[{"topic":"Regulation","id":"43727","proposer":"10231","edm":"2630","session":"2010-12","title":"Pan European Game Information Assessment Criteria","text":"That this House notes with serious concern the present Pan European Game Information (PEGI) assessment criteria for video games rated acceptable for sale to 12-year-olds as established by the Digital Economy Act 2010; further notes that this classification views highly offensive and derogatory language as permissible; understands that the Government has yet to announce a time scale whereby the PEGI system will be incorporated into UK law; and calls on the Government to urgently review the PEGI system before this takes place.","date":"2012-01-23","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"42650","proposer":"11923","edm":"1602","session":"2010-12","title":"Fair Trade For British Farmers","text":"That this House condemns the exploitation of farmers and producers across the world by companies who paybelow cost for goods produced by those who are already in poverty; celebrates the success of the Fairtrade Foundation and the Fairtrade label in tackling this exploitation by promoting ethical purchasing and trade justice for farmers and producers in developing countries; is deeply concerned about unfair trade within the UK food market especially in the dairy sector; and calls for the establishment of a domestic fair trade classification to enable UK farmers to be protected from exploitation by large corporations such as supermarkets.","date":"2011-03-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"42593","proposer":"10436","edm":"1542","session":"2010-12","title":"Regulation Of Lobbying","text":"That this House notes that the new register of lobbyists published on 1 March 2011 by the fledgling UK Public Affairs Council was riddled with errors, omissions, inconsistencies and redactions; further notes that it includes the entries of only a very small percentage of the thousands of lobbyists who should be registered and that it includes substantially less information than many registrants would have wished; believes that the Council's failure to deal with registration in an open, transparent, comprehensive and professional manner demonstrates beyond all reasonable doubt that the consistency and clarity of statutory regulation is now the only appropriate course of action; and invites the Coalition Government to bring forward legislation to regulate the lobbying profession without further delay.","date":"2011-03-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"41468","proposer":"11672","edm":"515","session":"2010-12","title":"Traffic-Light Food-Labelling","text":"That this House expresses concern at the recent European Parliament decision to reject a mandatory front-of-package traffic-light food-labelling system in favour of a per cent. guideline daily amounts system, against consumer wishes; recognises that independent research identifies the traffic-light system as the simplest and most informative way for consumers to assess the nutritional value of their foods and that it has been endorsed by the British Medical Association, the consumer magazine Which? and the British Heart Foundation; notes that as such the traffic-light system provides a critical tool to encourage healthier eating habits as concerns grow about obesity-related illness and deaths in the UK; stresses that elected officials should represent the best interests of the people above all else, protecting them from the lobbying tactics of profit-driven organisations; and calls on the European Parliament to revisit this decision regarding food-labelling regulations.","date":"2010-07-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"41409","proposer":"10436","edm":"457","session":"2010-12","title":"Regulation Of The Lobbying Profession","text":"That this House welcomes the commitment by the Coalition Government to introduce a statutory register of political lobbyists; notes that a recent ComRes survey finds that such an approach would have the support of 62 per cent. of lobbyists; expresses its concern, however, that unless underpinned by a statutory code of ethical practice to which registrants would have to adhere, the implied credibility of statutory registration could be enjoyed by practitioners who do not act ethically and who indeed may even breach the law; observes that such a situation would be completely unacceptable; and urges the Government to ensure that from the moment of its introduction the registration process includes a specific obligation to comply with statutory ethical principles.","date":"2010-07-12","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"40764","proposer":"11032","edm":"1122","session":"2009-10","title":"Food Labelling Regulations","text":"That this House believes that the presence of different types of front of pack (FOP) labelling schemes in the marketplace causes shoppers difficulties in using them; recognises that independent evaluations on nutrition labelling have found that a single scheme would be helpful for consumers and that an integrated FOP labelling approach providing the elements of a high\/medium\/low text, traffic light colour coding and percentage guideline daily amounts (% GDA) information was most effective in terms of consumer comprehension, consumer preference and enabling consumers to assess the healthiness of a product; shares the disappointment of organisations such as Which?, Cancer Research UK, Consensus Action on Salt and Health, Diabetes UK, the National Heart Forum, Sustain and ASDA over the Food Standards Agency recommendation to allow food manufacturers and retailers to provide just two of these three elements and that they may therefore choose not to include traffic light colour coding under the proposed new