That this House notes the findings of the Audit Commission's Corporate Governance Report on Hull Council, which stated that the city's universities did not figure significantly in the Council's thinking and that lack of political consensus was a factor in Lincoln University abandoning the potential development of a prime site and moving the development to another city; in contrast, notes that the Vice-Chancellor of Hull University has stated the relationship between the University and Council has been extremely positive and constructive; helped the University to engage with the City's regeneration and development plans and that regular meetings took place between the University's Senior Management Team and the City Council; further notes that the University has been represented on Council led bodies such as City Vision, City Image and City Learning, with the Vice-Chancellor of Hull University recently being appointed as a Director of City Build, that Hull Council and Hull University were partners in the ??45 million Millennium Project 'The Deep', in which the University has a Research Centre, with one of the largest environment simulators in Europe; that members of the Council have been extremely helpful to the University in supporting the development of its Medical School; and that Hull University has greatly valued the input of Patrick Doyle, Leader of Hull Council from 1979 to 2001; further notes that the Council's Cabinet supported the development of a prime site for the University of Lincoln and therefore finds it amazing how the Audit Commission came to its conclusions on this issue.

That this House notes the findings of the Audit Commission's Corporate Governance Report on Hull Council, which stated that the city's universities did not figure significantly in the Council's thinking and that lack of political consensus was a factor in Lincoln University abandoning the potential development of a prime site...

That this House refutes the criticism in the Audit Commission's Corporate Governance Inspection Report of Hull Council that the Council had weak corporate leadership and management; instead commends the commitment and the determination by Hull councillors over the years to improve the quality of life for people of Hull; notes the challenges faced to tackle the problems associated with the 13th most deprived council area in the country, in which 40 per cent. of households are dependent on benefit, 30 per cent. of all children are living in workless households and two-thirds of households have an income of less than ??15,000; commends the Council's widespread innovative approach to tackle these policy challenges, in particular the flotation of Kingston Communications which resulted in a ??90 million Housing Energy Project, ??32 million new community sports stadium, ??30 million of footways, carriageways, street lighting etc, ??35 million on repairs for schools, ??10 million on social services; further notes that the expenditure was debt free, has reduced the council's long-term maintenance costs, assisted the secondary school re-organisation, and provided extra funding for Humberside police to put more police on the beat; further notes the innovative citywide CCTV project that has received international acknowledgement and the success of The Deep, Help the Aged Centre, West Hull, and Hull's Mobile Community Copshop; and is disappointed at the lack of attention and acknowledgement of these achievements by the Audit Commission during their Corporate Governance Inspection and their failure to recognise the positive impact the flotation of Kingston Communications in modernising services and the regeneration of Hull.

That this House refutes the criticism in the Audit Commission's Corporate Governance Inspection Report of Hull Council that the Council had weak corporate leadership and management; instead commends the commitment and the determination by Hull councillors over the years to improve the quality of life for people of Hull; notes...

That this House notes with concern the intention by Government to introduce foundation hospitals, which would create a two tier NHS system; and urges the Government to continue to disseminate best practice throughout the NHS and ensure that all NHS services are brought up to the best possible standards.

That this House notes with concern the intention by Government to introduce foundation hospitals, which would create a two tier NHS system; and urges the Government to continue to disseminate best practice throughout the NHS and ensure that all NHS services are brought up to the best possible standards.

That this House notes the publication of the Burgner Report on 29th July 1996; further notes that the report made recommendations concerning the reform and extension of the system of regulation of care providers including national minimum standards and a national system of inspection; also notes that the report was signed by the honourable Member for West Chelmsford, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health; and regrets that the Conservative front-bench health team has forgotten that in Government it commissioned the Burgner Report, welcomed its recommendations and supported its passage into law as the Care Standards Act.

That this House notes the publication of the Burgner Report on 29th July 1996; further notes that the report made recommendations concerning the reform and extension of the system of regulation of care providers including national minimum standards and a national system of inspection; also notes that the report was...

