Contents

Published – Wednesday 11 December 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 10 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

527Anniversary of the murder of Kenneth Smyth and Daniel McCormick

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the anniversary of the murder of Kenneth Smyth and his colleague Daniel McCormick on 10 December 1971 as they travelled to work; notes that Kenneth was off duty and that Daniel had left the UDR and they were slaughtered as they headed to work together; further notes that no one has ever been brought to justice for this evil terrorist murder that saw these men brutally slain for no other reason than serving Queen and Country in the UDR and that the families still mourn their loss; and urges Government to consider cases like Kenneth’s, when reforming legacy legislation to ensure criminals, like the perpetrators of this atrocity, are brought to justice.

528Medicinal cannabis

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House recognises the benefits of prescribed medical cannabis for people suffering with epilepsy and a variety of other conditions; welcomes the legalisation around the use of prescribed medical cannabis on 1 November 2018; regrets the inconsistent MHRA guidelines that risk product availability for patients; further regrets the restrictions on electronic prescriptions for the issuing of medicinal cannabis products; and calls on the Government to use every means necessary to ensure greater consistency from the MHRA to ensure patients suffering from long-term and chronic conditions are aware of medical cannabis as a treatment and incur as little disruption and inconvenience as possible when obtaining it.

52920th anniversary of the Olive Branch Foodbank

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Cat Smith

That this House congratulates the Olive Branch Foodbank in Lancaster on their 20th year of dedicated service to the local community and living out their Christian faith in serving those in need; thanks them for their invaluable support to individuals and families facing food insecurity, addiction and homelessness; recognises their tireless efforts to combat poverty and provide dignity and hope to those in need; pays tribute to the remarkable staff, volunteers, and supporters who have made this milestone possible; and commends the Olive Branch for this milestone and wishes them success in their aims of sharing the love of Jesus and combatting food poverty.

530Attack on Adass Israel Synagogue, Melbourne

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 2

Christine Jardine

Calum Miller

That this House unequivocally condemns the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne last week that is now being investigated as a terrorist incident; notes with concern the rising rates of antisemitism being seen worldwide; acknowledges that these disturbing trends are also unfolding in the UK, with the Community Security Trust reporting a record high of 5,583 anti-Semitic incidents across the country in the last year; recognises that there is no place for antisemitism of any kind in our society; welcomes the work of organisations like the Community Security Trust in helping Jewish communities feel safe; and calls on the Government to take swift action to stamp out antisemitism both at home and abroad, including by urgently providing funding for protective security measures to places that are vulnerable to antisemitic attacks, including schools and synagogues

531Kilsyth Primary School

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Katrina Murray

That this House congratulates the pupils and staff of Kilsyth Primary School on not only achieving the Digital Schools award but also earning recognition as a Digital Mentoring School; congratulates the winner of the Make It Happen Club App Design Challenge, Primary 7 pupil Louise Carberry who has seen her Save the Whale App become a reality; and notes that this work has been led by a group of digital leaders from the school who have recorded their experiences as a podcast for the wider Kilsyth community.

532Celebrating Ahmad Tea

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Liz Jarvis

That this House celebrates Chandler’s Ford-based Ahmad Tea winning the King’s Award for Enterprise for its sustainable development programmes, and recognizes actions the company has taken to improve the lives of communities in the UK and around the world; notes the financing and building a cancer hospital in Sri Lanka, supporting women in the tea gardens of Assam and Kenya with nutrition and health programmes and support for UK charities including Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Stroke Association, the Alzheimer’s Society, and Macmillan Cancer Support; highlights the positive difference the company makes to prioritize sustainability and fairness in its supply chains; underlines the hard work of staff; and congratulates them on their success.

