Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Wednesday 25 October 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 24 October 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

1703100 years of Newtownards Menarys

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates 100 years of Menarys Retail across Northern Ireland in particular 38 years of business in the local Menarys of Newtownards; highlights that the family-run company of Joseph Alexander, the Great-Great uncle of the existing owners, opened Alexanders as a local Draper in Dungannon; notes that Joe’s nephew, Brian McCammon, took over the business in 1968 and began his expansion plans with the purchase of Menarys Bros in Lisburn in 1979; further notes as locations grew the business was rebranded as Menarys and continued expansion throughout the between the 1980s and the 2000s when Brian’s 3 sons: Peter, Stephen and Philip come into the business and take over operations; further highlights the work of the 200 staff that are employed and 60 of those have been with the business long term; wishes the local Menarys teams all the best for their continued success; and thanks them for their contributions to the local economy of Newtownards and beyond.

170460th anniversary of Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Carol Monaghan

That this House congratulates Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau on reaching its 60th anniversary; recognises the vital assistance provided to members of the local community by its committed staff and volunteers; highlights the breadth of advice that the Bureau offers, from providing information on housing rights and benefits, to helping with employment issues or assisting with immigration matters; underscores the impartial and confidential nature of the guidance and support given; commends the staff for their dedication and hard work over the years; notes the crucial role the Bureau plays in empowering individuals and preventing them from facing unnecessary or additional hardships; acknowledges its far-reaching positive impact on the community; and wishes it the very best for a successful future.

170550th anniversary of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Ian Blackford

That this House warmly congratulates Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, on its 50th anniversary; recognises that from humble beginnings in an unused barn, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig has become a centre of excellence, providing world-class education, research and cultural opportunities to thousands of students from more than 25 countries; applauds the fact that Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is the only centre of Higher and Further Education in the world that provides its learning programmes entirely through the medium of Gaelic; commends the vision of Iain Noble and the leadership of those who have served as principals in establishing a seat of learning for Gaelic that teaches, inspires and enriches students from home and abroad; and celebrates Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s positive contribution to both the Isle of Skye, where the population has almost doubled since the inception of the college in 1973, and wider Scottish culture.

1706FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the success of the Northern Ireland Powerchair team in the Powerchair World Cup 2023, that was held in Olympic Park Sydney, Australia; further notes the team's incredible achievement in coming 9th overall in the World cup and their fantastic result beating the Republic of Ireland 3-0; highlights the consistent efforts of Northern Ireland Powerchair Coach Michael Hilland and his son Scott, who is the captain of the team; highlights the hours put into practicing for the matches and the team's involvement in the Powerchair sporting industry for so many years; congratulates them on this achievement and thanks them dearly for all the support they provide for young disabled people who want to get involved in Powerchair Football.

1707Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Awareness Day 2023

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Cat Smith

That this House notes that 25 October 2023 is Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTs) Awareness Day; highlights that PoTS is a nervous system abnormality mainly affecting women, where exercise, standing or sitting cause symptoms ranging from palpitations and shortness of breath to chest pain and fainting; further highlights that studies from the US have suggested that the condition impacts around 170 in every 100,000 people in the population; notes with concern that many doctors still unaware of PoTS syndrome and the average diagnosis of PoTS from first presentation to diagnosis is 7 years; draws attention to the fact that for 90% of patients a diagnosis followed by medically guided lifestyle changes or medication can improve and manage symptoms; and therefore calls on the Government to increase support for people suffering from PoTS and to raise awareness around PoTS within the NHS.

1708First independent Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes that the first independent Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence has opened at Queens University Belfast; highlights that the location of the Centre is in the heart of the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research in Belfast and will aim to deliver clinical trials and test new, promising treatments to improve cancer outcomes and reduce treatment-related side effects; further notes that prostate cancer takes the lives of 276 men in Northern Ireland each year and is one of the most common cancers amongst men; further highlights this being another example of Northern Irish universities paving the way in cancer research and outcomes; and wishes Queens University all the very best for the future in pioneering cutting edge treatments and fuelling better research into prostate cancer.

1709Wealth taxation and EU Tax Observatory report on global tax evasion

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Jonathan Edwards

That this House welcomes the EU Tax Observatory inaugural report on global tax evasion; notes that the report indicates that the richest people in the world are operating on the edge of legality to evade paying tax; expresses concern at the findings of the report that the very richest use shell companies and other measures to reduce their tax burden to between 0% to 0.6% of their total wealth; further notes that real estate in expensive cities such as London provides a vehicle for the very wealthy to avoid paying tax; also notes that the report calls on the 3,000 richest people in the world, with combined assets of $13 trillion, to be taxed at a rate of 2% of their total wealth; estimates that such a measure would raise £205 billion annually; and joins calls for the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024 to begin efforts to introduce a global wealth tax on the very richest people.

