Contents
Published: Wednesday 17 March 2021
Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 16 March 2021
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
1652Impact of allowing gene-editing and divergence from EU food standards
Tabled: 16/03/21 Signatories: 2
Grahame Morris
Ian Mearns
That this House has grave concerns over the Government’s proposal to authorise in England the use of gene-editing technologies in agriculture and food and drink manufacturing; notes that, since Brexit, any substantial regulatory divergence between the UK and EU poses a major threat to UK exports into European markets, and also for the export of goods from mainland UK ports into Northern Ireland; shares the concern of Unite the Union that such divergence from the approach of EU regulation over gene-editing would have yet more catastrophic impacts including the loss of thousands of jobs and undermining of the Northern Ireland protocol; observes that agriculture is a devolved issue within the UK context, but that, in the event of gene-editing being allowed in England, Scottish and Welsh products without gene-edited ingredients could still be denied access to EU markets; fears the impact that the aggressive commercial exploitation of gene-editing technologies would have on poor farmers in the global south, and on distracting Western governments from addressing the structural causes of climate change; and therefore believes that the Government’s approach to this issue must continue to be subject to the precautionary principle, must not be made in the absence of a robust scientific evidence-base on the long-term impacts of such technologies, must not allow multinational corporations to exert undue influence via proprietary rights, and must not pre-empt decision-making by the devolved nations or the UK's European partners.
1653Celebrating fifty years of the Campaign for Real Ale
Tabled: 16/03/21 Signatories: 1
Daisy Cooper
That this House congratulates the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), headquartered in St Albans, on their 50th anniversary; commends the organisation and its members for their tireless campaigning in support of the unique heritage of real ale, cider and perry found in the British Isles; further congratulates them for their successes over the last half century in protecting our brewing traditions and striving for greater quality and variety of cask ales; recognises their role in lobbying producers and government on behalf of consumers; celebrates their longstanding campaign to protect and enhance pubs and clubs; commends their ongoing work to provide information, education and training to all those with an interest in pubs, beer, cider and perry; extends thanks for CAMRA’s advocacy on behalf of the pub and brewing sectors, especially during the Covid-19 crisis that continues to endanger our unique pub and brewing heritage; and wishes them every success for the next fifty years.
1654Neurodiversity celebration week
Tabled: 16/03/21 Signatories: 1
Dr Lisa Cameron
That this House recognizes Neurodiversity Celebration week which commences on March 15th; understands 720,000 children celebrate Neurodiversity week worldwide; acknowledges that at least 15% of children in the U.K have a learning difference; notes that a lot of neurodiverse children have negative school experiences; further recognizes it’s important to change the narrative surrounding developmental difficulties, including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia; understands that neurodiversity is a strength and applauds the creativity and innovation of our neurodiverse children; celebrates the work of the founder and campaigner Siena Castellon of neurodiversity celebration week who recently won the Commonwealth Youth Award; and further notes the importance of championing neurodiversity and challenging stigma associated with developmental difficulty.
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.
1582Intensive factory farming
Tabled: 3/03/21 Signatories: 16
Dr Lisa Cameron
Neale Hanvey
Chris Law
Drew Hendry
Hannah Bardell
Anne McLaughlin
Wera Hobhouse
That this House notes that intensive farming methods inflict terrible suffering on some one billion land animals in the UK each year; recognises that intensive factory farming methods include the extreme confinement of pregnant sows in farrowing crates, the overcrowding and selective breeding of broiler chickens, ducks and turkeys, the routine mutilation of egg-laying hens and piglets, and the zero grazing of dairy cows; further notes that factory farms often provide a fertile environment for the amplification and transmission of viruses and bacteria between different species and humans; further recognises that today three in four of the world's new or emerging infectious diseases reportedly come from animals; notes that the overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming is contributing to the rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance; notes that a poll in January this year revealed some 90 percent of UK residents want the Government to introduce an immediate ban on intensive farming methods; supports vegan charity Viva’s request for Defra and Government to listen to the UK public on this issue.
