Session 2013-14
House of Commons
18th July 2013
Notices of Motions for which no days have been fixed
('Early Day Motions')
The figure following this symbol is the number of Members who have added their names in support of the Motion, including the Member in charge of the Motion.
After an Early Day Motion (EDM) has been printed for the first time, it is only reprinted when names are added or amendments tabled; only the first six names and any names added since the last printing are included. After the week in which a Motion is first printed and the following week, added names and amendments appear only in a separate paper, Mature EDMs, distributed the next Thursday. In the meantime, they are available for inspection by Members in the Table Office and the Library or on the EDM database at edmi.parliament.uk
153 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (S. I., 2013, No. 1101) 21:5:13
108That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 (S.I., 2013, No. 1101), dated 7 May 2013, a copy of which was laid before this House on 9 May, be annulled.
364 ANDY MURRAY 8:7:13
25That this House congratulates Andy Murray on becoming the first player from the UK to win Gentlemen's Singles Wimbledon Championship for 77 years; recognises the enormous dedication, commitment and determination he has displayed throughout his career; notes the excellent support of his brilliant team; and wishes to extend the gratitude of the whole nation in firmly establishing the Great in Britain for all tennis lovers.
369 COVENTRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB 8:7:13
29That this House notes the long-running dispute between Coventry City Football Club and the owners of the Ricoh Arena, Arena Coventry Ltd (ACL), over stadium rent, match-day revenues and stadium ownership; further notes that Sisu, the club's owners, have been looking at options for a new stadium; recognises that the club has been in administration after being taken to court by ACL and that the Ricoh Arena ended negotiations in May 2013; further notes the proposed sale of the club by the administrator to Otium Entertainment Group Ltd; understands that the club is considering hiring Northampton's ground for home games; expresses dismay at the possibility of Coventry City Football Club playing home games outside Coventry; further notes that the Minister of State for Sport and Tourism said in an adjournment debate that he would be happy to intervene in this matter at a stage at which his intervention might be helpful, 12 March 2013, Official Report, column 67WH, and believes that this time has come; and, given that all parties have taken up entrenched positions, calls on the Sports and Tourism Minister to convene an urgent meeting between the club, ACL, Coventry City Council, which half owns ACL, and the Football League to negotiate an interim arrangement to enable the club to remain at the Ricoh Arena until a final settlement can be reached.
As an Amendment to Mr Jim Cunningham's proposed Motion (Coventry City Football Club):
11Line2, leave out from '(ACL)' to end and add 'and condemns the decision of the Football League to allow the owners of Coventry City Football Club to play their homes games for the next three years over 30 miles away from the city in Northampton; believes there is no viable plan or intention of the owners to return to the Coventry area and that therefore this permission is in contravention of the League’s own policy; believes rather than seeking a £1 million surety from the club obliging their return, the League should have investigated the situation as well as the background of an organisation that put itself into administration having run up many millions of debt while ensuring that it was structured in such a way that it would itself be the main creditor, and that this was a deliberate strategy developed over time to defraud its creditors; further believes that this kind of owner brings the game of football into disrepute; and calls on the Government, if the League will not act, to draw up proposals to reform the governance of the game and prevent this kind of abuse.'. 8:7:13(a1)
370 TREATMENT FOR POSTNATAL DEPRESSION 9:7:13
18That this House welcomes the news of a breakthrough in the identification of the likelihood of a woman developing postnatal depression; is further aware that postnatal depression is one of the commonest causes of suicide in younger women; notes that the cost of this test per patient could be as low as £10; and calls on the Government, Clinical Commissioning Groups, National Institute for Care and Clinical Excellence and health trusts to take urgent action in implementing these screening tests across the country as soon as possible.
372 NUMBERS OF MIDWIVES 9:7:13
12That this House welcomes the Women's Institute (WI) national campaign entitled We Need More Midwives; recognises the hard work of the Old Portsmouth WI for highlighting this campaign; notes that while the Government has made significant gains in increasing the numbers of midwives, more effort needs to be made with a focus on investment in employment, retention and the training of midwives; expresses concern following a recent investigation which found that half of midwives feel that they are unable to deliver the quality of care that they aspire to; acknowledges that, despite Government pledges, 34 per cent of women did not get the contact details or name of their midwife, that 88 per cent had not met their midwife before going into labour and that 13 per cent of women did not receive one-to-one care in labour; and urges the Government to review midwifery services and ensure that high standards are being met throughout the NHS.
373 BRITISH LIONS, GRAEME McDOWELL AND ANDY MURRAY 9:7:13
21That this House recognises the hard work that is put in by British sports people all year through; celebrates with the British Lions Rugby Team, who represented all regions of the UK so well; rejoices with Graeme McDowell, the great Ulster golf player, who won the French Open; and exults in the Wimbledon men's trophy being brought home for the first time in 77 years by the amazing Andy Murray.
374 PUBLIC TOILETS AND BUSINESS RATES 9:7:13
17That this House recognises the importance of providing high-quality public toilet facilities, especially in areas popular with tourists and visitors; notes with concern that public toilets operated by town and parish councils are charged business rates, despite not being businesses; further notes that many councils are struggling to cover the cost of paying business rates for the public toilets for which they are responsible; and urges the Government to exclude the rating of public lavatories owned or operated by parish councils in order to ensure that the provision of these vital facilities remains financially viable.
