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 welcomes the greater public access to meetings and information provided by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985; believes that such provisions are important for democracy; and hopes that they will be continued as part of the new arrangements for local government executives and directly-elected mayors envisaged under the current Local Government Bill.
That this House believes that elderly and low-income tenants paying registered fair rents should be protected from high rent increases; is concerned that the recent judgment in the Court of Appeal in the judicial review brought by Spath Holme Ltd leaves these tenants vulnerable to unaffordable rent increases and may lead to significant hardship and even homelessness; and urges the Government to take urgent action to reverse the effect of the judgment and restore the limits on registered fair rent increases set in the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999.
That this House resolves that the possibility of transmitting the proceedings of the Scottish Parliament on one of the channels on the Houses of Parliament annunciator system should be investigated.
at end add ', regrets the damage that socialism did to the Labour movement and the country, and recognises that during the 100 years of the Labour party, the Conservative governments have done more good and been more popular and more successful.'.
That this House calls for renegotiation at the Intergovernmental Conference later this year of the provisions in the Amsterdam Treaty which provide for 'enhanced co-operation' otherwise known as 'flexibility'; notes that the doctrine is the means to establishing a hard core of a European superstate with the United Kingdom on the sidelines and therefore further totally rejects the current proposals of the Commission to re-endorse these provisions in the Amsterdam Treaty and the even more unacceptable abolition of the veto in respect of these provisions; that this House calls on Her Majesty's Government to declare opposition to the doctrine of 'enhanced co-operation' and 'flexibility'; notes that the former Foreign Secretary, the Right honourable Sir Malcolm Rifkind described the doctrine of 'flexibility' in January 1997 as 'probably the most important issue that is being discussed at the IGC,' (for Amsterdam); notes that in the same year on 16th January the EU Presidency stated, 'EMU is probably the most highly developed form of flexibility,' and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government unequivocally to reject the 'enhanced co-operation' and 'flexibility' provisions in the Treaty of Amsterdam and their endorsement at the next IGC, including the abolition of the veto as it applies to these provisions now proposed by the European Commission.
That this House is disappointed by the decision of local magistrates to end the tradition of a post-match drinking licence following matches at Twickenham; believes that the progressive departure of fans from the ground helps the flow of traffic, use of public transport and reduces the overall disturbance to the local community; notes the steps taken by the RFU to improve facilities around the ground for fans leaving; welcomes the fact that there have been no alcohol-related arrests in the grounds at Twickenham; and therefore urges the police and the local authority to work closely with the RFU to restore the licence.
That this House welcomes the availability of pen needles and the continued availability of disposable pens on prescription for insulin-dependent diabetics; recognises the campaign fought by the British Diabetic Association, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes, and other honourable Members; and commends the Secretary of State for Health for bringing about this change that will benefit hundreds of thousands of diabetics with the management of their condition.
That this House notes the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords which allows for existing life peers to remain in the Upper House should they so wish; further notes that the average age of male life peers is around 70 years compared with 64 years for women; calculates that the expected number of life peers dying within 11 years is around 49 per cent. of the 545 life peers (out of 550) whose dates of birth are readily available; postulates that it would be around 20 years before this expected number reached three quarters of existing life peers and 29 years before this figure reached 90 per cent.; considers is inappropriate for appointed peers to serve in Parliament long into the 21st century; recognises that appointment is no substitute for election; and calls for a wholly elected Upper House of 100 members.
That this House deplores the action of the European Commission in promoting the addition of GM seeds to the Common Catalogue, contrary to the position of the European Parliament; calls on the United Kingdom Government to refuse applications for GM maize to be added to the United Kingdom National Seed List; and considers that no GM varieties should be approved for commercial growing until farm-scale trials are satisfactorily completed and potential threats to the environment can be safely discounted.
That this House commends the National Pub Watch Steering Committee and its work and commitment towards promoting social responsibility in the licensed trade which will bring about a safer environment in licensed premises through the exclusion of offenders associated with acts of violence and anti-social behaviour and the promotion and introduction of chard-proof glassware in pubs; and seeks the support of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group in persuading the major brewers to commit themselves in principle and financially to the efforts of National Pub Watch as have Youngs, Shepherds Neame Brewers and the National Association of Licensed House Managers (T & GWU).
