Session 2014-15
House of Commons
12th June 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
1 FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX 4:6:14
9That this House congratulates the University of Essex on the fiftieth anniversary of the admission of its first students, in September 1964. at Wivenhoe Park, Colchester; notes with approval that its number of students has grown from 122 in its first year to the 11,000 from over 130 countries who are now studying at its three campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton; further congratulates it on being in the UK's top 10 for research, the leading university for social science research and joint second in the country for student satisfaction; welcomes its £200 million contribution to the region's economy; applauds the achievements of its alumni, one of whom is Speaker of this House, another the youngest and first female Speaker of Bangladesh's Jatiyo Sangshad, and a further two are Nobel Prize winners, Professor Christopher Pissarides and Dr Óscar Arias; recognises the achievements of its academics; and wishes the University of Essex continued success in the years ahead.
3 CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND PRESCRIPTION CHARGES 4:6:14
19That this House believes that people with cystic fibrosis should not have to pay prescription charges.
4 SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE DURING RECONSIDERATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE REFUSALS 4:6:14
50That this House notes that at present people who apply for employment and support allowance (ESA) and are declared fit for work can ask for this decision to be reconsidered prior to lodging a formal appeal; further notes that at present people can continue to receive ESA at the assessment rate during this period; welcomes the introduction of reconsideration in all cases as of 28 October 2013; expresses concern that people will no longer be able to claim ESA during this period; expresses further concern that their only alternative will be to apply for jobseeker's allowance (JSA), for which being fit for work is a condition of receipt; further notes that since October 2008 four in 10 appeals have been successful; fears that in future people who are awarded ESA on appeal will be ineligible for either ESA or JSA during reconsideration; believes that the Government has a duty to support those who cannot support themselves through no fault of their own; and calls on Ministers to make the necessary legislative changes to allow ESA claimants to continue to receive the benefit at the assessment rate during this period.
5 STATISTICS ON RECONSIDERATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE REFUSALS 4:6:14
50That this House notes that at present people who apply for employment and support allowance (ESA) and are declared fit for work following a work capability assessment can ask for this decision to be reconsidered prior to lodging a formal appeal; welcomes the introduction of reconsideration in all cases as of 28 October 2013; further notes that the Government regularly publishes statistics on the number of successful appeals, but does not publish statistics on the number of successful reconsideration requests; believes that this provides an incomplete picture of the effectiveness of the work capability assessment; and thus calls on the Government to regularly publish statistics on the number of successful reconsideration requests as soon as possible.
8 EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL 4:6:14
27That this House expresses concern about employment protection for the terminally ill; notes that terminal conditions are currently covered by current disability legislation, therefore terminally ill employees can be dismissed if they are no longer able to conduct their role with reasonable adjustments; understands that this can mean that terminally ill people can be subjected to stressful assessments, subsequent dismissal and the loss of death in-service benefits - all following the diagnosis of a terminal illness; and calls for additional Government protection for employees from the point of diagnosis.
11 CLOSE SEASON FOR HARE SHOOTING 4:6:14
18That this House deplores the shooting of hares throughout their breeding season as cruel and unnecessary; notes that in Scotland the brown hare and mountain hare now have close seasons to protect nursing mothers and their dependant young; and calls on the Government to confer similar protection on these icons of the British countryside.
13 AVOIDABLE DEATHS FROM DIABETES 4:6:14
23That this House notes with alarm that up to 24,000 people with diabetes die in England each year from causes that could have been avoided; further notes that there is no reason why people with diabetes cannot live long and healthy lives if they receive the right care and support to help them manage their condition; recognises Diabetes UK's 15 healthcare essentials campaign which outlines 15 diabetes checks or services that every person with diabetes should receive or have access to; further notes that half of people with Type 2 and more than two-thirds of people with Type 1 diabetes are not receiving the care they need to stay healthy; and calls on the Government to place a greater emphasis on prioritising diabetes in the Health Outcomes and Commissioning Frameworks to improve standards of care so that the 2.3 million people with diabetes in England receive the care they need to stay healthy.
14 SMOKE DETECTORS AND FIRE SAFETY 4:6:14
23That this House notes that the number of fatalities from fires in dwellings has fallen by a quarter since 1999 but that there are still on average five fatalities a week; further notes with concern that approximately one quarter of social homes do not have smoke alarms; calls on the Government to strengthen legislation to ensure all local authority and registered social landlord properties have smoke detectors on each floor and that privately-rented properties have working smoke detectors at the commencement of any tenancy agreement; and further calls on the Government to continue its efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of smoke detectors.
15 TYPE 1 DIABETES RESEARCH 4:6:14
31That this House supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in its campaign to increase awareness and understanding about Type 1 diabetes; notes that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are separate and distinct conditions; acknowledges that Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening auto immune condition and is not caused by eating sugary food, by being overweight or by lifestyle choices; further notes with concern that Type 1 is a leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, stroke, heart attacks and nerve damage and that incidence of the condition is increasing by four per cent year on year; further notes that approximately five per cent of the entire NHS budget is spent on treating Type 1 diabetes; recognises that JDRF is the world's leading charitable funder of Type 1 diabetes research and the only organisation dedicated solely to finding the cure for Type 1; and believes that more funding for medical research will lead to the development of better treatments for Type 1 diabetes, resulting in fewer complications and hospitalisations, improved cost-efficiencies for the NHS budget and lead to a cure.
16 SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES 4:6:14
30That this House notes with alarm that, according to the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit, 94 per cent of children and young people with Type 1 diabetes are not receiving the full care and support they need; further notes that 85 per cent of children and young people with diabetes have poor blood glucose control, leading to avoidable complications including amputation, blindness and early death; recognises that Diabetes UK has outlined the 10 checks, care and services needed by young people with Type 1 diabetes; further notes that the rates of admission for diabetic ketoacidosis for children with diabetes has been increasing year on year and that 25 to 30 per cent of all newly diagnosed children with diabetes present in diabetic ketoacidosis; and calls on the Government and the NHS Commissioning Board to ensure that all children and young people get the diabetes care they need.
17 WELFARE OF IMPORTED PUPPIES 4:6:14
25That this House notes with concern the growing number of puppies being imported from Eastern Europe following the relaxation of the UK's quarantine rules; further notes that some points of entry have recorded an increase in the number of illegally imported dogs detained; is concerned at the lack of specific regulations governing transport conditions and journey times for these animals; is further concerned that many may be reared and transported in poor conditions; questions the validity of the paperwork accompanying many of these animals; is further concerned that these imports could introduce disease to the UK, potentially including rabies; applauds the work of the FOUR PAWS organisation and others in this area; and calls on the Government to strengthen the current rules to end this trade in puppies and protect the UK's rabies-free status.
18 MELBOURNE DECLARATION ON DIABETES 4:6:14
25That this House notes that the first meeting of the Global Parliamentary Champions for Diabetes Forum was held in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December 2013 and was attended by parliamentarians from over 50 countries; understands that there are an estimated 382 million people with diabetes and that this number is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035, that 80 per cent of people with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries, and that diabetes will have caused 5.1 million deaths in 2013, one every six seconds; further notes that the 66th World Health Assembly held in May 2013 has adopted nine global targets and 25 indicators to help address the non-communicable diseases (NCD) pandemic and that diabetes is the only one of the four major NCDs with its own global target, which is to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025; congratulates the 90 nations that have signed the Melbourne Declaration on Diabetes; and urges hon. Members to join those advocating for increased prevention, better diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in the UK.
