That this House welcomes the recent parliamentary launch of the pamphlet, Carers and Learning: Something for You; notes that this is the first significant public information initiative to explain one of the principal purposes of the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004; congratulates Carers UK and NIACE, the adult learners body, on this excellent publication; and expresses the hope that millions of carers will be able to avail themselves of educational, training, leisure and work opportunities enabled by this new legislation for England and Wales.

That this House welcomes the recent parliamentary launch of the pamphlet, Carers and Learning: Something for You; notes that this is the first significant public information initiative to explain one of the principal purposes of the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004; congratulates Carers UK and NIACE, the adult learners body,...

That this House welcomes the announcement from the Scottish Executive proposing legislation to end smoking in all enclosed public places in Scotland; congratulates the First Minister Jack McConnell for putting health at the top of Scotland's political agenda; notes the cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament for ending smoking in enclosed public places; further notes that no-one has the right to damage the health of others; and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government to go further than the Choosing Health White Paper recommendations and introduce similar comprehensive legislation for the UK.

That this House welcomes the announcement from the Scottish Executive proposing legislation to end smoking in all enclosed public places in Scotland; congratulates the First Minister Jack McConnell for putting health at the top of Scotland's political agenda; notes the cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament for ending smoking in...

That this House notes with concern the massive increase in the cost of public liability insurance over the last three years and the negative impact this is having on traditional community events throughout the country; notes that in one case in Edinburgh, an insurance quote of ??14,500 was given to the Corstorphine Fair from the same company that quoted just ??1,000 two years ago; recognises that the cost of insurance is now jeopardising the future of a number of fundraising and community events, including Christmas events; rejects the main excuse put forward by insurance companies that the increased premiums are required because of the rise in international terrorism; and therefore calls on the Government to look into this issue as a matter of urgency to ensure these events, which are so important to local communities, are able to continue.

That this House notes with concern the massive increase in the cost of public liability insurance over the last three years and the negative impact this is having on traditional community events throughout the country; notes that in one case in Edinburgh, an insurance quote of ??14,500 was given to...

That this House notes with concern that less than half of disabled people of working age are in work and that disabled people are more tha twice as likely as non-disabled people to have no qualifications; supports the Shaw Trust's Break the Chains campaign; believes that it is right to provide opportunities and support for disabled people to move from welfare to work through programmes such as the New Deal for Disabled People and Workstep; and calls on the Government to reinvest benefit savings to expand these programmes so that increasing numbers of disabled people can be supported into work.

That this House notes with concern that less than half of disabled people of working age are in work and that disabled people are more tha twice as likely as non-disabled people to have no qualifications; supports the Shaw Trust's Break the Chains campaign; believes that it is right to...

That this House recalls with deep regret the death of 12 year old Amy Houston in a road traffic accident a year ago; notes that the driver of the vehicle had already been twice banned from driving; believes that the sentence of four months' imprisonment which he received was woefully inadequate; believes that there should be a separate offence of causing death with a vehicle whilst disqualified from driving, and that such an offence should carry with it a serious custodial sentence; welcomes the publication of the Government's Road Safety Bill; and calls on the Government to incorporate such a change into the Bill.

That this House recalls with deep regret the death of 12 year old Amy Houston in a road traffic accident a year ago; notes that the driver of the vehicle had already been twice banned from driving; believes that the sentence of four months' imprisonment which he received was woefully...

That this House deplores recent announcements by leading universities that they are to close, or freeze recruitment to, some departments because of funding problems; notes that the universities of Durham, Swansea, Cambridge, King's College London, Queen Mary and Westfield College London, Reading and Exeter are each considering at least one major department closure; regrets that departments awarded a Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 4 star rating receive less than half the funding that 5 star rated departments receive; notes that some Exeter University students part way through their degrees will have to complete their studies at other universities or suffer a reduced standard of teaching as departments are winding up; calls on the Government urgently to review the RAE star rating system and its impact on funding; and urges the Government to take practical steps to ensure that students whose departments are closed part way through their degree course do not suffer.

That this House deplores recent announcements by leading universities that they are to close, or freeze recruitment to, some departments because of funding problems; notes that the universities of Durham, Swansea, Cambridge, King's College London, Queen Mary and Westfield College London, Reading and Exeter are each considering at least one...

That this House expresses its deep concern that the leader of Burma's democracy movement, Nobel Prize winner Aung Sun Suu Kyi, has now spent more than nine years under house arrest; notes that there are currently serious questions about her personal security; abserves that, despite Burma's military dictatorship announcing several initiatives to move towards democracy, prospects for democracy in Burma are as distant as ever; further notes that there has not been a single democratic political reform in the past 15 years; calls for the immediate release of Aung Sun Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma; and calls on the Government immediately to put Burma on the agenda of the United National Security Council.

That this House expresses its deep concern that the leader of Burma's democracy movement, Nobel Prize winner Aung Sun Suu Kyi, has now spent more than nine years under house arrest; notes that there are currently serious questions about her personal security; abserves that, despite Burma's military dictatorship announcing several...

That this House notes the comments made by the Transport Secretary to BBC News on Monday 22nd November implying that rural rail services were in the business of carting fresh air around the country; believes that this constitutes a potentially serious threat to the long-term future of rural rail services; is concerned that these comments coincided with the Community Rail Development Strategy published the same day; welcomes those proposals in the strategy aimed at increasing passenger volume on rural lines; but calls on the Government to make a long term commitment to rural rail line services as part of an integrated strategy for the rail and transport network, aimed at reducing road traffic and pollution by promoting greater availability and use of public transport.

