Session 2013-14
House of Commons
25th March 2014
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
1191 TAYFORTH UNIVERSITIES OFFICER TRAINING CORPS 17:3:14
7That this House congratulates Tayforth Universities Officer Training Corps (UOTC) for winning Exercise Northern Lights at Barry Buddon Training Camp near Aberdeen; commends them for demonstrating outstanding ability in the fields of military skills, sports and piping; draws attention to the excellent work done by UOTC throughout the country in providing a diverse range of skills training; and wishes Tayforth UOTC and their colleagues across the UK well in continuing their excellent work far into the future.
1193 WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY 2014 17:3:14
44That this House notes World Social Work Day on 18 March 2014; recognises social work as a global profession; and commends social workers across the UK for their dedication and hard work with some of the most vulnerable people in society.
1194 BAHRAIN FORMULA ONE GP 2014 17:3:14
29That this House opposes the staging of the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix due to ongoing human rights violations in that country; notes that Human Rights Watch's 2014 World Report highlighted that Bahrain's human rights record regressed in key areas in 2013 drawing particular attention to arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and torture of activists, prosecution and harassment of government critics and a failure to hold those guilty of human rights abuses to account; expresses deep concern that in previous years Bahrain has implemented a severe crackdown before and during the Grand Prix, restricting freedom of movement of persons in the country, detaining and deporting foreign journalists and conducting mass arbitrary detentions in towns close to the Formula 1 circuit; recalls with concern that previous Grand Prix have coincided with the extrajudicial killing of protester Salah Abbas in 2012 and the arbitrary imprisonment and alleged sexual abuse in custody of protester Rihanna al Mousawi in 2013; further expresses disappointment at the continued failure to hold security forces to account for these abuses, as well as the arrest, detention and torture of 27 employees of the Bahrain International Circuit in 2011; and urges the Government to make strong representations to try and prevent the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix from going ahead.
1195 COMMEMORATION OF THE FALLEN IRISH MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GREAT WAR 18:3:14
23That this House supports and encourages initiatives to promote peace in Ireland and further develop the warm and friendly relations between Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of recent years by commemorating the men and women from the Island of Ireland who lost their lives during the First World War; recognises the achievements of the Journey of Reconciliation Trust under the leadership of Glen Barr, OBE, from Northern Ireland and Paddy Harte, honorary OBE, from the Republic of Ireland in inspiring the Island of Ireland Peace Park at Messines, Belgium, in the Ypres salient where the 16th (Irish) and the 36th (Ulster) Divisions fought side by side in June 1917 during the battle for the Messines Ridge; and is encouraged by the positive discussions with the government of the Irish Republic to ensure that the heroism and sacrifice of Irishmen awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War is remembered with the laying of commemorative paving stones in their home counties in the Irish Republic.
1196 SIX NATIONS RUGBY 18:3:14
16That this House congratulates the Ireland rugby team on its marvellous victory in winning the 2014 Six Nations Championship; and notes the combined strength of the Ireland team in its make up of team members from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
1197 DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS POLICY ON SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS 18:3:14
25That this House is concerned about the shift in the policy of the Department for Work and Pensions requiring deaf people in receipt of Access to Work funds to employ a full-time salaried support worker to enable them to bridge the gap which inhibits their abilities to participate equally in the job market; is worried that this approach will probably lead to other severe problems for deaf people in work where sign language interpreters are required; and calls on the Government immediately to reverse this strategy and instead discuss a better way forward with deaf organisations.
1198 LEGAL AID SPENDING 18:3:14
30That this House notes the need to make savings in the Ministry of Justice's budget; is concerned by the overwhelmingly critical response to the Government's proposals for legal aid, and the impact those proposals will have on access to justice, the integrity of the justice system and the survival of high street solicitors and the independent Bar; and calls on the Government to work with the professions to find alternative savings.
1199 DRAFT NATIONAL INSITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE GUIDANCE FOR THE USE OF ENZALUTAMIDE 18:3:14
16That this House notes with concern that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a draft recommendation which will limit the use of the drug enzalutamide, a life extending treatment for men in the final stages of prostate cancer, only to those men who have not received another drug called abiraterone; further notes with concern that this decision will result in men having no other options on the NHS; is aware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, that 36,566 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and that 10,000 men die from the disease in England and Wales every year; further notes that there is no way for clinicians to tell which treatment - enzalutamide or abiraterone - will work best for men, making it important for both treatment options to be available to men without this restriction; calls on the Government to ensure that men with prostate cancer are able to access both cancer drugs to treat their health condition and to help prolong their life; and further calls on NICE to reconsider its draft decision and recommend enzalutamide as an alternative treatment to abiraterone, if their clinicians prescribe it.
