That this House notes with concern the decision made by the Home Secretary not to pay compensation to Mrs Angela Cannings in respect of her wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

That this House notes with concern the decision made by the Home Secretary not to pay compensation to Mrs Angela Cannings in respect of her wrongful conviction and imprisonment.

That this House is concerned that the continuing failure of self-regulation of complaints against solicitors by the Law Society has still not been adequately addressed by Government, whose only action so far has been the half measure of appointing a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner who is also the full-time Legal Services Ombudsman, whose power to fine has already been reduced from a suggested five million pounds to one million after consultation with the Law Society, and whose work has been made dependent on milestones or targets determined by the Society despite the fact that the law Society has consistently failed to achieve its own target; is further concerned that the review of the regulatory framework on legal services in England and Wales, due to report in December, has been compromised by its close meetings with and sympathetic responses to a Law Society still fighting vigorously to retain the maximum degree of self-regulation, despite the huge weight of evidence showing that it has already failed; and therefore calls on the Government to stop deferring to the Law Society and taking hesitant half measures and instead to set up a fully independent, full-time, external system of regulation of complaints against solicitors with power to fine and award compensation.

That this House is concerned that the continuing failure of self-regulation of complaints against solicitors by the Law Society has still not been adequately addressed by Government, whose only action so far has been the half measure of appointing a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner who is also the full-time Legal...

That this House is aware that on 3rd December 1984 poisonous gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India; notes that Amnesty International has reported that 7,000 people died in the immediate aftermath, that a further, 15,000 have died of related diseases since 1984, and that 100,000 people still suffer from chronic and debilitating illnesses as a consequence of the leak; further notes that Union Carbide was guilty of storing this ultra hazardous gas without regard to proper safety arrangements, that no individuals, including in management, have been brought to account for the leak and its consequences, and that neither Union Carbide nor the subsequent purchaser Dow Chemicals has done enough to clean up the site or compensate the victims; further notes that toxic wastes still pollute the environment and contaminate the water that communities in the area depend on, that the 1989 deal between the Indian Government and Union Carbide of ??470 million in exchange for an end to legal proceedings was not in the best interest of victims and the successful claimants have only received a pittance in compensation, that thousands of claims remain outstanding, and that the Reserve Bank of Inda has pocketed ??330 million of the ??470 million which should have been paid to survivors; and believes that not enough has been done in the last 20 years to ensure there is no repeat of a Bhopal disaster in either the developing or developed world and that the findings and judgment of the Permanent People's Tribunal on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights, disclosed on 2nd December 1994, still represents the best analysis and recommendations for law changes and enforcement in individual states and internationally to avoid any recurrence.

That this House is aware that on 3rd December 1984 poisonous gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India; notes that Amnesty International has reported that 7,000 people died in the immediate aftermath, that a further, 15,000 have died of related diseases since 1984, and that 100,000...

This this House welcomes the verdict of the Wiltshire coroner that Ronald Maddison's death, caused by exposure to chemical warfare tests at the Porton Down government research establishment in 1953, was unlawful; urges the Secretary of State for Defence to examine the cases of other victims of these tests, including those from Cornwall and Devon, with a view to accepting claims for compensation from them and their families; calls for the release of all the evidence presented to the original secret inquest in 1953; and demands an early statement from the Secretary of State on the implications of this verdict for future Government policy.

This this House welcomes the verdict of the Wiltshire coroner that Ronald Maddison's death, caused by exposure to chemical warfare tests at the Porton Down government research establishment in 1953, was unlawful; urges the Secretary of State for Defence to examine the cases of other victims of these tests, including...

That this House is most concerned by what appears to be the intention of the Department for Trade and Industry to exclude an unknown but potentially large number of deceased claims from recovering damages under the Coal Health Claims Handling Agreement, notwithstanding the fact that the Agreement was designed by Lawyers for both sides under the direction of the Court and in the knowledge that in many cases medical records would not be available and that under the medical assessment process the respiratory specialists would do the best they could in arriving at a balance of probability decision resulting in a discount in compensation payable in recognition of the paucity of medical evidence; is alarmed that the DTI has moved away from the Agreement and has described cases where there is a paucity of medical evidence as unassessable claims; and calls on the DTI to go back to the principles of the Agreement under which 180,000 claims have already been processed instead of pressing ahead with a change that will damage confidence in the claims handling process.

That this House is most concerned by what appears to be the intention of the Department for Trade and Industry to exclude an unknown but potentially large number of deceased claims from recovering damages under the Coal Health Claims Handling Agreement, notwithstanding the fact that the Agreement was designed by...

