Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Tuesday 21 May 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 20 May 2024

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

768100th anniversary of Busby Lawn Tennis Club

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House congratulates Busby Lawn Tennis Club on reaching its centenary year, marking 100 years of service to the community; notes that the club, located at 5 Carmunnock Road, Busby, East Renfrewshire, was founded in 1925 and has three floodlit artificial grass courts for players to make use of; recognises that the club has teams playing in all West of Scotland leagues, namely, men, women, junior, and senior competitions; further notes the club also hosts an annual club championship with a wide range of senior and junior categories; appreciates the club hosted a centenary gala day on 21 April 2024 to mark this historic occasion; applauds the significant role that the club plays in promoting tennis and healthy living in the local community; and wishes everyone at the Busby Lawn Tennis Club all the very best for the future.

769Phoenix Flames and the Dance World Championship 2024

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House congratulates Phoenix Flames, a group of cheeleaders from Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, on their Junior Heatwave and Senior Elite teams ranking 8th and 10th respectively at the Dance World Competition; recognises the Dance World Competition was held in Florida on April 26 to 29 with hundreds of teams from 25 nations around the world competing; understands that many of Phoenix Flames’ dancers started dancing at the age of just two years old with Dance Craze Dance Academy; appreciates the positive impact that dancing can have on a participant’s physical and mental well-being; applauds all of the cheerleaders at Phoenix Flames on their phenomenal performances at the Dance World Championship; appreciates the hard work and commitment of the coaches involved in preparing the cheerleaders for the competition; and wishes everyone at Phoenix Flames all the very best of luck for future competitions.

770Love Your Local Market campaign 2024

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Daisy Cooper

That this House congratulates St Albans Market on being awarded Best Large Outdoor Market in Britain for 2024; notes the significance of the Love Your Local Market campaign, organised by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), in celebrating and supporting local markets across the UK; recognises the vital role that markets play in fostering vibrant community life, supporting local economies, and providing accessible opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs; acknowledges the Markets First campaign launched by NABMA, which focuses on attracting and retaining traders, addressing economic challenges, demonstrating the wider value of markets, professionalising market management, and improving relationships with traders; celebrates the participation of over 400 markets in the Love Your Local Market campaign from 17 May to 1 June 2024; and calls on the Government to support initiatives that promote local markets, enhance community engagement, and ensure the sustainability of markets as essential components of our towns and cities.

771Hamilton Academical and the Scottish Championship

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Angela Crawley

That this House congratulates Hamilton Academical Football Club following their promotion to the Scottish Championship for the 2024-25 season; recognises that the club achieved promotion via the play-offs in which they defeated Alloa Athletic 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals and Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-3 on aggregate in the final after finishing second in League One; commends Kevin O'Hara for creating the first goal and scoring a brace in the final; further commends his teammates, manager John Rankin and the coaching staff for their collective efforts and determination to succeed; and wishes Accies the best of luck for the new season.

772Lanark United, West of Scotland Football League Third Division champions

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Angela Crawley

That this House congratulates Lanark United Football Club on winning the 2023-24 West of Scotland Football League Third Division title; recognises that Lanark United, affectionately known as the Yowes, secured their championship with two games to play after defeating Greenock 8-0 at Moor Park; notes that they ended the season on 67 points, 11 clear of runners-up Lesmahagow; commends top scorer Kieran Brannan for helping his team towards the title with 14 league goals; further commends manager Daryl Meikle and all his players and staff for their collective efforts and determination to succeed; and wishes the club well for the forthcoming season.

