That this House condemns the anti-trade union activities of UK-listed National Express PLC in its operations in the US, largely ignoring the safety concerns raised by employees and parents alike when transporting children to and from school; notes that these practices contrast with those of competing companies such as First Student; further notes that investors representing two per cent of National Express Group stock have filed a resolution calling on the company's board to initiate an independent investigation into management denial and violation of Durham Schools Services workers' freedom of association rights; and calls on all National Express shareholders to seek clarification on this issue from the board of directors and to vote for the resolution on this issue at the forthcoming AGM on 6 May 2015.

That this House condemns the anti-trade union activities of UK-listed National Express PLC in its operations in the US, largely ignoring the safety concerns raised by employees and parents alike when transporting children to and from school; notes that these practices contrast with those of competing companies such as First...

That this House notes the very powerful effect of Leslee Udwin's documentary, India's Daughter, inspired by the Indian peoples' response to the gang rape of a 23 year old medical student, Jyoti Singh, as demonstrated by the resulting month-long protests of men and women from all walks of life; further notes the relevance of the film in raising awareness of on-going worldwide efforts to educate everyone against violence against girls and women; congratulates the UK for its leadership in working to end female genital mutilation, child marriage and gender inequality; deplores the Indian government's decision to ban the film, which has denied the people most affected by rape and murder a platform to speak for themselves and has prevented a light being shone on what needs to change in the grossly unequal attitudes toward women worldwide and especially Dalit women who are disproportionately affected; further notes that the blanket ban contravenes fundamental rights of free speech and freedom of expression; and calls on the international community to do more to extend their solidarity to all those who are suffering as a result of continuing violence against girls and women, including the family and friends of Jyoti Singh, and to all those campaigning to end it.

That this House notes the very powerful effect of Leslee Udwin's documentary, India's Daughter, inspired by the Indian peoples' response to the gang rape of a 23 year old medical student, Jyoti Singh, as demonstrated by the resulting month-long protests of men and women from all walks of life; further...

That this House agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that there is a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza; fears the outbreak of further hostilities unless the situation improves dramatically; notes the considerable amount of British and other international aid required to keep Gaza from deteriorating further and to assist in the reconstruction of infrastructure and homes; regrets that the Israeli authorities continue to refuse access to British elected representatives to visit Gaza via Erez checkpoint; further notes that, given the dangerous security situation in the Sinai, the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing is the only viable entry point; and asks the Government to do everything in its power to persuade the Israeli authorities to permit parliamentary access into Gaza to assess the situation, the needs of the population and how British funds are being spent.

That this House agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that there is a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza; fears the outbreak of further hostilities unless the situation improves dramatically; notes the considerable amount of British and other international aid required to keep Gaza from deteriorating further and to assist in...

That this House notes the severity of the downturn in the UK's offshore oil industry resulting from the slump in oil prices; believes that short-term responses such as delay or cancellation of long-term projects, laying off workers, extending working hours, accelerating cost-cutting recruitment practices or changing terms and conditions without consultation will fail to mitigate the impacts on workers or the wider economy; further believes that reducing essential maintenance work would jeopardise infrastructure integrity and capacity, thousands of jobs, essential skills and future tax revenues from this vital sector; further believes that oil industry trade unions have a key role to play in government and industry initiatives, such as the Energy Jobs Taskforce, in ensuring that the views and interests of those working in the industry are taken fully into account; and calls on the Government at every level to work closely with employers, regulators, trade unions and elected representatives to support measures that preserve the sustainability of operations, jobs, skills and investment, as well as a robust safety regime in the North Sea.

That this House notes the severity of the downturn in the UK's offshore oil industry resulting from the slump in oil prices; believes that short-term responses such as delay or cancellation of long-term projects, laying off workers, extending working hours, accelerating cost-cutting recruitment practices or changing terms and conditions without...

That this House is aware that the pause in NHS England's decision-making process on prioritisation and specialised commissioning has created a block to accessing effective medicines for rare diseases where there are commissioning policies under development or assessment; notes that for conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, tuberous sclerosis and Morquio disease, where a cohort of more than five patients exists, there is no alternative viable route to NHS funding; further notes that as a result patients with need of treatment are left at risk of significant harm, including organ failure and avoidable death; also notes that around 180 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, tuberous sclerosis and Morquio disease are currently being denied access; believes it is unethical to place patients at risk as a result of process inefficiencies; and calls on the Government to bring into force, without delay, interim measures to provide children and adults with rare diseases access to vital and proven medicines that will prevent organ deterioration and premature death.

That this House is aware that the pause in NHS England's decision-making process on prioritisation and specialised commissioning has created a block to accessing effective medicines for rare diseases where there are commissioning policies under development or assessment; notes that for conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, tuberous sclerosis and...