19 EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES 4:6:14
29That this House recognises the importance of early diagnosis of diabetes in order to bring the condition under control and prevent life threatening and expensive complications; notes the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes, working in partnership with Sir Michael Hirst and the International Diabetes Federation, to offer blood glucose testing on the Parliamentary Estate in March 2014 that resulted in over 145 people, hon. Members, peers and staff, taking the test; wishes to thank the nurses who volunteered their time to do this under the direction of Anne Felton of FEND (Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes); and calls on the Government to do all in its power to encourage more diagnostic testing for diabetes in workplaces and community settings across the country.
20 PREVENTING AMPUTATIONS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF DIABETES 4:6:14
31That this House notes with concern that around 125 amputations are carried out every week on people with diabetes because of complications connected with their condition and that, as well as the devastating impact this has on the person, these amputations are currently costing the NHS between £600 and £700 million every year; further notes that 80 per cent of these amputations are potentially preventable and that this cost can be significantly reduced with better care; and therefore calls on the Government to support the Putting Feet First campaign which highlights that amputations can be prevented and underlines how important it is for people with diabetes to get regular foot checks and treatment from a specialist foot care team when a foot problem is identified and which aims to reduce diabetes-related amputations by 50 per cent in the next five years.
21 MUNICIPAL BUS COMPANIES 4:6:14
23That this House notes with pride that 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the entry into service of the first publicly-owned buses, when on 30 March 1914 six open-topped double deckers started work on routes in Coventry; recognises the importance of the remaining municipally-owned bus companies in providing excellent services and cheaper fares for passengers in UK cities and towns, including Newport, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Blackpool and Reading; is alarmed by the onslaught against local authority-supported bus services which has seen thousands of services cut or reduced since May 2010; further notes with concern that the Government does not record service cuts in the deregulated bus market which provides 78 per cent of bus services across the UK; further notes the RMT union's findings that since 2003, UK bus fares have increased by over 60 per cent; supports the Campaign for Better Transport's call for an examination of all cases for reform of the bus industry, including municipal ownership and not-for-profit services; and calls on the Government to undertake an urgent review of bus services.
23 MERIAM YAHIA IBRAHIM ISHAG 4:6:14
54That this House recognises the fundamental importance of the non-derogable right to freedom of religion or belief, as aspired to in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined as law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; reaffirms the centrality of the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice to this right; asserts that Mrs Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag's right to freedom of religion or belief has been flagrantly abused by the legal system of the Republic of Sudan; commends Mrs Ibrahim for asserting her internationally-recognised right and refusing to recant her faith; congratulates Mrs Ibrahim on the recent birth of her child and abhors that this birth occurred in prison; and calls in the strongest terms upon the Republic of Sudan to uphold Mrs Ibrahim's fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief by pressuring the Sudanese judiciary to overturn the charges against Mrs Ibrahim and release her with immediate effect.
25 RECALL OF HON. MEMBERS 4:6:14
45That this House welcomes the Government's commitment to introduce a power of recall for constituents to recall their hon. Members; urges the Government not to introduce a system that requires approval by a parliamentary or other committee; and calls instead for a system where voters themselves can recall their elected representatives if a majority has lost confidence in them, for whatever reason, and if enough voters sign a petition to trigger a recall vote, in order to rebuild trust between people and power.
26 BRITISH-IRISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR CONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE 4:6:14
26That this House welcomes the British-Irish Strategic Partnership, 2014 to 2018 launched by UK Youth, Youth Work Ireland, YouthAction Northern Ireland, Youth Scotland and Youth Cymru; endorses the aspirations of the partnership to make England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales the best places for young people to flourish; endorses the partnership priorities of inspiring young people, promoting youth work, connecting young people and challenging inequalities; and encourages the five leading youth work charities to continue working locally, regionally and nationally to improve the life chances of young people throughout the UK and Ireland.
27 MOTHERS' NAMES AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES 4:6:14
70That this House notes that regulations from 1986 mean it is still the case that the particulars to be registered for a marriage include details of the fathers and not the mothers of the bride and groom; believes our law should not perpetuate the offensive and outdated message that marriage is a business transaction between fathers; further notes that both mothers and fathers are recorded on a civil partnership certificate and believes the same should be the case on a marriage certificate; further believes that change is needed so that mothers are no longer erased from these important historical records; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Home Department to bring forward the necessary legislative proposals without delay.
28 LIFEWORKS AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH 4:6:14
8That this House notes with concern the proposed closure of the Lifeworks service in Cambridge, which helps people with borderline personality disorder, and that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT) failed to adequately consult on the closure; further notes that mental health services across the country have been underfunded for many years, especially in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; expresses concern that the savings from reducing community mental health care lead to substantial extra costs for other services, including accident and emergency, GPs and the police, which are not properly accounted for; highlights that there continues to be a high level of stigma associated with mental health conditions; calls on the Government and NHS England to provide more funding for mental health services, support parity of esteem, and implement equal tariff deflators for mental and physical health care; and further calls on the CPFT to listen to the response to their new consultation and restore the Lifeworks service.
29 SAFETY OF POLYPROPYLENE MESH DEVICES 4:6:14
46That this House expresses concern at the serious adverse effects currently suffered by thousands of women due to complications from polypropylene transvaginal mesh (TVM) procedures; calls on the Secretary of State for Health immediately to initiate comprehensive independent research to evaluate the safety of mesh devices informed by both domestic and international evidence on the safety of TVM procedures, to consider seriously the suspension of TVM implants pending the completion of research, introduce mandatory reporting of all adverse incidents by health professionals, work with devolved governments to set up a UK mesh implant register and introduce fully informed consent with uniformity throughout devolved health boards and clinical commissioning groups; and further calls on the use of the Government's offices to lobby the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to reclassify TVM devices to heightened alert status to reflect ongoing concerns.
30 UNLICENSED ADVERTISEMENT OF PUPPIES 4:6:14
19That this House recognises that dogs are not a retail commodity and should be bought only from licensed breeders; notes that the internet and local news media are used to advertising the sale of puppies; is concerned that these advertisements are unregulated with no controls to identify the breeder, nor the source of these animals; and urges the Government to review and strengthen the existing Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 and to bring forward legislative proposals to govern the advertising and breeding of dogs.
31 ZOMBIE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS 4:6:14
21That this House notes the recent report by Which? magazine outlining the ongoing problems being faced by people dependent on income from their savings; further notes that numerous financial institututions continue to have accounts, often known as zombie accounts, offering 0.1 per cent interest, meaning that people with on average £10,000 in these accounts receive less than 20 pence per week in interest; and calls on each bank and building society offering such rates to existing savers to pro-actively market their more competitive accounts in order that elderly savers, many of whom do not regularly monitor savings rates, can avail themselves of a significantly better return.
