Session 2014-15
House of Commons
15th 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
46That 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
25That 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.
326 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS 9:9:14
13That 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
11That 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
16That 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
5That 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 that Advisory Committee 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.
335 HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS OFFICE CLOSURES 12:9:14
13That 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
11That 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
11That 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
11That 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
5That 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
5That 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
8That 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
7That 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
8That 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
17That 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
5That 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
8That 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.
348 LIVERPOOL LADIES FC 14:10:14
4That this House congratulates Liverpool Ladies football team on successfully retaining the Super League for the 2013-14 season; congratulates manager Matt Beard and his coaching staff on their hard work; believes that the continued success of the FA Women's Super League is acting as a positive catalyst for a new generation of female footballers across Britain; and commits to continue support for greater levels of female participation in grassroots and professional football.
349 HOMECARE WORKERS AND THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE 14:10:14
13That this House is shocked to note that the National Audit Office reported earlier in 2014 that up to 220,000 care workers in England are illegally paid below the national minimum wage (NMW); further notes that an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of care providers between 2011 and 2013 found that 48 per cent were guilty of non-compliance with the NMW; further notes that homecare workers in particular are consistently not paid for travel time or training, too often have illegal deductions made from their pay and are frequently put on zero-hours contracts to deny them their legal rights; recognises that these arrangements have a deleterious impact on quality of care through high turnover of staff and shortened care visits; calls for a statement from the Government on what measures it is proposing to tackle the illegal under-payment of homecare workers; strenuously suggests that HMRC launch a programme of proactive investigations into the sector to help end non-compliance with the NMW, with adequate resources to ensure a thorough and sustained effort; requests that the Government names and shames care providers and councils who fail to pay or commission the NMW as well as name and praise those care providers and councils who have signed up to UNISON's Ethical Care Charter; and further calls for a change in the law to make local authorities and care providers jointly and severally liable for non-payment of the NMW as well as the introduction of stringent regulations under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that care workers are paid at least the national minimum wage.
350 INCOME TAX AND MILITARY ACTIVITY 14:10:14
5That this House recognises that addressing the root causes of conflict is a social, ethical and economic imperative for the 21st century and that Britain is a world leader in sponsoring initiatives designed to prevent and resolve conflicts through a range of mechanisms including the Conflict Pool, thus greatly contributing to global peace and security through non-military means; further recognises previous legislation for individuals of conscience to opt-out of military conscription, but those same individuals do not have the same right to opt-out of paying for, through the tax system, military activity that would go against their conscience; and notes that this dilemma can be resolved by enabling citizens to direct the proportion of their income tax that goes to the military to be placed in a non-military security fund, such as the Conflict Pool and its successors, thus allowing all taxpayers to be able to contribute their taxes with a clear conscience.
351 ERIC MORECAMBE STATUE 14:10:14
3That this House notes that on 11 October 2014 an individual tried to cut into and steal the Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe; further notes that Eric had to be taken down by Lancaster City Council for safety reasons; deplores the acts of an individual who carried out this atrocious act; congratulates Lancashire Police for its swift action at detaining a suspect; further congratulates CEO Mark Cullinan and his team at Lancaster City Council for taking action to ensure the statue can be repaired by the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, who originally designed the statue, as soon as possible, with full funding from the insurance company; and hopes that Eric can be restored and back on the promenade where he belongs by Christmas.
352 SAFEGUARDING JOURNALISTS AND THEIR SOURCES 14:10:14
12That this House is gravely concerned about recent reports that police forces have used powers contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) to access journalists' sources and materials; notes that unlike requests made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 there is no public record of these requests or their frequency, extent or even the existence of these applications, and there is no judicial oversight or independent process to grant permission to use these powers; further notes and welcomes the Interception of Communications Commissioner's new inquiry that will be asking all chief constables how many applications under RIPA have been granted since 2000 to access journalists' communications, and calls on these findings to be made public; shares the view of Gavin Millar QC that the use of such powers contravenes Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of expression that enshrine the rights of journalists and news organisations; shares the concern of the National Union of Journalists and other press freedom and privacy campaigners that this constitutes an attack on the press which will make whistleblowers reluctant to speak to journalists and also make it more difficult to report in the public interest; and therefore calls on the Government to take urgent steps to legislate to ensure there are protections for professions whose communications must be subject to strict confidentiality.
