That this House recognises the importance of World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 2010; notes with concern the continued rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases globally, resulting in nearly 5,000 deaths a day and the increase of TB in the UK, particularly among vulnerable, marginalised populations; further notes that TB-HIV co-infection and TB drug resistance is fuelling the epidemic; and calls on the Government to ensure the maximum effectiveness is achieved through its efforts in the UK and overseas to combat this preventable and curable disease.

That this House recognises the importance of World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 2010; notes with concern the continued rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases globally, resulting in nearly 5,000 deaths a day and the increase of TB in the UK, particularly among vulnerable, marginalised populations; further notes that TB-HIV co-infection...

That this House recognises that one in five of all cancers spread to the brain; notes that the number of children dying from a brain tumour in 2007 was 33 per cent. higher than in 2001; further notes that five-year survival rates for brain cancer are low relative to most other cancers; and calls for brain tumour research to receive greater cancer funding from Government than the 0.7 per cent. of all cancer funding that it currently receives.

That this House recognises that one in five of all cancers spread to the brain; notes that the number of children dying from a brain tumour in 2007 was 33 per cent. higher than in 2001; further notes that five-year survival rates for brain cancer are low relative to most...

That this House welcomes the third International Rare Disease Day on 28 February 2010; notes that there are over 6,000 rare diseases, affecting approximately 3.5 million people in the UK; supports the focus of this year's Rare Disease Day on the importance of research into rare diseases for the millions of patients without a cure; believes that rare diseases should be seen as a public health priority; and joins Rare Disease UK in calling on the Government to act on its commitment to a strategy for rare diseases as demonstrated by the adoption of the European Council Recommendation on action for rare diseases in June 2009.

That this House welcomes the third International Rare Disease Day on 28 February 2010; notes that there are over 6,000 rare diseases, affecting approximately 3.5 million people in the UK; supports the focus of this year's Rare Disease Day on the importance of research into rare diseases for the millions...

That this House is concerned by the recent report of the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association, which highlights systemic failings in the management of asbestos in schools; notes with alarm that around 75 per cent. of schools contain this potentially deadly substance; further notes that at least 178 school teachers have died from the fatal disease mesothelioma, which is contracted from asbestos; welcomes the decision by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to set up a steering group to examine all aspects of risk, management and training for asbestos in schools; and calls on the Government to take further steps to tackle this problem and to ensure that adequate guidance and training is in place for the protection of staff and pupils.

That this House is concerned by the recent report of the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association, which highlights systemic failings in the management of asbestos in schools; notes with alarm that around 75 per cent. of schools contain this potentially deadly substance; further notes that at least 178 school teachers...

That this House notes with concern that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today and now costs the NHS 10 per cent. of its resources; further notes with concern that every three minutes one person in the UK is diagnosed with diabetes; congratulates Diabetes UK on its Get Serious campaign which recommends prioritising action to solve day-to-day problems facing people living with diabetes; and calls on the Government and Her Majesty's Opposition to commit to acting on Diabetes UK's recommendations.

That this House notes with concern that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today and now costs the NHS 10 per cent. of its resources; further notes with concern that every three minutes one person in the UK is diagnosed with diabetes; congratulates Diabetes UK...

That this House welcomes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March; notes with concern that only 38 per cent. of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK will survive five years; recognises that women who are diagnosed at an early stage with ovarian cancer have a 90 per cent. survival rate five years beyond diagnosis, as opposed to women diagnosed at a later stage with the disease where survival rates are much lower; further welcomes the all-party commitment to improve access to diagnostic tools for cancers, including ovarian cancer; further recognises proposals aimed at increasing prompter diagnosis of ovarian cancer; acknowledges the good work of Ovarian Cancer Action to improve women's chances of surviving ovarian cancer by funding research and raising awareness of the disease by giving a voice to women with ovarian cancer and their families; and calls on the Government to support Ovarian Cancer Action's Remember the Symptoms campaign to raise awareness among health professionals and women alike of the symptoms of ovarian cancer to increase earlier diagnosis of the disease and improve survival rates.

That this House welcomes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March; notes with concern that only 38 per cent. of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK will survive five years; recognises that women who are diagnosed at an early stage with ovarian cancer have a 90 per cent. survival...

That this House applauds the tremendous progress made in recent years to increase access to cancer screening and to prevent premature deaths; congratulates the Government and dedicated staff for the fact that cases of breast cancer picked up by screening have already doubled in the North East over the last decade, which should provide further assurance to women that breast checks are effective; notes that 95,605 women were screened in 2009 and 731 cases of cancer were detected of which 589 were invasive; and further notes that the current target age range is between 50 and 70 years old, but that the widening of the screening programme from April 2008 included those aged between 47 and 73 years, with full coverage expected in 2015.

That this House applauds the tremendous progress made in recent years to increase access to cancer screening and to prevent premature deaths; congratulates the Government and dedicated staff for the fact that cases of breast cancer picked up by screening have already doubled in the North East over the last...

