Session 2013-14
House of Commons
16th December 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
859 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES 9:12:13
14That this House recognises that many new housing developments have property management companies appointed to provide a range of services; further recognises that contracts are put in place between home occupiers and property management companies that set out the range of services to be provided; notes that often there is a lack of transparency in property management contracts about the standard of service to be provided; further notes that the cost of providing services, the annual accounts relating to the service charge and any increase in the annual service charge are sometimes also lacking in transparency; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals that will require property developers to provide greater clarity in the contracting, costing, incremental rises in service charges and the process of tendering for property management contracts.
860 EXCLUSION OF SEAFARERS - EU LABOUR DIRECTIVES 9:12:13
22That this House is aware that discussions are currently taking place at inter-Government level to allow the inclusion of seafarers to be within the scope of EU social directives, thereby ending the unjustifiable and discriminatory treatment of this group of workers; notes that so far there have been three individual Commission consultations on this matter since 2007; believes there is no rationale for sustaining the current exclusion regime and that instead all seafaring employees should as of right be placed on an equal footing with other land-based workers; and calls on the Government to support the extension of the acquis communautaire on labour and social laws so that such people enjoy the same protection as other categories of workers.
861 PARTHENON MARBLES (UNESCO MEDIATION PROCESS) 9:12:13
13That this House recalls that Greece has continuously, since it gained full independence in 1832, requested the return of the sculptures removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin and held in the British Museum since 1816; is aware that this dispute has been on the agenda of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Promotion of the Return of Cultural Property since 1987; notes that the Director General of UNESCO has recently written to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Director of the British Museum to advise them of Greece's request for the dispute to be settled by mediation; and calls on the Government and the British Museum to co-operate fully and positively in the mediation process.
863 PAY OF HON. MEMBERS AND PUBLIC SECTOR PAY 9:12:13
16That this House notes the decision in the Spending Review announced to Parliament on 26 June 2013 to restrict public sector pay increases to 1 per cent; endorses the view that what is good enough for the workers is good enough for the politicians; and instructs the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to enforce public sector pay policy in its decisions over hon. Members' pay.
864 NELSON MANDELA 9:12:13
34That this House is deeply saddened by the news that Nelson Mandela has passed away; passes its condolences to his family and friends; recognises his deserved iconic status reached through his unwavering commitment to promoting equality and democracy in South Africa; recalls his outstanding achievements in helping to dismantle apartheid in South Africa; remembers his great work performed for his various charities including the Nelson Mandela and the Mandela-Rhodes Foundations; pays its respects to this great and inspirational man; and calls on the Government to fashion a suitable initiative that will best secure his legacy.
865 DR ELSIE INGLIS AND THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S HOSPITALS 10:12:13
14That this House celebrates the bravery, achievements and hard work of Dr Elsie Inglis and the other women who set up and served in the Scottish Women's Hospitals; notes that Dr Inglis persevered with this project despite a severe lack of support from the British War Office; recognises that by the end of the First World War nearly £500,000 had been raised and 14 fully equipped field hospitals had been set up; estimates that between 1914 and 1918 some 1,000 women served in the hospitals in Serbia, Belgium, France, Russia, Romania, Corsica, Corfu and Greece, saving the lives of tens of thousands of people; further notes that whilst Dr Inglis and the other women who served in these hospitals are recognised as heroes in Serbia, their work and achievements are barely recognised in the UK outside of Dr Inglis' adopted home of Edinburgh; and strongly believes that during the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, the work of the brave women who served in these hospitals should be properly recognised and celebrated.
866 GOOGLE ALGORITHMS CHANGES AND LOSS TO BUSINESS 10:12:13
12That this House calls on search engine giant Google to be mindful of supporting small to medium business and reset their algorithms in such a way that small and medium-sized businesses who pay their taxes are not disadvantaged against large multi-national foot loose companies; and notes that some small businesses recently reported that changes by Google to algorithms have cut 30 per cent of internet hits and traffic to their sites, hitting sales and profits and potentially losing the Exchequer millions, if not more, in lost tax revenues and undermining jobs in the real economy.
