Contents

Published: Friday 15 December 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 14 December 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

214National Policy Statement EN-5

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Jonathan Edwards

That this House acknowledges that to meet net-zero targets significant new electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure will be required; notes that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published a revised National Policy Statement (NPS) EN-5 in November 2023, with the aim of setting policy guidance for the required new infrastructure; recognises that there is significant opposition to traditional pylon development for electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure; notes that many European countries are undergrounding new and old infrastructure which may maintain public support for net-zero targets; queries whether cable-ploughing technology offers a way to underground electricity cable infrastructure at a minimised cost and with reduced impact; calls for the removal of paragraph 2.9.20 from NPS EN-5 and a reversal of the Government’s position that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption for electricity networks developments in general; calls on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to commission an expert panel to investigate the different undergrounding technologies now available, such as cable ploughing, and to assess the costs and impact comparisons and the feasibility and viability comparisons of all alternative technologies, types and methods available for conveying electricity for transmission and distribution; further calls on the Department to revise and formulate policy on pylons versus undergrounding for conveying electricity once the expert panel has reported and to re-issue guidance accordingly; and also calls on the Government to set aside Government time for a debate on electricity transmission and distribution policy.

215Honours system

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House expresses concern over the current honours system, which gives power to the Government and its senior Ministers to recommend candidates; highlights the potential misuse of the system as a result, noting the findings of an Electoral Reform Society report, which found that 65% of the public believe that party donors can effectively buy honours; and calls for an overhaul of the honours system, to ensure that big money stays out of the system and that the awarding of political honours is independent and weighted towards the contribution of ordinary British people.

216Oral health strategy for children

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Greenwood

That this House notes that tooth decay is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in young children, despite the fact that it is a largely preventable disease; expresses concern that, according to Government statistics, as of 2022, 23.7% of five year-olds in England experienced dentinal decay, with notable regional disparities, ranging from 19.1% in the South West to 30.6% in the North West; highlights that, in 2022, children living in the most deprived areas of the country were almost three times as likely to have experience of dentinal decay as those living in the least deprived areas; further highlights that poor oral health in children can lead to school absenteeism and that, as the Government has stated, it can cause pain and infection and affect a child’s ability to eat, smile and socialise; calls on the Government to urgently develop a comprehensive national children’s oral health strategy to secure a healthier future for children in England; believes that such a strategy should be led by the Department of Health and Social Care and that there should be collaboration with other Government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, including specialist paediatric dentists, in developing the strategy; and further believes that the strategy should commit to investing in oral health promotion initiatives, that it should outline clear goals to reduce waiting times and should focus on targeted preventive measures, early intervention, and improved access to high-quality dental care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.

217Specialist paediatric dentists

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Greenwood

That this House notes the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists in the UK and the prolonged waiting times for children's dental procedures; highlights that specialist paediatric dentists provide comprehensive oral healthcare for children and adolescents, including those with special care needs; further highlights that they undergo three years of additional specialist training, gaining expertise in child psychology, growth and development, pharmacology, pathology, oral diseases, and advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures; draws attention to data which indicates that there are only around 200 full time equivalent specialists in paediatric dentistry working in the UK and that, to meet the demands of the population, there needs to be approximately triple this number; believes that this shortage worsens health inequalities, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged children who are more than twice as likely to face oral health issues than those in the least deprived areas; further believes that timely access to paediatric dental care is a fundamental aspect of children's health and wellbeing; expresses disappointment that the recent Government-backed NHS Long Term Workforce plan makes no specific reference to specialist paediatric dentistry; and calls on the Government to urgently address the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists and improve accessibility to dental care for all children.

218Lady Prue Penn

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House expresses its deepest condolences following the death of Lady Prue Penn at the age of 97; understands that Lady Prue’s father was born in St. Andrews and that she spent time living in Carnbee, situated in the East Neuk of Fife; notes her impressive accomplishments working at the Foreign Office and for MI6 in a male-dominated era; acknowledges her services to the royal family as a close friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, and a confidante of Princess Margaret; understands this loss is felt widely; and expresses sympathy to her friends and family following the sad news of her passing.

