Contents

Published: Friday 24 March 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 23 March 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

996UN International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Tabled: 23/03/23 Signatories: 4

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Nadia Whittome

Jeremy Corbyn

Anne McLaughlin

That this House recognises the UN International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade; calls on the UK Government to offer a full formal apology, for the destructive and exploitative actions of the British Empire, including but not limited to, the Empire’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and colonisation; demands that this apology goes beyond the expressions of deep regret that have been made by previous Prime Ministers; recognises that no amount of money could ever fully make amends for the atrocities inflicted by the British Empire, but that meaningful steps can be taken to atone for past actions and the lasting impact those actions continue to have; applauds the Government of the Netherlands who issued a formal apology for the past actions of the Dutch State; welcomes the apology from the Trevelyan family, an aristocratic British family, for their ownership of slaves and their commitment to reparations; calls on the UK Government to follow these examples; notes that during the time of the Empire, Britain pillaged and looted several cultural artefacts from other nations, including art, jewellery, gems, treasures and even human remains, many of which are on display in UK museums, universities and institutions; is aware that Britain was not alone in these actions; welcomes the announcements from several museums, universities and institutions across Europe who have agreed to return stolen artifacts; and further calls on the Government to engage in meaningful conversations around reparations including the restitution of stolen artifacts.

997Pilgrim's Food Masters

Tabled: 23/03/23 Signatories: 1

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House notes the extraordinary legacy of the late Lord Noon as a businessman and his commitment to social justice; welcomes his role in establishing Noon Foods; notes with concern the change in employment practices at Noon Foods since being taken over by Pilgrim's Food Masters; welcomes the 100 workers at Pilgrim's Food Masters that visited Parliament on 23 March 2023 with the GMB to share their experience of fire and rehire; is aware the food company based in Southall West London has made more than 100 staff redundant with the closure of the Collett Way plant and this figure could rise as high as 250; further notes that the GMB Union has more than 1,000 members at Pilgrim's Food Masters, predominantly low-paid women of Punjabi, Sri Lankan and Somali heritage; and urges Pilgrim's Food Masters to end their fire and rehire programme and instead work constructively and respectfully with their workers and the GMB.

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.

950Women’s drug and alcohol treatment

Tabled: 9/03/23 Signatories: 18

Rachael Maskell

Kim Johnson

Caroline Lucas

Liz Saville Roberts

Kate Hollern

Beth Winter

That this House is alarmed to see the rate of both drug-related and alcohol-related deaths among women increase; notes that women face stigma, shame and many initial challenges to accessing treatment services; further notes that women have separate and specific requirements within treatment, including the need for safe, women-only spaces; recognises that, in the past, drug and alcohol treatment services have not consistently been designed or adapted for women, often failing to cater for their distinctive needs; acknowledges the positive steps taken in recent years in appointing Dame Carol Black as independent advisor on drugs and Dame Lesley Regan as women’s health ambassador; applauds the efforts of the Women’s Treatment Working Group, comprising drug and alcohol treatment providers at Collective Voice, in working to ensure that women receive appropriate, bespoke and effective services; and calls on the Government and local authorities to adopt consistent policies and comprehensive provision to meet women’s drug and alcohol treatment needs.

954P&O Ferries one year on

Tabled: 13/03/23 Signatories: 29

Karl Turner

Grahame Morris

John McDonnell

Ian Mearns

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Gavin Newlands

That this House is concerned that no sanctions have been imposed on P&O Ferries, DP World or flag states for the openly unlawful dismissal of 786 directly employed UK seafarers on 17 March 2022; is alarmed that despite the Government’s announcement of its Nine Point Plan on P&O Ferries on 30 March 2022, P&O Ferries’ agency crews are still being paid as low as £3.96 per hour and work unsafe roster patterns of up to 17 weeks at sea; is also concerned that the Insolvency Service decided, without conducting a public interest test, not to prosecute P&O Ferries for criminal offences; notes that a Seafarers Charter based on collectively bargained terms and conditions still has not been agreed; supports the RMT and Nautilus International’s call for mandatory sectoral bargaining through fair pay agreements in the ferry industry, prohibition of seafarer discrimination, stronger trade union and employment rights, excluding DP World from Freeport tax reliefs and revoking P&O Ferries' Royal Charter; and calls on the Government to work with the maritime unions in adopting these measures as part of a new deal for UK seafarers.