1588Police Federation of England and Wales Time Limits Campaign
Tabled: 4/03/21 Signatories: 14
Ian Mearns
Sir Mike Penning
Jonathan Edwards
Ian Lavery
Navendu Mishra
Mick Whitley
Mr Clive Betts
That this House notes that justice delayed is justice denied; further notes the incredible work of police officers in ensuring the safety of this House and in communities in every constituency; notes the right of members of the public to make complaints against individual officers where perceived wrongdoing has occurred; recognises the damage a lengthy and un-ending investigation can have on the health and well-being of individual officers, their families and colleagues and the incredible cost to the tax payer of salaries of officers under investigation who very often are found innocent; recognises the need for investigations to be conducted in a comprehensive but most efficient way possible; and supports the Police Federation of England and Wales Time Limits Campaign for the need for a limit on the length of time an investigation can take, save for the most exceptional circumstances.
1600Uprating of state pensions
Tabled: 8/03/21 Signatories: 26
Andrew Rosindell
Jonathan Edwards
Jim Shannon
Margaret Ferrier
Alison Thewliss
Peter Dowd
Kirsty Blackman
That this House regrets that over half a million UK pensioners continue to have their pensions frozen as a result of where they live and notes that 90 per cent of those people live in Commonwealth countries with which the UK has strong cultural and historical ties; is further concerned that this leaves UK citizens without the financial support needed to maintain livelihoods and dignity in retirement and believes all pensioners should be paid the full state pension wherever they live; welcomes the Canadian Government’s request for a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK to cover the uprating of pension payments; and urges the Government to respond positively to this request as a first step to end this injustice for UK pensioners everywhere.
1602EU Settlement Scheme documentation for married women
Tabled: 8/03/21 Signatories: 17
Angela Crawley
Steven Bonnar
Jim Shannon
Allan Dorans
Alison Thewliss
Alyn Smith
Kirsty Blackman
That this House is aware EU Settlement Scheme paperwork has been issued to married women showing names they do not currently use; understands that when processing EU Settlement Scheme documentation the Home Office takes information only from the machine readable zone of an applicant’s passport; notes that passports from many EU countries list both the maiden and married name for married women, and that only the former shows up in the machine readable zone; recognises that discord in the names shown on different forms of documentation may cause complications for affected women when proving their right to live and work in the UK, causing unnecessary barriers when applying for jobs, renting, setting up bank accounts or applying for social security; deplores the cultural insensitivity shown to European women who retain their maiden names on their passports after marriage; and calls on the Home Office to amend married women’s settled status documentation to allow information to match the name used on other forms of identification and in their day to day lives.
1606Reorganisation of the NHS and social care
Tabled: 9/03/21 Signatories: 15
Margaret Greenwood
Paula Barker
Peter Dowd
Mike Hill
Ian Byrne
Kim Johnson
Olivia Blake
That this House notes the Government has published a White Paper setting out proposals for a major reorganisation of the delivery of health and social care in England; further notes that the Government plans to divide the NHS into local statutory Integrated Care Systems creating the potential for organisations which are not publicly accountable to take key roles in developing plans to address the health, social care and public health needs of local systems; is concerned that such organisations will then be in a position to influence decisions about the deployment of public resources and that this presents the possibility for conflicts of interest; recognises there is concern that local plans will differ and lead to a postcode lottery; notes that NHS England and NHS Improvement carried out a consultation, Integrating care - Next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems over Christmas and New Year which proposed fundamental changes to the NHS; is further concerned that the consultation was held over such a short period during the covid-19 outbreak, particularly given that the NHS and social care workers who would be affected had been working incredibly hard under immense stress and many would have been unlikely to engage with that consultation; is concerned it was not possible for people to attend public meetings during this time; and calls on the Government to pause the whole process until all covid-19 restrictions are lifted and then carry out a public consultation setting out clearly what those proposals would mean for patients and staff.
1615Redundancies at Cammell Laird shipyards.