773Royal Fleet Auxiliary pay settlement

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Grahame Morris

That this House notes the imposition of a below inflation pay settlement for merchant seafarers in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in 2023-24; expresses concern that RFA seafarers’ pay has fallen thirty-six per cent behind inflation, alongside cuts to pensions, wider employment conditions and crewing levels since 2009-10; highlights the findings of the RFA’s own private consultants that the RFA pays lower than the market average in the ferries, deep sea, cruise and workboat sectors; notes that RFA seafarers work four-month tours at sea but are not entitled to leave parity like the majority of the shipping sector, and is concerned by RFA seafarers’ work-life balance; further notes that RFA crew carry out 67% of Royal Navy (RN) tasking on top of their own work; understands that RFA seafarers are certified to Maritime and Coastguard Agency standards, which provides the RN with greater operational flexibility; believes the RFA does not have enough civilian seafarers should the RN’s operational needs require full deployment of the RFA fleet; supports the trade union rights of civilian merchant seafarers in the RFA organised by the RMT and Nautilus who have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a pay dispute with the RFA; and calls on the Government to intervene to assist in settling the RFA pay dispute and to tackle seafarer recruitment and retention problems in the RFA and in the RN.

774Tourism events in Northern Ireland

Tabled: 20/05/24 Signatories: 1

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House notes the NW200 and the Balmoral Show, both of which were held in mid-May 2024 and attracted hundreds of thousands of local people, visitors and tourists from a number of countries; commends the organisers of both events, with those in attendance demonstrating the positive outlook and good humoured approach that characterises much of Northern Ireland life; and expresses the hope that road racing and agricultural shows and other successful events will receive ongoing support as they seek to build and grow in future years.

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.

723Trans+ History Week

Tabled: 7/05/24 Signatories: 19

Kate Osborne

Nadia Whittome

Charlotte Nichols

Dr Jamie Wallis

Apsana Begum

Zarah Sultana

That this House welcomes the first ever Trans+ History Week; notes that this groundbreaking initiative is aimed at educating and celebrating the millenia-old history of transgender non-binary gender-diverse and intersex individuals; and further acknowledges that the achievements of trans+ people deserve recognition.

725Government surveillance of bank accounts

Tabled: 7/05/24 Signatories: 39

Richard Burgon

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

John McDonnell

Nadia Whittome

Margaret Greenwood

Apsana Begum

That this House is deeply alarmed by new powers contained within the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill that would allow the Government to engage in the mass surveillance of tens of millions of people's bank accounts; notes that these new powers would force banks to spy on the 23 million individuals in the welfare system, including those who are disabled, sick, caregivers, jobseekers and pensioners, as well as on the private banking data of people related to them including partners, parents, landlords and other associates; further notes that this will be reliant on systems using artificial intelligence to monitor the accounts of all customers to flag activity considered suspicious by the Department for Work and Pensions and believes that this risks creating a Post Office Horizon-style scandal where innocent people suffered wrongful prosecutions, financial ruin and reputational damage; believes that this is a huge infringement on an individual’s right to financial privacy and violates the principle of a presumption of innocence that people should not be spied on unless the police suspect wrongdoing; rejects the idea of treating the disabled, sick, carers or those looking for work as criminals by default; further believes that the Government already has significant powers to review the bank statements of fraud suspects under existing laws; and calls on the Government to remove these powers from the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.

728Water sports and pollution

Tabled: 7/05/24 Signatories: 9

Jamie Stone

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

Sarah Dyke

Wendy Chamberlain

Rachael Maskell

That this House notes the danger posed by water pollution and sewage spills to water sports athletes and participants; recognises that these sports, including angling, rowing, swimming, surfing and others are some the most popular participation sports in the UK; expresses its concern that the viability of certain sports may be threatened by water pollution; welcomes the campaign of the Clean Water Sports Alliance; urges the Government to support sports clubs affected by sewage dumping; and calls on the Government to take further and faster action on pollution by ending sewage dumping, banning water executives from paying themselves bonuses until sewage dumping stops, transforming England’s water companies into public benefit companies, replacing Ofwat with a new regulator with proper teeth to tackle sewage dumping, and introducing a sewage tax to fund the clean up of the most polluted lakes, rivers and coastlines.

