That this House heartily thanks Dr Janet Anderson, paediatrician and clinical director of paediatrics, for more than 30 years of selfless service principally to the children of Wolverhampton but also to children around the world; notes her contributions as a consultant paediatrician, overseeing the expansion of paediatric services in the city from four consultants to 12, as well as through her role as a national organiser for training in paediatrics and as an examiner and senior examiner, both in the UK and abroad, thereby helping the next generation of specialists with her vast knowledge of the specialty; further notes her delivery of a high quality service in diabetes and endocrinology; and wishes her a long, happy and well-earned retirement.

That this House heartily thanks Dr Janet Anderson, paediatrician and clinical director of paediatrics, for more than 30 years of selfless service principally to the children of Wolverhampton but also to children around the world; notes her contributions as a consultant paediatrician, overseeing the expansion of paediatric services in the...

That this House is concerned about the competence of the Government's Commission on Integration and Cohesion, whose Chair, Mr. Darra Singh, has still not replied to the letter from the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs dated 22nd September 2006, despite several reminders.

That this House is concerned about the competence of the Government's Commission on Integration and Cohesion, whose Chair, Mr. Darra Singh, has still not replied to the letter from the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs dated 22nd September 2006, despite several reminders.

That this House notes with concern that there are three million people in fuel poverty; further notes that there is considerably more work to be done if the Government is to meet its target to eradicate fuel poverty amongst the vulnerable by 2010; believes that social tariffs have a key role to play in helping the fuel poor both to manage their energy costs and to heat their homes to a comfortable and safe standard; welcomes the decision by British Gas and EdF energy to introduce social tariffs for their most vulnerable customers; notes that under the British Gas social tariff vulnerable customers on its gas and electricity prepayment meters will be eligible for the same lower tariffs as direct debit customers, which will see those customers' bills fall by an average of about ??285 per annum; and calls on all other energy suppliers to introduce social tariffs which ensure that vulnerable customers pay at the same rate as the lowest direct debit rate.

That this House notes with concern that there are three million people in fuel poverty; further notes that there is considerably more work to be done if the Government is to meet its target to eradicate fuel poverty amongst the vulnerable by 2010; believes that social tariffs have a key...

That this House recognises that two decades of discussions and negotiations between the European Union and Turkey has produced far too little improvement in Turkey's unacceptable human rights record; and urges the Government now to seek to persuade the EU to abandon completely all accession talks with Turkey, on the basis that Turkey will not in the foreseeable future be fit to be a member of the EU.

That this House recognises that two decades of discussions and negotiations between the European Union and Turkey has produced far too little improvement in Turkey's unacceptable human rights record; and urges the Government now to seek to persuade the EU to abandon completely all accession talks with Turkey, on the...

That this House, observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5th February 2007, sadly recognises that since 1988, an estimated 100,000 Kashmiris have tragically lost their lives as a direct result of the violent conflict in the region; welcomes the initiatives being undertaken by the Pakistani and Indian governments working towards a peaceful resolution in Kashmir; emphasises the need for self-determination for the people of Kashmir; and stresses that no viable long-term solution will be found unless the Kashmiri people are both represented in and central to the negotiations and formally give their consent to any final resolution, and that only then will the tragic and unnecessary loss of life cease and justice be delivered to the long-suffering people of Kashmir and both India and Pakistan become freed to focus on their common enemies, which are poverty, illiteracy, lack of healthcare, lack of sanitation and poor infrastructure development.

That this House, observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5th February 2007, sadly recognises that since 1988, an estimated 100,000 Kashmiris have tragically lost their lives as a direct result of the violent conflict in the region; welcomes the initiatives being undertaken by the Pakistani and Indian governments working towards a...

That this House believes that if the United Kingdom is to have an additional national public holiday, it should fall on 11th November, or if that is deemed to be impractical, the nearest Monday; that this would allow for greater reflection on the immense contribution made in conflict by successive generations to the continued freedom and prosperity of the United Kingdom and its allies; and that this national public holiday should be introduced to mark the death of the last British veteran from World War One, or alternatively, in 2008, the 90th anniversary of Armstice Day.

That this House believes that if the United Kingdom is to have an additional national public holiday, it should fall on 11th November, or if that is deemed to be impractical, the nearest Monday; that this would allow for greater reflection on the immense contribution made in conflict by successive...

