That this House welcomes the Third Report of the Social Security Committee into the Uprating of State Retirement Pensions payable to People Resident Abroad (HC 143) of Session 1996-97) and strongly supports its concluding recommendation: That there should be a free vote at prime time to allow honourable Members to express their opinion on the principle of whether the Government should pay upratings to some or all of those pensioners living in countries where upratings are not paid at present.

That this House welcomes the Third Report of the Social Security Committee into the Uprating of State Retirement Pensions payable to People Resident Abroad (HC 143) of Session 1996-97) and strongly supports its concluding recommendation: That there should be a free vote at prime time to allow honourable Members to...

That this House expresses its deep concern that more than 50 years after the end of World War II those British children who were interned by the Japanese have received no direct compensation from any source; considers that action needs to be taken following the recommendations by the United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, adopted by the General Assembly, which welcomed the information that the Permanent Court of Arbitration is available to victims of violations of human rights, including various forms of slavery, and to states, should the parties wish to submit any matters to arbitration; draws the attention of the parties concerned to the possibility of making agreements on voluntary submission to the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of Arbitration; considers that the prompt establishment of a Japanese administrative tribunal to deal with persons who suffered maltreatment, in particular subjection to treatment akin to slavery, would effectively settle such grievances; invites the Government of Japan to co-operate with the United Nations and the specialised agencies in this matter; notes that the Swiss and German governments have recently set up funds to compensate victims of human rights violations in World War II; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to play its part in this process and in particular to co-operate with non-governmental organisations, which are seeking to negotiate an honourable settlement between the parties concerned.

That this House expresses its deep concern that more than 50 years after the end of World War II those British children who were interned by the Japanese have received no direct compensation from any source; considers that action needs to be taken following the recommendations by the United Nations...

That this House believes that the committee stage of any public bill of a constitutional nature should be taken on the Floor of the House, thereby reflecting established precedent as set out in the First Report from the Select Committee on Procedure of Session 1945-46 (HC9-1) and as has always been the practice.

That this House believes that the committee stage of any public bill of a constitutional nature should be taken on the Floor of the House, thereby reflecting established precedent as set out in the First Report from the Select Committee on Procedure of Session 1945-46 (HC9-1) and as has always...

That this House records its deep appreciation of the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe's long and distinguished services to all Right honourable and honourable Members, past and present, as Chairman both of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund and the House of Commons Members' Fund; notes with admiration his work and achievements in improving provision for the widows and other dependants of former honourable Members who have died; and expresses its appreciation also of the services of those of his fellow managing trustees who, like the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, will be retiring from the House at the General Election.

That this House records its deep appreciation of the Right honourable Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe's long and distinguished services to all Right honourable and honourable Members, past and present, as Chairman both of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund and the House of Commons Members' Fund; notes with admiration his work...

That this House welcomes the Third Report of the Social Security Committee into the Uprating of State Retirement Pensions Payable to People Resident Abroad (HC 143 of Session 1996-97) and strongly supports its concluding recommendation: That there should be a free vote at prime time to allow honourable Members to express their opinion on the principle of whether the Government should pay upratings to some or all of those pensioners living in countries where upratings are not paid at present.

That this House welcomes the Third Report of the Social Security Committee into the Uprating of State Retirement Pensions Payable to People Resident Abroad (HC 143 of Session 1996-97) and strongly supports its concluding recommendation: That there should be a free vote at prime time to allow honourable Members to...

That this House deplores the expenditure by the Serjeant at Arms' Department on a so-called Customer Care training programme for the Doorkeepers, who certainly do not require such a course since their care for honourable Members, staff and visitors is exemplary; and calls on the Serjeant at Arms to cancel this expenditure.

That this House deplores the expenditure by the Serjeant at Arms' Department on a so-called Customer Care training programme for the Doorkeepers, who certainly do not require such a course since their care for honourable Members, staff and visitors is exemplary; and calls on the Serjeant at Arms to cancel...

This House congratulates MERLIN which is a British medical charity providing emergency medical relief in disaster situations around the world; praises the rapid response teams of volunteer doctors and nurses for their work with refugees in war-torn areas of Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Caucasus; for their fight against tuberculosis in Siberia, cholera in Afghanistan, polio in Chechnya; for their feeding programmes for malnourished children in Sierra Leone; for their recovery programme in Yemen after flash floods; for their assistance in setting up health clinics and rehabilitating hospitals wherever possible; welcomes the current support from the Overseas Aid Budget; but notes that more money is urgently required to finance training of relief workers and to widen the scope of this excellent voluntary organisation.

This House congratulates MERLIN which is a British medical charity providing emergency medical relief in disaster situations around the world; praises the rapid response teams of volunteer doctors and nurses for their work with refugees in war-torn areas of Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Caucasus; for their fight against tuberculosis in...

That this House believes there is not justification for spending ??60 million on constructing a new royal yacht and ??5 million a year on running it; further believes that if such a vessel is good for promoting business then business should pay for it rather than taxpayers; and notes that at a time when public expenditure is being squeezed and pensioners are being denied meals-on-wheels the provision of a floating palace for the use of the over privileged is totally unacceptable.

That this House believes there is not justification for spending ??60 million on constructing a new royal yacht and ??5 million a year on running it; further believes that if such a vessel is good for promoting business then business should pay for it rather than taxpayers; and notes that...

That this House notes responsibility of the honourable Member for Hartlepool for the Labour Election Campaign HQ, and the Campaign HQ's responsibility for the failed attempt to rig the result of the BBC Today Programme "Personality of the Year" poll; understands his lack of confidence in the ability of the Leader of the Labour Party to win the poll on his own merit and his recognition of the need to rig the poll; observes his incompetence in failing to succeed in his campaign to rig the poll, or even to place his Leader amongst the qualifying six; condemns his employment of senior civil servants in a party political capacity despite Labour's untrue allegations of political misuse of civil servants by the Government; notes the betrayal of subordinates by disclaiming responsibility for their actions; doubts his control over the organisation, highlighted by his denial of any foreknowledge of the Audience Participation Unit's scheme; and considers that this catalogue of events in taking responsibility for a small organisation throws into doubt his suitability to head any Department of State.

That this House notes responsibility of the honourable Member for Hartlepool for the Labour Election Campaign HQ, and the Campaign HQ's responsibility for the failed attempt to rig the result of the BBC Today Programme "Personality of the Year" poll; understands his lack of confidence in the ability of the...

That this House notes that Chris Griffiths, Banqueting Manager of the Refreshment Department, is leaving the House of Commons at the end of 1996 after 27 years of service; and thanks him for his loyalty and unfailing kindness to honourable Members of this House and wishes him well in any venture he undertakes in the future.

That this House notes that Chris Griffiths, Banqueting Manager of the Refreshment Department, is leaving the House of Commons at the end of 1996 after 27 years of service; and thanks him for his loyalty and unfailing kindness to honourable Members of this House and wishes him well in any...