That this House regards the proposals by London Mayor Boris Johnson to shed up to 800 ticket office and gateline jobs on London Underground as a hugely retrograde step in terms of public service; believes that this move will fail to achieve the company's stated objective of improved customer service, and undermines long-term safety operational procedures for stations, trains and signals in order to run trains without available station staff; condemns the actions of the Mayor of London in breaking an election campaign promise that he would protect ticket offices by ensuring that they are always properly staffed; is deeply concerned that if these cuts were to take effect, London Underground would be incapable of responding to a major security alert or function efficiently during the 2012 Olympics; and calls on the Government to urge the Mayor to meet with the trade unions to re-affirm reasonable and safe staffing levels right across the London Underground network.

That this House regards the proposals by London Mayor Boris Johnson to shed up to 800 ticket office and gateline jobs on London Underground as a hugely retrograde step in terms of public service; believes that this move will fail to achieve the company's stated objective of improved customer service,...

That this House notes that the whaling moratorium was introduced in 1986 in order to combat the fact that many populations of the great whales had been drastically reduced by over-hunting, and that whaling itself, based on the firing of explosive harpoons into large and intelligent animals, was cruel; is concerned by the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) proposal to legitimise the commercial whaling activities of Japan, Norway and Iceland; understands that the proposal seeks to set official IWC quotas for whales that they may hunt, in all the places where they currently hunt them in defiance of the moratorium, including the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, for the first time in 25 years; believes that such a proposal represents a conservational disaster; further believes that the proposal represents no guarantee of a significant reduction in the number of whales killed in the short term; and calls on the Government to oppose any proposal that condones or endorses commercial whaling if the issue is raised and voted on at the IWC conference in Agadir, Morocco, in June.

That this House notes that the whaling moratorium was introduced in 1986 in order to combat the fact that many populations of the great whales had been drastically reduced by over-hunting, and that whaling itself, based on the firing of explosive harpoons into large and intelligent animals, was cruel; is...

That this House acknowledges the National Farmers' Union manifesto for farming; recognises the depth of the challenge facing British farmers to maintain productivity levels, comply with environmental pressures and to sustain their businesses; and calls on the Government to pledge its support to the British farming industry by taking the seven policy statements in the manifesto into account when formulating the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs objectives.

That this House acknowledges the National Farmers' Union manifesto for farming; recognises the depth of the challenge facing British farmers to maintain productivity levels, comply with environmental pressures and to sustain their businesses; and calls on the Government to pledge its support to the British farming industry by taking the...

That this House is concerned that the planned merger of Warwick Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) and the University of Warwick's Department of Biological Sciences will result in the closure of the internationally renowned Wellesbourne site, further eroding the UK's applied agricultural and horticultural research capabilities at a time when policy imperatives recognise the urgent need for such research to address the threat to food security posed by population growth, climate change and environmental degradation; calls for the redundancy process facing most of the academic and skilled technical staff at Warwick HRI to be halted pending a proper independent review of the potential impact this merger will have on the UK's ability to meet future food security objectives; and asks the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs personally to intervene to ask the University of Warwick to consider the impact of this decision on the UK's agri-food science base.

That this House is concerned that the planned merger of Warwick Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) and the University of Warwick's Department of Biological Sciences will result in the closure of the internationally renowned Wellesbourne site, further eroding the UK's applied agricultural and horticultural research capabilities at a time when policy...

That this House acknowledges the action taken by the UK Scout Association in response to a Private Members' Bill tabled in the Ugandan Parliament by David Bahati MP; notes the immediate response of the UK Scouts to raise the matter with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement which has responsibility for co-ordinating scouting on a global level; recognises the clear and unequivocal equal opportunities policy and practices maintained by the UK Scout Association; and supports UK Scouts in the action they take on the matter.

That this House acknowledges the action taken by the UK Scout Association in response to a Private Members' Bill tabled in the Ugandan Parliament by David Bahati MP; notes the immediate response of the UK Scouts to raise the matter with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement which has...

That this House notes that in its recent investigation the Electoral Commission satisfied itself that Bearwood Corporate Services carried on some trade in the UK and is registered in the UK and is, therefore, a permissible donor; further notes the Commission's view that there is nothing in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 which requires donations to a political party to be generated from a company's own trading; observes that the millions donated by Bearwood to the Conservative Party did not come from profits generated in the UK from trading but originated overseas; and calls for the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to be amended to close this loophole.

That this House notes that in its recent investigation the Electoral Commission satisfied itself that Bearwood Corporate Services carried on some trade in the UK and is registered in the UK and is, therefore, a permissible donor; further notes the Commission's view that there is nothing in the Political Parties,...