That this House is alarmed about reports that the Home Office is proposing to remove from train drivers involved in witnessing suicides and/or trespass deaths, their right to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; believes such a move to be wrong and misguided as it flies in the face of previous rulings that found railway suicides to be special cases; and further believes that it fails to grasp the levels and effects of trauma and despair suffered by those innocent drivers unfortunately involved.

That this House is alarmed about reports that the Home Office is proposing to remove from train drivers involved in witnessing suicides and/or trespass deaths, their right to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; believes such a move to be wrong and misguided as it flies in the...

That this House expresses its continued concerns about solicitors who charge clients in addition to the costs paid by the Department of Trade and Industry; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to ensure that all solicitors sign an undertaking guaranteeing that they will not levy any charges from the compensation paid to miners, former miners or their families in respect of coal health claims, and that the Department of Trade and Industry does not make any payments to solicitors until such an undertaking has been signed.

That this House expresses its continued concerns about solicitors who charge clients in addition to the costs paid by the Department of Trade and Industry; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to ensure that all solicitors sign an undertaking guaranteeing that they will not levy any charges from the compensation...

That this House notes that Lord Penrose's Report finds extensive evidence of regulatory failure, including operational failure, throughout the 1990's; and calls on the Government to find a way in which either the Parliamentary Ombudsman or Lord Penrose himself can now examine possible maladministration by the Government Actuary's Department and other regulatory bodies, in order to make recommendations on compensation.

That this House notes that Lord Penrose's Report finds extensive evidence of regulatory failure, including operational failure, throughout the 1990's; and calls on the Government to find a way in which either the Parliamentary Ombudsman or Lord Penrose himself can now examine possible maladministration by the Government Actuary's Department and...

That this House welcomes the court ruling that Ryanair acted unlawfully by not ensuring that a wheelchair was provided free of charge for Mr Bob Ross to use at Stansted Airport; notes that the court awarded Mr Ross ??1,336 in compensation; is concerned at Ryanair's decision to add a 50 pence surcharge to the price of every seat to meet the so-called cost of wheelchair provision, which will raise an extra ??12 million for the company; supports the Disability Rights Commission condemnation of this inflated surcharge, which the DRC have estimated at actually only costing 2 pence on each fare; notes that Ryanair has failed to compensate 35 other disabled people who have complained also; and urges the Secretary of State for Transport to intervene and encourage Ryanair to review its policy towards disabled people and the costs of wheelchair users.

That this House welcomes the court ruling that Ryanair acted unlawfully by not ensuring that a wheelchair was provided free of charge for Mr Bob Ross to use at Stansted Airport; notes that the court awarded Mr Ross ??1,336 in compensation; is concerned at Ryanair's decision to add a 50...

That this House welcomes the initiative taken by the Department of Trade and Industry in writing to all solicitors dealing with coal health claims for vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under cover of the Handling Agreement, asking that they adhere to the fee structure agreed by both sides and reimburse claimants any extra charge that they have levied or face the possibility of being removed from the Department's list of approved solicitors.

That this House welcomes the initiative taken by the Department of Trade and Industry in writing to all solicitors dealing with coal health claims for vibration white finger and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under cover of the Handling Agreement, asking that they adhere to the fee structure agreed by both...

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 is appalled to learn of the widespread deceitful practice operated by some firms of solicitors dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger compensation claims for former miners and their families whereby deductions are taken from the interim and final settlement payments, some amounting to as much as ??8,000, despite the fact that all the legal costs are met by the Department of Trade and Industry under the terms of the handling agreement negotiated by solicitors representing both sides; and calls on the Law Society of England, Wales and the Law Society of Scotland to advise members that the dishonest practice is undermining their professional reputation and any such deductions made must be repaid in full.

That this House is appalled to learn of the widespread deceitful practice operated by some firms of solicitors dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger compensation claims for former miners and their families whereby deductions are taken from the interim and final settlement payments, some amounting to...

That this House is extremely concerned to learn that British Nuclear Fuels Limited is providing expert support to Rio Tinto plc, the multinational mining conglomerate, to assist it in defending claims arising from the operation of the former Capper Pass Smelting Plant near Hull in East Yorkshire; recalls that over 600 ex-employees and residents have suffered cancer, leukaemia and other serious illnesses, caused by exposure to radioactivity and toxic substances; expresses further concern that Rio Tinto's experts include BNFL's Principal Research Scientist and its former Head of Environmental Protection, formerly Chief Executive of WestLakes Scientific Consulting and currently Principal Consultant, WestLakes Research Institute, set up by BNFL; notes that a third expert advised BNFL in the Sellafield childhood leukaemia cases; concludes that BNFL is determined that the Capper Pass claims should fail, to avoid any finding that environmental and occupational exposure to radioactivity has caused cancer and leukaemia, thereby setting a precedent to be relied upon by Sellafield campaigners on both sides of the Irish Sea; deplores the fact that BNFL's alliance with Rio Tinto, against the Capper Pass families, has created a grossly unequal contest, entailing two Goliaths turning up for the fight with David; and calls upon BNFL and Rio Tinto to desist forthwith from such oppressive bullying tactics.

