Session 2014-15
House of Commons
21st July 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
254 SCRUTINY OF NOMINEES FOR EU COMMISSIONER 14:7:14
18That this House notes that the next EU Commissioner to be nominated by the UK will have an important role, not only in the particular policy area where they will have the lead, but also more generally in promoting the UK's national interest and vision for reform in Europe; further notes that Parliament currently has not had the opportunity to scrutinise the Government's candidate before their nomination is confirmed; and calls on the Government to ensure that such pre-appointment scrutiny takes place before the nomination of the next EU Commissioner by the UK.
257 MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE 14:7:14
17That this House is alarmed that the drug mefloquine hydrochloride, better known by its brand name Lariam, continues to be prescribed to an estimated 2,500 British servicemen and women every year before they are sent out to visit a malarial country; notes the drug has long been known to cause a range of negative side effects, including ringing in the ears, depression, loss of memory and hallucinations and is aware that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has received more than 2,000 accounts of adverse reactions to the drug's use; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to immediately cease prescribing it to UK personnel in its charge and to investigate a full review of its use.
258 INDETERMINATE SENTENCES FOR PUBLIC PROTECTION 14:7:14
12That this House notes that there are 5,206 prisoners in the UK who are still serving indeterminate sentences for public protection, which were abolished by the Government in 2012; further notes that 3,575 of these prisoners have already passed their tariff and that, since the Parole Board releases roughly 400 inmates every year, it will take nine years for the Board to clear this backlog of cases; further notes with dismay that many prisoners serving indeterminate sentences fail to gain places on appropriate courses which would progress their rehabilitation, and that, as a result, such prisoners have little hope of release; further notes that each prison place costs £40,000 every year, making indeterminate sentences highly costly; and calls on the Government to increase funding to the Parole Board to clear the backlog of indeterminate prisoners, starting with those given initial tariffs of two years or less.
259 WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN 15:7:14
39That this House congratulates the 30 local authorities which have been awarded White Ribbon Campaign accreditation for involving men in challenging violence against women and girls; believes that men have responsibility to challenge the violence of some men against women and girls by challenging the outdated attitudes and negative gender stereotypes which underpin abuse; recognises that the White Ribbon Campaign is the largest charity to engage men in action to eradicate abuse and violence against women; notes that a further 25 local authorities are currently seeking accreditation and that the Campaign also involves sports clubs and sporting bodies, music venues, companies and trade unions in working with their male supporters, customers and employees; and calls on the Government and other public and private institutions to work with the White Ribbon Campaign to show men that they can, and must, be part of the solution to end the epidemic of violence against women and girls.
261 RURAL 4G NETWORK 15:7:14
7That this House believes that the roll-out of the 4G mobile network is potentially insufficient; further believes that the Government has not done enough to ensure the expansion of 4G networks into rural areas; notes that these same areas, that also suffered a lack of 3G coverage, are detrimentally and disproportionately affected; feels that 4G, due to its high data speeds, offers an internet connectivity solution where internet cabling may not reach; further notes that countries such as Finland, Sweden and Estonia, with much lower density of population, are able to offer nationwide 4G networks capable of covering 99 per cent of the population, while the UK covers only 72 per cent of the population and is not expected to meet the 98 per cent population coverage target until the end of 2017; and calls on the Government to take a more proactive role in ensuring that the residents of rural areas are sufficiently covered by mobile data networks as they offer an immense development possibility for these areas.
262 CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS AND CHILD ARRANGEMENT ORDERS 15:7:14
10That this House notes that a parent is entitled to apply for a child arrangement order; further notes that the Children Act 1989 emphasises that the child's welfare shall be the court's paramount consideration and the welfare check-list that a court must have regard to in making a decision regarding a child arrangement order; further notes that it is extremely important that the criminal record of an applicant, whether a parent or not, must be made clear at this stage to ensure the court is in full possession of the necessary information to make an informed decision for the welfare of the child; and calls on the Government to emphasise that the criminal record of an applicant must always be taken into account by courts in making decisions regarding child arrangement orders to help prevent violent and abusive parents gaining child arrangement orders.
