Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Tuesday 25 April 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 24 April 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

1085Kelsie Grieg, e-sports gamer

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Kirsty Blackman

That this House congratulates Kelsie Grieg, also known as Kelsaroony, from Aberdeen, who has recently made history by becoming the first woman to qualify for the Call of Duty Challengers Elite tournament; notes that the tournament is just a level below the multi-million-dollar Call of Duty Pro League; further notes that this is a tremendous feat for Kelsie and will surely inspire other women to follow in her footsteps in the field of e-sports; and wishes her every success.

1086Voter ID requirements

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Helen Morgan

That this House expresses deep concern at the failure of the Government’s Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) scheme, introduced as an alternative form of photo voter ID for those who do not hold an accepted form of ID under the Voter ID requirements as per the Election Act 2022, and the potential impact this will have on the May local elections; notes that the Government’s own research estimates about 2.1 million UK citizens do not have an acceptable form of ID; expects that fewer than 80,000 successful applications will have been made for Voter Authority Certificates by the April 25 deadline, representing less than 4 per cent of the number of voters estimated to be impacted; expresses concern that this policy will leave an estimated 2 million citizens unable to exercise their right to vote in future elections; and calls on the Government to scrap or postpone the introduction of the new unnecessary, costly and discriminatory Voter ID requirements.

1087MS awareness week

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Charlotte Nichols

That this House supports MS awareness week, which takes place between 24 and 30 April; highlights that the MS Society, MS Trust, Overcoming MS, Shift.ms, MS-UK, MS National Therapy Centres and MS Together are working together to raise awareness of the realities of living with MS, a progressive neurological condition affecting over 130,000 people in the UK; understands that each day of MS Awareness Week provides a platform for people with MS or supporting a loved one who shares their experience of living with the condition; recognises the importance of early access to treatments, physiotherapy, social care services and financial support to enable people with MS to live well with the condition for longer; and pays tribute to family and friends of people living with MS for the care and support they provide.

1088Mrs Fiona Mullen, Head Teacher of St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House commends Mrs Fiona Mullen, Head Teacher of St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School; pays tribute to her strong and compassionate leadership of the school, encouraging all students to develop skill, nurture talent, and reach their full potential; applauds her for her cultivation of an effective senior management team; recognises her work in initiating and encouraging involvement in extra-curricular activities, from Duke of Edinburgh awards, to sporting activities and school shows; thanks her for the way that she has fostered an environment of charitable acts and giving, developing the involvement of both students and staff in charities such as the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative and local foodbanks; notes that over the last six years the school has, under the leadership of Mrs Mullen, raised over £40,000 for Mary's Meals; notes that such hard work has rightly merited her successful nomination and place in the final of Education Scotland’s 'Head Teacher of the Year' Award; understands that she will be sorely missed by the local community in the wake of her retirement from this role; and wishes Mrs Mullen all the very best in the future.

1089Release of Y Sŵn

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House celebrates the release of Y Sŵn, a Welsh language film reimagining the events that led to the establishment of the world’s only Welsh language television channel, S4C; notes that the film depicts the efforts of campaigners including Plaid Cymru’s first MP, Gwynfor Evans, to secure this important national institution; commends writer Roger Williams and director Lee Haven Jones for bringing this important story to the screen; notes that the film’s release coincides with S4C’s 40th anniversary; further notes the filmmakers’ aim to spark a conversation among audiences today about the power of protest, the future of broadcasting and the health of the Welsh language; and congratulates the cast and crew on the positive response to the film’s theatrical release.

1090Section 21 evictions

Tabled: 24/04/23 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House urgently calls on the Government to proceed with their 2019 manifesto and Queen’s Speech promises to abolish section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, otherwise known as no fault evictions; notes that section 21 evictions are increasingly used by landlords, with the ONS finding that threats of eviction using section 21 notices rose by 69 per cent, while instances of actual evictions more than doubled, rising by 143 per cent; further notes media reports which show that 40 families a day have been threatened with no-fault evictions since the Government undertook to ban them in 2019; highlights the huge pressure on social housing with over one million waiting for a home; condemns the Government’s failure to fulfil its promise to ban no fault evictions, especially with the added urgency of a global pandemic and then a cost of living crisis; further condemns the fact that vulnerable people are potentially being made homeless; welcomes the statement by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 15 February 2023 that the Government will legislate in this Parliament to abolish Section 21 no fault evictions; and urges the Government to stop delaying and to act now.

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.

