That this House deplores the decision of the Controller of Audit to submit a report to the Accounts Commission for Scotland challenging the payment of ??7.7 million by East Lothian District Council to the East Lothian Community Development Trust for repairs and improvements to schools; notes that this initiative was excellent value for money for council taxpayers and that is has been a great benefit for local schools; recognises that this investment was made under section 57(1) of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 following independent legal advice; observes that the Accounts Commission is now challenging action taken by an authority which no longer exists under transitional powers which have now transited; notes that there is no suggestion that public money has been misused, but that the Commission is pursuing an academic quibble about the interpretation of section 57; and calls on the Commission to refrain from wasting public resources on a vexatious and fundamentally meaningless hearing.

That this House deplores the decision of the Controller of Audit to submit a report to the Accounts Commission for Scotland challenging the payment of ??7.7 million by East Lothian District Council to the East Lothian Community Development Trust for repairs and improvements to schools; notes that this initiative was...

That this House is grateful to the Swiss Federal Council for waiving its strict policy of military neutrality by permitting NATO forces taking part in the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia to transit through Swiss airspace; notes that the decision was made in December 1995, but that the RAF was not notified of this facility until the end of January 1997; regrets the fact that much time, money and fuel has been wasted on unnecessary detours around the borders of Switzerland throughout 1996; and urges the Government to establish better liaison between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office.

That this House is grateful to the Swiss Federal Council for waiving its strict policy of military neutrality by permitting NATO forces taking part in the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia to transit through Swiss airspace; notes that the decision was made in December 1995, but that the RAF was not...

That this House recognises the need to improve the security of the electricity supply system in Northern Ireland and to give industrial and domestic consumers in Northern Ireland access to more competitively priced electricity in accordance with EU objectives; notes that Cockenzie Power Station and other Scottish generators have ample capacity to produce power for Northern Ireland at very competitive rates; welcomes the conclusion of public inquiries in Scotland and Northern Ireland that consent should be granted for an electricity interconnector; deplores the eleventh hour proposal of the Secretary of State for Scotland to require four sections of the line in Ayrshire to be put underground at a prohibitive cost of ??28 million; and calls on the Government to withdraw this unprecedented, unwarranted and unreasonable condition so that the interconnector can be constructed for the benefit of both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

That this House recognises the need to improve the security of the electricity supply system in Northern Ireland and to give industrial and domestic consumers in Northern Ireland access to more competitively priced electricity in accordance with EU objectives; notes that Cockenzie Power Station and other Scottish generators have ample...

That this House welcomes the important research in the British Medical Journal citing that European Union tobacco subsidies are a misuse of public funds and reflect fundamental contradictions in EU health policy; agrees that the 1992 reforms of the tobacco subsidy system have had little impact and that two thirds of EU production is of tobacco of low commercial value and is exported to Central and Eastern European and developing countries; notes that the main subsidy to the farmer was increased by about 20 per cent, in 1995 to reach a projected total of 1,106m Ecu in 1996; concurs that it would be much cheaper to give farmers direct income support rather than subsidising them to grow tobacco; notes that the EU spends about 1,000m Ecu (??800m) a year subsidising tobbacco production but only about 1.55m Ecu (??1.2m) on smoking prevention and condemns this huge disparity; and calls on the Government to press for the abolition of the EU's indefensible tobacco subsidies.

That this House welcomes the important research in the British Medical Journal citing that European Union tobacco subsidies are a misuse of public funds and reflect fundamental contradictions in EU health policy; agrees that the 1992 reforms of the tobacco subsidy system have had little impact and that two thirds...

That this House notes the fact that the jobs of the Attorney General and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury were saved by the vote of the honourable Member for Torbay on 26th February, just 98 minutes after he had repeated his opinion that people should lose their jobs at Westminster because of a mess that could have allowed innocent men to go to prison; and is surprised that the honourable Member can have been so confused.

That this House notes the fact that the jobs of the Attorney General and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury were saved by the vote of the honourable Member for Torbay on 26th February, just 98 minutes after he had repeated his opinion that people should lose their jobs at...

That this House, recognising that the farming industry is intent on ignoring the public abhorrence at the cruelty of torturing calves in veal crates, and that the public cannot differentiate veal produced by this method from that produced by alternatives, calls for a public boycott of all veal; asks consumer organisations to mobilise their members and their publicity machines in support of this boycott and asks them to try to enlist the support of their counterparts in other EC countries; invites all supermarket chains to declare whether they will continue to sell veal or not; calls upon the public to refuse veal in butchers' shops and in restaurants; and believes that only by such methods farmers throughout Europe will begin to acknowledge that it is in their own interests to stop the use of veal crates.

