That this House notes with grave concern the reduced employment terms and conditions for staff of hon. Members under the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) expenses scheme; recognises the real terms reduction in hon. Members' staffing budgets and urges IPSA to raise the staffing limit for hon. Membersin the forthcoming review; further notes that redundancy rights have been reduced to a statutory basis, removing discretion to reward loyalty; further notes that hon. Members are also prevented from rewarding good performance through bonus payments to staff; urges IPSA to work towards the creation of a human resources department; further urges IPSA to reconsider the decision no longer to deduct trade union subscriptions at payroll; calls on IPSA to amend the expenses scheme so that payments related to maternity leave and cover can be made from a separate budget and not treated as contingencies; further recognises that in practice many Parliamentary internships qualify for the national minimum wage and further urges IPSA to create an interns fund to pay them fairly; further recognises that public anger at the previous expenses scheme was not due to staff costs and therefore opposes any arbitrary publication of staff salary details; and further urges IPSA to work alongside the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch and other staff associations to resolve these issues.

That this House notes with grave concern the reduced employment terms and conditions for staff of hon. Members under the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) expenses scheme; recognises the real terms reduction in hon. Members' staffing budgets and urges IPSA to raise the staffing limit for hon. Membersin the forthcoming...

That this House supports the pledge published in the programme for Government to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific reasearch; and calls on the Government to develop a strategy which identifies and implements targets for sustained reductions in the number of animals used annually in experiments in the UK in order to fulfil this pledge.

That this House supports the pledge published in the programme for Government to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific reasearch; and calls on the Government to develop a strategy which identifies and implements targets for sustained reductions in the number of animals used annually in experiments in...

That this House supports the campaign within the Labour Party for the creation of a fund within the Labour Party that local parties can draw on to develop talented individuals from under-represented groups to provide bursaries and grants to individuals who would be unable to sustain the costs of candidacy; recognises that there is unacceptably low representation in Parliament of groups from low-income backgrounds such as manual workers, ethnic minorities, women and disabled people; and calls on all sides of the House to campaign for similar funds to be created.

That this House supports the campaign within the Labour Party for the creation of a fund within the Labour Party that local parties can draw on to develop talented individuals from under-represented groups to provide bursaries and grants to individuals who would be unable to sustain the costs of candidacy;...

That this House notes that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs public consultation on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses shows that 94.5 per cent. of respondents support a ban as the best option to protect the welfare of circus animals; further notes that the new Government has been unclear on whether it will take action; believes that treating wild animals as circus tricks has no place in civilised society; underlines that violence against animals continues to occur routinely in circuses as revealed in an investigation into the Great British Circus in 2009; recognises that the only thing stopping this ban from coming into place is a decision by Ministers; and urges the Government to use its powers under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act to make a regulation banning the use of all wild animals in circuses.

That this House notes that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs public consultation on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses shows that 94.5 per cent. of respondents support a ban as the best option to protect the welfare of circus animals; further notes that the new...

That this House urges the Government to recognise that the intention behind disability living allowance was not to award benefit based on a particular disabling condition but on the extent to which a severely disabled person has personal care or mobility needs as a result of living with their disability; understands that medical assessments and questionnaires cannot in practice be worded perfectly to reflect the legislation and case law; acknowledges that it is the role of the decision maker to determine a person's eligibility, based on all the relevant evidence, both medical and non-medical; considers that the administrative cost of medical assessments could be better used to make the benefit application process easier for disabled people to complete and to better support the decision maker; and calls on the Government to re-consider its decision to introduce medical assessments for new and existing claimants of disability living allowance.

That this House urges the Government to recognise that the intention behind disability living allowance was not to award benefit based on a particular disabling condition but on the extent to which a severely disabled person has personal care or mobility needs as a result of living with their disability;...

That this House congratulates staff in the Department for Work and Pensions on their success in getting people back into work in this difficult economic period; notes the significant savings that Jobcentre Plus and other Department for Work and Pensions staff have enabled by finding people work and minimising the welfare budget; is concerned that the position of 13,500 staff on fixed-term appointments whose contracts are coming to an end has not been clarified; further notes that this number includes 2,500 fixed-term appointees in the Department undertaking crucial work responding to the economic downturn, who could be made redundant in November 2010; is alarmed that, with job losses set to rise and a freeze on recruitment, the redundancies of these staff would lead to an untenable workload for other staff in the Department; and calls on the Government to extend or make permanent the contracts of such workers and enter into urgent negotiations with the recognised trade unions on this matter.

That this House congratulates staff in the Department for Work and Pensions on their success in getting people back into work in this difficult economic period; notes the significant savings that Jobcentre Plus and other Department for Work and Pensions staff have enabled by finding people work and minimising the...

