That this House congratulates warmly Gateshead, Sunderland, Knowsley and Nottingham councils in being awarded Beacon status in recognition of their successes in promoting economic regeneration through culture, sport and tourism; considers that their achievements highlight the important role of the cultural sector in increasing employment and prosperity; and applauds the ways in which the councils concerned have continued their existing cultural heritage with exciting modern developments which are bringing about much needed and high quality regeneration.

That this House congratulates warmly Gateshead, Sunderland, Knowsley and Nottingham councils in being awarded Beacon status in recognition of their successes in promoting economic regeneration through culture, sport and tourism; considers that their achievements highlight the important role of the cultural sector in increasing employment and prosperity; and applauds the...

That this House welcomes devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; notes that the creation of the devolved parliament and assemblies in those nations was achieved within the lifetime of the last parliament; notes that the regions of England have not yet had the opportunity to opt for powerful, effective, democratically elected assemblies; is aware that there are constitutional conventions and campaigns active in the majority of the regions and interest is growing in the others; welcomes the Government's proposal for a White Paper in the new year, outlining options for the English regions to seek a greater say over their political, economic, social and cultural affairs; and calls on the Government to ensure that the legislation is in place to allow for the establishment of the first elected, inclusive and participatory regional assemblies, agreed by referendums, within the lifetime of this parliament.

That this House welcomes devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; notes that the creation of the devolved parliament and assemblies in those nations was achieved within the lifetime of the last parliament; notes that the regions of England have not yet had the opportunity to opt for powerful, effective,...

That this House welcomes devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; notes that the North East of England has not yet had the opportunity to opt for a powerful, democratically elected Assembly for the region; is aware of long-standing interest in the region for devolution and of the increasing demand within the region for a new, inclusive and powerful voice for the area; welcomes the Government's proposal for a White Paper on devolution later this year, outlining options both for the North East and for other regions which seek a greater say over their political, economics, social and cultural affairs; and calls on the Government to consult with the various bodies in the North East over the contents of the White Paper with a view to paving the way for an early referendum in the region on the setting up of a regional assembly.

That this House welcomes devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; notes that the North East of England has not yet had the opportunity to opt for a powerful, democratically elected Assembly for the region; is aware of long-standing interest in the region for devolution and of the increasing demand...

That this House seeks the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to a permanent home in the North of England; notes that the Gospels date from 698 AD and represent the first great religious and cultural achievement which combines the Roman, Celtic and Saxon traditions; notes that they were prepared for the shrine of St. Cuthbert on the island of Lindisfarne, now known as Holy Island, off the North East coast of the then Kingdom of Northumbria; notes that the permanent home of the shrine of St. Cuthbert and the Gospels was, from 995 AD to the Reformation, the great Cathedral of Durham; notes that the brief 1987 and 1996 return of the Gospels to Durham and to Newcastle resulted in large attendances of local people; and therefore calls upon the Secretary of State for National Heritage and the trustees of the British Museum to arrange for the permanent return of the Gospels to the North.

That this House seeks the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to a permanent home in the North of England; notes that the Gospels date from 698 AD and represent the first great religious and cultural achievement which combines the Roman, Celtic and Saxon traditions; notes that they were prepared for...

That this House notes the widespread concern among homeless groups about the impact of the Housing Bill upon vulnerable people and their families; calls on the Government in particular to consider appeals from the Gateshead Homeless Group and others to reverse the decision to compare rents in bed and breakfast accommodation with other single room accommodation, such as bedsits, for housing benefit purposes; and believes that unless this aspect is reconsidered many people who desperately need bed and breakfast accommodation will find themselves being made homeless.

That this House notes the widespread concern among homeless groups about the impact of the Housing Bill upon vulnerable people and their families; calls on the Government in particular to consider appeals from the Gateshead Homeless Group and others to reverse the decision to compare rents in bed and breakfast...

