That this House notes that the new formula for Child Support Agency (CSA) maintenance calculations has now been in place since April 2003, which is more than enough time to stabilise the system; considers that existing cases have experienced a long and avoidable delay under the old rules; and calls upon Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions to instruct the CSA to take the necessary steps to bring in the new simplified and fairer method of assessment for all cases with immediate effect.

That this House notes that the new formula for Child Support Agency (CSA) maintenance calculations has now been in place since April 2003, which is more than enough time to stabilise the system; considers that existing cases have experienced a long and avoidable delay under the old rules; and calls...

That this House notes that the new formula for Child Support Agency (CSA) maintenance calculations has now been in place since April 2003, which is more than enough time to stabilise the system; considers that existing cases have experienced a long and avoidable delay under the old rules; and calls upon the Minister to instruct the CSA to take the necessary steps to bring in the new, simplified and fairer method of assessment for all cases with immediate effect.

That this House notes that the new formula for Child Support Agency (CSA) maintenance calculations has now been in place since April 2003, which is more than enough time to stabilise the system; considers that existing cases have experienced a long and avoidable delay under the old rules; and calls...

That this House believes companies should report on their environmental and social impacts; notes that since 1997 Ministers have repeatedly encouraged such reports as a key plank of the Government's proposals for modernising company law; notes that the Prime Minister has made it clear that such reports should be produced, with a public challenge to all FTSE 350 companies in October 2000 (which over half of those companies failed to meet); and therefore believes that companies have had ample notice of the introduction of the mandatory Operating and Financial Review, scheduled for 1st January 2005, and that this implementation date should not be delayed because without a set of standardised non-financial indicators UK companies will continue to fail to identify, disclose and manage their social and environmental performance.

That this House believes companies should report on their environmental and social impacts; notes that since 1997 Ministers have repeatedly encouraged such reports as a key plank of the Government's proposals for modernising company law; notes that the Prime Minister has made it clear that such reports should be produced,...

That this House believes that major companies have shown that monitoring and reporting on environmental and social impacts can help them to reduce their adverse impacts as well as improving efficiency and profitability; further believes that with much of a company's value now dependent on intangibles such as brand reputation, staff expertise and the ability to innovate, the provision of such information is invaluable to investors; regrets that despite encouragement from the very highest levels of Government, many companies still either neglect to report at all, or publish reports that are a public relations exercise promoting the company's achievements but neglecting to mention their major flaws; further believes that the introduction of the Operating and Financial Review, a broad report of a company's performance and prospects, will boost the number of companies measuring, managing and reporting on their impacts; but further believes that, to be truly effective, the regulations must require reporting on all the major impacts of a company on society and the environment, not just those that threaten profits.

That this House believes that major companies have shown that monitoring and reporting on environmental and social impacts can help them to reduce their adverse impacts as well as improving efficiency and profitability; further believes that with much of a company's value now dependent on intangibles such as brand reputation,...

That this House notes the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation of Crossroads - Caring for Carers and the enormous contribution that this organisation has made to the lives of carers by giving them time to themselves and time to have a break from their caring responsibilities; further notes that in 2003 Crossroads provided 4.3 million hours of care breaks and that without this support many would be unable to continue in their role as a carer, placing additional pressures on social services and health budgets; believes that the service is needed today as much if not more than when it was founded in Rugby in 1974; and endorses the work of the charity.

That this House notes the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation of Crossroads - Caring for Carers and the enormous contribution that this organisation has made to the lives of carers by giving them time to themselves and time to have a break from their caring responsibilities; further notes that in...

That this House agrees with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment that 'business is not just about jobs, wealth creation and delivering the goods and services ... it is also critical to achieving our environmental and social objectives' (Official Report, 30th January, column 498); believes that for business to play this role major companies need to measure, manage and report on their environmental and social impacts; notes with concern that, despite the Prime Minister's challenge to the top 350 UK companies that they should produce social and environmental reports by the end of 2001, less than half are doing so; believes this demonstrates that the voluntary approach has failed; regrets that the Performance of Companies and Government Departments (Reporting) Bill, introduced to this House by the honourable Member for Rugby and Kenilworth with cross-party support, did not receive a Second Reading; and urges Ministers either to support this Bill when it returns to the House or to bring forward the regulations promised during the debate on the Bill before the end of this session.

That this House agrees with the Minister of State for Trade and Investment that 'business is not just about jobs, wealth creation and delivering the goods and services ... it is also critical to achieving our environmental and social objectives' (Official Report, 30th January, column 498); believes that for business...

That this House welcomes the ongoing commitment of President Musharraf to curb Islamic extremist activities and to protect the religious minorities in Pakistan; notes however, that in many ways the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan remains acute; notes in particular the adoption of a Shari'ah Bill by the provincial cabinet of the North West Frontier Province; recognises that this Bill is likely to be passed by the provincial assembly and become law in the province; believes that the Shari'ah Bill discriminates against the political, civil, cultural and economic rights of all non-Muslim citizens in the province; notes that most of the banned militant groups in Pakistan have reconstituted themselves under new names and are operating openly; is deeply concerned by a pamphlet published by an Islamic militant group demanding that Pakistani Christians convert to Islam or face death, and directing Muslims to kill infidels wherever and whenever they can be found; notes with concern that the frequent calls for Jihad by the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal party and the alarming escalation of Islamic militancy are likely to undermine Pakistan's fragile democratisation process; urges the Pakistani Government to oppose the implementation of the Shari'ah Bill in any region of Pakistan, to prevent the distribution of hate materials, and to prosecute those responsible for inciting religious hatred and terror attacks; and calls upon the Pakistani Government to formulate a comprehensive strategy to provide adequate protection for the religious minorities and to promote interfaith harmony in Pakistan.

