That this House joins the people of Catalonia in their Sant Jordi's Day celebrations on 23 April 2017; applauds the festivities that will be happening around the world, including in Borough Market in London where there will be live performances, storytelling and Catalan food; commends this festival of love and literature where people exchange books and roses as a token of appreciation; notes that more than 1.5 million books and more than 6 million roses are sold in Catalonia on just Sant Jordi's Day itself; further notes that this event is, by now, truly global with 150 events organised by volunteers in 50 countries; and wishes everybody around the world a happy Sant Jordi's Day.

That this House joins the people of Catalonia in their Sant Jordi's Day celebrations on 23 April 2017; applauds the festivities that will be happening around the world, including in Borough Market in London where there will be live performances, storytelling and Catalan food; commends this festival of love and...

That this House expresses its concern over the 10 year-long property scandal that has affected 800 UK investors who invested in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort and Atlantic Golf View project in Asilah, Morocco; notes that in 2007 investors were informed that all construction licences and funds were in place but is concerned that development halted in 2009 and is still not complete; further notes that investors have copies of numerous documents and conventions signed by various Moroccan ministers and authorities which indicate that the project was at the very least supported by the Moroccan Government; and therefore urges the Moroccan Government to work with UK investors to resolve this issue and ensure that either the project is completed or investors compensated.

That this House expresses its concern over the 10 year-long property scandal that has affected 800 UK investors who invested in the Paradise Golf and Beach Resort and Atlantic Golf View project in Asilah, Morocco; notes that in 2007 investors were informed that all construction licences and funds were in...

That this House congratulates Lourdes Secondary School on reaching its 60th anniversary; recognises the proud history of Lourdes Secondary School; notes that the school's inspirational motto Encouraging Excellence is the ethos that defines the past, present and future of the school which always seeks to encourage and support all its pupils to achieve their potential; and wishes the school all the best for the next 60 years.

That this House congratulates Lourdes Secondary School on reaching its 60th anniversary; recognises the proud history of Lourdes Secondary School; notes that the school's inspirational motto Encouraging Excellence is the ethos that defines the past, present and future of the school which always seeks to encourage and support all its...

That this House is concerned that the Madhesis minority from the Southern plains, known as the Terai region, will continue to be marginalised in Nepal unless constitutional amendments are passed before local elections in that country; understands that although the Madhesis represent over 33 per cent of the population of Nepal, they hold only 12 per cent of government positions; is worried about ongoing human rights violations being committed in the Terai region, including reported killings of protestors by security forces using excessive force, such as an incident on 6 March 2017 when five people are believed to have been killed and many more injured; notes that local elections in Nepal are due to be held for the first time in 20 years on 14 May 2017, hopefully paving the way for the consolidation of democracy and allowing for provincial and national elections in the autumn; urges the Government of Nepal to investigate the killings, bring those responsible to justice and to amend the constitution to allow for fair representation; further urges political activists and protestors in Nepal to carry out their activities peacefully; and calls on the Government to ensure any funding to the Nepalese security forces is carefully assessed for compliance with international human rights criteria.

That this House is concerned that the Madhesis minority from the Southern plains, known as the Terai region, will continue to be marginalised in Nepal unless constitutional amendments are passed before local elections in that country; understands that although the Madhesis represent over 33 per cent of the population of...

That this House notes with regret the decision of the Bank of Scotland to close its branches in Bonar Bridge, Dornoch, Helmsdale and Lairg; recognises that the decision follows the closures of branches by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank and expresses dismay that those closures will require people and businesses to undertake round trip journeys of up to 110 miles to access their closest bank branch; acknowledges significant local and national concern at the effect those closures will have on small and rural communities, and on businesses and individuals, particularly older people, those with disabilities and those that do not have access to the internet or other connectivity solutions; and requests the Government to review the model of banking regulation in the UK and to introduce a focus on customer service to require local banking service provision that will promote and sustain local economies.

That this House notes with regret the decision of the Bank of Scotland to close its branches in Bonar Bridge, Dornoch, Helmsdale and Lairg; recognises that the decision follows the closures of branches by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank and expresses dismay that those closures will require...

That this House is aware that lung disease is the third biggest killer in the UK, affecting over 12 million people at an annual cost of billions of pounds to the public purse; is alarmed by recent figures which reveal that mortality rates have not improved in the last 10 years with the UK now suffering the worst levels in Europe of diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, COPD, Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and mesothelioma; recognises the work of the British Lung Foundation in its fight to highlight this issue in its report, Battle For Breath, and calls on the Government to support its conclusions that there is a desperate need to establish an independent taskforce to produce a five year strategy to improve outcomes for patients and support the NHS in its quest to dramatically improve the present situation.

