Contents

Published – Wednesday 27 November 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 26 November 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

460Variety Disability Sports Awards

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Max Wilkinson

That this House celebrates the Variety Disability Sports Awards 2024, which took place on 25 November 2024; congratulates each of the award winners and nominees for their achievements, whether that be as an athlete, coach or innovator; notes the importance of equal access to sport and physical activity for all; praises the work done by Variety to support young disabled people in accessing sport; offers thanks to everyone involved, including @sohoplace Theatre, Adam Hills, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and Channel 4; and celebrates the work of Variety, the Children’s Charity, in its 75th year.

46150th anniversary of Banbridge Performing Arts Festival Speech and Drama section

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Banbridge Performing Arts Festival Speech and Drama section, which has provided an invaluable platform for children and young people to showcase their talent, develop their confidence, and nurture their creativity over five decades; recognises the extraordinary dedication of Pat and Frank Mulligan, who have been integral to the festival’s success since its inception, as well as the many volunteers who have contributed to its continued growth and excellence; notes the positive impact this festival has had on countless participants, schools, and the wider community; and congratulates all involved in reaching this remarkable milestone, while wishing the festival continued success for many years to come.

462Friends of Scottish Settlers, winners of the the King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Euan Stainbank

That this House congratulates Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS) for winning the King’s Award for Voluntary Service; notes that Friends of Scottish Settlers won this award for their inspiring support for people arriving in this country; further notes that FOSS is an organisation of local people extending a hand of welcome and solidarity to newcomers to the Falkirk district; understands that they began in 2016 as a community group welcoming Syrian families seeking refuge here; recognises that FOSS volunteers extend dignity, humanity and practical responsiveness to people navigating the asylum system, refugees, as well as those simply moving to the area to live and work; and celebrates that, in so doing, they support the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of community-members who arrive in often incredibly difficult circumstances, embrace the potential and contributions of these new locals, and make human rights real in our communities.

463Newburgh Christmas lights 2024

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House celebrates the Newburgh Christmas lights which were lit up on Sunday 17 November; recognises the tradition is two decades old and showcases the incredible creativity of primary school children across Newburgh; notes the range of wonderful designs from the dinosaur with a star on its head to the happy carrot; congratulates 10 year old Lochlan Aitken on creating the winning design of a goose wearing a Christmas hat; acknowledges the designs were brought to life by the incredible specialists at Ladybank based Blachere Illuminations; thanks Newburgh Action Group who organise the lights and have this year launched an online fundraiser to help continue the tradition; and looks forward to many more years of this wonderful, festival tradition.

464International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, marked on November 25; notes that for at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act, their murder by partners and family members, meaning a woman was killed every 10 minutes; highlights that since 2020, 24 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland, each one of them was a daughter, the majority of them mothers; underlines that violence against women and girls remains largely unreported due to the perceived impunity for perpetrators, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it; and further notes the fantastic charities across the UK providing support for those victims of violence and that all efforts must be made to put a stop to violence against women and girls.

46565 years of Sydenham Bypass

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes 65 years of the Sydenham Bypass in Northern Ireland, one of Northern Ireland's busiest roads; highlights that the dual carriageway opened in November 1959 and that despite only being three miles long, the road was built to near-motorway standard; underlines that to this day, these roads have the lowest death tolls due to eliminating the allowance of certain manoeuvres; further highlights that construction on the bypass was interrupted in 1939 when war broke out and that there was no money to finish the project until the late 1950s; and further notes the improvement of the Bypass in 1966 and that this road gets over 60,000 cars per day where they need to be.

466Union derecognition by RELX at LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 6

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Kim Johnson

Grahame Morris

Jeremy Corbyn

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House strongly condemns the decision by RELX to issue notices to the National Union of Journalists and communications to journalists at LexisNexis and Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions terminating longstanding trade union recognition agreements crucial to successful negotiations and strengthened agreements on pay and terms and conditions; believes this backwards and ultimately futile action to remove collective bargaining rights from editorial and journalistic staff is ill-judged and must be reversed; further believes that coming from a company which promotes legal services and aims its content at professionals including those working in human resources, this naked hostility to basic democratic rights can only be damaging to the brand’s reputation, running contrary to stipulated values; commends the ongoing resolve of the National Union of Journalists to defend the rights of its members whilst challenging proposals to prevent the diminishing of workers’ rights; and supports the union in its recruitment and organising efforts.

467Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Pippa Heylings

That this House notes that Wednesday 27 November marks Fuel Poverty Awareness Day; remarks with grave concern that this winter will leave thousands of people cold and hungry; further notes that homelessness in the UK is at a record high and an estimated six million households are in fuel poverty; recognises UK housing stock is the oldest in Europe and among the least energy efficient; regrets the growing number of vulnerable people who are living in poorly insulated homes and struggling to choose between heating and eating; further regrets that food banks and local services are overwhelmed; also regrets that the former Conservative government failed to commit to an ambitious programme to support renewable energy or decent homes standards to bring down energy bills, reduce emissions and improve public health; also regrets the Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments during the cost of living crisis; notes with concern Ofgem’s decision to increase the fuel poverty cap by 1.2% in January 2025; observes that new decent homes standards have been further delayed; regrets that the Government’s Warm Homes Plan is not due until next year; and calls on the Government to urgently implement a ten-year emergency home insulation programme and to reduce energy bills and protect vulnerable households this winter.

468New University of Surrey United Nations CIFAL Centre

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 1

Zöe Franklin

That this House congratulates the University of Surrey, Guildford, on the opening on 25 November 2024 of their new CIFAL International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders, in partnership with the United Nations; commends its aim of capacity-building, facilitating knowledge sharing between civil society organisation representatives, public servants, decision-makers and stakeholders locally and working internationally to strengthen capacities, improve decision-making processes and promote sustainable development; and notes the significant impact the centre will have locally, nationally and globally through its work.

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.

408Protecting wild sea birds and sand eels

Tabled: 14/11/24 Signatories: 14

Wendy Chamberlain

Adam Dance

Claire Young

Rachael Maskell

Jim Shannon

Richard Burgon

That this House recognises the importance of sand eels to the wider ecosystem, in particular wild seabird populations; acknowledges the puffin and kittiwake bird populations, whose diets largely rely on sand eels, have drastically decreased as a result of industrial sand eel fishing by Sweden and Denmark in the North Sea; notes that a ban on fishing is now in place but notes further with concern growing external pressure to lift the ban; and urges the Government to commit to the fishing ban to ensure our wild sea bird species can continue to thrive.

409Triple negative breast cancer

Tabled: 14/11/24 Signatories: 21

Clive Jones

Claire Young

Adam Dance

Anna Sabine

Wendy Chamberlain

Rachael Maskell

That this House recognises the significant impact of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which accounts for around 15% of breast cancer diagnosis but up to 40% of all breast cancer deaths in England; acknowledges that TNBC disproportionately affects people under the age of 40, for whom a diagnosis and treatment can have a profound effect on their lives, employment, financial security and family; further recognises the impact of undergoing treatment for TNBC and the importance of the breast cancer workforce in providing support during this time, particularly Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS); acknowledges the lack of specific data on TNBC in England, making it difficult to identify exactly how many people are living with or dying from TNBC; and calls on the Government to ensure that every person with TNBC has care tailored to their needs, including the assignment of a CNS at diagnosis and that TNBC data is improved in England.

410Children's Grief Awareness Week 2024

Tabled: 14/11/24 Signatories: 33

Christine Jardine

Claire Young

Steve Darling

Adam Dance

Anna Sabine

Ben Maguire

That this House recognises Children’s Grief Awareness Week, taking place between 18 and 24 November 2024; notes that this year’s theme is building hope, which includes a focus on building resilience in young people and offering strategies and tools to support them with their bereavement; further notes this year’s policy focus is improving grief education to support children through this difficult time; commends the coalition of charities organising Children’s Grief Awareness Week including Child Bereavement UK, Childhood Bereavement Network and Winston’s Wish; celebrates the work that these charities do to provide specialist support for children, including support groups, hotlines, online chats and email support; and calls on the Government to introduce a new protocol for authorities and public bodies to inform children of local, national and online support services available to children following a bereavement.

414Disclosure and Barring Service checks for hon. Members and Peers

Tabled: 18/11/24 Signatories: 10

Jo White

Tonia Antoniazzi

Andrew George

Cat Eccles

Kate Osborne

Peter Lamb

That this House believes that all Parliamentarians should be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check when they take their place in the House of Commons or House of Lords.