1200 PARDON FOR ALAN TURING 18:3:14
21That this House welcomes the long overdue pardon of Alan Turing, the man revered for his vital contribution to Britain's war effort by inventing the machine that broke the Enigma code and who received a criminal conviction for having a sexual relationship with another man; deplores the fact he was forced to take oestrogen therapy or be sent to prison if he did not comply; expresses sorrow that he went on to take his own life as a result; further notes that there were 75,895 other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who were unfairly convicted for similar offences; and calls on the Government to ensure that they too receive pardons.
1201 WORLD WATER DAY 19:3:14
25That this House welcomes World Water Day 2014 on 24 March; notes that diarrhoeal diseases killed more than 1,600 children under five years of age every day in 2012, 600,000 per year, accounting for nine per cent of all under-five deaths; further notes that these deaths are largely preventable; further welcomes the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund report Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) which aims to reduce deaths from diarrhoea to less than one in 1,000 by 2025; supports the conclusion of GAPPD that what is needed is 'an integrated national package of effective and affordable interventions that are tailored to local contexts and reach those children most at risk'; calls on national governments and the international community to support effective interventions, including continued breastfeeding, appropriate vaccinations, access to safe drinking water, sanitation and handwashing facilities, reduction in indoor air pollution and effective treatment, including oral rehydration solution and zinc; further welcomes the work of PATH, WaterAid and other international organisations in delivering healthcare solutions in the developing world; and further calls on the Government to continue to support integrated healthcare efforts.
1203 HEPATITIS C (No. 2) 19:3:14
24That this House recognises that hepatitis C is the most prevalent blood-borne virus in the UK and can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer and death; is alarmed that Public Health England estimates there to be some 250,000 hepatitis C positive people in the UK, although most cases remain undiagnosed; notes that the virus disproportionately affects marginalised groups, including intravenous drug users, prisoners and immigrant populations; further notes that only three per cent of those chronically infected receive potentially curative treatment each year; believes that hepatitis C can be effectively eliminated in England within a generation if simple actions are taken to ensure better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the virus; and calls on the Government to make the eradication of the virus a clear priority, with co-ordinated urgent action to reverse the rising death toll from hepatitis C.
1204 URBAN SPEED LIMITS 20:3:14
9That this House notes that a reduction of the national default urban speed limit from 30 miles per hour (mph) to 20 mph would help to prevent needless road casualties, encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce pollution; is appalled that, every day, five children and 25 adults are killed or seriously injured while walking or cycling on UK roads, every one devastating for families, every one entirely preventable; further notes that at 20 mph, stopping distances are about half that at 30 mph, meaning that drivers are much more able to stop in time in an emergency, such as if a child steps out; further notes that a reduction in the limit would help bring about more active and healthy lifestyles, with one trial showing that widespread 20 mph limits led to a 20 per cent increase in walking and cycling; further notes that 20 mph limits also reduce pollution by causing vehicles to travel at a more constant speed; congratulates Brake, the road safety charity, on using its parliamentary reception to draw attention to the benefits of 20 mph limits and drivers slowing down; and calls on policymakers and practitioners to take steps to reduce speeds and make the roads safer for walking and cycling.
1205 HYDE PARK PICTURE HOUSE 100th ANNIVERSARY 20:3:14
4That this House congratulates Hyde Park Picture House on celebrating its 100th anniversary; notes that the Grade II-listed site on Brudenell Road first opened on 7 November 1914 with the first film to be screened being Their Only Son; further notes that with 6,000 men from Leeds having enlisted to fight in the First World War, the Picture House played a valuable role in providing Leeds residents with news bulletins and footage of the war; strongly commends the Picture House for remaining a popular and much-loved local venue despite the building of local super-cinemas and the development of television, video, DVDs and the internet; further commends the commitment of Leeds City Council which stepped in to save the Picture House from closure in 1989; further commends the Trustees of Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Limited for their determination to preserve and ensure the future security of the Picture House; and wishes the Hyde Park Picture House many more years of success.
