Contents

Published: Tuesday 8 June 2021

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 7 June 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

139Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project funding from the National Lottery

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Owen Thompson

That this House congratulates Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project on its award of £8,150 in National Lottery Funding this month; notes that the group will use the funding to provide support to young people at risk of offending and anti-social behaviour; recognises that Mayfield & Easthouses Youth 2000 Project is a youth-led community project working with disadvantaged young people to give them a place to socially gather and call their own; and welcomes this round of £11 million in National Lottery funding aimed at helping Scottish community groups adapt and recover from the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

140Reform of the Mental Health Act

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House welcomes the announcement in the Queen’s Speech on the 11 May 2021 to introduce a Bill to reform the Mental Health Act in recognition of the vast improvements in understanding and treatment of mental health disorders since the Act’s original formulation in 1983; in particular commends the Government for signaling its intention to better the treatment and referral of those with a disability or autistic spectrum disorder in the criminal justice system and while detained; calls on the Government to heed the recommendations of the Green Paper titled Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision in that Bill and to work with local government, voluntary and childcare organizations to ensure that data and expertise is shared between relevant authorities and parties and that mental health conditions are treated at the earliest possibility in whichever setting they first present to ensure the best possible health outcomes for children and young people.

141Covid-19 and local government funding in the Liverpool City Region

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Sir George Howarth

That this House strongly regrets the fact that local authorities in the Liverpool City Region face a funding shortfall of £59m as a result of covid-19 pressures; notes that, although recent Government announcements have softened the impact of funding reductions which have been estimated at £440m, there will still be a major and wholly unacceptable impact on local government services which are already buckling following eleven years of austerity in public finances; strongly notes that such vital services as children’s and adult social care will be severely affected having a serious and unacceptable effect on some of the most vulnerable residents; and calls on the Government to fully recompense local councils for the cost of Covid-19.

142Louise Caldwell and campaign for mothers who have experienced miscarriage

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House pays tribute to East Kilbride resident Louise Caldwell in her tireless work campaigning on behalf of mothers who have suffered a miscarriage; in particular drawing attention to her ongoing petition and campaigning on behalf of those who have had to deliver a stillborn child in a maternity ward surrounded by new and expectant mums; recognizes that this is the tragic and heart-breaking reality for thousands of mothers every year; and calls on the Government to consider whether alternative maternity wards for those who have miscarried might be implemented so as to ensure that all women receive the best care and support possible.

143Joe Forte's retirement

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House pays tribute to Haddington businessman Joe Forte on his 36 years in business providing top class equipment to the community's sport enthusiasts; recognises Joe's important contributions in encouraging runners, footballers and all those interested in sports, young and old; commends Joe's own sporting achievements both as a professional footballer with Hibs, Berwick Rangers, Meadowbank Thistle and Ormiston Primrose and also as chair for Haddington and East Lothian Pacemakers running club winning many a medal himself for the club; and wishes Joe and his wife Norma a long, happy and fun retirement.

144Father Stan Swamy

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Neale Hanvey

That this House condemns the arrest in October 2020 of Jesuit Priest Father Stan Swamy by the National Investigation Agency of India; condemns the harsh interrogation, refusal of bail, and ongoing detention of this frail 83 year-old priest; notes Father Swamy’s tireless work over five decades assisting the poor and vulnerable in India; further notes the gross ambiguity of the counter-terrorism charges levied against Father Swamy; and calls on the UK Government to demonstrate its promised commitment to human rights and protecting freedom of religious belief by asking the Indian Government to both immediately safeguard Father Swamy’s health and wellbeing by releasing him to his community, and to commit to protecting the rights of the activists and human rights campaigners across its country.

145Irish Dail policy on the the annexation of Palestinian territories

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House praises the historic decision by the Irish Dail to condemn the illegal annexation of Palestinian lands by Israel; notes that the Dail Motion condemned the recent and ongoing forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the occupied Palestinian territory and described the annexation of Palestinian territory as a violation of international law; recognises that this historic moment is a victory for justice and recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; and calls on the UK Government and devolved legislatures to replicate said decision.