That this House notes with concern the current tendering requirements for endoscopy products; acknowledges that the framework contract for endoscopy products, established by NHS Supply Chain in early 2008, allows trusts to draw from the limited list of suppliers of endoscopy products through mini-competitions, thus significantly reducing procurement times and ensuring value for money for the NHS; regrets that partly because of the preference of some NHS staff for endoscopy products from more established brands of the same quality, many NHS trusts fail to call off such mini-competitions and instead opt to apply the terms of the framework itself without making a thorough value for money assessment; believes that NHS trusts should follow the Department of Health's guidance and ensure that competition is enforced in tenders in accordance with its commercial operating model; and calls on the Department of Health, NHS Supply Chain and strategic health authorities to ensure that NHS trusts are encouraged to always run mini-competitions when tendering for endoscopy products, thus ensuring proper value for money for the NHS and the taxpayer.

That this House notes with concern the current tendering requirements for endoscopy products; acknowledges that the framework contract for endoscopy products, established by NHS Supply Chain in early 2008, allows trusts to draw from the limited list of suppliers of endoscopy products through mini-competitions, thus significantly reducing procurement times and...

That this House notes that the rate of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains disproportionately high, causing 15 per cent. of all road fatalities despite accounting for only 5.6 per cent. of UK road traffic; recognises that retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of HGVs have been proved to be an effective means of reducing accidents, improving safety for hauliers and all other road users; applauds Reflect for its work on promoting the benefits of these markings; and calls on all haulage companies to sign up to a voluntary code of practice to fit retro-reflective markings on HGVs, prior to it becoming mandatory for newly-registered vehicles in June 2011.

That this House notes that the rate of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains disproportionately high, causing 15 per cent. of all road fatalities despite accounting for only 5.6 per cent. of UK road traffic; recognises that retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of HGVs have been...

That this House welcomes Iraq's second parliamentary elections as a vital step towards a much more stable and democratic Iraq which can re-establish itself in the wider international community after so many years of isolation, sanctions and dictatorship; notes the widespread desire of Iraqis for increased trade with and investment from other countries as well as a whole host of educational and cultural exchanges and co-operation, most notably with the UK for which many Iraqis have a high regard; further notes that it is extremely difficult for Iraqi citizens who wish to cement such links to obtain visas because they have to travel to third countries and wait there for up to a week rather than being able to apply in Iraq; recognises that this is an onerous process which increasingly and unfavourably contrasts with the ability to secure Schengen visas to other European countries which may then gain an advantage in securing commercial links; and urges the Government to review its practice in this regard as a matter of urgency to enable deep and broad relationships for mutual benefit between Iraq and the UK whilst maintaining border controls.

That this House welcomes Iraq's second parliamentary elections as a vital step towards a much more stable and democratic Iraq which can re-establish itself in the wider international community after so many years of isolation, sanctions and dictatorship; notes the widespread desire of Iraqis for increased trade with and investment...

That this House recalls the continued interest of hon. Members on all sides of the House in this and previous Parliaments in the neglect and dereliction of Varosha, the sealed-off section of Famagusta; notes the more recent interest of the European Parliament in this situation through a visit to the area by its Petitions Committee which concluded among other things that with the return of Varosha to its original and lawful inhabitants it could become a laboratory of development and a symbol of the future of Cyprus; concurs with this judgement; believes also that the project of reconstructing and regenerating Varosha would deliver an unparalleled stimulus to the economy in the north as well as in the south of Cyprus; further believes that this would build the confidence which would underpin the successful future of a reunited Cyprus; and calls on the Government through all means available to it to promote and support such an initiative.

That this House recalls the continued interest of hon. Members on all sides of the House in this and previous Parliaments in the neglect and dereliction of Varosha, the sealed-off section of Famagusta; notes the more recent interest of the European Parliament in this situation through a visit to the...

That this House welcomes the creation of a Ministerial role to co-ordinate the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence to tackle violence against women overseas; congratulates Action Aid and the Gender and Development Network on the success of its campaign for the creation of such a role; recognises that violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights and a serious barrier to economic and social development; and calls on all parties to support the continuation of this Ministerial role and ensure it is adequately resourced to take forward this important work.

That this House welcomes the creation of a Ministerial role to co-ordinate the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence to tackle violence against women overseas; congratulates Action Aid and the Gender and Development Network on the success of its...

That this House is concerned by recent reports of the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons; notes that 343 Palestinian children were being held in Israeli prisons at the end of February 2010; further notes that Israel routinely prosecutes children as young as 12; also notes the recent report by Defence for Children International which argues that ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children is widespread, systemic and institutionalised; and calls on the Government to recognise the seriousness of this and to exert pressure on the Israeli authorities to uphold the human rights of Palestinian children.

That this House is concerned by recent reports of the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons; notes that 343 Palestinian children were being held in Israeli prisons at the end of February 2010; further notes that Israel routinely prosecutes children as young as 12; also notes the recent report...

That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen, and the Minister for Communities, the hon. Member for Stevenage, for their wholehearted support for the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill; notes that the Bill had the support of the Official Opposition and the Liberal Democrats; hopes that the Bill will pass through this House in this Session; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the Bill is brought before this House before the end of this Parliament and, if necessary, included in negotiations over wash-up arrangements.