53325th anniversary of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 6

Grahame Morris

Ian Lavery

Jon Trickett

Rebecca Long Bailey

Andy McDonald

Jo White

That this House congratulates the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) on its 25th anniversary; commends its outstanding contribution to supporting former coalfield communities across the UK in the aftermath of the devastating pit closure programme; recognises the dedication and tireless efforts of CRT staff and volunteers, whose work has transformed thousands of lives by addressing health, skills, and employment challenges to combat economic inactivity; and encourages the Government to work in partnership with the CRT to deliver their shared missions and the long-overdue regeneration that former mining towns and villages deserve.

534Army Benevolent Fund

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Mr Gregory Campbell

That this House notes the exceptional work carried out by the Army Benevolent Fund; recognises the self sacrifice of many thousands of former serving personnel and their families; commends the efforts that continue to be made in helping many whose lives, both physically and mentally have been impacted as they acted in defence of their country; thinks especially of them and their families at Christmas time; and expresses the hope that contributions to this and other similar funds will increase so that the care, compassion and commitment offered by those involved with the ABF will also continue for as long as the need is there.

535Eilidh Gammons, Highland Dancing Champion of Champions 2024

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 1

Brendan O'Hara

That this House congratulates Eilidh Gammons of Helensburgh on being awarded Champion of Champions by Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing UK; acknowledges that this is Eilidh’s third consecutive win of the award but the first time at Senior level; commends Eilidh on her extraordinary achievements from an early age and her remarkable talent, hard work and determination which have earned her an elite position in the world of Highland Dance; also congratulates everyone who has supported Eilidh’s dancing career, including her dance teacher Margaret MacInnes, and everyone connected with the Margaret Rose School of Dance; and on behalf of everyone in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber sends Eilidh best wishes in her future endeavours.

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.

460Variety Disability Sports Awards

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 17

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.

466Union derecognition by RELX at LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 17

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: 31

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.

471Potential closure of post offices

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 32

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.

474Assistance and access for disabled people at railway stations

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 30

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.

479Ukraine energy security Marshall plan

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 9

Alex Sobel

Chris Law

Luke Akehurst

Luke Myer

Jim Shannon

Cat Eccles

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: 16

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.

486Bath Young Carers

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 23

Wera Hobhouse

Adam Dance

Jess Brown-Fuller

Ian Roome

Jim Shannon

Helen Maguire

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.

49030th anniversary of Bexley Deaf Centre

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 5

Daniel Francis

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Kirsteen Sullivan

Tristan Osborne

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: 11

Apsana Begum

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Shockat Adam

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.

493Migrants and domestic abuse

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 11

Apsana Begum

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Shockat Adam

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: 11

Apsana Begum

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Shockat Adam

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.

496Kevin Sinfield fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease research

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 10

Mr Gregory Campbell

Andrew George

Shockat Adam

Christine Jardine

Kirsteen Sullivan

Richard Burgon

That this House notes the seven ultramarathons in seven days across the UK in December 2024 by rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield CBE, who has continued his incredible fund raising efforts for research into combating Motor Neurone Disease (MND), so far raising over £16 million to help those affected by one of the most debilitating and heart-breaking conditions; recognises BBC Breakfast has consistently helped to highlight the amazing efforts Kevin Sinfield has put in since his friend the late Rob Burrows CBE was diagnosed in 2019; and expresses the hope that a cure for MND will be brought much closer due in no small measure to these outstanding endeavours.

497Bowel Cancer UK report into NHS services

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 25

Clive Jones [R]

Helen Maguire

Steve Darling

Ian Roome

Helen Morgan

Adam Dance

That this House recognises bowel cancer as the second biggest cancer killer, with over 13,500 people tragically dying from bowel cancer each year in England alone; acknowledges the findings from Bowel Cancer UK’s report entitled Delivering the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan: A review of progress of bowel cancer in England that whilst progress for bowel cancer services has been made, progress has still not been good enough; is concerned that progress on early diagnosis of bowel cancer has stagnated and that patients are experiencing longer waiting times than almost all other cancer; further recognises that nine in ten people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to just one in ten at the latest stage; and calls on the Government, via their new national cancer plan, to deliver the optimisation of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and to create much needed extra capacity in endoscopy and pathology services to encourage early diagnosis.

499Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 6

Andrew George

Shockat Adam

Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

Wera Hobhouse

Siân Berry

That this House welcomes Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis on his visit to the UK today; notes that the British Museum still holds about half of the Parthenon Sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1812, during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, then purchased from him by the Government following a decision by this Parliament in 1816, and that they remain on display in the British Museum to which they were transferred by Act of Parliament in the same year; considers it is no longer appropriate for these sculptures to be held and displayed in the UK and notes that the sculptures have not always been well protected and have indeed been damaged whilst in the possession of the museum; further notes that the remaining Parthenon Sculptures have been well displayed since 2009 in the purpose built Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the Parthenon; notes that Prime Minister Mitsotakis has compared the UK’s possession of the Parthenon sculptures as like cutting the Mona Lisa in half; and calls on the Government to work with the trustees of the British Museum, to agree a gracious act to reunite the Parthenon Sculptures with those in Athens and to finally put right this enduring wrong.

501Certificate of Common Sponsorship

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 18

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Mary Kelly Foy

Andrew George

Carla Denyer

Richard Burgon

Ellie Chowns

That this House believes that migrant health and care workers on Tier 2 visas play an essential role in the delivery of UK health and care services; recognises that current rules tie these workers to a single employer, and that if a worker loses their job they may face financial hardship, debt, lost investment and the possibility that their partner will also lose the right to work; further believes that the dependency on a single employer creates a significant power imbalance; notes that it also contributes to potentially exploitative and unsafe working conditions, with workers reluctant to report concerns for fear of retaliation or deportation; further notes that employers may exploit these fears by making unfair demands, and that many migrant workers report feeling trapped in bonded servitude with constant job insecurity; acknowledges the negative impact that this situation can have on mental health and wellbeing; agrees that migrant workers deserve the freedom to change employers within the sector; supports UNISON’s campaign for a Certificate of Common Sponsorship for health and care workers on Tier 2 visas as a way of breaking the exclusive link between a single employer and a worker’s visa status; and calls on the Government to begin the process of introducing such as scheme as part of the overall drive to reform and improve the social care sector.

505Residence-based voting rights

Tabled: 5/12/24 Signatories: 10

Wera Hobhouse

Helen Maguire

Adam Dance

Gideon Amos

Manuela Perteghella

Ben Maguire

That this House believes democracy works best when all who are a part of our community can participate; acknowledges that everyone who has made the UK their long-term home, pays taxes, does their bit and contributes to society should have the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections; regrets that over 4 million people have no right to vote in UK general elections; further regrets that the voting rights of EU citizens have been curtailed and that over 171,000 previously-eligible EU voters have been removed from the electoral register as a consequence of the implementation of the 2022 Elections Bill.

507Registration scheme for short-term lets and local communities

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 6

Steve Darling

Jess Brown-Fuller

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Ellie Chowns

Vikki Slade

That this House recognises that, while short-term lets bring economic benefits and opportunities for tourism, they must be balanced with the need to maintain the integrity of local communities, particularly in coastal, rural, and tourist hotspot areas such as Devon; highlights the increasing pressure on local housing markets, where absentee landlords are making significant profits, and families may be priced out of their own communities due to the conversion of long-term rental properties into holiday lets; welcomes the Government's commitment, as outlined in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, to introduce a registration scheme for short-term lets as a means to mitigate these issues; calls for urgent and meaningful consultation on how the registration scheme will operate, ensuring that it effectively addresses the challenges of short-term letting, including limiting its negative impact on local housing stock, providing transparency, and holding landlords accountable to ensure that communities benefit from tourism and hospitality, while working to provide local residents with affordable homes; further calls for a wider review of the taxation system to ensure that it does not disproportionately incentivise short-term letting at the expense of long-term rental options for local residents; and urges the Government to introduce such a scheme without delay, in order to protect the interests of local communities and ensure that tourism benefits are shared fairly across the nation.