1062gal-dem magazine

Tabled: 17/04/23 Signatories: 24

Nadia Whittome

Ms Diane Abbott

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Dawn Butler

Apsana Begum

Zarah Sultana

That this House celebrates the achievements and legacy of gal-dem magazine, an online and print publication that was produced by and centred women and non-binary people of colour; notes that it gave life-changing opportunities to journalists from marginalised backgrounds; further notes its importance in platforming underrepresented issues, experiences and points of view; mourns its recent closure after eight years; recognises the need for a greater diversity of voices and perspectives in UK media; believes that independent media is an important component of the media landscape that is in need of greater support during the cost of living crisis; and wishes all those whose jobs have been affected by gal-dem’s closure every success for the future.

106420th anniversary of shooting of Tom Hurndall

Tabled: 17/04/23 Signatories: 28

Andy McDonald

Ian Mearns

Grahame Morris

Jeremy Corbyn

Kate Osborne

Nadia Whittome

That this House notes that April 2023 marks twenty years since 22 year old British photojournalist, Tom Hurndall, was shot in the head by an Israeli army sniper as he tried to rescue Palestinian children from the line of gunfire in Gaza; further notes that he died in January 2004 after being in a coma for nine months and that his killer was released after serving just six years in prison; notes that the lenient sentence and the cursory nature of the military investigation which preceded were examples of a culture of impunity in the State of Israel’s use of illegal extra-judicial killings; notes that this culture of impunity remains evident in the actions of illegal settlers and the Israeli army in the Occupied Territories today; and urges the Government to uphold the principle of accountability for war crimes committed in Israel and Palestine no less diligently than it does in relation to those committed elsewhere by reversing its opposition to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into those crimes.

1066Red Ramp Events and the Golden Friendship Club

Tabled: 18/04/23 Signatories: 5

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

Chris Law

That this House notes the grand opening of Red Ramp Events by the Golden Friendship Club based in Clydebank, with members also from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and across the west of Scotland; understands that this opening may be the first community based wheelchair entertainment venue in the world which will be invaluable in breaking down barriers faced by wheelchair users allowing them equal access to entertainment without discrimination; believes this is another example of the exceptional work carried out by Jim McLaren and all at the Golden Friendship Club; and wishes them the very best for future endeavours.

1068Increase in Education Maintenance Allowance in Wales

Tabled: 18/04/23 Signatories: 23

Beth Winter

Ian Mearns

Apsana Begum

Kim Johnson

Mohammad Yasin

Jonathan Edwards

That this House welcomes Welsh Government's decision to increase the education maintenance allowance payment above £30 to £40 a week; congratulates members of the Senedd, NUS Wales and NEU Cymru for championing the increase; recognises that more must be done to deal with the cost of living crisis and the need to encourage 16-19 educational attendance, including a regular increase in EMA; regrets the cancellation of education maintenance allowance in England in 2010; further welcomes the calls of NEU and NASUWT unions for the reinstatement of EMA in England; and calls on the Government to reintroduce the education maintenance allowance in England at the same rate as Wales at the earliest opportunity.

106970th anniversary of Dundonald Baptist Church

Tabled: 18/04/23 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Carla Lockhart

Sir Mike Penning

That this House celebrates the 70th Anniversary of Dundonald Baptist Church this year, founded in 1953; notes that Dundonald Baptist are a group of people who have faith in an extraordinary God and are seeking together to follow Jesus Christ as their Risen Saviour; notes how they connect the local community and provide a safe sanctuary to worship Jesus, enjoy fellowship together and learn from God's Word; and thanks them for their care and commitment to the people of Dundonald and surrounding areas and wishes them all the best for the future in their service to God and their community.

1070100th anniversary of Newtownards Baptist Church

Tabled: 18/04/23 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Carla Lockhart

Sir Mike Penning

That this House celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Newtownards Baptist Church; notes their celebrations through three special anniversary services, where they were joined by some of their former Pastors and relatives of past members and Elders; highlights that the current Pastor, Richard Donnan, presented a history of the Church and took members back through the years and highlighted significant memories, events, former missionaries and many who have come through the Church and went into full time ministry; further highlights the tremendous community spirit that has been shown in the Church over the years with their faith in action and faithful preaching of gospel every week; and prays God's richest blessing upon this wonderful wee community church.