376 BLACKLISTING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 9:7:13
35That this House congratulates the GMB trade union for bringing to light widespread blacklisting of employees in the construction industry and for lodging claims on behalf of 70 of its members in the High Court; notes that GMB is the first trade union to go to the High Court in order to seek compensation for those kept out of work as a result of blacklisting activity; further notes that contemporary blacklisting came to light when in 2009 the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) seized a Consulting Association database of 3,213 construction workers and environmental activists used by 44 companies to vet new recruits and that, in particular, the ICO confirmed that 224 construction workers from around the UK were victims of blacklisting by Carillion; and unreservedly condemns the blacklisting of employees.
378 NON-COMMERCIAL NATIONAL RADIO STATION FOR CHILDREN 9:7:13
26That this House recognises the benefits to children of specialist radio programming, including the stimulation of communication, concentration and memory; notes that, in 2011, the BBC reduced the number of hours of children's programming in the radio schedule by 75 per cent; further notes that the remainder of these programmes have been moved to the primarily adult station of Radio 4extra; further recognises that by moving children's programming onto primarily adult channels constant parental supervision is required; believes that despite claims from the BBC, the success of commercial children's radio stations such as Fun Kids and abracaDABra! demonstrates the desire among audiences for radio stations aimed exclusively at providing children's content; and as a result calls for the creation of a non-commercial national radio station for children.
382 ELEPHANT MASSACRES IN THE CONGO BASIN 10:7:13
31That this House is concerned that in early May 2013, 26 elephants, including four babies, were massacred by rebels in the Central African Republic's world famous bai in Dzanga Sangha National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site and that in early 2012 over 300 elephants in Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park were slaughtered by Sudanese rebels; notes that 60 per cent of the Congo Basin's elephant population is estimated to have been lost in the past decade; is further concerned that in China it is still fashionable to adorn one's house or person with elephant body parts; and calls on the Government to do all it can to press for the necessary governance to be put in place in Africa and China to stop the slaughter and trade in elephant parts so that the species does not become extinct.
387 SKILLS SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR 10:7:13
31That this House is concerned that the current review of the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2007) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), planned for August 2013, will remove the reference to individual competence; recognises that the inclusion of competence in the CDM regulations is vital to ensure that the number of serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites are kept to a minimum; notes that whilst direct employee and employer relationships are referenced in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, inclusion in the CDM regulations ensures that competence is extended to the supply chain relationships that are so vital in the construction industry; and urges the Government and HSE to consider retaining the reference, to ensure the principal contractor always has responsibility for checking all those working on a site are competent.
388 OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING DEMONSTRATION 10:7:13
35That this House notes that Fair Fuel UK will be handing in a petition signed by 30,000 people to the Office of Fair Trading on 15 July 2013; further notes that oil prices are worryingly high in the UK and that petrol and diesel as a result are more expensive than they have ever been; further notes that, despite a unanimous vote of the House in September 2012 and support from the Minister for Energy at the time calling for a full and thorough investigation, the Office of Fair Trading only managed an enquiry whether to have an enquiry after pressure from hon. Members and that while it expressed concerns about rigging in the oil market, no further action was taken; concludes that rip-off oil prices are crushing the living standards of British families, are a huge brake on jobs and growth and that motorists in the UK are being taken for a very expensive ride; and therefore urges the Government to support the petition for a formal enquiry from the Office of Fair Trading.
392 STATEMENTS MADE BY THE BRITISH BEER AND PUB ASSOCIATION 10:7:13
13That this House is troubled by the repeated misleading statements from the large leased pub-owning companies and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA); believes this is a cynical attempt to persuade the Government not to fulfil its commitment to reform the failing Pubco business model through a statutory code of practice for companies with 500 or more pubs; notes that these organisations have sent reports and other documents to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills presenting them as evidence of the negative effects of reform when there is no reliable evidence to back up these claims; further believes this to be a desperate bid to stop the Government fulfilling its promise to enshrine in law the principle that a tied licensee should not be worse-off than a free of tie licensee; is especially concerned by incorrect and misleading statements made by the Chief Executive of the BBPA, Brigid Simmonds, when appearing as a witness before the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on 11 June 2013; further notes that in her response to a letter from the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group detailing their concerns, Ms Simmonds has admitted to providing two incorrect statements; further notes that in the Business and Enterprise Committee's Seventh Report, Session 2008-09 (Pub Companies) pub company bosses were reported to have given partial and in one case positively false information to the Committee; calls on the Committee to take appropriate action; and further calls on the Department to properly scrutinise all claims made by those opposing reform.
393 SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN THE US PRISON SYSTEM 11:7:13
21That this House is shocked by the extensive and systematic use of solitary confinement in the US prison system; notes that on any given day, an estimated 80,000 prisoners in the US are confined in some form of isolation either in purpose-built super maximum security prisons or within smaller units inside prisons; further notes that studies have shown that prolonged and indefinite incarceration of prisoners in conditions of reduced sensory and environmental stimulation causes severe physical and psychological damage; is dismayed by the continued incarceration of the two remaining members of the Angola Three, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, who have been kept in solitary confinement in Louisiana for over 40 years and denied any meaningful review of the reasons for their isolation; further notes that the evidence against Mr Wallace and Mr Woodfox which resulted in their conviction for the murder of a prison guard remains highly contested; will follow closely the men's continuing legal appeals against the murder conviction and their civil case against Louisiana state claiming that their prolonged isolation constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, thereby violating the US constitution; and calls on the UK Government to raise this issue and the case of Mr Wallace and Mr Woodfox with the relevant US authorities.