1207 WAGE LEVELS AND THE TUC'S FAIR PAY FORTNIGHT CAMPAIGN 20:3:14
25That this House notes that living standards have been under pressure since the recession of 2008-09 and despite the recent recovery in growth are not yet picking up, and that real wages for the average full-time worker have fallen by £2,800 since 2009; further notes that the reason for the squeeze, the longest since the 1870s, is weak wage growth; further notes that even on the more optimistic forecasts, real wages for those in the middle and below will not return to their 2008 levels until around 2020, and that whilst more people are now in work and unemployment is falling, too many of the new jobs are low paid, insecure and precarious; believes that a real, sustainable recovery which benefits ordinary people will require real wages to rise, and that this would not only relieve some of the strains on living standards but provide a solid underpinning for rising household spending and economic growth; and therefore strongly agrees with the TUC that Britain needs a pay rise, and supports the TUC's Fair Pay Fortnight campaign beginning on 24 March 2014.
1208 TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION 20:3:14
24That this House is deeply concerned that clinical commissioning groups and GPs across the country are failing to prescribe new oral anti-coagulants (NOACs), which are new life-saving drugs which prevent atrial fibrillation-related strokes; notes that these drugs have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; considers that the short-term cost of these drugs (Apixaban, Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban) is far outweighed by the cost of an atrial fibrillation-related stroke and other preventable illnesses; and recognises that the one million people with atrial fibrillation stand to benefit from NOACs wider use.
1210 SCHOOL PLACES 20:3:14
4That this House is concerned that unless more places are created in secondary schools an increasing number of local authorities will be facing a shortfall; notes a Local Government Association analysis of Department for Education figures shows that by 2019-20, 49 of 152 local authorities will have more secondary-age pupils than school places, if sufficient places are not provided; further notes that although 90,000 additional primary places were created last academic year there is a need for almost 130,000 places, the equivalent of 4,750 classes, by 2017-18; and calls on the Government to provide sufficient funding to make up for the looming shortfall and to give back to councils the power to create new schools so they can fulfil their statutory duty to offer places.
1212 STRIP-SEARCHING OF CHILDREN 20:3:14
4That this House is appalled that in five years 4,638 children between the ages of 10 and 16 years were strip-searched by Metropolitan Police officers; understands that this can require searches of body cavities, including intimate areas; notes that police are allowed to do this if they suspect the person is hiding Class A drugs or an object that could cause harm; further notes that permission for the search need only be given by a police inspector; and calls on the Government to require an independent adult to be present when these searches are carried out.
1213 PROMOTION OF TAX HAVENS BY BANKS IN AFRICA 20:3:14
16That this House commends ActionAid for its work in highlighting the activities of Barclays Bank in Africa; condemns the Bank's promotion of the use of tax havens by large businesses working in Africa; notes that banks' tax haven businesses undermine efforts by African governments to raise the money they need to pay for vital services such as health and education, thereby ending their dependency on aid; further notes that promoting tax havens goes against commitments made by the CEO of Barclays, Antony Jenkins, to ensure that Barclays acts as a force for good in Africa; and calls on Barclays Bank to change its policy of promotion and use of tax havens.
1214 RELEASE OF SAKINEH MOHAMMADI ASHTIANI 24:3:14
15That this House welcomes the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani from prison in Iran; notes that Mrs Ashtiani was sentenced to death by stoning after being convicted of adultery in 2006; further notes the Early Day Motion tabled on 19 July 2010 to raise awareness of Mrs Ashtiani's case; further notes that her case was suspended in 2010 after international pressure, including a letter to the President of Iran signed by 119 hon. Members, ultimately reducing her sentence to 10 years; welcomes the news that Sakineh Ashtiani has been allowed to leave prison; further notes the Prime Minister's involvement in raising the case of Mrs Ashtiani with the Iranian government; calls on the Government to urge the Iranian government to review other cases where women have been convicted of adultery; and further calls on the Government to put pressure on the Iranian government to outlaw the practice of stoning and other forms of the death penalty, flogging or imprisonment for those convicted of adultery, a violation of the Declaration of Human Rights to which Iran is a signatory.
1215 CONGRATULATIONS TO WILLIAM CAMPBELL-TAYLOR 24:3:14
15That this House congratulates William Campbell-Taylor for becoming the first ever Labour councillor elected to the City of London local authority; and wishes him well in his aim of using the ancient institutions of the City for the common good.