That this House is aware that lung disease is the third biggest killer in the UK, affecting over 12 million people at an annual cost of billions of pounds to the public purse; is alarmed by recent figures which reveal that mortality rates have not improved in the last 10...

That this House welcomes the announcement by West Dunbartonshire Council that Father Joseph Mills will be admitted as a Freeman of West Dunbartonshire; congratulates Father Mills on receiving this honour and extends our thanks to him for his near 50 years in the priesthood working in local parishes, including his valuable support for the local community; and wishes Father Mills well on his thoroughly deserved retirement.

That this House welcomes the announcement by West Dunbartonshire Council that Father Joseph Mills will be admitted as a Freeman of West Dunbartonshire; congratulates Father Mills on receiving this honour and extends our thanks to him for his near 50 years in the priesthood working in local parishes, including his...

That this House is aware that obesity remains the single biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK after smoking, with children who suffer from it five times more likely to become obese in later life; notes that sugary drinks are the number one source of sugar for 11 to 18 year olds with an average teenager consuming three times the recommended sugar allowance every day; believes that the proposed soft drinks levy is essential towards the health of children in the UK; and calls on the Government to introduce it at the earliest opportunity.

That this House is aware that obesity remains the single biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK after smoking, with children who suffer from it five times more likely to become obese in later life; notes that sugary drinks are the number one source of sugar for 11 to...

That this House expresses concern and sorrow regarding the attack on the Coptic Christian churches in Egypt during which 44 people were killed and 126 were wounded; calls on the Government to stand in solidarity with the Egyptian Government and people, and in particular with the Christian churches in that country which wish to be free to worship God in peace and with full security; and urges the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to liaise closely with its Egyptian counterparts to offer any support and help that it is possible to give at this time.

That this House expresses concern and sorrow regarding the attack on the Coptic Christian churches in Egypt during which 44 people were killed and 126 were wounded; calls on the Government to stand in solidarity with the Egyptian Government and people, and in particular with the Christian churches in that...

That this House notes with grave concern the Human Rights Watch report of a brutal campaign against LGBT people in the semi-autonomous Russian region of Chechnya, with more than 100 men reportedly detained over several weeks in connection with their non-traditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such as part of a state-backed crackdown; is horrified by reports from LGBT groups in Russia that those who have escaped were imprisoned in groups of 30 to 40 and tortured with electric currents or beatings, some of them fatal; is dismayed that the human rights situation for LGBT people in Russia generally has deteriorated significantly in recent years; welcomes the Government's initial condemnation of these incidents but urges to raise this matter at the highest diplomatic levels; and expects the Russian Government to fulfil its international duties to protect its citizens at risk of persecution and uphold the rule of law.

That this House notes with grave concern the Human Rights Watch report of a brutal campaign against LGBT people in the semi-autonomous Russian region of Chechnya, with more than 100 men reportedly detained over several weeks in connection with their non-traditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such as part of...

That this House is deeply concerned at the reports in the Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, that men believed to be gay have been abducted, tortured and killed in Chechnya; expresses alarm at denials made by Chechen authorities regarding these reports, which claim that gay men do not exist in the republic; deplores this act of mass torture and murder, which specifically targets LGBTI people; supports Amnesty lnternational's call for action; believes that this call for action compels Aleksandr Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigation Committee of the Russian Federation, to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into the reports, taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of any individual who may be at risk in Chechnya; and further supports an immediate investigation into this reported purge of LGBTI people in Chechnya; and calls on the international community to ensure that the Russian authorities are held accountable for upholding its international human rights obligations and ensuring that justice is brought upon those reportedly committing these crimes in Chechnya.

That this House is deeply concerned at the reports in the Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, that men believed to be gay have been abducted, tortured and killed in Chechnya; expresses alarm at denials made by Chechen authorities regarding these reports, which claim that gay men do not exist in the...

That this House notes the ongoing efforts of The Wildlife Trusts, other charities and volunteers to recruit up to 5,000 volunteers across the UK to help preserve and assist in the survival of the native red squirrel population, which has considerably reduced in number in recent years; congratulates all those involved; and wishes them every success in their endeavours to prevent the eradication of the red squirrel population, that is estimated to be around 140,000, which is outnumbered by the invasive species of grey squirrel population that is estimated to be around 2.5 million.

That this House notes the ongoing efforts of The Wildlife Trusts, other charities and volunteers to recruit up to 5,000 volunteers across the UK to help preserve and assist in the survival of the native red squirrel population, which has considerably reduced in number in recent years; congratulates all those...