That this House notes that according to the Consumer Price Index the rate of inflation currently stands at 3.5 per cent. and that according to the Retail Prices Index stands at 3.7 per cent.; further notes that the basic state pension will rise by 2.5 per cent. in April 2010 but that additional state pension payments, including state earnings-related pension and state second pension are being frozen; is concerned that up to nine million pensioners will therefore see a significant fall in their real living standards as a result of the freezing of additional pension payments; further notes that the Department for Work and Pensions estimates that, compared with uprating additional pensions in line with the basic pension in April 2010, pensioners will lose over ??500 million per year for their rest of their retirement; and urges hon. Members to oppose the provisions of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2010.

That this House notes that according to the Consumer Price Index the rate of inflation currently stands at 3.5 per cent. and that according to the Retail Prices Index stands at 3.7 per cent.; further notes that the basic state pension will rise by 2.5 per cent. in April 2010...

That this House welcomes the fundamental review of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) being undertaken by the Senior Salaries Review Board; but believes that until that review is complete the Exchequer contribution to the PCPF should not be increased beyond its 2008-09 level.

That this House welcomes the fundamental review of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF) being undertaken by the Senior Salaries Review Board; but believes that until that review is complete the Exchequer contribution to the PCPF should not be increased beyond its 2008-09 level.

That this House is gravely concerned that around five million households will experience fuel poverty this winter; notes that many consumers may be paying too much for their energy because of the bewildering complexity of the different social tariffs that are available and because of the penalties for customers with prepayment meters; recognises that much of the United Kingdom housing stock is poorly insulated, leading to even higher fuel bills; observes the estimated ??9 billion windfall received by energy generators from the free availability of permits under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and calls on the Government to lay a duty on Ofgem to require the energy companies to spend their windfall on a programme of energy efficiency measures including home insulation and the swift installation of smart meters, and a mandatory roll-out of standardised social tariffs guaranteeing cuts in energy prices for customers facing fuel poverty this winter.

That this House is gravely concerned that around five million households will experience fuel poverty this winter; notes that many consumers may be paying too much for their energy because of the bewildering complexity of the different social tariffs that are available and because of the penalties for customers with...

That this House welcomes the Meningitis Research Foundation's Winter Awareness campaign; notes that meningitis is a disease that affects nine people every day, of whom one will die and two more will suffer life-altering after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations; further notes that babies and children are most at risk and that more young lives can be saved through raising awareness among clinical practitioners and the public of early warning signs; therefore welcomes the fact that in the 18 months since the Universal Infant Pneumococcal Vaccination was introduced there has been a marked fall in the number of invasive pneumococcal infections in children, and in associated deaths and disease, enabling some 470 children to avoid serious illness like meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia; further notes however that between January and March 2008, 74 per cent. of children in England had received the vaccine booster dose as compared to 91 per cent. of children in Scotland; and calls on the Government to set in place measures to improve the uptake in England of both the primary vaccination and booster dose which both need to be given to ensure the fullest protection from pneumococcal disease.

That this House welcomes the Meningitis Research Foundation's Winter Awareness campaign; notes that meningitis is a disease that affects nine people every day, of whom one will die and two more will suffer life-altering after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations; further notes that babies and children are...

That this House welcomes Meningitis Research Foundation's Winter Awareness campaign; notes that meningitis is a disease that affects nine new people everyday, of whom one will die and two more will suffer life-altering after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations; further notes that babies and children are most at risk and that more young lives can be saved through raising awareness among clinical practitioners and the public of the early warning signs; therefore welcomes that in the 18 months since the Universal Infant Pneumococcal Vaccination was introduced there has been a marked fall in the number of invasive pneumococcal infections in children, and in associated deaths and disease, enabling some 470 children to avoid serious illness like meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia; further notes however that between January and March 2008, 74 per cent. of children in England had received the vaccine booster dose as compared to 91 per cent. of children in Scotland; and calls on the Government to set in place measures to improve the uptake in England of both the primary vaccination and booster dose which both need to be given to ensure the fullest protection from pneumococcal disease.

