That this House expresses its support for the LGA's commitment to work to secure continuous improvement in local government; agrees that improvement is best delivered from within the sector; endorses the principle that every council should be prepared to play its part in the improvement process either by providing support to or receiving it from other councils; and recognises the role which honourable Members can provide in encouraging their local councils to participate fully in the improvement agenda.

That this House expresses its support for the LGA's commitment to work to secure continuous improvement in local government; agrees that improvement is best delivered from within the sector; endorses the principle that every council should be prepared to play its part in the improvement process either by providing support...

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 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 calls on the European Commission to work for the improvement of animal welfare throughout the community; and to this end, calls on the Commission to ensure that animal welfare standards across the continent are raised to meet the very high standards which pertain in the UK, thus allowing British farmers to compete on a level playing field.

That this House calls on the European Commission to work for the improvement of animal welfare throughout the community; and to this end, calls on the Commission to ensure that animal welfare standards across the continent are raised to meet the very high standards which pertain in the UK, thus...

That this House restates its support for the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and in particular for the aim agreed by all parties when the Act was passed on a 30 per cent. improvement in energy efficiency by 2010; and supports the call made by the Fuel Poverty and Climate Change Conference in Cornwall on 16 February 2001, by a local goverment conference of housing and technical officers held in Manchester on 15th March 2001, by the South Eastern HECA Forum on 11th May 2001, and by the National HECA Forum on 22nd May 2001, urging the Government and local authorities,working in partnership, to take immediate steps to ensure that the target is met by energy conservation authorities.

That this House restates its support for the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and in particular for the aim agreed by all parties when the Act was passed on a 30 per cent. improvement in energy efficiency by 2010; and supports the call made by the Fuel Poverty and Climate...

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 have 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 have efficient heating and effective insulation; considers that the proposed thermal comfort standards,...

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 notes that within the United Kingdom domestic electricity consumption accounts for 33 per cent. of total electricity consumption, 69 per cent. of which is used to power lights and appliances; further notes that domestic electricity consumption is responsible for nine per cent. of total UK carbon emissions and that under the Kyoto Protocol the UK has to reduce its carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. on 1990 levels; recognises the role domestic energy efficiency can play in achieving this target; and urges Her Majestry's Government to work with its EU partners to improve energy standards for household appliances, electrical goods and lighting via a mixture of policy instruments including mandatory energy labelling, minimum energy performance standards and voluntary agreements, with incentive schemes in favour of the most efficient appliances, together with disincentives for inefficient appliances to ensure the rapid market penetration of energy-efficient equipment; and calls on the Government to introduce escalating standards of energy efficiency beyond the current A-rating on the EU Energy Label, with energy standards extended to all household appliances and electrical goods.

That this House notes that within the United Kingdom domestic electricity consumption accounts for 33 per cent. of total electricity consumption, 69 per cent. of which is used to power lights and appliances; further notes that domestic electricity consumption is responsible for nine per cent. of total UK carbon emissions...

That this House expresses concern that HFCs, the group of chemicals developed by the fluorochemical industry to replace CFCs, have on average 2,274 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and that alternatives to HFCs which do not have a climate change impact, including hydrocarbons and ammonia, are available and in use throughout Europe; notes that the DETR's report, 'Climate Change: the UK Programme' states that 'HFCs should only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost-effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist... HFCs are not sustainable in the long term'; further notes that the EU Better Regulation Initiative launched recently in Seville, has given increased powers to the bodies responsible for setting standards for air conditioning and refrigeration, including the CEN and the BSI, which have an inbuilt majority from the HFC industry and that these bodies are proposing standards for an alternative to HFC refrigeration and air conditioning that would outlaw 80 per cent. of hydrocarbon air conditioning currently in use; and urges the Government to recognise the findings of the DTI's Swann Report on standardisation, which stated that 'it is important for Government to work against the danger of standards being used to create trade barriers' and to investigate the way in which it can ensure a balanced and appropriate representation on these standards committees.

That this House expresses concern that HFCs, the group of chemicals developed by the fluorochemical industry to replace CFCs, have on average 2,274 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and that alternatives to HFCs which do not have a climate change impact, including hydrocarbons and ammonia, are available...

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...