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2000 (S.I., 2000, No. 208), dated 1st February 2000, a copy of which was laid before this House on 8th February, be annulled.
That this House recognises the importance of speed cameras in deterring motorists from driving at excessive speed; believes that the principal human rights considerations in road traffic law are those affecting victims of road crashes and their families; and calls upon the Government to ensure that such rights are protected in all relevant legislation.
That this House notes with alarm the accession to power of the Austrian Freedom Party; further notes this organisation was aided by Austria's proportional electoral system; and calls on the British Government to confirm that the first past the post electoral system is fair, accountable and tends to lead to the exclusion of extremists of all kinds.
That this House believes that the continued Israeli aggression on Lebanon is disproportionate and in violation of international humanitarian law; believes that by targeting a civilian population and its infrastructure it violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and that the attacks serve only to hinder the changes of peace in the region; and calls on sides to use restraint and for international law to be upheld, including adherence to the April 1996 understandings and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 425 calling for Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
That this House notes the first attendance figures for the Millennium Dome, which show visitor numbers below break-even levels, and the low level of visitors from outwith London and the South East, with a mere 4.2 per cent. of visitors coming from Scotland; further notes the removal of Jennie Page, former Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company, as one symbol of the growing crisis facing the Millennium Dome; and believes that the people who bear responsibility for the Dome's failure should be the politicians, including the Prime Minister and the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool, who forged ahead with a project that increasingly resembles the condition of the Government itself, all glitter on the outside, but a vacuum on the inside.
That this House notes the courageous and vital service given by members of the Home Guard Auxiliary during the Second World War; regrets that those who were recruited in the last two years of the war had less than the minimum service required by regulation for the award of a war service medal; and therefore invites the Secretary of State for Defence to give such women, including Irene Mabon, now aged 105, of Hazel Grove, in Greater Manchester, an exceptional alternative award for their service, or to grant them a full war service medal, in recognition of the great contribution they made to the defence of freedom.
That this House expresses deep concern over health and safety and employment practices within the Excell Call Centre in Glasgow; deplores the sacking and intimidation of staff who have exposed Excell's record; awaits with interest the report of the Health and Safety Executive inquiry into call centres; and believes that there should be an appropriate increase in HSE funding to facilitate detailed and ongoing monitoring of call centres operating in the United Kingdom.
That this House notes the concern of the Scottish Professional Footballers Association about the dramatic increase in the number of foreign players in Scottish football; believes that, although a number of the current 125 foreign players in Scotland enrich Scottish football, the future for Scottish football lies in its ability to grow its own domestic talent while importing the very best international players; believes that in the interests of the domestic game and the long term success of the Scotland national team there is a need for action; welcomes the establishment of the Scottish Executive's Taskforce which aims to create a network of local football academies; and believes that those interested in the long term well-being of the Scottish game, including supporters, clubs, players' representatives, the SFA and government should work together with the aim of growing its own talent and ensuring that Scottish football clubs have a balance of Scottish and foreign players.
That this House notes the statement by the Right honourable Member for Wells, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in Treasury questions on 3rd February that the Government should stop 'scrabbling around trying to increase the level of handouts from the EU Budget' for those regions that have secured Objective One status from the European Union; calls upon the Right honourable Member urgently to clarify Conservative Party policy on this matter, given that Welsh Conservative members of the National Assembly for Wales are proposing to vote against the Labour administration in the assembly for its alleged failure to secure more money from Europe; and further calls upon the Right honourable Member to state unequivocally if it is now Conservative Party policy to refuse all structural fund from the EU.
That this House congratulates Age Concern on its recent report, Turning Your Back on Us; Older People and the NHS, outlining the problem of age discrimination in the National Health Service; believes that healthcare should not be denied or delayed on the basis of age; and urges the Government to set up a thorough independent investigation to assess the extent of age discrimination in the National Health Service and to establish a clear agenda for action.
That this House notes that 27th February 2000 marks the centenary of the foundation of the Labour Party; recognises the significant contribution that Labour representation over the century has made to society, including the creation of the National Health Service, rights for people at work, the promotion of equality, social reform, greater educational opportunity and a higher standard of living for all; and offers its congratulations to all those men and women in the Labour and trade union movement, in local government and in Parliament whose efforts helped to make these achievements possible.
