Early Day Motions

FUTURE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS

;"and if at the end of this process it finds no better and more widely acceptable means of delivery it should retain and enhance the Community Health Councils which are already doing such a good job in all these respects, while paying them as graceful a tribute as it can muster in the circumstances.

DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ELECTRICITY TRADING ARRANGEMENTS

That this House welcomes the commitment within the Utilities Act 2000 to ensuring competitive energy markets where all participants have equal rights; urges Ofgem's Callum McCarthy to do everything in his power to implement New Electricity Trading Arrangements by the revised deadline set by him of 2

PARTNERSHIP AGAINST WILDLIFE CRIME

That this House welcomes the introduction on 30th January of the wildlife protection provisions contained in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act; regards them as a major step forward for wildlife protection which provide significant new powers for police officers in their fight against increasingl

SUPPORT FOR AN AIDS VACCINE

That this House commends Bill Gates, the Chairman of Microsoft, for commiting ú68 million to an international AIDS vaccine initiative; and notes that AIDS has become the biggest killer among infectious diseases with 500,000 children and 2.5 million adults dying last year, mainly in Africa.

THREATENED DISBANDMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE WILDLIFE CRIME UNIT

That this House is extremely concerned to hear that the Metropolitan Police is considering disbanding its Wildlife Crime Unit; notes that the unit is the only specialized unit dealing with wildlife crime in the UK; also notes the essential work that the Wildlife Crime Unit does in relation to the UK

PROPOSALS FOR BBC CHILDREN'S CHANNELS

That this House welcomes the proposals from the BBC for two new digital children's channels, one for pre-school and one for older children, which should help meet the clear need for a distinctive, high quality alternative to commercial children's television; believes that children and their parents

HUMAN RIGHTS - TIBET

That this House mindful of the continuing abuses of human rights in Tibet, welcomes and supports the Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on China, specifically its call for greater co-ordination of policy in the EU and for a resolution on human rights in China to be tabled at the UNHRC in 2001;

NHS LABORATORY STAFF AND THE PAY REVIEW BODY

That this House notes the announcement of substantial pay rises to many staff working in NHS laboratories; further notes that over many years these highly-skilled but under-valued employees of the NHS have seen their salaries fall further behind those of staff in similar jobs elsewhere; congratulate

EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS ON SPECIAL ADVISERS

That this House notes that special advisers to ministers are paid for from the public purse; demands the highest standards of probity by such advisers; accordingly condemns Adrian McMenamin, employed by the Secretary of State for Wales, for denigrating Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales' elected membe

IMPACT ON JOBS AND BRANCH CLOSURES OF THE PROPOSED MERGER OF LLOYDS TSB AND ABBEY NATIONAL

That this House notes that the Office of Fair Trading is currently considering the proposition of a merger between Abbey National, the fifth largest UK bank, and Lloyds TSB, the third largest bank; further notes that there are 600 Abbey National branch offices within half a mile of a Lloyds TSB bran

PRIVATISATION OF MEAT INSPECTION

That this House notes European Commission proposals which could hand over responsibility of meat inspection to the abattoir industry; believes that independence in meat inspection is of critical importance to maintaining safety standards; is concerned that self-regulation, as proposed by the Commiss

PRISONS AND THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOOLF REPORT

That this House notes that on 31st January 2001, Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the submission of his Report on the Strangeways Riot by delivering the Prison Reform Trust Annual Lecture; notes that the Report recommended the stabilising of the prison pop

RED TAPE RESTRICTIONS ON PUBS

That this House notes with concern the findings of a recent survey of publicans that indicated high levels of red tape and bureaucracy within the trade; considers that special attention should be given to examining ways of reducing regulations where they are not necessary; urges the Government to re

THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES

That this House welcomes the statement in the Government's recent Globalisation White Paper that recognises the role of government in ensuring that basic services are provided to all; notes that negotiations to expand the reach of the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services are underway; furthe

FREE WATER METERS

That this House calls on the Government to ensure that water companies act to the letter and spirit of the Water Industry Act 1999 by making it clear and obvious on water bills that customers are entitled to the free provision and installation of a water meter and that any water customer living in a

STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK

That this House recognises the work done by the Student Community Action network, consisting of over 25,000 volunteers helping over 90,000 people every year; notes that the Student Community Action network is one of the largest youth volunteering networks in the United Kingdom, preparing and develop

FULL PINTS

That this House considers that a pint served in a pub should be 100 per cent. liquid; notes research conducted by CAMRA which reveals that 80 per cent. of pints served in pubs are under measure, some by up to 15 per cent.; further notes that current legislation is insufficient to protect consumers f

WALES CINEMA DAY

That this House welcomes Wales Cinema Day this week; believes that Wales has a cinematic history of which its people can be proud; acknowledges that this heritage is now being developed by S4C, BBC Wales, HTV and Sgrin; and urges the Government to ensure that its forthcoming legislation on broadcast

EARTHQUAKE IN INDIA

That this House expresses its profound sympathy with the people of India who have lost loved ones in the earthquake in Gujarat; and urges the Government to provide the swiftest possible assistance to the Indian Government and the Chief Minister of Gujarat with the relief operations for those who hav

POSTHUMOUS MEDALS FOR SUPREME SACRIFICE

That this House warmly supports the proposal put forward by Rita Restorick, and others such as the Royal British Legion, the Gulf Veterans, the Falklands Families and the South Atlantic Medal Association, that a posthumous medal, similar to the US Purple Heart, be presented to the next of kin of tro

EUROPEAN-RUSSIAN ENERGY CO-OPERATION

at end add 'but warns against any strategic dependence on Russian oil supplies as might result from too close a relationship between Western Europe and an unstable and barely democratic former superpower.'.

NATS NOT FOR PROFIT PROVIDER

after 'NATS', insert 'and the new EU Route Centre at Swanwick'.

PUBLIC SPENDING AND THE EURO

That this House congratulates the Government on its increases over the past year in public spending on health, education, pensions and other essential services; notes that these increases would have been impossible if the United Kingdom had joined the first wave of the euro; and further notes that i

MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS WITH OFFSHORE CONTRACTS

That this House deplores the invidious position faced by Merchant Navy officers whose contracts are being terminated on ships in the Associated Bulk Carriers fleet that is being sold by the P and O Group; notes that, despite being UK citizens and having many years of loyal service, these officers ar

MACULAR DEGENERATION

That this House notes that macular degeneration is the most common cause of registrable visual impairment in older people in the UK and affects some 600,000 people; believes that access to electronic low vision aids should not be restricted to those who can afford to buy them or left to charities li