Contents

Published: Wednesday 9 December 2020

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 8 December 2020

Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed.

The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion.

EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm

[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

New EDMs

1253KO-NEKT Ardrossan award for most innovative community wealth-builder 2020

Tabled: 8/12/20 Signatories: 1

Patricia Gibson

That this House congratulates Marianne Greenway of Ayrshire Children’s Services CIC on her innovative new venture, KO-NEKT, based in Ardrossan, on securing the award for Most Innovative Community Wealth Builder 2020 – Scotland in the Global Business Awards 2020; recognises the work of Ayrshire’s Ms Greenway who has dedicated thirty years of her life serving the children and young people of Ayrshire; applauds her new innovative venture, KO-NEKT, which, supports children with disabilities and autism; congratulates Marianne and her team upon these skill centres which are designed to be a haven of refuge and safety for children living with additional support needs, bringing people together and empowering them; understands that KO-NEKT, which was launched in 2017, offers support to families in Ayrshire, aiming to be a recognisable establishment for all children who are anxious about change, isolated from their peers or simply find it difficult to fit into traditional activities within their communities, offering day and evening support which can be accessed when required, flexibly; champions this all-inclusive service which works alongside each child to deliver support tailored to them, helping them achieve the highest degree of independence achievable and become confident in themselves; supports this fantastic work undertaken by Marianne and her team; and welcomes the forthcoming expansion of the service, with a second specialist childcare centre due to open in South Ayrshire in 2021, as this franchise expects to expand across the West of Scotland in the coming years and wishes this inspirational team every success for the future

125450th Anniversary of Habintag

Tabled: 8/12/20 Signatories: 2

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

That this House notes the 50th anniversary of social housing provider Habintag; congratulates the Association on reaching this milestone of so many years providing and promoting accessible homes and neighbourhoods; and extends best wishes for their continued success.

1255Kidnapping of girls and young women in Pakistan

Tabled: 8/12/20 Signatories: 2

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

That this House notes that according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there are around 1,000 young women from religious minority groups who are kidnapped, forcibly and converted and married to much older men; further notes the recent cases including Maira Shahbaz, Saneha Iqbal and Arzoo Raja, all three who were Christian girls all under the age of 15; expresses grave concern at the similar attacks and forced marriages of young Hindu girls; and calls on Government to strongly condemn the perpetration of these acts and further to make contact with the Pakistan Government asking for steps to be taken to prevent these horrific actions from continuing without penalty.

1256Glasgow Geoenergy Observatory

Tabled: 8/12/20 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House notes the beginning of the operation of the Geoenergy Observatory in Glasgow and Rutherglen, which comprises of 12 boreholes fitted with 319 state-of-the-art sensors; acknowledges that this sort of subsurface observatory is a first in the UK; recognises the value of the data collected in this Observatory in advancing understanding of geothermal energy; notes that in central Scotland, northern England and southern Wales there are many abandoned mines flooded with water; acknowledges the importance of the Observatory's work to how their water could be utilised to supply homes and industry with heat, and that this geothermal energy source could be a vital contribution to ensuring the UK reaches carbon neutrality; and congratulates the scientists at the Observatory and all UKGEOS, Natural Environment Research Council and British Geological Survey staff on this significant achievement.

Added Names

Below are EDMs tabled in the last two weeks to which names have been added. Only the first 6 names and any new names are included.

1210Human Rights in Sri Lanka and the Relocation of the BBC Sinhala Service

Tabled: 30/11/20 Signatories: 6

Barry Gardiner

Jim Shannon

Sir Peter Bottomley

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

Claudia Webbe

That this House notes the recent Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office reports that the human rights environment in Sri Lanka worsened, with the continuation of surveillance and intimidation of activists and human rights defenders, the detention without charge of a high profile human rights lawyer, and a presidential pardon of the only member of the armed forces convicted of a wartime atrocity; further notes the withdrawal of the Government of Sri Lanka's support for UN Human Rights Council resolutions 30/1, 34/1, and 40/1 on post-conflict transitional justice, accountability and reconciliation, coupled with the Sri Lankan military forming task forces operating beyond parliamentary scrutiny and being given oversight of civilian functions, as a result of the delays to parliamentary elections without the reconvening of the Sri Lankan Parliament; believes now is not the time to be re-locating the BBC Sinhala service to India with the consequent loss of jobs in the UK as well as the experience, continuity and ability to report impartially on events and to hold the government and military of Sri Lanka to account for their actions; and therefore urges the BBC to reconsider its decision.

