That this House condemns the anti-trade union activities of UK-listed National Express PLC in its operations in the US, largely ignoring the safety concerns raised by employees and parents alike when transporting children to and from school; notes that these practices contrast with those of competing companies such as First Student; further notes that investors representing two per cent of National Express Group stock have filed a resolution calling on the company's board to initiate an independent investigation into management denial and violation of Durham Schools Services workers' freedom of association rights; and calls on all National Express shareholders to seek clarification on this issue from the board of directors and to vote for the resolution on this issue at the forthcoming AGM on 6 May 2015.

That this House condemns the anti-trade union activities of UK-listed National Express PLC in its operations in the US, largely ignoring the safety concerns raised by employees and parents alike when transporting children to and from school; notes that these practices contrast with those of competing companies such as First...

That this House notes, on the occasion of the State Visit to the UK of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, that continued violations of internationally accepted labour rights take place on a daily basis in Mexico, many of which have been carried out in an attempt to crush the National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM); further notes that the US State Department's 2012 Human Rights Report concluded that the Mexican government did not consistently protect workers' rights in practice; condemns the continued use of protection contracts in which many thousands of workers are governed by illegitimate collective agreements that they have never ratified, were never consulted on and in many cases have never seen; further condemns arbitrary denials of trade union recognition, limitations on the right to strike, and serious health and safety problems in the mining and petroleum industries; believes the existence of free and independent trade unions is essential to the functioning of any democracy; and therefore calls on the Government to make representations to the Mexican government to carry out fundamental reforms to ensure that Mexican labour law respects and enforces international standards; and following the complete exoneration of SNTMMSRM General Secretary, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, of all allegations against him, that the government of Mexico will guarantee his freedom, safety and wellbeing when he decides to return to Mexico.

That this House notes, on the occasion of the State Visit to the UK of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, that continued violations of internationally accepted labour rights take place on a daily basis in Mexico, many of which have been carried out in an attempt to crush...

That this House notes the severity of the downturn in the UK's offshore oil industry resulting from the slump in oil prices; believes that short-term responses such as delay or cancellation of long-term projects, laying off workers, extending working hours, accelerating cost-cutting recruitment practices or changing terms and conditions without consultation will fail to mitigate the impacts on workers or the wider economy; further believes that reducing essential maintenance work would jeopardise infrastructure integrity and capacity, thousands of jobs, essential skills and future tax revenues from this vital sector; further believes that oil industry trade unions have a key role to play in government and industry initiatives, such as the Energy Jobs Taskforce, in ensuring that the views and interests of those working in the industry are taken fully into account; and calls on the Government at every level to work closely with employers, regulators, trade unions and elected representatives to support measures that preserve the sustainability of operations, jobs, skills and investment, as well as a robust safety regime in the North Sea.

That this House notes the severity of the downturn in the UK's offshore oil industry resulting from the slump in oil prices; believes that short-term responses such as delay or cancellation of long-term projects, laying off workers, extending working hours, accelerating cost-cutting recruitment practices or changing terms and conditions without...

That this House recognises the campaigning efforts of the Scottish Sunday Mail in exposing the human rights abuses by British American Tobacco throughout its worldwide supply chain.

That this House recognises the campaigning efforts of the Scottish Sunday Mail in exposing the human rights abuses by British American Tobacco throughout its worldwide supply chain.

That this House notes that Oxfam America, Human Rights Watch and the Farm Labour Organizing Committee (FLOC), being an affiliate of the US equivalent of the TUC, have highlighted onerous conditions faced by migrant farm workers in the tobacco fields of North Carolina and the American South, including exploitation, long hours, child labour and other human rights abuses; further notes that Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) is a major purchaser of the tobacco produced in those fields but refuses to grant freedom of association or workers representation to those workers, and that British American Tobacco plc (BAT) is the largest shareholder and a major customer of RAI; believes that only when migrant farm workers have a recognised organisation will their complaint about their working and living conditions be effectively addressed; further believes that BAT has a responsibility to ensure that its supply chain is free of human rights abuses and that FLOC's proposals to RAI can achieve that goal in the US; therefore calls on BAT to use its influence with RAI to reach an agreement with FLOC forthwith; further calls on the Government to ensure provisions within the Modern Slavery Bill would prohibit such human rights abuses; and further calls on the Government to raise these issues in trade discussions with US counterparts.

