Contents

Published: Friday 18 December 2020

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 17 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

1293GenOMICC consortium

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Owen Thompson

That this House commends Midlothian-based researchers for the role they have played in identifying potential covid-19 treatments as part of the the GenOMICC consortium; further commends all involved in the consortium; notes that this work has led to the discovery of five genes associated with the most severe form of covid-19 by studying the DNA of 2,700 patients in 208 intensive care units in the UK; understands that this work was carried out by researchers from the GenOMICC consortium, a global collaboration to study genetics in critical illness; further understands that the research compared the genetic information of covid-19 patients in ICU with samples provided by healthy volunteers from other studies, such as UK Biobank, Generation Scotland and 100,000 Genomes; and notes that, through institutions such as the Roslin Institute, Midlothian plays a key role in leading scientific research.

1294Magical Music of Christmas fundraising show

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Owen Thompson

That this House congratulates the Midlothian young people who took part in the online Magical Music of Christmas fundraising show organised by Little Voices Big Stars; understands that the Bonnyrigg-based group put the show together to help raise funds for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, and beat their £500 target within days; notes that the show featured kids as young as four and adult members of the group taking part in a fun concert from the comfort of their homes for all ages to enjoy; and commends all those who are finding new and innovative ways to fundraise for important causes during the pandemic.

1295District heating project

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House recognises the outstanding technological achievements which have led to Clydebank’s environmentally friendly system being installed which uses water from the River Clyde to heat nearby homes; notes that this heating system is the first large-scale water source heat pump scheme of its kind in Scotland, and will transform the way homes, businesses and public buildings in the centre of the town are heated; recognises the hard work and planning of West Dunbartonshire Council in conjunction with partners to create and launch the system; and hopes that this impressive technological achievement will inspire other such advancements across the nation to combat the growing climate change emergency.

1296Jade West and Skylark IX

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House recognises the outstanding work of Dumbarton charity worker Jade West in keeping the heritage of the tragedy of Dunkirk alive by working to restore Skylark IX, which is believed to be the only surviving Dunkirk vessel in Scotland, that over the nine day mission rescued over 600 cold and tired soldiers helping transport them onto larger naval ships whilst under fire; notes her work to build skills and job opportunities for the local community; and recognises that the projection of her image onto the ancient site of Stonehenge was well deserved to recognise her work and achievements.

1297Jim McLaren given local legend of Glasgow award

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House recognises the well deserved achievement for Clydebank resident Jim McLaren in being awarded the ‘’Local Legend’’ award for Glasgow for his valuable work during the Covid pandemic through helping the most vulnerable in our community; further notes that Jim’s work with his Golden Friendship’s charity has performed outstanding work in the local community with disabled people and the elderly; further recognises that Jim’s charity continues to provide an invaluable service despite the global pandemic and being unable to access their local hall and hopes that this charitable work will inspire others to do what they can for their local community.

1298East Renfrewshire schools Christmas picture competition

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House applauds the fantastic artistic endeavours of the almost 700 East Renfrewshire primary school children, from schools across the local area, who took part in the 2020 Christmas picture competition organised by the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire; notes that children produced festive and creative artwork, designed to share good cheer; appreciates the efforts and participation all of those who took part; acknowledges the high standard of all entries received; heartily congratulates all winners; recognises that the overall winner was Adam Geejo of St Cadoc’s Primary School; understands that the winners in the P1-P2 category were Aasiyah Ali of Maidenhill Primary School and Molly Ness of Netherlee Primary School; notes that the winners of the P3-P5 category were Keeva Smith of St John’s Primary School and Phoebe Mann of Eaglesham Primary School; appreciates that the winners of the P6-P7 category were Olivia Aitken of Hillview Primary School and Fergus Cao of St Joseph’s Primary School; thanks the outstanding school teams across East Renfrewshire for all their efforts throughout this challenging year; and wishes teachers, families and children a peaceful and happy Christmas.

