Session 2013-14
House of Commons
12th 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
475 CLIFF MORGAN OBE 1930-2013 4:9:13
66That this House notes with sadness the death of Cliff Morgan OBE one of the greatest Wales and British and Irish Lions players who described the game of rugby as, a combination of opera, ballet and murder and played at a time when he humorously suggested Welsh players thought a coach was a posh bus; remembers his easy, deceptive humour which disguised the extensive abilities of a man who became one of the most consummate and influential television and radio sports commentators and television production executives; and further notes that he was a musician and gentleman and rounded individual who also pioneered the public promotion of disabled athletics and made a significant contribution to the celebrating of his country and its culture.
476 TAX HAVENS 4:9:13
19That this House notes with concern that one in five tax havens worldwide are under UK jurisdiction; further notes that although all the British Overseas Territories have committed to joining the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, none have actually done so and no time-frame has been set in which they will do so; further notes that the island of Sark, where income tax is set at zero per cent will not come under the new agreement signed by Guernsey so will be exempt from oversight on beneficial ownership; believes that clarification on when the register of beneficial ownership will come into force, which British Overseas Territories will sign up to the Register and whether it will be publicly accessible is required as a matter of urgency; observes that while the automatic sharing of tax information will aid transparency, it will not in itself alter the tax regimes which made these territories attractive to companies and individuals aiming to minimise their taxes; and calls on the Government to take action both domestically and internationally to tackle the use of tax havens by multinational companies and individuals operating in the UK or in territories under its jurisdiction.
478 NORTHERN ECHO AND CREDIT UNIONS 4:9:13
19That this House congratulates the Northern Echo for providing free advertising space for local credit unions and which promotes them as a viable alternative to payday loans and loan sharks.
480 RECENT EVENTS AT CAMP ASHRAF 4:9:13
12That this House is aware of the tragic events that took place in Camp Ashraf in the early morning of 1 September 2013, when an armed raid led by Iraqi forces who needlessly slaughtered at least 52 persons and kidnapped a number of other people who remain hostages; condemns unreservedly the actions which led to these deaths, with many of the deceased appearing to have died of gunshot wounds, the majority of which were to the head and upper body and several with their hands tied; reminds the Iraqi government of its human rights responsibilities and that those killed and taken were protected persons under the terms of the Geneva Convention; and demands the safe release of those held and an immediate and full inquiry into these actions.
481 RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, GIBRALTAR AND SPAIN 4:9:13
10That this House expresses concern regarding the Spanish government's refusal to accept referendums and their subsequent results as a valid procedure to resolve sovereignty-related matters in Gibraltar and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.
482 NATIONAL DAY OF CATALONIA 4:9:13
12That this House congratulates all the people of Catalonia on the occasion of their National Day on 11 September 2013; and notes the peaceful and democratic spirit of the Via Catalana initiative in which hundreds of thousands of people will stage a 250-mile human chain that will cross the country, including its capital Barcelona, to call for the independence of Catalonia through democratic means.
483 UK DISABLED PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO 4:9:13
30That this House warmly welcomes the launch of the UK Disabled People's Manifesto, Reclaiming our Futures, developed by disabled people and their organisations across the UK, which sets out the shared vision of disabled people for an inclusive and equal society free from economic, social and cultural barriers; and urges all political parties represented in this House to engage in a constructive dialogue with the disabled people's organisations promoting the manifesto with the aim of achieving its objectives.
486 US CONGRESS VOTE AGAINST MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA 5:9:13
30That this House welcomes the announcement of the Prime Minister ruling out UK participation in military action against Syria following the Parliamentary vote of 29 August 2013; believes the Syrian conflict desperately needs a peaceful resolution since military action on the part of the UK or US would result in further death and destruction of innocent lives, increase mistrust between forces in the region and the wider world, and escalate the violence further; values the UK-US relationship which it believes is built on much more than a military alliance; and therefore urges members of the US Congress to reject military action and support an immediate ceasefire and peace talks involving all sides in the Syrian conflict.
487 LGBT RIGHTS IN RUSSIA 6:9:13
23That this House deplores the recent legislation passed in Russia banning the promotion of non-traditional relationships; notes that this is akin to the former Section 28 legislation in the UK; further notes that the new law appears to be part of a wider crackdown on the freedoms of the LGBT community in Russia; believes that we must listen to those Russian LGBT groups and activists who urge very strongly that boycotts in any form or nature, from sporting, like the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, to drinking vodka, are not supported by them and only increase the likelihood of harm towards LGBT Russians; and calls on the Government to work through international and diplomatic channels, like the G20, the Council of Europe and the International Olympic Committee and commercial and business interests already involved in sponsoring the 2014 Winter Olympics, alongside indigenous LGBT campaign groups based in Russia itself, to stand up for the human rights of the Russian LGBT community.