That this House recognises that two decades of discussions and negotiations between the European Union and Turkey has produced far too little improvement in Turkey's unacceptable human rights record; and urges the UK Government now to seek to persuade the EU to abandon completely all accession talks with Turkey, on the basis that Turkey will not in the foreseeable future be fit to be a member of the EU.

That this House recognises that two decades of discussions and negotiations between the European Union and Turkey has produced far too little improvement in Turkey's unacceptable human rights record; and urges the UK Government now to seek to persuade the EU to abandon completely all accession talks with Turkey, on...

That this House joins the people of Canada in celebrating their national day on 1st July; notes Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of the formation of the union of British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on 1st July 1868; recognises the shared heritage and special relationship between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Canada; and calls upon the Government to continue to strengthen the close political, economic and cultural ties that bind the two nations together.

That this House joins the people of Canada in celebrating their national day on 1st July; notes Canada Day celebrates the anniversary of the formation of the union of British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on 1st July 1868; recognises the shared heritage and...

That this House congratulates the peoples of Canada on the 139th birthday of their country on 1st July 2006; and looks forward to continuing strong and friendly ties between Canada and the UK.

That this House congratulates the peoples of Canada on the 139th birthday of their country on 1st July 2006; and looks forward to continuing strong and friendly ties between Canada and the UK.

That this House believes that no public monies should be spent, directly or indirectly, on subsidising the construction or operation of new nuclear power stations in the UK.

That this House believes that no public monies should be spent, directly or indirectly, on subsidising the construction or operation of new nuclear power stations in the UK.

That this House congratulates the `Minister for Rain' the hon. Member for Dudley South, for his immediate success, thereby continuing the West Midlands tradition started by Denis Howell in 1976.

That this House congratulates the `Minister for Rain' the hon. Member for Dudley South, for his immediate success, thereby continuing the West Midlands tradition started by Denis Howell in 1976.

That this House welcomes the Government's March 2006 publication, Climate Change - the UK programme 2006 in as much as it sets out the UK's many laudable current and proposed initiatives to cut UK emissions of greenhouse gases; notes that the UK accounts for about two per cent. of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions, with most other countries' emissions still increasing; further notes that too few people in the UK or abroad are much inclined to abandon, for example, their cars or their cheap flights and thereby deduces that climate change will increase greatly in the next few decades; is therefore disappointed to note that less than 10 per cent. of that publication is devoted to dealing with the UK's adaptation to the effects of climate change, particularly since most of that publication's adaptation material relates to yet more studies and a quite insufficient amount relates to concrete actions to adapt to the actual effects of climate change on the UK; and therefore urges the Government to proceed much more quickly with adaptation actions.

That this House welcomes the Government's March 2006 publication, Climate Change - the UK programme 2006 in as much as it sets out the UK's many laudable current and proposed initiatives to cut UK emissions of greenhouse gases; notes that the UK accounts for about two per cent. of the...

That this House believes that St. George's Day, 23rd April, should henceforth each year be a bank holiday in England.

That this House believes that St. George's Day, 23rd April, should henceforth each year be a bank holiday in England.

That this House welcomes the emphasis in the Foster Review of Further Education on increasing the learner voice and its input into college policy; firmly believes that students have a clear role to play in the production and quality of their educational experience; calls on the Government and the Learning and Skills Council to ensure that any move by colleges towards greater self-regulation is conditional upon their proving to external auditors that students are actively involved and represented by elected learner representatives in colleges' self-assessment and quality improvement procedures; further calls for student representation to be adequately funded so that learners are able to make a real impact on the design and delivery of their eduction; and notes the positive suggestions put forward in the National Union of Students' Loud and Clear campaign to achieve these ends.

That this House welcomes the emphasis in the Foster Review of Further Education on increasing the learner voice and its input into college policy; firmly believes that students have a clear role to play in the production and quality of their educational experience; calls on the Government and the Learning...

That this House is shocked at reports that the English National Opera (ENO) has received ??150 million of state subsidy in the last 10 years, continues to receive ??16 million a year of taxpayers' money, has recently spent ??40 million on refurbishment of its London Coliseum building, which is now falling apart, has had two Government rescue packages in the last eight years totalling ??19.2 million and yet is still in crisis, with small audiences meaning that box-office takings are little more than 25 per cent. of its annual expenditure; notes that the ENO is based in London, as is the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden; and so calls on the Government and the Arts Council to cease forthwith all subsidies of the extravagant and failed ENO, and instead spend the money on other arts organisations around the country.