219Letham Nights award nomination

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House congratulates North East Fife music venue Letham Nights on their nomination for Club of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 2 December at Dundee’s Caird Hall; understands Letham Nights brings small gigs to Letham Village Hall; recognises they are a member of Scotland’s Green Arts Initiative who promote sustainability; commends them for using their profit from gigs to make Letham Village Hall carbon neutral; celebrates that this is a platform for local talent to shine and local businesses to sell their alcohol and food; and notes the venue opened in 2008 and this nomination is testament to the founders and local community’s support.

220Defence Equipment and Support Beith

Tabled: 14/12/23 Signatories: 1

Patricia Gibson

That this House is aware that workers at Defence Equipment and Support (DE and S) at Beith in North Ayrshire, an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence, are continuing strike action for improved pay and conditions; notes that this strike action is unprecedented, the first in the history of that organisation, and backed by 93 per cent of members; is concerned to hear that non-craft workers preparing arms for shipment at the depot, face discrimination in the payment of bonuses, relative to craft workers who assemble munitions; rejects the fact that retention payments are made to managers and craft workers, while non-craft colleagues earning less than £21,000 a year have been excluded from retention bonuses; understands that the operation of the facility is vital in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of equipment to UK armed forces and the Ukrainian frontline as it fights to protect its territorial integrity and freedom in the face of Russian aggression; is mindful of the fact that the striking workers have not undertaken this action lightly; believes it is essential to stand with these workers who reject a two-tier workforce and support their action for a fairer and more equal working environment where the work of all those at DE and S is respected and recognised with a bonus scheme which is fair to all workers at the site; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to urgently intervene to ensure a fair resolution to the industrial dispute.

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.

136Glencore’s mining activities in Colombia and Peru (No. 3)

Tabled: 4/12/23 Signatories: 16

Tony Lloyd

Jonathan Edwards

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Brendan O'Hara

That this House expresses its concerns regarding the environmental and health impacts of the Carbones de Cerrejón open-pit coalmine in Colombia and the Antapaccay-Coroccohuayco mine in Espinar in Peru, both owned by British-registered multinational Glencore Plc; notes that eight UN Special Rapporteurs called for a halt to Cerrejón’s mining operations because of health and environmental concerns; highlights the specific concerns of the Colombian Wayuu indigenous peoples and the UN Special Rapporteurs regarding contamination of the air, water and vegetation, irreversible biodiversity loss and damage to the globally important dry forest ecosystem; expresses its concern regarding documented child malnutrition in communities near the Cerrejón mine; further highlights indigenous peoples’ concerns regarding the beyond permissible levels of heavy metals in Espinar; highlights reports that the information needed to comply with informed consent under ILO Convention 169 for the Espinar mine’s expansion is not available to communities; notes that Glencore is suing the Colombian government pursuant to the investor–state dispute settlement mechanism clause within an applicable trade agreement challenging a Colombian High Court decision upholding the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples in relation to the Bruno Stream, Arroyo Bruno; calls on the UK Government to join other governments which do not include an investor state dispute settlement mechanism provision in their trade agreements, thereby preventing companies from suing governments over climate policies; and further calls on the UK to adopt a business, human rights and environment act to protect communities harmed by mining linked to UK companies and their supply chains.

155Pay for Royal Fleet Auxiliary Seafarers

Tabled: 5/12/23 Signatories: 17

Ian Mearns

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Ian Lavery

John McDonnell

Andy McDonald

Richard Burgon

That this House pays tribute to the commitment and dedication of the 1,700 civilian seafarers, including trainees, at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA); is concerned that nearly fifteen years of pay restraint is having a negative effect on recruitment, retention, training and industrial relations in the RFA; notes that inflation and pay restraint have effectively cut the value of RFA seafarers' pay by over thirty per cent since 2009-10; further notes that the number of RFA seafarers has fallen by twenty eight per cent since 2015 which compromises full and safe deployment of the RFA fleet; notes that RFA's thirteen ships support, re-supply and re-fuel the Royal Navy fleet on international deployment, combat drug trafficking and discharge the UK's humanitarian responsibilities following natural disasters; recognises the integral role that RFA crew play in maintaining the security and international interests of the UK and its maritime allies; highlights the RMT union's finding that nearly sixty per cent of RFA seafarers have worked for the RFA for over ten years; and calls on the Government to convene a forum with the recognised trade unions in the RFA to agree a fair pay award and wider reforms to prevent a crewing crisis at the RFA.

