Published: Wednesday 29 November 2023

New EDMs

118Carntyne Primary School win road safety award

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 1

Anne McLaughlin

That this House congratulates pupils from Carntyne Primary School for winning Best Props at the School Travel and Road Safety Film Awards Ceremony; recognises the hard work and dedication of the pupils and staff who have highlighted the importance of road safety; acknowledges the time and effort put into raising awareness of road safety by pupils, staff and parents; and looks forward to hearing more success stories from Carntyne Primary School and its talented pupils in the future.

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11970 years of Panorama

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates 70 years of Panorama, that first appeared on screens on 11 November 1953; highlights how loved the programme is and the light it sheds on some of the world's most talked about events, including crime, international affairs, health, politics and social matters; notes the exploration of complex stories which appeals to millions of watchers across the UK and further afield; thanks the producers for their work in creating such an interesting, much loved series; and wishes the programme many more years of success.

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12040th anniversary of Spark

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 1

Hannah Bardell

That this House celebrates the 40th anniversary of Spark in West Lothian; commends every volunteer and staff member who are dedicated to supporting the Livingston community and preventing social isolation by ensuring that all members of the community feel valued and have the chance to spark their potential; recognises that the group started 40 years ago as the Craigshill Good Neighbour Network that allowed those moving to the New Town of Livingston to connect and share skills; further recognises that Spark have now significantly expanded their services to include weekly craft session, computer skills courses, exercise sessions and mindfulness classes; and wishes every ongoing success to Spark for the future.

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121Anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 1

Mr Virendra Sharma

That this House remembers 2 and 3 December 1984, when a Union Carbide factory leaked ultra-toxic chemical methyl isocyanate across sixteen square miles of the city of Bhopal, India, exposing 573,000 people to poison gases; deplores the continuing suffering in Bhopal 39 years after the world's worst industrial disaster; recognises a 2023 study of the university of San Diego that finds eight times higher rates of cancer among those in utero in 1984; notes that 200,000 people now live in areas in which persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorines, solvents and heavy metals contaminate drinking water due to thousands of tons of toxic wastes dumped around the factory being left uncleaned, despite Carbide knowing of the threats to health since the 1980’s; notes Carbide’s owner Dow Inc refuses India’s criminal jurisdiction, in violation of international law, in a manslaughter case concerning the deaths of over 23,000 people; commends the work of Indian civil society groups, the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, the Trades Union Congress, UNISON and Action for Bhopal in campaigning on this issue; further commends UK charity the Bhopal Medical Appeal for providing free care to Bhopal’s damaged children; and calls for justice and dignity for the victims, who have been waiting 39 years to finally receive closure.

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122UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 1

Neale Hanvey

That this House recognises that our oceans are vital to all life on Earth; notes that our oceans are home to countless species and provide food and livelihoods to billions of people whilst also regulating our climate; welcomes the United Kingdom having become a signatory to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, which will help protect marine life by creating sanctuaries covering 30% of the oceans by 2030; and calls upon the Government to take all possible steps to ensure that the Treaty is ratified as a matter of priority.

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123Launch of The Rational Policy-Maker’s Guide to the NHS report

Tabled: 28/11/23 Signatories: 5

Richard Burgon

Caroline Lucas

Kenny MacAskill

Margaret Greenwood

Ian Byrne

This House welcomes the publication of the report The Rational Policy-Maker’s Guide to the NHS; supports the report’s main conclusions that the NHS is the best and most cost-effective healthcare model yet to be demonstrated in practice in an advanced economy, that the current serious underperformance of the NHS is not the result of its publicly-funded and publicly-provided model but the inevitable result of 13 years of underfunding, and that the worsening health of the British public resulting from this underinvestment is holding back economic growth; notes that the NHS was, until recently, consistently regarded as the best health service in the world by the Commonwealth Fund; further believes that NHS funding has failed to keep pace with need and that no healthcare system can withstand the levels of sustained underfunding experienced by the NHS since 2010 without significant deterioration in its performance; rejects calls for any greater role for the private sector in the NHS, for any privatisation of the NHS or any replacement of funding through progressive taxation with direct charges or what would be a more expensive insurance-based system; and encourages all hon. Members to read the report and policy-makers to act in line with its recommendations and findings.

