Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Monday 17 March 2025

Early Day Motions tabled on Friday 14 March 2025

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

945Horseracing and rural communities

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Mr Lee Dillon

That this House recognises the importance of the horse racing industry to rural communities like Newbury; notes with concern the industry's recruitment challenges due to prohibitively high rural house prices; further recognises the need to extend high-speed broadband services to rural areas to support recruitment efforts; commends the dedication of industry employees, particularly Simone Meloni from Newbury, recipient of the 2025 Thoroughbred Industry Employee of the Year award; and calls on the Government to provide greater support to this vital sport and work collaboratively with the industry to facilitate its future growth.

946SEND in schools

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Mr Lee Dillon

That this House recognises the need for further classroom provisions to be implemented for children with SEND; notes with concern that resources for pupils with SEND are very limited and that there is a need for extra school places for such pupils; congratulates Castle School in Newbury for the commencement of a project that will create 32 extra classroom spaces for children with SEND; recognises the vital role that West Berkshire Council played in the investment of this project, highlighting its commitment to improving SEND education; and calls on the Government to support projects such as the one at Castle School to improve education for children with SEND.

947Wokingham District Primary School Girls football team and the ESFA National Cup Final

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Clive Jones

That this House congratulates Wokingham District Primary School Girls Under 11s football team on reaching the National Final of the ESFA National Cup following their victory against Tonbridge and Malling; celebrates the role junior teams play in developing young talent for the future of association football; welcomes the continuing growth in participation in women's and girls' football across the UK; wishes the girls a safe and pleasant journey to Stoke City FC for the cup final; and hopes for a stunning win for Wokingham after a fair and competitive game.

948Yamarashi Judo Club's medal-winning success

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Euan Stainbank

That this House congratulates Bonnybridge-based Yamarashi Judo Club on its outstanding start to 2025; commends club coach Jay Proctor for securing a bronze medal at the Grand Prix Nazionale del Veneto in Italy, contributing to his medal points ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games; recognises the success of Lucy Auld and Lynsey MacDonald in winning silver medals at the Scottish All Stars Championship; notes the club's achievements at the Scottish Open, where Jay Proctor won gold in the senior 100kg-plus category, Amy Macdonald secured two silver medals, and Keira Cunningham claimed bronze; applauds the club’s inclusive approach, particularly supporting visually impaired judokas competing alongside mainstream competitors; and wishes Yamarashi Judo Club continued success in competitions and community engagement.

949Reductions in welfare spending

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Siân Berry

That this House believes that the welfare system should be based on dignity and respect; further believes that years of damaging austerity inflicted upon public services and welfare provision by previous Conservative Governments has brought our communities to breaking point, with people in receipt of health-related benefits already facing inordinate hardships as a result; notes that the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on the UK Government to take corrective measures to address the immense negative impact of welfare cuts made since 2010; is concerned that 50 per cent of people claiming Universal Credit who have limited capability for work are unable to heat their homes or pay their bills and have low food security; is further concerned that, according to Scope, an added 700,000 disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the cuts rumoured to be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on welfare reform; considers there is no moral case for making these cuts, the impact of which would be catastrophic for millions of disabled people; calls on the Government to address the root issues that lead to welfare claims, namely housing insecurity, poor quality jobs, huge wage inequality and a soaring mental health crisis; and further calls on the Government not to scapegoat disabled people by cutting the welfare payments on which they depend.

950Royal Television Society and withdrawal of award to journalists in Gaza

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House expresses its strong concern at the decision by the Royal Television Society to scrap a special recognition award for journalists in Gaza; further expresses its support for the demand by nearly 400 people, including many prominent journalists, for full transparency about how the Society arrived at this decision; and also expresses its regret that this act by the Society displayed an appalling failure to respect the sacrifices made by journalists in Gaza, including the loss of 170 lives.

951Balgove Larder wins Countryside Alliance Award 2025

Tabled: 14/03/25 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House congratulates Balgove Larder on winning this year’s Countryside Alliance Award in the Butcher Category for Scotland; notes that Balgove Larder is a farm shop just outside St Andrews and is a hub for locally reared, grown, caught, handmade and prepared foods; and celebrates all the hard work of the team at Balgove for their dedication and wishes them all the best for the future.

