Contents

Published: Wednesday 13 September 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 12 September 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

1599Danny Quigley swim from Lifford to Kinnego Bay

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Colum Eastwood

That this House extends its congratulations and admiration to Danny Quigley for his extraordinary feat of swimming from Lifford to Kinnego Bay, celebrating the lives of individuals tragically lost to suicide; notes his unwavering determination and physical endurance; further notes that he swam the length of the River Foyle, through Lough Foyle, before taking on the challenging waters from Stroove to Kinnego Bay; acknowledges his perseverance in the face of darkness, which serves as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience; commends the support from the local community, who have illuminated his path with lights and fireworks, which is a testament to the impact of his mission; recognises his gesture of creating a playlist with songs representing those lost to suicide, including a poignant selection from his late father, Colm Quigley, which exemplifies his strong connection to the individuals he was honouring and his commitment to raising awareness of mental health issues; acknowledges that he has taken upon himself the names, stories, and memories of over 100 loved ones lost to suicide and that his dedication and the dedication of the families of these 100 people in ensuring they are remembered and celebrated is a remarkable act of compassion and thanks Danny Quigley for his selfless endeavour, which is a shining example of the power of the human spirit to bring positive change and comfort to those in need.

160040th Waterside Half Marathon

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Colum Eastwood

That this House extends its warmest congratulations to the organisers and participants of the 40th edition of the Waterside Half Marathon, held on Sunday 3 September 2023 in Derry City; notes that the City of Derry Spartans, represented by Catherine Whoriskey and Kyle Doherty, exemplified excellence and determination by clinching the women's and men's titles, respectively; further notes that this was a record-breaking event that saw nearly 2,000 runners take on a revised route, in which Catherine Whoriskey secured her fifth title, while Kyle Doherty celebrated his first victory at this prestigious event; commends the dedication of all the participants who braved challenging conditions to compete in this remarkable race; acknowledges that the high temperatures and amendments to the course presented formidable challenges, but that the sight of runners emerging from the Peace Bridge and through the mall at Ebrington was a testament to their tenacity and spirit; extends its heartfelt appreciation to the founding committee, whose vision and efforts in organising the race back in 1981 paved the way for this remarkable milestone, whose legacy has created an enduring tradition that has inspired thousands of runners over the years; applauds the public's enthusiastic participation and support, which contributes significantly to the event's triumph; and commends all involved for making the 40th Waterside Half Marathon a resounding success and celebrate the enduring legacy of this beloved sporting event.

1601Kieran Griffiths and the Playhouse Theatre in Derry

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Colum Eastwood

That this House warmly acknowledges the outstanding contributions made by Kieran Griffiths during his tenure as Director of The Playhouse Derry-Londonderry and congratulates him on his new post; recognises his exemplary dedication to the arts, particularly during the year of Derry-Londonderry's City of Culture; commends Kieran's visionary approach to theatre, evident through his instrumental role in implementing The Playhouse's legacy and digital strategy, fostering creativity, and commissioning ground-breaking works across various artistic domains, including theatre, education, and community engagement; applauds Kieran's remarkable achievements in producing The White Handkerchief by Liam Campbell, a poignant production that marked the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2022, which was a powerful performance, characterised by its intimate naturalism, rough comedy, and epic monumentality, garnered widespread acclaim, selling out in the Guildhall and reaching a global audience through online platforms and a BBC documentary; notes that Kieran's second instalment in the peacebuilding trilogy entitled Hume - Beyond Belief paid tribute to the enduring legacy of John and Pat Hume and exhibited profoundly affecting performances, recognised with five-star reviews, celebrated the power of individuals working together to bring about positive change, showcasing the potential of theatre to inspire and unite; and extends its heartfelt thanks to Kieran Griffiths for his unwavering commitment to the arts and his tireless efforts in championing community engagement, celebrating diversity, and empowering individuals through the transformative power of the arts in Derry and beyond.

