Contents

Published: Wednesday 8 February 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 7 February 2023

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

838Celebrating support staff in further education

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Emma Hardy

That this House applauds the vital work undertaken by support staff in colleges, who help keep colleges running smoothly and support learners with their further education; recognises the national celebration day, organised by UNISON, which takes place on Friday, 10 February 2023, entitled ‘Champions in our Colleges’; further recognises that college support staff are often hidden behind the scenes and yet are vital to the education of people of all ages; and further recognises that their roles are incredibly diverse, working in classrooms to support learners, in offices completing vital administration, ensuring the college estates are clean and safe, technical roles ensuring that staff and learners have the equipment they need and so much more, and that they play a vital role in every aspect of college life and without them colleges could not run.

839VAT Burn campaign and reform of VAT on sunscreen products

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Amy Callaghan

That this House recognises the need to reform VAT on sunscreen products that provide a health benefit; acknowledges that Government advice to sit in the shade is not enough to protect our skin; supports sunscreen products being defined as a healthcare product, instead of luxury goods; and calls on the Government to initiate an awareness campaign around skin protection in the sun.

840Honest Toun's Association, National Lottery funding

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House congratulates Honest Toun's Association in East Lothian on receiving a grant of £9,346 from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that this funding will be used to hold the Musselburgh Festival week in July 2023; and wishes everyone involved the best of luck with the running of the festival, and all the best for their future.

841East Lothian Roots and Fruits, National Lottery funding

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House congratulates East Lothian Roots and Fruits on receiving a grant of £9,666 from the National Lottery Community Fund; understands that the group will use the funding to cover staff costs to extend the service they provide in their rural community shop and enable them to extend volunteer development for community activities and groups in Elphinstone; and wishes everyone involved the best of luck with the community shop, and all the best for their futures.

842Athelstaneford Parish Hall, National Lottery funding

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Kenny MacAskill

That this House congratulates Athelstaneford Parish Hall in East Lothian on receiving a grant of £7,450 from The National Lottery Community Fund; understands that this funding will be used to create a warm café for Athelstaneford residents and the surrounding areas; notes that the group will also support the Knit and Natter Group who will provide hot water bottle covers to residents within the area; wishes everyone involved the best of luck with the café, and all the best for their futures.

84312th anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

Mr Alistair Carmichael

That this House notes the 14 February marks the 12th anniversary of Bahrain’s 2011 Arab Spring pro-democracy uprising that protested over 200 years of the AlKhalifa ruling dictatorship, state repression and structural inequalities, which authorities brutally crushed; raises alarm that Bahrain’s rights record has since deteriorated; decries that opposition leaders, human rights defenders and activists who were wrongfully imprisoned and tortured for their role in this uprising, including Hassan Mushaima, Dr Abduljalil AlSingace and Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, remain behind bars an echoes calls for their immediate and unconditional release; expresses grave concern that hundreds of political prisoners are subjected to medical negligence and discrimination, and calls for their release; expresses concern that AlSingace has been on hunger strike for over 19 months in order to demand the return of his confiscated research; calls on the Government to urge for his research to be given to his family members; decries Bahrain’s 2022 sham elections which were deemed to be the most repressive in 20 years; further decries that Bahrain holds 26 prisoners on death row at imminent risk of execution, many of whom allege torture including Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa; condemns that since 2012 the UK has spent millions in taxpayer money on technical assistance to Bahrain which has failed to lead to demonstrable human rights or democracy improvements, and yet continues the provision of assistance through the Gulf Strategy Fund despite its repeated implications in violations of international law and cross-party calls for its suspension; and reiterates these calls.

844Stockport Market

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 7

Navendu Mishra

Kate Hollern

Peter Dowd

Mick Whitley

John Cryer

Mohammad Yasin

That this House congratulates Stockport Market for being acclaimed Best Small Indoor Market of 2023 by the National Association of British Market Authorities; praises the traders and stall holders for their work in making the market a success; supports the judgment that the market has a positive atmosphere with an excellent and exciting variance of stalls with traders and management working as a cohesive unit; acknowledges that the market has won many other awards; notes that the site of Stockport Market is the historic Stockport Marketplace which dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era; further notes the significance of the Grade II-listed Covered Market Hall; recognises the Stockport Heritage Trust for the work they do in preserving the history of Stockport; encourages people to visit the Marketplace; and hopes that 2023 is a successful year of business for the traders and stall holders.