416Family visas

Tabled: 18/11/24 Signatories: 17

Lisa Smart

Claire Hanna

Jim Shannon

Olly Glover

Andrew George

Steve Darling

That this House notes with concern the previous Government’s decision to increase the minimum income threshold for family visas to £29,000; acknowledges that this threshold unfairly separates families, particularly impacting low-income households and those in regions with lower average wages; recognises that a number of announcements on changes to the income threshold in the last 12 months has caused anxiety and uncertainty for many families; emphasises that family life should not be contingent on an arbitrary income level; urges the Government to provide an update on the progress of the Migration Advisory Committee’s review into the financial requirements of family visas; and calls on the Government to reverse the increase to the minimum income threshold for family visas, so no more families are torn apart.

422Puppy smuggling bill

Tabled: 18/11/24 Signatories: 23

Dr Danny Chambers

Richard Burgon

Liz Jarvis

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

Mr Will Forster

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, also known as the Puppy Smuggling Bill, which aims to address critical animal welfare and public health concerns associated with the illegal importation of dogs and cats; recognises that this Bill tackles puppy smuggling, the importation of heavily pregnant dogs, and the steep increase in animal mutilations, in particular ear cropping and tail docking; notes with concern the 2,000% increase in reported ear-cropping cases over the past decade, the 600% rise in pregnant dogs illegally smuggled into the UK over the past three years and that legal loopholes which allow animal mutilation and suffering continue to be exploited; further notes that up to half of online advertisements for puppies feature dogs that have been illegally imported; acknowledges with concern that illegally imported dogs pose a risk to human health by potentially transmitting non-endemic zoonotic diseases including rabies and Brucella canis; further acknowledges the support of the RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association and Dogs Trust for this Bill; and calls on the Government to enact the Puppy Smuggling Bill to create a framework that protects animal welfare and public health.

425D-Day veteran George Chandler

Tabled: 18/11/24 Signatories: 14

Alison Bennett

Richard Burgon

Jim Shannon

Sir Julian Lewis

Steve Darling

Steff Aquarone

That this House notes with deep sadness the passing in October 2024 of World War 2 Navy veteran and Mid Sussex constituent George Chandler at the age of 99; expresses gratitude for his extraordinary life of service and his dedication to world war education and remembrance; recognises that with the passing of each veteran we are a step closer to World War 2 ceasing to be within living memory; wishes to highlight George’s advice for people to have more compassion for each other; calls on the Government and all educational institutions to redouble efforts to ensure that the lessons of the world wars are never forgotten; and further calls that future generations remain vigilant against intolerance, prejudice and violence in all its forms, continuing the vital legacy left by George Chandler and so many of his fellow war heroes.

432South Devon College wins Green Gown Award for Sustainability Institution of the Year

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 2

Steve Darling

Caroline Voaden

That this House congratulates South Devon College on being awarded the prestigious Green Gown Award for Sustainability Institution of the Year; recognises the College’s exceptional commitment to sustainability, which has spanned 15 years and led to the creation of an ambitious strategy, embedded across the institution, inspiring both staff and students; applauds the College’s integrated approach to sustainability, which positively impacts not only the College but the wider community and the global environment; notes the College's key sustainability milestones, including the opening of the pioneering South West Energy Centre, investment in renewable energy sources such as solar panels and air source heat pumps, and the development of the state-of-the-art Hi Tech & Digital Centre built to high BREEAM standards; acknowledges the College's continuous efforts to incorporate social, environmental, and economic sustainability into all its operations, including student and staff engagement in sustainability initiatives; and further celebrates the efforts of the Sustainability Group, which has driven cross-college sustainability projects such as community volunteering, horticultural food production, and energy-saving practices.

433Palestine Statehood (Recognition) (No. 2) Bill

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 8

Shockat Adam

Brian Leishman

Brendan O'Hara

Graham Leadbitter

John McDonnell

Siân Berry

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Palestine Statehood (Recognition) (No. 2) Bill; notes that the United Kingdom, as a signatory to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, has a historic responsibility to contribute to a lasting peace resolution in Palestine; further notes that 146 United Nations member states have formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state; believes that recognising the State of Palestine is a vital step in achieving justice and strengthening the prospects for meaningful peace negotiations; also notes that such recognition in is line with the United Kingdom’s commitment to international law; recognises the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people caused by decades of conflict, occupation and displacement; further recognises the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, including the adoption of all UN resolutions relating to these rights; calls on the Government to take action to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state in accordance with the 1967 borders; and further calls on the Government to recognise the urgency of Palestinian Statehood given the atrocities being committed in Gaza and the Israeli operations in the West Bank.

