That this House notes the great benefits to employees, employers and the economy as a whole of broad-based employee share schemes; and urges the International Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Board to take account in their work on new accounting standards of the impact of such standards on widely-based employee share schemes.

That this House notes the great benefits to employees, employers and the economy as a whole of broad-based employee share schemes; and urges the International Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Board to take account in their work on new accounting standards of the impact of such standards on...

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 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 acknowledges the plight of workers who have lost their final salary occupational pensions schemes through company insolvency despite being promised by firms and successive governments that their pensions were guaranteed and in many cases having been compelled to join their scheme as a condition of employment; further believes that the Government has a moral and possibly legal obligation to help those workers who have been stripped of their pensions through no fault of their own; and further calls upon the Government to introduce legislation to compensate victims of this singular injustice.

That this House acknowledges the plight of workers who have lost their final salary occupational pensions schemes through company insolvency despite being promised by firms and successive governments that their pensions were guaranteed and in many cases having been compelled to join their scheme as a condition of employment; further...

That this House expresses deep concern at the potential loss of 19,000 jobs in the GUS home shopping business if the proposed sale to March UK Ltd is not allowed to proceed, and at the damage this would cause in many of the country's poorer constituencies; believes that with sales declining by 20 per cent. this year and increasing pressure from the high street the only alternative to the sale would be the closure of the GUS home shopping business which would not only result in the loss of jobs, but would reduce consumer choice; notes that the sale has the full support of GUS's management, USDAW and the other GUS home shopping trade unions, who are best placed to judge the long-term interests of the workforce; and believes the sale to be in the public interest, urges the Competition Commission and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to approve this transaction at the earliest possible opportunity.

That this House expresses deep concern at the potential loss of 19,000 jobs in the GUS home shopping business if the proposed sale to March UK Ltd is not allowed to proceed, and at the damage this would cause in many of the country's poorer constituencies; believes that with sales...

That this House recognises that executive pay needs to reflect the market demand for high quality staff, but notes with great concern the recent and high profile payment of large bonuses and 'golden goodbyes' where executives have manifestly failed; and urges the Government to strengthen legislation so as to give shareholders the power to veto excessive arrangements, rather than having a merely consultative role.

That this House recognises that executive pay needs to reflect the market demand for high quality staff, but notes with great concern the recent and high profile payment of large bonuses and 'golden goodbyes' where executives have manifestly failed; and urges the Government to strengthen legislation so as to give...

That this House condemns energy companies that issue irregular, inaccurate and estimated bills to consumers; believes this carelessness is costing consumers money and threatening competition; notes that estimated bills have put as many as 2 million energy consumers into debt; applauds Energywatch's Better Billing campaign, which aims to put an end to irregular and inaccurate billing; calls upon energy companies to improve the layout of bills so that they are easier for consumers to understand; believes that companies should compensate consumers for distress caused; encourages the industry to increase the use of meter readings; and urges Energywatch and Ofgem to secure better billing for energy consumers across the UK.

That this House condemns energy companies that issue irregular, inaccurate and estimated bills to consumers; believes this carelessness is costing consumers money and threatening competition; notes that estimated bills have put as many as 2 million energy consumers into debt; applauds Energywatch's Better Billing campaign, which aims to put an...

That this House regrets that since 1997, over 2000 workers and members of the public have died in work-related incidents, as well as the Southall, Paddington, Hatfield and Potters Bar disasters; notes that during the same period only four companies and two directors have been convicted of the offence of manslaughter and that these were all small firms; recalls that the Law Commission recommended a new offence of corporate manslaughter in 1996 to hold large as well as small undertakings to account for causing death through grossly negligent failures of management; believes that such an offence would increase the accountability of directors and their equivalents, and encourage better safety standards in undertakings; and calls on the Government to put before Parliament measures to enact a new offence of corporate manslaughter as soon as possible.

That this House regrets that since 1997, over 2000 workers and members of the public have died in work-related incidents, as well as the Southall, Paddington, Hatfield and Potters Bar disasters; notes that during the same period only four companies and two directors have been convicted of the offence of...

That this House notes the United States of America signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 13th January 1993; observes with concern that since that time, the United States Government has prohibited access by verification inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to several chemical industry sites in the US on the grounds of protecting 'business proprietary information of US companies,' according to the Under Secretary at the US Bureau of Industry and Security in statement on 10th October 2002; notes with disapproval that US escorts have also refused to allow inspectors to use approved inspection equipment (e.g., weighing equipment) during inspections of some military facilities used for chemical weapon manufacture or storage in the past; believes that the United States has imposed limits on inspections of its facilities that are contrary to the requirements of the treaty, including reserving the right for the President to block inspections and limiting what facilities may be inspected; records with disapproval that this stance has led to a less thorough inspection regime; observes the US has acted in a similar disruptive way in respect of the Biological Weapons Convention, putting the interests of the secrecy of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies before global security and anti-terrorist measures; points out that if Iraq were to be similarly unco-operative it would incur the deadly wrath of the US Administration; and thus calls upon Her Majesty's Government to put all possible pressure on the United States Administration to enforce American compliance with these treaties.

That this House notes the United States of America signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 13th January 1993; observes with concern that since that time, the United States Government has prohibited access by verification inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons...