That this House is outraged that the Conservative Party should attempt to use the second chamber to annul the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations following the debate in the House on 24th October and to place workers, particularly in the construction sector, in danger, effectively ignoring a mountain of worldwide scientific evidence including the World Trade Organisation, United Nations, the Council of Europe, Health and Safety Executive, confirming that chrysotile (white) asbestos poses an ongoing health risk to workers and the public; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make it clear that whatever manoeuvres the Opposition may use the Asbestos Regulations will be implemented directly.

That this House is outraged that the Conservative Party should attempt to use the second chamber to annul the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations following the debate in the House on 24th October and to place workers, particularly in the construction sector, in danger, effectively ignoring a mountain of...

That this House notes that the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is currently being considered by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers; observes that despite amendments passed by the Parliament the Directive would require dossiers to be submitted to the Medicines Control Agency for registration purposes and that the pharmaceutical standard testing required in producing those dossiers would impose costs of tens of thousands of pounds per product on manufacturers; further observes that in many cases the commercial value of specialist products being distributed through specialist retailers is such that producing such dossiers is prohibitively expensive; regrets that even as amended the Directive would not allow onto the market any overseas product which had not been on the European market for 10 years even if it were demonstrably safe and had been used for centuries; further oberves that the Council of Ministers is unlikely to accept all the amendments passed by the Parliament and that the finalised Directive will, therefore, lead to the loss of many existing popular herbal remedies and will undermine consumer protection as products continue to be available from overseas by mail-order with no quality or hygiene controls or in the United Kingdom at high cost from unlicensed and unregulated herbal practitioners; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to renegotiate the main provisions of this flawed Directive so that it does not put out of business specialist manufacturers and retailers or deny consumers access to herbal remedies of their choice.

That this House notes that the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is currently being considered by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers; observes that despite amendments passed by the Parliament the Directive would require dossiers to be submitted to the Medicines Control Agency for registration purposes and that...

That this House recognises that council housing has provided generations with a decent, affordable, secure and accountable alternative to market forces in housing is an important part of a comprehensive welfare state; further recognises that nearly three million tenants in England and Wales want this to continue but that it requires major investment to ensure that first rate council housing is available for future generations; notes the breakthrough of a new right to borrow for local authorities and the Secretary of State's assurance on 16th January that however tenants vote on privatisation their homes will be brought up to the decency standard by 2010 and therefore calls for the additional money for housing announced in the last spending review to be invested in council housing; believes that real choice for tenants depends on an end to Government discrimination against council housing, with the introduction of a level playing field by implementing measures outlined in the draft Local Government Bill and the ODPM 'blue skies' review of housing finance to end all daylight robbery tax on tenants' rents, free councils to borrow for investment, return all housing capital receipts to fund investment in council homes, write-off all HRA debt, fund council borrowing via a new allowance in the formula rent calculation, and use local authority social housing grant to build new council homes; and welcomes the Manifesto for Council Housing and other initiatives to highlight this issue and persuade Government to 'Stop privatisation and invest in council housing with no strings attached'.

That this House recognises that council housing has provided generations with a decent, affordable, secure and accountable alternative to market forces in housing is an important part of a comprehensive welfare state; further recognises that nearly three million tenants in England and Wales want this to continue but that it...

That this House notes the financial and practical difficulties care home owners are experiencing in meeting the care home standards set by the Government; further notes that these standards are forcing many owners already struggling in an underfunded service to sell their homes, as revealed in their representations made to the Department of Health; and believes the Government should increase the assistance available to care homes and adopt a more flexible approach that protects the interests of residents of good quality homes.

That this House notes the financial and practical difficulties care home owners are experiencing in meeting the care home standards set by the Government; further notes that these standards are forcing many owners already struggling in an underfunded service to sell their homes, as revealed in their representations made to...