That this House notes that Oxfam America, Human Rights Watch and the Farm Labour Organizing Committee (FLOC), being an affiliate of the US equivalent of the TUC, have highlighted onerous conditions faced by migrant farm workers in the tobacco fields of North Carolina and the American South, including exploitation, long...

That this House is concerned that counterfeit personal protective equipment without the necessary certification to meet the appropriate standard is currently being sold in the UK; is alarmed at the danger this puts workers in when such equipment cannot protect them from risks of accidents or long-term health risks; and urges both the Government and businesses to ensure that the personal protective equipment they purchase for employees and contractors has the British certification to meet the appropriate standards of safety.

That this House is concerned that counterfeit personal protective equipment without the necessary certification to meet the appropriate standard is currently being sold in the UK; is alarmed at the danger this puts workers in when such equipment cannot protect them from risks of accidents or long-term health risks; and...

That this House notes with concern the conditions of brick labourers in India; emphasises the fact that many of these labourers see abuses of minimum wage rates and health and safety regulations; further notes that many work up to 16 hours a day; further notes that children as young as four years old are also working in these conditions; further notes that such labour is often bonded labour and that a recent BBC report brought to light examples of workers having their hands cut off when trying to escape; welcomes the work by Union Solidarity International in highlighting these abuses through its Blood Bricks campaign; highlights the 2011 UN and OECD guidelines specifying that multinational companies should have direct responsibility for human rights abuses anywhere in their supply chains; is concerned that these guidelines are not being enforced; stresses that any and every industry using new buildings in India should be under scrutiny; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to enforce these guidelines in UK law and to raise these issues in international negotiations.

That this House notes with concern the conditions of brick labourers in India; emphasises the fact that many of these labourers see abuses of minimum wage rates and health and safety regulations; further notes that many work up to 16 hours a day; further notes that children as young as...

That this House welcomes Glasgow Airport on becoming the first Scottish airport to welcome the A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft; notes that Emirates operated the one-off A380 flight to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its Glasgow to Dubai service which has carried over 2.4 million passengers since its launch on 10 April 2004; recognises this was a significant milestone in Scottish aviation history; believes the A380 service was yet another example of Emirates' commitment to Scotland following the introduction of a second daily flight in 2012; and welcomes the important contribution of Glasgow Airport to the economic success of Renfrewshire and Scotland.

That this House welcomes Glasgow Airport on becoming the first Scottish airport to welcome the A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft; notes that Emirates operated the one-off A380 flight to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its Glasgow to Dubai service which has carried over 2.4 million passengers since its launch...

That this House, noting that Oxfam America and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), being an affiliate of the US equivalent of the TUC, have highlighted onerous conditions faced by migrant farm workers in the tobacco fields of North Carolina and the American South, including exploitation, long hours, child labour and other human rights abuses, that Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) is a major purchaser of the tobacco produced in those fields but refuses to grant freedom of association or worker representation to those workers and that British America Tobacco plc (BAT) is the largest shareholder and a major customer of RAI, holds that only when migrant farm workers have a recognised organisation will their complaints about their working and living conditions be effectively addressed; believes that BAT has a responsibility to ensure that its supply chain is free of human rights abuses and that FLOC's proposals to RAI can achieve that goal in the US; and therefore calls on BAT to use its influence with RAI to reach an agreement with FLOC forthwith.

That this House, noting that Oxfam America and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), being an affiliate of the US equivalent of the TUC, have highlighted onerous conditions faced by migrant farm workers in the tobacco fields of North Carolina and the American South, including exploitation, long hours, child labour...

