That this House commends The Western Morning News, The Express and Echo, The Herald Express and The Evening Herald for their SOS South West Campaign with its plea to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of the South West; notes that Devon and Cornwall is a region in crisis and that the foot and mouth plague which has savaged the farming industry now threatens to bring the whole of the industry to the brink of economic disaster; notes further that farming and tourism together represent 30 per cent of the region's GDP; notes that job losses in Devon may well eclipse those seen in manufacturing industries like Longbridge where ??150 million of taxpayers' money was committed; notes that economists have provisionally estimated that Devon alone could lose 10,000 jobs; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to acknowledge that the South West is a region worth saving with a properly funded programme of substantial regional aid.

That this House commends The Western Morning News, The Express and Echo, The Herald Express and The Evening Herald for their SOS South West Campaign with its plea to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of the South West; notes that Devon and Cornwall is a region in...

That this House notes that, until April 2001, ??200 million of EU funds are available to United Kingdom farmers under the agrimonetary compensation scheme; is aware that a failure on the part of Her Majesty's Government to claim this money would have a catastrophic effect on an industry which has already suffered a 90 per cent. fall in incomes over the past five years; is concerned that the savings, made by the Government through the effect of exchange rates on payouts on certain agricultural subsidies, are not redirected into the farming industry; notes further that ??55 million will be recouped on the Sheep Annual Premium Scheme alone; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to bid for the ??200 million before the European Commission's deadline in April 2001.

That this House notes that, until April 2001, ??200 million of EU funds are available to United Kingdom farmers under the agrimonetary compensation scheme; is aware that a failure on the part of Her Majesty's Government to claim this money would have a catastrophic effect on an industry which has...

That this House recognises the enormous contribution made by British naval servicemen and women to the defence of this country; notes the concerns expressed by honourable Members from all parties about the plundering of naval war graves by some commercial and amateur divers; believes that naval war graves of all nations should be afforded greater protection under both existing legislation, such as the Protection of Military Remains Act and the Protection of Wrecks Act, and if necessary through new measures; welcomes Government moves to press for international laws to safeguard the graves of our naval heroes; and calls for the establishment of an exclusion zone around naval war graves for a minimum of 100 years from the time of loss.

That this House recognises the enormous contribution made by British naval servicemen and women to the defence of this country; notes the concerns expressed by honourable Members from all parties about the plundering of naval war graves by some commercial and amateur divers; believes that naval war graves of all...

That this House believes that the debate on the position to be taken by the Fisheries Minister at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in December is of vital importance to the fishing industry; notes that for this reason it has always been the practice to hold the debate on the floor of the House; notes that this year the debate was held instead in European Standing Committee A; notes with approval the assurance given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that he sympathised with the objections expressed by committee members that the debate was not taking place on the floor of the House; notes with the approval that the Parliamentary Secretary said he would convey to the Leader of the House the view of the committee that the debate in European Standing Committee A was no substitute for a debate on the floor of the House; and calls upon the Leader of the House to ensure that such a debate takes place early in the New Year.

That this House believes that the debate on the position to be taken by the Fisheries Minister at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in December is of vital importance to the fishing industry; notes that for this reason it has always been the practice to hold the debate on...

That this House notes that on 14th January 2000 the Director of Social Services of Devon County Council reported to the council that the projected deficit of his Department at the end of the financial year 1999-2000 was in the region of ??4.5 million and drew attention to the fact that in spite of county council budget reductions the social services budget deficit for the current year could increase to ??9 million if people currently using services continued to do so; notes further that this situation arises as a direct result of the financial incompetence and administrative inability of Devon County Council in that it failed to address the projected deficit other than by withdrawing or restricting support facilities to the most vulnerable, elderly and handicapped people in the county; notes further that the council has failed to provide community support as laid down in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; regretfully concludes that the Social Services Department has failed to discharge its statutory duty; and calls upon Devon County Council to review its spending on social services in light of the increased budget for the current financial year to ??495 million.