32 LGBTQ PEOPLE IN UGANDA AND NIGERIA 4:6:14
23That this House recognises the immediate danger faced by LGBTQ people in Uganda and Nigeria under newly implemented laws which criminalise homosexuality and dish out punishments including life imprisonment for repeat offenders; believes that the Government should make concerted efforts to contribute to the promotion of LGBTQ rights in both these countries; expresses deep concern that LGBTQ people in these countries are being beaten by mobs, arrested by authorities and subjected to torture by those in power at detention facilities; further recognises that there may already have been an increase in asylum requests by LGBTQ people from Uganda and Nigeria; acknowledges that the legal obligations of the UK under international law is to provide sanctuary to those fleeing persecution and violations of their fundamental rights; accepts that the legal obligations under EU law is to respect the prohibition of arbitrary detention; further accepts that refoulement would lead to human rights abuses; regrets that the Government has done nothing to end practices that discriminate against LGBTQ asylum seekers and prejudice their cases through demands that they prove they are gay and demeans the ordeals they go through; notes that the policies currently in place are questionable and perversely violate the rights of individuals who seek asylum on the basis of their sexuality and sexual orientation; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Home Department to provide safe resettlement to present and future cases of LGBTQ asylum seekers from Uganda and Nigeria, recognising their political status and the serious threat to their safety, wellbeing and life.
33 WARZONE RAPE IN CONGO AND BEYOND 4:6:14
36That this House notes the horrific continuation of the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war in conflicts around the world; further notes the shocking scale of this crisis in Congo where an estimated 48 women are raped every hour; applauds the work of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to end these atrocious crimes; welcomes his initiative to host an international conference on warzone rape with UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie in the UK; supports Save the Congo's 48AnHour campaign which aims to mobilise an international effort to end Congo's culture of impunity for the use of rape as a weapon of war and for crimes of international concern; and calls on the Secretary of State to support the creation of a hybrid international Criminal Tribunal for Congo to address impunity behind the wars, revenge attacks and conflicts that continue to consume the Congolese people.
34 RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE ARAB WORLD 4:6:14
27That this House recognies the importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental element of an open, liberal democracy; calls on the Government to use its influence, directly with the nations of the Arab world and indirectly through the EU and the UN, to protect Christians and other religious minorities under threat and ensure that they are not forced to flee from their homes and become refugees and asylum seekers; urges that any new constitutions fully support religious freedom as defined by Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and asks the Government to raise issues of religious liberty as a key topic in all dealings with the governments of the Arab world.
35 SALE OF PUPPIES IN PET SHOPS 4:6:14
20That this House recognises that dogs are not a commodity and should be bought only from licensed breeders; notes that puppies sold in pet shops or by other third parties are almost exclusively bred on puppy farms; and, given the fact the Pet Animals Act 1951 is out of date, calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that secondary legislation to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits the sale of puppies in pet shops.
36 CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA 4:6:14
21That this House recognises that the birth defect congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), which is as common as cystic fibrosis but much less known, can affect any unborn child, requiring additional antenatal care plus intensive care and treatment of the affected newborn; regrets that only 50 per cent of babies diagnosed with CDH survive, whilst those who do survive endure ongoing medical problems ranging from asthma and feeding problems to chronic lung and digestive problems, development delays and oxygen dependency; acknowledges that there is no known cause or prevention for the condition and that treatment remains medically challenging and costly; congratulates CDH UK for the work it does to raise awareness of the condition and support families facing diagnosis; and calls on the Government to provide funding to progress research into the causes of CDH, with a view to identifying developing prevention strategies and better treatment of the condition, which could save lives and potentially reduce costs to the NHS in the long term and to work with the devolved administrations to develop expertise and share knowledge on the condition throughout the UK.
37 TRIDENT REPLACEMENT 4:6:14
27That this House notes the findings of the National Security Strategy that a nuclear weapon threat from another state is of low likelihood; further notes a procurement cost of £25 billion and an estimated lifetime cost of over £100 billion for the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapon system; believes that there are greater spending priorities both at the Ministry of Defence and across other departments; and urges the Government not to replace Trident.
38 VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS DAY 2014 4:6:14
18That this House welcomes the seventh annual Vocational Qualifications Day on 4 June 2014; congratulates the millions of people who gain technical, practical and vocational qualifications each year; notes that high-quality technical and practical learning provides young people with the skills, experience, motivation and inspiration to get ahead; and agrees that practical skills should be valued as highly as academic education and that they contribute towards economic growth, improve social mobility and inspire ambition in young people.
39 UK ATTENDANCE AT HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS CONFERENCE 4:6:14
26That this House notes the recent governmental conferences on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons, attended by 127 states in Norway in March 2013 and by 145 states in Mexico in February 2014; welcomes the announcement of a new follow-up conference in Austria in December 2014; further notes the call for UK attendance; and urges the Government to ensure that it is represented at this event in Vienna.
40 VAT ON TOURISM 4:6:14
28That this House recognises the value of the tourism sector; notes that tourism-related businesses lie at the heart of the local community and economy; further notes that 24 out of 27 EU states, including the Republic of Ireland, take advantage of a reduced rate of VAT for some part of their tourism sector, and that this has made a positive impact by increasing investment and jobs; acknowledges that, as a result, local regions that have a high reliance on the tourism sector are at a competitive disadvantage compared to other EU states; highlights the economic study produced by Professor Adam Blake, using the Treasury's own modelling technique, which showed that a cut in tourism VAT could increase gross domestic product by up to £4 billion per year; calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce a sector-specific VAT reduction for certain tourism-related products, including accommodation and attractions; and further recognises that such a move would strengthen the wider economy, support job creation and generate investment in local businesses.
42 BOMB ATTACKS IN NIGERIA 4:6:14
27That this House condemns the bomb attacks in Nigeria in the city of Kanu, where 20 people were killed, and in the city of Jos, which claimed 118 lives, carried out by Boko Harem upon people of Christian beliefs; and requests that the Nigerian government takes immediate action against the terrorist group Boko Harem.
44 VICTORY OF ST JOHNSTONE FOOTBALL CLUB IN SCOTTISH CUP 4:6:14
14That this House congratulates everyone connected with St Johnstone FC on winning the Scottish Cup for the first time in the club's history; recognises the contribution made by Dundee United to what it considers a thrilling final; and praises both sets of supporters for creating such a noisy and colourful atmosphere for what was truly a festival of football.
45 NATIONAL SCHOOL SPORT WEEK 2014 5:6:14
23That this House welcomes National School Sport Week 2014, which takes place from 23 to 27 June 2014; notes that since 2009, 9.6 million young people and 22,000 schools have taken part in National School Sport Week; celebrates the excellent opportunity that National School Sport Week provides to encourage young people to be more active and take part in PE and school sport; recognises that the provision of high quality school sport and PE has significant positive impacts on young people's lives including improving physical and mental health outcomes, enhancing academic achievement and building key personal and social skills; further recognises the work of the Youth Sport Trust in using the power of sport to change young people's lives; and calls on the Government to support National School Sport Week and the sustained provision of high quality sport and PE for all young people.
