Commons business papers

Contents

Published – Tuesday 3 December 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Monday 2 December 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

485Tom and Marie's fundraiser for Dementia UK

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Michelle Scrogham

That this House commends Marie and Tom Burton from Ulverston in Cumbria for their efforts to raise money in aid of Dementia UK through Tom and Marie’s Charity Dog/Pet show and an upcoming sponsored ultra-marathon; recognises the devastating impact this disease can have and the urgent need for research into treatment; notes that there are over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK and that this is expected to rise sharply in the coming years; underlines the current support pre and post diagnosis for those experiencing memory loss and other symptoms; and wishes Tom and Marie the best for their ultramarathon.

486Bath Young Carers

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Wera Hobhouse

That this House congratulates Bath Philharmonia Young Carers' Choir on the release of their single Love is Enough; wishes them luck in the race for this year’s Christmas number one; recognises the talent and hard work of the six current and former young carers who wrote the single; highlights the challenges young carers face, in particular, disruptions to their education and social isolation; and calls on the Government to ensure that all young carers receive the support and services they need.

487The Ulster banner and the Northern Ireland Commonwealth flag

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes concern that it has been reported that the Chief Executive and Chairman of Commonwealth Games, Northern Ireland feel the flag is not representative of everyone and have suggested a change to a new emblem for the 2026 games in Glasgow; highlights that there is no appetite for change within those that perform under the Ulster banner by any community recognising that the Ulster banner contains the links to the Irish red hand of Ulster as well as the crown; and calls on the Government to support retention of the status quo and to cease the politicisation of sport which unifies us all.

488BBC licence fee

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes with concern that from April 2025, the BBC licence fee will increase to £174.50; underlines that the Government has announced the rise by £5 and is due to increase in line with inflation each year until 2027; highlights the extreme concern and justifiable resistance to the proposed increase and that the currently monthly payment of £15 per month, up from £13.25, which is substantially greater than other streaming services such as Netflix or Prime; further notes the impact this will have on pensioners, single working households and low income families; and urges the Government to reconsider any further price increase for the future.

489Colin S Macleod's 1000-mile swim

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Torcuil Crichton

That this House congratulates Mr Colin S Macleod, long distance swimmer and charity fundraiser, on completing his 1000-mile, Land's End to Shetland swimming challenge by repeatedly and relentlessly traversing the mile-length of the Braighe isthmus on the Isle of Lewis on the Minch and Broadway sides in all weathers during 2024; acknowledges the success of Jane Maciver, Paul Finnegan, Donald Smith, Cinzia Zingone, David Evans, Malcolm Dalzel-Job and Colin S MacLeod in completing their contributions to the virtual Land's End to John O'Groats to Shetland 1000-mile challenge; and notes their joint fundraising achievements to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI.

49030th anniversary of Bexley Deaf Centre

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Daniel Francis

That this House congratulates Bexley Deaf Centre on its 30th anniversary of being recognised as a charity and celebrates the opening of a new Deaf Centre in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath earlier this year; notes that Bexley Deaf Centre was originally commissioned by the local authority to help people maintain their hearing aids and distribute batteries; highlights that their services now include British Sign Language courses, a hearing aid clinic, a job club, advocacy and information advice and deaf awareness in schools; further notes that Bexley Deaf Centre’s services are now accessed on average over 10,000 times a year; thanks all staff and volunteers for their continued dedication; and wishes the Bexley Deaf Centre all the best for the future.

491Domestic abuse and public life

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that domestic abuse involves a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner; understands that not all domestic abuse takes place in the home or during a current relationship and that often women are most vulnerable when they are leaving a relationship, or after it has ended; highlights that post-separation control and/or harassment is a form of abuse that can occur long after a relationship or marriage is over, with different tactics of abuse employed; recognises that domestic abuse is prevalent and can affect people from all walks of life and in all forms of employment, including those public life; also notes that female political representatives, including those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, face disproportionate barriers and are at greater risk of harassment and abuse; and therefore calls on all political parties to ensure that political representatives who are survivors of domestic abuse are not exposed to further harassment in their roles and to raise awareness of the issues in order to create a society where individuals experiencing domestic abuse feel confident that they will be believed, listened to and treated supportively.

