Commons business papers

Contents

Published – Friday 13 September 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 12 September 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

170Uber and private hire drivers

Tabled: 12/09/24 Signatories: 1

Ayoub Khan

That this House expresses its unequivocal solidarity with Uber and other private hire drivers across the UK, recognising the vital role they play in the modern transportation network; notes with concern the ongoing challenges they face including precarious working conditions, potential algorithmic discrimination, insufficient pay, and lack of employment rights; acknowledges the findings of the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices which highlights the urgent need for employment protections and fair treatment in the gig economy; calls on the Government to implement robust measures to protect these workers from exploitation, ensuring they receive fair pay, sick leave, and holiday entitlement; and urges Uber and other private hire companies to adhere to UK employment laws as ruled by the Supreme Court, end any algorithmic discrimination taking place, and treat their drivers with the dignity and respect they deserve.

171Supreme Court ruling on Tesco and fire and rehire practices

Tabled: 12/09/24 Signatories: 1

Tracy Gilbert [R]

That this House welcomes the Supreme Court judgment yesterday in the case of Tesco Stores Ltd v Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and others; notes that the outcome protects workers’ rights to retained pay and essential rules that fire and rehire cannot be used to undermine pay and conditions; congratulates USDAW for supporting their members through what has been a protracted legal process and is encouraged that the highest court in this land agrees that fire and rehire is not a lawful practise; and further welcomes the Government's New Deal for Workers which will ban this awful practise as well as increase workers pay, ban the use of exploitative zero-hour contracts and give workers employment protection from day one.

172Dux of Monifieth High School

Tabled: 12/09/24 Signatories: 1

Stephen Gethins

That this House commends Matvii Mishyn, a Ukrainian school student studying at Monifieth High School for being made Dux of the School; notes all of his hard work, achievements and incredible contribution to school life at Monifieth High School; further commends the school for providing vital support to those fleeing conflict and hardship; commends the school's work to prepare young people for success through their values of respect, care and kindness; and thanks all the staff who have given their support to Matvii and the rest of the school community.

173Service of Terry Wiggins MBE

Tabled: 12/09/24 Signatories: 1

Tonia Antoniazzi

That this House recognises the service of Terry Wiggins MBE, who will be retiring after 50 years; thanks him for his commitment to the House; notes his role in founding the Commons and Lords Rugby Union team; and wishes him well for his charity bike ride from London to Brighton on 15 September 2024 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

174Proposed smoking ban

Tabled: 12/09/24 Signatories: 1

Mary Glindon

That this House recognises the success of the indoor ban on smoking in public places, introduced by a Labour Government in 2007, in reducing smoking, boosting individual health and easing the strain on the NHS; notes that the Government is considering the merits of a ban on outdoor smoking in pub gardens and other places; believes that this will unduly restrict individual liberty where second-hand smoking dangers are negligible, drive some and maybe many pubs out of business and undermine the night-time economy; and urges the Government not to proceed with this option and, if it does, to allow a free vote on the proposal.

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.

97Ban trophy hunting imports

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 65

Grahame Morris

Mary Glindon

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Christine Jardine

Graham Leadbitter

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.

98Jools' Law petition

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 18

Max Wilkinson

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Ayoub Khan

Lisa Smart

Freddie van Mierlo

That this House notes the 126,033 signatures on the petition for Jools’ Law, relating to parental rights of access to children's social media accounts; further notes that current legislation lags behind the progress of social media, leading to concern for many parents seeking protection of their children; notes that the Petitions Committee will not automatically consider the aforementioned petition for debate when the Committee is reconvened; and appeals to the new Petitions Committee to consider the petition for debate.

99High streets

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 14

Sarah Gibson

Vikki Slade

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Claire Young

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.

105Gambling regulations

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 15

Dr Beccy Cooper

Jim Shannon

Peter Lamb

John McDonnell

Ellie Chowns

Kate Osborne

That this House notes with concern that the most recent regulations on gambling are from the Gambling Act 2005; considers the need for further affordability checks, levies and advertising limits following the rise of online gambling since 2005; and calls on the Government to act swiftly to implement the recommendations of the Gambling Reform White Paper 2023.

107Bullying in parish and town councils

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 10

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

John McDonnell

Ayoub Khan

Shockat Adam

Iqbal Mohamed

That this House believes that local parish and town councils play a vital role in our democracy and are central to community life in many parts of our country; expresses its concern that in some councils there are significant issues of bullying, with poor behaviour from councillors towards their fellow representatives and staff; notes that council staff are entitled to protections under employment law but in many cases this does not adequately protect staff from bullying by elected councillors; further believes that more must be done to ensure that parish and town councillors and council staff are able to go about their jobs without feeling unsafe; and calls on the Government to examine what can be done to clamp down on bullying in parish and town councils so that this important part of our democracy can flourish.

111Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 16

Rachael Maskell

Clive Lewis

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Ellie Chowns

Chris Law

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.

121Withdrawal of the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 83

Wendy Chamberlain

Ed Davey

Daisy Cooper

Tim Farron

Helen Morgan

Richard Foord

That this House calls on the Government to withdraw the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024.

122Overseas constituencies

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 12

Christine Jardine

Vikki Slade

Claire Young

Ian Roome

Jim Shannon

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House notes that the Elections Act 2022 increased the number of UK citizens living abroad that are eligible to vote in UK elections to approximately 3.5 million; further notes that UK citizens residing abroad are represented by the hon. Member from their last place of residence in the UK, which may be distant from their current place of residence; notes that the establishment of overseas constituencies would allow UK citizens living abroad to be represented by an MP who is experienced in dealing with the range of problems overseas residents face; notes that parliaments in 17 countries have overseas constituency MPs; and calls on the Government to work with the Boundary Commission to implement overseas constituencies for the House of Commons and with the Electoral Commission and groups representing UK citizens abroad to run a registration drive for eligible citizens to explain how they can register to vote.

126Accelerating construction work and lower carbon construction vehicles

Tabled: 2/09/24 Signatories: 22

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Ian Roome

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Wendy Chamberlain

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.

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

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 12

Mr Lee Dillon

Jim Shannon

Steve Darling

Iqbal Mohamed

John McDonnell

Anna Sabine

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.

134Spot Leukaemia campaign

Tabled: 3/09/24 Signatories: 15

Sorcha Eastwood

Mary Kelly Foy

Christine Jardine

Shockat Adam

Adam Jogee

John Slinger

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: 9

Christine Jardine

Graham Leadbitter

Ayoub Khan

Jim Shannon

Stephen Gethins

Patricia Ferguson

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.

141Polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk

Tabled: 9/09/24 Signatories: 4

Mr Gregory Campbell

Gavin Robinson

Jim Shannon

Sir Julian Lewis

That this House notes that October 2024 marks 110 years since Jonas Salk was born, an American Jewish virologist who was credited in 1955 for helping develop one of the first vaccines that helped drastically reduce instances of polio across much of the developed world; recognises he was widely praised for choosing not to patent the vaccine or seek profit from it in order to maximize its global distribution; further notes the current rollout of polio vaccine in Gaza where hundreds of thousands of children have been vaccinated against polio; and expresses the hope that any successful outcome of the vaccination programme might be a prelude to the beginning of the end not just of polio but the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Middle East.

143Penguins at Sea Life London Aquarium

Tabled: 9/09/24 Signatories: 10

Dr Danny Chambers

Mary Kelly Foy

Tessa Munt

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Caroline Voaden

Vikki Slade

That this House expresses grave concern regarding the welfare of 15 Gentoo penguins currently being kept in a windowless basement at the London Sea Life Aquarium; notes that these penguins, native to the Antarctic Circle, are confined to a pitifully small enclosure with only six to seven feet of water depth in which to dive, a stark contrast to the 600 feet they are capable of diving in the wild; understands that the constant public observation and noise may cause significant stress and adverse health effects to these intelligent and sensitive creatures; recognises that Gentoo penguins are currently listed as of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, making Sea Life’s claims of conservation through breeding programmes both misleading and exploitative; and demands that the multi-billion pound business which owns Sea Life, Merlin Entertainments, immediately cease the exhibition of penguins and use its considerable resources to guarantee a safe and healthy relocation for these penguins.

147King’s Award for Voluntary Service, HealthBus Trust

Tabled: 9/09/24 Signatories: 6

Tom Hayes

Mary Kelly Foy

Vikki Slade

Edward Morello

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

That this House congratulates HealthBus Trust on its receipt of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service; thanks everyone involved in charity for caring for people experiencing homelessness in Bournemouth; recognises its innovations to remove barriers and tackle health inequalities with a mobile GP-led service and key clinical roles; and acknowledges its role and that of other health and wellbeing buses in alleviating pressure nationwide on the NHS and frontline services.

148World Suicide Prevention Day 2024

Tabled: 9/09/24 Signatories: 14

Sojan Joseph

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Dr Lauren Sullivan

Mary Kelly Foy

Gavin Robinson

Adam Jogee

That this House marks World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place each year on 10 September; pays tribute to all the organisations across the world who are working together to raise awareness to prevent suicide and support those who are struggling to cope; is concerned that in Britain in 2023 there was an increase in the number of registered suicides; is also concerned that men are more likely to die by suicide, as are people living in deprived areas; highlights research from the Samaritans showing that only 45 percent of people feel comfortable talking to family and friends about suicidal thoughts; emphasises that talking more openly about suicide gives people the chance to express how they feel and get the support they need; calls for increased funding for mental health services and timely access to talking therapies; and encourages those who may be struggling to cope to speak to someone and get the support they need, so fewer people die by suicide.

