Published – Tuesday 7 January 2025

New EDMs

58970th anniversary of the Parish of St Mary's Church Duntocher

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Douglas McAllister

That this House congratulates St Mary's Parish Church Duntocher on the occasion of its 70th anniversary; notes that on 14 November 1954 the new church was formally opened and dedicated by Archbishop Donald Campbell, and that on 15 November 2024 Archbishop William Nolan celebrated Holy Mass at St Mary's to celebrate the 70th anniversary; recognises the significant contribution of the church to the spiritual wellbeing of its parishioners and the wider community of Duntocher; commends St Mary's and its parishioners who have maintained the church and parish life over 70 years; further congratulates Mr James Brown and Mr and Mrs James and Phyliss Smith on receiving the Archdiocesan Medal in recognition of their service to St Mary's Church; and wishes the Church and Parish of St Mary's Duntocher every success in the years ahead.

590Mr Owen Sayers MBE, 60 years Scouting

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Douglas McAllister

That this House celebrates the presenting of Mr Owen Sayers MBE with his 60 Years Service to Scouting Award in 2024 by the Chief Volunteer of Scouts Scotland; recognises that Owen Sayers became a Scout leader at the age of 18, and that further leadership roles over the next 60 years included Section Leader, Group Scout Leader, District Commissioner and County Commissioner; commends Owen Sayers for his dedication to scouting, volunteering, and service to young people across West Dunbartonshire; further commends Owen Sayers for his unwavering commitment to serving local communities and the country; and congratulates Mr Owen Sayers MBE on his 60 Years Service Award and wishes him and the 1st Glen Lusset Scout Group every success in the future.

591Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s new memorial in South Africa

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Adam Jogee

That this House welcomes the imminent inauguration of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s new memorial in South Africa on Wednesday 22 January 2025 by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal; acknowledges the sacrifice, valour and service of South African military labourers who served in campaigns during the First World War in East Africa; notes that this memorial will commemorate by name over 1,700 South Africans who died during World War One; thanks all those involved in the research, design and creation of this memorial; recognises the contribution made to Britain's military effort and success in both world wars of men and women from right across the Commonwealth; and celebrates the bonds of solidarity that remain strong and indivisible between our United Kingdom and our Commonwealth family.

592President Jimmy Carter

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Adam Jogee

That this House expresses its sorrow at the death of President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, on Sunday 29 December 2024 at the age of 100; gives thanks for his good, long life of service to the citizens of the United States and to people right across the world; remembers his service as a member of the Senate of the State of Georgia from 1963-1967 and as the 76th Governor of the State of Georgia from 1971-1975; salutes the pivotal role President Carter played in securing the Camp David Accords; celebrates his commitment to peace, decency, respect and the truth; notes that he was the only US President to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his work to monitor more than 100 elections in nations right across the world and to help build and repair thousands of homes in countries across the globe with Habitat for Humanity; acknowledges the strong bond he had with the late former First Lady Mrs Rosalynn Carter and her own public service; commits to standing up for those most in need at home and abroad as President Carter did; and sends its deepest condolences to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of President Jimmy Carter.

593Knighthood for Sir Ian Dudson

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 8

Adam Jogee

Leigh Ingham

Dave Robertson

Dr Allison Gardner

Jacob Collier

David Williams

Sarah EdwardsJosh Newbury

That this House congratulates His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson, on being made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Crown in the December 2024 New Year’s honours list; acknowledges his exemplary service to the county of Staffordshire and all the people who live, learn and work there since his appointment as Lord-Lieutenant on 29 March 2012; notes that Sir Ian Dudson is already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire; gives thanks to Lady Dudson for her committed service to the county of Staffordshire; recognises Sir Ian’s previous service as Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire since 2001, High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2010-11 and Pro-Chancellor of Keele University and Chair of Council from 2005-2012; celebrates his service as President of nine Staffordshire based organisations: Douglas Macmillan Hospice, Tennis Staffordshire, Staffordshire Community Foundation, Staffordshire Branch CPRE, Scouting Staffordshire, SSAFA Staffordshire, St John County Priory Group and Lichfield Festival; and sends its best wishes to Sir Ian and Lady Dudson for the years ahead.

594Rights in Performances

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Copyright and Performances (Application to Other Countries) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024 (SI, 2024, No. 1124), dated 6 November 2024, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13 November 2024, be annulled.