Tabled: 10/03/21 Signatories: 20
Mick Whitley [R]
Kim Johnson
Paula Barker
Andrew Gwynne
Margaret Greenwood
Dame Angela Eagle
Olivia Blake
That this House recognises that the Cammell Laird shipyards have for many decades played a central role in the local economy of Birkenhead; notes that the shipyards currently employ approximately seven-hundred people from across the town and the wider region; further notes that approximately five-hundred young people have undertaken apprenticeships at the yards in the last decade, including fifty-one starting in the last year alone; regrets the recent announcement of one hundred and seventy-eight redundancies at the site and extends its support to the workers who have been affected the announcement; believes that Cammell Laird management must work closely with representatives of recognised trade unions with the intention of avoiding and minimising job losses; calls upon the management of Cammell Laird to definitively rule out compulsory redundancies; and urges the Government to act swiftly in ensuring that the contract for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s new Fleet Solid Support Ships and other defence projects are awarded to British shipyards, including Cammell Laird, as a means of saving hundreds of jobs in British shipbuilding and thousands more in the wider supply chain.
1617World Glaucoma Week
Tabled: 10/03/21 Signatories: 7
Steven Bonnar
Sir Mike Penning
Jonathan Edwards
Dr Lisa Cameron
Carol Monaghan
Neale Hanvey
Margaret Ferrier
That this House notes that March 7 to 13 March is World Glaucoma Week, a global initiative which raises awareness of glaucoma; commends the work of Optometry Scotland members in delivering essential community eyecare services in the detection of glaucoma and other eye diseases; and highlights the positive impact that optometry has had on patient care throughout the course of the covid-19 pandemic.
1620S Collins & Son Butchers and the Scottish Butchers Shop of the Year award
Tabled: 10/03/21 Signatories: 3
Steven Bonnar
Peter Grant
Margaret Ferrier
That the House warmly congratulates S Collins & Son Butchers of Muirhead on winning Scottish Butchers Shop of the Year for an unprecedented third time in the last decade; and notes that this achievement is a testament to the innovation, craft skills and quality of this independent family run butchers
1621World Kidney Day
Tabled: 10/03/21 Signatories: 12
Jim Shannon
Martin Docherty-Hughes
Steven Bonnar
Mohammad Yasin
Sir Mike Penning
Jonathan Edwards
Navendu Mishra
That this House notes that World Kidney Day takes place on Thursday 11 March 2021 on the theme of living well with kidney disease; recognises that people living with Chronic Kidney Disease are particularly vulnerable to covid-19 and have faced difficulty in accessing treatment, in attending life-maintaining dialysis sessions and have struggled with their mental health; commends the important work charities, such as Kidney Care UK, have done to support kidney patients throughout the pandemic and raise awareness of issues facing vulnerable patients; further recognises that only a small number of life-saving kidney transplants have been able to take place as health systems have not been able to support them safely during the covid-19 outbreak; and calls on the Government to ensure that the backlog of transplants will be reduced as the NHS begins to recover from the outbreak.
1622Clydebank Blitz 80th Anniversary
Tabled: 11/03/21 Signatories: 18
Martin Docherty-Hughes
Amy Callaghan
Ronnie Cowan
Carol Monaghan
Gavin Newlands
Mhairi Black
Kirsty Blackman Margaret Ferrier
That this House remembers with respect and sadness the Clydebank Blitz, which commenced on the 13th March 1941, proportionally the worst blitzkrieg inflected on the UK during world War II; recognises the official record of deaths caused by the two nights of bombing and the many more who died as a result of their injuries in the days, weeks and months that followed; salutes the courage of those in the fire, ambulance, military and other public services who acted so bravely including the miners of Scotland who travelled from far and wide to dig for survivors; and acknowledges the work of the citizens of Clydebank who through 80 yearly acts of remembrance have sought to remind the world of the horrors of war, the devastation of aerial bombardment and the need for peace and reconciliation between nations.
