That this House acknowledges that a Bank Holiday on St George's Day would be a great opportunity for all English people regardless of colour or religion to recognise what binds them together instead of concentrating on differences; realises that there is growing demand in England for a day of national celebration; notes that Northern Ireland has had a Bank Holiday on St Patrick's Day since 1903, the Scottish Parliament has introduced a voluntary Bank Holiday on St Andrew's Day and the Welsh Assembly agrees that St David's Day should be a holiday; further notes that organisations such as the St George Unofficial Bank Holiday saw a 300 per cent. increase in the number of St George events during 2009; points out that there is a danger that England could be left behind without an opportunity to celebrate its rich culture and heritage; and supports a Bank Holiday being held in England on 23 April or the nearest Friday to that date.

That this House acknowledges that a Bank Holiday on St George's Day would be a great opportunity for all English people regardless of colour or religion to recognise what binds them together instead of concentrating on differences; realises that there is growing demand in England for a day of national...

That this House notes with concern the level of noise that is emitted from modified car exhaust systems; further notes the impact that this anti-social behaviour has on people's daily lives; calls on the Government to consider tightening regulations 54 and 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to ensure that exhaust systems remain in good working order and do not make excessive noise; asks that the Government considers banning from sale exhaust attachments that create a noise nuisance; and further calls on the Government to include a noise exhaust monitor as part of the MOT test.

That this House notes with concern the level of noise that is emitted from modified car exhaust systems; further notes the impact that this anti-social behaviour has on people's daily lives; calls on the Government to consider tightening regulations 54 and 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations...

That this House commends and supports the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association United Kingdom Branch in hosting its second International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change on the Countdown to Copenhagen for over 60 parliamentarians from Commonwealth and other legislatures, being held on 6 to 10 July 2009 in the Palace of Westminster; notes the importance of this conference as an opportunity to enhance the capacity of parliamentarians to hold their executives to account in seeking effective and just international and national agreements on climate change; further notes that the achievement of effective, realistic and fair emissions targets will be debated as well as the need for strategies to facilitate the development and transfer of climate change-related technology, climate mitigation and adaptation, water and food security, protection of forests and safe environmental migration; welcomes the application of human rights-based approaches and greater engagement between parliamentarians and those most affected by climate change, especially vulnerable and marginalised communities, in order to achieve more effective policy responses; and acknowledges this Parliament's commitment to encouraging open, challenging and meaningful international parliamentary dialogue and co-operation for greater international policy coherence on climate change.

That this House commends and supports the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association United Kingdom Branch in hosting its second International Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change on the Countdown to Copenhagen for over 60 parliamentarians from Commonwealth and other legislatures, being held on 6 to 10 July 2009 in the Palace of Westminster;...

That this House welcomes the publication of the National Dementia Strategy; is concerned that within 30 years dementia will affect 1.4 million people in the UK alone, costing the economy at least ??50 billion annually; agrees with the Alzheimer's Research Trust that dementia research must have substantially more financial support than its current 2.5 per cent. share of the medical research budget; and urges the Government to increase support for the UK's world-class dementia scientists in their search for new prevention, treatments and cures for Alzheimer's and other dementias.

That this House welcomes the publication of the National Dementia Strategy; is concerned that within 30 years dementia will affect 1.4 million people in the UK alone, costing the economy at least ??50 billion annually; agrees with the Alzheimer's Research Trust that dementia research must have substantially more financial support...

That this House welcomes the work undertaken by the Motorcycle Action Group in promoting the safe and responsible use of motorcycles; notes with concern that 60 per cent. of motorcycle deaths take place on rural roads, 80 per cent. of which are as a result of recreational use; recognises that Ceredigion possesses some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, and so attracts a large number of motorcyclists; acknowledges the importance of schemes such as Bike Safe in targeting problem roads and providing education; and commends Motorcycle Action Group in its excellent work to reduce motorcycle deaths in the United Kingdom.

