Contents

Published: Friday 15 September 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 14 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

1614Bannerman High School 50th anniversary

Tabled: 14/09/23 Signatories: 2

David Linden

Alison Thewliss

That this House celebrates the 50th anniversary of Bannerman High School in Baillieston, Glasgow; sincerely thanks the teachers, staff and parents for the work they do in educating the young adults of Glasgow East; recognises that the school has provided high quality education to pupils from across the East End of Glasgow, particularly Baillieston, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon, Carmyle and Swinton; congratulates staff past and present for fostering a positive learning environment that has helped their pupils excel in all areas of the curriculum; commends both the teachers and pupils for their work which has enabled Bannerman High School to consistently excel in areas like the performing arts, dance and music; and wishes pupils, teachers, parents and the wider community involved with Bannerman High School the best of luck for another successful 50 years.

1615Forth Valley Sensory Centre Wee County Hub

Tabled: 14/09/23 Signatories: 1

John Nicolson

That this House welcomes the launch of Forth Valley Sensory Centre’s new sensory hub at Tullibody Civic Centre, notes that the Wee County Hub brings support and services directly to people of all ages living with sensory loss in Clackmannanshire, including information and advice, social opportunities and British Sign Language classes; and recognises the work of Forth Valley Sensory Centre to build confidence and independence in those who are blind, deaf, or who have hearing loss or visual impairments.

1616COP28

Tabled: 14/09/23 Signatories: 1

Caroline Lucas

That this house notes that COP28, taking place between 30th Nov and 12th Dec 2023, marks a critical stage in the global effort to secure a liveable future; expresses alarm about escalating climate impacts, current commitments being vastly insufficient and governments planning to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than is consistent with limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees; urges the UK to advocate for the phase out of fossil fuels to be on the agenda at COP28 in recognition of the end of the fossil fuel era; welcomes that the Prime Minister will be attending COP28 in person and calls on him to work with other leaders to deliver an agreement on the urgent and just phase out of all fossil fuels; calls on the UK to back an ambitious political deal in response to the Global Stocktake at COP28; notes the damaging impact of the delayed delivery of the pledge of $100bn climate finance on trust between countries and achieving the Paris Agreement goals; further urges the Government to deliver its existing climate finance commitments in full, ensure funding is new and additional, and support efforts to increase climate finance at COP28, laying the ground work for the New Collective Quantified Goal to be agreed next year; and believes that COP28 must see the operationalising of a properly resourced Loss and Damage Finance Fund, that the UK should support this goal, and provide grant-based funds for addressing Loss and Damage.

1617TUC Conference 2023 resolution on public sector pay

Tabled: 14/09/23 Signatories: 6

Beth Winter

John McDonnell

Andy McDonald

Richard Burgon

Apsana Begum

Ian Byrne

That this House notes that real weekly wages remain below where they were in 2008; further notes that wages in the public sector continue to fall in real terms; recognises the final public sector pay settlements for 2022-23 reflected an increase on the initial public sector pay review body recommendations following trade union campaigns involving industrial action; believes that real terms pay restoration is necessary for public sector workers nationwide; welcomes the policy carried by TUC Conference 2023 calling for pay increases for public sector workers that at least match inflation and that provide for pay restoration; and calls on the Government to set out a programme to provide for pay restoration for all public sector workers.

1618Right to Food Week 2023

Tabled: 14/09/23 Signatories: 2

Ian Byrne

Alison Thewliss

That this House recognises that Right to Food Week 2023 takes place between 18 and 23 September 2023; highlights the injustices of hunger; notes that 18% of UK households are experiencing food insecurity and more than half a million children dropped below the poverty line in the last year; acknowledges the profound and devastating consequences of food insecurity on health, wellbeing and livelihoods; agrees that the Government has a duty to ensure nobody in our communities goes hungry; asserts that the Government’s duty should be reflected in legislation and that the right to food should be enshrined in UK law; agrees legislation should include (a) a rollout of universal free school meals, (b) a statement of the proportion of minimum wages and benefits, on which people are expected to live, is spent on food, (c) independent enforcement of legislation, (d) funding of community kitchens, (e) guarantees of food security; recognises the many councils across the country that have declared themselves right-to-food cities and towns; recognises that Trade Union Congress in 2021, 2022 and 2023 passed motions calling for the right to food to be enshrined in law; notes the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called on the Government to facilitate a country visit of the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food to the UK by the end of this year; and asserts that a Right to Food enshrined in UK law is desperately needed so that everyone, including all children, are legally protected from hunger.

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.

