Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Tuesday 18 July 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 17 July 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

1473Access to State Pension for people diagnosed with a terminal illness

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Dave Doogan

That this House notes that those with terminal illnesses cannot currently access their State Pension until retirement age; recognises that this is the case even for individuals who have made full National Insurance contributions; acknowledges that poverty rates are disproportionately high amongst the terminally ill; commends research by Loughborough University showing that granting State Pensions to this group would almost halve the rate of poverty within this cohort while costing only £144 million per year, just 0.1% of the annual State Pension bill; and calls on the Government to allow early access to State Pensions for people diagnosed with a terminal illness.

1474Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign survey

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Patricia Gibson

That this House welcomes the publication of the findings of the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign survey, which documents the devastating impact of continuing unfair pension treatment of 1950s-born WASPI women; is deeply concerned about the survey's key findings, that one in four of the women affected by this pension scandal have struggled to buy food and basic essentials in the last six months, whilst a third have fallen into debt in the last six months; notes its findings that 61 per cent of those surveyed reported a range of lost employment opportunities, with 32 per cent of women being unable to secure alternative employment after attempting to re-join the workforce; recognises the mental, physical and emotional toll of additional years of work, of which these women were unaware and so for which they could not plan; calls on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to speedily conclude its investigations; and urges the Government to respond promptly to the Ombudsman's report and make clear that it will recognise and recompense the injustices and suffering caused to WASPI women, of which one dies every thirteen minutes.

1475Gaelic Athletic Association and the All Britain Competition

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Conor McGinn

That this House congratulates everyone involved in the All Britain Competition held in London earlier this July and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association; notes the participation of 322 teams from clubs and schools across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with 3428 young people aged from 7 to 18 taking part in the games; commends the Association’s Provincial Council of Britain for putting young people at the heart of its activities and encouraging the development of Gaelic Games; notes the recent sad death of John Gormley, the chair of the All Britain Competition and a towering figure in the Association in Britain, and sends sympathy to his family; and wishes the Association and its volunteers and members continued success in all their endeavours to promote hurling, football, Gaelic games and Irish culture.

1476Vegan food and allergens education

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Christina Rees

That this House notes that the Chartered Trading Standards Institute has released new data reporting that inspectors from Hampshire and Kent Scientific Services found 24 out of 61 products, or 39%, marked as vegan contained traces of egg or dairy, including 13 dairy alternatives and 48 meat alternatives; further notes that some people confuse the label vegan with the meaning free from allergens; recognises the importance of proper labelling to reduce the risk and potential danger for people with severe allergies to animal products; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce education to ensure consumers understand that vegan does not necessarily mean free from allergens.

1477Flowers 2 Go

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House congratulates Stephen Reid, owner of Flowers 2 Go in Blantyre, on being nominated as a finalist for the Scottish Funeral Awards 2023; notes that Stephen and his business are being recognised for the excellent service they provide to customers and the wider funeral industry; further notes that by delivering such an outstanding service, Stephen and his staff provide their customers with some happiness in times of grief; and wishes him and his business the best at the awards in August.

1478Dance Elite Studios

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House congratulates Zoe Kirkpatrick-Brown, Daisy Robertson and Rae Hamil of Dance Elite Studios in Cambuslang on winning bronze medals at the Dance World Cup 2023; notes the talent, hard work and dedication of both the dancers and their coaches; further notes that the youngsters excelled in representing Scotland on the world stage; and wishes them the best in all their future endeavours.

1479The Kraken Chippy

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House commends the generosity of the Kraken Chippy, in Cambuslang, as they offer families a £1 kids supper deal this summer; notes that this deal was started to support families with the cost of living crisis by helping parents to treat their kids at minimal expense; praises the community spirit of owner Steven Simpson; and wishes him and his business the best in their future endeavours.

1480150th anniversary of Newtownards Chronicle Newspaper

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 150th anniversary of family owned and operated Newtownards Chronicle and Bangor Spectator Newspapers; celebrates this tremendous milestone and congratulates the members of staff on maintaining the integrity and independence of this local paper with a local heart; thanks Editor Paul Symington and Deputy Editor Ismay Woods for leading the paper so well and for ensuring the impartiality of this incredible piece in the jigsaw of the Ards and North Down Community life; highlights the incredible work done by Bobby Torrens and Jonathan Coates in photographics through their immortalisation of life through images and their great work in archiving; and wishes the team and their successors every success as they continue to strive to be a relevant, open and honest local voice for the people of the Ards and North Down area over the next 150 years.

