That this House recognises the hard work of Home Office and UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff set out in the Chief Inspector's report into asylum within UKBA; is deeply concerned that the targets for dealing with new asylum claims within six months and clearing the backlog of 450,000 legacy cases are deemed unachievable with the current staffing levels; considers that plans to reduce the staffing complement across UKBA, including caseworkers dealing with the legacy backlog will be a massive blow to the proper running of UKBA; and therefore calls for a halt to the job cuts at UKBA and for investment in staff resources and training as the best way to achieve the targets set.

That this House recognises the hard work of Home Office and UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff set out in the Chief Inspector's report into asylum within UKBA; is deeply concerned that the targets for dealing with new asylum claims within six months and clearing the backlog of 450,000 legacy cases...

That this House notes the benefits of cycling to health and to communities, streets and the environment; welcomes the substantial recent increases in cycle use in London and other parts of Britain including several of the Cycle Towns; and supports the aims of the Vote Bike manifesto to make cycling mainstream by strengthening the political and resource commitments made to cycling by Government departments, local authorities, health and other relevant bodies, improving the training and skills of planners and engineers required to deliver quality cycle-friendly planning and design, tackling the risks faced by cyclists through training and awareness campaigns for both drivers and cyclists through lower speed limits and through strengthened road traffic law and enforcement, enhancing provision for combining cycling with public transport by ensuring good access to stations and interchanges, providing secure parking including cycle hubs at major stations and sensibly managed provision for carrying cycles on public transport, providing encouragement, incentives and opportunities to try out cycling in schools and workplaces and for key target groups such as health patients and disadvantaged groups, plus tax incentives to support the use, purchase and repair of cycles and related accessories, and creating new and improved opportunities for recreational and off-road cycling including the appropriate opening up of green spaces, forest land, rights of way, waterways and sections of Britain's coast in order to deliver substantial increases in cycle use while halving the risks of cycling within 10 years.

That this House notes the benefits of cycling to health and to communities, streets and the environment; welcomes the substantial recent increases in cycle use in London and other parts of Britain including several of the Cycle Towns; and supports the aims of the Vote Bike manifesto to make cycling...

That this House applauds the work of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the dedication and bravery of its personnel, who provide such invaluable support to the Royal Navy often in war zones around the globe; is extremely concerned that the future of the RFA is under threat due to the proposal to scrutinise its role through the Treasury Operational Efficiency Programme; is dismayed that a further review could be contemplated so soon after a similar exercise in 2006 which resulted in a stable evolved crewing strategy until 2020; believes that the RFA has consistently demonstrated the value in retaining a civilian crewed fleet to provide strategic support to the Royal Navy; and urges the Government to retain the RFA in its traditional role on the grounds of security, efficiency and integration, and support for the armed forces.

That this House applauds the work of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the dedication and bravery of its personnel, who provide such invaluable support to the Royal Navy often in war zones around the globe; is extremely concerned that the future of the RFA is under threat due to...

That this House is concerned about the disproportionate risk of deaths of cyclists that involve heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and notes in particular that seven out of the 12 cyclists' deaths in London, all but one of them women, this year involved lorries; recognises the value in increasing levels of cycling to improve public health and reduce the impact on the natural and urban environment; further notes that HGVs account for 45 per cent. of all London cyclists' deaths, and one in five of cyclists' deaths in the UK, yet represent only five per cent. of road traffic; supports the provision of cycle training to give adults and children the skills to deal with traffic; believes that more action is required to mitigate the threat posed by lorries; further recognises the need to equip all lorries with side-sensors, in-cab supervision systems, class VI safety mirrors and audible warnings; further recognises that all drivers receive a cycle awareness training course as part of the new Certificate of Professional Competence; and recommends the imposition of conditions of access to city centres for HGVs.

That this House is concerned about the disproportionate risk of deaths of cyclists that involve heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and notes in particular that seven out of the 12 cyclists' deaths in London, all but one of them women, this year involved lorries; recognises the value in increasing levels of...

