That this House notes with concern that bovine TB is threatening a growing number of farmers every year in the South East and that further delay in action against bovine TB is unacceptable; further notes the failure of the Government to use existing powers within the protection of Badgers Act 1992; and calls on the Government to take practical measures immediately to eliminate TB from both cattle and wildlife.

That this House notes with concern that bovine TB is threatening a growing number of farmers every year in the South East and that further delay in action against bovine TB is unacceptable; further notes the failure of the Government to use existing powers within the protection of Badgers Act...

That this House notes the great benefits to employees, employers and the economy as a whole of broad-based employee share schemes; and urges the International Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Board to take account in their work on new accounting standards of the impact of such standards on widely-based employee share schemes.

That this House notes the great benefits to employees, employers and the economy as a whole of broad-based employee share schemes; and urges the International Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Board to take account in their work on new accounting standards of the impact of such standards on...

That this House recognises the daily intimidation faced by retailers in relation to under-age purchases; further recognises that verbal and physical attacks on shop workers create a hostile working environment, particularly for those in small stores and corner shops; notes the vital community service provided by local shops; further notes that age restrictions on solvents, alcohol and cigarettes protect children; supports the Association of Convenience Stores' recent campaign to promote a No Proof, No Sale message, as already exists in the United States of America; and calls on the Government to support this by actively encouraging a responsible culture where consumers expect to be age-checked and supply proof of age.

That this House recognises the daily intimidation faced by retailers in relation to under-age purchases; further recognises that verbal and physical attacks on shop workers create a hostile working environment, particularly for those in small stores and corner shops; notes the vital community service provided by local shops; further notes...

That this House welcomes the statement by the Minister for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers on 20th June, 2003 407 c684-6, that the present draft European Union Directive on articles of precious metal would 'effectively weaken the level of protection enjoyed by the consumer, which we could not and would not support' and that 'the United Kingdom Government has no intention of altering a hallmarking system that has served the United Kingdom so well for so long'; notes that this follows the Department for Trade and Industry having consulted trade associations such as the British Jewellers Association, representing manufacturers, the National Association of Goldsmiths, representing retailers, assay offices, the British Hallmarking Council and trading standards and consumer organisations; welcomes the statement in the other place, obtaining cross-party support, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, 19th June 2003 407 c960, that 'we will oppose the Directive'; notes, however, that the Italian presidency, starting on 1st July, intends to revive the draft Directive; further notes that nine out of the ten countries set to join the European Union in 2004 have compulsory hallmarking systems similar to that in the United Kingdom and regrets any attempts by member states with lower standards of protection to ignore their views; and calls on the Government vigorously to co-ordinate action with sympathetic member states to ensure that any harmonisation in this sector builds upon rather than dilutes existing high standards of consumer protection and, if this is not feasible, to form with those states a blocking minority.

That this House welcomes the statement by the Minister for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers on 20th June, 2003 407 c684-6, that the present draft European Union Directive on articles of precious metal would 'effectively weaken the level of protection enjoyed by the consumer, which we could not and would...

That this House notes the Government's prevarication over the Post Office Card Account which should be in operation by 1st April 2004; further notes that the personal invitation documents will not be sent out to potential card holders until 24th March 2004; further notes that the Government has pushed Post Office customers towards using their own bank accounts or basic bank accounts, whilst preventing promotion of the Post Office Card Account; appreciates that the ending of benefit payments in cash will deprive sub-postmasters of an aver 35 per cent. of income; realises that this will make many post offices commercially unviable and is therefore likely to lead to yet further closures; condemns the Government's failure of policy for the Post Office; and calls upon the Government to implement all the recommendations of the PIU report on the future of the Post Office network and in particular to encourage the marketing of the Post Office Card Account which will contribute significantly to future income in Post Office branches.

That this House notes the Government's prevarication over the Post Office Card Account which should be in operation by 1st April 2004; further notes that the personal invitation documents will not be sent out to potential card holders until 24th March 2004; further notes that the Government has pushed Post...

