Contents

Published – Wednesday 23 October 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 22 October 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

285South West in Bloom awards

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Steve Darling

That this House congratulates all the professional team at Swisco and volunteer gardeners across Torbay, from Brixham to Babbacombe, on their outstanding achievements in the South West in Bloom awards; notes that Torbay secured three golds and a silver gilt for its towns, with golds also awarded to business entries, and all 33 It's Your Neighbourhood entries receiving either Outstanding or the top two gradings; commends the special discretionary awards presented to the Oldway Gardens volunteers, Babbacombe Model Village, and the newly planted Italianate Gardens in Abbey Park on Torquay seafront; and celebrates Torquay in Bloom's success in winning the Tesco Cup.

286Davidson Cottage in Aberlemno

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 2

Dave Doogan

Seamus Logan

That this House commends the work of the Davidson Legacy Preservation Group in highlighting the historical importance of the Davidson Cottage in Aberlemno as the ancestral home of the Davidson family, co-founders of Harley-Davidson motorcycles; notes the value of this site as a cultural and educational resource for local communities, tourists and motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide; welcomes the Group’s ambition to secure the future of the Cottage as a historical site whilst providing living-history tours, educational programmes and workshops celebrating Victorian craftsmanship and culture; recognises the outstanding fundraising work of the Group undertaken so far; highlights how close they are to achieving their funding goal, having already raised over £320,000 with less than £50,000 left to raise; notes the uniqueness of the Cottage as a signature tourist attraction in Angus, Scotland; and wishes the Davidson Legacy Preservation Group every success.

28725 years of AsiaLink Mission

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates 25 years of the AsiaLink Mission, a Christian Mission agency that connects churches in the UK with ministry in Asia; notes that their mission is to bring the good news of Jesus to people who have little opportunity to hear it; highlights its support in the growth of the Church and that AsiaLink partners with evangelists and other agencies to support the broadening of Christianity across Asia; further notes their aim to train and encourage believers to share the gospel of Jesus within their own cultures, to share stories and experiences with other Christians and to partner with Gods work in Asia; underlines their work in feeding the hungry, rescuing women from slavery and providing shelter for refugees; thanks them for all their work; and wishes them all the very best for the future in spreading the word of Christ.

288Human rights in Pakistan

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House is deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks, systemic discrimination and persecution faced by religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, who face violence and a lack of legal protection; notes with alarm the reports of forced conversions, abductions, and attacks on places of worship and property confiscations which infringe on their fundamental rights to freedom of religion, belief and security; recognises that these communities are integral members of the Pakistani society and have made significant contributions to its culture, history, and economy; requests the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to suspend relevant aid to Pakistan in light of these human rights abuses and religious intolerance; urges the FCDO to continue monitoring the situation closely and to consider reinstating aid only upon substantial improvements in the treatment of minorities; and calls on the UK Government to work with international partners to apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to take immediate effective measures to protect minority communities, ensure justice for victims, and uphold international human rights standards.

28930th anniversary of Bexley SNAP

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Daniel Francis

That this House congratulates Bexley SNAP on reaching their 30th anniversary this year; notes that Bexley SNAP was founded by a group of parents in 1994 to provide activities and support to disabled children; highlights their work in offering disabled children and young people aged between 1 year to 25 years a variety of clubs to provide parents and carers support, guidance and valuable respite; thanks all staff, trustees and volunteers for their work, for supporting the community and assisting hundreds of young people and their families; and wishes them all the best for the future.

290Forres Britain in Bloom award

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 2

Graham Leadbitter

Seamus Logan

That this House congratulates Forres for winning the gold medal at the 2024 Britain in Bloom awards; recognises the hard work and dedication of the local community in creating and maintaining a beautiful and sustainable environment; pays special tribute to volunteer Barry Ashby, whose exceptional efforts and passion earned him the Community Champion Award; and notes that the contributions of all volunteers reflects the pride people rightly take in their town.

291World Porridge Making Championship 2024

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Graham Leadbitter

That this House celebrates the success of the 2024 Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship held annually in Carrbridge, Scotland; congratulates Chris Ormiston on being crowned the Golden Spurtle World Champion and Kim McGhee for winning the Speciality Dish award; acknowledges the importance of this event in promoting Scottish produce and heritage; and commends the commitment of all participants and organisers over three decades in showcasing Scotland’s culinary traditions, fostering community spirit, and encouraging tourism in the region.

292Youth hub pilot schemes in Leicester

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Shockat Adam

That this House welcomes the Government’s manifesto commitment to create a Young Futures programme with a network of hubs reaching every community; notes these hubs will have youth workers, mental health support workers and careers advisers on hand to support young people; further notes Leicester City Council has a network of adventure playgrounds that are well used by young people in the city and supported through voluntary activity of community and friends groups; recognises funding cuts to local authority budgets has put the long term future of the adventure playgrounds in doubt; believes these facilities would be suitable for Young Futures hubs; and calls on the Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth to work with Leicester City Council, local MPs and community groups to establish a pilot scheme of Young Futures youth hubs in the city.