1602400th anniversary of Presbyterianism in Bangor

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Stephen Farry

That this House recognises the 400th anniversary of the establishment of a Presbyterian presence in Bangor as marked by a recent service in City Church Bangor, formerly known as First Bangor Presbyterian Church; notes the settlement of Scottish Presbyterians in the Bangor area under the invitation of James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Clandeboye that re-established the town, and eventual city of Bangor; further notes the ordination and installation of Robert Blair according to the Scottish Presbyterian service of ordination, which was the first of its kind in Ireland, in the summer of 1623; acknowledges the significant contribution of Presbyterians and their churches to the growth and prosperity of Bangor, including the establishment of schools and community enterprises; celebrates the church’s commitment to helping the most marginalised and vulnerable people of Bangor and the wider Ards and North Down area, including important initiatives for those struggling with the cost of living crisis and helping asylum seekers and refugees; and wishes the Rev Mairisine Stanfield, who has just celebrated her 10th Anniversary as Minister of City Church Bangor, her Associate and husband the Rev David Stanfield and the wider congregation every success with their ongoing ministry and contribution to the community.

1603Community News Project and Meta

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Drew Hendry

That this House acknowledges the success of the Community News Project (CNP) since 2018, enhancing diversity and representation in regional and local newsrooms across the UK; applauds the CNP's pivotal role in training budding journalists to cover grassroots community issues; expresses concern over Meta's decision to cease funding the CNP from December 2023, which may jeopardise the future of many trainees; urges major digital platforms, including Meta, to support and reinvest in vital community journalism initiatives; and calls on Members to champion local news and support balanced relations between digital media and content creators.

1604Dalmarnock Primary School Inspection Report

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Dalmarnock Primary School on their Very Good Education Scotland inspection report; recognises that the inspection team remarked on the relentless drive, focus and commitment of the headteacher, Nancy Clunie, in addressing and overcoming all potential barriers to children’s participation and achievement; commends the teaching and support staff for their work in closing the attainment gap; notes the expertise and creativity of staff in engaging young people in their classes; commends the young people of Dalmarnock Primary School, who were found by inspectors to be eager to learn, articulate, confident, and supportive of one another; appreciates that staff are mindful of the cost of the school day, and welcomes the use of Pupil Equity Funding to enhance the experiences of learning; welcomes the commitment by Dalmarnock Primary School to meaningful partnership working, which has benefited the wider school community; and wishes everyone at Dalmarnock Primary School all the very best for the future.

1605One-year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Layla Moran

That this House marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iranian authorities; remembers the hundreds of protesters who have been killed or executed in the protests following Mahsa’s death; recognises the ongoing struggle of Iranian protesters and condemns the use of excessive force, violence, arbitrary arrests and execution by Iranian authorities to curtail protests and freedom of expression; expresses further concern at the reports of increasing arrests of activists in the weeks leading up to the anniversary of Mahsa’s death; supports the case for proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation; and calls for the street the Iranian Embassy sits on to be re-named ‘Mahsa Amini Avenue’ in tribute to the young woman who inspired so many and as a symbol of the UK’s solidarity with the Iranian people.

1606Service of Paul Kehoe, House of Commons Senior Doorkeeper

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Grahame Morris

That this house sends its warmest congratulations and thanks to Paul Kehoe on completing an impressive 44 years of loyal service in the House of Commons; recognises his kindness, hard work and loyal service during this time; and looks forward to working with him through his 45th year and beyond.

1607Human rights in Manipur

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 7

Nadia Whittome

Apsana Begum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Zarah Sultana

Beth Winter

Ian Byrne

That this House notes the ongoing, grave human rights violations in Manipur, India, including acts of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, home destruction, forced displacement, torture and ill-treatment, predominantly targeting the Kuki-Zo people, a tribal community who are largely Christian; further notes that between 3 May and mid-August an estimated 160 people have been killed and over 300 injured, with more than 40,000 people being displaced by the violence; highlights that UN experts have raised serious concerns about the slow and inadequate response by the Indian government, including law enforcement; recognises that these human rights violations occur as part of wider attacks on religious and ethnic minorities across India, many of which public officials have been accused of aiding and abetting; and calls on the Government to raise the issue of human rights violations in Manipur with the Indian government and to halt negotiations towards a UK-India free trade agreement while such violations continue to occur.