394 SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP SECTOR 11:7:13
22That this House welcomes the UK's first Employee Ownership Day; notes the success of businesses owned by and for their staff; recognises the productivity, profitability and motivational benefits which employee ownership brings to UK businesses; further notes that employee-owned businesses still only account for around 3 per cent of GDP, which is below the EU average, and far lower than countries like the US, France or Germany; welcomes the Government's commitment to provide £50 million annually from 2014-15 and the recent HM Treasury consultation to further incentivise growth of the sector; and hopes that this will level the playing field and help the Employee Ownership Association realise their vision to see 10 per cent of UK GDP produced by employee-owned businesses by 2020.
395 EU SINGLE FARM PAYMENT 11:7:13
15That this House notes that the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy subsidies were settled in Luxembourg on 26 June 2013; understands that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, blocked proposals to limit the payments made under the Single Farm Payment to the very richest farmers; further notes that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions lives on an estate which has received 1,517,535 euros over a 10-year period in funding from the EU whilst the same Minister has cut benefits to some of the neediest in the UK; expresses disappointment that the subsidy system will continue to disadvantage those with small to medium-sized farms; shares the belief of the National Trust and the RSPB that the Government's blocking of subsidy reforms is disastrous for farmers who help to preserve threatened species and beautiful landscapes; and calls on the Government to reconsider its position on farming subsidies and to shift its support from the richest landowners to farmers with smaller holdings and those who work to the benefit of their local environment.
396 PIPER ALPHA DISASTER 25th ANNIVERSARY 11:7:13
19That this House notes with sadness the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster which claimed the lives of 167 people on 6 July 1988; recognises the courage and commitment of families and survivors including Ed Punchard, a diver who has campaigned for 167 annual scholarships to commemorate the victims' sacrifice; and deplores the fact that the energy companies have never provided the resources to fully fund the scholarship programme.
397 SELLAFIELD MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES 11:7:13
9That this House believes that proposals to build a second mixed oxide (MOX) plant at Sellafield at a cost of up to £5 billion of taxpayers' money would be an outrageous waste of money following the lamentable failure of the first MOX plant, which had an efficiency of less than seven per cent; is convinced that continued reprocessing at Sellafield is environmentally hazardous, unnecessary and economically unsustainable; notes the continued and unremitting cost escalations at Sellafield, now running to over £70 billion and rising; and calls on the Government to replace the nuclear management partners with a competent management team, and to bring the proposed new contract for Sellafield management before Parliament for scrutiny before finalising the deal.
399 MALALA DAY 11:7:13
13That this House notes that on 12 July 2013, Malala Yousafzai celebrates her 16th birthday, her first after being shot by Taliban gunmen in response to her continued attendance at school in defiance of their opposition to girls' education; endorses her global campaign to raise awareness of attacks on girls' education; applauds Malala's efforts to further girls' rights to education through the first youth takeover of the United Nations in New York; welcomes the Government's ongoing commitment to educating girls in developing countries; and further welcomes the work of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and children's charity Plan UK in supporting her in this vital work.
401 CELTIC NATIONS AUTISM PARTNERSHIP 11:7:13
16That this House praises the innovative work of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership, in particular the pioneering work of Autism Cymru and respective Celtic national governments in their progressive national approaches to autism which improve the lives of people with autism; notes that a Wales Autism Research Centre has been established in Cardiff University, increasing the investment and focus into autism research in Wales; recognises the Welsh Government's renewed commitment to continually develop national strategies for autism, providing vital and progressive aid to people with autism spectrum disorders and their families; and encourages the third sector to collaborate to deliver a comparable and ambitious all-age strategy and action for England thus ensuring that the UK as a whole can benefit.
402 RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ARMED CONFLICT 11:7:13
22That this House notes that victims of rape in situations of armed conflict are defined as wounded and sick under international law; further notes that as such they are entitled to non-discriminatory medical treatment, including counselling and abortion services; observes that UK aid funding should respect the supremacy of international law in respect of the rights of women who have suffered rape in conflict zones; and calls on the Government to review all funding to aid agencies operating in conflict zones to ensure that all aid providers in receipt of UK monies facilitate access to counselling and abortion services for all women and girls impregnated by rape.
403 ANTI-MUSLIM VIOLENCE IN BURMA 11:7:13
30That this House expresses deep concern at the growing anti-Muslim violence in Burma; is concerned that the government of Burma has still not taken action against those inciting and organising violence; is further concerned by growing Buddhist nationalism in the country and that other religious minorities could also be targeted; is further concerned that, despite Muslims being the majority of the victims of violence, they also make up the vast majority of those being charged with violent offences; calls on the Government to significantly increase support for programmes promoting religious tolerance in Burma; and further calls on the Government to mobilise and co-ordinate an international task force to help address religious violence in Burma.