That this House notes that on 14th January 2000 the Director of Social Services of Devon County Council reported to the council that the projected deficit of his Department at the end of the financial year 1999-2000 was in the region of ??4.5 million and drew attention to the fact...

That this House notes the enormous support from honourable Members of all parties for the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation (15 Year Programme) Bill introduced in the last session, when 351 honourable Members signed a motion calling for it to become law; notes that the Bill required the Secretary of State to draw up a programme of action to ensure that energy conservation measures were taken on 500,000 homes per year over a period of 15 years with the aim of ending fuel poverty in the United Kingdom; recognises that such a programme would improve public health, benefit the environment and create jobs; welcomes the announcement of 11th November 1999 of an Inter-Ministerial Group to examine the way ahead on fuel poverty with a remit to set a target date for eliminating the problem; and hopes that there will be time this session to discuss and pass a Bill that will lead to an end to the problem of fuel poverty.

That this House notes the enormous support from honourable Members of all parties for the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation (15 Year Programme) Bill introduced in the last session, when 351 honourable Members signed a motion calling for it to become law; notes that the Bill required the Secretary of...

That this House condemns plans to scrap Britain's right to veto tax and budget changes in Europe; further deplores German plans to harmonise European taxes, so that Britain loses the rebate won by Baroness Thatcher; and calls on the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to bury their differences and start fighting for Britain instead.

That this House condemns plans to scrap Britain's right to veto tax and budget changes in Europe; further deplores German plans to harmonise European taxes, so that Britain loses the rebate won by Baroness Thatcher; and calls on the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign and...

That this House deplores the continuing oppression of the people of East Timor by the Government of Indonesia; recalls that one-third of the people of East Timor have been killed in the twenty years since its illegal annexation; is appalled at the fact that the United Kingdom Government has sanctioned the sale of British Aerospace Hawk aircraft to the Indonesian Government despite the fact that such aircraft have been used to attack the people of East Timor; and demands that the delivery of Hawk jets and other weapons to Indonesia be cancelled until a full enquiry on the lines of that conducted by Lord Justice Scott into the Arms to Iraq affair has investigated the role of the British Government in allowing such sales.

That this House deplores the continuing oppression of the people of East Timor by the Government of Indonesia; recalls that one-third of the people of East Timor have been killed in the twenty years since its illegal annexation; is appalled at the fact that the United Kingdom Government has sanctioned...

That this House condemns the continued denial of the rights of the people of East Timor by the Indonesian government; notes with concern the fact that, in spite of 10 UN resolutions over the past 20 years, Her Majesty's Government continues to support the genocidal actions of the Suharto regime including by the morally and legally reprehensible provision of export licences allowing British Aerospace to sell Hawk jets to Indonesia; believes that the Scott Inquiry team should be asked to investigate the role of the British Government in allowing sales which are contrary to international and national guidelines; and finally calls for the immediate cancellation of the deliveryof the Hawk jets and all other weapons to Indonesia until such inquiry has taken place.

That this House condemns the continued denial of the rights of the people of East Timor by the Indonesian government; notes with concern the fact that, in spite of 10 UN resolutions over the past 20 years, Her Majesty's Government continues to support the genocidal actions of the Suharto regime...

That this House condemns the selection by the Labour Party of Mr John Lloyd to stand as their candidate in Exeter; notes that Mr Lloyd is a self-confessed former terrorist who was an active member of the African Resistance Movement who carried out a series of bomb attacks including one at Johannesburg railway station on 24th July 1964 which killed a 77 year old woman and injured several others; regrets the decision of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party to endorse Mr Lloyd as a candidate despite being aware of all his terrorist activities; and believes that this is yet more evidence that the Labour Party is not fit to govern.

That this House condemns the selection by the Labour Party of Mr John Lloyd to stand as their candidate in Exeter; notes that Mr Lloyd is a self-confessed former terrorist who was an active member of the African Resistance Movement who carried out a series of bomb attacks including one...