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.

887Shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy

Tabled: 3/03/25 Signatories: 37

Jess Brown-Fuller

Helen Morgan

Alison Bennett

Dr Danny Chambers

Wera Hobhouse

Mr Angus MacDonald

That this House expresses deep concern over the ongoing shortage of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), a vital medication relied upon by 61,000 people across the UK, including those with pancreatic cancer and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency; notes with alarm that PERT shortages are predicted to continue until 2026, with no signs of resolution, leaving 82% of patients struggling to access their usual prescriptions, 80% forced to alter their diet or dosage, and many skipping meals altogether; recognises that without PERT, patients suffer from severe malabsorption, leading to malnutrition, muscle wasting, debilitating diarrhoea, and, in extreme cases, death by starvation; further notes the significant mental health impact of this crisis, with 51% of affected individuals experiencing increased stress, anxiety, and worry; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to urgently outline the steps being taken to address the root causes of the shortage, ensure a stable and adequate supply of PERT, and provide clear clinical guidance to support patients and healthcare professionals in managing this critical situation.

905Ending the sale of tickets to captive orca and dolphin shows

Tabled: 5/03/25 Signatories: 25

Liz Jarvis

Tim Farron

Mr Angus MacDonald

Richard Foord

Helen Maguire

Neil Duncan-Jordan

That this House believes that travel companies should stop selling tickets to shows featuring captive orcas and dolphins; notes with concern that despite mounting evidence of the harm caused to these animals in captivity, over 3,600 cetaceans worldwide remain confined for human entertainment; recognises that captivity severely restricts cetaceans’ natural behaviours, leads to physical and psychological distress, and shortens life expectancy; further notes that leading travel companies, including EasyJet Holidays and Jet2holidays, have already ceased the sale of such attractions in response to public and scientific concern; expresses disappointment that some travel companies continue to sell tickets to captive animal attractions; welcomes the Born Free Foundation’s Tank Free campaign calling on travel operators to end their support for the captive cetacean industry; and urges the Government to work with the travel industry to phase out the promotion and sale of tickets to captive orca and dolphin shows.

906Oversight of homelessness

Tabled: 6/03/25 Signatories: 9

Mr Richard Quigley

Dr Roz Savage

Lee Barron

Peter Lamb

Ellie Chowns

Jim Shannon

That this House notes recent research carried out by Centrepoint into the scale of youth homelessness; is deeply concerned that youth homelessness across the UK has risen by 10% over the past year, with 118,134 young people approaching their local authorities for support; and supports Centrepoint’s recommendations for increased Government oversight of local authority adherence to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, a youth-focused chapter in the Government's homelessness strategy, and urgent protections in the Homelessness Code of Guidance to ensure all vulnerable young people receive the support to which they are entitled.

920Community pharmacies

Tabled: 10/03/25 Signatories: 51

Helen Morgan

Jess Brown-Fuller

Dr Danny Chambers

Alison Bennett

Helen Maguire

Martin Wrigley

That this House notes the perilous state of community pharmacies, which are struggling to survive across the country; recognises that pharmacies are at the heart of our communities, are an essential part of health and care services, and are relied upon by millions of people every day; further notes that since 2017, 1,200 pharmacies have closed their doors, with an additional 1,000 pharmacies set to close by 2027; regrets that the last Conservative Government failed to stem pharmacy closures and watched on as services deteriorated; further regrets the Government’s decision to hike employers’ National Insurance contributions (ENICs), which will force pharmacies to lay-off staff and cut services; expresses alarm that, after 11 months, the Government has still not announced a contract for pharmacies for the current financial year; also notes that no funding has been announced for Pharmacy First beyond March, and that this could threaten access to prescribing and primary care; believes that investing in the pharmacy sector and expanding pharmacy services is essential for easing pressure on the rest of the health service, and that an invest-to-save approach in healthcare must include pharmacies as a matter of priority; and calls on the Government to cancel the ENICs increase, deliver fairer funding for pharmacies, stop pharmacy closures, end pharmacy deserts, work with pharmacies to address medicine shortages, and support pharmacists to help save our NHS by being the strong, dynamic and innovative pillar of primary care they can and want to be.

929Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Tabled: 11/03/25 Signatories: 7

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Tom Morrison

Ayoub Khan

Carla Denyer

Ellie Chowns

That this House notes that March is Prostate Cancer awareness month; highlights that prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in England, with a massive 25% increase in cases between 2019 and 2023 and a further 1,100 men being diagnosed each year in Northern Ireland; underlines the importance of awareness campaigns and the difference they have, leading to thousands more men getting an early and lifechanging diagnosis; further notes that despite the huge increase in prostate cancer cases, there is still no national screening programme and as the disease often has no symptoms in its earlier stages, this situation means too many men find out they have cancer only after it’s spread and become harder to treat; and calls upon the Government to update NHS guidelines so that more can be done to increase early diagnosis and save more lives.

932Fisher and Donaldson win Scotland's Best Flavoured Shortbread Award

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 4

Wendy Chamberlain

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

Graeme Downie

That this House congratulates Fisher and Donaldson on winning Scotland’s Best Flavoured Shortbread and Best Stall at the Highland Shortbread Showdown 2025; recognises that Fisher and Donaldson have seven bakeries across Fife; notes that the bakery is family-run and that Chloe and Jade, who were at the awards, alongside their brother Ben, are fifth generation bakers in their family business; and celebrates these awards and wishes Fisher and Donaldson all the best for the future.

935Friends of Factory Row volunteers

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 5

Steve Darling

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Martin Wrigley

That this House celebrates the outstanding work of Friends of Factory Row since its founding in 1991 in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community; commends the tireless dedication of its volunteers, including Viv Westmoreland, Heather Reed, and Grace Hakeson, who together have contributed an extraordinary 70 years of service; recognises their unwavering commitment to providing care, advocacy, and practical support to those experiencing homelessness; further acknowledges the invaluable role of grassroots organisations like Friends of Factory Row in fostering dignity, stability, and social inclusion; and urges the Government to continue supporting and funding community-led initiatives that make a real difference in tackling homelessness and social disadvantage.

936Future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 25

Jess Brown-Fuller

Wera Hobhouse

Adam Dance

Steve Darling

Cameron Thomas

Dr Al Pinkerton

That this House expresses deep concern over the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), which is set to expire on 31 March 2025; recognises the vital role the fund plays in providing essential mental health services to adopted children and those under special guardianship orders, supporting nearly half of the work undertaken by organisations such as Beacon House in Chichester; notes with alarm the uncertainty surrounding its continuation, which is causing significant anxiety among families and service providers who rely on this critical support; acknowledges the importance of stable, long-term funding for these vulnerable children to ensure they receive the therapeutic and mental health services they need to thrive; and calls on the Government to provide urgent clarification on the future of the ASGSF and commit to securing its continuation beyond March 2025.

937Keeping transport workers safe

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 31

Steve Witherden

Andy McDonald

John McDonnell

Richard Burgon

Jon Trickett

Grahame Morris

That this House notes with concern the findings of the TSSA union’s latest report entitled Keep transport workers safe – no to abuse and harassment on the transport network; further notes that the report suggests violence and abuse directed at transport workers is endemic and that these workers regularly face racial and sexual harassment and abuse, threats, assault, including assault with weapons; believes that this is unacceptable and that all workers have a right to work in dignity, free from abuse and harassment; further believes that this behaviour is not inevitable, it can be tackled, and that the Government’s public transport reforms are a key opportunity for doing that; and supports the recommendations in the report, including legislative measures to increase the protection of transport workers, an enhanced funding settlement for British Transport Police that allows it to carry out its functions without service cuts or recruitment freezes, stricter penalties for offenders, mandatory reporting of violent and abusive incidents alongside the creation of regulatory bodies to oversee workplace safety specifically in relation to violence and abuse, and guidance for employers on implementing support systems, reporting, training, and a zero-tolerance culture for abuse and harassment on the transport network.