1481The two-child benefit cap

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House strongly opposes the continuation of the cruel and unnecessary two child limit for benefits, introduced by the Government in 2017; notes that recent research shows that one in 10 children live in households affected by the two-child limit, that is 1.5 million children; highlights the University of York and Nuffield Trust report which states that the two child limit along with the benefit cap have contributed to the rising levels of child poverty and that they are poverty-producing policies; strongly advocates scrapping the two child limit, noting the House of Commons Library data that shows if the cap was removed it would lift 270,000 households out of poverty at a cost of just £1.4 billion, far less than the Government’s £5 billion claim; and finally notes that the current Government has overseen a huge increase in child poverty since 2010, with a majority of children living in poverty in households where at least one adult is in work.

1482St Kilda sheep deaths

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Angus Brendan MacNeil

That this House recognises that all sheep in the islands of the UK are protected animals under the respective animal welfare legislation, apart from the feral Soay and Boreray sheep on the St Kilda archipelago, for which the Scottish government have created an exception, thereby leaving them subject to high levels of mortality as a result of winter starvation, averaging a thousand animals dying each year across the three flocks; notes that society would not tolerate this level of unnecessary suffering in any more accessible location; calls on the Scottish government to reconsider this decision and to include the sheep as protected animals under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006; and urges the National Trust for Scotland, as owners and managers of St. Kilda, to implement active measures to ensure the population stability of the flocks and safeguard the wellbeing of the sheep, both individually and collectively.

1483Inch Flute Band 100th Anniversary commemoratios

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Inch Flute Band; highlights that the musical tradition in the parish of Inch dates as far back as the late 1800s; notes that archived material recorded Inch Flute Band and the Maxwell Conservative Flute Band gracing the King's highway in 1902; further notes that although always known as Inch Flute Band, the original bass drum carries the name Inch Conservative Flute Band and the royal coat of arms; further highlights the rich history of the band attending its first Twelfth of July parade in 1924 in Ballygowan, when the band's uniform consisted of a Sunday best suit and obligatory cloth cap; and wishes Inch Flute Band every success as it maintains its tradition and culture in a respectful and enjoyable fashion.

1484Rory McIlroy secures Scottish Open victory

Tabled: 17/07/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the latest victory by Northern Ireland and UK golfing champion Rory McIlroy, who won the Scottish Open golf tournament; further notes that he secured victory by one stroke on the final day by scoring back to back birdies; highlights that McIlroy’s first professional victory in Scotland means that he is the first player in history to have won an Open, an Irish Open and a Scottish Open; and wishes him every success as he seeks to continue his winning streak at the Open at the Royal Liverpool course on Thursday 20 July.

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.

1401Support for DHL workers taking strike action on Avanti West Coast

Tabled: 3/07/23 Signatories: 20

Kim Johnson

Ian Mearns

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Jonathan Edwards

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House supports rail workers providing catering stores to Avanti West Coast, who are taking strike action in support of their campaign for a fair pay offer from their employer DHL; notes that RPI inflation stands at 11.3 per cent, that interest rates are at 5 per cent and that these workers, like other workers in Britain, are facing a cost-of-living crisis; further notes that these workers have been refused a pay rise this year in spite of the cost-of-living crisis and despite their employer paying out £1.7 billion in dividends to its shareholder and Avanti, which controls the contract, paying out £13.5 million to its FirstGroup parent company last year; is dismayed that these companies are putting the interests of their shareholders over their workers; and calls on the companies involved to settle this dispute by making a pay offer to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

1402Father Jim Morris

Tabled: 3/07/23 Signatories: 11

Steven Bonnar

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Father Jim Morris, Parish Priest of St Gabriel’s Viewpark, on the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood; notes that he was ordained on 29 June 1973 in St Edward’s Airdrie and that he served as an Assistant Priest in St Bride’s East Kilbride, St Ignatius’ Wishaw and St Columba’s Viewpark, and finally at St Gabriel’s since 1992; thanks him for his commitment, services and friendship to the community and to his Parish; and wishes him all the very best for the future.