729Tom Stoltman, Winner of World's Strongest Man Competition

Tabled: 7/05/24 Signatories: 7

Jamie Stone

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

Chris Law

Wendy Chamberlain

Chris Stephens

That this House offers its utmost congratulations to Tom Stoltman on his incredible achievement of winning World’s Strongest Man 2024; notes this is the third time he has claimed the title in only four years; further notes the sacrifices and challenges he has faced on his journey; and recognises the inspiring work he and his brother have done to act as ambassadors for the sport at a local level in the Highlands and nationally across the UK.

731Dementia Action Week

Tabled: 7/05/24 Signatories: 24

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Christine Jardine

Chris Law

Cat Smith

Patrick Grady

That this House notes Dementia Action Week 2024, taking place from 13 to 19 May 2024; highlights that Dementia Action Week is an awareness raising campaign and each year the Alzheimer's Society works with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to act on Dementia; underlines the support offered to those pre and post diagnosis and furthermore the advice offered to help people cope with memory loss and other immediate symptoms; further notes that there are over 900,000 people living with Dementia in the UK and that this is expected to rise sharply in the coming years; thanks charities like the Alzheimer's Society for all the support they provide in relation to this; and also notes that people collectively can continue to do their bit to educate themselves on how best to assist those with Dementia.

735Maasai evictions in Tanzania

Tabled: 8/05/24 Signatories: 13

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Jim Shannon

Rachael Maskell

John McDonnell

Claudia Webbe

Apsana Begum

That this House stands in solidarity with the Maasai people of Tanzania who are being forcibly evicted by their Government on the false pretext that they are damaging the eco systems through population growth; notes that some 150,000 Maasai people live in the Ngorongoro and Loliondo Conservation; further notes that the United Nations Special Rapporteurs have already called on the Tanzanian Government to immediately halt plans for the relocation of indigenous people; also notes that on 5 February 2024 the Secretary General of the UN made a detailed report of violent evictions to the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council, from the Society for Threatened Peoples; notes that Tanzania persists in violating international law by depriving Maasai in the greater Serengeti Ecosystem of their access to grazing land and forcing relocation; further notes the removal of funding by the World Bank for the REGROW project; expresses alarm that the Tanzanian security forces are using unlawful force to remove local indigenous communities without consultation or lawful reason to do so; calls on the Tanzanian Government to cease such action forthwith, to permit visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to repatriate those removed to date, and to compensate those injured in the process; further calls on British tourists to boycott areas where forcible evictions are taking place; and also calls on the United Arab Emirates to refuse to participate in any displacement of indigenous people, and to cease to engage in trophy hunting in Tanzania.

736McClure solicitors

Tabled: 8/05/24 Signatories: 8

Kate Osborne

Dr Philippa Whitford

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

Jon Trickett

Richard Burgon

That this House notes with concern the impact from the collapse of W.W & J McClure Solicitors Law Firm in 2021; understands that the firm had around 100,000 clients across Britain, many of whom held wills or family trusts managed by the law firm; further notes with concern that many former clients have encountered difficulties in dealing with their property and investments within their Trusts; is alarmed by reports that families have been unable to sell properties as former solicitors of McClure were placed on the deeds of their properties; also notes reports that people suffering from bereavement are finding unknown names on deeds and trusts when dealing with their estate; notes that people are incurring new legal costs to remove these names; further notes that thousands of McClures clients are still unaware the firm went bust; and urges the Government to do all they can to identify and assist those former clients who have been impacted by this scandal.

