That this House notes that in 1993 the Stockton-on-Tees Sea Cadet Unit accepted a five-year loan agreement with the Ministry of Defence for the use of the former HMS Kellington as a headquarters, that in 1998 the Ministry sought to reclaim the vessel at the end of the five-year loan period but failed as the Tees Barrage had been built downstream, that consequently the Ministry proposed the transfer of ownership to the Sea Cadet Unit on the payment of ??2,000 and this became effective in 1999, that the Sea Cadet Unit did not exercise due diligence and the Ministry, which knew of the hazardous contaminants and radioactive materials, chose to offload its liability onto a youth organisation working to foster interest in the Navy, that the introduction of health and safety legislation rendered the vessel unfit for purpose, that the vessel was repeatedly vandalised and became a serious environmental hazard and a danger to passers-by, that the vessel was dismantled and removed by the efforts of Stockton Borough Council, Able UK, and the Marine Society and Sea Cadets at a total cost exceeding ??350,000, and that the Ministry knew full well the difficulties and potential shelf-life from centuries of vessel disposal but failed in its duty of care and legal obligation to exercise due diligence; and asserts that the Ministry, having been so negligent in its sale to a unit it knew to be woefully unequal to the task, should redeem itself by agreeing to enter into negotiations to defray the heavy cost heaped so unfairly on a struggling community.

That this House notes that in 1993 the Stockton-on-Tees Sea Cadet Unit accepted a five-year loan agreement with the Ministry of Defence for the use of the former HMS Kellington as a headquarters, that in 1998 the Ministry sought to reclaim the vessel at the end of the five-year loan...

That this House notes the recent admission of Lord Ashcroft that he has had non-domiciled status since his appointment to the House of Lords; and questions the sums of money which have thereby been denied to the Exchequer and contributed elsewhere through the non-payment of UK taxes.

That this House notes the recent admission of Lord Ashcroft that he has had non-domiciled status since his appointment to the House of Lords; and questions the sums of money which have thereby been denied to the Exchequer and contributed elsewhere through the non-payment of UK taxes.

That this House notes that the chemical industry on Teesside is vital to the economic future of the North East of England and the UK economy as a whole, providing 60 per cent. of the UK's chemical exports, contributing ??3.5 billion to the national economy and supporting 70,000 jobs nationally; is deeply concerned that the future of Teesside's entire complex could be put at serious risk if feedstocks produced from the Petroplus refinery, which is currently up for sale, were to be lost through its closure or reductions to a storage facility; and therefore calls on the Government to recognise the crucial importance of this plant to the future of the chemicals industry on Teesside particularly and the UK generally, do everything possible to ensure that the future of the plant as a refinery is safeguarded and to seek assurances from Petroplus that it is prepared to consider bids which can ensure the maintenance and potential expansion of its refining capacity.

That this House notes that the chemical industry on Teesside is vital to the economic future of the North East of England and the UK economy as a whole, providing 60 per cent. of the UK's chemical exports, contributing ??3.5 billion to the national economy and supporting 70,000 jobs nationally;...

That this House recalls the Speaker's Statement on Allowances delivered to the House on 19 May 2009 which stipulated that mortgage interest claims will be capped at ??1,250 per month and the same cap will apply to rent and hotel accommodation; notes that minutes of the meeting of the Members Estimate Committee (MEC) held in the Speaker's House at 3.30 pm the following day confirm the imposition of the cap of ??1,250 per month on claims for mortgage interest and hotel accommodation but only stipulate a cap on any new rental agreement made after 19 May 2009 on a new property, thereby exempting from the capping limit all rental agreements extant before that date; further notes that the MEC also stipulated that these provisions should apply to any expenditure incurred after 19 May 2009 and any claims received by the Department of Resources after 1 June 2009; questions on what basis such a distinction should have been established between monthly mortgage interest claims and monthly rental instalments prior to 19 May 2009, and how such a decision can be justified to the House; and calls on the Members Estimate Committee to provide clear and unequivocal explanation to the House at the earliest possible date.

