Contents

Published: Thursday 15 December 2022

Early Day Motions tabled on Wednesday 14 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

703Criminal Cases Review Commission and Oliver Campbell

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 1

Mr Barry Sheerman

That this House warmly welcomes the decision of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the case of Oliver Campbell to the Court of Appeal to review his 1991 conviction for murder; thanks the current Chair of the CCRC, Helen Pitcher, for agreeing to look at the case once again thoroughly, independently and objectively; congratulates the former Member of Parliament for Ipswich, Sandy Martin, for raising the matter in a Westminster Hall debate and for outlining the many and various deeply worrying concerns about the safety of the conviction; pays tribute to Oliver Campbell’s long standing lawyers, Glyn Maddocks KC Hon and Michael Birnbaum KC who have worked tirelessly over the last 23 years conducting thousands of hours of work pro bono; and hopes that justice for Oliver Campbell can be achieved.

704Howe of Fife Bell Baxter Under-16 Rugby Team

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That the House congratulates the Howe of Fife Bell Baxter under-16 rugby team on their joint-win in the final of the Scottish Rugby Union Schools Shield which was held at Murrayfield on 7 December; understands that the match against North Berwick ended with a 14-14 tie but that Howe of Fife recovered from 14-7 at half time; recognises the success of the partnership between Howe of Fife and Bell Baxter High School; and commends the hard work of the team’s coaches and the commitment of its players.

705Closure of the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 7

Andy McDonald

Dan Carden

Stuart C McDonald

Caroline Lucas

Alex Cunningham

Grahame Morris

That this House is dismayed that the pioneering Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme has closed due to the withdrawal of funding; applauds the exemplary efforts of Danny Ahmed and his colleagues at the addiction treatment clinic in helping to save and rebuild lives; recognises the success of this scheme in providing invaluable health benefits to participants and reducing offending and criminal justice costs significantly, as verified by Teesside University’s independent evaluation; acknowledges that drug deaths are at record levels, with people in Middlesbrough statistically more likely to die from a drug-related death than a car accident; notes that the Government’s Drugs Strategy, From Harm to Hope, published a year ago, stated that the cost of drug misuse is absolutely staggering and the human toll is incalculably larger, measured not in pounds lost but in lives shattered; further notes that the strategy stressed the need for evidence-based interventions and innovation, and identified Middlesbrough as the area worst-affected by opiate use; reaffirms the cross-party views of the Home Affairs Committee and the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice APPG that this evidence-based and cost-effective treatment scheme should be continued; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment is rescued and restored at the earliest opportunity and sustainable funding can be secured.

706Treatment of workers at Orchard House Foods, Gateshead

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 1

Ian Mearns

That this House is shocked and angered by the treatment of workers made redundant at Orchard House Food’s Gateshead factory; notes that the company - which supplies companies such as Marks and Spencer, Morrisons and Pret a Manger - remains a going concern with some workers offered the chance to relocate to the Midlands; understands that the majority have been unable to relocate and were initially promised redundancy payments within two weeks of receiving their final pay slip, in most cases on 9 December; is outraged to learn that the workers have since been informed that there will be a delay in processing these redundancy payments until the New Year; is concerned about the impact on families now facing the prospect of Christmas without an income and yet to receive a penny of support from the company, leaving many worried about heating their homes or feeding their children; and calls on the management of Orchard House Foods to ensure that all redundancy payments are received in full prior to Christmas.

707Alcohol-specific deaths

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 1

Dan Carden

That this House is seriously concerned by the sharp increase in alcohol-specific deaths in data released by the Office for National Statistics on 8 December 2022, revealing that in 2021 there were 9,641 deaths,14.8 per 100,000 people, from alcohol-specific causes registered in the UK, the highest number on record, representing a 7.4 per cent increase since the previous year and a 27.4 per cent increase since 2019, the last pre-coronavirus pandemic year; notes the clear regional differences in alcohol-specific mortality and alcohol harm with alcohol-related mortality ranking highest in the North East for eight consecutive years, with double the number of deaths at 20.4 per 100,000 than the London region on 10.2 per 100,000; is alarmed by a lack of a Government alcohol strategy, noting that the last strategy was published in 2012; and calls on the Government to take immediate steps to address alcohol harm by commissioning an independent review of alcohol harm to inform a new alcohol strategy.

708Diagnosis and support for PANS and PANDAS

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 1

Sarah Green

That this House notes that Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) are conditions caused by misdirected immune responses and brain inflammation following common infections; acknowledges that these conditions can lead to a range of physical and psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, tics, behavioural regression, motor and sensory abnormalities, insomnia, OCD and irritability; expresses concern at the educational difficulties and sudden deterioration in school performance these symptoms can cause for children suffering from the conditions; regrets that knowledge of these conditions is low among medical professionals in the UK; further regrets that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not yet published guidance on dealing with PANS or PANDAS; welcomes the work of PANS PANDAS UK, a charity working with families and children impacted by the conditions; and calls on the Government to support their campaign to increase early diagnosis and effective treatment by ensuring that both conditions are recognised in every GP surgery, every school and every hospital in England.