1624UK’s annual blossom season
Tabled: 11/03/21 Signatories: 8
Tracey Crouch
Catherine McKinnell
Wera Hobhouse
Sir Mike Penning
Hywel Williams
Ben Lake
Dr Lisa Cameron
That this House celebrates Britain’s annual blossom season as one of the most beautiful in the world; recognises blossom's significance as a national symbol of spring, renewal and hope that all communities can enjoy, made all the important in the midst of the nation’s effort to tackle coronavirus; notes the importance of trees and nature for tackling climate change and supporting physical and mental wellbeing; further notes that Hanami, the Japanese blossom season boosted its economy by about $2.7 billion in 2018 and provides annual opportunities for connection with natue and tourism; and therefore welcomes the National Trust’s #BlossomWatch campaign to celebrate and raise awareness of the arrival of spring and blossom nationwide
1628GP surgeries and the private sector
Tabled: 11/03/21 Signatories: 11
Apsana Begum
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Wera Hobhouse
Zarah Sultana
Claudia Webbe
John McDonnell
Ben Lake
That this House expresses alarm that Operose, a subsidiary of US health company Centene, has taken over AT Medics which has a large number of APMS contracts, including 49 GP practices; is concerned that the prioritisation of profit in the provision of NHS services will lead to a loss of more GP surgeries, will hurt the quality of care patients receive, and will further undermine the pay and conditions of those who work in GP surgeries and in the NHS; and calls for all outsourcing to the profit-driven private health sector to end and for the NHS to be returned to a publicly funded, publicly provided, comprehensive health care service, available to all that is free at the point of delivery.
1629Young Carers Action Day
Tabled: 11/03/21 Signatories: 17
Ed Davey
Sir Mike Penning
Jonathan Edwards
Paul Blomfield
Daisy Cooper
Jamie Stone
Andrew Gwynne Munira Wilson Mr Virendra Sharma
That this House supports Young Carers Action Day, led by Carers Trust, which takes place on 16 March 2021; recognises the invaluable contribution more than 800,000 young carers make to their families and local communities across the UK; notes the Day’s theme of Protect Young Carers’ Futures, and the importance of employers and higher education recognising the incredible skills young people develop through being a carer; highlights the challenges young carers face and that the covid-19 outbreak has exacerbated many of these challenges; and calls on the Government to ensure that young carers get the support and services they need.
1632Retirement of Achahoish postmistress after 58 years of service
Tabled: 12/03/21 Signatories: 3
Brendan O'Hara
Peter Grant
Marion Fellows
That this House recognises the career of Winifred Ryan, who ran the Achahoish Post Office from her home for almost 58 years; notes that on March 1st Winifred turned eighty-one and decided to retire as postmistress after 58 years in the role; thanks Winifred for her dedication to the postal service and to her local community; and wishes Winifred a restful and well-earned retirement after years of loyal service.
1635Public Social Partnership for the Disability Employment Gap
Tabled: 12/03/21 Signatories: 7
Marion Fellows
Kirsten Oswald
Steven Bonnar
Peter Grant
Neale Hanvey
Kirsty Blackman
Dr Lisa Cameron
That this House commends the work of the Public Social Partnership for the Disability Employment Gap led by the Scottish Union of Supported Employment as lead partner; recognises it aims to increase employers’ confidence, awareness and capacity to recruit and retain disabled people in their workforce; notes the innovative ways of working the partnership is undertaking to achieve these aims; endorses the importance of employing disabled people in the workforce and reducing the unacceptable employment gap; and notes that they will contribute to the Scottish Government’s Fairer Scotland for Disabled People – Employment Action Plan’s ambition to halve the Disability Employment Gap by 2038.