That this House welcomes Meningitis Research Foundation's Winter Awareness campaign; notes that meningitis is a disease that affects nine new people everyday, of whom one will die and two more will suffer life-altering after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations; further notes that babies and children are most...

That this House recognises that the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 is one of the most important pieces of energy saving legislation; applauds the energy savings of 93.4 terawatt hours achieved in the first eight years of the Act; further recognises the many benefits the Act has brought, in terms of effective targeting of resources for household energy efficiency; recognises nevertheless that the Act might have achieved far more if the Government had not systematically failed to support it; is dismayed that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now published proposals to repeal it; and therefore calls on the Government to scrap its plans to repeal the Act and instead take steps to strengthen it, thereby allowing it to reach its full potential to deliver household energy savings and contribute to the Government's stated climate change objectives.

That this House recognises that the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 is one of the most important pieces of energy saving legislation; applauds the energy savings of 93.4 terawatt hours achieved in the first eight years of the Act; further recognises the many benefits the Act has brought, in terms...

That this House notes with concern the trend of increasing levels of arrangement fees associated with new mortgage products; further notes that high arrangement fees are being used to subsidise low headline interest rates so as to ensure that mortgage products appear in best buy tables, even where such mortgages are not the best buy once account is taken of the fees charged; further notes that in press advertisements the low headline interest rate is given considerable prominence whilst the high arrangement fee is given less prominence; further notes that these questionable promotional practices occur at a time of growing mortgage arrears, repossessions and repossession orders; is concerned that poorly advised homebuyers may be attracted by such low headline rates which may not be good value for money; is particularly concerned by the recent product advertised by the Halifax Bank which had an arrangement fee of ??1,999; and calls on the financial services industry to ensure that all of the key elements of a mortgage deal are given equal prominence and to take other steps to ensure that homebuyers are not sold inappropriate mortgage products.

That this House notes with concern the trend of increasing levels of arrangement fees associated with new mortgage products; further notes that high arrangement fees are being used to subsidise low headline interest rates so as to ensure that mortgage products appear in best buy tables, even where such mortgages...

That this House recognises the acute and worsening shortages in mental health services; notes that nine out of ten doctors are prescribing antidepressants because of a lack of available alternatives, despite National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, recommending psychological therapies for many patients with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia; further notes that the Government does not provide adequate resources to care for patients in the community and that there are more mentally ill people on incapacity benefits than the total number of unemployed people on benefit; and welcomes this year's London School of Economics Depression Report, which says that expanding therapy services could be paid for by the savings this would make to the benefit bill.

That this House recognises the acute and worsening shortages in mental health services; notes that nine out of ten doctors are prescribing antidepressants because of a lack of available alternatives, despite National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, recommending psychological therapies for many patients with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia;...

That this House believes that the design and delivery of NHS services benefit when patients and the public are fully involved both in decision making and in monitoring acute and primary care; notes the Government's intention to abolish patient forums, which it set up after abolishing community health councils in 2003, and replace them with local involvement networks (LINks); is concerned that LINks will not have powers to inspect and monitor the NHS on behalf of patients, will not have the credibility with the public that accompanies true independence, and will not have the networking capability to represent patients on a regional or local level; believes that the Government should reconsider urgently its proposal for the future of patient and public involvement in health; and calls for the creation of a new body with both a national and a local presence which would be truly independent of health and social care services and would have the power to refer matters of concern to the health service regulator, so that patients and the public are given a much stronger voice in decisions about the NHS.

That this House believes that the design and delivery of NHS services benefit when patients and the public are fully involved both in decision making and in monitoring acute and primary care; notes the Government's intention to abolish patient forums, which it set up after abolishing community health councils in...

That this House does not believe that there is a need for a bigger `Big Mac'.

That this House does not believe that there is a need for a bigger `Big Mac'.

