That this House deplores the rise in verbal and physical abuse of shopworkers; notes that according to research conducted by USDAW, over 400 retail workers were assaulted each day last year and that 62 per cent of retail staff have been the victim of either verbal or physical abuse; further notes that the view of respected criminologists is that levels of violence against shopworkers have reached epidemic proportions with lasting effects on the lives of workers, both mentally and physically; supports demands for action called for by the Freedom of Fear campaign led by USDAW, the similar demand for action call by the Co-op Group, the GMB and other Trade Unions, other leading retailers, the British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores; and calls on the Government to introduce measures to tackle these issues including bringing forward legislative proposals to make assaulting a public facing worker a standalone offence which would provide not only a clear deterrent to those thinking of assaulting shopworkers but also clear routes to prosecution for the police and courts dealing with this growing problem.

That this House deplores the rise in verbal and physical abuse of shopworkers; notes that according to research conducted by USDAW, over 400 retail workers were assaulted each day last year and that 62 per cent of retail staff have been the victim of either verbal or physical abuse; further...

That this House supports the establishment of a Tamil Heritage Month which would provide an annual opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the Tamil diaspora in the UK; notes that Canada holds a similar, highly successful Tamil Heritage Month; recognises that there are more than 300,000 Tamils living in the UK contributing substantially to the betterment of our economy and country; further notes the richness of Tamil culture; and recognises the benefits of such a month for raising awareness and understanding of the Tamil Community in the UK.

That this House supports the establishment of a Tamil Heritage Month which would provide an annual opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the Tamil diaspora in the UK; notes that Canada holds a similar, highly successful Tamil Heritage Month; recognises that there are more than 300,000 Tamils living in the...

That this House expresses concern that many of the 400 outsourced catering, porters, cleaners and ward hostesses employed by Medirest, which is part of the Compass Group, at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow are being paid £8.21 an hour rather than the Living Wage Foundation rate of £9 an hour and £10.55 an hour in London, in spite of the fact that Compass Group’s annual report demonstrated pre-tax operating profits of more than £1.6 billion; notes that the Compass Group CEO received total remuneration of more than £4.5 million in 2018; further notes reports of bullying and high workloads of Medirest staff who provide vital services such as caring for deceased patients and cleaning blood, vomit and human waste; calls for an urgent increase in pay and a root-and-branch investigation into those concerns; and believes that to help secure and maintain a first-class, modern health service the recent NHS pay increase awarded to directly employed staff should be at the very least matched by the owners of Medirest to their staff at Northwick Park Hospital.

That this House expresses concern that many of the 400 outsourced catering, porters, cleaners and ward hostesses employed by Medirest, which is part of the Compass Group, at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow are being paid £8.21 an hour rather than the Living Wage Foundation rate of £9 an hour...

That this House notes that almost half of people eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers which provide healthy food and vitamins to pregnant women and young children are not receiving them; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent steps to increase the uptake of this important scheme to ensure that those eligible are aware of the scheme's availability.

That this House notes that almost half of people eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers which provide healthy food and vitamins to pregnant women and young children are not receiving them; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent steps to increase the uptake of this important scheme to ensure...

That this House is concerned that cuts to local authorities and the NHS mean that vital services such as the Bridge in Harrow are threatened with closure; notes that since primary care trusts were abolished in 2013 and replaced with clinical commissioning groups, Harrow has received the lowest NHS funding per head of any London borough; further notes that responsibility for public health was devolved to local authorities in England but that the public health grant was cut by £200 million in 2015-16; notes that Harrow Council is facing cuts of £83 million between 2014 and 2018, representing more than 50 per cent of its controllable budget, and receives £159 less per person than the London average; urges the Department of Health to provide additional funding for mental health services in London; and calls on the Government to ensure that local authorities are properly funded and that Harrow receives its fair share of funding.