That this House acknowledges the work of the British Thoracic Society and British Lung Foundation to show the huge health and economic burden of respiratory disease in the United Kingdom; is concerned that the Government is ignoring the health of patients with lung disease; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Health to introduce a national programme of care for respiratory disease.

That this House acknowledges the work of the British Thoracic Society and British Lung Foundation to show the huge health and economic burden of respiratory disease in the United Kingdom; is concerned that the Government is ignoring the health of patients with lung disease; and calls upon the Secretary of...

That this House notes the concerns of the Zito Trust that many patients with severe mental illness are being denied access to modern drugs which reduce the devastating side-effects of some older treatments and that there are huge regional variations in prescribing rates for the modern medicines; notes that NICE is currently appraising these modern medicines, but is forced by Government inappropriately to take affordability into account in doing so; further notes that widespread general concern amongst mental health professionals, users and carers that the Government is not delivering improvements in treatment; and urges the Government to take steps to ensure that mental health is a secure priority and that promised improvements are achieved in practice.

That this House notes the concerns of the Zito Trust that many patients with severe mental illness are being denied access to modern drugs which reduce the devastating side-effects of some older treatments and that there are huge regional variations in prescribing rates for the modern medicines; notes that NICE...

That this House welcomes the proposal in the Queen's Speech for a draft Housing Bill which provides the best opportunity in 20 years to reform the law on park homes with the introduction of a 'fit person' criteria for park owners and managers, the introduction of sellers' packs, the improvement of standards and better registration and inspection to ensure that residents are protected and empowered; and notes that an important element of affordable housing will be allowed to develop further and that decent and responsible park owners will be allowed to flourish.

That this House welcomes the proposal in the Queen's Speech for a draft Housing Bill which provides the best opportunity in 20 years to reform the law on park homes with the introduction of a 'fit person' criteria for park owners and managers, the introduction of sellers' packs, the improvement...

That this House views with concern the regular loss of between 100 and 200 ships together with 700 seafarers at sea each year; regrets that there is no adequate system for determining the causes of the loss of ships at sea; notes however that an estimated 40 per cent. of bulk carrier losses are caused by water ingress; welcomes the decision of the International Association of Classification Societies to adopt URS21 as an increased requirement for hatch cover strength of bulk carriers built since 1998 but has concerns both about the failure to impose this standard on older vessels and about the fact that URS21 does not take account of freak, steep elevated waves which often hit ships off the beam and which are estimated to cause 30 per cent. of shipping losses; notes that the velocity of such waves, which can increase by a factor of two at the breaking crest, is such as to indicate the need for considerable further strengthening of superstructures, bridge windows, deck fittings and covers and coamings of forward, midships and aft deck hatches; welcomes therefore the initiation of MAXWAVE, an EU research project involving the Meteorological Office and 10 European research organisations to study and identify the sea conditions in which such rogue waves develop; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press the IACS to enforce ship safety standards, including survival design, adequate to withstand conditions identified by this research, and to impose stringent docking conditions in UK ports against vessels which do not meet these standards.

That this House views with concern the regular loss of between 100 and 200 ships together with 700 seafarers at sea each year; regrets that there is no adequate system for determining the causes of the loss of ships at sea; notes however that an estimated 40 per cent. of...

That this House notes that NHS chiropody and podiatry service provision is in the decline despite its undisputed cost-effective clinical benefits and immense popularity with patients; is alarmed that new episodes of care reduced by 15 per cent. between 1996-97 and 2000-01 and total episodes of care reduced by six per cent. between 1996-97 and 1999-2000, when the collation of the figure was inexplicably discontinued; further notes that there are wide regional and local variations in NHS chiropody and podiatry provision, contrary to the Government's declaration to eradicate the postcode lottery in healthcare provision and recognises that there is a sufficient pool of state-registered chiropodists available to deliver equal access across the UK; fears that the introduction of commissioning primary care trusts may lead to a further decline in this provision with greater local and regional variations; and calls on the Government to produce national guidance to strategic health authorities and primary care trusts for the level of service that they should provide.

