That this House welcomes the New Law Now To Protect Our Sea Life campaign by the Marine Conservation Society, RSPB, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, The Wildlife Trusts and WWF under the banner of Wildlife and Countryside Link; notes that this coalition of organisations is advocating comprehensive new legislation to improve the protection and management of the marine environment around the UK; further notes that they are campaigning for this legislation to include improved protection of wildlife sites and species at sea and a planning system for the seas to allow wildlife conservation and economic and recreational activities to be planned and co-ordinated in a rational way; and calls on the Government to bring forward a Marine Bill at the earliest opportunity to deliver these multiple gains, and ensure a sustainable future for the UK's seas and their wildlife.

That this House welcomes the New Law Now To Protect Our Sea Life campaign by the Marine Conservation Society, RSPB, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, The Wildlife Trusts and WWF under the banner of Wildlife and Countryside Link; notes that this coalition of organisations is advocating comprehensive new legislation to...

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 3372), dated 17th December 2004, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22nd December, be annulled.

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No. 3372), dated 17th December 2004, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22nd December, be annulled.

That this House deplores the number of animals killed during the 2003 and 2004 Canadian slaughter of harp and hooded seals counted as more than 600,000; notes that a study of the slaughter in 2001 by international veterinarians found that up to 42 per cent. of the seal pups were skinned alive while conscious; is concerned that a further 300,000 seals are set to be killed during 2005; notes that leading animal welfare groups from around the world are planning a boycott of Canadian fish products unless the Canadian Government brings an end to the seal slaughter; further notes that the Belgian Government has banned the import of seal fur; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce at the earliest opportunity a ban on the import of, and trade in, all seal products and to convey its gravest concerns to the Canadian Government over the continuation of the seal slaughter.

That this House deplores the number of animals killed during the 2003 and 2004 Canadian slaughter of harp and hooded seals counted as more than 600,000; notes that a study of the slaughter in 2001 by international veterinarians found that up to 42 per cent. of the seal pups were...

That this House welcomes the recognition in the Energy White Paper that biofuels represent an important route for achieving zero carbon transport; notes that the pre-Budget report and the Government's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report on biofuels endorse that approach; understands the need to work hard to meet the EU target of a 2 per cent. biofuel usage in road fuels by 2005; is concerned that the Energy Bill [Lords} makes no provision for biofuels; and supports, in principle, an amendment to that Bill to establish a UK road transport fuel obligation.

That this House welcomes the recognition in the Energy White Paper that biofuels represent an important route for achieving zero carbon transport; notes that the pre-Budget report and the Government's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report on biofuels endorse that approach; understands the need to...

That this House welcomes the commitment of the Government to address climate change in the context of recent concerns expressed that the UK target for carbon dioxide reduction may be impossible to achieve; notes that the public is concerned to be able to obtain environmentally friendly transport fuels without facing the costs of purchasing hybrid vehicles or switching to liquid gas fuels; further notes that the development of a UK based supply of biofuels is supported by organisations as diverse as the Friends of the Earth, the NFU and the CLA, along with major industries, other members of the Biofuels Alliance and BABFO; further notes that recent research indicates that the use of bioethanol made from wheat or sugar beet and the use of biodiesel made from oil seed rape could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 70 per cent. compared with petrol and fossil diesel respectively; observes that these renewable biofuels would contribute at least as much to improvement in air quality as the fossil gas fuel, LPG; further notes that these environmental benefits could be realised immediately; further notes that no changes in fuel or engine specifications would be required for these biofuels to be incorporated into existing fuel distribution systems at a rate of 5 per cent.; further notes that the development of a sustainable biofuels industry in the UK would make a significant contribution to the maintenance of a thriving rural economy with revenue benefits for the Exchequer; and urges the Chancellor to announce as soon as possible a duty reduction for these environmentally friendly fuels of 30 pence per litre so that the Government's aspirations for biofuel use as expressed in the White Paper, Our Energy Future, can be realised.

That this House welcomes the commitment of the Government to address climate change in the context of recent concerns expressed that the UK target for carbon dioxide reduction may be impossible to achieve; notes that the public is concerned to be able to obtain environmentally friendly transport fuels without facing...

That this House notes the 800,000ha of set aside land in the United Kingdom; observes that this land could be used to produce at least one million tonnes of biodiesel/bioethanol for road transport; and urges the Chancellor to build on his existing policy by changing the rate of duty for these environmentally friendly fuels to match the 40p per litre rebate already granted to the fossil gas fuels LPG and CNG.

That this House notes the 800,000ha of set aside land in the United Kingdom; observes that this land could be used to produce at least one million tonnes of biodiesel/bioethanol for road transport; and urges the Chancellor to build on his existing policy by changing the rate of duty for...

That this House welcomes the Raising Standards Initiative, a voluntary scheme launched by the financial services industry with the support of the Association of British Insurers that aims to promote customer understanding and awareness of financial products; notes that companies participating in this initiative will be assessed against minimum standard benchmarks set by an independent body, the Pensions Protection & Investments Accreditation Board; welcomes the fact that fifty financial services providers support the initiative; notes that the Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS), Norwich Union, Scottish Equitable, Scottish Widows and UNUM were awarded the Raising Standards Quality Mark in the first wave of accreditation on 16th October; and commends the CIS which has pledged to go beyond these minimum standards by sharing its experiences with other financial services providers so that more can gain accreditation and for engaging with consumers and other stakeholders to build trust in the financial services industry.

That this House welcomes the Raising Standards Initiative, a voluntary scheme launched by the financial services industry with the support of the Association of British Insurers that aims to promote customer understanding and awareness of financial products; notes that companies participating in this initiative will be assessed against minimum standard...