Session 2014-15
House of Commons
10th September 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
295 APPOINTMENT OF CLERK OF THE HOUSE 1:9:14
82That this House believes that the recommendation of Ms Carol Mills to be Clerk of this House should be subject to, and contingent upon, a pre-appointment hearing and report by a select committee.
296 NORTHERN IRELAND NATIONAL INSURANCE 1:9:14
18That this House recognises that people working in Northern Ireland at ages 14 and 15 between 1947 and 1957 paid national insurance contributions but that these do not count towards their pension as this is calculated by taking into account contributions made from age 16 only; acknowledges that this impacts Northern Ireland disproportionately as the working age in Great Britain changed from 14 to 15 in 1947, 10 years before it was changed in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Government to look at measures to address this discrepancy.
297 DR ELIZABETH GARRETT ANDERSON AND WOMEN IN SCIENCE 1:9:14
26That this House commends the contribution to medical science by Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who was born in London in 1836; notes that in 1865, Dr Anderson was the first Englishwoman to qualify as a doctor after passing the Society of Apothecaries' examinations; praises Dr Anderson's work in 1866 to establish a dispensary for women in London; further notes that in 1870 Dr Anderson was made a visiting physician to the East London Hospital and in 1872 she founded the New Hospital for Women in London, which was staffed entirely by women; further notes that Dr Anderson helped found the London School of Medicine for Women in 1874 and was appointed dean in 1883; further notes that because of Dr Anderson's pioneering work an Act was passed in 1876 that permitted women to enter medical professions; further notes that during her retirement in Aldeburgh in Suffolk, Dr Anderson became the first female mayor in England in 1908; and calls on the Government to ensure that young women are encouraged to pursue careers in science.
299 NATIONAL PARKS WEEK 2014 1:9:14
16That this House welcomes National Parks Week 2014, running from 28 July to 3 August; sees the UK's national parks as valuable assets to the UK which are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year from all corners of the globe, as well as local British people; celebrates the diverse and varying environments found in our national parks; notes that they are havens for wild flora and fauna, have breath-taking scenery, contain thousands of years of historical heritage and represent opportunities for education, exercise, cultural enrichment, physical and mental peace and spiritual activity and a home for thousands of businesses; further notes that businesses in the national parks make a significant contribution to the British economy and break new ground with environmentally sustainable business practices and technologies; and recognises the hard work that thousands of people undertake to make our national parks a success, including farmers, business people, local residents, national park authorities, tourists and environmentalists.
301 FORCED CHILD ADOPTION 1:9:14
20That this House recognises the suffering that forced child adoptions during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s caused, which took place owing to social pressures on women who had children outside marriage; notes the unacceptable adoption and care practices of the past, such as not giving information about welfare services including housing and financial help which were available at the time, and not questioning whether women putting their children up for adoption had given informed consent; further recognises the negligence of previous governments, with regard to ensuring that the care provided for unmarried mothers was appropriate and that they and their children were not mistreated or discriminated against, resulting in many women suffering traumatising pre and post-natal experiences and children being denied contact with their birth parents; further notes that the Australian Prime Minister has in 2014 apologised to the victims of forced adoptions in Australia; and therefore calls on the Government to apologise in order to go some way towards helping the parents and children who were victims of these practices.
302 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY TREAT ME RIGHT CAMPAIGN 1:9:14
33That this House commends the Multiple Sclerosis Society for organising the Treat Me Right campaign; supports the campaign and believes that all licensed multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments should be available on the NHS making everyone eligible for them; notes that people with MS should have fair and equal access to the right treatments at the right time; further supports the goal that all people with relapsing remitting MS should be invited to talk with a specialist about their treatment, in light of new disease modifying drug options in 2014; agrees that accessible information about treatment options, and support to be equal partners in decision-making, should be available to all people with MS; further notes that this year marks a potential revolution in MS treatments for relapsing remitting MS due to the now nine MS drugs approved for use on the NHS; further notes that up to 80 per cent of people with MS retire within 15 years of diagnosis, severely shortening the working lives of young adults and incurring costs to the labour market and economy; and states that there are more than 100,000 people living with MS in the UK and that the Government needs to ensure that the NHS has the right treatment available as it can make a huge difference to their lives, helping control relapses and managing symptoms.