738Public ownership of water

Tabled: 8/05/24 Signatories: 38

Caroline Lucas

Apsana Begum

Clive Lewis

Mohammad Yasin

Rachael Maskell

Jonathan Edwards

That this House condemns the mismanagement and underinvestment which led to untreated sewage being discharged into English waterways for more than 3.6 million hours in 2023; notes that water companies in England have incurred debts of more than £64 billion and paid out £78 billion in dividends since they were privatised debt-free in 1989; further notes that water companies paid out £1.4 billion in dividends in 2022, even as 11 of them were fined in the same year for missing performance targets; recognises that climate change is making flooding and droughts more frequent and more severe, necessitating changes to the way we manage our water system in order to build resilience; believes that a Government bailout of Thames Water would send a dangerous signal to other utility companies that reckless decisions carry no private risk; urges Ofwat to reject Thames Water’s request to be allowed to increase bills and limit fines to protect its finances, which would reward mismanagement at the expense of customers and the public; further believes that private for-profit ownership is not an appropriate model for water, as an essential utility where no meaningful competition is possible; calls on the Government to put Thames Water into special administration and to transfer its assets and functions to a publicly-owned company; and further calls for all the English water companies to be brought into public ownership so that our water network can be managed for the benefit of all citizens.

742Funding to restore the historic Mavisbank building

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 7

Owen Thompson

Marion Fellows

Jim Shannon

Anne McLaughlin

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

This this House welcomes the £5.3 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to restore the historic building of Mavisbank in Loanhead, Midlothian; congratulates the campaigners who have strived for more than 50 years to save this 18th century building, the Landmark Trust has worked with Midlothian Council, Historic Environment Scotland, the Mavisbank bank Trust and other to identify a viable solution for this property; and notes Mavisbank was built in 1723, in a pioneering neo-Classical style which William Adam’s son Robert Adam and others would develop for Edinburgh’s New Town a generation later, set in 70 acres with a walled garden, canal and Palladian influences, it would become a blueprint for countless other country villas across the country, in the 19th century Mavisbank became a ground-breaking hospital where reforming Doctor John Batty Tuke developed compassionate approaches to mental illness, including through exercise and gardening, Mavisbank House is a building of outstanding importance to Scottish and UK national heritage and this funding will enable the Landmark Trust to acquire Mavisbank House and safeguard the historic fabric of the Category A building, laying the foundations for a sustainable and brighter future.

743Energy transition treaty

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 9

Clive Lewis

Caroline Lucas

Olivia Blake

Hywel Williams

Claire Hanna

Colum Eastwood

That this House notes that 12 national governments, including nine Pacific Island States, are calling for countries around the world to back their proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to negotiate a fast, fair and well-managed energy transition; recognises that Pacific Island States are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise from climate change, that these countries’ populations are at risk of mass displacement and other human rights violations due to the ensuing climate crisis and that the UK has a responsibility to stand with them and act fast to avert this; understands that multilateral action is vital to managing an equitable transition from fossil fuels, which was agreed by all parties at COP28, with the urgency required given the scale of the climate crisis and the escalating threats it poses to human rights; acknowledges the need to take domestic action for a fair phase-out of fossil fuels—for example legislating for a ban on new coal mines—to ensure the phase-out process begins as soon as possible so that workers in the UK and globally are supported into new sustainable industries and the UK to realise the benefits of domestically produced renewable energy as soon as possible; and recommends that the UK Government endorses the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as a way to manage the energy transition quickly and fairly.

74419th Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 15

Wera Hobhouse

Jonathan Edwards

Christine Jardine

Nadia Whittome

Sir Peter Bottomley

Stephen Farry

That this House joins in commemorating the 19th annual Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony, held on Yom HaZikaron—Memorial Day—in Israel, beginning on the evening of 12 May 2024; pays tribute to all Israelis and Palestinians who grieve together and stand united in their demand for an end to bloodshed between both peoples; recognises that the lives of everyone connected to Israel and Palestine will never be the same as a result of the devastating events of 7 October 2023 in Israel and what has followed afterwards in Gaza; supports the work of Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle-Families Forum in bringing Israelis and Palestinians together; believes that their mission of transforming despair into hope and building compassion around ideals of shared humanity, justice and equality provides a pathway to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; further supports all grassroots efforts to build a shared future and a political solution that brings freedom, justice and safety for all; agrees that occupation, oppression, and conflict are not inevitable; and calls on the Government to fully support, through all relevant financial and political means, all such joint Israeli-Palestinian initiatives that promote peace, justice and a shared future for Israelis and Palestinians.