That this House congratulates the MS Society on its campaign to uphold the rights of people living with multiple sclerosis, namely the right to quality health care including fair access to appropriate drugs and treatments, the right to personalised care and support, the right to wheelchairs and equipment to enable independent living and the right to support in and out of work, including support for carers; and commends the MS Society for its success in highlighting the impact of this unpredictable and incurable condition.

That this House congratulates the MS Society on its campaign to uphold the rights of people living with multiple sclerosis, namely the right to quality health care including fair access to appropriate drugs and treatments, the right to personalised care and support, the right to wheelchairs and equipment to enable...

That this House is aware that the anti-cancer drug Alimta is enormously beneficial in the treatment of mesothelioma tumours; recalls that sufferers in Scotland and parts of England and Wales have had access to the drug via cancer networks and primary care trusts; is therefore alarmed that the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has indicated that it is not minded to recommend Alimta for prescription to patients despite its known efficacy; and calls on the Government to ignore such advice, which deals mainly with NICE's narrow definition of cost effectiveness rather than the clinical needs of sufferers.

That this House is aware that the anti-cancer drug Alimta is enormously beneficial in the treatment of mesothelioma tumours; recalls that sufferers in Scotland and parts of England and Wales have had access to the drug via cancer networks and primary care trusts; is therefore alarmed that the National Institute...

That this House expresses concern that under 18 year olds are able to access easily unsupervised sunbed salons; further expresses strong concern that malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is increasing at an alarming rate across the UK; notes with concern that the International Agency for Research on Cancer has re-classified sunbeds into its highest cancer risk category alongside tobacco; further notes research commissioned by Cancer Research UK found that in 2008-09 six per cent. of 11 to 17 year olds have used sunbeds; further notes that the research also found that 50 per cent. of 15 to 17 year old girls in Liverpool and Sunderland have used a sunbed; recognises that 87 per cent. of the UK public believe under 18 year olds should not use sunbeds, with 90 per cent. supporting sunbed salons being staffed; welcomes the private Member's Sunbed (Regulation) Bill which would make it an offence for an operator to allow under-18s to use sunbeds; and calls on hon. Members of both Houses to support legislation to protect children from sunbeds.

That this House expresses concern that under 18 year olds are able to access easily unsupervised sunbed salons; further expresses strong concern that malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is increasing at an alarming rate across the UK; notes with concern that the International Agency for Research...

That this House most warmly welcomes the Contaminated Blood (Support for Infected and Bereaved Persons) Bill [Lords] with its provisions for the relief of privation for those afflicted and bereaved through treatment with contaminated NHS blood and blood products; and calls on the Government and hon. Members of all parties and of none to ensure this humane Bill's passage into law in this session of Parliament.

That this House most warmly welcomes the Contaminated Blood (Support for Infected and Bereaved Persons) Bill [Lords] with its provisions for the relief of privation for those afflicted and bereaved through treatment with contaminated NHS blood and blood products; and calls on the Government and hon. Members of all parties...

That this House notes with concern that a recent study into fructose by the University of California has revealed a link between high levels of fructose, a sweetener commonly found in children's products, and incidences of diabetes and weight gain; is concerned that there is an increase in children under 15 years with Type 1 diabetes across Europe from 94,000 in 2005 to a predicted 160,000 in 2020; states that 90 per cent. of people diagnosed with pre-diabetes are overweight or obese; and calls on the Government to increase its efforts to raise the public's awareness of diabetes in children, particularly the dangers of high levels of fructose, and how it can be prevented.

That this House notes with concern that a recent study into fructose by the University of California has revealed a link between high levels of fructose, a sweetener commonly found in children's products, and incidences of diabetes and weight gain; is concerned that there is an increase in children under...

That this House accepts expert evidence that pleural plaques represent a change to the anatomy of the sufferer evidenced by the abnormal scarring caused by the permanent physical penetration of asbestos fibres; believes the Law Lords ruling that physiological damage as well as anatomical damage is necessary for an injury to constitute actionable damage is clearly inconsistent with other areas of personal injury; notes that many sufferers of the condition would receive compensation if the scarring was on the outside of the body; and calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to restore the status quo ante to allay the strong sense of injustice felt by sufferers who have sustained asbestos exposure through their employers' negligence and have been unable to proceed with a court action since the Law Lords decision of October 2007.

That this House accepts expert evidence that pleural plaques represent a change to the anatomy of the sufferer evidenced by the abnormal scarring caused by the permanent physical penetration of asbestos fibres; believes the Law Lords ruling that physiological damage as well as anatomical damage is necessary for an injury...

That this House endorses the call by the Motor Neurone Disease Association for a national strategy for motor neurone disease (MND) and 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) and 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...

