Session 2013-14
House of Commons
2nd September 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
450 PARLIAMENTARY RIGHT TO DEBATE MILITARY ACTION 29:8:13
47That this House believes that Parliament should, as of right, normally hold a debate before any British commitment to military action.
452 ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS 29:8:13
6That this House calls on the Government to ensure that workers' rights are protected and that a race to the bottom is avoided; notes with great concern the large number of workers in all sectors employed on zero hour contracts; further notes that, while this flexibility can suit some workers, on the whole it undermines employment, financial and family stability and raises grave doubts about employers' commitment to the welfare of their employees; urges employers to invest in a stable and secure workforce whose skills and aspirations are recognised and encouraged through longer term contracts, training and proper observation of workplace rights.
453 SYRIA AND THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS 29:8:13
8That this House deplores the chemical weapons attacks and appalling loss of life in Syria; notes that the reports of weapons inspectors in Syria are yet to be published and that there is no UN authorisation for military action; calls for refugees from the Syrian conflict to be fully assisted and supported; and believes that the case for military action against Syria has not been established.
455 ARTICLE 18: AN ORPHANED RIGHT? REPORT 29:8:13
5That this House welcomes the publication of the new report Article 18: An Orphaned Right? by the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom; notes that this report examines abuses of religious freedom using the framework of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of religion or belief; congratulates the authors of the report for producing a concise and clear survey of abuses of freedom of religion or belief throughout the world, affecting people of all religions and none; endorses the Report's policy recommendations including the appointment of an Ambassador for Religious Freedom and the establishment of a Foreign and Commonwealth Office advisory committee on freedom of religion or belief; and calls on the Government to accept these recommendations as soon as possible.
457 MARTIN LUTHER KING 'I HAVE A DREAM' 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPEECH 29:8:13
10That this House remembers the great work carried out by Martin Luther King in the search for equal rights in America; recalls with sadness on this the 50th anniversary of his `I have a dream' speech, the assassination of this great man; notes that it is one of the most famous and well-known speeches in history and reaffirms the need for true racial equality throughout the world.
458 MR GREG CLARKE AND FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S INSOLVENCY POLICY 29:8:13
3That this House notes that the Football League's insolvency policy, as written, requires an owner wishing to move a club away from its traditional area to demonstrate a clear plan with timescales for its return; further notes that despite this, Greg Clarke, the Chairman of the Football League, has admitted that he does not know if the owners of Coventry City Football Club will build a stadium in the Coventry area in the next five years or if it is their intention ever to do so; calls on the Football League in light of this to alter its policy to reflect the actions it has taken in this case; believes that the policy should recognise that the League will back its member clubs right to move if they wish, for however long they wish, will require no commitments from them other than a demonstration that they have the funds to continue to run the club, will disregard the views of fans, will criticise those who build and pay for stadiums for clubs to play in, as he has done, even when a club withholds the rent and puts itself into administration in order to avoid its obligations; and, in light of this policy coupled with the serious administrative errors it has belatedly admitted, further believes that the League is not a fit and capable organisation to administer the national game.
461 BAKERS' INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS 29:8:13
9That this House expresses grave concern over the rise in the number of UK workers employed on zero hours contracts and the growth of casualisation across the labour market; notes the serious and detrimental impact of zero hours contracts on many people who lack the ability to plan their lives or budget effectively; resolves to support workers at Hovis (Premier Foods) in Wigan who have rejected the employment of agency labour on zero hours contracts following recent redundancies and have been left with no choice other than to take industrial action over these concerns; believes that the company's failure to withdraw agency labour from the site sets a damaging precedent, undermines current terms and conditions, creates a two-tier workforce and leaves a poor legacy for subsequent generations of people who may be employed at Hovis in the future; further notes the outstanding messages of solidarity from members of the public; and urges the company to re-enter negotiations with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union to resolve this dispute fairly, amicably and in accordance with the strength of feeling among the workforce and the general public.
462 ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE MARCH IN TOWER HAMLETS 2:9:13
1That this House notes that the English Defence League (EDL) intends to march in Tower Hamlets on 7 September 2013; further notes that previous attempts by EDL members to march in Tower Hamlets over the last couple of years have been stopped either through bans or police arrests; further notes that the intention of the EDL is to whip up racial tension, division and violence directed particularly against the large Muslim community in Tower Hamlets; further notes that Tower Hamlets Council has voted to support a ban on the EDL marching and the directly elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets has called for such a ban; and calls on the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to recommend to the Home Secretary that the EDL should be banned, and that the Home Secretary should then ban the EDL from marching in Tower Hamlets on 7 September 2013.
463 SEAMUS HEANEY 2:9:13
7That this House mourns the passing of Seamus Heaney, great poet, most gentle man of deep humility, high honour and wide-smiled humour, whose cadent, lyrical, ethereal and earthed verse voiced a special spokesperson for the natured heart of humanity, whose warm, wise way epitomised a soul-uncle for all touched by his charming presence or reached by his stirring, stilling words who had the grace of genius and who showed the genius of grace.
464 WITHDRAWAL OF THE MINIMUM PRACTICE INCOME GUARANTEE 2:9:13
1That this House recognises that the withdrawal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee for General Practices will disproportionately affect small rural practices, such as those in Coniston and Hawkshead; notes that this loss in funding may result in these surgeries being forced to close; further notes that these practices are vital to the communities they serve, particularly in large rural areas; and therefore calls on NHS England, the Department of Health and the British Medical Association to intervene so that specific financial and administrative support is given to small rural general practices to ensure their ongoing viability.
465 CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL OTLEY BUSINESS CRAFTSMAN TOOLS 2:9:13
1That this House congratulates all staff past and present who have worked hard to keep vital local business Craftsman Tools thriving in Otley for 60 years; recognises the hard work which has gone into the continued successful expansion overseas and local development of the business over the past 60 years; welcomes its dedication to the local community; commends Craftsman Tools for creating a new apprentice training area this year and thus showing its commitment to young people in the area by employing and training increasing numbers of apprentices in its factory; recognises its links with local university Leeds Metropolitan University and its commitment to aiding students with research projects; acknowledges the dedication shown by Craftsman Tools to providing jobs in the local community where they are much needed; wishes it every success in the future; and expresses its commitment to valuing local businesses and aiding them to succeed as Craftsman Tools has.
466 COMMENTS MADE IN THE 2014 GOOD PUB GUIDE 2:9:13
1That this House criticises the comments made by the editorial team of the Good Pub Guide that state that most of the 4,000 pubs they anticipate will close by 2014 deserve to shut due to them not being good enough, saying that they are stuck in the 1980s; condemns the lack of sensitivity shown at the potential loss of livelihood and homes for publicans whose pubs are forced to close; believes that there are very few pubs that cannot be good pubs with the right people owning and running them, and that, instead of welcoming closures of pubs, the Good Pub Guide should be looking at why so many community pubs are under-invested in and struggling, which in thousands of cases is due to the unfair pubco tied business model, which has led to chronic under-investment in many pubs as well as making it difficult for their publicans to compete due to the high rents and excessive prices they are forced to buy beer at which has made many pubs unviable that would not be on a fair agreement; suggests that the editors of the Good Pub Guide visit some of the now excellent pubs that were previously under-invested in, failing pubco pubs now thriving under local ownership; and calls on the Good Pub Guide, instead of criticising some pubs and supporting their closure, to look at the issues facing pubco pubs and to support more pubs being in local ownership which would mean these pubs would also have a chance to be good pubs with a positive future.