That this House is deeply concerned about the reduction in numbers and distribution of the native red squirrel throughout the United Kingdom; draws attention in particular to the recent encroachment by the grey squirrel into the North-East of England, one of the few remaining red squirrel strongholds; and calls on the Government urgently to work with and support wildlife organisations and other relevant organisations and authorities in order to promote and safeguard the habitat of the red squirrel and in order to ensure the survival of the species in the short-term and its expansion in the long-term.

That this House is deeply concerned about the reduction in numbers and distribution of the native red squirrel throughout the United Kingdom; draws attention in particular to the recent encroachment by the grey squirrel into the North-East of England, one of the few remaining red squirrel strongholds; and calls on...

That this House notes with concern the views expressed by the National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs, and many individual members across the country, that there has been no specific consultation with them to take account of their views in the discussions related to incapacity benefit regulation changes; believes that this is itself a reflection of the often isolated position of laryngectomees in the United Kingdom and confirm their views that they are neglected and ignored; notes with further concern that the lifeline for laryngectomees, speech aids, are not universally supplied, with some authorities having access to funding whilst others do not; understands that special care nurses are provided in some parts of the country and not in others; observes that the National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs favours a campaign to make all general practitoners and professional care workers fully aware of the nature of the disability, and likewise supports a nationwide campaign to alert the public to their problems; and therefore calls upon the Government to examine international classifications of disability with a view to recognising laryngectomy as a disability and requests that the various authorities combine efforts to rectify the problems outlined by the National Association.

That this House notes with concern the views expressed by the National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs, and many individual members across the country, that there has been no specific consultation with them to take account of their views in the discussions related to incapacity benefit regulation changes; believes that this...

That this House condemns the decision of the Secretary of State for the Environment to overrule his own Inspector's report and to allow the construction of a clinical waste incinerator at Wardley, Gateshead, in the face of overwhelming public opposition; recognises that the Secretary of State is more persuaded by the management of privatised Northumbria Water than by the arguments either of his own Inspector or of local honourable Members of Parliament, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, residents' groups and public opinion; congratulates those involved in seeking to mount a challenge to this decision; and calls on the Secretary of State to make a statement to the House as soon as possible.

That this House condemns the decision of the Secretary of State for the Environment to overrule his own Inspector's report and to allow the construction of a clinical waste incinerator at Wardley, Gateshead, in the face of overwhelming public opposition; recognises that the Secretary of State is more persuaded by...

That this House notes with alarm the proposed increases to minimum deposits and purchases in National Savings; notes further that this entails raising the minimum for each deposit into an investment account, including the amount required to open an account, from ??5 to ??20, and into an ordinary account from ??5 to ??10; deplores the fact that the minimum purchase of premium bonds by parents, guardians, or grandparents for children under 16 years of age will rise ten-fold from ??10 to ??100; believes that such increases in the midst of the worst recession since the 1930s are unnecessary, unwarranted, and insulting; further believes that these increases will penalise parents wishing to begin a nest-egg for their children, pensioners, and those especially in rural communities; regrets that this is a further sign that Her Majesty's Government is hopelessly out of touch with the economic plight of the population; and calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government to abandon any plans to implement these atrocious and unnecessary increases which can only devastate people already suffering from the ongoing recession.

That this House notes with alarm the proposed increases to minimum deposits and purchases in National Savings; notes further that this entails raising the minimum for each deposit into an investment account, including the amount required to open an account, from ??5 to ??20, and into an ordinary account from...

That this House notes with dismay the evasive reply to the Written Parliamentary Question of 12th November Official Report column 976w from the honourable Member for Gateshead East which shows that the Government has failed to pursue with the European Commissioner for Competition, Sir Leon Brittan, the question of differing levels of subsidy to the coal industry in the European Community; asks how a government, allegedly committed to the idea of a level playing field in the EC, has signally failed to apply this policy to its own coal industry; and calls on the Government to raise this matter at the next meeting of the Industry and Energy Councils of the EC in order to facilitate the future export of British coal to other EC countries and to help ensure the survival of the 31 pits threatened with closure under the Government's crazy proposals.