435Alcester Community Shed

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 3

Manuela Perteghella

James MacCleary

Helen Maguire

That this House congratulates the Alcester Community Shed volunteers, Alcester Town Council, and the wider community of Alcester for their outstanding work in creating and maintaining a space that promotes creativity, learning, and social interaction; recognises the Shed’s role in fostering inclusivity and supporting the wellbeing of its members by providing opportunities for skill-sharing, collaboration, and friendship; celebrates the dedication of all involved in ensuring the Shed remains a welcoming and safe environment for all, particularly in its efforts to address isolation and support mental health; and calls on the Government to recognise and support the invaluable contributions of community spaces like Alcester Community Shed in enhancing social inclusion and improving quality of life in local communities across the UK.

436Bus fare cap

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 29

Mr Paul Kohler

Tim Farron

Anna Sabine

Wera Hobhouse

Olly Glover

Helen Morgan

That this House notes the £2 bus fare cap helps millions of bus users with the cost of living and encourages higher ridership; further notes the upcoming fare cap hike will significantly increase costs for bus users and make bus travel less accessible, especially in rural areas; regrets the steep decline in access to buses under the last Government with more than 1 billion fewer passenger journeys in 2023 than 2015; further regrets the 59% increase in fare prices between 2015 and 2023; notes that nearly a third of bus journeys are made by elderly, disabled and young people and that these groups will be particularly disadvantaged by the fare hike; notes that inadequate access to buses exacerbates regional and other inequalities; recognises the importance of access to convenient, frequent and affordable buses for employment and quality of life, particularly in rural areas; calls on the Government to urgently provide promised new powers to franchise buses to all local authorities and provide the resources to switch to zero-emission vehicles and expand bus services, including on demand provision; and further calls on the Government to reverse the increase in the fare cap so that buses remain affordable for communities across the country.

437Emergency care

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 29

Helen Morgan

Jess Brown-Fuller

Alison Bennett

Dr Danny Chambers

Sarah Olney

Wera Hobhouse

That this House notes with dismay that emergency departments across England are in a state of crisis after years of neglect and failure by the last Conservative government; commends the hard work of all emergency service workers that despite extremely tough working conditions save thousands of lives every day; notes with concern the appalling deterioration of emergency care and surging waiting times in all parts of the health service as well as reports of patients dying in A&E waiting rooms; further notes that many patients are not monitored by a clinician while waiting to be seen at A&E; regrets the recent decision to hike national insurance contributions for GPs and care providers, placing further strain on overwhelmed emergency departments; calls on the government to ensure that a fully qualified clinician is present in every A&E waiting room to monitor the condition of waiting patients; and further calls on the government to cut ambulance response times, increase the number of beds in A&E departments, end delayed discharge from hospital, and commit to cross-party talks on social care.

438Bus fare cap hike

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 20

Anna Sabine

Wera Hobhouse

Steff Aquarone [R]

Martin Wrigley

Caroline Voaden

Adam Dance

That this House recognises the impact of the recent 50% rise in the bus fare cap to communities across the country; pays particular attention to its impact on rural communities in the South West; recognises the crucial role that buses play in people’s accessibility to work and leisure; recognises the crucial role that buses play in the economy and in boosting high streets; condemns the Government’s decision to raise bus fares in the midst of a cost of living crisis; and urges the Government to invest in expanding bus services in rural communities.

439Housing

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 29

Mrs Kemi Badenoch

Kevin Hollinrake

David Simmonds

Lewis Cocking

Paul Holmes

Mr Gagan Mohindra

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (England) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1073), dated 28 October 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 30 October, be annulled.

440Bellshill Athletic Boys and Girls Academy award of the Scottish Football Association Gold Quality Mark

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 4

Frank McNally

Dr Scott Arthur

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates the Bellshill Athletic Boys and Girls Football Academy on being awarded an Scottish Football Association (SFA) Gold Quality Mark; understands that the Gold Quality Mark was designed by the SFA to recognise best practice from member clubs and teams and that the Quality Mark Award Scheme aims to reward those which have a demonstrated a desire to be the very best they can be; believes that, to gain the award, a club must meet the highest standards for improving team management, development structures, administration, planning and welfare; recognises that this award has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of the committee, voluntary coaches, ground staff, players and helpers at Bellshill Athletic Academy; and wishes everyone at Bellshill Athletic Academy every success in their future endeavours.

