That this House regrets the recent disruption to First Capital Connect (FCC) services travelling into London; deplores the recent severe reduction in timetabled services which was brought about by a shortage of drivers employed by First Capital Connect and delays on the part of the Department for Transport in the delivery of rolling stock, and which meant that commuters had to find alternative routes into work and school, adding considerable time and expense to their daily journeys; notes that FCC are now operating the full timetable with effect from 15 January 2010 and have secured an agreement with drivers; congratulates hon. Members on the Shadow Transport Team in having made personal and direct representations to the management on behalf of commuters; calls on First Capital Connect to guarantee an improved service and to make appropriate compensation to passengers; further calls on unions to agree to keep to the agreement reached with First Capital Connect so that improved service can be delivered; and further calls on the Government to ensure that improved service levels are met and enforced.

That this House regrets the recent disruption to First Capital Connect (FCC) services travelling into London; deplores the recent severe reduction in timetabled services which was brought about by a shortage of drivers employed by First Capital Connect and delays on the part of the Department for Transport in the...

That this House notes with concern the prospect of job losses at car plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton following the restructuring of GM Europe; further notes that the Government's Automotive Assistance Programme has yet to issue a single loan in the six months since its creation; believes that ensuring a sustainable future for these plants will require the development of a prudent business plan which minimises the risk to the taxpayer; and calls on the Government to work with the new owners of GM Europe, local management and trade unions to develop such a plan and reach a solution which secures Vauxhall's future in the UK, represents good value for money and safeguards as many jobs as possible.

That this House notes with concern the prospect of job losses at car plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton following the restructuring of GM Europe; further notes that the Government's Automotive Assistance Programme has yet to issue a single loan in the six months since its creation; believes that ensuring...

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on becoming one of the fastest improving councils ever with the recent award of a three star, or good comprehensive performance assessment rating from the Audit Commission; recognises that Bedfordshire County Council has moved, under a Conservative administration, from a zero star rating to a three star rating in under three years; further recognises praise from the inspectors for the authority's strong political leadership and committed staff and notable improvements in priority areas such as children's services and highways maintenance; and notes that the authority is striving to provide excellence in all its services while seeking to achieve the greatest possible value for money for Bedfordshire residents.

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on becoming one of the fastest improving councils ever with the recent award of a three star, or good comprehensive performance assessment rating from the Audit Commission; recognises that Bedfordshire County Council has moved, under a Conservative administration, from a zero star rating...

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on achieving an overall two star rating in its most recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission, which judged the Council to be `improving well'; notes that the Council has made significant improvements to its priority services, including the well-being of children and young people, has improved its ranking for adult social care to 29th of 150 councils, has significantly improved recycling and composting rates, is now delivering better value for money and has recorded the second highest increase in customer satisfaction of any county council in last autumn's national survey; and notes that this demonstrates the determination of Bedfordshire County Council to continue the improvement journey which has already taken it from no stars to two stars in two years and that the Council will not be satisfied until its services are among the best in the country and are delivered at the lowest possible cost to the council tax payers of Bedfordshire.

That this House congratulates Bedfordshire County Council on achieving an overall two star rating in its most recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission, which judged the Council to be `improving well'; notes that the Council has made significant improvements to its priority services, including the well-being of children...

That this House notes with concern that thousands of teachers and classroom assistants are facing redundancy due to deficits in school budgets; also notes that these deficits are caused by higher employers' national insurance contributions and the need for higher contributions to teachers' pensions and other additional costs borne by schools; is further concerned that the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers believes that there will be thousands of redundancies, particularly in the south and that Bedfordshire schools, not the worst affected, are considering making 21 teachers or teaching assistants redundant; also notes that increased teacher workload has contributed to this situation and that the former head of St. Edmund's Primary School in Kings Lynn has said 'Legislation spews out of Whitehall like a demented fax machine.'; calls on the Government to ensure that increased school funding is not cancelled out by even greater cost increases paid for by schools and that teacher workloads are reduced by severely limiting the flow of Whitehall directives and removing many of their current obligations on teachers.

That this House notes with concern that thousands of teachers and classroom assistants are facing redundancy due to deficits in school budgets; also notes that these deficits are caused by higher employers' national insurance contributions and the need for higher contributions to teachers' pensions and other additional costs borne by...

That this House condemns the decision of the British Bankers' Association and its retail member banks to exclude from its forthcoming counter sharing pilot scheme, all communities, urban and rural, where the only bank has closed and the premises remain empty and available, such as in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, population 17,000, and in Belford, Northumberland, and in many other situations.

That this House condemns the decision of the British Bankers' Association and its retail member banks to exclude from its forthcoming counter sharing pilot scheme, all communities, urban and rural, where the only bank has closed and the premises remain empty and available, such as in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, population...