303 LATER LIFE AMBITIONS CAMPAIGN 1:9:14
34That this House welcomes the launch of the Later Life Ambitions campaign and supports its core aim of ensuring a fair, active life for pensioners; notes there are now more people in the UK aged 60 years and above than under 16 years, which will have enormous social and economic consequences for this country; further notes that over 10 million people alive in the UK today are expected to live to be 100 years old; calls on the Government and local authorities to do all they can to tackle the social and economic challenges facing older people and to ensure a positive, ambitious future for further generations; and acknowledges the work of Later Life Ambitions in raising awareness of older people's issues.
304 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL ANGLIAN REGIMENT 1:9:14
15That this House congratulates The Royal Anglian Regiment on the 50th anniversary of its formation on 1 September 1964 from the former County Regiments of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire; declares its appreciation to former and current members of the Regiment for their service both at home and overseas; registers with approval that anniversary celebrations were held at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, on 31 August 2014 during which new Colours were presented by HRH the Duke of Gloucester, the Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief; and wishes The Royal Anglian Regiment continued success in the years ahead.
305 FAMAGUSTA 1:9:14
16That this House supports the immediate return of the city of Famagusta to its lawful citizens, displaced following the invasion of Cyprus in 1974, in advance of any comprehensive solution being found to the country's illegal occupation of parts of the island by Turkey; and believes that such a confidence-building measure, which is supported by the United Nations, would act as a bridge towards the securing of a united Cyprus which would then help to bring political, economic and social cohesion to the whole country and its people who range from all this country’s ethnic backgrounds.
306 STATUTORY DUTY - FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES 2:9:14
17That this House is concerned that there currently doesn't exist a statutory duty upon fire and rescue services to respond to incidents of severe flooding in the UK; is aware however that rescue authorities have the power to respond when required under Part 1, section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Act 2004, to protect citizens from serious harm during flooding when circumstances deem it necessary; believes that a more co-ordinated and professional approach to this issue needs to be established using fire and rescue authorities' abilities to deploy skilled personnel via their integral command and control functions, to co-ordinate and respond to any rescue or preventative phases of flooding, threats and incidents; and accordingly calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to bring forward proposals for such a statutory duty within the existing capacity of this most important public service.
308 TREATMENT OF IRAQI MINORITIES BY THE ISLAMIC STATE 2:9:14
34That this House is extremely concerned about the genocidal campaign being waged against minorities in Iraq by the Islamic State (IS) and notes with alarm the evidence recently collected by Amnesty International about IS's brutal campaign to obliterate all trace of non-Arabs and non-Sunni Muslims that has turned the area into blood-soaked killing fields; is shocked by the barbaric treatment of Yazidi and other ethnic and religious minority women kidnapped by IS, particularly reports of women being reportedly gang-raped and sold into sexual slavery; calls on the Government and the international community to take further measures to help secure the release of those held by IS and to assist those at imminent risk of being captured and those facing extreme hardship in refugee camps in Iraq and Syria, including offering to resettle the most vulnerable; and further calls on the Government and the international community to assist in collecting and preserving evidence of these atrocities so that the perpetrators can ultimately be brought to justice.
309 WOMEN'S AID SAVE OUR SERVICES CAMPAIGN 2:9:14
20That this House welcomes the launch of the Women's Aid SOS Campaign: Save Our Services: save refuges, save lives; recognises that specialist domestic violence refuges are life-saving services; acknowledges this national network of services in England is facing a crisis due to funding cuts and poor local commissioning decisions; further welcomes the aim of the SOS Campaign to protect the national network of specialist refuges and commit to exploring a new funding model for these services; acknowledges that a recent YouGov poll shows that 61 per cent of the population think that the Government should do more to preserve the national network of specialist domestic violence refuges for women and children; and calls on hon. Members to support the campaign by meeting with their local specialist refuge, signing the SOS campaign petition and supporting the protection of funding for the national network of life-saving refuges.
