That this House fully supports the work of the European Children's Trust, which continues actively to tackle the tragedy of the institutionalisation of children across Europe, initially in Romania; and notes that their 10th anniversary year is marked by progress and challenges.

That this House fully supports the work of the European Children's Trust, which continues actively to tackle the tragedy of the institutionalisation of children across Europe, initially in Romania; and notes that their 10th anniversary year is marked by progress and challenges.

That this House expresses deep concern and alarm at the decision by the Millennium Commission to advance a further ??29 million of public money to the New Millennium Experience Company; notes that this will deprive the New Opportunities Fund of monies that would otherwise go to education, health and the environment; calls on the Government to undertake that no further public funds whether from taxation, the Lottery or otherwise shall be advanced to the NMEC; and further calls for a public judicial inquiry into the stewardship of the Millennium Fund.

That this House expresses deep concern and alarm at the decision by the Millennium Commission to advance a further ??29 million of public money to the New Millennium Experience Company; notes that this will deprive the New Opportunities Fund of monies that would otherwise go to education, health and the...

That this House notes with grave concern that the UK-based Weir Pumps Ltd and other European companies have built and continue to invest in the recently completed oil installations and an oil pipeline in Sudan, running for 1,600 km from Bentiu, Upper West Nile to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, with exports since 30th August 1999 of 150,000 barrels a day and estimated potential revenue of $200 million to $500 million a year; notes that this development threatens to perpetuate the Sudanese war and undermine the fragile peace process; notes the evidence that this exacerbates human rights violations and further frustrates any efforts for long-term development; believes that as a military target the pipeline and installations pose a serious environmental threat to the country; calls on Her Majesty's Government to refuse any export licences to Sudan, to encourage the international community to put pressure on the warring parties in order that they extend and monitor the cease-fire in all regions, in particular around the oil fields, and to make representations to the international community calling on it to cease the extraction of oil in Sudan until a peaceful resolution to the conflict has been reached.

That this House notes with grave concern that the UK-based Weir Pumps Ltd and other European companies have built and continue to invest in the recently completed oil installations and an oil pipeline in Sudan, running for 1,600 km from Bentiu, Upper West Nile to Port Sudan on the Red...

That this House, in the millennium year, welcomes the proposal to celebrate the Millennial National Arts Day on 24th June, Midsummer Day, as an exciting opportunity to draw attention to artistic activity across the country; believes that in the age of globalisation an annual day of celebration will give wider publicity to the nation's cultural achievements indelibly rooted here; considers that these achievements are worthy of greater recognition and investment; acknowledges that the arts reflect the country's traditions, values and multi-cultural way of life and have earned the admiration of the world in addition; points out that they are also a potent antidote to violence, hopelessness, social division and alienation by cutting across human divides; further believes that a National Arts Day would demonstrate that the arts do not belong on the periphery of daily life but at its centre, where they can contribute significantly to the Nation's well-being and quality of life; and urges the Minister of Culture, Media and Sport and the government to give their endorsement and support to the Millennial National Arts Day.

That this House, in the millennium year, welcomes the proposal to celebrate the Millennial National Arts Day on 24th June, Midsummer Day, as an exciting opportunity to draw attention to artistic activity across the country; believes that in the age of globalisation an annual day of celebration will give wider...

That this House is very concerned to hear that Gujarat State, India, has introduced a bill purporting to promote freedom of religion but which in reality may prohibit conversion and restrict the humanitarian work carried out by Christian NGOs largely amongst the dalits; notes with alarm that although there have been over 150 acts of violence against Christians in the last 18 months there has not been one conviction and that the murderer of Graham Staines and his two sons is still at large some nine months after the event; further notes that this has created a culture of impunity in which further acts of violence are likely; expresses sympathy for the family of Father Arul Doss, murdered on 1st September; and urges the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to ensure that his Government abides by his oath to protect the constitution, upholding freedom of religion and uplifting the victims of caste oppression.