1415Palestinians facing persecution

Tabled: 4/07/23 Signatories: 43

Andy McDonald

Crispin Blunt [R]

Tommy Sheppard

Beth Winter

Mary Kelly Foy

Jeremy Corbyn

That this House recognises that the Palestinian people are under unprecedented attack; notes that the Israeli Government, one of the most right-wing in its history, has launched its biggest military incursion in the West Bank in two decades, is announcing thousands of new illegal settlements on a regular basis, continuing with its expulsions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and Masafer Yatta and its school and home demolitions, and failing to prevent armed settlers from rampaging through Palestinian villages killing, maiming, and attacking Palestinians and destroying homes, mosques, and agricultural lands; is horrified to note that this year in the West Bank alone the Israeli military has killed more than 170 Palestinians, nearly one per day; further notes that the US Administration has publicly criticised the plans for illegal settlement expansion; is dismayed that instead of taking concrete steps to uphold human rights and international law, the British Government seems determined to shield Israel from accountability, as well as companies complicit in its occupation, by legislating to silence those trying to achieve change through peaceful and democratic means; believes that any suggestion that, alone among peoples facing oppression around the world, Palestinians should be singled out and denied the right to appeal to people of conscience for support is not only wrong but runs counter to the UK’s legal obligations and must be rejected; and insists that the ability of public authorities to divest from companies proven to be complicit or responsible for violations of human rights should be defended.

1417Attacks by dogs on postal workers

Tabled: 5/07/23 Signatories: 10

Jim Shannon

Caroline Lucas

Sir Mike Penning

Chris Stephens

John McDonnell

Jonathan Edwards

That this House notes the rise in attacks by dogs on postal workers throughout the UK and especially in Northern Ireland, where the Royal Mail has stated that the 12 per cent rise in incidents in Northern Ireland is extremely worrying and that there were 1,916 dog attacks on postal workers logged during the year to 31 March 2023; highlights that some postal workers suffered serious injuries; notes that these figures were released at the start of the annual dog awareness week as officials urge owners to take proper measures to ensure their pets pose no threat to postal workers through responsible dog ownership due to the fact that dog attacks on postal workers resulted in more than 3,014 days of absence last year; and urges owners to be mindful of the duties of those who deliver post so we can do all we can to reduce attacks on postal workers.

1419Sky lanterns and balloon releases

Tabled: 5/07/23 Signatories: 9

Mohammad Yasin

Sir Mike Penning

Chris Stephens

John McDonnell

Jonathan Edwards

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House is concerned about the potential environmental impact of sky lantern and balloon releases, particularly in relation to marine wildlife such as dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds; notes the particular fire hazard associated with sky lanterns and recognises the important work of the Marine Conservation Society in campaigning for a ban on sky lantern and balloon releases; further notes those local authorities which have implemented a regional ban and calls upon the UK Government to ban sky lanterns and balloon releases.

1425Pets in temporary accommodation

Tabled: 6/07/23 Signatories: 8

Mohammad Yasin

Jon Trickett

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Apsana Begum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House recognises how pets enrich lives, providing emotional support and bringing great joy to responsible owners; further recognises the proposed changes to legislation set out in the Government's Renter's Reform Bill around pets and tenancies; notes that if the Bill is passed, landlords may only refuse pets in exceptional circumstances; and calls on the Government to extend this provision to social housing, and specifically temporary and emergency provisions, and to provide full financial support to local authorities to facilitate the change.

1430Job sharing

Tabled: 6/07/23 Signatories: 5

Wera Hobhouse

John McDonnell

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Caroline Lucas

That this House welcomes the release of Empower’s Job Sharing: Redefining Work, Doubling Impact report; acknowledges the opportunities job-sharing presents for women by facilitating reductions in workplace inequalities and closes the gender pay gap; highlights the benefits this form of flexible working offers employees and employers, such as increased organisational productivity, boosting morale, and creating more diverse senior leadership teams; and calls on the Government to support the incentivisation of job-sharing opportunities by reducing cost barrier through introducing a reduction on Employer’s National Insurance contributions for employees in job shares.

1432Givit Youth Recovery Service

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 4

Margaret Ferrier

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

John McDonnell

That this House commends Givit Youth Recovery Service on its work supporting 13 to 25-year-olds affected by problematic alcohol and substance abuse; notes that it collaborates with The Beacons in Cambuslang and Blantyre; further notes that its services are the first of their kind in Scotland offering a blend of youth work, CBT counselling and a fully supported recovery model; thanks all those who contribute to this ground-breaking work; and wishes it the best in its future endeavours.

