That this House regrets the Government's failure to submit a programme for 1994 to 1996 under Objective 4 of the European Social Fund in order to gain financial support to provide enhanced training opportunities for people in work; understands that as a result of no programme being submitted ??59 million of financial support from Europe was lost; believes that it is a matter of the utmost importance that a programme is submitted for 1997 to 1999 and that a failure to do so would see the loss of a further ??140 million; and calls on the Government to stop allowing political dogma to triumph over reason and to announce before the House rises for the Christmas recess that they will submit a programme for Objective 4 funding.

That this House regrets the Government's failure to submit a programme for 1994 to 1996 under Objective 4 of the European Social Fund in order to gain financial support to provide enhanced training opportunities for people in work; understands that as a result of no programme being submitted ??59 million...

That this House expresses its concern at the increasing number of violent acts arising from the misuse of air guns and air rifles; congratulates the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on its campaign to highlight the dangers of such weapons and its efforts to raise public awareness about this issue; and calls on the Government to introduce appropriate restrictions at the earliest opportunity in order to protect the public from these weapons.

That this House expresses its concern at the increasing number of violent acts arising from the misuse of air guns and air rifles; congratulates the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on its campaign to highlight the dangers of such weapons and its efforts to raise public awareness about this issue; and calls...

That this House notes that a year ago the last ship built on the Tyne sailed from the Swan Hunter shipyard and that when the yard went into receivership in May 1993 a claim in excess of ??20 million had been made by Swan Hunter against the Ministry of Defence in respect of work carried out on the A.O.R.2; understands that before receivership a sum of ??8 million had been paid by the Ministry of Defence towards the amount claimed on condition that the payment remained secret; further notes that on 3rd December 1992 Mr Charles Betts, Director General of Surface Ships admitted that the A.O.R.2 contract, as amended, may impose liability on the Ministry of Defence; regrets the refusal by the Government to publicly acknowledge the strength of the legal claim against it and the interim payment of ??8 million; notes that the yard was sold to a non-shipbuilding concern in June 1995 and that within weeks of the yard's sale the Ministry of Defence agreed to pay a further sum of ??20 million in final settlement of the claim; deplores this cover up of information by the Government; believes that full disclosure of the Government's liability would have secured the future of Swan Hunter and retained shipbuilding on Tyneside; and calls on the Secretary of State for Defence as a matter of urgency, to investigate the conduct of his Department in this matter.

That this House notes that a year ago the last ship built on the Tyne sailed from the Swan Hunter shipyard and that when the yard went into receivership in May 1993 a claim in excess of ??20 million had been made by Swan Hunter against the Ministry of Defence...

That this House notes that between 5th June 1989 and 7th June 1990 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South was a director of Astra Defence Systems Ltd and in this capacity attended two board meetings held on 26th July and 3rd October 1989 at which consideration was given to reports concerning a project called Diana which involved the supply of an air defence system, guns and ammunition to Thailand and a contract to supply 126 naval guns to Chile; further notes that both these countries were used at the time as conduits for the supply or arms to Iran, and in particular Iraq, in breach of the arms embargo and that the whole surface fleet of the Chilean navy consisted of just 31 vessels at the relevant time; further understands that these matters were the subject of the Right honourable Member's evidence to the Scott Inquiry; and calls on him in the public interest to publish his evidence.

That this House notes that between 5th June 1989 and 7th June 1990 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South was a director of Astra Defence Systems Ltd and in this capacity attended two board meetings held on 26th July and 3rd October 1989 at which consideration was given to...

That this House notes that on 2nd or 3rd September 1992 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South signed a public interest immunity certificate covering documents required by the defence in the Matrix Churchill case; believes that the only reason the certificate was not used was due to the intervention of the Treasury Solicitor; deplores the action of the Right honourable Member when the documents covered by the certificate included reports relating to the supply of arms to Iraq by BMARC, a company of which he was a director at the relevant time; is further concerned at the Right honourable Member's refusal to disclose the two sets of evidence that he has submitted to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry, especially given his position as a director of BMARC when its parent company Astra acquired in July 1989 the Belgian company PRB which was responsible for manufacturing the propellant for use by the Iraqui supergun and that at the same time as the Right honourable Member was Deputy Chairman of Aitken Hume it was acting as financial advisers to Walter Somers, who produced part of the supergun, and when one of Aitken Hume's directors, a Mr S. Twentyman, was also a director of Sheffield Forgemasters who built the remainder of the supergun; and believes that in the public interest the Right honourable Member for Thanet South should disclose his evidence to the Scott Inquiry and make a full personal statement to the House.

That this House notes that on 2nd or 3rd September 1992 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South signed a public interest immunity certificate covering documents required by the defence in the Matrix Churchill case; believes that the only reason the certificate was not used was due to the intervention...

That this House notes the commitment given by the Secretary of State for Education at the Conservative Party conferences of 1992 and 1993 that he would radically reform student unions; further notes the protracted delay of the Education Bill [Lords] and the fierce criticism made by leading Conservative Members of the House of Lords of various provisions contained in the Bill and in particular Clause 20 which proposes to reform student unions; and, given the depth of opposition to these dogmatic and ill-thought out proposals, calls on the Secretary of State to withdraw the Bill.

That this House notes the commitment given by the Secretary of State for Education at the Conservative Party conferences of 1992 and 1993 that he would radically reform student unions; further notes the protracted delay of the Education Bill [Lords] and the fierce criticism made by leading Conservative Members of...

That this House notes that an application to allow Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside access to the shipbuilding intervention fund has been made by the Government; recognises that access to intervention funding will be an important factor in attracting prospective purchasers of the yard; and urges the Government to take all possible steps to ensure that an early decision is taken by the European Commission to agree to intervention funding and thereby assist the efforts of the work-force and receivers in finding a purchaser in the near future who will take Swan Hunter out of receivership and thereby save shipbuilding on Tyneside.

That this House notes that an application to allow Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside access to the shipbuilding intervention fund has been made by the Government; recognises that access to intervention funding will be an important factor in attracting prospective purchasers of the yard; and urges the Government to take...

That this House notes with deep concern the financial difficulties being experienced by many law students attempting to gain their professional qualification; notes the fact that students are expected to be self-financing for this period inevitably restricts access to the legal professions to those who have the financial means or who are fortunate enough to receive scholarships; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Education to rectify this situation immediately by reforming the grant-making process to provide mandatory awards for those wanting to study for the Legal Practice Course or Bar Finals.

That this House notes with deep concern the financial difficulties being experienced by many law students attempting to gain their professional qualification; notes the fact that students are expected to be self-financing for this period inevitably restricts access to the legal professions to those who have the financial means or...

That this House notes that Coal Contractors Ltd., has applied for planning permission to mine, by opencast methods, the site known as Fenwicks Close Farm between Holywell and Whitley Bay; believes the granting of such permission will be detrimental in all respects to the communities surrounding the site; regrets the introduction by Her Majesty's Government of Mineral Planning Guidance Note 3 which gives assistance to opencast applications and calls for it to be withdrawn; recognises that national energy requirements can be met without an expansion of opencast coalmining; and therefore demands that this intrusive development be rejected.

That this House notes that Coal Contractors Ltd., has applied for planning permission to mine, by opencast methods, the site known as Fenwicks Close Farm between Holywell and Whitley Bay; believes the granting of such permission will be detrimental in all respects to the communities surrounding the site; regrets the...