That this House congratulates Chorley and District Building Society for winning the prestigious 'Best Overall Lender of the Year Award' for the third year in succession; notes that Chorley and District Building Society has been operating for 141 years entirely for the benefit of its members, undercutting national financial institutions as a mutual building society, and taking advantage of sustained low mortgage rates; congratulates Stephen Bullock, the Chief Executive of Chorley and District Building Society, along with all the excellent employees and board members; believes that Chorley and District Building Society is a prime example of the importance of mutual building societies; and calls on the Government to encourage and support mutual building society status at every opportunity.

That this House congratulates Chorley and District Building Society for winning the prestigious 'Best Overall Lender of the Year Award' for the third year in succession; notes that Chorley and District Building Society has been operating for 141 years entirely for the benefit of its members, undercutting national financial institutions...

That this House regrets that despite representations from honourable Members, Her Majesty's Government still refuses to ban unnecessary animal experiments at the Ministry of Defence's Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; is disgusted at the continued torture and slaughter of innocent animals exposed by the Sunday People; congratulates the newspaper on its ongoing campaign to put a stop to this barbarity; thanks TV actress Samantha Robson for delivering 10,000 letters from Sunday People readers to the Ministry of Defence demanding a ban on these pointless tests; and urges the Secretary of State for Defence to read every one so he can see for himself the strength of public feeling in favour of ending this unspeakable cruelty.

That this House regrets that despite representations from honourable Members, Her Majesty's Government still refuses to ban unnecessary animal experiments at the Ministry of Defence's Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down; is disgusted at the continued torture and slaughter of innocent animals exposed by the Sunday People; congratulates...

That this House congratulates the Agricultural Wages Board in awarding a 4.4 per cent. increase on the basic rate for farm workers and an increase for casual workers in line with the national minimum wage; and calls on farmers and their leaders to be more generous in their recognition of this negotiated deal.

That this House congratulates the Agricultural Wages Board in awarding a 4.4 per cent. increase on the basic rate for farm workers and an increase for casual workers in line with the national minimum wage; and calls on farmers and their leaders to be more generous in their recognition of...

That this House notes the sale of 1,700 tenanted Whitbread pubs to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity; notes that this will mean an uncertain future for the existing pub tenants; further notes the personal and financial investment that Whitbread pub tenants have made over many years to build up their businesses; deeply regrets the decision by both Whitbread and Morgan Grenfell to refuse individual tenants the right to buy the freehold of their pubs; supports the campaign by Gary McClure and other pub tenants for the right to buy the freehold of their own pubs; and calls upon the Government to consider granting pub tenants and lessees a statutory right to buy, particularly when the pub freehold ownership changes.

That this House notes the sale of 1,700 tenanted Whitbread pubs to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity; notes that this will mean an uncertain future for the existing pub tenants; further notes the personal and financial investment that Whitbread pub tenants have made over many years to build up their businesses;...

That this House, on the occasion of the Census 2001, pays tribute to the memory of the suffragette, Emily Wilding Davison, a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, who, in protest at the denial of the franchise to women, spent the night of the Census 1911 in this House so that she could state her address as the House of Commons; notes that this act is commemorated by a plaque erected by the Right honourable Member for Chesterfield in a room off the Crypt Chapel; and further recognises the efforts of members and supporters of women's suffrage movements in securing votes for women.

That this House, on the occasion of the Census 2001, pays tribute to the memory of the suffragette, Emily Wilding Davison, a member of the Women's Social and Political Union, who, in protest at the denial of the franchise to women, spent the night of the Census 1911 in this...

That this House believes that decent, affordable, secure and accountable council housing must continue to be provided and expanded; calls on the Government to invest in council housing to build new homes to meet housing need, to carry out repairs and improvements to existing council homes and estates and to ensure good quality housing services guaranteeing secure jobs with training and supports the manifesto for Council Housing promoted by the unions UNISON, GMBATU, UCATT, TAROE, Daylight Robbery Campaign and Defend Council Housing.