441Potential closure of Caernarfon Post Office

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 6

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

Llinos Medi

Ann Davies

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

That this House expresses deep concern over the potential closure of Caernarfon Post Office, as part of the organisation’s cost-cutting plan to shut directly owned Crown branches; regrets that the needs of customers and staff are being overlooked at a time when the Post Office should be working to restore trust and public confidence; acknowledges that a petition calling for the retention of over-the-counter services in Caernarfon has received considerable support from local residents and businesses; notes that such rural branches serve a wide area, and that travelling further afield can be difficult due to the lack of public transport infrastructure; recognises the over-the-counter services provided by the Caernarfon branch are essential in the context of high levels of digital exclusion and the closure of other face-to-face services including high street banking; further notes the crucial provision of Welsh-medium services by the branch in Caernarfon, which is a predominantly Welsh-speaking community; and urges the UK Government to compel the rethink of planned closures to ensure individuals in rural areas do not lose access to vital Post Office services.

442Louis the Pittencrieff Park peacock

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 4

Graeme Downie

Dr Scott Arthur

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

That this House acknowledges the untimely death of King Louis, one of the famous peacocks of Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park; applauds the hard work of the volunteers who care for the city’s peacocks and thanks each and every one of them for their generosity of spirit and their kindness in ensuring the peacocks are well tended; regrets that Louis’ untimely death stemmed from injuries sustained in a cruel attack on the peacock enclosure from which the dedicated volunteers nursed Louis to an improving health status; and notes the quote by Scottish naturalist John Muir that, any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.

443Llys Nini Animal Centre

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 3

Tonia Antoniazzi

Sir Julian Lewis

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Llys Nini Animal Centre on being open for 25 years; pays tribute to the hard work and commitment of its staff and volunteers; notes that this anniversary coincides with the RSCPA’s 200th anniversary; and wishes the centre good luck for the opening of its RSPCA in Swansea exhibition in December.

444Violence against women and girls

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 18

Tonia Antoniazzi

Claire Young

Jodie Gosling

Ruth Jones

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Cat Eccles

That this House marks 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and White Ribbon Day 2024; recognises that violence against women and girls is the most pervasive breach of human rights in the world; further recognises that women and girls around the world face violence, abuse and persecution due to their sex; expresses deep concern that in recent years in the UK, one woman has been killed by a man every three days on average; further expresses alarm that violence against women has surged by almost 40% in England and Wales; notes violence against women and girls as a global and national emergency; honours and remembers all women affected by men’s violence; praises organisations supporting women affected by male violence and working to combat it; welcomes the Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade; and urges everyone in this House to work together to end violence against women and girls as an urgent priority.

445Carers Rights Day

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 30

Helen Morgan

Alison Bennett

Ed Davey

Jess Brown-Fuller

Dr Danny Chambers

Steve Darling

That this House celebrates Carers Rights Day; recognises the hard and vital work unpaid carers do caring for their loved ones; notes that carers across the country support the wellbeing of millions of the most vulnerable in our society and contribute £184bn to the UK economy; further notes that health and care services and the NHS cannot function properly without the contribution of family and unpaid carers; regrets that hundreds of thousands of carers live in poverty, and suffer from social isolation; further regrets that two in five young carers are persistently absent from school; reaffirms the importance of existing rights for carers, such as unpaid carer’s leave; applauds the work of voluntary and charitable organisations like Carers UK, who have improved the lives of countless carers; and calls on the Government to mark this Carers Rights Day with action, including by making unpaid carer’s leave paid, introducing a generous entitlement to respite care, reforming Carer’s Allowance, establishing a Young Carers Pupil Premium, and ending the persecution of carers for overpayments of carers allowance.

446Carers Rights Day 2024

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 19

Jamie Stone

Wendy Chamberlain

Caroline Voaden

Claire Young

David Chadwick

Adam Dance

That this house recognises the importance of carers in the UK, in the light of Carers Rights Day; in addition acknowledges the poor working conditions and low pay that carers struggle with; highlights the value of carers to societies across the UK; notes that while the recent budget has added more support for the care sector more needs to be done following the repercussions of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic; further acknowledges that unpaid carers are now providing care worth £184 billion per year; and calls on the Government to further support carers both in paid and unpaid roles.