508Apprenticeships in the trades industry

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 10

Adam Dance

Helen Maguire

Tom Morrison

Gideon Amos

Ian Roome

Andrew George

That this House notes with concern the challenges faced by trades people across the country in recruiting and maintaining apprentices; acknowledges the vital role trades people play in the UK’s economy and society; celebrates the value of trade apprenticeships; recognises the need for better engagement from schools to promote and support trades apprenticeships; and calls on the government to provide greater administrative and financial support for tradespeople taking on apprentices.

50975th anniversary of National Parks

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 5

Alex Sobel

Ellie Chowns

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House celebrates the 75th anniversary of the creation of National Parks in England and Wales, established following the passage of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, a landmark achievement of the post-war Labour government led by Clement Attlee; acknowledges the pioneering vision of Labour ministers, including Lewis Silkin, who championed the creation of these protected areas; recognises the vital role that National Parks play in conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of some of the most cherished landscapes in the UK; commends the invaluable contributions of National Parks in promoting public access to the countryside, fostering environmental education, and supporting sustainable farming; acknowledges the dedicated work of National Park Authorities, the Campaign for National Parks, local communities and volunteers in preserving these treasured spaces for future generations; and calls on the Government to set out a bold vision for our National Parks, with reforms that drive climate action, biodiversity restoration and prohibit damaging activities, and enhance inclusivity and access for all.

510SCIAF's Real Gifts Campaign 2024

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 5

Patricia Ferguson

Dr Scott Arthur

Brian Leishman

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House welcomes the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s (SCIAF) 2024 Real Gifts campaign ahead of the festive season; notes the generosity of the Scottish public in directly supporting families and communities around the world living in poverty by giving ethical gifts during the festive season; welcomes the work done by SCIAF and others to provide communities with the tools they need to combat poverty and the horrors of a climate crisis they have not caused; and recognises that it is only with significant financial investment and global policy changes that we can achieve long-term development progress for all people across the world.

51150th Anniversary of Epsom and Ewell Talking Newspaper

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 2

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates Epsom and Ewell Talking Newspaper on its remarkable achievement of 50 years of service; recognises the charity's outstanding commitment to supporting visually impaired residents in Epsom and Ewell by providing vital access to news and local information; commends the volunteers whose dedication, effort, and time have made this invaluable service possible; acknowledges the critical role such services play in fostering inclusion and community connection; and wishes the charity continued success in its future endeavours supporting those in need.

51235th Anniversary of the AT Society

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 2

Victoria Collins

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Harpenden-based Ataxia-Telangiectasia society, a charity dedicated to supporting families with AT, a rare and complex genetic disorder, through diagnosis, treatment and the challenges of everyday living; notes that the organisation was originally founded in 1989 by Maureen Poupard, with the help of Professor Malcolm Taylor; further notes the charity’s unique nature in providing both personal support to people with AT and funding research initiatives; highlights the success of its cooperative approach evidenced in the organisation of the world’s first ever conference on Clinical Science in AT, in 2004; commends the work of volunteers, researchers, and the team tirelessly advocating for people with AT; and fundamentally underlines that whilst 35 years is a real achievement, the charity does not want to have to exist but, nonetheless, will continue to fight for children, young people and their families until a cure is found.

51320 years of the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 2

Victoria Collins

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the 20th Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, founded by Peter Milson in 2002 as an event to bring the community together and get creative for the benefit of the general public; notes the commendable efforts of Paul McMahon, Clare Rudd, Janet Bowie and the team on the scarecrow committee in their dedication to the cause and extensive fundraising success, especially for the Herts Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre and in future-proofing the 12th-century St Leonard’s Church, in their 2018 Roof Appeal; further highlights the community spirit of the village residents and the goodwill of all the volunteers engaged in the organisation of the event; particularly celebrates the 2024 winners, Sue and Tim Wright for their artistic Bee Fest scarecrow; and wishes Flamstead many more years of scarecrow fun.

