Session 2014-15
House of Commons
13th October 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
321 ENERGY (BUILDINGS AND REDUCTION OF FUEL USE) BILL 8:9:14
44That 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
22That 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
15That 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 training 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
5That 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
12That 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.
331 INTENSIVE INDOOR DAIRY FARMS 10:9:14
6That 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.
333 BAHA'I CEMETERY IN SHIRAZ 10:9:14
13That 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.
335 HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS OFFICE CLOSURES 12:9:14
6That this House calls on the Government to reconsider the planned cuts to HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) offices across the country; offers its full support to the hardworking staff in offices in Dundee and across the UK who are worried about their jobs; and urges the Government to enter into discussions with HMRC staff and their union the Public and Commercial Services Union in order to avoid job losses and unnecessarily damaging this crucial service.
336 VALUE OF RAIL FREIGHT TO THE UK ECONOMY 12:9:14
6That this House welcomes the publication of Keeping the lights on and the traffic moving, a report highlighting the vital role rail freight plays in the economy; notes that the rail freight industry has grown by 70 per cent since the mid-1990s and is now worth £1.5 billion a year in benefits to the economy; further notes that the industry transports goods worth over £30 billion a year and by transporting over half of the fuel used in the UK's electricity generation, the industry plays a substantial role in keeping the UK's lights on; recognises the significant environmental benefits of using rail freight instead of road freight, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 76 per cent and reducing congestion on the UK's roads by transporting goods that would otherwise require 7.6 million HGV journeys each year; and calls on the Government and industry to work together to create a positive future for the rail freight industry, increasing the volume and capacity of rail freight and subsequently the benefits to the economy.
337 YORKSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 12:9:14
8That this House notes the outstanding achievement of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the 2014 season; congratulates the First XI on winning the County Cricket championship for the first time since 2001; further congratulates Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Katherine Brunt, Danielle Hazell and Lauren Winfield on being awarded central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board; further congratulates Liam Plunkett on being awarded an England and Wales Cricket Board increment contract; further congratulates the under 13's girls team and the under 15's girls team on winning the ECB county cups; recognises the club's board, players, coaches, management, staff and club members for all their dedication to the development of cricket in Yorkshire; and wishes the club well for the 2015 season.
338 CASE OF RICKY REEL 12:9:14
4That this House expresses its heartfelt sympathy with the family of the late Ricky Reel; supports the change.org petition calling for an immediate public apology from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to all the families affected by police spying and for action to be taken against police officers for any wrongdoing; calls on the Home Secretary to provide assurances that the family justice campaigns will be consulted when drawing the terms of reference for the Public Inquiry into undercover policing and to ensure that those affected families will be provided with legal aid so that they can be properly legally represented at the Public Inquiry; and seeks confirmation from the Home Secretary that the practice of police spying of family justice campaigns has stopped.
339 LEEDS CAMRA 40TH ANNIVERSARY 12:9:14
3That this House congratulates the Leeds branch of the Campaign for Real Ale on its 40th anniversary; notes that it first began with 100 supporters turning up to its first meeting on 3 September 1974 at The Central on Wellington Street; further notes that its membership now stands at over 1,800; commends Leeds CAMRA for its great work to support and promote local pubs, such as through its pub awards, beer and cider festivals, supporting the LocAle scheme, undertaking Leeds's first Beer Census and helping preserve Leeds' heritage pubs including six that are in CAMRA's National Inventory; further commends Leeds CAMRA for supporting local communities too, such as making the main theme of its 2014 Beer Cider and Perry Festival the 100th anniversary of the Hyde Park Picture House on Brudenell Road, Headingley; further notes that the Festival itself was a huge success with an attendance of nearly 3,000 and almost 180 different beers on offer; and wishes Leeds CAMRA continued success over the years to come.
340 YORKSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB'S 32ND CHAMPIONSHIP 12:9:14
2That this House congratulates Yorkshire County Cricket Club on their triumph in the County Championship competition, the second trophy won at Headingley Carnegie this year; notes the country's most successful club has now recorded its 32nd victory in the competition, another success to add to its rich cricketing history; commends the excellent support from Yorkshire fans at Headingley Cricket Ground and around the country, which demonstrates that there is still great value in the longer format of the county game; recognises the dedication of the team in lifting their first Championship title in 13 years; further congratulates Jason Gillespie as an astute tactician and coach, Jack Brooks the leading wicket taker in the competition and Adam Lyth the top run scorer in the competition; is proud that Yorkshire talent is amongst the best in the country and many of its players are becoming integral parts of the England setup; further commends the great role models that Yorkshire stars are to juniors in the county; hopes this will inspire youngsters to bring through more Yorkshire talent in the future; welcomes the hosting of international cricket matches at Headingley Carnegie this year; and expects this success will provide a platform to propel a young squad to more silverware in the future.