46 AN INDEPENDENT AIRCRAFT NOISE OMBUDSMAN 5:6:14
13That this House recognises that, for those who live near major airports, aircraft noise can be an imposition; believes that a fresh approach to tackling aircraft noise must be adopted in order to give such people confidence that their legitimate grievances are being addressed; echoes the Campaign Statement published jointly by Let Britain Fly, the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise and London First advocating the establishment of the role of an independent aircraft noise ombudsman; endorses the recommendation in the Davies Commission Interim Report of 17 December 2013 of the creation of an independent aviation noise authority (IANA); and urges the Government, when the Department of Transport issues its response to the Davies Interim Report, to publish both a timetable setting out how it will create an IANA and its plans for securing cross-Party endorsement of the backing for this initiative.
47 LEGAL RECOGNITION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH A PARTICULAR GENDER 5:6:14
17That this House recognises the issues faced by those in the UK who identify themselves as non-gender, bi-gender or intersex; believes that many of those who are non-gendered or bi-gendered feel compromised and diminished as a result of inappropriate gender references on their personal identity information; acknowledges that all passports issued by HM Passport Office are currently gender-specific and it is therefore not possible to obtain a passport that contains no reference to gendered identity; understands that, alongside F (Female) and M (Male), the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Document 9303 already contains X (unspecified) as a permitted character for three permitted characters under the mandatory sex element for machine-readable travel documents; notes that in Australia and New Zealand citizens are able to obtain a non-gender specific X passport and that India, Nepal and Pakistan also recognise the legitimacy of X as a preferred option when M and F are not appropriate; further believes that allowing this possibility in the UK would go a long way to amend this discriminatory policy which denies non-gendered and bi-gendered people a legitimate identity; and therefore urges the Government and HM Passport Office to make non-gender-specific X passports available to those UK passport holders who do not identify with a particular gender.
48 CHANGES TO DISABLED STUDENTS' ALLOWANCES 5:6:14
60That this House notes the importance of providing support to disabled students to enable them to access education and to help them study; further notes that National Union of Students' research has found that 55 per cent of disabled students have already seriously considered leaving their course compared to 35 per cent of non-disabled respondents with 54 per cent reporting this was because of financial problems; further notes with concern the proposed changes to disabled students' allowance (DSA) as announced on 7 April 2014; further notes that DSA is an important means of support for disabled students to access support and research has shown that students receiving DSA are more likely to reach a first or upper class second honours degree than disabled students who do not receive an allowance; further notes that many potential students stand to be affected by the proposed changes to DSA; and calls on the Government to provide equal access, wherever the student is studying.
49 TREATMENT OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN 5:6:14
37That this House notes that Israeli forces continue to use excessive force including live ammunition and rubber coated metal bullets on unarmed protestors, including children and that 1,400 children have been killed in this way since 2000; further notes the lack of transparency in the investigation of such incidents; acknowledges the excellent work that Defence for Children International Palestine do in increasing awareness of these deaths; further notes that since January 2008, 129 children have been affected by settler violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including four fatalities with each of the cases occurring near Palestinian neighbourhoods, villages or roads located close to Israeli settlements and the nature of the violence includes being shot at, beaten, pelted with stones and sprayed with gas; and calls on the Government to press the Israeli government to respect the right to peaceful protest and prioritise the safety of all children who come under such attack on a routine basis.
50 MARSHALL ISLANDS AND NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT 5:6:14
22That this House notes the 67 nuclear weapons tests conducted in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958; regrets the environmental and humanitarian impact of those tests on the Marshall Islands; further notes that the US Atomic Energy Commission in 1956 described it as by far the most contaminated place in the world; expresses support for the Marshall Islands' legal proceedings against nine nuclear weapons states, including the UK, at the International Court of Justice over their failure to comply with Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and urges the Government to respond by committing to scrap Trident.
51 DEFENCE REVIEW 2015 AND TRIDENT REPLACEMENT 5:6:14
22That this House notes that a National Security Strategy (NSS) and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) is due to be conducted in 2015; further notes the Seventh Report of Session 2013-14 of the Defence Committee, Towards the next Defence and Security Review, HC 197, and its concern that SDSR 2015 must be about understanding and outlining Britain's place in the world; believes that the decision on whether to maintain a nuclear weapons system beyond the life of Trident is central to this discussion and must be fully debated within the NSS and SDSR process; and urges that the Main Gate decision on the construction of Trident replacement submarines be delayed until after the publication of the SDSR.
52 IMPRISONMENT AND MALTREATMENT OF SHAHROKH ZAMANI AND OTHER TRADE UNIONISTS IN IRAN 5:6:14
30That this House notes with great concern that Shahrokh Zamani, a member of the Painters' Union, was charged with endangering national security and participating in an illegal organisation following his attempts to build an independent trade union and was then physically and psychologically abused, denied medication, denied access to visitors and was recently transferred to the notorious Ghezel Hesar prison before returning to Rajai Shahr prison; further notes the recent 47-day hunger strike conducted by Mr Zamani in protest against his maltreatment and that of fellow prisoners; urges the Iranian government to release Mr Zamani unconditionally; and calls on the Government to press the Iranian government to respect trade union rights and International Labour Organization conventions.
53 JOURNALISTS IN DETENTION IN EGYPT 5:6:14
30That this House notes the dangers encountered unjustly by journalists reporting from areas of conflict and change; expresses its alarm that since July 2013 more than 30 Al Jazeera staff have been detained in Egypt while four still remain imprisoned; further notes that Abdullah Elshamy was arrested in August 2013 and has been on hunger strike and is ill and that Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were arrested in December 2013; further notes the international support for their plight from the National Union of Journalists as well as #FreeAJStaff and spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International and prominent international journalists; urges all governments to guarantee the safety of all journalists who play a crucial role in reporting the news as and when they see it; and further urges the Government to press the Egyptian authorities to bring about the release of all the detained journalists as a matter of the utmost urgency.
54 COMMUNITY OF ARRAN SEABED TRUST 9:6:14
18That this House applauds the Community Of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) for its work to establish the south of Arran coast as a Marine Protected Area (MPA); congratulates it on gathering over 1,300 responses to a Scottish Government public consultation on MPAs, of which 99 per cent were in favour of the south of Arran MPA; notes the importance of MPAs across the globe, which promote sustainable fishing such as creeling, hand diving and sea angling, create an area protected from bottom trawling and dredging and protect important habitats and fish nursery grounds; urges the Scottish Government to act on the consultation and introduce the south of Arran MPA, as well as other MPAs, which are legally protected; further congratulates COAST on its earlier work which produced a No Take Zone (NTZ) in Lamlash Bay after 13 years of campaigning; further notes after five years the seabed in Lamlash is now 40 per cent more complex and healthier than the area outside the NTZ; further notes that there are higher densities of scallops, crabs and lobsters, both older and larger, being recorded and increased numbers of juvenile cod and haddock; and further congratulates COAST on its numerous campaigns and responses which have been submitted to influence policy decisions in favour of sustainable marine environments.
55 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION 9:6:14
14That this House welcomes the decision of the trustees of the Royal Institution (Ri) that the sale, or even part-sale, of 21 Albemarle Street will not be considered as part of any long-term plan for the charity; praises the hard work of the trustees in securing a sustainable future for the Ri; congratulates the Ri on a record level of membership of nearly 4,500 individuals; hopes that these achievements can help the Ri increase its impact and the reach of its public and educational programmes; notes that 21 Albemarle Street was the workplace of Sir Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday and other leading British scientists; further notes that this is the place where 10 elements were discovered and where Michael Faraday first demonstrated the power of electricity; and calls on the Government to continue to ensure that the Ri's legacy of Britain's contribution to science continues, at 21 Albemarle Street, as the place for discovery, innovation, inspiration and imagination.