959Social care staffing and a national care service

Tabled: 13/03/23 Signatories: 25

Margaret Greenwood

Grahame Morris

Mick Whitley

Charlotte Nichols

Mohammad Yasin

Tony Lloyd

That this House expresses concern that there are around 165,000 vacancies in social care in England and that, as of 2020-21, the average hourly pay in independent care homes in England was just £9.01; is further concerned about separate reports that England is projected to need close to 500,000 more care staff by the middle of the next decade; believes that the Government has no credible plan to address the shortage of staff in the social care sector; recognises the impact that chronic staffing shortages in the social care sector can have on unpaid carers, with many forced to give up their careers to look after a loved one; further recognises that many unpaid carers are struggling financially as a result of their caring role, with an increasing number unable to afford their utility bills; calls on the Government to work with stakeholders, including unpaid carers and other people with lived experience, to bring forward plans for a national care service ensuring that care is delivered for people, not for profit.

971Impact of Cyclone Freddy in Malawi and Mozambique

Tabled: 15/03/23 Signatories: 10

Patrick Grady

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

Anne McLaughlin

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

That this House expresses its sadness at the loss of over 200 lives in Malawi and Mozambique following the landfall of Cyclone Freddy in those countries since 13 March 2023; notes that the cyclone has re-intensified at least seven times after initially weakening, and has become one of the longest-lasting tropical cyclones on record; further notes that the widespread devastation caused by the storm has led to the destruction of homes, businesses, roads, agricultural land and other infrastructure, and exacerbated existing challenges in the region including an ongoing outbreak of cholera in Malawi; notes concerns that the increasing intensity of such storms is an impact of fossil-fuel driven climate change; calls on the Government and governments and multilateral institutions around the world to provide an effective humanitarian response to this disaster and redouble efforts to tackle the causes and effects of climate change; and sends its sympathy and condolences to all those who have lost loved ones or found themselves displaced as a result of the cyclone.

978Immigration

Tabled: 16/03/23 Signatories: 6

Gavin Robinson

Stephen Farry

Claire Hanna

Jim Shannon

Colum Eastwood

Carla Lockhart

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations) (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I., 2023, No. 305), dated 9 March 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 10 March 2023, be annulled.

980WestFest

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 6

Patrick Grady

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House welcomes the announcement of a new not-for-profit community and cultural festival, WestFest, which will take place in the West End of Glasgow during June 2023; notes that the proposals set out to deliver a programme of free, accessible cultural events and activities across the local area, and looks to build on the successes of the West End Festival which had taken place in the community over the past 25 years; hope that the events will provide an opportunity for community groups, businesses, artists and residents to create vibrant, quality and inclusive activities that will be open to all to enjoy; and looks forward to this year’s programme being the first of many for years to come.

981Ministry of Defence staff pay

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 22

Rebecca Long Bailey

Jon Trickett

Jim Shannon

Kate Osborne

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Grahame Morris

This House notes that, due to the cost of living crisis, the increase to the National Living Wage in April 2023 will be welcomed by many low waged families; expresses regret that it will also result in unwelcome consequences for many workers in the Ministry of Defence; notes that these workers include Ministry of Defence guards, cleaners, workers in stores areas and workers maintaining and refuelling military aircrafts; further notes the uplift means that Ministry of Defence workers on skill zone 1 will automatically be upgraded to a higher rate of pay, unlike skill zone 2 workers; acknowledges this means that both skill zone 1 and 2 will receive a new rate of £10.42 per hour; is concerned that this will result in the immediate erosion of the skill zone pay differential; rejects any proposals by the Ministry of Defence to arbitrarily change gross hours to net hours in an effort to deflect these pay implications; calls on the Ministry of Defence to urgently compensate all affected workers; is concerned to learn that many hardworking Ministry of Defence staff are forced to rely on foodbanks to make ends meet whilst diligently supporting and defending our country; recognises the important work Unite the Union is doing to fight for their members on this issue; and calls on the Government to pay Ministry of Defence workers fairly.

