Contents

Published: Thursday 24 February 2022

Early Day Motions tabled on Wednesday 23 February 2022

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

1003UEFA Champions League Final 2022

Tabled: 23/02/22 Signatories: 2

Jamie Stone

Ed Davey

That this House condemns Vladimir Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine; recognises that the 2022 Champions League final is scheduled to take place at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg on 28 May 2022; believes that Putin should not be rewarded by allowing this prestigious, widely-viewed sports event to take place in Russia; further believes that the UK must signal to Russia that they cannot expect to sportwash their actions and strongarm their neighbours without consequences; urges the Government to call on UEFA to strip Russia of the final; and calls on the Government, and the Football Association, to prepare Wembley as suitable to host the event.

1004O2 tariff price increase

Tabled: 23/02/22 Signatories: 1

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House notes the recent decision by O2 to increase their mobile phone tariff for recent customers by 11.7 per cent from April 2022; further notes O2's failure in customer correspondence to highlight the total increase, instead choosing to reference their annual 3.9 per cent rise and indicate the additional RPI figure increase, which is 7.8 per cent; acknowledges that this is the latest substantial increase to hit hard pressed working families along with rising fuel costs, mortgage increases, energy costs, increasing National Insurance Contributions and rising food bills; and calls on the Government to revise plans for increases over which it has control to help deal with this series of impending financial setbacks that will be faced by millions of UK citizens.

10055th Lancaster Rainbows' plastics campaign

Tabled: 23/02/22 Signatories: 1

Cat Smith

That this House welcomes the campaigning of 5th Lancaster Rainbows on the issue of plastic recycling; praises the work the unit have done over a number of years to raise awareness of this important matter; draws particular attention to their advocacy for a deposit return scheme similar to those in place in many other countries; expresses disappointment that the Government’s proposed deposit return scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is unlikely to be introduced until late 2024, six years after it was originally announced; and calls on the Government to look to bring forward this date.

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.

969Kate Arnot's retirement from Pollok Credit Union

Tabled: 9/02/22 Signatories: 7

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Allan Dorans

John Nicolson

Chris Law

That this House marks the retirement of Kate Arnot after 18 years as a Director of the Pollok Credit Union; praises Kate on her tireless public service at Pollok Credit Union where she was a strong voice for positive development and the ethical financial benefits of credit unions; further praises Kate for her community and public service; notes her particularly dedication to diversity and equality as a long standing employee of Women’s’ Aid in Glasgow; recognises her community devotion serving as Chair of Pollok Enterprise Trust a charity with local nursery Southside Daycare and which has Pollok Post Office delivering post office services to the Greater Pollok community; notes Kate’s years a Trade Unionist and a member of the Co-Operative Party; and wishes Kate a well-deserved retirement.

971Global Disability Summit 2022

Tabled: 9/02/22 Signatories: 26

Marion Fellows

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Dr Philippa Whitford

That this House marks the second ever Global Disability Summit (GS22), hosted February 16 to 17 by the International Disability Alliance, the Government of Norway and the Government of Ghana; recognises the aims of this year’s summit to mobilise efforts for the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the principle of Leave No One Behind (LNOB) and building back better and more inclusive programming with regards to Covid-19; notes that globally, disabled people are disproportionately impacted by poverty, natural disasters, healthcare barriers and Covid-19, but are still excluded from many aid projects that do not target disabled people’s needs; calls on the UK Government, ahead of this important summit, to triple the number of FCDO aid projects that have disability inclusion as their primary objective by 2023, prioritise grassroots disability aid projects, to ensure disabled people are not further excluded from global aid; calls on the UK Government to include disability in the eligibility criteria for applying for refugee status in the UK in recognition of the disproportionate disadvantage disabled people face globally; and further calls on the UK Government to call on more countries to ratify the UNCRPD and match the Scottish Government’s commitment to enshrine the UNCRPD into law and champion disability rights on the global stage.

973Miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland

Tabled: 9/02/22 Signatories: 26

Angela Crawley

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Jonathan Edwards

Claire Hanna

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates the Northern Irish Assembly on passing legislation to allow paid leave for workers who have suffered a miscarriage; understands provisions to offer statutory paid leave for mothers and their partners should they experience baby loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy are contained in Article 112EF of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill; notes the Bill passed its final stage in Stormont on 7th February 2022 and is due to receive Royal Assent; appreciates that the provision for paid miscarriage leave will come into force no later than April 2026 following a public consultation; recognises that Northern Ireland will be the first place in Europe to introduce paid miscarriage leave in line with recent legislation in New Zealand and Australia; understands there are currently no specific statutory rights in the UK to allow paid leave for those who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy; and calls on the UK Government to introduce Paid Miscarriage Leave UK-wide in its proposed Employment Bill.