That this House requests the Administration Committee to allow photography and filming of matters which are not official committees of the House in any of the Committee Rooms where it has been expressly permitted by the honourable Member in whose name the room is booked, and is under the supervision either of that honourable Member or a responsible person directly and specifically authorised by them.

That this House requests the Administration Committee to allow photography and filming of matters which are not official committees of the House in any of the Committee Rooms where it has been expressly permitted by the honourable Member in whose name the room is booked, and is under the supervision...

That this House notes with the greatest concern that, in recent days, sentences imposed by magistrates, both lay and stipendiary, appear to be seriously open to question; notes in particular that a Stipendiary Magistrate, sentencing a man with previous convictions for violence and criminal damage, for a vicious and unprovoked assault, is alleged to have expressed words recording sympathy for the convicted person and not his victim; is gravely concerned that the confidence which the public is entitled to have in the competence of its courts is gravely undermined by the present inability of the Attorney General to challenge apparently inappropriate sentences imposed by magistrates' courts; and calls upon the Government as a matter of urgency to bring forward proposals for the Attorney General to have such a power.

That this House notes with the greatest concern that, in recent days, sentences imposed by magistrates, both lay and stipendiary, appear to be seriously open to question; notes in particular that a Stipendiary Magistrate, sentencing a man with previous convictions for violence and criminal damage, for a vicious and unprovoked...

That this House notes that the Devon and Cornwall Police are currently investigating apparent discrepancies in Liberal Democrat election expenditure returns for all 11 of Torbay's Devon County Council seats; further notes that the allegations could lead to criminal charges and disqualifications, severely damaging the Liberal Democrat minority administration on Devon County Council; observes that one of the allegations concerns a newspaper which, though clearly promoting Liberal Democrat candidates, had apparently not been declared as an election expenditure; is reminded that the bogus local newspaper, deliberately designed to mislead the electorate, is one of the Liberal Democrat's favourite campaigning tricks, and is actively encouraged in the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors' Campaign Guide, No. 1; and calls upon all those under investigation to co-operate fully with the police in their enquiries.

That this House notes that the Devon and Cornwall Police are currently investigating apparent discrepancies in Liberal Democrat election expenditure returns for all 11 of Torbay's Devon County Council seats; further notes that the allegations could lead to criminal charges and disqualifications, severely damaging the Liberal Democrat minority administration on...

That this House regrets the decision of the Liberal Democrat Party to support the proposal contained in the draft European Liberal Democrat and Reform Parties Manifesto to end the right of a national veto over decision making in the European Council of Ministers; and believes that this policy would result in Britain being forced to end zero-rating for VAT purposes on food and children's clothes.

That this House regrets the decision of the Liberal Democrat Party to support the proposal contained in the draft European Liberal Democrat and Reform Parties Manifesto to end the right of a national veto over decision making in the European Council of Ministers; and believes that this policy would result...

That this House notes the hypocrisy of the Liberal Democratic Party over its policy on Europe; recalls the statement of Liberal Democrats' spokesman on Europe, the honourable Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber, that 'the Nation state in terms of the old concept of sovereignty has seen its day' (Official Report, 26th June 1991, column 1365); contracts these remarks with his party's new policy of 'decentralised federalism'; believes that this new policy is contradicted by a long list of centralising proposals supported by the Liberal Democrats which include signing up to the Social Chapter, signing up now for a timetable for a single currency, a common defence and security policy, a common immigration policy, a common rural policy and, most significantly, accepting majority voting in the Council of Ministers, meaning the end of the national veto; believes that they have sought to disguise centralising policies, designed to create a United States of Europe, in decentralising rhetoric; and believes this to be a blatant attempt to mislead the electorate in the hope of gaining political advantage in the forthcoming European elections.

That this House notes the hypocrisy of the Liberal Democratic Party over its policy on Europe; recalls the statement of Liberal Democrats' spokesman on Europe, the honourable Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber, that 'the Nation state in terms of the old concept of sovereignty has seen its day' (Official...