406 BARNARDO'S AND TACKLING CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 12:7:13
51That this House applauds Barnardo's, one of the UK's leading children's charities, for its continued work on tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE); believes CSE is still a hidden issue and recognises that in 2012 alone the charity helped over 1400 sexually exploited children and young people through 23 specialist services; praises its campaign to highlight the fact that no child can ever truly agree to being sexually exploited; encourages an improved system linking project workers to be actively working with the police, local authorities, local faith organisations, local community organisations and other stakeholders to identify victims and offer them appropriate support; and calls for effective facilitating of policing and securing successful prosecutions.
407 G4S AND THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE 12:7:13
30That this House welcomes the Secretary of State for Justice calling in the Serious Fraud Office to investigate G4S; notes that the company's failure to co-operate with a voluntary audit of its billing practices into its tagging contract raises serious questions about the company's credentials and other contracts to provide public services; further notes the jury verdict of unlawful killing into the death during the deportation of Jimmy Mubenga at the hands of three G4S guards who unlawfully restrained him, with his hands cuffed behind his back while he was seat belted into a seat on a BA flight at Heathrow raises serious concerns about G4S's treatment of vulnerable people in its care; notes G4S's failures over the provision of security for the Olympics in 2012 suggesting an urgent inquiry is required into all of the company's Government contracts, including its handling of Palestinian prisoners in Israel; and calls on the Government to review all Government contracts with G4S.
408 MENINGITIS B: BEAT IT NOW CAMPAIGN 12:7:13
35That this House notes that a new vaccine against meningitis B, Bexsero, has been licensed for use in the UK; celebrates this medical breakthrough with the potential to save thousands of lives especially among children aged under five; recognises that the vaccine's optimum impact would be achieved by its inclusion in the Routine Child Immunisation Schedule of the NHS; applauds the Meningitis UK and Meningitis Trust campaign Meningitis B: Beat It Now highlighting the important opportunity to prevent the devastating impact of the most common form of meningitis in the UK; welcomes their new awareness tour with giant mobile billboard and petition ahead of crucial meetings on whether Bexsero should be in the schedule; and urges the Government to take this opportunity to save thousands of lives and prevent life-changing after-effects with a timely positive decision to include Bexsero in the Child Immunisation Schedule.
410 TRAVEL TO SAUDI ARABIA 15:7:13
20That this House notes with deep concern the decision by the government of Saudi Arabia to limit the number of British Muslims who can travel to Mecca for Hajj and Umrah; further notes that the limit amounts to a cut of 20 per cent and that many British citizens are being forced to cancel often costly travel plans as a result; and calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to intervene on behalf of British Muslims in their efforts to get refunds and compensation from tour operators and the Saudi authorities.
411 WASTE WOOD RECYCLING IN RHYL 15:7:13
9That this House praises the generosity of Inwood Cymru, Cefndy Road, Rhyl which donates high quality wood offcuts to local schools and colleges for use in creating wooden products; notes that this is a far more sustainable, economic and socially productive way of disposing of waste wood products; and calls on all businesses dealing with wood and wood products to follow this example.
412 DANGEROUS DOGS 15:7:13
34That this House is deeply concerned that dog attacks killed 14 people between 2005 and February 2013, including eight children; welcomes the Government's commitments to introduce universal microchipping and extend the law governing dangerous dogs to cover private property and its increasing emphasis on deed not breed; further welcomes the commitment to introduce measures to tackle irresponsible dog ownership before dogs cause harm; urges the Government to go further and tackle the root problem of abandonment; and calls for urgent measures to review dog breeding legislation to address unlicensed breeders and introduce regulations for the advertising and selling of pets.
413 KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY 15:7:13
32That this House notes with concern that the UK invests 1.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in higher education, compared with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average of 1.7 per cent; further notes that public support of further education fell by 5.9 per cent in 2010-11, the last year in which it was reported separately; is concerned that spending on research and development at 1.8 per cent of GDP is also lower than the EU-27 average of 2.0 per cent; is further concerned that the UK has fallen from third among the top industrialised nations in terms of young people graduating in 2000 to 15th in 2013; is aware that the cost of educational under-achievement in the UK is estimated at £22 billion for a generation in opportunity costs and costs to the public purse; is further aware that countries like Germany, India and China have prioritised investment in education in response to the economic crisis; believes that access to high quality tertiary education provides enhanced life chances for individuals, significant benefits for society and is essential for the UK's long-term economic sustainability; and calls on the Government to recognise these benefits and commit the UK to funding tertiary education at a level that can close the international competitive gap in investment with other countries and enable the UK to compete on an equal footing.
414 MAXIMUM WORKING TEMPERATURE 15:7:13
29That this House notes that whilst there is a legal minimum workplace indoor temperature there is no legal maximum workplace temperature, so that conditions can vary greatly from employer to employer; further notes that whilst Regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the associated Approved Code of Practice suggests that the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable, this guidance leaves considerable uncertainty as to the upper limit beyond which control measures must be in place; understands that employees in a wide range of workplaces - from industrial bakeries to school classrooms - are often subjected to high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being, with effects ranging from discomfort, stress, irritability and headaches, to extra strain on the heart and lungs, dizziness and fainting and heat cramps due to loss of water and salt; observes that the consequent reduction in cognitive function, attention span and visual motor tracking can contribute to workplace accidents and fatalities; commends the Trades Union Congress for passing a resolution in 2012 adopting a maximum working temperature as its official policy; and therefore urges the Government to resolve uncertainty for employers about their duty to combat excessive heat in the workplace by introducing a maximum working workplace temperature of 30C (86F) and of 27C (81F) for those doing strenuous work.