That this House welcomes the launch of treatment notes produced for patients by the Consumers' Association, providing independent high-quality information about medicines and other treatments; supports this initiative, which is independent of government, the medical establishment and the pharmaceutical industry; and recognises the need for independent, high-quality and readily-accessible information so that patients are able to make well-informed choices and share decision-making with their doctors about the treatments they receive.
That this House recognises the danger of decommissioning being handled wrongly; is concerned in case splits among the paramilitaries in both Loyalist and Republican ranks result in breakaways to violent minority groups; further recognises that the IRA has agreed that disarmament is a necessary objective, but abhors the idea of surrender; and therefore calls upon all parties to the Good Friday Agreement to consider a day of reconciliation, when all sides could act together, which could be done with goodwill in time for the May deadline, thus allowing the Northern Ireland Assembly to be restored as quickly as possible.
That this House welcomes the Consumers' Association's repeated calls for a review of the influence of consultants in private practice on NHS waiting lists and waiting times for treatment; supports the 1991 Health Committee's call for the Government to review the influence of private practice on waiting lists; and calls on the Government to undertake such a review, which would identify the extent of the problem and how consultants' contracts may best reflect a modern and effective NHS.
That this House expresses its concern over the structure and membership of the Committee of Inquiry into hunting with dogs; acknowledges that committee members might be experts in their own fields, but lack expertise in wild life ecology and wild animal welfare; further notes with concern the alleged close links with hunting in respect of Professor Michael Winter, Lord Soulsby and Sir John Marsh; and calls upon the Home Secretary to review the membership of the Committee to ensure it is genuinely independent and impartial.
That this House resolves that the possibility of showing the proceedings of the National Assembly for Wales, broadcast by the digital channel S4C2, on one of the channels on the Houses of Parliament annunciator system should be investigated.
leave out from 'House' to end and add 'welcomes the Labour Government's commitment to increase health spending and deplores current Conservative policy for the National Health Service, which would force hundreds of thousands of sick people to pay for private medical care; notes with concern the recent statements by the honourable Member for Woodspring, that "the biggest problem that we have in the NHS is that it is not a proper market" and that those requiring hip and knee replacements, and hernia and cataract operations, will be forced to pay for private medical care; and calls on the Right honourable Member for Richmond (Yorks) to abandon his plans to destroy the National Health Service.'.
That this House expresses its concern at the number of apparently senseless attacks on elderly residents in Aberdeen in recent months; condemns the perpetrators of these crimes for their callousness; and welcomes the campaign being run by the Aberdeen Evening Express which highlights the issue by informing pensioners how they can protect themselves and call for help.
leave out from '2000' to end and add 'and believes that all departments ought to reply promptly to honourable Members' correspondence and in any event take no longer than a month for a substantive response'.
That this House notes that Mumia Abu-Jamal an Afro-American radio journalist has been on death row in a Pennsylvania prison for 18 years following his conviction for killing a police officer; is gravely concerned at the violations of his civil rights and due process at his trial; notes that he was denied the right to choose his own counsel, to examine the jury, to investigate the evidence against him, and effectively to challenge the prosecution's case; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make urgent representations to President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno to intervene to prevent the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal and to guarantee him the conditions for a fair trial.
That this House notes with distaste that Labour Whips were on Friday morning 4th February trawling the Library to find Labour honourable Members to speak at length in the debate on the Carers and Disabled Children Bill; deplores the fact that Labour Whips were determined not to allow any time for debate on the Bill introduced by the honourable Members for Dover and Cynon Valley; and regards this behaviour as fundamentally undemocratic and significantly at variance with the commitment to animal welfare espoused in the Labour Party's election manifesto.
after 'Ireland;', insert 'recalls the deplorable insult to the people of Scotland by the Right honourable Member for Penrith and the Borders in 1997 when he referred to beggars as being mostly Scottish;'.
That this House welcomes the ú20 million order won by Pilkington Optronics in Glasgow to fit three Astute-class submarines with imaging equipment, as the modern version of the periscope; notes that this work for the Royal Navy secures the future for the 600 Govan employees by providing work for the next six years; appreciates the confidence shown by the Ministry of Defence in pioneering hi-tech British firms; and praises the innovative quality work of the Govan firm.
