That this House believes that the record high prison population and reducing budgets have undermined the National Offender Management Service's objective of tackling re-offending; considers that this undermines the ability of the Probation Service to function effectively; and calls on the Government to create separate operational structures, with their own directorates, for both prisons and probation.

That this House believes that the record high prison population and reducing budgets have undermined the National Offender Management Service's objective of tackling re-offending; considers that this undermines the ability of the Probation Service to function effectively; and calls on the Government to create separate operational structures, with their own...

That this House is concerned at the number of former armed service personnel in prison or under the supervision of the Probation Service on community service or parole; notes that of the estimated 20,000 veterans that leave the structured environment of the armed forces to return to civilian life each year, many experience profound difficulties such as depression, homelessness and reliance on alcohol, with a smaller number suffering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder; is concerned that appropriate counselling, health and welfare support is not reaching many of these ex-soldiers; and therefore calls on the Government to work with the trade unions representing staff in the justice sector and the armed services voluntary sector to implement a co-ordinated national strategy to ensure that counselling and advice facilities are available during and immediately after service to minimise the chances of individuals entering the criminal justice system, and that help and advice is available for those who do enter the criminal justice system to avoid reoffending.

That this House is concerned at the number of former armed service personnel in prison or under the supervision of the Probation Service on community service or parole; notes that of the estimated 20,000 veterans that leave the structured environment of the armed forces to return to civilian life each...

That this House notes that there are 14 women's prisons, four purpose-built female juvenile units and seven mother and baby units in England; further notes that over the last 10 years there has been a significant increase in the numbers of women in prison from an average of 1,560 in 1993 to around 4,463 in June 2006; is concerned at the large number of women in prison, given that women tend to commit less crime and their offences are generally less serious; is alarmed at reports from the Prison Officers' Association of the high occurrence of mental illness within the female estate, with approximately 30 per cent. of female prisoners self-injuring each year; and therefore calls on the Government to urgently reassess all the factors, including sentencing policies as recommended by the Corston Report, which have led to the large increase in female prisoners and to ensure that female offenders receive the appropriate emotional, psychological and medical support whilst in prison and following release.

That this House notes that there are 14 women's prisons, four purpose-built female juvenile units and seven mother and baby units in England; further notes that over the last 10 years there has been a significant increase in the numbers of women in prison from an average of 1,560 in...

That this House urges the Government to ensure that the Probation Service in England and Wales has sufficient resources to ensure that it can carry out its statutory duties in an effective and efficient manner.

That this House urges the Government to ensure that the Probation Service in England and Wales has sufficient resources to ensure that it can carry out its statutory duties in an effective and efficient manner.

That this House supports the Prescription Promise campaign in urging the Prime Minister to implement his promise, made in September 2008, to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions as soon as possible; believes that timely access to appropriate medication is crucial in order to minimise the impact of living with a long-term condition for the individual and to minimise the cost of treating long-term conditions for the NHS; is therefore concerned that the recession has made it harder for large numbers of people with long-term conditions to pay for their prescriptions and that many are going without vital medicines; notes that the Government has identified savings from the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme of around ??550 million per year from 2010, which will be more than sufficient to cover the ??250-??350 million cost, estimated by the Department of Health, of implementing free prescriptions for people with long-term conditions; further notes with concern that Professor Ian Gilmore's review of prescription charges has not yet been published; and calls on the Government to publish this review and its own response as soon as possible.

That this House supports the Prescription Promise campaign in urging the Prime Minister to implement his promise, made in September 2008, to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions as soon as possible; believes that timely access to appropriate medication is crucial in order to minimise the impact of...

That this House notes that there are 14 women's prisons, four purpose built female juvenile units and seven mother and baby units in England; further notes that over the last 10 years there has been a significant increase rise in the number of women in prison from an average of 1,560 in 1993 to around 4,463 in June 2006; is concerned at the large number of women in prison given that women tend to commit less crime and their offences are generally less serious; is alarmed at reports from the Prison Officers' Association of the high occurrence of mental illness within the female estate, with approximately 30 per cent. of female prisoners self-injuring each year; and therefore calls on the Government to reassess urgently all the factors, including sentencing policies as recommended by the Corston Report, which have led to the large increase in female prisoners and to ensure that female offenders receive the appropriate emotional, psychological and medical support whilst in prison and following release.

That this House notes that there are 14 women's prisons, four purpose built female juvenile units and seven mother and baby units in England; further notes that over the last 10 years there has been a significant increase rise in the number of women in prison from an average of...