745World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day 2024

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 10

Sarah Green [R]

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Marion Fellows

That this House notes that Crohn's and colitis are serious chronic diseases where your immune system affects the gut, affecting over 500,000 people in the UK; recognises that stigma, myths, and misunderstandings means thousands of people with these conditions are suffering in silence; acknowledges that World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day on 19 May is an opportunity to raise awareness of these conditions; commends the work of Crohn’s & Colitis UK in supporting people living with IBD; and encourages hon. Members to support them in raising awareness of Crohn's and Colitis amongst the public and healthcare professionals.

749Scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and arms exports to Israel

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 27

Mick Whitley

George Galloway

Jonathan Edwards

Claudia Webbe

Jeremy Corbyn

Grahame Morris

That this House expresses its deep concerns regarding the Israeli offensive on Rafah, which it believes will seriously worsen what is already one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises; reiterates its calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire; further expresses its frustration at the Government’s continued refusal to suspend arms exports to Israel; echoes the warnings issued by Lady Hale and over six hundred distinguished members of the legal profession in their correspondence to the Prime Minister of 3 April 2024 that the provision of military assistance and material to Israel may render the UK complicit in genocide as well as in serious breaches of International Humanitarian Law; notes that, as a result of his not having a seat in the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has been unable to participate in departmental questions in the House and that Members have been restricted in their ability to scrutinise his work and that of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, particularly in relation to arms licences to Israel; believes that the moral imperative of ending arms exports to Israel is now so great as to warrant the House taking exceptional measures; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to work with the Speaker to make necessary preparations for the Secretary of State to answer questions on this and other matters from hon. Members from the Bar of the House of Commons as soon as possible.

751Diagnosing Coeliac disease

Tabled: 13/05/24 Signatories: 24

Mrs Sharon Hodgson

Mr Kevan Jones

Ben Lake

John McDonnell

Daisy Cooper

George Galloway

That this House recognises that coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 100 people; expresses concern that almost two-thirds of people with the condition, equating to almost half a million people in the UK remain undiagnosed, running the risk of long term complications; notes that the average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis of 13 years is unacceptable and highlights that it is essential that efforts are made to improve awareness of the condition amongst healthcare professionals and the public to recognise the symptoms of the disease and ensure faster diagnosis; notes that there is no national leadership and accountability for coeliac disease within NHS England and calls on the Government to take steps towards reducing the time to diagnosis by installing national accountability and leadership within NHS England for coeliac disease.

754World Hypertension Day 2024

Tabled: 14/05/24 Signatories: 8

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Jonathan Edwards

George Galloway

Chris Stephens

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes that World Hypertension Day 2024 takes place on 17 May 2024, with May Measurement Month, which was established in 2017 by the International Society of Hypertension, running from 1 May to 31 July 2024; further notes that both initiatives aim to highlight the importance of better prevention, detection and treatment of high blood pressure and that the theme of World Hypertension Day is to measure your blood pressure accurately, control it and live longer; also notes that World Hypertension Day is focused on combatting low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low-to-middle income areas; highlights that, in addition, Salt Awareness Week takes place between 13 and 19 May 2024, reminding us that reducing the amount of salt in our diet is a quick and easy way to reduce our blood pressure and improve our health; thanks the international society of hypertension for the work they do in marking this occasion; and urges all those across the UK to get involved in recognising World Hypertension Day.

75580th anniversary of the Catalina crash on Vatersay

Tabled: 14/05/24 Signatories: 6

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Stephens

Sir Mike Penning

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House notes the 80th anniversary of the crash of the the Catalina aircraft on 12 May 1944; further notes that the aircraft was on a training exercise from Oban to Barra Head but sadly crashed near Heiseaval Beag on the Island of Vatersay; marks the anniversary of the deaths of Flight Sergeant David Clyne, Sergeant Fred Basset and rigger Sergeant Patrick Hines; remembers the bravery of the six other surviving crew members who had suffered the loss of their colleagues as well as remembering their families; also notes the sacrifice and courage of the Catalina crews who hunted U-boats to save the lives of merchant seamen bringing food to nations which were rationing supplies; and recognises that, prior to joining the military, Flight Sergeant David Clyne had a successful football career by playing for Queens Park FC and was twice capped for Scotland at amateur level.

