That this House welcomes the British Antarctic Survey report published in Science Magazine which studied the journeys of 47 albatrosses and tracked their travels, discovering that albatrosses regularly circumnavigate the globe in as little as 46 days with typical journeys involving flights of nearly 600 miles daily; notes that there are 21 species of albatross, 19 of which are threatened with extinction; regrets that an estimated 100,000 albatrosses die annually on baited hooks as a result of long-line fishing across the world; fears further endangerment of these rare birds which can live for decades but which breed very slowly; hopes that this new information about migration patterns helps governments and fisheries commissions to devise conservation plans; supports the campaign by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to save the albatross across the globe; congratulates the UK Government on its ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation of the Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP); urges the UK Government to press the UK's Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha to ratify the agreement; and welcomes the implementation of conservation measures by ACAP signatory states to protect the sailor's friend.

That this House welcomes the British Antarctic Survey report published in Science Magazine which studied the journeys of 47 albatrosses and tracked their travels, discovering that albatrosses regularly circumnavigate the globe in as little as 46 days with typical journeys involving flights of nearly 600 miles daily; notes that there...

That this House notes with concern the actions of landowners who refuse to sign a pledge to accept laws protecting the hen-harrier; recognises the hen-harrier as an officially protected bird of prey as a consequence of being so rare with only eight breeding pairs in England; supports the fact that this is a protected bird; and calls on the Government to ensure that owners of grouse shooting estates sign the pledge and adhere to the law in order to preserve the hen-harrier.

That this House notes with concern the actions of landowners who refuse to sign a pledge to accept laws protecting the hen-harrier; recognises the hen-harrier as an officially protected bird of prey as a consequence of being so rare with only eight breeding pairs in England; supports the fact that...

That this House congratulates the former Energy Minister, the honourable Member for Cunninghame North, for installing a micro wind generator on his own house; notes that this cutting edge technology is no more intrusive than a television satellite antenna dish and is expected to save an estimated 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per house per annum, as well as reducing electricity bills by up to one third; and looks forward to measures to promote this and similar technologies being included in the micro-generation strategy now being drawn up by the Government under section 82 of the Energy Act 2004.

That this House congratulates the former Energy Minister, the honourable Member for Cunninghame North, for installing a micro wind generator on his own house; notes that this cutting edge technology is no more intrusive than a television satellite antenna dish and is expected to save an estimated 0.5 tonnes of...

That this House welcomes energy efficiency initiatives which are likely to reduce household fuel poverty and lower the use of power; regrets the lack of progress being made by the Government in this field; is concerned that neither the moral nor the financial case for reducing usage has been made by the Government; believes that there should be an expansion of power efficiency schemes available to a wider cross section of the public; and calls upon the Government to set out how it intends to achieve this.

That this House welcomes energy efficiency initiatives which are likely to reduce household fuel poverty and lower the use of power; regrets the lack of progress being made by the Government in this field; is concerned that neither the moral nor the financial case for reducing usage has been made...

That this House values the important educational and cultural roles of heritage and conservation charities, many of which are independent museums; recognises that the existence and development of such bodies relies not only on the efforts of volunteers but also on admission charges; welcomes the vital financial assistance which Gift Aid has given tho them; is concerned that there are proposals to remove the Gift Aid provision on admission charges; and urges the Government to continue to allow these charities to benefit from Gift Aid without restriction to the existing conditions.

That this House values the important educational and cultural roles of heritage and conservation charities, many of which are independent museums; recognises that the existence and development of such bodies relies not only on the efforts of volunteers but also on admission charges; welcomes the vital financial assistance which Gift...

That this House congratulates the Energy Saving Trust for organising National Energy Efficiency Week, 25th to 30th October; recognises that energy efficiency is the cleanest, safest and cheapest way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions; supports tough energy efficiency targets as a means of achieving climate change goals; notes the potential of energy efficiency measures to deliver substantial savings on fuel bills for households and businesses; and urges all honourable Members to show leadership in their constituencies by supporting the Big Turn Off of electrical appliances in their offices on Friday 29th October.

That this House congratulates the Energy Saving Trust for organising National Energy Efficiency Week, 25th to 30th October; recognises that energy efficiency is the cleanest, safest and cheapest way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions; supports tough energy efficiency targets as a means of achieving climate change goals; notes the potential...

That this House welcomes the Government's consultation on an extension of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) as an opportunity to improve measures to improve energy efficiency; notes that extending such improvements to cover the period 2005 to 2011 will help the Government achieve its carbon emissions reduction targets and fuel poverty eradication; further notes that EEC 2005 to 2008 (EEC 2) must deliver a genuine doubling of the energy savings delivered by the current EEC (2002 to 2005) and that a third phase of EEC from 2008 to 2011 (EEC 3) should deliver a tripling of current savings; further welcomes the proposal to end 'double-counting' and improved interaction between EEC 2 and Government fuel poverty programmes; but is concerned that DEFRA has not followed the Treasury's example regarding kick-starts for the market for micro CHP and domestic heat pumps by stating that the new EEC will be used to assist those technologies, subject to satisfactory field trials.