146The National Flagship

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Mick Whitley

That this House notes the Government’s decision to commission a £200 million National Flagship to replace HMY Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997; understands that this has caused considerable public consternation at a time when many people are experiencing immense economic hardship; recognises, however, that the project has the potential to create much-needed work and investment in British shipbuilding; calls on the Government to make a cast-iron guarantee to design and build the flagship in the UK; welcomes the recent announcement that Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead is willing and able to deliver the project on-time and on-budget; recognises that the construction of the National Flagship at said shipyard would secure and expand the number of jobs and range of training opportunities available to local people, and create economic growth in one of the country’s most left-behind towns; recommends that Cammell Laird be chosen to construct the flagship; and further recognises that the commissioning of this vessel is no substitute for a long-term and well-funded shipbuilding strategy that secures the viability of the industry for generations to come and establishes the UK as a world-leader in green maritime technology.

147St Ninian's High wins SSFA Senior Shield

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House congratulates St Ninian's High School senior boys football team on winning the Scottish Schools’ Football Association Senior Shield for the first time in the school's history, and the first for an East Renfrewshire school; celebrates the team's brilliant performance throughout the competition including the final, which saw the team win by the only goal of the game, scored by Marc Capaldi; congratulates in particular winning Captain, Aiden McLaughlin, whose father captained the winning team in the same competition in season 1986-87, and players Rico De Marco and James Dolan who were both awarded man of the match by the opposition; notes the rich history of the Senior Shield, which started in 1904, continued through both World Wars and only once before, in 1957, was not awarded; acknowledges the fantastic work of all players and coaches during this competition, which started in September 2019, was suspended in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and resumed in May 2021; applauds all teams throughout Scotland for taking part in this competition and looks forward to the next competition, which is sure to be filled with the same passion, spirit and teamwork.

148Carers Week 2021

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Ed Davey

That this House supports Carers Week which takes place on the 7th to the 13th June 2021; notes that Week’s theme is Make Caring Visible and Valued; highlights the invaluable contribution that over 6.5 million unpaid carers make to their local communities across the UK; recognises that carers have been under extraordinary pressure during the Coronavirus pandemic and that many of the challenges that those carers face have intensified, meaning that 81 per cent of carers are spending more time on their caring responsibilities and two thirds of carers have not had any breaks at all since the beginning of the pandemic; and calls on the Government to provide unpaid carers with the support services that they need, including respite care so that carers can take regular breaks.

149UK representation at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 3

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Siobhain McDonagh

Mr Alistair Carmichael

That this House notes with concern that the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place alongside a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where Uyghurs and other minority groups are subject to widespread forced labour, sterilization, political indoctrination and arbitrary detention; reaffirms its opinion that Uyghurs and other minority groups in the Uyghur Region are victims of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity; reminds the International Olympics Committee that the Olympic Charter’s principles of solidarity and non-discrimination are hard to reconcile with holding the 2022 Winter Games in a country whose Government stands credibly accused of perpetrating Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide; affirms that the International Olympic Committee’s desire to stay above politics does not permit turning a blind eye to mass atrocity crimes; urges the International Olympics Committee to initiate an emergency search process for suitable replacement facilities for the 2022 Winter Games; calls on the Government to decline invitations for state officials to attend the 2022 Winter Games so long as Beijing remains the host venue; advises the Government to discourage companies operating in the UK from acting as commercial sponsors for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics; recognises that individual athletes have the right to choose whether to participate in the Olympic Games or not and urges them to think carefully about whether they should take part; and

encourages the Chinese Government to work with international partners to take verifiable steps to improve the human rights situation of Uyghurs and other persecuted groups.

150World Milk Day

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 21st birthday of World Milk Day; highlights the tremendous benefits of consuming milk for all age groups including for the production and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth; further notes the wonderful diversification taking place by the provision of automated vending machines to encourage people to purchase fresh milk such as those machines located at Streamvale Farm on the border of the Strangford constituency; and further highlights the important contribution of a milk rich diet to our health and local economy.

