That this House acknowledges the discovery of gravitational waves as a triumph for humanity which confirms Albert Einstein's 100 year old theory of general relativity, and is expected to provide vital insights into the evolution of stars, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars and black holes; commends the decades of scientific research and the development of the techniques to extract the properties of the sources from the gravitational wave signatures carried out at the University of Birmingham, together with colleagues at Cardiff University and the University of Glasgow; recognises that this research was a significant contribution leading to the scientific breakthrough; further recognises the subsequent birth of a brand new field of astronomy that will teach us about our universe for generations to come; and calls on the Government to ensure that sufficient funding is available for scientific research incorporating applied, discovery and translational research to enhance our culture and civilisation and serve the public good.

That this House acknowledges the discovery of gravitational waves as a triumph for humanity which confirms Albert Einstein's 100 year old theory of general relativity, and is expected to provide vital insights into the evolution of stars, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars and black holes; commends the decades of scientific...

That this House marks the thirtieth anniversary of the advertisement placed in The Times on 13 January 1986 by 1,500 scientists which called on the public to ask their hon. Members to save British science before it is too late; notes that at that time concern was expressed about the brain drain abroad and the loss of research in the UK due to declining budgets; further notes that the organisation entitled Save British Science was established as a result and was later renamed the Campaign for Science and Engineering; applauds the work that both organisations have done over the last thirty years to promote UK science; and finally welcomes the efforts that the UK science and engineering community make to strengthen links between Science and Parliament.

That this House marks the thirtieth anniversary of the advertisement placed in The Times on 13 January 1986 by 1,500 scientists which called on the public to ask their hon. Members to save British science before it is too late; notes that at that time concern was expressed about the...

That this House congratulates Kirkcaldy High School teacher, Helen Higham, on receiving a STEMNET STEM Teacher Award for inspiring her pupils to take an interest in science, engineering, technology and mathematics; understands that the STEMNET awards are held annually to honour the UK's most dedicated and inspirational people who are motivating young people to study and pursue STEM subjects; recognises that Helen Higham is a chemistry teacher, who also volunteered to be Kirkcaldy High School's STEM coordinator and who runs the school's STEM Club; notes that Helen also leads the annual employability event with 25 other STEM Ambassadors and makes a priority of helping to breakdown stereotypes and promote positive role models for girls in STEM; commends Helen's efforts which have supported the school in achieving the highest number of pupils gaining engineering scholarships out of all Scottish state schools; and hopes that Helen will continue to inspire young people in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency to pursue careers and achieve their potential in STEM in order to ensure the continued survival and prosperity of these important industries in the UK into the future.

That this House congratulates Kirkcaldy High School teacher, Helen Higham, on receiving a STEMNET STEM Teacher Award for inspiring her pupils to take an interest in science, engineering, technology and mathematics; understands that the STEMNET awards are held annually to honour the UK's most dedicated and inspirational people who are...

That this House notes the science-based campaign, For Life On Earth, which is critical of avoidable experiments on animals; further notes the new initiative, Patients Campaigning For Cures, which opposes animal models on medical grounds; is alarmed that scientific studies reveal that the widespread claimed ability of animals to predict human responses to drugs and disease is demonstrably false; acknowledges that over 90 per cent of drugs which test well in animals harm or otherwise fail humans, and that ignoring this has delayed cures including penicillin; notes that using animals to model humans contradicts currently accepted science, including evolutionary biology and genetics, which supports personalised medical care; further acknowledges the proclamation of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research to develop communications with the media and public; and calls for thorough, properly moderated public scientific debate on the misleading and costly practice of trying to apply results from animal experiments to human patients.

That this House notes the science-based campaign, For Life On Earth, which is critical of avoidable experiments on animals; further notes the new initiative, Patients Campaigning For Cures, which opposes animal models on medical grounds; is alarmed that scientific studies reveal that the widespread claimed ability of animals to predict...

