That this House congratulates the Environmental Audit Committee on its report making clear the deadly and costly effect of air pollution; notes its headline point that more could be done to prevent the deaths of up to 50,000 people each year and that in pollution hotspots vulnerable residents such as those with asthma, could be dying up to nine years early; notes also that the health costs are estimated at between ??8.5 billion and ??20.2 billion a year, with the added risk of substantial EU fines for failure to limit pollutants; and calls on all the major political parties to present in their election manifestos clear, effective and co-ordinated programmes for how they will deal with this exceptionally serious matter.

That this House congratulates the Environmental Audit Committee on its report making clear the deadly and costly effect of air pollution; notes its headline point that more could be done to prevent the deaths of up to 50,000 people each year and that in pollution hotspots vulnerable residents such as...

That this House notes the report by Martin Plant, Africa Editor for the BBC World Service, that aid money including that raised from the Live Aid concerts, to combat widespread famine in Ethiopia in 1984-85 was siphoned off by rebels to buy weapons; that, because the then Soviet Union supported the Ethiopian government, the United States under President Reagan issued its National Security Directive 75 which declared that `US policy will seek to limit and destabilise activities of Soviet Third World allies and clients', and that from this the BBC report concludes that `the suggestion cannot be ruled out that the CIA not only knew about, but supported, the diversion of aid fund'; and considers that, if this were the case, it was a monstrous act by the then US authorities, betraying the trust and generosity of the millions of people who supported the aid effort, and resulting in the deaths of Ethiopian famine victims who could, with the proper application of those funds, have been saved.

That this House notes the report by Martin Plant, Africa Editor for the BBC World Service, that aid money including that raised from the Live Aid concerts, to combat widespread famine in Ethiopia in 1984-85 was siphoned off by rebels to buy weapons; that, because the then Soviet Union supported...

That this House notes the deeply disturbing report of BBC correspondent John Simpson indicating the high numbers of children being born with serious defects in the Iraqi town of Fallujah; further notes that the report says that those born with congenital heart defects is 13 times the rate found in Europe, that other babies have been born with limb loss or distortion, paralysis or brain damage, and that officials in the town have warned women that they should not have babies; further notes that during the US onslaught on Fallujah, white phosphorus and depleted uranium weapons were amongst those used, and also that after the fighting was over, rubble from the town was bulldozed into the river, polluting water supplies; further notes that there has not been a proper independent inquiry by medical experts to establish the cause of these birth defects; and considers that this consequence of this US military action makes it a human rights atrocity.

That this House notes the deeply disturbing report of BBC correspondent John Simpson indicating the high numbers of children being born with serious defects in the Iraqi town of Fallujah; further notes that the report says that those born with congenital heart defects is 13 times the rate found in...

That this House notes the Prime Minister's oft-repeated comment that the overwhelming majority of terrorist plots in the UK have a connection with the Afghanistan and Pakistan area; further notes that most of these are connected to Pakistan not Afghanistan; further notes that there is no evidence of a connection between terrorist plots in the UK and Iran; and considers that any attempt to justify military action against Iran on the basis of such a connection would be the equivalent of the 45-minute use claim in relation to Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

That this House notes the Prime Minister's oft-repeated comment that the overwhelming majority of terrorist plots in the UK have a connection with the Afghanistan and Pakistan area; further notes that most of these are connected to Pakistan not Afghanistan; further notes that there is no evidence of a connection...

That this House recalls the Government's strong backing for UN Security Council Resolution 1738 of 23 December 2006 expressing deep concern over the safety of journalists and other civilians in conflict and demanding an end to impunity for their killers; notes with dismay that at least 347 journalists and support staff have been killed since then for trying to bring news to the world; condemns the massacre of at least 57 men and women at Maguindanao in the Philippines on 23 November 2009, including 31 journalists, making this the biggest single death toll for the media in recorded history; notes with strong approval the investigation by independent international forensic experts, including Britain's Chris Cobb-Smith; seeks the ending of impunity for those who murder journalists in the Philippines and elsewhere; and urges the Government to utilise its role in the International Contact Group, and other bodies, to stress to the government of the Philippines that the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre should be brought to proper justice.