975Standing Order No. 43 (Disorderly conduct)

Tabled: 9/02/22 Signatories: 23

Ed Davey

Daisy Cooper

Christine Jardine

Wera Hobhouse

Munira Wilson

Mr Alistair Carmichael

That this House considers that, given the breadth of the Prime Minister’s responsibilities, their leading role in Government and the country and the consequent need for accuracy in the information they give, it is desirable that the following amendment be made to Standing Order No. 43 (Disorderly conduct):

"At end, add–

(2) A question, intervention or speech by a Member setting out the reasons why he or she believes the Prime Minister has misled the House is not grossly disorderly conduct.”.

978Kurt Zouma and animal abuse

Tabled: 10/02/22 Signatories: 11

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Rachael Maskell

Hywel Williams

Margaret Ferrier

Ben Lake

That this House condemns the animal cruelty displayed by West Ham United football player Kurt Zouma, who was filmed drop kicking and slapping his pet Bengal cat in his home; strongly believes there can be no excuse for abusing animals in any circumstances; deplores the fact that this incident took place in front of a child and was posted on social media whilst the person recording the video, Mr Zouma’s brother Yoan, can heard laughing as he witnesses this abuse of a defenceless animal; notes the well-established link between animal abuse and violence against other people; condemns West Ham United’s decision to continue fielding the player in the days following the incident, thereby normalising his behaviour and sending the message to its young supporters that animal abuse is acceptable; supports the RSPCA’s decision to remove Mr Zouma’s pets from his home for their own safety; notes the RSPCA's investigation of this matter; and is disappointed that West Ham United did not show moral leadership on this matter by failing to take the opportunity to show football fans around the world that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated from its players no matter how accomplished their footballing skills may be.

981Heriot-Watt University support to improve the lives of stoma bag wearers

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 11

Joanna Cherry

Martyn Day

Dr Philippa Whitford

Allan Dorans

Alan Brown

Douglas Chapman

That this House welcomes the invaluable support of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) led by Heriot-Watt University in enabling start-up company Confidence Plus Ltd to introduce its new product ConfiPlus to a clinical setting as quickly as possible; notes that ConfiPlus has been developed to address the common problem of stoma bag leakage which leads to significant embarrassment and anxiety for stoma bag wearers; understands that one in every 400 people in the UK undergoing a surgical procedure has a stoma bag to create an opening in the body to discharge waste and that this new invention is specifically designed to contain leakages which helps to restore confidence and independence to all stoma bag wearers; notes that ConfiPlus is the first company in Scotland to use the new tool, developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to prepare a healthcare technology assessment document; further understands that the MDMC at Heriot-Watt offers free support to SMEs, as a way of supporting healthcare innovation in Scotland and beyond; and hopes that ConfiPlus will help transform the lives of millions of ostomate patients throughout the world.

982West Park United FC’s Boot Room Appeal in partnership with The Brunswick Centre

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 6

Amy Callaghan

Allan Dorans

Margaret Ferrier

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Marion Fellows

That this House congratulates West Park United FC’s efforts to give back to the community via their 2021 Boot Room Appeal, in partnership with The Brunswick Centre; understands that West Park United FC put an appeal out for used football boots which would be recycled free of charge to anyone who needed them before the festive period; acknowledges how important it is that people of all ages have access to equipment they need to engage in sport; notes the success that West Park United FC’s Boot Room appeal has had in getting more young people into sport; further notes this appeal is one of many positive local community projects the club has engaged in to give back to those in need; looks forward to seeing what more the club will achieve for people across East Dunbartonshire in the future; and thanks them for all their efforts to support families and young people.

983Care workers and vaccination as a condition of employment

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 9

Paula Barker

Rachael Maskell

Ian Lavery

Kim Johnson

Mary Kelly Foy

Mick Whitley

That this House notes that vaccination as a condition of deployment within health and social care would deepen the existing staffing crisis and pose an existential threat to the NHS and our social care system; notes that tens of thousands of residential care workers have lost their jobs since November 2021 when vaccination became a condition of deployment within CQC-registered care homes in England; believes that any review and revocation of vaccination as a condition of deployment within health and social care should apply retrospectively and ensure that care workers who have been dismissed or left employment due to compulsory vaccination do not suffer loss or detriment; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that care workers have the right to be re-employed in their previous role, including protection of continuity of service, and provide appropriate funds to compensate workers for loss of earning and any pension losses.