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.

91Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Tabled: 21/11/23 Signatories: 34

Mrs Paulette Hamilton

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Mick Whitley

Layla Moran

Jon Trickett

Claire HannaMr Nicholas BrownDr Thérèse Coffey

That this House acknowledges that November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; recognises that survival rates in the UK still lag behind much of the rest of Europe and the World; notes that pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and that diagnosis takes too long with slow processes and multiple tests leaving people in the dark; understands that once identified, people face huge obstacles getting the information and care they need to be well enough to have treatment with many people feeling they have no support plan in place, and no help to manage symptoms; further understands that once diagnosed, seven out of ten people don’t get any treatment, the highest proportion of all cancer types, and that half of people die within a month of diagnosis; believes that people with pancreatic cancer urgently need a faster, fairer, funded pathway throughout their diagnosis, treatment and care; supports Pancreatic Cancer UK’s efforts to ensure implementation of such a pathway; commends all of the charities and activist organisations and their dedicated supporters for their tireless efforts to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer; and wishes everyone involved with Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month every success in their endeavours.

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103Rwanda asylum scheme and the UK's legal obligations

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 9

Caroline Lucas

Afzal Khan

Alison Thewliss

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Liz Saville Roberts

Claire Hanna

Jonathan Edwards

That this House celebrates the role the United Kingdom has played in helping to shape the international rules based order, including its contribution to the drafting and early ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the aftermath of the horrors of WWII; notes the recent judgment of the Supreme Court that the UK could breach its obligations under the ECHR, and other international law such as the Refugee Convention, UN Convention Against Torture, UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as domestic law, by sending refugees to Rwanda; rejects in principle the use of emergency legislation to ride roughshod over the judgment of the UK’s highest domestic court; further notes such a move would contravene the rule of law and undermine the separation of powers fundamental to UK democracy; considers any legislative proposals to disapply the Human Rights Act (HRA) and ECHR, and restrict judicial review and other legal safeguards would violate the principle of universality that rights belong to all; further considers that a country's safety is determined by the facts on the ground not by the passing of legislation or the signing of a treaty; acknowledges the positive role the ECHR and HRA play in the protection of human rights; and calls upon the Government to abandon its cruel, immoral and unworkable Rwanda plan and to re-establish the UK's good standing as a member of the ECHR and international community.

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104Lodge Hill Junction

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 2

Layla Moran

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the success of local campaigners in securing £17.3 million of funding for improvements to the Lodge Hill Junction, including new southbound sliproads, on the A34; notes the vital nature of this piece of local infrastructure in reducing traffic flow in the centre of Abingdon, supporting development and reducing journey times in the area; commends the work of local councillors Alison Rooke, Nathan Ley and Neil Fawcett in their tireless campaigning to get this project over the line; regrets delays in delivering funding commitments from the government; recognises that more work must be done to ensure the first shovel hits the ground; and further recognises the fantastic contribution that local Liberal Democrat campaigners and councils make to their communities.

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105The Fire Brigades Union's DECON Campaign

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 8

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Apsana Begum

John McDonnell

Zarah Sultana

Grahame MorrisIan Byrne

That this House recognises the exceptional work of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) to protect firefighters against toxic contaminants and prevent cancer; commends Professor Stec and her team at the University of Central Lancashire for leading Britain’s first major study into the link between cancer and fire contaminants; congratulates the FBU on the success of its DECON campaign since its launch in 2021; notes that approximately 1,000 firefighters around the country have now been tested for cancer and other health issues as a direct result of the campaign; and calls on the Government to acknowledge cancer as an occupational hazard within firefighting and implement annual health monitoring to protect firefighters and their families from this risk.

