Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Tuesday 13 December 2022

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 12 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

690Involuntarily instalation of prepayment meters

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Dan Carden

That this House notes with concern the significant increase in the number of households being involuntarily moved onto prepayment meters; is alarmed by reports that since July 2021 nearly half a million warrants have been issued allowing energy firms to force entry into the UK’s poorest homes, and that at one court in the North of England, magistrates signed off a single batch of 496 utility warrants in just three minutes and 51 seconds as a debt agent representing several major energy firms dialled in by telephone; recognises the injustice that the 4.5 million UK households on prepayment meters face higher average annual bills than those on direct debit; notes that Citizens Advice report an unprecedented number of people who cannot afford to top up their prepayment meter, leaving them facing a choice between being pushed deeper into debt or self-disconnecting; further notes the concerns raised by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition that energy suppliers are using prepayment meter installations under warrant to disconnect indebted customers by the back door; believes that suppliers need to be supporting customers in debt; and calls on the Government to ban the forcible installation of prepayment meters this winter and end the indefensible prepayment meter premium that sees the poorest households paying the highest prices.

69175th anniversary of Portadown ex-Servicemen's LOL 608

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House congratulates Portadown Ex Servicemen's LOL 608 on reaching their 75th anniversary; recognises the positive role of the Lodge within the Portadown area; thanks those members of the Lodge who have served in the armed forces for their service to the nation; and extends best wishes to the Lodge on their anniversary year and for the future.

692Jennie Lee's role in the foundation of the Open University

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Neale Hanvey

That this House celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of Jennie Lee, a miner’s daughter from Lochgelly, who with the support of her community graduated from Edinburgh University with a law degree, a Master of Arts and a teaching diploma; recognises Jennie as one of the first and youngest woman Members of Parliament who as Arts Minister founded and gave name to the ground-breaking Open University; applauds this pioneer of distance learning whose vision has enabled access to higher education for all; and commemorates the enduring legacy of Jennie Lee, the miners daughter who became Baroness of Asheridge.

693Management of the National Health Service

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Daisy Cooper

That this House censures the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for his handling of the National Health Service which has seen waiting times rise in ambulances services and accident and emergency, the waiting list for treatment reach more than 7 million people, and nurses and paramedics voting for a strike in the winter months; and believes the Government should remove the Secretary of State's additional Ministerial salary, as a result of this gross mismanagement of the Health Department.

694Aileen Kane fundraising for BBC Children in Need

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House recognises the significant charitable work carried out by Aileen Kane from East Renfrewshire over the past four decades; notes that Aileen, aged 81, has fundraised for Children in Need since 1985; recognises Aileen initially began fundraising by doing a sponsored walk from Giffnock to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, which she continued to do annually for 15 years; appreciates that Aileen was presented with the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year award at this year’s BBC Children in Need’s Appeal Show; further notes that Aileen raised £2,500 this year by walking around Rouken Glen Park wearing Pudsey pyjamas and a bright pink tutu; and wishes Aileen all the very best for her future fundraising endeavours.

69540th anniversary of Northern Ireland qualifying for 1982 World Cup

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 40th anniversary of Northern Ireland qualifying for the 1982 World Cup held in Spain; further notes the honourable dedication of Head Coach, Billy Bingham who sadly passed away on the 9 June 2022 and the international debut of seventeen year old Norman Whiteside, who became the youngest player ever in the World Cup Finals, a record that still stands; highlights the new documentary created by the Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Service which contains edited video of over eight hours of footage showing the reactions and shockwaves in the crowd as they cheered on Billy Bingham's squad which included Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Billy Hamilton; and celebrates again the achievements of the NI 1981 Football Squad and the joy many thousands of fans felt at their success.

696Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the true meaning of Christmas being the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the first step of God's redemptive plan; highlights the greatest gift that was given that first Christmas of love and forgiveness in the form of a baby; expresses gratitude that we are able to openly practise and express our faith at Christmas and all the year through; thinks and prays for those in other nations where freedom of religious belief is only a dream and where persecution for faith is a daily battle; and takes the opportunity to wish everyone across this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland a blessed and safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

697Hillingdon Play Association

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House places on record its thanks and appreciation for the tremendous work and dedication of Valerie Mohammedi and the volunteers of Hillingdon Play Association, as well as Donna Crook and her team of staff volunteers from Hasbro, for providing such wonderful play opportunities for children in Hillingdon and the recent Winterfest children's day, when every child met Father Christmas and went home with a lovely present.

