Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Wednesday 21 April 2021

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 20 April 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

1752500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s defence at The Diet of Worms

Tabled: 20/04/21 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s defence at The Diet of Worms; highlights the effect of that defence by Luther over the last 500 years; and recognises that in a world that can make it so difficult for people to stand up for their deeply held beliefs remembers Luther’s timeless pledge: Here I stand, I can do no other.

1753Blasphemy charges against Christian nurses Mariyum Lal and Newsh Arooj in Pakistan

Tabled: 20/04/21 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the blasphemy charges against Christian nurses Mariyum Lal and Newsh Arooj in Pakistan; highlights the attack on those nurses by members of staff within Faisalabad Civil Hospital in central Punjab; notes that the nurses were instructed to remove wall hangings and have been subjected to a personal vendetta; calls on the Punjab Police and Government to protect those nurses and further to drop the erroneous allegations; and further calls on the Foreign Secretary to intervene and apply diplomatic pressure to secure the well being of those two nurses and their families.

1754Holehird Care Home

Tabled: 20/04/21 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House notes the excellent care provided by staff and volunteers for people with physical disabilities and complex needs at Holehird care home on the outskirts of Windermere for the past 60 years; regrets the decision taken by Leonard Cheshire to announce the closure of Holehird care home; expresses concern for the 63 members of staff, 24 residents and their families; and calls upon Leonard Cheshire to pause the decision to close Holehird until a new provider can be found to take over the running of the home.

1755Access For All in rural areas

Tabled: 20/04/21 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House recognises the enormous barriers that still exist at many railway stations across the country for people with mobility issues; welcomes the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme to provide funding to make accessibility improvements to railway stations; acknowledges that the scheme’s criteria rewards stations with higher footfall and therefore penalise rural areas with often more elderly populations; and calls on the Government to review this criteria so that stations in rural communities are given a fair chance of being selected when the next round of funding is announced in 2024.

1756CCRC Review of Oliver Campbell’s Case (No. 2)

Tabled: 20/04/21 Signatories: 1

John Cryer

That this House expresses its grave concern over the case of Oliver Campbell, a mentally challenged youth, convicted of murder in 1991 on the basis of a confession containing many inaccuracies and absurdities, made after unfair questioning and in the absence of a solicitor by a jury which was never informed that his co-defendant had exonerated him to police; welcomes the decision of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to reconsider the case; and encourages the Commission to follow the advice of a former Commissioner, David James Smith broadcast by BBC Newsnight on 16 March 2021, to refer this very stale and very troubling case back to the Court of Appeal at the earliest possible opportunity.

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.

1696Immigration

Tabled: 24/03/21 Signatories: 69

Keir Starmer

Nick Thomas-Symonds

Holly Lynch

Valerie Vaz

John McDonnell

Mr Nicholas Brown

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Immigration (Guidance on Detention of Vulnerable Persons) Regulations 2021 (S.I., 2021, No. 184), dated 23 February 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 25 February 2021, be annulled.

1708Hong Kong British National (Overseas) assistance programme

Tabled: 12/04/21 Signatories: 14

Andrew Rosindell

Yvonne Fovargue

Craig Whittaker

Andrew Gwynne

Jim Shannon

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House acknowledges the excellent arrangements the Government is making to welcome and support Hongkongers arriving in the UK under the British National Overseas (BN(O)) visa scheme; recognises the significant cultural, economic and social boost Hongkongers will provide to communities across the UK; commends the creation of welcome hubs which will help arrivals from Hong Kong to access housing, education and employment; notes that between 123,000 and 153,700 BN(O) status holders and their dependents are expected to use the route to the UK in the first year; recognises that the visa route and assistance programme deliver on the UK’s historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong; and commits to creating a welcome environment for Hongkongers to ensure their success and happiness here.

1709Black maternal health

Tabled: 12/04/21 Signatories: 24

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Ms Diane Abbott

Dawn Butler

Claudia Webbe

Apsana Begum

Zarah Sultana

That this House recognises the existing racial inequalities in maternal health; notes with great sadness that Black women in the UK are four times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth, that women of mixed heritage are three times more, and Asian women are two times more likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth; further notes that women of Black African heritage are 83 per cent more likely to suffer a near miss in childbirth, and women of Black Caribbean heritage are 80 per cent more likely; acknowledges the MBBRACE analysis which has found that black babies have a 121 per cent increased risk for stillbirth and a 50 per cent increased risk of neonatal death; supports the work of Five X More and their efforts to raise awareness of Black maternal health inequalities; is shocked by the 2020 Black people, racism and human rights report which confirms statistics but reveals that there is no target to end it; and urgently calls on this Government to fully acknowledge these disparities and commit to working with the NHS to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

1712100 years of the National Pharmacy Association

Tabled: 12/04/21 Signatories: 14

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jonathan Edwards

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Daisy Cooper

Chris Law

That this House congratulates the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) as it celebrates 100 years of serving community pharmacies in the UK; notes that the NPA has helped its members through enormous change, including the formation of the NHS in 1948, the overhaul of medicines regulations in 1968, the massive expansion in the range of medicines available to patients and the establishment of new roles in public health, urgent care and managing long term conditions; recognizes the vital contribution of pharmacies today, especially in the light of their work during the covid-19 pandemic; and looks forward to pharmacies playing an important role in the health, wellbeing and daily life of our communities in the years to come.

