That this House congratulates all the pupils of Sandwood Primary who took part in the UK Festive #Sumdog competition, and in particular recognises an amazing performance by the P7/6 group, finishing as the top school in Scotland and fifth place overall in the UK out of over 4,000 schools that entered; and further congratulates the three pupils that finished in the top 150 overall, Saul Loveman (109th), Aiden Scott (119th) and Ellis Smith (140th); and thanks them for their efforts and hard wo...
That this House congratulates the four University of Stirling swimmers, Duncan Scott, Robbie Renwick, Ross Murdoch, and Craig Benson, who have been chosen to represent the Team GB swimming team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games; celebrates the talents of these Scottish swimmers; hopes that these four swimmers compete in future Olympic Games; commends the University of Stirling for its excellent scholarship programme which has created world-class athletes; and wishes them the best of luck at the R...
That this House applauds the installation of ten bronzed plaques commemorating significant figures from Dundee's past into flagstones forming Discovery Walk, a centrepiece of Dundee's waterfront regeneration; congratulates the team who supported the idea and in particular the project originator Kelly Marr and the artist who designed the plaques, Suzanne Scott; pays tribute to those people from the city's history whose achievements have been recognised in this unique tribute, namely Mary Ann ...
That this House rejects the justifications provided during the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 15 June 2009 on the establishment of a Committee of Inquiry into the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath for holding the inquiry in secret; recalls that the Prime Minister told the House in his earlier statement on 10 June 2009 on constitutional renewal that he believes `that we should do more to spread the culture and practice of freedom of information'; records disappointment that this a...
That this House notes that Lord Butler of Brockwell, as Cabinet Secretary, told the Scott Inquiry when asked about the less than full information being provided in parliamentary answers, 'You have to be selective about the facts', and commented to the Scott Inquiry, on parliamentary answers, 'It was an accurate but incomplete answer. The purpose of it was to give an answer which itself was true. It did not give the full picture. It was half an answer'; and believes that this attitude shown by...
That this House condemns the continued denial of the rights of the people of East Timor by the Indonesian government; notes with concern the fact that, in spite of 10 UN resolutions over the past 20 years, Her Majesty's Government continues to support the genocidal actions of the Suharto regime including by the morally and legally reprehensible provision of export licences allowing British Aerospace to sell Hawk jets to Indonesia; believes that the Scott Inquiry team should be asked to invest...
That this House notes that between 5th June 1989 and 7th June 1990 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South was a director of Astra Defence Systems Ltd and in this capacity attended two board meetings held on 26th July and 3rd October 1989 at which consideration was given to reports concerning a project called Diana which involved the supply of an air defence system, guns and ammunition to Thailand and a contract to supply 126 naval guns to Chile; further notes that both these countries w...
That this House notes that on 2nd or 3rd September 1992 the Right honourable Member for Thanet South signed a public interest immunity certificate covering documents required by the defence in the Matrix Churchill case; believes that the only reason the certificate was not used was due to the intervention of the Treasury Solicitor; deplores the action of the Right honourable Member when the documents covered by the certificate included reports relating to the supply of arms to Iraq by BMARC, ...
That this House notes reports that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is considering legal action over allegations that he knew of an arms contract for weapons to go eventually to Iran; recalls that the former Defence Minister, Alan Clarke, when accused of similar misdeeds, threatened to sue a national newspaper but subsequently did not do so; considers that this is a device which can be misused by Members of this House to avoid the relevant issue being discussed; further notes that, in this...
That this House is mindful that the ex-employees of Matrix Churchill have suffered great hardship through no fault of their own; realises that in addition to the stigma attached to the collapse of Matrix Churchill, they have suffered difficulties in finding other jobs, marriage break-ups, financial difficulties and health problems; further, reminds the Prime Minister that when he set out the terms of reference for the Scott Inquiry, he said there would be no limits on the evidence given, and ...
That this House notes with dismay that the Attorney General during question time on 21st March, Official Report, columns 13-14, refused to give substantive replies on public interest immunity certificates to the honourable Members for Birmingham, Perry Bar, Bolsover and Norwood on the grounds that he was to give evidence on this matter to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry on 24th March; further notes the Attorney General's refusal to assist Parliament was subsequently raised on a point of order by...
That this House is disappointed and disturbed by the dismissive contempt shown towards Parliament by the head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Robin Butler, in his evidence before the Scott Inquiry on 9th February; is outraged by the view expressed by Sir Robin Butler that 'half an answer could be accurate when replying to Parliamentary Questions'; believes such an attitude from the top sets an appalling example to more junior civil servants in their job of drafting replies to parliamentary que...
That this House notes the continuation of the Scott Inquiry and its importance to Parliament and the nation; and requests Lord Justice Scott to consider televising its remaining stages in the public interest.
leave out from 'House' to end and add 'notes that in his conversation with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad the honourable Member for Glasgow, Hillhead, said "strength" not "power" (in words now broadcast countless times) and was in any case referring to the people of Iraq and not their President as study of his remarks in context would make clear; notes that the people of Iraq are suffering massive deprivation, hunger and ill-health as a result of the United Nations embargo; notes that the F.A.O. h...