That this House notes that the Office for National Statistics is to reclassify Network Rail as a central government body from 1 September 2014, adding Network Rail's £30 billion debt to the national debt; recognises that since Network Rail's creation, Ministers have respected the company's status as a private company by not exercising executive authority over Network Rail's management or operational activity; further recognises that the reclassification of Network Rail as a central government body offers the opportunity for a new relationship between the company and ministers; and believes this new relationship should begin with an instruction from the Secretary of State for Transport to Network Rail's directors that any future proposal for executive bonuses must be approved by Ministers.

That this House notes that the Office for National Statistics is to reclassify Network Rail as a central government body from 1 September 2014, adding Network Rail's £30 billion debt to the national debt; recognises that since Network Rail's creation, Ministers have respected the company's status as a private company...

That this House believes that parents who suffer the death of a child should have the right to paid time off from their employer in order to grieve; recognises that most employers offer flexibility and support to employees in such tragic circumstances; deplores the significant number of employers who force bereaved parents to go back to work too early or take sick leave in order to grieve; congratulates the Jack's Rainbow campaign for highlighting the injustice that parents who suffer such a tragic loss have no statutory right to paid employment leave; and calls on the Government to amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to enshrine in law the right to statutory bereavement leave for parents.

That this House believes that parents who suffer the death of a child should have the right to paid time off from their employer in order to grieve; recognises that most employers offer flexibility and support to employees in such tragic circumstances; deplores the significant number of employers who force...

That this House welcomes research by Oxford Economics which concludes that without Government support for a UK hub airport, Britain could lose up to 140,000 jobs; endorses the view of Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, in calling for urgent action to be taken in order to maintain the status of Heathrow as a hub airport; agrees with his comment that `Our politicians must think big and act in the national interest. We need an aviation strategy that acknowledges Heathrow as a hub, and we need it now'; further welcomes the comments of Mick Rix of the GMB union, who described the Government's opposition to Heathrow expansion as 'plain daft`; notes that the Institute of Directors has also endorsed the Oxford Economics report, which found that capacity constraints will cost the UK 4.5 billion in GDP from foreign investment and 1.6 billion in lost trade with emerging markets by 2021; and calls on the Government urgently to put jobs and the national interest ahead of electoral interests and to consider all options when it comes to aviation policy, up to and including airport expansion.

That this House welcomes research by Oxford Economics which concludes that without Government support for a UK hub airport, Britain could lose up to 140,000 jobs; endorses the view of Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, in calling for urgent action to be taken in order to maintain the status...

That this House notes that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 established Gaelic as an official language of Scotland; notes, however, that while UK-based agencies responsible to the UK Government recognise Welsh as an official language, the same does not apply to the Gaelic language; and urges the Government to establish Gaelic on equal terms with English and Welsh.

That this House notes that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 established Gaelic as an official language of Scotland; notes, however, that while UK-based agencies responsible to the UK Government recognise Welsh as an official language, the same does not apply to the Gaelic language; and urges the Government to...

That this House notes that Network Rail has been found by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to be in breach of its licence and that, according to the ORR, `major asset failures, congested routes and poor management of track condition' contributed to poor performance of the UK rail network in 2011; welcomes the statement by the Secretary of State for Transport reported in The Daily Telegraph on 19 December 2011, that `Passengers would be extremely surprised if Network Rail attempted to award bonuses next year in the light of this action by the ORR'; further notes that Network Rail members, at their meeting on 10 February, are to be asked to confirm annual bonuses for directors equivalent to 60 per cent. of their annual salary, resulting in a 340,000 bonus for its chief executive; and calls on the company's directors to reject these bonuses.

That this House notes that Network Rail has been found by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to be in breach of its licence and that, according to the ORR, `major asset failures, congested routes and poor management of track condition' contributed to poor performance of the UK rail network...

That this House warmly welcomes the release of political prisoners in Burma, particularly that of Zarganar, the comedian and film maker, who was originally sentenced to 58 years' imprisonment for alleged public order offences; and calls on the Burmese authorities to follow up this gesture with the further release of all prisoners of conscience and the introduction of genuine democratic reforms.

That this House warmly welcomes the release of political prisoners in Burma, particularly that of Zarganar, the comedian and film maker, who was originally sentenced to 58 years' imprisonment for alleged public order offences; and calls on the Burmese authorities to follow up this gesture with the further release of...

That this House notes that while traditionally printed books and printed papers are exempt from VAT, e-books are subject to the full rate of 20 per cent.; further notes that e-books produced within other jurisdictions are not necessarily subject to similar taxes and therefore enjoy a huge competitive advantage; recognises that e-book publications is a growing industry which should be encouraged and supported within the UK; and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to standardise VAT for books and printed papers, whether published in electronic or printed form, at the current rate of zero per cent.

That this House notes that while traditionally printed books and printed papers are exempt from VAT, e-books are subject to the full rate of 20 per cent.; further notes that e-books produced within other jurisdictions are not necessarily subject to similar taxes and therefore enjoy a huge competitive advantage; recognises...

That this House condemns the treatment by the Burmese regime of the actor, director and comedian, Zarganar, who in 2006 was banned from any public performance and who in 2008, after speaking out on behalf of millions of Burmese citizens left homeless by a cyclone, was convicted of public order offences and sentenced to 59 years imprisonment, this sentence being reduced on appeal to 35 years; believes that Zarganar has suffered a grievous miscarriage of justice; and calls on the Burmese government to release him at the earliest possible opportunity.

That this House condemns the treatment by the Burmese regime of the actor, director and comedian, Zarganar, who in 2006 was banned from any public performance and who in 2008, after speaking out on behalf of millions of Burmese citizens left homeless by a cyclone, was convicted of public order...