That this House notes with dismay the evasive reply to the Written Parliamentary Question of 12th November Official Report column 976w from the honourable Member for Gateshead East which shows that the Government has failed to pursue with the European Commissioner for Competition, Sir Leon Brittan, the question of differing...

That this House expresses profound disquiet at recent developments at Astra Training Services, formerly the Government's skillcentres; notes that staff at the centres owned by the company were previously pressurised into accepting worse severance terms than Civil Service terms and have now been obliged to accept an average 15 per cent. wage cut; feels that such procedures may contravene the TUPE Regulations and the EC Acquired Rights Directive and asks the Government to investigate this; refers to the claim by Astra Training Services that government training cuts and the recession are responsible for the company's present financial situation; and calls on the Government to examine this situation urgently with a view both to safeguarding and restoring employees' rights and to ensuring that neither Astra nor its financial backers are allowed to strip valuable assets which previously belonged to the Government and to the British people and which were given to Astra, along with a dowry in the so-called sale of skillcentres to this company.

That this House expresses profound disquiet at recent developments at Astra Training Services, formerly the Government's skillcentres; notes that staff at the centres owned by the company were previously pressurised into accepting worse severance terms than Civil Service terms and have now been obliged to accept an average 15 per...

That this House expresses astonishment at the claim of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House on 16th June that he and the President of the Board of Trade are in total agreement on the abolition of NEDO; recalls that the President of the Board of Trade in his book, Where There's a Will, stated that NEDO 'remains a proof of the (Conservative) Party's abiding commitment to an undivided society' and that 'NEDO's potential is high, as the one forum where ministers regularly meet senior representatives of industry, the unions and the City'; and therefore calls on the President of the Board of Trade to explain his complete change of view on this issue or to admit that his position in government is no longer tenable since it is clear that his views on industrial policy are not supported by the rest of his Cabinet colleagues.

That this House expresses astonishment at the claim of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House on 16th June that he and the President of the Board of Trade are in total agreement on the abolition of NEDO; recalls that the President of the Board of Trade in his...

That this House expresses alarm at the circumstances surrounding the case of Mr Nathan Paul Smith of Otterburn Gardens, Gateshead, a former employee of Tesco plc; considers it unacceptable that neither Mr Smith nor his solicitors have been provided with any details about the anonymous 'evidence' used by Tesco plc against Mr Smith; is concerned about contradictory statements made by Tesco's about Mr Smith on Form UB95b and in correspondence with the honourable Member for Gateshead East; calls on Tesco plc in the interest of natural justice and good employment practice to provide details of all evidence and supporting information to Mr Smith, his solicitors and the honourable Member for Gateshead East; and furthermore calls on Tesco plc, in the absence of such evidence, to reinstate Mr Smith and compensate him for the harm caused to his career and the distress he has suffered since his resignation from Tesco in June 1990.

That this House expresses alarm at the circumstances surrounding the case of Mr Nathan Paul Smith of Otterburn Gardens, Gateshead, a former employee of Tesco plc; considers it unacceptable that neither Mr Smith nor his solicitors have been provided with any details about the anonymous 'evidence' used by Tesco plc...

That this House expresses deep concern at the already inadequate policing levels in Northumbria; notes with alarm recent reports that the Northumbria police force budget may have to face cuts of between ??7. 6 million and ??14.2 million next year; notes that the force is already having to implement cuts of 116 officers this year by leaving vacancies unfilled despite record increases in the crime level; further notes the claim of the retiring Chief Constable, Sir Stanley Bailey, that even before the current cuts the force was 500 officers short of the manpower level with which the force could be expected to properly police the area; takes the view that such a situation is likely to increase the already deeply felt public concern and fears on Tyneside and in the rest of Northumbria area about crime and lawlessness; and calls on the Government to increase resources to the Northumbria area as a matter of urgency.

That this House expresses deep concern at the already inadequate policing levels in Northumbria; notes with alarm recent reports that the Northumbria police force budget may have to face cuts of between ??7. 6 million and ??14.2 million next year; notes that the force is already having to implement cuts...

