That this House supports access to safe abortion as early as possible for women who need one; recognises that medical ethics, practice and social attitudes about abortion have progressed since the Abortion Act was framed in 1967; is concerned that the current legislation imposes clinically unnecessary restrictions which cause delays, resulting in abortion taking place at a later gestation than is necessary; notes the Science and Technology Committee's recent inquiry into the `Scientific Developments relation to the Abortion Act 1967' which found no evidence to support the need for two doctors' signatures for a woman to have an abortion; recommended that suitably trained healthcare practitioners as well as doctors should be permitted to perform abortions, that the restriction on the locations where abortions could take place should be removed to give women the choice of completing the second stage of early medical abortion at home; further notes these recommendations are supported by the RCOG, the RCN, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, fpa, Antenatal Results and Choices, Abortion Rights, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Marie Stopes International, Doctors for a Woman's Choice on Abortion and Brook; further notes these organisations support provision of safe abortions in other primary care settings as a way to increase choice, improve access and minimise delay; and urges hon. Members to support amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to modernise the law and improve women's early access to abortion.

That this House supports access to safe abortion as early as possible for women who need one; recognises that medical ethics, practice and social attitudes about abortion have progressed since the Abortion Act was framed in 1967; is concerned that the current legislation imposes clinically unnecessary restrictions which cause delays,...

That this House notes the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers to exploitation and forced labour and the benefits of the existing domestic worker visa, which does not allow recourse to public funds, but does give the right to change employer, renew a visa (if in work) and apply for settlement after five years; believes strongly that the proposal to introduce a business visitor visa that will remove the right to change employer and restrict the maximum stay to six months will dramatically increase the power of abusive employers and the incidence of domestic slavery in the UK; and therefore strongly urges the Government to drop this proposal and retain the protections in the current visa system.

That this House notes the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers to exploitation and forced labour and the benefits of the existing domestic worker visa, which does not allow recourse to public funds, but does give the right to change employer, renew a visa (if in work) and apply for settlement...

That this House welcomes the Report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy, which highlights 400 avoidable deaths each year, 69,000 people with epilepsy living with unnecessary seizures, and 74,000 people taking powerful anti-epileptic drugs they do not need; notes that the report identifies achievable savings of ??189 million per year by improving the service for people with epilepsy; and therefore calls upon the Government to take up the challenge on behalf of people with epilepsy and on behalf of taxpayers to deliver a better service at a reduced cost.

That this House welcomes the Report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy, which highlights 400 avoidable deaths each year, 69,000 people with epilepsy living with unnecessary seizures, and 74,000 people taking powerful anti-epileptic drugs they do not need; notes that the report identifies achievable savings of ??189 million per...

That this House notes with concern that people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely as the national average to be at risk of unemployment and underemployment; further notes the recent Epilepsy Action Survey that revealed that 47 per cent. of people with epilepsy believe that they have been discriminated against when applying for employment, and that 14 per cent. of people with epilepsy are actively seeking work (more than double the International Labour Organisation rate of 8.8 per cent. for disabled people); recognises that people with epilepsy still experience stigma and fear in relation to their condition in the workplace despite the protection of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; further notes that epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the UK, affecting around 456,000 people; welcomes this year's focus of Epilepsy Awareness Week from 20th to 26th May on employment issues; and joins with the Joint Epilepsy Council in calling upon the Government to take steps to promote equality, opportunity and understanding for people with epilepsy in the workplace much more effectively.

That this House notes with concern that people with epilepsy are more than twice as likely as the national average to be at risk of unemployment and underemployment; further notes the recent Epilepsy Action Survey that revealed that 47 per cent. of people with epilepsy believe that they have been...

That this House recognises that Home Office proposals to change the domestic worker visa to a business visitor visa, removing the right to change employer and restricting the maximum stay to six months, are a complete reversal of previous government policy, which was intended to protect this category of often exploited and abused workers; notes with concern that the proposals will dramatically increase the power of abusive employers, and will make it impossible in practice for migrant domestic workers to access UK employment law, effectively legalising trafficking and domestic slavery of vulnerable workers; and therefore calls on the Government to retain the domestic worker visa giving the right to change employer, to renew a visa and to apply for settlement after five years.

That this House recognises that Home Office proposals to change the domestic worker visa to a business visitor visa, removing the right to change employer and restricting the maximum stay to six months, are a complete reversal of previous government policy, which was intended to protect this category of often...

That this House welcomes the decision of the UK Government to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; and looks forward to its subsequent ratification.

That this House welcomes the decision of the UK Government to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; and looks forward to its subsequent ratification.

That this House expresses its admiration for the six million people in the UK who provide unpaid help and support to a relative or friend who could not otherwise manage because of frailty, illness or disability; is concerned that large numbers of carers are unknown to statutory agencies; notes that Carers Week, being held this year from 12th to 18th June, has the theme of carers and health, with the objective of assisting carers and enabling them to access support and services; believes that carers need to be viewed as key partners in community care; is further concerned that 79 per cent. of carers say that their health has been affected by caring; further notes that nine out of 10 carers believe they will benefit from annual health checks; and calls on local statutory health bodies to carry out an audit of good practice in their area and to establish timescales for the introduction of health checks for carers.

That this House expresses its admiration for the six million people in the UK who provide unpaid help and support to a relative or friend who could not otherwise manage because of frailty, illness or disability; is concerned that large numbers of carers are unknown to statutory agencies; notes that...

That this House is appalled that every year over 500,000 women, living in developing countries, die in pregnancy or childbirth as a result of preventable causes and that millions more suffer ill health and disability; acknowledges that at least three quarters of global HIV infections are sexually transmitted and that women of reproductive age are most at risk; recognises that the implementation of the millennium development goals (MDGs) is necessary to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and promote gender equality; further acknowledges the importance of sexual and reproductive health for achieving all the MDGs, as recognised by the UN Secretary General, the UN Millennium Project, the EU, Commission for Africa, national governments, and international agencies and bodies including the WHO, UNFPA and UNAIDS; welcomes the strong stance on sexual and reproductive health taken by the Department for International Development; and urges that the UK Statement at the Millennium Review Summit emphasises the centrality of sexual and reproductive health towards achieving the MDGs.

That this House is appalled that every year over 500,000 women, living in developing countries, die in pregnancy or childbirth as a result of preventable causes and that millions more suffer ill health and disability; acknowledges that at least three quarters of global HIV infections are sexually transmitted and that...