That this House is extremely concerned to learn that British Nuclear Fuels Limited is providing expert support to Rio Tinto plc, the multinational mining conglomerate, to assist it in defending claims arising from the operation of the former Capper Pass Smelting Plant near Hull in East Yorkshire; recalls that over...

That this House notes that 2003 is the 15th anniversary of the strike by P&O seafarers in Dover who fought for 14 months to retain conditions of service and protect safe manning standards in the wake of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster; recalls that P&O's response, in breach of ILO Convention 87/9 was to sack the whole workforce of some 2,000 people without options of redundancy or recompense; believes that the strikers were unfairly dismissed; notes that the then opposition front bench and the Labour Party Conference supported the sacked seafarers in their efforts to gain justice and compensation; records that most of the proposals to cut crews which caused the strike were not adopted; applauds the tenacity of the sacked seafarers for their sustained campaign; recognises that other groups of victimised workers have been granted compensation; and calls on the Labour Government to help redress the wrongs and injustices which were imposed on the sacked P&O seafarers under the protection of previous Tory Governments.

That this House notes that 2003 is the 15th anniversary of the strike by P&O seafarers in Dover who fought for 14 months to retain conditions of service and protect safe manning standards in the wake of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster; recalls that P&O's response, in breach of...

That this House condemns the legal proceedings currently being taken by Nestle against the Ethiopian Government to claim $6 million of compensation; notes that governments around the world are cooperating to relieve heavily indebted poor countries of debt; considers it inappropriate that multi-national companies should now seek damages from countries in the midst of a humanitarian crisis; and calls upon Nestle to cease its legal action against the Ethiopian Government and to help the Ethiopian Government, along with other international partners, to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia.

That this House condemns the legal proceedings currently being taken by Nestle against the Ethiopian Government to claim $6 million of compensation; notes that governments around the world are cooperating to relieve heavily indebted poor countries of debt; considers it inappropriate that multi-national companies should now seek damages from countries...

That this House expresses its concern at Secretary of State for Transport's unprecedented intervention in the proposals for the PPP on the London Underground on 4th December, which in effect provides a guarantee to the private sector of potentially billions of pounds if the legal challenge to the PPP by the Mayor of London in the European Court proves successful; and notes that this places at risk a massive sum of taxpayers' money which should be used for direct investment in the London Underground and undermines any agreement that PPP or PFI schemes transfer risk to the private sector.

That this House expresses its concern at Secretary of State for Transport's unprecedented intervention in the proposals for the PPP on the London Underground on 4th December, which in effect provides a guarantee to the private sector of potentially billions of pounds if the legal challenge to the PPP by...

That this House welcomes the ruling by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal that Tom Duggan, a nuclear test veteran who served in the armed forces during the UK's first A bomb programme on Christmas Island in 1958, contracted Lymphatic Cancer following exposure to radiation; notes that the tribunal's decision could finally prove to be the decisive case which overturns decades of claims by successive UK governments that the Christmas Island explosions could not have harmed UK servicemen; further notes the Ministry of Defence's refusal to grant funding to a test pioneered at Dundee University which would determine the effects of radiation on servicemen; and calls upon the Government to reconsider its position and grant the ??300,000 necessary to carry out these tests.

That this House welcomes the ruling by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal that Tom Duggan, a nuclear test veteran who served in the armed forces during the UK's first A bomb programme on Christmas Island in 1958, contracted Lymphatic Cancer following exposure to radiation; notes that the tribunal's decision could finally...

That this House welcomes the report of the Haemophilia Society Hepatitis C working group published on 18th June on a financial assistance scheme for people with haemophilia and hepatitis C and thanks the expert group for their work in researching and compiling this report; recognises the suffering of people with haemophilia in the United Kingdom who have been infected with hepatitis C as a result of contaminated blood products used in their NHS treatment; notes the serious contribution of this report to understanding the enormous financial loss incurred by the individuals and the families of those infected while acknowledging the parallel work ongoing in the Scottish Parliament to look at the issue; and calls on the Government to look seriously at the recommendations and to use the report as a basis for further investigations into the possibility of financial compensation for these victims.

That this House welcomes the report of the Haemophilia Society Hepatitis C working group published on 18th June on a financial assistance scheme for people with haemophilia and hepatitis C and thanks the expert group for their work in researching and compiling this report; recognises the suffering of people with...