15130th birthday of Premier Woodlands

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 30th birthday of Premier Woodlands founded in June 1992, Northern Ireland’s foremost indigenous forestry development company; further notes the tremendous work carried out across the UK and the Republic of Ireland by the planting of between 25 and 30 million trees in the past 30 years; and wishes Premier Woodlands continued success in the future as they make a positive impact on our conservation targets and environmental heritage throughout the UK.

152Fees for London Licensed Taxi Trade at Heathrow Airport

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House recognises the serious concerns of the London Licensed Taxi Trade regarding Heathrow Airport Ltd.’s plans to increase the fee payable when a driver enters the Heathrow Taxi Feeder Park in order to service the airports taxi ranks from 1 July 2021; supports the trade in its call for Heathrow to reconsider this near threefold increase; notes the important role that licensed taxis play as a form of onward transport from Heathrow, particularly for business travellers, tourists and those with limited mobility, including disabled and elderly passengers; applauds the efforts of London’s black cab drivers to keep passengers moving safely throughout the pandemic, providing a covid-secure service and undertaking high risk journeys to quarantine hotels and testing sites when many other forms of transport were operating vastly reduced services; acknowledges the significant financial challenges facing Heathrow as a result of the pandemic and collapse in passenger numbers, which has also created financial hardship for many self-employed taxi drivers; believes that there is a more equitable solution that can be found to allow Heathrow to recover its losses without unfairly and unduly impacting already struggling taxi drivers; and therefore calls on Heathrow to reconsider its position and re-engage with the London Licensed Taxi Trade as a matter of urgency to ensure that the entry fee remains sustainable for drivers and does not damage their business.

153The role of the Lord Advocate under the Scotland Act

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House believes that the dual role of the Lord Advocate in Scotland, whereby they are both senior Government legal adviser and head of the prosecution service, is entirely inconsistent with the needs of a modern democracy; and therefore calls on the Government to engage with the Scottish Government as a matter of urgency to allow the relevant changes to be made to the Scotland Act 1998 and ensure that a formal separation of powers is provided.

154Landmine explosions in Azerbaijan

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Bob Blackman

This House is saddened that over 100 Azerbaijani people have lost their lives in recent mine explosions and expresses sympathy to the bereaved families; notes that during the 30 year long occupation, Armenia planted thousands of land mines in the illegally occupied territories of Azerbaijan; further notes that since the signing of the Trilateral Agreement on 10 November 2021 ending military operations, almost 100 Azerbaijani military and civilian personnel have died as a result of mine explosion in liberated territories; and calls on the UK Government to make representations to urge it’s Armenian counterpart to release the maps of the minefield.

155Ratification of the Istanbul Convention

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Gavin Newlands

That this House notes that 8 June 2021 will mark nine years since the UK signed the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; acknowledges the work by the former hon. Member for Banff and Buchan, Eilidh Whiteford, in securing the passage of legislation enshrining the requirement for the UK to ratify the Convention; notes that since this Act received Royal Assent four years have passed with no indication that ratification is imminent; recognises the need for both national and international action to tackle violence against women and girls; and supports the call by IC Change and other organisations for the Government to ratify the Convention by 8 June 2022.

156Post-WWII forced deportation of Chinese seafarers

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Kim Johnson

That this House notes that this is the 75th anniversary of the forced deportations of thousands of Chinese seafarers after the Second World War, which left many families abandoned without support and with no idea of what had happened; notes that the restricted papers, made public after 50 years, show that decisions taken by the Home Office led to the forced deportation of over 2000 Chinese seafarers from Liverpool, many of whom put their lives on the line for the Allied war effort and who were repaid with this act; notes that this was one of the most nakedly racist incidents ever instigated by the Government, and that countless families suffered a lifetime of trauma as a result, many of whom died without ever knowing the truth about what happened to their loved ones with descendants still searching for answers and lost family members; and calls on the Government to acknowledge this atrocity and issue a full and formal apology for these grave injustices.

