That this House welcomes the remarks by Professor Stiglitz, former Chief Economist of the World Bank, in his recent interview with The Independent newspaper, in which he warns against severe cuts being the response to the recession `because cutting back means the economy goes into a downturn...[and] will trigger another recession or depression'; believes the lessons from Ireland, where the government has undertaken a savage cuts agenda that has deepened the recession with an approach that mirrors much of what is said by the Conservative Party in the UK, are clear; supports Professor Stiglitz's comments that governments should not be held to ransom by credit agencies and that investment and economic benefits will result from the public spending undertaken in response to the recession; and further believes that a programme of government investment would restore economic growth and in turn reduce government debt meaning that ordinary people such as nurses, teachers and pensioners who did not cause the recession would not have to pay for the failings of unrestrained free-market capitalism.

That this House welcomes the remarks by Professor Stiglitz, former Chief Economist of the World Bank, in his recent interview with The Independent newspaper, in which he warns against severe cuts being the response to the recession `because cutting back means the economy goes into a downturn...[and] will trigger another...

That this House recognises that the reformed Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) introduced for all existing and new members in April 2008, and April 2009 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, is an affordable and sustainable scheme for the long-term provision of pension saving for those working in local government and allied employment; notes that discussions on the mechanism to meet future cost fluctuations of the new LGPS between Government, employers and unions are ongoing through the Department for Communities and Local Government's Policy Review Group; and therefore calls on HM Treasury to acknowledge that any proposal to cap increases in employer contributions to a funded pension scheme such as the LGPS outlined in the Pre-Budget Report is within the context of the existing policy framework, not a substitute for open and transparent agreement between the scheme's stakeholders.

That this House recognises that the reformed Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) introduced for all existing and new members in April 2008, and April 2009 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, is an affordable and sustainable scheme for the long-term provision of pension saving for those working in local government and...

That this House congratulates the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, on his emphatic victory in the presidential elections on 6 December 2009; notes that he received more than 60 per cent. of the vote compared with the 54 per cent. he won in the 2005 elections; further notes that the Movimiento al Socialismo has greatly increased its presence in the new legislative assembly to nearly two-thirds of the seats; recognises that these elections mark a significant and welcome defeat for the extreme right based in the eastern lowlands area; and views the extremely high voter participation as indicating the growing mass support for the anti neo-liberal policies pursued by President Morales.

That this House congratulates the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, on his emphatic victory in the presidential elections on 6 December 2009; notes that he received more than 60 per cent. of the vote compared with the 54 per cent. he won in the 2005 elections; further notes that the...

That this House congratulates the Leeds refuse workers who, after three months on strike, have defeated the plans of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative controlled Leeds City Council to impose pay cuts of up to 30 per cent. on this group of low paid workers; notes that the public of Leeds refused to be mobilised against the workers despite the frantic efforts of the council's public relations machine and the aggressive approach of the Liberal Democrats led by Councillor Richard Brett; is concerned that although the justice, fairness and dignity of the refuse workers' case was evident from day one, the Liberal Democrat leadership of the council, along with their Conservative allies, has taken three months to recognise it, thus ensuring unnecessary disruption for the citizens of Leeds; calls for a full audit of the cost of the dispute to be published; and pays tribute to the tremendous solidarity of those GMB and Unison members who refused to submit to the provocative behaviour of the council and who went on to achieve a great victory.

That this House congratulates the Leeds refuse workers who, after three months on strike, have defeated the plans of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative controlled Leeds City Council to impose pay cuts of up to 30 per cent. on this group of low paid workers; notes that the public of...

That this House congratulates the City of Leeds, the City of Louisville in Kentucky, Leeds Metropolitan University, Nazareth College in Rochester, New York State and West Yorkshire Playhouse for commemorating the 150th anniversary of the speech given by Frederick Douglass to the people of Leeds on the eve of the American Civil War; notes that in this bicentennial year of the birth of Abraham Lincoln the people of the United States have elected their first ever President of African descent, Barack Obama; and acknowledges the contribution made by those British people who supported the struggle to end slavery in the United States.

That this House congratulates the City of Leeds, the City of Louisville in Kentucky, Leeds Metropolitan University, Nazareth College in Rochester, New York State and West Yorkshire Playhouse for commemorating the 150th anniversary of the speech given by Frederick Douglass to the people of Leeds on the eve of the...

That this House congratulates all those refuse workers, members of the GMB and Unison, at Leeds City Council who have been solidly on strike since 7th September; recognises that their action is fully justified in the face of the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalitions determination to reduce wages in some cases by up to one third prior to privatisation of the service; notes that the public of Leeds have been overwhelmingly supportive of the men and women who carry out their work efficiently in all kinds of weather; calls on the current leader of the council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Brett, to acknowledge his aggressive approach to the refuse workers has proved counter-productive; and further calls for a settlement to the dispute which acknowledges the justice, fairness and dignity of the refuse workers' case.

That this House congratulates all those refuse workers, members of the GMB and Unison, at Leeds City Council who have been solidly on strike since 7th September; recognises that their action is fully justified in the face of the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalitions determination to reduce wages in some cases by...