59520th anniversary of Patton's Bakery

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates 20 years of Patton's Bakery, opened in 2004 by Warren Patton in a small rented premises in Newtownards; notes the tremendous expansion of the business with dozens of staff and delivery vans; highlights that, in 2015, they won Best Family Business at the then-Ards Borough Council Business Awards, and Manager of the Year at the same awards; underlines that, in 2017, they were also named spar supplier of the year, as the business continued to grow; wishes the family all the best and a very successful future; and thanks them for their contribution to local hospitality in Northern Ireland.

596Posthumous Victoria Cross for Blair Paddy Mayne

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House remembers the heroic endeavours of Blair Mayne; believes that these should be acknowledged through the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross; notes that Blair, known as Paddy, Mayne was a native of Newtownards in the constituency of Strangford and that he was a legendary member and officer of the Special Air Service; highlights that he served with considerable valour and distinction throughout the Second World War and will always be remembered for his efforts; and underlines that his legacy shall never be forgotten and that he should no longer be denied the honour of a Victoria Cross for his sensational contribution to the Special Services throughout the War.

597Jim Grant Inspirational Achievement Award

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Dr Roz Savage

That this House recognises the work of South Cotswolds constituent, Ben Thornbury, in achieving the Jim Grant Inspirational Achievement Award which was awarded to him at Cirencester College where Ben is a student; praises his work for the community in going above and beyond to clean-up the town, highlight the plight of potholes, and being heavily involved in a national campaign to locate missing people; and calls on the Government to recognise the vital work done by local champions such as Ben Thornbury in communities.

598Active travel

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Sarah Gibson

That this House congratulates the work being led by Active Travel England and specifically the Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust which is working to promote active travel in Wiltshire; acknowledges that investment in active travel routes is needed to stimulate local economies; and notes that local authorities need to be empowered so they can leverage the planning system more effectively to deliver local active travel routes.

599England men's cricket team's upcoming fixture against Afghanistan

Tabled: 6/01/25 Signatories: 1

Tonia Antoniazzi

That this House expresses profound concern regarding the England men's cricket team's upcoming Champions Trophy fixture against Afghanistan; understands that this fixture will take place in the context of the banning of female participation in sport by the Taliban in Afghanistan; pays tribute to the Afghanistan women's cricket team who are currently in exile as a result of this ban; acknowledges that this ban is a reflection of the wider erasure of women from daily activities in Afghanistan; recognises that this ban is in direct contravention of International Cricket Council rules that require all test nations to support and fund women's cricket; and strongly urges the ECB to consider a boycott of this upcoming fixture.

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.

521Impact of the Work Capability Assessment on disabled people

Tabled: 9/12/24 Signatories: 15

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Mary Kelly Foy

Ian Lavery

Claire Hanna

Apsana Begum

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.

528Medicinal cannabis

Tabled: 10/12/24 Signatories: 9

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Mary Kelly Foy

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Bob Blackman

Apsana Begum

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.

548Ofwat price review

Tabled: 11/12/24 Signatories: 21

Clive Lewis

Dr Roz Savage

Kim Johnson

Cat Eccles

Mary Kelly Foy

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Carla Denyer

That this House condemns the provisional approval by Ofwat of an average 21% above-inflation rise in water bills over five years designed to fund £88 billion in sewage infrastructure upgrades; notes that this follows water companies extracting £85 billion in shareholder profits since privatisation, while amassing £64.4 billion in debt; further notes that since privatisation, in real terms, shareholders have withdrawn almost 60% of the original shareholder capital instead of investing; also notes that water companies have been lobbying for bill rises of an average of 40%; expresses concern that 40% of households surveyed by the Consumer Council for Water say they would already struggle to afford the provisionally approved 21% bill hikes, with many indicating they would cut back on essentials like food to pay their water bills; further condemns record levels of sewage spills, including 10 million litres pumped into Lake Windermere by United Utilities in February, continuous sewage discharges from a Thames Water facility in Oxfordshire, and the failure of Southern Water to provide water to 32,000 households over five days due to a burst main; calls on the Government to stop bill rises and suspend Ofwat’s price review process until its own Commission has reported in 2025; further calls on the Government to hold water companies to account, including banning dividends and bonuses until sewage discharges are resolved; and also calls on the Government to declare water a basic right, ensuring affordability and sustainability for all.

