Published – Friday 6 September 2024

New EDMs

137Armed Services Advice Project funding

Tabled: 5/09/24 Signatories: 1

Graham Leadbitter

That the House notes with concern the reported decision by the Royal British Legion to cease funding to the Armed Services Advice Project, which will see the service close; understands that the Project was established in 2010 as a partnership between Poppyscotland and Citizens Advice Services Scotland to provide dedicated information, advice and support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland; believes that the Project supports an average of 2,200 beneficiaries a year, through 16 local Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland, covering 75% of all local authority areas in Scotland; notes that local CABs are now getting referrals from Poppy Scotland, demonstrating the crucial need for the services; understands that, since its inception, the project has generated over £20 million of financial gain for veterans and their families; acknowledges recent analysis, which shows that 95% of service users showed improvements in peace of mind, 84% saw improvements in their financial situation, including access to benefits, 75% felt more able to help themselves, and 67% saw improvements to their mental health, and notes the calls for the Legion, in light of what it sees as these significant outcomes, to reconsider the decision, which, it considers, will have a detrimental impact on the veteran community in Scotland.

138People's Postcode Lottery winners in Coatbridge

Tabled: 5/09/24 Signatories: 1

Frank McNally

That this House congratulates residents of Millionaire Street, ML5 3PL in Coatbridge on sharing a £1 million win in the People’s Postcode Lottery; recognises that the People’s Postcode Lottery is a strong supporter of local causes and charities, with a third of each ticket’s price going to local organisations in communities across the country; welcomes Postcode Community Trust’s donation of more than £250,000 to six organisations based in the community; understands that the list of Coatbridge organisations that have benefitted from the Trust’s awards includes Coatbridge Citizens Advice Bureau, Deaf Services Lanarkshire, Cliftonville & Coatdyke Community Group, Shining Stars ASN Theatre School, the Albion Rovers Community Trust, and More Than Fibro; and believes that the award of monies to these organisations will contribute to the excellent work that these organisations do supporting underrepresented groups in Coatbridge and Bellshill.

139Review of Northern Ireland's relative need

Tabled: 5/09/24 Signatories: 1

Sorcha Eastwood

That this House recognises the importance of fiscal discipline in managing public sector debt; notes, however, that currently the fiscal floor for Northern Ireland does not adequately reflect the region’s relative need; and therefore calls on the Government to conduct a comprehensive review of relative need and associated implications for the level of a fiscal floor for Northern Ireland to ensure equivalent levels of service provision across the UK, including in relation to policing.

140Anniversary of the Featherstone Massacre

Tabled: 5/09/24 Signatories: 1

Jon Trickett

That this House remembers the massacre that took place in Featherstone in West Yorkshire on 7 September 1893 at the hands of the British army; commemorates the six people injured and two killed, named James Gibb, 22, and James Duggan, 25, after the army fired shots into a crowd of miners and their families; notes that the miners and their families were resisting a 25 per cent cut in wages by coal bosses who wanted to maximise their profits; recognises the struggles of workers in the UK today for stronger employment rights, fair pay and an equal share of the nation's wealth; pledges to learn the lessons from history about working class struggles for social justice; and commits to fighting for a workers' economy.

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.

76NHS staff car parking charges

Tabled: 26/07/24 Signatories: 19

Jon Trickett

John McDonnell

Iqbal Mohamed

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Andrew George

Adrian Ramsay

That this House supports free car parking for all NHS staff; notes that driving to work is the only viable option for some NHS staff; further notes that some NHS Trusts have introduced complicated invoicing systems through which staff are billed for parking, which has contributed to low morale in the workforce; recognises that during the pandemic NHS staff did not have to pay for parking but charges were subsequently reinstated; believes that NHS staff do an incredible job looking after us and the Government should look after them in return; and calls on the Government to examine the possibility of permanently scrapping car parking charges for NHS staff.

77Inclusion of district councils in devolution negotiations

Tabled: 29/07/24 Signatories: 19

Max Wilkinson

Jim Shannon

Caroline Voaden

Alison Bennett [R]

Richard Foord

Mr Lee Dillon

Adrian Ramsay

That this House recognises the crucial role played by district councils in delivering services to communities across the country; welcomes the Government’s commitment to further devolution talks; notes with concern initial comments from ministers that negotiations would take place with county councils only; but further welcomes subsequent suggestions that district councils would be consulted; and calls for the Government to commit to working with district councils whose expertise, local networks and knowledge for example supporting local economic development, housing and planning are key to a successful outcome.