scheme; notes that this will create more rather than less confusion among consumers and thereby make it harder for people to make informed decisions about the foods they eat; and therefore calls on the Government to reject the Agency's advice and implement a single scheme that will work best for consumers by supporting the integrated high\/medium\/low, traffic light colour coding and %GDAFOP labelling approach.","date":"2010-03-17","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"40596","proposer":"11924","edm":"976","session":"2009-10","title":"Regulatory Budgets","text":"That this House is concerned that the Government has postponed a proposed system of regulatory budgets; notes that the cumulative cost of new regulations on business since 1998 is now nearly \u00a377 billion; understands that small businesses spend on average seven hours per week complying with red tape and paperwork and that 30 per cent. of UK businesses believe that it has become more difficult to comply with regulations in the last 12 months; and calls on the Government to introduce a system of regulatory budgets immediately to encourage better regulation and to help minimise the burden on UK businesses during the UK's recovery from recession.","date":"2010-03-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"39732","proposer":"10222","edm":"192","session":"2009-10","title":"Grocery Market Ombudsman","text":"That this House welcomes the Competition Commission's establishment of a strengthened Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) following its inquiry into the UK grocery market which found that supermarket practices which transfer excessive risk to suppliers, such as retrospective unilateral changes to the terms of supply agreements, charges for loss or damage to goods after delivery and withholding payment without cause could have an adverse effect on investment and innovation in the supply chain, and ultimately on consumers; notes the Commission's recommendation that for the GSCOP to be effective it must be monitored and enforced by an independent ombudsman; is disappointed that the supermarkets affected have failed to agree voluntary undertakings to establish an ombudsman which offers the opportunity for independent verification of their commitment to the principles of fair trading; believes that the current recession has increased pressure on suppliers; further notes that UK supermarkets continue to report healthy profits from their grocery business; recognises that fair treatment of primary producers is crucial to achieving UK commitments to eradicating poverty in the developing world and guaranteeing food security for the UK; and calls on the Government to act on the considered recommendation of the Commission to introduce the neccessary legislation to establish the proposed ombudsman to protect the interests of suppliers and consumers alike.","date":"2009-11-24","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"38946","proposer":"11923","edm":"1747","session":"2008-09","title":"Fair Trade For British Farmers","text":"That this House believes in fair trade for farmers, whether based in the UK or overseas; is concerned at reports of dairy farmers being offered as little as 10 pence per litre for their milk in the aftermath of the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain; acknowledges the fact that many British farmers from a variety of sectors are forced to accept payment for their produce by powerful buyers including supermarkets at a rate below the cost price; further believes that this unfair trade is a consequence of market failure and an imbalance of power between the producer, the processor and the retailer; and seeks to correct that imbalance by setting up a new, powerful Food Market Regulator with a remit to be proactive to ensure fair trade in the domestic food market to ensure that farmers, growers and consumers get a fair deal.","date":"2009-06-25","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"38914","proposer":"10383","edm":"1721","session":"2008-09","title":"Banking Sector","text":"That this House notes that the Government bailed out the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) with billions of pounds of taxpayers' money and now has a 70 per cent. stake in the banking group; further notes that since that time RBS has announced more than 10,000 job losses; is appalled that the new Chief Executive has been awarded a pay deal of up to \u00c2\u00a39.6 million, which represents nearly 3,000 times the income of one of the many ex-RBS staff members now claiming jobseeker's allowance; notes with concern reports that Goldman Sachs will be paying out the biggest bonus payouts in the firm's 140 year history; and therefore believes that the Government must now intervene to control the banks in which it has a public stake and legislate to ensure the interests of bank workers and customers are prioritised by the banks rather than the bonuses, pay and dividends of executives and shareholders who caused the UK banking crisis.","date":"2009-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"38916","proposer":"13735","edm":"1723","session":"2008-09","title":"Remuneration Of Royal Bank Of Scotland Chief Executive","text":"That this House is appalled that UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI), the public body created by HM Treasury to oversee the taxpayers' interests in the billions of pounds of public money provided to the failing private banks, has seen fit, on behalf of taxpayers, to endorse the obscene financial package worth 9,600,000 per year to Stephen Hester as chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which is 70 per cent. owned by taxpayers; contrasts this utterly unacceptable and incomprehensible UKFI decision with the announcement of