Contents

Published: Friday 9 December 2022

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 8 December 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

682Council Tax on second homes

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House supports the decision to allow local authorities to increase council tax on second homes by up to 100 per cent; understands that any increase cannot be applied until April 2024; recognises that local authorities including South Lakeland, North Yorkshire, North Norfolk, Torridge, and Cornwall, have already expressed a commitment to implement the increase as soon as possible; and urges the Government to bring forward the ability to double council tax on second homes to April 2023.

683Withdrawal of Advance Purchase on Departure tickets from Northern Trains ticket offices

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 20

Cat Smith

Ian Mearns

Tim Farron

Dan Carden

Grahame Morris

Rebecca Long Bailey

That this House notes with concern that Northern Trains has recently withdrawn Advance Purchase on Departure rail fares from sale at its ticket offices; understands that advanced purchase tickets are designed to offer best value fares to passengers; therefore believes that the withdrawal of Advance Purchase on Departure fares may mean that passengers are not able to access the best value fare for their journey; further understands that this franchise is controlled by the Department for Transport via the Operator of Last Resort; is concerned about reports from Government and Train Operating Companies that they wish to close the majority of ticket offices across the rail network; understands that Advance Purchase on Departure fares will remain available online and at Ticket Vending Machines; is therefore concerned that the withdrawal of certain fares from ticket offices is aimed at pushing passengers away from ticket offices; believes that this policy disadvantages people who cannot use online ticketing or Ticket Vending Machines, and that disabled and elderly passengers could be disproportionately affected; further believes that the full range of fares should be available to passengers at Northern ticket offices; and calls on the Government to ensure that Advance Purchase on Departure fares are reinstated at Northern ticket offices as a matter of urgency.

684Decision to approve the Whitehaven coal mine

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House deplores the Government’s decision to approve a new coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria; believes that it damages the United Kingdom’s international reputation and sets a terrible example of climate leadership; recognises that, while the coal mine will create 500 time-limited jobs, the Local Government Association estimate 6,000 green jobs could be created in Cumbria by 2030; understands that British Steel and Tata Steel have no plans to purchase coal from the mine and that 87 per cent of the coking coal produced will be exported; and demands that the Government reverses its decision to approve the Whitehaven coal mine and invests in green, renewable jobs in Cumbria to provide secure, long-term employment.

685Energy costs for families of seriously ill children

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 1

Siobhain McDonagh [R]

That this House is concerned by the growing energy costs that families of seriously ill children who rely on life-sustaining equipment at home are paying; welcomes the donation made by Kate Winslet to Carolynne Hunter, mother to Freya, 13, who has severe cerebral palsy and relies on receiving oxygen for chronic breathing problems, to fund her energy bill; further welcomes Together for Short Lives’ Cost of Living Support Fund, which will help ease the burden of families’ rising bills, so they can keep life-sustaining equipment running; recognises that families should not have to rely on the generosity of celebrities or charities to fund their energy bills; and calls on the Government to take additional, urgent action to ensure that families of seriously ill children who rely on life-sustaining equipment at home can afford the energy they need.

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.

618Charitable giving and Christmas 2022

Tabled: 28/11/22 Signatories: 7

Jim Shannon

Ben Lake

Sir Mike Penning

Chris Law

Paul Girvan

John McDonnell

That this House notes with pride the generosity of charity organisations over the Christmas period; further notes the countless charities who go above and beyond at Christmas time, including The Salvation Army, Oxfam Unwrapped, The Trussel Group, Samaritans Purse and Make-A-Wish; underlines the current cost of living crisis, where thousands will be expected to ask for practical support to cope with financial hardship this winter; highlights the support offered by charities, including counselling, food parcels and offering somewhere to sleep; further underlines the close relationship between the Church and charities in providing key support for people this Christmas; understands that this is not a pleasant time for everyone; and thanks charitable organisations for the work they do in local communities for families who struggle at Christmas.