984Vivien Currie MBE appointed as Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 5

Angela Crawley

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Marion Fellows

That this House congratulates Vivien Currie on her appointment as the first ever female Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse; understands Vivien will leave her current role as Chief Executive of Hamilton Park Racecourse in April 2022, becoming Chief Executive designate at Ascot in the lead up to the delivery of Royal Ascot in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year, before taking over as Chief Executive on 30 June 2022; acknowledges that Vivien’s role as Chief Executive at Hamilton Park since 2008 has included construction of a £10 million on-site hotel, growing the racecourse into an all-year-round hospitality and racing resort destination; commends Vivien on her exceptional leadership, especially during the coronavirus pandemic which brought difficult challenges to the horse racing and hospitality sectors; recognises that Vivien was also non-executive director of the Racecourse Association from 2010-2016 and Director of the British Horseracing Authority from 2016-2019; notes that Vivien received a MBE in 2020 for services to racecourse management, business, and charity; applauds Vivien as an inspiring business leader, particularly in sectors traditionally dominated by men, including football, where she was Chief Executive of Livingston Football Club; and wishes Vivien well in her new prestigious role at Ascot.

985Accessibility improvements by the Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 6

Peter Grant

Allan Dorans

Margaret Ferrier

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Marion Fellows

That this House recognises and commends the efforts of volunteers of the Save Wemyss Ancient Caves Society (SWACS) for their work in making the Wemyss Caves more accessible to those who are less mobile; highlights the funding secured from Scottish charity Paths for All, that made this important work possible; recognises the national historical significance of the site where carvings on the walls of some of the caves are thought to date back to the Bronze Age, with many others being connected to the Pictish Period; notes that the new all-weather pathway has been laid to Court Cave which had previously been out of bounds to mobility scooter and wheelchair users but has now opened up access; thanks volunteers for their additional work in removing graffiti, erecting information signs and for their ongoing programme of improvements intended to further widen access and to help people to learn about the historically significant site; thanks the volunteers of SWACS for all of their efforts in improving accessibility to the Wemyss Caves; and wishes them all the best for the opening of the new path on 27 February 2022.

986Inverurie Junior Agricultural Club's 90th anniversary

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 11

Richard Thomson

Allan Dorans

Alan Brown

Dave Doogan

Carol Monaghan

Kirsty Blackman

That this House notes Inverurie Junior Agricultural Club will mark the 90th anniversary of its formation this year; recognises the prominent part the club has played in the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs; understands that hundreds of people involved in farming have been part of the club over its nine decades of existence; further recognises that Junior Agricultural Clubs and Young Farmers Clubs provide a valuable social network full of opportunities to meet new people, share new experiences and develop personal skills; commends those involved in Inverurie Junior Agricultural Club for helping it reach this significant milestone; and wishes the club and its members continued success in the years ahead.

988Team GB Curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 7

Christine Jardine

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Wendy Chamberlain

Jamie Stone

Mohammad Yasin

Margaret Ferrier

That this House celebrates the success of Great Britain’s curlers at the 2022 Winter Olympics, following Eve Muirhead's women’s team, winning gold and Bruce Mouat's men’s team, winning silver; appreciates this is the first time both GB Curling teams have each won a medal at a single Olympics; acknowledges the contributions of Edinburgh’s Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat in their first Olympics; further acknowledges the role played by Edinburgh Curling in the success of British team in Beijing as well as aiding the next generation of British curlers; and calls on the Government to continue to support and fund UK sport.

989Team GB Curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics (No. 2)

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 7

David Mundell

Mohammad Yasin

Margaret Ferrier

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Dave Doogan

That this House wholeheartedly congratulates the Great Britain’s Women’s Curling Team of Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and Mili Smith on winning the gold medal at the Winter Olympics; congratulates the Great Britain Men's Curling Team of Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan and Ross Whyte on winning the silver medal at the Winter Olympics; recognises the work of David Murdoch as coach of both teams and his association with Lockerbie Ice Rink which has played such an important part in the development of curling in Scotland; notes that the gold medal victory, in particular, marks the first British Winter Games curling gold medal for 20 years; welcomes the fact that the teams will be bringing Olympic medals back to the birthplace of curling; and believes that these spectacular victories should be used to encourage others around the UK, especially young people, to take up the sport.

990Cyprus

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 13

Layla Moran

Helen Morgan

Jamie Stone

Ed Davey

Sarah Green

Sarah Olney

That this House believes that Cyprus will best succeed as an independent and reunited state, in line with UN Security Council Resolutions and High Level Agreements, on the basis of reconciliation and equality for the fundamental rights of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities; calls for the two communities to reach an agreement on the reunification of Cyprus; further urges that such an agreement must respect the rule of law and fundamental rights of all Cypriots; believes that the internationally recommended model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, with a federal government with single international sovereignty and citizenship, is the best way to achieve this; further believes that positive engagement between the two sides and communities should be the first step to mutually acceptable agreement on the security needs of both Cypriot communities; urges all parties to seek a just and sustainable resolution to this long-running dispute which has caused such misery over so many years; and stands ready to support the new UN Special Representative in his work should the circumstances present themselves for a new set of negotiations.

