That this House is deeply concerned about the social and economic implications of a widening skills gap in the United Kingdom; notes the recent report of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets which concluded that 'a third of our population is simply not educated to anything like the standard required in a modern economy'; further notes the third report of the National Skills Taskforce which concludes that 'the trailing edge of poorly qualified adults... are least likely to receive training from their employer'; congratulates the Government on its actions to date in implementing the principles contained in the European Social Chapter and improving the lives of millions of unskilled workers; and calls on the Government to respond to Article 15 of the European Social Chapter by presenting plans for a national minimum entitlement to paid educational leave for all employees.

That this House is deeply concerned about the social and economic implications of a widening skills gap in the United Kingdom; notes the recent report of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets which concluded that 'a third of our population is simply not educated to anything like...

That this House recognises the continued public unease surrounding the use of animal experiments; notes the half million signature petition presented to the Prime Minister's Office by Naturewatch supporters; deplores the excessive secrecy which still permeates the animal experiment industry; and urges Her Majesty's Government to set up a Royal Commission inquiry to review the effectiveness of and justification for animal experiments.

That this House recognises the continued public unease surrounding the use of animal experiments; notes the half million signature petition presented to the Prime Minister's Office by Naturewatch supporters; deplores the excessive secrecy which still permeates the animal experiment industry; and urges Her Majesty's Government to set up a Royal...

That this House welcomes wholeheartedly the continued support for a ban on hunting with dogs; urges Members of the House of Lords to respect the democratic will of this place and the overwhelming majority of the public in recognising that hunting is cruel and barbaric and has no place in modern Britain; and calls upon Members of the House of Peers to support a ban on deer, mink, hare and fox hunting inline with the elected chamber.

That this House welcomes wholeheartedly the continued support for a ban on hunting with dogs; urges Members of the House of Lords to respect the democratic will of this place and the overwhelming majority of the public in recognising that hunting is cruel and barbaric and has no place in...

That this House congratulates the Canadian province of British Columbia on its decision to suspend the unsustainable hunting of their internationally important grizzly bear pending completion of reliable population studies; understands the grizzly bear has been driven from most of its range by man, is classed as 'at risk' in British Columbia which forms the heart of the species' remaining range and that the future of grizzly populations in the United States to the south depends on maintaining British Columbia's grizzlies; believes the hunting moratorium is, in the words of the British Columbia Premier, '... a prudent decision to protect and sustain grizzly bears' and an excellent example to the global community of science-based wildlife management; notes support for this measure from the Environmental Investigation Agency and over 200 other conservation and First Nations groups; and supports calls for the moratorium to be maintained until the future of the species is secured.

That this House congratulates the Canadian province of British Columbia on its decision to suspend the unsustainable hunting of their internationally important grizzly bear pending completion of reliable population studies; understands the grizzly bear has been driven from most of its range by man, is classed as 'at risk' in...

That this House is concerned at the huge increase in energy consumption in offices, where energy consumption grew by 65 per cent. from 1973 to 1996, faster than in any other sector of the economy, and is projected by the EC to exceed growth in all other sectors except transport; notes that because 90 per cent. of offices are leased or rented, there is no incentive to improve the building fabric as energy costs are paid by tenants and not the landlord, nor any incentive for tenants who do not own the building; believes that further policy initiatives are necessary to persuade and assist freeholders in improving the energy efficiency of offices and congratulates those forward-thinking property owners such as Prudential Property Portfolio for their call for commercial properties to undergo mandatory energy audits every five years, with recommendations to be implemented before the next audit; and believes this will save energy, helping to combat climate change and create jobs.

That this House is concerned at the huge increase in energy consumption in offices, where energy consumption grew by 65 per cent. from 1973 to 1996, faster than in any other sector of the economy, and is projected by the EC to exceed growth in all other sectors except transport;...

That this House, in celebrating the first anniversary of the Campaign for English Regions' fight for elected governments in the English regions, urges Her Majesty's Government to put forward devolution proposals to give to these regions which want regional government, the same ability to manage their own destinies which has been conceded to Scotland; points out that there is a growing demand from the regions for government to be brought closer to the people, that the plethora of regional bodies, government offices and development agencies which has already been developed in the regions needs to be made democratically accountable, and that several regions such as the North, the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, the West Midlands and the South West have demonstrated their desire for regional government by setting up regional assemblies or holding regional conventions, or both; and feels that their efforts deserve to be rewarded by allowing those regions which wish to do so, to move forward to elected regional governments.

That this House, in celebrating the first anniversary of the Campaign for English Regions' fight for elected governments in the English regions, urges Her Majesty's Government to put forward devolution proposals to give to these regions which want regional government, the same ability to manage their own destinies which has...