163Sky lanterns

Tabled: 6/12/23 Signatories: 6

Sir Greg Knight

Sir Mike Penning

Jonathan Edwards

Caroline Lucas

Jim Shannon

Mohammad Yasin

That this House is concerned that sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, continue to pose a serious fire safety hazard due to their uncontrolled and unpredictable flight paths, and are dangerous to livestock, wildlife, crops and the environment; notes that these hazards are exacerbated in rural areas in summer; further notes that the voluntary code on their use is not being universally respected; and calls on the Government to introduce an outright ban on flame-powered sky lanterns.

166Scots Trad Music Awards 2023 original work of the year

Tabled: 6/12/23 Signatories: 6

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Sarah Dyke

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Jim Shannon

Chris Stephens

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House congratulates Skipinnish for their song The Clearances Again winning original work of the year at the Scots Trad Music Awards; notes that the song was written in protest against plans by the Scottish Government to block fishing in 10 per cent of Scottish waters with the creation of highly protected marine areas (HPMAs); recognises that the popularity of The Clearances Again formed an important part of the local campaign against the imposition of HPMAs in the Highlands and Islands; welcomes the Scottish Government’s recent dropping of the controversial plans; and wishes Skipinnish success in their future creative work.

167Scots Trad Music Awards 2023

Tabled: 6/12/23 Signatories: 7

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Dr Philippa Whitford

Sarah Dyke

Jim Shannon

Jamie Stone

Chris Stephens

That this House congratulates all the nominees and winners in the Scots Trad Music Awards; recognises that 2023 marks the 20th year of the awards, having first been established in 2003; notes in particular that the Orkney Folk Festival was named event of the year, while long-time volunteer and committee member of the Shetland Folk Festival Mhari McLeman was named traditional music enabler of the year; believes that traditional folk music represents a vital part of the cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands and Scotland as a whole; and wishes local musicians further success as Scottish folk music goes from strength to strength.

169Migrants and domestic abuse

Tabled: 7/12/23 Signatories: 12

Apsana Begum

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

Caroline Lucas

Claudia Webbe

That this House notes that domestic abuse can have profound long-term effects on survivors and is concerned that it is very difficult to speak out about domestic abuse and often those that do are subject to further silencing tactics; is concerned that police forces potentially sharing migrant data with Immigration Enforcement could prevent migrants experiencing domestic abuse from reporting to the police and others due to the fear that they will be treated as an offender themselves and face potential criminalisation, detention and deportation; is further concerned that many migrants experiencing domestic abuse are left without support due to the No Recourse to Public Funds policy; believes that everyone experiencing domestic abuse must feel able to report abuse and access justice and safety, and that perpetrators should not be allowed evade justice by using immigration status in order to silence, abuse and control; and calls on the Government to introduce a firewall between all public services and the Home Office and to scrap the No Recourse to Public Funds policy.

173Clothing poverty awareness

Tabled: 7/12/23 Signatories: 17

Apsana Begum

Jeremy Corbyn

Jonathan Edwards

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

That this House notes with concern that rising numbers of people are unable to afford adequate clothing in the United Kingdom, that the demand for clothing banks has increased dramatically and is particularly acute during winter months and that even despite the best efforts of clothing banks clothing deprivation is an hidden aspect of poverty in the United Kingdom; further notes that whilst other deprivations, notably food deprivations, are highly publicised and visible in the United Kingdom’s public consciousness the same is not true of clothing deprivation; acknowledges that through its voluntarily ratification of a range of treaties the United Kingdom has recognised and assumed obligations in international law to work towards the realisation of the right to adequate clothing; recognises the right to adequate clothing; calls on the Government to acknowledge the growing issue of clothing deprivation; further calls on the Government to publish a clothing strategy to ensure that nobody is excluded from accessing adequate clothing as well as address concerns regarding the environmental damage caused by fast fashion and the exploitation faced by garment workers in this country and in global supply chains; and also calls on the the Government to begin work towards addressing these issues through policy and law.