1299Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House appreciates this has been a challenging year and that this Christmas will be a difficult one for many families; recognises that there are unsung heroes in all our communities working hard to ensure Christmas magic is delivered where it is needed most, even against the odds; notes the tireless efforts of community based groups and organisations including Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas, in making Christmas possible for families and children all over West Central Scotland; appreciates the vast undertaking and huge efforts which have enabled thousands of individually selected Christmas gifts to be collected, funded, sorted, wrapped and delivered; appreciates the enormous work of East Renfrewshire resident Julie Griffin and her colleagues in bringing together the generosity of donors, with a wide range of referring organisations who support families experiencing difficulties; believes that this selfless kindness reflects the true spirit of Christmas; and wishes ‘Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas’ well for their continued endeavours.

1300Fatma's Waltz for the Beatson Cancer Charity

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Patrick Grady [R]

That this House congratulates all those involved in the launch of Fatma's Waltz, a specially-composed piece of music, performed and recorded by 28 artists from Scotland and around the world, with the aim of raising over £5000 for the Glasgow-based Beatson Cancer Charity; notes that the unique and uplifting piece was written by Scottish traditional musician Adam Sutherland, inspired by the experience of his student Fatma Neilson who has bravely fought cancer and been supported in her fight by the services of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and its associated Charity; thanks the musicians who gave freely of their time to make audio and video recordings of their parts for the performance, and producers Marc Clements who mixed the audio and Paul Jennings who produced the video, despite the economic hardships caused by coronavirus; further notes that the entire performance has been produced using remote and virtual technology due to coronavirus restrictions; and wishes the team behind the project all the best in reaching and exceeding their fundraising target.

1301Expansion of Heathrow airport

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 2

Sarah Olney

Munira Wilson

That this House is disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court to rule in favour of Heathrow airport’s appeal to the decision in February 2020 that the Airports National Policy Statement was not legal because it had been written using a warming target of 2℃ rather than the Paris Agreement target, signed by the UK, of 1.5℃; notes that a third runway at Heathrow would increase takeoffs from 2030 onwards by 54%, which would increase air and noise pollution and impact the mental and physical well-being of millions in the surrounding area; recognises that an expansion would increase carbon emissions as well as the harmful contribution of aviation to other forms of global warming; notes that projections continue to show that the Government is unlikely to reach their 2050 net zero targets; further notes that the international community is also currently unlikely to reach the 1.5℃ warming target as recognised in the Paris Agreement; calls on the Government to update aviation policy to meet its target for net zero carbon by 2050; and further calls on the Government to eliminate any possibility of net expansion to UK airports including Heathrow in line with guidance from the Committee on Climate Change.

1302Stay Connected project Coatbridge

Tabled: 17/12/20 Signatories: 1

Steven Bonnar

That this House recognises the hard work and endeavours of all the volunteers involved with the Stay Connected Project in Coatbridge; commends the project for the support they have shown to the local community this festive period by providing supplies to those who are elderly, vulnerable or isolated; and in particular praises all the local school children who have shown incredible community spirit by providing huge numbers of donations to the project.

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.

1234Priority groups for covid-19 vaccinations

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 15

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: 17

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.

1239Debenhams and the Arcadia Group

Tabled: 3/12/20 Signatories: 25

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.

1250Bus worker safety during the covid-19 outbreak

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 25

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.

1252Government workers' pay

Tabled: 7/12/20 Signatories: 30

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.

1255Kidnapping of girls and young women in Pakistan

Tabled: 8/12/20 Signatories: 8

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Mr Gregory Campbell

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

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.

1257Treatment of workers at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Tabled: 9/12/20 Signatories: 17

Grahame Morris

Rachel Hopkins

Claudia Webbe

Mike Hill

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Navendu Mishra

That this House praises the contribution of workers for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in France and Belgium, who care for and maintain the cemeteries to the highest possible standards; is deeply concerned that many of those workers have been faced with the option of relocating with just three weeks’ notice or localising with the loss of up to fifty per cent of their incomes; notes that the housing market across the UK and most of Europe is disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions; recognises that the stress of uprooting families and finding a new home at such short notice is particularly acute at this time; calls for the Government to carry out a thorough review into all aspects of employment at CWGC, two decades on since that work was carried out under Baroness Dean; and further calls on the CWGC to urgently reconsider and enter into meaningful negotiations with the trades unions to ensure that those workers are treated with the respect they deserve.