415 PTSD AND PANORAMA 15:7:13
27That this House, following on from the Adjournment Debate in December 2012 on Ex-service personnel (Psychological Welfare), notes with concern that more British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting in Afghanistan; expresses concern at these figures; highlights the enormity of the task in terms of tackling all issues relating to soldier and veteran welfare; further notes the general lack of understanding amongst the public of post-traumatic stress disorder and the psychological welfare issues of service personnel; welcomes the efforts of the Panorama programme in highlighting the issue more widely; and calls on the Government to undertaken a more thorough investigation into the extent of the problem and hold a further debate in Government time on the floor of the House.
416 DOG ATTACKS 15:7:13
18That this House welcomes Dog Awareness Week, 15 to 19 July 2013, organised by Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union with the support of animal charities; notes the reduction of recorded dog attacks on postwomen and men; regrets that the number of such attacks still exceeded 5,500 in the last year; further welcomes the proposed amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill to give legal protection to delivery staff when in a customer's garden; and calls on the Government to include protection and remedy for an individual in the communal area of a block of flats and for someone who is bitten when delivering an item through a letter box.
417 SUPPORT FOR PENSIONER CARERS 15:7:13
44That this House acknowledges the incredible contribution to society made by older carers across the UK; believes that the dedication and support which older carers provide allows some of the most vulnerable in society to live with dignity in their communities; notes that the 2011 Census data which has been published thus far has shown a significant increase in the number of older carers over the past 10 years; highlights the Invisible but Invaluable research from Age UK which has emphasised the significant physical and financial sacrifices which older carers often make to support loved ones; further notes that carers often face higher costs of living than the rest of the population due to their having to spend higher amounts on heating and electricity, household costs and specialist equipment; expresses concern that at present support for older carers falls short of what many require and that pensioner carers are not entitled to carer's allowance; and calls on the Government to produce a detailed strategy aimed at supporting older carers, including financial recognition for the amazing work they do.
418 INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE BAKA PEOPLE OF CAMEROON 15:7:13
25That this House congratulates UNICEF and UNESCO for hosting the premiere of Phil Agland's BAFTA-nominated film, Baka - a Cry from the Rainforest, at the Cameroon Parliament to highlight the threat to the traditional lifestyle of the Baka people and their rainforest habitat posed by logging, mining and plantation interests, the destructive influence of illicit alcohol and the introduction of national parks that exclude the Baka from their ancestral forests; applauds the British High Commission in Cameroon for sponsoring the event along with the US Embassy and many non-governmental organisations; and calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development to continue to work with international organisations and the government of Cameroon to resolve these issues and ensure the long-term survival and integrity of the Baka culture.
419 PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF RAIL 15:7:13
31That this House commends the public ownership of the East Coast rail franchise which has paid £602 million in premium payments since 2009; recognises this is £232 million more than National Express paid back during its tenure and over £209 million more than the amount paid in by Virgin/Stagecoach on the West Coast Mainline since 2009; notes that Europe's more unified publicly-owned railways cost less to run and provide cheaper fares; is aware of the recent report by the Centre for Research on Social-Cultural Change at the University of Manchester which found that private rail investment and innovation is minimal and that passenger increases have been due to economic growth not privatisation; is concerned rail privatisation is leading to ever higher fares and staff cuts; believes there is now overwhelming evidence that the interests of passengers, taxpayers, the economy and environment could be better served by a unified railway under public ownership, with fairer fares and proper staffing levels; and calls for early consideration of how this could be achieved along with the retention of the East Coast franchise under public ownership.
423 KEEPING GUARDS ON TRAINS 16:7:13
18That this House welcomes the work of train guards in helping ensure the safe operation of trains and also providing passenger assistance and reassurance; notes that guards play a vital role in protecting the train and acting in emergencies such as driver incapacity, failure of train safety systems and derailments; further notes that guards are vital for women and disabled and older people to feel more secure when using trains and providing assistance with access onto and onboard trains; further welcomes the broad support for retaining staff on trains from the TUC, the Women's Institute, National Pensioners Convention and disability groups; is very concerned therefore that London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL) which operates London Overground rail services on behalf of Transport for London has announced that it intends to sack all its guards and run the trains as driver-only operation; is also concerned that as LOROL is a 50/50 joint venture company between Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) and MTR Corporation the safety and comfort of London train passengers is being compromised to support profits going to German and Hong Kong state railways; and calls on the Mayor of London to intervene to ensure guards are retained on London Overground services.