1441Poverty truth commissions

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 14

Rebecca Long Bailey

Kim Johnson

Mick Whitley

Rachael Maskell

Nadia Whittome

Ian Lavery

That this House commends the role of poverty truth commissions in bringing people who have lived experience of the struggle against poverty directly into decision making about tackling poverty; acknowledges that those with lived experience have often been left out of policy making, even though their perspective and insight can rule out ineffective proposals and suggest new, powerful solutions; calls for the Government and all policy makers to engage with local poverty truth commissions and the Poverty Truth Network with due seriousness and urgency given the cost of living crisis; wishes success to Salford Poverty Truth Commission’s second round of work launched June 2023, following a highly impactful first round launched in 2016; and gives thanks to everyone involved both past and present in all poverty truth commissions.

1442Your Good Home magazine and lived experience co-production

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 13

Rebecca Long Bailey

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Kim Johnson

Mick Whitley

Rachael Maskell

Nadia Whittome

This House commends the recently-launched Your Good Home magazine, which is the outcome from a lived experience co-production project produced by young Salfordians who have experienced the housing system and temporary accommodation and are trying to make a safe and happy home for the first time, facilitated by the social enterprise Unlimited Potential and Salford City Council; and calls on the Government, local authorities and other policy makers to fund and utilise co-production projects as powerful resources for learning from those with lived experience, as a source of proposed effective, locally driven and creative solutions that work for the benefit of their local constituents and communities.

1443Infected Blood scheme second interim compensation payment

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 9

Sir Mike Penning

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Alison Thewliss

Chris Stephens

That this House recognises that the Government has acted on the recommendations set out in the first interim report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, with interim compensation payments made to individuals infected by infected blood; further recognises that interim compensation payments to bereaved partners and families affected by the infected blood scandal are under active consideration; and calls on the Government to further recognise the extreme urgency and life-limiting situation facing individuals who received and were infected by infected blood and make an immediate second interim compensation payment.

1445Treatment of slave monkeys in Thailand

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 16

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Patrick Grady

Alison Thewliss

Chris Stephens

That this House unequivocally condemns animal cruelty in Thailand, where pig-tailed macaques are forced to labour as coconut-picking machines, harvesting hundreds of coconuts every day; notes that the macaques are tied to ropes which their handlers yank to control them; is concerned that the macaques suffer a range of barbaric and cruel treatments, as documented by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals; deplores the fact that many of the young macaques have their teeth removed to prevent them from biting their abusers; acknowledges that these curious, highly intelligent animals are denied psychological stimulation, companionship and freedom, which leads to depression and trauma; is deeply concerned that the two breeds of pig-tailed macaques used in coconut farms are registered as vulnerable and endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list; approves of the decision by British retailers to join a boycott of all Thai-made coconut products, which has led Waitrose, Co-op, Boots, Ocado and Morrisons to remove or to vow to remove products using monkey labour in the supply chain; applauds the fact that 45,000 stores operated by leading international retail chains across the United States and Europe have halted all sales of coconut milk from certain suppliers, with HelloFresh the latest international business to drop Thai coconut milk completely; and urges the Government to condemn the exploitation and abuse of these vulnerable and endangered creatures and to work with industry and international partners to consign the use of cruel monkey labour to the history books.

1447Craigyhill bonfire

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 3

Sammy Wilson

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

This House congratulates the people of Craigyhill and Larne on building the world's biggest bonfire reaching a height of over 210 feet; notes that this is a joint community effort involving both Protestants and Catholics; is disappointed at the lack of support from officers of the Mid and East Antrim council for the venture but observes that despite the unwillingness to provide bins, the organisers have kept the site clean and safe; welcomes the thousands of people who have already visited Larne to see the bonfire and the spending which they have generated in the local area; believes that this amazing feat of engineering should be included in the Guinness book of records; and recognises that this is an effective way of drawing attention to the July celebrations in Northern Ireland remembering the Glorious Williamite Revolution on which present day democratic institutions are built.

