That this House views with grave concern the Government White Paper 'A New Framework for Local Justice' and the consultative papers issued thereafter, which threaten to undermine the independence and local accountability of the Magistrates' Courts system; notes the widespread opposition to the current proposals from magistrates and justices' clerks and in particular the resolutions of the Special General Meeting of the Magistrates' Association on 9th October; affirms its opposition to the enforced amalgamation of Magistrates' Courts Committee areas; urges the Government to think again before legislating to require fixed term contracts and an extra layer of adminstration, in proposals that remain uncosted; and calls on the Government to bring forward new proposals that will increase efficiency while preserving the independence and local accountability of the magistracy and their legal advisers as the basis of the proper administration of justice.

That this House views with grave concern the Government White Paper 'A New Framework for Local Justice' and the consultative papers issued thereafter, which threaten to undermine the independence and local accountability of the Magistrates' Courts system; notes the widespread opposition to the current proposals from magistrates and justices' clerks...

That this House welcomes the agreement reached on 2nd July at the multi-party negotiations in South Africa that 27th April 1994 will be the date for the country's first ever one-person one-vote elections; recognises that these elections will represent the first fundamental step in transforming South Africa from an apartheid state to a united, non-racial and democratic society; believes that the international community has an important and essential role to play in ensuring that these elections are genuinely free and fair; welcomes the decision of the Copenhagen European Council of 21st and 22nd June that the European Community and its member states stand prepared to provide support to the first free elections foreseen in April 1994, including election observers; and therefore urges the British government to play a full role in ensuring that the electoral process is genuinely free and fair and to use its influence in the United Nations and with European and Commonwealth partners so that agreement is reached for the international community to have a sizeable presence in South Africa for the purposes of supervising, monitoring and verifying the elections.

That this House welcomes the agreement reached on 2nd July at the multi-party negotiations in South Africa that 27th April 1994 will be the date for the country's first ever one-person one-vote elections; recognises that these elections will represent the first fundamental step in transforming South Africa from an apartheid...

That this House recognises the urgent need for new rolling stock to improve railway services for Network South East commuters in London and the South East, as recommended on safety grounds in the report on the Cannon Street train crash, and for InterCity passengers on the West Coast Main Line, who currently receive an inadequate service in outdated trains; urges the Government not to play off one part of the country against another; and calls upon the Government to use the ??150 million of leasing finance announced in the Autumn Statement to place orders to start building new rolling stock for both parts of the country in the current year and to announce a further tranche of leasing finance for railway rolling stock renewal in the forthcoming Budget and Autumn Statement to allow the competition of both orders in 1994-95.

That this House recognises the urgent need for new rolling stock to improve railway services for Network South East commuters in London and the South East, as recommended on safety grounds in the report on the Cannon Street train crash, and for InterCity passengers on the West Coast Main Line,...

That this House welcomes the TUC Report 'Robbing the Victims'; notes that Section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 has the effect of reducing the amounts paid out to victims of personal injury; believes that legal damages are being reduced to the benefits of insurers rather than victims, and that Section 22 is unjust, causes severe hardship to victims and encourages unsafe employment practices; and therefore calls upon the government to repeal Section 22 of the Act.

That this House welcomes the TUC Report 'Robbing the Victims'; notes that Section 22 of the Social Security Act 1989 has the effect of reducing the amounts paid out to victims of personal injury; believes that legal damages are being reduced to the benefits of insurers rather than victims, and...

That this House demands that the Secretary of State for Health should take immediate action to deal with the growing problem of violence against general practitioners; notes that this action may include consideration of amending regulations, but insists that any proposals to protect general practitioners from violence nevertheless protects a patient's right of access to medical services; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Health to convene an emergency meeting with patient organisations and doctors' representatives to resolve this issue at once.

That this House demands that the Secretary of State for Health should take immediate action to deal with the growing problem of violence against general practitioners; notes that this action may include consideration of amending regulations, but insists that any proposals to protect general practitioners from violence nevertheless protects a...

That this House is concerned that many students face financial hardship over the summer; realises that the introduction of the student loan scheme, the freezing of maintenance grants and the exclusion of students from housing benefit and social security has made it impossible for students to support themselves without obtaining employment; recognises that, in a recession, student jobs are amongst the first casualties; observes that over a quarter of students are now forced to take on term-time employment with all the negative effect this has on their academic performance; regrets the fact that in 1991-92 there was a 188 per cent. increase in the number of students who dropped out of higher education on financial grounds; and calls upon the Government to make an investment in the future of the United Kingdom by allowing unemployed students to receive benefit in the summer months.

That this House is concerned that many students face financial hardship over the summer; realises that the introduction of the student loan scheme, the freezing of maintenance grants and the exclusion of students from housing benefit and social security has made it impossible for students to support themselves without obtaining...

That this House recognises the important service that Radio 5 provides for some five million listeners each week and regrets the proposal to replace it with a news network depriving them of many sporting events, dramas and other programmes for children and young people; further believes that, whereas the BBC has a duty to provide an adequate comprehensive news service, this should not be achieved at the expense of the only national sports network available in the whole of the United Kingdom which has increased its coverage threefold in the last three years; urges the governors and the Director General of the BBC to abandon any plans they might have which could particularly jeopardise the coverage of major sporting events which have a massive following throughout the United Kingdom and beyond; and believes it is the duty of the BBC to guarantee and maintain these important aspects of the nation's culture.

That this House recognises the important service that Radio 5 provides for some five million listeners each week and regrets the proposal to replace it with a news network depriving them of many sporting events, dramas and other programmes for children and young people; further believes that, whereas the BBC...