That this House believes that decent, affordable, secure and accountable council housing must continue to be provided and expanded; calls on the Government to invest in council housing to build new homes to meet housing need, to carry out repairs and improvements to existing council homes and estates and to...

That this House is dismayed that the list of people's peers published on 26th April contains for example no lollipop or dinner ladies, no shop assistants or factory workers or bus drivers; questions the point of the four regional roadshows organised by the House of Lords Appointments Commission designed to encourage applications from a wide range of people when, contrary to the Government's stated objective, those appointed will not make the Lords more representative of the UK as a whole; considers, in the light of this, the term people's peer to be a misnomer; believes the Commission's procedures are not open or transparent; and urges the Government to review the entire policy of appointing people's peers.

That this House is dismayed that the list of people's peers published on 26th April contains for example no lollipop or dinner ladies, no shop assistants or factory workers or bus drivers; questions the point of the four regional roadshows organised by the House of Lords Appointments Commission designed to...

That this House recognises the Government's belief that the appointment of 15 new 'non-party political' people's peers will increase the extent to which the House of Lords is representative of the United Kingdom as a whole; notes that the House of Lords Appointments Commission set out on four regional roadshows costing ??12,000 to encourage putative people's peers to apply; further notes that 3,141 applicants were subsequently considered for appointment - including 17 whose main homes were outside the United Kingdom, but regrets that the 3,126 rejected applicants were not given reasons for their rejection even if requested; believes that copies of all applications for a seat in the legislature of the United Kingdom as a people's peer should be lodged in the Library; is astonished that non-party political people's peers will, after enoblement, have a free choice as to whether to take a party whip; concludes that in a modern democracy the election of legislators is preferable to appointment; and calls for a directly-elected House of Lords of no more than 100 members.

That this House recognises the Government's belief that the appointment of 15 new 'non-party political' people's peers will increase the extent to which the House of Lords is representative of the United Kingdom as a whole; notes that the House of Lords Appointments Commission set out on four regional roadshows...

That this House notes that the Exxon oil company was one of the major backers of the recent Republican Presidential campaign; recognises that Exxon was one of the major corporate voices lobbying hard in favour of the United States Government's recent rejection of the Kyoto accords on global warming; further notes that global companies have an obligation to the global community on issues of social responsibility like global warming which transcend shareholder interest; is concerned that consumers should recognise their ability to influence global corporate behaviour by the decision selectively to refuse to purchase; endorses the call from The Observer on Sunday 22nd April for a boycott of Exxon; and calls upon the public to refuse to buy Esso petrol until Exxon changes its ways.

That this House notes that the Exxon oil company was one of the major backers of the recent Republican Presidential campaign; recognises that Exxon was one of the major corporate voices lobbying hard in favour of the United States Government's recent rejection of the Kyoto accords on global warming; further...

That this House commemorates Workers' Memorial Day on 28th April and recognises that it helps trade unions and work place health and safety campaigners in over 100 countries to draw attention to the plight of the 335,000 workers world-wide who die every year as a result of their work; observes that this year's theme focuses attention on the tragedy of asbestos-related diseases around the world; is appalled that the human cost in the UK is the death of over 4,500 people every year; and calls for a global ban on the use of the material and of products containing it.

That this House commemorates Workers' Memorial Day on 28th April and recognises that it helps trade unions and work place health and safety campaigners in over 100 countries to draw attention to the plight of the 335,000 workers world-wide who die every year as a result of their work; observes...

That this House notes that some 50,000 people rely on British Sign Language as their working language; recognises that deaf people still suffer a range of problems from social isolation to outright discrimination; applauds the many people, both deaf and hearing, from Greater Manchester and nationwide who are actively involved in the national campaign for recognition of British Sign Language; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to give a sympathetic response to this legitimate demand.

That this House notes that some 50,000 people rely on British Sign Language as their working language; recognises that deaf people still suffer a range of problems from social isolation to outright discrimination; applauds the many people, both deaf and hearing, from Greater Manchester and nationwide who are actively involved...