That this House calls upon the Right honourable Member for Yeovil to disassociate himself from the description by Tom Dommett, a Liberal Democrat County Councillor, of his constituents in Somerset, as 'Yids, Nig-nogs, Ities and Pakis ... no better than New Age scum and vermin'; believes that the use of such grossly offensive language about people of other nationalities and races is wholly unacceptable in public life; notes that this is yet the latest example of blatant racism within the Liberal Democrat Party; and calls upon the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, the Right honourable Member for Yeovil, to expel Councillor Dommett from the party forthwith.

That this House calls upon the Right honourable Member for Yeovil to disassociate himself from the description by Tom Dommett, a Liberal Democrat County Councillor, of his constituents in Somerset, as 'Yids, Nig-nogs, Ities and Pakis ... no better than New Age scum and vermin'; believes that the use of...

That this House notes that the Daily Mirror and the Daily Record have over the years played a vitally important campaigning and news role as the only left of centre daily newspapers in the United Kingdom; further notes the need in a free society for balance in the news media; expresses its solidarity with the journalists, editorial and production staff; and also pledges full support for their current attempt to secure the papers' future by means of a management buyout.

That this House notes that the Daily Mirror and the Daily Record have over the years played a vitally important campaigning and news role as the only left of centre daily newspapers in the United Kingdom; further notes the need in a free society for balance in the news media;...

That this House notes the role of Robert Maxwell in providing employment, funds or both to officials and associates of the Labour Party, including Sir Tom McCaffrey, Joe Haines, Nick Grant and Helen Liddell; observes that, had Labour won a General Election, they would doubtless have transferred their skills from running one man's rickety empire to running the country; notes further that contributions in cash and kind have been made from this source towards running the Labour Party; and calls for full explanations, appropriate disgorgement and compensation to the unfortunate pensioners of the Maxwell organisation.

That this House notes the role of Robert Maxwell in providing employment, funds or both to officials and associates of the Labour Party, including Sir Tom McCaffrey, Joe Haines, Nick Grant and Helen Liddell; observes that, had Labour won a General Election, they would doubtless have transferred their skills from...

That this House urges the Prime Minister not to recommend the creation of any more hereditary peerages; and points out that while there is justification for giving recognition to the achievements of individuals, it is logically inconsistent with a classless society to perpetuate that honour to descendants.

That this House urges the Prime Minister not to recommend the creation of any more hereditary peerages; and points out that while there is justification for giving recognition to the achievements of individuals, it is logically inconsistent with a classless society to perpetuate that honour to descendants.

That this House notes that the honourable Member for Oldham West commenting on the first report of the Social Security Committee, Low Income Statistics, says that the average income of the poorest 10 per cent. of the population has dropped by 6 per cent. during the Thatcher years; notes that he inaccurately quotes the figure of 6.2 per cent. at Appendix 2 to the report, which refers to analyses by decile group mean; notes that at page xii of the report, `mean' is described as a `misleading indicator' and is otherwise disapproved; notes that page xiv shows an increase of 9.5 per cent.; notes that this point was raised and clarified at the Social Security Committee press conference which the honourable Member did not trouble to attend; notes from paragraph 15 that `Real disposable incomes grew by more than 30 per cent. between 1979 and 1988, with increases in real income being seen at all levels of the income scale. Particularly large increases were seen in the higher income deciles. Against this, the median income of the poorest decile rose by 9.5'; notes that the honourable Member fundamentally distorts to his own advantage the findings of an all-party report either through failure to check the facts or a desire to mislead the public; and calls upon him to act with more responsibility and restraint when dealing with material in a way calculated to distress, on entirely false premises, the most vulnerable sections of society.

That this House notes that the honourable Member for Oldham West commenting on the first report of the Social Security Committee, Low Income Statistics, says that the average income of the poorest 10 per cent. of the population has dropped by 6 per cent. during the Thatcher years; notes that...