1710McMonagles

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House congratulates McMonagles on winning the Best Restaurant Takeaway at the Scottish Takeaway Awards 2023; notes that the family-owned chippy on a boat has been awarded this accolade two years in a row by the Scottish Takeaway Awards, which is a testament to the hard work of the team and their dedication to providing quality food to the local community; believes that the McMonagle's boat is synonymous with the town and people of Clydebank; further congratulates them on celebrating their 30th year as one of Scotland's most loved eateries; and wishes them well for the next 30 years.

1711120th anniversary of Portadown YMCA

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House congratulates Portadown YMCA on reaching its 120th anniversary; recognises the positive influence within the community that the YMCA has been throughout that period; thanks all YMCA staff and volunteers for their endeavours in the past and to the present day; and wishes Portadown YMCA ongoing success as it works within the Portadown community.

1712125th anniversary of Banbridge Tennis Club

Tabled: 24/10/23 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House congratulates Banbridge Tennis Club on its 125th anniversary; recognises the importance of sport within communities as a way of promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing; acknowledges the role of Banbridge Tennis Club in nurturing local sporting talent; and wishes the Club ongoing success on and off the court in the future.

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.

1676Israel's response to Hamas atrocities and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Tabled: 16/10/23 Signatories: 36

Brendan O'Hara

Liz Saville Roberts

Ms Anum Qaisar

Hannah Bardell

Patrick Grady

Gavin Newlands

That this House unreservedly condemns Hamas and their appalling act of terrorist violence in which more than 1,400 Israeli civilians were murdered and hundreds more taken hostage; supports Israel’s right to find the perpetrators of those atrocities and hold them accountable for their actions; believes that any Israeli response to those attacks must be legal, proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law; recognises that the vast majority of Palestinians want nothing to do with Hamas and therefore deeply regrets Israel’s decision to impose a collective punishment, including forced displacement, on the civilian population of Gaza, who as a result of Israel’s actions now have little or no access to water, food, fuel or medicine, and who are living under constant military bombardment; calls on Israel to immediately end its siege and restore power and water supplies and open the Rafah border to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza; urges the Government to work with international allies to create a humanitarian corridor, one which allows innocent civilians to flee Gaza but which also provides them with a guaranteed right of return; believes that the UK has an obligation to uphold and promote international humanitarian law; and calls on the Government to play its part, along with the rest of the international community, to find a just solution to this ongoing crisis, as without justice, there can be no peace, and this cycle of violence will continue resulting in even more innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives being lost.

1685Protecting civilians in Gaza and Israel

Tabled: 17/10/23 Signatories: 81

Richard Burgon

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Beth Winter

Zarah Sultana

Nadia Whittome

This House utterly condemns the massacre of Israeli civilians and taking of hostages by Hamas; agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that these horrific acts do not justify responding with the collective punishment of the Palestinian people; expresses its deep alarm at the Israeli military bombardment and total siege of Gaza and the resulting deaths and suffering; believes that the urgent priority must be to stop the deaths and suffering of any more civilians in Gaza and Israel; welcomes the joint statement from 12 leading aid agencies, including Oxfam, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Medical Aid for Palestinians and Islamic Relief, calling for the Government to use its influence to help protect civilians, to ensure adherence to international humanitarian law and to guarantee civilians have access to critical life-saving humanitarian support; and to this end supports their call for the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to urgently press all parties to agree to an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities, to ensure the immediate, unconditional release of the Israeli hostages, to end to the total siege of Gaza and allow for unfettered access of medical supplies, food, fuel electricity and water, to guarantee that international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians are protected in accordance with those laws.

1686Kastriots defibrillator fundraising

Tabled: 18/10/23 Signatories: 3

David Linden

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House celebrates Kastriots, a restaurant in Baillieston, which hosted a fundraiser night to fund a defibrillator for the local community; commends the restaurant for raising £3,400 to acquire the life-saving device that will be placed outside the East End Fox pub; notes that the defibrillator will provide emergency care to those experiencing a cardiac arrest and provides assurance to the public that they have access to the critical medical device; congratulates Kastriots on their generosity and commitment to the well-being of the local community; and thanks them for their fundraising efforts.