That this House congratulates the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen, and the Minister for Communities, the hon. Member for Stevenage, for their wholehearted support for the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill; notes that the Bill had the support of...

That this House is dismayed that fuel prices on garage forecourts in the UK are approaching their peak of July 2008; is concerned that the prices are needlessly holding motorists and the UK's transport industry to ransom; questions the justification for such prices given that the cost of crude oil is only half of its spike in summer 2008; calls on the Government to put an end to the legal mugging of petrol consumers by standing up to the petrol companies and speculators and by introducing regulations to ensure that price decreases are passed on to consumers quickly and sufficiently; and further calls on the Government to demonstrate support for those affected by price increases most acutely by delaying indefinitely the proposed three pence increase in fuel duty.

That this House is dismayed that fuel prices on garage forecourts in the UK are approaching their peak of July 2008; is concerned that the prices are needlessly holding motorists and the UK's transport industry to ransom; questions the justification for such prices given that the cost of crude oil...

That this House regrets the actions taken by the hon. Member for Christchurch in objecting to further proceedings on the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill; notes that a majority of hon. Members, the Government, the Official Opposition and the Liberal Democrats have declared support for the Bill; and calls on the hon. Member to withdraw his opposition to the Bill.

That this House regrets the actions taken by the hon. Member for Christchurch in objecting to further proceedings on the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill; notes that a majority of hon. Members, the Government, the Official Opposition and the Liberal Democrats have declared support for the Bill; and calls...

That this House notes with concern the decision of the UK Border Agency to deny visas to three Palestinian farmers, Lina Mahmoud, Nahed Beshariah and Belal Eid, who were hoping to visit the UK to mark Fairtrade Fortnight; congratulates these three individuals for their hard work in being involved in the production of the first ever Fairtrade product from the occupied territories; supports the excellent work of Zaytoun in exporting Fairtrade olive oil from the West Bank to the UK; further notes that in 2009 the Prime Minister expressed himself as being delighted with the initiative; and therefore urges the Government to intervene and allow these farmers entry into the UK.

That this House notes with concern the decision of the UK Border Agency to deny visas to three Palestinian farmers, Lina Mahmoud, Nahed Beshariah and Belal Eid, who were hoping to visit the UK to mark Fairtrade Fortnight; congratulates these three individuals for their hard work in being involved in...

That this House believes that asylum seekers looking for sanctuary in the UK should be granted the right to work from the day of arrival; further believes that this would afford such vulnerable people dignity as well as the ability to support themselves financially; and notes that this would also reduce the burden on the taxpayer.

That this House believes that asylum seekers looking for sanctuary in the UK should be granted the right to work from the day of arrival; further believes that this would afford such vulnerable people dignity as well as the ability to support themselves financially; and notes that this would also...

That this House notes with grave concern the report entitled Lost Life published by Natural England which details the huge loss of plants and animals native to England, with the scale of extinction most marked in the past 200 years when most of the recorded loss of nearly 500 species has occurred including 24 per cent. of all butterflies, 22 per cent. of amphibians, 15 per cent. of dolphins and whales, and 12 per cent. of land mammals; is alarmed that the report shows that 943 English species are under threat, with most of those disappearing being the victims of intensive farming, pollution and pesticides, coupled with the loss over the past six decades of most of England's wildflower meadows as well as a huge reduction in ponds, chalklands and peatlands, with changes in agriculture practices resulting in birds and insects being deprived of food; is further alarmed that the loss of woodlands and the neglect of forests and woods has also hit many species, as has the introduction of alien wildlife; congratulates Natural England on producing the first ever audit of native wildlife; acknowledges that urbanisation has also been a major contributory factor in the decline in England's wildlife habitat; and calls on the Government to lead a national campaign, based on Natural England's dire warnings, as set out in the Lost Life report, to halt the decline of wildlife, to protect environmental sites from planners, and to introduce policies to restore the health of ecosystems across the entire landscape.

That this House notes with grave concern the report entitled Lost Life published by Natural England which details the huge loss of plants and animals native to England, with the scale of extinction most marked in the past 200 years when most of the recorded loss of nearly 500 species...

That this House welcomes the announcement on 16 March 2010 by the Homes and Communities Agency confirming the funding for the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills at Purfleet in Thurrock; notes that capital funding of ??5 million for the Academy from the Learning and Skills Council has also been agreed, and that work will start on site on the Academy in November 2010; and further notes that the Academy will support young people in the creative industries in the post-recession recovery, and is of international importance for a live performance sector that generates over ??6 billion per year for the UK economy.

That this House welcomes the announcement on 16 March 2010 by the Homes and Communities Agency confirming the funding for the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills at Purfleet in Thurrock; notes that capital funding of ??5 million for the Academy from the Learning and Skills Council has...