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106Nuclear test veterans

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 4

Daisy Cooper

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Jonathan Edwards

That this House acknowledges the treatment of nuclear test veterans in the UK; notes their continuing battle for justice and recognition for their role; further notes with disappointment the delays in issuing of medals to these veterans; further acknowledges their ongoing anger and frustration; affirms the nation’s duty of care to this group of people; applauds the work of Labrats International, a campaigning group for descendants of atomic testing programs across the world; and calls on the Government to fully support these veterans and their families.

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107154th anniversary of the founding of the Durham Miners’ Association

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 7

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Grahame Morris

Jonathan Edwards

Kate Osborne

Ian Byrne

That this House celebrates the 154th anniversary of the founding of the Durham Miners’ Association; recognises that, within three years of its founding, the Durham Miners’ Association had secured the abolition of bonded labour practices; further recognises its remarkable contributions to trade unionism and the wider labour movement; thanks the Durham Miners' Association for its cultural and economic contribution to Durham and beyond; commends the Durham Miners' Association for the enormous success of the 2023 Durham Miners’ Gala, which saw thousands of people gather for the 137th iteration of the Big Meeting; encourages everyone to attend the Durham Miners Gala next year to mark the 40th anniversary of the great strike of 1984-5; and further encourages everyone to become a Marra by joining the Friends of the Durham Miners’ Gala.

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108Free school meals

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 5

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Tahir Ali

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

That this House notes that free school meals ensure millions of children get a hot and healthy meal each day; is concerned that children whose families meet financial eligibility requirements, but receive their education other than at school, do not benefit from these meals; congratulates both Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council for their work to guarantee equity of access for all eligible families; and calls on the Government to provide clearer guidance and, if necessary, additional funding to ensure that no child in education goes hungry during the school day.

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109Community ownership of Lismore Post Office and shop

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 2

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Lismore Community Trust and the residents of the island on successfully bringing into community ownership the Lismore Post Office and shop, which were earmarked for closure; notes that, through the purchase of community shares by more than 200 people in the local community, the Trust raised the remarkable sum of £80,000 and was therefore able to secure the future of Post Office and shop for at least the next five years; commends the Trust and the local community for recognising the importance of the Post Office, not just as a lifeline for many in the community but for being absolutely crucial to the future viability of island; further commends the Trust and local community in having the vision and confidence to take the Post Office into the community ownership; wishes the Trust and the people of Lismore every success in the future; and hopes that other communities facing the loss of vital services will be encouraged to explore the option of community ownership and be inspired by what has been achieved by the community of Lismore.

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110Dale Reid

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 3

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

That the House expresses its condolences following the death of Dale Reid on 8 November in Townsville, Australia, at the age of sixty-four; understands that Ms Reid, who grew up in Ladybank in North East Fife, became a successful and celebrated golfer after taking up the sport at the age of four and turning professional in 1979; notes that her career included winning twenty-one titles, making her one of the most successful players in the Ladies European Tour, as well as over a hundred top-ten finishes between 1979 and 2005; recognises Ms Reid’s role in the Sondheim Cup, with her competing in the first four editions and acting as non-playing captain in 2000 and 2002; further understands that she was a popular player on the tour, known for her honest and open personality; recognises the difficulty of her later years during which her partner, Corinne Dibnah, herself a former British Women’s Open champion, gave up playing to care for her; celebrates Dale Reid’s contribution to the sport of golf; and expresses sympathy to her friends and family following the sad news of her passing.

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111Wee Chippy and the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 3

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

That the House commends the Wee Chippy in Anstruther on winning its second national award this year; understands that the fish and chip shop in the East Neuk of North East Fife won the people’s choice prize at the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards on Monday 13 November at an award ceremony in Glasgow; notes that this recent success follows the Wee Chippy winning in its category at the Scottish Restaurant Awards earlier this year; recognises that this is a huge success for the business, which has been open since 1999 and is a testament to its staff’s hard work and the quality of their service; further notes that this award is a result of the esteem in which the business is held by residents and visitors alike; and welcomes the contribution of the Wee Chippy and other hospitality businesses to the local economy.