867 PROTEST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON 10:12:13
7That this House believes that police have no place on university campuses and other seats of learning; condemns the University of London management for calling in officers and private security to break up a peaceful protest against plans to close down the student union; deplores the naked mendacity in the statement from Chris Cobb, the University's chief operating officer, that the University would always support peaceful and legitimate protest; and demands that the University's Vice-Chancellor and its Collegiate Council act immediately to rescind the closure of the union and the prohibition of protest at Senate House.
868 THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY 10:12:13
9That this House believes that the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement demonstrates that he is attempting to balance the books by slashing welfare and by pouring cash into property speculation, rather than productive investment; notes that if there is no change in policy by 2018-19, public services will be cut by 20 per cent; further notes that according to the respected Institute of Fiscal Studies the bulk of the reduction in the budget deficit will come from cuts in spending rather than tax increases, 86 per cent as against 14 per cent; is convinced that this policy of locking the country into a low productivity, low investment, low wage economy will see public services crumble and poverty soar; and calls on the Liberal Democrat partners in this damaging coalition to divorce themselves from this disastrous course which can only mean falling living standards for the majority of people while the rich once more prosper.
869 DIGITAL BILL OF RIGHTS 11:12:13
14That this House notes the recent open statement signed by Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Twitter and AOL calling for reform of government surveillance; welcomes their calls for reform to restore the public's trust in the internet; supports the five principles they identify about limiting governments' authority to collect users' information, oversight and accountability, transparency about government demands, respecting the free flow of information, and avoiding conflicts among governments; agrees that they form a sensible basis for reform of digital rights; and calls on the Government to support their statement and make reforms that ensure that government surveillance efforts are clearly restricted by law, proportionate to the risks, transparent and subject to independent oversight.
870 DEATH SENTENCE ON ABDUL QADER MOLLAH 11:12:13
4That this House notes that Abdul Qader Mollah has been sentenced to death by the courts in Bangladesh for crimes committed during the 1971 war; further notes that international monitoring organisations have concluded that the judicial process which led to Abdul Qader Mollah being found guilty of war crimes was deeply flawed; believes that the execution of Abdul Qader Mollah would be unjust and wrong and do nothing to promote peace and reconciliation in Bangladesh; calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Bangladesh authorities not to proceed with this execution; and urges the Bangladesh authorities not to proceed with this execution.
871 A DOG IS FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN 11:12:13
14That this House notes the Dogs Trust's famous slogan, A Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas, is 35 years old this year and was created in 1978 by the charity's Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, at a time when thousands of people were buying puppies to give to family and friends as Christmas presents, resulting in puppies being abandoned in the New Year; recognises that, despite many years of campaigning by Dogs Trust, there still exists a problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents and notes that 34 per cent of children will ask for a puppy this Christmas; further notes the problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents is still a major concern in a country where there were 112,000 stray and abandoned dogs taken in by local authorities last year, 9,000 of which were put to sleep; and wholeheartedly supports the Dogs Trust in its determination to ensure that one day all dogs are cared for by responsible owners, and have a home for life.
872 FREEDOM OF THE CROSS 11:12:13
9That this House supports the Freedom of the Cross campaign which highlights the struggle that many Christians have in their faith in the workplace and public arena and feels that their right to do so must be upheld.
873 GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST 11:12:13
5That this House believes that it is unacceptable that the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has not publicly disclosed its Division of Surgery Strategy document and its proposal to centralise most surgical services across Gloucestershire and integrate some of these services currently provided by Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucester Royal Hospital on to one site; further believes that the Trust should now fully disclose its report and publish the costs and benefits of combining services across Gloucestershire; further believes that the Trust should make clear the precise timescale of any proposed changes and fully explain what changes are being proposed and what the effect on jobs will be; and further believes that the Trust should engage in a full and open public consultation as the current secret discussions risk a loss of confidence in the management of the Trust to deliver a full range of health services in both Gloucester and Cheltenham Hospitals.