That this House, recognising that the farming industry is intent on ignoring the public abhorrence at the cruelty of torturing calves in veal crates, and that the public cannot differentiate veal produced by this method from that produced by alternatives, calls for a public boycott of all veal; asks consumer...

That this House notes that Clearly Canadian, a company based in Barbados which produces bottled flavoured water in Canada, is threatening legal action to stop a small company based in Oldhamstocks, East Lothian, marketing water with the trade mark Clearly Scottish; further notes that there are many clear distinctions between the two products, apart from the fact that they come from different sides of the Atlantic Ocean; strongly objects to commercial imperialism which would inhibit the use of the word Scottish on Scottish products; deplores the fact that small innovative businesses can be faced with unreasonable legal bullying tactics by large companies which can afford to take risks with trade mark litigation; and calls on the President of the Board of Trade to take urgent action to improve the legislation covering these matters and to enable Scottish businesses to protect their names and to resist such harassment.

That this House notes that Clearly Canadian, a company based in Barbados which produces bottled flavoured water in Canada, is threatening legal action to stop a small company based in Oldhamstocks, East Lothian, marketing water with the trade mark Clearly Scottish; further notes that there are many clear distinctions between...

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Salmon (Definition of Methods of Net Fishing and Construction of Nets) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I., 1994, No. 111), dated 19th January 1994, a copy of which was laid before this House on 31st January, be annulled.

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Salmon (Definition of Methods of Net Fishing and Construction of Nets) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I., 1994, No. 111), dated 19th January 1994, a copy of which was laid before this House on 31st January, be annulled.

That this House notes with interest that the only Front Bench speech in support of the Leader of the House's privilege motion on 1st February came from the honourable Member for Hamilton; deplores Labour's subsequent vote with the Government to give powers to the Committee Chairman to prevent honourable Members protesting about the presence of Tory honourable Members from English constituencies on the Standing Committee on the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill; and calls on Labour to explain why they have now adopted a new strategy of co-operation with the Government.

That this House notes with interest that the only Front Bench speech in support of the Leader of the House's privilege motion on 1st February came from the honourable Member for Hamilton; deplores Labour's subsequent vote with the Government to give powers to the Committee Chairman to prevent honourable Members...

That this House congratulates Jean Chretien and the Canadian Liberal Party on their resounding victory in the general election; wishes them well in their twin objectives of restoring their economy through the application of sound Keynesian principles, and developing the federal structure of Canada; notes that following the good wishes from the British Prime Minister to the ruling Canadian Conservative parties they were reduced to two seats in the Commons; and hopes this is a foretaste of things to come.

That this House congratulates Jean Chretien and the Canadian Liberal Party on their resounding victory in the general election; wishes them well in their twin objectives of restoring their economy through the application of sound Keynesian principles, and developing the federal structure of Canada; notes that following the good wishes...

That this House commends the Policy Studies Institute's conclusion that advancing British time by one hour throughout the year will avert 140 deaths and 520 serious injuries annually on the road, including 60 in Scotland, reduce crime, increase the leisure time of children and the elderly, benefit the tourist industry and cut fuel consumption; and urges swift Government action to implement daylight saving.

That this House commends the Policy Studies Institute's conclusion that advancing British time by one hour throughout the year will avert 140 deaths and 520 serious injuries annually on the road, including 60 in Scotland, reduce crime, increase the leisure time of children and the elderly, benefit the tourist industry...

That this House deplores the loss of five hundred and fifty jobs at Blue Circle Cement plants throughout Britain; recognises that this is a direct consequence of the refusal of the Government to adopt policies to sustain the construction industry, and that the measures in the Autumn Statement are too little and too late; further notes that Ministers have failed to deal with the problem of subsidised cement imports, and that the United Kingdom cement industry is being severely penalised by massive electricity price increases following electricity privatisation; and urges the Government to adopt Labour's plan for recovery to regenerate the construction industry and to save jobs at Blue Circle Industries.

That this House deplores the loss of five hundred and fifty jobs at Blue Circle Cement plants throughout Britain; recognises that this is a direct consequence of the refusal of the Government to adopt policies to sustain the construction industry, and that the measures in the Autumn Statement are too...

That this House notes the changes made by the Shetland Islands Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1992 (S.I., 1992, No. 995) to the boundaries of the existing electoral division of Bressay; notes the objections made by the residents of the island of Bressay to the proposed arrangements which will merge the existing electoral division with part of the burgh of Lerwick thereby depriving the Bressay islanders of their distinctive representation of Shetland Islands Council with the ever possible consequence of their rural needs and interests being subordinated to the majority interests of the town electors; notes that electors in other parts of Shetland, including Lerwick, having supported the islanders' case for separate representation; further notes that since issuing their Report on the electoral arrangements for Shetland, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland have quite sensibly proposed the continuation of two electoral divisions in Orkney with a comparable or lower number of electors; and therefore calls upon the Secretary of State for Scotland to revoke the Order.