709Costs of public sector pay rises

Tabled: 14/12/22 Signatories: 11

Richard Burgon

John McDonnell

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Ms Diane Abbott

Jon Trickett

Andy McDonald

That this House rejects the claim made in the media by the Prime Minister that it would cost an additional £28 billion to award a pay-rise for all public sector workers in line with inflation; notes that according to economists and fact-checkers the Prime Minister's claim is vastly inflated; further notes that the Institute for Fiscal Studies in its Green Book estimates that pay rises in line with inflation for public sector workers would cost about £18bn and that the Government would, in addition, get around a third of this back in tax revenues reducing the cost further by around £6bn; further believes therefore that such a pay award could cost less than half of the government’s stated £28bn figure; notes that one of the many fair options available for funding such a pay increase in line with inflation would be to equalise Capital Gains Tax rates with income tax rates which would raise up to £17 billion a year; and calls on the Prime Minister to withdraw his claim and to make an offer of a pay award in line with inflation which would be a huge step towards reaching a resolution to avoid further strikes.

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.

644Charlotte Craig and Impact Arts

Tabled: 1/12/22 Signatories: 6

Chris Stephens

Anne McLaughlin

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Kirsten Oswald

That this House warmly congratulates Charlotte Craig from Impact Arts on winning the Self-Management through Arts Award at the Self-Management Awards 2022, a ceremony hosted by ALLIANCE Scotland; notes this award is a recognition of Charlotte’s accomplishments and hard work at the Craft Café in Govan; recognises the Craft Café offers a safe, social and creative environment where older people can learn new skills, renew social networks and reconnect with their communities; recognises the award was well-deserved acknowledgement of Charlotte’s creative abilities and leading style which have made a lasting impact on the café’s service users, allowing them to grow in confidence and have a say in their day-to-day activities; and wishes Charlotte and the whole team at Impact Arts continued success in their future endeavours.

663National Lottery Funding for Safety Awareness Glasgow

Tabled: 5/12/22 Signatories: 6

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Carol Monaghan

Chris Law

Anne McLaughlin

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: 21

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: 13

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.

679The Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill

Tabled: 7/12/22 Signatories: 27

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.

682Council Tax on second homes

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 4

Tim Farron

Jonathan Edwards

Helen Morgan

Richard Foord

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.

684Decision to approve the Whitehaven coal mine

Tabled: 8/12/22 Signatories: 9

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: 19

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.

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

Tabled: 9/12/22 Signatories: 6

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Chris Law

Kirsten Oswald

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: 26

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.

690Involuntarily installation of prepayment meters

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 8

Dan Carden

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Mohammad Yasin

Dr Philippa Whitford

Chris Stephens

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: 4

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Mohammad Yasin

Mr Gregory Campbell

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: 5

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Dan Carden

Douglas Chapman

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: 5

Daisy Cooper

Jim Shannon

Munira Wilson

Tim Farron

Ed Davey

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.

69540th anniversary of Northern Ireland qualifying for 1982 World Cup

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Stephens

Gavin Robinson

Mr Gregory Campbell

Kirsten Oswald

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: 3

Jim Shannon

Tim Farron

Gavin Robinson

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.

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

Tabled: 12/12/22 Signatories: 50

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.

700Dario Franchitti and the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame

Tabled: 13/12/22 Signatories: 8

Martyn Day

Hannah Bardell

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Douglas Chapman

John McNally

That this House congratulates Bathgate bairn Dario Franchitti on being inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame; notes that the motorsport legend is a three-time winner of the famous Indianapolis 500 as well as four-time IndyCar series champion; recognises a lifetime of achievement in racing including winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1992, being crowned BBC Scotland’s Sports Personality of the Year 2007 and elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019; commends Dario Franchitti for his bravery when he was involved in serious career-ending crash at the Grand Prix of Houston in 2013; and wishes him continued success in his new career as a TV commentator.

701Bilton Hall Amateur Boxing Club, Robbie Colman and Ewan Mackenzie

Tabled: 13/12/22 Signatories: 4

Kate Osborne

Ian Mearns

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Jarrow constituent Robbie Colman on winning his debut professional boxing fight at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead on Sunday 11 December; further notes that Robbie’s win shortly follows another brilliant success by another Jarrow constituent Ewan Mackenzie, who won his sixth boxing fight on a prestigious evening at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena; recognises the important influence that Bilton Hall Amateur Boxing Club has had in Robbie and Ewan’s success and the role it plays in keeping youngsters on the right track; acknowledges the part that famous boxing faces, including former world champions Sugar Ray Leonard and Ricky Hatton, have played in visiting the club in the past, passing on their knowledge to young boxers; further recognises the important role that boxing both historically had and continues to have in the local community; and wishes Robbie and Ewan well for their future careers in boxing.

702Immigration policy and seafarer jobs

Tabled: 13/12/22 Signatories: 16

Karl Turner

Ian Mearns

Grahame Morris

Kenny MacAskill

Chris Stephens

Apsana Begum

That this House is deeply concerned by the impact of immigration policy on seafarer jobs and training in Net Zero industries; notes that the recent extension of the Offshore Wind Workers Immigration Rules Concession 2017 has cost at least 36 UK seafarers their jobs on vessels constructing EDF’s Neart na Gaoithe wind farm off the coast of Fife; shares the RMT union’s concerns over this case; notes that crewing agent ERSG recruited UK seafarers for 12 months work, only to replace them two weeks later with Filipino crew on lower pay and longer contracts; is alarmed that the Home Office has extended this temporary concession at least seven times but has refused to provide Parliament with information on its operation or labour market impact; notes that over 2,000 offshore wind turbines have been constructed in UK waters since 2017; further notes that the wind industry has not requested and does not support this waiver; and calls on the Government to scrap the 2017 concession and to work with trade unions, employers and the Migration Advisory Committee to secure long-term jobs and apprenticeships for UK seafarers in the offshore wind supply chain.