That this House expresses its grave concern at the continuing deterioration in the position of Equitable Life policyholders and annuitants; notes with dismay that the inquiry by Lord Penrose has been delayed beyond 2002 contrary to the expectations of the Government, the Treasury Committee and many honourable Members; calls upon the Government to instruct Lord Penrose to issue an interim report; further calls upon the Treasury Committee to resume forthwith its own inquiry and to investigate the reasons underlying the delay; and urges the new Parliamentary Ombudsman to announce when she expects to conclude her investigation for the period 1999 and 2000 and that she will immediately thereafter begin inquiring into the period prior to 1999.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the continuing deterioration in the position of Equitable Life policyholders and annuitants; notes with dismay that the inquiry by Lord Penrose has been delayed beyond 2002 contrary to the expectations of the Government, the Treasury Committee and many honourable Members; calls upon...

That this House believes that the Common Agricultural Policy is outdated and should be reformed; notes the impact of agricultural subsidies on the economies of poor countries; considers reform of agricultural subsidies to be essential to poverty reduction and to promote sustainable development in the developing world; believes that proper reform of the Common Agricultural Policy could benefit both British consumers and British farmers; recognises that agricultural reform is vital to the successful enlargement of the European Union; notes with concern the failure of the recent European Council in Brussels to secure reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; believes that the Government's failure to reform the CAP jeopardises the commitments made at Doha to liberalise agriculture; calls on the Government to do more than to defend the interests of British farmers in the mid-term review; and urges the Prime Minister to work harder at future European summits to secure a better deal for British farmers and poor countries.

That this House believes that the Common Agricultural Policy is outdated and should be reformed; notes the impact of agricultural subsidies on the economies of poor countries; considers reform of agricultural subsidies to be essential to poverty reduction and to promote sustainable development in the developing world; believes that proper...

That this House calls on Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the public inquiry into the establishment of a National Park will address all viable options for a national park to preserve and look after the Downs, including the options of a tailor-made solution under the National Parks legislation and the establishment of an enhanced Conservation Board under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act; and believes the public inquiry should also consider the expensive costs which would otherwise be involved with the separate planning authority involved with a National Park and, where there remain legal questions whether the South Downs meets the criteria for national park designation under the 1949 Act.

That this House calls on Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the public inquiry into the establishment of a National Park will address all viable options for a national park to preserve and look after the Downs, including the options of a tailor-made solution under the National Parks legislation and...

That this House notes that there is an increasing demand for accommodation as a result of the trend towards single-person households; believes that if this is managed sensitively it could lead to the renaissance of city dwelling and living; recognises that in the centres of many towns and cities across the United Kingdom there is underused or derelect land on which new homes could be built with amenities close by; accepts that the countryside provides a vital green 'lung' for both city dwellers and country dwelling people alike which needs protecting; condemns Labour Ministers for wanting to build homes in rural areas such as West Sussex, Hertfordshire and Hampshire; believes that the Labour Government's desire to build in existing villages will decimate village life and could well produce modern homes out of keeping with their older surroundings; recommends that Labour Ministers abandon this policy forthwith; and urges Her Majesty's Government to issue new planning policy guidance which would compel local authorities, many of which are controlled by the Labour Party, not to grant planning permission in green field sites until the brown land available has been exhausted.

That this House notes that there is an increasing demand for accommodation as a result of the trend towards single-person households; believes that if this is managed sensitively it could lead to the renaissance of city dwelling and living; recognises that in the centres of many towns and cities across...

That this House notes with disquiet that the Government Office of the South East acts more than simply as a conduit of information between central Government and the regions; is concerned that in the recent discussions about the number of new homes needed in the county of West Sussex, the Government Office of the South East argued against the proposals put forward by West Sussex County Council and seemed to be pursuing its own agenda; belives that the Government Office interferes most unhelpfully in the direct communication between central and local government; and urges her Majesty's Government to abolish this unnecessary tier of unwanted bureaucracy forthwith.

That this House notes with disquiet that the Government Office of the South East acts more than simply as a conduit of information between central Government and the regions; is concerned that in the recent discussions about the number of new homes needed in the county of West Sussex, the...