Session 2013-14
House of Commons
31st 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
1130 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (S. I., 2014, No. 16) 28:2:14

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 16), dated 8 January 2014, a copy of which was laid before this House on 10 January, be annulled.
1214 RELEASE OF SAKINEH MOHAMMADI ASHTIANI 24:3:14

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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

That 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 ON PERSONAL ALLOWANCES 25:3:14

That 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

That 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.
1229 FUNDING FOR ELITE BASKETBALL IN THE UK 26:3:14

That this House condemns UK Sport's decision to withdrawn all funding from British Basketball's elite funding programme ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games; notes that both the men's and women's national elite teams have gone from the bottom rung of the international ladder to being one of the most respected national sides in Europe since UK Sport funding was initiated; further notes that Sport England's Active People Survey 7 demonstrates that sports participation in England has decreased by over 50,000 in the last year, yet participation in basketball has increased; further notes that basketball is the third most played team sport in England; further notes that by removing funding from the sport's elite development programme, young grassroots participants will have no national team to aspire to; suggests that UK Sport's 'no compromise' funding approach means no hope for the future of elite basketball in the UK; and further suggests that UK Sport reviews the process for assessing funding allocations to team sports and that funding is reinstated to ensure a prosperous future for basketball in the UK.
1230 COMMUNITY ENERGY IN SUSSEX 27:3:14

That this House welcomes the ambition in the Community Energy Strategy that by 2015 it will be the norm for communities to be offered the opportunity of some level of ownership of new, commercially-developed onshore renewable projects; believes that progress towards this should start immediately; applauds the large number of community energy schemes already operating, gaining a great deal of experience and expertise in installing locally-owned solar and wind generation; notes that there are at least six solar farm developments currently in the planning system in Sussex; supports the suggestion from Community Energy South and Brighton Energy Co-operative that planners require at least some degree of community ownership as a condition of planning for new solar farm developments; draws attention to the guide these organisations have produced that sets out how community groups, planners and developers can work together to enable community-ownership of local renewable energy assets; and urges local planners, councillors and Ministers to follow this guide and to do all they can to ensure community ownership fulfils its potential to offer not only a good return for local investors but also considerable local community funds that can be reinvested in community energy efficiency and local amenity enhancements.
1231 INCINERATION OF FOETAL REMAINS IN NHS HOSPITALS 31:3:14

That this House is deeply concerned about recent reports of the incineration of foetal remains by NHS trusts, two of which were found to have burnt the bodies of aborted or miscarried foetuses and babies to generate power for heat; and calls on the Care Quality Commission to investigate fully UK hospitals to understand how widespread this practice has been.
1232 RANA PLAZA COMPENSATION 31:3:14

That this House, mindful that 24 April 2014 will be the first anniversary of the tragic Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, and noting that the victims and their families have yet to be fully compensated, welcomes the launch on 24 March 2014 of the Rana Plaza Arrangement compensation fund negotiated under the auspices of the International Labour Organization by employers and unions in Bangladesh and globally and by the government of Bangladesh; urges companies sourcing from Bangladesh, and especially those sourcing from Rana Plaza, to make sufficient contributions to meet the £24 million target by 24 April 2014; and calls on the Government to encourage companies to do so.
1233 ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE REFORMS OF LEGAL AID 31:3:14

That this House acknowledges that 1 April 2014 is the anniversary of the implementation of the reforms to civil legal aid; notes that since 1 April 2013 a range of civil and family issues have been removed from the scope of legal aid including debt advice, welfare benefits and private family law matters where no domestic violence can be proven to have taken place in the past two years; is concerned that due to the reforms of civil legal aid tens of thousands of families will no longer have access to justice and that this will have an entirely negative effect on the most vulnerable children in society; welcomes the campaign against cuts in legal aid organised by the Justice Alliance; further notes that the Family Courts Unions Parliamentary Group will host an event on the anniversary of these reforms in Parliament to hear from the professionals and staff working in the field first-hand accounts of the devastating effect they have had on the lives of children and families across the UK; and therefore calls on the Government to urgently address the serious concerns that have arisen since the start of implementation and review its entire programme of reform of civil legal aid.
1234 SAVE THE INDEPENDENT LIVING FUND 31:3:14

That this House is deeply concerned by the plan to close, by June 2015, the Independent Living Fund (ILF) on which over 18,000 severely disabled people rely instead of being in residential care; questions the Government's rationale for local authorities taking over this funding given their higher overheads and squeezed budgets; notes that experts believe this financial pressure and loss of experienced ILF staff will mean current recipients will be placed in residential care or left at home without adequate care provision; further notes that many users will no longer be eligible for any local authority care funding because of tightening of eligibility criteria; is aware that the average cost of the ILF at £345 per week is less than half that of the average cost of residential care at £738 per week; is reminded that in November 2013 the Court of Appeal upheld a legal challenge to the Government's decision to close the ILF in March 2015, because the Department for Work and Pensions had breached equality duties; and urges the Government to respect its obligations under the UN Convention of the Rights of Disabled Persons by maintaining the ILF and reopening applications which were closed in 2010.