That this House is concerned that cuts to local authorities and the NHS mean that vital services such as the Bridge in Harrow are threatened with closure; notes that since primary care trusts were abolished in 2013 and replaced with clinical commissioning groups, Harrow has received the lowest NHS funding...

That this House notes that London Overground rail services are portrayed as public rail services run by Transport for London; is concerned however that this masks the reality that London Overground is in fact a private rail franchise jointly operated by subsidiaries of Hong Kong and German state railways, who have ensured that almost £22 million of their share of revenue has been paid out in dividends between 2011 and 2014; is dismayed that these profits could have been used to fund an average year on year fare cut of 6.5 per cent for Londoners but instead are ultimately being used to support the railways of Berlin and Hong Kong; is deeply concerned that the subsidy from Londoners to foreign railways is set to continue, as the only bidders for next London Overground contract are subsidiaries of French, German, Hong Kong and Singapore railways; and calls for London passengers to be put before profit by allowing London Overground services to be operated directly in public ownership.

That this House notes that London Overground rail services are portrayed as public rail services run by Transport for London; is concerned however that this masks the reality that London Overground is in fact a private rail franchise jointly operated by subsidiaries of Hong Kong and German state railways, who...

That this House supports a London bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

That this House supports a London bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

That this House welcomes the success of Navy Federal Credit Union in the United States, with its more than four million members and over $50 billion of assets; notes with concern the reports that some British servicemen and their families are having problems with payday loan companies; and calls on the Government to establish a credit union for the UK military and their families.

That this House welcomes the success of Navy Federal Credit Union in the United States, with its more than four million members and over $50 billion of assets; notes with concern the reports that some British servicemen and their families are having problems with payday loan companies; and calls on...

That this House regrets the latest announcement from Trinity Mirror newspapers that approximately 50 editorial and non-editorial jobs will be lost as seven newspapers in the south of England, including the Harrow Observer, Reading Post and Surrey Herald, are to be closed; notes that the proposals will mean that the county of Berkshire will be served by a digital-only model; further notes that the latest closures come on top of the closure of 150 local newspaper titles since the financial crisis of 2008, with many more reducing the frequency of publication or the range of locally-specific news coverage; is concerned about the loss of such assets to local communities and the important democratic function they serve in reporting on public life including local and national election campaigning; welcomes the recent cross-party stakeholder seminar organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to consider policy responses; and joins the National Union of Journalists in calling for a short, sharp cross-party and inter-departmental government inquiry into securing a future for the industry, in order to protect the public interest and defend jobs in quality local journalism.

That this House regrets the latest announcement from Trinity Mirror newspapers that approximately 50 editorial and non-editorial jobs will be lost as seven newspapers in the south of England, including the Harrow Observer, Reading Post and Surrey Herald, are to be closed; notes that the proposals will mean that the...

That this House notes the unfairness of the funding for rugby clubs from Premiership Rugby for newly-promoted clubs; further notes media reports that London Welsh RFC will receive just £1.5 million this season while other rugby teams will receive £4 million; further notes that together with other funding from Premiership Rugby, newly-promoted clubs will receive just 30 per cent of the funding received by established Premiership Rugby clubs; believes that this creates a huge financial disadvantage for promoted clubs; further notes that newly-promoted clubs in the top tier of French rugby receive additional financial help to be competitive; further believes that this unfair funding makes it extremely hard for newly-promoted clubs to compete with established clubs; and further notes that the UK and EU competition authorities should investigate Premiership Rugby to assess whether UK competition and anti-cartel rules are being broken.

That this House notes the unfairness of the funding for rugby clubs from Premiership Rugby for newly-promoted clubs; further notes media reports that London Welsh RFC will receive just £1.5 million this season while other rugby teams will receive £4 million; further notes that together with other funding from Premiership...