1608Calling for a free and democratic Iran

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Bob Blackman

That this House is deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdown on peaceful protesters by the regime of Iran, which continues to execute dissidents with total impunity and which is also trying to export its reign of terror abroad, including by targeting dissidents living in Europe with terrorist attacks; condemns illegal efforts by Iran to compel European countries to restrict the human rights of its opponents; calls on the government of Albania in particular to uphold the rights of members of the Iranian opposition PMOI (MEK) at Ashraf-3, under the European Convention on Human Rights, the 1951 Refugee Convention and international law as stipulated in the Albanian Prime Minister's 2016 letter to the Vice-President European Parliament; reiterates that MEK members at Ashraf-3 have the right to political activity and that this right is guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of which Albania is a state party; and calls on His Majesty’s Government to declare its solidarity with Iran’s democratic opposition and to support international accountability efforts for the perpetrators of human rights violations in Iran, including for the 1988 massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners and the deadly crackdown on current-day protesters.

160950 years of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Alison Thewliss

That this House recognises that 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society; acknowledges the importance of the society over the years in promoting the work, legacy and memory of celebrated Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh; notes that the Society was founded in 1973 to protect buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh such as the former Queen's Cross Church, which was at risk of being lost due to the proposed motorway expansion; welcomes the invaluable contributions of the Society to the maintenance of Glasgow's architectural heritage; and congratulates the Society and all its members on this significant anniversary.

1610Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2023

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 1

Alison Thewliss

That this House acknowledges this year's Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival on 11-17 September 2023, with over 100 buildings open to the public and a programme of more than 100 trails, tours and special events; notes that the Doors Open Days Festival has been organised every year since 1990 when it began as part of the celebrations of Glasgow’s status as European Capital of Culture; welcomes the role that it continues to play as an integral part of Scotland’s contribution to European Heritage Days; recognises the importance of the festival to raise awareness of and facilitating support for Glasgow’s architectural and cultural heritage; congratulates the organisers, participants and partners of the festival; and wishes them all the best in all future endeavours.

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.

1551Retirement of coxswain Joe Miller from RNLI Troon Lifeboat

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 18

Dr Philippa Whitford

Allan Dorans

Alan Brown

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Joe Millar on his recent retirement from his role as coxswain of the RNLI Lifeboat in Troon, to which he has dedicated 31 years of service, initially as a volunteer, then as a full-time mechanic and, for the last 20 years, as coxswain; gives grateful thanks to Joe for his involvement in numerous rescues and for providing assistance to all types of vessels and persons in distress, including children on inflatable Unicorns, and for unselfishly giving of his own time to the community of Troon by hosting visits to the station and sharing his passion and dedication for the service with groups including primary and secondary schools, youth groups such as the Boys Brigade, Scouts and Guides, Army and Navy Cadets as well as many adult groups; highlights that Joe’s dedicated service has been recognised on several occasions, including four letters of commendation from the RNLI Chief of Operations and one from the RNLI Chief executive, along with a vellum for his leadership and boat handling during the rescue of four people from the Spes Bona V fishing boat; acknowledges Joe as a highly committed professional who is well respected and liked by all within Troon Lifeboat Station and beyond; and wishes Joe a happy retirement.

1553Lily Kelman's success at the World Highland Dancing Championships

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 12

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Lily Kelman on her recent success at the Under 18 World Highland Dancing Championships; notes that Lily came runner up as well as being awarded best Scottish Dancer; and wishes Lily ongoing success for her upcoming competitions this year, and beyond.

1554Loch Ness 24 Challenge

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 13

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Douglas Chapman

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates all those who took part in this year’s Loch Ness 24 challenge; notes that this endurance trail requires participants to clock up as many 7km laps of the trail as possible within the 24 hour timeframe; celebrates female winner Rosie Doull for achieving 24 laps, and male winner Iain Bethune for achieving 29 laps; and, finally, thanks all those who dedicated their time to ensuring this event could go ahead safely.