310 INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST GENOCIDE 2:9:14
20That this House welcomes the powerful appeal by the UK Kurdish Genocide Task Force, a group that includes legal and academic experts and hon. Members, for signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention and Member States of the United Nations to act to end, prosecute and punish acts of genocide and crimes against humanity against Yezidi Kurds, Assyrian Christians, Shabaks and Kakayis committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); endorses the need for a fact-finding commission of experts to collect eye-witness evidence and prepare a timely record to establish whether the prima facie evidence justifies the international recognition of the above-mentioned acts as genocide and/or crimes against humanity and prosecution of those responsible; notes that the Kurdistan Regional Government is willing to share all evidence in its possession and to provide all assistance within its capability to such a fact-finding commission; believes that the United Nations Security Council should pass a resolution referring the acts committed by ISIS as a new situation to the International Criminal Court; further notes that the international law principle of the Responsibility to Protect obliges individual states and the international community to take effective measures to prevent the commission of genocide and crimes against humanity, if necessary by appropriate military intervention or support of the local forces combating ISIS; and urges the Government to join with others in pursuing these matters with alacrity.
312 GOVERNMENT POLICY ON CLIMATE CHANGE 3:9:14
17That this House urges the Prime Minister to attend the United Nations meeting of heads of state in New York in September 2014 to discuss climate change; supports the mobilisations and marches to be held on 21 September around the world to demonstrate the groundswell of demand that exists for ambitious climate action; and thanks all of the organisations involved in the mobilisation for bringing people's attention to this important matter.
313 UK ARMS EXPORTS TO ISRAEL 3:9:14
9That this House notes with concern that, despite Government commitments to keep all weapons export licences under review and despite the recent deaths of more than 2,000 civilians in Gaza, the UK is still permitting arms exports to Israel; further notes that the UK has licensed more than £40 million worth of military exports to Israel since 2010, including components used for drones, bombs and targeting systems; condemns the UK's long history of exporting arms to regimes which use them against their own citizens to suppress dissent and calls for democracy, or for external aggression; further notes that the laser guidance systems of Paveway II bombs - which were used against hospitals, schools and UN refuges in Gaza in the recent conflict - were produced in a factory in Fife, Scotland; further notes estimates that more than 50,000 such bombs have been dropped on Gaza since 8 July 2014; observes that under UK arms export rules, the UK may not issue an export licence for equipment that will be used for internal oppression; further notes with concern that the Ministry of Defence is currently working with Israel-based defence company Elbit Systems on a drone programme worth £1 billion; further condemns the Government's failure to withdraw any of the UK's 131 arms export licences to Israel; further calls on the Government to stop prioritising the profits of wealthy arms companies over human lives and global stability; and asks the Government to reconsider the UK's arms export policy to stop the use of UK-made weapons against civilians.
315 MIGRAINE AWARENESS WEEK 3:9:14
21That this House endorses Migraine Awareness Week from 7 to 13 September 2014; and supports the work of the Migraine Trust charity to encourage more people to learn about migraines and to seek medical support and assistance.
316 YOUNG WITNESS SERVICE 3:9:14
16That this House congratulates and commends the NSPCC Young Witness Service launched in Northern Ireland to assist witnesses under 18 years and their families at times of great stress; further commends the service to all young people; and encourages the Government to ensure that this service is rolled-out across the whole of the UK.
317 WINNERS OF RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPION SCHOOLS COMPETITION 3:9:14
6That this House recognises the achievement of the schools and players that took part in the finals of the Rugby Football League's National Champion Schools Competition over the course of the Challenge Cup weekend; further recognises the competition as the largest rugby tournament in the world with over 1,200 teams and 20,000 participants involved annually; believes this demonstrates the enormous hard work and talent involved from all finalists; congratulates the winners Castleford Academy, Sirius Academy, South Holderness High School, Leigh Academy (Kent), Dowdales High School and Settle College; and is confident that with such talented players, dedicated coaches and staff, and parents and volunteers, rugby league in schools is in a very positive position.