549Public toilets

Tabled: 12/12/24 Signatories: 8

Mohammad Yasin

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Shockat Adam

Jim Shannon

Ellie Chowns

Carla Denyer

That this House recognises the profound but often uncelebrated impact of adequate public toilet provision, enabling mobility, promoting dignity and ensuring the accessibility of public spaces to everyone, particularly the elderly, people with disabilities and families with young children; and congratulates Bedford Borough Council’s recent investment in public toilets in Russell Park.

550Democracy and human rights in Myanmar

Tabled: 12/12/24 Signatories: 22

Helen Maguire

Adam Dance

Steve Darling

Zöe Franklin

Mr Will Forster

Luke Akehurst

Carla Denyer

That this House notes with grave concern the ongoing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Myanmar military; recognises the urgent need to restore democracy and uphold the rights of the people of Myanmar; acknowledges the pivotal role of the UK as the penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council; calls on the Government to take immediate and decisive action by recognising the National Unity Government of Myanmar as the legitimate government of the country, pressing for an international arms embargo to prevent the military junta from accessing weapons, and accelerating the implementation of targeted sanctions against the financial interests of the junta; further calls on the Government to work in concert with international allies to delegitimise the military junta and make clear that its actions are unacceptable; and urges the Government to strategically support emerging democracies and democratic movements worldwide, including in Myanmar, Sudan and Iran, to counter the global trend of authoritarianism and strengthen democratic governance.

552Cuckooing awareness

Tabled: 12/12/24 Signatories: 12

Jon Trickett

Bob Blackman

Ellie Chowns

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Carla Denyer

That this House expresses its concern about the practice of cuckooing, which is when people take over a person’s home and use the property to commit crimes; notes that cuckooing commonly facilitates crimes involving drugs, weapons and sexual exploitation; recognises that cuckooing is often a hidden crime that targets the most vulnerable in society; acknowledges the work the Government is doing to identify instances of cuckooing through the county lines programme; believes that national and local government agencies should do more to raise awareness of cuckooing so that the public is better able to see the signs of this cruel exploitation when it takes place in their community; and calls on the Government to examine whether a new criminal offence is required to clamp down on cuckooing.

555Flood recovery framework

Tabled: 12/12/24 Signatories: 31

Claire Young

Adam Dance

Helen Maguire

Helen Morgan

Dr Roz Savage

Ellie Chowns

Carla Denyer

That this House notes the work of the emergency services and first responders in the wake of Storms Bert and Darragh; acknowledges that resources for emergency services remain under immense pressure; further acknowledges that future incidents of poor weather and flooding will become more common due to the impacts of climate change; calls on the Government to set out a clear framework for support for communities in the wake of such incidents; and praises the work of local authorities in helping those affected to rebuild.

563The EU and the arms trade, human rights, and the Israel-Gaza conflict

Tabled: 16/12/24 Signatories: 21

James MacCleary

Helen Maguire

Steve Darling

Adam Dance

Dr Roz Savage

Jess Brown-Fuller

Carla Denyer

That this House expresses grave concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis and violations of human rights in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; reiterates the urgent need for all parties to adhere to international law and the principles of proportionality in the use of force; calls for the UK Government to work closely with European partners to push for a sustainable peace settlement based on a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine are recognised as independent, viable, and democratic states with secure borders based on pre-1967 lines; recognises the critical role of the European Union in fostering peace through diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian aid; urges the UK Government to adopt a policy of presumption of denial for arms exports to countries with poor human rights records, as identified in the FCDO’s Human Rights and Democracy Report; highlights the importance of ensuring that UK and EU arms exports do not contribute to violations of international law or exacerbate conflicts, including the Israel-Gaza conflict; and calls on the UK to prioritise collaboration with European allies to strengthen global accountability for human rights violations and uphold the values of liberalism, internationalism, and the rule of law.

568Renewal of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Tabled: 16/12/24 Signatories: 18

Adam Dance

Steve Darling

Wera Hobhouse

Dr Roz Savage

Jim Shannon

Ian Roome

Carla Denyer

That this House notes with concern that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is due to expire in March 2025; notes that the scheme enables congregations of all faiths to recover the Value Added Tax costs of vital repairs to their listed buildings, making it the most universal and accessible source of relief; also notes that almost half of all Grade I listed buildings in England are historic churches; acknowledges that for 23 years the grant scheme, run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has provided a vital lifeline to congregations throughout the UK as they struggle to raise sufficient funds to repair their historic places of worship; recognises the success of the scheme in maintaining places of value to local communities and the nation’s heritage for future generations, such as St Mary Magdalene Church in Barwick, East Corker Village Church, and Holy Trinity Church in Yeovil; also recognises the scheme has received cross-party support across successive governments; and calls on the current Government to ensure the renewal of the scheme as a matter of urgency.