1723Conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia

Tabled: 12/04/21 Signatories: 21

Helen Hayes

Jim Shannon

Kenny MacAskill

Mick Whitley

Rachel Hopkins

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House condemns the massacre at Axum in Ethiopia, documented by both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity; further condemns the reported wider pattern of violence throughout the Tigray region, including the use of rape and sexual violence, and the alleged involvement of Eritrean forces; notes that there is a risk of a regional conflict in the Horn of Africa, with an escalation of tensions with Sudan and Egypt; requests that the UK Government places that issue formally on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, as well as on that of the African Union; supports calls for a full, prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the massacre and unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray, as well as immediate access for human rights and media organisations; considers that the starvation and conflict-induced food insecurity in that region is man-made, is a violation of international humanitarian law, and is a test case for the UK Special Envoy with that brief; and expresses concern for the fate of Eritrean refugees in that country alleged to be at risk of refoulement.

1724Military trial, detention and treatment of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities

Tabled: 12/04/21 Signatories: 30

Tommy Sheppard

Ian Mearns

Allan Dorans

Kenny MacAskill

Neale Hanvey

Chris Law

That this House notes with concern that Israeli forces continue to arrest, detain and try several hundred Palestinian children in the Israeli military court and detention system each year despite evidence that that process is rife with international law violations; further notes that Israel is the only country in the world that automatically and systematically prosecutes Palestinian children in military courts which lack fundamental fair trial rights and protections; notes that ill-treatment of Palestinian child detainees by Israeli authorities includes widespread physical and psychological violence, blindfolding, strip searches, denial of food and water, position abuse and isolation solely for the purpose of interrogation, and the denial of access to a lawyer before and during interrogations; remarks on the disparity between treatment of Israeli and Palestinian children in Israeli custody; asserts that Israel, as the occupying power under international humanitarian law in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is responsible for protecting the rights of Palestinian children living under military occupation; notes too that the recommendations of the 2012 Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded report, Children in Military Custody, and UNICEF’s 2013 report, Children in Israeli Military Detention, have not been met; believes that in no circumstances should civilians, particularly children, be detained or prosecuted under the jurisdiction of military courts or held in military detention; and urges the Government to engage with the Government of Israel to end the military trial and detention of Palestinian children and, as a minimum safeguard, to respect and ensure basic due process rights and the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.

1726Report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities

Tabled: 13/04/21 Signatories: 35

Ms Diane Abbott

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Olivia Blake

Alison Thewliss

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that the publication of the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities in March 2021 was met with immense disappointment and frustration by members of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities across the country, and many racial justice organisations; is deeply concerned that the report largely seems to deny the existence of institutional racism in Britain, and in doing so has raised concerns that it reverses progress towards racial equality; is alarmed by the report’s poor methodology, including selectively citing and listing authors and academics whose views were neither sought, or accurately represented in the report; further notes the disturbing allegations that the report was rewritten by No.10; urgently calls on the Government to acknowledge the existence of institutional racism in society and commit to tackling it in all forms; further calls on the Government to reject the report and instead implement the recommendations of existing reports on institutional racism, including the Macpherson report, the Lammy review, the McGregor Smith review and the Windrush Lessons Learned review.

1735East Kilbride Community Litter Pickers

Tabled: 14/04/21 Signatories: 5

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Marion Fellows

Margaret Ferrier

That this House celebrates the East Kilbride Community Litter Pickers and the tireless efforts of all their volunteers and founder Alice Alves to help clear the East Kilbride town of litter for the wider community to enjoy; highlights the fact that this group was only founded at the beginning of March 2021 but has since grown to host over 1250 members on Facebook who together have managed to collect over four metric tonnes of litter in the past six weeks; draws attention to the fact that the success of the group is through encouraging small family groups and individuals to get into the habit of picking up litter on their daily walks in their local areas and applauds this ethos as an example to us all of the combined cumulative effort of a committed local community; notes the recent creation of an Action Group and applauds the group for their efforts to include local schools in this invaluable project and commits to following the success and growth of this group in the months to come and all initiatives that encourage residents to Take Pride in East Kilbride.