That this House is grateful to the Yorkshire Post for its 'Hidden Disability Appeal', which aims to raise ??1.4 million to assist the renovation and refurbishment of the Robert Ogden School at Thurnscoe, Barnsley, and to contribute to making the school, which is already the world's largest for autistic children, into a centre of excellence where each pupil can reach their full potential through a broad programme of academic, social, vocational and communication skills helping to improve their independence and life chances.

That this House is grateful to the Yorkshire Post for its 'Hidden Disability Appeal', which aims to raise ??1.4 million to assist the renovation and refurbishment of the Robert Ogden School at Thurnscoe, Barnsley, and to contribute to making the school, which is already the world's largest for autistic children,...

That this House applauds the Government's commitment to retaining prescription charge exemptions for many people suffering from permanent fistula, forms of hypo adrenalin, diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, myasthenia gravis, myxoedema, epilepsy and confining physical disablity; recognises that these exemptions prevent an additional financial burden being imposed on people as a result of their medical conditions; is concerned, however, that other people with a long-term requirement for prescribed medication, such as transplant patients, do not qualify for exemption certificates; and calls on the Government to review the prescription charge exemption list to ensure that it includes all conditions requiring long-term medication.

That this House applauds the Government's commitment to retaining prescription charge exemptions for many people suffering from permanent fistula, forms of hypo adrenalin, diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, myasthenia gravis, myxoedema, epilepsy and confining physical disablity; recognises that these exemptions prevent an additional financial burden being imposed on people as a result of...

That this House notes with great concern the seventeenth death during the hunger strike under way in Turkey in protest against severe conditions in the maximum security jails and that there are over 200 on death-fast; further notes that the protest shows no sign of coming to an end and looks certain to claim many further victims; is concerned that the new prisons into which inmates have been transferred do not meet certain international standards; and calls on the Government to put pressure urgently on the Turkish Government to end the death-fast and adopt the reforms necessary to ensure that the new prisons meet all international standards.

That this House notes with great concern the seventeenth death during the hunger strike under way in Turkey in protest against severe conditions in the maximum security jails and that there are over 200 on death-fast; further notes that the protest shows no sign of coming to an end and...

That this House is appalled by the tragedy of asbestos-related disease around the world and recognises that nowhere has the human cost been greater than in South Africa, where Cape plc, a British company, mined and milled asbestos until 1979; welcomes the decision by the House of Lords in July 2000 that the case for compensation brought by South African mineworkers should be heard in Britain but deplores Cape's delaying tactics; calls for the case which now includes more than 5,000 claimants to be settled as soon as possible; and urges the main institutional shareholders in the company, such as Norwich Union and Equitable Life, to use all their influence with the company to ensure it settles all these claims fairly and expeditiously.

That this House is appalled by the tragedy of asbestos-related disease around the world and recognises that nowhere has the human cost been greater than in South Africa, where Cape plc, a British company, mined and milled asbestos until 1979; welcomes the decision by the House of Lords in July...

That this House notes Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 2001 between 22nd to 29th April; notes that this includes the launch of a campaign entitled Specialist Nursing in MS - the Way Forward: Key Elements for Developing MS Specialist Nurse Services in the United Kingdom, which will seek to end the inadequate provision of care with people with multiple sclerosis and to highlight the rights and interests of people with multiple sclerosis; further notes that a minimum of 300 MS specialist nurses in the United Kingdom rather than the current 80 are needed to provide an effective service to people suffering from MS; recognises that MS specialist nurses can reduce the need for hospital admissions, outpatient appointments and general practitioner consultations, as well as improve clinical outcomes and patient well-being; and calls upon the Government to recognise this guidance for commissioners, National Health Service managers and neurologists to improve the lives of 85,000 people who are suffering from this debilitating disease.

That this House notes Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week 2001 between 22nd to 29th April; notes that this includes the launch of a campaign entitled Specialist Nursing in MS - the Way Forward: Key Elements for Developing MS Specialist Nurse Services in the United Kingdom, which will seek to end the...