492Domestic abuse and the workplace

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that domestic abuse can have profound long-term effects on survivors and is concerned that is very difficult to speak out about domestic abuse and often those that do are subject to further silencing tactics; recognises that domestic violence is a workplace issue and that it can affect employment performance and in some cases even mean the abuse is carried out in the workplace; believes that domestic abuse policies form an essential part of a strategy to achieve equal opportunities in the workplace; recognises trade unions are key in holding employers to account and have an important role to play in bargaining for better workplace conditions; calls on all employers to ensure workplaces are places of safety for survivors of domestic abuse with measures in place for their protection and empowerment such as paid leave and flexible working, and an environment fostered where individuals experiencing domestic abuse feel confident that they will be believed, listened to and treated supportively; and calls on the Government to ensure the provision of a nationally-funded network of domestic violence and abuse support services.

493Migrants and domestic abuse

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that domestic abuse can have profound long-term effects on survivors and is concerned that it is very difficult to speak out about domestic abuse and often those that do are subject to further silencing tactics; is concerned that police forces potentially sharing migrant data with Immigration Enforcement could prevent migrants experiencing domestic abuse from reporting to the police and others due to the fear that they will be treated as an offender themselves and face potential criminalisation, detention and deportation; is further concerned that many migrants experiencing domestic abuse are left without support due to the no recourse to public funds policy; believes that everyone experiencing domestic abuse must feel able to report abuse and access justice and safety, and that perpetrators should not be allowed evade justice by using immigration status in order to silence, abuse and control; and calls on the Government to introduce a firewall between all public services and the Home Office and to scrap the no recourse to public funds policy.

494Funding for domestic abuse services

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 1

Apsana Begum

That this House notes that domestic abuse has wide-ranging effects, including mental, emotional, physical, social and financial, on all areas of life for the individual survivor and those around them; recognises that community-based domestic abuse services provide holistic, specialist support to women and children experiencing domestic abuse on both a short and long-term basis; further recognises that access to support at all stages, whether still living with the abuser, planning to flee, or having already left to rebuild their lives, is absolutely critical; is alarmed that many such services are chronically underfunded and working to short-term contracts, creating a postcode lottery of provision across the country; and calls on the Government to ensure that domestic abuse services, including specialist services for disabled, LGBTQ+ and Black and Asian survivors, are properly funded so that every survivor can access the support they need.

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.

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

Tabled: 18/11/24 Signatories: 13

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: 21

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: 28

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: 16

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.

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

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 15

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.

437Emergency care

Tabled: 20/11/24 Signatories: 32

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: 25

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.

444Violence against women and girls

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 24

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: 36

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: 27

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.

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

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 6

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Jon Trickett

Richard Burgon

Apsana Begum

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.

450Suspension of Israel from international sports competitions

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 12

Brian Leishman

Andrew George

Nadia Whittome

Andy McDonald

Zarah Sultana

Chris Law

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.

452Replacement of Personal Independence Payments with a voucher system

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 19

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.

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

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 15

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: 16

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.

457National Insurance contributions rise exemption for childcare providers

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 26

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.

460Variety Disability Sports Awards

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 13

Max Wilkinson

Wendy Chamberlain

Steve Darling

Helen Maguire

Chris Law

Adam Dance

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.

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

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 14

Jim Shannon

Ellie Chowns

Jon Trickett

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wera Hobhouse

Chris Law

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.

466Union derecognition by RELX at LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 15

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: 26

Pippa Heylings

Ellie Chowns

Ian Roome

Edward Morello

Wera Hobhouse

Angus MacDonald

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.

470Cuba

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 19

Grahame Morris

Steve Witherden

Kim Johnson

Jeremy Corbyn

Richard Burgon

John McDonnell

That this House expresses deep concern at the ongoing hardships faced by the Cuban people due to the 62-year US economic, commercial, and financial embargo, which has inflicted an estimated $1.499 trillion loss on the Cuban economy; welcomes the overwhelming global support for ending the embargo, as evidenced by the vote in the United Nations General Assembly on 30 October 2024, in which 187 nations called for its removal; urges President Biden to take decisive action in the remaining months of his administration by removing Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism and fully lifting the embargo; and calls on the Government to implement the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement signed with Cuba in November 2023, to strengthen UK-Cuba relations and encourage greater international cooperation.