That this House welcomes Parkinson's Awareness Week 2006 between 24th and 30th April; supports the launch of the Parkinson's Disease Society's `Get it on time' campaign to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that people with Parkinson's in hospitals and care homes get their medication on time every time; recognises that when patients do not get their medication on time every time their Parkinson's symptoms become uncontrolled and they can become very ill; calls for improved implementation of existing standards in NHS settings such as the National Service Frameworks for Long Term Conditions, and Older People and the Medicines Management Self Assessment Framework and a strengthening of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's national standards to improve medicines management in care homes; notes that there is currently no known cure for Parkinson's; supports the efforts of all those engaged in research into all aspects of Parkinson's disease at centres across the UK; and congratulates the Society for investing more than ??30 million in research since it was founded in 1969.

That this House welcomes Parkinson's Awareness Week 2006 between 24th and 30th April; supports the launch of the Parkinson's Disease Society's `Get it on time' campaign to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that people with Parkinson's in hospitals and care homes get their medication on time every time;...

That this House notes that bowel cancer kills 16,000 people a year and is the second biggest cause of cancer death in the UK; observes that early screening reduces mortaility rates by about 15 per cent.; welcomes the Government's commitment to introduce a National Bowel Cancer Screening Programmme in April 2006, which will be the first NHS cancer screening programme in England for men as well as women; but is alarmed that no funding has yet been allocated despite the fact that it will then take another six months for services to be commissioned; notes the recent British Medical Journal editorial which stated that the NHS financial crisis is clearly the cause of the delay; and calls on the Government to ensure that the planned screening programme is begun without further delay and that the necessary funds are released as a matter of urgency.

That this House notes that bowel cancer kills 16,000 people a year and is the second biggest cause of cancer death in the UK; observes that early screening reduces mortaility rates by about 15 per cent.; welcomes the Government's commitment to introduce a National Bowel Cancer Screening Programmme in April...

That this House supports Breast Cancer Care's `Prescription for change' campaign to raise awareness about the impact of prescription charges on cancer patients; is concerned at the campaign's findings that many breast cancer patients experience financial difficulty as a result of paying prescription charges; is further concerned that some breast cancer patients cannot afford to get their prescriptions dispensed and are therefore not taking the drugs they have been prescribed; and calls for an urgent review of the list of conditions that are exempt from prescription charges.

That this House supports Breast Cancer Care's `Prescription for change' campaign to raise awareness about the impact of prescription charges on cancer patients; is concerned at the campaign's findings that many breast cancer patients experience financial difficulty as a result of paying prescription charges; is further concerned that some breast...

That this House believes that the people of both Bristol and South Gloucestershire have the right to accessible, high quality acute hospital services; notes that Frenchay Hospital is the only major acute hospital in South Gloucestershire; profoundly regrets the proposal by health trusts in the former Avon area not to select Frenchay as the site for the new acute hospital to serve North Bristol and South Gloucestershire; further notes with dismay the flawed decision-making process, and the fact that none of the trust chief executives or chairs were present to hear the views of local residents at the meeting on 14th March at which the decision was taken; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to ensure that the concerns of the people of Bristol and South Gloucestershire are properly addressed before any blueprint for future health provision in the area is approved.

That this House believes that the people of both Bristol and South Gloucestershire have the right to accessible, high quality acute hospital services; notes that Frenchay Hospital is the only major acute hospital in South Gloucestershire; profoundly regrets the proposal by health trusts in the former Avon area not to...

That this House notes the Government's plans to transfer families with children currently receiving income-based jobseeker's allowance and income support on to child tax credit from April; further notes with concern the reports of delays in the systems testing of the computer software needed to facilitate the transfer; calls on the Government to ensure that benefit payments in respect of children are not withdrawn until replacement tax credit payments are confirmed to be in place, and if necessary to delay the changes until such time as the computer systems are robust enough to deal with the transfer; and further calls upon the government to make an urgent statement on the issue.

