Contents

Published: Wednesday 12 May 2021

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 11 May 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

1Investment in good quality green jobs across the UK

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 6

Caroline Lucas

Clive Lewis

Wera Hobhouse

Alan Brown

Liz Saville Roberts

Claire Hanna

That this House recognises the urgency with which the UK must act to address the climate and nature emergencies; notes the scale and ambition of US President Biden’s $2.3 trillion plan to upgrade America so that it is greener and fairer and regrets the lack of such a plan for the UK; calls on the Government to invest in a transformative Green New Deal to create over one million well-paid, good quality green jobs where everyone has a role to play from insulating homes to delivering first class public services; notes that this would replace jobs lost as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and level up the UK; considers green jobs to include low carbon jobs in care, education and health as well as in nature conservation, industry and infrastructure; welcomes data from Green New Deal UK revealing the potential for a job-rich green recovery in every constituency; further calls on the Government to significantly increase investment in training and skills as well as job-creation; urges the Government to guarantee a just transition for workers in high carbon sectors including oil, gas, steel and aviation; further urges the Government to ensure the remits of the UK Infrastructure Bank and Green Savings Bonds advance a green economy and do not support fossil fuel extraction; and calls on the Government to move towards a wellbeing economy where the number and quality of good green jobs and the wellbeing of people and nature are the primary measures of the health of the nations.

2At home abortions

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House recognises that legalising the unsupervised self-administration of both sets of abortion pills at home following a telephone or digital consultation has placed women’s safety at risk by removing a routine in-person appointment which allows medical practitioners to certify gestation and potential coercion or abuse; expresses concern that abortion providers cannot ensure the pills prescribed are taken by the intended individual in safe, uncoerced circumstances within the appropriate time-frame; expresses further concern for underage sexual abuse victims and women in abusive relationships; notes that the policy has allowed illegal late-term abortions to occur, including at 28 weeks of gestation, as well as severe complications such as haemorrhaging; further notes that complications are likely being significantly underreported for a number of reasons, including that complications may occur after the Abortion Notification (HSA4) form has been submitted; acknowledges that polling in England shows the overwhelming majority of women and GPs surveyed were concerned by the possibility of pills being falsely obtained for another person and by women having medical abortions at home beyond the legal limit; and calls on the Government to end the practice of at-home abortion with immediate effect.

3Violence perpetrated by Israeli authorities against Palestinian civilians in Sheikh Jarrah

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 9

Tahir Ali

Richard Burgon

Apsana Begum

Nadia Whittome

Ian Byrne

Jeremy Corbyn

That this House unequivocally condemns the ongoing violence perpetrated by Israeli authorities against Palestinian civilians in the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem; condemns the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli police which left hundreds of civilians injured; joins the UN in calling upon the Israeli authorities to demonstrate maximum restraint and to allow the freedom of peaceful assembly for Palestinians; opposes and will work to prevent the ongoing evictions of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem, which is part of a wider attempt to push Palestinians out of Jerusalem altogether; calls on the international community to pursue suitable sanction against the Israeli Government until all violations of international law and human rights are ceased; and recognises that the violence perpetrated by the Israeli authorities in May 2021, along with the continued evictions of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah, increases regional tensions and frustrates efforts to broker a lasting and just peace between Israel and Palestine.

4Protests in Colombia

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 6

Tony Lloyd

Kate Osborne

Chris Stephens

Clive Efford

Ian Byrne

Ian Lavery

That this House expresses profound concern on reports of excessive use of force by the Colombian police, against overwhelmingly peaceful social protests as confirmed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights across Colombia from 28 April 2021, as part of a national strike; believes the right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly are essential tenets of democracy; condemns serious human rights violations allegedly carried out by the police, including the use of live ammunition resulting in the deaths of over 30 protesters, numerous cases of sexual violence and serious injuries, over 100 people reported disappeared, over 800 arbitrary arrests, and targeted attacks on civil society organisations and human rights defenders, some of whom were trying to monitor the police; also condemns the small minority who infiltrated the peaceful protests and perpetrated violence; notes with alarm the Colombian Government’s order to militarise the cities and urges them instead to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the protest organisers to address their legitimate grievances; calls on the Government to review its training of the Colombian Police, suspend the sale of riot control materials and review all other arms exports to Colombia in light of the current situation; and further calls on the Government as pen holders for the Colombian peace process at the UN Security Council to promote substantive reform of the Colombian security services and full implementation of the Peace Accord.