1258Publication of Assuring Our Common Future report

Tabled: 9/12/20 Signatories: 11

Olivia Blake

Claudia Webbe

Jeremy Corbyn

Ms Diane Abbott

Hywel Williams

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House welcomes the 5th November 2020 publication of Assuring Our Common Future, A guide to parliamentary action in support of disarmament for security and sustainable development; supports the Disarmament Agenda of United Nations Secretary General António Guterres which this handbook helps to implement; highlights the matters addressed in the guide, including the importance of parliamentary action, disarmament in a post COVID-19 pandemic world, disarmament to save humanity, inhumane weapons including cluster munitions and landmines, the connections between disarmament, climate and sustainable development including climate protection, and disarmament for future generations; believes that these issues comprise some of the most important policy issues before the United Kingdom Parliament; further believes that as part of the comprehensive defence and security review, the Government should set out a timetable or framework for entering the Trident nuclear weapons system into multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations and developing economic conversion options to protect jobs and the economy; and commends this report to all Members of both Houses of Parliament as an essential guide to sustainable security in an uncertain world.

1259Human rights and democracy in Poland

Tabled: 9/12/20 Signatories: 33

Clive Lewis

Claudia Webbe

Andrew Gwynne

Mr Virendra Sharma

Wera Hobhouse

Allan Dorans

That this House acknowledges and condemns human rights violations in Poland, in particular, attacks on the rights of women and LGBTQ+ minorities, including the near-total abortion ban that breaks the human right of freedom from torture, and disregards the bodily autonomy of women; supports the protection of LGBTQ+ families, and stands against the creation of LGBT free zones in Poland; condemns the new law which breaks people's right to assembly and protest by threatening protesters with 6 months to 8 years in prison, and the police brutality against peaceful protesters; recognises the judicial autonomy infringement and the breaking of the rule of law; decries the lack of freedom of the press, the politicisation of Polish media, financial censorship, and the creation of the index of the prohibited press in Poland; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to publicly support Polish women and minority groups as they seek to uphold democratic values in Poland.

1260Terminal illness and Covid-19 vaccination

Tabled: 10/12/20 Signatories: 23

Kirsten Oswald

Patricia Gibson

Neil Gray

Deidre Brock

Richard Thomson

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

That this House recognises the devastating impact of being diagnosed with a terminal illness at any time but even more so just as the world faces into the Covid-19 pandemic; extends its sympathy to Fred Banning of Newton Mearns who, in February this year, was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 metastatic colon cancer resulting in Mr Banning and his wife not only struggling with the stresses and strains of lockdown but also having to break the news that he is dying to their two young children and their wider friends and family; considers that Mr Banning's call for those living with a terminal diagnosis and immediate family members to be a high priority for the administration of the vaccine to enable them to spend their remaining time as normally as possible has great force; and calls on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to recognise the pressing needs of these members of our communities as they make recommendations on the rollout of a programme of vaccines in the days and weeks ahead.

1262Rights for Freelance Workers in the Media and Creative Industries

Tabled: 10/12/20 Signatories: 29

Rebecca Long Bailey [R]

Grahame Morris

Mike Hill

Rachel Hopkins

Ian Byrne

Apsana Begum

That this House is concerned by the severe hardship which Covid-19 has caused for many freelance and self-employed workers; notes that the media and creative industries represent a major growth sector which is worth more than £111 billion to the UK economy, yet freelance workers in the sector have been left bereft of the many rights most employees take for granted; welcomes the National Union of Journalists' #FairDeal4Freelances campaign and the publication of the Freelance Charter, which seeks redress for those missing out on financial assistance during Covid-19 and to fight for a radical reform of our rights to ensure job protection and benefits are not dependent on employment status; calls for the right to organise in a trade union, to have a written contract with fair terms and conditions, prompt payment and equal treatment at work in terms of health and safety; believes that freelances should get holiday pay, parental leave and allowances and a retirement pension; and further believes that they should have the right to resist companies forcing them on to PAYE, to incorporate as a limited company, or work under umbrella companies.