That this House acknowledges that UK levels of air passenger duty (APD) continue to be the highest in the world, and represent a growing barrier to trade, investment and tourism; notes the recommendation from the Smith Commission that responsibility for APD should be devolved to Scotland; further notes that the Scottish Government has consistently stated its ambition to reduce APD by 50 per cent in the short-term, to be followed by eventual abolition; and believes that were APD to be cut in Scotland then all parts of the UK, as soon as possible, should receive the exact same reduction, so that no areas of the country are disadvantaged in any way.

That this House acknowledges that UK levels of air passenger duty (APD) continue to be the highest in the world, and represent a growing barrier to trade, investment and tourism; notes the recommendation from the Smith Commission that responsibility for APD should be devolved to Scotland; further notes that the...

That this House notes with grave concern the continuation of the long-running industrial dispute between Barnet Council and Your Choice Barnet (YCB), a local authority trading company 100 per cent owned by the London Borough of Barnet, which provides services for adults with disabilities; further notes that this dispute relates to a 9.5 per cent pay cut imposed on low paid care workers on 1 April 2014; further notes that the pay cut imposed on the YCB care workers comes just a year after YCB workers saw over 30 per cent of their colleagues made redundant due to a restructure and all shift allowances were removed; believes there is excessive use of agency and casual staff meaning the regular staff carry an extra workload in familiarising casual staff with the work to be done; and calls on the London Borough of Barnet to enter into serious negotiations with YCB, Barnet UNISON and the local trade union, to resolve this dispute constructively and allow YCB to focus once again on its provision of high-quality services for adults with disabilities.

That this House notes with grave concern the continuation of the long-running industrial dispute between Barnet Council and Your Choice Barnet (YCB), a local authority trading company 100 per cent owned by the London Borough of Barnet, which provides services for adults with disabilities; further notes that this dispute relates...

That this House congratulates Mr Andargachew Tsige on his 60th birthday; regrets that this is being spent in prison in Ethiopia; is aware that Mr Tsige, who is a British citizen, was tried in absentia, sentenced to death and later illegally removed from Yemen to Ethiopia, where he is now being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location; acknowledges that only two British consular visits have been permitted; is shocked that the Ethiopian government has refused requests by British parliamentarians, including his constituency MP, the hon. Member for Islington North, to visit him; and calls on the Government to put all possible pressure on the Ethiopian government to secure his immediate release.

That this House congratulates Mr Andargachew Tsige on his 60th birthday; regrets that this is being spent in prison in Ethiopia; is aware that Mr Tsige, who is a British citizen, was tried in absentia, sentenced to death and later illegally removed from Yemen to Ethiopia, where he is now...

That this House notes that public service firefighters and police officers who retired in a period from 1998 to 2006 were significantly and knowingly disadvantaged by the failure by the Government Actuary's Department, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office to secure up-to-date actuarial valuations in respect of pension entitlements surrendered on retirement; further notes that maladministration in this matter was established in 2008; further notes that since then the Government Actuary's Department has acted in bad faith by adopting delaying tactics, including a dubious and failed legal challenge to the authority of the Pensions Ombudsman, thereby causing lengthy and unnecessary delay to the resolution of this matter and occasioning a situation whereby many of those affected have not or will not live sufficiently long to see this injustice corrected; and calls on the named departments to accept the imminent ruling by the Pensions Ombudsman and take immediate steps to pay any recommended awards.

That this House notes that public service firefighters and police officers who retired in a period from 1998 to 2006 were significantly and knowingly disadvantaged by the failure by the Government Actuary's Department, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office to secure up-to-date actuarial valuations in...

That this House notes that the average FTSE 100 CEO is now paid 143 times as much as their average employee; recalls that as recently as 1998 this ratio was only 47 to 1; further notes that in some cases in the UK this ratio is now as high as 800 to 1; is aware that this is happening at a time when average wages are little better than stagnant; is concerned that such inequality damages the social fabric and indeed democracy itself; believes that such inequalities, which have only recently developed, have no economic justification; further notes that the High Pay Centre has called for a debate on more radical measures to address the widening income discrepancy in the UK, including introducing a maximum pay ratio and appointing workers' representatives to company boards; commends Switzerland for offering its people a vote, in November 2013, on capping executive pay at 12 times what the lowest-paid worker at a company received; and urges the Government to consider measures that would reduce such gross inequalities in the future.

That this House notes that the average FTSE 100 CEO is now paid 143 times as much as their average employee; recalls that as recently as 1998 this ratio was only 47 to 1; further notes that in some cases in the UK this ratio is now as high as...