent. of drug rapes are committed using GHB; notes that over 1,000 women have reported drug rape in the United Kingdom; recognises that this figure is undoubtedly higher as the crime of rape is frequently not reported by victims; believes that current monitoring of GHB under the Medicines Control Agency does not prevent rapists from buying the drug over the counter; welcomes the steps taken by the Government last year to outlaw the use of the tranquilliser Rohypnol; and calls on the Government to enforce similar controls on GHB under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
That this House condemns the rising level of violence by professional footballers; believes that such behaviour on and off the pitch sets a bad example to young people; notes with regret the abject failure of the football authorities, managers and club directors to deal firmly with players whose conduct brings the game into disrepute; considers that the growing tendency by players and other to cheat, abuse match officials and generally disregard the spirit of sportsmanship are damaging to the future of the game; and urges the Government to demand that the football authorities take action to restore the high standards which were once the hallmark of British football.
That this House remembers with sadness the American attack on the Iraqi civilian air raid shelter on 14 February 1991 which left more than one thousand people dead, a St. Valentine's Day massacre of mainly women and children and some old men who were falsely claimed at the time to have been a military target; and notes that most of those who perished were vapourised in the five hundred degree centigrade flash, that the silhouettes of women and children can still be seen clearly today on the walls of the shelter and that the hand and footprints of small children together with fragments of their flesh still dangle from its roof.
That this House notes with grave concern that the UK-based Weir Pumps Ltd and other European companies have built and continue to invest in the recently completed oil installations and an oil pipeline in Sudan, running for 1,600 km from Bentiu, Upper West Nile to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, with exports since 30th August 1999 of 150,000 barrels a day and estimated potential revenue of $200 million to $500 million a year; notes that this development threatens to perpetuate the Sudanese war and undermine the fragile peace process; notes the evidence that this exacerbates human rights violations and further frustrates any efforts for long-term development; believes that as a military target the pipeline and installations pose a serious environmental threat to the country; calls on Her Majesty's Government to refuse any export licences to Sudan, to encourage the international community to put pressure on the warring parties in order that they extend and monitor the cease-fire in all regions, in particular around the oil fields, and to make representations to the international community calling on it to cease the extraction of oil in Sudan until a peaceful resolution to the conflict has been reached.
leave out from 'recognises' to 'and' in line 4 and insert 'that the British and Irish Governments have introduced legislation and other measures to avoid the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons being seen as any sort of surrender and humiliation but that there will probably always be a minority of those who support paramilitary organisations who will never accept any form of decommissioning; further recognises that such measures on decommissioning and new political structures have been supported by the overwhelming majority of the peoples of Ireland in referenda and decommissioning is the settled will of the Irish people and the British people, as evidenced in the referenda and in many opinion polls since; notes that there has been substantial progress on other parts of the Good Friday Agreement, including the phased early release of paramilitary prisoners as well as significant ideological change by the Republican leadership in terms of accepting the consent principle and the Mitchell principles concerning peaceful methods; believes that further demilitarisation measures by the British and Irish Governments could be expedited in a peaceful security environment without conceding any false equivalence between arms held by democratically mandated authorities and those of paramilitary organisations'.
leave out from 'House' to end and add 'applauds the Metropolitan Police for seeking licensing arrangements at the RFU which best meet the needs of public order, public safety and community relations; deplores efforts to politicise a matter which has been extensively considered on its merits before the local magistrates' court; and calls on the Home Secretary to allow the police to charge promoters of major entertainment events, including sport, for the extra cost of policing outside stadiums so that over-stretched police resources are not diverted from their priority task, which is crime.'.
That this House congratulates the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body on its 10th anniversary; and welcomes the continuing working relationship between British and Irish parliamentarians.