488 HOME OFFICE RETURNS PILOT SCHEME 9:9:13
14That this House deplores the recent Home Office poster campaign running in UK Border Agency offices in Glasgow and London advising people seeking advice to 'go home'; believes that this poster campaign is an insensitive and ineffective way of dealing with illegal immigration and is unlikely to encourage voluntary returns; notes that this is not the only instance of this type of campaign following the heavily criticised vans carrying similar messages; further notes that charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have expressed their concerns about the campaign; further believes that this scheme is likely to undermine its stated aims whilst creating an environment of fear; and urges the Government to halt immediately this pilot scheme and to work with local authorities, community groups and NGOs to encourage voluntary returns in a more effective, liberal, sympathetic and humane manner.
490 NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT PARTNERS AND EXPENSES CLAIMS 9:9:13
13That this House notes that the consortium, Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), who has been responsible for mismanaging Sellafield for five years, has included in its expenses claims to the taxpayer-funded Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for charging the taxpayer £714 to provide a taxi for a cat and that executives charged £2,795 for flights to the US Masters golf tournament, claimed an £82 per person dinner in France and billed £719 for Amazon purchases without providing a receipt; recalls that NMP is jointly owned by Amec from the UK, Areva from France and US firm URS Washington; further recalls Early Day Motion 397 which calls on the Government to replace NMP with a competent management team and to bring the proposed new contract for Sellafield management before Parliament for scrutiny before finalising the deal; and believes that this reinforces the urgency of proper financial oversight of the top-tier management at Sellafield.
491 PROPOSED ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE MARCH IN BRADFORD 9:9:13
13That this House notes that there were further arrests at the English Defence League (EDL) march of what were estimated to be between 350 and 500 EDL members in London on 7 September 2013 and that 3,000 police officers were mobilised to enable the EDL to march over Tower Bridge to Aldgate; further notes that there was a peaceful counter-demonstration in Tower Hamlets of some 3,000 to 3,500 people determined to defend the principles of community harmony; further notes that the EDL leader, Tommy Robinson, has now announced that the next national march by the EDL will be in Bradford on 12 October 2013; believes the only purpose of such a march will be to incite racial division, hatred and violence; and therefore calls on the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire and the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ban the EDL from marching anywhere in the Bradford area.
496 40th ANNIVERSARY OF CHILE COUP OF 11 SEPTEMBER 1973 9:9:13
28That this House commemorates 11 September 2013 as the fortieth anniversary of the coup in Chile which overthrew the elected popular Unity government of Salvador Allende and resulted in his death and that of over 7,000 people during the military dictatorship; and extends its sympathy and solidarity to the victims and their families and salutes all those who campaigned against Pinochet and his accomplices for democracy and human rights in Chile and throughout Latin America.
497 ENGLAND COAST PATH 9:9:13
29That this House recalls that the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 was passed with overwhelming cross-party agreement; is confident, on the basis of evidence from existing coastal walking routes, that the full England Coast Path will create real jobs and bring economic regeneration to many poor rural communities; further recalls that the path was originally to be completed by 2019; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward its proposals for the completion of the path without further delay.
498 RESUMPTION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS 10:9:13
21That this House welcomes July 2013's resumption of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators; congratulates US Secretary of State John Kerry for his endeavours; urges both sides to refrain from any acts that undermine the trust required for successful negotiations; further urges both the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to ensure that these negotiations achieve a two state solution, based on the pre-1967 borders with agreed land swaps, and East Jerusalem as the capital for the new state of Palestine; and applauds the work of civil society groups such as the OneVoice Movement, whose vital work highlights the will of the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who seek an end to the prolonged occupation and conflict.
