That this House is gravely concerned at evidence of the aggressive tax avoidance strategies pursued by global fast-food chain McDonald's over several years up to 2013; commends the work of the worldwide coalition of trade unions and global justice campaigns that resulted in the disclosure of these findings in the Unhappy Meals report; notes that the company has potentially cost up to £818.7 million to the UK Exchequer alone in tax by diverting franchise payments to McD Europe Franchising Sàrl, a Luxembourg-resident intellectual property holding company with a Swiss branch, then shifting McDonald's European headquarters from London to Geneva for the purposes of tax avoidance; understands that this was a direct response to a tax policy change in Luxembourg allowing companies to benefit from significant reductions of their tax rate on income earned from intellectual property; further notes that McDonald's and its franchisees, which openly employ much of their workforce on zero hours contracts, earned £2,335.5 million in sales in the UK; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that such multinational corporations are obliged to pay their fair share of tax on profits generated from UK operations.

That this House is gravely concerned at evidence of the aggressive tax avoidance strategies pursued by global fast-food chain McDonald's over several years up to 2013; commends the work of the worldwide coalition of trade unions and global justice campaigns that resulted in the disclosure of these findings in the...

That this House is deeply disappointed that the Government has imposed a cut in trade union facility time across the Civil Service without using the agreed negotiation channels; recognises that there needs to be an adequate amount of time for trade union representatives to carry out statutory and other trade union duties, including health and safety and trade union learning; is therefore shocked that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Planning Inspectorate have had imposed the equivalent of an 80 per cent cut to current facility time levels; believes that this provocation will worsen the morale of staff in DCLG, already 93rd out of 97 in terms of staff engagement in the Civil Service Departments' annual staff survey in 2012; and therefore calls on the Government immediately to reinstate the facility time previously agreed by all parties, return to agreed trade union negotiations processes and adopt a more constructive approach with unions in DCLG.

That this House is deeply disappointed that the Government has imposed a cut in trade union facility time across the Civil Service without using the agreed negotiation channels; recognises that there needs to be an adequate amount of time for trade union representatives to carry out statutory and other trade...

That this House notes with concern the hostile behaviour towards trade unions in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG); further notes that recent attacks include an announcement by DCLG, without consultation, that it will no longer allow the check-off system of payment of union subscriptions direct from wages, the cost of which is borne by the unions themselves; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Department reconsiders its decision on subscriptions and adopt a more constructive approach towards trade unions in future.

That this House notes with concern the hostile behaviour towards trade unions in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG); further notes that recent attacks include an announcement by DCLG, without consultation, that it will no longer allow the check-off system of payment of union subscriptions direct from wages,...

That this House commends the development of Epilepsy Scotland's tool to assist employers across the UK in meeting statutory responsibilities and best employment practices for an employee who has or develops epilepsy; and urges all hon. and right hon. Members to highlight the Epilepsy and Occupational Health Guide to employers within their constituencies.

That this House commends the development of Epilepsy Scotland's tool to assist employers across the UK in meeting statutory responsibilities and best employment practices for an employee who has or develops epilepsy; and urges all hon. and right hon. Members to highlight the Epilepsy and Occupational Health Guide to employers...

That this House congratulates Glasgow Rangers Football Club on establishing a partnership with UNICEF which will see the Rangers Charity Foundation raising ??300,000 by 2011 to fund a UNICEF education programme in India called Reducing the Gender Gap: Quality Education for Girls, which will focus on improving the quality of children's education and working to ensure that all children, especially girls and those from disadvantaged or socially excluded backgrounds, have access to schools in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujurat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala; further notes that the five other football clubs which have a partnership with UNICEF are Manchester United, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Feyenoord and AC Milan; and welcomes this example of a great Scottish institution looking beyond its own midden to help the less fortunate elsewhere in the world.

That this House congratulates Glasgow Rangers Football Club on establishing a partnership with UNICEF which will see the Rangers Charity Foundation raising ??300,000 by 2011 to fund a UNICEF education programme in India called Reducing the Gender Gap: Quality Education for Girls, which will focus on improving the quality of...

That this House notes that at the launch of the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Employment and Skills for the Defence Industry in Scotland the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan al Iar stated that Scotland would base its defence posture upon that of Norway, Iceland or Ireland; further notes that Iceland has no defence forces at all, Ireland has no warships of any size and that Norway has six submarines built in Germany and is acquiring five frigates built in Spain; recognises that this pattern of naval forces provides no reassurance whatsoever that an independent Scotland will be able to provide sufficient orders to maintain the Scottish naval shipbuilding yards that exist at the moment; and thus endorses the view that `No United Kingdom, no Clyde Shipyards' and `No Union, no yards' are an accurate summation of the position.

That this House notes that at the launch of the Scottish Affairs Committee report on Employment and Skills for the Defence Industry in Scotland the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan al Iar stated that Scotland would base its defence posture upon that of Norway, Iceland or Ireland; further notes that...