293Avanti West Coast disruptions

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House notes the ongoing disruption of train services operated by Avanti West Coast, particularly the frequent cancellation of services on the mainline north of Preston when there is disruption on the line in Scotland, even when it would be perfectly possible to run services to stations between Preston and the Scottish border; regrets the subsequent impact on train operations in Cumbria, north Lancashire and south west Scotland; notes that these disruptions have led to significant inconvenience for commuters, tourists, students and businesses relying on reliable transport links; urges the Secretary of State for Transport to work closely with Avanti West Coast to improve service reliability in Northern England; calls for compensation for affected passengers; and believes that Avanti should lose their franchise if they do not end the practice of unnecessarily cancelling services north of Preston.

294Outdoor education

Tabled: 22/10/24 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House notes the profound benefits of outdoor education for children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being; highlights the value of residential outdoor learning in developing essential life skills; urges the Government to make it a statutory part of the school curriculum; calls for inclusivity, ensuring all children can access outdoor learning regardless of background; further highlights the success of centres like Outward Bound at Ullswater, the Bendrigg Trust, the Brathay Trust, and Patterdale Hall in providing an unparalleled backdrop for educational development; and urges the Government to prioritise investment in outdoor learning for the benefit of future generations.

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.

213Value of grasslands

Tabled: 8/10/24 Signatories: 28

Wera Hobhouse

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

Tom Gordon

Liz Jarvis

Andrew George

That this House acknowledges the value of nature-rich grasslands and the people who manage them, from meadows and pastures, to road verges and community grassland green spaces; and recognises that a strategic approach by Government is needed to make the most of this multifunctional national asset in order to support nature recovery alongside food production, climate action and public health, as part of a green economy.

214Mary Anne Stewart, former chair of Kintyre Food Bank

Tabled: 8/10/24 Signatories: 6

Brendan O'Hara

Seamus Logan

Jim Shannon

John McDonnell

Graham Leadbitter

Stephen Gethins

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 services of the Food Bank 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.

215Old Tom Morris statue in St Andrews

Tabled: 8/10/24 Signatories: 6

Wendy Chamberlain

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Jim Shannon

Angus MacDonald

Chris Law

Stephen Gethins

That this House celebrates the unveiling of the Old Tom Morris statue on Bow Butts at the Old Course in St Andrews; notes the importance of Morris' influence and legacy on golf, having worked as a greenkeeper, clubmaker, ballmaker, instructor and course designer, including having designed 76 courses across the UK; further notes Morris' reputation as the father of modern greenkeeping, including standardising the length of a golf course, using irrigation and introducing tee boxes, yardage markers and purposeful hazards; highlights Morris' success as a golfer in his own right, winning the Open Championship in 1861, 1862, 1864 and 1867; congratulates David Annand on the likeness of his sculpture to Old Tom; further congratulates Ronald Sandford and his fellow members of the Old Tom Statue Project for their efforts in achieving such a monument; and celebrates the importance of golf to communities around the UK for promoting health and tourism.

217Northern Ireland's first Tourism and Hospitality Week

Tabled: 8/10/24 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Adam Jogee

Gavin Robinson

John McDonnell

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House celebrates Northern Ireland's first ever Tourism and Hospitality Week, a joint initiative by all tourism and hospitality bodies to showcase the sector across Northern Ireland and the tremendous impact is has on the economy, celebrated from 26 September to 3 October; remembers the impact that the pandemic had on the hospitality sector, where the number of businesses in the UK fell by 6.5% between 2020 and 2021; notes the efforts made by industry to revive it and bring it back to what is was; highlights Northern Ireland's fantastic SMEs and the contribution they make to local communities; and wishes the hospitality sector many more years of continued success across Northern Ireland.

221UN’s resolution on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and sanctions

Tabled: 8/10/24 Signatories: 54

Richard Burgon

Imran Hussain

Zarah Sultana

Andy McDonald

Ms Diane Abbott

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House welcomes the UN General Assembly’s decision to overwhelmingly adopt a resolution on 18 September calling for Israel to rapidly end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT); further welcomes that the UN resolution calls on states to comply with their obligations under international law and to take concrete steps to address Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT; notes this includes calling on states not to act in ways that provide aid or assistance that help maintain Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, to cease importing products originating from Israeli settlements, to halt arms transfers to Israel where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used in the OPT, to implement sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against those involved in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT, and to take steps to prevent all other trade that aids or assists the illegal occupation; further notes the UN General Assembly’s resolution follows an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion that Israel’s decades-long occupation violates international law and which calls on states not to act in ways that maintain this unlawful situation; believes the adoption of this resolution places new obligations on the Government; and calls on the Government to act in support of the UN resolution and ICJ opinion including by ending all military exports to Israel, banning the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements and revoking the 2030 Roadmap which deepens UK economic, trade and security ties with Israel.