1687Levels of neighbourhood policing in London

Tabled: 19/10/23 Signatories: 3

Sarah Olney

John McDonnell

Munira Wilson

That this House acknowledges the 64% reduction in police officers deployed to full time neighbourhood policing in London since 2015; recognises that over the last decade nearly 100 police stations have been closed to the public including Richmond’s Sovereign Gate Station; notes that this has degraded the Metropolitan Police Service’s ability to support the communities they work in; further notes that the loss of neighbourhood policing has been due in part to the Government’s failure to increase the Metropolitan Police’s central government funding settlement in line with inflation; and calls on the Home Secretary to work with the Mayor to increase the number of full time neighbourhood police officers in London.

1688Itihaas and Radhuni

Tabled: 19/10/23 Signatories: 6

Owen Thompson

Jonathan Edwards

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Ms Anum Qaisar

Chris Law

That this House applauds the tireless work of Midlothian entrepreneur Matin Khan who has been named the UK’s top curry chef by the industry’s trade magazine; recognises the dedication of Mr Khan, executive chef of Itihaas in Dalkeith and The Radhuni in Loanhead, who was given the accolade at the Curry Life Awards in London recently; congratulates the Radhuni restaurant which also scooped the title of the UK’s best curry restaurant; further recognises that since opening in 2007, the 80-seat Itihaas eatery has won numerous titles including Scotland’s Curry Chef of the Year, Best South Asian Restaurant and Restaurant of the Year in the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Awards; and wishes Mr Khan, his family and his business further success for the future.

1689Green Home Systems, Chamber Network Business Awards Planet Saver of the Year

Tabled: 19/10/23 Signatories: 7

Dr Philippa Whitford

Jonathan Edwards

Allan Dorans

Dave Doogan

Jim Shannon

Ms Anum Qaisar

That this House congratulates Green Home Systems, based in Irvine, on being recognised as the British Chamber of Commerce’s Planet Saver of the Year 2023 at the Chamber Network Business Awards which celebrate the business successes and achievements of their members each year; notes that the awards, now in their 20th year, are one of the showpieces of the business calendar and highlights the achievements of firms in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities, with the Planet Saver award recognising the work of companies with sustainability at the heart of their business which are fully committed to sustainable best practice and making the world a better and safer place; recognises that Green Home Systems, a member of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, was a strong winner with its focus being centred on reducing householders’ energy use, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lifting people out of fuel poverty; further notes that Green Home Systems has installed more than 16,500 energy efficiency measures in people’s homes, saving more than half a million tonnes of CO2 and making energy bills more affordable for 7,000 people; and believes that Green Home Systems is a worthy winner of the Planet Saver Award and wishes them every success in the future as they follow through their mission of tackling both fuel poverty and the climate crisis at the same time.

1690150 years of East Park School, Glasgow

Tabled: 19/10/23 Signatories: 12

Patrick Grady

Alison Thewliss

Anne McLaughlin

David Linden

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Carol Monaghan

That this House congratulates East Park School, based on Maryhill Road in Glasgow, as it begins a year of celebrations to mark its 150th anniversary; notes that the celebrations for the charity, which began on 6 October 2023 with the launch of a 150th Anniversary Exhibition Timeline at the Maryhill Burgh Halls in Glasgow will also include a major conference in November 2023 and further events activities over the coming months; acknowledges that since its foundation in 1874, East Park School has provided education and support accommodation to children and young people with additional support needs, including autism, from the same site in central Maryhill since its foundation, and continues to be an integral part of the local community; recognises the remarkable hard work of its dedicated staff in delivering wide-ranging support to children and young people aged five and 18 through the school itself, as well as their Workmates service which supports young adults aged 17 to 25 with high support needs to continue education, complete work experience and achieve their full potential; and extends gratitude and best wishes for their continued success.