318 DUCHENNE AWARENESS DAY 3:9:14
35That this House acknowledges the first World Duchenne Awareness Day taking place on 7 September 2014; recognises the efforts of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and other Duchenne charities and support groups to highlight the need for Duchenne research, improved healthcare and independent living across the UK; notes the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's leading role in fundraising for vital Duchenne research through its Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund and Duchenne Forum initiative; further notes the new Fast Forward campaign launched by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign calling for faster access to specialist treatments for muscle-wasting conditions which become available; acknowledges the work of the Trailblazers young campaigners network in promoting and enabling a better quality of life and independent living for young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; calls on the NHS to meet the required standards of care for more than 2,500 boys and young men in the UK with Duchenne muscular dystrophy through NHS neuromuscular service specifications; and urges the Government to ensure that people affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy have rapid access to emerging treatments which are safe and effective.
319 STEVE PILGRIM AND B1% 3:9:14
7That this House congratulates Liverpool drummer and member of Paul Weller's band Steve Pilgrim on establishing the B1% charity; notes B1% is a network of individuals who commit to give one per cent of their income each month to help the world's poorest people; congratulates those who have raised money for over 35 projects in 11 countries around the world; recognises that the charity is responsible for the planting of 8,000 new trees and has raised enough money to vaccinate 5,000 children against measles in Malawi; further notes that the charity has used donations to fund projects such as building wells and developing clean water facilities in Africa as well as sponsoring school feeding programmes; and further encourages people to become members of the B1%.
320 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR BUSINESS 4:9:14
13That this House recognises the great success of the International Festival for Business 2014, hosted by Liverpool and the City Region on behalf of the UK as a whole; notes that 75,000 business delegates took part in more than 400 events, making it the largest business festival in the world this year; further notes the very positive feedback that has been received so far from participants and partners; looks forward to the completion and publication of the Interim Evaluation Report this November, exploring the Festival's impact on the economy; commends the Mayor of Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision and partners for their excellent work in delivering it; and further looks forward to seeing the plans for the International Festival for Business 2016, which will once again be staged in Liverpool and the City Region.
321 ENERGY (BUILDINGS AND REDUCTION OF FUEL USE) BILL 8:9:14
39That this House believes that greater energy efficiency and the installation of cost-effective measures to generate energy from buildings can reduce fuel bills, and assist with the alleviation of fuel poverty and with achieving low carbon homes; notes with interest that the Sustainable Energy Association Manifesto demonstrates how, using the Department of Energy and Climate Change figures, an energy from buildings strategy could save every person in the UK £186 per year, and the UK economy nearly £12 billion each year; and therefore supports the Energy (Buildings and Reduction of Fuel Use) Bill which will require the Secretary of State to draw up and implement a strategy to promote such measures.
322 NATIONAL EYE HEALTH WEEK 9:9:14
14That this House regrets that the number of people living with sight loss continues to rise despite the fact that half of all sight loss is avoidable; recognises the devastating impact that sight loss can have on an individual's physical and emotional wellbeing and the burden it has on the economy, estimated to be £8 billion in 2013; applauds the work of National Eye Health Week from 22 to 28 September 2014 in highlighting the simple steps that people across the UK can take to reduce their risk of suffering a sight threatening disease; encourages everyone to ensure they have a sight test every two years and adopt a lifestyle that includes eating a healthy diet and not smoking; and urges the Government to recognise the link between eye health and wider public health issues as well as the role optometry can play creating a healthier Britain.
324 THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE KURDISTAN REGION 9:9:14
8That this House recognises the enormous humanitarian crisis affecting the Kurdistan region of Iraq whose population of five million people has been joined by about 1.4 million refugees from Syria and internally displaced people who fled Islamic State (IS) jihadists, most of them arriving in August 2014 with nothing but the clothes on their back; further recognises that many public spaces have been occupied by these people who sometimes outnumber locals; urges non-governmental organisations and governments to continue and increase efforts to help the Kurds cope with this financially and through the transfer of expertise; believes that the military defeat of the Islamic State will create the best conditions for the eventual return to their homes of these refugees; suggests that the Government urges the UN and regional powers to accept the necessity of military action to defeat IS; further believes that equipping the Kurds with heavy weapons and traiing in addition to the UK and others taking part in US airstrikes can help sustain such necessary military action; deeply regrets that, even when the Kurdistan Regional Government is in the frontline against extremism, the federal government of Iraq has continued to withhold their budget entitlements, unconstitutionally block Kurdish energy exports, and refuse to equally pay, equip and train the Peshmerga; and further urges the federal government in Baghdad to swiftly agree a lasting settlement on these issues and also allow the KRG control over its airspace as part of a new confederal arrangement within the current borders of Iraq.