226World Mental Health Day and rural communities

Tabled: 9/10/24 Signatories: 58

Sarah Dyke

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Sarah Gibson

Ellie Chowns

That this House recognises World Mental Health Day; is concerned about the mental wellbeing of the nation’s agricultural and rural communities; is worried by the findings of RABI’s Big Farming Survey that revealed 36% of respondents had mental wellbeing scores sufficiently low enough to cause concern; is aware that farmers are working in ever increasingly difficult circumstances; is alarmed by new research from the Farm Safety Foundation revealing that 44% of farmers aged between 41 and 60 are working more than 80 hours a week; notes the link between mental health and financial stability; is further alarmed by research from Riverford Organic that 61% of farmers feel that they will have to give up their farms in the next 18 months due to financial pressures; calls on the Government to ensure that the agricultural budget is not reduced; welcomes actions from groups such as Farmerados who provide spaces for farmers to talk and connect; further notes the impact of rural isolation; believes that there should be greater integration between Government departments in supporting rural communities to access mental health services; and supports the extended rollout of rural health hubs.

228Ban on prison officer industrial action

Tabled: 9/10/24 Signatories: 28

Grahame Morris

Mary Kelly Foy

Richard Burgon

Rachael Maskell

John McDonnell

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House notes it has been 30 years since prison officers in the UK were banned from taking industrial action under Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; further notes that prison officers in Scotland have had the right to strike enshrined in law since 2015, yet there have been no strikes since then, only improved industrial relations; believes this draconian restriction, especially in the absence of an effective and impartial means of binding resolution of disputes in the course of collective bargaining, renders the UK in breach of its obligations under international laws that it has ratified and by which it is bound, including the European Social Charter and ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; further believes this lack of industrial muscle leaves prison officers unfairly and dangerously at the mercy of prison service management and without leverage to challenge Government policy with respect to pay, terms and conditions; expresses solidarity with the POA union, which has campaigned tirelessly over three decades for the return of these basic industrial rights; welcomes the Government’s commitment to repealing anti-trade-union legislation introduced by previous administrations; and calls on the Government to include Section 127 in the legislation to be repealed.

229World Homelessness Day 2024

Tabled: 9/10/24 Signatories: 65

Layla Moran

Calum Miller

Wendy Chamberlain

Anna Sabine

Tom Gordon

Steff Aquarone

That this House marks World Homelessness Day 2024; notes with concern that 3,898 people were found sleeping rough in England in the autumn snapshot 2023; further notes that 11,880 people were served no fault eviction notices in the year ending in March 2024 and one in 200 households were living in emergency temporary housing; expresses regret that the Vagrancy Act 1824, which criminalises rough sleepers, remains in operation despite the House voting to scrap it; further notes that 469 people have been arrested under the Act since the Government committed to scrap it in April 2022; and calls on the Government to urgently scrap the Vagrancy Act and commit to a compassionate approach to rough sleeping.

232UN Special Rapporteur's report on atrocity crimes in Iran

Tabled: 10/10/24 Signatories: 8

Bob Blackman

Ellie Chowns

Jim Shannon

Martin Vickers

Siân Berry

Alex Sobel

That this House welcomes the landmark Atrocity Crimes report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, published by the OHCHR in July 2024, which sheds light on grave human rights violations, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners; notes that the report states that there is considerable evidence that mass killings, torture and other inhumane acts against members of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran were conducted with genocidal intent; commends Professor Javaid Rehman for his six years of service as the Special Rapporteur; condemns the Iranian regime's subsequent smear campaign against Professor Rehman, including false and malicious allegations aimed at discrediting his integrity and impartiality; recognises that these attacks stem from his unwavering commitment to fulfilling his mandate and his refusal to be intimidated by the Iranian government; believes that the Special Rapporteur’s report opens a pathway to justice and an end to impunity in Iran; looks forward to working with Professor Rehman's successor, Dr. Mai Sato, in pursuing the quest for accountability; supports the No to Executions campaign; and calls on the Government to support initiatives aimed at holding the Iranian regime accountable for its human rights violations, including the 1988 massacre.