1691Cider industry

Tabled: 20/10/23 Signatories: 4

Sarah Dyke

Jamie Stone

Jim Shannon

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House recognises the value of small-scale cider makers and apple growers to employment, tourism, traditional craft practices, biodiversity and the broader rural economy; celebrates apple day; notes that the cider industry, including fruit cider, makes up 7 per cent of the alcohol market; is deeply concerned that the cider industry has undergone the longest and most damaging period of decline on record; is further concerned about the impact losing orchards has on biodiversity; recognises the unprecedented increase in costs for traditional, small-scale cider makers in the last decade; is deeply concerned about the impact of excise rates increasing from August on cider makers, especially for traditional ciders where ABV is naturally higher than alcopop ciders; notes with concern that excise rate increases could drive traditional cider makers out of business; further notes that the Government’s new Small Producer Relief for alcohol duty is totally inadequate for traditional cider makers like Burrow Hill Cider Farm and Dowdings Apple Juice and Cider; and calls on the Government to protect traditional small-scale cider making and ensure the Alcohol Duty Review does not unduly harm the industry.

1692Hamilton Park

Tabled: 20/10/23 Signatories: 5

Angela Crawley

Michael Shanks

Jim Shannon

Ms Anum Qaisar

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Hamilton Park Racecourse on their nomination as a finalist for the 2023 Racecourse Association Showcase Awards; understands that the Showcase Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in racecourse operation; reflects that the Racecourse Association received nominations for 67 racecourses and nearly 5,000 votes from the race going public in deliberations for this year's awards; notes that Hamilton Park have been named finalists in three categories namely Racing Connection, Racecourse of the Year for Owners and Racing Post Readers’ Award; commends Hamilton Park for their hard work and dedication to horse racing which has previously been recognised as a Champion Racecourse by the Racecourse Association; and wishes the everyone at Hamilton Park the best of luck for the Showcase Awards.

1693Scottish national football team

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 4

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Jamie Stone

Jim Shannon

That this House warmly congratulates the Scottish men’s national football team on their qualification for Euro 2024; further congratulates the team on reaching their second consecutive European championship; understands that Steve Clarke is the first manger in Scottish football history to achieve this feat; and wishes him and the squad all the best with their remaining games against Georgia and Norway and success for the tournament in Germany next year.

1694Tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 18

Ian Lavery

Ian Mearns

Kate Osborne

Chi Onwurah

Julie Elliott

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

That this House notes with sorrow the passing of Ashington born World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton; further notes Bobby’s successful career with Manchester United for whom he played between 1956 and 1973 winning the English First Division three times, the FA Cup and the European Cup; notes Sir Bobby’s success on the international stage not only winning the World Cup alongside his brother in 1966 but sharing the tournament’s golden boot with teammate Roger Hunt; notes that Bobby, widely considered one the world’s finest ever football players, won the Ballon d’Or in 1966 and was runner up in each of the following two years; further notes his remarkable resilience in coming back from the tragedy of the Munich air disaster to lead the rebuilding of the Manchester United side and his deep association with the club and city right up to today; also notes Bobby’s charitable activities including fundraising for cancer charities and his association with land mine clearance; and expresses condolences to his friends and family at the sad news of his passing.

1695Celebrating community land trust organisations

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 2

Layla Moran

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the outstanding work done by the community land trust organisations and their invaluable role in creating affordable housing in perpetuity; notes their role in addressing the housing crisis, particularly in high cost housing areas such as Oxfordshire; congratulates Oxfordshire Community Land Trust (OCLT) on Crofts Court, its first development of eight affordable homes completed in June 2023 after more than 10 years of dedicated work and determination by volunteers; acknowledges that this housing will provide much needed affordable, secure housing in one of the most expensive counties in the country for those on the local council’s housing register; applauds the efforts of OCLT in raising over £500,000 in Community Shares; celebrates that this housing will make the cost of housing affordable for those with local links to Cumnor for their lifetime and beyond; calls upon the Government to include a requirement for local authorities to support community led housing in the National Planning Policy Framework; further calls upon the Government to urgently re-instate the Community Housing Fund to fund the work of CLTs and to include the re-instating of funding for the local Collaborative Housing Hubs that provide support and expertise to Community Land Trusts; and asks for the creation of a revolving loan fund.

1696Humanitarian situation in Sudan

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 11

John McDonnell

Jonathan Edwards

Claire Hanna

Alison Thewliss

Kim Johnson

Jim Shannon

That this House condemns the brutal war between Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army (SAF) which started this April; agrees with Doctors without Borders that the war constitutes a catastrophic failure of humanity; agrees with the Government’s Africa minister that the violence in Darfur, where 68 villages were burned down, bears all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing; expresses its alarm at the UN’s figure of 19 million children being out of education, over 5.7 million displaced civilians within and outside of Sudan, and at least 7,000 killings; believes an urgent priority must be for both parties to stop the fighting; condemns the inaction of the international community in helping to resolve this conflict; decries the increasing cases of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and violation of humanitarian law; further believes the unfettered access of medical supplies, fuel, food, electricity and water must be ensured to guarantee that international humanitarian law is upheld and that civilians are protected in accordance with those laws; and also believes that the UK Government must intervene further in this situation through mediation and aid provision.