845150th anniversary of the Parkhead Congregational Church

Tabled: 7/02/23 Signatories: 1

David Linden

That this House congratulates Parkhead Congregational Church on their 150th anniversary; notes that in 1863 twenty scholars and three teachers met in the East End of Glasgow to form a Sunday School, this eventually became the Parkhead Congregational Church; commends the Church for supporting the local community through many historical events over the past 150 years, particularly for supporting their congregation recently with the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis; and hopes that the Parkhead Congregational Church enjoy a joyful celebration for their 150th anniversary.

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.

792National Supported Internship Day

Tabled: 24/01/23 Signatories: 13

Mr Barry Sheerman

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Alan Brown

Marion Fellows

That this House recognises 27 March 2023 as National Supported Internship Day, which is an initiative launched by charity DFN Project SEARCH to raise awareness and understanding of supported internships; acknowledges that supported internships are for those aged 16-24 and give young adults the opportunity to learn in a workplace setting; further acknowledges that these internships include continuous feedback and enable young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to learn while gaining real employability and competitive work skills; recognises the work of Kirklees Council in providing excellent internship opportunities; applauds charity DFN Project SEARCH for its achievement of a 70 per cent graduate employment rate and its goal of getting 10,000 young adults with SEND into paid employment by 2030; and asks this House to celebrate supported internships taking place across the UK.

795Ryan Cornelius and the UAE

Tabled: 24/01/23 Signatories: 23

Sir Peter Bottomley

Jim Shannon

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

Daisy Cooper

This House notes with concern that Ryan Cornelius, a British citizen, remains imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates, notwithstanding a finding by the United Nations that he has been arbitrarily detained, and notwithstanding a finding by the United Nations that Mr Cornelius should be immediately released and provided with compensation and other reparations in accordance with international law; calls upon the UAE government to release Mr Cornelius in accordance with international law; calls upon the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to secure the release of Mr Cornelius; and asks the Foreign Secretary to raise this matter with his Emirati counterpart.

807Care-experience and protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

Tabled: 26/01/23 Signatories: 7

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Stewart Hosie

Alison Thewliss

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

John McDonnell

That this House recognises that the Equality Act 2010 currently protects people against discrimination for protected characteristics including age, race, gender and sexuality, but not care-experience; praises campaigns by organisations including Who Cares? Scotland and campaigners such as Terry Galloway, who have long lobbied for care-experience to be classed as a protected characteristic; notes that those who are care-experienced are more likely than the general population to face significant challenges in their life, such as mental health issues, barriers to further education, prison sentences and early mortality; further recognises that classifying care-experience as a protected characteristic would be, according to campaigners, the single biggest action taken to support those who are care-experienced; and calls on the Government to amend the Equality Act 2010 to include care-experience as a protected characteristic.

808Tanks and Military Aid for Ukraine

Tabled: 30/01/23 Signatories: 9

Clive Lewis

Jim Shannon

Stewart Hosie

Dawn Butler

Mick Whitley

Wayne David

That this House notes that 24 February marks the first anniversary of Russia launching an all-out invasion of Ukraine; applauds the Ukrainian people’s courageous resistance; welcomes the gifting of a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine and the transfer of Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine; recognises that increased assistance must be provided to help Ukraine successfully conclude the war, free their entire country, and secure a just peace; condemns the fact that 1,105 vehicles were disposed of by the MOD via sale/auction in 2022 for financial gain; calls for all such equipment to be offered to Ukraine; notes that the Challenger 3 programme will upgrade at least 148 of the existing Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks, and calls for the urgent gifting of 79 CR2 tanks to Ukraine; notes that the 170 CVR(T) Scimitar vehicles go out of service this year, and calls for their gifting to Ukraine; notes with the arrival of 623 Boxer vehicles that the Warrior Vehicle is being retired, and calls for all Warriors to be gifted to Ukraine; notes that only four Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft will be retained until 2027, and calls for the gifting of the remaining Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft to Ukraine; calls for those of the current fleet of 60 Chinooks due for retirement be gifted to Ukraine; and calls on the Secretary of State for Defence to commit to the above aid being provided urgently with necessary training and ammunition, and for delivery no later than Spring 2023.

809Epilepsy Scotland survey launch

Tabled: 30/01/23 Signatories: 7

Douglas Chapman

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Stewart Hosie

Kirsten Oswald

Chris Law

That this House values the work of Epilepsy Scotland and welcomes the support the organisation gives those with the condition across Scotland; further welcomes the following areas of specific support available from dedicated staff for those in need of help and advice including their Helpline and Check-In Service, Youth Service, Well-being Service and Welfare Rights; supports their newly launched survey on the link between mental health issues and epilepsy; and encourages those with the condition to complete the survey and have their voices heard.