That this House recognises the Government's financial support for the encouragement of cycling; urges it to extend its support to help promote more cycling by children; is conscious that nearly one household in three are bike-free zones and that only 2 per cent. of children travel to school by bike; welcomes the Halfords campaign calling on the Government to work at EU level to secure a reduction of valued added tax on children's bikes and safety accessories to 5 per cent.; further recognises the benefits that cycling brings in tackling obesity and addressing other health issues, environmental concerns and traffic congestion; and also notes the potential savings that this measure would bring to a number of Government departments, particularly the Department of Health as it helps to tackle the increasingly alarming obesity crisis.

That this House recognises the Government's financial support for the encouragement of cycling; urges it to extend its support to help promote more cycling by children; is conscious that nearly one household in three are bike-free zones and that only 2 per cent. of children travel to school by bike;...

That this House notes that for a number of years discussions have been taking place in both Houses with the Government and the Trades Union Congress to seek to resolve the horrendous situation whereby ferry company owners and others, whose vessels regularly trade on fixed routes between UK ports, are allowed to pay poverty wages substantially below the minimum wage to non-UK seafarers, including rates as little as ??2.00 per hour; welcomes the fact that a number of hon. Members have supported amendments to the Equality Bill which would close this loophole; is therefore dismayed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is blocking these amendments by claiming that applying the minimum wage on ferries that trade solely between UK ports could mean the UK is in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; further notes that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has adopted this position despite the independent legal advice to the contrary provided to the RMT union and also the advice of the International Transport Workers Federation; is appalled that in the 21st century the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is effectively allowing the continuation of poverty wages to continue in UK waters; and calls on the Foreign Secretary immediately to publish the legal advice on which the Department's blocking action is based and allow the advice to be subject to urgent independent scrutiny.

That this House notes that for a number of years discussions have been taking place in both Houses with the Government and the Trades Union Congress to seek to resolve the horrendous situation whereby ferry company owners and others, whose vessels regularly trade on fixed routes between UK ports, are...

That this House is appalled that in the 21st century, ships, including ferry services, which regularly trade on fixed routes between UK ports and between the UK and Europe, are allowed to pay poverty wages substantially below the minimum wage to non-UK seafarers including rates as little as ??1.50 per hour; is dismayed that this super-exploitation is legal as a result of a loophole in race relations legislation which allows non-UK seafarers to be paid rates below agreed UK levels and also due to the exemption of seafarers from the national minimum wage; urges the Government to bring forward amendments to the Equality Bill to outlaw this discrimination and to reform race relations legislation as it applies to seafarers; and calls on the Government to bring forward immediately legislation to ensure that non-UK seafarers are protected by the provisions of the national minimum wage.

That this House is appalled that in the 21st century, ships, including ferry services, which regularly trade on fixed routes between UK ports and between the UK and Europe, are allowed to pay poverty wages substantially below the minimum wage to non-UK seafarers including rates as little as ??1.50 per...

That this House abhors the plans of some Conservative-run local authorities to sack public service workers and cut services while protecting their publicity machinery and enhancing the conditions of senior executives; and in particular condemns Kent County Council which proposes to abolish 700 posts while continuing to fund its own self-promoting television service, Kent TV, paying out over ??5 million a year on self publicity and providing its Chief Executive with a higher salary than that of the Prime Minister.

That this House abhors the plans of some Conservative-run local authorities to sack public service workers and cut services while protecting their publicity machinery and enhancing the conditions of senior executives; and in particular condemns Kent County Council which proposes to abolish 700 posts while continuing to fund its own...

That this House is opposed to any dilution or postponement of the ban on the beak-trimming of laying hens which was introduced in 2002 and is due to come into force on 1 January 2011; notes that a postponement of the ban is unnecessary as scientific research shows that the correct way to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism is not to beak-trim the hens but to keep them in good conditions and to select birds that are less prone to feather pecking and cannibalism; is opposed not just to traditional beak-trimming with a hot blade but also to the newly developed infra-red method, as research shows that infra-red trimming can result in acute pain and involves the loss of part of the beak, which is a key sensory organ for hens; and calls on the Government to adhere to the 2011 commencement date for the ban on beak-trimming.

That this House is opposed to any dilution or postponement of the ban on the beak-trimming of laying hens which was introduced in 2002 and is due to come into force on 1 January 2011; notes that a postponement of the ban is unnecessary as scientific research shows that the...