That this House welcomes the Government's consultation on an extension of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) as an opportunity to improve measures to improve energy efficiency; notes that extending such improvements to cover the period 2005 to 2011 will help the Government achieve its carbon emissions reduction targets and fuel...

That this House notes that the Energy Saving Trust, in its submission to the Government consultation on Household Energy Efficiency, Fiscal Incentives for Home Energy Efficiency, November 2003, concluded that further fiscal incentives are required to stimulate the installation of more energy efficiency products, particularly cavity wall and solid wall insulation; further notes that a stamp duty rebate for house buyers who install energy saving measures is recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, the Association for the Conservation of Energy, the Sustainable Energy Partnership and the National Insulation Association as being the best way of achieving this increased take-up of measures; further notes that the Energy White Paper described energy efficiency as the 'cheapest, cleanest and safest way' of achieving all of our energy policy objectives; and therefore supports the introduction of such a stamp duty rebate as soon as it is reasonably practicable.

That this House notes that the Energy Saving Trust, in its submission to the Government consultation on Household Energy Efficiency, Fiscal Incentives for Home Energy Efficiency, November 2003, concluded that further fiscal incentives are required to stimulate the installation of more energy efficiency products, particularly cavity wall and solid wall...

That this House welcomes the campaign by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to save the albatross across the globe; congratulates the UK Government on its ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP); notes that the UK's Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, which has a key area for albatross conservation in its waters, has yet to rectify the agreement, and urges the UK Government to press Tristan da Cunha to ratify it; understands that there are only 9,000 Tristan albatrosses left and that spectacled petrels breed only on Tristan, on which the world population of less than 10,000 birds is confined; is concerned that with about 700 such albatrosses killed annually by long line fisheries off the Brazilian coast, this species is now classed as critically endangered by the IUCN (World Conservation Union); fears that long line fishing poses the greatest single threat to albatrosses, with more than 100,000 dying on baited hooks around the world each year, threatening with extinction all 21 species of albatross and six species of petrel; and welcomes the implementation of conservation measures by ACAP signatory states to protect the sailor's friend.

That this House welcomes the campaign by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to save the albatross across the globe; congratulates the UK Government on its ratification of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP); notes that the UK's Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha,...

That this House notes the continuing slaughter of dolphins and other cetaceans as a consequence of industrial pair trawling for sea bass; believes all buyers should follow the example of restaurants in the South Hams, Teignbridge and Torbay and source their supply from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to encourage all outlets across all departments under its influence to do likewise.

That this House notes the continuing slaughter of dolphins and other cetaceans as a consequence of industrial pair trawling for sea bass; believes all buyers should follow the example of restaurants in the South Hams, Teignbridge and Torbay and source their supply from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers; and...

That this House notes the application for support currently under consideration by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) for the Sakhalin II phase 2 gas and oil project on Russia's ecologically sensitive Sakhalin Island; further notes that the project involves the construction of two offshore production platforms, an onshore processing facility, on and offshore pipelines, a LNG plant and an export terminal; hopes that the ECGD will reject the application if the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company cannot convincingly guarantee that the mitigation measures it has proposed will protect from extinction the critically endangered Western Grey Whale, whose population numbers as few as 100 individuals and whose summer feeding grounds are restricted to the shallow water around the coast of the island.

That this House notes the application for support currently under consideration by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) for the Sakhalin II phase 2 gas and oil project on Russia's ecologically sensitive Sakhalin Island; further notes that the project involves the construction of two offshore production platforms, an onshore processing...

That this House notes the report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency highlighting the case of Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan which, as a result of illegal mining, has had large areas of forest destroyed, migratory routes for wildlife blocked and the water security of the people living in the area severely affected; and calls upon the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and the Ministry of Environment and Forests to enforce existing laws and legislation and to ensure that the mines remain closed, that the companies responsible for the destruction are held accountable for their actions and that this vital area of tiger habitat is rehabilitated.

That this House notes the report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency highlighting the case of Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan which, as a result of illegal mining, has had large areas of forest destroyed, migratory routes for wildlife blocked and the water security of...

That this House notes with concern the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposals to change the law on Gift Aid, ending the existing ability of conservation and heritage charities to claim Gift Aid on day memberships; recognises that Gift Aid can account for up to 20 per cent. of some charity admission incomes and believes the Treasury proposals could have a serious and negative impact on these charities financially, putting into jeopardy many charity development plans and, in some cases, the ability of some charities to continue; and therefore calls on the Chancellor to recognise the potential damage of the proposals on such charities across the UK by announcing a reversal in his plans in his March Budget statement.

That this House notes with concern the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposals to change the law on Gift Aid, ending the existing ability of conservation and heritage charities to claim Gift Aid on day memberships; recognises that Gift Aid can account for up to 20 per cent. of some charity...

That this House notes that the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group has said that current programmes to deal with fuel poverty need to be increased by at least 50 per cent. if Government objectives are to be met; notes also that emissions of carbon dioxide have increased; believes that to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to help persons on low incomes to keep their homes warm, VAT on the supply and installation of energy saving materials should be levied at the reduced rate of 5 per cent.; and therefore calls upon the Government to reduce the rate of VAT to 5 per cent. for all energy saving materials to meet its social and environmental objectives.