That this House condemns the lack of care and supervision of Christopher Clunis, a man suffering from schizophrenia and with a known history of violence and non-attendance of out-patient appointments, who stabbed and killed Jonathan Zito in an unprovoked attack; expresses its deep sympathy to Mr Zito's widow; and endorses her view that Mr Clunis's case is an example of the failure of the Government's care in the community policies and her call for a public inquiry which would be the best possible way for the Government to show its determination that there should be no repetition of this tragedy.

That this House condemns the lack of care and supervision of Christopher Clunis, a man suffering from schizophrenia and with a known history of violence and non-attendance of out-patient appointments, who stabbed and killed Jonathan Zito in an unprovoked attack; expresses its deep sympathy to Mr Zito's widow; and endorses...

That this House condemns the practice of compulsory installation of meters to new houses, as a way of charging for water; urges the Government with the water regulatory authority, OFWAT, to open discussions with the water companies about charging for water on a basis linked to property banded values, as is the practice in Scotland, on the grounds that this would be simpler to administer and collect, and would thereby (i) cut down the rapidly rising cost of this crucial commodity, which has, since privatisation, risen in price by 55 per cent. over the level of inflation, (ii) ensure that families with young children or elderly relatives living at home are not financially penalised for their extra water requirements and (iii) allow the industry to focus money for water saving measures on projects to eliminate leakage and to renew pipework; and further urges most strongly that price increases this year are kept down to inflation level, so that no one in this country is deprived of the use of water for financial reasons.

That this House condemns the practice of compulsory installation of meters to new houses, as a way of charging for water; urges the Government with the water regulatory authority, OFWAT, to open discussions with the water companies about charging for water on a basis linked to property banded values, as...

That this House notes with concern that the Crown Office has decided to make no prosecutions arising out of the Cormorant Alpha helicopter crash on 14th March 1992 in which 11 men died; notes that the Crown Office alleges this decision was in the public interest; draws attention to the finding by the fatal accident inquiry that Shell had broken offshore regulations by not informing Cormorant Alpha's standby boat that the flight was to take place, a breach of the law which is not denied by Shell and which cost the lives of the men who drowned in the hours after the crash; and calls upon the Crown Office to reverse its decision.

That this House notes with concern that the Crown Office has decided to make no prosecutions arising out of the Cormorant Alpha helicopter crash on 14th March 1992 in which 11 men died; notes that the Crown Office alleges this decision was in the public interest; draws attention to the...

That this House welcomes the forthcoming visit to Britain of the President of the African National Congress, Mr Nelson Mandela; expresses its appreciation for the constructive role which he is playing in seeking to secure a negotiated political settlement in South Africa; is greatly encouraged by the proposals put forward by Mr Mandela and the ANC in February 1993 for the transition of South Africa towards a non-racial democracy; looks forward to rapid agreement in the negotiations; and in particular hopes that agreement will be reached immediately on the date for South Africa's first ever one-person one-vote election.

That this House welcomes the forthcoming visit to Britain of the President of the African National Congress, Mr Nelson Mandela; expresses its appreciation for the constructive role which he is playing in seeking to secure a negotiated political settlement in South Africa; is greatly encouraged by the proposals put forward...

That this House believes arts education and the provision of music in schools are a vital part of the curriculum that aims to provide for the spiritual, moral and cultural development of children; further believes that educational experiences of the arts result from co-operative efforts which have been organised effectively on a local authority basis for the last 40 years and that the wider cultural pursuits of school children are unlikely to continue without the stimulus of many education authorities; is concerned by the dramatic cuts in local authority education expenditure, teacher redundancies and the diminishing role of local education authorities; notes that the delegation of budgets to schools and the provisions of the Education Bill have the potential to undermine peripatetic teaching, the special needs of the exceptionally able children and activities such as school and youth orchestras, choirs, professional Theatre-In-Education and theatre visits; and calls for all political parties to recognise the value of arts education and music provision in schools and to act to promote the creative work and cultural experiences of all children.

That this House believes arts education and the provision of music in schools are a vital part of the curriculum that aims to provide for the spiritual, moral and cultural development of children; further believes that educational experiences of the arts result from co-operative efforts which have been organised effectively...

That this House congratulates the residents, action groups, local traders, Chamber of Trade, Sheffield City Council officers and the City Councillors of all political parties on their success in saving the Meadowhead Sports Ground; expresses its thanks to the Department of Environment Planning Inspector, Mr Stephen Marks, MS, RIBA, for his kindness and understanding throughout the inquiry to members of the public who had never taken part in a public inquiry before; welcomes his decision to dismiss the appeal by Tesco Stores Ltd.; furthermore notes with concern that for over three years residents and traders lived under a cloud of uncertainty; and calls for a review of the present planning guidelines to protect sensitive sites of this nature in the future.

That this House congratulates the residents, action groups, local traders, Chamber of Trade, Sheffield City Council officers and the City Councillors of all political parties on their success in saving the Meadowhead Sports Ground; expresses its thanks to the Department of Environment Planning Inspector, Mr Stephen Marks, MS, RIBA, for...

That this House, mindful of the part played by the BBC World Service in reporting events truthfully and accurately, and establishing Britain as the fount of accurate and unbiased news, and being aware of the lead Britain has established in international broadcasting which should be consolidated, so that Britain plays to one of its proved strengths in the Twenty First Century, views with great concern current proposals to reduce the grant-in-aid which will diminsh Britain's capacity to capitalise on the considerable credibility built up by the BBC World Service over many years.

That this House, mindful of the part played by the BBC World Service in reporting events truthfully and accurately, and establishing Britain as the fount of accurate and unbiased news, and being aware of the lead Britain has established in international broadcasting which should be consolidated, so that Britain plays...