That this House expresses concern at the oppression of 3,400 members of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) including 1,000 women residing in Camp Ashraf in Iraq as protected persons under the 4th Geneva Convention; notes the inhumane siege of Ashraf residents, in particular serious medical restrictions and their psychological torture with 140 loudspeakers; further notes that this oppression takes place partly using the excuse that the PMOI's name is included on the US terrorist list; further notes that the UK Court of Appeal, after reviewing the closed material, ruled that the PMOI was not involved in terrorism leading to the group's de-proscription in the UK unanimously by both Houses of Parliament in 2008 and in the EU in 2009, and that in July 2010 the US Court of Appeals in Washington ruled in favour of the PMOI and urged the US Secretary of State to re-evaluate the decision to maintain the PMOI on the list; further notes that on 25 November 2010 the European Parliament adopted a declaration calling for protection of Ashraf and the PMOI's de-proscription in the US; urges the US administration to follow the UK in de-listing the PMOI and provide the necessary protection for the residents of Camp Ashraf; calls on the UN to station a monitoring team at Ashraf; and further calls on the UK Government to take necessary measures to convince the UN and US to adopt these measures.

That this House expresses concern at the oppression of 3,400 members of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI) including 1,000 women residing in Camp Ashraf in Iraq as protected persons under the 4th Geneva Convention; notes the inhumane siege of Ashraf residents, in particular serious medical restrictions and their...

That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes that many employees, particularly those working in bakeries, are often subjected to very high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being, with effects ranging from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt; and urges the Government to provide clear and coherent guidelines to employers about how to combat heat in the workplace and to introduce a maximum working workplace temperature of 30C (86F) and of 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous work.

That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature there is no clear legal maximum workplace temperature so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes that many employees, particularly those working in bakeries, are often subjected to very high temperatures which...

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 is alarmed by the proposals to close 103 magistrates' courts and 54 county courts in England and Wales put forward by the Ministry of Justice; notes that this respresents a 30 per cent. cut in courts across the country; acknowledges that courts provide a vital public service delivering local justice; deplores the fact that an announcement of such importance to hon. Members was presented in a Written Ministerial Statement; is concerned that the scale of these closures will have a significant and lasting impact on the prosecution of justice in local communities; does not believe that the timetable for public consultation is sufficient for a proposal of such magnitude; and calls on the Minister responsible to extend the consultation period to allow hon. Members and other interested parties to submit responses, and to agree to meet urgently with representatives from the recognised trade unions to discuss how to mitigate the impact of these proposals on their members.

That this House is alarmed by the proposals to close 103 magistrates' courts and 54 county courts in England and Wales put forward by the Ministry of Justice; notes that this respresents a 30 per cent. cut in courts across the country; acknowledges that courts provide a vital public service...

That this House recognises the importance of local bus services in tackling congestion in urban areas, in contributing to carbon reduction and in providing a lifeline service in rural areas and for households without access to a car; notes that the Government's own calculations suggest that if Government BSOG (Bus Services Operator Grant) support for bus services were to be withdrawn, substantial fare increases, service reductions and job losses would follow; and calls on the Government to continue to support bus services by retaining BSOG.

That this House recognises the importance of local bus services in tackling congestion in urban areas, in contributing to carbon reduction and in providing a lifeline service in rural areas and for households without access to a car; notes that the Government's own calculations suggest that if Government BSOG (Bus...

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 recognises the work of the Government Office Network, which employs over 1,700 staff from 13 departments in nine locations across England which deliver Government services in partnership with local authorities and charities in areas from child protection to monitoring community tensions; is concerned that the review of the Government Offices could lead to their closure which would have a devastating impact on the community; and urges the Government to protect the delivery of services in English regions and to meet urgently with Public and Commercial Services Union representatives who work in the Government Office Network to consider their concerns.

That this House recognises the work of the Government Office Network, which employs over 1,700 staff from 13 departments in nine locations across England which deliver Government services in partnership with local authorities and charities in areas from child protection to monitoring community tensions; is concerned that the review of...

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 recognises that Britain relies on rail transport; notes that every year 1.3 billion passenger journeys are made by rail and that rail freight carries 100 million tonnes of goods; further recognises that at peak times the busiest parts of the rail network are full, trains are overcrowded and that passenger and freight demand continue to grow; notes that the annual cost of road congestion to the economy is already estimated to be £7-8 billion; believes that investment in infrastructure is necessary to stimulate business investment in Britain's towns and cities and boost economic recovery; further recognises that current major rail capacity enhancement projects bring economic benefits to Britain; and calls on the Government to consider the economic benefits of rail schemes when determining value for money projects in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

That this House recognises that Britain relies on rail transport; notes that every year 1.3 billion passenger journeys are made by rail and that rail freight carries 100 million tonnes of goods; further recognises that at peak times the busiest parts of the rail network are full, trains are overcrowded...

That this House welcomes the mention the housing crisis campaign; notes that two million households are predicted to be on housing waiting lists by 2011 and that over two million vulnerable children are living in unsatisfactory housing; further notes that, in March 2010, the current housing minister said `We will put our proposals to a very simple test: have we built more homes?'; further notes that poor quality, overcrowded housing damages children's educational attainment and subsequent earnings potential and that according to research commissioned by the National Housing Federation, health problems relating to poor housing cost the country nearly 2.5 billion a year in treatment and time off work; urges the Government not to ignore the housing crisis; and calls on the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to safeguard the building of social rented and affordable homes in the forthcoming spending review.

That this House welcomes the mention the housing crisis campaign; notes that two million households are predicted to be on housing waiting lists by 2011 and that over two million vulnerable children are living in unsatisfactory housing; further notes that, in March 2010, the current housing minister said `We will...

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 welcomes the United for Education coalition which includes the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the GMB, the Educational Institute of Scotland, the NUS, the University and College Union, UNISON and Unite the Union; believes that education is an engine of economic recovery and social mobility which also changes the lives and builds the hope of individuals, families and communities; notes that over ??1.2 billion of cuts have been announced to higher education with more than ??200 million also cut from further education and adult learning budgets; expresses deep concern that thousands of jobs have already been lost with thousands more at risk; fears that provision of education will be restricted with up to 70 per cent. of further education colleges cutting courses this year and up to 200,000 applicants missing out on a university place; rejects the idea of lifting the cap on student top-up fees; further notes that investment in education will ensure a skilled workforce to aid economic recovery; and calls on the Government to protect educational provision, jobs and access through sustainable funding for the post-16 sector.

That this House welcomes the United for Education coalition which includes the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the GMB, the Educational Institute of Scotland, the NUS, the University and College Union, UNISON and Unite the Union; believes that education is an engine of economic recovery and social mobility which also...

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...