353 PROSECUTION OF BANKERS 15:10:14
2That this House strongly agrees with the argument of the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, that banking directors and top executives should be made more responsible for any reckless behaviour because reforms to curb bank pay were not enough to prevent another financial crisis; and calls on the Attorney General and regulatory bodies to bring forward evidence to permit prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service of senior bankers and ex-bankers who undermined the British economy by their reckless and irresponsible behaviour.
354 HERITAGE LOTTERY FUNDING FOR FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS 15:10:14
4That this House welcomes the Heritage Lottery Fund's (HLF) contribution to the commemorations of the First World War Centenary and recognises that that Fund has already invested over £60 million in projects, large and small, helping communities across the UK to mark the Centenary of the First World War; notes that the HLF will continue to make at least £1 million available per year until 2019 and will provide grants between £3,000 and £10,000 enabling communities and groups around the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage; and further welcomes this opportunity for people to deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict and to mark the Centenary over the next four years.
355 GOOD MONEY WEEK 15:10:14
5That this House welcomes Good Money Week 2014, which takes place from 19 to 25 October 2014 and aims to raise awareness of sustainable and responsible finance options for everyone; celebrates the rebranding of the campaign from National Ethical Investment Week to make it more relevant and accessible; notes that research commissioned by the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association shows that 77 per cent of the public want clearer and simpler financial information from the Government and from businesses; further notes with concern that one in five people said they could not explain what a bank was; and urges the Government to recognise the positive impact responsible and sustainable investment practices can have on the economy, the environment and society as a whole.
356 RYDER CUP VICTORY 15:10:14
4That this House recognises the recent outstanding European Ryder Cup victory and in particular the part played once more by Northern Ireland golfers Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in helping secure the win; and expresses the hope that Northern Ireland can further secure its place at the heart of world golf with Darren Clarke as the next European captain in a future Ryder Cup that the American team might wish to contest.
357 NORTHERN IRELAND SPORTING SUCCESS 15:10:14
6That this House recognises the sporting excellence of the Northern Ireland football team who are currently top of the European Championship Qualifying Group F, the Ulster rugby team currently one of the best in the British Isles, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, two of the best golfers in the world and Carl Frampton world super-bantamweight boxing champion, meaning that a country with a population of 1.8 million has attained an unprecedented level of success making it the envy of countries with populations many times greater than Northern Ireland.
358 CONGO WEEK 2014 15:10:14
2That this House notes that from 19 to 25 October 2014 millions of people in 65 countries will join their voices with that of the Congolese people to call for peace, justice and human dignity in Congo as part of Congo Week, an initiative of Friends of the Congo; welcomes the important work that Friends of the Congo and Save the Congo carry out in the US and UK respectively in providing a unique and credible voice amidst tension and conflict in the region; applauds the courage and contribution of those involved in Congo Week; and urges the Minister for Africa to support Congo Week and Congolese organisations working for peace.
359 A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL SETTLEMENT 15:10:14
1That this House notes the result of the independence referendum in Scotland; acknowledges that the leaders of all major Westminster parties have committed to transferring more legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament and believes that the same powers should be transferred to the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies; and recognises that when this occurs there will be a justifiable argument for having an English Parliament with similar powers and that the UK Westminster Parliament will then require radical changes in its size and residual responsibilities to reflect these devolved changes.
360 EU DIRECTIVE ON SULPHUR CONTENT OF MARINE FUELS 15:10:14
4That this House notes that EU Directive 2012/33/EU regarding the sulphur content of marine fuels from 1 January 2015 will require ships in the Sulphur Emission Control Area to use fuel with a sulphur content that cannot exceed 0.1 per cent; further notes that the Sulphur Emission Control Area covers the English Channel, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and therefore has a particularly adverse effect on the UK shipping industry in particular; considers that as a result fuel prices and the cost of shipping will increase; is concerned that these increased costs are likely to be passed on to the consumer and are already costing jobs in the shipping industry; further notes that jobs have already been lost in the shipping industry, that additional jobs are under threat, and that this is detrimental to coastal communities; further notes that the Government has been consulted on the implantation of this directive; and calls on the Government to demand exemptions to protect jobs in British shipping and British ports, reflecting that the UK is unique in the EU as an international maritime trading nation.