938Provision of essential humanitarian supplies, electricity and water sanitation in Gaza

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 15

Ellie Chowns

Carla Denyer

Siân Berry

Ayoub Khan

Adrian Ramsay

John McDonnell

That this House condemns the Israeli Government’s decision of 3 March 2025 to halt the entry of all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, to Gaza, and its decision of 9 March 2025 to cut off electricity to Gaza’s main desalination plant; recognises that these actions violate international humanitarian law and amount to collective punishment of 2.2 million people in Gaza for the terrible crimes committed against Israeli and other citizens by Hamas; records that Gaza was already experiencing a water and sanitation catastrophe following overwhelming damage and destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure due to the Israeli Defence Force’s military operations and the ongoing unlawful blockade; further recognises that Amnesty International has described these actions as inhumane and unlawful; considers these actions to be evidence that the Israeli Government is deliberately imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza, an act prohibited under the Genocide Convention; and calls on the UK Government to take steps to prevent genocide, as it is obligated to do, including through implementing a full arms embargo on Israel, working to secure comprehensive sanctions against Israel and other actions to hold Israel accountable for grave breaches of international law.

939Building consensus on a pathway to spending 3% of GDP on defence

Tabled: 12/03/25 Signatories: 20

Helen Maguire

Calum Miller

Ian Roome

Adam Dance

Jess Brown-Fuller

Claire Young

That this House recognises the growing security challenges and threats facing the UK and its allies; believes that an increase in UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as soon as possible is necessary to maintain the UK's military readiness, bolster its deterrence, and support its commitments to global security; and urges the Government to boost defence spending to 2.5% of GDP at the earliest opportunity and to hold cross-party talks to agree a consensus on how to reach 3% GDP spend on defence.

942Minister for Coastal Communities

Tabled: 13/03/25 Signatories: 5

Martin Wrigley

Steff Aquarone

Jess Brown-Fuller

Edward Morello

Ian Roome

That this House calls on the Government to appoint a Minister for Coastal Communities to help tackle the unique set of issues that coastal communities face; and urges the Government to implement the recommendations of The Future of Seaside Towns: Follow-up Report to allocate a Ministerial portfolio within the Department specifically for seaside towns to create a clear point of contact and demonstrate the importance of these areas within the levelling up agenda, ensure the Minister with this portfolio attends all meetings of the Interministerial Group on Levelling Up to ensure coastal perspectives are considered, and develop a national coastal communities strategy in collaboration with the Local Government Association, coastal interest groups, and the private and third sectors.

943Three promotion places from the National League

Tabled: 13/03/25 Signatories: 2

Kate Osborne

Jon Trickett

That this House recognises the importance of the pyramid system in English football; welcomes efforts to distribute revenue more fairly across the system, and acknowledges the vital role of the 72 National League clubs as the top tier of non-League football in England; applauds the National League’s adoption of the Salary Cost Management Protocol next season to align with the English Football League (EFL), helping maintain the record of no National League club entering liquidation since 2013; supports the National League’s 3-Up campaign for three promotions into the EFL, welcoming the EFL’s willingness to discuss this, noting that it aligns with the Independent Football Regulator’s three objectives; and calls for the regulator to use its backstop to ensure both financial and promotional fairness within the National League system.

944Wellbeing benefits of outdoor education to young people

Tabled: 13/03/25 Signatories: 9

Tim Farron

Ian Roome

Martin Wrigley

Helen Maguire

Adam Dance

Edward Morello

That this House recognises the significant benefits of outdoor learning for children and young people; urges the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the value of those benefits; notes that more time learning outdoors provides an opportunity for children to learn skills and characteristics to cope with many of the societal problems of climate change, worsening child mental health, and high child obesity levels; further notes that there is significant evidence that outdoor learning and youth work enables better engagement with education, builds pro-environmental behaviours from a young age, and establishes team work and resilience in young people; and recognises that these practices build on a long heritage of outdoor learning in the UK.