78Treatment of female activists in Iran

Tabled: 29/07/24 Signatories: 11

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Kim Johnson

Mary Kelly Foy

Graham Leadbitter

Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

That this House is alarmed by the breaches of International Humanitarian Law by the Iranian government; notes that the Islamic Republic’s violent repression of women and the activists defending their rights has intensified across the country since the death of President Ebrahim Raisi on 19 May 2024; highlights that women are in danger of being executed and that four women face the death penalty, Sharifa Mohammadi, a labour activist, Pakhshan Azizi, a social researcher and women's activist, Nasim Gholami, a protester of the 2022 protests, and Vari Moradi, a women's rights activist; notes that at least 12 women activists have been sentenced to prison terms, some as long as 21 years, in prosecutions lacking due process or fair trial rights, including the denial of chosen counsel; further notes that at least six women prisoners of conscience with serious medical conditions have been denied medical treatment by prison authorities, including an ailing elderly woman prisoner and one pregnant prisoner, that at least five have gone on hunger strike in protest, and that many of these women prisoners have also been denied contact with their families or lawyers; and condemns the Islamic Republic’s intensified assault on women activists and its oppression of women.

87Alcohol harm

Tabled: 29/07/24 Signatories: 16

Grahame Morris

Dan Carden

Mary Glindon

Jim Shannon

John McDonnell

Ian Lavery

Adrian Ramsay

That this House supports the call from the Alcohol Health Alliance and leading public health professionals, made on 17 July 2024, for urgent action to tackle the escalating crisis of alcohol harm; realises that such action will help achieve ambitions to reduce NHS waiting times, crime and inequalities, and to grow the economy; notes with concern that over 10,000 people died due to alcohol in 2022, a record level and a 33% increase from 2019; further notes that alcohol-related illnesses account for one million hospital admissions annually; acknowledges that there are an estimated 4.2 million alcohol-related crimes each year, costing £14.6 billion; understands that more working years of life are lost to alcohol than the ten most common cancers combined; recalls that despite the Alcohol Charter, published on 16 October 2018 by All-Party Parliamentary Groups, the Commission on Alcohol Harm report, published on 14 September 2020, and the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee's report on Alcohol treatment services, published on 24 May 2023, there has been no actual Alcohol Strategy published since 23 March 2012; and urges the Government to introduce a comprehensive Alcohol Strategy without delay, to address the escalating alcohol harm crisis.

93Voter identification

Tabled: 30/07/24 Signatories: 28

Calum Miller

Richard Foord

Jess Brown-Fuller

Lisa Smart

Tom Gordon

Graham Leadbitter

Clive JonesAdrian Ramsay

That this House believes democracy is best served when eligible voters are encouraged to participate in elections; does not believe there was evidence of widespread voter fraud prior to 2022; notes with concern evidence that the requirement to provide voter identification in order to vote in the 2024 local and general elections suppressed voter turnout, particularly from specific demographic groups within the population; further notes that the forms of identification permitted discriminated against younger people; and therefore calls on the Government, at the earliest opportunity, to repeal the relevant sections of the Elections Act 2022 so as to remove the requirement for voter identification in order to cast a vote in UK elections.

97Ban trophy hunting imports

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 37

Grahame Morris

Mary Glindon

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Christine Jardine

Graham Leadbitter

Tonia AntoniazziMike AmesburyAndy McDonaldPete WishartKim JohnsonSteff AquaroneColum EastwoodClive Jones

That this House notes CITES data and investigations by the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting published in the national media showing British trophy hunters are killing and bringing home trophies of threatened species including African elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippopotamuses, zebras, wolves, monkeys, wild cats, lynxes, cougars, bears, and African civets; further notes that several parties made election pledges to ban hunting trophies in their manifestos, including the Government; acknowledges that a Private Members Bill drafted by the previous Government enjoyed strong cross-party support and passed unanimously in the House; recognises that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs conducted an extensive public consultation exercise involving 44,000 stakeholders, 86% of whom back a trophy import ban, that opinion polls show overwhelming voter support for an immediate and comprehensive ban; and strongly urges the Government to now bring forward a Bill in Government time which implements a world-leading ban without any further delay.

99High streets

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 10

Sarah Gibson

Vikki Slade

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Claire Young

Clive Jones

That this House welcomes the new report by the Federation of Small Businesses entitled The Future of the High Street; recognises that local communities and local businesses working together on the high street lies at the heart of economic prosperity; and acknowledges that, from local business support to specialised funds, reforming business rates and improving infrastructure, we must work together to transform high streets into places that meet future needs and support the next generation of entrepreneurs, which is essential for a thriving economy.

111Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 8

Rachael Maskell

Clive Lewis

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Ellie Chowns

Chris Law

Claire HannaKim Johnson

That this House supports the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative; notes that the treaty initiative is a global effort to foster international cooperation to accelerate a transition to renewable energy, end the expansion of coal, oil and gas, and support an equitable phase out of existing production; believes that the treaty initiative is in keeping with scientific research, which highlights the urgency of the climate crisis; highlights that, through the phasing out of fossil fuels and the acceleration of a fair energy transition, the treaty seeks to ensure that governments adhere to the Paris Agreement targets; is concerned that the world is currently on a trajectory that could result in seven times more emissions than what is compatible with keeping warming below 1.5ºC; further believes that this treaty promotes international cooperation by explicitly stopping the expansion of fossil fuels and managing a global just transition away from coal, oil and gas in a manner that is both fast and fair, so that no worker, community or country is left behind; further notes that the treaty has been backed by a growing global network of governments, civil society organisations, academics, scientists, youth activists, health professionals, faith institutions, Indigenous peoples and hundreds of thousands of other citizens globally; recognises the importance of this treaty; and calls on the Government to put its full support behind the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

112Social Security

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 73

Rishi Sunak

Jeremy Hunt

Mel Stride

Claire Coutinho

Stuart Andrew

James Wild

Laura Trott

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 869), dated 22 August 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August 2024, be annulled.

114Northern Ireland Olympians 2024

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 5

Mr Gregory Campbell

Jim Shannon

Shockat Adam

Tonia Antoniazzi

Claire Hanna

That this House notes the outstanding success at the Paris Olympic Games of athletes from Northern Ireland, with many achieving personal bests and six athletes winning medals including Hannah Scott and Jack McMillan with gold, Rebecca Shorten with silver for Team GB, Daniel Wiffin with gold and bronze, Rhys McClenaghan with gold, and Philip Doyle with silver for Team Ireland; expresses the hope that funding can continue to be made available so that these successes can be built upon for the future; and draws attention to the remarkable success of the Bann Rowing Club with Hannah Scott joining the Chambers brothers and Alan Campbell in the 2012 Games providing four Olympic medals from a small club in Coleraine.

115Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 23

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Zarah Sultana

Rachael Maskell

Jon Trickett

Clive Lewis

Nadia Whittome

Claire Hanna

That this House expresses its concern that The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 are being introduced without prior consultation or an impact assessment, nor with sufficient time to put in place a proper and effective take-up campaign for Pension Credit; notes this approach fails to take account for those people with modest incomes that are just above the entitlement threshold for Pension Credit; further notes the worrying annual excess winter death figures among pensioners; recognises the impact a sharp rise in the energy price cap of 10% from 1 October will have on pensioners which will not be helped by introducing a bureaucratic and unpopular means test which undermines the benefits of universalism when older people have higher energy costs due to comorbidities and poor housing insulation; further recognises that colder homes make older people more susceptible to poor health, including hyperthermia, respiratory and circulatory disease; and calls on the Government to postpone the ending of Winter Fuel Payments and establish a comprehensive strategy to tackle fuel poverty, health inequality and low incomes among older people.

126Accelerating construction work and lower carbon construction vehicles

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 12

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Ian Roome

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Wendy Chamberlain

Manuela Perteghella

That this House recognises the benefits of the production of concrete with zero waste, fewer lorry movements and minimal water waste by greener volumetric mobile concrete plants (VCMs); acknowledges that since their invention in 1975 and following regulations in 2918, VCMs have operated safely in the UK at 38.4 tonnes on 4 axles and 44 tonnes on 5 axles, with on-board concrete pumps that eliminate the need for separate pump lorries; welcomes the Government’s commitment when in Opposition to reverse the damaging decision of the previous Government to impose a universal weight cut to 32 tonnes on VCMs at the same time as permitting higher weights for electric HGVs; notes this reversal also has the support of former Conservative Transport Ministers and Hon Members from across all the major political parties; further notes that unless action is taken, the sole UK manufacturer of 44T VCMs in Sheffield will cease trading; also notes Denmark raised the weight limit for VCMs from 32 tonnes to 38 tonnes and in Italy and Scandinavia 44 tonne VCMs are road-legal; and urges the Government act swiftly to bring in a Statutory Instrument or other measure to make permanent instead of temporary the current 38.4T and 44T weight limits to safeguard 15,000 skilled jobs, contributing £380 million to the UK economy each year.

129Conduct of Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 3

Shockat Adam

Iqbal Mohamed

Ayoub Khan

That this House notes that award-winning railway engineer, Gareth Dennis, was sacked from his role at SYSTRA UK following an intervention by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, then Network Rail Chair and now Minister for Rail, over comments Mr Dennis made about overcrowding at Euston Station; further notes that the intervention included threatening to withhold public contracts from SYSTRA unless they took disciplinary action against Mr Dennis; believes this may constitute misconduct in a public office; and calls on the Prime Minister to instruct the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests to launch an immediate inquiry into the conduct of Lord Hendy.