174Funding domestic abuse services

Tabled: 7/12/23 Signatories: 12

Apsana Begum

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Hywel Williams

Claudia Webbe

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House notes that domestic abuse has wide ranging effects, including mental, emotional, physical, social and financial, on all areas of life for the individual survivor and those around them; recognises that community-based domestic abuse services provide holistic, specialist support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse on both a short and long-term basis; further recognises that access to support at all stages - whether still living with the abuser, planning to flee, or having already left to rebuild their lives – is absolutely critical; is alarmed that many such services are chronically underfunded and working to short-term contracts, creating a postcode lottery of provision across the country; and calls on the Government to ensure that domestic abuse services, including specialist services for disabled, LGBTQ+ and Black and Asian survivors, are properly funded so that every survivor can access the support they need.

177Arms to Israel

Tabled: 7/12/23 Signatories: 58

Chris Law

Afzal Khan

Tommy Sheppard

Imran Hussain

Zarah Sultana

Kim Johnson

That this House notes with deep concern that UK-made military equipment and technology is being used by Israel, including in its most recent bombardment of the occupied Gaza Strip which has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries; expresses alarm at reports by the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and others of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by Israel, including apparently unlawful attacks that may amount to war crimes; further notes that Israel uses military technology and weaponry, including surveillance technology, in the broader repression of Palestinians across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory; is therefore alarmed by the granting of and continuation of extant UK licences for export to the Israeli military of arms and arms components including for aircrafts, helicopters, drones, missiles, military technology, armoured vehicles, tanks, ammunition, and small arms; reminds the Government that under international and domestic law, the UK is required to prevent the transfer of military equipment where there is a clear or overriding risk that such exports might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law or international human rights law, as affirmed by Articles 6 and 7 of the Arms Trade Treaty, and criteria one and two of the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria; and therefore calls for the Government to immediately halt all transfers of military equipment and technology, including components, to Israel, and to suspend the issuing of new licences.

180Household Support Fund

Tabled: 11/12/23 Signatories: 11

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Caroline Lucas

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Dan Carden

That this House calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to extend the Household Support Fund beyond March 2024 in his next Budget; notes that the removal of the fund will have the largest impact on the most vulnerable members of society including those most affected by inflation; further notes that increasing pressure on councils' budgets may result in critical food and energy help infrastructure being dismantled; and further calls on the UK government to ensure that sufficient funding be made available to county councils and unitary authorities.

188Adult literacy

Tabled: 11/12/23 Signatories: 34

Margaret Greenwood

Ian Mearns

Kim Johnson

John McDonnell

Rachael Maskell

Ian Byrne

That this House recognises that poor literacy skills and illiteracy can consign adults to insecure and low-paid work, lead to poverty and isolation and leave them vulnerable to exploitation; further recognises that people who struggle to read and write can face difficulty in accessing housing, social security, health and care services, education, skills, training and job opportunities, supporting their own children’s educational development and in staying in touch with friends and family; notes that literacy is invaluable in enabling people to communicate with each other and engage with the world around them; expresses concern that the National Literacy Trust estimates 7.1 million adults in England, 16.4% of the adult population, have very poor literacy skills, 931,000 adults in Scotland, 26.7%, experience challenges due to their lack of literacy skills, 216,000 adults in Wales, 12%, lack basic literacy skills and 256,000 adults in Northern Ireland, 17.4%, have very poor literacy skills; believes that these figures amount to a crisis in adult literacy across the UK and that this needs attention as a matter of urgency if we are to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential and if we are to address the economic challenges our country faces; and further believes it is vital that adults who struggle with reading and writing get the support that they need.