That this House recalls the Speaker's Statement on Allowances delivered to the House on 19 May 2009 which stipulated that mortgage interest claims will be capped at ??1,250 per month and the same cap will apply to rent and hotel accommodation; notes that minutes of the meeting of the Members...

That this House recalls that side effects of the drug Thalidomide, prescribed for prevention of morning sickness in the 1960s and 1970s, caused nearly 500 babies to be born with a range of severe disabilities; pays tribute to the campaign by journalists, politicians and others that eventually resulted in the manufacturers having to increase their compensation offer tenfold; nevertheless recognises, however, that this could not take account of unforeseen future problems arising from Thalidomide; notes that, as the surviving victims enter their 40s and 50s, many of them face a host of new problems as their bodies suffer from the wear and tear that the overuse of certain muscles has caused, dramatically restricting movement and pushing the cost of mobility up; believes that these people should now receive direct help from the state; and calls on the Government to introduce a financial assistance package to improve the lives of Thalidomide victims.

That this House recalls that side effects of the drug Thalidomide, prescribed for prevention of morning sickness in the 1960s and 1970s, caused nearly 500 babies to be born with a range of severe disabilities; pays tribute to the campaign by journalists, politicians and others that eventually resulted in the...

That this House notes that in 1979 Norman St. John-Stevas moved the motion to establish departmental select committees to embark `upon a series of changes that could constitute the most important reforms of the century'; further notes that he cited `public and professional anxiety' at Parliament's failure `to subject the Executive to limitation and control; to protect the liberties of the individual citizen; to defend him against the arbitrary use of power'; further notes that these committees were to examine the whole range of activity for which Ministers have direct responsibility and look at the activities of some public bodies that exercise authority over which Ministers do not have direct authority; further notes that they were to be a necessary preliminary to the more effective scrutiny of government and the wider involvement that hon. Members on both sides of the House had sought for many years, to provide closer examination of departmental policy and action and to contribute to greater openness in government; further notes that hon. Members have subsequently exercised their select committee duties diligently and in doing so have enhanced their learning, becoming more effective participants in the procedures of parliamentary democracy; further notes that deliberate exclusion of any hon. Member from the prospect of appointment to these committees undermines the committee system's purpose, is an obstruction of the proper democratic process and represents a betrayal of universal franchise; and believes that this danger should be drawn to the attention of all hon. Members and specifically to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, whoever be the incumbent.

That this House notes that in 1979 Norman St. John-Stevas moved the motion to establish departmental select committees to embark `upon a series of changes that could constitute the most important reforms of the century'; further notes that he cited `public and professional anxiety' at Parliament's failure `to subject the...

That this House acknowledges the Goverment's leadership in helping to bring about the signing in Oslo, by almost one hundred countries, of a comprehensive ban on production and use of all forms of cluster munitions; commends the Government for commencing immediately the destruction of existing stockpiles and committing publicly to complete total destruction well within the eight year deadline specified within the treaty; urges the Government to exert its influence further in pursuit of global cluster munition eradication by confirming, on parliamentary record, that ratification of the treaty will take place before the end of 2009-10 session, committing firmly to recruit to treaty support those remaining non-signatory nations such as Cambodia, Iraq, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand and the United States and extending its influence, in terms of allocation of aid, to deal with consequential conditions in those cluster munition-affected countries, particularly Laos, the nation most grievously afflicted by these hideous devices, in aspects of concern such as victim assistance, survey and clearance, and risk education, recalling that the current ??30 million commitment to mine action over the next three years will be an effective reduction in real terms, after taking into account the added obligations of countering cluster munition contamination, to which one must add further humanitarian benchmarks supporting post-clearance socio-economic reconstruction and development; and commends the staff and officers of Landmine Action and other similar organisations for their efforts in this field and pays tribute to the level and quality of their work around the world.

That this House acknowledges the Goverment's leadership in helping to bring about the signing in Oslo, by almost one hundred countries, of a comprehensive ban on production and use of all forms of cluster munitions; commends the Government for commencing immediately the destruction of existing stockpiles and committing publicly to...