That this House recalls the Government's strong backing for UN Security Council Resolution 1738 of 23 December 2006 expressing deep concern over the safety of journalists and other civilians in conflict and demanding an end to impunity for their killers; notes with dismay that at least 347 journalists and support...

That this House strongly supports Christian Aid's campaign for the full cancellation of Haiti's debt of ??890 million and for all emergency and development funds to that country to be given not loaned.

That this House strongly supports Christian Aid's campaign for the full cancellation of Haiti's debt of ??890 million and for all emergency and development funds to that country to be given not loaned.

That this House calls on the British Government and the European Union to press the government of Uganda not to proceed with the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which violates the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights; abhors that this Bill, currently before the Uganda parliament, proposes the death penalty for repeat homosexual acts, extends the existing penalty of life imprisonment for anal intercourse to all other same-sex behaviour, including the mere touching of another person with the intent to have homosexual relations and imposes life imprisonment for contracting a same-sex marriage; notes that under the provisions of the Bill membership of providing funding for gay organisations advocating gay human rights and providing condoms or safer sex advice to gay people will result in a sentence of between five and seven years for promoting homosexuality and that a person in authority who fails to report offenders to the police within 24 hours will incur a three year prison sentence; further notes that this monstrous proposed law contains extra-territorial jurisdiction so that it will apply to Ugandans who breach its provisions whilst living abroad, even in countries where such behaviour is not a criminal offence, and that such Ugandans living overseas could be subject to extradition, trial and punishment in Uganda; and demands that the Ugandan government uphold international humanitarian law by abandoning the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, decriminalising same-sex acts between consenting adults in private, and outlawing discrimination against gay people.

That this House calls on the British Government and the European Union to press the government of Uganda not to proceed with the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which violates the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights; abhors that...

That this House expresses alarm at the suspension of the UN World Food Programme to Somalia following threats and attempted extortion by al-Shabaab militia extremists; notes that this could result in up to one million people facing starvation; considers this, the never-ending conflict and the strengthening of al-Qaeda groups in Somalia, to be the diabolical consequence of the misjudged US toppling of an Islamic government, which the world could have worked with, by the sponsoring of an Ethiopian invasion in December 2006; now considers that the best way to get vitally-needed food into the country is by an urgent, massive increased commitment of African Union troops for this purpose, but that this needs to be organised and fully funded by the international community, particularly Western governments; and calls on the Government to make this a high priority.

That this House expresses alarm at the suspension of the UN World Food Programme to Somalia following threats and attempted extortion by al-Shabaab militia extremists; notes that this could result in up to one million people facing starvation; considers this, the never-ending conflict and the strengthening of al-Qaeda groups in...

That this House considers current UK law which provides sleepwalking as a defence for rape or murder to be grossly unreasonable following recent cases, including a not guilty verdict on a man who killed his wife; notes that the jury in this recent case were presented with the option of not guilty by way of insane automatism or not guilty due to non-insane automatism; further notes that sleep specialist Dr Chris Idzikowski is quoted in The Guardian on 5 December 2009 as saying that insane automatism is intrinsic to the person's behaviour, whilst non-insane automatism is used if a person has had a blow to the head, or is withdrawing from drugs, which creates the condition; further notes that the same article states that an estimated 10 million people in the UK have sleep problems; further notes that very many people at any one time suffer the effects of a blow to the head or withdrawal from drugs, prescription or otherwise; considers that those are not proper defences for rape or murder which warrant walking free without any consequence and if they are now deemed to be so, represent a massive legal loophole; further considers that anyone who kills or commits rape cannot be considered completely safe to walk free in the community without much more extensive tests to check that they will not act in the same manner again andthat the seriousness of the act should require detention for such tests in all cases; and calls for a full-scale legal inquiry to consider this matter and to bring sense to UK law.

That this House considers current UK law which provides sleepwalking as a defence for rape or murder to be grossly unreasonable following recent cases, including a not guilty verdict on a man who killed his wife; notes that the jury in this recent case were presented with the option of...

That this House supports the proposal of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) that the amount of tax relief that can be claimed by those earning more than ??100,000 a year be capped at ??5,000; notes that this would raise ??10 billion a year; further notes the recent TUC analysis which revealed that just 3.1 per cent. of the taxpayer population receive 31 per cent. of all tax relief, averaging ??18,750 a year each; and considers that this tax relief cap on the better off is a fairer way to reduce the deficit than cuts in public services or tax rises affecting poorer households.