1636Sarah Everard and women's safety
Tabled: 12/03/21 Signatories: 15
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
Ms Diane Abbott
Florence Eshalomi
Helen Hayes
Ms Harriet Harman
Christine Jardine
Navendu Mishra Paula Barker Dr Lisa Cameron
That this House expresses deep concern for the disappearance of Sarah Everard, a young woman who went missing in Clapham as she was walking home on the 3rd March; extends thoughts and prayers to Sarah’s family and friends at this difficult time; notes with great sadness that women’s safety remains a serious issue; and believes that in 2021, women should not have to fear that harm may come to them if they are walking by themselves; is appalled by the results of a recent YouGov poll which found that 97 per cent of women aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed and 80 per cent of women of all ages have experienced sexual harassment in a public space; stands in solidarity with all women who have survived harassment, assault and violence; believes that more resources should be dedicated to violence against women and girls; is disgusted by the victim shaming heard since Sarah Everard’s disappearance; and strongly refutes any suggestions that the onus should fall on women to change their behaviour to prevent becoming victims of an attack.
1637Local Government funding (No. 2)
Tabled: 12/03/21 Signatories: 6
Jon Trickett
John McDonnell
Claudia Webbe
Jonathan Edwards
Rachel Hopkins [R]
Navendu Mishra
That this House notes with concern research by the National Audit Office which states that 25 Local Councils are on the brink of bankruptcy; notes with further concern research from the NAO which found that 94 per cent of English councils expect to cut spending next year to meet budget requirements; notes that a decade of austerity has reduced the spending power of councils by a third, leaving local government ill-prepared to cope during a health pandemic which has seen demand for local services rise; expresses disappointment that no announcement was forthcoming in the Budget regarding councils' public health grant, nor to address the need for a further £2.6 billion in funding the Local Government Association have estimated will be required to cover cost pressures faced by Councils due to Covid-19; believes local authorities have a vital role to play in rebuilding community resilience as part of a post Covid-19 recovery; and therefore calls on the Government provide the necessary funding to ensure Local Councils are able to meet all extra cost pressures and income losses and rebuild their communities without making further cuts to services.
1638Rail fares
Tabled: 12/03/21 Signatories: 6
Jon Trickett
John McDonnell
Claudia Webbe
Jonathan Edwards
Rachel Hopkins
Navendu Mishra
That this House notes the recent rise in rail fares in England and Wales of 2.6 per cent; notes with concern that this rise means rail fares have risen above RPI inflation for the first time since 2013; condemns increasing the price of train travel at a time when millions of people are suffering financially; notes that since 2010 the price of a regional season ticket has risen by 38 per cent; believes that a better way to encourage passengers back to using the railway post lockdown would be by reducing prices rather than raising them; and calls on the Government to freeze the price of rail fares whilst offering discounts to entice customers back onto trains.
1640Peace and accountability in Libya
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 3
Margaret Ferrier
Jonathan Edwards
Steven Bonnar
That this House welcomes the UN-sponsored intra-Libyan political talks to agree a unified governance framework and ensure a lasting peace; notes with deep concern the serious war crimes and human rights violations that have been committed by the warring parties in the protracted conflict in Libya since 2011; stresses the importance of justice for the many victims of these widespread violations, by ensuring there are effective investigations and prosecutions of the alleged perpetrators, believed to include British nationals who were former Royal Marine commandos and involved in mercenary operations for the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar; further notes the reports of drone strikes and attacks on civilians in Libya and other violations committed by foreign countries which should also be investigated; supports the work of the Fact-finding Mission on Libya established by the UN Human Rights Council, and other initiatives to ensure meaningful accountability; further supports the call by the UN Mission in Libya for the immediate closure of migrant detention centres in that country, further to reports of arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence; and urges the Government to work with others in the international community to secure accountability for these violations and for countries and mercenaries, including British nationals, who have supported the warring parties.
1643Bravery of PC Callum Forbes
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 3
Neale Hanvey
Sir Mike Penning
Steven Bonnar
That this House recognises the bravery shown by Cowdenbeath police officer, PC Callum Forbes, during a violent confrontation where a victim had been attacked last year; and congratulates PC Forbes on being honoured at the prestigious Chief Constable’s Bravery and Excellence Awards for 2020 which were held virtually on 2 March 2021.