That this House condemns the decision of the Rugby Football Union to reject the possibility of London Welsh RFC gaining promotion to and playing in the Premiership in 2012-13; notes the huge contribution London Welsh has made to both league and international rugby throughout its history; further notes the determination of the Board of London Welsh to continue to develop both the performance and commercial sides of the club; and urges theRugby Football Union to reconsider its decision.

That this House condemns the decision of the Rugby Football Union to reject the possibility of London Welsh RFC gaining promotion to and playing in the Premiership in 2012-13; notes the huge contribution London Welsh has made to both league and international rugby throughout its history; further notes the determination...

That this House welcomes the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) as a necessary intervention into the pensions market to provide low cost pensions for a new generation of savers; believes that the restrictions placed on NEST in the form of the annual contribution cap and transfer ban put a burden on businesses wishing to use NEST and are not in the interests of consumers who want to consolidate pensions savings in a single pensions pot; recognises that the restrictions on NEST have already delivered the policy intention of focusing NEST on developing products for low earners; notes that the Director General of the Association of British Insurers told the Work and Pensions Select Committee that NEST was setting standards for good value in the pensions market; further believes that the effect of driving up standards would be enhanced if the two restrictions were lifted; further notes that the Work and Pensions Select Committee called on the Government to remove these restrictions as a matter of urgency; and urges the Government to acknowledge the political consensus to remove NEST's restrictions and to do so at the earliest opportunity.

That this House welcomes the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) as a necessary intervention into the pensions market to provide low cost pensions for a new generation of savers; believes that the restrictions placed on NEST in the form of the annual contribution cap and transfer ban put a burden...

That this House notes with concern plans by Wokingham Borough Council to review the future of Fosters Care Home; further notes that Fosters Care Home is included in a list of council properties for sale for almost 1 million; further notes the shortage of care home placements for elderly and frail people with advanced Alzheimer's and dementia in the local community of Woodley; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to summon the Leader of the Council to explain the lack of consultation with local residents and carers on the future of the home.

That this House notes with concern plans by Wokingham Borough Council to review the future of Fosters Care Home; further notes that Fosters Care Home is included in a list of council properties for sale for almost 1 million; further notes the shortage of care home placements for elderly and...

That this House notes the devastating impact to the Isle of Sheppey and surrounding community of the announcement of 350 redundancies at Thamesteel in Sheerness; further notes that Thamesteel workers have not been paid for the month of January and were only given 48 hours warning of redundancy; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to meet representatives of the Thamesteel workers and the trade union Community in order to support the process of finding a new buyer for the site.

That this House notes the devastating impact to the Isle of Sheppey and surrounding community of the announcement of 350 redundancies at Thamesteel in Sheerness; further notes that Thamesteel workers have not been paid for the month of January and were only given 48 hours warning of redundancy; and therefore...

That this House notes with concern the presentation to HM Treasury by Dr Christopher Sier, a former consultant to investment managers, and David Norman, formerly Chief Executive of Credit Suisse Asset Management (UK) that high pension and saving fund hidden costs are not fully understood by consumers, could damage the fragile savings culture in the UK, are estimated to cost 67.2 billion a year with the greatest cost being wages and bonuses for traders and fund managers, and are rising; further notes that even the costs which are made public reveal that UK funds are in many cases more expensive to invest in than funds in France, Germany and the US; believes that without reform pension funds management business opportunities for the UK financial services industry could be lost; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to drive pension charges down and help the next generation of pensioners and the communities they live in to have a safer, more secure future.

That this House notes with concern the presentation to HM Treasury by Dr Christopher Sier, a former consultant to investment managers, and David Norman, formerly Chief Executive of Credit Suisse Asset Management (UK) that high pension and saving fund hidden costs are not fully understood by consumers, could damage the...

That this House notes that the Mayor of London has refused to allow big screen viewings in London venues of England's World Cup matches; condemns the lack of proper explanation for this decision; further notes that other UK cities have allowed such screenings to go ahead; and urges the Mayor of London to reconsider his decision so as to allow Londoners the same experience and opportunities as those living in other cities.