235Cost of motor insurance

Tabled: 10/10/24 Signatories: 11

Sorcha Eastwood

Sarah Gibson

Iqbal Mohamed

Mr Adnan Hussain

Mary Kelly Foy

Claire Hanna

That this House expresses deep concern over the rising cost of motor insurance across the UK, including Northern Ireland and more rural constituencies like Lagan Valley, with premiums increasing by 25% on average between 2022 and 2023; further notes that those who pay monthly are subjected to excessive interest rates, with some insurers charging up to 40% APR, disproportionately impacting those unable to pay annually; recognises that this unfairly burdens low-income households, adding to their financial strain; calls on the Financial Conduct Authority to urgently publish an action plan to cap excessive interest rates for customers who pay monthly, provide greater transparency through regular analysis of insurance firm charges, and investigate the fairness of commissions earned by brokers; and urges the Government to work with insurers to ensure motor insurance is affordable and accessible for all, particularly vulnerable groups such as pensioners and low-income families.

240Veterans and the Winter Fuel Payment

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 28

Helen Maguire

Mike Martin

Richard Foord

Jim Shannon

Steff Aquarone

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House expresses its concern that changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules will adversely impact veterans; notes that these changes have been introduced with little notice as the winter months approach, and have been made without a full impact assessment; further notes with concern that this approach fails to take into account those with high energy needs because of illness or disability, those who live in energy inefficient homes, and those on modest incomes just above the entitlement threshold for Pension Credit; and calls on the Government to protect veterans from losing this crucial support by reversing the cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.

243Death of Rt hon. Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 12

Stephen Flynn

Jim Shannon

Mohammad Yasin

Andrew George

Ayoub Khan

Brendan O'Hara

That this House expresses its profound sorrow at the death of former First Minister of Scotland, Rt hon. Alex Salmond; sends its sympathy and condolences to his family, friends and legions of followers; recognises his immense contribution to Scottish public life and Scotland's modern political story; and deeply appreciates his service over many decades as an MP, an MSP and as First Minister to the people of Scotland and the cause of Scottish independence.

245Aon Ghuth, Gaelic Makaton choir

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 5

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Graham Leadbitter

Stephen Gethins

That this House congratulates everyone involved with Aon Ghuth, the world’s first Gaelic Makaton choir which made its debut performance at the Ar Cànan’s Ar Ceòl concert during the National Mod in Oban; recognises that Aon Ghuth, which translates into English as One Voice, is comprised of a majority of people with additional support needs, and combines singing in Gaelic with the Makaton communication system of signs and symbols; acknowledges the hugely important role played by Arlene McLeod and Katy Lironi of Down's Syndrome Scotland, choir leader Morven Gage, musical accompanist Sileas Sinclair, as well as Ciaran Bateman and all the staff of the Support Department at Oban High School, as well as all those who have contributed so much to establish, recruit, teach and support the members of Aon Ghuth choir ahead of their performance at the Corran Halls, Oban on 12 October 2024; and believes that Aon Ghuth gives people with additional support needs a unique opportunity to display the power and importance of inclusion as well as making the Gaelic language and culture more accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

249World Food Day

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 23

Anna Sabine

Jim Shannon

Steff Aquarone

Steve Darling

Liz Jarvis

Jamie Stone

That this House marks World Food Day, a UN designated-day celebrated on 16 October every year; notes the approximately 733 million people facing hunger in the world; further notes that everyone should have the right to adequate food; acknowledges the role of farmers and rural communities in producing food to feed populations around the world; and recognises the pivotal role of farmers in securing the future of resilient food systems, climate mitigation, nature restoration and supporting a peaceful, resilient and inclusive livelihood for all.

250Home insulation measures and consumer protections

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 26

Imran Hussain

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Ian Lavery

Shockat Adam

Steve Witherden

That this House notes the importance of home insulation measures and their benefits in improving home efficiency; recognises the advantage they have in lowering energy bills and reducing the pressure on residents as fuel poverty continues to rise across the UK; supports the Government’s efforts to introduce a Warm Homes Plan as part of the goal of net zero by 2030; further notes that while much work was carried out successfully under previous initiatives, not all of it was, and that resulted in devastating consequences for residents; acknowledges that residents are living in damp and mouldy homes, and facing respiratory health issues as a result of this;

notes the previous lack of Government action on this issue; notes with concern that legal firms that took advantage of residents with nowhere else to go for redress and then went into administration due to mounting conditional fee agreement case debts; calls for an immediate investigation into these circumstances which have left residents living with crumbling homes and legal bills stretching into the tens of thousands; calls on the Government to commit to exploring measures for remedial works in homes that have been destroyed by defective insulation; further calls on the Government to establish a single trusted and transparent guarantee scheme for home retrofit works; and calls on the Government to investigate the role and conduct of legal firms involved and put in place legal enforcement measures to hold companies accountable for defective works.

251Private security and community policing

Tabled: 14/10/24 Signatories: 18

Sarah Olney

Jim Shannon

Jess Brown-Fuller

Calum Miller

Christine Jardine

Alex Brewer

That this House recognises the decimation of community police forces across the UK; highlights that since 2020 the private security industry has grown by 73,000 people; further highlights security guards are not a substitute for an effective police force; urges the Government to assess the damage shoplifting and spending on private security is doing to our high streets; and requests that the Home Office works with police forces to restore community policing across the UK.