263 CONDUCT OF LORD BLENCATHRA 15:7:14
6That this House believes that the lenient punishment of Lord Blencathra proves that the Lords is not fit to discipline its members; notes that Lord Blencathra admitted at a hearing in 2012 to lobbying for the Cayman Islands for payment of £12,000 a month but explained that he was lobbying the Government not Parliament; observes that he failed then to reveal the existence of a contract he had signed; is astonished that the Lords Commissioner for Standards, at a second hearing held when the contract details were leaked, accepted Lord Blencathra's assurance that although he had signed a contract for lobbying he had no intention of carrying out lobbying on behalf of the tax haven; congratulates The Independent and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for publishing the secret contract that exposed an egregious breach of the rule that forbids legislators from hiring out their services; and further believes that the failure to suspend Lord Blencathra from the service of the Lords will further deepen public cynicism on the conduct of parliamentarians.
264 DAILY MAIL COVERAGE OF CABINET RESHUFFLE 16:7:14
8That this House believes that the Daily Mail's coverage of the promotion of women to the Cabinet hits an all time low in terms of media sexism; further believes that women MPs across the political spectrum should be judged on their intelligence, expertise, track record, policies and skills rather than on their hair styles, body shape or where they buy their clothes; deplores the constant objectification and sexualisation of women by the media; and calls on the newly-appointed Equalities Minister to start an urgent dialogue with the industry to tackle the cumulative and discriminatory effect of media sexism, including training on how fairly to portray women and working with experts on equality and gendered violence to develop understanding of the impact of such coverage.
265 FARM ANIMAL CLONING AND OFFSPRING OF CLONES 16:7:14
13That this House notes that scientific research shows that cloning entails serious health and welfare problems for both cloned animals and the surrogate mothers who carry them to birth; further notes that most cloned foetuses die during pregnancy or birth and many of those born alive die early in life from deficiencies in their cardiovascular, respiratory or immune systems; further notes that clones will primarily be used as elite breeding animals and it is their offspring that will be farmed for meat or milk; further notes that cloning will probably be used to produce copies of the highest yielding dairy cows and fastest growing pigs despite scientific evidence that traditional genetic selection has already led to major health problems for such animals; believes that the use of the offspring of clones on UK and other EU farms is likely to entrench the use of animals chosen for extreme production traits and risks perpetuating the health problems associated with such traits; and urges the Government to abandon its opposition to the European Commission's proposals for a ban on cloning and the sale of food from clones and to press the EU to also ban the use of the offspring of clones in EU farming and the sale of food from the offspring of clones or, at least, to require such food to be labelled to enable consumers to make informed choices.
266 CHINESE SKY LANTERNS 16:7:14
12That this House expresses concern regarding the use of sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns and their impact on livestock, crops and the environment; notes that Cleveland Fire Brigade recognises that the lanterns pose a serious fire safety hazard due to their uncontrolled and unpredictable flight paths; further notes the existence of a ban on their use in Spain as a result of damage to property and death or injury to livestock caused by discarded lanterns and increases pressure on the fire service, police and medical emergency services; and urges the Government to act swiftly.
267 NAMING OF LONDON SKYSCRAPERS 16:7:14
8That this House notes with concern the proposed renaming of the City's tallest building, Heron Tower, to SalesForce Tower; believes that this renaming could set a precedent for any iconic building to be given a new name based on a sponsorship deal; further believes that such changes could seriously undermine the reputation of London as tourists and visitors see a skyline filled with buildings with frivolous names; and therefore calls on the City of London and other local authorities in the capital only to consider name changes that are appropriate, given the long history and traditions of both London and the wider UK.
268 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE UK 16:7:14
14That this House recognises that the wider economy in the south east of England has for generations been much more resilient than the rest of the UK, particularly in times of recession; and calls on the Government along with each devolved legislature to commit to ensuring that as the economy improves, major infrastructural projects, educational issues targeting young people not in education or training, high speed broadband programmes and other projects are invested in across the UK to assist in the development of a more prosperous future for the entire nation.
269 AIREY NEAVE 16:7:14
9That this House expresses dismay and concern at the Channel Four programme Utopia and its portrayal of Airey Neave in an extreme and unsavoury fashion; and instead salutes the courage and bravery of Airey Neave DSO, OBE, MC, who was murdered by the Irish National Liberation Army and adds its support to the Neave family at this time.
