That this House welcomes the formation of the Adult Communication Coalition England (ACCE) which aims to ensure that all adults and older people get the speech, language and communication support, equipment and services they need to communicate effectively; notes the ACCE estimate that at least 1.5 million people in England have Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN); is concerned that at present many adults with SLCN do not receive the communication support, equipment and services they need and that wide geographical variations exist in access to these services, particularly during transition into adulthood; recognises that without such support adults with SLCN are being denied opportunities to live independently and fulfil their social and economic potential; regrets the low priority given to the needs of adults with SLCN at a national level and the lack of a comprehensive national strategy for adult SLCN; and calls on the Government urgently to undertake an audit to assess the current state of services for adults with SLCN and to identify the barriers they face in getting their needs identified and met.

That this House welcomes the formation of the Adult Communication Coalition England (ACCE) which aims to ensure that all adults and older people get the speech, language and communication support, equipment and services they need to communicate effectively; notes the ACCE estimate that at least 1.5 million people in England...

That this House welcomes the appearance of a person with a facial disfigurement as a newsreader on national television in the week commencing 23 November 2009; congratulates Channel Five Broadcasting Limited for this decision; and calls on all broadcasters to increase the visibility of people with unusual faces in everyday roles on television and to commit to adopt new guidelines, recommended by Changing Faces, for fairer and more balanced media coverage of people with disfigurement.

That this House welcomes the appearance of a person with a facial disfigurement as a newsreader on national television in the week commencing 23 November 2009; congratulates Channel Five Broadcasting Limited for this decision; and calls on all broadcasters to increase the visibility of people with unusual faces in everyday...

That this House supports the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee in calling for a moratorium on new shared surface schemes in our towns and cities until the Department for Transport has published the results of its forthcoming research; recognises that in these schemes it is not possible for certain groups of vulnerable road users to use such areas independently because they cannot tell where the pavement ends and the road begins; and welcomes the research that Guide Dogs has already carried out to highlight the issue and to try to find an effective solution.

That this House supports the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee in calling for a moratorium on new shared surface schemes in our towns and cities until the Department for Transport has published the results of its forthcoming research; recognises that...

That this House notes the significant difficulty many disabled people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) face in getting the Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) equipment they need to communicate; further notes that without the means to communicate people cannot express themselves freely, discuss ideas or make choices, which severely limits their life chances; further notes the publication of the comprehensive report of the Bercow Review of children, young people and speech, language and communication; further notes that no such review has been undertaken for adults with SLCN; regrets that access to AAC equipment remains a lottery for most people based on age, postcode and education status; further regrets that professionals do not get the funding, support and training they need to deliver effective AAC services; calls on the Government to implement the recommendations from the Bercow Review on AAC in full through the Bercow Implementation Plan and the Child Health Strategy; and further calls on the Government to commission an audit of services for adults (post 19 years) with SLCN to ensure that people with communication impairments of all ages get the AAC equipment and support they need so they can lead more independent lives, access work, leisure and education opportunities and fulfil their potential as full citizens.

That this House notes the significant difficulty many disabled people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) face in getting the Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) equipment they need to communicate; further notes that without the means to communicate people cannot express themselves freely, discuss ideas or make choices, which...

That this House notes the Charging into Poverty report published by the Coalition on Charging; is concerned that charges for using care services can deny people access to essential support to remain independent; believes that disability-related expenditure must be assessed fully before charges are imposed on disabled and older people; and urges further research into the impact of charges to be undertaken as part of broader care reform plans in England.

That this House notes the Charging into Poverty report published by the Coalition on Charging; is concerned that charges for using care services can deny people access to essential support to remain independent; believes that disability-related expenditure must be assessed fully before charges are imposed on disabled and older people;...