130Period product scheme for schools and colleges (No. 2)

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 3

Mr Lee Dillon

Jim Shannon

Steve Darling

That this House welcomes the period product scheme for schools and colleges; notes that that current scheme was in April of this year extended until July 2025; further notes that a longer duration of support would provide schools and pupils and students who menstruate, or may later start menstruating, who may not identify as female but, instead, identify as transgender or non-binary, with the knowledge that this scheme won’t be removed during their school lives; recognises that the scheme only allows for tights to be purchased during winter and autumn terms and that young women who wear tights all year round aren’t able to benefit from this scheme in the summer term; calls upon the Department of Education to declare a longer term commitment to this scheme and to include the purchasing of tights all year round; and encourages hon. Members to make their schools aware of the scheme.

131Home-to-school transport

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 5

Ayoub Khan

Jeremy Corbyn

Jim Shannon

Shockat Adam

Ellie Chowns

That this House expresses concern and regret that ever more extreme cuts to local government are causing local authorities to cut post-16 home-to-school transport for those in receipt of an EHCP who require it; calls upon the Government to make post-16 home-to-school transport a statutory service for those who require it; and further calls upon the Government to support councils in fully funding this vital lifeline for SEND children.

132Asda equal pay

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 7

Ayoub Khan

Jeremy Corbyn

Jim Shannon

Shockat Adam

Graham Leadbitter

Grahame Morris

Ellie Chowns

That this House condemns pay discrimination in all its forms; expresses its full solidarity with the over 50,000 current and former Asda retail workers who have lodged an equal pay claim against the firm; further condemns pay discrimination at Asda which has seen women workers on the shop floor earn up to £2.84 less per hour than their male counterparts in warehouses; and calls upon Asda to commence settlement negotiations with unions regarding pay discrimination in its stores.

133Human rights in Palestine

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 5

Ayoub Khan

Shockat Adam

Iqbal Mohamed

Jeremy Corbyn

Claire Hanna

That this House notes that, according to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood; further notes that the Right to Return is an inalienable human right under Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; also notes that, according to UN General Assembly Resolution 32/40B of 2 December 1977, Israel has an obligation to facilitate the return of Palestinians to their homes in line with Articles 1 and 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but has always blocked the Palestinian Right of Return; notes that, for Articles 1 and 13 and Resolution 32/40B of 2 December 1977 to be upheld, Palestinian refugees must be allowed to return to their homes and all the lands from which they have been expelled in the ethnic cleansing that has taken place before and since the state of Israel was established in 1948; and calls on the Government to fully uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by demanding Israel ceases its genocide in Palestine and upholds the inalienable human rights of the Palestinian People, including their right to return to all the lands from which they have been expelled before and since the establishment of Israel in 1948.

134Spot Leukaemia campaign

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 8

Sorcha Eastwood

Mary Kelly Foy

Christine Jardine

Shockat Adam

Adam Jogee

John Slinger

Ian SollomClaire Hanna

That this House supports the Spot Leukaemia campaign held during Blood Cancer Awareness Month; recognises that September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month; highlights that Spot Leukaemia is a campaign with a focus on earlier diagnosis of leukaemia; further highlights that Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care work together each year to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia among the public and improve clinical practices so that people presenting with symptoms can access vital diagnostic tests within 48 hours of referral; notes that an inexpensive full blood count is all that is needed to detect leukaemia; expresses strong concern that only a third of patients presenting with leukaemia symptoms receive an urgent full blood count within 48 hours of presenting with symptoms as recommended by the NICE NG12 guidelines; further notes that of 1,000 UK general practitioners surveyed 30% cited reasons for not meeting the recommendations of the NICE NG12 guidelines, including the lack of capacity within phlebotomy services; understands the need for increased GP and phlebotomy capacity within the NHS, in order to diagnose leukaemia earlier and adhere to the NICE guidelines; and acknowledges that phlebotomy services should be part of community diagnostic centres, as recommended in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diagnostics report.

136Scottish athletes at the Paris Olympic Games

Tabled: 4/09/24 Signatories: 3

Christine Jardine

Graham Leadbitter

Ayoub Khan

That this House notes the outstanding achievements of the 34 Scottish athletes at the Paris Olympic Games; celebrates the 13 medals won by Scottish athletes including gold medallists Scott Brash, Duncan Scott and Sholto Carnegie, silver medallists Jack Carlin, Neah Evans and Josh Kerr and bronze medallists Rowan McKellar, Beth Potter and Nicole Yeargin; highlights the importance of sustained funding for a wide range of sports to build upon these achievements and support future generations; and wishes all representatives of Team GB success in their future sporting careers.