1216 CUTS TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE 24:3:14
16That this House recognises that cuts to the Fire and Rescue Service put the public at risk; is concerned at the detrimental impact upon 999 response times; notes that the Fire and Rescue Service costs less than £1 per week per adult, which represents exceptional value for money; and calls on the Government to halt any further cuts and ensure sustained investment for the Fire and Rescue Service.
1217 USE OF CHEQUES 24:3:14
10That this House calls for cheques to be accepted by all suitable establishments, including banks, energy companies, utility companies, shops and public bodies; highlights that plans to abolish the cheque in 2018 were scrapped following mass support for the cheque; notes that cheques are the favoured legal tender for many people, the majority of whom are overwhelmingly pensioners; further notes the increasing incidence of businesses refusing to accept the cheque as payment for services; questions the rationale of saving the cheque as a method of legal tender if people are denied the right to use it in many establishments; further notes that establishments refusing to accept cheques make the lives of those who wish to pay by cheque much harder; reminds large establishments that they serve their customers, not the other way around; celebrates that cheques are in some circumstances the safest method of payment; suggests that the use of cheques could be subject to a minimum spend requirement as debit and credit cards are in many establishments; and calls on the Government to work with the Payments Council to undertake a review into possible methods of protecting customers' rights to use cheques in appropriate circumstances.
1218 START SMART IN LEICESTER 24:3:14
7That this House congratulates Start Smart and Leicester City Council on the successful conclusion of its blue print to improve childhood nutrition for the under-fives; notes that it offered 1,600 free breakfasts to children under five focusing on those eligible for free nursery places, delivered 1,000 Start Smart bags of usefulness to participating families, offered cookery lessons to more than 100 children and parents, with Let's Get Cooking, and free family shopping sessions with expert nutritionists; further notes that it worked with 10 nurseries across the city and food banks in the city and hosted six days of food and nutrition-based activities and events; commends the work of Paul Lindley and Ella's Kitchen; urges all involved to ensure that the success of the project and the ongoing activities in Leicester will encourage other cities to follow Leicester's lead; concludes that more must be done to tackle the obesity epidemic this country faces; and believes that the Start Smart campaign is a great step in terms of fighting this.
1219 HUNTING BAN 24:3:14
14That this House notes with great concern that the Government is considering amending the Hunting Act 2004 by eliminating the restrictions on the number of dogs which may be used to help farmers shoot foxes; is concerned that any weakening of the Hunting Act could permit fox hunting for sport to resume; further notes that there is great public opposition to allowing fox hunting to take place in the UK; further notes that there is no evidence suggesting foxes are a significant cause of missing livestock; urges the Government to listen to the voices of the vast majority of people in the UK who are opposed to blood sports; believes that if the Government does want to relax the ban, the proper way to go about this is through primary legislation rather than through a statutory instrument; further believes that a fox being torn apart by dogs should not be considered a sport; further urges the Government to ensure compliance with the existing legislation rather than attempting to weaken it; and further believes that deliberate cruelty to animals should have no place in this country.
1220 LEGAL AID AND ADVICE (S. I., 2014, No. 607) 24:3:14
13That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 607), dated 12 March 2014, a copy of which was laid before this House on 14 March, be annulled.
1221 REGISTRATION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES 24:3:14
5That this House calls on the Government to introduce compulsory registration of off-road vehicles; notes that Bradford has a high incidence of anti-social behaviour related to the use of off-road vehicles; appreciates that it is almost impossible for the police to safely tackle inappropriate use of off-road vehicles; further notes that the police are unable to investigate such crimes without suitable identification markers on off-road vehicles; further notes that there is currently a voluntary scheme for off-road vehicle owners to register their vehicles in case they are stolen; suggests that off-road registration should include compulsory display of number plates; welcomes the argument that the implementation of compulsory number plates would make it significantly easier for the police to bring to justice those who are illegally riding their vehicles on public roads; celebrates the fact that this measure would reduce crime, increase safety and would encourage off-road vehicle users to use their vehicles legally and responsibly; and calls once again on the Government to investigate the introduction of compulsory registration and display of mandatory number plates for off-road vehicles.
1222 SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 24:3:14
9That this House calls on the Government to ensure that young people are fully prepared throughout their education to enter the job market; notes with concern the large number of young people who lack basic skills; further notes the recommendations from the British Chambers of Commerce Skills Manifesto, for schools, businesses, chambers and local bodies to work together to ensure young people are granted the most opportunities for employment; and urges a greater development of employability skills and careers education throughout the national curriculum.