69850 Years of Radio Glangwili

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 1

Jonathan Edwards

This House congratulates Radio Glangwili on 50 years of dedicated service; notes that the radio station first broadcasted to patients at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, on Christmas Day 1972; further notes that the station has broadcasted bilingually since its inception, providing both English and Welsh language content; congratulates the station on being a key part of the excellent healthcare provided to patients in West Wales at Glangwili; pays tribute to the vision of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh Youth Movement) members who set up the service and to the support they were given by health managers; notes how important the station is in improving the healthcare experience of patients by providing information, reassurance, therapy and a distraction from boredom; and wishes Radio Glangwili well in its next fifty years of service.

69980th anniversary of acknowledgement of Holocaust in the House of Commons

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 6

Kirsten Oswald

Andrew Percy

Dame Margaret Hodge

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House notes that Saturday 17 December marks the 80th anniversary of the Government first publicly acknowledging the Holocaust in the House of Commons chamber; recalls that then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Anthony Eden MP, during a statement to the House regarding a joint declaration from European allied countries condemned in the strongest possible terms this bestial policy of cold-blood extermination; understands that the House responded to this statement with a spontaneous moment of silence; appreciates the vital work carried out now by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, ensuring people across the UK are aware of the Holocaust and more recent genocides; appreciates their work to ensure that testimony is shared and lessons learned are understood and remembered; and notes that on Thursday 15 December a moment of silence will be observed in the House and survivors of the Holocaust will be present in the Speaker’s gallery.

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.

617Out of hours care for people with a terminal illness (No. 2)

Tabled: 28/11/22 Signatories: 9

Sir George Howarth

Jim Shannon

Wendy Chamberlain

Jonathan Edwards

Margaret Ferrier

Chris Stephens

That this House notes with concern evidence from Marie Curie’s latest Better End of Life Report published in November 2022, which shows significant gaps in out-of-hours services in the community for people at the end of life and their carers, and the link between not being able to access services at home during nights and weekends and emergency department attendances during these periods; recognises that each year around 780,000 emergency out-of-hours visits to A&E occur for people approaching the end of life and that 24/7 palliative care telephone advice lines can play a significant role in meeting the need for out-of-hours support, thereby reducing ambulance use, A&E attendance and hospital admissions; commends The Integrated Mersey Palliative Care Team (IMPaCT) designated 24/7 palliative care advice line which means that rather than having to ring 999, a single contact number connects people with a terminal illness and their carers to professionals with specialist palliative care expertise who can provide the advice they need on managing symptoms, controlling pain, access to medicines and support at home at the time when it is needed; and notes that 69 per cent of UK areas surveyed do not consistently provide a designated 24/7 palliative care advice line for terminally ill people and their carers and, of these, over one in four areas surveyed had no such advice line at all.

61916 Days of activism against gender-based violence campaign

Tabled: 28/11/22 Signatories: 19

David Linden

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Drew Hendry

Chris Law

That this House supports 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which is an annual international campaign which commenced this year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will run until Human Rights Day on 10 December; recognises that violence against women and girls is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide; notes with regret that violence against women and girls is estimated to affect more than one in three women, a figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last decade; commends the objectives of the campaign which include calling for global action to increase awareness, galvanising advocacy efforts and sharing knowledge and innovations to end violence against women and girls once and for all; and advocates for all to take part in the 16 Days of Activism and amplify the important work of women’s rights activists.

628Maid of the Loch and the National Historic Ships UK Annual Awards

Tabled: 29/11/22 Signatories: 10

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Patrick Grady

Jim Shannon

Owen Thompson

Chris Law

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates the Maid of the Loch restoration crew on being awarded Group Winner of the Marsh Volunteer Award for Historic Vessel Conservation 2022 at the National Historic Ships UK Annual Awards; believes that this award is a welcome and timely recognition for the valuable and dedicated work carried out by volunteers over the years to restore this much loved vessel on Loch Lomond with the aim of her being relaunched as a fully operational paddle steamer; and wishes all those involved in the Loch Lomond Steamship Company the best of luck in their endeavours.

629Lisa Halley, Guide Dogs Outstanding Person of the Year

Tabled: 29/11/22 Signatories: 8

Chris Law

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Christine Jardine

Anne McLaughlin

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Lisa Halley from Dundee on her award of Outstanding Person of the Year at the Guide Dogs People Awards 2022; notes that Lisa received this award for her brilliant work to graduate with a degree in psychology from Abertay University in 2020; recognises that she was supported throughout her studies by her dual guide dog Jumble, who helped give her the confidence to start university; thanks all at Guide Dogs for the excellent work that they do across the country to support people in our local communities; and wishes Lisa, Jumble and all at Guide Dogs all the best for the future.