254Betty Rhodick, community activist and founder of Lochgilphead Armed Forces Day

Tabled: 15/10/24 Signatories: 4

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

Graham Leadbitter

Stephen Gethins

That this House notes with great sadness the death of Betty Rhodick of Lochgilphead, a community volunteer and fundraiser, whose activities across more than four decades, impacted just about everyone in the Mid-Argyll area; is reminded that although originally from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, following her marriage to Geordie, a member of the Queen’s Guard in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Betty settled in the village Kilmichael and immediately became an active member of Dunadd Community Council and the Women’s Rural Institute; acknowledges that Betty’s service to her community saw her volunteer for the local Health and Social Care service Integrated Joint Board, as well as the board of the Argyll Community Housing Association, where she championed many causes including giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament on behalf of travelling people in Argyll; recalls that through her work with the Mid Argyll hospital, the Richmond Fellowship and Enable Scotland, she supported and cared for people with learning disabilities living in her community; acknowledges however that Betty Rhodick will be best remembered for instigating and organising, along with husband Geordie and their family, the annual Lochgilphead Armed Forces Day, an event which has grown over the years to become one of the major events in Argyll and Bute; is delighted to know that shortly before she died, Betty’s contribution to her community was recognised when she was presented with the Argyll and Bute Council Provost’s Award by Provost Dougie Philand; and sends it deepest condolences to Geordie and the family.

259Death of Lord Leitch of Oakley

Tabled: 16/10/24 Signatories: 7

Graeme Downie

Mary Kelly Foy

Katrina Murray

Richard Baker

Jim Shannon

Dr Scott Arthur

That this House notes with sadness the death of the Lord Leitch of Oakley; remembers that he grew up in a council house in Oakley in West Fife; recalls his success in setting up successful technology businesses employing thousands; believes he leaves a lasting legacy of public service and business success including his chairing of the Leitch Skills Review in 2006 which recommended policies to maximise economic growth, productivity and social justice; also believes that he never forgot his roots and connections in the mining villages of West Fife; and passes on its condolences to his family and friends on their sad loss.

26015th anniversary of the repair café movement

Tabled: 16/10/24 Signatories: 14

Sarah Dyke

Ellie Chowns

Pippa Heylings

Siân Berry

Vikki Slade

Helen Maguire

That this House celebrates the 15th anniversary of the repair café movement on 19 October; values the work done by the 3000 repair cafés globally, including the Castle Cary repair café that has repaired over 170 domestic items since its launch in July 2023, saving half a tonne of potential waste from landfill; recognises the roles repair cafés have in cutting CO2 emissions and creating a circular economy; is concerned that the UK is the second highest producer of electronic waste per capita in the world; and believes that the UK Government should do more to encourage repair and reuse schemes.

263Pobol y Cwm 50th anniversary

Tabled: 16/10/24 Signatories: 8

Ann Davies

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Llinos Medi

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm for reaching its 50th anniversary; highlights that the first episode was transmitted on 16 October 1974 and aired on the BBC before transferring to S4C after the channel's launch in 1982; notes that the show is the BBC’s longest-running television soap opera, and remains one of S4C’s most watched programmes; further notes that the programme was created by the producer John Hefin and the playwright Gwenlyn Parry, and depicts the lives of the inhabitants of the fictional Carmarthenshire village of Cwmderi; and commends the cast and crew for showcasing the very best of Welsh drama, promoting the Welsh language, and holding a mirror up to Welsh society for 50 years.

264Low level letter boxes and back injuries

Tabled: 16/10/24 Signatories: 15

Mike Amesbury

Mary Kelly Foy

Shockat Adam

Chris Webb

Anna Sabine

Helen Maguire

That this House notes that low level letter boxes cause back injuries to postmen and women each year, force postal staff to stoop to ground level whilst carrying mail items and thus can cause back strain; further notes that low level letter boxes also present an increased risk of dog bites; also notes that the Communications Workers Union are calling for a standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level and that they have been campaigning to outlaw low level letterboxes for many years, first raising the issue back in 1958; also notes that the EU standard requirement is for letterboxes to be at a height accessible to postal workers, significantly reducing possible injuries such as dog bites, fingers being trapped, or back strain caused when bending excessively or repeatedly to reach ground level boxes; also notes that this has not been enshrined into UK building standards and that low level letter boxes have been outlawed in many European countries, such as the Republic of Ireland in 2001; also notes that 154,000 days were lost in sick leave from Royal Mail in 2022 due to back pain, costing the Royal Mail £16 million, and that injury could be minimised by legislation to cover the manufacture of all new and replacement doors to have standardised letter box height and safe design well above ground level; and calls on government to promote the EU standard.