1644Nicole Wallace, Apprentice Ambassador of the Year finalist
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 2
Neale Hanvey
Margaret Ferrier
That this House congratulates Nicole Wallace from Lochgelly on being named as a finalist in the Apprentice Ambassador of the Year category at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards; recognises that Nicole used her own training as a modern apprentice to help her employer adapt to the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic and was involved in a project to develop learning materials for new apprentices to be able to join the business virtually; applauds Nicole for this well-deserved recognition; and wishes her every success in her future career.
1645Celebration of St Patrick’s Day
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 6
Jim Shannon
Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson
Paul Girvan
Carla Lockhart
Sir Mike Penning
Jonathan Edwards
That this House notes the celebration of St Patrick’s Day; highlights that the gospel message St Patrick left his home to spread to those in Ireland remains true for each of us throughout the world today; and urges people to emulate Patrick’s love for God and for each other as we remember St Patrick’s Day in a socially distanced and safe way this year.
1647Reduction of free plastic toys
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 5
Liz Saville Roberts
Hywel Williams
Ben Lake
Jonathan Edwards
Kirsty Blackman
That this House recognises the efforts of ten-year-old Skye Neville from Fairbourne, Gwynedd for her campaign encouraging magazine and comic publishers to stop giving away plastic toys with their publications; further recognises that nearly three thousand people have so far signed her online petition drawing attention to the devastating impact discarded plastic is having on our oceans and natural environment; applauds Skye for her passionate advocacy of environmental issues, her involvement in local litter picks and her family’s commitment to recycling; welcomes steps by fast food giant McDonalds to stop putting plastic toys in their Happy Meals; and calls on the Government to encourage publishers to make their magazines more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint.
1648Anniversary of the death of John Chadwick
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 2
Andrew Rosindell
Margaret Ferrier
That this House marks the anniversary of the death of John Chadwick, who took his life on 16 March 2017, after he was forced to give up his pets to move into temporary accommodation; reflects on his life and the happiness he brought to those around him; acknowledges the joy that pets can provide to all, especially to the vulnerable; applauds the tireless campaigning by Dee Bonett to raise awareness of this issue; laments the fact that 200 pets are abandoned every year to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home due to accommodation no pets clauses; and calls on councils nationwide to adopt more humane pets policies when offering temporary accommodation to those at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.
1650Support for the travel industry
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 2
Christine Jardine
Steven Bonnar
That this House acknowledges the struggle of the travel industry as one of the hardest hit sectors by the covid-19 pandemic; appreciates the estimated value of both outbound travel, £37 billion, and inbound travel, £28 billion, to the economy; expresses its concern over the lack of specific support for the thousands of businesses in the travel sector; recognises the unique status of many businesses which only receive payments from guests at the point of departure not at the point of sale; further recognises the considerable economic and personal cost of businesses having healthy savings, pre-pandemic, to having now incurred considerable debt at no fault of their own; realises that many businesses will not survive another summer of restrictions without specific support; acknowledges that businesses need clarity and time to prepare for the imposition of quarantine restrictions on international travel; notes the impact of erratic changes to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice on consumer confidence and insurance coverage; further notes calls from the travel industry on the importance of a four nations approach when imposing restrictions; and calls on the Government to make funding available to address the specific needs of the travel sector.
1651Four day working week
Tabled: 15/03/21 Signatories: 2
Jonathan Edwards
Steven Bonnar
That this House notes that the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic and the automation revolution will transform working practices in the UK and across the world; believes that economic and social models need to adapt to meet the challenges of the future, as opposed to reasserting the old normal; further notes with interest the trialling of a four day, 32 hour, working week in Spain; considers that a four day working week could help increase productivity, improve the mental wellbeing of workers, and help meet climate emission targets; and calls on the Government to publish a Green Paper to set out how future working practices, including flexible working and a four day working week, could form part of the wider Government strategy to level up the economy and address the imbalances between capital and labour.