That this House condemns the aggressive stance taken by Go-Ahead Northern's management in its current negotiations with its workforce at its bus depots in the north-east; believes that its tactic of forcing deals upon the workers under threat of dismissal to be wrong; further believes this to be an appalling approach to industrial relations which should have no place in a modern society; and calls upon the company to take a more constructive position in its talks with its bus drivers.

That this House condemns the aggressive stance taken by Go-Ahead Northern's management in its current negotiations with its workforce at its bus depots in the north-east; believes that its tactic of forcing deals upon the workers under threat of dismissal to be wrong; further believes this to be an appalling...

That this House supports the invitation issued by the Prime Minister to the honourable Member for Dagenham during the debate on Tuesday 27th March, Official Report, column 975 to place in the Library a copy of the Labour Party document entitled Fair Rates; recognises that only when it is accompanied by detailed financial information can the impact of these proposals on each household be calculated; and emphasises that the absence to date of any such supporting figures renders worthless all claims concerning its alleged advantages.

That this House supports the invitation issued by the Prime Minister to the honourable Member for Dagenham during the debate on Tuesday 27th March, Official Report, column 975 to place in the Library a copy of the Labour Party document entitled Fair Rates; recognises that only when it is accompanied...

That this House is deeply concerned at the increase in the numbers of prisoners held on remand which have grown from 5,600 in 1975 to 10, 500 in 1989; condemns the fact that many remand prisoners are locked up for lengthy periods each day and that many are obliged to share cells with convicted prisoners; deplores the fact that large numbers of remand prisoners have to wait many months, or even years, before coming to trial; notes with dismay that the Woolf report stated that conditions for remand prisoners were often worse than those for convicted prisoners; expresses its view that such a system undermines the principle of law that presumes innocence until guilt is proved; and calls on the Government to institute immediate improvements in the treatment of remand prisoners and, in particular, to respond urgently and positively to the recomendations concerning prisoners contained in the Woolf report including the proposal that the remand prisoner should spend his time in custody in as constructive a manner as possible and, to the extent that this is practicable, to preserve his employment, family and community connections.

That this House is deeply concerned at the increase in the numbers of prisoners held on remand which have grown from 5,600 in 1975 to 10, 500 in 1989; condemns the fact that many remand prisoners are locked up for lengthy periods each day and that many are obliged to...

That this House regrets that Conservative honourable Members on the Standing Committee dealing with the Export and Investment Guarantees Bill, with Liberal Democrat support, voted down an Opposition amendment to require a regional network which would have provided a support service to British exporters; notes that only the Labour Party has a clear and demonstrable commitment to developing the regional economies in England, Wales and Scotland and to helping industry and commerce in the export fields which are so important to Britain's future; further regrets that support for exporters has been abandoned by this Conservative Government, as illustrated by the rejection, by the Minister and Conservative Members, of another modest amendment which would have given the Minister the power (but not even an obligation) to act to achieve 'competitive conditions which do not place United Kingdom exporters at a disadvantage with their counterparts in the European community'; and is bemused at this Government's persistence in undermining the economy.

That this House regrets that Conservative honourable Members on the Standing Committee dealing with the Export and Investment Guarantees Bill, with Liberal Democrat support, voted down an Opposition amendment to require a regional network which would have provided a support service to British exporters; notes that only the Labour Party...

That this House expresses its dismay at the mischievous way in which Labour's shadow agriculture spokesman has misrepresented the situation over BSE regardless of the implications for the future of British agriculture, whilst at the same time expressing concern at the failure of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to conduct himself in a way which builds consumer confidence in the British beef industry; and calls for action to ensure the removal and destruction of all cow heads and clear licensing and labelling of foodstuffs.

That this House expresses its dismay at the mischievous way in which Labour's shadow agriculture spokesman has misrepresented the situation over BSE regardless of the implications for the future of British agriculture, whilst at the same time expressing concern at the failure of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food...