361 CONTACT THE ELDERLY'S POWER OF CONTACT CAMPAIGN 15:10:14
3That this House shares Mother Teresa’s view that being alone and unwanted is the world’s greatest disease; endorses the view of the Secretary of State for Health that lonely and isolated people are a forgotten million who live amongst us, ignored to our national shame; notes that in the last 50 years Contact the Elderly has provided regular face-to-face contact via volunteers, currently numbering 7,000, from all walks of life, who give their time to create positive social change; further notes that Contact the Elderly’s regular renewal of friendship nationwide restores health and happiness, and saves taxpayer costs by reducing hospital and GP visits; further notes that there is much more to be done in expanding Contact the Elderly’s reach around the country to enable it to double the number of older people that it supports; and calls on hon. Members and the Government to support Contact the Elderly’s Power of Contact campaign to raise £1 million in the Golden Jubilee year to enable the charity to extends its vital hand of friendship to, and create face-to-face happiness links with, many more of the neglected million older people.
362 BLOOD BRICKS CAMPAIGN 15:10:14
22That this House notes with concern the conditions of brick labourers in India; emphasises the fact that many of these labourers see abuses of minimum wage rates and health and safety regulations; further notes that many work up to 16 hours a day; further notes that children as young as four years old are also working in these conditions; further notes that such labour is often bonded labour and that a recent BBC report brought to light examples of workers having their hands cut off when trying to escape; welcomes the work by Union Solidarity International in highlighting these abuses through its Blood Bricks campaign; highlights the 2011 UN and OECD guidelines specifying that multinational companies should have direct responsibility for human rights abuses anywhere in their supply chains; is concerned that these guidelines are not being enforced; stresses that any and every industry using new buildings in India should be under scrutiny; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to enforce these guidelines in UK law and to raise these issues in international negotiations.
363 FAIR TRIAL FOR GHONCHEH GHAVAMI 15:10:14
3That this House is extremely concerned over the current condition of Miss Ghoncheh Ghavami, a 25 year old British Iranian woman who has been detained since June 2014 by the Iranian authorities, after attending a protest outside an all-male volleyball match against the ban of women at such sporting events in Iran; notes that for long periods of her arrest without trial she had been in solitary confinement and without access to her family or a lawyer; and encourages pressure on the Iranian government to release Miss Ghoncheh Ghavami who has reportedly been on hunger strike since 1 October 2014, to ensure her safety and a fair trial.
364 CHURCH IN ALGERIA 15:10:14
2That this House recognises the continuing growth of the church in Algeria which owes a great deal to Lilias Trotter who followed her call from God to minister to Algerians and established the first church there; notes that 135 years on from Lilias' call to Algeria, the church is still flourishing; and recognises the fantastic impact that Lilias, as well as other pioneers, have had on current and future generations.
365 SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY'S BIOLOGY WEEK 2014 15:10:14
4That this House celebrates the launch of the Society of Biology's third nationwide Biology Week 2014 from 13 to 19 October 2014; notes that among its key objectives is a commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; congratulates the Society for its initiative and the range of innovative events and activities that have been organised; further congratulates the Society for its wider role in promoting events in Parliament on behalf of the science and engineering community to assist hon. and Right hon. Members in their understanding of science; applauds the efforts that are being made throughout the UK, especially by teachers in primary and secondary schools, to revitalise the science curriculum and to convey the excitement of science to pupils and students; further notes the wide range of activities organised by the Society in local communities all over the country which are designed to illustrate and focus on the vital role of biology and the biological sciences; further notes that on 15 October 2014 the parliamentary launch of Biology Week is co-sponsored by the hon. Members for Ellesmere Port and Neston, South Basildon and East Thurrock, and Cambridge; and further notes the unrivalled contribution that the study of biology and the biological sciences have made and continue to make to our understanding of nature, to the quality of life and to the knowledge economy of the 21st century.
366 CITIZENS ADVICE SCOTLAND REPORT, VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE: PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENTS 15:10:14
1That this House welcomes the publication of Citizens Advice Scotland's report entitled Voices from the Frontline: Personal Independence Payments, which examines the roll-out of personal independence payment to replace disability living allowance; notes that claimants are having to wait an average of six months to receive a decision and in some cases over a year; further notes that such delays prevent people from receiving certain passported benefits, payment of some of which cannot be backdated; considers the cumulative impact of Government policy on disability benefits to have been damaging to many of the most vulnerable people in society; and urges the Department for Work and Pensions to take on board Citizens Advice Scotland's recommendations.