157Rhos y Gwalia Outdoor Education Centre

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Liz Saville Roberts

This House notes the challenges faced by businesses in the outdoors activity sector, including the Rhos y Gwalia Outdoor Education Centre, posed by the covid-19 pandemic; recognises the contribution such centres make to school education and student welfare through mental and physical activity outdoors; is concerned with the double hurdle faced by such businesses in the form of rigid occupancy rules for school visits in force in both England and Wales; and calls on the UK and Welsh governments to allow schools to participate in educational bubbles so that children and teachers can bounce back from covid-19 lockdowns by experiencing the great Welsh outdoors.

158National Bingo Day

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House celebrates National Bingo Day on 27 June 2021, when operators from both land based and online bingo operators will be coming together to raise money for charity and celebrate their love of the game of Bingo and everything that makes it special including people, players, friends and community; recognises that bingo has been a mainstay of cultural life since the 1960’s, welcoming thousands customers into bingo clubs every week to eat, drink and socialise over a much-loved inclusive game; notes that for many a visit to their local bingo club is the main opportunity for a fun night out in a safe environment; further notes that bingo plays a vital role in tackling social isolation within communities across the country, especially during the covid-19 pandemic through virtual events; notes with concern that bingo clubs have lost approximately £269.3 million in revenue during lockdown and 39 clubs have closed; and calls on the Government to support the long term sustainability of bingo across the UK.

159Child poverty

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 21

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Ms Diane Abbott

Apsana Begum

Richard Burgon

Ian Byrne

That this House notes that recent End Child Poverty coalition research indicates that there were 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2019-20 and that recent Households Below Average Income figures show child poverty is likely to have significantly worsened during the covid-19 pandemic; believes the Government must prioritise expanding the safety net for struggling families and those facing housing insecurity; recognises the Government's rolling out of free school meals during school closures, the extension of free school meals to children affected by the No Recourse to Public Funds condition, the £20 a week universal credit uplift, and the Covid Winter Grant Scheme that supported families in financial crisis; and supports recent calls from the Children's Society for the Government to turn these interventions into long term sustained investment to support low-income families.

160Child poverty in the North West

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 21

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Ms Diane Abbott

Apsana Begum

Richard Burgon

Ian Byrne

That this House notes that recent End Child Poverty coalition research indicates that there were 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2019-20, more than a third of children in the North West are growing up in poverty after housing costs are factored in, child poverty levels have risen in almost every local area in the North West from 2016 to 2020, and 75 per cent of children growing up in poverty live in a household where at least one person works; recognises the serious impact that childhood poverty can have on children's physical and mental health, education and life chances; welcomes the cross-sector support for urgent and ongoing action to tackle growing levels of child poverty; further recognises the work of myriad voluntary and community sector organisations such as Greater Manchester Poverty Action, Shared Health, and Salford CVS; acknowledges the findings of the latest End Child Poverty survey that less than one in five people think the Government is doing all it can to tackle this issue; calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fully commit to fighting child poverty by removing the two-child limit and the benefit cap, retaining the £20 a week uplift to universal credit longer term, extending the uplift to families on legacy benefits, and committing to increasing child-related benefits in the near future; and supports ringfencing additional Government funding for local lifeline organisations in the voluntary and community sector.

161S4C's success at the Broadcast Awards 2021

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Hywel Williams

That this house congratulates S4C for winning Best Lockdown Programme at the Broadcast awards with Dim Ysgol Maesincla; notes that the programme won the award against productions for ITV, BBC1, BBC2 and Channel 4 in the Best Lockdown Programme News, Documentary and Factual category; celebrates the programme’s success in documenting the honest and heartwarming stories of the children, families and school staff of the Maesincla community during a time of great change with the judges praising the documentary for providing rare access to a community that isn’t usually seen on television; and recognises that the programme has won an important award in the industry through the medium of Welsh.