That this House is shocked at reports that the English National Opera (ENO) has received ??150 million of state subsidy in the last 10 years, continues to receive ??16 million a year of taxpayers' money, has recently spent ??40 million on refurbishment of its London Coliseum building, which is now...

That this House expresses its amazement and consternation that, even though the cover being erected over the short walkway by Star Chamber Court is costing an extraordinary ??422,000, it is a hazard to taller persons, including for example the honourable Members for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Bedfordshire South West, Berwickshire Roxburgh and Selkirk, and Wolverhampton South West; and believes the money would have been better spent on improving the environmental performance of the House of Commons.

That this House expresses its amazement and consternation that, even though the cover being erected over the short walkway by Star Chamber Court is costing an extraordinary ??422,000, it is a hazard to taller persons, including for example the honourable Members for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Bedfordshire South West, Berwickshire Roxburgh...

That this House is surprised that the Government is not buying the United Kingdom's only railway test track, situated at Asfordby in the Midlands, which is used for testing new engines and rolling stock for training, meaning that this facility will be closed on 31st January 2006 and the rails then removed, thereby leaving the United Kingdom without any non-main line rail test track, and in the regrettable position of having to hire such track overseas, which cannot be regarded as offering encouragement for UK development of the high-technology trains and rolling stock needed in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

That this House is surprised that the Government is not buying the United Kingdom's only railway test track, situated at Asfordby in the Midlands, which is used for testing new engines and rolling stock for training, meaning that this facility will be closed on 31st January 2006 and the rails...

That this House is deeply concerned by the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA) plans to close three rail lines, linking Wolverhampton and Walsall, Stafford and Hednesford, and Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford; notes that the Wolverhampton to Walsall rail journey time is 13 minutes, a time which it is only possible safely to match by road when going non-stop and off-peak, and that this rail route carried 16 per cent. more passengers in 2004 than in 2003; further notes that the SRA plans to reduce the service between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street; further notes that such service cuts and closures will lead to increased road congestion and pollution, and greater noise levels; and so calls on the SRA to reconsider its plans forthwith with a view to maintaining these services.

That this House is deeply concerned by the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA) plans to close three rail lines, linking Wolverhampton and Walsall, Stafford and Hednesford, and Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford; notes that the Wolverhampton to Walsall rail journey time is 13 minutes, a time which it is only possible safely to...

That this House notes that Network Rail has yet to ensure that the performance of the rail system has returned to its pre-Hatfield level; further notes that the Office of Rail Regulation has criticised Network Rail for failing to meet its investment and renewal targets and for breaching its operating licence by failing to provide timetable information timeously enough to enable the advance purchase of discounted passenger tickets not later than 12 weeks prior to the date of travel; expresses its great surprise at Network Rail's plans to pay to four of its senior directors large bonuses of up to ??250,000 equivalent to more than 50 per cent. of their salaries, whilst stifling discussion of this issue at its 2005 Annual General Meeting; and urges the company to conduct forthwith a thorough and transparent review of its directors' bonus scheme.

That this House notes that Network Rail has yet to ensure that the performance of the rail system has returned to its pre-Hatfield level; further notes that the Office of Rail Regulation has criticised Network Rail for failing to meet its investment and renewal targets and for breaching its operating...

That this House notes the deep sadness, the condolences and the concerns of the UK Sikh community following the London bombings on 7th July; condemns all the subsequent attacks on minority communities, including those on Sikh Gurdwaras (temples), for example those in Leeds, in Erith and in Merton; recalls and condemns the several attacks suffered by the visible UK Sikh community and by other minority communities following the New York atrocity of 11th September 2001; and so urges the Home Secretary, chief constables and local authorities to take very seriously and investigate thoroughly any such attacks, whether experienced by the UK Sikh community or by any other minority communities.

That this House notes the deep sadness, the condolences and the concerns of the UK Sikh community following the London bombings on 7th July; condemns all the subsequent attacks on minority communities, including those on Sikh Gurdwaras (temples), for example those in Leeds, in Erith and in Merton; recalls and...