471Potential closure of post offices

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 19

Daisy Cooper

Steve Darling

Anna Sabine

Ian Roome

Wendy Chamberlain

Helen Maguire

That this House recognises the importance of Post Office branches across the UK; believes that they form a vital part of our local communities and highstreets with millions of people depending on them; recognises the importance of Post Offices as community hubs, providing access to communication, banking and other vital services; notes the particular need for such services for people with restricted access, such as older or more rural populations with little connectivity; is deeply concerned about the news that 115 branches of the Post Office may be closed and around 1,000 jobs could be at risk; and calls on the Government to take action to set the Post Office on a sustainable footing for the long term and to ensure that none of the 115 post offices close until a consultation with each local community has been undertaken.

47375th anniversary of Bracknell New Town

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 5

Peter Swallow

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Peter Lamb

Richard Burgon

That this House notes the designation of Bracknell as a New Town on 17 June 1949; celebrates the seventy-fifth anniversary of this designation; commemorates the success of Bracknell as a thriving community and a place of opportunity for many; recognises that Bracknell New Town was built in a corner of East Berkshire rich in history; and expresses a firm wish for Bracknell's continued success.

474Assistance and access for disabled people at railway stations

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 21

Adam Dance

Ian Roome

Steve Darling

Helen Maguire

Mr Paul Kohler

Edward Morello

That this House is gravely concerned by the challenges disabled people face in getting support at railway stations, particularly in rural constituencies such as Yeovil; expresses alarm at the absence of available assistance staff in stations such as Yeovil Pen Mill; notes with concern that only one in four train stations have step free access, that only 2% have level boarding, that at 67% of stations the platforms are too narrow for wheelchairs to turn, and that around 40% of rail stations have no tactile paving which is a vital safety feature for blind and visually impaired people; strongly believes that these people should have the same access to railway stations as able-bodied passengers and should not be at risk of accidents; acknowledges that many find the booking systems for requesting support staff difficult to access and use; also notes that inaccessible stations and a lack of support staff also pose challenges for parents with buggies and the elderly; and calls on the government to improve accessibility and support for disabled people on our railways, such as by improving the Access for All programme to deliver more projects, more rapidly, and by holding operators like Great Western Railway to account.

475Lobby of Parliament by refugee groups

Tabled: 28/11/24 Signatories: 8

Ian Lavery

Mary Kelly Foy

Jon Trickett

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Ayoub Khan

That this House welcomes the lobby of Parliament by refugee groups including Northumberland County of Sanctuary; acknowledges that the UK has, for centuries, provided a safe haven for those fleeing oppression; understands that many people seeking asylum display qualities of great courage and resilience and have abilities which can serve this country well; and further acknowledges the need to hear from those inside the asylum system about important ways to reduce the costs of asylum, smash the illicit market in human traffic by enabling safe routes to get to the UK, and to treat human beings with dignity and fairness ahead of the forthcoming borders, asylum and immigration bill.

477Celebrating the achievements of Terry Kirby and the inclusivity of golf

Tabled: 28/11/24 Signatories: 4

Brian Leishman

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Richard Burgon

That this House applauds the remarkable achievements of Terry Kirby, a paraplegic golfer from East Yorkshire, who will represent Europe in the 30th Phoenix Cup at St Andrews, Scotland, next week; commends Mr Kirby for his extraordinary resilience and dedication to golf, having continued to excel in the sport despite paraplegia caused by a spinal tumour and a prior motorbike accident; notes his impressive record as a six-time national wheelchair golf champion and his pioneering role as the first seated golfer to captain a club; celebrates his work as Chair of the Handigolf Foundation, where he supports and inspires others with disabilities to take up the sport; recognises the Phoenix Cup as an exceptional showcase of the inclusivity of golf, demonstrating how players of all abilities can compete together through the handicap system; and wishes Mr. Kirby and Team Europe every success as they prepare to compete on the historic Old Course at St Andrews.