982Sweetie Brae Nursery 25th anniversary

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 5

Dr Lisa Cameron

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Sweetie Brae Nursery on its 25th year of supporting local families in Strathaven and surrounding areas; commends the work of Moira Fell, Director, and her parents who first built Sweetie Brae between 1996 and 1998, opening for business on Monday 9 February 1998; recognises the crucial emphasis on partnership with and support for parents at the nursery, with learning journals bridging home-learning and the nursery; understands the importance of such childcare services for the working parent community; notes the commitment, enthusiasm and hard-work of the whole team at Sweetie Brae; further notes the secure, safe and stimulating environment that the nursery provides; and wishes Sweetie Brae all the very best for the future.

983Freedom Day in Belarus

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 6

Tony Lloyd

Jim Shannon

Wayne David

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

That this House expresses its support for Belarusians celebrating Freedom Day on 25 March to mark that day in 1918 when Belarus gained its independence; notes that the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election in 2020, in which Alexander Lukashenko falsely declared victory over Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, resulted in peaceful mass protests against the Lukashenko regime and the fraudulent election, followed by severe reprisals and repression; considers Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to be the leader of a democratic Belarus and commends the courage and determination of the opposition in exile working towards democratic governance in that country; calls on the authoritarian Lukashenko regime to release the thousands of political prisoners, drop the prosecution in absentia of the Belarusian opposition in exile, uphold freedoms of expression, association and assembly, and end its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and requests that the Government provides further support to Belarusians in exile, to expand and tighten its sanctions regime against Belarusians responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations, and to join calls for the opening of a BBC Belarusian service and the suspension of Belarus from Interpol and UEFA.

984Telecoms price increases

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 9

Tony Lloyd

Jon Trickett

Jim Shannon

Nadia Whittome

Kate Osborne

Jonathan Edwards

That this House condemns the announced plans by the UK’s largest telecoms companies for above-inflation mid-contract price increases; highlights reports that O2 plans to increase prices by 17.3 per cent while BT, EE, Vodafone, Three, Plusnet Mobile and Talkmobile plan to increase prices by 14.4 per cent and Virgin Media plans to increase prices by an average of 13.8 per cent; emphasises that this comes following Ofcom saying in September 2022 that a record eight million UK households were already facing problems paying mobile, broadband, pay-TV and streaming bills; further highlights that Ofcom has expressed concern about the level of uncertainty customers face about future price rises; notes that Ofcom has launched a review into this; would welcome urgent action by Ofcom; and calls on telecoms companies to reconsider these significant price increases at a time when millions are already struggling with the cost of living.

986Renfrew YMCA Youth Social Action Group

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 7

Gavin Newlands

Alan Brown

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Renfrew YMCA’s Youth Social Action Group on winning the Environmental Award at YMCA Scotland’s award dinner held in Stirling in February; notes that the group have been working to raise awareness and educate the wider community about the impacts of climate change and the action needed to help tackle it; commends the practical work undertaken by the group to involve the community, which includes litter picking, promoting growing your own food and organising a sustainable afternoon tea for members of the local community; highlights the hard work and dedication of YMCA members across Scotland in doing their bit to fight climate change; and looks forward to much more recognition for the young people of Renfrew YMCA for the valuable and inspirational work they do in making Renfrewshire a better place to live.

987Prison education

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 32

Zarah Sultana

Kim Johnson

Kate Osamor

Apsana Begum

Liz Saville Roberts

John McDonnell

That this House notes the importance of prison education being at the heart of rehabilitation, and its power to unlock potential and reduce reoffending; is alarmed by the dire state of prison education, with experts and authoritative bodies including the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Ofsted and the Education Select Committee warning of poor outcomes due to a lack of learning by prisoners; believes the current for-profit system of prison education wastes millions of pounds of public money each year and encourages a race to the bottom between the four main providers in terms of quality of education, suitability of curricula and conditions of staff employment; and therefore calls on the Government to use their pledged launch of a Prisoner Education Service to bring the delivery of prison education back into the public sector, with standardised qualifications, curricula and staff contracts.

988Epilepsy Scotland and Purple Day

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 12

Kirsten Oswald

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Dave Doogan

Ronnie Cowan

Dr Philippa Whitford

That this House recognises and is grateful for the important work carried out by Epilepsy Scotland, who fight to reduce the stigma experienced by people living with epilepsy, and to influence public policy to ensure appropriate support is available for those living with the condition; notes epilepsy is the most common neurological condition with an estimated 55,000 people living with the condition in Scotland; further notes that Epilepsy Scotland provides a range of services including a helpline, a check-in service, a youth service, a well-being service and online support groups; understands that Epilepsy Scotland is currently conducting a survey to investigate the links between mental health issues and epilepsy; further recognises that Sunday 26 March 2023 is Purple Day, a time where thousands of people across the globe will come together to start conversations about epilepsy, raise awareness of the condition and to fundraise; acknowledges that Epilepsy Scotland is encouraging people to wear the colour purple and lighting buildings purple to mark the occasion; and wishes Epilepsy Scotland all the very best in continuing their important work.