That this House welcomes the work undertaken by the Motorcycle Action Group in promoting the safe and responsible use of motorcycles; notes with concern that 60 per cent. of motorcycle deaths take place on rural roads, 80 per cent. of which are as a result of recreational use; recognises that...

That this House has no confidence in a South West Regional Spatial Strategy that allows the prioritisation of greenfield over brownfield sites, that is based on outdated projections of both housing market and economic growth, that takes no account of purpose built accommodation for students, that does not recognise the environmental constraints on development and has in effect simply implemented national policies and ignored widespread local opposition from across the region and from all parties and none and from parishes to parliament; notes that hon. Members have had no opportunity to debate specific details of the Strategy with Ministers or in regional select committees and were denied speaking rights at the formal examination of the strategy in public; further notes the specific threat to long-established Green Belt surrounding Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, Bournemouth and Poole; further notes that while Ministers have repeatedly claimed that it is for local authorities to take the lead on the implementation of the Strategy, in practice they are powerless to stop developers already applying to develop greenfield sites and citing the site-specific maps in the Strategy in their defence; and calls on the Government to abandon the South West Regional Spatial Strategy or to urgently revise it to reflect democratically expressed local views, the environmental limits of development and the need to prioritise the development of brownfield sites before greenfield sites by reintroducing the sequential test.

That this House has no confidence in a South West Regional Spatial Strategy that allows the prioritisation of greenfield over brownfield sites, that is based on outdated projections of both housing market and economic growth, that takes no account of purpose built accommodation for students, that does not recognise the...

That this House recognises the existence of a digital divide in rural areas of the UK; notes that residents in areas such as Devon are being further exposed to this problem through the digital television switchover; is concerned that residents in South West England are still falling prey to inadequate systems of implementation preventing them from enjoying access to internet, mobile and television services which denies them the benefits of 21st century communications available to others; and calls for the implementation of systems combining the use of satellites and appropriate ground-based communications technology that remove transmission blind spots so that these services are available to everyone irrespective of location.

That this House recognises the existence of a digital divide in rural areas of the UK; notes that residents in areas such as Devon are being further exposed to this problem through the digital television switchover; is concerned that residents in South West England are still falling prey to inadequate...

That this House notes the work of the Trussell Trust, which aims to reduce poverty, deprivation and despair at the point of need; applauds its establishment of local food banks which collect and distribute basic food and vouchers to many thousands of people in crisis situations; welcomes the Trust's decision to open franchised food bank networks in over 20 towns and cities from Cornwall to Inverness; and encourages the Trussell Trust to spread its network further.

That this House notes the work of the Trussell Trust, which aims to reduce poverty, deprivation and despair at the point of need; applauds its establishment of local food banks which collect and distribute basic food and vouchers to many thousands of people in crisis situations; welcomes the Trust's decision...

That this House notes that foreign vehicles can avoid parking fines by registering abroad; believes that this is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to give local authorities the power to tow away and confiscate illegally parked vehicles that are registered outside the UK.

That this House notes that foreign vehicles can avoid parking fines by registering abroad; believes that this is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to give local authorities the power to tow away and confiscate illegally parked vehicles that are registered outside the UK.

That this House notes the Regional Review Programme of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which will continue beyond April 2008; is concerned about the threat of closure of HMRC offices in non-urban areas such as Shropshire and Herefordshire; appreciates the high level of service provided by HMRC staff in such offices; recognises the pressures that would be placed on HMRC staff by having to travel further to their place of work; further notes the economic impact that would be imposed by such closures and the additional burdens which could be faced by customers in non-urban areas; and calls on the Government to withdraw the threat of HMRC office closures in all non-urban areas and to implement a full socio-economic review of the impact of such office closures in those areas affected by these draconian proposals.

That this House notes the Regional Review Programme of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which will continue beyond April 2008; is concerned about the threat of closure of HMRC offices in non-urban areas such as Shropshire and Herefordshire; appreciates the high level of service provided by HMRC staff in...