152840th anniversary of Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 8

Patrick Grady

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau on reaching its 40th anniversary; recognises the exceptional work and dedication of staff, volunteers and trustees in providing the communities of North Glasgow with free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues from benefits and debt to housing and energy; notes that it now supports in excess of 6,000 local people annually; further notes that it is based within the heart of Maryhill and operates in an area with high levels of multiple deprivation and that the service is a lifeline to many local residents; understands that during the last 40 years Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau has provided advice on over 500,000 issues and secured more than £70 million for local people in the form of financial gains; acknowledges that Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau also offers a well-established tribunal service which assists clients with hearings on benefit claims, and an EU Settlement Project to help EU citizens with their immigration status; appreciates that Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau's service is delivered in large part by volunteers who come from diverse backgrounds and reflect the communities that they serve; and extends gratitude and best wishes for a successful future to Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau.

1534Street Soccer Nations Cup 2023 tournament in Largs

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 8

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House celebrates the Street Soccer Nations Cup tournament, which is being held in Largs in August 2023; understands that women-only teams from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Sweden will compete at Largs Thistle’s Barrfield Stadium and that players will stay at sportscotland’s Inverclyde facility; understands that Street Football projects are active across the globe, offering life-changing experiences for players who are experiencing social isolation; believes that the tournament will bring together players to build their self-belief and showcase the importance of inclusivity in football; and wishes the players the best of luck for the tournament, with Scotland winning the competition.

1536New Lanark grant

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 8

Angela Crawley

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates New Lanark Trust on their award of £2.3 million funding to ensure the future of the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage site; understands that the funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund’s Covid-19 Response Fund will allow New Lanark Trust to undertake maintenance on a number of the Category A listed buildings on the site, which have been delayed because of the pandemic; acknowledges that New Lanark was founded as a cotton-spinning village in 1785 by David Dale and was expanded by Robert Owen to become the biggest cotton mill in Scotland and one of the largest factory sites in the world with over 2,000 people living and working in the village; recognises that New Lanark Trust was established in 1974 to rescue the former cotton mill village from demolition and has successfully managed and preserved the site, leading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2001 for their restoration work and the history and social philosophies of David Dale and Robert Owen; and commends New Lanark Trust for all their hard work and dedication over the last half century and wishes them well for the future.

1537Robbie Shepherd

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 46

Kirsty Blackman

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House recognises the life of Robbie Shepherd following his sad passing; acknowledges his outstanding contribution to broadcasting as host of Take the Floor; celebrates his accomplished literary works on Scottish country dancing and Scottish dance music; recalls his championing of Doric; and conveys condolences to his family and friends during this sad time, fit a richt guid loon, what a good man.

1539Emma Finucane UCI Individual Sprint world champion

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 4

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Emma Finucane from Carmarthen on winning the Women’s Individual Sprint Track Championship held in Glasgow in August at the age of only 20; congratulates Glasgow and Scotland on hosting a successful championship; notes that Emma is the third UK cyclist and second from Wales to become Individual Sprint world champion; and looks forward to following Emma’s career over the coming years.

1541Photographer Joe Gilhooley

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 8

Owen Thompson

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Douglas Chapman

Allan Dorans

That this House acknowledges the supreme talents of photographer Joe Gilhooley from Loanhead, Midlothian; notes his recent success in a global photographic competition where his image Red Eyed Frog on an Orchid won third place; further notes his impressive list of previous achievements including winning The Scots Magazine Photographer of the Year in 2017 when he entered his Loch Rusky sunrise photograph in their national competition; applauds his further success at again winning the award in 2019; recognises his prodigious talents, selfless commitment and role in promoting photography; and wishes him every success in all of his future photographic endeavours.

1543Nike women's goalkeeper shirt

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 4

Tracey Crouch

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Alison Thewliss

That this House recognises the brilliance of the Lionesses’ goalkeeper Mary Earps; notes that Nike chose not to produce a replica shirt for England’s keeper, which has been criticised as shameful, hurtful and devaluing the role that the keeper plays in women’s football; and calls on Nike to reverse this decision and to put on sale Earps’ replica goalkeeper shirt, so that girls who were inspired by the FIFA Women’s World Cup and who want to play in goal feel that their role is as important as that of an outfield player.

1546Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band and the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 7

Martyn Day

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band on their magnificent victory at the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships, held at Glasgow Green on 18 and 19 August in front of 35,000 spectators; notes that 190 bands and almost 9,000 pipers and drummers from 15 countries across the globe competed; commends the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band in achieving this level of success; and wishes the Band all the very best in future competitions.