989Police pay

Tabled: 20/03/23 Signatories: 5

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

That this House notes that a report by the Social Market Foundation, commissioned by the Police Federation of England and Wales, found that police pay fell by 17 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2020; further notes that if current trends continue, police officers will face a further 4 per cent cut in real terms by 2027; recognises that the report found that the starting salaries of police constables have risen considerably slower than earnings as a whole across the economy; acknowledges the findings of the 2022 Police Federation Pay and Morale Survey which found that one in five police officers were considering leaving the service within the next two years and high levels of low morale across the occupation; notes that police officers are unable to strike for better remuneration; and calls on the Police Remuneration Review Body to consider the findings of both reports when setting future pay awards and requests that the Home Office allocate additional resources to Police Forces in England and Wales to fund additional pay awards.

99040th anniversary of East Kilbride Credit Union

Tabled: 21/03/23 Signatories: 4

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Chris Law

That this House congratulates East Kilbride Credit Union on their 40th anniversary; commends their success in increasing accessible savings and credit facilities for people across East Kilbride; notes their expansion with a recent digital drive to improve inclusion and accessibility; recognises East Kilbride Credit Union’s ethos and dedication to serving the public, including those most vulnerable, thereby setting an example to other financial service providers; and wishes East Kilbride Credit Union every success for the future.

99150th anniversary of Ballywalter Girls Brigade

Tabled: 21/03/23 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

That this House celebrates the 50th anniversary of Ballywalter Girls Brigade; highlights its 50th year of service to the local community in the Ards Peninsula; notes the rural nature of the village of Ballywalter and surrounding areas and that the church gives the families of the peninsula a place to send their children closer to home for Girls Brigade; further highlights the demand, given the group has been running successfully for five decades and the connections and fun that this club provides for those children who may be socially isolated; further notes the outstanding work undertaken by the leaders of the local Girls Brigade groups; and thanks them for their dedication to giving children a safe haven to be themselves and grow with confidence and enthusiasm.

99250th anniversary of I Will Always Love You

Tabled: 21/03/23 Signatories: 35

Jim Shannon

Kirsten Oswald

Olivia Blake

Nadia Whittome

Cat Smith

Tim Farron

That this House celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Dolly Parton's hit song I Will Always Love You; notes the sentiment behind this song and what it means to so many, including the wife of the hon. Member for Strangford; highlights the contribution this song and her music in general to the industry, especially in the late 1960s, early 1970s and over the last 50 years; further notes the large scale event held at the weekend in Dolly Parton's multi-million dollar theme park at Pigeon Forge in East Tennessee as part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the song, that was written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Peter Wagoner; and wishes Dolly continued success as she entertains and encourages so many through her music and inspirational character.

99320th anniversary of the Iraq war

Tabled: 21/03/23 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes the 20th anniversary of American missiles landing in Baghdad on the morning of 20 March 2003, which signalled the start of the US-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein; notes the television address shortly after the bombings by President George Bush, vowing to disarm Iraq and free its people and the subsequent televised address by former Prime Minister Tony Blair confirming British troops were in action in Iraq to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction; highlights that the attack was ordered two hours after a final 48-hour deadline expired for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq due to crimes against humanity related to the 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi'a; further highlights and condemns the atrocities committed by Hussein and that these shall not be forgotten; and reaffirms our gratitude and support for our veterans who continue to live with the legacy of their service in their physical and mental health.

995St Bede’s Catholic Primary School, British Council International School Award accreditation

Tabled: 22/03/23 Signatories: 6

Kate Osborne

Jon Trickett

Mrs Sharon Hodgson

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Nadia Whittome

Grahame Morris

That this House congratulates St Bede’s Catholic Primary School for their recent accreditation with the British Council International School Award; and notes that this is a brilliant achievement for all pupils and staff involved and applauds them for all their hard work with this accreditation and in the local community.