56 20 YEARS OF WOMEN PRIESTS 9:6:14
18That this House notes that the Church of England has celebrated 20 years since the first women were ordained as priests on 12 March 1994; congratulates the first 32 women who were ordained and led the way for many more women to follow them; welcomes the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury during a service at St Paul's Cathedral on 3 May 2014 that men and women are equally icons, witnesses and vessels of Christ for the world; praises the progress that has been made, but also notes that there is still more work to do; and calls on the Government to encourage the Church of England's General Synod to bring in legislation for women bishops to be appointed.
57 FRACKING UNDER PEOPLE'S HOMES WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT 9:6:14
16That this House notes with concern the Government's decision to open a consultation on regulatory changes that would make it possible for energy companies to drill for gas under people's homes without the occupier's consent; condemns this attempt to prioritise the interests of big business over the rights of ordinary citizens and protecting the environment; further notes that this consultation was opened on a day when Parliament and the UK media were occupied with the recent election results, and is concerned that this was an attempt to evade proper public scrutiny; further notes that public opposition to these plans is estimated at 74 per cent and therefore observes that the Government lacks a popular mandate to institute this change; further notes that the many problems of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) include climate change, water, soil and air contamination, loss of protected habitats, and lower house prices in areas where fracking takes place; calls on the Government not to allow fracking to take place anywhere in the UK, and particularly where local residents who would be affected by it are opposed to it; urges the Government to listen to the voices of the majority of UK citizens; and calls for investment in genuinely sustainable technologies such as wind, wave and solar power, rather than an attempt to extract yet more fossil fuels regardless of the environmental and social cost.
58 PERSONAL DATA OF UK CITIZENS 9:6:14
21That this House views with concern the Government's attempts to share unprecedented amounts of personal data belonging to UK citizens, including medical and tax records, with non-governmental organisations and particularly with the private sector; notes the trend of selling this data to commercial companies at prices far below commercial rates, for purposes of private profit rather than public good; further notes the worrying evidence that data in an anonymised and pseudonymised form can be merged with other databases to identify individuals; believes that the Government's current attitude towards protecting citizens' data ignores best practice and the advice of experts; further believes that the Government should learn the lessons of the conspicuous failure of the public awareness campaign for the release of medical data under the care.data scheme and the widespread public opposition to that scheme; is concerned that the Government's view of citizens' personal data as a commodity to be released to the free market is damaging and dangerous; and calls on the Government to halt with immediate effect any further data releases for the purpose of commercial exploitation and any further commercial access to data which it holds in trust on behalf of UK citizens, including data held by HM Revenue and Customs.
59 MAKING FREEDOM EXHIBITION 9:6:14
14That this House notes with respect and contrition the details of the Making Freedom exhibition in Parliament; thanks the Windrush Foundation, Arthur Torrington CBE and all in the team who created the exhibition; invites all in Parliament to commend the website www.makingfreedom.co.uk and the observance of 1 August each year as Emancipation Day; remembers with respect the service and sacrifice of members of the West Indies regiments in the Great War and other conflicts; and determines to match the achievements of the passing of Acts banning the slave trade and then slavery with the uncomfortable knowledge of compensation going to slave owners and not to those enslaved.
60 WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES 10:6:14
37That this House is deeply disappointed that the Gracious Speech did not contain measures to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, despite repeated pledges from Ministers that action would be taken; notes that since the House voted unanimously in favour of a ban in 2011 big cats have returned to Britain and is concerned that the continued delay may lead to other wild species being forced to perform in circuses; further notes that the draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill has already been scrutinised by the Environment and Rural Affairs Committee; supports Animal Defenders International and other animal welfare organisations in their ongoing campaign to end this outdated practice; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to ensure a ban can be introduced during the 2014-15 Session.
61 BADGER GASSING 10:6:14
20That this House is concerned by recent reports that the Government has been authorising secret trials gassing badger setts, even though its own earlier research has indicated that such methods regularly failed to work; notes that such practices were banned in England nearly three decades ago when they were found to be cruel, harmful and useless; and calls on the Government to cease all field trials of such methods immediately.
62 THORESBY AND KELLINGLEY COLLIERIES 10:6:14
21That this House believes that the Government should make every attempt to broker a solution which would keep the two remaining UK collieries open in Thoresby, Nottinghamshire and Kellingley, Yorkshire beyond the suggested 18 month run down period to enable associated direct and indirect jobs to be saved, the remaining coal reserves to be extracted and thereafter to adopt a strategy to develop economic regeneration in these communities beyond the eventual closure.
63 TEACHERS' EXCLUSION FROM SALARY SACRIFICE CAR SCHEMES 10:6:14
5That this House welcomes the availability of salary sacrifice car schemes for public and private sector workers, providing a boost to the motoring industry and delivering a low cost, low polluting motoring option; notes the popularity of these schemes and their long-term fiscal neutrality to the Exchequer; further notes the current exemption of teachers from the scheme despite all other public and private sector professions being eligible, and teachers having access to similar schemes such as Cycle to Work; acknowledges the demand from teachers for having access to salary sacrifice car schemes; and urges the Secretary of State for Education to consider amending the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document Agreement to extend access to the schemes for teachers.
64 WESTMORLAND GAZETTE'S SUPPORT FOR DRIVING HOSPICE CARE CAMPAIGN 10:6:14
5That this House welcomes the hard work and tremendous support shown by the Westmorland Gazette for the Driving Hospice Care campaign; congratulates the Westmorland Gazette on raising £42,000 to buy two 4x4 cars for a local hospice whose medical staff make 5,000 home visits a year; recognises the indispensable support that local hospices provide to the infirm in their communities; and celebrates the compassion shown towards those in our society who need support.
65 WORK-LIFE BALANCE 10:6:14
15That this House calls on the Government to enter into discussion with employers' representatives and trades unions to agree a protocol on ensuring that employees do not have to answer work emails whilst off-duty or out of hours; welcomes the introduction of similar rules in France which ensure that parents can spend quality time with children without work interruptions; notes that such a protocol would not prohibit those who choose to access their work email accounts at home but merely offer protections for those who choose not to do so; further notes that a deal agreed between French employers' federations and unions ensures that approximately one million workers in the consultancy and digital sectors are not sent work emails outside the hours of 9am to 6pm; further notes that job insecurity drives people to work longer hours which in turn damages productivity; further notes that the development of children in particular can suffer if they do not have a full interaction with their parent who might be preoccupied dealing with work emails; and calls for a protocol restricting digital working time in order to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
66 NEWSNIGHT CYMRU 10:6:14
5That this House notes that BBC Scotland broadcasts a Newsnight Scotland programme four nights a week to report on Scottish politics at both Westminster and the Scottish Parliament and local government; and calls for the BBC immediately to commission a Newsnight Cymru programme on the same terms as Newsnight Scotland to ensure that Welsh viewers are treated with the same dignity and respect as Scottish citizens, ensure that Welsh politicians at both Westminster, Senedd and local government levels are held to better account and that talented Welsh BBC journalists are provided with an adequate opportunity to report on Welsh political events.