162Crisis of insecure work

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House expresses alarm at the £107 billion rise in wealth for those at the top; notes that the levels of insecure employment in the UK are worryingly high and that data from the Office for National Statistics published on 18 May 2021 shows unemployment at 1.6 million; further notes that 1.5 million are in temporary work and that 1 million part time workers are struggling to find a full time job; recognises that this means more than 4 million people are underemployed; also recognises that 5.5 million workers are paid below the living wage, 857,000 workers are employed on zero hours contacts and 2.2 million workers currently work fewer than 15 hours a week; believes that this is contributing to a cost of living crisis in the UK, where millions struggle to make ends meet; expresses concern about what the future holds for the 4 million workers still on furlough, as well as the growing number of employers using fire & rehire tactics across all sectors, including Weetabix and Argos this week; acknowledges that 100 million fewer hours of work are currently being undertaken in the UK economy; and calls on the Government to radically increase investment across the UK to increase productivity, create sustainable well paid jobs of the future and to do more to help the millions workers facing a very uncertain future.

163Eden Project Dundee

Tabled: 7/06/21 Signatories: 2

Stewart Hosie

Chris Law

That this House welcomes announcements from the Eden Project detailing their proposals to open a new facility on the site of the former Dundee Gasworks which will celebrate humanities connection to nature as well as delve into the cities historical nine trade guilds; recognises the significance of further investment into Dundee, helping to transform the city, and solidify its position as a major tourist destination; and commends all those who have worked to bring this vision closer to reality, with a scheduled opening for 2024.

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.

9240th anniversary of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes

Tabled: 24/05/21 Signatories: 15

Alison Thewliss

Marion Fellows

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Kirsty Blackman

That this House recognises that 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the 1981 International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes; believes that the Code exists to protect all babies, regardless of how they are fed; notes the Code regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes which includes infant formulas, follow-on formulas and any other food or drink, together with feeding bottles and teats, intended for babies and young children, sets standards for the labelling and quality of products and for how the law should be implemented and monitored within countries, and aims to ensure that choices are made based on full, impartial information, rather than misleading, inaccurate or biased marketing claims; believes that in this 40th year of the Code it would be appropriate for the UK to finally implement the Code in full; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to make a statement to set out a plan of action for so doing.

95University redundancies

Tabled: 24/05/21 Signatories: 18

Claudia Webbe

Kate Osborne

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Kim Johnson

Mick Whitley

That this House is alarmed at the proposed compulsory redundancies across England’s universities including Leicester, Liverpool, Aston and Chester; is equally concerned by the dozens of additional staff at those institutions who resigned or felt compelled to accept voluntary severance or redundancy; notes that university chancellors continue to enjoy six-figure salaries up to double that of the Prime Minister; is alarmed that institutions like the University of Leicester are proceeding with redundancies during an unprecedented global pandemic and financial crisis; stands in solidarity with University College Union (UCU) members at the University of Leicester who voted overwhelmingly to take both Action Short of a Strike and strike action; recognises that UCU has announced a global boycott of the University of Leicester; notes that strike action can be avoided if the compulsory redundancies are withdrawn and urges University of Leicester management to do so to avoid industrial action that, whilst necessary, will further disrupt students after a challenging year; recognises the broader trend of university marketisation, with jobs currently threatened at universities across the country; believes that the financial pressure on universities, which have been treated as private businesses and left at the mercy of market forces while top salaries soar and students pay more for less, is indicative of the corporatisation of further education over recent decades; urges the Government to end the marketisation of higher education; and encourages universities to work constructively with trade union representatives and protect higher education livelihoods across the UK.

