That this House applauds the work New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Study - a cytogenetic analysis conducted by Dr Al Rowland of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, New Zealand, into the effects of nuclear weapons tests on navy veterans; recognises that the results of this research clearly demonstrate that those exposed to nuclear radiation in Operation Grapple suffered, without their prior knowledge, exposure to dangerously high levels of radiation that has resulted in long-term genetic damage; and urges the Government to carry out similar tests to ensure that British personnel involved in Operation Grapple can see whether they have suffered similar DNA damage to their counterparts from New Zealand.

That this House applauds the work New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Study - a cytogenetic analysis conducted by Dr Al Rowland of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, New Zealand, into the effects of nuclear weapons tests on navy veterans; recognises that the results of this research clearly demonstrate...

That this House calls on the Ministry of Defence to provide fair compensation and a full apology to service veterans who were deliberately exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during a series of British nuclear tests in South Pacific during the 1950s and 1960s; notes new research carried out by Dr Al Rowland of Massey University, New Zealand, which provides further strong evidence of linkage between exposure to nuclear tests and medical conditions which developed later; and further notes that these veterans and their children have suffered from appalling medical conditions directly related to radiation poisoning over the past 50 years.

That this House calls on the Ministry of Defence to provide fair compensation and a full apology to service veterans who were deliberately exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during a series of British nuclear tests in South Pacific during the 1950s and 1960s; notes new research carried out by...

That this House congratulates the Royal National Institute of the Blind on the launch of its `Open Your Eyes' campaign; notes that if action is not taken now to prevent avoidable blindness the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double by 2030 to four million; therefore calls on Government to undertake a large scale public health campaign to raise awareness of the causes of avoidable blindness and the importance of regular eye tests in preventing eye disease, to implement improved patient referral pathways to speed early diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and ensure universal access to high quality low vision and rehabilitation services to promote independent living for people who lose their sight.

That this House congratulates the Royal National Institute of the Blind on the launch of its `Open Your Eyes' campaign; notes that if action is not taken now to prevent avoidable blindness the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double by 2030 to four million; therefore...

That this House notes with concern that the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United Kingdom has risen by 33 per cent.; further notes that the tuberculin skin test for latent TB infection was developed 115 years ago and is inaccurate in up to 50 per cent. of cases; observes that the new T-SPOT blood test for TB delivers a 96.3 per cent. sensitivity rate, reducing missed TB cases, morbidity and higher costs of treating subsequent disease; further observes that the T-SPOT blood test requires only one visit to hospital, avoiding gaps in detection and treatment as a result of up to one-third of patients failing to attend the second visit required for skin testing; further notes that the Government's 2004 TB Action Plan identifies accurate diagnosis using technological advances as one of the key priorities for the control of TB; further observes that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appears in its draft guidance on TB testing to have reflected neither the potential savings of ??7,000 for every additional case of TB averted through use of the blood test, nor the improved quality of life of patients; further observes that the alternative Mantoux skin test being considered would require substantial retraining of healthcare personnel and is unlicensed for use in the United Kingdom; and calls upon the Department of Health and NICE to review current testing policy and promote greater adoption of the T-SPOT blood test as the most effective procedure.

That this House notes with concern that the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United Kingdom has risen by 33 per cent.; further notes that the tuberculin skin test for latent TB infection was developed 115 years ago and is inaccurate in up to 50 per cent. of cases; observes...

That this House notes with alarm the proposed closure of Great Britain's only railway test track, which runs between Asfordby and Nottingham; recognises that the track was upgraded only six years ago at a cost of ??25 million; notes that the test track's closure means either that new trains will have to be tested on the already overcrowded rail network or on test tracks elsewhere in Europe, leaving even more reliance on foreign equipment and technology; and calls on the Government to intervene to ensure the survival of the track.

That this House notes with alarm the proposed closure of Great Britain's only railway test track, which runs between Asfordby and Nottingham; recognises that the track was upgraded only six years ago at a cost of ??25 million; notes that the test track's closure means either that new trains will...

That this House condemns the decision by the Department for Transport to allow the closure of the Asfordby Railway test track; notes that the loss of the UK's only high speed rail test track is a huge blow to the United Kingdom's rail industry, as future high speed trains will now have to be developed and tested abroad; notes that the loss of the facility will mean that new trains will either have to be tested on the already congested rail network or have to enter service without being fully tested, therefore putting passenger safety at risk; and further notes that the ??1.8 million a year required to keep the track open is a fraction of the ??6.5 billion in subsidy that the railways will receive this year.

That this House condemns the decision by the Department for Transport to allow the closure of the Asfordby Railway test track; notes that the loss of the UK's only high speed rail test track is a huge blow to the United Kingdom's rail industry, as future high speed trains will...

That this House welcomes the report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on The Ethics of Research Involving Animals as a balanced contribution to a controversial debate; shares the Council's concerns about the potential effect of new EU chemicals legislation in greatly increasing animal testing; and agrees with its recommendations to make the maximum use of data-sharing, to develop alternative means of testing chemicals, and to search for ways to continue reducing and refining animal tests to improve both science and animal welfare.

That this House welcomes the report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics on The Ethics of Research Involving Animals as a balanced contribution to a controversial debate; shares the Council's concerns about the potential effect of new EU chemicals legislation in greatly increasing animal testing; and agrees with its recommendations...

That this House is surprised that the Government is not buying the United Kingdom's only railway test track, situated at Asfordby in the Midlands, which is used for testing new engines and rolling stock for training, meaning that this facility will be closed on 31st January 2006 and the rails then removed, thereby leaving the United Kingdom without any non-main line rail test track, and in the regrettable position of having to hire such track overseas, which cannot be regarded as offering encouragement for UK development of the high-technology trains and rolling stock needed in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

That this House is surprised that the Government is not buying the United Kingdom's only railway test track, situated at Asfordby in the Midlands, which is used for testing new engines and rolling stock for training, meaning that this facility will be closed on 31st January 2006 and the rails...

That this House notes that the Legal Services Commission in June 2002 granted limited funding to two firms of solicitors to undertake preliminary investigations to enable them to prepare a multi-party action on behalf of the British nuclear test veterans and veterans of other nationalities, and that in October 2004 the Legal Services Commission, having made a preliminary assessment of the multi-party action, sought further information from the solicitors; is concerned about the protraction of these proceedings; notes that on 23rd December 2004, in order to safeguard the veterans' legal right to pursue the case, proceedings were brought to the court's attention and that the court now requires that these issued proceedings be served upon the Ministry of Defence within four months of that date, that is by 23rd April; and therefore urges the Legal Services Commission, within this timeframe, to reach a final decision on funding and one which will enable the veterans to pursue their action.

That this House notes that the Legal Services Commission in June 2002 granted limited funding to two firms of solicitors to undertake preliminary investigations to enable them to prepare a multi-party action on behalf of the British nuclear test veterans and veterans of other nationalities, and that in October 2004...

That this House expresses its concerns regarding the safeguarding of public health through data obtained from laboratory animals, particularly in light of large numbers of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions that were not predicted by animal studies; is surprised that the Government has not commissioned or evaluated any formal research on the efficacy of animal experiments, and has no plans to do so; and, in common with 83 per cent. of general practitioners in a recent survey, calls upon the Government to facilitate an independent and transparent scientific evaluation of the use of animals as surrogate humans in drug safety testing and medical research.

That this House expresses its concerns regarding the safeguarding of public health through data obtained from laboratory animals, particularly in light of large numbers of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions that were not predicted by animal studies; is surprised that the Government has not commissioned or evaluated any formal...