1263Migrant Workers' Rights

Tabled: 10/12/20 Signatories: 23

Nadia Whittome

Ms Diane Abbott

Olivia Blake

Ian Byrne

Stuart C McDonald

Jeremy Corbyn

That this House would like to thank migrant workers who have been at the forefront of the UKs response to the pandemic; believes that recovery from covid-19 must level up migrant workers’ rights; further recognises that the Hostile Environment, particularly No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and the “illegal working” offence, forces migrants to continue go into work even when it is not safe to do; is concerned that the illegal working offence pushes undocumented migrants to look for employment among exploitative employers who know they are unable report abuse in the workplace for fear of immigration enforcement; expresses further concern that the illegal working offence disincentivises employers from hiring migrant workers and creates a culture of discrimination in employment practices; notes that the exploitation of migrant workers in the labour market drives down labour standards and protections for all workers; and calls on the Government to implement the recommendations in the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants “Work It Out” campaign by scrapping NRPF and repealing the “illegal working” offence.

1264Bus worker safety during the covid-19 outbreak: Control measures and enforcement

Tabled: 10/12/20 Signatories: 14

Nadia Whittome

Mike Hill

Olivia Blake

Ms Diane Abbott

Claudia Webbe

Kenny MacAskill

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; notes that tragically, a number of bus workers have died from Covid-19; further notes that Government's 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.

1265Service Medal for British Nuclear Test Veterans 2

Tabled: 10/12/20 Signatories: 9

Jonathan Edwards

Mike Hill

Neil Gray

Hywel Williams

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

This House reiterates its support for a service medal for British nuclear test veterans; notes that the UK is the only country involved in nuclear tests which has not recognised the contribution of nuclear test veterans; and expresses disappointment at the Advisory Military Sub Committee's recommendation to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals not to award a medal.

1266Catering services and jobs on South Western Railway

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 13

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Apsana Begum

Paula Barker

Grahame Morris

Rachel Hopkins

Mick Whitley

That this House notes that South Western Railway (SWR) has terminated its on-board catering contract with Elior and that this decision puts over 130 catering workers at risk of being made redundant in January 2021; believes that the Job Retention Scheme, which is in operation until March 2021, should have been used to protect these jobs in the short term; is concerned that this decision will lead to the removal of catering services across the SWR network; believes that this will be detrimental to passengers and that the provision of on-board catering services must be protected across the network as part of rail’s recovery from the covid-19 pandemic; notes that the cuts to catering are being made despite the SWR franchise being fully funded by the Government through an Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement (ERMA); further notes that the ERMA pays SWR a fee which can be used to fund profits and make dividend payments; and therefore calls on the Government to intervene to ensure this catering service and all at-risk jobs are protected.

1267Arcadia employee pensions (No. 2)

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 7

Hywel Williams

Jonathan Edwards

Paula Barker

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

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; asserts that the £385 million pound agreement to support employees pensions which was concluded in 2019 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.

1268Western Sahara

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 23

Jeremy Corbyn

Claudia Webbe

Apsana Begum

Caroline Lucas

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

That this House recognises the right of the people of Western Sahara to their own self-determination; urges the UK as a member of the group of friends to redouble UN Security Council efforts to deliver the referendum on which the 1991 ceasefire in that region was contingent; stands in solidarity with the Sahrawi both in Western Sahara, the refugee camps in Algeria and the diaspora; deplores the unilateral action of US President Trump’s administration supporting Morocco’s illegal claim to occupy Western Sahara; and calls on the UK government to adhere to international law and refuse to follow the dangerous and illegal path that president Trump has embarked on in relation to Western Sahara.

127050 years of the Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 5

Margaret Ferrier

Anne McLaughlin

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates the Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau, which is celebrating its 50 year anniversary; recognises their extensive work supporting the people of Hamilton and South Lanarkshire; highlights that in 2019-20 Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau advised, represented and supported over 3,300 people, handled over 14,000 issues over 15 areas of advice and generated gains of £1.649 million for local communities in South Lanarkshire; applauds the Citizens Advice Bureau's participation in such projects as the South Lanarkshire Council Child Poverty Action Plan, the South Lanarkshire Community Plan, the Fuel Poverty Working Group and the Lanarkshire PACE Strategy Group; and wishes the Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau another 50 successful years of supporting the people of South Lanarkshire.