96Torture and enforced disappearance of Bahraini political prisoners

Tabled: 24/05/21 Signatories: 27

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Brendan O'Hara

Chris Law

Kenny MacAskill

That this House views with serious concern the attack by Bahraini police on political prisoners in Jau Prison on 17 April 2021; condemns the enforced disappearance of over 60 inmates for a period of 19 days after the attack; notes that the attack was in response to a sit-in by inmates protesting deteriorating prison conditions and the death of political prisoner Abbas Mallallah; is aware that police officers involved in the incident were led by top prison officials, Hisham Abdulraheem and Brigadier Abdulsalam AlArifi; is deeply disturbed by first-hand accounts provided to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy that inmates were severely beaten and subjected to torture and cruel and degrading treatment; expresses concern that Saeed Abdulemam was beaten unconscious, requiring hospitalisation; abhors reports that the attack’s victims were subjected to religious discrimination and denied medical treatment; echoes the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) condemnation of the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force by police; supports OHCHR’s calls for a thorough and effective investigation; condemns the Bahraini Ministry of Interior’s whitewash of abuses against inmates; condemns further whitewashing by UK-funded oversight bodies, including Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and the National Institute for Human Rights which issued false and misleading statements about the attack and subsequent abuse; urges the Government to suspend technical assistance to Bahraini oversight bodies; and calls upon the Government to oppose the criminalisation and prosecution of the attack’s victims and ensure that they are not subjected to further reprisals.

97Welcoming refugees during and post covid-19

Tabled: 24/05/21 Signatories: 21

Apsana Begum

John McDonnell

Jeremy Corbyn

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Claudia Webbe

Zarah Sultana

That this House recognises that, as the 72th anniversary of the Geneva Convention approaches, there are more refugees, approximately 80 million, than at any other time in history; that they are victims of wars, environmental disasters and climate change, human rights abuses, pandemic and poverty; resolves to frame a response to their predicament with a humanitarian-first approach and not to inflict further trauma via detention or criminalisation and thanks refugees for their contribution to the academic, business, cultural and financial fabric of society.

103Shetland Pride festival

Tabled: 25/05/21 Signatories: 6

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Christine Jardine

Margaret Ferrier

Chris Stephens

Alison Thewliss

Wera Hobhouse

That this House welcomes plans for Shetland’s first Pride festival in June 2022; welcomes the opportunity for Shetland to show its support for the LGBT+ community; believes that the event shows that society is increasingly open and respectful society and reflects the strength of support across the country; congratulates the dedicated organisers of the event, Shetland Pride, and pays tribute to the work of Kerrie Meyer; welcomes the support from Shetland Islands Council; and looks forward to the festival when it takes place next year.

105Music for Dementia

Tabled: 25/05/21 Signatories: 13

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Gavin Robinson

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Paula Barker

Christine Jardine

That this House notes the wonderful work carried out by Music for Dementia with the rising number of dementia patients; highlights that there are approximately 885,000 people with dementia in the UK and that by 2040 it is predicted that this figure will almost double to 1.6 million; highlights that music therapy has been shown to be the best type of therapy for reducing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and that if reduces agitation and need for medication by 67 per cent; further highlights that singing in residential homes can halve anxiety and depression levels can fall by 40 per cent; and calls on the health trusts throughout the UK to take on board this research and deliver music programmes as standard in care and residential homes with dementia patients.

112Conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia

Tabled: 26/05/21 Signatories: 30

Helen Hayes

Jim Shannon

Claire Hanna

Mr Virendra Sharma

Paula Barker

Daisy Cooper

That this House notes the high level of sexual violence in the conflict in Tigray, resulting in an estimated 10,000 women being raped in the four months to March: further notes the leadership role the UK government has played in global efforts to eliminate sexual violence in conflict; notes that the UN Day for the Elimination of sexual violence in conflict is on 19 June; and calls on the UK government to table a resolution at the UN Security Council setting up a tribunal to investigate sexual violence in the conflict in Tigray as a war crime, a crime against humanity or a constitutive act of genocide.

114Authoritarianism in Belarus and arbitrary detention of prisoners of conscience

Tabled: 26/05/21 Signatories: 14

Alyn Smith

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Andrew Gwynne

Chris Law

Claire Hanna

That this House condemns the actions by the Belarusian authorities on 23 May 2021 which resulted in the forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 in Minsk and the subsequent arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega; notes that the actions of Belarus are a breach of international civil and aviation law under the Chicago Convention; is concerned that 33,000 civilians have been arbitrarily detained since the fraudulent presidential election of 9 August 2020; further notes that there are currently more than 3000 prisoners of conscience which include activists such as Paval Sevyarynets, Yauhen Afnahel and Iryna Shchastnaya; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Belarus; notes that the UK is Belarus’ third-largest trading partner and that Lukashenko’s government is heavily dependent on financial flows via London; and therefore further calls on the Government to implement new sanctions against Belarus, including halting Belarus from using the London Stock Exchange and banning any UK investment into Belarus until all prisoners of conscience are released and free and fair democratic elections held in Belarus.