1072Anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass

Tabled: 18/04/23 Signatories: 27

Caroline Lucas

Jon Trickett

Dan Carden

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Jim Shannon

That this House notes that 24 April marks the anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass; acknowledges that this trespass united the campaign for access to the countryside and eventually contributed to the establishment of the UK’s first national parks through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949; recognises the growing body of evidence demonstrating the importance of access to nature for physical and mental health; is concerned that people from ethnic minorities are less likely to live near green space and that one in three people in England cannot access nature near their home; is deeply concerned about nature’s decline, with 40 per cent of the UK’s species populations having declined since 1970, and believes that improving the public’s connection with the natural world is essential to its restoration; notes that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 only provides access to eight per cent of English land and that the public can only access three per cent of rivers in England and Wales; acknowledges that legislation in Scotland provides a right of responsible access and that European countries including Norway and Sweden have a much greater right to roam; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to extend the right to roam and to improve promotion of the countryside code, to deliver on the 25 Year Environment Plan goal to conserve and enhance the beauty of our natural environment, and make sure it can be enjoyed, used by and cared for by everyone.

1073Anniversary of the death of four Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers at Ballydugan

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 3

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes the anniversary of the murder of the four Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers killed at Ballydugan on 9 April 1990, conveys enduring sympathies to the families of Private John Birch, Lance Corporal John Bradley, Private Michael Adams and Private Steven Smart, who live with pain everyday due to the slaughter of their loved ones and who have been denied justice for much too long; reiterates the belief that justice is owed to every community in Northern Ireland and to all those who grieve; and underlines once again the refusal to allow the despicable murder of these men, and others like them, by those claiming there was no alternative to this horrific and barbaric violence.

1074Crossroads Youth and Community Association, Glasgow

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 3

Alison Thewliss

Chris Stephens

Chris Law

That this House welcomes the publication of the Crossroads Youth and Community Association's paper entitled Resistance and Recreation: 55 years of Youth and Community Work in Glasgow; notes that it was commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of Crossroads Youth and Community Association in 2018; congratulates Crossroads Youth and Community Association on the occasion of its 55th year of operation; recognises that Crossroads was set up by the Gorbals Group, founded in 1957 by three Church of Scotland Ministers, Geoff Shaw, John Harvey, and Walter Fyfe; acknowledges the paper's detailed exploration of the history of the organisation and its work in the Gorbals and Govanhill areas of Glasgow; and wishes Crossroads and its current manager, Dani Waddell, all the best in all their future endeavours.

1075Indefinite leave to remain for bereaved partners

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 9

Stuart C McDonald

Chris Stephens

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Patrick Grady

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

That this House supports the Refugee and Migrants Forum of Essex and London’s call for a fee waiver to be introduced for bereaved partners applying for indefinite leave to remain; notes that the death of a loved one brings multiple emotional, practical and financial costs; believes that people whose leave to remain in the UK is tied to a partner who dies are in a particularly vulnerable situation; regrets that the spouses of deceased partners are required to pay £2,404 to access that concession despite the application costing just £491 to process; recognises that people whose leave was tied to a deceased partner may not qualify for any other form of leave such as limited leave to remain; further regrets that people who cannot afford this fee may be forced to leave the UK or face detention and removal after the death of their partner; further notes that victims of domestic violence who are able to apply for indefinite leave to remain under a different concession are rightly able to apply for a fee waiver for indefinite leave to remain applications; further recognises that the lack of a fee waiver discriminates against women who constitute almost 70 per cent of those on family visas; believes it is irrational for the Government to introduce a concession in recognition of the applicants’ vulnerability if it is combined with a fee that people cannot afford; and calls for a fee waiver to be introduced.

107750th anniversary of the Ulster Defence Regiment's Greenfinches

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 3

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Sir Mike Penning

That this House celebrates the 50th anniversary of the UDR Greenfinches; recognises that 50 years ago on 6 July 1973, the Ulster Defence Regiment Bill permitted the recruitment of women into the UDR; notes that women were given the codeword Greenfinch and defended Northern Ireland throughout the period of the troubles, and will forever be appreciated for their commitment and sacrifice; highlights their stellar example of bravery and selflessness and that their recruitment enabled female suspects to be searched; highlights the contribution the Greenfinches made to the UDR and the inspiration that their service offers to young women going into service today.