325 PACER TRAINS 9:9:14
3That this House welcomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement that 'one of the experiences of people in the North is the feeling that the carriages are not as good as those in the South of England'; notes his willingness to address that issue in the new franchise agreements but views with concern suggestions from other quarters of Government that the near obsolete and unpopular Pacer carriages may survive with modifications into the next franchise period; and urges the Government and Angel Trains to consider them as scrap and surplus to requirements.
326 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS 9:9:14
5That this House believes that Private Members' Bills should be debated on 26 sittings held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings between 7.00pm and 10.00pm instead of on 13 Friday sittings; notes that this proposed revision would mean the House would sit for an additional six and a half hours in a session; and, accordingly, calls on the Procedure Committee to come forward with the necessary amendments to Standing Orders to implement such changes.
327 SCOTLAND AND THE UNITED KINGDOM 9:9:14
46That this House urges the Scottish people to vote to keep Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, because Scotland as part of the UK can provide far greater security and prosperity for its people than Scotland could on its own, by virtue of the global reach of the UK's influence as one of the richest and most powerful states in the world; notes that the great social, economic and political reforms, such as the NHS, the growth of free enterprise and free trade and the introduction of universal suffrage for men and women, were all brought about by the United Kingdom; considers that, far from stifling Scotland, Scotland's identity and character has flourished within the UK, and the influence of Scotland's industry, engineering, science, medicine, philosophy, literature, arts and sport has been incalculable; further considers that together these nations have fought and defeated tyranny and promoted freedom, democracy and the rule of law and that the Union does not fetter but empowers Scotland, helping to create and to sustain one of the most influential powers on earth; believes that only together can future generations of the four nations of the Union ensure greater freedom, prosperity and security in the century ahead for all; and fervently hopes the Scottish people will draw back from breaking this great marriage of nations which would result in decades of pain, blame and recrimination, and instead continue to evolve the Union of our great nations from within.
328 CARL FRAMPTON 10:9:14
8That this House congratulates Belfast's Carl Frampton on his magnificent achievement in becoming the super-bantamweight champion of the world; notes he is the latest in a long line of world-class sportsmen and women from Northern Ireland; and looks forward to him continuing to be an inspiration to the people of Tiger's Bay, North Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole.
329 THE CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS AT KINGS SCIENCE ACADEMY IN BRADFORD 10:9:14
1That this House notes that Mr Alan Lewis has been described as being Chairman of Governors at the Kings Science Academy free school in Bradford during its opening year on the school's website, in the school's prospectus, in an email from the school to the Department for Education (DfE), in an application to open a second Kings Science Academy in Sheffield, on the Conservative Party's website and in a draft investigation report by the Department for Education into the school's finances; further notes that the Department for Education said that it previously believed that Mr Lewis was the Chairman of Governors between October 2011 and 2012 but now says this was not the case and in fact no Chairman appears to have been in place; raises concerns that the Department's position that the school had no Chairman of Governors is contradicted by its own investigation report into the school which says it believes there was a Chairman in place; further notes that the Department believed Mr Lewis was the Chairman of Governors at the school when it approved plans to build the Kings Science Academy on Mr Lewis's company's land in a deal worth close to £6 million over 20 years; believes that the conflicting version of events at the school demonstrates a lack of accountability in the Government's free school programme; and calls on the Secretary of State to make a statement clarifying the situation.