67 RELEASE OF DRIVERS' DETAILS TO PRIVATE PARKING COMPANIES 10:6:14
18That this House notes with concern the recent revelation following a Freedom of Information request that the UK taxpayer is paying up to £600,000 per year towards the cost of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) providing drivers' details to private parking companies, which then use this information to issue fines; further notes that the fee charged by the DVLA to supply this information is £2.50, but the handling cost to the DVLA of supplying it is £2.84; further notes that it is estimated that the cost of this subsidy has reached £5 million to the taxpayer over the last eight years; does not believe this to be a beneficial or appropriate use of taxpayers' funds; expresses concern about the lack of scrutiny with which the DVLA hands out UK citizens' personal details to private parking companies, which are notoriously unscrupulous and avaricious when it comes to issuing fines; believes that the DVLA should recalibrate its charges for this service so that it is at the very least breaking even, rather than providing a gift of taxpayers' money to private companies; and calls on the Government to re-evaluate the DVLA's role in assisting private parking firms to obtain citizens' personal data, and to ensure that data protection and confidentiality are not at risk from this practice.
68 ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 10:6:14
9That this House welcomes the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which would amend drink-drive and driver training laws for Northern Ireland; further welcomes that the Bill introduces new lower blood alcohol content limits of 50mg/100ml for most drivers and 20mg/100ml for learner drivers and novice drivers in their first two years after their test and for professional drivers and significant changes to driver training and testing; notes that only the UK and Malta currently have a blood alcohol content limit for drivers that exceeds 50mg/100ml; further welcomes the substantial reductions in road casualties achieved in Northern Ireland in recent years; and believes that, if implemented, these amendments will help to further reduce the number of people deaths and injuries on roads in Northern Ireland.
69 RETHINK CANCER CAMPAIGN 10:6:14
22That this House recognises that as many as one in three individuals in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime; calls for young people growing up in the UK to receive better education about cancer; supports CoppaFeel!'s #RETHINKCANCER campaign to make cancer awareness education a statutory requirement in schools; and further calls for statutory provision to ensure that wider issues of health and wellbeing are included in the national curriculum for personal, social, health and economic education.
70 ESTATE AGENT ADVERTISING AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES 10:6:14
9That this House is concerned that sales and lettings agents in the commercial media are not showing the energy performance certificate rating of the property being advertised as required by Government guidelines; calls on estate and letting agents to ensure that all properties are advertised with prominent energy rating graphs and ratings; and urges the Government to tighten the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations to eliminate the loophole allowing seven days of marketing without an energy performance certificate and to ensure the law is proactively enforced by Trading Standards.
71 FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN SUDAN 10:6:14
34That this House resolutely deplores a Sudanese court's sentencing of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag to death by hanging for apostasy and 100 lashes for adultery; strongly urges Sudan's legal authorities to immediately and unconditionally overturn Ms. Ishag's sentence; notes the joint statement by the embassies of the US, the UK, Canada and the Netherlands expressing concern over the verdict and calling for the government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion; reminds the government of Sudan of its statutory commitment to the right to freedom of religion, including the right of citizens to peacefully follow the faith of their choice, as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, under article 38 of Sudan's interim constitution and under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; calls on the government of Sudan to repeal Articles 126 and 146 of the Criminal Code that criminalise apostasy and adultery respectively and to review the entire penal code to ensure other contradictions with the constitution and international commitment are addressed; and anticipates a new constitution that respects Sudan's richly multi-faith and multi-cultural population in which citizens have the right to peacefully follow the faith of their choice without fear of persecution.
72 HOSPITAL CAR PARKING 11:6:14
4That this House is disappointed that three-quarters of NHS hospitals in England charge patients and visitors to park on-site; notes that there are discrepancies over what is charged across England, with one hospital in London charging up to £500 per week to park on-site; believes that high charges deter visitors from seeing their loved ones and can hit the most vulnerable at a difficult time; further notes that the cost of abolishing car parking charges in England is estimated to be £200 million which, according to research, could be achieved through prescribing more generic drugs; and therefore asks the Government to consider scrapping hospital car parking fees across England.
73 VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES 11:6:14
6That this House is saddened to hear of the recent suicide of teenager William Menzies, whose death, like that of 14 year-old Callum Green and two unnamed others, has been said to have been linked to playing violent video games; passes its condolences to the friends and family of these young people; believes that age ratings on video games need to be more strictly adhered to; calls on parents and retailers to take greater responsibility for ensuring that minors do not play games which are classified as unsuitable for their age group; and urges the Government to do all it can to ensure children are protected from the extreme content found in these games.
74 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM LEICESTER 11:6:14
3That this House acknowledges the incredible talent of the people of Leicester; is delighted by Leicester City Football Club's triumph in becoming champions of the Championship and gaining promotion to the Premier League, the finest football league in the world; congratulates Sam Bailey for winning X-Factor, Lucy Kay for reaching the final of Britain's Got Talent, Frances Quinn for winning the Great British Bake Off, film editor Joseph Fallon for winning a top Hollywood film trailer award, actor Charlie Clapham for his nomination for the Best Newcomer award for his role in Hollyoaks at the British Soap Awards, Heather Jacks for winning the Great British Sewing Bee, Molly Smitten-Downes for being chosen to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision and Rosie Little for being named Mother of the Year by the Leicester Mercury for caring for hundreds of children; and considers that, clearly, Leicester as well as being in the centre of England, is also now the premier city in England for creative and unique talents.
75 PRE-DIABETES RESEARCH 11:6:14
6That this House commends the work of Professor Richard Baker of the University of Leicester, the lead author of a new report on the prevalence of pre-diabetes, and his colleagues for their research; recognises the distressing conclusions made including the fact that the number of people with pre-diabetes trebled to over 35 per cent between 2003 and 2011; is concerned about the fact that each year between five and 10 per cent of people with pre-diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes; acknowledges that this is the first pre-diabetes study to be conducted in England; trusts that its alarming findings will lead to further essential research into this area; believes that it is vital that more preventative work is done before this condition develops; and hopes that the Government will do all it can to offer the necessary support and care to the huge and ever-increasing number of diagnosed diabetics.
76 NORTHERN IRELAND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 11:6:14
5That this House believes that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as the National Human Rights Institution for Northern Ireland, plays a vital role in ensuring that Government and public bodies protect the fundamental human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland; acknowledges the role that the Commission has played in promoting understanding and education about human rights so that people know their rights and the protections they are entitled to if these are violated, denied or compromised; pays tribute to the role of the Commission in maintaining peace, promoting progress and building community cohesion in Northern Ireland in the spirit envisioned by the Good Friday Agreement and under UN obligations in post-conflict societies; notes with concern that the Government is cutting the Commission's budget by over 10 per cent for 2015-16 and that this follows a 25 per cent budget cut in the last four years; further notes that these cuts will impair the Commission's capacity to operate successfully and could jeopardise its United Nations A status and with it Northern Ireland's voice at the UN; and calls on the Government to withdraw this cut and provide full and proper funding to the Commission so that it can fulfil its duty to protect and promote the rights of all of the people in Northern Ireland.