That this House believes companies can play an active and beneficial role if their freedom to operate is balanced with corresponding obligations to society; welcomes the broad support for the Corporate Responsibility Bill introduced in the last session of parliament; welcomes also the agreement at the World Summit on Sustainable Development 'to actively promote corporate responsibility and accountability; and urges the Government to enshrine in new company law such policies that require companies and directors to manage their environmental and social impacts, and consult with and report to their stakeholders on these impacts.

That this House believes companies can play an active and beneficial role if their freedom to operate is balanced with corresponding obligations to society; welcomes the broad support for the Corporate Responsibility Bill introduced in the last session of parliament; welcomes also the agreement at the World Summit on Sustainable...

That this House notes that the WWF 95+ Group of companies is committed to the principle of purchasing their wood and wood products from well-managed independently certified forests; is delighted that since 1991 WWF 95+ Group has grown to over 100 companies and organistions working in partnership with WWF; welcomes the fact that there are now over 10,000 Forest Stewardship Council certified product lines available from group members alone including office furniture, paper and construction products; is concerned that whilst progress has been made, a significant proportion of the UK's timber is still not coming from certified, well-managed sources such as that certified by the FSC; and urges the Government to fast-track its commitment to implement its responsible purchasing policy for timber and timber products and to provide strong, clear guidance to ensure that local authorities also procure timber from independently certified, well-managed forests.

That this House notes that the WWF 95+ Group of companies is committed to the principle of purchasing their wood and wood products from well-managed independently certified forests; is delighted that since 1991 WWF 95+ Group has grown to over 100 companies and organistions working in partnership with WWF; welcomes...

That this House notes the Labour Party's commitment to the introduction of an offence of corporate manslaughter, which followed a recommendation from the Law Commission to introduce the same; further notes the publication of the book, The Case for Corporate Responsibility, by the victims of a number of major accidents which also called for the introduction of such an offence; and calls on the Government to announce that it is to fulfil this commitment via an announcement in this year's Queen's Speech.

That this House notes the Labour Party's commitment to the introduction of an offence of corporate manslaughter, which followed a recommendation from the Law Commission to introduce the same; further notes the publication of the book, The Case for Corporate Responsibility, by the victims of a number of major accidents...

That this House believes that companies can be encouraged to play an active and beneficial role if their freedom to operate is balanced with corresponding obligations to society; therefore welcomes the launch of the campaign for the Corporate Responsibility Bill by environmental, human rights and economic reform NGOs; and urges the Government to enshrine such policies in new company legislation to ensure companies and directors consult on their activities and impacts to disclose information regularly on their activities and impacts, and to manage and to improve the impacts of their company on the environment and on society.

That this House believes that companies can be encouraged to play an active and beneficial role if their freedom to operate is balanced with corresponding obligations to society; therefore welcomes the launch of the campaign for the Corporate Responsibility Bill by environmental, human rights and economic reform NGOs; and urges...

That this House believes that employee shareholders have a strong interest in seeing their companies do well, and are often best placed to identify opportunities for growth; welcomes the Second Reading given to the Employee Share Schemes Bill, which will remove some of the major obstacles which restrict the development of company ownership; further welcomes the Government's intention to improve the productivity of UK firms by encouraging employees to become shareholders; and calls on the Government to recognise that the Bill represents a further significant step towards this objective.

That this House believes that employee shareholders have a strong interest in seeing their companies do well, and are often best placed to identify opportunities for growth; welcomes the Second Reading given to the Employee Share Schemes Bill, which will remove some of the major obstacles which restrict the development...

That this House recognises that the events of 11th September have severely accelerated problems within the civil aviation industry, threatening 9,000 jobs in the UK's three main transatlantic carriers, with the threat of job losses for airline staff, baggage handlers, cleaning and catering contractors and a host of other companies whose main customers are airlines and airports; notes that US airlines have received up to $16 billion in state aid, putting UK airlines at a massive disadvantage in a highly competitive industry; and calls on the Government to support a level playing field for the UK by compensating airlines for the loss of four days' transatlantic flights immediately following 11th September, continuing to underwrite the hiked premiums now demanded by the insurance industry, compensating airlines for the increased security costs which are essential to restore passenger confidence in flying and allow airlines to retain passenger duty to provide a cash boost during these difficult times.

That this House recognises that the events of 11th September have severely accelerated problems within the civil aviation industry, threatening 9,000 jobs in the UK's three main transatlantic carriers, with the threat of job losses for airline staff, baggage handlers, cleaning and catering contractors and a host of other companies...

That this House congratulates WWF 95+ Group on their 10th anniversary celebrations; notes that this unique group of companies is committed to the principle of purchasing their wood and wood products from well-managed independently certified forests; is delighted that since 1991 WWF 95+ Group has grown to over 100 companies and organisations working in partnership with WWF; welcomes the fact that there are now over 10,000 Forest Stewardship Council certified product lines available from group members alone including office furniture, paper and construction products; is concerned that whilst progress has been made, a significant proportion of the UK's timber is still not coming from certified, well-managed sources such as that certified by the FSC; and urges the Government to fast track its commitment to implement its responsible purchasing policy for timber and timber products and to provide strong, clear guidance to ensure that local authorities also procure timber from independently certified, well-managed forests.

That this House congratulates WWF 95+ Group on their 10th anniversary celebrations; notes that this unique group of companies is committed to the principle of purchasing their wood and wood products from well-managed independently certified forests; is delighted that since 1991 WWF 95+ Group has grown to over 100 companies...