447The Captain Webb's role in the community

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 2

Connor Naismith

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the significant investment of £238,300 in the Captain Webb public house in Crewe; and commends the important role the pub and its dedicated team plays in creating a community hub, playing a vital role in bringing people together and tackling social isolation while supporting the local economy in the process.

448Insourcing of cleaning staff at City St George’s College

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 3

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House recognises that the cleaning staff at City St George’s, University of London are an integral part of the university community and that that they play a pivotal role in the student experience, making sure that the university is a clean and pleasant environment to work and study; expresses its thanks for their selfless commitment during the Covid pandemic when these workers were the first back on the campus, risking their own health and wellbeing, to ensure that university learning and working spaces were clean and safe; regrets they are presently outsourced and employed through a private company and as a result that they do not have the same pay, rights and benefits as staff employed directly by the university; and urges the City St George’s, University of London to respond positively to Unison’s call for the college to follow the example of King’s College, LSE, SOAS, Goldsmiths, LSHTM and Birkbeck to end the two-tier workforce and bring cleaning services in house when the contract with the current cleaning company ends in the summer of 2025.

449Mid Down and Lisburn District Community First Responders

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 3

Sorcha Eastwood

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House recognises the outstanding work of Mid Down and Lisburn District Community First Responders and community first response teams across the UK in providing vital, life-saving support during emergencies; commends their dedication and selflessness to responding quickly to critical incidents, often as volunteers, to assist those in urgent need before ambulance services arrive; acknowledges the invaluable contribution such teams make to local communities by improving survival rates and outcomes in cases of cardiac arrest, severe trauma, and other emergencies; further notes the importance of equipping and supporting first responders with the resources, training, and recognition they deserve; and calls on the Government to strengthen its support for community first response schemes, ensuring their sustainability and growth as a cornerstone of local resilience and public health.

450Suspension of Israel from international sports competitions

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 5

Brian Leishman

Andrew George

Nadia Whittome

Andy McDonald

Zarah Sultana

That this House expresses profound concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continued suffering and loss of life caused by the lack of a ceasefire and the failure to advance peace talks; condemns the disruption to Palestinian sports resulting from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the inclusion of teams from illegal Israeli settlements in domestic leagues, in clear violation of international sports regulations; highlights the growing calls for action from civil society, sports fans, and advocates who emphasize the critical need for diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire and revive negotiations towards a peaceful two-state solution; notes the precedent of sports boycotts, including the campaign against apartheid South Africa, which demonstrated the power of international sporting solidarity in addressing injustice; further notes the responsibility of major international sports bodies, including FIFA, UEFA, the International Olympic Committee, and others, to uphold their principles of fairness and justice by refusing to normalize oppressive practices; calls for the suspension of Israel from all international sports competitions until it complies with international law, respects human rights, and engages in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace; and urges the UK Government to utilise all diplomatic and sporting channels to support peace, justice, and stability in the region.

451Ulster Scots Language Week, 25 to 30 November

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 2

Mr Gregory Campbell

Jim Shannon

That this House notes November 25th 2024 begins Ulster Scots Language Week and acknowledges the range of activities including talks, walking tours, poetry, writing competitions, conferences etc that are being held to help demonstrate the growing awareness of the Ulster Scots language, culture and traditions across many communities both in Northern Ireland and in border counties of the Irish Republic; expresses the hope that this will continue to grow; and wishes the Ulster Scots Agency and all those associated with the week's events every success.

452Replacement of Personal Independence Payments with a voucher system

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 15

Steve Darling

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Tom Morrison

That this House expresses its concern regarding the Minister for Work and Pensions' refusal to rule out proposals to replace Personal Independence Payments (PIP) with a voucher system; notes that this proposal, originally put forward by the previous Conservative Government, would significantly reduce the autonomy of disabled claimants; recognises the substantial concern raised by disabled people, who rely on regular PIP payments to cover essential living costs, including mobility aids, equipment, therapy, and everyday necessities; further acknowledges that replacing cash with vouchers would undermine the independence of disabled people and could not adequately meet their diverse needs; calls on the Government to immediately reject the idea of replacing PIP payments with vouchers and grants, ensuring that disabled individuals retain control over their finances; and urges the Government to engage meaningfully with disabled people, their families, and relevant advocacy organisations to guarantee that reforms to the benefits system truly address the needs of those with disabilities without undermining their rights to autonomy and dignity.