1738Bowel Cancer UK highlights bowel cancer red flags

Tabled: 14/04/21 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Paul Girvan

Margaret Ferrier

Paula Barker

Carla Lockhart

That this House notes the work by Bowel Cancer UK that has revealed that 37 per cent of adults living in Northern Ireland are not aware of any of the symptoms of bowel cancer which is that country’s second biggest cancer killer; highlights that the red flags of bowel cancer are blood in your movements, changes to your movement habit, abdominal pain, weight loss and unexplained tiredness or fatigue; urges the general public to be aware of those red flags and to seek testing with their GPs in response to any of those concerns, being mindful that bowel cancer is curable when it is diagnosed early; and offers sincere thanks to Bowel Cancer UK for their continued hard work in providing information and support on that matter.

173951st anniversary of the foundation of the Ulster Defence Regiment

Tabled: 14/04/21 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Sir Mike Penning

Carla Lockhart

That this House notes the 51st anniversary of the foundation of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR); further notes that the UDR's official role was established as the defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage; highlights the loss of life of over 190 serving members and 61 veteran members of the UDR; expresses our continued sympathy to those who mourn those losses; and thanks all UDR veterans and their families for the sacrifices they have made and are still making today for Queen and country.

1741Paid miscarriage leave

Tabled: 15/04/21 Signatories: 13

Angela Crawley

Jonathan Edwards

Carol Monaghan

Kirsten Oswald

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House calls on the Government to introduce paid miscarriage leave; notes that in the UK, two weeks parental bereavement leave and pay is in place after stillbirth, however there is no such support for anyone who has experienced a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy; believes miscarriage is an extremely traumatic experience and more support should be provided to families that experience such a loss; understands that New Zealand’s parliament unanimously approved legislation to give those who experience a miscarriage paid leave, no matter what stage a loss of pregnancy occurs; and further believes that the Government should follow suit and provide paid leave for people that experience miscarriage and allow families to grieve their profound loss.

1742Robert Black Memorial Helipad, Campbeltown

Tabled: 15/04/21 Signatories: 4

Brendan O'Hara

Carol Monaghan

Marion Fellows

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates everyone involved in the establishment of the Robert Black Memorial Helipad in Campbeltown; particularly notes the vital contribution made by Ambulance Technician Stuart McLellan who as well as overcoming many legal and logistical obstacles, also successfully raised £270,000 and attracted the support of many local residents, organisations and businesses including Eric Spence from South Kintrye Development Trust, the County Air Ambulance Trust, MacFadyens Contractors and McKinven and Colville Contractors in order to build the helipad; understands that there has been a need for a community helipad in South Kintyre for many years due to the unsafe nature of the previous landing site, which often resulted in emergencies being diverted to Campbeltown Airport or being forced to make a four hour transfer by road; and commends Stuart and everyone involved for their efforts and recognises the new Robert Black Memorial Helipad as a fitting and lasting tribute to the highly respected and dearly missed Campbeltown Paramedic Robert Black who sadly died of covid-19 in 2020.

1743Elevation of Knock Shrine to International Sanctuary of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion

Tabled: 15/04/21 Signatories: 2

Margaret Ferrier

Jon Cruddas

That this House notes that Pope Francis has elevated the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock in Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland as an International Sanctuary of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion on 19 March 2021; acknowledges the contribution to this achievement of Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary, who initiated the petition to the Holy See for recognition of Knock as an international shrine, and Fr. Richard Gibbons, Rector of Knock Shrine, who has welcomed pilgrims and visitors from around the world since being appointed Knock Parish Priest in 2012 and plans to continue to do so in the future when international travel resumes; recognises the importance of this recognition for Irish Catholics and all Catholics around the world; and congratulates them on this momentous occasion in their ecclesiastical life.

1744Victoria Radio Network celebrating 50 years

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 3

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

That this House congratulates the radio station of Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital, Victoria Radio Network, on its 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary of broadcasting; recognises its contribution since 1971 making it one of Scotland’s longest serving hospital radio stations; notes the many awards it has received for its transmissions over the years which are produced entirely by volunteers; and wishes the team and station all the best in the future.

1745Salute to pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 14

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Jim Shannon

Andrew Gwynne

Ian Paisley

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Layla Moran

That this House notes with profound disappointment the sentencing to prison of Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigners, including Jimmy Lai; condemns the Chinese government’s clamp down on freedom of speech, movement and association in Hong Kong since the introduction of the National Security Law; salutes those arrested, tried and punished by the Chinese communist controlled administration in Hong Kong for championing liberty and democracy; calls on the UK Government to make immediate representations to the Chinese Government on that matter; and urges the early introduction of Magnitsky-style sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for this gross violation of the principles of the Basic Law and the Joint Sino British Declaration.