1448Royal British Legion Credit their Service campaign

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 10

Patricia Gibson

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Patrick Grady

Alison Thewliss

Chris Stephens

That this House recognises that veterans are an asset to society and deserve the best possible care and support in recognition of the service they have given and the sacrifices they have made; considers that those veterans and their families who have experienced pain and loss as a result of their or a loved ones' service in HM Armed Forces are rightly compensated; notes that under the current system, compensation has been awarded to 150,000 Armed Forces veterans and their families for the pain and loss they endured in service, 12,000 of whom live in Scotland; believes it is unfair and unreasonable that this compensation is regarded as income when undergoing welfare benefits means testing; understands that this contrasts with Civil Service awards, such as personal injury compensation, which are typically exempt from such welfare benefits means testing; acknowledges that this has led to the most financially vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the Armed Forces community being denied the support enjoyed by their civilian counterparts, causing those affected significant financial loss each year; commends the Royal British Legion and Poppy Scotland for their campaign Credit their Service for highlighting this injustice; and calls on the Government to amend benefit regulations to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces community has their compensation treated as income when undergoing welfare benefits means testing.

1450Expansion of Gatwick Airport

Tabled: 10/07/23 Signatories: 2

Caroline Lucas

John McDonnell

This House notes that Gatwick Airport is applying for a Development Consent Order to bring its emergency runway into regular use; considers that if granted this will de facto create a second runway at Gatwick without the appropriate public consultation and scrutiny required for such a major planning decision; further notes that this will lead to thousands of extra flights a year, along with more road-building to get freight and passengers to the airport; is aware that scientists have already found noise levels close to Gatwick above the recommendations by the World Health Organization and particle number concentrations in the air similar to those measured close to a highly trafficked road in central London; notes that the proposal will mean increased noise for residents close to the airport and under the flight path, alongside increased air and light pollution; recognises that expansion at Gatwick is incompatible with addressing the climate crisis; further recognises that 2022 analysis puts the estimated cost of cleaning up carbon emissions alone from Gatwick expansion at £9.1 billion, of which only 7% will be paid for by the aviation industry; urges the Government to listen to the advice of the Committee on Climate Change Chair that there should be no net airport expansion across the UK; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to reject Gatwick Airport’s plans for a second runway.

1451Saudi Arabia child abduction

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 7

Mike Amesbury

Mary Kelly Foy

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Patricia Gibson

That this House notes that Ranem Elkhalidi's seven year-old son Ibrahim Faraj was abducted by her Saudi Arabian estranged ex-husband in November 2022 from a school in Weaver Vale and taken to Saudi Arabia; further notes that Ranem has had no contact with Ibrahim since then; also notes that Ibrahim was born in the UK and only speaks English; recognises that Ranem fears she will never see her son again; notes that Ibrahim's father Hamzah Faraj broke a court order preventing him from taking Ibrahim outside of the UK and is now wanted for child abduction; further notes that an investigation is needed to find out why the court order was not flagged by Border Force when Ibrahim was taken out the country; also notes that before the abduction Ranem requested that the Saudi embassy not issue a passport for Ibrahim; notes that Saudi Arabia is not party to the Hague Convention and that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office cannot enforce the return of a child to the UK; and calls on the Government to work with Saudi authorities to find the best way to bring Ibrahim back to the UK so that he can be reunited with his mother.

1452Holodomor in Ukraine, 1932-1933

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 11

Patricia Gibson

Allan Dorans

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

Chris Law

Patrick Grady

That this House recognises the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as a genocide of the Ukrainian people; considers that the Holodomor, literally meaning extermination by hunger, was a deliberate campaign of starvation and violence carried out by the Soviet regime against the people of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of millions; understands that Holodomor was part of Joseph Stalin’s revolution from above which, from 1932 to 1933, inflicted a terror famine on the collectivised peasants of the Ukraine, Kuban and other areas of high Ukrainian ethnicity; notes that Stalin raised Ukraine’s grain procurement quotas by 44%, meaning there was not enough food to feed the peasants, as the law required that no grain from a collective farm could be given to members until the regime’s quota had been met; understands that, due to the secrecy imposed by the former Soviet Union, it is difficult to know how many perished during the Holodomor of 1932-33; further notes, however, research suggesting up to seven and a half million innocent people may have died as a direct result of the Soviet-imposed famine; further understands that, during the height of the famine, international offers of aid and support were turned down by the regime, while vital food stores were allowed to rot in warehouses under armed guard; is aware that many members of the Ukrainian community in Scotland lost relatives during the Holodomor; and calls on the Russian Federation, as the primary successor of the Soviet Union, to apologise for perpetrating genocide on the Ukrainian people.