270 ABOLITION OF TRAVELLING CHEF ON FIRST GREAT WESTERN RAIL SERVICES 16:7:14
13That this House is dismayed by plans by First Great Western to scrap Travelling Chef services; notes that the service is one of the last full in-train service available on UK trains and provides a range of breakfasts and other meals, served at the seat in First Class and available at the café for other passengers; is concerned that the cuts are taking place despite the fact that the franchise is highly profitable, on the back of public subsidy; further notes passengers greatly value the service provided by the staff and there has been no consultation with passengers on this issue; calls on the company to keep the Travelling Chef and consult with passengers on how services can be improved, instead of cut; further notes that the Government is considering making a direct award to First Great Western to extend its control of this franchise; and further calls on the Government to review this decision immediately, in the light of the company's intention to cut services and jobs.
271 SUPPORT FOR CHILD ARRANGEMENT ORDER APPLICANTS 16:7:14
9That this House notes that the process of applying for and disputing child custody arrangements can be complex and that the process can be difficult for many parents; further notes that the process of applying for and disputing child arrangement orders often follows a relationship breakdown or a time of personal crisis and that this can present further difficulties for those involved; further notes that a poor understanding of the process can result in inadequate representation to the court and misinformed judgements; further notes the danger that an unsuitable person, such as an abusive ex-partner, may be granted a child arrangement order because the other parties involved do not sufficiently understand the process and do not well present the relevant information; further notes that it is important for there to be adequate support available for parents involved in such a dispute to ensure that the courts have all the necessary information to make an informed decision about the child's welfare; and calls on the Government to take steps to provide that proper support and legal advice can ensure that violent and abusive parents do not gain custody of the child.
272 ELECTRICALLY SELF-POWERED WHEELCHAIRS AND PAVEMENT SURFACES 17:7:14
7That this House notes that in recent years the availability of electrically-powered wheelchairs has become greater; further notes that the sensitivity of such vehicles to irregularities in pavement surfaces is greater than those with a human being pushing them; further notes that this frequently gives rise to situations in which the wheelchair user involuntarily leaves the wheelchair, including the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley, potentially causing material harm to the user; and calls on the Government and local authorities to review standards in respect of pavement surfaces and the slope of footway crossings to reduce the hazard that arises from such difficulties.
273 UK GIRL SUMMIT 17:7:14
18That this House welcomes the 22 July 2014 UK Girl Summit, organised by the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for International Development on behalf of the Prime Minister, with the aim of mobilising domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation; believes that girls and women have the right to live free from violence and discrimination and to achieve their potential; and supports efforts in the UK and abroad to end FGM and CEFM within a generation, including by securing new commitments from the private sector, faith leaders, other civil society organisations, governments and international organisations.
274 WORK OF THE SUPPORT GROUP JOEL IN BASSETLAW 17:7:14
6That this House welcomes the work of the group Joel in Bassetlaw which helps families who have previously tragically lost a baby and supports them through their subsequent pregnancies and parenting; recognises the importance of support for these subsequent rainbow babies and their families; and calls on the Government to support the efforts of such groups in supporting families, promoting awareness of their cause and achieving charitable status.
275 2014 OPEN WINNER RORY MCILROY 21:7:14
4That this House notes that the 2014 Open was won by Rory McIlroy, continuing the amazing recent form of Northern Ireland's golfers in winning a series of the greatest golfing tournaments in the world; and acknowledges that this latest win comes just weeks after Royal Portrush has been confirmed as a venue for The Open in a few years' time, which should allow the greatest players in the world from locations other than Northern Ireland to perform at the 21st century's home of golf.
276 VALUATION OF STERLING 21:7:14
1That this House, noting the launch of the Pound Campaign, a non-partisan group to initiate debate on the effects of the UK exchange rate on British manufacturers and exporters, recognises that exporting is vital for Britain and fundamental to generating sustainable UK economic growth; further recognises the need to boost and strengthen manufacturing to rebuild a healthy broad-based economy; notes the persistence and scale of the UK trade deficit on goods and that Britain has not had an overall trade surplus since 1983 as a result; further notes the link between the level of UK exchange rate and the profitability of manufacturing and exporting for UK-based companies; and therefore calls on the Government to investigate the impact of the current rise in the exchange rate of the pound on the sustainability and profitability of UK-based manufacturers and exporters.