499 NATIONAL ARTHRITIS WEEK 10:9:13
29That this House welcomes Arthritis Research UK's National Arthritis Week from 7 to 13 October 2013; recognises the substantial impact that arthritis and musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, including back pain and osteoporosis, have on people's daily lives; acknowledges that MSK conditions affect over 10 million people and account for the largest proportion of years lived with disability in the UK; further welcomes Arthritis Research UK's Understanding Arthritis report with its five recommendations to improve the health and wellbeing of people with these conditions, namely ensuring NHS England fulfils its NHS Mandate objective to offer everyone with a long term condition a care plan; calls for MSK conditions to be included within Public Health England's three year set of priorities; requests that there is a fracture liaison service linked to every hospital involved in the care of people with fragility fractures; further calls on NHS England to prioritise data collection of patients' conditions and treatments in data poor areas such as rheumatology and orthopaedic outpatient appointments; and further requests that NHS England encourages GPs to routinely ask people with MSK conditions if they experience depression and anxiety.
500 PROBATION SERVICE PRIVATISATION 10:9:13
15That this House is deeply concerned by the Government's plans to outsource almost 70 per cent of the probation service in England and Wales, including the supervision of low to medium risk offenders, to private security firms such as G4S and Serco; notes the recent revelations regarding the competency of both security firms in the justice sector; further notes, with concern, the possible risks to public safety and the reputation of the service should it be outsourced which was highlighted by the Government in its restricted Ministry of Justice risk register; recognises that the probation service is at present meeting or exceeding all of its targets and has won the prestigious British Quality Foundation Award for Excellence; and calls on the Government to take into account the views of trade unions, charities and those who responded to the Transforming Rehabilitation consultation, most of whom voiced their overwhelming rejection of Government plans, and abandon proceeding with its privatisation agenda.
503 ARMS SALES TO AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES 10:9:13
13That this House notes that the arms export priority markets for the UK Trade and Investment's Defence and Security Organisation in 2013-14 included Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; further notes that the UK hosts one of the world's largest arms shows, Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi); agrees with the Committees on Arms Export Controls, in its report on Scrutiny of Arms Exports and Arms Controls, HC 205, published on 17 July 2013, that the Government would do well to acknowledge that there is an inherent conflict between strongly promoting arms exports to authoritarian regimes whilst strongly criticising their lack of human rights at the same time rather than claiming, as the Government continues to do, that these two policies are mutually reinforcing; is appalled that the Russian State Technology Corporation, Rostec, one of the main arms suppliers to President al-Assad of Syria, is exhibiting at DSEi 2013; and calls on the Government to end the promotion and export of military equipment to all authoritarian regimes.
504 LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE UNOFFICIAL WEBSITE 10:9:13
6That this House notes that the website www.londoncongestion.com/tfl is the first website that comes up when drivers search online for paying the London congestion charge; further notes that this website looks like the official Transport for London (TfL) congestion charge website; further notes that if you pay the congestion charge on this website, it charges £16 rather than £10 per day; further notes that many drivers are paying the congestion charge through this unauthorised site in the belief that they are making a payment directly to TfL; believes that this constitutes a fraud on drivers paying the congestion charge; and demands immediate action by the Mayor of London and the police to close this site down, seize all information held by the perpetrators of this site relating to the card details of those who have paid into it and prosecute the perpetrators.
506 BAUER MEDIA GROUP 11:9:13
4That this House notes the expanding presence of the Bauer Media Group (BMG) in the UK; further notes that the parent company of BMG in Germany is responsible for a publication called Der Landser which has been described by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre as a magazine that is 'desecrating the memory of the Holocaust and glorifying Nazism'; and calls on BMG to cease publishing Der Landser and, in the event of BMG failing to do so, for Ofcom to apply a fit and proper person test to BMG.
508 40 YEARS OF COMMERCIAL RADIO 11:9:13
11That this House congratulates commercial radio on marking 40 years since its launch in October 1973; applauds the contribution of this sector in providing four decades of public value through its mix of music, news, sport and entertainment; notes the enduring popularity of commercial radio, which still attracts over 35 million people each week, despite the increasing pressure on traditional media and audience fragmentation; believes that a strong commercial radio sector competing with the BBC is good for audiences and media plurality; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that the legislative and regulatory framework supports this outcome.
509 UK COAL INSOLVENCY 11:9:13
8That this House is aware of the circumstances resulting from the insolvency of the coal production company UK Coal which caused major job losses and resulted in the reduction by at least 10 per cent of their ex-employees' and widows' pensions, and retirees' loss of concessionary coal allowances; is further aware that concessionary fuel was a historic agreement transferred under the Coal Industry Act 1994 with the protection of the TUPE agreement which gave the provision of coal to current miners, ex-miners and their widows for their lifetimes; and understands the Government’s reluctance to involve itself in the debts of this failed company, but believes it has an obligation towards those current employees, ex-employees and their widows who should be protected against such loss.