630Inverness Maritime and Coastguard Search and Rescue: Award

Tabled: 29/11/22 Signatories: 10

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Law

Chris Stephens

Anne McLaughlin

That this House congratulates Inverness-based Maritime and Coastguard Search and Rescue crew on recently being awarded the 2022 Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award; notes that this award is given to an individual member of a helicopter crew, a complete crew or the crews of multiple helicopters, for an act of outstanding courage or devotion to duty in the course of land or sea search and rescue operations; recognises that Captain Rob Green, Captain Simon Hammock, Philip Candle and Duncan Tripp MBE are joint recipients of the award for their efforts in March of this year where they conducted a highly demanding rescue in the most extreme of weather conditions; commends the crew for displaying the highest standard of crew-cooperation, judgement and handling skills to ensure a safe outcome for those in danger; and pays thanks to all those who dedicate their lives to the search and rescue of those who need it.

632Short Term Holiday Let Licensing Scheme

Tabled: 29/11/22 Signatories: 11

Rachael Maskell

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Kim Johnson

Rebecca Long Bailey

Dan Carden

That this House recognises the scale and growth in properties operating as short term holiday lets and the adverse impact this is having on the availability of housing in some urban, rural and coastal communities; calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to allow local authorities to introduce local licensing schemes to determine standards and place limits on short term holiday lets; further calls on the Government to allow local authorities to determine the terms for holding a license including the license fee, health and safety standards, terms of operation, and penalties for those in breach of licensing terms including fines and termination of licenses; and calls on the Government to empower local authorities to determine areas where the granting of new short term holiday let licenses will be restricted.

637Xinjiang fire and zero covid protests

Tabled: 30/11/22 Signatories: 9

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.

664Equal private pension entitlement for bereaved unmarried partners

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 18

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.

672Free School Meals For All campaign

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 37

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.

675National Lottery funding for Our Community Kitchen

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 2

Kenny MacAskill

Neale Hanvey

That this House congratulates Our Community Kitchen in Haddington, East Lothian, on receiving a £93,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to employ a development manager and chef for three years; commends the aim to reduce loneliness and isolation among the Haddington community and surrounding areas by hosting community lunches four days a week, delivering meals to vulnerable people, maintaining a community garden, and providing activities and volunteering opportunities; notes that 122 community members and 35 volunteers participate in meals and activities; and wishes everyone involved the best of luck with their project and all the best for the future.

676National Lottery funding for Black Awareness and Cultural Events

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 2

Kenny MacAskill

Neale Hanvey

That this House congratulates Black Awareness and Cultural Events (BAACE) on receiving a £10,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to put on an event to celebrate Black History Month in Scotland; and wishes everyone involved the best of luck with the event and with all projects and events in the future.

677National Lottery funding for Keep The Heid Mental Health Café

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 2

Kenny MacAskill

Neale Hanvey

That this House congratulates Keep The Heid Mental Health Café in East Lothian on receiving a £9,940 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to continue their current mental health support sessions in Haddington and start a new group in Tranent, East Lothian; commends the group's effort to support people who are struggling with their mental health, especially through the festive period; and wishes the best of luck to everyone involved and all the best for their future.

678National Lottery funding for East Lothian Foodbank

Tabled: 6/12/22 Signatories: 2

Kenny MacAskill

Neale Hanvey

That this House congratulates the East Lothian Foodbank on receiving a £1,750 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to hold a social and team building event for 60 Foodbank volunteers in East Lothian; commends the selfless efforts of all of volunteers at foodbanks who are offering a great service to struggling people through these increasingly hard times; and wishes everyone involved the very best of luck with the social and team building event and all the best for their futures.

679The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill

Tabled: 7/12/22 Signatories: 15

Caroline Lucas

Geraint Davies

Wera Hobhouse

Jim Shannon

Claire Hanna

Richard Burgon

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: 4

Kenny MacAskill

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Neale Hanvey

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: 4

Kenny MacAskill

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Neale Hanvey

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.