874 TAILORED BUSINESS LOANS AND EMBEDDED SWAPS 11:12:13
18That this House notes that small and medium-sized businesses across the country struggled during the financial crisis; further notes that potentially tens of thousands of businesses may have been sold inappropriate complex financial products including fixed rate swaps and embedded swaps; is concerned that while fixed rate swaps purchased as an independent product are included in the current Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review scheme, swaps embedded in businesses loans are not; further notes that many of these embedded swaps were sold without proper explanation of either the conditions or costs; understands these products are not regulated by the FCA; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure there is proper regulation in the future and that there is a review and access to redress for those affected in the past.
875 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COMBATTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS 11:12:13
11That this House is concerned about the burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK and overseas, including the most worrying threat of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea, and the risks STIs pose, including mortality, and infection of the unborn foetus, while recognising the promise of interdisciplinary scientific research that will contribute to efforts to combat STIs; supports microbiologists in their work to develop new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections, innovative diagnostic devices that improve care, and an HIV vaccine; and welcomes the Society for General Microbiology statement, Microbiology and the challenge of sexually transmitted infections: Are we up to it?, which makes the case for basic scientific research as a contribution to wider efforts to improve sexual health.
876 CHORISTER JACK TOPPING 11:12:13
8That this House recognises the efforts of Jack Topping, an 11-year-old chorister from the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir who has become the youngest solo artist to sign to Decca records; notes that Jack has been chosen to support this year's Save the Children Christmas campaign and that he is the youngest ever singer to be appointed as an ambassador for Save the Children; and wishes him every success in raising money through the proceeds of his single, Tomorrow, for a very worthwhile charitable cause.
877 UNIVERSITIES UK 12:12:13
2That this House condemns Universities UK for promoting gender apartheid by supporting the segregation of women at universities; notes that this is contrary to the spirit of university, its ethos and academic freedom; believes that those involved in this decision should resign and that the decision should be reversed immediately; and urges the Minister of State for Universities and Science to launch an inquiry into the workings of Universities UK.
880 NELSON MANDELA AND NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT 12:12:13
9That this House admires the nobility of spirit and political judgment of former President Nelson Mandela; recalls the wisdom of his final speech as President of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September 1998; further recalls that the very first resolution of the General Assembly, adopted in January 1946, sought to address the challenge of the elimination from national armaments of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction; further recalls the document submitted by the non-aligned states to the UN General Assembly in 1998 entitled Towards a Nuclear Weapon Free World: The Need for a New Agenda; agrees with Mr Mandela's call that all members of the UN should seriously consider this important resolution and give it their support; backs Mr Mandela's view expressed in his speech on 21 September 1998 that the question of whether these terrible and terrifying weapons of mass destruction are needed should be asked, even if such a question were to sound naive to those who had elaborated sophisticated arguments to justify their refusal to eliminate such weapons; and believes that the Government should take all steps to deliver the elimination of all nuclear weapons of mass destruction as demanded by President Mandela.
881 CALDERDALE HOSPITAL ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT 12:12:13
5That this House expresses concern about the possible closure of Calderdale's Accident and Emergency (A&E) department; recognises the vital role local A&E services play in meeting the health needs of local people; notes that thousands of people access treatment at Calderdale's A&E department every year; further recognises that closing that department would force people from Halifax and other communities to travel out of the area to access A&E treatment; calls on the Government and local NHS bosses to make clear what their plans are for local health services; further calls on the Government and local NHS bosses to make clear there are no plans to close Calderdale's A&E department; praises the NHS staff who do such an excellent job at Calderdale Royal Hospital; urges decision-makers to formally consult with and take into account the views of Halifax and Calderdale residents who overwhelmingly want to see the future of the local A&E department secured; and hopes that Calderdale's A&E department will continue to be at the heart of NHS provision in Halifax.