That this House is very concerned to hear that Gujarat State, India, has introduced a bill purporting to promote freedom of religion but which in reality may prohibit conversion and restrict the humanitarian work carried out by Christian NGOs largely amongst the dalits; notes with alarm that although there have...

That this House notes that the Reverend Canon Donald Gray is to retire at the end of the current session after 11 years as Chaplain to the Speaker; pays warm tribute to his years of service to this House both in his formal duties and in his less formal but equally important ministry to honourable Members and staff throughout the House (including his support to the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship); notes also that he and his wife Joyce having made many friends in and outside Parliament, will be greatly missed; and wishes them both many happy and fulfilling years in their retirement.

That this House notes that the Reverend Canon Donald Gray is to retire at the end of the current session after 11 years as Chaplain to the Speaker; pays warm tribute to his years of service to this House both in his formal duties and in his less formal but...

That this House notes that Wednesday 6th May is the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Day, which this year will focus on the issue of violence to children within families; further notes that domestic violence features in one in five cases dealt with by the Society and that research has shown that in the majority of cases where children have suffered physical abuse, neglect or emotional abuse, their mothers were also subject to violence by their male partners; and congratulates the NSPCC both for its work in bringing these facts to the attention of the nation and for continuing to support the victims of violence as it has done for over 100 years.

That this House notes that Wednesday 6th May is the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Day, which this year will focus on the issue of violence to children within families; further notes that domestic violence features in one in five cases dealt with by the Society...

That this House recognises that it is an overriding responsibility of public and charitable services relating to safeguard and promote the welfare of children living away from home; welcomes the recommendations of Sir William Utting's Review of the Safeguards for Children Living Away From Home (People Like Us, 1997), and believes that urgent action must be taken to ensure that all organisations caring for children apply the recommendations of Choosing With Care (The Warner Report, 1992) in selecting and recruiting staff and volunteers who work with children; further believes that arrangements for protecting children from abuse; including registration and inspection requirements, should be made consistent in all settings in which children live away from home, that the remaining recommendations of the Advisory Group on Video Evidence (The Pigot Report, 1989) should be implemented and a review conducted of arrangements for prosecuting sexual offences against children; and further argues that all children living away from home should be given access to independent representation and safe contact with adults outside the organisation in which they live and that the permanent focus on children's issues recommended by Sir William Utting should be met by the appointment of independent commissioners for children, for whom the welfare of children living away from home should be of particular concern.

That this House recognises that it is an overriding responsibility of public and charitable services relating to safeguard and promote the welfare of children living away from home; welcomes the recommendations of Sir William Utting's Review of the Safeguards for Children Living Away From Home (People Like Us, 1997), and...

That this House congratulates MERLIN which is a British medical charity providing emergency medical relief in disaster situations around the world; praises the rapid response teams of volunteer doctors and nurses for their work with refugees in war-torn areas of Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Caucasus, for their fight against tuberculosis in Siberia, cholera in Afghanistan, polio in Chechnya, for their feeding programmes for malnourished children in Sierra Leone, for their recovery programme in the Yemen after flash floods, and for their assistance in setting up health clinics and rehabilitating hospitals wherever possible; welcomes the current support from the overseas aid budget; but notes that more money is urgently required to finance training of relief workers and to widen the scope of this excellent voluntary organisation.

That this House congratulates MERLIN which is a British medical charity providing emergency medical relief in disaster situations around the world; praises the rapid response teams of volunteer doctors and nurses for their work with refugees in war-torn areas of Rwanda, Afghanistan and the Caucasus, for their fight against tuberculosis...

That this House notes the importance of the Special Session of the United Nations to be held in June 1997, known as Earth Summit Two, which will review progress made in the area of sustainability since the Earth Summit in 1992, including efforts to restrain carbon dioxide emissions and to conserve endangered species, and will set out new targets for future action, including the protection of forests and the establishment of financial mechanisms to find sustainable development; believes that the concept of sustainable development is even more relevant now than it was in 1992; calls upon the United Kingdom Government to place sustainable development at the heart of its policy framework; and urges the Prime Minister to make a commitment to attending Earth Summit Two.