1215Human and trade union rights in Pakistan

Tabled: 30/11/20 Signatories: 17

Apsana Begum

Dan Carden

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

John McDonnell

Ian Byrne

Kate Osborne

This House is alarmed at reports that Amar Fayaz, a Progressive Youth Alliance activist in Pakistan, was allegedly taken in to custody by security services on 8 November 2020 outside Liaqat Medical University in Jamshoro, and still has not reappeared; expresses solidarity with his family, wife and daughter who are still unaware of his whereabouts; notes that according to Amnesty International and other organisations enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, violence against women, media censorship and the harassment of ethnic and religious minorities continue to take place in Pakistan; further notes that Pakistan is also one of ten countries named in the 2019 report of the International Trade Union Confederation where trade unionists had been killed and that the ITUC now puts Pakistan in the worst category for trade union rights; believes that guaranteeing the political, democratic and trade union rights of all people, regardless of where they live, is of fundamental importance in upholding human dignity and the inalienable nature of human rights; and calls on the Government to make representations to the Pakistani Government for Amar Fayaz to be released or a charge be brought against him and for Pakistan obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights be upheld.

1220Effect of covid-19 on disabled people and employment

Tabled: 1/12/20 Signatories: 31

Wera Hobhouse

Caroline Lucas

Wendy Chamberlain

Dr Philippa Whitford

Marion Fellows

Carla Lockhart

That this House celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act, an important step towards equality for people with disabilities; recognises the disproportionate impact of the covid-19 pandemic on disabled people; notes with concern that 71 per cent of disabled people employed in March have been impacted by loss of income, furlough or unemployment; expresses concern that the covid-19 pandemic could exacerbate negative conceptions of disabled people’s ability to work; believes that the Government must show leadership to ensure the UK does not lose the progress it has made towards equality for disabled people in the workplace; and calls on the Government to introduce a Jobs Guarantee for newly unemployed disabled people.

1225Scientists, researchers and clinicians developing treatment, testing and vaccines for covid-19

Tabled: 2/12/20 Signatories: 39

Olivia Blake

Mick Whitley

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Apsana Begum

Rachel Hopkins

Ian Byrne

That this House celebrates and commends the international efforts of thousands of scientists, researchers and clinicians from across the globe in developing treatment, testing and vaccines for covid-19.

1234Priority groups for covid-19 vaccinations

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 9

Jon Trickett

Sir Peter Bottomley

Claudia Webbe

Ian Lavery

Paula Barker

Mick Whitley

That this House pays tribute to the selfless role key workers have played throughout the covid-19 pandemic; notes that in addition to health and social care workers, workers in key occupations have an increased risk of exposure to covid-19, with ONS data showing that during the first wave of covid-19 security guards, taxi and bus drivers, cleaners, mechanics and retail workers were at greater risk of death from the virus; believes it is right that elderly and vulnerable citizens along with care home workers and health and social care workers are to be prioritised for the rollout of any covid-19 vaccine; further believes that all other key workers should be prioritised for a vaccine rollout in addition to the elderly, vulnerable and health workers; and calls on the Government to amend its interim advice on priority groups for covid-19 vaccination in order to reflect this.

1235Gross Domestic Wellbeing

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 16

Caroline Lucas

Tracey Crouch

Jon Cruddas

Wera Hobhouse

Liz Saville Roberts

Sir Peter Bottomley

That this House welcomes the publication of the innovative Gross Domestic Wellbeing Index by the Carnegie UK Trust; recognises that GDP growth fails to capture a true picture of progress; welcomes the aim of developing holistic approaches to understanding and measuring progress that include social, environmental, economic and democratic wellbeing; notes that Gross Domestic Wellbeing Index was decreasing in the UK even prior to the covid-19 pandemic whilst GDP was increasing; acknowledges the conclusions drawn from over 40 independent reviews and commissions that the cornerstones of government decision making for wellbeing are prevention, participatory democracy, equalities, localism, integration and long-termism; and calls on the Government to accept the report’s recommendations to hold a national conversation on wellbeing in England to inform an update of ONS wellbeing indicators, and to put wellbeing at the heart of all policy making, including budgets, as part of Building Back Better.

1237UN 16 Days campaign and GMB Work to Stop Domestic Abuse Charter

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 16

Sarah Owen [R]

Neale Hanvey

Claudia Webbe

Ben Lake

Hywel Williams

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House marks the UN 16 days of activism against gender-based violence run from 25th November, UN International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10th December, Human Rights Day, highlighting the link between violence against women and human rights; notes that GMB union launched its campaign and GMB Work to Stop Domestic Abuse Charter two years ago; and further notes that domestic abuse is a workplace issue and employers including hon. Members should support the campaign.

1239Debenhams and the Arcadia Group

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 19

Chris Law

Mohammad Yasin

Allan Dorans

Dave Doogan

Steven Bonnar

Sir Peter Bottomley

That this House expresses its concern for the estimated 26,000 workers affected by this week’s announcements by both Debenhams and the Arcadia Group that they will be entering administration; recognises that many of these workers will have worked for these companies for much of their life and may have to find new work in an extremely challenging job market; further expresses its concern for what this will mean for local High Streets and those in these companies’ supply chains across the country who will be affected; calls on the Government to do what it can to ensure that pension pots are protected despite these announcements; and further calls upon the Government to work with trade unions and workers affected in ensuring that those affected are treated fairly and adequately throughout this process.