That this House notes the comments made by the Transport Secretary to BBC News on Monday 22nd November implying that rural rail services were in the business of carting fresh air around the country; believes that this constitutes a potentially serious threat to the long-term future of rural rail services;...

That this House notes that, according to official statistics, over one million children in Britain are homeless or in housing which is either overcrowded or unfit for human habitation; notes that all the available research indicates that this can have devastating effects on their health, education and future prospects; and welcomes Shelter's Million Children campaign, highlighting the plight of these children and supports its call to end bad housing for the next generation of children.

That this House notes that, according to official statistics, over one million children in Britain are homeless or in housing which is either overcrowded or unfit for human habitation; notes that all the available research indicates that this can have devastating effects on their health, education and future prospects; and...

That this House strongly condemns the illegal imprisonment of Mr Roy Bennett MP (Zimbabwe) by the Parliament of Zimbabwe and calls upon the Parliament of Zimbabwe to release Mr Bennett forthwith.

That this House strongly condemns the illegal imprisonment of Mr Roy Bennett MP (Zimbabwe) by the Parliament of Zimbabwe and calls upon the Parliament of Zimbabwe to release Mr Bennett forthwith.

That this House congratulates Daniel Barenboim, Israeli conductor, on is determination to continue the work of the charitable foundation which he founded with the late Edward Said, his new initiative in opening a kindergarten in Ramallah for four to five year olds to attend music classes and his determination to forge links between Israeli and Palestinian children; and hopes that the Israeli Government and the newly elected Palestinian President follow his example to encourage peaceful co-operation between Israel and Palestine.

That this House congratulates Daniel Barenboim, Israeli conductor, on is determination to continue the work of the charitable foundation which he founded with the late Edward Said, his new initiative in opening a kindergarten in Ramallah for four to five year olds to attend music classes and his determination to...

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...

That this House appreciates the constructive work that joint pre-legislative scrutiny committees can perform in helping to scrutinise and improve draft legislation; and looks forward to them continuing to perform this valuable function to an even greater extent in the future.

That this House appreciates the constructive work that joint pre-legislative scrutiny committees can perform in helping to scrutinise and improve draft legislation; and looks forward to them continuing to perform this valuable function to an even greater extent in the future.

That this House asks the Secretary of State for Health to undertake an urgent review of NHS funding for children's hospices with a view to reducing the gap which currently exists between NHS funding for children's hospices and adult hospices.

That this House asks the Secretary of State for Health to undertake an urgent review of NHS funding for children's hospices with a view to reducing the gap which currently exists between NHS funding for children's hospices and adult hospices.

That this House notes the latest Sentio-Norstat opinion poll in Norway which shows that 10 years after the Norwegian vote not to join the European Union 48.5 per cent. of Norwegians are now in favour of EU membership compared to 40.2 per cent. who are opposed; further notes that 60 per cent. now predict Norway will join the EU by 2014; concurs with the head of the Norwegian EU delegation that it is becoming increasingly difficult to advance the interests of countries like Norway who are in the European Economic Area but remain outside the EU; repudiates the arguments of those who want the UK to renegotiate its relationship with the EU along Norwegian lines; and believes that such a move towards associate membership would consign the UK to the sidelines of Europe, affected by EU decisions but having no say over them.

That this House notes the latest Sentio-Norstat opinion poll in Norway which shows that 10 years after the Norwegian vote not to join the European Union 48.5 per cent. of Norwegians are now in favour of EU membership compared to 40.2 per cent. who are opposed; further notes that 60...

That this House congratulates the crofting community of Pairc in the Western Isles for its historic vote to use its right under the Scottish Land Reform Act to make a compulsory purchase of the 25,000 acre Pairc Estate; commends the Pairc Community Trust and the Scottish Community Land Unit for the responsible way they managed the consultation process and the ballot; applauds the Labour Government for having launched the land reform process in January 1999 through its Green Paper, and the Scottish Parliament for having passed the Land Reform Act in January 2003; and hopes that many other communities in the Highlands and Islands will take similar advantage of their new rights under the Act, so fulfilling the vision of sweeping land reform in the Scottish Highlands and Islands first articulated by radical politicians such as Keir Hardie and the crofting MPs, Dr Roderick MacDonald, Charles Fraser MacKintosh, Dr Gavin Clark, Alexander Sutherland and Donald MacFarlane, more than 100 years ago.

That this House congratulates the crofting community of Pairc in the Western Isles for its historic vote to use its right under the Scottish Land Reform Act to make a compulsory purchase of the 25,000 acre Pairc Estate; commends the Pairc Community Trust and the Scottish Community Land Unit for...

That this House believes that a convincing case for the introduction of identity cards and a national database has not been made, that they have no discernible benefit, that the introduction of identity cards will fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the state, diminish personal privacy and threaten civil liberties, and that identity cards area solution in search of a problem; and calls upon the Government to abandon any plans for their introduction.

That this House believes that a convincing case for the introduction of identity cards and a national database has not been made, that they have no discernible benefit, that the introduction of identity cards will fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the state, diminish personal privacy and threaten...