277 GOVERNMENT POLICY ON DERELICT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS 21:7:14
1That this House recognises the devastating effect that derelict and abandoned buildings can have on a community, both commercially and on its landscape; notes that such sites can pose a serious health and safety risk, especially as an attraction to homeless and younger people; further notes the effect of land banking as a barrier to regeneration and to sustainable development; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to allow local planning authorities to tackle sites in their communities including allowing an administration charge to be levied against property owners to cover costs of safeguarding and assessing the site and to introduce a land value tax on vacant sites, similar to that already imposed in Denmark and discussed in the Barker Review 2003, in line with the value of business rates which would be payable if a permitted development had already taken place.
278 NEWPORT NATO DECLARATION 21:7:14
1That this House hopes that the Newport Declaration from the NATO summit to be held in South Wales in September 2014 will include a realistic non-triumphalist assessment of NATO's role in Afghanistan and a welcome for the new strengthened unity of NATO nations in resisting the belligerence of President Putin's incursions into neighbouring states.
279 INQUIRY INTO CHILD ABUSE AND THE CROWN DEPENDENCIES 21:7:14
1That this House, being conscious of the numerous cases of previously concealed child abuse in which individuals have been able to use their status as public figures to deter victims and to prevent or disrupt investigations of their crimes, and being conscious that in some cases abusers, and those who have concealed abuse, have been able to use their positions in public office and the institutions of the state such as Parliament and Government to shield them and their wrongdoing from proper, lawful scrutiny, recognises that the dangers of such cover-ups occurring are even greater in small, quasi-self-governing communities than at national level, where, even though checks and balances are more extensive, child abuse and cover-ups by the well-connected have still occurred; notes that a local public inquiry in Jersey into child abuse, the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, has not gained the confidence of all victims and witnesses; and calls on the relevant UK authorities, the Secretary of State for Justice, the Crown and the Privy Council, in exercise of their responsibilities and powers to ensure good governance, the rule of law and proper administration of justice in the Crown Dependencies, to empower the overarching UK inquiry into child abuse to include the Crown Dependencies.
280 BRITISH SUCCESS AT INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD 21:7:14
3That this House congratulates the four students selected to represent the UK at the 25th International Biology Olympiad in July 2014 held in Bali in Indonesia, all of whom brought home medals; notes that over 5,000 students took part in the first round of this competition of which 120 students were selected for a further stage after which the top four students were selected from a shortlist of 16 at the British Biology Olympiad final held at the University of Warwick in April 2014; further congratulates the UK team of Adam Heath (Gold medal winner), Josh Dickerson (Silver medal winner), Dia Ghose (Silver medal winner) and Rebecca Peel (Bronze medal winner) on their outstanding success in this year's international competition; recognises that students in the UK can compete against the very best biologists in the world and come back as winners; and further congratulates the Society of Biology and the UK Biology Competitions Special Interest Group, together with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, for their key role in organising this competition.
281 IMPROVING MANAGEMENT IN THE UK 21:7:14
4That this House welcomes the launch of Management 2020, the report of the Commission on the Future of Management and Leadership, which was set up by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Management and the Chartered Management Institute; further welcomes the Commission's recommendations to improve management and leadership across the UK to support long-term, sustainable economic growth; supports its recommendations to help embed employability in the education system and to encourage employers to report on how they are engaging with education, providing work experience and their targets for recruiting young people and those returning from career breaks; supports its call for new exchange networks to promote secondments and the exchange of ideas and people between business and education, Civil Service and business, small and medium-sized enterprises and multinationals; further supports the recommendations for employers, that they focus on how they define their social purpose, inspire and develop their people and grow the potential of the next generation; and calls on employers to use the Management 2020 Benchmarking Tool to assess their current performance and identify areas for improvement, to help create a Better Managed Britain.
282 CANNED HUNTING OF LIONS 21:7:14
3That this House notes that according to the Campaign Against Canned Hunting well over 8,000 lions are being bred in captivity to supply the canned hunting trade that entails captive-bred lions being kept in confined areas to be shot by paying hunters using rifles, bow and arrow and pistols; further notes that at least some of the funding for this barbaric practice is derived from UK volunteer agencies that are often unaware of the destiny of these lions; further notes that on 15 March 2014 people in 62 cities in 21 countries marched on the streets to protest against canned hunting; further notes that on 13 February 2014 a world summit was held in London to halt the illegal trade in wildife products; further notes that precedents for concrete action include the EU ban on imports of seal skins from Namibia and Canada because they are based on animal cruelty; calls on the Government to ensure that preservation of the UK's world wildlife heritage is given the high level priority that it so clearly deserves; and further calls on the Government to ban the import of African lion trophies and body parts.