That this House notes the Government's plans to transfer families with children currently receiving income-based jobseeker's allowance and income support on to child tax credit from April; further notes with concern the reports of delays in the systems testing of the computer software needed to facilitate the transfer; calls on...

That this House believes that pensioners who wish to do so should be able to retain their pension books.

That this House believes that pensioners who wish to do so should be able to retain their pension books.

That this House notes with great concern the current administrative chaos that has delayed payments of the new tax credits, including for those who applied over six months ago; regrets that concerned applicants and honourable Members have experienced considerable difficulty in contacting the Inland Revenue via dedicated helplines; is further concerned that far fewer than the nine in 10 eligible families will actually claim the money to which they are entitled, even once the initial administrative problems are resolved; calls upon the Government to resolve these administrative problems as a matter of urgency, and in particular to prioritise payments to former recipients of working families tax credit and disabled person's tax credit; and further calls upon the Government to undertake a full investigation into the reasons for the unacceptable delays which have been experienced by far too many working families.

That this House notes with great concern the current administrative chaos that has delayed payments of the new tax credits, including for those who applied over six months ago; regrets that concerned applicants and honourable Members have experienced considerable difficulty in contacting the Inland Revenue via dedicated helplines; is further...

That this House expresses its deep concern at current arrangements for winding-up occupational pension schemes, which leave many people receiving much less than expected for their retirement; notes that present workers near to retirement after long service with the employer often receive less than those who retired early after less service; recognises the great urgency of the issue because of the large number of schemes which are now moving towards wind-up; welcomes the proposals in the National Association of Pension Funds document, Pensions - Plain and Simple, for a possible new schedule of priorities on winding up a final salary scheme with an insolvent employer; notes that new primary legislation would not be required to make the necessary changes; and urges the Government to take early action to change the winding-up priorities through new regulations.

That this House expresses its deep concern at current arrangements for winding-up occupational pension schemes, which leave many people receiving much less than expected for their retirement; notes that present workers near to retirement after long service with the employer often receive less than those who retired early after less...

That this House values the opportunity for honourable Members to present formal petitions to the House; notes that the most recent report by the Procedure Committee on Public Petitions was published during the 1991-92 session, before the recent rapid expansion in the use of e-mails by the general public; notes that existing rules prohibit the submission of printed lists of petition supporters; believes that members of the public should have the opportunity to register their support for petitions electronically if they wish and that such an opportunity would increase engagement with the political process; and calls on the Procedure Committee to investigate as a matter of urgency practical ways in which petition signatures gathered electronically might be accorded the same weight in the procedures of the House as signatures gathered in traditional ways.

That this House values the opportunity for honourable Members to present formal petitions to the House; notes that the most recent report by the Procedure Committee on Public Petitions was published during the 1991-92 session, before the recent rapid expansion in the use of e-mails by the general public; notes...

That this House notes that a majority of today's poorest pensioners are women; further notes that among people coming up to state pension age, the majority of those with poor rights to both state and private sector pensions are women; recognises that many women with poor state pension rights at some stage paid national insurance contributions at the reduced rate for married women; is concerned that many such women report that the consequences of this option were not fully explained at the time, and that the scope for buying back missing years of contribution is very limited; is further concerned that many women only discover that they have very low state pension rights when they are close to state pension age; calls on the Government to write to all women below pension age whose national insurance contribution record is incomplete because of payment of the married women's contribution to advise them of their current and future pension entitlement; further calls on the Government to investigate the historic operation of of the system of married women's contributions and to consider whether any form of redress might be appropriate for such women; and welcomes the launch of the Support Women Against Pensions Poverty campaign, whose aim is to ensure that present and future generations of women pensions do not have to live in poverty in old age.

That this House notes that a majority of today's poorest pensioners are women; further notes that among people coming up to state pension age, the majority of those with poor rights to both state and private sector pensions are women; recognises that many women with poor state pension rights at...