205Rwanda Treaty

Tabled: 12/12/23 Signatories: 45

Alison Thewliss

Stephen Flynn

Mhairi Black

Chris Stephens

Brendan O'Hara

Owen Thompson

That the Agreement, done at Kigali on 5 December 2023, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership Agreement to Strengthen Shared International Commitments on the Protection of Refugees and Migrants (CP 994), a copy of which was laid before Parliament on 6 December 2023, should not be ratified.

208Fuel poverty

Tabled: 13/12/23 Signatories: 3

Jon Trickett

Caroline Lucas

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House notes with huge concern the figures from National Energy Action which has estimated that the total number of households across the UK in fuel poverty increased from around 4 million in summer 2020 to 6.7 million in October 2022 and expects it to reach 7.5 million households by April 2023; further notes that the Government’s estimates are even higher, estimating that 8.8 million households in England could be classed as fuel poor by the end of 2023; highlights that the number in fuel poverty could continue to increase, as the fuel poverty gap continues to grow, from £338 per fuel poor household in 2022 to a projected £443 in 2023, noting that this would be a new record high, beating the previous record of £354 in 2010; in addition notes that currently five million people are in debt to their energy supplier; raises concerns over the regional spread of fuel poverty, with 17.5% of households in fuel poverty in Yorkshire, compared to the English average of 13.2%; and calls on the Government to urgently protect the most vulnerable in our society and introduce a Emergency Energy Tariff.

209Council funding

Tabled: 13/12/23 Signatories: 3

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Mohammad Yasin

That this House expresses its deep concerns about the future of local government funding and the cuts which have been imposed on local authorities by the Government, which on average amount to a 40% decrease in funding; highlights the comments made by some council leaders who have expressed their concerns about how difficult the financial situation could get, particularly those of Wakefield Council leader Denise Jeffery who has said Wakefield could face financial hardship by 2027 without better investment; notes the SIGOMA report which showed that the most deprived council areas have seen three times the cuts at the richest; and urgently calls on the Government to properly fund and invest in local government.

211Child poverty

Tabled: 13/12/23 Signatories: 3

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Mohammad Yasin

That this House expresses its dismay at the number of children in poverty in the UK; believes that as the UK is one of the richest countries in the world, it is shocking that 29% of children in our country are living in poverty, with 71% of children growing up in poverty living in a household where at least one person works; notes the recent UNICEF report which found that child poverty levels in the UK were the worst among the world’s richest nations and have increased faster than all other rich nations; highlights that child poverty has increased because of the huge programme of public service cuts enacted since 2010, the current cost of living crisis and policies such as the two-child limit on claiming welfare benefits; and calls on the Government to tackle child poverty by first extending the two child limit and also by restructuring our economy to deliver for working families and children.

212Girlguiding UK and the British Overseas Territories and military bases

Tabled: 13/12/23 Signatories: 2

Judith Cummins

Sir Mike Penning

That this House expresses its concern and disappointment in Girlguiding UK’s withdrawal of support in the British Overseas Territories and on military bases and the closure and sale of all their outdoor activity centres in the UK; notes this will have a detrimental impact on young women and communities within each Overseas Territory and military community; further notes that the Crown Dependencies are already part of Girlguiding regions in the UK (North West and South West), representing a disparity between the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies; also notes that these places are an important part of the British family; and calls on Girlguiding UK to reconsider its decision.

213Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai

Tabled: 13/12/23 Signatories: 3

Jim Shannon

Caroline Lucas

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes with deep concern the forthcoming trial of Mr Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, founder and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, under the National Security Law in Hong Kong; expresses alarm at the prospect that he will not receive a fair trial, and has been denied his first choice of legal counsel; further notes with profound concern his continued imprisonment on multiple other charges for the past three years; expresses urgent concern that, having marked his 76th birthday on 8 December, he faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison in Hong Kong; observes that his unjust arrest and imprisonment illustrate the grave dismantling of freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of peaceful assembly, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong; welcomes the recent meeting of the Foreign Secretary with Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai; urges the Government to lead the international community in highlighting the human rights situation in Hong Kong in general, calling for the repeal of the National Security Law in particular and for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai specifically, in the forthcoming Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations; and calls on the Government to publicly and repeatedly demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, as the United States, the European Parliament, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and of association, among others, have done.