425 RETROSPECTIVE LEGISLATION AND SECTION 58(4) OF THE FINANCE ACT 2008 16:7:13
7That this House believes retrospective legislation contradicts the principles that underpin a fair and competitive tax regime; further believes that people’s actions should only be judged under the law as it stood at the time; notes with concern that the legal definition of partners and changes to rules regarding double taxation agreements introduced through section 58(4) of the Finance Act 2008 were deemed always to have had effect; further notes that the Chartered Institute of Taxation called this measure extreme and unjustified, the Law Society said it was wrong in principle and the Institute of Chartered Accountants said it sent out a damaging signal about the stability of the UK tax system; further notes HM Treasury’s estimate that up to 2,200 taxpayers are affected by these changes; further notes a survey by the No To Retro Tax campaign which suggests that 38 per cent of those affected will be bankrupted and 47 per cent will have to sell their homes; further notes with concern the explanation that retrospective legislation was introduced in this instance to remove the need for costly and protracted litigation; questions why, if section 58 did not change the legal situation, there was any need to introduce it; further notes previous comments from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that retrospective legislation in tax matters will be confined to wholly exceptional circumstances; further questions in what way this arrangement was exceptional; and further believes that those affected by the legislation should have their actions judged according to the law as it stood at the time.
427 RUGBY LEAGUE FESTIVAL OF WORLD CUPS 16:7:13
11That this House congratulates all those involved in the 2013 Festival of World Cups; recognises the enormous challenges in delivering five world cup tournaments with 55 games for the armed forces, police, students, women and wheelchair users; praises Tournament Director Julia Lee, all her team and all the volunteers involved in preparing a wonderful spectacle of sport; applauds all players, coaches and staff representing the sides from Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Serbia, South Africa, Russia, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand for making the tournament such a wonderful spectacle of international sport and friendship; further congratulates Australia as winners of the Armed Forces World Cup; further congratulates Australia as winners of the Police World Cup; further congratulates Australia as winners of the Student Rugby League World Cup; further congratulates Australia as winners of the Women's Rugby League World Cup; and further congratulates France as winners of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.
428 MINERS' PENSIONS AND FUEL ENTITLEMENT 16:7:13
40That this House notes that on 9 July 2013 UK Coal announced that industry-wide pension funds would enter into the Pension Protection Fund (PPF); understands that pensions accrued after privatisation of British Coal in 1994 will be administered by the PPF; expresses dismay at plans to reduce these pensions by 10 per cent; further notes with alarm the removal of the entitlement of miners and widows to receive a fuel or cash allowance; considers the weak inflation protection within the PPF to be a long-term threat to the well-being of miners and their families; and calls on the Government to reverse these cuts and to support mining villages and towns with full pensions and fuel rights.
429 COMMONWEALTH EXCHANGE 16:7:13
15That this House welcomes the creation of Commonwealth Exchange (CX), a new foundation established to promote a 21st century vision of the Commonwealth with particular focus on trade, education and defence; notes that CX will add value and complement existing organisations, while making the case for a revived Commonwealth that will advance the UK in the global race as well as lifting millions out of poverty through deeper small and medium-sized enterprise trade and investment ties; and urges the Government to re-engage with the potential and power of our shared Commonwealth that consists of developed, developing and emerging economies with over two billion people, operating in every habitable continent and in each world time zone for the betterment of all involved.
430 CELEBRATING MAGNA CARTA 800TH ANNIVERSARY 16:7:13
28That this House welcomes the announcement that the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta will be brought together for the first time in history in 2015 to mark the 800th anniversary of its issue; notes that Magna Carta is one of the world's most famous documents and that its principles are echoed in the British constitution and others around the world; congratulates the British Library, Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral on uniting the original copies; further welcomes the chance for 1215 members of the public to see the manuscripts side-by-side in a special event; further welcomes the opportunity for scholars to see the documents together for the first time; and looks forward to the celebrations of Magna Carta's anniversary in two years' time.
431 REGULATION OF COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOTHERAPISTS 16:7:13
43That this House notes that anyone can set themselves up as a counsellor or psychotherapist without training or experience with no recourse for the patient if something goes wrong; further notes that there are more than 50,000 registered counsellors or psychotherapists and an unknown number unregistered; further notes that millions of people, often with mental health problems who are therefore vulnerable and at risk, are being given therapy in an unregulated industry with no uniform code of conduct or ethics; and calls on the Government to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists by bringing them into the jurisdiction of the Health and Care Professions Council.
432 TESCO NATIONAL FOOD COLLECTION 16:7:13
8That this House congratulates Tesco, in partnership with the Trussell Trust and FareShare, following their second national food collection on 5 and 6 July to help address food poverty; commends Tesco's pledge to top up the value of all customer donations by 30 per cent and recognises the contribution of Tesco customers, staff and volunteers in collecting 3.5 million meals, the equivalent to 26,000 shopping trolleys of food, to help those most in need of support; notes that the partnership's first national collection, held last December, was the biggest ever food collection and that this second collection was extended to every Tesco store across the country meaning even more food was collected; and further notes because of this expansion the second collection is now the biggest ever national food collection.
433 MURDER OF HILDA MURRELL 16:7:13
34That this House notes with concern that, as documented in the new edition of the book about Hilda Murrell’s murder, A Thorn in Their Side, by her nephew Commander Robert Green, Royal Navy (Retired), key forensic and other evidence was not disclosed at the 2005 trial and the 2006 appeal of Andrew George, who was convicted of the abduction and murder of the internationally renowned rose grower and anti-nuclear campaigner in 1984; further notes Michael Mansfield QC’s view that the book raises serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations to date into this controversial case; supports Mansfield’s call for a Commission of Inquiry into the case along similar lines to the Hillsborough Independent Panel; and recommends that all relevant papers be published by the Home Office and the West Mercia Police.
