Early Day Motions

DYNAMIC DEMAND

That this House notes that around £80 million a year is spent by National Grid on `response', a control system for handling unpredictable fluctuations in electricity demand; further notes that this is achieved largely by running thermal power plant at variable rates and partly loaded, a practice tha

MANCHESTER METROLINK

That this House regrets the epic delay to the extension of the Manchester Metrolink; recalls with concern the 1989 undertaking by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive that Metrolink will start running in Rochdale in 1992; recognises the impact this delay has had on the communities of Gre

PUBLICLY-CREATED MONEY

That this House is concerned at the growing difficulties of maintaining the higher levels of public spending on pensions, health, education and all the other public purposes an advanced society requires by taxation and public borrowing; notes that the proportion of publicly-created money in circulat

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY BILLS

That this House believes that climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today and so views with concern the continuing increase in emissions of carbon dioxide; believes that new initiatives are needed to deal with these problems; therefore welcomes the introduction with cros

CARBON ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES STRATEGY AND UK MINED COAL

That this House welcomes the Government's paper `A Strategy for Developing Carbon Abatement Technologies for Fossil Fuel Use' and the pledge to make £25 million available for carbon abatement technology research to enable fossil fuels to be burned with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, thus increasi

PROTECTING RUNAWAY CHILDREN

That this House warmly welcomes the Children's Society's Safe and Sound campaign to make England safe for the 100,000 children who run away from home or care each year; is alarmed at the Society's findings that almost half of all children who have run away for over a week are physically or sexually

OFFSHORING AND DIGITISATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGE RECORDS

That this House notes the reservations of the Regulatory Reform Committee expressed in its report published in December 2004 regarding the digitisation of births, deaths and marriage records held by the General Register's Office, a division of the Office for National Statistics, currently based in S

SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS

That this House remains deeply concerned that, despite public subsidy being more than three times the amount received by British Rail, passengers continue to endure far worse punctuality rates than under public ownership; welcomes the improvement in reliability and punctuality of South Eastern Train

GM, THE US AND BIOTECH COMPANIES

That this House notes the pressure exerted by the United States and biotech companies, especially through the GM dispute at the World Trade Organisation, to open European markets to GM products; is concerned this may lead to decisions that deny consumer choice for GM-free food and leave farmers with

REAL NAPPY WEEK

That this House congratulates all those involved in Real Nappy Week, especially the Women's Environmental Network, the Waste Resources and Action Programme and the Nappy Alliance; notes that Real Nappy Week commences on 20th June 2005, with events and activities taking place across the UK as part of

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER REGION-WIDE CONCESSIONARY BUS PASS FOR PENSIONERS AND THE DISABLED

At end add `recognises that there are similar difficulties in the North West Region, and urges all the relevant parties in that region also to consider a feasibility study to help deliver free off peak bus travel for pensioners and the disabled throughout the North West Region.'.

SMALL SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS

That this House notes the Small Scale Renewable Energy Developments (Permitted Development) Bill, introduced into the House before the election by a cross-party group of honourable Members; further notes that the Bill, had it been enacted, would have granted permitted development status to such deve

FITTING-OUT OF NEW ST PANCRAS THAMESLINK STATION

That this House notes the re-opening of the Thameslink through-route and congratulates Thameslink and its contractors for completing construction of the new Thameslink St Pancras box station on time; regrets that funding has not been made available to fit-out the new Thameslink station at St Pancras

TRAIN SERVICE FROM HALIFAX TO LONDON

That this House supports the proposal by Grand Central Railway to operate several high speed through services daily between Halifax and London; and urges the Office of Rail Regulation to support this initiative.

CHILDREN'S FOOD

That this House believes that, while the Government has introduced some measures to improve school meals, the crisis in children's diet-related health remains; notes that data from the Health Survey for England shows that between 1995 and 2003, the prevalence of obesity among children under 11 years

BAHÁ'ÍS IN IRAN

That this House expresses deep concern at the intensification of persecution of members of the Bahá'í faith in Iran over recent months; is mindful of the ongoing EU-Iran human rights dialogue; and urges the Government to endeavour to place the specific issue of the Bahá'ís on the agenda when the nex

NORTH YORKSHIRE FLOODS

That this House notes the devastating flash floods which occurred in the Helmsley area of North Yorkshire on Sunday 19th June and extends its sympathy to the many families and businesses whose homes and property were seriously damaged; expresses its thanks and admiration for the prompt action of the

LOW LEVEL LETTER BOXES

That this House supports the campaign by the Communication Workers Union calling for Government action on the problem of low level letter boxes; notes that there are around 3,000 back injuries to postmen and women each year in Royal Mail and that delivering to low level letter boxes at the base of a

BETTER GOVERNANCE FOR WALES WHITE PAPER

That this House notes with concern the proposals set out in the Government's Better Governance for Wales White Paper; calls upon the Government to consult the people of Wales before any changes to the Assembly's legislative powers are granted; expresses particular concern over the Government's motiv

BBC WEATHER BULLETINS

That this House calls on the BBC to take its viewers' opinions on the new weather map seriously, notably The Scottish White Fish Producers' Association's concerns over the removal of isobars and wind speeds from bulletins; condemns the BBC for their suggestion for fishermen to use other sources for

INVESTIGATION OF THE TAX AVOIDANCE INDUSTRY

That this House urges the Government to investigate the activities of banks, law firms, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst and Young, Grant Thornton and other firms in devising, marketing, promoting, implementing and concealing aggressive tax avoidance schemes which have no commercial sub

PLASTIC GLASSES AND BOTTLES IN CLUBS

That this House believes that glasses and bottles should be changed to plastic in late night bars and clubs.

FLOODING IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

That this House regrets the devastation caused by the flash floods in Thirsk and Sutton-under-Whitestonecliff and surrounding villages; recognises the rapid response of the emergency services, which secured a safe rescue of people caught in their homes and in their cars; pays tribute to the North Yo

SKIN CANCER AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

That this House recognises the importance of prevention for reducing the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the UK; notes that malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, is being seen increasingly in younger people and that recent research has shown that sunburn

FIRST BLACK ARCHBISHOP FOR CHURCH OF ENGLAND

That this House congratulates the Right Reverend John Sentamu, for becoming Britain's first black Archbishop to the Church of England; recognises that his ministry in London and Birmingham has been praised by Christians of all backgrounds; wishes him further success in his new role; and believes tha