330 THE CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS AT KINGS SCIENCE ACADEMY IN SHEFFIELD 10:9:14
1That this House notes the Department for Education (DfE) has stated that it did not know who the Chairman of Governors was at the Kings Science Academy during its opening year; recognises the DfE confirmed the school informed it that Mr Alan Lewis was appointed Chairman in October 2011 but later told this was not the case; further notes that in a bid document from early 2012 to open a second Kings Science Academy in Sheffield in 2013, the application refers to Mr Lewis as either Chairman of Governors or of the Trust 10 times; affirms that in this document his name appears under the executive summary as Chair of the Trust, beneath a mission statement as Chairman of the Trust, and in the conclusion as Chair; further notes Mr Alan Lewis is listed as a main contact for the application with his name given as Chair of Governors of the proposed free school in Sheffield, topping the list of members of the KIFSA Trust, the company responsible for the existing school, whose address was said to be the same as that of Mr Lewis's company; further notes that the document also includes a quote said to be from Mr Lewis and notes the application has a section entitled Our Philanthropist, Chair of Governors: Alan Lewis CBE; further affirms the intransigence of the DfE in avoiding hon. Members' questions about governance at the school; and calls for an independent inquiry to be established to examine events at Kings Science Academy.
331 INTENSIVE INDOOR DAIRY FARMS 10:9:14
2That this House supports the vast numbers of dairy farmers across the UK who supply sustainable, high quality milk produced to high welfare standards in increasingly difficult and volatile economic circumstances; notes with concern the increased risks to dairy cow welfare from intensive indoor dairy farms in the UK; believes that without access to pasture dairy cows are unable to fully exhibit natural behaviours; and calls on the Government to determine the number and location of intensive indoor dairy farms in the UK where cows are given no access to pasture to ensure the public are themselves able to determine where and how their milk is being produced.
332 LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND FINES FOR UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE 10:9:14
2That this House notes the recent not guilty finding in the prosecution for non-payment of a non-attendance fine of Kerry Capper by Birmingham City Council, defended by Glaisyers solicitors, and the withdrawal of the prosecution of the Haymore family by Essex County Council, defended by Liberty's legal department; further notes that local authorities have indicated in penalty notices that such fines can only by withdrawn on the basis of error; further notes, however, notwithstanding oral advice from local authorities that it is a strict liability offence, that it is possible to defend such prosecutions and that local authorities are not like The Borg in that resistance is not futile; recognises hence that the penalty notices are misleading in failing to indicate that there are valid defences to such prosecutions; further notes that were such a penalty notice to be issued by a solicitor, it could be subject to regulatory action for being misleading in implying that resistance is futile; future notes that large numbers of such fines have been issued and that their issuance is potentially unlawful; and calls for local authorities to review the form of their penalty notices in light of the two cases mentioned, with a view to refunding the fines paid if the penalty notices are found to be unlawful.
333 BAHA'I CEMETERY IN SHIRAZ 10:9:14
2That this House notes the joint press release of 4 September 2014 from three United Nations special rapporteurs calling on the Iranian government to bring an immediate halt to the destruction of a Baha'i cemetery in the city of Shiraz; believes that the desecration of Baha’i graves constitutes an unacceptable violation of freedom of religion; and urges the Government to intercede with Iranian officials and press them to take immediate action to effect a full cessation of the demolition of this Baha'i cemetery.
334 REGULATIONS ON BLOOD DONATION BY MEN WHO HAVE HAD SEX WITH MEN 10:9:14
1That this House notes that whilst the blanket ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood has lifted, there remains a 12-month deferral on men who have had sex with men donating blood; is aware that the rationale for the deferral for men who have had sex with men, put in place in 2011 following the lifting of the lifetime ban, related to the level of risk of contracting hepatitis B and the length of time needed for the hepatitis B screening process; further notes that, for NHS blood donation practice to be lawful and non-discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010, it has to be based on up-to-date evidence; believes that the uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine amongst groups considered to be at higher risk should be regularly assessed along with other evidence relevant to risk behaviours, screening and safe transfusion; further believes there is both a moral obligation to ensure that people receiving blood donations are not put at unnecessary risk and also that donors are not unfairly discriminated against; further notes it is over three years since the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs Donor Selection Criteria Review of May 2011; and therefore calls on Public Health England to conduct an urgent review of the evidence available since 2011 on allowing people to donate safe blood to the Health Service to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010.