1548Stonewall's Top 100 Employers list 2023

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 11

Angela Crawley

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Apsana Begum

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates the employers who secured a place on Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list; commends the progressive work of those employers who are setting the highest standard of LGBT inclusivity in the workplace, which should be mirrored by all; regrets the Cabinet Office’s decision to remove itself from Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme in 2021; rejects claims that the Government’s involvement in such programme had disastrous consequences; expresses its disappointment that no UK Government Department has made Stonewall’s list in 2023; condemns the Government’s inaction on LGBT inclusivity in the workplace; recognises that the omission of Government Departments from Stonewall’s top 100 list reflects their position on LGBT inclusivity; and encourages all Government Departments to uphold the highest standards in workplace diversity, setting an example to all UK employers.

1549Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 7

Angela Crawley

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes on their Platinum Award at the Scottish Concert Band Festival; celebrates their success in being one of seven winning amateur groups chosen by a panel of esteemed judges for Classic FM and their Big Platinum Performance as part of their birthday celebrations and the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022; appreciates their musical talent and their role in enriching culture in Carluke; and wishes them success in their 41st annual concert.

1551Retirement of coxswain Joe Miller from RNLI Troon Lifeboat

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 19

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.

1556The Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 14

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.

1562VAT and the hospitality sector

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 11

Alyn Smith

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Douglas Chapman

Ms Anum Qaisar

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

That this House recognises the immense challenges facing the hospitality sector during the cost-of-living crisis; notes that the Government implemented a temporary cut of 5% on VAT for hospitality businesses during the pandemic; further notes that VAT is not devolved and can therefore only be set by the UK Government; adds that the UK is an outlier for having a flat rate of VAT across the whole economy unlike other European economies; notes that organisations such as the Scottish License and Trade Association, Scottish Beer and Pub Association and Scottish Hospitality Group support a cut of 5% on VAT as the most straightforward and effective policy measure to help many small and local businesses get through the current crisis; acknowledges that local hospitality businesses deliver an important social good to their communities as well as bring in vital income and jobs; and calls on the UK Government to implement a permanent cut of 5% on VAT for the hospitality sector to help hospitality businesses meet the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

1566Rosshall Disc Golf Course 10th anniversary

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 6

Chris Stephens

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Rosshall Disc Golf Course on its 10th anniversary; understands that Glasgow Disc Golf Club in partnership with Friends of Rosshall Park will be putting on an event in the park on Saturday 28 October where anyone will be able to try the game of disc golf; further understands that coaching on the basics of the game will be provided by local players and that discs will be supplied; notes that the sport of disc golf has seen huge growth in recent years and that Glasgow is the only city in the UK to benefit from four free-to-play disc golf courses, with a fifth currently in development; observes that while the course in Rosshall Park had become somewhat neglected, new players brought their enthusiasm and hard work to ensure that the course is playable for people of all ages and abilities; further observes that the course at Rosshall Park is one of the courses that make up the Quaich Tour, which will see a national champion emerge at the end of the season; and recognises fundraising by local players, which helped Scottish players Rachel Turton and Chris Smith to travel to Estonia in August to take part in the European Disc Golf Championships.

1567Harry Frew

Tabled: 4/09/23 Signatories: 11

Chris Stephens

Grahame Morris

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Law

Ms Anum Qaisar

That this House recognises the life and work of Harry Frew, former UCATT Scottish Secretary and STUC President, who died in August 2023; recognises his lifelong work as one of Scotland's trade unionists over many years and his work as a painter and decorator; sends condolences to his family at this time; further recognises his work to increase pay and conditions for all workers at home and abroad and against inequality and injustice; recognises the esteem in which he was held by his many friends and colleagues; and offers condolences to all who knew him.

1570150th Anniversary of St Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Dumbarton

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 4

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

Alison Thewliss

That this House notes that St Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Dumbarton recently held anniversary celebration events to mark 150 years of serving the people of Dumbarton and surrounding areas with their ecumenical needs and working with the local community; understands that as well as providing a place of worship for the local community, it also has a community hall which local numerous groups use to tackle social issues that are found at the heart of town ministry, particularly poverty and recovery from addiction; further notes that in addition to these local groups the Church is the base for the local food bank, Food for Thought, which provides emergency food aid five days a week to those struggling to provide for their families; and believes that the Church has played an invaluable role in the development of the town and the local community and wishes it well for the next 150 years.