That this House notes the excessive height of seats on the new London Routemaster buses; and believes that the people who designed these buses should be forced to use them.

That this House notes the excessive height of seats on the new London Routemaster buses; and believes that the people who designed these buses should be forced to use them.

That this House acknowledges the international condemnation of the illegal occupation of Ukraine by Russia but reminds the House that the north of the island of Cyprus has been living under illegal occupation by Turkey and this has been so without similar condemnation from successive Governments.

That this House acknowledges the international condemnation of the illegal occupation of Ukraine by Russia but reminds the House that the north of the island of Cyprus has been living under illegal occupation by Turkey and this has been so without similar condemnation from successive Governments.

That this House commemorates the 10th anniversary of the death of 23 Chinese cockle pickers at Morecambe Bay; recognises that their death was a dominant factor in the creation of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority; but is disappointed that the opportunity to extend the remit of the Authority into other sectors has to date been rejected.

That this House commemorates the 10th anniversary of the death of 23 Chinese cockle pickers at Morecambe Bay; recognises that their death was a dominant factor in the creation of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority; but is disappointed that the opportunity to extend the remit of the Authority into other sectors...

That this House notes that, according to the Electrical Safety Council (ESC), misuse of electrical appliances is now the number one cause of dwelling fires in Great Britain; welcomes safety messages from the ESC, Fire Kills campaign and fire and rescue services nationwide in the context of Electrical Fire Safety Week 2013; and urges householders to undertake basic visual safety checks in order to stop preventable fire accidents from occurring in their own home.

That this House notes that, according to the Electrical Safety Council (ESC), misuse of electrical appliances is now the number one cause of dwelling fires in Great Britain; welcomes safety messages from the ESC, Fire Kills campaign and fire and rescue services nationwide in the context of Electrical Fire Safety...

That this House regrets that corporate tax avoidance costs the UK Exchequer billions annually, and that several international companies have been largely responsible; is dismayed to learn from the report Alliance Boots and the Need for Corporate Tax Reform, published by Unite/War On Want/Change to Win, that Alliance Boots, an ostensibly British company, has lawfully avoided more than £1 billion in corporate taxes since 2007 when it entered private ownership in the largest leveraged buyout in UK corporate history, following which the company reincorporated in the tax haven of Zug, Switzerland, where it earns no revenue, and is controlled by entities in Luxembourg, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands; is concerned that it avoided taxes by loading most of the £9 billion buyout debt onto the highly profitable UK business, thus shifting profits abroad; notes that Alliance Boots significantly lowered its UK tax bill while deriving an estimated 40 per cent of its revenue from UK taxpayers, primarily via NHS prescriptions; further notes that Alliance Boots is seeking to increase its taxpayer-financed profits on the back of NHS privatisation; and calls on Alliance Boots to fully disclose its profits and taxes for all countries where it has significant revenue, on HM Revenue and Customs to comprehensively investigate Alliance Boots' tax practices, and on the Government to modernise the taxation of private-equity and heavily debt-financed businesses, and to require companies to disclose significant revenues that are derived from public sector contracts, and to reform the financial and taxation regulations in British Overseas Territories.

That this House regrets that corporate tax avoidance costs the UK Exchequer billions annually, and that several international companies have been largely responsible; is dismayed to learn from the report Alliance Boots and the Need for Corporate Tax Reform, published by Unite/War On Want/Change to Win, that Alliance Boots, an...

That this House, following on from the Adjournment Debate in December 2012 on Ex-service personnel (Psychological Welfare), notes with concern that more British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting in Afghanistan; expresses concern at these figures; highlights the enormity of the task in terms of tackling all issues relating to soldier and veteran welfare; further notes the general lack of understanding amongst the public of post-traumatic stress disorder and the psychological welfare issues of service personnel; welcomes the efforts of the Panorama programme in highlighting the issue more widely; and calls on the Government to undertaken a more thorough investigation into the extent of the problem and hold a further debate in Government time on the floor of the House.