That this House notes that the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group has said that current programmes to deal with fuel poverty need to be increased by at least 50 per cent. if Government objectives are to be met; notes also that emissions of carbon dioxide have increased; believes that to reduce...

That this House notes that, in the last Session, 169 honourable Members signed Early Day Motion No. 47 calling for an extension of the current grant scheme for photo-voltaic heating systems to include micro-combined heat and power systems and domestic heat pumps in order to stimulate investment in new technology and thereby assist with the achievement of carbon dioxide reduction targets; notes too that the Government, in the recent energy White Paper, stresses the importance of new technology in achieving energy policy objectives and also proposes to continue the current energy efficiency commitment beyond 2005 at twice the current level; and believes therefore that using that commitment to fund a new technology grant scheme so as to 'kick-start' the market for the most efficient technologies like micro CHP and heat pumps is an excellent way of encouraging new technology without cost to the public purse.

That this House notes that, in the last Session, 169 honourable Members signed Early Day Motion No. 47 calling for an extension of the current grant scheme for photo-voltaic heating systems to include micro-combined heat and power systems and domestic heat pumps in order to stimulate investment in new technology...

That this House notes that pursuant to the Sustainable Energy Act 2003 the Secretary of State must set an energy efficiency aim for residential accommodation; and welcomes the assurance given during the Committee Stage of that Act that in doing so the Government will work with the energy efficiency industry and others who have an interest, Official Report, 24th June, column 56; further notes that the industry and the environment and fuel poverty sectors have all stressed the importance of the aim being the achievement of five megatonnes of carbon savings per annum by 2010 from household energy efficiency as specified in the Energy White Paper, or a 20 per cent. improvement by 2010, the two being different ways of expressing the same target; further notes that this figure has been supported by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit, the Energy Saving Trust, the Sustainable Development Commission and by 420 honourable Members by means of signing various Early Day Motions and voting on this issue; welcomes the Written Answer given on 27th October by Energy Efficiency Minister Lord Whitty to Baroness Maddock, Official Report, column WA19, confirming the Government's commitment to achieving improvements in household energy efficiency of five megatonnes of carbon by 2010; and calls upon the Government to set as the energy efficiency aim the achievement of five megatonnes of carbon savings per annum by 2010 for the UK, with an appropriate proportion for England.

That this House notes that pursuant to the Sustainable Energy Act 2003 the Secretary of State must set an energy efficiency aim for residential accommodation; and welcomes the assurance given during the Committee Stage of that Act that in doing so the Government will work with the energy efficiency industry...

That this House notes that the Treasury consultation on fiscal measures to help domestic energy efficiency closed on 24th October; further notes that the Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, while supporting the Treasury's suggested list of only three measures, namely (a) a widening of the VAT reduction to five per cent. on energy saving materials, (b) enhanced capital allowances for energy service providers and (c) a new tax allowance for private landlords investing in energy efficiency, has described it as wholly inadequate; welcomes, therefore, the response of the Sustainable Energy Partnership which supports the above and also proposes additional measures, namely, (i) stamp duty rebate at time of purchase for home buyers installing energy efficiency measures and (ii) a tax allowance for training installers; recognises that these are supported by over 100 individual local authorities, 47 out of 51 energy efficiency advice centres and 17 out of 20 local energy efficiency forums, by the National Federation of Residential Landlords, representing 130 federations of private landlords and by the Tenants and Residents Organisation of England; and therefore calls on the Treasury to support all five measures in Budget 2004.

That this House notes that the Treasury consultation on fiscal measures to help domestic energy efficiency closed on 24th October; further notes that the Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, while supporting the Treasury's suggested list of only three measures, namely (a) a widening of the VAT reduction to...

That this House congratulates the Energy Saving Trust on launching the seventh Energy Efficiency Week; notes that this follows an exhaustingly hot summer which may be typical of man-made climate change; further notes that more extreme and damaging weather events can be expected as well as hotter summers; believes, as the Energy White Paper stated, that energy efficiency is one of the key tools in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and should be at the heart of the Government's energy policy; welcomes the White Paper target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050 and the recent consultation paper on Economic Instruments to Improve Household Energy Efficiency; calls on the Government to introduce new policies to enable the targets to be met and in particular to correct the VAT anomaly which has energy saving taxed more heavily than energy use by cutting to 5 per cent. the rate of VAT on condensing boilers, energy saving light bulbs and other energy efficient appliances, puting an inefficiency charge on the least efficient products and enabling a reduction in council tax or stamp duty rates for energy efficient homes; and further notes that an increase in uptake of energy efficiency measures would help combat climate change, improve the UK's energy security and reduce bills for consumers.

That this House congratulates the Energy Saving Trust on launching the seventh Energy Efficiency Week; notes that this follows an exhaustingly hot summer which may be typical of man-made climate change; further notes that more extreme and damaging weather events can be expected as well as hotter summers; believes, as...