That this House supports the Independent Living Fund in providing financial support to those with disabilities in the UK; notes that the fund currently provides vital support for over 21,000 people; welcomes the support which the fund has received from Government in recent years; expresses deep concern however that due to the rising cost of care the fund has had to close to new applicants for the remainder of the financial year; and calls on the Government to increase the funding to the Independent Living Fund to allow it to continue providing support to all who require it.

That this House supports the Independent Living Fund in providing financial support to those with disabilities in the UK; notes that the fund currently provides vital support for over 21,000 people; welcomes the support which the fund has received from Government in recent years; expresses deep concern however that due...

That this House recognises the crucial work undertaken by civil and public servants every day across all government departments; notes that without their dedication and hard work the Government would not be able to function; congratulates the Public and Commercial Services Union on its latest legal victory in its dispute to defend the Civil Service Compensation Scheme which would have seen tens of thousands of its members worse off; and encourages the new Government to enter urgent negotiations with the union to seek a negotiated settlement.

That this House recognises the crucial work undertaken by civil and public servants every day across all government departments; notes that without their dedication and hard work the Government would not be able to function; congratulates the Public and Commercial Services Union on its latest legal victory in its dispute...

That this House believes value added tax (VAT) is an unfair and regressive tax which disproportionately affects people on lower incomes, including pensioners and the unemployed who do not pay income tax or national insurance; further believes that the temporary reduction in VAT to 15 per cent. in 2009 was a successful measure in stimulating the economy during the recession; and opposes the unfair increase in VAT to 20 per cent. announced in the 2010 Budget, which will hit the poorest families and pensioners in society hardest.

That this House believes value added tax (VAT) is an unfair and regressive tax which disproportionately affects people on lower incomes, including pensioners and the unemployed who do not pay income tax or national insurance; further believes that the temporary reduction in VAT to 15 per cent. in 2009 was...

That this House supports the aims of St Mungo's Action Week 2010 from 20 to 27 June, which focuses on the dedicated support that homeless people need to make the journey back to work; recognises that the homeless, socially excluded and long-term unemployed require integrated, personalised and specialist support to get back into employment; and calls on the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department of Health to work together to improve the support provided to this vulnerable group.

That this House supports the aims of St Mungo's Action Week 2010 from 20 to 27 June, which focuses on the dedicated support that homeless people need to make the journey back to work; recognises that the homeless, socially excluded and long-term unemployed require integrated, personalised and specialist support to...

That this House endorses the call by the Motor Neurone Disease Association for a national strategy for motor neurone disease (MND); believes that such a strategy would lead to enhanced cost-effectiveness and good practice; supports the implementation of the National Service Framework for long-term neurological conditions; is dismayed that no official national clinical guidance or approach exists in relation to MND; notes the extreme cruelty of motor neurone disease, which dramatically curtails lives and traps an often healthy mind in a failing and incapacitated body; and further believes that a national strategy is urgently needed in order to address the inequity of access to best practice in care for people with MND and to ensure as high a quality of life as possible and dignity in death.

That this House endorses the call by the Motor Neurone Disease Association for a national strategy for motor neurone disease (MND); believes that such a strategy would lead to enhanced cost-effectiveness and good practice; supports the implementation of the National Service Framework for long-term neurological conditions; is dismayed that no...

That this House notes the value and importance of science in the schools' curriculum; further notes the importance of the specific inclusion of evolution and natural selection in the schools' curriculum; regrets that evolution has been dropped from reforms to the primary school curriculum, along with other reforms proposed; further regrets the inclusion of creationist and other pseudo-scientific theories in the teaching of science in some schools; and urges the Government to ensure that all schools teach and promote science and the scientific method and to include the theory of evolution in the science curriculum at both primary and secondary levels.

That this House notes the value and importance of science in the schools' curriculum; further notes the importance of the specific inclusion of evolution and natural selection in the schools' curriculum; regrets that evolution has been dropped from reforms to the primary school curriculum, along with other reforms proposed; further...

That this House notes that a ban on the beak trimming of laying hens is due to come into force on 1 January 2011; believes that if the ban is postponed a new commencement date must be set by the statutory instrument that postpones the ban; further notes that scientific research shows that the correct way to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism is not to beak-trim the hens but to keep them in good conditions and to select birds that are less prone to feather pecking; further notes that there is ample practical experience to draw on as Austrian farmers and certain UK farmers have successfully phased out beak trimming; and calls on the Government, if it postpones the ban on beak trimming, to set a new commencement date for the ban and to encourage the industry to develop and implement an action plan for bringing beak-trimming to an end.

That this House notes that a ban on the beak trimming of laying hens is due to come into force on 1 January 2011; believes that if the ban is postponed a new commencement date must be set by the statutory instrument that postpones the ban; further notes that scientific...