756Youth mobility visas

Tabled: 14/05/24 Signatories: 7

Tim Farron

Jonathan Edwards

Wendy Chamberlain

Sarah Dyke

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

That this House acknowledges the European Commission’s proposal on youth mobility visas; notes the benefits that youth mobility visas would provide for UK industries who need to supplement their local workforce; recognises that the hospitality and tourism sectors in rural and coastal areas like the Lake District, West Country, and the Scottish Highlands are especially struggling to recruit the staff they need; and urges the Government to take this opportunity to negotiate a deal which also gives British young people the opportunity of living and working abroad.

757Ross Cowie, Point of Light Award

Tabled: 14/05/24 Signatories: 8

Ian Blackford

Anne McLaughlin

Marion Fellows

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Deidre Brock

That this House recognises the achievements and hard work of Ross Cowie who is a recipient of the Point of Light Reward for his work with the Lucky2BHere charity that he founded on the Isle of Skye in 2009; congratulates him and all of the others involved in Lucky2BHere for working so hard to install publicly accessible defibrillators across Scotland; further recognises his continuing work with the app providers GoodSAM and Crowdsav which help members of the public locate the nearest defibrillator in case of emergency; acknowledges his additional work on a database which allows him to check the status of each defibrillator across Scotland, ensuring that batteries and pads are always up to date; further acknowledges and recognises the intensive training that Lucky2BHere has provided to over 50,000 people and in schools across Scotland in how to use these defibrillators; and wishes him every success in the future.

758Take Another Look campaign

Tabled: 14/05/24 Signatories: 13

Chris Law

Alison Thewliss

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

Anne McLaughlin

Chris Stephens

That this House acknowledges the inherent vulnerability of motorcyclists on UK roads and the tragedy that road traffic collisions bring to motorcycle riders’ loved ones; extends condolences to Tracey Marsh, Maureen Rutherford and Jacqueline Dickson, who all tragically lost their husbands in road traffic collisions; supports the launch of their Take Another Look campaign, which aims to educate motorists on their role and responsibility towards vulnerable road users; notes the importance of increasing motorists’ awareness of motorcycles and reducing accidents; and agrees that all drivers should take another look to save lives.

760Saltire Patisserie, Midlothian and Scottish Baker of the Year Awards

Tabled: 15/05/24 Signatories: 6

Owen Thompson

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Deidre Brock

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Saltire Patisserie Ltd bakery in Loanhead, Midlothian, for their recent successes at the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year Awards; recognises their Best in Scotland Gold Award for their steak pie, Best in Region Gold Award for their steak pie and Best in Region Gold Award for their corn bread; acknowledges that this is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to the dedication, creativity and hard work put into the bakery; applauds the bakery’s commitment to greatness, combined with an innovative approach and attention to detail; further acknowledges that this award is a well-deserved recognition of the Saltire Patisserie Ltd team’s efforts and the quality of products and experiences they provide to customers; and wishes Saltire Patisserie Ltd continued success and acclaim in the future.

761Penicuik Athletic youth football club and Colin Campbell Sports Cup

Tabled: 15/05/24 Signatories: 6

Owen Thompson

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Deidre Brock

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House congratulates the Penicuik Athletic YFC under-17s team for their recent success at the Colin Campbell Sports Cup; acknowledges their award for first place; recognises that this is a wonderful achievement and a testament to the dedication and hard work that the team put into their training and football games; applauds their sportsmanship during the game; further acknowledges that this award is a well-deserved recognition of the players' and coaches' outstanding teamwork and efforts; and wishes Penicuik Athletic YFC under-17s continued success and acclaim in the future.