That this House, following on from the Adjournment Debate in December 2012 on Ex-service personnel (Psychological Welfare), notes with concern that more British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting in Afghanistan; expresses concern at these figures; highlights the enormity of the task in terms...

That this House welcomes the launch of Glasgow Airport's new brand identity; congratulates Renfrewshire design agency Designline Creative on being chosen to design the new identity; believes the new brand communicates the airport’s passion for its customers and for Scotland with its use of the distinctive Thistle emblem and its supporting strapline Proud to serve Scotland; recognises that Glasgow Airport plays an important role as a champion for economic development in Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland; and further believes that the new brand will help enhance Glasgow Airport's status as a leading business and leisure gateway ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

That this House welcomes the launch of Glasgow Airport's new brand identity; congratulates Renfrewshire design agency Designline Creative on being chosen to design the new identity; believes the new brand communicates the airport’s passion for its customers and for Scotland with its use of the distinctive Thistle emblem and its...

That this House is concerned that the current review of the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2007) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), planned for August 2013, will remove the reference to individual competence; recognises that the inclusion of competence in the CDM regulations is vital to ensure that the number of serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites are kept to a minimum; notes that whilst direct employee and employer relationships are referenced in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, inclusion in the CDM regulations ensures that competence is extended to the supply chain relationships that are so vital in the construction industry; and urges the Government and HSE to consider retaining the reference, to ensure the principal contractor always has responsibility for checking all those working on a site are competent.

That this House is concerned that the current review of the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2007) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), planned for August 2013, will remove the reference to individual competence; recognises that the inclusion of competence in the CDM regulations is vital to ensure...

That this House welcomes the launch of the UK Music Skills Academy (UKMSA) as an innovative initiative to tackle skills, education and training issues in the music industry; supports the UKMSA's objectives to create a national network of high quality music education partners, improve routes into industry through apprenticeships and mentoring, ensure that young people have access to careers advice that is industry-relevant, professionalise training for those already working in the sector, nurture grassroots talent via the UK Music Rehearsal Spaces scheme and improve equality and diversity across the industry; notes that the UKMSA is not a physical building but a national network of people, businesses, education institutions and organisations committed to skills and training to support the next generation of talent; and calls on the Government to endorse the example shown by the music sector towards skills to the rest of the creative sector.

That this House welcomes the launch of the UK Music Skills Academy (UKMSA) as an innovative initiative to tackle skills, education and training issues in the music industry; supports the UKMSA's objectives to create a national network of high quality music education partners, improve routes into industry through apprenticeships and...

That this House congratulates the Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, on his principled position in questioning the appropriateness of having Atos Healthcare as sponsors of the Commonwealth Games due to take place in Glasgow in 2014; acknowledges that the archbishop is correct to point out that it is wrong for Atos to be profiting when sick and disabled people are suffering because of the harshness and bluntness of the work capability assessment; and commends Archbishop Tartaglia on his stance on this matter.

That this House congratulates the Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, on his principled position in questioning the appropriateness of having Atos Healthcare as sponsors of the Commonwealth Games due to take place in Glasgow in 2014; acknowledges that the archbishop is correct to point out that it is wrong for...

That this House believes that the UK’s air passenger duty (APD), the highest air passenger duty in the world, is acting as a deterrent to both inward investment and inbound tourism; is concerned about the impact of APD on UK businesses wishing to export to emerging markets; notes the compelling analysis undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers about the economic impacts of APD; further believes changes in APD policy could contribute positively to the UK’s economic growth; and calls on HM Treasury to commission a comprehensive study into the full economic effects of aviation tax in the UK, including its impact on employment.

That this House believes that the UK’s air passenger duty (APD), the highest air passenger duty in the world, is acting as a deterrent to both inward investment and inbound tourism; is concerned about the impact of APD on UK businesses wishing to export to emerging markets; notes the compelling...