That this House notes with concern that around the world 15 million children have lost one or more parents due to AIDS; notes that only 31 per cent. of adults and barely 10 per cent. of children in need of HIV treatment have access to it and that access to prevention is also limited; further notes that there is a lack of appropriate HIV treatments for children, and that the number of adults who have become resistant to basic HIV treatment and require more expensive medicines is increasing; recognises that pharmaceutical companies have a vital role to play in helping to achieve universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010; welcomes the fact that many companies have chosen voluntarily to sign up to new patent pool arrangements; and calls for governments, businesses and voluntary organisations to work together in tackling the epidemic.

That this House notes with concern that around the world 15 million children have lost one or more parents due to AIDS; notes that only 31 per cent. of adults and barely 10 per cent. of children in need of HIV treatment have access to it and that access to...

That this House urges the Government to ensure that the Probation Service in England and Wales has sufficient resources to ensure that it can carry out its statutory duties in an effective and efficient manner.

That this House urges the Government to ensure that the Probation Service in England and Wales has sufficient resources to ensure that it can carry out its statutory duties in an effective and efficient manner.

That this House recognises the importance of the forthcoming Durban Review Conference to be held in Geneva in April 2009; recalls the declaration of the World Conference Against Racism held in Durban in 2001 which emphasised the importance of the provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at the national, regional and international levels, aimed at countering the continued impact of slavery and the slave trade; and urges the Government to support proposals at the Review to ensure that the recommendations of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action are put into practice.

That this House recognises the importance of the forthcoming Durban Review Conference to be held in Geneva in April 2009; recalls the declaration of the World Conference Against Racism held in Durban in 2001 which emphasised the importance of the provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other...

That this House notes that people seeking asylum whose claims have been refused and who are unable to return home receive section 4 support in the form of supermarket vouchers; welcomes the Refugee Council's recent report, More Token Gestures, which reveals that this voucher system fails to meet the needs of this vulnerable group of people, exacerbates the hardships they face and leaves them open to hostility and abuse; further notes that vouchers are costly to administer and damaging to community relations; and therefore calls on the Government to abandon the inhumane voucher system without delay and to allow people on section 4 support to receive support in cash rather than vouchers and to have the entitlement to work to support themselves.

That this House notes that people seeking asylum whose claims have been refused and who are unable to return home receive section 4 support in the form of supermarket vouchers; welcomes the Refugee Council's recent report, More Token Gestures, which reveals that this voucher system fails to meet the needs...

That this House notes prison officers' overwhelming rejection of the Government's workforce modernisation proposals for the Prison Service, with around 84 per cent. voting against the measures; further notes that the proposed re-structuring includes measures that could threaten to de-skill the workforce with the introduction of a new lower grade and lower paid prison officer, a compulsory annual fitness test as opposed to continuous occupational health monitoring with appropriate support and non-consolidated pay awards after a year which would disadvantage prison officers' pensions; regrets the low morale already amongst prison officers due to increasing workloads, a soaring prison population, lack of investment in frontline staff, privatisation and the denial of basic trade union rights; believes that efficiency savings should not come at the cost of unsafe working conditions and practices; and urges the Government to halt the implementation of workforce modernisation and instead enter into meaningful negotiations with the Prison Officers' Association.

That this House notes prison officers' overwhelming rejection of the Government's workforce modernisation proposals for the Prison Service, with around 84 per cent. voting against the measures; further notes that the proposed re-structuring includes measures that could threaten to de-skill the workforce with the introduction of a new lower grade...

That this House urges the Government to take action to regulate the activities of car clamping companies such as Citywatch; notes that Citywatch has clamped motorists parking on garage forecourts in Walthamstow for a few moments to use the garage shop or obtain a car wash token from the shop and then have charged ??465 to remove the clamp; believes that this level of charge is totally disproportionate to any offence which may have been committed; notes that this type of conduct is becoming common among companies operating to clamp cars parked on private land; and calls on the Government to introduce regulations to control the activities of such companies and to limit the charges which they can apply for the removal of clamps and the storage of vehicles which have been removed.

That this House urges the Government to take action to regulate the activities of car clamping companies such as Citywatch; notes that Citywatch has clamped motorists parking on garage forecourts in Walthamstow for a few moments to use the garage shop or obtain a car wash token from the shop...

That this House is concerned that large numbers of people with long-term conditions are struggling to afford vital medication and that some are unable to pay; welcomes the commitment given by the Prime Minister in September 2008 to abolish prescription charges for people with cancer from April 2009 and for people with long-term conditions over the next few years; notes that the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme will deliver substantial savings to the NHS drugs budget; further welcomes the announcement that Professor Ian Gilmore will conduct a review to consider how to implement this policy; and supports the Campaign for Free Prescriptions for Long-term Conditions in urging the Government to abolish prescription charges for all people with all long-term conditions before the next General Election.