That this House disapproves of the views of a wide range of senior European politicians that the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the people of the Republic of Ireland should not prevent it coming into force; in particular notes the remarks of Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Interior Minister, that `a few million Irish cannot decide on behalf of 495 million Europeans', of Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Euro-Green leader, that `it is not truly democratic that less than a million people should decide the fate of half a billion Europeans', of Axel Schafer, SPD Bundestag leader, that `with all respect for the Irish vote, we cannot allow the huge majority of Europe to be duped by the minority of a minority of a minority', of Yves Leterme, Belgian Prime Minister, `we need to examine the existing possibilities to ensure in any case the entry into force of the treaty and to associate Ireland with it', of Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, that `irrespective of the results of the referendum in Ireland ... Europe will find a way of implementing this treaty', of Lopez Garrido, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, that the Lisbon Treaty `will be applied, albeit a few months late' and of Jose Barroso, Portuguese President of the European Commission, that `the treaty is not dead, the treaty is alive and we will try to work to find a solution'; and regards these statements as confirming the arrogance of Europe's political elite.

That this House disapproves of the views of a wide range of senior European politicians that the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the people of the Republic of Ireland should not prevent it coming into force; in particular notes the remarks of Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Interior Minister, that `a...

That this House welcomes the decision of the people of the Irish Republic to reject the Lisbon Treaty; and recognises that the Lisbon Treaty is now dead.

That this House welcomes the decision of the people of the Irish Republic to reject the Lisbon Treaty; and recognises that the Lisbon Treaty is now dead.

That this House notes that in response to the evidence used by the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe in the briefing document of 21st January 2008 that Save the Children saw the Lisbon Treaty as a `positive step for children' and implying its support for the Treaty, Save the Children have clarified their position in an e-mail of 25th January to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West and the Foreign Secretary on its implied support for the Treaty, saying that, while they do welcome the inclusion of children's rights in the Treaty, `...it would be a misrepresentation to say we endorse it'; also notes that Save the Children raises further concern about the `...omission of the principle of independence in the chapter on humanitarian aid, and the proposal to create a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps'; and believes that this clarification of the position of Save the Children should be declared when citing the support of this organisation in relation to Lisbon Treaty matters.

That this House notes that in response to the evidence used by the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe in the briefing document of 21st January 2008 that Save the Children saw the Lisbon Treaty as a `positive step for children' and implying its support for the Treaty, Save the...

That this House notes that with regard to comments made by the Foreign Secretary in his opening speech of the Second Reading Debate in the House of Commons on 21st January 2008 claiming that Action Aid supported the Treaty of Lisbon provisions on development co-operation, Action Aid has clarified its position in a letter of 25th January to the Foreign Secretary, stating it believes `it would be premature to conclude that the Treaty is going to deliver the changes needed to improve European development policy'; further notes that in the same letter Action Aid have said that they ` . . . have reservations on the Treaty's discussion of trade, and particularly on the proposed extension of the Commission's competency to cover services, investment and intellectual property'; and believes that this clarification of the position of Action Aid should be declared when citing the support of this organisation in relation to EU development policy and Lisbon Treaty matters.

That this House notes that with regard to comments made by the Foreign Secretary in his opening speech of the Second Reading Debate in the House of Commons on 21st January 2008 claiming that Action Aid supported the Treaty of Lisbon provisions on development co-operation, Action Aid has clarified its...

That this House notes that in an e-mail sent to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West on 17th January Oxfam states that it `. . . has no stance on whether or not the EU Treaty is adopted . . . these issues are ouside our competence and mandate'; notes that Oxfam was cited by the Foreign Secretary in the Second Reading Debate of 21st January 2008 as an organisation supporting the development co-operation measures in the Treaty as part of an argument that Parliament should pass the European Union (Amendment) Bill; notes also that the e-mail goes on to state that `. . . on the Treaty . . . there are . . . a number of caveats and concerns, which we and other development NGOs have raised'; and believes that this clarification of the position of Oxfam should be declared when citing the support of this organisation in relation to EU development policy and Lisbon Treaty matters.

That this House notes that in an e-mail sent to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West on 17th January Oxfam states that it `. . . has no stance on whether or not the EU Treaty is adopted . . . these issues are ouside our competence and mandate';...

That this House notes that the Foreign Secretary in his speech to the House on Monday 21st January described the organisations One World Action and Action Aid as supporting the measures on development co-operation in the Lisbon Treaty; further notes that the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Europe, in the Parliamentary Labour Party briefing document on the European Union (Amendment) Bill published on 21st January 2008, cited the endorsement of Save the Children for the Lisbon Treaty as a `positive step for children'; notes that The World Wildlife Fund in the document it co-authored with the Institute for Environmental Policy and the Green Alliance, The EU Reform Treaty - Environmental Implications, has expressed support for the Lisbon Treaty with the words `The Reform Treaty...in many ways offers some improvement...'; further notes that One World Action, during the period 2004 to 2007, received at least ??818,448 from the European Union according to its annual accounts, that Action Aid, in the years 2005 and 2006, received at least ??5,869,000 from the European Union according to its annual accounts, that Save the Children, during the period 2003 to 2007, received at least ??44,734,000 from the European Union according to its annual accounts, and that The World Wildlife Fund, during the period 2003 to 2006, received at least ??2,027,000 from the European Union according to its annual accounts; and believes that this financial relationship is relevant and merits declaration whenever the views of these organisations in relation to EU matters are expressed.