5Fire and rehire tactics

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 41

Gavin Newlands

Ian Blackford

Kirsten Oswald

Chris Stephens

Alison Thewliss

David Linden

That this House observes the widespread and growing use of fire and rehire tactics by employers over recent months; condemns the actions of a number of companies in threatening staff with termination if reductions to wages and conditions are not agreed to; notes the widespread legal prohibition on such employment practices in most EU countries, including Ireland; recognises the contents of the Queen’s Speech in which no mention was made of changes to employment law despite the widespread condemnation of fire and rehire by UK Government ministers; deplores the absence of such legislation in the UK Government’s legislative programme; further condemns the Government for not publishing the ACAS report on Fire and Rehire; and calls on the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to announce comprehensive legislation protecting workers' rights and legally prohibiting employers from employing fire and rehire tactics.

6Student Publication Association Awards 2021

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 6

Mary Kelly Foy [R]

Mr Kevan Jones

Grahame Morris

Sir Graham Brady

Sir Edward Leigh

Kate Osborne

That this House congratulates Palatinate on being named the Student Publication Association’s Best Publication for 2021; commends Toby Donegan-Cross, Will Hutchings, and Poppy-Lulu Roberts for winning Best News Story; further commends Toby Donegan-Cross on being named Best Reporter; notes that Palatinate was highly commended for Best Sports Coverage and for Best Science Publication or Section, and that Imogen Usherwood and Tash Mosheim were highly commended for the Billy Dowling Reid award for outstanding commitment; further notes that Palatinate and its journalists were nominated for 13 awards in total; recognises that this was achieved despite Palatinate having to self-fund and work remotely; and hopes that Palatinate continues to provide a high standard of journalism and a pathway for a career in the media for students at Durham University.

7Undocumented migrants

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House recognises that there are many barriers that prevent people from accessing and maintaining stable immigration status even when they were either born in the UK or have lived in the UK for many years; further recognises that the majority of undocumented migrants have lost their status through no fault of their own, including through an inability to pay application fees, lack of access to legal advice, mistakes on the part of decision-makers and complexity of immigration rules; understands that the harm done to individuals through hostile immigration policies extends to family members and the communities that they are part of; notes that the UK has one of the most complex and expensive routes to regularisation in Europe; further notes that all current routes to regularisation and settlement are far too long, complicated and inflexible, leaving people with no options but to live undocumented; understands that migrants who do not have access to the public safety net or the right to work are vulnerable to exploitation and; and calls on the Government to support recommendations made by Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in its report, We Are Here: routes to regularisation for the UK's undocumented population, published in April 2021 by introducing new routes to regularisation and removing barriers which cause migrants to become undocumented.

8Joseph Robertson-Ball

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this house congratulates seven year old Joseph Robertson-Ball from Rutherglen, who has just donated his hair to the Little Princess Trust after growing it out for three years; acknowledges the important work of the Little Princess Trust in turning real hair into wigs for children who have lost their hair as part of cancer treatments; recognises that besides donating his hair, Joseph has also raised £1145 for Cash 4 Kids through sponsorship; and thanks Joseph for his fantastic contribution to both those causes.

9Cambuslang BankHUB

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House welcomes the opening of the BankHUB pilot in Cambuslang, which provides in-situ community banking services to the residents of Cambuslang and the surrounding area; welcomes the joint initiative of the Post Office, commercial banks, the Community Cash Pilot and Cambuslang Community Council in securing that scheme for the residents of the local community; encourages the residents of Cambuslang and the surrounding area to take advantage of that pilot scheme; and commits to working toward its extension beyond the present planned end of the scheme in October 2021.

10Assessment of the risks of human trafficking for forced labour on the UK Seasonal Workers Pilot

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Neale Hanvey

That this House notes the content of the report, Assessment of the risks of human trafficking for forced labour on the UK Seasonal Workers Pilot by Focus on Labour Exploitation and Fife Migrants Forum; notes that temporary and tied migration programmes such as the SWP have a range of risks associated with their short-term nature and the limited rights afforded to workers participating in them; recognises that the report has highlighted serious human rights concerns and makes recommendations to address them; and asks that the UK Government considers the findings of the report and its recommendations to mitigate the risk of human trafficking for forced labour, in particular through unfree recruitment, work and life under duress and impossibility of leaving an employer.

11150th Anniversary of the Institution of Engineering and Technology

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Stephen Metcalfe

That this House congratulates the Institution of Engineering and Technology on its 150th anniversary; notes the Institution's considerable work to share and advance independent engineering expertise; further notes the opportunity that the anniversary brings to engage and inspire young people so that engineering and technology is seen as a force for good and key to solving many of the biggest challenges facing the world.