991Team GB Women’s Curling Team winning Olympic Gold

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 14

Dave Doogan

Allan Dorans

Jonathan Edwards

Mohammad Yasin

Anne McLaughlin

Amy Callaghan

That this House recognises the outstanding achievement of Team GB Women’s Curling Team on bringing home Gold at the Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing; congratulates all five Scottish athletes, Hailey Duff, Vicky Wright, Eve Muirhead, Jen Dodds and Mili Smith for their impressive win over the 2018 Bronze medallists Japan; notes the intense pride felt in Scotland, in Dumfries, Edinburgh and especially so in Tayside, over this win; further recognises the extraordinary professionalism of the team under intense pressure, winning 10-3 in an extremely tense final; commends the years of dedicated training and competition which contributed to this Olympic success; and further congratulates all of Team GB on their achievements ahead of and during the Winter Olympics 2022.

992York City Knights

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 2

Rachael Maskell

Jim Shannon

That this House thanks the former Chief Executive of the York City Knights, Jon Flatman, and the staff and players for their work in helping secure the future of the Knights; congratulates the Club on their successes since Mr Flatman took over ownership, including securing the League One title in 2018 and their appearance at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 90 years in the 1895 Cup final; acknowledges the smooth transition made to the LNER Community Stadium and the growth of York City Knights Ladies; welcomes the arrival of the Rugby League World Cup to York this year; recognises the work that has been done to promote inclusivity and physical and mental wellbeing in the community through the work of the York City Knights Foundation with people of all ages and abilities; and sends good wishes to Mr Flatman for the future as well as continued success for the Knights, both on and off the field.

993Universities' staff pensions

Tabled: 21/02/22 Signatories: 23

Geraint Davies

Hilary Benn

Beth Winter

Ian Byrne

Ian Mearns

Andy McDonald

That this House notes that the University and College Union (UCU) and members are in industrial dispute over a prospective cut in pension entitlement for lecturers of 35 per cent; further notes that the University Superannuation Scheme (USS) was last valued during the 2020 pandemic and needs re-evaluation to account for its recovery; notes that the UCU has proposed an interim settlement pending re-evaluation that would entail staff paying an additional 1.4 per cent, and universities 2.6 per cent into the USS; notes that the employers’ organisation is consulting on this proposal; recognises that industrial action is already estimated as costing £5 billion; and calls upon the Government to provide funding for the less wealthy universities that cannot afford these increases in order that the dispute may be resolved through negotiation and that university pensions become fair and sustainable.

994Venue for 2022 Champions League Final

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 12

Mr Clive Betts

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Valerie Vaz

Mr Barry Sheerman

That this House calls for UEFA to move the Champions League final scheduled to take place on Saturday 28 May 2022 from St Petersburg in Russia to a new venue outside of Russia as a result of Russian hostility to Ukraine.

995Jamal Edwards MBE

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 19

Dr Rupa Huq

Claudia Webbe

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Valerie Vaz

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House remembers the life and achievements of Jamal Edwards MBE, a musical pioneer, entrepreneur, author and philanthropist born in Luton, raised in Acton, who never forgot his roots; recognises that Jamal’s work had a tremendous impact on music in the UK, notably launching SBTV, a ground-breaking platform that was credited with helping to launch the careers of many of the UK's foremost recording artists and was noteworthy in its democratisation of music production, distribution and exchange; further notes that Jamal had a deeply held passion for wanting to better the lives of young people, starting JE Delve, the grassroots youth charity to give young people the opportunities to develop skills to help them embrace their passions and giving his time to a plethora of voluntary causes; notes that Jamal was instrumental in bringing to light many hitherto taboo issues in the attempt to improve situations, such as mental health among young black men; and extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Jamal Edwards MBE, his friends, and all of those whose lives he helped, may he rest in eternal peace.