1246Car parking charges at NHS hospitals in England

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 2

Sir Mike Penning

Dawn Butler

That this House calls on the Government to end to car parking charges at NHS hospitals in England; recognises that the NHS was established to be free at the point of access; contends that car parking charges mean that the NHS is not free at the point of access for people with cars; further recognises that those charges are not only a burden on patients and their visitors but for our hardworking and dedicated NHS staff; realises that that matter is a clear injustice; and urges the Government to end car parking charges at NHS hospitals in England.

1247Arcadia employee pensions

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 6

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Jonathan Edwards

Paula Barker

Dawn Butler

That this House notes that Arcadia has gone into administration, potentially putting approximately 13,000 jobs at risk; recognises that approximately 10,000 members of Arcadia’s pension scheme are being assessed for entry into the Pension Protection Fund; notes the £385 million pound agreement between the Pensions Regulator, Arcadia and the group’s owner to support employees pensions which was concluded in 2019; asserts that that agreement must be protected; recalls Sir Philip Green’s systematic plunder of former businesses including BHS; and calls on the Government to ensure that Sir Philip Green fulfils his responsibilities to cover any pension shortfall among his employees.

1249Levels of statutory sick pay

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 11

Richard Burgon

Beth Winter

Tahir Ali

Mick Whitley

Mary Kelly Foy

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that for a test, trace and isolate system to be effective, people must be able to afford to isolate when required to do so; notes that the current level of Statutory Sick Pay is forcing many people to choose between having enough money to live on or self isolating, which undermines efforts to reduce the spread of covid-19; further notes that Statutory Sick Pay in the UK is among the lowest in Europe, estimated by the TUC to equal only one fifth of the average worker’s weekly earnings; recognises that nearly 2 million low-paid workers are entirely excluded from Statutory Sick Pay because they earn less than £120 a week; is concerned by reports that more than half of people applying for the one-off £500 support grant to self-isolate are being rejected in some coronavirus hotspots, leaving many people without even that limited support; and calls on the UK Government to urgently increase Statutory Sick Pay to the level of the Real Living Wage and remove the requirement for recipients to earn over £120 per week so that every worker who needs to self isolate is supported to do so.

1250Bus worker safety during the covid-19 outbreak

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 19

Grahame Morris

Ian Mearns

Paula Barker

Apsana Begum

Ian Lavery

Rebecca Long Bailey

That this House commends the dedication of the UK’s bus workers who have kept services running throughout the pandemic for other key workers and essential travellers; is aware that tragically, a number of bus workers have died from Covid-19; notes that Government Covid-19 support for bus operators in England since March 2020 totals at least £600 million; believes it is vital that there is a consistent approach to bus worker health and safety across the industry; understands that bus workers have concerns regarding cash handling and the lack of enforcement of social distancing and face coverings on buses; notes that on the rail network, British Transport Police are patrolling services to ensure compliance with face coverings; supports the RMT union’s calls for the police, industry and government to put robust plans in place to ensure that compliance with face coverings on buses is also enforced; and calls on the Government to ensure there is a consistent industry-wide approach to these issues, publish any evidence it has regarding the potential risks associated with cash handling and Covid-19 transmission and set out how social distancing and the wearing of face coverings will be enforced on buses, and by whom.

1251Food insecurity

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 32

Ian Byrne

Olivia Blake

John McDonnell

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Beth Winter

Geraint Davies

That this House notes that approximately 10 million people in the UK are experiencing food insecurity; further notes that the use of food banks was increasing before the covid-19 pandemic, has effectively doubled during the pandemic and all indications are that this situation will continue to get worse; is concerned that children in particular have been badly affected by the covid-19 crisis and that, according to Trussell Trust figures, the number of food parcels given to children rose by 52 per cent; acknowledges the profound and devastating consequences of food insecurity on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of people in our communities; believes that the Government has a duty to ensure nobody in our communities goes hungry and that the “Right to Food” should be enshrined in UK law in order to make clear this obligation; and calls on the Government to set positive targets and monitor progress accordingly and include the “Right to Food” in the Government’s National Food Strategy white paper which is due to be published in 2021.

1252Government workers' pay

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 19

Rachel Hopkins

Beth Winter

Kate Osborne

Paula Barker

Grahame Morris

Mick Whitley

That this House supports the Parliamentary petition signed by over 100,000 people for a fair pay rise for government workers and rejects the government’s public sector pay freeze; notes that throughout the pandemic, government workers have delivered critical services that have kept our country safe and secure; further notes that the critical services that government workers have delivered include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, the court system, border security and the Universal Credit system; further notes that Civil Service pay has fallen in value by up to 20% over the past 10 years; further notes that government pay policy for 2020 restricted increases to between 1.5% and 2.5%; and calls on the government to provide government workers a 10% pay increase in 2020 as a recognition of some of the wages lost over the last 10 years and return pay bargaining in the Civil Service to the previous national pay bargaining system to ensure that all government workers receive a pay reward that reflects their dedicated hard work.