Early Day Motions

SELLING TAX AVOIDANCE SCHEMES

That this House is concerned that KPMG has been developing, marketing and selling sometimes by cold-calling, VAT avoidance schemes which it knew would be `unacceptable', and which it admits in its marketing document are suspect by saying that `In our view HM Customs and Excise will regard these plan

INTEREST FREE MONEY

That this House believes that for public and social infrastructure developments interest-bearing debt is unsatisfactory, burdensome and inadequate; notes that borrowing is not the only available method of financing; and therefore calls on the Government to grant the Bank of England, within that inst

MAYOR OF LONDON AND THE EVENING STANDARD

That this House notes that it is 10 days since Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, made insulting remarks to an Evening Standard journalist; believes that, no matter how long or deep his dispute with Associated Newspapers is, that dispute cannot justify or excuse his language; recognises the offence f

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

That this House in congratulating the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey on the forthcoming celebrations of the 60th anniversary of their liberation from Nazi occupation, in which they were the only parts of the British Isles to be subjected to enemy occupation, reminds the UK Government that th

VICTIM SUPPORT WEEK 21st - 27th FEBRUARY 2005

That this House welcomes Victim Support Week running from 21st to 27th February; congratulates the charity Victim Support on reaching its 31st year of providing support to witnesses, victims, their families and friends in the community and when they go to court; notes that since 2003 Victim Support

BRITISH PARALYMPIC ASSOCIATION

That this House congratulates British Paralympic Association Chairman Mike Brace on the news that he has been presented with the CBE for his services to disability sports; notes his achievements both as an athlete representing his country in six Paralympic Games and as a dedicated charity worker; re

CROSSRAIL

That this House warmly welcomes the presentation of the Crossrail Bill, which will provide the planning powers required for the construction of Crossrail; notes the enormous improvements that Crossrail will bring to transport links and in relieving congestion in the capital and across the South East

EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING AT NEWPORT

That this House applauds the inspired choice of Newport as the venue for the European Union's Foreign Ministers' September meeting on global warming and Africa; notes the city's leading environmental work, including Europe's largest and most efficient fridge disposal plant, handling 700,000 units a

HUNTING BAN

That this House hails the success of the ban of hunting with dogs; welcomes the demonstration by 184 hunts that the ban does not destroy jobs or traditional pageantry nor result in the destruction of horses or hounds; notes that the only loss is the gratuitous cruelty of the protracted chase of a sm

REGULATION OF THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY

That this House notes with concern that, almost two years after the diamond industry agreed to a system of self-regulation to prevent the trade in diamonds from regions of conflict, many retailers in the UK are still failing to provide consumers wih assurances that the diamonds they sell are not min

POLITICAL PLURALISM IN UGANDA

That this House congratulates the Government for playing a leading role in supporting development efforts in Uganda, resulting in impressive achievements, particularly in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic; welcomes the decision by President Museveni to lift the 18-year long restriction on political ac

HYDROGEN ECONOMY IN WALES

That this House welcomes the study undertaken by the University of Glamorgan into the potential for hydrogen development in Wales; notes that the report concluded that Wales could use natural energy resources to meet all its energy needs, thus ending dependency on coal, oil and gas; further notes th

JAMIE OLIVER'S CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM SCHOOL MEALS

That this House congratulates Jamie Oliver on his campaign to transform school meals and looks forward to the first programme in the series, to be broadcast on Channel 4 on the evening of 23rd February; agrees with him that children should not have to eat processed, oven-ready junk pumped full of ad

UGANDA'S TRANSITION TO POLITICAL PLURALISM

That this House welcomes the decision by President Museveni to lift the ban on political activities after 19 years; further welcomes the launch of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the election of the exiled Dr Kizza Besigye as their national chairman and prospective presidential

FREE TV LICENCES FOR ALL PENSIONERS AGED 70 AND OVER

That this House would welcome free television licences for pensioners aged 70 years and over reducing the current age band of 75 years; notes that figures show that providing free television licences for everyone aged 70 years or over would cost an estimated ú529 million a year, excluding administra

SPANISH REFERENDUM ON THE EU CONSTITUTION

That this House welcomes the outcome of the referendum in Spain on the weekend of 19th and 20th February; congratulates the Spaniards, who with an overwhelming majority of 77 per cent. said yes to the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe; notes that this was the first in a series of Europea

SOUTH AFRICAN HELP IN ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS

That this House notes the recent comments by the President of South Africa regarding what his country is seeking to achieve in neighbouring Zimbabwe; recognises that elections are due to be held in March in Zimbabwe; and calls upon the UK Government to press the South African authorities to assist i

THAMESLINK AND GREAT NORTHERN RAIL FRANCHISE

That this House notes the Strategic Rail Authority's decision to invite expressions of interest for the new Thameslink/Great Northern franchise to be created by combining existing operations at Thameslink and Great Northern (currently WAGN) franchises; welcomes improvements in performance and reliab

BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER'S VISIT TO CHINA

That this House notes that during the Chancellor of the Exchequer's visit to the Futan Free Trade Zone of Shenzhen he visited a Bookham Technology manufacturing plant that is in the process of taking over work from the Bookham Technology manufacturing plant in Paignton, Devon, a plant that at its pe

GREATER WESTERN RAIL FRANCHISE

That this House notes the Strategic Rail Authority's decision to invite expressions of interest for the new Greater Western franchise to be created by combining existing operations at Great Western, Great Western Link and Wessex Trains franchises; welcomes improvements in performance and reliability

NORTHERN RAIL FRANCHISE

That this House notes Strategic Rail Authority plans to review service and fare levels on the Northern Rail franchise; is concerned that the review will lead to higher fares, replacing off-peak rail services with buses, line closures and job losses; further notes that the Northern Rail franchise has

CANCELLATION OF COMMONWEALTH DEBT

That this House urges the Government to cancel all debts still owed by Commonwealth countries to the UK.

MIDWIFERY AND MATERNITY SERVICES

That this House believes that first class maternity services are a vital component within a 21st century NHS; commends midwives for the excellent work they do in delivering maternity services to women; and calls upon the Department of Health to increase investment in maternity services to deal with

UEFA EUROPEAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2005

That this House recognises that the UEFA European Women's Championship, taking place throughout Northwest England in June 2005, is the largest women's sporting event ever held in the UK; commends the FA for setting reasonable ticket prices for the championship, which will encourage people of all age

CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK

That this House regrets the current disruption caused to commuters on the Thameslink line into London by the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; recognises that, when completed, the rail link will improve communications between the South East of England and the rest of Europe as well as sm