996Estonian National Day

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 21

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Alan Brown

John Spellar

Owen Thompson

That this House notes that 24 February is the Estonian National Day, marking 104 years since the signing of the Estonian declaration of independence in 1918, and the foundation of the Republic of Estonia; further notes that the Estonian people had been subjects variously of Swedish, Russian and German Empires and that in 1917 after years of brutal conflict in Europe, Estonians formed a Provisional National Council, the Maapäev, to reform and modernise institutions and governance that had previously been the preserve of the Russian Imperial elite; notes that as the Bolshevik government sought to overturn these steps towards self-determination and the German army threatened to invade, the Maapäev held elections at the start of February 1918 which underlined its legitimacy before the declaration of independence on 24 February; and further notes that following this demonstration of Estonian self-determination it was required to bravely fight both German and Soviet forces until the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty in February 1920; and recalls the words in the preamble to the Estonian Declaration of Independence on 24 February, which state that never in the course of centuries have the Estonian people lost their ardent desire for independence and that from generation to generation Estonians have kept alive the secret hope that in spite of enslavement and oppression by other nations the time will come in Estonia when it is said that all splinters, at both ends, will burst forth into flames and when Kalev will come home to bring his children happiness.

997150 years since the founding of Glasgow Rangers FC

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 3

Mr Gregory Campbell

Jim Shannon

Scott Benton

That this House notes the fact that March 2022 marks one hundred and fifty years since four young lads had a dream to start a football team; further notes that in the period since its founding Glasgow Rangers Football Club has won the Scottish top tier league title a world record breaking fifty five times and countless other Cup competitions; commends all those responsible for the history, traditions and continuing success of the Club; and looks forward to many more years of trophy winning in the future.

998International Mother Language Day

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 9

Apsana Begum

Richard Burgon

Zarah Sultana

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Claudia Webbe

Owen Thompson

That this House pays tribute to International Mother Language Day 2022 which was the initiative of Bangladesh and was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference; notes that it has been observed on 21 February throughout the world since 2000 and commemorates the Bangladeshi university students martyred for the Bangla language in 1952; and believes that valuing linguistic diversity helps provide people with an understanding of language and culture, raises educational attainment, and celebrates the plurality and richness of multicultural communities.

999La Mon Bombing

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Sammy Wilson

Carla Lockhart

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes the 46th anniversary of the La Mon atrocity through which 12 innocent people lost their lives in the most horrific of circumstances in a burning inferno and in which 30 people were horrifically injured; notes the pain of those that live with the injuries to their bodies and minds and those who live without loved ones who were murdered with a callousness that retains the ability to bring tears to people's eyes; and reiterates the promise not to allow history to forget those lives that mattered so much and who are still grieved to this day.

1000Bloody Friday Remembrance

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Sammy Wilson

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

That this House welcomes the decision by Belfast City Council to work with victims and families of those who lost loved ones during the Bloody Friday events of 21 July 1972 to commemorate and suitably mark the 50th anniversary of this atrocious day; notes the sincere desire to engage in a programme of commemoration and also education, designed to build positive relationships for the future; further notes divisive politicking by those who defend the indefensible to derail this appropriate memorial will not succeed as families remind children of the events that have shaped the city in an effort to ensure that the horror of the Troubles are never repeated; and extends sincere sympathies to families of the victims of the Troubles who continue to suffer, mourn and grieve the loss of loved ones and the lives that could have been.

1001Eve Muirhead and Team GB's Women's Olympic Gold

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 7

Pete Wishart

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Jonathan Edwards

That this House warmly congratulates Blair Atholl's Eve Muirhead on leading her ladies curling rink to Olympic gold in Beijing against Japan; recognises the monumental efforts of Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith, from Guildtown, throughout the tournament; shares the pride felt across Scotland and in Perthshire in particular; further congratulates Team GB's men on winning silver against strong Swedish opposition; and wishes further success in the forthcoming World Championships.

1002Pension triple lock and pensioner poverty

Tabled: 22/02/22 Signatories: 8

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Douglas Chapman

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

That this House acknowledges the 5.5 per cent rise in inflation which saw the cost-of-living soar to a 30-year high in January, with energy, fuel and food prices all being impacted; recognises that more than two million older people are already living in poverty in the UK, up 31per cent since 2013-14 according to Age UK; is concerned that the removal of the triple lock, the link between earnings and pensions, is already set to see many pensioners approximately £520 worse off over the next 12 months; is concerned that many older people will not be able to afford to keep their homes adequately heated this winter as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis; is dismayed by the Government’s abandonment of a key manifest pledge to protect the pension's triple lock, which has seen pensioners’ incomes detrimentally impacted in recent years; notes that inflation may rise above 7 per cent with the price cap on energy prices set to rise again in the coming months; opposes this latest attack on pensioners who have already seen free TV licences removed for the over 75s, suffered cuts to Pension Credit, women born in the 1950s hit by pension changes for which they were unable to financially prepare; and urges the Government to urgently review the State Pension increase for 2022 with a view to restoring the triple lock forthwith.