That this House condemns the proposals by Lloyds TSB Bank to close its rural branch in Pontesbury near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, which has approximately 400 customers served by two members of staff; notes that Lloyds TSB proposes to close another six branches in the West Midlands this year; deplores this continuing systematic closure of rural branches by Lloyds TSB and other major banks; recognises that rural branches provide not just important banking services but also a focal point for village life, enabling particularly the elderly, disabled and young easier access to services which would otherwise require them to travel large distances to urban banks; calls upon the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to write to Sir Brian Pitman, Chairman of Lloyds TSB, to urge him to end their rural branch closure programme in Pontesbury, across Shropshire and across the country; and calls upon the Minister for the Cabinet Office to investigate the level of banking services in rural areas and publish the findings as a matter of urgency.
That this House believes that it is a scandal that at the beginning of the 21st century over 125 million primary-aged children around the world are not in school and that the ranks of the 880 million illiterate adults continue to grow; acknowledges that education is a human right and a vital pre-requisite for economic growth and social justice; notes the internationally-agreed target to achieve universal primary education by 2015; notes that there are a number of opportunities this year to make Education For All a global priority, starting in April with the Dakar conference; urges the Prime Minister to take the same international lead on education as he and his Government have taken on international debt; and therefore urges the Prime Minister to launch an international initiative which mobilises funding in support of national strategies to deliver primary eduction for all.
That this House notes with regret that an honourable Member's letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on behalf of a constituent, dated 16th August 1999, only received a reply dated 31st January 2000; notes that the record of Labour Ministers in taking so long to reply to letters has become a widespread disgrace amounting to a contempt for the accountability of the executive to the House of Commons; and calls on the Labour Government to improve its practices and show a proper respect for the democratic process.
That this House deplores the incompetence of the Home Office in failing to table the correct amendment to the Opposition Motion on Asylum and Immigration debates on 2nd February; notes that this resulted in a Prime Minister's amendment failing to be selected for the first time in the history of this House; and notes that this is entirely consistent with the chaos prevailing at the Home Office under the stewardship of the Right honourable Member for Blackburn.
That this House notes the Environment Agency's recent prosecution of AWE Aldermaston for unauthorised discharges of radioactive substances; believes that a full independent public inquiry is the only way to allay local fears about possible risks to public health and the environment, to assess the way forward in dealing with the problem of residual build-up of radioactive waste that is present on the site, and also to assess what risks there are as a result of the activities currently carried out by AWE; and calls on the Government to implement such an inquiry immediately.
That this House welcomes the drafting of an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on child soldiers which establishes 18 as the new minimum age for direct participation in hostilities; and calls on the United Kingdom Government to sign and ratify this new international standard as soon as it is adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
That this House expresses the highest respect and admiration for those enclaved residents of the Karpasia Penninsula who have suffered in order to remain in their homes during 25 years of occupation of northern Cyprus; and hopes that when a solution is achieved it will include a guarantee of full freedom of movement and settlement in the area.
That this House notes that on 30th January, the respected Spanish newspaper El Pais published the text of letters exchanged between the Home Office and Augusto Pinochet's lawyers from November 1999 onwards, and that these letters confirm that, despite being under no legal obligation to make such an offer, the Home Office proposed on its own initiative that Augusto Pinochet's medical details be kept secret before they received any such request from his lawyers; further notes that his lawyers informed the Home Office that their client issued them with detailed instructions about the terms under which he would submit to medical examination in November 1999 after he had allegedly suffered a major deterioration rendering him unable to prepare for trial, that, contrary to procedures adopted in previous extradition cases, the Home Office suggested General Pinochet's own British and Chilean doctors could attend his 5th January medical examination, and that the Home Office supplied him in advance with the complete list of questions they asked the independent medical team to ascertain, including queries about his ability to recall events in the 1970s; notes also that apparent loss of memory in this respect is notoriously easy to fake and that the torture offences upon which his extradition is sought occurred in the late 1980s; and therefore calls upon the Home Secretary to request that Augusto Pinochet, attend a fresh medical examination at which observers for the governments of Spain, France, Belgium and Switzerland will be allowed to be present.