That this House is dismayed to learn that both Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and JFC Brunssum will be closed for two full weeks over Christmas and New Year, that any telephone call to these establishments during this time will be greeted by a duty officer and that activities at Kabul and Kandahar will be `as normal' with patrols continuing without respite throughout this period; believes this situation is far from acceptable and that senior ranks and their support staff should stagger their periods of leave at this time to provide appropriate cover and that the Government should do all it can to ensure such measures are put in place as soon as possible.

That this House is dismayed to learn that both Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and JFC Brunssum will be closed for two full weeks over Christmas and New Year, that any telephone call to these establishments during this time will be greeted by a duty officer and that activities at...

That this House notes with deep regret the sudden death of Mr Ray Wyre, founder of the Gracewell Clinic and prominent member of the team that established and developed the Lucy Faithfull Foundation; acknowledges with admiration his ground-breaking pioneering work for more than a quarter of a century in the development of effective sex offender treatment; recognises fully the huge debt of gratitude we owe to him for the formulation of his remedial programmes for victims of abuse and their extended families, together with disciplined measures designed to rehabilitate the perpetrators; registers unqualified appreciation of the stunning impact globally of Mr Wyre's outright commitment to the protection of children whilst offering hope for change to those who abused them, as he worked tirelessly to raise awareness of these issues with other organisations throughout the world; and expresses the fervent hope that those who have worked with and for Ray Wyre for so long to such good effect will ensure that his methods and philosophy are sustained and developed further in the same spirit as he would have wished.

That this House notes with deep regret the sudden death of Mr Ray Wyre, founder of the Gracewell Clinic and prominent member of the team that established and developed the Lucy Faithfull Foundation; acknowledges with admiration his ground-breaking pioneering work for more than a quarter of a century in the...

That this House notes with interest the reports in the Evening Standard of 5th June alleging the planned reshuffle of venues of four sporting disciplines of the forthcoming London Olympics so as to slash costs, ease crowd flows and avoid creating expensive white elephants after 2012; assumes there must be some degree of validity however small in these assertions if the Standard chooses to headline them; accepting that possibility, commends the Olympic planners for adopting, even if somewhat belatedly, a more prudent and measured assessment of the task ahead; seeks to help in advising the transfer of all shooting disciplines from Woolwich Barracks, where it is estimated the cost of preparation will exceed ??20 million with a further ??8 million required for post-games dismantling, to Bisley, a shooting venue which has maintained a good relationship with the local community since it was first founded in the late 19th century; to facilitate this move suggests for the period of the Games the reintroduction as a dedicated shuttle from Waterloo to Brookwood of a service once known as the Bisley Bullet, which could deliver competitors, officials and supporters to the field in less than 20 minutes; and maintains that the adoption of such common sense would reduce financial outlay instantly, ease crowd flow in the city certainly and bequeath a legacy of an enhanced and improved facility that will have stood the UK in good stead for more than 120 years.

That this House notes with interest the reports in the Evening Standard of 5th June alleging the planned reshuffle of venues of four sporting disciplines of the forthcoming London Olympics so as to slash costs, ease crowd flows and avoid creating expensive white elephants after 2012; assumes there must be...

That this House is disappointed by the Lords of Appeal Judgment in the pleural plaques cases given on 17th October; believes that pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos result in physiological damage which constitutes a loss of faculty meriting compensation; calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to discuss with the Department for Work and Pensions the introduction of a register for those diagnosed with the disease to include details of employment and the employers' insurers and to instigate discussions on an appropriate compensation scheme financed by the insurance industry because it is now clear that workers suffering the condition will not get compensation through the courts.

That this House is disappointed by the Lords of Appeal Judgment in the pleural plaques cases given on 17th October; believes that pleural plaques caused by exposure to asbestos result in physiological damage which constitutes a loss of faculty meriting compensation; calls on the Secretary of State for Justice to...