622Plastics

Tabled: 28/11/22 Signatories: 33

Geraint Davies

Rosie Duffield

Tony Lloyd

Caroline Lucas

Tim Farron

John McNally

That this House notes that according to the UN there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050; calls for the Government to publish a strategy for promoting a circular economy in respect of plastics, including setting targets and measures for the elimination and recycling of single-use plastics; calls for Secretary of State for Environment to establish a task force to develop proposals to encourage the use of reuse and refill models of packaging, to report annually to Parliament on the implementation of the strategy, to ensure that UK targets for the elimination and recycling of plastic packaging are more demanding than equivalent targets set by the European Union, and to require manufacturers and retailers to pay for the cost of recycling plastic; calls for Government to set annual targets for reducing the quantity of plastic waste that is incinerated; and calls for the Secretary of State of the Environment to publish a plan for banning the export of plastic waste by 2027, make provision for the purpose of reducing the cost of recycling plastic, including measures to encourage the standardisation of plastic packaging, give powers to the Office for Environmental Protection to enforce legislation relating to plastic pollution, and make provision for the purpose of encouraging the development of sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging; and calls for the Government to publish a plan for the use of fiscal policy to incentivise investment in recycling infrastructure and sustainable behaviour by consumers and retailers.

626BBC Radio Foyle

Tabled: 29/11/22 Signatories: 6

Colum Eastwood

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Christine Jardine

John McDonnell

Claire Hanna

That this House calls on BBC Northern Ireland Executives to immediately reverse cuts announced to BBC Radio Foyle, its flagship breakfast show and its newsroom staff; condemns this cynical attempt to try to close BBC Radio Foyle by gradually undermining its sustainability and independence; notes that BBC Radio Foyle has played an important role in the civic and political discourse across the Northwest of Ireland since its founding in 1979; commends all those who work across the BBC in Northern Ireland; and calls on the corporation to immediately reverse the cuts announced across BBC services in Northern Ireland, protecting jobs and top-quality journalism.

637Xinjiang fire and zero covid protests

Tabled: 30/11/22 Signatories: 8

Layla Moran [R]

Wera Hobhouse

Jim Shannon

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Liz Saville Roberts

Caroline Lucas

That this House acknowledges with concern the fire that took place in the Xinjiang region of China, on Friday 25 November, killing 10 people, and leading to protests across the country about China’s zero-covid policy; notes with alarm reports that Chinese authorities have used disproportionate force in response to these peaceful protests; reaffirms its solidarity with pro-democracy and human rights activists across China; further condemns the attack and detention of a BBC Journalist, Ed Lawrence by Chinese authorities; recognises that China is in breach of international obligations, in particular UN Resolution 70/162 requiring states to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference; and calls on the UK government to raise the issue of the right to peaceful protest across China.

642Hearing Diagnostics and detection of hearing loss

Tabled: 1/12/22 Signatories: 8

Douglas Chapman

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

Stewart Hosie

That this House welcomes the development by Scottish based enterprise Hearing Diagnostics of their innovative product, Audimetroid, which gives a more accurate and cost effective solution to the early detection of hearing loss; further welcomes the additional support and financing to the company by investment syndicate Archangels and Scottish Enterprise; and wishes them well in developing their product and reaching new global export markets.

645Industrial Dispute at Shelter

Tabled: 1/12/22 Signatories: 19

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Charlotte Nichols

Kate Osborne

Ian Lavery

Jon Trickett

That this House supports Unite members taking industrial action at Shelter; stands with these workers based at offices across the country in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Blackburn, Merseyside, Manchester, Sheffield Hub and North Bank, Birmingham, Bristol, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Norwich, Hackney and London Old Street; is concerned by Shelter’s imposition of a 3 per cent pay deal without proper consultation in the middle of a cost of living crisis despite the organisation’s healthy finances; notes that Shelter’s own claims show they have reserves of £17 million; further notes that this is substantially in excess of the organisation’s target reserves of £8.9 million; understands that the Retail Price Index is at its highest level since 1980; is alarmed that this means RPI is currently over 10 per cent higher than Shelter’s imposed 3 per cent pay deal; is disappointed to see an organisation with the reputation and mission statement of Shelter treating its workers with such disrespect; is clear that those working for a housing charity should not be experiencing housing insecurity as a result of low pay meaning they are unable to afford their rent; is encouraged by the large growth in union membership amongst Shelter’s workers during this dispute; and urges Shelter to rethink and fully commit to meaningful negotiations with representatives from its workers’ trade union, Unite.