265Establishment of the Women’s Caucus in Westminster

Tabled: 17/10/24 Signatories: 19

Kirsty Blackman

Ellie Chowns

Dame Siobhain McDonagh

Christine Jardine

Liz Saville Roberts

Rachel Blake

That this House agrees to establish a Women’s Caucus in the UK Parliament, which is the women Members of Parliament working together to advance issues that disproportionately affect women; notes that there are women’s caucuses in the devolved nations of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; further notes that now is the time to establish a Women’s Caucus which focuses on issues affecting women across the UK and within Parliament, and aims to find cross party solutions to these problems; and notes that this Parliament has the biggest cohort of women MPs in its history and marks a significant moment to drive forward gender equality not just within the UK Parliament but across the entire country.

266Ruth Wilson fundraising for Mind

Tabled: 17/10/24 Signatories: 3

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Ian Lavery

That this House congratulates Ruth Wilson, from Mount Oswald in City of Durham constituency, and Vice Principal of John Snow College at Durham University, who has raised over £40,000 before her 40th birthday next year, for the mental health charity Mind on behalf of her late cousin, Ged; notes that, for over three years, Ruth has put on a series of challenges and events to raise money for charity and has organised a 40 kilometre challenge for Saturday 19 October 2024; pays tribute to people, like Ruth, who challenge the stigma that still exists around mental health; pays further tribute to mental health charities for their lifesaving work; calls on all parliamentarians to recommit to improving mental health services; and wishes Ruth, and all other participants, the very best wishes.

268Pie and Mash

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 3

Mr Richard Holden

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

That this House recognises the need to protect Cockney heritage, including Pie and Mash, a staple dish of Cockneys for nearly 200 years; notes that the Cockney diaspora have moved out of East London to at least 42 constituencies across parts of the East and South East; and supports the over 100 Pie and Mash shops, cafes and restaurants that still offer this dish as an important part of our Great British culture.

26980th anniversary of Lichfield Arts

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 3

Dave Robertson

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates Lichfield Arts on its 80th anniversary on 18 October 2024; commends the efforts of the trustees, volunteers and staff of the organisation for all that they do to deliver the Fuse Festival and dozens of other events all year round; further commends them for the continued support that they offer to artists across the area; and notes the significant cultural impact that the organisation has made in its 80 years.

270Iraqi Women’s League and rights in Iraq

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 4

Mary Glindon

Jim Shannon

Ian Lavery

Andrew George

That this House notes that amendments to Iraq's Personal Status Law would undermine the constitutional sovereignty of law, replace a common national identity with religious jurisprudence on family law, and create a parallel legislative authority alongside Parliament through fatwas and rulings from religious endowments; further notes that new laws could lower the minimum age of marriage for females from

18 to nine, allow and even encourage marriage outside the present legal framework and without witnesses, deny alimony to the wife unless she accepts the physical desires of her husband, deny maternal rights of custody after the child reaches the age of two or after breast feeding, and remove restrictions on polygamy; supports the campaigns of the Iraqi Women’s League and others; and urges all friends of Iraq to use their influence to prevent such retrograde steps that could undermine the equality of all before the law, violate Iraq’s international obligations on women’s fundamental rights, prompt an increasingly negative international reputation, and reduce foreign assistance.

271Life Insurance and diagnosis of terminal illness clause

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 6

Rebecca Long Bailey

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

Mary Kelly Foy

Ian Lavery

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House expresses concern following reports of those with life insurance premiums with Aviva being denied early pay outs on diagnosis of terminal illness due to a pernicious small print in their policy wording which requires diagnosis of a terminal illness to take place some years before the policy actually expires; notes the case of Salford resident Shaun Pinkney who was diagnosed with terminal cancer two months before his policy was due to expire but was refused his claim as his policy stated that terminal illness diagnosis must take place at least 18 months prior to the policy expiration date; further notes with concern that Aviva would not renew his policy because he had terminal cancer; recognises that Aviva has now ceased selling policies where there was a discrepancy between the end of the major benefit and the termination of the rest of the policy; further recognises that this would indicate that Aviva knows these policies are not fair, practical or fit for purpose; and calls on the Government to speak to the insurance industry and carry out a form of inquiry to see how widespread this practice was.

27275th anniversary of Mill Hill Synagogue

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 3

David Pinto-Duschinsky

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates Mill Hill Synagogue on its 75th anniversary; recognises the essential role it has played in building a thriving and vibrant Jewish community in Mill Hill; applauds the impact it has had on Jewish life and learning; commends the immense contribution it makes to the local area; thanks its members for all they do; wishes it every success for the future; and looks forward to it continuing to go from strength to strength

273Rural Crime Action Week 2024

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 15

Helen Morgan

Steff Aquarone

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Dr Roz Savage

Claire Young

That this House recognises Rural Crime Action Week which runs between 21 and 25 October 2024 to highlight the impact of rural crime on communities; is concerned by the NFU's 2024 Rural Crime Report which states that the cost of rural crime increased by 4.3% across the UK in 2023; further notes that the highest regional cost of crime in 2023 was in the Midlands at £11.7 billion; acknowledges that Shropshire has been rated the third worst affected county for rural crime for two consecutive years; recognises that the impacts of rural crime are felt by business and across communities from large-scale fly-tipping to theft of farm machinery, tools and livestock; and calls on the Government to recognise the serious and organised nature of rural crime and urgently to take steps to tackle crime and disorder in the countryside.

