That this House regrets the recent disruption to First Capital Connect (FCC) services travelling into London; deplores the recent severe reduction in timetabled services which was brought about by a shortage of drivers employed by First Capital Connect and delays on the part of the Department for Transport in the delivery of rolling stock, and which meant that commuters had to find alternative routes into work and school, adding considerable time and expense to their daily journeys; notes that FCC are now operating the full timetable with effect from 15 January 2010 and have secured an agreement with drivers; congratulates hon. Members on the Shadow Transport Team in having made personal and direct representations to the management on behalf of commuters; calls on First Capital Connect to guarantee an improved service and to make appropriate compensation to passengers; further calls on unions to agree to keep to the agreement reached with First Capital Connect so that improved service can be delivered; and further calls on the Government to ensure that improved service levels are met and enforced.

That this House regrets the recent disruption to First Capital Connect (FCC) services travelling into London; deplores the recent severe reduction in timetabled services which was brought about by a shortage of drivers employed by First Capital Connect and delays on the part of the Department for Transport in the...

That this House notes with concern the prospect of job losses at car plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton following the restructuring of GM Europe; further notes that the Government's Automotive Assistance Programme has yet to issue a single loan in the six months since its creation; believes that ensuring a sustainable future for these plants will require the development of a prudent business plan which minimises the risk to the taxpayer; and calls on the Government to work with the new owners of GM Europe, local management and trade unions to develop such a plan and reach a solution which secures Vauxhall's future in the UK, represents good value for money and safeguards as many jobs as possible.

That this House notes with concern the prospect of job losses at car plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton following the restructuring of GM Europe; further notes that the Government's Automotive Assistance Programme has yet to issue a single loan in the six months since its creation; believes that ensuring...

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on becoming one of the fastest improving councils ever with the recent award of a three star, or good comprehensive performance assessment rating from the Audit Commission; recognises that Bedfordshire County Council has moved, under a Conservative administration, from a zero star rating to a three star rating in under three years; further recognises praise from the inspectors for the authority's strong political leadership and committed staff and notable improvements in priority areas such as children's services and highways maintenance; and notes that the authority is striving to provide excellence in all its services while seeking to achieve the greatest possible value for money for Bedfordshire residents.

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on becoming one of the fastest improving councils ever with the recent award of a three star, or good comprehensive performance assessment rating from the Audit Commission; recognises that Bedfordshire County Council has moved, under a Conservative administration, from a zero star rating...

That this House notes with concern that every year at least 20 to 30 lives are lost from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and possibly many more, because domestic gas appliances have not been properly installed or maintained and congratulates organisations such as Consumer Safety International, CO-Gas Safety, The Dominic Rodgers Trust and CO-Awareness on keeping this issue in the public eye; calls for increased enforcement action against incompetent and illegal installers and servicers, strongly encourages the energy industry to provide approved audible British Standard CO detectors in homes, schools and workplaces and the British holiday industry to ensure that approved audible CO detectors are available in accommodation at risk overseas; calls on relevant emergency workers to carry CO detection equipment with them; calls for more progress on training workers who install and service appliances as well as the training of clinicians to include CO poisoning to reduce misdiagnoses; and calls for the systematic recording of CO poisoning incidents so that the true scale of the problem can be identified and for a commitment by the British holiday industry to exercise the greatest possible pressure to raise the standards of gas and solid fuel safety in overseas accommodation which they place the travelling public in.

That this House notes with concern that every year at least 20 to 30 lives are lost from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and possibly many more, because domestic gas appliances have not been properly installed or maintained and congratulates organisations such as Consumer Safety International, CO-Gas Safety, The Dominic Rodgers...

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on achieving an overall two star rating in its most recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission, which judged the Council to be `improving well'; notes that the Council has made significant improvements to its priority services, including the well-being of children and young people, has improved its ranking for adult social care to 29th of 150 councils, has significantly improved recycling and composting rates, is now delivering better value for money and has recorded the second highest increase in customer satisfaction of any county council in last autumn's national survey; and notes that this demonstrates the determination of Bedfordshire County Council to continue the improvement journey which has already taken it from no stars to two stars in two years and that the Council will not be satisfied until its services are among the best in the country and are delivered at the lowest possible cost to the council tax payers of Bedfordshire.

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on achieving an overall two star rating in its most recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission, which judged the Council to be `improving well'; notes that the Council has made significant improvements to its priority services, including the well-being of children...

That this House expresses its profound concern that Mr Abdul Rahman is facing the death penalty in Afghanistan after being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity; calls on the Afghan government to respect both its own constitution which guarantees its citizens' rights to choose their own faith and the international human rights treaties, which also guarantee this right which Afghanistan has signed; and calls on the Government to make immediate representation to the Afghan government on this matter, given the UK's significant financial and military support for Afghanistan.

That this House expresses its profound concern that Mr Abdul Rahman is facing the death penalty in Afghanistan after being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity; calls on the Afghan government to respect both its own constitution which guarantees its citizens' rights to choose their own faith and the...