That this House welcomes the announcement by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform of a feasibility study into the generation of electricity from the Severn Estuary that will critically evaluate all the major options; notes that the Severn Tidal Power project has the potential to provide five per cent. of total UK electricity demand from a renewable, reliable and British source; further notes that through harnessing the natural power of the tidal Severn Estuary, the Severn Tidal Power project would provide enough electricity to power three million homes; is concerned that each month of delay to completion of the project means an extra 0.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is emitted; and calls on the Government to progress the study without delay, making use of the 20 years' experience and knowledge already available.

That this House welcomes the announcement by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform of a feasibility study into the generation of electricity from the Severn Estuary that will critically evaluate all the major options; notes that the Severn Tidal Power project has the potential to provide...

That this House notes the potential for tidal power in the Severn Estuary to generate up to five per cent. of the UK's total electricity demand, to improve security of energy supplies and significantly to reduce UK carbon emissions; calls on the Government, with the involvement of the Welsh Assembly, immediately to commission an independent strategic evaluation of all the options for exploiting tidal power in the Severn Estuary, including potential levels of power generation and carbon emission reductions, ecological impacts, business viability, impact on the local area and local communities, compatibility of the different technologies involved and the potential for exporting technologies to international markets; and believes that this should form the basis of a Government decision on a strategic development framework for tidal power in the Severn, and potentially in other UK estuaries.

That this House notes the potential for tidal power in the Severn Estuary to generate up to five per cent. of the UK's total electricity demand, to improve security of energy supplies and significantly to reduce UK carbon emissions; calls on the Government, with the involvement of the Welsh Assembly,...

That this House notes that in 1993 the Ecclesiastical Committee reported to the House that it would be expedient that the Church of England Ordination of Women to the Priesthood Measure should be agreed but noted that the Measure reflected a compromise to accommodate those in the Church of England opposed to the ordination of women to the priesthood and thus made a provision for male priests who would not accept female priests; and now believes it would be expedient to agree that the Church of England should move on from that compromise and permit the consecration of women to the episcopate.

That this House notes that in 1993 the Ecclesiastical Committee reported to the House that it would be expedient that the Church of England Ordination of Women to the Priesthood Measure should be agreed but noted that the Measure reflected a compromise to accommodate those in the Church of England...

That this House believes that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff provide a vital public service which depends upon maintaining a high profile public presence, local accessibility for members of the public, and sufficient levels of staffing at ports and airports for its credibility and the support of taxpayers; further believes that operational requirements must include a network of local offices that might not be appropriate outside the public services and therefore challenges the assumption of the HMRC Acting Chairman that retaining only a minimum face-to-face service in many towns and cities like Salisbury is appropriate; and further believes that deeper cuts in surveillance and intervention by HMRC in UK coastal approaches, airfields and landing strips, following the abandonment of surveillance of most of the UK coast and small ports outside the canalised ports such as Portsmouth, Southampton and Poole, will further reduce the already inadequate protection of citizens of the UK and the unacceptably low manning of port arrivals and departures, and will render HMRC unfit for purpose.

That this House believes that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff provide a vital public service which depends upon maintaining a high profile public presence, local accessibility for members of the public, and sufficient levels of staffing at ports and airports for its credibility and the support of taxpayers; further...

That this House calls on the Government urgently to revisit the assumption behind the predict and provide approach to air transport, in light of the constraints on fossil fuel usage becoming apparent, to enable the removal of a blight on properties threatened by new runways.

That this House calls on the Government urgently to revisit the assumption behind the predict and provide approach to air transport, in light of the constraints on fossil fuel usage becoming apparent, to enable the removal of a blight on properties threatened by new runways.