663National Lottery Funding for Safety Awareness Glasgow

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 4

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Carol Monaghan

That this House congratulates Safety Awareness Glasgow, based in Govan in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £9,500 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to develop Safety Awareness Glasgow pilot a Baby loss and miscarriage support group for Black women in their local community of Greater Govan; recognises Safety Awareness Glasgow offer a safe and empowering environment for women who have experienced loss to have a free and confidential service where they can be emotionally supported and signposted to further services or groups on a one to one or in a group setting; and wishes Safety Awareness Glasgow the best with all its future endeavours.

664Equal private pension entitlement for bereaved unmarried partners

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 8

Geraint Davies

Jim Shannon

John McDonnell

Tahir Ali

Claire Hanna

Chris Stephens

That this House welcomes the progress that has been made in ensuring unmarried partners have access to public service pensions; further welcomes the decision in 2019 to support the equal treatment of survivors of all legal relationships; recognises that the proportion of unmarried couples in the United Kingdom continues to increase; believes that it is an issue of basic fairness and protection that unmarried couples should receive the same benefits as married couples should one partner die; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to ensure that all pension schemes, both public and private, provide for long-term survivor benefits for unmarried survivors.

66510th anniversary of the death of Tony Heron

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 8

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Douglas Chapman

Jim Shannon

Ian Blackford

Dave Doogan

Allan Dorans

That this House recognises that 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Tony Heron, a Wigtownshire man devoted to both his family and country; commends him for his service as a young man during the Second World War as part of the Royal Army Service Corps; and thanks Marie Curie for the support they provide to those suffering terminal illness, alongside that which they provide to families of those with illness.

66650th anniversary of Nationwide in East Kilbride

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 4

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Nationwide Building Society, East Kilbride, on its 50th anniversary; recognises that East Kilbride Nationwide serves over 33,000 members across the local community; notes that the society runs a Youth Education Programme supporting young people’s financial education; thanks staff and management for their assistance to local customers over 50 years in East Kilbride; and wishes East Kilbride Building Society the best for the future.

667Avondale Radio

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 5

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

John McDonnell

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House welcomes the establishment of Lanarkshire radio station Avondale Radio, set up by local residents Kenny Quigley, Nancy Luke and Les Hoggan, serving communities across Strathaven, Glassford, Chapelton and rural Avondale; congratulates them on their success from opening in March 2022, including attracting over 39,000 listeners in eight months and 1,000 new listeners every week; commends the community impact of the station in reaching out to relevant local people and issues; thanks dedicated volunteers who support the radio station's success by presenting such a variety of shows; notes that volunteers come from all walks of life, and that the station has inclusion, including disability inclusion, at its core; further commends the work that is being undertaken to ensure community representation; and wishes Avondale Radio every success for the future.

668National Tree Week

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 8

Jim Shannon

Sir Mike Penning

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

Carla Lockhart

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House notes the end of National Tree Week 2022 that lasted from 26 November to 4 December 2022; underlines that National Tree Week is the largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the tree planting season when millions of trees are planted every year; further notes the initiative by IndiWoods to plant exciting native woodlands throughout Northern Ireland this Winter, all of which consist of native oaks, downy and silver birch, alder, rowan, wild cherry and apple; further underlines the assistance trees offer to our environment, by locking up carbon, reducing surface run-off to help prevent flooding and filter harmful air pollution; and highlights the beautiful scenery trees give us in the countryside and that they improve our mental and physical health.

