That this House is aware that there are currently more than six and a half million carers in the UK providing unpaid care and support to ill, older or disabled relatives and friends, many of whom get no or only limited help to do so; notes that most have to give up work, either partially or completely, to fulfil their roles and consequently experience debt and financial hardship in their lives; realises that if they were to desist from their tasks it would cost the Government £326 million per day - £119 billion per year - to deliver these services; and calls on the Government to introduce measures to end carers' financial hardship, prevent carers' health breakdowns and to find other ways to help them in their magnificent endeavours.

That this House is aware that there are currently more than six and a half million carers in the UK providing unpaid care and support to ill, older or disabled relatives and friends, many of whom get no or only limited help to do so; notes that most have to...

That this House is aware that currently the UK's horserace courses are experiencing excellent economic growth with attendances annually in excess of six million customers and revenue turnover predicted to exceed ??300 million a year by 2008, healthy factors which are also reflected by winning owners' increased prize-monies levels, and buoyant subsidiary horse sales and breeding industries; is therefore concerned about recent events which have arisen because of a decision of the Horse Race Betting Levy Board, a non-governmental organisation, to cut funding for starting stalls functioning from its lists of integrity related grants, an action that has led subsequently to the break-up of previously tried and trusted methods of delivering such services managed on a not for profit basis by Race Tech Services Ltd for the industry; is alarmed by recent reports which point to a serious lowering of standards in related employment practices in this area, particularly in respect of health and safety; and calls upon the Government immediately to investigate the situation in the interests of owners, trainers, jockeys and especially those stall handlers who work in the industry.

That this House is aware that currently the UK's horserace courses are experiencing excellent economic growth with attendances annually in excess of six million customers and revenue turnover predicted to exceed ??300 million a year by 2008, healthy factors which are also reflected by winning owners' increased prize-monies levels, and...

That this House notes that the blind and the partially sighted are entitled to receive rehabilitation training from their local authority as soon as they begin to lose their sight, thereby learning to cope with everyday aspects of their daily lives; is therefore concerned that the latest evidence shows a lack of investment in such services by local authorities; commends the Guide Dogs for The Blind Association's Jigsaw Postcard campaign, supported by the RNIB, NALSUI, Action for Blind People, The Wales Council for the Blind, the Blind Centre for Northern Ireland, Royal London Society for the Blind and a range of other local voluntary societies, which sets out the levels of investment and support required to improve these vital rehabilitation services; and calls upon the Government to act promptly to reverse this trend.

That this House notes that the blind and the partially sighted are entitled to receive rehabilitation training from their local authority as soon as they begin to lose their sight, thereby learning to cope with everyday aspects of their daily lives; is therefore concerned that the latest evidence shows a...

That this House notes that the Government has made a commitment to maintain the health and wellbeing of children and young people in this year designated as the Year of the Volunteer, and to work constructively with voluntary sector agencies to deliver key services in the community; further notes the work of the organisation Soroptimist International in this regard; commends the Home Office for its decision to approve emergency funding to enable the National Missing Persons Helpline charity to continue its excellent work; and believes such sensible and essential support should continue in future years.

That this House notes that the Government has made a commitment to maintain the health and wellbeing of children and young people in this year designated as the Year of the Volunteer, and to work constructively with voluntary sector agencies to deliver key services in the community; further notes the...

That this House believes that everyone responsible for securing the nation's future public health and environmental needs must as a priority ensure the current Water Services Price Review guarantees that all required infrastructure funding and other investment levels are fully satisfied, rather than overlooked because of shortsighted price cuts set at arbitrary levels; recognises that the protection of the United Kingdom's world class water service is fundamental towards these ends, as is an understanding of the many challenges it faces, including climate change and other uncertainties such as the effects of modern materials and products which may one day threaten supplies; and calls upon the Government to accept the fact that, in today's Britain, the average cost of less than ??100 per annum per person for their full qualitative water and sewerage treatments represents real value that should not be threatened by any irresponsible knee-jerk reactions which would lead to under investment in this sector.

That this House believes that everyone responsible for securing the nation's future public health and environmental needs must as a priority ensure the current Water Services Price Review guarantees that all required infrastructure funding and other investment levels are fully satisfied, rather than overlooked because of shortsighted price cuts set...