1697Highland Chocolatier's success in International Chocolate Awards 2023

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 5

Pete Wishart

Jonathan Edwards

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Highland Chocolatier on receiving all seven awards at the British Finals of the International Chocolate Awards, as well as the highest score of any unflavoured dark truffle judged in any of the regional finals worldwide; understands that this is the largest chocolate awards in the world with entries from tens of thousands of chocolates from over 40 countries; and notes that this continues the award-winning tradition of Iain Burnett in delivering world-class chocolate products in the heart of Highland Perthshire.

1698Multiple sclerosis and 10 years of PIP

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 11

Charlotte Nichols

Wendy Chamberlain

Claire Hanna

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Dr Philippa Whitford

That this House recognises the devastating impact of the Personal Independence (PIP) assessment process on people living with Multiple Sclerosis over the past decade; acknowledges the MS Society’s new survey of over 3,500 people with MS, which found that 2 in 3 people with MS said going through the PIP process had a negative or very negative impact on their physical and mental health, 6 in 10 people with MS said their assessment report did not accurately reflect their condition, and over 3 in 5 people with MS said their assessor did not consider their hidden symptoms; and calls on the Government to address these concerns by committing to a full review of Personal Independence Payments 10 years on from their introduction.

169915 years of Green Isle Residential Home Portavogie

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 2

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

That this House notes the 15th Anniversary of Green Isle Residential Home in the village of Portavogie in Strangford; celebrates that the Home has provided Dementia, Alzheimer's, Old Age and Elderly care to clients all across Ards and North Down for the last 15 years; further notes Green Isle Residential Home, is a newly built family run care home for the elderly that is a two storey building located in the quiet fishing village of Portavogie, on the Ards Peninisula and is set on the shoreline with superb unrestricted views of the sea; highlights the compassionate nature of staff and owners who go the extra mile every day to ensure residents are looked after and supported with the highest standard of care; and thanks them for their contributions to helping those in need within the local community and wishes them all the best for the next number of years caring in the community.

1701Death of Sir Bobby Charlton

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 10

Tony Lloyd

Graham Stringer

Jonathan Edwards

Mike Amesbury

Jon Trickett

Kim Johnson

That this House notes with sadness the death of Sir Bobby Charlton, arguably England’s greatest ever footballer; highlights that Bobby was one of the elite group of players known as the Busby Babes and made his way into first team football and won his first champions medal in the 1956-57 football season; further highlights that Bobby luckily survived the Munich air crash, which destroyed the lives of an emerging great football team, and went on to be part of the rebuilding of Manchester United; applauds that in his playing career he won the Ballon d’Or once, the English First Division three times, the FA Cup once, and is one of only two English players to have won both the European Cup in 1968 and World Cup in 1966; further notes that Manchester is in mourning, as is the whole world where football is played; and believes that Bobby will be remembered for his amazing football skills and great goals but also as Sir Bobby Charlton, a kind and decent gentleman.

1702Democratic governance and indigenous peoples in Guatemala

Tabled: 23/10/23 Signatories: 2

Tony Lloyd

Jim Shannon

That this House is very concerned about threats facing democratic governance and Indigenous leaders in Guatemala; is alarmed that the unexpected but emphatic electoral win of anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arevalo and his party Movimiento Semilla is being challenged by apparently politically motivated prosecutions and that largely peaceful pro-democracy protests are reportedly being attacked; notes that an Independent Delegation of International Human Rights Lawyers on a fact-finding mission in March concluded that structural reform is needed to address the systemic discrimination and widespread human rights violations against Indigenous peoples, almost half of Guatemala’s population, and that extractive industries and agribusiness are causing environmental and other harms undermining Indigenous rights; calls on the Guatemalan Government to comply with the resolution of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights of 24 August and provide enhanced protection for Bernardo Arevalo and his Vice-President; asks that it provide greater protection to Indigenous leaders, who face continual police and judicial harassment, stigmatisation, and physical threats; and further calls on the Government to impose sanctions on Guatemalans accused of undermining democracy and press freedom, as the US has done, and to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples from throughout the world, who are in the frontline of the battle against climate change, at relevant fora, including the upcoming COP 28 in the UAE.