1571World Suicide Prevention Day 2023

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 15

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Sir Mike Penning

Chris Stephens

Claudia Webbe

That this House marks World Suicide Prevention Day 2023, held on 10 September; highlights this year's aim to focus attention on the issue, reduce stigma and raise awareness among organizations, governments and the public, giving a singular message that suicides are preventable; notes the theme for World Suicide Prevention Day 2021-2023 is creating hope through action and that whilst there has been a reduction in the number of people committing suicide over the last 10 years, the numbers are still worryingly high; further highlights how this day offers an opportunity to remind people that it's good to talk and that recovery is always possible; thanks organisations such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organisation for the key roles they play in promoting the importance of suicide prevention; and encourages those with suicidal thoughts to always speak to someone and know the necessary support is there to help people overcome difficult times.

1572InGAME research and development hub

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 5

Chris Law

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

Alison Thewliss

That this House acknowledges the publication of a new report highlighting the transformative role played by the InGAME (Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise) research and development centre in Dundee; notes that InGAME, established in 2018 by Abertay University in collaboration with academic and industry partners, has emerged as a pioneering hub of innovative research and support services for games companies, facilitating creative experimentation, developing scale-up capacity and fostering diversification and growth throughout the Dundee games cluster and beyond; welcomes the findings of the BiGGAR Economics report which shows that companies collaborating with InGAME are projected to generate an estimated £84.7 million gross value added (GVA) for the UK economy over the next 10 years, with £55.3 million GVA and 115 jobs expected to be generated within the Tay Cities Region alone; further notes that the impact analysis reveals that for every £1 of UK public funding invested in InGAME, the project is anticipated to generate an impressive £15.90 GVA for the UK economy, while successfully stimulating £2.08 of research and development investment from industry partners; notes that to date more than 177 research projects have been funded through InGAME’s innovation voucher scheme and more than 2,200 games industry professionals and researchers have been up-skilled through training and engagement activities; and recognises that InGAME’s success was instrumental in Abertay University securing preferred bidder status to host one of four new UK virtual production labs which are funded through UKRI’s Convergent Screen Technologies and performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme.

1573Battlefield Rest and The Food Awards Scotland

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 6

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Chris Stephens

Patricia Gibson

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates the Battlefield Rest for winning the Best Italian Establishment award and the Restaurant of the Year in Glasgow award at The Food Awards Scotland; recognises the value of the Battlefield Rest as a social hub for people across Glasgow and as a vital part of the local economy; and wishes the Battlefield Rest every continued success.

1575Pulmonary fibrosis awareness month

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 16

Mohammad Yasin

Valerie Vaz

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

Jon Trickett

Sir Mike Penning

That this House marks Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month which takes place in September; acknowledges the importance of raising awareness of pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating and often life-threatening lung condition affecting 70,000 people across the United Kingdom; regrets that 1% of all deaths are due to pulmonary fibrosis; recognises the work of Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, healthcare professionals, and researchers in raising awareness of the reality of living with pulmonary fibrosis; reaffirms the need for fast and accurate diagnosis, as well as access to treatments and pulmonary rehabilitation; understands the need for improved funding for research and support services; and calls on the Government to support initiatives that raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis, encourage early diagnosis, and promote research into the disease.

1576Freddie Mercury's 77th birthday

Tabled: 5/09/23 Signatories: 11

Seema Malhotra

Christine Jardine

Patrick Grady

Chris Stephens

Jonathan Edwards

Ben Lake

That this House extends its best wishes to the family of Freddie Mercury, who grew up in Feltham alongside Brian May, on what would have been Freddie’s 77th birthday; recognises the enormous contribution of Freddie Mercury and Queen to music and culture and the love for Freddie, which is still felt around the world; thanks Emi, Rico and Japanese fans for their donation of a Sakura tree in recognition of Freddie’s love of Japanese culture and of cherry trees; and congratulates Angela Parton and volunteers from the Friends of Feltham Green on their organising of an event in Freddie’s honour and the unveiling of the Sakura tree by Freddie’s sister Kashmira and the Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Afzal Kiani, which will be planted in the Freddie Mercury Memorial Gardens and be an inspiration in tribute to Freddie for generations to come.

1580Compensation for nuclear test veterans

Tabled: 6/09/23 Signatories: 32

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.