1223 BARCLAYS AND TAX HAVENS IN AFRICA 24:3:14
13That this House notes the negative impact of tax havens and tax avoidance generally on developing African countries; believes that a reliable and robust tax regime is essential for the provision of services and amenities to developing communities and that local tax avoidance in such communities only further increases the likelihood of certain countries having to depend on foreign aid provided by taxpayers in nations such as the UK; acknowledges therefore the disadvantage suffered by certain developing countries as a result of Barclays Bank's Offshore Corporate Division and its promotion of Mauritius as a way of channelling offshore investment into Africa; condemns the practice of encouraging offshore tax avoidance in those regions and recognises that, as the UK's most prominent bank in Africa, Barclays Bank has an obligation to reflect the moral economic attitudes of the Government and the British people; and calls on the Government to condemn these practices and on Barclays to live up to its own corporate responsibilities by closing down its Offshore Corporate Division, becoming more transparent by making a detailed tax strategy public and proving that any remaining activities in tax havens are not linked to tax avoidance, further proving that Barclays intends to play a positive role in Africa on tax by demonstrating that it is pursuing a constructive and fully transparent relationship with the relevant tax authorities, and supporting the development of strong local tax collection systems and strong on-shore finance sectors in the African countries in which it operates.
1224 REFORMING THE LAW ON PSYCHIATRIC INJURY 24:3:14
6That this House believes that the current law in England and Wales on psychiatric injury for people who witness the death or injury of a loved one is restrictive and unfair; further believes that 25 years after the Hillsborough disaster, when the law was enshrined, the law no longer reflects modern society; further believes the law must recognise that you do not need to have a parental or marital relationship to love someone, you do not need to be shocked to suffer psychiatric injury, and you do not need to be standing next to someone when they are killed or injured to be traumatised; and urges the Government to reform the law.
1225 2 SISTERS FOOD GROUP 25:3:14
2That this House notes with great concern the closure of Solway Foods' Corby site, owned by 2 Sisters Food Group, with the loss of approximately 900 jobs; regrets that management have referred to the site as unviable and refused to commit to the long-term future of the business in Corby, despite the council's offer of financial assistance with relocating to an upgraded facility elsewhere in the area; further notes that the redundancies follow on from around 2,400 redundancies at firms, including RF Brookes, Vion and Avana, forced to close within two years of their acquisition by 2 Sisters Food Group; believes that the company's owner and Chief Executive Mr Ranjit Singh Boparan appears deliberately to be undermining job security, pay and conditions of employees of the companies he has acquired; further notes that the overall turnover of 2 Sisters rose by 23 per cent last year to exceed £2.8 billion; and therefore supports members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union in campaigning to defend their members and calls on management to enter meaningful negotiations to protect jobs in the industry.
1226 PUBLIC SERVICE PENSIONS (S. I., 2014, No. 525) 25:3:14
6That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Local Government Pension Scheme (Transitional Provisions, Savings and Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I., No 525) dated 5 March 2014, a copy of which was laid before this House on 10 March, be annulled.
1227 COMMENTS BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY 25:3:14
3That this House notes the comments by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the Daily Telegraph on 22 March 2014 where he indicated that on the issue of raising personal allowances, “we forced that onto the agenda. No one was really talking about thresholds before we made it a key promise in 2010”; regrets the factual inaccuracy of the statement in that hon. Members representing the Democratic Unionist Party have regularly raised the matter as reported in the Official Report of 1 December 2004, column 690 where the hon. Member for East Londonderry is quoted as saying “other hon. Members and I have lobbied for a significant increase in personal allowances. If, for example, personal allowances and the threshold at which individuals begin to pay national insurance were raised to £10,000 per annum”; and calls on the Chief Secretary to correct his inaccurate statement at the earliest opportunity.
1228 EDUCATION CENTRE, LONGTON 25:3:14
1That this House welcomes of opening of the new education centre in Longton for specialist provision of the charity Nacro of quality education and support for young people with complex educational and behavioural needs in Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding area; believes that education and learning is the key to equip young people with the skills, motivation, aspiration and work-based opportunities for the support they need to move their lives on and away from crime; notes the positive impact the new education centre in Longton will have in reducing truancy and offending rates and the rehabilitation of young offenders; and supports Nacro in its specialist services and the development of service models for sector-wide improvement and to overcome the multiple barriers faced by young people when there is a rising number in Stoke-on-Trent who are not in education, employment or training.