That this House welcomes the intention of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 to provide better support to disabled people looking for work and the commitments previously made by the Secretary of State to pay the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) above the current rate of long-term incapacity benefit (IB) for the main phase and at a significantly higher amount for the support group; is however concerned that income-based ESA claimants will receive ??1.85 per week less than the (IB) equivalent and that many support group claimants will receive over ??10 per week less than the IB equivalent; notes that disability organisations have warned that both disability poverty and child poverty could worsen as a result of the proposed ESA rates; further notes that the 18th Report of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee draws special attention to the ESA regulations laid before Parliament on 27th March 2008 with the recommendation that the Government addresses the concerns of interest groups; and calls on the Government to consider postponing the start date for ESA until such time as outstanding concerns about benefit reductions and further problems identified in the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee report are addressed.

That this House welcomes the intention of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 to provide better support to disabled people looking for work and the commitments previously made by the Secretary of State to pay the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) above the current rate of long-term incapacity benefit (IB) for...

That this House notes that there is a growing body of evidence, from Leonard Cheshire Disability and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, that an increasing number of disabled people are not getting the social care support they need to maintain a decent quality of life because neither they, nor their local authority, can afford to pay for it; further notes that this loss of care is having a devastating impact on the lives of many disabled people and their families; and calls on the Government to use the forthcoming Green Paper on the future of social care funding as an opportunity to introduce a fair and equitable social care system which provides care for all who need it and ensures that those who cannot afford to pay for their care do not lose out and are able to live independent lives.

That this House notes that there is a growing body of evidence, from Leonard Cheshire Disability and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, that an increasing number of disabled people are not getting the social care support they need to maintain a decent quality of life because neither they, nor...

That this House believes that business crime damages communities and restricts growth; recognises the need to record the extent of business crime so that the full scale of the problem can be understood; and calls on the Government to take action to reduce business crime.

That this House believes that business crime damages communities and restricts growth; recognises the need to record the extent of business crime so that the full scale of the problem can be understood; and calls on the Government to take action to reduce business crime.

That this House notes that the Leonard Cheshire Disability report Disability Poverty in the UK finds that disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty; further notes that disabled people can experience poverty in a number of ways including financial poverty, poverty of aspiration and poverty of opportunity; further notes that average basic living costs are much higher for disabled people; further notes that disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed and seeking work than non-disabled people and that disabled people who are not expected to work are often trapped in inescapable poverty; believes that the extent of disability poverty in the UK today is unacceptable; and calls on the Government to make tackling disability poverty a priority.

That this House notes that the Leonard Cheshire Disability report Disability Poverty in the UK finds that disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty; further notes that disabled people can experience poverty in a number of ways including financial poverty, poverty of aspiration and...

That this House calls for the release of all illegally held prisoners in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; notes that Israel has released some Palestinian prisoners and has this week agreed to release a further 450 prisoners; however expresses concern that there are around 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and detention centres; notes that of the prisoners, over 300 are children, 96 are women and 840 are administrative detainees held without charge or trial for indefinite periods of time; abhors the continued detention of some 40 Palestinian Legislative Council Members since the Hamas election victory in 2006; further notes that according to the UN, the Palestinians are among the most highly incarcerated population in the world; is alarmed at the on-going accounts of violations of the right to family visits, the right to worship, the right to receive correspondence, the right to humane conditions of detention and transfer, to adequate food and medical care, and the right to a fair public trial; further notes that such violations constitute a breach of the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions; believes that the issue of Palestinian prisoners constitutes a running sore fuelling the conflict; and calls on the UK Government to apply political pressure to Israel to end its decades-long practice of arbitrary arrests and detention, in particular of democratically elected parliamentarians.

That this House calls for the release of all illegally held prisoners in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; notes that Israel has released some Palestinian prisoners and has this week agreed to release a further 450 prisoners; however expresses concern that there are around 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held in...

That this House welcomes the Our Lives, Our Choices, coalition campaign for a social care system based on entitlements to independent living for disabled people, older people and their families; notes with concern rising eligibility thresholds for accessing social care which are causing increasing levels of hardship, ill-health and exclusion; further notes research by the Office for Disability Issues highlighting the waste and inefficiency in the care system and the long-term economic benefits of independent living-type support; believes the reforms contained in the Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill are a means of delivering real choice and control for people needing support, safeguarding the future well-being of children and families, promoting dignity for older people, and better supporting gender equality; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to stem the crisis and commit to bringing forward independent living legislation within this Parliament.