That this House notes that the Mayor of London has refused to allow big screen viewings in London venues of England's World Cup matches; condemns the lack of proper explanation for this decision; further notes that other UK cities have allowed such screenings to go ahead; and urges the Mayor...

That this House notes the 80,000 signature petition from the residents of Harrow and Hillingdon submitted during the public consultation on changes to services at Mount Vernon Hospital to Hillingdon Health Authority; congratulates Community Voice, the Pinner Association and the Hatch End Association on their work in collecting the petition; welcomes the commitment to retain cancer services at Mount Vernon for the next 10 years; recognises the internationally acclaimed pioneering research work in the fields of plastic surgery and burns by the RAFT charity; notes the expert advisory group established to review the future of burns and plastics services; and urges all members of the expert advisory group and Hillingdon Health Authority to agree proposals that recognise national guidance, the requirements of national professional bodies but also protect the integrity of, and the local dimension to, existing provision.

That this House notes the 80,000 signature petition from the residents of Harrow and Hillingdon submitted during the public consultation on changes to services at Mount Vernon Hospital to Hillingdon Health Authority; congratulates Community Voice, the Pinner Association and the Hatch End Association on their work in collecting the petition;...

That this House welcomes the Government's 10 per cent. target for energy from renewable sources as part of its policy to ensure a balanced supply of electricity and to meet its climate change targets; welcomes its commitment to promoting renewables through the extension of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation to a fifth round, the consultation document on incorporating the development of offshore wind energy into the NFFO process and reversal of the previous Government's decision to cut research and development into renewables as a significant contribution to assisting this clean and sustainable form of energy; welcomes the EU White Paper on renewables which predicts that between 500,000 and 900,000 jobs will be created in the sector by 2010 if progressive policies are adopted; and urges the Government to ensure the de-regulation of electricity markets does not penalise renewable energy and that consideration is given in the Renewables Review of additional fiscal incentives to further stimulate investment in the supply of renewable energy and the manufacture of renewable energy technologies therefore helping to create a strong domestic market that will allow Britain to take advantage of the hi-tech job creation opportunities provided by the fast-growing international market for renewable energy technologies.

That this House welcomes the Government's 10 per cent. target for energy from renewable sources as part of its policy to ensure a balanced supply of electricity and to meet its climate change targets; welcomes its commitment to promoting renewables through the extension of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation to a...

That this House notes the publication by the honourable Member for Rutland and Melton of 'Saturn's Children' in which he called for the legalisation of drugs; further notes the honourable Member's role as an Opposition frontbench spokesperson on health; believes that his views are simplistic, extreme and irresponsible; and further believes that the honourable Member should publish a full and unambiguous statement outlining whether he still adheres to his comments in 'Saturn's Children'.

That this House notes the publication by the honourable Member for Rutland and Melton of 'Saturn's Children' in which he called for the legalisation of drugs; further notes the honourable Member's role as an Opposition frontbench spokesperson on health; believes that his views are simplistic, extreme and irresponsible; and further...

That this House notes that it is 30 years since the Abortion Act took effect on 27th April 1968; expresses concern about the continuing difficulties some women face in obtaining compassionate, prompt abortion services; further notes that women are often delayed or refused help by their general practitioners or hospital doctors; recognises that in England and Wales only 72 per cent of abortions for resident women are provided by the NHS and that in certain areas this figure falls to below 50 per cent compared with 99 per cent in the whole of Scotland; believes that inequalities in access to abortion within the NHS are unacceptable; and agrees with the recommendations of the Voice of Choice campaign that doctors with an ethical objection to abortion should be obliged to declare it and that abortion should be available on the request of the woman in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy throughout the UK.

That this House notes that it is 30 years since the Abortion Act took effect on 27th April 1968; expresses concern about the continuing difficulties some women face in obtaining compassionate, prompt abortion services; further notes that women are often delayed or refused help by their general practitioners or hospital...