That this House observes with regret the lower earnings of workers over the age of 50 and the smaller proportion of workers over the age of 50 who are in employment, both in comparison with other age groups and historically; notes that the proportion of employees aged over 50 is lowest amongst large public and private sector employers; recognises that many people in their late middle years wish to be usefully employed but are not; welcomes measures taken by Governments in recent years, including the New Deal for 50 plus, and acknowledges that these measures have not had time to yield results; and calls upon the Government and other employers to put more resources into the encouragement and career development of their older employees rather than into enhancements of early retirement benefits as an addition to an active strategy to discourage discrimination against older workers.
That this House believes that strong international controls on trade in ivory are necessary to protect endangered elephants; acknowledges that the European Union's abstention on a vote to relax the ban on international ivory trade at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1997 allowed a limited resumption in ivory trade between three southern African countries and Japan; is concerned that many African and Asian elephant range states have reported an increase in elephant poaching as a result of the lifting of the ivory ban and that there have been a number of large seizures of illegal ivory in recent months; notes Labour's manifesto pledge to 'support protection for the African elephant, and oppose any resumption of the trade in ivory and elephant skins'; and therefore strongly urges the Government to fully support the restoration of a ban on international trade in ivory at the next CITES Conference of the Parties in April 2000.
That this House notes the continued discrepancy between rates of VAT charged on energy conservation (17.5 per cent.) and on energy consumption (5 per cent.); believes that the Government's limited reduction on VAT on energy-saving materials purchased under certain promotional schemes, while welcome, does not address this wider distortion; notes that in September 1999 the French Government cut VAT on energy-saving materials from 20.6 per cent. to 5.5 per cent. and has not been challenged by other EU member states or by the European Commission; notes a similar reduction has been made in Italy from January 2000, again without challenge; believes that this demonstrates that the UK could extend the current limited VAT reduction to all installations of energy saving materials carried out by contractors and remain in line with EU law; and therefore urges the UK Government to do this at the earliest possible opportunity.
That this House, mindful that human rights in China and Tibet have continued to deteriorate and aware that the bilateral dialogue on human rights has failed to prevent this deterioration, supports the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 20th January and the recommendations of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of 10th December 1998; and calls on the Government and its European Union partners, with the United States, to co-sponsor a resolution on China at the forthcoming 56th Commission for Human Rights.
That this House welcomes the resolute and public position of the European Union, the United States and Israel with respect to the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the Austrian Government coalition as a clear indication that there can be no room in Europe's democratic family for Hitler's political heirs.
That this House welcomes the Government's plans to modernise the Probation Service under the Crime and Public Protection Bill, but calls upon the Home Secretary to reconsider his proposal to change its name to the Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service.
That this House welcomes the agreement reached in Montreal in January in respect of the Biosafety Protocol; congratulates the Minister for the Environment on his role in securing the support of European and non-aligned nations for the protocol; and recognises the overriding importance of the precautionary principle and environmental sustainability in all discussions relating to international trade and development.
That this House notes that there is no specific detailed legislation to protect the hundreds of millions of broiler chickens reared every year in the UK; is dismayed that millions of these birds are reared in severely cramped conditions, 30-40,000 at a time in windowless sheds; is further dismayed that such conditions, together with the use of growth-promoting antibiotics and rich diets, can cause severe and crippling health problems and injuries for millions of chickens; is concerned that intensive farming and the cramming together of broiler chickens can create the conditons in which infections flourish; notes that recent reports and surveys suggest that a significant number of broiler chickens are infected with salmonella or campylobacter, the main sources of food poisoning in humans; is alarmed about the potential threat this poses to human health; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to do all it can to end the pain and suffering of broiler chickens and to safeguard human health; and, believes that, by doing so, Her Majesty's Government will both maintain consumer confidence in poultry products and ensure the economic future of the poultry industry.
That this House is appalled by the sword attack at the offices of Cheltenham Liberal Democrats on Friday 28 January; mourns the death of Councillor Andy Pennington who served the people of Gloucestershire with distinction, and sends condolences to his family; thanks the Gloucestershire Police and East Gloucestershire Health Trust for their excellent response to the tragic incident; and sends best wishes to the honourable Member for Cheltenham and his family and looks forward to his speedy return to Westminster.