1271Adequacy of local government funding

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 18

Claudia Webbe

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Zarah Sultana

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Richard Burgon

That this House is opposed to a new phase of austerity; believes that the Government must adequately fund local authorities to avoid disastrous social consequences; recognises that covid-19 is further stretching councils that are already under-funded and under-staffed following a decade of austerity; calls on the Government to honour its commitment to fund councils fully for the extra costs of dealing with the pandemic, and the losses of revenue resulting from lock-down; believes that local authority debt held by the Public Works Loan Board as an emergency measure should be cancelled to provide councils with an extra £4.5 billion spending power a year and help to stabilise their finances; encourages the Government to begin urgent discussions on a funding system based on an annual assessment of social needs in each locality; and calls on the Government to provide £10 billion annual grant to fund building 100,000 council homes a year, which is necessary not only to address the acute housing crisis but will provide economic stimulus as we come out of the pandemic by putting people back to work.

1273Tackling homelessness

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 19

Grahame Morris

Claudia Webbe

Apsana Begum

Kim Johnson

Jonathan Edwards

Paula Barker

That this House deplores the exponential rise in recent years of homelessness across the UK, with core homelessness in England alone peaking before the Covid-19 pandemic at over 219,000 homeless households at the end of 2019; commends the determination behind the Everyone In initiative to provide safe accommodation for all during the pandemic; welcomes the additional specialist support funding for vulnerable people sleeping rough and the Changing Futures programme to provide better outcomes for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage; recognises the help provided by community and voluntary sector organisations, local authorities and substance misuse treatment services to support those with complex needs; urges an accelerated roll-out of the holistic, evidence-based Housing First approach; notes the immediate need for everyone to be kept safe and warm during the winter and pandemic; and calls upon the Government to provide the strategic planning and funding for co-ordinated cross-sectoral working to enable the elimination of homelessness.

1274Recommendations on prison officer pay

Tabled: 14/12/20 Signatories: 22

Richard Burgon

Liz Saville Roberts

Gordon Henderson

Kenny MacAskill

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

That this House notes that the Government has rejected as unaffordable Recommendation 3 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) of a £3,000 pensionable pay rise for Band 3 prison officers on Fair and Sustainable conditions, the main operational recruitment grade into the Prison Service; further notes that the PSPRB considers Band 3 pay to compare poorly against other occupations in the same broad occupational group, and calculates the cost of new recruits leaving after less than two years at £30 million annually, which it calls an inefficient use of public money; further notes that the PSPRB was established in 2001 to compensate prison officers for the loss of their right to take industrial action in any form, and that, in response to a successful complaint by the Prison Officers Association (POA) to the International Labour Organisation in 2004, the Government committed only to depart from its recommendations in exceptional circumstances; further notes that the Government pledged in July to open discussions with recognised trade unions on the implications of this recommendation, yet no such discussions have taken place with the POA; believes that the decision to deny prison officers pay justice threatens to damage morale and exacerbate the current recruitment and retention crisis; questions whether the recommended award is genuinely unaffordable at a time when billions of pounds have been budgeted to build a new generation of private prisons; and calls on the Government to accept the PSPRB’s recommendations in full.

1276Happy Christmas message

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Sir Mike Penning

Gavin Robinson

That this House notes the celebrations of Christmas and the family time that it brings which is needed now more than ever; encourages the public to make good choices and to take every precaution to keep safe and keep our loved ones safe; takes the opportunity to highlight the Birth of Christ and that the beginning of God’s redemptive plan of love is the true foundation of Christmas; conveys our sincere sympathy to those who will find Christmas very difficult to celebrate with the empty chair around the table this year; expresses our profound gratitude to every key worker who will miss part or all of Christmas to keep providing care and love for those in need; and further takes this opportunity to wish every constituent, friend and ally of this United Kingdom a very peaceful and safe Christmas and a healthy and happy new year.

1277Passing of Barbara Windsor

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Sir Mike Penning

Alison Thewliss

Bob Blackman

Gavin Robinson

That this House notes with great sadness the death of Dame Barbara Windsor; highlights her tremendous career bringing laughter and joy to so many through her career; further highlights her wonderful charity work that paved the way for her Queen’s Honour in the form of the DBE; and extends sympathy to those who loved her and will miss her knowing that her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of so many throughout this UK.