682Council Tax on second homes

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 2

Tim Farron

Jonathan Edwards

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: 23

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: 6

Tim Farron

Stephen Farry

Wendy Chamberlain

Richard Foord

Ben Lake

Jonathan Edwards

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: 13

Siobhain McDonagh [R]

Kim Johnson

Claire Hanna

Richard Burgon

Marion Fellows

Dan Carden

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.

686Compulsory prepayment meters

Tabled: 9/12/22 Signatories: 9

Jon Trickett

Ian Lavery

Dan Carden

Kim Johnson

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

That this House understands that due to rising energy prices many households are struggling to pay their bills; notes that nearly half a million warrants allowing energy firms to forcibly install prepayment meters in people’s homes have been approved by courts since July 2021, according to a Freedom of Information request; further notes reports in The i newspaper that courts are signing off these warrants in large batches without examining individual cases; recognises that households with prepayment meters have less rights than other customers because they are not entitled to get into more than £10 of debt and if they are unable to pay in advance they are forced to self-disconnect leaving them without power in their homes; further recognises that the rules state that suppliers cannot force-fit a prepayment meter under warrant for people in very vulnerable situations if they don’t want one, charge them for warrant costs on debts, or use warrants on people who would find the experience very traumatic; expresses its concern that warrants are being issued without the appropriate checks being undertaken to make sure that the rules are being followed; believes that nobody should be left without energy this winter as a result of them not being able to afford bills; calls for the Government to immediately implement a legal ban on prepayment meters being forcibly installed without the approval of households; and further calls for the Government to investigate whether courts are following the rules relating to the forced instalment of prepayment meters.

687Hayocks Primary School, Stevenston: UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School award

Tabled: 9/12/22 Signatories: 4

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates the pupils and staff Hayocks Primary School in Stevenston on achieving the prestigious Gold Rights Respecting School award from UNICEF; notes that the Gold award is the highest accolade that UNICEF can bestow on a school in recognition of the excellent progress that the school has achieved in embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in its ethos and curriculum; commends the excellent work of Headteacher Miss Penelope McCann, staff, pupils and wider school community which supported a range of activities to demonstrate that Hayocks Primary School is a safe place to place to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and all are able to thrive in a supportive environment; and wishes everyone at Hayocks Primary School every success in the future.

688Special Tribunal on Russian Aggression in Ukraine

Tabled: 9/12/22 Signatories: 15

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Dr Julian Lewis

Christine Jardine

Liz Saville Roberts

Colum Eastwood

Stuart C McDonald

That this house seeks justice and accountability for atrocities committed by Russian troops during their invasion of Ukraine, as well as for the crime of the war itself; recognises that the decision by the Russian Federation to launch attacks on Ukraine poses a grave challenge to the post-1945 international order; recognises that in line with international law the invasion has provided for individual criminal responsibility for those who plan, initiate or execute wars of aggression; supports all ongoing investigations into Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, including those before the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and European Court of Human Rights; recommends the establishment of an ad hoc special tribunal with a mandate to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression allegedly committed by the political and military leadership of the Russian Federation; suggests applying the definition of the crime of aggression based on Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute; calls for guarantees that accountability will extend to government and political officials; welcomes the exercise of jurisdiction by the International Criminal Court over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and attempted genocide on the territory of Ukraine; notes that Russian co-operation with such a trial may be one key metric by which we can judge that Europe is on a path towards peace; recognises that a Ukrainian victory is necessary for the integrity of the international system, as are justice and accountability for Russian crimes; and considers that accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine must be secured.

689Great Annual Savings Group

Tabled: 9/12/22 Signatories: 4

Grahame Morris

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

That this House recognises that vital work of Great Annual Savings Group, a business to business cost reduction service, in promoting local enterprise; notes the company has been recognised as the UK’s leading cost reduction specialist for customer care according to Trustpilot; also notes Great Annual Savings was named the second fastest growing company in the North East at the prestigious Ward Hadaway North East Fastest 50 Awards; thanks the Great Annual Saving team for their community legacy supporting over 11,000 businesses, creating 200 jobs and raising over £300,000 for social and charitable causes; commends the executive team for supporting staff throughout the covid-19 pandemic, and praises their work to overcome difficulties created by the cost of living crisis and the collapse of the energy market; highlights the important work of Great Annual Savings and the testimonies of notable businesses from Sunderland Football Club, Ramside Hall Hotel and Castle Eden Brewery who have made significant savings; and calls on the Government to recognise businesses of strategic importance that underpin and support the wider economy by supporting our enterprises to remain trading who would otherwise close.