1746Corporate wealth tax in G20 countries

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 2

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

That this House welcomes the report by academics Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman from Berkeley University proposing a new Corporate Wealth Tax policy targeting all publicly listed companies in G20 countries; notes that that proposed policy would levy a 0.2 per cent tax on the value of stocks of relevant companies; further notes that the current stock capitalisation of G20 countries is estimated at $90 trillion, therefore notes that that proposed levy would raise approximately $180 billion; notes that that proposed tax could be paid via the issuing of new stock, easing concerns about potential liquidity issues or impact on business operations; supports the idea of addressing fair taxation of large multinational companies on an international basis as the best way of helping governments tackle global tax evasion and avoidance; believes that the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic must see combined efforts by governments to address the imbalances, further exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, of globalisation which currently heavily favours the forces of capital; and calls on the Government to bring those proposals before the other G20 states and make the case for rapidly introducing that policy.

1747Carbon emissions labelling

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 5

Daisy Cooper

Jim Shannon

Andrew Gwynne

Jonathan Edwards

Layla Moran

That this House notes with concern the lack of information available to consumers on the environmental impact of the goods and food products they buy; recognises the growing urgency of the climate emergency facing the planet as a result of carbon emissions; acknowledges that the public would welcome the opportunity to make environmentally informed decisions on their purchases; encourages manufacturers and retailers to collaborate to introduce a standard eco-labelling scheme that would make the carbon footprint of individual products transparent; notes with disappointment that previous plans by major supermarkets to introduce such a system for food have been abandoned; calls on the Government to work with industry to support the introduction of such a nationwide eco-labelling scheme; and further calls on the Government to consider the merits of introducing financial incentives to businesses who adopt eco-labelling to help offset the implementation costs.

1749Rail to Refuge scheme

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 5

Rosie Cooper

Jim Shannon

Paula Barker

Navendu Mishra

Gavin Newlands

That this House celebrates the work of the Rail to Refuge scheme, a joint initiative between rail companies and the Women’s Aid Federation of England; commends rail operators for providing free travel to over 1,348 people fleeing domestic abuse including 362 children over five; acknowledges the severe impact of the covid-19 pandemic for many and the particular challenge on those suffering domestic abuse; recognises that scheme’s achievements since its conception in April 2020; and urges those who need to flee domestic abuse to use that scheme to gain safety.

1750Proposed European Super League

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 27

Ian Mearns

Ian Byrne

Jon Trickett

Kate Osborne

Grahame Morris

Dawn Butler

That this House condemns the proposals to create a breakaway European Super League which is based on cynical greed rather than sporting integrity and merit; asserts that billionaire club owners are attempting to rip apart the fabric of our national sport to further their own interests; further asserts that those owners must listen to fans, players and pundits who oppose those plans; acknowledges that the opposition to those plans goes beyond Premier League fans and extends to fan groups in the women’s game, the English Football League, non-league and grassroots football; notes the potential massive financial impact of that proposal on grassroots solidarity payments in the event that elite clubs are so allowed to hoard even more wealth; backs the Football Supporters’ Association’s Sustain The Game campaign and its core principles of club protection, transparency of ownership, financial sustainability, strengthening the football pyramid and supporter engagement; and calls on the Government to commence its manifesto commitment of undertaking a fan-led review of football governance with the utmost urgency.

1751Campaign for the thirty-seven Cammell Laird workers imprisoned in 1984

Tabled: 19/04/21 Signatories: 26

Mick Whitley

Navendu Mishra

Kim Johnson

Paula Barker

Dame Angela Eagle

Ian Mearns

That this House warmly welcomes the victory of the Shrewsbury Twenty Four campaign in its decades long quest for justice; recognises that there are hundreds of other trade unionists and protestors who have been the victims of unjust and politically motivated punishments, including thirty-seven workers imprisoned in the Category A prison HMP Walton for their participation in the occupation of the Cammell Laird shipyards in 1984; understands that those imprisoned workers endured immense suffering and economic hardship as a result of their month-long detention and the blacklisting and loss of redundancy and pension rights that followed that imprisonment; condemns that gross miscarriage of justice and regrets that many of those who were so imprisoned have tragically not lived to see their names cleared; applauds the surviving members of that thirty-seven for their unwavering commitment to seeing that wrong righted and the GMB Union for its support of those members; notes that the Government has failed to honour its commitment to exploring the merits of holding a public inquiry into that historic injustice; further notes that in 2014, the European Parliament’s Commission on Petitions stated its belief that the authorities’ response to that dispute was an overreaction and that an apology should be considered; and calls on the Government to launch an inquiry and put into the public domain any and all documentation, including cabinet papers, from that period that may shed fresh light on those events.