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 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 notes the award of the new independent radio licence in the FM (VHF) waveband for Greater London to X FM Ltd., and that Choice FM's bid has been passed over for a third time; notes the Radio Authority Chairman's statement that making this award was among the Authority's most difficult tasks; regrets the inability of the Radio Authority to promote true diversity in local radio broadcasting, due to the unsatisfactory provisions of the Broadcasting Acts; is mindful of the great variety of styles of music developed by this country's successful music industry; wishes to stimulate the further development of music and broadcasting talent for cultural, social and economic reasons; welcomes the benefits of ethnic and cultural diversity and recognises the need to further promote this country's diverse heritage and culture; notes in particular that the British phonographic industry's classifications of dance, soul and reggae music appeal to young people, and other listeners from a wide range of backgrounds, not simply black youth; notes with concern the inevitable tendency amongst regulators to go for the safe option offered by the big battalions rather than taking decisions which would promote the interests of small and medium firms which are the seedbed of innovation in broadcasting and many other business and cultural activities; and calls upon the Secretary of State for National Heritage to review the provisions of the Broadcasting Acts, in particular section 105 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 so that the radio spectrum is used to the full in promoting diversity in all its forms.

That this House notes the award of the new independent radio licence in the FM (VHF) waveband for Greater London to X FM Ltd., and that Choice FM's bid has been passed over for a third time; notes the Radio Authority Chairman's statement that making this award was among the...

That this House supports those football clubs calling for continued adequate funding for the Football Trust in respect of essential ground safety improvement work and the development of football in the community.

That this House supports those football clubs calling for continued adequate funding for the Football Trust in respect of essential ground safety improvement work and the development of football in the community.

That this House is deeply concerned by continued reports of human rights violations in Turkey; welcomes the public statement issued by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on 6th December 1996, which highlighted the blatant and widespread use of torture by Turkish police against both political and criminal suspects; deplores the imprisonment of prisoners of conscience; including human rights defenders and journalists; is concerned that the United Nations has received more reports of 'disappearances' in Turkey since 1991 than from any other country in the world; notes that the US State Department report of January 1997 and the Amnesty International Turkey report of October 1996 each refer to the serious human rights problems in Turkey; calls on the Turkish Government to implement the reforms of detention procedures recommended by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, conduct prompt and impartial investigations into all reports of extra-judicial execution and 'disappearance' and immediately release all prisoners of conscience; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to press the forthcoming 53rd Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to adopt a resolution urging the Turkish government to undertake these measures.

That this House is deeply concerned by continued reports of human rights violations in Turkey; welcomes the public statement issued by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on 6th December 1996, which highlighted the blatant and widespread use of torture by Turkish police against both political and criminal...

That this House is deeply concerned by the use of Immigration Act detention in asylum cases; notes the view of the UN High Commissioner for refugees that as a general rule asylum seekers should not be detained and insofar as the detention occurs it should be proportionate to the ends to be achieved and for the minimum period; and calls on the Home Secretary to undertake an urgent and thorough review of the Government's current policy in respect of the detention of asylum seekers with a view to ensuring that such practice conforms with the fundamental principles of refugee protection and with r elevant international standards.

That this House is deeply concerned by the use of Immigration Act detention in asylum cases; notes the view of the UN High Commissioner for refugees that as a general rule asylum seekers should not be detained and insofar as the detention occurs it should be proportionate to the ends...

That this House deplores the attempt by Railtrack to close Wrexham Central Station in a bid to increase profits from the development of surrounding land; notes the findings of the RUCC for Wales following a recent public inquiry that the closure of the station and its replacement by one some 400 yards further away from Wrexham town centre would cause hardship to the town and to rail users and should not be allowed to go ahead; further notes that Railtrack has ignored these recommendations and is seeking to persuade the Rail Regulator not to accept the RUCC findings; and calls on Railtrack to abandon its closure proposals, produce plans for development keeping Wrexham Central Station roughly in its present central position and to start behaving in a manner suitable to that of a rail company and not a property company.

That this House deplores the attempt by Railtrack to close Wrexham Central Station in a bid to increase profits from the development of surrounding land; notes the findings of the RUCC for Wales following a recent public inquiry that the closure of the station and its replacement by one some...

That this House welcomes the recently published report Sickle Cell Disorders in Greater London - A Needs Assessment of Screening and Care Services undertaken by the Department of Public Health Medicine, United Medical and Dental Schools, St. Thomas's Hospital; notes that although the report relates to Greater London the issues are also of concern to other major conurbations in the United Kingdom; is concerned that the estimated size of the affected population, 9,000 in 1996, is larger than previously estimated, that this group is very unevenly distributed amongst the five health authorities and that there has been no recognition of the subsequent need for resource allocation; further welcomes the report's call for more emphasis on community services and community education initiatives for health professionals, teachers, local authority staff and others to address the alarming lack of knowledge about sickle cell disorders; and calls on the Government to respond to this report and to seriously consider the important recommendations made.

That this House welcomes the recently published report Sickle Cell Disorders in Greater London - A Needs Assessment of Screening and Care Services undertaken by the Department of Public Health Medicine, United Medical and Dental Schools, St. Thomas's Hospital; notes that although the report relates to Greater London the issues...

That this House recognises the problem caused to the Teachers' Pension Agency funding by the increasing number of teachers seeking to retire shortly after reaching the age of 50; also recognises that such early retirements are, in many cases, of value to the teacher concerned, the school and its pupils; and believes also that further bipartison consultation is necessary before any final decision is made on teachers' early retirement.

That this House recognises the problem caused to the Teachers' Pension Agency funding by the increasing number of teachers seeking to retire shortly after reaching the age of 50; also recognises that such early retirements are, in many cases, of value to the teacher concerned, the school and its pupils;...