1555Elsie Normington and the Haven Centre

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 13

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Elsie Normington and the team at the Elsie Normington Foundation on the recent opening of the Haven Centre in Inverness; recognises that the Haven Centre is a purpose built centre and respite facility for children and adults with complex needs and disabilities with three two-bedroom respite flats for people up to the age of 30, an indoor specialist children’s play centre, a community café, meeting spaces and an outdoor garden; notes that the centre aims to provide an inclusive community space where children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities have opportunities to have fun, play, socialise and develop; notes that the Scottish Government committed £1.75 million of funding to allow this development to go ahead; and, finally, thanks all those who dedicated their time and resources to this incredible centre, most notably Elsie Normington, for her tireless dedication to improving the lives of those with additional needs in the Highlands.

1556The Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 13

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Douglas Chapman

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit on their recent reopening on the 90th anniversary of the first Loch Ness Monster sighting; notes that the Centre has undergone a £1.5m transformation; recognises this hour long exhibit that brings the legend of Nessie to life, voiced by Scottish actor David Tennant; and, finally, pays thanks to all of those who dedicated their time to the refurbishment and reopening of this first-class Highland attraction.

1557Highland and Islands Third Sector Interface Saltire Awards

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 13

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates all those who were successful at the recent Highlands and Islands Third Sector Interface Saltire Awards; notes that these awards are a nationally recognised award for volunteering for young people aged 12-25 where they gain certificates signed by Scottish Ministers for the volunteering they have successfully achieved; and pays thanks to the hours of time these volunteers selflessly dedicated for the betterment of our local community.

155850th anniversary of the 1973 Chilean military coup

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 30

Mick Whitley

Jon Trickett

Ian Byrne

Jeremy Corbyn

Claudia Webbe

Margaret Greenwood

That this House notes that 11 September 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Chilean coup d’état; honours the heroic sacrifices of all those who resisted the murderous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990 and remembers the three thousand Chileans murdered by state security forces in that time; notes that, at the direction of the dictatorship, Chile was subject to a radical neoliberal experiment that came at enormous and lasting cost to the lives and standards of living of millions of working-class Chileans; condemns the longstanding diplomatic and political support given to the Pinochet regime by successive British and American governments; commends by contrast the solidarity demonstrated by the British trade union movement and those civic society groups which assisted approximately three thousand Chilean exiles in seeking asylum in the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the coup; believes that the overthrow of the democratically-elected government of Chile offers vital lessons for the modern-day when democracy around the globe is again threatened by authoritarianism, racism, and the self-interest of global capital; and restates its commitment to championing democracy, peace, and equality, taking as its inspiration President Allende’s final broadcast to the Chilean people, in which he said history is ours and people make history, and that much sooner than later, the great avenues will again be opened through which will pass free men to construct a better society.

1561Holm Grown community garden

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 13

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House notes the opening of Holm Grown, a community garden in the Holm area of Inverness; recognises that Holm Grown is a community growing initiative led by Holm Community Council, run in partnership with Incredible Edible Inverness; commends the work that has been done over the last two years to transform previously unused land; thanks all volunteers and supporters who contributed to this projects success; and encourages all people in the local community to make use of this space, which is free for all to use.

1574Attacks on Jacqueline McKenzie

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 25

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Jon Trickett

Chris Stephens

Claudia Webbe

Dawn Butler

Kim Johnson

That this House stands in solidarity with Jacqueline McKenzie, a partner and head of immigration and asylum law at Leigh Day law firm, who has faced unprecedented attacks from the Home Office and the Conservative Campaign Headquarters; believes that these attacks have the direct aim to undermine Jacqueline McKenzie’s professional reputation but have also jeopardised her safety and put her at direct risk of harm; is concerned that these attempts to undermine the work of Jacqueline McKenzie, and other independent lawyers, represents an erosion of values in public discourse, which now permit elected government officials to not only endorse, but also propagate threats against individuals, and in particular those who work aims to defend the rule of law; further believes these attacks are part of an attempt to divert public attention away from the Government’s flawed immigration policies; and calls on Government ministers, departments and Party officials to cease these attacks and act in a manner that is befitting to their role in public office.