That this House welcomes the Our Lives, Our Choices, coalition campaign for a social care system based on entitlements to independent living for disabled people, older people and their families; notes with concern rising eligibility thresholds for accessing social care which are causing increasing levels of hardship, ill-health and exclusion;...

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 significant difficulty many disabled people with communication impairments face in getting the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) equipment they need to communicate; further notes that as many as 600,000 people in the UK could benefit from access to AAC equipment; further notes that without the means to communicate people cannot express themselves freely, discuss ideas or make choices, which severely limits their life chances; further notes that freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the Human Rights Act 1998; regrets that access to AAC equipment remains a lottery for most people based on age, postcode and education status; further regrets that 23 per cent. of respondents to Scope's recent No Voice, No Choice survey had not had an assessment of their communication needs before they were 16 years old; further regrets that over one quarter of respondents to the same survey had to pay for equipment themselves or ask a charity because they could not get their equipment funded by a statutory agency; and calls on the Government to recognise communication as a fundamental right and ensure that people with communication impairments of all ages get the AAC equipment and support they need so they can lead more independent lives, access work, leisure and education opportunities and fulfil their potential as full citizens.

That this House notes the significant difficulty many disabled people with communication impairments face in getting the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) equipment they need to communicate; further notes that as many as 600,000 people in the UK could benefit from access to AAC equipment; further notes that without the...

That this House notes that this week marks the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War of 1967, and Israel's stunning victory against overwhelming odds; recalls that the war was triggered by Egypt's aggressive armed forces build up in Sinai and the closing by Egypt of the Straits of Tiran to Israel, in breach of international law, cutting off Israel's main oil supply route from her major supplier, Iran; remembers that subsequent to the surprise attacks in 1973 on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, and Israel's victory then, a peace agreement was negotiated between President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin between Israel and Egypt, which has proved lasting; recognises Israel's excellent relations with neighbours Jordan; notes that this shows Israel's willingness to trade land for peace; and regrets the inability and unwillingness of Syria and the Palestinians to engage with Israel, to create an equally successful agreement and to bring lasting peace to the region.

That this House notes that this week marks the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War of 1967, and Israel's stunning victory against overwhelming odds; recalls that the war was triggered by Egypt's aggressive armed forces build up in Sinai and the closing by Egypt of the Straits of Tiran...

That this House notes that every disabled person, regardless of their impairment or level of need, is an individual with full and equal human rights; further notes that families with disabled children often do not receive the vital funding, equipment and support that they need to ensure that they and their disabled child can lead fulfilling, dignified lives; believes that medical intervention, as in the case of the American nine year old girl Ashley X, who has been prevented from growing into an adult, is symptomatic of society's lack of support for disabled people and their families; further believes that such actions are a fundamental abuse of a disabled child's human rights that have no place in society; is gravely concerned that such approaches seek to alter disabled people to suit society rather than alter society to suit disabled people; and calls on the Government to defend disabled children's human rights and support the calls of Scope and other organisations including those involved in the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign to provide appropriate and adequate support to families with disabled children.

That this House notes that every disabled person, regardless of their impairment or level of need, is an individual with full and equal human rights; further notes that families with disabled children often do not receive the vital funding, equipment and support that they need to ensure that they and...

That this House notes the recent decision that the Serious Fraud Office end its investigation into BAE Systems plc and the Al Yamamah military contract with the Government of Saudi Arabia; further notes that the UK is a signatory to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and that Article 5 of this Convention requires that the investigation and prosecution of foreign bribery `shall not be influenced by considerations of national economic interests' or `the potential effect upon relations with another State'; believes that the early termination of this investigation for reasons other than the legal merits of the case sends the clear message that companies trading with countries that governments claim to be of strategic importance are above the law and can bribe with impunity; further believes that the decision is likely to cause irreparable damage to the UK's reputation as an anti-corruption champion; and calls on the UK Government to re-open the investigation of this case.