That this House notes the importance of the Special Session of the United Nations to be held in June 1997, known as Earth Summit Two, which will review progress made in the area of sustainability since the Earth Summit in 1992, including efforts to restrain carbon dioxide emissions and to...

That this House notes the importance of social care as the fifth arm of the welfare state and that policy changes in health, education, housing and social security have had a severe impact, leaving social care as the agency of last resort; calls for an urgent debate on the management and funding of social care; and seeks an urgent review of community care legislation as it affects these issues.

That this House notes the importance of social care as the fifth arm of the welfare state and that policy changes in health, education, housing and social security have had a severe impact, leaving social care as the agency of last resort; calls for an urgent debate on the management...

That this House, noting that the Prince's Youth Business Trust is 10 years old, views with approval its continuing contribution to the creation of small enterprises by young people in all parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland; recognises the importance of the Trust's support which enables young people to develop their self-confidence, achieve economic independence, fulfil their ambitions and contribute to the communities in which they live; records that, since its launch, the Trust has helped more than 32,000 young people to make the transition from unemployment to viable self-employment; congratulates the volunteers and staff of the Trust and those individuals, companies, trusts and foundations, together with local and central government, whose gifts in cash and in kind make the vital work of the Trust possible; congratulates the Trust on achieving 10 years of growing success since its foundation in 1986; and commends the work of the Trust to the interest and support of all honourable Members.

That this House, noting that the Prince's Youth Business Trust is 10 years old, views with approval its continuing contribution to the creation of small enterprises by young people in all parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland; recognises the importance of the Trust's support which enables young people to...

That this House, noting the profound consciousness in Parliament and the nation of the inestimable value of children's lives, records that every day children in this nation suffer appalling damage from the actions of adults and, indeed, of other children; remarks with dismay that an estimated 800,000 children in the United Kingdom have no contact with their natural fathers, that some children in local authority care, as young as 11 years of age, finance their drug habit by prostitution, and that many drug pushers are children; commend the initiative Heirs to the Millennium which, by putting 1,500 people into Coventry Cathedral on 22nd May 1996 from a wide diversity of ethnic and religious backgrounds, chiefly to listen to young people themselves, aims to drive up the political agenda the concerns felt across the nation about the way in which we are preparing the nation's children for the next millennium; and notes that one of the sponsors of the event, in her capacity as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children, was Lady Faithfull who would have wished no better memorial of her life devoted to the care of children than for Heirs to the Millennium to result in a new awareness of the importance of children to this nation and a renewed commitment to policies designed to protect them from harm and to enable them to realise their full potential.

That this House, noting the profound consciousness in Parliament and the nation of the inestimable value of children's lives, records that every day children in this nation suffer appalling damage from the actions of adults and, indeed, of other children; remarks with dismay that an estimated 800,000 children in the...

That this House congratulates the BUPA Alexandra Hospital, Walderslade, Kent, on becoming the first and, so far, the only hospital in the United Kingdom to have been awarded three prestigious standards concurrently, namely, full accreditation by the King's Fund Organisational Audit, recognition as an Investor in People and ISO 9002; and wishes the hospital every success in the next phase of its service to the people of Mid Kent and surrounding areas.

That this House congratulates the BUPA Alexandra Hospital, Walderslade, Kent, on becoming the first and, so far, the only hospital in the United Kingdom to have been awarded three prestigious standards concurrently, namely, full accreditation by the King's Fund Organisational Audit, recognition as an Investor in People and ISO 9002;...

That that the draft Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 1995 which were laid before this House on 13th July, be not made.

That that the draft Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems) Regulations 1995 which were laid before this House on 13th July, be not made.

That this House congratulates the Shaftesbury Society, a charity founded in 1844 by the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, on 150 years of Christian care in action, an unbroken record of service and care to those in communities who are in need; recognises the Society's important contribution to community life throughout the country as it provides education and care services to people with a disability, young homeless people and older people; notes that it also runs a network of over 50 church-related community action projects in London, including playgroups, youth clubs and drop-in centres; welcomes the celebration of Shaftesbury Sunday on 1st May, a day to encourage churches throughout the country not only to celebrate Shaftesbury's work but to look to starting projects themselves which will strengthen and develop community life in this country; and wishes them continuing success for the next 150 years.