1453Derry Minor Footballers, winners of the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 6

Colum Eastwood

Conor McGinn

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

Patricia Gibson

That this House wholeheartedly congratulates the Derry Minor Footballers on their outstanding victory over Monaghan in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final, securing their second title within the last four years; recognises and commends the exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship demonstrated by the Derry team throughout the match, setting a commendable example for young athletes across the nation; applauds the coaching staff, management and supporters for their unwavering dedication, guidance, and passionate support, which played a vital role in the team's success; celebrates the talented young men who represent Derry, acting as role models for aspiring footballers and inspiring future generations to pursue their sporting dreams; wishes Derry Minor Footballers continued success in their sporting pursuits and encourages them to build upon this achievement; commends the players which were instrumental in Derry's victory; notes the exemplary sportsmanship demonstrated by both Derry and Monaghan throughout the match, further enhancing the reputation of Gaelic football as a sport rooted in fair play and respect; and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavours, both individually and as a team.

1458Launch of the Our Story Is One campaign

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 8

Daisy Cooper

Sir Mike Penning

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Nadia Whittome

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

That this House notes the launch of the Our Story Is One campaign; recalls that in 1983 10 Baha’i women were executed for their religious beliefs; observes that this campaign links the 40th anniversary of this infamous event with the increasing loss of life of women and girls in Iran since the killing of Mahsa Amini in September 2022; and affirms the goals of the campaign to support gender equality, ending violence against women and freedom of religion or belief in Iran.

1461New all-weather lifeboat at New Quay, Ceredigion

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 8

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

Margaret Ferrier

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House celebrates the 159 years of continuous service that has been provided by the RNLI Lifeboats at New Quay Ceredigion; notes with gratitude the 238 lives saved at sea as a result of the bravery and skill of the crew since 1970, and most recently the three lives rescued from the sea during Storm Arwen in 2021, for which all six members of the crew received letters of thanks from the RNLI chairman; acknowledges the invaluable service of the station’s Mersey Class Lifeboat, RNLB Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge; celebrates the arrival of the station’s new Shannon Class Lifeboat, RNLB Roy Barker V; commends the dedication and selflessness of the station’s crew and volunteers; and wishes New Quay RNLI and its volunteers continued success for the future.

1462Welfare organisation for people in Pakistan

Tabled: 11/07/23 Signatories: 4

Mr Gregory Campbell

Sir Mike Penning

Margaret Ferrier

John McDonnell

That this House notes the numbers of people who have settled in the UK, working and continuing to contribute to society here while not forgetting much less fortunate people in the land of their birth; recognises medical professionals from Pakistan, such as Dr Farman Khan, who have made their home in Northern Ireland working for the NHS in Causeway Hospital that have established and helped run charitable enterprises such as the Khan Welfare Organisation which offers free food, free education and health to underprivileged and orphans; and commends their endeavours and wishes them continuing success in the future.

1463Mileage Allowance Payments

Tabled: 12/07/23 Signatories: 4

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

John McDonnell

That this House recognises that Mileage Allowance Payments require urgent review; is concerned about the impact on those who rely on their cars and personal vehicles for work; acknowledges that the Competition and Markets Authority has found that average supermarket fuel margins increased by six pence a litre between 2019 and 2022, which resulted in an additional cost of around £900m for customers of the four supermarket fuel retailers in 2022 alone; notes that research by Unison found that one in five frontline public service workers are required to drive to do their job and that they are paid significantly lower than average wages, especially those working in social care; highlights that those with the highest mileage can be left thousands of pounds out of pocket with many forced to use foodbanks and to take out loans to make ends meet; further recognises that the failure to raise mileage rates is particularly detrimental to those in the voluntary sector, which is making it difficult for charities to recruit new volunteer drivers; is concerned that this is excluding many people from the benefits which volunteering brings both to individuals and their communities; and calls on the Government to ensure that rates are regularly updated in order to better reflect the cost of using a vehicle for work and volunteering, and to abolish the cap which sees drivers receive a reduced rate if they drive over 10,000 miles in the tax year.

