That this House recognises the importance of post office branches to local communities, particularly the elderly, disabled and people without access to private cars; commends the work of post office managers and franchises in providing benefits, banking services, passport checking and many other important services to people in their communities; welcomes the Government's announcement of funding to enable rural post offices to remain open; regrets plans by Post Office Ltd to begin a programme of closures of directly managed post office branches staffed by employees; notes that transferring branches to franchises may allow Post Office Ltd to avoid taking responsibility for future closures when franchisees agree to give up these post office branches; and calls on the Government to take immediate action to prevent Post Office Ltd from closing these vital community facilities either directly or indirectly by transferring to franchisees.

That this House recognises the importance of post office branches to local communities, particularly the elderly, disabled and people without access to private cars; commends the work of post office managers and franchises in providing benefits, banking services, passport checking and many other important services to people in their communities;...

That this House recognises the offence caused to local communities by graffiti in their environment; notes the difficulty in removing graffiti without the application of graffiti repellent paint to buildings and street furniture; calls on the Government to give local authorities more powers to insist on anti-graffiti paint being applied to buildings and street furniture owned by private organisations such as telephone companies, bus companies and owners of poster sites; and calls on private organisations to work together with local authorities to ensure that anti-graffiti coatings are applied to public telephone boxes, telephone switching boxes, bus shelters, bus stops and other street furniture.

That this House recognises the offence caused to local communities by graffiti in their environment; notes the difficulty in removing graffiti without the application of graffiti repellent paint to buildings and street furniture; calls on the Government to give local authorities more powers to insist on anti-graffiti paint being applied...

That this House condemns the practice of some companies involved in doorstep selling of delivering leaflets to potential customers to avoid consumer protection law; refutes the claim by the Department of Trade and Industry that customers telephoning to enquire about goods and services in response to a leaflet have had ample opportunity to compare prices and quality before a salesperson calls; believes that a cooling off period is essential for all customers to ensure that the elderly and vulnerable are not persuaded to purchase goods they cannot afford; note that legal protection is available to customers when the initial call is made by a salesperson either in person or on the telephone, but not when it is initiated by means of a leaflet; and calls on the Government to strengthen consumer protection law by allowing a cooling off period on sales contracts signed as a result of the customer responding to an unsolicited leaflet.

That this House condemns the practice of some companies involved in doorstep selling of delivering leaflets to potential customers to avoid consumer protection law; refutes the claim by the Department of Trade and Industry that customers telephoning to enquire about goods and services in response to a leaflet have had...

That this House welcomes the European Union Directive which seeks to promote recycling of computer parts; notes that the European Parliament made provision in the Directive to prevent manufacturers from adapting printer cartridges to inhibit recycling; further notes that the Department for Trade and Industry currently deems printer cartridges to be consumables, and therefore outside the scope of the EU legislation; regrets the large number of ink cartridges currently being sent to landfill sites, or being sent abroad for crushing; congratulates the companies which operate environmentally friendly cartridge recycling schemes, preventing the use of landfill for disposal and offering inexpensive recycled ink cartridges to individuals, schools and small businesses; calls upon the Government to ensure that such schemes are not forced to close by large international manufacturers using microchip technology to prevent recycling; and further calls on the Government to put an end to uncertainty by deeming computer printer cartridges to fall within the scope of the EU Directive.

That this House welcomes the European Union Directive which seeks to promote recycling of computer parts; notes that the European Parliament made provision in the Directive to prevent manufacturers from adapting printer cartridges to inhibit recycling; further notes that the Department for Trade and Industry currently deems printer cartridges to...

That this House welcomes the growing number of credit unions throughout the country; notes that credit unions offer invaluable help for many excluded families who would otherwise incur high-cost loans or fall prey to loan sharks; further notes that newly formed credit unions have difficulty in covering their running costs, particularly in areas where office rents are high; and calls upon the Government to offer new credit unions practical help and support with initiatives such as business rate relief.

That this House welcomes the growing number of credit unions throughout the country; notes that credit unions offer invaluable help for many excluded families who would otherwise incur high-cost loans or fall prey to loan sharks; further notes that newly formed credit unions have difficulty in covering their running costs,...

That this House congratulates colleagues in the Welsh and Scottish assemblies on their firm rejection of proposals to allow unlimited opening of pharmacies by large national retailers; recognises the role of the independent community pharmacist in serving vulnerable urban and rural populations; notes that a 'balanced package of measures' may not necessarily be the best way to serve the health needs of the whole community; and calls upon the Government to follow the lead taken by the Welsh and Scottish assemblies and end the uncertainty about the future which is affecting community pharmacists across the country.

That this House congratulates colleagues in the Welsh and Scottish assemblies on their firm rejection of proposals to allow unlimited opening of pharmacies by large national retailers; recognises the role of the independent community pharmacist in serving vulnerable urban and rural populations; notes that a 'balanced package of measures' may...

That this House commends the dedication of community pharmacists and sub-post office owners in providing essential services to local communities; notes that both these services are under threat by recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading, and by a programme of sub-post office closures based on early retirements rather than a strategic plan; further notes that some community pharmacies are already offering post office counter services; believes that this is the best way forward in ensuring that rural and deprived urban communities have access to both pharmacy and post office services; and calls on the Government to encourage this practice, and to take steps to ensure that no community will be left without either a pharmacy or a post office.

That this House commends the dedication of community pharmacists and sub-post office owners in providing essential services to local communities; notes that both these services are under threat by recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading, and by a programme of sub-post office closures based on early retirements rather...

That this House welcomes the Chancellor's announcement in the Budget that VAT on residential conversions will be reduced to 5 per cent., but understands that this will affect only 1,000 social housing properties each year; notes that reducing VAT to 5 per cent. for all works to existing social housing would cost around ??140m; further notes the National Housing Federation's estimates that the increased tax-yield from stimulating construction industry activity would bring the net cost to Government to less than half this figure; believes that a 5 per cent. VAT rate for works to existing social housing would help to achieve the Government's stated aim of bringing all social housing to a decent standard by 2010; and urges the Chancellor to include this measure, which is permitted under the Sixth EU VAT Directive, in his Pre-Budget Report and the Spring Budget statement.

That this House welcomes the Chancellor's announcement in the Budget that VAT on residential conversions will be reduced to 5 per cent., but understands that this will affect only 1,000 social housing properties each year; notes that reducing VAT to 5 per cent. for all works to existing social housing...

That this House wishes to highlight the current iniquitous situation which some disabled people in need of additional aids or adaptation work to their homes face; understands that if individual tenants initiate adaptation work or the installation of aids, VAT zero-rating applies; notes, however, that if a housing association initiates the work then zero-rating only applied if the housing association has charitable status; understands that, under the Sixth EU VAT Directive, changes may be made to the interpretation of existing regulations to extend zero-rating of aids and adaptation works to non-charitable housing associations; and urges the Chancellor to correct this anomaly in his Pre-Budget Report and 2002 Budget statement.

That this House wishes to highlight the current iniquitous situation which some disabled people in need of additional aids or adaptation work to their homes face; understands that if individual tenants initiate adaptation work or the installation of aids, VAT zero-rating applies; notes, however, that if a housing association initiates...