That this House congratulates The Society of Biology on organising this year's Parliamentary Links Day (PLD) on 23 June 2015 on behalf of the science and engineering community; applauds the theme of Science and the New Parliament; welcomes the Society's continuing commitment to serve the public interest by improving the access of all members to scientific information and a better understanding of science; notes the involvement of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, the British Pharmacological Society, the Biochemical Society, the Society for Endocrinology, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society for Applied Microbiology and the Society for Experimental Biology and many others; further notes that the event will be launched by Mr Speaker and will include a contribution from the hon. Member for Orpington and a keynote address by the President-Elect of the Royal Society, Sir Venki Ramakrishnan; further notes the contributions from many other eminent scientists and communicators; further notes that PLD is an established and respected event on the annual parliamentary calendar; further notes that the Society of Biology and the scientific community remain committed to assisting hon. Members on all sides of the House with access to scientific advice; and further welcomes the continuing contribution that PLD makes to strengthening the dialogue between Parliament and the science and engineering community.

That this House congratulates The Society of Biology on organising this year's Parliamentary Links Day (PLD) on 23 June 2015 on behalf of the science and engineering community; applauds the theme of Science and the New Parliament; welcomes the Society's continuing commitment to serve the public interest by improving the...

That this House is appalled by the recent announcement of a further 51 scientist job cuts at Royal Botanical Kew Gardens on 28 November 2014; notes that these job cuts will result in the loss of over 1,000 years of scientific expertise; deeply regrets that staff were told via email that they were no longer required and that, if these scientists are not found other positions, Kew will lose up to 40 per cent of its scientific staff; supports the PCS and Prospect trade unions in their demand that vacancies within the new structure should be filled by existing staff rather than by recruiting external, less experienced candidates and losing hundreds of years' worth of invaluable experience; further notes the hugely detrimental impact such redundancies will have on the vitally important work carried out at Kew on a daily basis; and calls on the Government to urgently halt these further redundancies in order to allow the new structure put in place at Kew to take effect and to fully engage with staff and unions in order to save as many key scientific posts as possible.

That this House is appalled by the recent announcement of a further 51 scientist job cuts at Royal Botanical Kew Gardens on 28 November 2014; notes that these job cuts will result in the loss of over 1,000 years of scientific expertise; deeply regrets that staff were told via email...

That this House commends the contribution to computer science by Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace who was born in London in 1815 and was daughter of Lord and Baroness Byron; notes that Ada Lovelace is considered to be the first computer programmer because of her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer and her notes on the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine; further notes that Ada's mother promoted an interest in mathematics and logic in her daughter; notes that Ada's vision for computing expanded beyond calculations and inspired modern computing in the work of Alan Turing a century later; and calls on the Government to ensure that young women are encouraged to pursue careers in science.

That this House commends the contribution to computer science by Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace who was born in London in 1815 and was daughter of Lord and Baroness Byron; notes that Ada Lovelace is considered to be the first computer programmer because of her work on Charles Babbage's...

That this House is aware that science helps to drive the UK's economy, with the nation being home to a number of extremely innovative high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises and companies, and our universities being well regarded for their production of world class research, while also at the same time delivering high levels of education and training for the benefit of both national and regional companies; notes, however, that UK investment in science has been held flat since 2010 whilst our international competitors are actively and strategically increasing their overall spend in these areas; and urges the Government immediately to make a long-term commitment to our knowledge and economy by raising its investment in research and development to at least that of the EU average by the end of the next Parliament.

That this House is aware that science helps to drive the UK's economy, with the nation being home to a number of extremely innovative high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises and companies, and our universities being well regarded for their production of world class research, while also at the same time...

That this House is aware of the importance of science to the nation; notes, however, that in many schools, chemistry teachers do not even have a chemistry degree, there also being an acute shortage of specialist science subject leaders; further notes that evidence shows that teachers who have a specialist background in the subject they teach have a positive impact on a child's education, particularly in science; and calls on the Government immediately to invest in this sector to ensure children are offered science education at a more qualified and specialised level.

That this House is aware of the importance of science to the nation; notes, however, that in many schools, chemistry teachers do not even have a chemistry degree, there also being an acute shortage of specialist science subject leaders; further notes that evidence shows that teachers who have a specialist...