That this House applauds the commitment, financial and otherwise of Her Majesty's Government, in supporting and resourcing progress towards the treatment of cancer in the UK; notes however the recent survey, Equipment, Workload and Staffing for Radiotherapy in the UK 1997-2002, published by the Royal College of Radiologists, whose clinical oncology members are responsible for the delivery of radiotherapy and chemotherapy services to patients, which states that 'much remains to be done to ensure that the UK has sufficient capacity to meet the demand for cancer treatments'; and calls upon the Government to ensure that the NHS is given necessary resources to ensure it has sufficient equipment and staff, especially clinical oncologists, radiographers and physicists to delivery treatment to those who need it.

That this House applauds the commitment, financial and otherwise of Her Majesty's Government, in supporting and resourcing progress towards the treatment of cancer in the UK; notes however the recent survey, Equipment, Workload and Staffing for Radiotherapy in the UK 1997-2002, published by the Royal College of Radiologists, whose clinical...

That this House recognises that the majority of families care for relatives suffering with dementia at home, is concerned, however, that under present arrangements, when they eventually agree their loved ones' needs would be better met by professional nursing care, they will not receive the assessed rate of free nursing care direct, it instead being paid to nursing home owners; notes that such arrangements have merely led to the majority of owners simply increasing fees to justify extra payments; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to reassess its policy on the funding of long-term care and to agree to fund nursing care in residential settings to stop such abuse of public funds.

That this House recognises that the majority of families care for relatives suffering with dementia at home, is concerned, however, that under present arrangements, when they eventually agree their loved ones' needs would be better met by professional nursing care, they will not receive the assessed rate of free nursing...

That this House believes that a massive injection of public money is required to produce more books for the blind and partially sighted; further believes that such citizens have the right to read published materials as much as normal sighted individuals; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to establish immediately a fund to achieve these objectives.

That this House believes that a massive injection of public money is required to produce more books for the blind and partially sighted; further believes that such citizens have the right to read published materials as much as normal sighted individuals; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to establish immediately...

That this House believes that the Arts are one of the United Kingdom's greatest national assets, an arena of life which wins for Britain the respect and acclaim of the rest of the world; further sees that despite that recession artistic endeavour is flourishing with audience figures dramatically recovering; sees the Arts of the nation as footprints in time which enrich the lives of those who live or simply experience them; believes that they are important financial value in themselves as they provide, from a modest subsidy of less than half a percent of public spending, seedcorn investment for a whole range of industries which create directly the employment of over 500,000 people and generate immense sums of cash for the Treasury; recognises that the Arts are now Britain's fourth highest earners of foreign exchange; and thinks it folly that the Government seems intent on imposing cuts in funding for this important and valuable sector.

That this House believes that the Arts are one of the United Kingdom's greatest national assets, an arena of life which wins for Britain the respect and acclaim of the rest of the world; further sees that despite that recession artistic endeavour is flourishing with audience figures dramatically recovering; sees...

That this House is concerned about the British Broadcasting Corporation's recent decision to cease management and funding of the BBC Radio Big Band, a proposal not supported by the Musicians' Union, the Association of British Jazz Musicians, the National Music Council and Jazz Services, together with other millions of listeners and enthusiasts of music; notes the Corporation's income from licence fee revenue is now secure until 1996; recalls the Corporation's recently stated commitment to the continued funding of its orchestras; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to instruct the BBC's governors to rescind their decision on this matter and to withdraw the redundancy notices given to musicians and technicians employed with the Big Band.

That this House is concerned about the British Broadcasting Corporation's recent decision to cease management and funding of the BBC Radio Big Band, a proposal not supported by the Musicians' Union, the Association of British Jazz Musicians, the National Music Council and Jazz Services, together with other millions of listeners...

That this House congratulates Trent Health for the excellent work of its organ transplantation and donation teams, who work throughout its region 24 hours a day to provide in real terms a living service for many desperately ill people; notes with pride that recently the county of Nottinghamshire celebrated its 500th kidney transplant and the Sheffield Cardiac Unit its 40th heart transplant; and calls upon the Government and all Members of Parliament to campaign vigorously for the recognition, use and adequate funding of such excellent services in every quarter of Britain.

That this House congratulates Trent Health for the excellent work of its organ transplantation and donation teams, who work throughout its region 24 hours a day to provide in real terms a living service for many desperately ill people; notes with pride that recently the county of Nottinghamshire celebrated its...