274Wixford village hall

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 4

Manuela Perteghella

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

That this House congratulates the Wixford Village Hall committee, volunteers, and residents of Wixford on the successful completion of their impressive rebuilding project, which has revitalised the historic hall into a modern, sustainable space for the benefit of the local community; recognises the significant efforts made by all involved in fundraising and securing grants for the ambitious project, including their commitment to making the hall a highly energy efficient building; celebrates the hall’s continued role as a hub for local events, activities, and social cohesion; commends the dedication of the Wixford Village Hall team for their vision and resilience in overcoming challenges posed by the pandemic; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the vital role village halls and other community spaces play in supporting rural life and enhancing social wellbeing across the UK.

275Duncan Scott at Scottish Swimming Awards 2024

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 6

Brian Leishman

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Stephen Gethins

Irene Campbell

That this House congratulates Duncan Scott on being named Swimmer of the Year at the Scottish Swimming Awards 2024; notes that Scott further cemented his legacy as Scotland’s most decorated Olympian with his outstanding performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 200m medley singles event; further congratulates coaches Steven Tigg and Bradley Hay on their deserved recognition as joint recipients of the Coach of the Year award; and applauds all those involved in Scottish Swimming and the wider sporting community for their dedication and support of athletes in reaching the highest levels of achievement.

27630th anniversary of the Scottish Indian Arts Forum and Dusherra Festival 2024

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 8

Tracy Gilbert

Christine Jardine

Dr Scott Arthur

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Martin Rhodes

That this House congratulates the Scottish Indian Arts Forum (SIAF) on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and commends the forum for its tireless dedication to promoting and preserving Indian arts and culture in Edinburgh and across Scotland; notes that SIAF celebrated this milestone with a highly successful Dusherra festival on 19 October 2024 at Calton Hill, Edinburgh, which brought together diverse communities from across Scotland to partake in the rich traditions of this significant Indian festival; acknowledges the importance of Dusherra, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil and fosters values of unity, resilience and cultural harmony; and commends SIAF for its leadership in using the arts as a vehicle to bridge cultural divides and strengthen social cohesion in Edinburgh North and Leith and across Scotland over the last three decades.

277FareShare’s 30th anniversary

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 12

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Claire Young

Ian Sollom

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates FareShare, the UK’s leading food redistribution charity, on its 30th anniversary; applauds FareShare for redistributing the equivalent of 135 million meals last year, equating to four meals per second, to over 8,000 frontline charities and community groups in almost every constituency across the UK; recognises the charity’s significant social return on investment, delivering £13 in savings for every £1 spent through benefits to individuals and the state; and urges the Government to work with the charitable food redistribution sector to implement effective measures that further reduce food waste, increase surplus food redistribution to those in need, and strengthen communities throughout the United Kingdom, as the need for such collaboration is more pressing than ever.

278Zoe’s Place and funding for children’s hospices

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 25

Ian Byrne

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Kim Johnson

Rebecca Long Bailey

Zarah Sultana

That this House notes its deep concern at the announcement that children’s hospice Zoe’s Place in Liverpool is at risk of imminent closure; applauds the phenomenal response to this shocking news in the city and thanks the huge charitable drive to raise £5 million by 9 November to save Zoe’s Place; notes its alarm that children’s hospices across the country are facing huge funding challenges; therefore calls on the Government to urgently put funding into children’s hospices, allowing Zoe’s Place and children’s hospices across the country to continue to care for seriously ill children and their families into the future; specifically calls on the Government to maintain and increase the £25 million Children’s Hospice Grant into the future and return it to being a centrally-distributed funding stream; and more broadly calls on the Government to review the funding of children’s hospices to ensure all seriously ill children and their families receive high quality care when and where they need it.

279Oscar Mayer strikes

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 20

Steve Witherden

Andrew Ranger

John McDonnell

Jeremy Corbyn

Richard Burgon

Jon Trickett

That this House acknowledges the strike by hundreds of Oscar Mayer workers in Wrexham, protesting the company’s intention to alter contracts by removing fully paid breaks, eliminating enhanced payments, and ending days off in lieu for working bank holidays, changes which could cost workers up to £3,000 annually, whilst under the threat of fire and rehire tactics; commends the efforts of Unite the Union in advocating for its members and launching a multi-million-pound legal case regarding potential breaches of the Employment Agencies Act 1973; and urges the Government to expedite the implementation of promised legislation banning fire and rehire practices.