That this House supports the proposal of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) that the amount of tax relief that can be claimed by those earning more than ??100,000 a year be capped at ??5,000; notes that this would raise ??10 billion a year; further notes the recent TUC analysis which...

That this House is shocked and saddened by the news of the deplorable judicial executions of Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak in Lhasa on 20 October 2009; fully supports the Minister of State's condemnation of these executions and the doubts expressed in his Statement on the lack of due legal processes in these cases; calls on the Government urgently to follow up its concerns about lack of due process; further urges the Government to state clearly what measures it will take to ensure the Chinese government reviews the cases of those who remain under sentence of death for their alleged involvement in last year's unrest; and further calls on the Government to obtain clarification on reports that two further Tibetans were executed at the same time and, if the report is verified, under what legal processes these executions were carried out since there is no information on any other Tibetans having received death sentences without reprieve.

That this House is shocked and saddened by the news of the deplorable judicial executions of Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak in Lhasa on 20 October 2009; fully supports the Minister of State's condemnation of these executions and the doubts expressed in his Statement on the lack of due legal processes...

That this House notes the critical reports by HM Inspector of Prisons and the Prison Ombudsman on Rye Hill private prison; further notes the outcome of the inquest on Ukrainian Aleksey Baranovsky who slowly bled to death in his cell despite being on suicide watch; further notes the coroner's description of his treatment as shameful and appalling; also notes the jury's recording of a catalogue of failures, including the prison not following policy on suicide prevention, not arranging an urgent psychiatric assessment, and not providing a treatment plan; further notes the criticism of Angela Pereira, the healthcare manager at Rye Hill, and other staff including the responsible doctor, Colin West; further notes that the Ombudsman recommended that these staff be investigated and, if necessary, referred to professional bodies, but their employer, private healthcare contractor Primecare, decided autonomously to take no action; considers that the Minister or Offender Management Service should arrange such referrals; further considers that all prisoners should have the right to receive NHS treatment in an NHS setting; further notes that the family of Mr Baranovsky had the indignity of it taking six months to notify them of his death and that they had to collect his remains from their local post office; and considers that the experiment of operating private prisons for profit and private healthcare for profit within prisons has failed.

That this House notes the critical reports by HM Inspector of Prisons and the Prison Ombudsman on Rye Hill private prison; further notes the outcome of the inquest on Ukrainian Aleksey Baranovsky who slowly bled to death in his cell despite being on suicide watch; further notes the coroner's description...

That this House pays tribute to the Government for last year increasing cold weather payments from ??8.50 to ??25; considers that this was essential additional help with fuel bills during periods of very cold weather for eligible pensioners, disabled people and families on low incomes; but notes that this increase only applied to 2008-09; and calls for the ??25 level to be continued for the 2009-10 winter and subsequently made more permanent.

That this House pays tribute to the Government for last year increasing cold weather payments from ??8.50 to ??25; considers that this was essential additional help with fuel bills during periods of very cold weather for eligible pensioners, disabled people and families on low incomes; but notes that this increase...

That this House welcomes the Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops campaign recently launched by War on Want; is concerned that many of the clothes bought in the UK come at a terrible human cost; is further concerned that millions of workers around the world suffer poverty wages and exploitation producing cheap fashion for shops in the UK; opposes the exploitative purchasing practices which drive down wages and encourage poor working practices; believes that real change can only be achieved through Government action that protects the rights of workers supplying UK companies; and supports War on Want's call for the Government to ensure that overseas workers are guaranteed a living wage, decent working conditions and the right to join a trade union.

That this House welcomes the Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops campaign recently launched by War on Want; is concerned that many of the clothes bought in the UK come at a terrible human cost; is further concerned that millions of workers around the world suffer poverty wages and exploitation producing cheap...

That this House calls on the Government to establish an independent inquiry into the death of 20 Iraqis, after allegedly being taken into UK custody, following a fire fight near the town of Al Majar-al-Kabir in Maysan province on 14 May 2004.

That this House calls on the Government to establish an independent inquiry into the death of 20 Iraqis, after allegedly being taken into UK custody, following a fire fight near the town of Al Majar-al-Kabir in Maysan province on 14 May 2004.