1586Industrial action by social care workers in Glasgow

Tabled: 7/09/23 Signatories: 9

Chris Stephens

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

Jon Trickett

Kate Osborne

Allan Dorans

That this House thanks social care staff across Scotland and the rest of the UK who work in frontline community services to care for our most vulnerable; recognises that many social care workers, especially in the private sector, are in receipt of low pay and poor terms and conditions which do not reflect the vital services of social care workers whilst companies profit from human need; gives its full support to GMB Scotland’s members at Baillieston, Cardonald and Stobhill care homes in Glasgow in their dispute with their employer Silverline Care, now administered by the Minster Care Group, and their unprecedented strike action on 5 and 6 September, the first strike in private social care in Scotland; understands that Silverline Care and Minster Care Group have torn up the trade union recognition agreement without notice, rescinded previous pay offers and refuse to hold further pay talks; calls on the employer to recommence pay talks immediately with GMB Scotland to deliver an offer that reflects the value of social care workers and recognises their collective voice; believes that trade unions must be at the heart of social care to secure a strong collective voice for social care workers; notes the work being undertaken by the Scottish Government’s Fair Work in Social Care Workstreams, including the workstream on sectoral bargaining; welcomes the commitment from the Scottish Government to implement sectoral bargaining; and acknowledges that GMB Scotland’s dispute with Silverline Care and Minster Care Group highlights the need for sectoral bargaining.

1589Gorebridge Community Cares, Midlothian

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 5

Owen Thompson

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Ms Anum Qaisar

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: 3

Neale Hanvey

Jim Shannon

Ms Anum Qaisar

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.

1595UK manufactures of lower carbon construction vehicles

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 7

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Sir Peter Bottomley

Sir George Howarth

Dr Philippa Whitford

Claudia Webbe

Kim Johnson

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: 6

Owen Thompson

Angela Crawley

Patricia Gibson

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Ms Anum Qaisar

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.

1598Young fundraisers Caitie and Holly McCubbin

Tabled: 11/09/23 Signatories: 12

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.

1603Community News Project and Meta

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 4

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

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: 3

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

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: 14

Layla Moran

Claudia Webbe

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Kim Johnson

Jim Shannon

Wendy Chamberlain

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: 14

Grahame Morris

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Kate Hollern

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: 16

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.

160950 years of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society

Tabled: 12/09/23 Signatories: 5

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Patrick Grady

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

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: 5

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Patrick Grady

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

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.

1611Mandatory food waste reporting in England

Tabled: 13/09/23 Signatories: 14

Olivia Blake

Caroline Lucas

Ian Byrne

Andy McDonald

John McDonnell

Zarah Sultana

That this House notes that UK food waste causes an estimated 36 million tonnes CO2eq in emissions domestically and overseas, costing businesses and citizens approximately £19 billion; further notes that UK on-farm food waste alone is estimated to use an area of agricultural land half the size of Wales and that this land could help sustainably feed the UK and restore nature to mitigate the cost of living and climate crises; recognises that the current lack of voluntary food waste reporting impedes meaningful assessment of food waste levels and progress in food waste reduction; acknowledges that many organisations including WRAP and Tesco have said that mandatory food waste reporting is essential for the UK to halve food waste by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3; notes that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has recommended mandatory food waste reporting; further notes that 99% of responses to the Government’s consultation on improved reporting of food waste supported mandatory food waste reporting for large and medium businesses and that the majority of food business respondents also supported mandatory reporting; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals for mandatory measurement and public reporting of food waste in 2024 and 2025 respectively for all medium and large-sized food businesses in England, ensuring adequate coverage across and within food sectors including primary production, manufacturing, retail and hospitality and food service.

1612The 42nd Great North Run

Tabled: 13/09/23 Signatories: 15

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Julie Elliott

Ian Mearns

Mary Kelly Foy

Kate Osborne

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House celebrates the thousands of runners who crossed the finish line in South Shields on Sunday 10th September after taking part in the 42nd Great North Run; notes that the Great North Run as an institution demonstrates our region, and history and our people; highlights the boost the run gives charities across the country and to businesses in the north east; commemorates four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah for competing as his farewell from professional athletics and recognises his enormous contribution to athletics and services to sport; thanks the Run's founder, Sir Brendan Foster, the organisers, and the volunteers who make this momentous event possible every year; and congratulates all the runners that took part.

1613Appointment of Hannah Fennell and Sheila Keith as President and Vice-President of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation

Tabled: 13/09/23 Signatories: 4

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Wendy Chamberlain

Patrick Grady

Chris Stephens

This House congratulates Hannah Fennell and Sheila Keith on their appointments as the President and Vice-President of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF); notes their experience from their roles within the Orkney Fisheries Association and Shetland Fishermen’s Association; believes that the SFF has a key role to play in promoting the long term security and sustainability of Scottish fishing; recognises the service of the outgoing President, Ian Gatt; and wishes both Hannah and Sheila all the best in their roles, as the SFF celebrates its 50th anniversary.