That this House congratulates the Shaftesbury Society, a charity founded in 1844 by the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, on 150 years of Christian care in action, an unbroken record of service and care to those in communities who are in need; recognises the Society's important contribution to community life throughout...

That this House notes that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights declares that `everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence'; further notes that no exceptions are made according to an individual's position whether in private or public life; and calls upon the editors of the United Kingdom's newspapers to observe the Convention, to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.

That this House notes that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights declares that `everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence'; further notes that no exceptions are made according to an individual's position whether in private or public...

That this House condemns the decision by Maidstone Health Authority and others to withdraw facilities in schools for vaccinations against rubella (German measles) and to place the full burden of responsibility on parents and general practitioners; believes that such a move will militate against parents having their daughters vaccinated even though they may in principle be in favour of such preventive action; asserts that this is a short-sighted and cost-cutting measure which will result in more women giving birth to children with disabilities such as blindness and deafness, thus requiring long-term special educational provision as well as causing unnecessary suffering; urges Maidstone Health Authority to reconsider this action; further notes with concern the decision by various health authorities to withdraw school nurses from educational establishments; and expresses thanks to Jeannie Evans, Publicity Officer of the Kent Division of the National Union of Teachers, for her vigilance on behalf of children with special educational needs.

That this House condemns the decision by Maidstone Health Authority and others to withdraw facilities in schools for vaccinations against rubella (German measles) and to place the full burden of responsibility on parents and general practitioners; believes that such a move will militate against parents having their daughters vaccinated even...

That this House notes that it is now 11 months since the honourable Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch tabled Motions calling for an investigation into the sale by Rochester upon Medway City Council of its housing stock to the Medway Housing Society; recalls that the honourable Member alleged that the ratepayers had been defrauded by this transaction of millions of pounds and that the Leader of the Council and its Chief Executive 'were in breach of their fiduciary duty'; further notes that at no time has the honourable Member repeated these allegations outside the protection of Parliamentary privilege but was nevertheless supported in his accusations by the local Labour Party, including Councillor Tim Robson and Mr Marshall Andrewes QC; further notes that the transaction has been the subject of an investigation by the District Auditor, calls upon the District Auditor to complete and publish his Report without further delay; notes with surprise that the honourable Member has not sought early publication of the Report; urges the honourable Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch and Messrs Robson and Andrewes to join in seeking it; and confidently expects them to give the Report as much publicity as they gave to their earlier comments.

That this House notes that it is now 11 months since the honourable Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch tabled Motions calling for an investigation into the sale by Rochester upon Medway City Council of its housing stock to the Medway Housing Society; recalls that the honourable Member alleged that...

That this House notes that it is now 11 months since the honourable Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington tabled motions calling for an investigation into the sale by Rochester upon Medway City Council of its housing stock to the Medway Housing Society; recalls that the honourable Member alleged that the ratepayers had been defrauded by this transaction of millions of pounds and that the Leader of the Council and its Chief Executive 'were in breach of their fiduciary duty'; further notes that at no time has the honourable Member repeated these allegations outside the protection of Parliamentary privilege but was nevertheless supported in his accusations by the local Labour Party, including Councillor Tim Robson and Mr Marshall Andrewes QC; further notes that the transaction has been the subject of an investigation by the District Auditor; calls upon the District Auditor to complete and publish his Report without further delay; notes with surprise that the honourable Member has not sought early publication of the Report; urges the honourable Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and Messrs Robson and Andrewes to join in seeking it; and confidently expects them to give the Report as much publicity as they gave to their earlier comments.

That this House notes that it is now 11 months since the honourable Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington tabled motions calling for an investigation into the sale by Rochester upon Medway City Council of its housing stock to the Medway Housing Society; recalls that the honourable Member alleged...