That this House notes the changes made by the Shetland Islands Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1992 (S.I., 1992, No. 995) to the boundaries of the existing electoral division of Bressay; notes the objections made by the residents of the island of Bressay to the proposed arrangements which will merge the...

That this House notes that the British Tourist Authority is campaigning for the abolition of Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time; recognises that such a change would ignore the laws of nature and lead to a situation where the sun would not rise until 10 a.m. in parts of Scotland in winter; understands that the Scottish Tourist Board disagrees with the irrational initiative; and calls on the British Tourist Authority to stick to its proper role of supporting the tourist industry throughout the United Kingdom.

That this House notes that the British Tourist Authority is campaigning for the abolition of Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time; recognises that such a change would ignore the laws of nature and lead to a situation where the sun would not rise until 10 a.m. in parts of...

That this House, noting that there has been no full reform of the law governing the supervision of charities since 1960, and believing that a modern system of supervision is required by charities, calls upon Her Majesty's Government to bring forward such legislation as a matter of urgency.

That this House, noting that there has been no full reform of the law governing the supervision of charities since 1960, and believing that a modern system of supervision is required by charities, calls upon Her Majesty's Government to bring forward such legislation as a matter of urgency.

That this House notes the representations made by over 240 craft businesses from all parts of Scotland against the closure of the Scottish Development Agency's Crafts Division and Craftpoint Centre; deplores the failure of the Secretary of State for Scotland to maintain support for Scottish Craft Industries on the same basis as the Crafts Council for England and Wales; rejects the notion that the craft sector can be adequately supported by a purely commercial marketing service; recognises the special importance of craft businesses for Scotland's rural economy and tourist industry; and calls on the Government to maintain the level of support and training for Scottish craft industries.

That this House notes the representations made by over 240 craft businesses from all parts of Scotland against the closure of the Scottish Development Agency's Crafts Division and Craftpoint Centre; deplores the failure of the Secretary of State for Scotland to maintain support for Scottish Craft Industries on the same...

That this House notes with interest the decision of the Ukrainian parliament, following that of other Soviet republics to assert the integrity of national law; and draws attention to recent decisions of the European Court of Justice which has an ever-increasing tendency to promote federalism in the European Community at the expense of national parliaments and national courts.

That this House notes with interest the decision of the Ukrainian parliament, following that of other Soviet republics to assert the integrity of national law; and draws attention to recent decisions of the European Court of Justice which has an ever-increasing tendency to promote federalism in the European Community at...

That this House notes the unanimous decision of East Lothian District Council to call for the dismissal of the Honourable Member for Stirling as Scottish Health Minister in view of his responsibility for the crisis in the National Health Service in Lothian; regards it as particularly significant that the four Tory members of the council supported the motion; and calls on the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland to act on this constructive and helpful proposal.

That this House notes the unanimous decision of East Lothian District Council to call for the dismissal of the Honourable Member for Stirling as Scottish Health Minister in view of his responsibility for the crisis in the National Health Service in Lothian; regards it as particularly significant that the four...

That this House calls upon the Turkish Government to release Dr Nihat Sargin and Mr Haydar Kutlu, who were arrested two and a half years ago and have not had their cases heard, to free all other political prisoners, to abandon torture in Turkish jails, to restore all civil liberties, including the right to speak, to write and publish, to strike and to organise political parties and trade unions for the people of Turkey and the Kurdish people.

That this House calls upon the Turkish Government to release Dr Nihat Sargin and Mr Haydar Kutlu, who were arrested two and a half years ago and have not had their cases heard, to free all other political prisoners, to abandon torture in Turkish jails, to restore all civil liberties,...

That this House notes that the poll tax registration officer for Lothian Region is taking legal action to force Lothian Regional Council to appoint a further 48 poll tax officials; recalls criticisms of the Council by the Secretary of State for Scotland on grounds of alleged overspending; welcomes the responsible action of the Council in protecting local services, including pensioners' free bus passes, and its prudent efforts to avoid further wasteful spending on the poll tax, which already has more than double the administrative costs of the rating system; agrees that the employment of 48 more poll tax staff would not be in the best interests of Lothian poll tax payers; and calls on the Government to abandon the poll tax on the grounds that it has now been shown to be as inefficient as it is unfair.

That this House notes that the poll tax registration officer for Lothian Region is taking legal action to force Lothian Regional Council to appoint a further 48 poll tax officials; recalls criticisms of the Council by the Secretary of State for Scotland on grounds of alleged overspending; welcomes the responsible...