479Ukraine energy security Marshall plan

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 5

Alex Sobel

Chris Law

Luke Akehurst

Luke Myer

Jim Shannon

That this House recognizes that a Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan will protect the people of Ukraine, promote global security, and accelerate the worldwide transition to clean energy; believes that distributed clean energy is resilient against attacks as it does not have single points of failure, is faster and less expensive to produce, can be repaired much quicker, and removes the dependency on autocratic nations that control fossil fuels; is concerned that that over half of Ukraine’s power infrastructure is destroyed, underscoring the imperative for an immediate overhaul with a transition to distributed clean energy that is a priority as reconstruction plans are created and implemented; notes that solar energy can keep hospitals and schools running and provide running water and heat; further notes that electric buses and minivans can power hospitals and command posts when missiles and drones strike; also notes that wind turbines like those Ukraine constructed near the front line cost less to build than the missiles needed to destroy them and are hard targets, being narrow and dispersed; finally notes that only 0.46% of the solar and 0.4% of the wind potential in Ukraine will supply the entire country with electricity; recognizes that Ukraine’s wind generation is enough to power the electricity demand of Europe six times over; and finally recognizes that supporting Ukraine’s energy security is critical for the UK's security.

480Equal pay and prize money in women’s football

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 6

James MacCleary

Adam Dance

Jess Brown-Fuller

Liz Jarvis

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

That this House expresses concern over the significant disparities in pay and prize money between men’s and women’s football; notes that the prize fund for the women’s FA Cup remains far lower than that of the men’s competition, despite the impressive growth and increasing popularity of women’s football; commends Lewes Football Club for being the first and currently only football club in the world to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally, setting an inspiring example for others to follow; calls on the Football Association to take immediate action to ensure that the women’s FA Cup prize money is brought into line with the men’s competition; further notes the ongoing inequity in player pay, with many women footballers earning considerably less than their male counterparts; and urges governing bodies, sponsors and clubs to commit to closing the pay gap, ensuring fairness and equality for all players regardless of gender.

48150th anniversary of Epsom Common Association

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 2

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Epsom Common Association on their 50th Anniversary and for being awarded their 18th consecutive Green Flag award: notes that this prestigious award recognises well managed parks and green spaces around the UK; celebrates the outstanding contribution to the community made by Epsom Common Association in a voluntary capacity, giving their effort, enthusiasm and time, delivering to the highest of standards in the local area; recognises the importance of protection and future welfare of Epsom Common; and wishes them the very best in their future endeavours carrying out conservation management tasks on the Common.

482Uphall Golf Club

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 2

Gregor Poynton

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Uphall Golf Club for triumphantly reopening its clubhouse after a fire during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 which destroyed the building; commends its response to the challenge by successfully getting the golf club back up and running; applauds its innovation by franchising the restaurant and golf shop to allow for greater focus on the golf course and its members; celebrates the welcoming role which it plays in the local community through its provision of a restaurant which welcomes members and non-members every day of the week; and wishes them all the very best for their business in the future.

483Broxburn United Sports Club Extra Time Project

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 2

Gregor Poynton

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the work of Broxburn United Sports Club's Extra Time Project; recognises its provision of 24 sessions per week to 400 participants in the local community from ages 1 to 17, their parents, carers and staff; commends the wide range of programmes it offers, spanning football, multi-sports, robotics, Lego, parent-toddler programmes and community walking; emphasises the importance of delivering schemes which give all young people the chance to develop technical skills; praises the work of the staff at Broxburn United Sports Club, without whom the programme would not be able to function properly; thanks the project’s partners, the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Government, for their investment and support; and highlights the importance of projects like this in providing young people with the opportunity to engage in activities in their local communities.

484Treating retail workers with kindness during the festive trading period

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 15

Chris Kane

Graeme Downie

Kenneth Stevenson

Martin Rhodes

Katrina Murray

Brian Leishman

That this House welcomes the press and social media campaign from the Scottish Retail Consortium and Usdaw which is urging Scots to be kind, considerate and respectful to retail workers and fellow customers when shopping this Christmas; notes that the festive period can be an especially complex and challenging time for retail businesses with colleagues working hard to keep shelves stocked and products delivered; understands that abuse towards those working in customer service has climbed with figures from Usdaw showing over two thirds of retail staff have experienced verbal abuse in the past twelve months; affirms that any mistreatment of colleagues in stores is wholly unacceptable and should not be tolerated; and commends this responsible and positive initiative from employers and trade unions for a little Christmas kindness and courtesy from Scots so that we can all enjoy shopping over the festive period and in turn support local jobs and the vibrancy of our town and city centre destinations.