Early Day Motions

AUSTRALIA DAY

That this House notes that 26th January marks Australia's National Day commemorating the anniversary of the day on which Captain Arthur Philip in 1788 unfurled the Union Flag at Sydney Cove; recognises that the strong historical bonds reinforced through the military, sport, the media and the arts an

WAITANGI DAY (NEW ZEALAND DAY)

That this House joins the people of New Zealand in celebrating Waitangi Day, their National Day, on 6th February 2008, commemorating the historic signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, that marks the coming together of the Maori people and representatives of the British Crown; notes the importan

REDUCED HOURS AT SOUTH MANCHESTER ROYAL MAIL DELIVERY OFFICE

That this House notes with concern the decision by Royal Mail to reduce the opening hours of the South Manchester Delivery Office in Fallowfield which will result in the office closing at 2 p.m.; recognises that this is yet another reduction in postal services in Manchester and is against the wishes

POLICE PAY AND INDEPENDENT ARBITRATION

That this House welcomes the lobbying of Parliament by up to 25,000 police officers on 23rd January 2008 following the Government's refusal to accept in full the recommendations of the police arbitration tribunal; notes with concern that the Home Secretary was not prepared to be bound by the decisio

RESOURCES

That this House is concerned that the current squeeze on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) funding has almost halved the proportion of gross domestic product spent on the organisation since 1992; is worried that the HSE does not have sufficient resources to meet its obligations as a safety and healt

WOODHEAD TUNNEL (No. 2)

That this House is concerned that the National Grid company plans to relocate its five kilometre high voltage cable from the old Woodhead tunnel to the newer one built in the 1950s which will impact detrimentally on proposals for a strategic transpennine freight line linking the economies of the Eas

GUANTáNAMO BAY DETENTION CAMP

That this House congratulates and supports the worldwide demonstrations marking the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility by the Bush administration and regrets that the camp remains a devastating scar on America's human rights; condemns the refusal to offer priso

HUMBER BRIDGE TOLL

That this House notes that the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world for 16 years; further notes that the original estimated cost of construction was £28 million, which grew to £98 million by completion; further notes that, thanks to interest charges, the Humber Br

CLINICS FOR PEOPLE WITH NEUROMUSCULAR CONDITIONS

That this House is concerned that across England and Wales there are significant geographical inequalities in access to health services for patients with neuromuscular conditions; notes with concern that many areas of Wales have no clinics for managing conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,

COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNTING AND THE IMPORTATION OF SEAL PRODUCTS INTO THE UK

That this House congratulates Belgium and the Netherlands for banning the trade in seal products; welcomes these bans as a step towards an EU-wide ban; is disappointed at the decision of the Canadian government to pursue consultations at the World Trade Organisation against these bans; believes thes

SUPPORT FOR THE LISBON TREATY AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS

That this House notes the support for the Lisbon Treaty cited by the Foreign Secretary on 21st January 2008 of Action Aid, Save the Children and One World Action; further notes the endorsement of the World Wildlife Fund for the treaty in the briefing document, co-authored with the Institute for Euro

PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES

That this House is concerned by the exponential growth of private military and security companies (PMSCs) since the invasion of Iraq; is disturbed by the substantial rise of reported incidents of civilian killings and human rights abuses by PMSC guards in Iraq who remain unregulated and unaccountabl

REVIEW OF HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT SUBSIDY

at end add `but notes that the earliest any reform could take place is after 2010-11 which will be too late for many of the remaining directly-managed housing authorities to avoid stock transfer.'.

OLD FORD HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND MICHELE DENNIS

That this House expreses its concern over the case of Michele Dennis, a tenant of Old Ford Housing Association and prior to that of Tower Hamlets Council before her housing estate was transferred; notes that Ms Dennis is sadly recently bereaved, having been her late mother's registered carer for 16

OIL AND FUEL POLLUTION CONTROL

That this House notes that fuel and oil leaks are the most frequently reported type of pollution of inland waters in England and Wales; supports the Environmental Industries Commission campaign for a MOT scheme for oil tanks in commercial premises; and calls for further measures to reduce pollution

YOUNG PEOPLE'S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

That this House notes that young people across the world are disproportionately affected by problems relating to sexual and reproductive health and that they are suffering and dying because of a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and supplies; recognises that this

POLICE PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES

That this House notes that each police authority procures its own vehicles; recognises that the vast majority of police vehicles are built abroad; believes that all public sector bodies should do everything they can to support British industry; and urges the Government to work with the chief constab

FUEL DUTY

That this House notes that the price of petrol and diesel is set to rise again in April of this year; further notes that fuel prices are over the 100p per litre mark and continue to rise; recognises that this places a significant financial burden on those who are highly dependent upon their car, tho

POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN LANCASHIRE

That this House notes with concern the proposal to close 59 post offices in the Lancashire, Fylde and Southport area; recognises the central role post offices play in the local community both in terms of providing a service to customers and acting as a focal point for local residents; urges national

ENERGY PRICES (No. 2)

That this House notes with concern that a regional analysis of recent increases in energy prices indicates that London consumers are suffering larger proportionate increases than consumers in any other region in England, with an estimated 23.5 per cent. increase in gas prices and 22.1 per cent. in e

CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF RAPE

That this House notes that the current conviction rate in rape cases is only 5.7 per cent. with fewer than 20 per cent. of rapes reported to the police leading to a prosecution; further notes that the vast majority of women in the UK do not have access to a rape crisis centre; recognises that up to

BSKYB SHARES IN ITV

That this House welcomes the final findings of the Competition Commission, published on 20th December 2007 which concluded that a divestment of shares to below 7.5 per cent. would be effective in remedying the substantial lessening of competition and the consequent adverse effects on the public inte

FISH AND CHIP SHOP OF THE YEAR

That this House congratulates Gordon and Sandra Hillan and all their staff at the Townhead Cafe, Biggar on, firstly, being named the Seafish Best Fish and Chip Shop in Scotland and then, on 23rd January 2008 in London, being awarded the title of Best Fish and Chip Shop in Britain; and commends them

FLOOD AND COASTAL EROSION RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

That this House notes that flood and coastal erosion risk management is an important issue facing the East Riding of Yorkshire and other coastal communities in England; further notes that there are large tracts of low-flying, high-quality farmland to the north of the River Humber; is alarmed at the

SCOTTISH SHEEP INDUSTRY AND ELECTRONIC TAGGING

That this House notes the concerns raised by the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) over the European Commission's proposed introduction of an electronic identification system for sheep tagging (Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 and No. 1560/2007); believes that this threatens to damage the