154Gibraltar National Day

Tabled: 9/09/24 Signatories: 19

Andrew Rosindell

Dan Carden

Lewis Cocking

Adam Jogee

Patricia Ferguson

Mr Peter Bedford

That this House joins the people of Gibraltar as they celebrate their National Day on 10 September 2024, commemorating the 1967 referendum in which more than 99 per cent. of Gibraltarians voted to reject annexation by Spain and remain a territory of the British Crown; notes the rich, diverse and unique culture of the Gibraltarians, which encompasses numerous ethnicities including Maltese, Andalusian, Genoese, Portuguese and most predominantly British; recognises the shared heritage and historical links between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar since 1704; and wishes the loyal people of the Rock a magnificent day of traditional red and white festivities, as all Gibraltarians display pride in their homeland, having the right of self-determination and the freedom to chose to remain British.

15950th anniversary of the Federation of Small Businesses

Tabled: 10/09/24 Signatories: 12

Matt Western

Adam Jogee

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

Mr Toby Perkins

Sonia Kumar

That this House congratulates the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), formerly known as the National Federation of Self Employed (NFSE) on its 50th birthday; remembers that in 1974, one small business owner, Captain Norman Small, wrote to the press to begin a small business movement; recalls that Small invited small business owners to attend a meeting in his hometown of Lytham St Annes and, at that meeting, he put forward the idea of an organisation designed to promote the voice of the self-employed; further remembers that similar meetings in other parts of the country followed and that within nine months the NFSE had a membership of 25,000 with 200 new members joining every day; acknowledges that 50 years later FSB is the UK’s largest membership organisation for small businesses and the self-employed; and reflects on the range of day-to-day business tools, local support networks, and member-only savings provided today by FSB, and looks forward to the next 50 years of FSB.

160The Legal Dragnet Joint Enterprise Report

Tabled: 10/09/24 Signatories: 20

Kim Johnson

Ms Diane Abbott

Zarah Sultana

Apsana Begum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House welcomes the publication of The Legal Dragnet, by Nisha Waller and the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which highlights the risk posed by ambiguous legislation on joint enterprise and makes a case for creating a safer framework for prosecution; further welcomes the stated ambition of the Government, while in opposition, to reform the law on joint enterprise; notes the Lord Chancellor’s acknowledgment that joint enterprise is an issue of concern to Members of this House; notes with alarm Crown Prosecution Service data that Black people are disproportionately prosecuted under joint enterprise; further notes with alarm that this new report highlights how there has been no discernible impact on the number of joint enterprise prosecutions since the 2016 Supreme Court ruling that the law had been wrongly implemented for more than 30 years; agrees with the report that the scope of joint enterprise should be narrowed to create a safer framework for prosecution and greater consistency and fairness in outcomes; further agrees that alongside legal reform, wider work must be done to challenge racialised and overzealous police and prosecution practices with respect to joint enterprise; and calls on the Government to request a Law Commission review of joint enterprise, with a view to narrowing the scope of current legislation and providing a safer framework for prosecution and sentencing.

162Challenging stigma

Tabled: 10/09/24 Signatories: 9

Grahame Morris

Kim Johnson

Adam Jogee

Ian Lavery

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House recognises that people affected by drug and alcohol use should be treated fairly, justly and with dignity; further recognises that they are, however, frequently dehumanised, marginalised and discriminated against; acknowledges that stigma is a major barrier to treatment and wider healthcare, preventing people getting the support they need to get better and lead healthy lives; welcomes the work of the Anti-Stigma Network, whose mission is to improve understanding of the stigma and discrimination experienced by many people affected by drug and alcohol use; applauds the commitment of the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance, Phoenix Futures and all individuals and organisations collaborating in this initiative; believes this represents a major step forward in fighting stigma and saving lives; and calls on the Government to support the efforts of the Anti-Stigma Network and all those challenging stigma, thereby helping to remove barriers to treatment and reduce the record level of drug and alcohol deaths across the UK.

163True Origins Partnership

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 2

Susan Murray

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the work of the True Origins Partnership, formerly the Balmore Trust, based in Mid Dunbartonshire; congratulates John Riches and the Board of Trustees, the staff and volunteers working with Gavin’s Mill and their customers, for their commitment to support Fair Trade all year round and Fair Trade Fortnight; notes the visit of Howard Msukwa, rice farmer and campaigner from Northern Malawi, to Mid Dunbartonshire to highlight the impact that climate change is having on the livelihoods of farmers in the Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association; and further notes the positive difference that the True Origins Partnership makes, supporting single parent/carer households with employment opportunities, increasing access to education for children, and skills and employment for young people in the villages.