1278Criminalisation of dissent in India

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 11

Apsana Begum

Ms Diane Abbott

Layla Moran

Brendan O'Hara

Caroline Lucas

Zarah Sultana

That this House expresses its profound concern at the growing number of arrests in India of human rights defenders, student leaders, feminist activists, Dalit rights campaigners, trade unionists, Opposition politicians, and writers, artists, lawyers, academics and journalists who are critical of Narendra Modi’s regime; notes that many of these arrests have been made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which owes its origins to colonial-era repressive legislation; further notes that ruling-party leaders have engaged in what many argue to be incendiary hate speech against religious minorities and democratic dissenters throughout the tenure of the present BJP-led government; further notes that militarised police violence has repeatedly been used against peaceful protesters, including farmers currently protesting controversial privatisation bills; further notes that the recent shutdown of the Indian branch of Amnesty International, the world's leading human rights advocacy group, bears witness to the currently perilous state of Indian democracy; stands in solidarity with those incarcerated for raising their voices against the oppressive anti-minority politics of the current regime; and calls upon the UN, its member states and international governments to hold the Indian Government to account, and to subject its violations of basic democratic principles to international scrutiny.

1279Giffnock Soccer centre 25 years of operation

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 8

Kirsten Oswald

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Giffnock Soccer Centre on a successful first 25 years of operation; notes that the club was started by just 14 parents to provide a safe, fun environment in which children aged 5-12 could develop their footballing skills and has grown to over 200 coaches and 1,200 children of all abilities including a separate girls section and a section for those with disabilities; further notes that the club used various East Renfrewshire facilities until it was able to acquire its own facilities at Eastwood Park and Norwood Playing Fields in 2014; recognises that the Club have been involved in the development of the local East Renfrewshire League, which began in 1995 with 23 teams and now provides non-competitive fixtures for 200 teams, with a Giffnock Soccer Centre representative on its Management Committee continuously since the beginning; further recognises that the club has worked with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on coach development and has retained its emphasis on providing football for all abilities, with some participants going on to make the grade in the senior game, including current Captain of the men’s Scottish National team, Andy Robertson, and others who began with the club as 5 year olds who are now helping to develop the next generation of footballers; and records appreciation that the club has forged very good relationships with East Renfrewshire Council, the SFA and local leagues and clubs to the benefit of thousands of children over the last 25 years.

1280Oil and Gas UK Awards

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 4

Richard Thomson

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates the winners and finalists of the OGUK Awards, which brings the offshore oil and gas industry together to celebrate its brightest and best; acknowledges the exceptional work of the winners in the following categories: Apprentice of the Year, Scott Milligan, Graduate of the Year, Connor Robb, Mentor of the Year, John Hogg, Workforce Engagement, Spirit Energy, Business Innovation SME, Omniscient Safety Innovations Ltd, Business Innovation Large Enterprise, Petrofac, Diversity & Inclusion, Baker Hughes, Energy Transition, Total E&P UK Ltd, Excellence in Decommissioning, Fairfield Energy Ltd; notes that 19,000 votes were cast in the first-time Audience Award, won by Omniscient Safety Innovations for their standout performance after receiving over 3,000 votes; further notes the special award given to OGUK’s own Health, Safety and Environment Director Trevor Stapleton for his outstanding work dealing with the challenges brought on by covid-19 and protecting the oil and gas workforce while maintaining safe operations; and recognises that the Oil and Gas industry is a centre of excellence in subsea engineering, mature field operations and decommissioning, contributing to the security of the UK energy supply, whilst playing a part in accelerating the transition towards net zero, as it develops and deploys low carbon and net-zero carbon technologies.

1281Extensions of the duration of copyright protection due to covid-19

Tabled: 15/12/20 Signatories: 12

Pete Wishart

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Steven Bonnar

That this House recognises the damage caused by covid-19 to the music industry and the catastrophic impact lockdown measures have had on musicians who rely on income from live performance to sustain a living from their talent; notes in particular that contemporary composers of classical music depend on the live performance of their works and do not benefit from any increase in the use of music streaming services during lockdown; recognises that live performance without social distancing remains prohibited; and calls on the Government to offset classical live performance losses by bringing forward legislation that would enable composers and their publishers to collect royalties for an additional period of three years.

128212 Months 12 Acts of Kindness project

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 8

Anne McLaughlin

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

That this House commends Royston Youth Action and the participation of the Youth Forum in the 12 Months 12 Acts of Kindness project; notes that throughout the year these young people have been both an inspiration and invaluable help to the community with their charitable work; appreciates the help they have provided to different organisations each month including providing food and supplies for people who are homeless, supporting RNIB, delivering baby clothes to Barnardos and raising money for the Baby Loss Retreat; congratulates the young people who have carried out hundreds of hours of volunteering during a most challenging year and one in which the group experienced its own losses; and looks forward to supporting their programme for 2021.