513 SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY 11:9:13
9That this House welcomes Small Business Saturday 2013 on 7 December; encourages all hon. Members to take part and shop in a local small business on 7 December; recognises that Small Business Saturday has been a huge success in the United States where it was supported by President Obama and led to 100 million Americans spending $5.5 billion; understands that small businesses are at the heart of local communities; and believes that in the critical Christmas period small businesses will benefit from the support of Small Business Saturday on the busiest shopping day of the year.
514 CATS AND DOGS IN SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS 11:9:13
11That this House notes that 202 cats and 3,214 dogs were used in experiments in Great Britain in 2012; believes that many people will find it unacceptable that these animals continue to be used in laboratories, with one in four homes being shared with at least one dog and one in five being shared with at least one cat; further notes that many people consider their companion animals to be their best friends and would not want them, or any other companion animals to be used in laboratories; and supports the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in calling on the Government to issue a policy statement to end the use of cats and dogs in experiments.
515 GIBRALTAR (No. 2) 11:9:13
9That this House supports the people of Gibraltar at this time of Spanish aggression; reaffirms the promise that as long as Gibraltar wishes to remain British it will have the backing of this House; and calls for the application of any and all diplomatic pressure possible to ensure that Spain ceases its most recent belligerence and allows the people of Gibraltar to carry out their lives without unnecessary agitation.
516 TRANSPORT FOR LONDON FARES FOR 2014 11:9:13
27That this House notes that London commuter fares have become the most expensive in the world and are an ever increasing pressure on Londoners' household budgets while real wages are falling and bills are rising; further notes that since 2008 the cost of a single bus journey in London has increased by 56 per cent and that a zone one to six travel card is £400 a year more expensive; further notes that Transport for London has reported unbudgeted operational surpluses for the previous three years and is showing evidence of regularly under-anticipating fares income and over estimating other expenditures; and calls on the Mayor of London to use his discretion to freeze fares at RPI for 2014, easing the pressure on ordinary Londoners during the current cost of living crisis.
517 DEATH OF MR ATAOLLAH REZVANI 11:9:13
5That this House notes the killing in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran of Mr Ataollah Rezvani, an Iranian Bahá'í; believes that he was killed further to being harassed at the hands of the Ministry of Intelligence and having received threatening messages from persons unknown; observes that this is the first clear case of a religiously motivated killing of a Bahá'í in Iran in 15 years and represents a grave escalation of the persecution of Iran's Bahá'ís who have been subjected to incitement to hatred and violence with impunity that has been reported by various actors including United Nations Special Rapporteurs in recent years; and urges the Government to press for the Iranian authorities to bring the responsible persons to justice.
518 WALK ON WALES 11:9:13
13That this House congratulates Walk on Wales on its 870 mile walk around Wales to raise money for Combat Stress and the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and to raise awareness of stress and mental health illness among armed forces personnel and veterans; welcomes the progress that has been made in providing services for veterans including a Veterans Minister and the Armed Forces Covenant over the last 10 years; and further calls for health services to have access to armed forces medical records to ensure early diagnosis and adequate treatment of mental health illness.
519 BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK 12:9:13
3That this House congratulates all those who will take part in the charity Future First's Back to School week between 12 and 19 October 2013; notes that young people at state schools and colleges often lack the same level of careers education and access to role models available to young people at private institutions; warmly welcomes the work of Future First in tackling this problem by establishing alumni networks for young people at state schools and colleges so that they are informed and inspired to follow fulfilling careers; commends those alumni and employers who have already volunteered to work with Future First; and encourages others to do the same including members of both Houses.
520 TRANSPARENCY OF LOBBYING, NON-PARTY CAMPAIGNING AND TRADE UNION ADMINISTRATION BILL 12:9:13
1That this House notes that the ludicrously mis-titled Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill was conceived in fear, drafted in haste and malice and presented with incompetence; observes the Bill's failure to reform 95 per cent. of lobbying excesses while gratuitously and vindictively imposing unnecessary bureaucratic costs on charities and trade unions; and believes that this Bill will be recognised as the signature policy of the ineptocracy created by the coalition Government.
521 SYRIA AND MOTION OF 29 AUGUST 2013 12:9:13
1That this House applauds the lead given to world opinion by its vote of 29 August 2013 in resisting the easy but dangerous false solution of a military strike in Syria in favour of the difficult, painstaking tasks of diplomacy and peace-building.