That this House celebrates the launch of the Society of Biology's third nationwide Biology Week 2014 from 13 to 19 October 2014; notes that among its key objectives is a commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; congratulates the Society for its initiative and the range of innovative events and activities that have been organised; further congratulates the Society for its wider role in promoting events in Parliament on behalf of the science and engineering community to assist hon. and Right hon. Members in their understanding of science; applauds the efforts that are being made throughout the UK, especially by teachers in primary and secondary schools, to revitalise the science curriculum and to convey the excitement of science to pupils and students; further notes the wide range of activities organised by the Society in local communities all over the country which are designed to illustrate and focus on the vital role of biology and the biological sciences; further notes that on 15 October 2014 the parliamentary launch of Biology Week is co-sponsored by the hon. Members for Ellesmere Port and Neston, South Basildon and East Thurrock, and Cambridge; and further notes the unrivalled contribution that the study of biology and the biological sciences have made and continue to make to our understanding of nature, to the quality of life and to the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

That this House celebrates the launch of the Society of Biology's third nationwide Biology Week 2014 from 13 to 19 October 2014; notes that among its key objectives is a commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; congratulates the Society for its initiative and the range of...

That this House commends the contribution to medical science by Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who was born in London in 1836; notes that in 1865, Dr Anderson was the first Englishwoman to qualify as a doctor after passing the Society of Apothecaries' examinations; praises Dr Anderson's work in 1866 to establish a dispensary for women in London; further notes that in 1870 Dr Anderson was made a visiting physician to the East London Hospital and in 1872 she founded the New Hospital for Women in London, which was staffed entirely by women; further notes that Dr Anderson helped found the London School of Medicine for Women in 1874 and was appointed dean in 1883; further notes that because of Dr Anderson's pioneering work an Act was passed in 1876 that permitted women to enter medical professions; further notes that during her retirement in Aldeburgh in Suffolk, Dr Anderson became the first female mayor in England in 1908; and calls on the Government to ensure that young women are encouraged to pursue careers in science.

That this House commends the contribution to medical science by Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who was born in London in 1836; notes that in 1865, Dr Anderson was the first Englishwoman to qualify as a doctor after passing the Society of Apothecaries' examinations; praises Dr Anderson's work in 1866 to establish...

That this House congratulates the four students selected to represent the UK at the 25th International Biology Olympiad in July 2014 held in Bali in Indonesia, all of whom brought home medals; notes that over 5,000 students took part in the first round of this competition of which 120 students were selected for a further stage after which the top four students were selected from a shortlist of 16 at the British Biology Olympiad final held at the University of Warwick in April 2014; further congratulates the UK team of Adam Heath (Gold medal winner), Josh Dickerson (Silver medal winner), Dia Ghose (Silver medal winner) and Rebecca Peel (Bronze medal winner) on their outstanding success in this year's international competition; recognises that students in the UK can compete against the very best biologists in the world and come back as winners; and further congratulates the Society of Biology and the UK Biology Competitions Special Interest Group, together with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, for their key role in organising this competition.

That this House congratulates the four students selected to represent the UK at the 25th International Biology Olympiad in July 2014 held in Bali in Indonesia, all of whom brought home medals; notes that over 5,000 students took part in the first round of this competition of which 120 students...

That this House notes that scientific research shows that cloning entails serious health and welfare problems for both cloned animals and the surrogate mothers who carry them to birth; further notes that most cloned foetuses die during pregnancy or birth and many of those born alive die early in life from deficiencies in their cardiovascular, respiratory or immune systems; further notes that clones will primarily be used as elite breeding animals and it is their offspring that will be farmed for meat or milk; further notes that cloning will probably be used to produce copies of the highest yielding dairy cows and fastest growing pigs despite scientific evidence that traditional genetic selection has already led to major health problems for such animals; believes that the use of the offspring of clones on UK and other EU farms is likely to entrench the use of animals chosen for extreme production traits and risks perpetuating the health problems associated with such traits; and urges the Government to abandon its opposition to the European Commission's proposals for a ban on cloning and the sale of food from clones and to press the EU to also ban the use of the offspring of clones in EU farming and the sale of food from the offspring of clones or, at least, to require such food to be labelled to enable consumers to make informed choices.

That this House notes that scientific research shows that cloning entails serious health and welfare problems for both cloned animals and the surrogate mothers who carry them to birth; further notes that most cloned foetuses die during pregnancy or birth and many of those born alive die early in life...