1283Green Homes Grant and energy efficiency

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 4

Mr Virendra Sharma

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Jim Shannon

Claudia Webbe

That this House welcomes the commitment of this Government to increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings; is encouraged that £2.58 billion has been made available for home insulation and greener heating solutions; asserts that the rollout of the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme has negatively affected the ability of local authorities to bid and effectively deliver energy efficiency projects and has created unnecessary challenges for councils; notes that the short timescales required by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for bids and completion of projects will affect the quality and long-term efficiency of projects under the scheme; and urges the Government to align the deadlines for all phases of the LAD scheme to the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme deadline of March 2022 and to acknowledge that the work conducted under the scheme’s current deadlines is not a fair assessment of the quantity or quality of work that local authorities can deliver.

1284Local Housing Allowance

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 6

Hywel Williams

Alison Thewliss

Jonathan Edwards

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Jim Shannon

Caroline Lucas

That this House recognises that during the 2020 Spending Review the Chancellor of the Exchequer noted that unemployment is likely to reach 2.6 million by the middle of 2021; notes that, despite this expected surge in unemployment, the Office for Budget Responsibility has warned that the 2020 Spending Review presented a future real term cut in the Local Housing Allowance; further notes that the National Residential Landlords Association has described that cut as a kick in the teeth for both renters and landlords; is concerned that that cut will force people to choose between eating and keeping a roof over their head; believes that the welfare system must be a safety net for people in their time of need; and calls on the Government to avert an impending housing crisis by cancelling the freeze in the Local Housing Allowance and providing on-going real term increases in the Local Housing Allowance to cover average rents.

1285Official Development Assistance 0.7 per cent GNI commitment

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 14

Layla Moran

Wendy Chamberlain

Jamie Stone

Ed Davey

Munira Wilson

Mr Alistair Carmichael

That this House notes UK Official Development Assistance spending has helped millions and stands as a testament to the best of British values; observes that the Government's decision to cut development spending to 0.5 per cent of GNI breaks its manifesto promise to the British people and has serious consequences for the world's poorest people; notes that despite claims from the Government, primary legislation is not needed to temporarily cut the development budget, and that such legislation would only be needed were the cut to be permanent; calls on the Government to maintain the 0.7 per cent commitment set out in the International Development (Official Development Assistance) Act 2015; and further calls on the Government to retain an Independent Commission for Aid Impact, the International Development Committee and a Development Minister in Cabinet.

128625th anniversary of CVS Inverclyde

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 12

Ronnie Cowan

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

Dave Doogan

Drew Hendry

That this House welcomes the 25th anniversary of CVS Inverclyde who support community groups and agencies through collaborative working in the Inverclyde area; notes that CVS Inverclyde provides confidential and professional support to groups and organisations of all sizes and aims while bringing them together to connect and work collaboratively; further notes that to celebrate its 25th year, CVS Inverclyde plans to celebrate the milestone with considered campaigns, with its first being to search for 25 faces to support during its anniversary year and into the future; and congratulates the organisation on its anniversary and wishes everyone involved the very best for the future.

1287A snapshot of poverty in Wales Winter 2020, Bevan Foundation Report

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 2

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

That this House reflects on the report by the Bevan Foundation, A snapshot of poverty in Wales Winter 2020, which indicates that 328,000 (24 per cent of) households in Wales have seen their income fall during the covid-19 pandemic; notes that 41 per cent of Welsh households have seen energy costs increase and 38 per cent of Welsh households have seen an increase in food prices; further notes that 9 per cent of Welsh households have fallen behind on bills since the start of the covid-19 pandemic; is concerned that families with children have been hit the hardest; recognises that poverty levels in Wales are chronic with 700,000 people, 23 per cent of the population, living in poverty before the start of the covid-19 pandemic; and calls on the UK and Welsh Governments to reflect on the findings of that report and urgently introduce measures to help those in need.