1079Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 26

Apsana Begum

Andy McDonald

Navendu Mishra

Rebecca Long Bailey

Nadia Whittome

John McDonnell

That this House marks that on 24 April it is 10 years since the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which killed at least 1,132 workers and injured more than 2,500, a large proportion of whom were women in what was one of the worst industrial accidents on record; is concerned at the ongoing poor labour conditions, low wages and unsafe work environments, with a high incidence of work-related accidents and deaths, faced by workers in the garment sector worldwide; is alarmed at the ongoing suppression of trade union and collective bargaining rights in the garment industry and that since the covid-19 pandemic there is evidence of worsening health and safety standards, increased gender discrimination and reports of concerning levels of workplace gender-based violence and harassment; recognises that without the ability to organise, workers are inhibited from fully securing improved working conditions and/or challenging abuse; and believes that all workers deserve a workplace that provides them with a living wage, decent working conditions and trade union rights including the right to refuse unsafe work, to take strike action and collectively bargain.

1080Centenary of Kirkintilloch Players amateur drama club

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 3

Amy Callaghan

Chris Stephens

Chris Law

That this House celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Kirkintilloch Players amateur drama club, which was first brought together by Alex Bain, David Sinclair, Bill St. Claire and Barbara Cassels in 1923 to stage a production of Our Boys; notes that this centenary makes them one of the oldest amateur drama clubs in Scotland; understands the occasion is to be marked by an exhibition from 12 April to 18 May 2023; further notes that the Kirkintilloch Players stage performances will include both adult and youth casts, including the eagerly anticipated production of children’s classic Matilda in June; appreciates the way the award-winning works of the Kirkintilloch Players enriches the culture of East Dunbartonshire and the wider nation; applauds the opportunities they create for people of all ages to practice teamwork, challenge themselves, enjoy art and entertain others; and wishes the players all the very best for a second successful century.

1081Leyton Orient

Tabled: 19/04/23 Signatories: 8

John Cryer

Chris Stephens

Apsana Begum

Bob Blackman

John McDonnell

Ian Lavery

That this House offers its heartfelt congratulations to Leyton Orient FC on their promotion to League One; believes that the club's owners, management, players, supporters and staff have secured a remarkable achievement in delivering such a promotion only six years after the club almost ceased to exist; recalls that the club was founded in 1881 making it the second oldest football club in London; and looks forward to many more years of footballing achievements.

1082Freedom of expression and use of counter-terrorism powers

Tabled: 20/04/23 Signatories: 11

Grahame Morris

John McDonnell

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

Dan Carden

Kim Johnson

That this House is extremely concerned about Ernest Moret, foreign rights manager of French publisher La Fabrique who, whilst en route to the London Book Fair, was arrested by British police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act on suspicion of having participated in recent protests against pension reforms in France; notes that whilst he has now been released from police custody on bail, his phone and work computer have been seized so data can be extracted, and he has been summoned to attend a further meeting with the anti-Terror unit in four weeks’ time under threat of legal sanctions; joins organisations such as the National Union of Journalists and PEN International in believing that this incident represents a dangerous precedent for anyone concerned to protect freedom of expression including press and academic freedom and the protection of confidential sources and material; and therefore calls for an urgent review to ensure that Schedule 7 powers are not being abused to suppress democratic and human rights and criminalise political dissent in the UK or overseas.

108310th anniversary of Rana Plaza collapse

Tabled: 20/04/23 Signatories: 12

Sir Stephen Timms

Bob Blackman

Hilary Benn

Jon Trickett

Mohammad Yasin

John McDonnell

That this House marks the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster on 24 April 2013, which claimed the lives of 1,134 people, injured around 2,500, and impacted countless livelihoods; recognises and commends Bangladesh for its subsequent efforts to transform the safety and sustainability of its garment sector, with an emphasis on good working conditions; notes that Bangladesh has 187 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified green factories, including half the world's top 100 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified green factories; and urges all countries and fashion brands to raise standards for the environment and for workers.

1084Girlguiding East Renfrewshire 25th Anniversary

Tabled: 20/04/23 Signatories: 3

Kirsten Oswald

Chris Law

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Girlguiding East Renfrewshire as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their establishment; notes that East Renfrewshire Girlguiding came into being in 1998 having started out as a division of Renfrewshire county; highlights the opportunities provided by the Girlguiding movement for girls to have fun, adventure and discover their potential; appreciates the incredible dedication and hard work of the 275 volunteers who run weekly meetings across the county, providing opportunities for almost 1,300 girls who take part in events as members of the East Renfrewshire Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers; recognises that this significant anniversary will be marked with a ‘Friendship Day’ on Sunday 7 May in Rouken Glen Park with former members and supporters of the county coming together to mark the occasion alongside those currently involved; and wishes everyone involved with Girlguiding East Renfrewshire continued success for the next 25 years and beyond.