12Talyllyn heritage railway anniversary

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House warmly congratulates Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn on its seventieth anniversary of running a public train service with volunteers, preserving its unique heritage for thousands of visitors to enjoy; notes that the railway dates from 1865, and was built to serve slate quarries above Abergynolwyn; further notes that Talyllyn Railway was the first heritage railway to be run by volunteers in preservation, igniting the enthusiasm of people across the UK leading to the development of the heritage railway movement; regrets the 18 months of loss of income suffered by heritage railways due to the covid- outbreak; and wishes the Talyllyn heritage railway well as it starts to welcome visitors again.

13Record breaking achievement of Northern Ireland footballer Steven Davis

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House notes the phenomenal achievements of Northern Ireland and Glasgow Rangers footballer Steven Davis MBE, given that he has become the most capped UK male player in the history of football having played 126 times for his country; and recognises that aged 36 and still playing at the top level in Domestic, European and International football, he is a role model for young people everywhere with his professionalism, skill, modesty and dedication, and ranks him among other Northern Ireland legends of the game such as George Best and Pat Jennings.

14Deaf Awareness Week 2021

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Wera Hobhouse

That this House celebrates Deaf Awareness Week, which ran from 4-9 May 2021; recognises that there are around 151,000 users of British Sign Language in the UK, about 87,000 of whom are Deaf; notes with concern that too many deaf people in the UK still face social exclusion as a direct result of linguistic exclusion, affecting employment, education and access to healthcare; further notes that it has been 18 years since the Government formally recognised British Sign Language as an official language, however, it has not yet been granted legal status; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation giving legal status to British Sign Language.

15Improving asthma outcomes in the UK

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Carla Lockhart

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Sammy Wilson

That this Houses welcomes the recent report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Respiratory Health, entitled Improving Asthma Outcomes in the UK; notes that the report is the outcome of an intensive inquiry which drew evidence from a wide range of experts, including clinicians, patient advocacy groups, asthma campaigners and patients; recognises that the work carried out every day by asthma clinicians throughout the UK is truly exceptional although the structures and pathways within asthma care need to deliver better outcomes to reflect their hard work and commitment; welcomes the report’s recommendations which will help to improve asthma care and outcomes through significantly accelerating diagnosis of asthma, supporting referrals to specialist severe asthma care where needed, and implementing a proactive approach to optimising care to prevent asthma attacks; and calls on the Government to implement that report’s recommendations as soon as possible.

16UK-EU veterinary agreement

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Stephen Farry

That this House recognises that the absence of a UK-EU veterinary agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary rules on movements of animals and food products between Great Britain and the EU and between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is creating major barriers for UK food exporters and also significantly contributes to the volume of checks in relation to the implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol; understands that a veterinary agreement can be negotiated with the EU through and building upon the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement; and calls on the Government to prioritise the negotiation of a bespoke UK-EU veterinary agreement.

17NHS privatisation

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House expresses dismay at the Government’s White Paper, The Future of Health and Care, published on 11 February 2021 which rubber stamps the US care models for the UK; notes that the Bill is a Trojan horse for deregulated privatisation and that language on integrated care championed by private health corporations is really about incentivising a reduction away from comprehensive universal provision, the NHS’ very founding principles; further notes the Bill's only purpose is to expand private healthcare and that £113 billion has already been handed to non-NHS providers since 2010, mostly to profiteers; believes that removing competition regulation will worsen the cronyism that has taken place during the covid-19 outbreak and further hastens NHS privatisation by removing the requirement to open tender, allowing integrated care organisations to make unregulated mergers, closures and acquisitions as in the US; is concerned that the Bill will lead to the erosion of the NHS, fuelling the growth of a private health insurance industry, thus creating a two-tiered system which will accelerate health inequality; recognises that anything less than complete healthcare renationalisation is unacceptable; and welcomes the work of grassroots campaigners to raise awareness of such threats to the NHS.

18Novus prison education strike

Tabled: 11/05/21 Signatories: 15

Zarah Sultana

Jeremy Corbyn

Liz Saville Roberts

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Richard Burgon

That this House notes that the University and College Union (UCU) is involved in a protracted dispute with prison education provider Novus over inadequate covid-safety measures with members at 49 prisons and young offenders institutions taking strike action starting on Tuesday 11 May 2021; is alarmed by reports of intimidation of health and safety representatives by Novus, covert recordings of private union meetings and fake social media accounts set up to discredit UCU; believes that the root cause of the dispute is the confrontational attitude adopted by Novus towards UCU, which stands in stark contrast to the approach taken by other prison education providers throughout the covid-19 outbreak; and calls for Government pressure on Novus to drop its hostility to UCU and to enter into good-faith negotiations to resolve the dispute as a matter of urgency.