77 NHS ACCELERATOR FUND 11:6:14
5That this House notes that Apposite Capital LLP, The Orchard Down Consultancy Ltd, Mike Farrar Consulting Ltd and the NHS Confederation have raised project funding of almost £1 million from NHS organisations including NHS hospital trusts in England and Northern Ireland to initiate the NHS Accelerator Fund; calls on the Secretary of State for Health to explain why there has not been a public procurement exercise for that fund and to publish the accounts of it to date; and demands that the Secretary of State confirms that the NHS has carried out due diligence on the involved organisations and explain the exact status of the project given the current financial pressures across the NHS.
78 SOCIETY LOTTERIES 11:6:14
8That this House recognises the tremendous and vital work undertaken by hospices, air ambulance services, veterans' charities, animal charities and a whole range of voluntary organisations across Great Britain, thanks to the valuable support they receive from players of hospice and society lotteries; welcomes and supports the findings of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) report, published in February 2014, entitled What have we got to lose? How society lotteries could do even more for good causes, which advocates modest changes to rules governing the society lottery sector to allow hospice lotteries and other society lotteries to grow and deliver ever-increasing income for their good causes; notes that the imposition of tighter operating conditions for hospice and society lotteries could reduce the income for these charities; believes that society lotteries and the National Lottery can and do grow together to boost the overall income going to good causes; and calls on the Government to consider the findings of the CEBR report when undertaking their consultation into society lotteries in summer 2014.
79 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE GOLDEN TEMPLE 11:6:14
7That this House commemorates with deep sadness the 30th anniversary of the attack in June 1984 by Indian armed forces on the Harmindir Sahib, the Golden Temple at Amritsar; expresses its condolences to the families and friends of all those who were killed and injured in this massacre and condemns this desecration of the holiest site of the Sikh religion; calls on the Prime Minister to establish an independent public judge-led inquiry into the involvement of the UK Government of the time in the events leading up to the attack, the attack itself and the subsequent abuse of human rights in the Punjab by the Indian army and police, including the release of all documents, reports and materials, especially those relating to the advice provided by the UK to the Indian government and military and the dialogue between UK Government Ministers and officials and Indian government ministers and officials.
80 ENERGY IN BUILDINGS BILL 11:6:14
6That this House believes that greater energy efficiency and the installation of cost-effective measures to generate energy by householders can reduce fuel bills and assist with alleviating fuel poverty and with achieving low carbon homes; and therefore supports the Energy in Buildings Bill brought forward in the last Session by the hon. Member for Gower which will require the Secretary of State to draw up and implement a strategy to promote such measures.
81 DANGEROUS PARKING OUTSIDE SCHOOLS 11:6:14
3That this House expresses its concern about dangerous parking outside schools; recognises the safety implications for children of parents parking outside schools on double yellow lines; acknowledges that parents and local residents are concerned that poor parking increases congestion and makes it harder for drivers to see children crossing the road, thereby potentially putting school children in danger; supports a campaign to tackle the lack of awareness of the dangers to school children when cars are parked illegally and acknowledges the need for drivers to slow down to protect children; suggests that motorists should be more cautious and think before they park so as to minimise the risk to children walking in, out and around the school premises; encourages schools to work with county councils to promote road safety in and around schools; and calls on the Government to get the road safety message out to schools and parents.
82 INVESTIGATION INTO THE BALLYMURPHY MASSACRE 11:6:14
6That this House is deeply concerned by the Government's decision not to establish a review panel to assess the evidence relating to the massacre in Ballymurphy, Belfast in August 1971; is dismayed that the families of the victims continue to be denied justice; is further concerned that the decision runs contrary to the spirit of the peace and reconciliation process in Ireland; and calls on the Government to issue a statement of innocence, to issue an apology to the families and to deliver an independent international investigation, modelled on the Hillsborough Independent Panel, examining the circumstances surrounding these deaths.
83 PROTECTION OF MOUNTAIN GORILLAS 12:6:14
4That this House welcomes the announcement made by UK oil company Soco that it will end its operations in Virunga National Park; congratulates the WWF for launching a successful campaign to protect Africa's oldest national park; notes however that there are now fewer mountain gorillas than there are hon. Members; and calls on the Government to support further measures to protect the gorillas and other endangered species.
84 DETENTION OF PRINCESSES SAHAR AND JAWAHER IN SAUDI ARABIA 12:6:14
20That this House is deeply concerned that Saudi Princesses Sahar and Jawaher, daughters of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, have been denied access to food for more than 60 days and have limited access to water; is further concerned that the two sisters have been held under house arrest in Jeddah for 13 years by their father; notes that they have been isolated in their compound and denied access to the outside world; expresses concern that Sahar and Jawaher's conditions have become increasingly difficult since they spoke out about their imprisonment in the international media earlier this year; calls on the Government to raise the princesses' situation with representatives of Saudi Arabia; and urges the Saudi government to grant the princesses access to food and water at the earliest possible opportunity.
85 HM PASSPORT OFFICE STAFF 12:6:14
2That this House commends the work which is being carried out by front and back office staff at HM Passport Office; notes their dedication during a time of immense pressure with offices opening seven days a week from 7am to midnight; is concerned by the Government's lack of accountability regarding the current crisis where backlogs are reaching over half a million; further notes that its current contingency plans are having little effect; further notes the warnings of an impending crisis the Government received from unions and hon. Members before the implementation of its drastic cuts programme which has seen the workforce reduced by a tenth and the closure of 22 interview offices and one application processing centre; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the current crisis and commit to increasing the staffing levels at both interview offices and processing centres across the country and ending the misery for families throughout the UK.
86 ASSISTED SUICIDE IN WASHINGTON STATE 12:6:14
11That this House notes the results of the Washington State Death With Dignity Act Report, 2013, published on 10 June 2014 which concludes that the number of deaths through physician-assisted suicide has tripled since the first year of implementation and increased by 43 per cent between 2012 and 2013; expresses grave concern that 61 per cent of those who received lethal drugs in Washington in 2013 gave as a reason for seeking assisted suicide being a burden on family, friends or caregivers; recalls that those who introduced the law in Washington assured the public that it would only apply to terminally ill, mentally competent patients; and reiterates its belief that a corresponding change in UK law would endanger the lives of the most vulnerable in society.
87 OUTSOURCING OF PARLIAMENT'S SEARCH AND SCREENING FUNCTIONS 12:6:14
2That this House values the dedication of House of Commons security staff who are employed by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS); recognises their professionalism and commitment every day to ensure that all those within Parliament are safe; is concerned by plans to outsource search and screening functions for the three main entrances of Parliament, which will affect around 150 staff, when the current contract expires in 2015; and urges the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments to reconsider their proposals and ensure all security functions continue to be carried out by employees of the MPS or by staff directly employed by Parliament.
88 BAHÁ'IS IN IRAN 12:6:14
4That this House is alarmed at the steps taken by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to begin destroying a historically important Bahá'i cemetery in Shiraz, Iran; observes that attacks on Bahá'i cemeteries are part of a wide ranging, multifaceted, cradle-to-grave campaign of persecution against Bahá'is conducted by the Iranian government with the aim of eliminating the community as a viable entity in Iran; deplores this recent act of desecration; and calls on the Government to strongly urge the Iranian authorities to prevent further destruction of the cemetery.