882 X-FACTOR WINNER SAM BAILEY 16:12:13
1That this House congratulates Leicester Forest East resident Sam Bailey on her stunning and triumphant victory in the X-Factor final on Sunday; notes that her outstanding range and spectacular voice has inspired the nation; believes that her victory is further evidence that Leicester is the capital of culture; and calls on the whole country to congratulate and applaud Sam Bailey.
883 PROSECUTION OF RAPE IN KENYA 16:12:13
1That this House condemns the abhorrent actions of the six men who beat and raped a young woman in Kenya leaving her injured and wheelchair-bound; further condemns the behaviour of the Kenyan police who did not punish these criminals and dismissed these atrocious actions as assault, allowing them to return to the woman's family home to taunt their victim; calls for justice to be brought against the rapists and the police in Busia; acknowledges the problem of an epidemic of rape across central Africa and particularly Kenya; further calls for Kenya's General Inspector of Police to take appropriate action against the policemen responsible and to ensure justice is brought; and further acknowledges the legal support being given to the young woman by Kenya's Coalition on Violence Against Women and its work in raising awareness of the issue.
884 SOCIAL CARE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL 16:12:13
7That this House is aware that social care can provide people with mental health problems the practical support they need to stay well by supporting them with their washing and dressing, shopping, bills and appointments; notes that it can also play an important part in stabilising mental health problems by helping people to cope with their daily lives; is therefore alarmed by reports that the Government is considering the introduction of a national eligibility threshold which will exclude most sufferers from support; and calls on the Government not to adopt such criteria which is shortsighted, unfair and discriminatory.
885 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOWNING STREET DECLARATION 16:12:13
6That this House celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Downing Street declaration signed by British Prime Minister, Rt hon. John Major MP, and the Irish Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds TD, on 15 December 1993; believes that the remarkable contribution of these two leaders to developing the path of peace is too frequently overlooked and that the Declaration itself stands as a monument to their shared commitment to overcome the legacy of history, to heal divisions and create a lasting settlement between the peoples of Britain and Ireland; recognises that the Prime Minister's re-affirmation that the British Government has no selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland, his statement on self-determination and the Government's stated commitment to encourage, facilitate and enable the achievement of agreed structures, played a pivotal role in creating confidence in a process of negotiation to be pursued exclusively by peaceful and democratic means; and urges the Government to be vigilant against threats while continuing to foster agreement and reconciliation encompassing the totality of relationships within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland and between Britain and Ireland.
886 LIVERPOOL POST NEWSPAPER 16:12:13
3That this House regrets the announcement of Trinity Mirror that the iconic Liverpool Post newspaper is to close after almost 160 years of publication in the city; notes that the circulation of the title, formerly the Liverpool Daily Post before it went weekly in January 2012, had dropped to 4,000 since this change; expresses its concern for the future of other local news titles that have moved away from daily publication; asks that Trinity Mirror work with the National Union of Journalists on delivering its commitment to avoid redundancies and to invest in its weekend newspaper and digital publishing, so that local journalism in Merseyside can continue to flourish; believes that local news provision is vital to the cultural and democratic life of communities; and therefore calls on the Government to work with the industry, unions and local communities to ensure that such assets are protected.
887 NUCLEAR POWER COST 16:12:13
1That this House commends the judgement of City analysts Liberum Capital who say that the Hinkley Point nuclear power station deal is economically insane offering a price for electricity at double the going rate, index linked and guaranteed for 35 years; agrees with the head of Ineos, Jim Ratcliffe, that the price of £95 per megawatt hour agreed with Électricité de France is a rip-off especially when the company simultaneously agreed a price of £38 for French customers; is alarmed that future British industry and domestic users will be forced to buy some of the most expensive electricity in the world, adding to the burdens of domestic bills and putting industry at a competitive disadvantage; and calls for a full disclosure of the deal and parliamentary debate.