That this House expresses its concern at the sudden and peremptory way the Home Office has rushed through without adequate debate inside Parliament or discussion outside it and with only perfunctory consultation with the British Medical Association, associations representing immigrant doctors and a health service heavily dependent on foreign doctors, changes in the immigration rules which will exclude non-EU trainee doctors from shortlists for jobs unless no EU or EEA applicants are available, impose a burden of costs, disruption and uncertainty on hospitals dependent on foreign house officers, as well as on the careers and prospects of foreign doctors training in the UK or hoping to come from India or Pakistan to make a career in the UK, and make nationality a more important qualification for medical and dental appointments than excellence, quality or language skills; suggests that to treat doctors from India, Pakistan and other Commonwealth countries in this fashion is insulting after their great contribution to the National Health Service; and, recognising that these sudden regulations have produced a state of alarm and fear among trainees from overseas, urges that the changes, insofar as they affect medical and dental jobs, both demanding a longer and more complex training than other jobs, be reconsidered and introduced again only after extensive discussion and modification and a substantial period of transition.

That this House expresses its concern at the sudden and peremptory way the Home Office has rushed through without adequate debate inside Parliament or discussion outside it and with only perfunctory consultation with the British Medical Association, associations representing immigrant doctors and a health service heavily dependent on foreign doctors,...

That this House notes that Tourette syndrome can affect one school child in a hundred; is aware that people with this syndrome may have obsessive-compulsive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders that can be more important for their school and social functioning than the involuntary movements (tics) and occasional involuntary vocalisations including swearing (vocal tics) that cause great distress; believes it is probably inappropriate to serve Tourette syndrome patients with anti-social behaviour orders; acknowledges the national shortage of specialists for diagnosis and treatment; is concerned that requests for a statement of educational needs are frequently turned down by schools and by local education authorities; calls on the Government to improve inter-departmental co-operation for Tourette syndrome patients across health, education, employment and social services; and recommends a review of relevant research funding in the United Kingdom.

That this House notes that Tourette syndrome can affect one school child in a hundred; is aware that people with this syndrome may have obsessive-compulsive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders that can be more important for their school and social functioning than the involuntary movements (tics) and occasional involuntary...

That this House recognises the need for effective and efficient policing, but also the need for close identification of police forces with the communities they serve; believes artificial agglomeration of existing forces without regard for patterns of crime or local identity to be a retrograde step; considers the consultation to have been entirely inadequate prior to the arbitrary rejection of viable alternatives and the selection of two unacceptable options for the South West; and further believes that neither a police force comprising the current Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset forces, nor a single force covering an area extending from the Isles of Scilly in the west to Christchurch in the east and Tewkesbury in the north, to be an acceptable solution for policing the communities of the South West.

That this House recognises the need for effective and efficient policing, but also the need for close identification of police forces with the communities they serve; believes artificial agglomeration of existing forces without regard for patterns of crime or local identity to be a retrograde step; considers the consultation to...

That this House regrets the decision of the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office to increase student visa fees by 136 per cent.; and calls on ministers to reconsider the decision in the light of its likely harmful effect on the ability of British universities to recruit overseas students and of the signal it sends to potential applicants who are deciding whether to come to the UK or to another country for their higher education.

That this House regrets the decision of the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office to increase student visa fees by 136 per cent.; and calls on ministers to reconsider the decision in the light of its likely harmful effect on the ability of British universities to recruit overseas students...

That this House welcomes the inclusion of a draft Marine Bill in the 2005 legislative programme; notes that, in the light of increasing degradation of the marine environment and decline in its wildlife, the United Kingdom urgently needs a strategic and co-ordinated approach for managing and protecting its marine resources; therefore believes that this Marine Bill must be based on a system of spatial planning which allows different activities in the marine environment to be developed in a coherent and rational way and seeks to reduce conflict between the many users of the seas; further believes that the Bill must include reform of inshore fisheries; further believes that, given that more than half of the UK's wildlife is found in the sea, the Bill must put protection of wildlife at the heart of marine policy through measures including the designation of a network of nationally important marine sites; and calls on the Government to introduce a comprehensive Marine Bill at the earliest opportunity.

That this House welcomes the inclusion of a draft Marine Bill in the 2005 legislative programme; notes that, in the light of increasing degradation of the marine environment and decline in its wildlife, the United Kingdom urgently needs a strategic and co-ordinated approach for managing and protecting its marine resources;...