That this House welcomes the 10,000-strong petition being presented to Parliament on Tuesday 8th March 2005 by trade unionists, for International Women's Day to become a paid bank holiday; recognises that International Women's Day is when women in all countries come together to commemorate their achievements, and to continue to organise for change to improve women's rights; notes that there are fewer bank holidays in the UK than in the rest of the European Union; and therefore calls on the Government to establish International Women's Day as an additional paid bank holiday.

That this House welcomes the 10,000-strong petition being presented to Parliament on Tuesday 8th March 2005 by trade unionists, for International Women's Day to become a paid bank holiday; recognises that International Women's Day is when women in all countries come together to commemorate their achievements, and to continue to...

That this House notes with concern that more than 100 million children around the world are unable to go to school, almost 60 per cent. of whom are girls; is very disappointed that the Millennium Development Goal for Eliminating Gender Disparity in Primary and Secondary Education by 2005 has been missed; looks forward to the UK presidencies of the G8 and EU this year and the chance this holds for the UK Government to make a significant difference to gender inequality in education, by consolidating the influence and resources of prosperous countries around this issue; welcomes the new Department for International Development strategy, launched this month by the Chancellor and the International Development Secretary, Girls' Education - Towards A Better Future For All; and hopes this will provide the education so many girls have a right to receive, in order for them to lead healthy, productive, rewarding lives and play a role in decision making and government in their countries.

That this House notes with concern that more than 100 million children around the world are unable to go to school, almost 60 per cent. of whom are girls; is very disappointed that the Millennium Development Goal for Eliminating Gender Disparity in Primary and Secondary Education by 2005 has been...

That this House recognises the successful efforts of the Government to tackle pensioner poverty and that pension credit benefits many thousands of pensioners, especially women; is nonetheless concerned at the financial position of women pensioners in the 21st century, and notes that on retirement only 14 per cent. of women are entitled to the full basic state pension in their own right; further recognises that this stems from the different pattern of women's working lives, requiring the need to balance work with caring commitments, both when their children are young and also later in life as they help look after the older generation; believes that such commitments should not affect their eligibility for a state pension; and urges the Government now to consider how best to meet this inequity, for example through a universal entitlement to a basic state pension based simply on age and residency, combined with a contributory state second pension which can meet the flexible requirements of modern employment patterns.

That this House recognises the successful efforts of the Government to tackle pensioner poverty and that pension credit benefits many thousands of pensioners, especially women; is nonetheless concerned at the financial position of women pensioners in the 21st century, and notes that on retirement only 14 per cent. of women...