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112HALO Trust mine clearance record

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 4

Fabian Hamilton

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Chris Law

That this House pays tribute to the HALO Trust on successfully clearing two million mines since its establishment in 1988; commends the staff, past and present, who have contributed to this remarkable milestone; notes that the HALO Trust is one of just two British mine clearance organisations; notes that the HALO Trust has cleared landmines in 29 countries, saved an estimated two million lives and enabled over ten million people to have safer access to schools, health clinics and farming land; reiterates our commitment to clearing landmines which continue to endanger lives around the world; and expresses our gratitude to the HALO Trust for its remarkable work in conflict affected countries in making communities safer and more prosperous.

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113COP28

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 6

Caroline Lucas

Alex Sobel

Claire Hanna

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

That this House notes that COP28 in Dubai marks a critical moment in efforts to secure a liveable future; expresses profound alarm that, according to the UN, governments plan to produce double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than is consistent with limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees and that current pledges under the Paris Agreement would lead to a 2.5-2.9°C temperature rise this century; welcomes the Prime Minister's attendance at 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 in recognition of the end of the fossil fuel era; calls on the UK to back an ambitious political deal in response to the Global Stocktake; further notes the damaging impact of the delayed delivery of the $100bn climate finance pledge and the UK’s changes to its climate finance definitions on trust between countries and efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement goals; 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 agreement of the New Collective Quantified Goal; notes that the full operationalisation of a properly resourced Loss and Damage Finance Fund will be the litmus test of success at COP28; and further urges the UK to support this goal and to contribute by providing grant-based funds which are additional to existing ODA and climate finance commitments.

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114Dogs

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 3

Sir Christopher Chope

Sir Julian Lewis

Paul Bristow

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) (England and Wales) Order 2023 (S.I., 2023, No. 1164), dated 31 October 2023, a copy of which was laid before this House on 31 October 2023, be annulled.

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11590th anniversary of Down High School, Downpatrick

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 2

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

That this House celebrates the 90th Anniversary of Down High School in Downpatrick, which opened in 1933; notes that Down High School occupies an historic setting and is built on one of the four distinctive hills in Downpatrick, on the site of the 19th century County Gaol, overlooking the nearby ruins of Inch Abbey and the ancient earthwork, the Mound of Down; highlights that originally there were two schools joined on the same site – a Grammar School and a Technical School, with the site now being fully occupied by the Grammar School; acknowledges the talents and achievements of the pupils and the constant efforts of the staff to ensure each pupil can meet their full potential; further notes that the school's motto Absque Labore Nihil – nothing is achieved without effort – reflects the belief that there is no limit to what can be accomplished through hard work; thanks the Principal, Mrs Perry, and all the teaching staff for supporting the students in developing core values such as kindness and respect; and wishes the staff and students all the best for the future.

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11625th Anniversary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Liver Support Group

Tabled: 27/11/23 Signatories: 3

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Paul Girvan

That this House celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Liver Support Group in Belfast; notes the work they are doing to monitor the position of liver cancer across Northern Ireland and furthermore, across the UK; highlights that unlike screening for breast cancer, there is no standardised, central screening programme for liver cancer, which is most commonly detected at a late stage in those most likely to develop the disease and that this late detection results in poor outcomes for those patients, with a survival rate, post-diagnosis, of only 13% after 5 years; further notes their work in lobbying for a clear, adequately funded and resourced pathway for liver care in Northern Ireland, which should focus on early detection and on-going management of liver patients, with the aim of educating the public on liver health risks such as obesity, substance abuse and poor exercise; thanks in particular Jim Kilpatrick for his incredible dedication to the RVH, after being diagnosed with Liver Disease himself in 2017; and further thanks all the staff and volunteers involved for their work and effort paving the way in terms of support for those with Liver Disease and Liver Cancer.