That this House notes the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last year that highlighted the fact that over four million people in the UK do not have access to healthy food, and the work on this issue by SUSTAIN, the national food campaign; notes too that this can be caused by a number of factors such as inadequate income, lack of reasonable access to shops or other outlets selling such food and inadequate information; and therefore welcomes the Food Poverty (Eradication) Bill, which will require the drawing up and implementation of local and national strategies to end this problem.

That this House notes the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last year that highlighted the fact that over four million people in the UK do not have access to healthy food, and the work on this issue by SUSTAIN, the national food campaign; notes too that this can...

That this House congratulates the road safety organisation Brake on organising the UK's fourth Road Safety Week, from 31st March to 6th April; applauds Brake on the launch of its Pledge to Drive Safely campaign; views with deep concern that every year 3,400 people are killed and 39,000 are seriously injured in road crashes; requests decision makers, those in the public eye and opinion formers to set an example by signing the Pledge to Drive Safety; welcomes the involvement of 15,000 schools, companies and community groups in holding road safety initiatives during Road Safety Week; and calls on the Government, working in partnership with local government, other agencies and road safety organisations, to raise awareness of road safety further and provide the means to prevent deaths and injuries through greater investment in road safety education, enforcement and engineering measures.

That this House congratulates the road safety organisation Brake on organising the UK's fourth Road Safety Week, from 31st March to 6th April; applauds Brake on the launch of its Pledge to Drive Safely campaign; views with deep concern that every year 3,400 people are killed and 39,000 are seriously...

That this House welcomes the proposal to celebrate a UK National Arts Day on Midsummer Day, 24th June, as an exciting opportunity to draw attention to artistic activity across the UK; believes that in the age of globalisation such an annual day of celebration will give wider publicity to the cultural achievements of the individuals and communities of the nations which make up the UK; considers that the arts reflect each country's traditions, value and multicultural way of life and have earned the admiration of the world as well as being a potent antidote to violence, hopelessness, social division and alienation; further believes that a National Arts Day would demonstrate that the arts belong not on the periphery of daily life but at its centre where they can contribute significantly to the well-being and quality of life of each of the nations of the UK; welcomes direct involvement from honourable Members in this cross party proposal, endorsed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which is designed to promote the arts at a local level; and believes it is worthy of the widest possible public support.

That this House welcomes the proposal to celebrate a UK National Arts Day on Midsummer Day, 24th June, as an exciting opportunity to draw attention to artistic activity across the UK; believes that in the age of globalisation such an annual day of celebration will give wider publicity to the...

That this House welcomes the fact that the United States has banned the importation of products made with dog and cat fur; is concerned that this ban means that more of these products may now be imported into the EU and the United Kingdom; is further concerned that consumers may not be aware that products they are buying may be made from dog and cat fur; and urges Her Majesty's Government to bring in a ban on the import, export and domestic trade in dog and cat fur or of products made with dog and cat fur as soon as possible.

That this House welcomes the fact that the United States has banned the importation of products made with dog and cat fur; is concerned that this ban means that more of these products may now be imported into the EU and the United Kingdom; is further concerned that consumers may...

That this House restates its support for the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and in particular for the aim agreed by all parties when the Act was passed of a 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2010; and further supports the call made by the Fuel Poverty and Climate Change Conference in Cornwall on 16th February urging the Government and local authorities, working in partnership, to take immediate steps to ensure that the target is met by energy conservation authorities.

That this House restates its support for the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and in particular for the aim agreed by all parties when the Act was passed of a 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency by 2010; and further supports the call made by the Fuel Poverty and...

That this House notes that the competitive strength of the United Kingdom's ceramic industry is based upon its reputation for quality products, and its skilled workforce, whose experience has been developed over 400 years of production and world trade; further notes that there is a recent trend for ceramic products to be sold in the United Kingdom that are produced externally through outsourcing, and that they are being sold in the United Kingdom with either no or misrepresentative information placed upon them as to their country of manufacture and that this practice continues because of a lack of any legislative provision preventing it; believes that as a result of this practice consumers are being misled and prevented from making an informed choice, so as to distort the free operation of the market and to undermine domestic production; resolves to support the industry's calls for a statutory mark of origin to be introduced that would be placed on ceramic goods reflecting where the produce was first fired; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation accordingly.

That this House notes that the competitive strength of the United Kingdom's ceramic industry is based upon its reputation for quality products, and its skilled workforce, whose experience has been developed over 400 years of production and world trade; further notes that there is a recent trend for ceramic products...