119Apology for Forced Adoption

Tabled: 26/05/21 Signatories: 59

Ms Harriet Harman

Sir David Amess

Joanna Cherry

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Debbie Abrahams

Rosie Duffield

That this House recognises the great injustice, suffering and lifetime of pain caused to mothers and their children separated by forced adoption in the UK in the three decades after the Second World War, when young unmarried mothers were coerced into handing over their new-born children, and apologises for it; recognises that it is wrong to say that those mothers chose to give up their babies for adoption, when there was no choice and they were actively pressured to do so by doctors, midwives and other professionals; deplores the shameful practices that denied those mothers their fundamental rights to love and care for their children; pays tribute to the tireless campaign for justice by the Movement for an Adoption Apology; acknowledges that the State and those acting on its behalf allowed or encouraged abuses of adoption practices; unconditionally apologises for the policies and practices that allowed this injustice to occur and for the pain that was caused; calls on the Government to issue an unconditional and comprehensive apology to all those affected and to endorse their demand for recognition and justice; calls on the Government to ensure all those affected receive the help and support they need, including specialist counselling services; and further calls on the Government to establish an inquiry so that the full truth can be told and this grave injustice can be fully recognised and understood.

122Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I., 2021, No. 161) (No. 2)

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 12

Keir Starmer

Tulip Siddiq

Peter Kyle

Mr Toby Perkins

Thangam Debbonaire

Sir Alan Campbell

That this House believes no child in care should be placed in unregulated accommodation; welcomes measures to ban unregulated accommodation for children aged 15 and under; and regrets the failure of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I., 2021, No. 161) to extend this ban to children aged over 16 with the requisite support for local authorities, which could leave thousands of vulnerable children without the necessary protection, and lead to the creation of a two-tier care system based on age.

123Human rights violations in Bahrain

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 11

Andrew Gwynne

Chris Stephens

Claudia Webbe

Paula Barker

John McDonnell

Kenny MacAskill

That this House regrets the 25 May 2021 meeting between the Home Secretary and Bahraini Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa; further regrets the fact that the meeting took place shortly after a violent attack against over 60 political prisoners by Bahraini police at Jau Prison on 17 April 2021; highlights other recent serious human rights abuses, including the detention of children as young as 13 years old, who were subjected to beatings and threats of rape and electric shocks to coerce confessions over charges linked to protest activity; expresses concern that Minister Al Khalifa has overseen the systematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, and activists in Bahrain and the terrorising of civil society since at least 2011; underlines that peaceful critics of the Bahraini Government are subjected to arbitrary imprisonment, torture and sexual assault; notes that despite ultimate responsibility for serious crimes perpetrated during the 2011 uprising, including the murder of several dissidents, Minister Al Khalifa remains in his role; expresses concern that high profile meetings between senior British Ministers and individuals deeply implicated in serial human rights abuses and violations of international law send a signal that the UK will lend unreserved support to its allies regardless of their non-compliance with international law; and calls upon the Government to apply Magnitsky Act sanctions to Minister Rashid Al Khalifa for his protracted role in overseeing a culture of abuse and a climate of impunity in Bahrain.

124Statutory paid bereavement leave for all

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 15

Patricia Gibson

Chris Stephens

Hywel Williams

Caroline Lucas

Marion Fellows

Paula Barker

That this House calls for the extension of statutory paid bereavement leave to all employees upon the loss of a close family member, following the welcome introduction of paid bereavement leave for parents on the loss of a child up to the age of 18 years old; notes research showing that grief experienced by employees costs the economy £23 billion per year, and costs the Treasury nearly £8 billion per year; acknowledges that whilst some employers offer compassionate leave for staff who have lost a close relative, does not believe that this such leave should be at the discretion of employers; is aware that many bereaved employees face financial pressures to return to work while coping with grief; acknowledges that bereavement can trigger mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders, as well as being linked to physical health issues challenges such as increased likelihood of heart attacks, diabetes and increased mortality; believes that while bereavement is a fact of life, by providing the necessary support at the right time, we could boost the economy and have a healthier society with a greater sense of wellbeing at its heart; and therefore calls for the Government to act urgently to extend the right to statutory paid bereavement leave to all employees who lose a close family member or partner.