164Journalists and anti-terror legislation

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 4

John McDonnell

Rebecca Long Bailey

Kim Johnson

Jon Trickett

That this House is gravely concerned by the arrest at Heathrow Airport of the freelance foreign affairs reporter and National Union of Journalists member Richard Medhurst under Section 12 of Terrorism Act 2000; notes reports that Medhurst was escorted off the plane by six police officers, handcuffed and transferred to a police cell where he had all his journalistic equipment and electronic devices seized and was initially denied the right to make a telephone call or have legal representation; further notes that Medhurst, who has yet to be charged with any offence, categorically denies the accusations of having supported or encouraged support for any proscribed organisation; believes that powers contained in anti-terror legislation must be deployed proportionately and not wielded against journalists in ways that inevitably stifle press freedom, including in relation to coverage of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza; shares the concerns of the NUJ and International Federation of Journalists that these actions by the UK authorities are intended to have a chilling effect on journalists both at home and worldwide; and urges the authorities to provide urgent clarity as to the nature of this ongoing investigation.

165Mary Anne Stewart, Kintyre Food Bank

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 2

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the enormous contribution of Mary Anne Stewart to alleviating food poverty in Campbeltown and the surrounding area during her decade as Chair of the Kintyre Food Bank; thanks her for serving as Chairperson of the committee for the past ten years, years in which, unfortunately, the demand for the Food Bank services has continued to grow; recognises the selfless dedication of Mary Anne, the committee and all the volunteers of Kintyre Food Bank, without who many in their community would be in desperate need; and wishes everyone involved in the project every success until such times as Food Banks are no longer required in one of the richest countries in the world.

166Saudi Arabia’s bid to join the UN Human Rights Council

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 18

Vikki Slade

Charlie Maynard

Caroline Voaden

Tom Morrison

Tom Gordon

Anna Sabine

That this House expresses profound concern over Saudi Arabia's bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council; notes with alarm the extensive record of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, including but not limited to restrictions on freedom of expression, the use of capital punishment, and the suppression of political dissent; highlights the discrepancies between Saudi Arabia's human rights practices and the standards expected of a member of the Human Rights Council; urges the UK Government to take a firm stance against Saudi Arabia's bid and to ensure it does not succeed; and further urges the United Nations to ensure that the selection process for the Human Rights Council reflects a genuine commitment to upholding and promoting universal human rights standards.

167Scarf's empower Aberdeen event

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 2

Kirsty Blackman

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the work of Scarf, a social enterprise that delivers energy efficiency advice and services to households and businesses across Scotland; encourages the public to attend Scarf's event on 7 October at Aberdeen Music Hall; and recognises the hard work and dedication of the team who have organised this event as part of the ongoing positive impact Scarf has.

168Four day working week

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 11

John McDonnell

Clive Lewis

Ian Lavery

Andy McDonald

Liz Saville Roberts

Kim Johnson

That this House recognises that UK workers put in some of the longest full-time working hours across Europe, yet the longer hours worked are not translating into increased productivity; notes that since the covid-19 pandemic a four-day working week with no reduction in pay for employees has been successfully trialled across the world, including in the UK; believes that, as these trials have shown, a four-day week with no loss of pay could lead to increased productivity, while also bringing benefits to workers, employers, and wider society; welcomes the PCS union's campaign for a pilot of a four-day week with no loss of pay in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); further notes that the union has already identified a four-day week could save approximately £3.6 million by reducing turnover, equivalent to hiring 2,348 employees, reduce absenteeism by 65 per cent, the equivalent of gaining 328 employees at DEFRA, help parents better balance professional and childcare responsibilities and promote a more equal division of childcare duties, making DEFRA a more inclusive workplace for women and reducing pay and employment disparities, resulting in a significant reduction the in the UK’s carbon footprint; and calls on the Government to take the initiative, that has been shown elsewhere in the public sector, such as in South Cambridgeshire Council - where a pilot showed huge benefits, including cost savings, better staff retention, lower sickness rates and improvements in service delivery - forward, by introducing its own trial in DEFRA.

169Pension credit threshold

Tabled: 11/09/24 Signatories: 18

Mike Amesbury

Kim Johnson

Andrew Cooper

Mrs Sarah Russell

Chris Webb

Connor Naismith

That this House notes that the current threshold of pension support to open the gate way of winter fuel allowance is too low; further notes the need to change the cliff-edge nature of the pension credit threshold; and calls upon the Government to capture the gateway support for those citizens with small occupational pensions that take them just above the threshold.