1464Scottish Government paper on drug reform

Tabled: 12/07/23 Signatories: 17

Ronnie Cowan

Martyn Day

Caroline Lucas

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

Tommy Sheppard

That this House notes the publication of the recent paper on drug reform from the Scottish Government entitled A Caring, Compassionate and Human Rights Informed Drug Policy for Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s public health approach to problematic drug use; further notes that the paper calls on the UK Government to implement the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal supply, progressed as part of a wider review of drug laws; believes that these are ambitious, evidence-based proposals; agrees that this approach would allow people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and that people in recovery would have a better chance of employment without a criminal record; and calls on Ministers to give serious consideration to this paper and to engage with the Scottish Government on its proposals.

1465Bank closures in Scotland

Tabled: 12/07/23 Signatories: 10

Chris Stephens

Mary Kelly Foy

Patricia Gibson

Chris Law

Patrick Grady

Allan Dorans

That this House notes that Lloyds Banking Group, which operates the Bank of Scotland, has announced that it plans to close all branches in Aberfoyle, Aviemore, Ballater, Braemar, Crieff, Cumnock, Cupar, Dunbar, Dunkeld, Duns, Eyemouth, Falkland, Fort Augustus, Girvan, Jedburgh, Newcastleton and Ullapool; further notes that, with the exception of those in Cupar and Ullapool, these are the last banks in the community; considers that this places several communities' access to cash at risk; is aware of the importance of access to cash for services and business in communities throughout Scotland especially in rural areas where the distance between communities with and without bank branches is often as much as 30 miles; regrets the announced closures; acknowledges the limitations that the devolution settlement places on the Scottish Government's ability to act in this area; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State to work with the Scottish Government to prevent closures and protect communities' access to banking services and cash.

1468Eggs and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Tabled: 12/07/23 Signatories: 8

Helen Morgan

Tim Farron

Wendy Chamberlain

Richard Foord

Jonathan Edwards

Martyn Day

That this House notes the concerning reports that the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will exclude eggs as a sensitive sector; expresses concern at the concept of eggs being imported from countries who are CPTPP members, but where egg production relies heavily on battery caged eggs; acknowledges that these types of imports will undercut British egg producers who operate to higher standards of animal welfare and food safety standards under the British Lion Codes of Practice; and calls on the Government to maintain the high levels of hen welfare and food safety the British public expect by listing it as a sensitive sector within the CPTPP agreement.

1470School libraries and librarians

Tabled: 13/07/23 Signatories: 5

Margaret Greenwood

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

John McDonnell

That this House recognises the importance of encouraging children to enjoy books from an early age and of developing a culture of reading for pleasure in schools; notes that evidence suggests that school libraries lead to better literacy and educational outcomes, higher attainment, improved wellbeing and contribute to the delivery of a well-rounded education; further notes that school libraries can play a part in improving outcomes for children with special educational needs; is concerned that, according to the 2023 report by the Great School Libraries campaign, 14% of primary schools in the UK do not have a library, while even where provision exists, most primary schools use their library space for other purposes; is further concerned that the same report revealed the number of UK secondary schools with a library on site has dropped by 10% since 2019; acknowledges that there is significant variation across the UK in terms of school library provision and that this is leading to restricted reading choices for children; believes that urgent work must be done across the UK to enable school leaders to develop school libraries so that pupils can take advantage of the benefits they can deliver in relation to learning, reading, writing, wellbeing and happiness; and further believes that every school in the UK should have a library with access to a professional librarian, library staff or a schools library service.

1472Thames Water London effluent reuse scheme

Tabled: 13/07/23 Signatories: 2

Sarah Olney

Munira Wilson

That this House acknowledges the potential impacts of Thames Water’s plans for a water recycling scheme near Teddington Lock; recognises that this stretch of the Arcadian Thames is often referred to as London’s countryside and is home to important animal and plant life that is rare in an urban environment; expresses concern that comprehensive environmental impact assessments have not yet been published despite the scheme being progressed; notes that the river abstraction is only required because of Thames Water’s failure to maintain and invest in its pipe network and supply infrastructure; further notes that the construction sites for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction will cause damage and destruction to acres of local nature reserve and parkland; further expresses concern over the impacts of the scheme on thousands of recreational and commercial river users of this part of the Thames, including boat clubs, paddleboarders and wild swimmers; and calls on the Government to advance alternative drought resilience proposals.