434 BRINDLEY ENTERPRISE AND REMPLOY 16:7:13
7That this House notes that Brindley Enterprise, a social enterprise representing the workforce of Remploy Automotive, offered a sum of £9 million plus a percentage of profits for the Remploy Automotive business; further notes that they were hobbled by the company refusing to provide all information requested; further notes that their bid has now been rejected on the basis that they did not offer enough; further notes that the Government had said it would look sympathetically at bids from worker-led enterprises and mutuals for the Remploy business; further notes that KPMG has refused to provide the details of the calculations (including the figures) that led to their exclusion from the bid process; sadly believes that the refusal to provide the information requested has resulted in an unfair process; recognises that this looks like a fix when the employee bid has been nobbled; and calls for the bidding process for the automotive business to be brought to a halt whilst this issue is investigated.
435 ANTARCTIC CONSERVATION ZONE 16:7:13
16That this House deeply regrets the failure of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Resources to agree on a new area of conservation; believes that this failure will allow excessive fishing and that this will put the ecosystem in danger and threaten the existence of many seals, penguins and whales; recognises the Government supported the plan; and urges the Government to lobby Russia to ensure that the conservation area is fully agreed in Hobart in October 2013.
436 PROBATION SERVICE 17:7:13
16That this House notes the positive impact made by the 106 year-old probation service (PS) in England and Wales; further notes that of the 35 probation areas, 31 are rated good and four exceptional; further notes that the PS was awarded the British Quality Foundation Gold Medal in 2011; further notes the Government's Transforming Rehabilitation consultation, which proposes to outsource all low and medium risk offenders to private and voluntary groups whilst retaining high risk offenders under a national PS; further notes the Government's proposal to reorganise the 35 existing probation areas into a smaller number and centrally manage outsourced contracts, as well as introducing a payment-by-results model for outsourced contracts and, whilst welcoming the proposals to extend rehabilitation support to those serving short-term sentences, notes with concern the reports in the Press relating to the Ministry of Justice's internal risk register on the plans, the cancellation of the pilot programme and the incorrect use of reoffending rate statistics for short-term prisoners, who are not currently supervised by the PS, to justify the proposals; and welcomes the amendments made to the Offender Rehabilitation Bill to make any change of the structure of the PS subject to the approval of both Houses of Parliament.
437 SUDDEN CARDIAC ARRESTS 17:7:13
9That this House recognises data released by Arrhythmia Alliance (AA) during Heart Rhythm Week which reveals that most of the British public are unaware of the difference they can make to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survival; further recognises that when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is administered to someone who has suffered a SCA they have just a nine per cent chance of survival, but when CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) are used together, the average chance of survival increases to 50 per cent and that survival rates from SCA drop by seven to 10 per cent every minute without defibrillation; further recognises that over 85 per cent of Britons are not able to describe the difference between a SCA and a heart attack; believes that more needs to be done to increase survival rates from SCA nationally; encourages the Government and the NHS to work together to increase the provision of AEDs across the country and improve implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation rates; and supports the aims of AA's Whole Hearted and Hearts and Goals campaigns in raising awareness of SCA and heart rhythm disorders.
438 CROSS-PARTY COMMISSION ON THE NHS 17:7:13
5That this House believes that the NHS is a great national asset and is very important to the many millions of people who use it annually; further believes that the NHS should no longer be used as a political football; calls on all the political parties represented in this House, and the other place, to set up a cross-party national commission to develop a plan of action that will ensure the long-term future of the NHS; and further believes that such a plan should be followed by whichever political party or combination of parties is in power after all subsequent general elections.
439 MISHAL HUSAIN AND THE TODAY PROGRAMME 17:7:13
5That this House welcomes the news that Mishal Husain has been chosen to present the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, one of the most prestigious jobs in news broadcasting; recognises the appointment as being a step in the right direction towards gender equality and race equality at the BBC and in the media in general; and urges the Government to continue to promote equality in the media industry.
441 DIVERSITY IN THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM 17:7:13
6That this House welcomes the increase in diversity in the new National Curriculum; recognises the importance of promoting knowledge of equality issues with young people; acknowledges the significant contribution that figures from ethnic minority and subjugated parts of society have made to British history and culture; further welcomes the specific inclusion of figures such as Rosa Parks and Emily Davison in the new curriculum; and urges the Government to continue to improve diversity topics in education.
442 PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS OF SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES ON LIVING ANIMALS 2012 REPORT 17:7:13
15That this House notes the publication of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 2012 report; expresses concern that 4,033,310 animals were used in scientific procedures in Great Britain in 2012, an increase of 8.7 per cent on the 2011 figure and the highest at any point since the current statistics regime was introduced by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and the third successive year that the number has increased; further notes that the increase contrasts with the pledge in the Coalition Programme for Government to 'work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research'; is very disappointed with the lack of progress being made on this issue; and calls on the Government to immediately publish its strategy on how numbers can be reduced.