571Prison maintenance insourcing

Tabled: 16/12/24 Signatories: 33

Kim Johnson

Cat Smith

Mohammad Yasin

Mary Glindon

Liz Saville Roberts

Siân Berry

Mary Kelly FoyCarla Denyer

That this House notes with alarm the rising levels of squalor and disrepair in prisons, with the National Audit Office estimating the maintenance backlog has doubled to £1.8 billion in the past four years; further notes with alarm recent reports by the Independent Monitoring Boards highlighting how broken and outdated windows make it easy for drones to deliver drugs and weapons, while prisoners are bitten by rats and venomous false widow spiders, yet there is little accountability when maintenance providers’ performance falls short; believes that the privatisation of prison maintenance a decade ago is at the heart of this shameful situation, with profit-hungry contractors and a corporate-style GovCo formed after the collapse of Carillion driving a dangerous race to the bottom in living and working conditions across the prison estate; welcomes the recent agreement by ministers that all options need to be looked at in order to ensure the best possible value for money for the public purse, but recognises that outsourcing of prison maintenance has proved to be a false economy, with the taxpayer picking up the tab for contractors’ costly failures; and calls on the Government to cancel plans for retendering these contracts and to bring all prison maintenance back in-house at the earliest opportunity, in keeping with its pre-election pledge to oversee the biggest wave of insourcing for a generation.

575International Human Rights Day

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 14

Fabian Hamilton

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Luke Taylor

Ayoub Khan

Shockat Adam

Mary Kelly FoyCarla Denyer

That this House recognises the importance of the international human rights framework which underpins the international rules-based order; notes that to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day, the UN has highlighted the critical role of human rights as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good; celebrates the human rights achievements of UK Parliamentarians working with inspiring civil society organisations and activists, including securing the release of wrongfully imprisoned individuals, such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori; further recognises the Government’s commitment to building support for victims of gender-based violence in conflict and of modern-day slavery; further notes that UK Parliamentarians have a key role in taking this impressive legacy forward to further justice and democracy, and to support human rights defenders; and also recognises the Government’s commitment to international law and human rights internationally.

578Sexual violence in Sudan

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 15

Shockat Adam

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

Andrew George

Mr Adnan Hussain

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wera HobhouseSammy WilsonCarla DenyerMonica Harding

That this House expresses its grave concern over the ongoing use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in Sudan, where women are subjected to systematic rape and sexual abuse by armed groups; condemns the growing reports of women resorting to suicide in an effort to escape the horrific prospect of rape; notes that these atrocities are not only a breach of human rights but also violate international law, including the Geneva Conventions; urges the UK Government to take immediate steps to support international efforts to end impunity for those responsible for sexual violence in conflict; calls for urgent humanitarian aid and psychological support for the survivors of such violence; and further calls on the Government to press for stronger international sanctions against those perpetrating and enabling these crimes, and to advocate for the inclusion of sexual violence in conflict as a priority in peace negotiations.

579Syrian self-determination

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 8

Shockat Adam

Jim Shannon

Ayoub Khan

Andrew George

Mr Adnan Hussain

Ellie Chowns

Carla Denyer

That this House acknowledges the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, which has resulted in immense suffering for millions of people due to conflict, displacement, and violations of human rights; reaffirms the principle of self-determination as a fundamental right of all peoples, including the Syrian people; stresses the importance of a Syrian-led political solution, with the full participation of all Syrian communities, to ensure lasting peace and stability in Syria; supports the establishment of transparent, democratic processes within Syria with free and fair elections that respect the political, cultural, and religious diversity of the Syrian population, including marginalized groups; and urges the international community to work together to provide humanitarian aid and support for the rebuilding of Syria, ensuring that the rights and sovereignty of the Syrian people are respected throughout this process.

580Israel’s military action in Syria

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 7

Shockat Adam

Jon Trickett

Ayoub Khan

Mr Adnan Hussain

Ellie Chowns

Iqbal Mohamed

Carla Denyer

That this House expresses grave concern over Israel’s military incursions in Syria, including its illegal invasion of sovereign Syrian territory, specifically in the region of Mount Hermon; condemns Israel’s use of an earthquake bomb in its recent attacks, the impact of which was felt on the Richter Scale, which has caused significant damage and loss of life, and is an unacceptable and illegal form of warfare; expresses concern over the ongoing illegal occupation of the Golan Heights, which Israel continues to control despite international condemnation; highlights the creation of a buffer zone around the Golan Heights by Israel as a violation of international law; and notes that Israel’s actions have been widely condemned by regional powers, for exacerbating the already fragile and volatile situation in Syria and undermining efforts for peace and stability in the region.