That this House is concerned to learn of the present circumstances of a thirty-five year old bank manager employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland since August 2000 with a track record of exemplary competence who sustained a serious injury to his spinal cord in May 2005 necessitating absence from his work until March 2006 when through sheer determination and force of will, despite being categorised as an incomplete paraplegic, he returned to resume his duties only to be met by unreasonable expectations of senior management that he should return to his normal duties within eight weeks, to find his former deputy placed over him, effectively demoting him without warning or consultation, seeing her allowed to accuse him of being `just a distraction to the staff' and being denied a car parking space adjacent to the premises so causing him additional hardship; condemns heartily the insensitive stance adopted by the senior management of the bank towards a victim of such grievous circumstance and a loyal employee; and urges the Government to take note of such callous disregard and structure regulation to put a stop to such practices at the earliest date.

That this House is concerned to learn of the present circumstances of a thirty-five year old bank manager employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland since August 2000 with a track record of exemplary competence who sustained a serious injury to his spinal cord in May 2005 necessitating absence from...

That this House reaffirms its strong support for the measures introduced by the Government that will outlaw the smoking of tobacco in public locations and workplaces throughout England and Wales from 1st July 2007; registers dismay at the current determination that there should be an exemption for prisoners that would allow them to smoke in their cells and request a smoking or non-smoking cell; is concerned that such a proposition is not only totally impractical in the circumstances prevalent in custodial establishments at this time but is also potentially injurious to prison staff due to the insidious consequences of passive smoking in overcrowded and under-resourced gaols; expresses serious disagreement with a trend that will afford an inmate under sentence more rights and liberties than are available to prison officers; is of the view that if an individual has transgressed to a degree that attracts a custodial sentence that individual should forfeit any freedom to inflict any form of injurious habit upon themselves, their neighbours or their keepers; and urges the Government to take action to ensure that all prison staff are guaranteed the same levels of protection available to every other worker in Wales and England from 1st July.

That this House reaffirms its strong support for the measures introduced by the Government that will outlaw the smoking of tobacco in public locations and workplaces throughout England and Wales from 1st July 2007; registers dismay at the current determination that there should be an exemption for prisoners that would...

That this House takes careful note of the logic professed by successive governments over the past 25 years to the long-running fiscal sore of irrecoverable VAT and its consequential impact on the work of charities; notes with equal care that the common and oft-recited rebuttal to successive pleas for regulatory change has been to pray in aid the specious justification that `there are something like 250,000 charities and a general exemption for all of those would produce astronomic costs'; further notes with a measure of restrained anger and impatience that some charities such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and other search and rescue agencies, staffed as they are by well-trained and highly skilled volunteers, invariably operating in conditions that are by definition extremely hazardous, save lives frequently by the very act of putting their own in mortal danger; and calls upon the Government for this reason if for no other to take this previously neglected aspect into account as a component of a further review of this issue so as to redress the circumstances which can cost the RNLI the loss of their cash as well as their crews.

That this House takes careful note of the logic professed by successive governments over the past 25 years to the long-running fiscal sore of irrecoverable VAT and its consequential impact on the work of charities; notes with equal care that the common and oft-recited rebuttal to successive pleas for regulatory...

That this House recognises the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and is conscious of the need to minimise the risks and effects of ERW; notes the significant contribution made by the UK to date in post-conflict clearance of ERW but is deeply concerned that despite an assurance made by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces in April 2004 that the UK would aim to ratify Protocol 5 of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) by the end of 2004, the Protocol has still not been ratified; believes that the UK should be one of the first 20 nations to ratify Protocol 5 of the CCW to set an example to other state parties; and therefore calls upon the Government to ratify the Protocol at the earliest opportunity.

That this House recognises the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and is conscious of the need to minimise the risks and effects of ERW; notes the significant contribution made by the UK to date in post-conflict clearance of ERW but is deeply concerned that...

That this House notes that the Government when elected in 1997 committed itself to working for multilateral nuclear disarmament; further notes that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commits nuclear weapon states to negotiate the elimination of their nuclear arsenals and that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the use or threatened use of nuclear weapons affirms an obligation `to negotiate in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament'; further notes that any programme to replace Trident nuclear weapons systems would pre-empt and undermine the effectiveness of such negotiations; and calls upon the Government to support the international rule of law by implementing the obligations of the NPT which would preclude a replacement of Trident.

That this House notes that the Government when elected in 1997 committed itself to working for multilateral nuclear disarmament; further notes that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commits nuclear weapon states to negotiate the elimination of their nuclear arsenals and that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on...