1580Compensation for nuclear test veterans

Tabled: 6/09/23 Signatories: 28

Peter Grant

Carol Monaghan

Brendan O'Hara

Chris Stephens

Dr Philippa Whitford

Marion Fellows

That this House recognises the contribution of the nuclear test veterans, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary veterans who were present during the nuclear testing programme from 1952 to 1967; acknowledges the sacrifices made by more than 20,000 British personnel who took part in these atomic tests; notes that nuclear test veterans have suffered various health conditions as a result of exposure to high levels of ionising radiation; welcomes the decision to award commemorative service medals honouring the nuclear test veterans, whilst also questioning why it took over half a century for such medallic recognition to be granted; laments the fact that thousands of nuclear test veterans died without their sacrifice being formally acknowledged; believes that current measures do not go far enough; and calls for a package of financial compensation for nuclear test veterans and their families.

1587Energy prices for pubs, restaurants and hospitality businesses

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 3

Daisy Cooper

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

That this House notes with alarm the findings from Ofgem’s Non-domestic market review that hospitality businesses are unable to secure competitive energy contracts, and that they are the most likely sector to be refused service by many energy suppliers; regrets that continuing inflated energy costs are a major contributory factor in pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses being forced to close for good; further notes with concern the resulting loss of community amenities, employment, and negative effects on the wider supply chain; calls on the government to urgently introduce statutory protections within the energy market to enable hospitality businesses to have access to an equivalent range of suppliers and rates as other non-domestic energy customers; urges Ofgem to mandate greater transparency in non-domestic billing and prices for non-domestic energy users; requests that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero takes immediate steps to end the practice of energy suppliers blacklisting entire sectors such as hospitality from their products; and further calls on the government to improve the regulation of energy brokers, by introducing a formal and binding redress scheme for non-domestic users, and requiring greater transparency on fees.

1588Rowing gold medallist, Hannah Scott

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 3

Mr Gregory Campbell

Sir Mike Penning

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the tremendous performance by the Great Britain team at the World Rowing Championships in September 2023, including the women's quadruple sculls who won gold by 0.67 seconds, Hannah Scott from Coleraine being one of the team, following in the footsteps of other medal winning British rowing athletes from the town in recent years which have included brothers Richard and Peter Chambers and Alan Campbell, demonstrating an astonishing achievement at the highest levels of rowing success for Northern Ireland athletes.

1589Gorebridge Community Cares, Midlothian

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 3

Owen Thompson

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

That this House notes the outstanding work by Gorebridge Community Cares to provide a high level of service to residents across the local area in Midlothian; applauds the hard work and selfless commitment of organisers Mhairi Barrett and Claire Crawford; further notes the comprehensive breadth of support available, from courses in food hygiene, support groups, educational opportunities, cooking workshops, a greenhouse to grow food and develop gardening skills, CV tutorials and computer skills training; highlights how this has become a lifeline for many people in the current cost-of-living crisis; underlines the fundamental importance of such a vital scheme delivered by an exceptional staff team with lived experience and local connections; and wishes them and all of their service users every success in their future endeavours.

1590Victoria Radio Network studio re-opening

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 2

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates the Victoria Radio Network, a volunteer led and multi award winning radio station based within the Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy; notes that the station has been a bedside companion entertaining and enlightening patients, staff and hospital visitors with discussions on diverse topics since 1971; further notes the radio broadcasts seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day and provides novice broadcasters with their very first opportunity in the industry; applauds Victoria Radio Network and all involved in their endeavours; and congratulates them on their newly refurbished studios and upgraded state-of-the-art equipment supported by a grant from Fife Health Charity.

1591The Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal and Royal Air Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 2

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

That this House has the utmost admiration for all those who have served in His Majesty's Armed Forces; notes that veterans who have shown outstanding dedication to their King or late Queen and country should be awarded with fitting medallic recognition; is concerned that the Ministry of Defence's medallic recognition policy outlines that only veterans who served from after 29 July 2014 are eligible to be awarded the Her Late Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal and Royal Air Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with clasps; understands that these medals are awarded to members of the Armed Forces who served for five continuous years during Her Late Majesty's reign; recognises that should the initiation date be set to the beginning of Her Late Majesty’s reign many more members of the Armed Forces would qualify to be awarded these medals; expresses concern that the initiation date was set as such only for administrative reasons; and calls on the Government to review the Ministry of Defence's medallic recognition policy to reflect the brave services of all veterans to their King and country.