89 ENERGY DEMAND REDUCTION BILL 12:6:14
6That this House welcomes the publication by the Department for Energy and Climate Change of the report, Energy Efficiency Opportunity in the UK, in November 2012 which shows the potential for cost effectively reducing the demand for electricity by 69TWh by 2020, for gas by 74TWh by 2020 and for oil and other fuels by 53TWh by 2020; further welcomes the publication of the report, Electricity Demand Reduction, in May 2013 which showed that a further 32TWh of electricity could be saved by 2030; and so supports the proposals contained in the Energy Demand Reduction Bill introduced in the last session for the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to draw up and implement a strategy to achieve those reductions.
90 BRETON REUNIFICATION 12:6:14
2That this House notes the French government's proposals for the reorganisation of its current 22 regions thereby creating 14 super regions; further notes that under these proposals the current boundaries of Brittany are unchanged, but that the Breton Department of Loire Atlantique, separated from the rest of Brittany by the Vichy regime in 1941, is to be included in the new super region of Pays-de-la-Loire; further notes that Loire Atlantique included the historic Breton capital of Noaned/Nantes; and further notes that a LH2 poll in April 2014 found that 63 per cent of the residents of Loire Atlantique and 57 per cent of people living in Brittany support reunification; and calls on the French government to respect the wishes of the Breton people and Brittany's unique history, language and culture and to take this opportunity to restore its historic boundaries.
91 REDUCTIONS IN SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY STAFFING 12:6:14
13That this House condemns the reduction of staff numbers at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) from 1,355 to 925; notes that these ideological cuts to staffing will have a detrimental effect on the delivery of apprenticeships and the National Careers Service; is concerned that that detriment will increase the potential for fraud and will be felt by small and medium-sized employers which may not be able to take on apprenticeships if they do not have contact and support from staff of the SFA; further notes that these ideological cuts contradict the Government's commitment to apprenticeships; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the value and dedication of staff working within the SFA and to commit to further recruitment in the agency to enable them to deliver on apprenticeships.
92 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BREAKING THE SILENCE 12:6:14
1That this House notes that 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the Israeli non-governmental organisation, Breaking the Silence, established by veteran Israeli Defence Force soldiers to raise awareness about the reality of life for soldiers and civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; welcomes the important work that Breaking the Silence does to provide a unique and credible voice amidst ongoing tension and conflict in the region; recognises the courage and contribution of those involved in this work; further notes the importance of their engagement with the International Development Committee during its visit to Hebron as part of an inquiry into the Department for International Development's work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; expresses concern at the UK Government's decision to discontinue funding for Breaking the Silence's public education programmes; and calls on the Government to reverse that decision.
93 MESOTHELIOMA RESEARCH FUNDING 12:6:14
1That this House notes with concern that mesothelioma is an invasive form of lung cancer caused primarily by prior exposure to asbestos; recognises that there is currently no cure for this devastating disease and that mesothelioma patients frequently have a very short life expectancy and experience complex debilitating symptoms; further notes that the UK has the highest rate of the disease in the world and that over the next 30 years more than 50,000 people will die of mesothelioma in the UK unless new treatments are found; believes that investment in research into the causes and potential cures for mesothelioma is desperately needed; and calls on the Government to facilitate the establishment of a long-term sustainable mesothelioma research scheme funded by the insurance industry.
94 ROYAL BRITISH LEGION BATTLE BACK CENTRE EXPEDITION 12:6:14
3That this House congratulates the Battle Back Expedition Team, including wounded servicemen and All Party Mountaineering Group members on their trek to climb Cotopaxi in Ecuador, an active volcano that stands at 5,897 metres/19,347 feet; recognises the positive role of sports in the rehabilitation of our wounded service men and women and celebrates the work of the Battle Back initiative; further recognises the life changing rehabilitation work of the tailored programmes at the Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall to help with both physical and psychological challenges, supporting wounded, injured and sick members of all three services in achieving their best possible recovery in order to either return to service duty or make a smooth transition to civilian life; and appreciates the efforts made by the team to overcome the encounters of the climb in order to raise funds for this worthy cause.
95 MINIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE RENTED HOMES 12:6:14
6That this House notes that the private rented sector (PRS) is a rapidly growing part of the housing market, accounting for 17.5 per cent of English households; that the PRS has over five times more homes in EPC Bands F and G than the social housing sector and that nearly half the PRS households living in Band F and G properties are in fuel poverty, costing the NHS £145 million annually and that those households are home to 191,000 children, 62 per cent of whom are in fuel poverty; further notes that the Energy Act 2011 placed a duty on the Government to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for the PRS by April 2018, and that Ministers repeatedly indicated that they expected the standard to be EPC Band E; further notes that new research for WWF-UK and the UK Green Building Council shows that the average cost of bringing a property up to Band E is £1,421 and that 72 per cent of properties can reach this standard for less than £1,000; regrets that the regulations have been significantly delayed; therefore calls on the Government to consult on and lay the regulations without further delay, in order to give landlords adequate time to comply; and further calls on the Government to ensure that the regulations are made clear and enforceable by specifying Band E as the minimum standard in all cases, and by keeping exemptions to an absolute minimum.
96 BRITISH-IRISH COUNCIL AND TOBACCO PRODUCT PACKAGING 12:6:14
1That this House notes that the Irish Cabinet has now endorsed draft legislation to ensure standardised graphic packaging, without brand logos, on all tobacco products; further notes the UK Government's undertaking to bring forward similar legislation following the unambiguous findings of the independent review led by Sir Cyril Chantler; recognises that such measures are promised significant oppposition, including legal challenges, from vested commercial interests; encourages both the UK and Irish governments to use the British-Irish Council (BIC) to co-ordinate and mutually reinforce such significant advances in public health policy; and believes that the BIC can also engage all relevant devolved policy responsibilities in the context of work to enhance the compatibility and comparability of respective legislative measures across these islands.
97 RADIO CAROLINE'S 50TH BIRTHDAY 12:6:14
1That this House congratulates Radio Caroline on its 50th birthday this year; calls on Ofcom to exhaust all avenues in making the provisions available to celebrate its birthday by broadcasting on a medium wave frequency which appears unwanted by both the BBC and commercial operators as a broadcast platform; expresses its disappointment that, having pioneered commercial radio in the UK and for the past decade being a fully licensed broadcaster, Radio Caroline, a cornerstone of British radio history, until now has been denied by Ofcom the opportunity to secure a medium wave frequency from which to broadcast; and regrets that as a result its devoted listeners are confined to listening to Radio Caroline via the internet and unable to enjoy its musical offerings in transit.
98 LANCASTERIAN SCHOOL 12:6:14
1That this House notes the tremendous hard work of all those at Lancasterian School, a specialist school for interaction and communication, which was awarded an Outstanding grade by Ofsted following an inspection on 1 and 2 April 2014; recognises that this is the third consecutive Outstanding grade that the school has received; commends the superb management of the school by Executive Head Teacher Dave Calvert and Head Teacher Katie Cass; and congratulates all those at Lancasterian on its fantastic work in providing education and care for pupils who have physical disabilities, complex medical conditions or speech, language and communication difficulties in addition to moderate, severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties.