That this House congratulates The Royal Society of Chemistry on holding its Parliamentary Links Day at the House on Tuesday 22nd June and on its continuing commitment to serve the public interest by seeking to improve the access to all honourable Members to scientific information and a better understanding of science; notes that among those contributing to this year's event are senior figures drawn from all the core science disciplines and from engineering including Professor Julia Goodfellow of the Institute of Biology, Lord Broers of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Dr Peter Cotgreave from Save British Science, Dr Julia King from the Institute of Physics, and Dr Simon Campbell from the Royal Society of Chemistry; notes that Parliamentary Links Day is now an established and respected event on the annual parliamentary calendar; applauds the co-operative involvement in this event of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Biology and its affiliated bodies, and many other organisations within the science and engineering community; further notes that the Royal Society of Chemistry's pioneering Parliamentary Link Scheme, which pairs scientists with the honourable Members in whose constituencies they live and provides honourable information and briefing on science, is open to Right honourable and honourable Members on all sides of the House; welcomes the expertise and assistance that the scientific community can give to Parliament; and welcomes the continuing contribution that Parliamentary Links Day makes to strengthening the dialogue between Parliament and the science and engineering community on scientific and technological issues.

That this House congratulates The Royal Society of Chemistry on holding its Parliamentary Links Day at the House on Tuesday 22nd June and on its continuing commitment to serve the public interest by seeking to improve the access to all honourable Members to scientific information and a better understanding of...

That this House notes the Chancellor's announcement of the New Deal for Skills; welcomes the proposed relaxation of restrictions on those who are aged 19, studying full-time for a Level 2 or 3 qualification, and already claiming benefits; notes, however, that the 16-hour housing benefit rule will still penalise many thousands of young homeless people wishing to return to study; and supports the Foyer Federation's call for the removal of the 16-hour rule.

That this House notes the Chancellor's announcement of the New Deal for Skills; welcomes the proposed relaxation of restrictions on those who are aged 19, studying full-time for a Level 2 or 3 qualification, and already claiming benefits; notes, however, that the 16-hour housing benefit rule will still penalise many...

That this House recognises that education is the key to fighting poverty and is a human right; notes with concern that over 100 million children around the world, the majority girls, are not enrolled in primary education; welcomes Her Majesty's Government's pledge of an extra ??12 million to support low-income countries' efforts towards universal primary education through the Catalytic Fund of the Fast Track Initiative designed to support countries neglected by other donors; acknowledges the UN calculation that at least US$5 billion will be needed per annum to realise universal primary education; therefore calls on the Government to demonstrate further commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of gender equality in education by 2005 and universal primary education by 2015 by mobilising all possible resources, including political will, necessary to the achievement of these goals; and supports the Global Campaign for Education's efforts to raise the profile of this important issue through its Week of Action 19th to 25th April 2004.

That this House recognises that education is the key to fighting poverty and is a human right; notes with concern that over 100 million children around the world, the majority girls, are not enrolled in primary education; welcomes Her Majesty's Government's pledge of an extra ??12 million to support low-income...

That this House acknowledges the Global Campaign for Education's Action Week from 19th to 25th April and urges honourable Members to participate in activities to raise awareness of the 113 million children worldwide who are missing an education; notes that the majority of these children live in countries affected by, or emerging from conflict, and that a large number of these are girls; congratulates Her Majesty's Government on its committment to meeting the Education for All Millennium Development Goals, but notes with concern that these goals will not be achieved whilst education in countries affected by conflict continues to be underfunded; and urges the Secretary of State for International Development to make a formal commitment to funding education in times of crisis and to prioritise children's rights to education as well as to protection during conflict.

That this House acknowledges the Global Campaign for Education's Action Week from 19th to 25th April and urges honourable Members to participate in activities to raise awareness of the 113 million children worldwide who are missing an education; notes that the majority of these children live in countries affected by,...

That this House notes the leading role which Britain played in the transatlantic slave trade and that millions of enslaved persons passed through the ports of Bristol, Liverpool and London; further notes that a large proportion of Britain's black community are descendants of enslaved Africans; recognises that slavery is a crime against humanity; notes that many people of all communities in Britain want to learn about the history of slavery; calls on the Government to make the teaching of the slave trade and plantation slavery, mandatory as part of the national curriculum; commends the national museums and galleries on Merseyside for promoting National Memorial Slavery Day; and further calls upon the Government to initiate a National Memorial Slavery Day so that people throughout the country will learn about and remember the horrors of slavery.

That this House notes the leading role which Britain played in the transatlantic slave trade and that millions of enslaved persons passed through the ports of Bristol, Liverpool and London; further notes that a large proportion of Britain's black community are descendants of enslaved Africans; recognises that slavery is a...

That this House agrees with the Government that universities have been seriously underfunded for the last two decades; notes that the percentage of GDP spent on higher education has decreased since 1997; further notes Government research which indicates that debt and the fear of debt are significant barriers to higher education, particularly for under-represented groups, and that students from poorer backgrounds accumulate the largest burden of debt; believes that all those with a relevant qualification should have the opportunity to enter higher education and therefore regrets the inclusion in the Queen's Speech of the Higher Education Bill, which ignores these considerations; believes that the new proposals, whilst not providing sufficient resources to sustain a world class higher education system, will create a two-tier university system, with access based more on the ability to pay than on merit; and further believes that top-up fees should not be introduced, that tuition fees should be abolished and that maintenance grants of up to ??2,000 should be introduced to be paid for out of progressive taxation, not a student poll tax.

That this House agrees with the Government that universities have been seriously underfunded for the last two decades; notes that the percentage of GDP spent on higher education has decreased since 1997; further notes Government research which indicates that debt and the fear of debt are significant barriers to higher...

That this House notes that the ninth annual Carers Week is being held from 9th to 15th June; notes also that it is now estimated that three in five people in the UK become carers at some time in their lives and that carers annually save the Exchequer over ??57 billion, the equivalent of the cost of the NHS; welcomes this year's Carers Week theme of opportunities; further notes that four million of the UK's seven million carers work full-time or part-time, often juggling their different roles with considerable difficulty and that many other carers also wish to take up employment or learning opportunities; believes that carers deserve the support and services that will enable them to have access to such opportunities, that the main barriers for many carers include lack of flexibility in the workplace, that many day-care services are available only for limited periods of the day, that there is a lack of funding for replacement and short-term breaks, that there is an absence of evening and weekend services in a supposed 24-hour society and that childcare services frequently do not cater for disabled children; and calls for these issues to be addressed by policy-makers at all levels.

That this House notes that the ninth annual Carers Week is being held from 9th to 15th June; notes also that it is now estimated that three in five people in the UK become carers at some time in their lives and that carers annually save the Exchequer over ??57...

That this House notes the substantial contribution made by further education colleges to improving the skills of over three million adults every year; further notes that colleges provide 200 million training days to young people and adults annually compared with 60 million provided by industry; welcomes the strong partnerships already developed by many colleges with their local firms; welcomes the drive by the Association of colleges to encourage improved links with industry; urges the Department for Education and Skills, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Learning and Skills Council to implement proposals in the interim skills strategy which would give colleges greater ability to develop bespoke training and flexible qualifications with simplified assessment systems so that they can equip more individual learners and employers with the skills they need in the modern economy; and further urges the Treasury to consider what incentives might be provided to employers and learners to encourage them to engage in more lifelong learning.

That this House notes the substantial contribution made by further education colleges to improving the skills of over three million adults every year; further notes that colleges provide 200 million training days to young people and adults annually compared with 60 million provided by industry; welcomes the strong partnerships already...

That this House agrees with the stated objective of the House of Commons Commission to increase awareness of the general public to the history and working of Parliament by means, amongst other, of formalising arrangements for the Line of Route tours creating a 'one stop shop' policy; is concerned that the expertise, professionalism and experience of the current in-house guides are fully preserved and utilised; welcomes the commitment of the Leader of the House to a properly resourced visitors centre; hopes that full and speedy consultation with honourable Members of the House and their staff and others takes place to ensure that requirements of both honourable Members and public are recognised and that the skills and experience of those working in the House and involved at present in organising tours and dealing with the public is utilised and not disregarded.

That this House agrees with the stated objective of the House of Commons Commission to increase awareness of the general public to the history and working of Parliament by means, amongst other, of formalising arrangements for the Line of Route tours creating a 'one stop shop' policy; is concerned that...