That this House is concerned that large numbers of people with long-term conditions are struggling to afford vital medication and that some are unable to pay; welcomes the commitment given by the Prime Minister in September 2008 to abolish prescription charges for people with cancer from April 2009 and for...

That this House marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; highlights Article 22 - the right to social security; further highlights Article 25 - the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being; further highlights Article 26 - the universal right to education; deplores the fact that despite 60 years of recognition for universal human rights, millions of the world's citizens still live in abject poverty, without access to adequate nutrition healthcare, sanitation, education and clean water; notes that the millennium development goals (MDGs), if achieved, would substantially contribute to the realisation of the rights of millions of the world's poorest by reducing hunger and poverty and by improving health, the environment, education and gender equality; is deeply concerned that progress toward the achievement of the MDGs for improving basic standards of living for the world's poorest remains seriously off-track; supports the Government in continuing working towards achieving the MDGs by meeting its full obligations regarding the quality and quantity of overseas development assistance it provides and also by encouraging the international community to do likewise; and urges the Government to ensure that such efforts are not undermined by redoubling its commitment to ending the harmful global trade rules and conventions that constrain the economies of the world's least developed countries.

That this House marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; highlights Article 22 - the right to social security; further highlights Article 25 - the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being; further highlights Article 26 - the universal right to education;...

That this House values the work of the staff who are employed in the Criminal Justice System for their efforts to deliver a good service despite difficult conditions and circumstances; and therefore urges the Government to ensure that staff are paid an appropriate rate for the service they provide, that workloads are eased to containable and realistic levels and that sufficient resources are allocated to allow staff to carry out their statutory duties efficiently and effectively.

That this House values the work of the staff who are employed in the Criminal Justice System for their efforts to deliver a good service despite difficult conditions and circumstances; and therefore urges the Government to ensure that staff are paid an appropriate rate for the service they provide, that...

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Contracting Out (Administrative and Other Court Staff) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 2791), dated 23rd October 2008, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th October, be annulled.

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Contracting Out (Administrative and Other Court Staff) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I., 2008, No. 2791), dated 23rd October 2008, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th October, be annulled.

That this House recognises the contribution made to public safety by the police, prison officers, probation, courts and Crown Prosecution Service staff; and therefore calls on the Government without delay to ensure that staff in the criminal justice system can carry out their statutory duties in an efficient and effective manner.

That this House recognises the contribution made to public safety by the police, prison officers, probation, courts and Crown Prosecution Service staff; and therefore calls on the Government without delay to ensure that staff in the criminal justice system can carry out their statutory duties in an efficient and effective...

That this House notes that young people across the world are disproportionately affected by problems relating to sexual and reproductive health and that they are suffering and dying because of a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and supplies; recognises that this leads to cycles of poverty and hunger and reduced school enrolment and education; further recognises that sexual and reproductive health education and rights are essential to reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, and empowering women; believes that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals is impossible without focusing specifically on the needs of young people; and asks that the Government includes a specific focus on young people in its development plans by guaranteeing funding for research into young people's sexual and reproductive health, services and programmes.

That this House notes that young people across the world are disproportionately affected by problems relating to sexual and reproductive health and that they are suffering and dying because of a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and supplies; recognises that this leads to cycles of...

That this House believes that the term of protection for performers' rights should be increased from 50 years, to ensure that these rights do not expire within the lifetime of the performer; further believes that this change is vital for the unsung heroes of the music industry, not just the stars and household names; considers that it is unfair for performers to lose out on income from their creative work after 50 years, when composers and songwriters can still benefit; understands that upwards of 7,000 artists who recorded songs between 1955 and 1965 have started to lose out on millions of pounds of royalties; and calls on the Government to back the extension of performers' rights at a European level.

That this House believes that the term of protection for performers' rights should be increased from 50 years, to ensure that these rights do not expire within the lifetime of the performer; further believes that this change is vital for the unsung heroes of the music industry, not just the...

That this House believes that the Probation Service in England and Wales must be properly funded in order to carry out its statutory duties; believes that the cuts scheduled for the next three financial years will result in a loss of staff and a deterioration in the quality of services; and therefore urges the Government to review these budget proposals.

That this House believes that the Probation Service in England and Wales must be properly funded in order to carry out its statutory duties; believes that the cuts scheduled for the next three financial years will result in a loss of staff and a deterioration in the quality of services;...