811Drive-through road side pollution

Tabled: 30/01/23 Signatories: 17

Mr Barry Sheerman

Jim Shannon

Richard Foord

Christine Jardine

Stewart Hosie

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House recognises that poor air quality is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time; has considered the research conducted by the BBC and Dr Anita Chinnaswamy which discovered that levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter were peaking at many times the UK legal air quality limits for emissions within the drive-throughs of select major fast food outlets; is concerned about the severe health impacts that air pollution can have on those individuals who suffer from prolonged exposure, such as employees and local residents; deeply regrets the link between instances of high road air pollution and deprivation in our country; and calls upon the Government to prioritise enforcement of the law and the fast-food industry to implement innovative solutions to reduce exposure to road air pollution caused by idling vehicles in drive-throughs in the quickest way possible.

812RSPB Garden Birdwatch 2023

Tabled: 30/01/23 Signatories: 7

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Stewart Hosie

Margaret Ferrier

Patricia Gibson

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

That this House notes the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' annual Big Garden Birdwatch 2023, taking place from 27 to 29 January 2023; highlights their efforts to preserve and protect the red list of birds who are most at risk and underlines that sadly the UK has lost 38 million birds over the last 50 years; urges constituents to be aware of the RSPB's important aim of learning about nature and wildlife and further notes how much of a success the Big Garden Birdwatch is; further highlights how our education sector can get involved as the RSPB launch their Big Schools Birdwatch 2023 and partake in virtual events which teach children the importance of food chains and beak adaptions; and thanks the RSPB for all their dedication in getting as many people involved as possible and celebrates their success in birdwatching thus far.

814State pension age and 1950s-born women

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 19

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Helen Morgan

Richard Foord

Valerie Vaz

That this House notes with concern the losses borne by 1950s women as a result of maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions; supports the independent inquiry of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; notes that on average over one hundred1950s born women die daily, many of whom have suffered losses and die without compensation; and urges the Government to commit to meeting the compensation recommendations of the Ombudsman upon publication.

815First Portadown Presbyterian Church

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 3

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

That this House joins with the congregation of First Portadown Presbyterian Church, Edenderry Presbyterian Church, in celebrating over 200 years of Christian witness in Portadown and the surrounding area; recognises the positive impact of the Church in the community throughout two centuries since 1822; and wishes the congregation well as they embark upon the next century of their evangelism and service in the Portadown area.

816Preconception care strategy

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 6

Siobhain McDonagh

Jim Shannon

Sir Peter Bottomley

Patricia Gibson

John McDonnell

Olivia Blake

That this House concurs with the World Health Organisation (WHO) that preconception preparation enables the healthy pregnancy and confident parenthood that addresses the transmission of disparities in life chances across the generations; recognises that providing educational, biomedical, behavioural and social health interventions for young people, women and prospective parents prior to conception is of fundamental importance in improving pregnancy outcomes and children’s subsequent physical and mental heath, development, resilience and educational aptitude; understands that the importance of preconception care is accepted by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities within the Department for Health and Social Care; congratulates the UK Preconception Partnership for working across health, education and charitable sectors to normalise preconception preparations for a healthy pregnancy and parenthood and Children’s Alliance for recommending the benefits in its Guide: Children’s Health and Wellbeing, Reversing the Damage; and calls upon the Government to ensure that integrated preconception care is available to all people in the UK and prioritised in policy content across every Government Department

818Radio 1’s Big Weekend Dundee

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 6

Chris Law

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Kirsten Oswald

Stewart Hosie

Amy Callaghan

That this House welcomes the announcement that BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2023 will be held in Dundee’s Camperdown Park; notes that the Big Weekend 2020 was due to be held in the city but was sadly cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic; further notes that 80,000 people are expected to attend the festival over its three days, with millions more watching and listening to coverage through the BBC; recognises the cultural and economic benefits that this will bring to Dundee and the wider area; thanks BBC Radio 1 and organisers for their decision to return to Camperdown Park, the first time a venue in Scotland will host the event for a second time; and wishes all involved in its organisation all the best ahead of May.