That this House recognises the social, economic and cultural importance of well-run community pubs, which provide a safe and sociable environment for the consumption of alcohol among friends and are an essential community meeting place; notes the ideas put forward in the Campaign for Real Ale's Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter which received support from 670 candidates at the last election, 150 of whom were elected; welcomes the genuine cross party consensus on the need to support and protect well-run community pubs; and so urges the Government to implement a package of policies which will help secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs.

That this House recognises the social, economic and cultural importance of well-run community pubs, which provide a safe and sociable environment for the consumption of alcohol among friends and are an essential community meeting place; notes the ideas put forward in the Campaign for Real Ale's Beer Drinkers and Pub...

That this House welcomes the involvement of the many communities and local authorities in the first round of proposals from the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 and is especially heartened by the fact that this has led to people re-engaging in the democratic process; notes that this has resulted in 199 proposals for community sustainability being shortlisted by the Local Government Association; expresses its disappointment that although these proposals were initially submitted by local authorities on 31 July 2009 and were submitted to the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in December 2009, not one has yet been agreed; is concerned that this delay will cause disillusionment in many communities; further notes that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst, has supported the introduction of a timetable for dealing with such proposals; and urges the Secretary of State to deal with all such proposals expeditiously.

That this House welcomes the involvement of the many communities and local authorities in the first round of proposals from the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 and is especially heartened by the fact that this has led to people re-engaging in the democratic process; notes that this has resulted in 199...

That this House recognises the important contribution and commitment the UK has made to the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); welcomes the Government's commitment to spend 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on overseas aid and to enshrine this commitment in law; further recognises that development benefits often remain out of reach of those who are poorest, most marginalised and affected by conflict; acknowledges that many of the MDGs are off track, especially those relating to maternal, infant and child health; further acknowledges the importance of the G8, G20 and MDG Review in mobilising the international community to achieve the MDG; and trusts that the Government will show strong international leadership in encouraging others in the international community to work towards an MDG rescue plan with clear political and financial commitments, and with every G8 country providing solid national commitments and timetables.

That this House recognises the important contribution and commitment the UK has made to the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); welcomes the Government's commitment to spend 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on overseas aid and to enshrine this commitment in law; further recognises that development benefits...

That this House notes that recent advances in the quality and look of fake fur make it difficult for many consumers to tell the difference between items made with fake fur and those made with real fur; further notes that there is now evidence that consumers are confused and some may be purchasing items made or trimmed with real fur believing the fur to be fake; further notes that some people are allergic to real fur; further notes that laws have been introduced in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin requiring all real fur and fur-trimmed clothing to carry a label; and calls on the Government to introduce, as soon as possible and as a measure to protect consumers, legislative proposals for a labelling order requiring all real fur on sale to carry a label that clearly states that the item is made using real animal fur, whether or not it has been dyed, and the country of origin of the fur.

That this House notes that recent advances in the quality and look of fake fur make it difficult for many consumers to tell the difference between items made with fake fur and those made with real fur; further notes that there is now evidence that consumers are confused and some...

That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the re-opening of the Ulster Museum; regrets that there is pressure to include creationism in the proposed exhibition of evolution and diversity; and believes that the teaching or promotion of religious beliefs should be separate from the teaching or promotion of science.

That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the re-opening of the Ulster Museum; regrets that there is pressure to include creationism in the proposed exhibition of evolution and diversity; and believes that the teaching or promotion of religious beliefs should be separate from the teaching...

That this House recognises that 70 per cent. of children with autism develop mental health problems; notes that 10,000 children with autism access child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) every year; further notes that according to new research from the National Autistic Society, CAMHS will not improve the mental health of two thirds of these children; acknowledges the devastating impact this has on children and their families; agrees that CAMHS professionals working with children with autism need to understand autism; congratulates the National Autistic Society for highlighting these issues in its You Need to Know campaign; and urges the Government to take decisive action to improve the support available to children with autism and mental health problems and their families.

That this House recognises that 70 per cent. of children with autism develop mental health problems; notes that 10,000 children with autism access child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) every year; further notes that according to new research from the National Autistic Society, CAMHS will not improve the mental...

That this House recognises the importance of farm animal welfare and opposes any postponement of the planned EU-wide ban on conventional battery cages for laying hens due to come into force in January 2012 and the UK ban on beak trimming of laying hens due to come into force in January 2011; supports those local authorities which no longer use eggs gathered from such caged hens, or which have committed themselves to ending their use or purchase in the near future; and calls on the Government to help establish new higher standards of animal welfare for farm animals by the setting of coterminus criteria linked to food procurement policies in the public sector.

That this House recognises the importance of farm animal welfare and opposes any postponement of the planned EU-wide ban on conventional battery cages for laying hens due to come into force in January 2012 and the UK ban on beak trimming of laying hens due to come into force in...