That this House notes that NHS chiropody and podiatry service provision is in the decline despite its undisputed cost-effective clinical benefits and immense popularity with patients; is alarmed that new episodes of care reduced by 15 per cent. between 1996-97 and 2000-01 and total episodes of care reduced by six...

That this House welcomes Help the Aged's 'Nothing Personal' Report which identifies widespread inadequacies and inequalities in accessing social care; notes in particular that the Report on the provision and quality of care for older people, often denying any help to those with moderate care needs and making those with high care needs wait either in a hospital bed or unseen in their own home, and rationing care by setting limits and tight criteria on how much care local authorities provide; and calls upon the Government to reverse policies of under-investment in social services which ultimately undermines the NHS and to close the growing gap between what the Government thinks should be spent on social care through the standard spending assessment, and what local authorities actually spend.

That this House welcomes Help the Aged's 'Nothing Personal' Report which identifies widespread inadequacies and inequalities in accessing social care; notes in particular that the Report on the provision and quality of care for older people, often denying any help to those with moderate care needs and making those with...

That this House commends the Government's commitment to the eradication of fuel poverty in social housing by 2010 and understands the case for replacing the expenditure-based definition of affordable warmth with the requirement that a dwelling should be efficient heating and effective insulation; considers that the proposed thermal comfort standards, set well below those specified in current building regulations, are totally inadequate for this purpose and will result in extensive hidden fuel poverty; and calls upon the Government to re-examine the energy efficiency criteria of the decency standard with a view to setting an energy rating target that will ensure warmth and comfort for tenants occupying dwellings in this sector.

That this House commends the Government's commitment to the eradication of fuel poverty in social housing by 2010 and understands the case for replacing the expenditure-based definition of affordable warmth with the requirement that a dwelling should be efficient heating and effective insulation; considers that the proposed thermal comfort standards,...

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's support for the principles of the National Youth Agency and Local Government Association's Hear by Rights Standards, which offers guidelines for the involvement of young people in the design and delivery of youth services in local government; appreciates the Government's increased recognition that policy should be accessible to, and reflect, the needs of young people; encourages the development of standards in the provision of services for young people both locally and nationally; calls upon the Government to take a lead in implementing such standards which reflect the needs of young people themselves; urges the Government to make youth services a statutory service which is adequately funded; and cautions that failure to do so will aggravate the unacceptably high levels of anti-social behaviour by disaffected young people, many of whom are being influenced by drug culture or gang culture, in the absence of high-quality youth provision.

That this House welcomes the Prime Minister's support for the principles of the National Youth Agency and Local Government Association's Hear by Rights Standards, which offers guidelines for the involvement of young people in the design and delivery of youth services in local government; appreciates the Government's increased recognition that...

That this House is opposed to proposals by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to scrap the UK Register of Organic Food Standards; and believes that an independent body is essential to ensure standards in organic food production.

That this House is opposed to proposals by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to scrap the UK Register of Organic Food Standards; and believes that an independent body is essential to ensure standards in organic food production.

That this House deplores the high-pressure sales tactics of Teesside alarm firm, Catch Monitored Security Ltd; notes that Durham Police last year accused the firm of increasing the public's fear of crime; applauds the action of Stockton Trading Standards Department in forwarding a file on Catch Monitored Security Ltd to the Office of Fair Trading; and urges the Office of Fair Trading to revoke Catch Monitored Security Ltd's licence to supply credit for the purchase and installation of alarms.

That this House deplores the high-pressure sales tactics of Teesside alarm firm, Catch Monitored Security Ltd; notes that Durham Police last year accused the firm of increasing the public's fear of crime; applauds the action of Stockton Trading Standards Department in forwarding a file on Catch Monitored Security Ltd to...