RBS a month earlier on 21 May to make redundant 700 workers in the first wave of a planned 4,500 job losses across the United Kingdom, which followed an announcement of 9,000 job losses by RBS in April; does not accept that this absurd level of payment is necessary to incentivise efficient management of RBS, noting that outgoing RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin was paid a massive 4,190,000 a year, and his business decisions brought the bank to the verge of ruin; recalls that Mr Hester told the Treasury Committee on 11 February 2009 `I do think banking pay in some areas of the industry is way too high and needs to come down and I intend us to lead that process'; believes the remuneration package offered to Mr Hester is entirely inconsistent with his own intention; and therefore believes the Chancellor should intervene immediately with UKFI to block this outrageous planned payment to Mr Hester.","date":"2009-06-22","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"38071","proposer":"11742","edm":"987","session":"2008-09","title":"Business Regulation During A Recession","text":"That this House notes with concern the high cost to small businesses of additional business regulation in the current economic climate; further notes that nearly 30 per cent. of members of the Federation of Small Businesses cite increasing amounts of regulation as a barrier to expansion; believes that the Government's priority as unemployment approaches two million should be to keep people in employment and make it easier for small businesses to retain staff and grow; and calls on the Government to review the impact of all business regulations due to come into force in April 2009 and delay the introduction of those that will impose additional costs or administrative burdens until the economy shows real signs of recovery.","date":"2009-03-04","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"37984","proposer":"10295","edm":"905","session":"2008-09","title":"Salaries Of Senior Executives Of Industry Regulators","text":"That this House notes with concern the salaries being paid to senior executives of industry regulators; further notes that Colette Bowe, the newly-appointed Chair of Ofcom, is being paid a salary of \u00c2\u00a3200,000 for up to three days a week; recognises the important role industry regulators have to play but at the same time realises that one of the primary roles of regulators is to curb any excesses by private companies and therefore they should set an example in their own salary structure; and therefore calls on the Government to review the wage structure for senior executives of industry regulators.","date":"2009-02-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"37646","proposer":"10586","edm":"570A1","session":"2008-09","title":"Regulation Of Off-Mains Heating Fuels","text":"after `oil', insert `, coal'.","date":"2009-01-27","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"37604","proposer":"10459","edm":"570","session":"2008-09","title":"Regulation Of Off-Mains Heating Fuels","text":"That this House notes with concern that off-mains heating fuels, particularly oil and liquid petroleum gas, remain unregulated; believes this leaves consumers, particularly in rural areas, with no alternative heating option to using companies outside of the regulatory system; further notes that the Business and Enterprise Committee also recommended regulation and does not agree with the Government's assertion that market forces will naturally regulate the sector; and strongly urges the Government and industry to discuss ways in which off-mains heating fuels can be brought under the relevant regulator's remit as quickly as possible.","date":"2009-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"36755","proposer":"10586","edm":"2348A1","session":"2007-08","title":"Regulation Of Car Clamping Companies","text":"after `operators' insert `, in particular to make the Security Industry Authority code mandatory,'.","date":"2008-10-28","status":"c"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"36728","proposer":"11869","edm":"2348","session":"2007-08","title":"Regulation Of Car Clamping Companies","text":"That this House urges the Government to better regulate car clamping companies; deplores the extortionate level of charges levied which are often \u00c2\u00a3125 or more for removing a clamp; further deplores the erroneous additional charges, including paying to return a car which has been impounded; is concerned that vulnerable individuals can be made to feel extremely intimidated by physically imposing clampers; recognises that it is legitimate to enforce parking restrictions but believes this process should not be disproportionate to the scale of the offence; and calls on the Department for Transport to introduce more rigorous rules which deter rogue clampers, strengthen codes of conduct for operators and give greater redress to people whose cars have been clamped.","date":"2008-10-27","status":"c"},{"topic":"Regulation","id":"36510","proposer":"10203","edm":"2160","session":"2007-08","title":"BANKERS' CONDUCT","text":"That this House believes that the financial crisis is the result of reckless overtrading by banks and their establishment of special purpose companies to evade regulations; notes that, unlike in the United States, no bankers in the United Kingdom have been investigated for possible criminal actions in the selling of sub-prime mortgages and other toxic financial products; and calls on the Crown Prosecution Service and the Financial Services Authority to co-operate in investigating possible complicity of senior employees of Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley banks in trading that was irresponsible and possibly illegal.","date":"2008-10-06","status":"c"}]