443 COVENTRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB AND MR PAUL APPLETON, THE JOINT ADMINISTRATOR 18:7:13
2That this House notes that almost four months after his appointment, Paul Appleton of David Rubins and Partners LLP, the joint administrator for Coventry City Football Club Ltd, is still in discussions with BDO, its auditors, about the accounting procedures used by the company and has not yet used the powers available to him under the Insolvency Act 1986 to compel individuals and organisations to render information to him; further notes therefore that he has not yet secured full knowledge of the company's assets and whether any inappropriate devices have been used to facilitate its transfer to any other organisation; further notes that despite this he has sold the company without conditions to Otium Entertainment a connected party; and calls on him to make a full disclosure of why he has acted as he has and to stand prepared to surrender his position as joint administrator to someone who, even at this late date, is prepared to use the powers provided in legislation.
444 COVENTRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB AND THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE 18:7:13
2That this House notes that the March and April 2008 board minutes show that Coventry City Football Club Ltd (CCFC) had ownership of the Football League's golden share and the registration of the playing staff and that since then various service agreements with the club's many managers' and players' contracts continued to be vested with the company; further notes that the accounts for year ending 31 May 2011 showed playing staff contracts were still owned by the company; calls on the Football League to explain why it has allowed those contracts to be altered to the ownership of CCFC Holdings Ltd, an entity that has not possessed the golden share, in contradiction of its own clearly stated rules; further calls on it to explain why it agreed to allow the club to leave the Coventry area in a ground share with Northampton Town without obliging the club's owners to demonstrate a clear plan with timescales for its return to Coventry, again in clear contradiction of its own policies; further calls on it to reveal whether it received a 12-page solicitor's letter on the eve of agreeing to do so on behalf of the club's owners; and further calls on it to co-operate fully with those charged with discovering how the company's assets have been removed and to review its decision to allow the ground share with Northampton Town.
445 RAIL REGULATOR'S WARNINGS OVER ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS 18:7:13
3That this House is concerned at the rapid increase in the number of rail workers engaged on zero hours contracts, with many workers being employed by a number of different employers; notes that much of Network Rail's (NR) infrastructure work is contracted to a profusion of contractors, sub-contractors and agencies; is alarmed that the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), the official railway safety body, has informed the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) that zero hours contracts used by many of these employers are not conducive to the development of a safe railway and that there are considerable risks arising from safety-critical staff working for more than one employer; is further concerned that should this practice continue a rail tragedy is waiting to happen; further notes that the great rail payroll rip-off study from RMT warns that the profusion of companies contracted to NR are also encouraging bogus self-employment resulting not only in the exploitation of workers but also in tax dodges; is further concerned that NR, despite being wholly publicly-funded, is presiding over these arrangements and is proposing to make even greater use of contractors to achieve efficiency savings; believes that rail infrastructure work is safer and more efficient when carried out in-house by directly employed staff; and calls on the Government to convene an urgent summit with ORR, NR, the rail unions and other stakeholders to give urgent attention to this issue.
446 DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TRADE UNIONS 18:7:13
2That this House is deeply disappointed that the Government has imposed a cut in trade union facility time across the Civil Service without using the agreed negotiation channels; recognises that there needs to be an adequate amount of time for trade union representatives to carry out statutory and other trade union duties, including health and safety and trade union learning; is therefore shocked that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Planning Inspectorate have had imposed the equivalent of an 80 per cent cut to current facility time levels; believes that this provocation will worsen the morale of staff in DCLG, already 93rd out of 97 in terms of staff engagement in the Civil Service Departments' annual staff survey in 2012; and therefore calls on the Government immediately to reinstate the facility time previously agreed by all parties, return to agreed trade union negotiations processes and adopt a more constructive approach with unions in DCLG.
447 DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TRADE UNIONS (No. 2) 18:7:13
2That this House notes with concern the hostile behaviour towards trade unions in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG); further notes that recent attacks include an announcement by DCLG, without consultation, that it will no longer allow the check-off system of payment of union subscriptions direct from wages, the cost of which is borne by the unions themselves; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Department reconsiders its decision on subscriptions and adopt a more constructive approach towards trade unions in future.
448 MANCHESTER-MAYO GATHERING 18:7:13
1That this House commends the Manchester-Mayo Gathering for celebrating, through its festivities from 1 to 9 August 2013, the deep and enduring cultural bond shared between the city of Manchester and County Mayo on account of the many Irish migrants and people of Irish descent who have helped to shape Manchester both physically and culturally; recognises South Manchester as home to one of the largest Mayo communities in the UK; and further notes that some of Manchester's most famous products, Manchester United and the music of the Smiths, the Stone Roses and Oasis, all bear testament to the great contribution of Irish heritage to Manchester's international identity.
449 SHREWSBURY 24 18:7:13
5That this House notes the application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission by Ricky Tomlinson and other convicted building workers known as the Shrewsbury 24 who were prosecuted in 1973 following the national building workers' strike in 1972; further notes the support for the Shrewsbury 24 campaign from building workers’ unions the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians and Unite and many other trades unions; further notes that on the 40th anniversary of the dispute the Government continues, on the grounds of national security, to withhold a number of papers relating to the strike and prosecutions from being deposited at the National Archives under section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and calls on the Government to release forthwith all such papers for public scrutiny.