453Emergency response to Storm Bert in the South West

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 12

Ian Roome

Sarah Dyke

Dr Roz Savage

Jim Shannon

Anna Sabine

Wera Hobhouse

That this House notes the bravery of the UK's Emergency Services in response to Storm Bert, which included more than four hundred water incidents that have taken place in Devon and Somerset alone over this past weekend; acknowledges that resources for emergency services remain under immense pressure; and believes that community resilience for severe weather should be a statutory duty with accompanying government funding in England and Wales.

454Reducing the age for bowel cancer screening offered on the NHS

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 11

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Ian Roome

Steve Darling

That this House recognises the hard work of Stephen Rippington, who whilst battling against bowel cancer, was active in raising awareness for the disease both within his local area and online, and his wife Jessica who has raised over £10,000 for bowel cancer research; notes that 1 in 4 diagnoses occur among people aged under 50; and, following Stephen's passing earlier this year, calls for the age eligibility of screening tests for bowel cancer offered by the NHS to be reviewed.

455Closure of Rathbones Bakery, Wakefield

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 12

Jon Trickett

Kim Johnson

Jim Shannon

Ian Lavery

Jeremy Corbyn

Richard Burgon

That this House is disturbed by news that Rathbones bakery site in Wakefield looks set to close following a decision by the owners, supermarket chain Morrisons, to cease production; deeply regrets the consequence of this decision on the jobs of 400 loyal staff from across the Wakefield District, with further impacts on the supply chain and on agency workers; notes that Morrisons was taken over by private equity firm Clayton Dubilier and Rice in 2021 and fears that the new owners are asset-stripping the firm and prioritising short-term yields over the long term interests of the business; further notes the company has indicated it could look at keeping open the production of morning goods, but only by operating a de facto policy of fire-and-rehire with the remaining workers kept on with inferior pay, terms and conditions; supports the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union in insisting that workers should not pay the price for the destructive business model adopted by private equity concerns; and calls on government both to provide all necessary support to the workers involved and to undertake an urgent investigation into the impact of private equity takeovers and acquisitions on the UK groceries market.

456St Andrew's Book Festival

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 3

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

That this House celebrates St Andrew’s Book Festival which is taking place this week from 25 November until 1 December; recognises that the event is organised by Scots in London and was established in 2017 to bring together Scottish organisations across London, including Scotland House London, the Scottish Business Network, churches, charities, clubs and the Scottish military; and notes that this is the first Scottish themed book festival in London with the admirable goal of bringing Scottish talent to new audiences, fostering cross-country connections and supporting debut Scottish writers.

457National Insurance contributions rise exemption for childcare providers

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 22

Munira Wilson

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Tom Gordon

Ian Sollom

That this House notes that the increase to the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions announced in the Autumn Budget will lead to higher childcare fees for families, along with probable closures of early years and childcare settings; further notes that early years and childcare provision has faced years of underfunding under the previous Government, leading to families facing very high fees and a lack of available places; and calls on the Government to reconsider these National Insurance proposals so that early years and childcare providers are exempted from the National Insurance tax increase.

458King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 for Oswestry Borderland Tourism

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 3

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

That this House congratulates Oswestry Borderland Tourism for their King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024; notes that this prestigious Royal Award is the equivalent of an MBE as the highest award given to voluntary groups across the UK; celebrates the outstanding contribution to the community made by Oswestry Borderland Tourism in a voluntary capacity, giving their effort, enthusiasm and time, delivering to the highest of standards in the local area; recognises the beauty of the land and tourist destinations in the Oswestry borderland area; and wishes them the very best in their future endeavours of bringing more tourism to the Oswestry.

459King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024 for Shrewsbury and Oswestry Crucial Crew

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 4

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

Christine Jardine

Adam Dance

That this House congratulates Shrewsbury and Oswestry Crucial Crew for their King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024; notes that this prestigious Royal Award is the equivalent of an MBE as the highest award given to voluntary groups across the UK; celebrates the outstanding contribution to the community made by Shrewsbury and Oswestry Crucial Crew in a voluntary capacity, giving their effort, enthusiasm and time, delivering to the highest of standards in the local area; recognises the importance of educating children on social awareness and safety training as a means of teaching them essential life skills; and wishes them the very best in their future endeavours of educating primary school aged children on key life skills.