51450 years of the St Albans and District Talking Newspaper

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 4

Victoria Collins

Helen Maguire

Dr Scott Arthur

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the 50th anniversary of the St Albans and District Talking Newspaper, a charity which records local newspapers to bring local news to the visually impaired in the district; notes that the organisation was originally founded in 1974 by two local residents, Ray and Meg Bousfield; further notes the success of the 50th anniversary celebrations held in August; highlights the positive difference the charity makes to help the visually impaired engage with their local community; underlines the hard work of many volunteers over the years and the positive impact on hundreds of local residents; and thanks them for their hard work and wishes the charity all the best for their future.

515Birmingham Children's Hospital Celebration Toy Fund

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 4

Alex Ballinger

Ayoub Khan

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates Halesowen pubs and clubs for their fundraising efforts, raising money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Celebration Toy Fund; commends The Crafty Pint, Halesowen Cricket Club, Roberto’s Bar, The Hare and Hounds, The Huntingtree, The Yeltz Bar, and Somers Sports and Social Club for uniting in support of such an important cause; recognises that every child deserves a magical Christmas and that no child should go without during the festive season; and commends the local community for coming together to make this initiative a success.

516Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club

Tabled: 6/12/24 Signatories: 3

Alex Ballinger

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club for winning Community Club of the Year once again at the 2024 Club Awards; commends the exceptional work of Dawn Bubb and her dedicated team for their hard work throughout the year; notes that Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club remains a vital social asset in Halesowen North; and recognises the club’s outstanding offerings of drinks, food, and entertainment.

517Asda's Cashpot for Schools initiative

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 4

Anna Sabine

Jim Shannon

Adam Dance

Max Wilkinson

That this House recognises the extraordinary efforts of Asda's Cashpot for Schools initiative, which has raised nearly £9,000 for Frome and East Somerset and over £400,000 for the South West; shows its gratitude to staff and workers in Frome Asda for their hard work over the festive period; thanks the generosity and engagement of customers; welcomes the initiative's work in helping provide primary schools and parent groups with additional funding; and wishes everyone involved in the initiative a wonderful break and New Year.

518175th anniversary of St Mary Immaculate Church

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 3

Gordon McKee

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House congratulates St Mary Immaculate Church in Pollokshaws on its 175th anniversary; notes that a special celebratory mass is taking place on Monday 9 December 2024, led by Archbishop William Nolan; recognises the importance of the church to the local community; and wishes the church and its congregation every success for the future.

519Celebrating the service of local councillors

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 3

Blair McDougall

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House believes that local councillors are the unsung heroes of our democracy; notes our thanks to the ordinary people who work for too little reward or recognition to fix things and represent local people; and congratulates in particular Councillors Betty Cunningham and Katie Pragnell of East Renfrewshire for winning the Lifetime Legend and Young Councillor of the Year awards respectively at the LGIU and CCLA Councillor Awards.

520Formation of the Macclesfield Branch, Cheshire Regiment Association

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 3

Tim Roca

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House, cognisant of the good work all Regimental Associations do in support of their service personnel and veterans alike, warmly welcomes the formation of the Macclesfield Branch of the Cheshire Regiment Association; notes all the good work that the Cheshire Regiment Association has carried out, including fundraising for a Cheshire Regiment memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, hosting the annual Meeanee Reunion Dinner, and hosting local business leaders at the museum they run; and further notes that a local Macclesfield branch will build on the work of the Cheshire Regiment by reaching out to local ex-Cheshire soldiers, creating a community for them to be a part of, and tackling isolation and supporting veteran’s mental health, which will undoubtedly be a good development for Macclesfield, the Cheshire Regiment Association and veterans.