819Second anniversary of military coup in Myanmar

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 30

Rushanara Ali

Dame Margaret Hodge

Sir Iain Duncan Smith

Joanna Cherry

Dan Jarvis

Mohammad Yasin

That this House extends solidarity to the people of Myanmar resisting the military coup that took place on 1 February 2021; deplores that over 17,000 people have been arrested, over 2,700 killed and over one million forced to flee their homes; calls for the immediate release of elected members of Parliament illegally detained by the Burmese military, for an end to torture and sexual violence against activists in detention, and for the release of all political prisoners; condemns the almost daily use of airstrikes by the Burmese military; further calls on the Government to do everything it can to end the supply of aviation fuel to the Burmese military; welcomes the Government’s international lead on sanctioning sources of revenue and arms to the Burmese military; calls for increased resources to be dedicated to speeding up the pace of such sanctions; further welcomes the Government’s decision to join the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice; calls on the Government to convene a meeting at the UN Security Council on Myanmar’s non-compliance with the provisional measures to prevent genocide set out by the International Court of Justice; calls on the Government to increase efforts to persuade countries such as India and Pakistan to stop supplying arms and other military equipment to the Burmese military; and calls on the Government to increase humanitarian aid, including cross-border aid, through local civil society organisations.

82530 Years of Celtic connections music festival

Tabled: 31/01/23 Signatories: 10

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Kirsten Oswald

Chris Law

Hywel Williams

That this House congratulates music festival Celtic Connections on its 30th anniversary; notes the breadth of talent and cross-genre spirit of this festival which has brightened Glasgow winters for three decades; understands the festival celebrates Glasgow's connections to cultures all over the world through folk, roots and world music; appreciates the contribution to Scotland's cultural landscape that this festival has made over the years; understands this year's Celtic Connections featured over 2,100 musicians from around the world in over 300 events; notes the festival has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1994; and hopes that it continues to do so for many years to come.

827Exiting the European Union

Tabled: 1/02/23 Signatories: 20

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg

Sammy Wilson

Mr David Jones

Carla Lockhart

Mr Mark Francois

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (S.I., 2023, No. 17), dated 11 January 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 12 January 2023, be annulled.

828Exiting the European Union (No. 2)

Tabled: 1/02/23 Signatories: 19

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg

Sammy Wilson

Mr David Jones

Carla Lockhart

Mr Mark Francois

That this House calls upon the Government to withdraw the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 (S.I., 2023, No. 17) because they are injurious to the integrity of the UK Internal Market in circumstances where the Northern Ireland Protocol has not been replaced by new arrangements that respect and protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and that they thereby violate the New Decade New Approach Agreement; notes that the Regulations give effect to a customs border that divides the United Kingdom, treating Northern Ireland like a foreign country; further notes that it is their purpose to protect the integrity of a different legal regime in Northern Ireland created by laws in over 300 areas imposed by a polity of which it is not a part and in which it has no representation; notes that it is their purpose to protect the integrity of a legal regime that uniquely within the UK means the people of Northern Ireland can no longer elect fellow citizens to make all the laws to which they are subject; further notes that the Regulations are implicated in upholding the integrity of a legal regime which undermines the 1998 Belfast Agreement institutions, cross community consent and the right the Agreement affords the people of Northern Ireland to pursue democratically national and political aspirations; and is convinced that it would be harmful to proceed with such regulations on the eve of the twenty fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement when so many hopes hang upon them.

82940th Anniversary Ballycrochan Baptist Church, Bangor

Tabled: 1/02/23 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Paul Girvan

That that this house celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Ballycrochan Baptist Church in Bangor, Northern Ireland; notes they are a place of worship, made up of ordinary people from all age groups, backgrounds and walks of life with one great thing in common, a faith that is grounded in God's word and the Bible; further notes its contribution to the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, a group of 117 Baptist churches across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, working and fellowshipping together in evangelism, training and caring ministries; highlights its official opening in 1983, when Derek Hutchinson was appointed as the first Pastor; congratulates them on their success over the last 40 years; and wishes them all the best for the years to come.

830Brexit Economic Report

Tabled: 1/02/23 Signatories: 15

Douglas Chapman

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Marion Fellows

Amy Callaghan

Stewart Hosie

Ronnie Cowan

That this House notes with dismay that on the the third anniversary of the UK leaving the EU, according to a Bloomberg Economic Report, Brexit is costing the UK economy £100 bn in lost output each year and is having a detrimental effect on business investment and availability of workers, while leaving the UK economy 4% smaller than it might have been had the UK remained in the EU; further notes that a poll by Unherd Britain shows dwindling support for Brexit even in 2016 pro-Leave areas and many other constituencies showing a greater proportion of people being Bregretful in 2023; welcomes the series of Lights On torchlit processions in Scotland designed to remind people of what has been lost through Brexit and to enthuse the Scottish electorate that after Scotland becomes an independent nation, it will wish to take up the slot of the 28th EU nation state vacated by the UK

831Forced installations of prepayment energy meters

Tabled: 2/02/23 Signatories: 9

Mr Barry Sheerman

Jonathan Edwards

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Steven Bonnar

That this House notes the energy price crisis facing families up and down the country and the need for urgent action to support struggling households; is concerned by the forced installation of prepayment meters in the most vulnerable homes with higher tariffs and when smart meters are switched to prepayment meters remotely without prior consent; welcomes the decision by some energy suppliers to pause this practice; and calls for a three-month moratorium on forced installations whilst a review is conducted of how energy vulnerability can be reduced.