581Environmental impact of Israel’s bombing

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 8

Shockat Adam

Jon Trickett

Ayoub Khan

Andrew George

Mr Adnan Hussain

Ellie Chowns

Carla Denyer

That this House expresses deep concern over the environmental consequences of Israel’s military actions in the region, particularly in relation to the bombing of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and its contribution to climate change and environmental degradation; notes that Israel’s use of explosive weapons, including airstrikes and bombs, has caused significant environmental damage, including the destruction of agricultural land, water resources, and has caused the contamination of soil with toxic chemicals which will have lasting effects; highlights that toxic emissions from bombs are exacerbating air pollution and contributing to climate change; acknowledges the environmental catastrophe caused by the destruction of forests, soil degradation, and contamination of water sources, which threaten both local ecosystems and the livelihoods of civilians; and urgently calls on the government to condemn these actions and push for international accountability for the environmental damage caused by the almost 100,000 tonnes of bombs that have been dropped by Israel in the past year alone.

582Violence against women in Northern Ireland

Tabled: 17/12/24 Signatories: 12

Carla Lockhart

Claire Hanna

Sorcha Eastwood

Mr Gregory Campbell

Colum Eastwood

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

That this House expresses its deep concern at the scale of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland; notes with sadness that seven women have lost their lives this year alone, contributing to a total of 25 women murdered since 2020, with many of these killings occurring within their own homes; acknowledges the tragic loss of Karen Cummings in Banbridge, which has caused shock and grief within the local community, as well as the second anniversary of Natalie McNally’s murder in Lurgan, both of which serve as a painful reminder of the urgent need for action; recognises the devastating impact such violence has on families and communities; calls on the Government to work closely with devolved institutions to develop and deliver a joined-up UK-wide strategy to tackle violence against women and girls; urges action to address root causes, improve conviction rates, implement tougher sentencing for perpetrators, and provide greater support for victims; and commits to working towards a society where all women and girls can live free from fear and violence.

585Reform of electoral law

Tabled: 18/12/24 Signatories: 22

Sorcha Eastwood

Jon Trickett

Sarah Olney

Ben Lake

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wendy Chamberlain

Manuela Perteghella

That this House notes with serious concern recent reports of high-profile individuals and international entities exploring avenues to influence UK political parties and elections, raising questions about the robustness of current electoral laws in preventing foreign interference; recognises the essential role of transparent and accountable political financing in preserving public trust in democracy and ensuring that elections remain free from undue external influence; believes that current electoral laws are outdated and inadequate in addressing the threats posed by modern financial and digital technologies, including cryptocurrency, which can facilitate anonymous or foreign donations; highlights the particular, imminent risks posed by wealthy international figures, who, while engaging in lawful activities, may inadvertently or deliberately influence domestic politics contrary to the principle of self-determination; urges the Government to urgently bring forward legislative reforms to strengthen electoral law, including the introduction of a cap on political donations, stricter limitations on overseas donations, mandatory transparency in the origin of political funds, and robust enforcement mechanisms; calls on the Government to work with the Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies to adapt regulatory frameworks to address emerging challenges to democratic integrity in the digital age; and affirms the UK's commitment to safeguarding democracy by ensuring that elections are free, fair, and reflective of the will of the people without interference from foreign entities.

588Lavender Drive Christmas lights

Tabled: 19/12/24 Signatories: 2

Blair McDougall

Jim Shannon

That this House commends the residents of Lavender Drive in Newton Mearns for their annual Christmas lights display, in memory of much loved, husband dad, and valued community member Fred Banning; recognises the work Fred Banning carried out during the pandemic in campaigning for the Scottish and UK Governments to consider prioritising those receiving palliative care for the Covid-19 vaccine, so that the terminally ill could make the most of their final days months; notes that Fred Banning received cross-party support on his campaign, and the backing of numerous charities; thanks the residents of Lavender Drive for the money raised each year for Cancer charities such as the Beatson Cancer Charity and Cancer Research UK; and further notes that the money raised for these charities is allowing them to carry out vital work caring for those with cancer and also fighting for a cure.