125Ministry of Defence Guard Service

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 17

Grahame Morris

Chris Stephens

Dan Carden

Paula Barker

Liz Saville Roberts

Kate Osborne

That this House salutes the professionalism and dedication of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service, which provides civilian security at most of the UK’s largest military bases; insists that MoD Guard Service (MGS) personnel should be celebrated for their vital contribution to the MoD, and that a culture of teamwork is best fostered through equitable terms and conditions of employment across the workforce; is concerned that the roll-out of Operational MGS Employment Contracts (OMEC) will see the creation of a two-tier workforce, with newly employed guards working significantly increased hours for less pay, and that the MoD anticipates a 14% reduction of the MGS workforce under OMEC; is further concerned that OMEC appears to be a step towards privatisation of MGS; notes that long working hours and fragmented security arrangements have been considered to be contributing factors to fatal security lapses at United Kingdom military bases in the past, yet there has been no risk analysis published on the potential impact on health, safety and welfare, nor has any Equal Pay Audit been provided; insists that the security of military bases is of paramount importance, and that operational changes to this section of the civilian MoD workforce must be achieved through detailed consideration in collaboration with the workforce and trades unions, not through hasty imposition by management; and urges the Government to support Unite the union’s call for the MoD to pause the OMEC roll-out to allow for further dialogue on the proposed contractual changes.

126Harvey Tyrrell’s Law

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 3

Andrew Rosindell

John McDonnell

John Spellar

That this House recalls the tragic death of Harvey Tyrrell on the 11 September 2018; understands that Harvey’s death was completely avoidable and was caused by negligence in safety standard by the pub owners; believes that the legislation regulating electrical safety was not sufficient and contributed to Harvey’s death; further believes that legislation should require every public house to provide yearly certification that electrical works have been tested and inspected with severe penalties for any landlord who fails to comply with electrical safety standards and the immediate loss of their licence and that electrical safety certification should be visible to all customers upon entering the premises of a public house; and calls on the Government to back Harvey Tyrrell’s Law and act swiftly to introduce the necessary legislation to make this legally enforceable throughout the country.

136Time limit on police conduct investigations

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 15

Ian Mearns

Liz Saville Roberts

Gordon Henderson

Kate Osborne

Navendu Mishra

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

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 taxpayer of salaries of officers under investigation who very often are found to be innocent; recognises the need for investigations to be conducted in a comprehensive but the most efficient way possible; 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; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation establishing a time limit on these investigations as a matter of urgency.

138Arms export licences for sales to the Israeli Military

Tabled: 27/05/21 Signatories: 28

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Richard Burgon

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

Navendu Mishra

Claudia Webbe

That this House notes with concern the recent granting of and use of extant UK licences for the export to the Israeli military of categories of arms and arms components including military technology and components for aircrafts, helicopters, and drones, as well as grenades, bombs, missiles, armoured vehicles, tanks, ammunition, and small arms; is therefore concerned that Ministers have not disclosed whether UK-made exports were used in the recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip and repression of civilian protests in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory; reminds the Government that criteria 2, 3 and 4, of the consolidated criteria on arms exports precludes licensing where there is a clear risk that items may be used for internal repression or in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law; notes the criteria precludes licensing for items which would provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate existing conflicts, and precludes licensing for items when there is a clear risk that they could be used to assert by force a territorial claim; therefore calls for an investigation to determine whether UK-made arms and components have been used in the recent violence and if they are implicated in war crimes under investigation by the International Criminal Court, including settlement building in occupied territories; and calls for a suspension of UK arms sales to Israel until it can be demonstrated, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, that weapons and components imported from the UK are used solely in accordance with the consolidated criteria.