280Impact of costs on hospitality businesses

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 3

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House expresses deep concern at the closure of four local cafés in Portadown, Northern Ireland within the past month, as a direct result of rising operating costs, particularly in energy, food, and staffing; recognises that small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of local communities and are essential for economic growth and social cohesion; acknowledges the increasingly challenging business environment faced by hospitality venues across the UK, exacerbated by soaring inflation, ongoing energy price volatility, and reduced consumer spending power; notes that VAT is not devolved and can therefore only be set by the UK Government; further recognises that the UK is an outlier for having a higher rate of VAT for the hospitality sector compared to other European economies, placing additional strain on the sector; calls on the Government to implement a permanent cut of 5% on VAT to help hospitality businesses meet the challenges of the cost of living crisis, to remain sustainable in the future so that they can continue to contribute to the wider economy; further calls on the Government to urgently review and extend support mechanisms for small businesses, including the introduction of targeted relief for energy costs and a review of business rates; and urges the Government to take such action immediately so to prevent further closures and safeguard local businesses that play a vital role in the economic and social wellbeing of communities across Northern Ireland and other nations within the UK.

281150 years of Bellshill Central Parish Church

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 4

Frank McNally

Dr Scott Arthur

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates Bellshill Central Parish Church during its year of celebration to commemorate its 150th anniversary; understands that although Bellshill Central Parish Church was formed from a union of the Bellshill Macdonald Memorial and Bellshill Orbiston churches a decade ago, its congregation dates from 1873; notes that the Church and its members remain actively involved in work to support and enhance the local community; further notes that the anniversary celebrations culminated in a special service led by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, on Sunday 20 October 2024; and wishes the church and its congregation every success for the future.

282Prevention of cyber-crime

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 8

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Dr Roz Savage

Ian Sollom

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

That this House acknowledges the growth of cybercrime with the advent of new technologies; recognises the need for the UK Parliament to ensure that legislation keeps pace with evolving cyber threats, including the Computer Misuse Act 1990; notes the restrictions the Act places on the work of UK cyber security professionals by prohibiting all unauthorised access to computer systems, regardless of intent or motive; believes this inadvertently criminalises essential research into cyber threats; believes that modernising the Act could enhance the UK's national security, strengthen the criminal justice system, and unlock significant benefits to the UK economy with new opportunities in the cyber security industry; and calls on the Government to introduce an amendment to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to better protect the public from emerging threats.

283Frozen pensions for UK citizens overseas

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 12

Christine Jardine

Dr Roz Savage

Ian Sollom

Jim Shannon

Claire Hanna

Ayoub Khan

That this House notes the so-called frozen pensions policy; further notes this sees British overseas state pensioners living in certain countries denied access to index-linked uprating of the UK state pension; believes the level of the UK state pension paid should not be dependent on the pensioner’s country of residence in later life; acknowledges the scale of the injustice which sees 453,000 British state pensioners impacted by the policy, many of whom reside in Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia; notes that the cost of indexing all overseas state pensions without a retrospective uprating is estimated at approximately £50 million in the first year; calls on the Government to index all overseas state pensions equally on a going-forward basis; and further calls on the Prime Minister to meet with affected pensioner and World War Two veteran Anne Puckridge, who is planning to travel from Canada to the UK this December, requesting a meeting on behalf of all those impacted by the policy.

284Impact of austerity on the Fire and Rescue Service

Tabled: 21/10/24 Signatories: 7

Adam Dance

Dr Roz Savage

Jim Shannon

Claire Young

Tom Morrison

Andrew George

That this House expresses deep concern over the detrimental effects of austerity on the UK’s fire and rescue services, particularly in rural areas like Yeovil, where funding, training, and recruitment have been significantly impacted; acknowledges that since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has been lost and central government funding to fire services has been slashed by 30% resulting in fire services becoming increasingly reliant on the contributions of on-call officers who juggle other occupations; notes that due to severe staff shortages, around 4,000 firefighters are now working both full-time and part-time contracts, often within the same brigade or across different services; commends the tireless work of firefighters in engaging with their communities, supporting the fire safety of homes and businesses, and responding to emergencies under increasingly difficult conditions; further acknowledges the loss of essential control staff, fire engines, pumps, and other critical equipment due to funding cuts, which have hampered the ability of firefighters to carry out their vital roles effectively; recognises the immense pressure firefighters face in responding to the growing frequency of storms, flooding, and wildfires, challenges exacerbated by the climate emergency; underscores the essential role of a well-funded fire service in tackling these climate-related disasters, which are expected to become even more frequent; and calls on the Government to urgently provide adequate funding for fire services to rebuild staffing levels, equipment, and resources.