That this House applauds the work of the Friends of War Memorials, the Royal Naval Association and survivors' associations in raising attention to the growing problem of invasive diving on maritime war graves and welcomes the present Government review; notes that because they were not designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 these graves lack the necessary legal protection; welcomes efforts which are now being made by the sports diver-training agencies to, where necessary, change sports divers' attitudes towards war graves; believes that in order to protect maritime war graves from the minority of irresponsible divers who plunder them the Government should invoke the 1986 Act in its entirety, designating first as controlled sites all known British and foreign naval vessels lying within British territorial waters which contain or are thought to contain human remains as controlled sites with restricted access for at least 100 years from the date of the loss of the vessel; and exhorts all sports divers to abide by the conditions of these designations whilst providing for controlled diving under the direction of licensed individuals for survey purposes so as to identify fresh damage and unauthorised diving and thus render unnecessary the need for further legislation.

That this House applauds the work of the Friends of War Memorials, the Royal Naval Association and survivors' associations in raising attention to the growing problem of invasive diving on maritime war graves and welcomes the present Government review; notes that because they were not designated under the Protection of...

That this House notes the local opposition which often spontaneously arises in communities close to planning applications for open cast coal mining; acknowledges the local environmental, health and economic damage which such mining can cause; recalls the ease with which the Conservative Government enabled such planning applications to be approved at Secretary of State level in opposition to local wishes; remembers with pleasure the Labour Party's 10 point plan to give local communities the capacity successfully to oppose open casting; and congratulates the Government in implementing the substantive content of that plan, which has resulted in the refusal of consent to a massive and unwanted open cast site close to Crofton in the constituency of Hemsworth.

That this House notes the local opposition which often spontaneously arises in communities close to planning applications for open cast coal mining; acknowledges the local environmental, health and economic damage which such mining can cause; recalls the ease with which the Conservative Government enabled such planning applications to be approved...

That this House notes that international currency speculation currently stands at about $1.5 trillion a day and that the vast majority of this is unrelated to trade in real goods and services; further notes that such enormous speculative flows substantially undermine the powers of national governments and regional blocs; believes that a small levy on such speculation, known as the Tobin Tax, after the name of the Nobel Laureate who originated the concept, could both help to dampen down the scale and scope of speculation and raise substantial revenues, raising as much as $250 billion each year for good causes such as development and environmental protection; recognises that such a levy would have to be universal or as near to that as possible and contain safeguards to minimise and eliminate tax evasion; notes that the Tobin Tax has the backing of the Canadian Parliament, the Belgian Parliament, the Finnish Government and campaign groups such as War on Want; and urges the Government to discuss the concept with its partners in international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, the IMF, G8 and the European Union with a view to drawing up an internationally co-ordinated and feasible tax regime for currency speculation.

That this House notes that international currency speculation currently stands at about $1.5 trillion a day and that the vast majority of this is unrelated to trade in real goods and services; further notes that such enormous speculative flows substantially undermine the powers of national governments and regional blocs; believes...

That this House regrets the tragic and premature deaths of PC John Anthony Thomas aged 30 and Emma Christofferson aged 28 and others of a pulmonary embolism or related condition following a long distance plane journey; notes the increasing body of world wide expert opinion highlighting the potential health risks associated with flying; recognises the growing public concern about the incidence of deep vein thrombosis linked with long haul air travel; calls upon British airline companies in the interests of the health and welfare of airline passengers, as a matter of urgency, to adopt voluntarily the provisions of the Air Travellers (Provision of Health Information) Bill and provide up to date and accurate information to all their passengers about the possible risks associated with air travel to include actions which are known to reduce such risk; and further calls on air carriers to undertake comprehensive research themselves, or in cooperation with others, into the incidence of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers to establish the full extent of the risk passengers are exposed to and to inform future publication of information quantifying that risk and outlining the range of preventative measures available to reduce the likelihood of contracting this debilitating and often fatal condition.

That this House regrets the tragic and premature deaths of PC John Anthony Thomas aged 30 and Emma Christofferson aged 28 and others of a pulmonary embolism or related condition following a long distance plane journey; notes the increasing body of world wide expert opinion highlighting the potential health risks...