341 DR ELSIE INGLIS AND THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S HOSPITALS 12:9:14
3That this House celebrates the bravery, achievements and hard work of Dr Elsie Inglis and the other women who set up and served in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals; recognises that the Scottish Women’s Hospitals became one of the best medical initiatives of World War One; acknowledges that these hospitals were set up despite a severe lack of support from the British War Office; estimates that the hospitals saved the lives of tens of thousands of people all in countries such as Serbia, Belgium, France, Russia, Romania, Corsica, Corfu and Greece; notes that the 14 women’s hospitals with a staff of over 1,000 women make up a remarkable, yet unrecognised part of our history; further notes that whilst Dr Inglis and the other women who served in these hospitals are recognised as heroes in Serbia, their work and achievements are barely recognised in the UK outside of Dr Inglis’ adopted home of Edinburgh; welcomes the proposal by Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation to recognise the work of Dr Elsie Inglis and her compatriots by establishing a training fund in the name of Dr Elsie Inglis for staff to access courses which may not be available through NHS Lothian; further recognises 16 August 2014 will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of this medical pioneer, suffragist, and First World War heroine; and strongly believes that during the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, the work of the brave women who served in these hospitals should be properly recognised and celebrated.
342 IRAN AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS 12:9:14
2That this House believes that the clerical regime ruling Iran is engaging in deceptive tactics to find a way out of nuclear impasse, so as to preserve their ability to obtain nuclear weapons; notes that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated recently that Iran has failed to address concerns about suspected nuclear weapons research; further believes, while supporting Mrs Maryam Rajavi's movement for the revelations of the regime's secret nuclear weapons programme since for the past two decades that any nuclear agreement that does not include implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and a halt to enrichment of uranium in addition to the IAEA inspectors having unhindered access to all suspected sites will leave the path open for the regime to continue its ambition to create a nuclear arsenal; and urges the Government to take these factors into account in its dealings with Iran.
343 IRAQ AND CAMP LIBERTY 12:9:14
3That this House believes that Iran's theocratic regime is the source of the spread of terrorism and barbaric extremism in Iraq and region; concurs with the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance Maryam Rajavi's advice that the UK should urge the ending of the Iranian theocratic regime meddling in the affairs of Iran, Syria and other countries in the region, the formation of a democratic, inclusive, secular government in Iraq and the organisation of free and fair elections under the auspices of international organisations; further believes that the rejection of Iran's intervention by the new Iraqi government is vital for the promotion of democracy in that country and that a good indication of this is the way it treats Ashraf residents now at Camp Liberty near Baghdad; and urges the government of Iran to lift the current inhumane siege on the camp, recognising this camp as a UN refugee camp and guarantee the safety, security and the rights of its residents.
344 TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP AND THE NHS 26:9:14
7That this House is extremely concerned about the potential impact on the National Health Service of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal between the EU and the US; notes with concern that the deal would give private companies and investors new rights to sue the Government and the devolved administrations for unlimited sums of money through the investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism if privatised services are returned to public ownership; is shocked that there will be no right of appeal for decisions made by the ISDS mechanism and that this panel of trade lawyers will meet in private and have the capacity to award unlimited amounts in damages; recognises that this trade deal has the potential to fundamentally undermine the public health service and reconfigure the relationship between the state and private investors; and calls on the Government to clarify its position on this and categorically commit to exempting the NHS from the TTIP deal.
345 INTRODUCTION OF THE ROONEY RULE TO ENGLISH FOOTBALL 13:10:14
3That this House believes that the extremely low number of black and ethnic minority managers means that English football is missing out on a great deal of talent; notes the success of the Rooney Rule in ensuring that black and ethnic minority candidates are represented in the interview process for head coaching positions in the National Football League (NFL); recognises that this has led to a welcome increase in the number of black and ethnic minority coaches in the NFL; and calls for the introduction of the Rooney Rule into English football with immediate effect to ensure that the national game becomes more representative of the wider society.
346 RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT MORALES 13:10:14
2That this House congratulates Evo Morales on his re-election with 60 per cent of the vote as President of Bolivia; and applauds the achievements of his presidency and MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo) in reducing poverty, increasing opportunities for the poorest and promoting environmentally sustainable policies.