That this House notes the interview in the July edition of Labour Briefing magazine with Marcia Rigg-Samuel, sister of Sean Rigg, who died on 21 August 2008 shortly after being arrested and restrained by police in Brixton; further notes that Ms Rigg-Samuel refers to the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as `neither fair nor transparent', that she considers that the IPCC has treated the family of Sean Rigg unfairly, that she has expressed concern that it could take up to six years for an inquest to be held and that she has remarked that, while Chief Inspector Suzanne Wallis told the family that the closed circuit television camera was working, the family has subsequently been told that a substantial amount of the footage from that camera has gone missing; and considers that, in every instance where a death in police custody has occurred or where there is closed circuit television evidence of a major crime, a named officer should have the responsibility for safely securing such evidence and should be subject to disciplinary sanctions should such action not be taken.

That this House notes the interview in the July edition of Labour Briefing magazine with Marcia Rigg-Samuel, sister of Sean Rigg, who died on 21 August 2008 shortly after being arrested and restrained by police in Brixton; further notes that Ms Rigg-Samuel refers to the investigation by the Independent Police...

That this House notes that the Government policy paper Framework for Fairness June 2007 stated that the Equality Bill, currently before Parliament, should not have the unintended consequence of prohibiting positive benefits for either younger or older people, such as youth clubs or clubs for older people, holidays catering for people of particular ages, or concessions and discounts which help younger or older people; further notes that the Government probably wanted to continue to allow insurance companies to design and provide products for specific market segments, for example, younger or older drivers; and, therefore, urges the Government to bring forward amendments to the Bill to achieve this aim.

That this House notes that the Government policy paper Framework for Fairness June 2007 stated that the Equality Bill, currently before Parliament, should not have the unintended consequence of prohibiting positive benefits for either younger or older people, such as youth clubs or clubs for older people, holidays catering for...

That this House notes the report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which identifies a 60 per cent. gender pay gap in the finance sector; believes that this is an intolerable injustice; and urges the Government and businesses in the finance sector, while rebuilding the reputation of banks and financial services companies, to end the gross inequalities faced by women in the finance sector.

That this House notes the report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which identifies a 60 per cent. gender pay gap in the finance sector; believes that this is an intolerable injustice; and urges the Government and businesses in the finance sector, while rebuilding the reputation of banks and...

That this House recognises the important role social enterprises have in the promotion of social cohesion and sustainable development within communities, generating substantial social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits; notes the emergence of community benefit contracts which allow public bodies to legally insist on terms that bring extra benefits to disadvantaged communities such as work and training opportunities; and calls on the Government to deliver guidance for procurement officers on the use of community benefit clauses, demonstrating how social enterprises deliver added social value.

That this House recognises the important role social enterprises have in the promotion of social cohesion and sustainable development within communities, generating substantial social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits; notes the emergence of community benefit contracts which allow public bodies to legally insist on terms that bring extra benefits to...

That this House calls on the Financial Services Authority to require transparency of banks in their ongoing dealings with private equity capital enterprises; notes that the massive profits of these businesses were overwhelmingly derived from leverage using money borrowed from banks; is aware of the dismal business acumen of the banks in their dealings with these entities, but also that the enterprises' huge profits and asset acquisitions were substantially predicated on rising values and that in times, as now, of falling values, the amounts borrowed should still be paid back in full and on time; considers it very likely that banks are not calling in this debt on time, enabling private equity businesses, which have received extensive tax advantage and have paid far too little tax, if any at all on their profits, to avoid bankruptcy; further notes that they thereby retain their assets; considers that bankruptcy should be the natural result of their failure, and that they do not warrant any further special privileges; further considers that if they cannot pay up, they should rightly relinquish their unpaid-for assets to the banks, especially to those banks in which the taxpayer has a stake; and therefore calls on banks to provide a full account of their dealings with private equity to inform whether these private equity businesses have paid off their debts on time.

That this House calls on the Financial Services Authority to require transparency of banks in their ongoing dealings with private equity capital enterprises; notes that the massive profits of these businesses were overwhelmingly derived from leverage using money borrowed from banks; is aware of the dismal business acumen of the...