That this House commends the National Autism Society (NAS) for its work to increase and expand diagnosis and support services for those with autism and related developmental problems; recognises the importance of ensuring that diagnosis and support services are targeted and effective to eradicate the isolation and ignorance that those with autism are at risk of experiencing; further recognises that effective services can only be achieved by the Government working closely with the NAS, local authorities and primary care trusts to develop their knowledge and expertise of autism; and calls on the Government to pursue building these relationships in order to transform the lives of both adults and children with autism.

That this House commends the National Autism Society (NAS) for its work to increase and expand diagnosis and support services for those with autism and related developmental problems; recognises the importance of ensuring that diagnosis and support services are targeted and effective to eradicate the isolation and ignorance that those...

That this House celebrate World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day on 18 November 2009; eagerly awaits the forthcoming clinical strategy for COPD; understands that if fully implemented this 10-year plan for the NHS will raise the quality of care for people living with COPD, address the lack of awareness of the condition and help to identify the millions of people with undiagnosed COPD; supports the aim of the British Lung Foundation to make COPD a disease of the past by ensuring that people are diagnosed during the early stages of their disease and are encouraged to take steps that will halt the disease progression; and endorses the award-winning Love Your Lungs campaign led by the British Lung Foundation which uses demographic data to identify where people with undiagnosed COPD are most likely to live and which through targeted campaigning encourages people most at risk to have a lung function test.

That this House celebrate World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day on 18 November 2009; eagerly awaits the forthcoming clinical strategy for COPD; understands that if fully implemented this 10-year plan for the NHS will raise the quality of care for people living with COPD, address the lack of awareness...

That this House notes that there are over half a million people in the United Kingdom with autism who, to varying degrees, struggle to make sense of the world; further notes that this can cause them considerable anxiety, particularly in understanding and relating to other people and taking part in family, work and social life; further notes with concern that autism is still relatively unknown and misunderstood which means that many of those affected get nothing like the level of help, support and understanding they need; and congratulates the National Autistic Society for working with people living with autism to overcome social isolation,encourage independence and livelife with confidence so they can enjoy the same opportunities that the rest of us take for granted.

That this House notes that there are over half a million people in the United Kingdom with autism who, to varying degrees, struggle to make sense of the world; further notes that this can cause them considerable anxiety, particularly in understanding and relating to other people and taking part in...

That this House notes that malaria still afflicts 40 per cent. of the world's population; calls on governments of malaria-endemic countries and international public and private organisations to work together to fight malaria worldwide and to raise awareness of malaria; further notes that, although preventable and curable, malaria continues to infect more than 500 million people each year in more than 90 countries of the world, killing betweenone and three million people, including a child every 30 seconds, and that it is especially lethal to children underfive and pregnant mothers;further notes that although the burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa, it also afflicts Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe, and is spreading with climate change; congratulates all those engaged in the global campaign against malaria; further notes a number of countries have reduced malaria deaths by 50 per cent. in the last five years as theresources and implementation of preventative measures and treatments have been scaled up;further notes thatmalaria will only be defeated through collaboration and co-ordinated action of all relevant actors on local, national, regional and international levels; and therefore calls on the Government to maintain and enhance its international co-operation, collaboration and co-ordination of action towards the achievement of the UN 2010 and 2015 goals to end suffering and deaths from malaria, the world's most avoidable but devastating scourge.

That this House notes that malaria still afflicts 40 per cent. of the world's population; calls on governments of malaria-endemic countries and international public and private organisations to work together to fight malaria worldwide and to raise awareness of malaria; further notes that, although preventable and curable, malaria continues to...

That this House supports the film Vanishing of the Bees distributed by the Co-operative and publicising the dangers facing a ??10 billion industry and a key species; further supports the Co-operative's Plan Bee campaign to raise awareness of the dramatic demise of bees and the various disorders and diseases threatening honeybee hives; notes that although in the UK bees contribute ??165 million a year to the economy, this is only a small part of their contribution to sustaining the country's way of life and the way the planet functions, including their crucial role in pollinating some 90 commercial crops worldwide; further notes that the British Beekeepers' Association survey revealed that 30 per cent. of the UK's 240,000 honeybee hives were lost in the winter and spring of 2008 compared to normal yearly losses of around five to 10 per cent.; welcomes the Co-operative's pledge of ??150,000 for research into the causes behind the decline of the honeybee and its 10-point plan on prohibiting the use of a group of eight pesticides on own-brand fresh produce, trialling a wildflower seed mix to attract honeybees and raising awareness of the plight of the UK honeybee; welcomes the Government's efforts to tackle the problems; and calls on the Government to redouble those efforts.

That this House supports the film Vanishing of the Bees distributed by the Co-operative and publicising the dangers facing a ??10 billion industry and a key species; further supports the Co-operative's Plan Bee campaign to raise awareness of the dramatic demise of bees and the various disorders and diseases threatening...

That this House endorses the call by the Motor Neurone Disease Association for a national strategy for motor neurone disease (MND) and 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 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) and 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...