832Pay offer for Members' staff

Tabled: 2/02/23 Signatories: 38

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Mary Kelly Foy

Grahame Morris

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Kate Osborne

Andy McDonald

That this House notes after years of below inflation pay increases to MPs staff that the 2023-24 pay offer of 4.9 per cent from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is grossly inadequate; supports the Unite Parliamentary branch's demand for a RPI plus two percent pay increase; recognises a 2020 independent report to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority found that staff were underpaid to comparable positions; backs the Unite Parliamentary Branch's campaign to have another pay review inquiry with an automatic uplift associated to the recommendations of any report; and calls on the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to negotiate with the branch to prevent industrial action against MPs.

834Auchmuty High School, Glenrothes, Eco Schools Status and Green Flag Award

Tabled: 3/02/23 Signatories: 3

Peter Grant

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Auchmuty High School, Glenrothes on their success in achieving Eco-School status and the recent award of their Green Flag; recognises that pupils in the Eco-Schools Working Group have worked relentlessly over recent years including throughout the covid-19 pandemic to reach their Eco-Schools goal; notes that Eco-Schools is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world, with participation across 74 countries; acknowledges that Auchmuty High School is the latest school in the Glenrothes and Central Fife area to receive a Green Flag, joining Balcurvie Primary School, Collydean Primary School, Kennoway Primary School and St Paul’s RC Primary School; commends the pupils of Auchmuty High School for their commitment to environmental sustainability; and encourages other schools to get involved in Eco-Schools and take advantage of the opportunity for pupils to engage in action to support the environment.

835Local government

Tabled: 6/02/23 Signatories: 5

Sir George Howarth

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Rebecca Long Bailey

Carla Lockhart

That this House notes the important role of local government in providing services to communities; further notes that, regrettably, councils currently face a funding gap of £3.19 billion; expresses strong concern that the serious depletion of councils’ reserves will lead to vital services being cut; further expresses concern that, as a consequence of energy costs and other inflationary pressures on council budgets, the gap is likely to grow to over £5 billion by 2024-25; and calls on the Government to commit to providing additional resources in order to ensure that local government is properly funded to prevent the problems that will inevitably follow from the funding gap.

83645th anniversary of La Mon House bombing

Tabled: 6/02/23 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Mr Gregory Campbell

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Paul Girvan

Carla Lockhart

That this House notes with sadness the 45th anniversary of the incendiary La Mon bombing attack by the Provisional IRA on the 17 February 1978; further notes this has been described as one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles and that the attack created a fireball, killing 12 people and injuring 30 more, many of whom were severely burnt and treated at the Ulster Hospital; highlights that the IRA may have been targeting RUC officers they believed were meeting in a restaurant that night, but had got the wrong date and that the RUC officers had taken place exactly a week before, but there can never be a justification for a bomb in this place and manner; underlines the struggle emergency services had with identification due to excessive fire damage and that a Belfast man Robert Murphy, received 12 life sentences in 1981 for the murder of those killed; expresses disappointment that he was freed from prison on license in 1985 and justice was never truly served; and reminds the victims and their families that this atrocity will never be forgotten.

837Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Tabled: 6/02/23 Signatories: 7

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Stewart Hosie

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Owen Thompson

Paul Girvan

That this House notes that a powerful earthquake struck south eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, at 04:17 local time, and has killed more than 1,700 people through the night; further notes that thousands of other civilians have been found seriously injured and trapped and that the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck near the city of Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9km; adds that hours later, a second earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, hit the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province; underlines that so far over 1,700 people have tragically died in both Turkey and Syria and that seismologists said the first quake was one of the largest ever recorded in Turkey; further underlines the extensive damage to infrastructure, that among the buildings destroyed was Gaziantep Castle and that many victims in war-torn northern Syria were killed in refugee camps in rebel-held areas; sends condolences for each and every loss and urges the Government to make available any assistance possible.