That this House notes that the Foreign Secretary in his speech to the House on Monday 21st January described the organisations One World Action and Action Aid as supporting the measures on development co-operation in the Lisbon Treaty; further notes that the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Europe, in...

That this House notes the support for the Lisbon Treaty cited by the Foreign Secretary on 21st January 2008 of Action Aid, Save the Children and One World Action; further notes the endorsement of the World Wildlife Fund for the treaty in the briefing document, co-authored with the Institute for European Environmental Policy and the Green Alliance, entitled the EU Reform Treaty: environmental implications, in saying `the reform treaty ... in many ways offers some improvements'; further notes that, according to their annual accounts, Action Aid received at least ??5,869,000 between 2005 and 2006, Save the Children received at least ??44,734,000 between 2003 and 2007, One World Action received at least ??818,448 between 2004 and 2007 and the World Wildlife Fund received at least ??2,027,000 between 2003 and 2006 from the European Union; and believes that this information is relevant and merits declaration when citing the views of these organisations in relation to EU matters.

That this House notes the support for the Lisbon Treaty cited by the Foreign Secretary on 21st January 2008 of Action Aid, Save the Children and One World Action; further notes the endorsement of the World Wildlife Fund for the treaty in the briefing document, co-authored with the Institute for...

That this House sends its sympathies to those directly involved in the Grayrigg derailment and their friends and families; places on record appreciation of the professionalism and courage of rail and emergency response staff; supports the view that the similarity to the Potters Bar crash of May 2002 raises concerns that the normal industry inquiries are insufficient to prevent a recurrence of this type of accident; therefore further supports the growing call for a public enquiry into the facts of both accidents; and believes that a public inquiry should consider the impact of the continued fragmentation of engineering work and whether bringing all railway activity under the control of one organisation will ensure that the safety of the public and the railway workforce is best protected.

That this House sends its sympathies to those directly involved in the Grayrigg derailment and their friends and families; places on record appreciation of the professionalism and courage of rail and emergency response staff; supports the view that the similarity to the Potters Bar crash of May 2002 raises concerns...

That this House notes that the EU wine lake is 34.8 million hectolitres (765.5 million gallons) at the latest measurement; further notes that there are 74 million pensioners in the EU; further notes that every pensioner in the EU could be given a free bottle of wine every week for a year without emptying the wine lake; further notes the previous success of free distribution of surplus EU butter, cheese and beef; and therefore calls on the Minister for Europe to arrange for every pensioner in the UK to receive, free of charge, a dozen bottles of wine, to be distributed by local hon. Members to their constituents.

That this House notes that the EU wine lake is 34.8 million hectolitres (765.5 million gallons) at the latest measurement; further notes that there are 74 million pensioners in the EU; further notes that every pensioner in the EU could be given a free bottle of wine every week for...

That this House notes that French unemployment in January reached 10 per cent., the highest level for five years; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes that French unemployment in January reached 10 per cent., the highest level for five years; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes that unemployment figures for Germany in February rose to 5,216,000, their highest level since February 1932; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes that unemployment figures for Germany in February rose to 5,216,000, their highest level since February 1932; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes that French unemployment figures for September rose to 9.7 per cent., their highest level since April 2000; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes that French unemployment figures for September rose to 9.7 per cent., their highest level since April 2000; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House welcomes the result of the Swedish Euro Referendum; notes that in a Demoskop poll published in November 2002, when the referendum was called, the Yes side were leading by 45 per cent. to 39 per cent.; further notes that after a campaign in which virtually the entire political and business establishment urged a Yes vote and Yes outspent No by a margin of 9 to 1, the Swedish people voted No by 56 per cent. to 42 cent.; recognises that there will be no euro referendum in Britain before the next general election; and therefore believes that neither space in the Queen's Speech nor time in Parliament's next session should be wasted on any euro referendum bill when there are so many other, better things to be done.

That this House welcomes the result of the Swedish Euro Referendum; notes that in a Demoskop poll published in November 2002, when the referendum was called, the Yes side were leading by 45 per cent. to 39 per cent.; further notes that after a campaign in which virtually the entire...

That this House notes the announcement on 5th May from the Federal Bureau of Statistics of the latest German unemployment figures for March 2003; notes that unemployment has risen by 44,000 to 4.41 million or 11.1 per cent.; further notes that German unemployment has risen for 12 consecutive months; and therefore believes that the euro is not working.

That this House notes the announcement on 5th May from the Federal Bureau of Statistics of the latest German unemployment figures for March 2003; notes that unemployment has risen by 44,000 to 4.41 million or 11.1 per cent.; further notes that German unemployment has risen for 12 consecutive months; and...