That this House welcomes the ongoing commitment of President Musharraf to curb Islamic extremist activities and to protect the religious minorities in Pakistan; notes however, that in many ways the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan remains acute; notes in particular the adoption of a Shari'ah Bill by the provincial...

That this House notes that the Cuban Government continues to hold several hundred political prisoners, whose offences include pro-democracy activism and speaking out against Government policies on issues such as abortion and treatment of the blind; further notes that among the most prominent cases are human rights activists Dr Oscar Biscet, Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva and Jorge Garcia Perez, all three of whom were arrested after peaceful protests; expresses strong concern that all three of these prisoners have, at various times, been denied medical treatment, resulting in severe ill-health; expresses further strong concern that Mr Gonzalez Leiva was badly beaten by security agents during his arrest, and that Mr Garcia Perez has been given repeated severe beatings whilst in prison; is also concerned that the families of each prisoner have reported harassment and threats from the authorities; notes also that in mid-March the Cuban Government orchestrated a massive round-up of human rights and pro-democracy activists, arresting over 75 dissidents; calls upon the Cuban Government to allow full medical treatment to all prisoners, to desist from withholding medical treatment as punishment, and to allow the Red Cross access to its prisons; further calls upon the Cuban Government to allow peaceful protest on human rights and pro-democracy issues, to release all those held for such activities, and to cease from applying pressure on them or their families; and urges Her Majesty's Government to place these issues at the core of bilateral talks with Cuba.

That this House notes that the Cuban Government continues to hold several hundred political prisoners, whose offences include pro-democracy activism and speaking out against Government policies on issues such as abortion and treatment of the blind; further notes that among the most prominent cases are human rights activists Dr Oscar...

That this House warmly welcomes Ready, Willing and Disabled, Scope's report on employment of disabled people; notes that negative attitudes are still a major barrier to disabled people gaining employment; is concerned by the report's finding that 11 per cent. of employers interviewed would not employ a disabled person because their clients or customers would not want to be served by a disabled person; is encouraged by some examples of extremely good practice in attracting, recruiting and training disabled people; commends the Government on its excellent Access to Work Scheme; and calls for the Government to continue to promote Access to Work to employers.

That this House warmly welcomes Ready, Willing and Disabled, Scope's report on employment of disabled people; notes that negative attitudes are still a major barrier to disabled people gaining employment; is concerned by the report's finding that 11 per cent. of employers interviewed would not employ a disabled person because...

That this House believes that it is time for the UK to have a proper measure of income adequacy to demonstrate the Government's commitment to overcoming poverty; urges the Government to fund research into the levels of minimum income needed to avoid poverty in both absolute and relative terms; and to set up a working party involving policy makers, academics and other interested parties to assist the Government to devise publicly acceptable measures of such levels in order to ensure good health, social inclusion and satisfactory levels of child development for all citizens and then use this information to set benefit, pension and minimum wage levels.

That this House believes that it is time for the UK to have a proper measure of income adequacy to demonstrate the Government's commitment to overcoming poverty; urges the Government to fund research into the levels of minimum income needed to avoid poverty in both absolute and relative terms; and...

That this House welcomes the research being undertaken on behalf of DEFRA into the extent of the problem of unadopted sewers affecting households, in many cases without the residents realising it; further welcomes the Water Bill to be tabled this session; and calls on the Secretary of State to ensure that the research is published on schedule and include measures in the Water Bill to tackle the problem and in the meantime seek interim solutions for those affected by the problem now.

That this House welcomes the research being undertaken on behalf of DEFRA into the extent of the problem of unadopted sewers affecting households, in many cases without the residents realising it; further welcomes the Water Bill to be tabled this session; and calls on the Secretary of State to ensure...

That this House welcomes the research being undertaken on behalf of DEFRA, the first ever to be done, into the extent of the problem of households having private sewers, in many cases without realising it; and calls on the Secretary of State to publish this research urgently and, in the meantime hold talks with the Environment Agency, OFWAT, water undertakers, local authorities and others to find interim solutions to this problem.

That this House welcomes the research being undertaken on behalf of DEFRA, the first ever to be done, into the extent of the problem of households having private sewers, in many cases without realising it; and calls on the Secretary of State to publish this research urgently and, in the...

That this House believes that it is time for the UK to have a proper measure of income adequacy to demonstrate the Government's commitment to overcoming poverty; urges the Government to fund research into the levels of minimum income needed to avoid poverty in both absolute and relative terms and to set up a working party involving policy makers, academics and other interested parties to assist the Government to devise publicly acceptable measures of such levels in order to ensure good health, social inclusion and satisfactory levels of child development for all citizens, and then use this information to set benefit, pension and minimum wage levels.

That this House believes that it is time for the UK to have a proper measure of income adequacy to demonstrate the Government's commitment to overcoming poverty; urges the Government to fund research into the levels of minimum income needed to avoid poverty in both absolute and relative terms and...