That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that the police service is able to meet the challenge of delivering key protective services, including counter-terrorism; believes that proposals to create forces covering huge areas can only undermine seriously the principles of local accountability, consent and support which is central to the British police service; regards the process used so far to approve or reject options for changes as flawed in regard to the undue haste with which it is being conducted and the narrow band of criteria being employed, thereby leading to a lack of any meaningful consultation or proper assessment of operational, financial or governance issues; believes it to be totally unacceptable that in the North East of England and Wales only one option should be put forward for further consideration, thereby removing all element of public choice; and calls on the Government to ensure that it introduces change to the review structure in a manner which ensures that all parts of the country have the opportunity to consider a genuine choice of options and that any proposed new structures are assessed on their ability to deliver the full range of policing services effectively and efficiently and remain properly accountable to the communities they serve.

That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that the police service is able to meet the challenge of delivering key protective services, including counter-terrorism; believes that proposals to create forces covering huge areas can only undermine seriously the principles of local accountability, consent and support which is central to...

That this House acknowledges the effective contribution that transport biofuels can make in tackling climate change, achieving Kyoto targets, reinforcing rural economies, and improving levels of fuel security for the UK; welcomes the announcement made by the Government in 2004, that it is considering seriously a renewable transport fuel obligation; and calls upon the Government to introduce as a matter of urgency such an obligation so as to promote rapidly an escalating increase in market share of transport biofuels by 2010.

That this House acknowledges the effective contribution that transport biofuels can make in tackling climate change, achieving Kyoto targets, reinforcing rural economies, and improving levels of fuel security for the UK; welcomes the announcement made by the Government in 2004, that it is considering seriously a renewable transport fuel obligation;...

That this House is dismayed that the Government has resumed deportations to Zimbabwe despite increasing intimidation and brutality by ZANU-PF gangs; is alarmed that individuals who escaped with their lives should be reconsigned to threatening circumstances; notes that one such is Edneth Gotora whose husband was beaten to death by ZANU-PF thugs for no more than distributing leaflets, whilst her infant daughter was injured so badly that she died weeks later from injuries sustained during the attack; further notes that the culprits were apprehended but released immediately on bail whereupon they returned and abducted Edneth to a rehabilitation camp where she was raped and brutalised by the `commandant' and his henchmen such that she had to be hospitalised; further notes that, with assistance from an orderly, Edneth escaped and hid herself prior to making her way successfully to England; regrets that Edneth's plea for asylum was refused on the grounds that her husband was now dead and that she is now safe; is aware that a petition of 17,500 signatures is to be presented to the Home Office by the Reverend Sheila Maxey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reform Church; recognises that, while the Government pays lip service to the issues of domestic violence there is violence on a national scale in Zimbabwe, yet Edneth seems destined to be despatched to the same dangerous circumstances from which she escaped; and therefore calls upon the Home Secretary to exercise his discretion under the law to grant this much wronged lady the shelter she so desperately needs.

That this House is dismayed that the Government has resumed deportations to Zimbabwe despite increasing intimidation and brutality by ZANU-PF gangs; is alarmed that individuals who escaped with their lives should be reconsigned to threatening circumstances; notes that one such is Edneth Gotora whose husband was beaten to death by...

That this House believes that a partly elected second chamber would be an unsustainable hybrid and would inevitably lead to a fully elected chamber and that an elected second chamber could not guarantee the spread of experience, knowledge, background, gender and ethnicity required for a chamber dedicated to the scrutiny and advisory role hitherto considered appropriate for a reformed House of Lords; further believes that a second chamber should add value to our system of governance and be more representative and more effective and that these qualities can be achieved without producing a whole new batch of elected politicians; and believes that the cobbled together proposals outlined in the recently published Second Chamber of Parliament Bill are a disappointing response to the opportunity that now presents itself.

That this House believes that a partly elected second chamber would be an unsustainable hybrid and would inevitably lead to a fully elected chamber and that an elected second chamber could not guarantee the spread of experience, knowledge, background, gender and ethnicity required for a chamber dedicated to the scrutiny...