That this House applauds the many people, both deaf and hearing, nationwide who are involved in the national campaign to improve the standards of deaf education; recognises that without this deaf children would suffer from low education attainments, which could lead to a lack of social development and an inability to participate in society fully; and therefore calls upon Her Majesty's Government to respond sympathetically to the campaign and recognises the particular needs of this vulnerable group of children in the drive to raise educational standards.

That this House applauds the many people, both deaf and hearing, nationwide who are involved in the national campaign to improve the standards of deaf education; recognises that without this deaf children would suffer from low education attainments, which could lead to a lack of social development and an inability...

That this House notes that the United Kingdom bilateral development programme to Sudan has been suspended since 1991, and that since then Her Majesty's Government has given virtually no support for education initiatives in Sudan; is aware that the education situation in Sudan is now critical and that according to UNICEF, in southern Sudan, only 31 per cent. of the estimated 1.06 million children, and only 28 per cent. of girls are enrolled in primary schools and only eight per cent. of teachers have been trained; acknowledges that people of southern Sudan, in common with other populations experiencing conflict, consistently rank education as one of their highest priorities; applauds the recent interest of the British Government in achieving peace in Sudan but believes that carefully targeted support for education and training in Sudan would not adversely affect the peace process and could actually stimulate the demand for peace; welcomes the recent donation by the Secretary of State for International Development of books to a school in southern Sudan; and urges her to follow up this gesture by including substantial support for education in the United Kingdom aid allocation to Sudan.

That this House notes that the United Kingdom bilateral development programme to Sudan has been suspended since 1991, and that since then Her Majesty's Government has given virtually no support for education initiatives in Sudan; is aware that the education situation in Sudan is now critical and that according to...

That this House welcomes the Times Educational Supplement and UNICEF 'Children Helping Children Appeal for Afghanistan', in encouraging teachers and pupils around the country to organise fundraising activities for their counterparts in Afghanistan; recognises the importance of rebuilding schools that have been destroyed and encouraging teachers previously prevented from teaching to teach again in Afghanistan; welcomes the diversity of the programme, from providing basic learning tools for school children to adult literacy programmes; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to acknowledge the importance of this campaign in developing a sense of responsibility among our young people as global citizens and to acknowledge the value of the contribution of children throughout the UK to their peers in Afghanistan.

That this House welcomes the Times Educational Supplement and UNICEF 'Children Helping Children Appeal for Afghanistan', in encouraging teachers and pupils around the country to organise fundraising activities for their counterparts in Afghanistan; recognises the importance of rebuilding schools that have been destroyed and encouraging teachers previously prevented from teaching...

That this House welcomes Macmillan Cancer Relief's Cancer Talk, an innovative educational initiative to counter common classroom myths and misconceptions about cancer; applauds the cross-party support that Macmillan Cancer Relief's Cancer Talk has secured from the many honourable Members who have kindly issued press releases, written to local schools and arranged media photocalls to highlight Cancer Talk Week from 4th to 8th March; notes that Cancer Talk is an ongoing education programme designed with great sensitivity and with advice from teachers, child psychiatrists and parents to tackle a very real problem, namely the danger that misconceptions compound ignorance, stigma and isolation for the millions of pupils and young people, teachers and parents affected by cancer; further notes that new MORI research shows that while two-thirds of children know somebody affected by cancer and nearly half have had a family member with cancer, ignorance abounds, underlining a real need for accurate information to raise awareness and understanding of cancer which four in 10 of each honourable Member's constitutents will develop in their lifetime, including childhood cancers affecting one in 600 of those aged under 15 years; welcomes the statements of support from the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Right honourable Estelle Morris MP, Gary Lineker, whose son had cancer, the S Club 7 pop group and actors from Grange Hill and Hollyoaks; and calls on all honourable Members to make a date in their diaries for next year's Cancer Talk Week in February 2003 and give their wholehearted support to this record-breaking initiative for which 4,000 schools have registered this year alone.

That this House welcomes Macmillan Cancer Relief's Cancer Talk, an innovative educational initiative to counter common classroom myths and misconceptions about cancer; applauds the cross-party support that Macmillan Cancer Relief's Cancer Talk has secured from the many honourable Members who have kindly issued press releases, written to local schools and...