669BP dividends

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 11

Dame Margaret Hodge

Jonathan Edwards

Caroline Lucas

Cat Smith

Ms Marie Rimmer

Jim Shannon

That this House condemns BP’s failure to honour its commitment to exit investments in Russia; notes that BP remains the largest private shareholder of Russia’s biggest oil company, Rosneft, and as such is receiving wartime dividends totalling £580 million; notes that these dividends are equivalent to over one quarter of all aid provided by the Government to Ukraine and that continued UK investment in Russian oil undermines our country’s significant support for the people of Ukraine; further notes that BP is indirectly profiteering from the Kremlin’s egregious war in Ukraine; and calls on the Government to persuade BP, and any British company still invested in Russian oil and gas, to dedicate wartime dividends and profits to the reconstruction of Ukraine and to victims of the war and, if they fail to do so, calls on the Government to levy a special windfall tax to achieve the same purpose.

672Free School Meals For All campaign

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 30

Zarah Sultana

Ian Byrne

Kim Johnson

Caroline Lucas

Munira Wilson

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that 3.9 million children are growing up in poverty and that the cost of living crisis is estimated to push another 500,000 children into poverty; recognises that free school meals ensure millions of children get a hot, healthy meal each day, but that as millions of families struggle with the cost of living crisis, more children are being forced to learn on empty stomachs, with restrictive eligibility, complicated registration and stigma built into the means-tested system; welcomes campaigning to extend free school meals, including those led by the National Education Union, the Daily Mirror and the Food Foundation; and calls on the Government to extend free school meals to all primary school children in state schools in England, as proposed by the Free School Meals for All Bill, formally known as the Free School Meals (Primary Schools) Bill.

674Niamh Junner's karate career

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 6

Kirsten Oswald

Allan Dorans

Marion Fellows

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Carol Monaghan

That this House congratulates Niamh Junner from East Renfrewshire after the most successful year in her karate career to date; appreciates that Niamh won a bronze medal at the under-21 European championships in Prague and a further bronze medal at the under-21 World championships in Konya; notes that due to her successes in Prague and Konya, Niamh is now ranked in the World's top 5 under-21 females +68 kg category; recognises that Niamh has been a member of the Scotland national karate team for five years and trains with national team coach Gerry Fleming at the Eastbank karate club in Glasgow; further notes the difficulty that Niamh and other athletes faced during the covid-19 pandemic due to training facilities closing; understands that karate is a self-funded sport and that Niamh works as a part-time bartender to fund her karate expenses as well as studying an anatomy degree at the University of Glasgow; and wishes Niamh all the best for her upcoming competitions in Italy, Egypt and Spain next year.

679The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill

Tabled: 7/12/22 Signatories: 5

Caroline Lucas

Geraint Davies

Wera Hobhouse

Jim Shannon

Claire Hanna

That this House recognises the overwhelming importance of achieving clean air in order to protect life and health now and for future generations; notes that 5th-9th December marks the seventieth anniversary of the Great Smog of London in 1952; welcomes the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill, known as Ella’s Law, in the House of Commons after passing third reading in the House of Lords and securing significant cross-party support; welcomes the Bill as a measure which would ensure the human right to breathe clean air and thus prevent the deaths of children and other vulnerable people whilst helping to protect the environment and mitigate climate change; further recognises the need for targets, deadlines and proportional enforcement, that the Bill would help fulfil the UK’s commitment to the landmark UN resolution which recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right and that the current law does not adequately protect children such as Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi-Debrah who tragically died as a consequence of air pollution; expresses its deep sympathy to her mother Rosamund and other families of children whose health has been curtailed by air pollution; urges the Government to increase investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce harmful emissions and the cost of living for households; and calls on the Government to support the Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill as a measure to achieve clean air.

680National Lottery funding for West Barns Playgroup

Tabled: 7/12/22 Signatories: 3

Kenny MacAskill

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates West Barns Playgroup based near Dunbar in East Lothian on receiving a £3,170 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the playgroup will buy new play equipment for the attending toddlers; and wishes everyone the best of luck with their new additions and with their futures.

681National Lottery funding for Dunbar Primary School

Tabled: 7/12/22 Signatories: 3

Kenny MacAskill

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Dunbar Primary School in East Lothian on receiving a £10,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the school will use the funding to support young people in East Lothian in developing the confidence to cope with challenging circumstances; and wishes everyone involved in the project the very best of luck with this and their futures.