762Imperial War Museums and union derecognition

Tabled: 15/05/24 Signatories: 24

Chris Stephens

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Ian Lavery

Richard Burgon

Ian Byrne

That this House is alarmed by reports that Imperial War Museums plans to derecognise the Public and Commercial Services union and the First Division Association for the purposes of collective representation and bargaining; is concerned that derecognising these trade unions would undermine the collective bargaining power of staff, leaving them vulnerable to arbitrary decisions by management, with limited recourse for addressing grievances or negotiating fair terms of employment; warns that derecognising any union undermines the principles of democracy and representation in the workplace, and could have significant negative effects on equality by exacerbating wage disparities, reducing job security and access to benefits, worsening working conditions, diminishing workers’ voice and representation, limiting training and advancement opportunities, and weakening legal protections for workers; and calls on the Government to intervene to help resolve this dispute by ensuring that these unions remain recognised by Imperial War Museums.

763Support for Bristow staff

Tabled: 15/05/24 Signatories: 5

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Chris Stephens

Jonathan Edwards

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Sir Edward Leigh

That this House commends the work of Bristow staff who operate helicopters for search and rescue services in the Outer Hebrides across Scotland and the UK and who also operate offshore oil and gas flights; supports the 360 staff including pilots, co-pilots, winchmen operators and winchmen paramedics in their decision to vote to strike due to the derisory pay offer and the attack on their terms and conditions; condemns the pay offer by Bristow which in real terms means those brave individuals who take people on emergency medical evacuations or go out to ships in storms, as well as providing transport for workers on North Sea Oil rigs have seen a 25% decrease in their pay; thanks BALPA the union for supporting staff through this challenging time; and further thanks the courageous and highly motivated staff for the work they do in the Outer Hebrides and elsewhere in these islands.

765Lauren Price, World Champion title

Tabled: 16/05/24 Signatories: 6

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

Hywel Williams

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House commends Lauren Price for becoming Wales’ first female World Champion boxer and 14th world title holder; notes that she now holds the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine welterteight world titles after her victory over Jessica McCaskill in Cardiff on Saturday 11 May; further notes that Lauren was competing in only her seventh professional fight, after previously winning gold in the women's middleweight final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; highlights that she is already a world champion in kickboxing, has won 52 caps for the Welsh National Football Team, and has previously competed in taekwondo; and wishes Lauren the very best with her career going forwards.

76630th anniversary of the Maritime Volunteer Service

Tabled: 16/05/24 Signatories: 5

Kelly Tolhurst

Julian Knight

Sir Mike Penning

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House notes the 30th anniversary of the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS); commends the important national role that the charity plays in ensuring that all aspect of maritime skills remain available to future generations and highlights the importance of the MVS in supporting community resilience; expresses gratitude for the tireless service of MVS volunteers, who give up their time and knowledge to serve local communities across the UK, especially in times of need or emergency; acknowledges the fundamental role that the MVS fulfils in maintaining the proud maritime traditions of the UK and calls on the Government to continue its long-standing recognition of the Maritime Volunteer Service.

767ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map

Tabled: 17/05/24 Signatories: 8

Angela Crawley

Deidre Brock

Richard Thomson

Allan Dorans

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House regrets that the UK has received its lowest-ever rank on the ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map; recognises the 2024 Rainbow Map is the organisation's 13th annual review of the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in 49 countries in Europe and Central Asia; further regrets the UK’s 51% rating, noting the decline from last year’s rating of 53.9%; acknowledges this ranking is a result of the UK Government's decision to block the Scottish Parliament's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, delays to the banning of conversion practices and the UK Government’s treatment of LGBTI migrants, including fears that the Illegal Migration Act may be used to expel LGBTQ+ asylum seekers to their home or a third country; condemns this government’s record of failing to protect and support LGBTQ+ communities; and calls for an urgent reflection on the direction this Government is taking on human rights.