1595UK manufactures of lower carbon construction vehicles

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 2

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Jim Shannon

This House welcomes the Government’s decision to review the lower weight limits being imposed on greener volumetric mobile concrete plants (VCMs) as a first step to reversing regulations that are devastating a great British manufacturer, threatening 15,000 skilled jobs in 137 constituencies, contributing £380 million to the UK economy; further notes that VCMs operated legally at 38.4 tonnes and above for 50 years, producing concrete with zero waste and far fewer road miles than old fashioned drum mixers, saving annually an estimated 14 million lorry-miles to UK roads, 598,000 lorry journeys, 120,000 tonnes of CO2, preventing a 20% increase in CO2, nitrogen oxide and particulates, and extra carbon costs of £7 million; further notes the 2017 report commissioned by Highways England endorsed 44 tonnes as a safe weight for 5 axle VCMs and 38.5 tonnes for VCMs on four axles; also notes that unless the Review reverses the decision to abolish 44 tonne VCMs in 2028, the sole UK VCM manufacturer in Sheffield will cease trading; further notes Denmark raised the weight limit from 32 tonnes to 38 tonnes and in Italy and Scandinavia 44 tonne VCMs are road-legal; recognises the UK concrete market is dominated by foreign-owned conglomerates running rival drum mixers at 32 tonnes; notes that the Government abolished the unrealistic 32 tonne weight limit for all-electric HGVs; further notes the Labour Opposition commitment to reverse this weight cut; and calls on Ministers to permit VCMs to run at higher weights too.

1596Sir Ian Wilmut

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 5

Owen Thompson

Angela Crawley

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

That this House extends its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sir Ian Wilmut, a titan of the scientific world, who has died at the age of 79; recognises the enormous contribution of Sir Ian who led the team behind the world famous cloned sheep Dolly; acknowledges his ground-breaking work at the influential Roslin Institute in Midlothian; emphasises the role his work continues to play in advances that have been made in the field of regenerative medicine; highlights the fact his research helped pave the way for potential stem cell treatments to tackle degenerative diseases; and wishes his colleagues at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute continued success in ensuring his legacy drives so many innovative applications emerging from animal and human biology research.

1597University duty of care

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 3

Tim Farron

Layla Moran

Jim Shannon

That this House calls for higher education institutions to have a statutory duty of care for their students; deeply regrets the tragic consequences of past failures to recognise when students have experienced significant challenges to their mental health and the subsequent impacts on their family and friends; particularly regrets instances where universities have failed to inform families of students’ struggles, including acts of self harm, even when given express consent to share that information; recognises that, although students are paying for higher education institutions, they are not simply customers of their services; highlights that many students are young people with little experience of independent living, higher exposure to the challenging aspects of social media usage, and who continue to face the ongoing negative impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis, and climate crisis, putting them at higher risk of experiencing mental health issues; and urges the Government to encourage higher education institutions to make student wellbeing a strategic priority.

1598Young fundraisers Caitie and Holly McCubbin

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 10

Dr Philippa Whitford

Brendan O'Hara

Angela Crawley

Patricia Gibson

Ms Anum Qaisar

John McNally

That this House congratulates sisters Caitie (age 8) and Holly (age 7) McCubbin on cycling 100 miles each during their summer holidays to raise funds for two charities which have helped their grandfathers, along with Epic Games which matched their funds; applauds Caitie for raising £904 for the British Heart Foundation which supported her papa after he had two heart attacks, and applauds Holly for raising £1,031 for Ataxia UK which supports her pappy, following his diagnosis of Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia; commends both of them for using their summer holidays as an opportunity to fundraise for these important charities; wishes them well in their future fundraising endeavours; and congratulates their parents who must be justifiably proud of both of them.