That this House notes that 2005 is the 50th anniversary of the first description in medical literature of the illness myalgic encephalopathy/encephalomyelitis (ME); is concerned by the subsequent lack of scientific research into the illness during that time, which has been a cause of distress to the quarter million ME sufferers in the UK; reminds the Government of the study, ME: Cost to the Nation, that put the annual economic cost of ME at ??3.5 billion; is dismayed to learn that one of the few contemporary scientific studies into the causes of this illness, carried out at Glasgow University, is under threat from lack of funds; and calls on the Government to provide the necessary funds to secure and promote this and other studies into the cause and treatment of ME.

That this House notes that 2005 is the 50th anniversary of the first description in medical literature of the illness myalgic encephalopathy/encephalomyelitis (ME); is concerned by the subsequent lack of scientific research into the illness during that time, which has been a cause of distress to the quarter million ME...

That this House notes with grave concern that the Executive Committee of the Army Board is this week considering cutting a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; further notes that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers recruits in the constituencies of 105 honourable Members, and that the 1st battalion of the regiment won more awards in the invasion of Iraq than any other battle-group; further notes that the Regiment's 2nd battalion is the most Northern Ireland experienced light role battalion in the Army and will at the end of its current tour have completed 41 months operational duty in the Province out of a total of 51 months; and believes that the current over-stretch of the infantry means that no infantry battalions should be cut from the British Army.

That this House notes with grave concern that the Executive Committee of the Army Board is this week considering cutting a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; further notes that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers recruits in the constituencies of 105 honourable Members, and that the 1st battalion of...

That this House celebrates with pride the 300 years of Gibraltar's British history and sovereignty which have been commemorated with a series of events, including the tercentenary service of thanksgiving and celebration at St Clement Danes, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal's official visit, and numerous heritage sporting, youth and military events, which will culminate in Gibraltarians linking arms around the Rock on 4th August; and believes that the sovereignty of Gibraltar should always be determined only by the people of Gibraltar themselves.

That this House celebrates with pride the 300 years of Gibraltar's British history and sovereignty which have been commemorated with a series of events, including the tercentenary service of thanksgiving and celebration at St Clement Danes, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal's official visit, and numerous heritage sporting, youth and...

That this House notes the results of the largest ever independent survey of 16 to 19 year old and adult learners in England, recently undertaken for the Learning and Skills Council; further notes that 94 per cent. of young and adult learners were at least satisfied with their local further education college courses, and nearly a quarter were extremely satisfied; welcomes the news that three-quarters of students said that their previously negative attitude to learning at school had been changed by their college experience; congratulates college leaders, lecturers and other staff on these outstanding results, probably the best in any public sector service; and urges the Government to ensure that such quality in further education can be sustained and improved through appropriate resources in the 2004 spending review.

That this House notes the results of the largest ever independent survey of 16 to 19 year old and adult learners in England, recently undertaken for the Learning and Skills Council; further notes that 94 per cent. of young and adult learners were at least satisfied with their local further...

That this House, recognising that the principle justification for British involvement in the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq was the latter's alleged possession of, and intention to use, weapons of mass destruction,and given that, to date, no evidence of that country's contemporary capability or intent with regards to such weapons has been found, calls upon the Government to publish in full both the evidence it holds, and its sources, for its assertions used in support of pre-emptive war, in order to pre-empt the charge that this House has been misled by those assertions.

That this House, recognising that the principle justification for British involvement in the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq was the latter's alleged possession of, and intention to use, weapons of mass destruction,and given that, to date, no evidence of that country's contemporary capability or intent with regards to such weapons has...

That this House notes with concern that thousands of teachers and classroom assistants are facing redundancy due to deficits in school budgets; also notes that these deficits are caused by higher employers' national insurance contributions and the need for higher contributions to teachers' pensions and other additional costs borne by schools; is further concerned that the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers believes that there will be thousands of redundancies, particularly in the south and that Bedfordshire schools, not the worst affected, are considering making 21 teachers or teaching assistants redundant; also notes that increased teacher workload has contributed to this situation and that the former head of St. Edmund's Primary School in Kings Lynn has said 'Legislation spews out of Whitehall like a demented fax machine.'; calls on the Government to ensure that increased school funding is not cancelled out by even greater cost increases paid for by schools and that teacher workloads are reduced by severely limiting the flow of Whitehall directives and removing many of their current obligations on teachers.

That this House notes with concern that thousands of teachers and classroom assistants are facing redundancy due to deficits in school budgets; also notes that these deficits are caused by higher employers' national insurance contributions and the need for higher contributions to teachers' pensions and other additional costs borne by...

That this House condemns the decision of the British Bankers' Association and its retail member banks to exclude from its forthcoming counter sharing pilot scheme, all communities, urban and rural, where the only bank has closed and the premises remain empty and available, such as in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, population 17,000, and in Belford, Northumberland, and in many other situations.

That this House condemns the decision of the British Bankers' Association and its retail member banks to exclude from its forthcoming counter sharing pilot scheme, all communities, urban and rural, where the only bank has closed and the premises remain empty and available, such as in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, population...