521Impact of the Work Capability Assessment on disabled people

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 6

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Ian Lavery

Claire Hanna

That this House notes the shocking evidence published by John Pring in his recent book of the harm, too often leading to fatalities, inflicted on disabled people by the Department of Work and Pensions since the introduction of the Work Capability Assessment; and calls on the Government to establish an independent public inquiry into the role played by Ministers, civil servants and advisers and their culpability for the suffering identified in this research.

522Fife Carers Centre recognition as a Carer Positive Exemplary employer

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 6

Wendy Chamberlain [R]

Jamie Stone

Jim Shannon

Helen Morgan

Adam Dance

Steve Darling

That this House congratulates Fife Carers Centre for being recognised as a Carer Positive Exemplary employer under the Carer Positive Scheme; praises the hard work of all their staff and the vital support they provide to unpaid carers across Fife; notes the importance of all businesses supporting unpaid carers and emphasises the need for employers to recognise the caring rights of their employees; and celebrates schemes such as Carers Positive and Employers for Carers which provide support and best practice guidance.

523Domestic Abuse Offences

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 19

Josh Babarinde

David Chadwick

Ian Roome

Liz Jarvis

Helen Maguire

Tim Farron

That this House acknowledges the pervasive and deeply harmful impact of domestic abuse on survivors; notes that, while the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse, there is no specific criminal offence for domestic abuse in England and Wales; further notes that many domestic abuse cases are prosecuted under broader offences such as common assault, ABH and GBH instead; recognises that as a result, not all domestic abuse cases are properly identified within the criminal justice system; also notes with alarm that this legal gap has meant that some domestic abusers are eligible for release under the SDS40 Early Release Scheme, despite the Government’s attempts to exempt them; and calls on the Government to back the Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill, which would ensure that domestic abuse cases are properly recognised as such in the criminal justice system by creating domestic abuse-aggravated offences, mirroring racially and religiously aggravated offences created in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, enabling more survivors and victims to get the protections they need and deserve.

524Review into breast cancer screening

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 27

Wera Hobhouse

Caroline Voaden

Helen Morgan

Liz Jarvis

Helen Maguire

Edward Morello

That this House recognises the worrying rise in breast cancer cases in younger women; notes with concern that breast cancer accounts for 43% of all cancers diagnosed in women aged 25-49, yet women wait until they are 50 or older to begin routine screening; urges everyone to work together to dispel the misconception that breast cancer only affects older women; commends the medical professionals who provide top class care to patients once diagnosed; and calls on the Government to review the current arrangements for breast cancer screening, including the merits of reducing the minimum age at which women are invited for regular breast cancer screening.

525Institutes of Technology

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 8

Will Stone

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Mary Kelly Foy

Mr Paul Foster

Tristan Osborne

That this House commends and celebrates the 21 Institutes of Technologies across the UK for their outstanding contribution to delivering high-quality, advanced technical education and training in a wide array of STEM fields; and notes that they play a vital role in addressing industry skills gaps by responding to the specific needs of local businesses, creating excellent opportunities for both young people and mature learners to access exceptional training and career pathways.

526ICC arrest warrant for General Min Aung Hlaing

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 6

Shockat Adam

Ayoub Khan

Jim Shannon

Jeremy Corbyn

Iqbal Mohamed

Brendan O'Hara

That this House welcomes the International Criminal Court’s request for an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s Senior General, Min Aung Hlaing, following credible evidence linking him to breaches of international law, war crimes and genocide; notes this includes in 2017 the Myanmar army destroying Rohingya settlements, along with mass rape, torture and execution without trial that killed thousands and caused 700,000 Rohingya people to flee to Bangladesh to seek refuge; further notes if the arrest warrant is issued all ICC state parties, which includes the United Kingdom, are obliged to detain General Min Aung Hlaing upon entry to their territory; and calls on the Government to comply with any arrest warrant and to pursue further measures such as ending the policy of non-interference to hold the military government of Myanmar to account and seek justice for the Rohingya and other religious and ethnic communities who are continuing to suffer at the hands of Myanmar’s military regime.