That this House notes the recent decision that the Serious Fraud Office end its investigation into BAE Systems plc and the Al Yamamah military contract with the Government of Saudi Arabia; further notes that the UK is a signatory to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials...

That this House notes with deep concern that people under the age of 60 with severe disabilities are not eligible for winter fuel payments; recognises that they often face severe difficulties in staying warm in the winter and avoiding illness, particularly as a result of dramatically reduced mobility; further recognises this often results in highly inflated heating costs and high energy bills; further recognises the value of winter fuel payments for those over 60; and believes that the people under 60 with severe disabilities who face a similar daily struggle simply to keep warm should also be eligible for the same winter fuel payments.

That this House notes with deep concern that people under the age of 60 with severe disabilities are not eligible for winter fuel payments; recognises that they often face severe difficulties in staying warm in the winter and avoiding illness, particularly as a result of dramatically reduced mobility; further recognises...

That this House congratulates the Spinal Injuries Association on its valuable support for the 40,000 spinal cord injured people in the UK; recognises the vital work of the staff of the 11 NHS Spinal Cord Injury Centres in providing specialist care and treatment for this patient group; notes the concerns of both health professionals and patients that spinal cord injured people are being inappropriately treated in non-specialist hospitals; welcomes the recommendations of Sir David Carter's Independent Review of Commissioning Arrangements for Specialised Services on how this important area of the NHS can be further strengthened; and urges the Government to implement fully these recommendations, which will help ensure that spinal cord injured patients are provided with the healthcare they deserve.

That this House congratulates the Spinal Injuries Association on its valuable support for the 40,000 spinal cord injured people in the UK; recognises the vital work of the staff of the 11 NHS Spinal Cord Injury Centres in providing specialist care and treatment for this patient group; notes the concerns...

That this House notes the concerns of the Associate Parliamentary Limb Loss Group, the Associate Parliamentary Health Group and the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group about the unmet mobility needs of people of all ages; is concerned that this leads to significant loss of independence and increased costs of care; recognises the model examples provided by charities such as Motability and Whizz-Kidz; and therefore urges the Government, in collaboration with the emPOWER Charities Consortium, to encourage and support greater provision of powered wheelchair services, in collaboration with, and additional to, services at present provided by the NHS.

That this House notes the concerns of the Associate Parliamentary Limb Loss Group, the Associate Parliamentary Health Group and the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group about the unmet mobility needs of people of all ages; is concerned that this leads to significant loss of independence and increased costs of care;...

That this House is deeply concerned by the final decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on drugs for Alzheimer's disease, which restricts access to NHS treatment to people in the moderate stages of the disease; believes that Alzheimer's drugs are clinically and cost-effective; notes that the drug treatments cost only ??2.50 per person per day; is concerned that clinicians will be prevented from prescribing effective drugs to thousands of people in the early and late stages of dementia; is deeply concerned that prohibiting Ebixa on the NHS, the only treatment available for people in the later stages, will lead to an increase in the prescription of dangerous sedative drugs; further believes people with dementia should be entitled to good quality care and access to effective drug treatments; further believes that this decision contradicts Government policy on early intervention, support for carers and maintaining independence; supports the appeal by members of the Action on Alzheimer's Drugs Alliance to NICE to overturn this damaging decision; further notes that the Department of Health has raised serious concerns about the way NICE has calculated the cost-effectiveness of these drugs; further believes that the Department of Health has a duty to hold NICE to account in circumstances where there are flaws in NICE's appraisal process; and calls upon the Government to consider seriously how people in the early and later stages of Alzheimer's disease can continue to have access to treatment.

That this House is deeply concerned by the final decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on drugs for Alzheimer's disease, which restricts access to NHS treatment to people in the moderate stages of the disease; believes that Alzheimer's drugs are clinically and cost-effective; notes that...