That this House is concerned at reports that growing numbers of returning officers are considering postponing the counting of votes cast on the day of the General Election until the day after polling; believes that in the 21st century it would be a regressive move not to announce constituency results as early as possible; further believes that public confidence in the results could be undermined by delays in the counting of ballot papers and that fewer voters would be able to watch the results being announced if this were done on a Friday afternoon; and calls on local authorities throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that all ballot papers are counted immediately after the close of polls on General Election night, as has been the practice in previous general elections.

That this House is concerned at reports that growing numbers of returning officers are considering postponing the counting of votes cast on the day of the General Election until the day after polling; believes that in the 21st century it would be a regressive move not to announce constituency results...

That this House is concerned at reports that growing numbers of Returning Officers are considering postponing the counting of votes cast on the day of the General Election until the day after polling; believes that in the 21st century it would be a regressive move not to announce constituency results as early as possible; further believes that public confidence in the results could be undermined by delays in the counting of ballot papers and that fewer voters would be able to watch the results being announced if this were done on a Friday afternoon; and calls on local authorities throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that all ballot papers are counted immediately after the close of polls on General Election night, as has been the practice in previous General Elections.

That this House is concerned at reports that growing numbers of Returning Officers are considering postponing the counting of votes cast on the day of the General Election until the day after polling; believes that in the 21st century it would be a regressive move not to announce constituency results...

That this House welcomes the presence and activities of railway enthusiasts on the UK rail network; acknowledges the potential positive contribution to station security made by railway enthusiasts who are often seen as providing extra eyes and ears for the security services through their activities; is concerned at recent reports that some rail enthusiasts have been prevented from carrying out lawful activities, including photography, by station and train staff; and calls on Network Rail and the train operating companies to respect the legal rights of members of the public to pursue their interests at stations.

That this House welcomes the presence and activities of railway enthusiasts on the UK rail network; acknowledges the potential positive contribution to station security made by railway enthusiasts who are often seen as providing extra eyes and ears for the security services through their activities; is concerned at recent reports...

That this House congratulates those supermarkets which continue to accommodate post offices within their stores; deplores the decision of those supermarkets which have excluded long-established post offices from their premises, often for purely commercial reasons and without regard for their customers' convenience or for alternative post office provision in the local area; and calls on local planning authorities throughout the country to impose conditions on any new supermarket development that would oblige the applicant to offer to accommodate a post office within any new store and to guarantee an appropriate minimum period during which the post office's tenancy rights would be guaranteed.

That this House congratulates those supermarkets which continue to accommodate post offices within their stores; deplores the decision of those supermarkets which have excluded long-established post offices from their premises, often for purely commercial reasons and without regard for their customers' convenience or for alternative post office provision in the...

That this House congratulates the people and the city of Glasgow for being named as one of the world's top 10 cities to visit by the Lonely Planet travel guide.

That this House congratulates the people and the city of Glasgow for being named as one of the world's top 10 cities to visit by the Lonely Planet travel guide.

That this House welcomes the re-election of Jack McConnell as Scotland's First Minister and the re-establishment of a Labour-led coalition administration in Edinburgh; and further welcomes the decision of the Scottish electorate decisively to turn its back on the Scottish National Party and its discredited, irrelevant and expensive policy of separatism.

That this House welcomes the re-election of Jack McConnell as Scotland's First Minister and the re-establishment of a Labour-led coalition administration in Edinburgh; and further welcomes the decision of the Scottish electorate decisively to turn its back on the Scottish National Party and its discredited, irrelevant and expensive policy of...

That this House commends the National Union of Students on their 'Students in their Union: Citizens in their Society' campaign; notes the efforts of NUS to set up and develop students' unions across the United Kingdom; recognises the key role that students' unions play in giving young people direct and genuine experiences of democracy and citizenship and equipping them with the essential skills required to be good citizens; and calls upon the Government to continue to support the work of students' unions and NUS in delivering opportunities for citizenship education.

That this House commends the National Union of Students on their 'Students in their Union: Citizens in their Society' campaign; notes the efforts of NUS to set up and develop students' unions across the United Kingdom; recognises the key role that students' unions play in giving young people direct and...

That this House commends the United Kingdom's firefighters and control room staff for their dedication and professionalism; agrees that the existing formula for calculating firefighters' pay needs to be reviewed; welcomes the setting up by the Government of an independent review under Sir George Bain to examine firefighters' wages and conditions; and calls on the Fire Brigades Union to delay strike action until its members have had an opportunity to digest the conclusions of Sir George's review.

That this House commends the United Kingdom's firefighters and control room staff for their dedication and professionalism; agrees that the existing formula for calculating firefighters' pay needs to be reviewed; welcomes the setting up by the Government of an independent review under Sir George Bain to examine firefighters' wages and...

That this House agrees that the first-past-the-post electoral system is the most appropriate for electing honourable Members of Parliament.

That this House agrees that the first-past-the-post electoral system is the most appropriate for electing honourable Members of Parliament.

That this House recognises that the BBC's 'Six O'Clock News' and 'Reporting Scotland' news programmes offer Scottish viewers comprehensive and balanced coverage of Scottish UK and international news; and congratulates the BBC for its high quality coverage of both UK and Scottish issues and for recognising that Scottish viewers want to be kept informed about events in all parts of the United Kingdom through the existing networked and Scottish new bulletins.

That this House recognises that the BBC's 'Six O'Clock News' and 'Reporting Scotland' news programmes offer Scottish viewers comprehensive and balanced coverage of Scottish UK and international news; and congratulates the BBC for its high quality coverage of both UK and Scottish issues and for recognising that Scottish viewers want...