1288Transparency and democracy in Kurdish Regional Government

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 8

Chris Stephens

Hannah Bardell

Tommy Sheppard

Chris Law

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

That this house notes the recent week of demonstrations and public outcry over the high unemployment rate in the Kurdish Region; notes that state employees have not been paid their salaries for months; recognises that protesters are angry over allegations of corruption concerning the dominant political parties affiliated to two powerful families, the ruling Barzani family of the western provinces holds the regional premiership through its Kurdistan Democratic party, while the Talabani family of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party controls the east; notes the continuing protests over the management of oil revenues; further notes the coronavirus lockdown has escalated the negative impact on the economy and living conditions have deteriorated as a result; is concerned about the level of state violence and that at least eight protesters have been killed in Iraq's Kurdistan by security forces and that the authorities imposed curfews; notes that Kurdish Security forces raided broadcasters affiliated with political opposition parties and have been taken off air; notes that the UNs political mission in Iraq condemns the acts of violence; believes that this is a hugely worrying situation for the region and is deeply concerned over attacks on freedom of expression that undermines the rights of people protesting freely to have their democratic will; is further concerned over allegations of corruption and continuing austerity; supports calls for a solution to pay public sector employees; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to express those concerns and support calls for transparency and accountability in the region with his Kurdish Regional Government counterpart as a matter of urgency.

1289The Stop Sea Blasts campaign

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 7

Dr Lisa Cameron

Hannah Bardell

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Caroline Lucas

That this House recognises the environmental damage brought to marine habitats by detonations of unexploded ordnance at sea; is concerned that marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, are dependent on their auditory system for navigation and communication, and that disruptive detonations can lead to mass-stranding events; notes that is is nearly 10 years to the day since the Kyle of Durness mass-stranding; further notes that low-order deflagration is a safe alternative to clear offshore munitions without a harmful explosion; understands that a BEIS-funded trial has found deflagration is up to several hundred times quieter than detonation; welcomes the calls of the Stop Sea Blasts campaign for regulations to favour the deflagration technique; and urges the Government to progress those issues.

1290The Forest of Memories project

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 7

Dr Lisa Cameron

Hannah Bardell

Steven Bonnar

Chris Law

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

That this house supports the need for a focus on the emotional and mental wellbeing of communities as the UK recovers from the effects of the covid-19 Pandemic; recognises the importance of national remembrance for all those people who tragically lost their lives; understands the need for sustainable places of reflection for the bereaved and for people whose mental health has been affected; and supports the initiative of The Forest of Memories that achieves these objectives by creating a network of forests across the UK in memory of people adversely affected during the covid-19 pandemic, whilst addressing climate change, benefiting biodiversity and establishing an educational and cultural resource for local communities.

1291The work of Refuweegee

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 8

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Steven Bonnar

Chris Law

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

That this house recognises the fantastic work of Selina Hales and her team at Refuweegee who have been warmly welcoming refugees to Glasgow since 2015 and have been a vital source of help during the covid-19 pandemic; notes the importance of their service in ensuring that new arrivals can access the food, clothing, toiletries and other essentials they need for a better start in their new home; appreciates that the team have adapted quickly to the recent rise in demand and are currently providing around 150 emergency support packages per week through a growing network of volunteers; recognises that they also bring communities together through other projects such as their recent Claiming Back the Narrative photography series and festive crafting events; thanks the team for courageously campaigning for change and raising awareness of the barriers that forcibly displaced people face when accessing support and opportunities; and finally thanks the organisation for ensuring that Glasgow continues to be a welcoming place to all those people who choose to make it their home.

1292Glasgow Recovery Communities receives Volunteer Award at the Scottish Health Awards

Tabled: 16/12/20 Signatories: 7

Alison Thewliss

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

Drew Hendry

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

That this house congratulates the volunteers of Glasgow Recovery Communities who recently received the Volunteer Award at the Scottish Health Awards in recognition of their vital work supporting those in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse; recognises that this a community led service that ensures that people with experience of problem drug and alcohol use are central to the development and delivery of recovery initiatives; acknowledges that they have faced enormous challenges this year due to the covid-19 outbreak and have gone above and beyond to make sure that people who rely on their services can still be supported safely through online activities and socially distanced meetings; recognises that they have provided access to technology to people who would have been excluded otherwise through lack of digital access; appreciates that their work not only benefits service users but also provides opportunities for volunteers to learn and grow and to elevate themselves and their communities; and thanks the volunteers for the continued passion and innovation that will help build a better Glasgow.