Session 2014-15
House of Commons
3rd February 2015
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
652 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE (S. I., 2014, No. 1870) 18:12:14
16That the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 1870), dated 14 July 2014, be revoked.
695 SOCIAL SECURITY (S. I., 2014, No. 3270) 15:1:15
17That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I., 2014, No. 3270), dated 10 December 2014, a copy of which was laid before this House on 15 December, be annulled.
730 CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION WEEK 2015 26:1:15
43That this House notes that 25 to 31 January 2015 is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which is aimed at raising awareness of the causes and symptoms of cervical cancer and improving prevention efforts; further notes that eight women are diagnosed with, and three women die from, cervical cancer every day, despite the fact that it is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and cervical screening; further notes that, although all women aged 25 to 64 are invited to a free cervical screening test every three to five years, over 20 per cent, particularly those from disadvantaged areas, do not attend for screening; asks that relevant community and age-specific information is made available to women about cervical cancer symptoms, prevention and related issues; recognises what it considers to be the excellent work of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust in supporting women and their families; and asks hon. Members, clinicians and policymakers to join the fight to eradicate cervical cancer.
731 EYE HEALTH RESEARCH 26:1:15
28That this House expresses concern that funding for eye health research has hit crisis point; notes that already more than 40 people lose their sight every day in Britain, currently less than two per cent of combined national medical research funding is spent on the eye and that some three million over 65s, equating to one in six elderly people, will have a degree of sight loss by 2050 that will have a significant impact on their daily lives; further notes that sight loss currently costs the UK economy £22 billion annually and many of the 3.8 million people living with diabetes are at serious risk of poor eye health; and calls on the Government to make eye health a higher priority in the UK.
732 OFFSHORE INDUSTRY CRISIS 26:1:15
17That this House is deeply concerned by the severity of the downturn in the UK offshore oil industry resulting from the slump in oil prices; is alarmed that the industry's short-term responses have included delay and cancellation of long-term projects, laying off workers, extending working hours and attacking conditions of service; is dismayed that some employers see this crisis as an opportunity to accelerate cost-cutting recruitment practices and reduce essential maintenance work in the sector; opposes such short-term responses to the crisis which jeopardise tens of thousands of jobs, essential skills, infrastructure integrity and capacity and future tax revenues from this vital sector; believes that the Government should start work with all affiliates, including the Scottish Government and the Inter Union Offshore Committee, to agree and implement measures that preserve the sustainability of operations, jobs, skills and investment as well as a robust safety regime in the North Sea for the long-term; and calls on the Government to launch a public inquiry into the offshore energy industry in the UK Continental Shelf.
733 GREEK ELECTION RESULT 26:1:15
25That this House welcomes the result of the general election in Greece and accepts the democratic will of the Greek people; wishes the new government well in its efforts to reduce the burden on its population that years of austerity have brought; urges the international community to work positively with the new government and recognise the will of the Greek people; believes that the austerity agenda being foisted on people across Europe and in the UK is ensuring that those least responsible for the financial crash are being forced to carry the heaviest burden; and further believes that it is now time to turn away from austerity and promote an economic system that puts the wellbeing of a nation's citizens before the desires and demands of those who created the economic mess in the first place.
734 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING SYSTEM 26:1:15
41That this House condemns the Government's unfair cuts to local authorities; notes that between 2010-11 and 2015-16 the councils covering the 10 most deprived areas of England as measured by the index of multiple deprivation are losing £782 on average per household while the councils covering the least deprived areas are losing on average £48; further notes that the Audit Commission has confirmed that councils in the most deprived areas have seen substantially greater reductions in Government funding as a share of revenue expenditure than councils in less deprived areas; and calls on the Government to introduce a fairer funding system for local government in the next local government finance settlement.
735 PROTECTION OF ABORTION SERVICES 26:1:15
17That this House is extremely concerned about the threatening and intimidating behaviour exhibited by anti-abortion activists targeting clinics; draws attention to the relentless protests outside the British Pregnancy Advisory Service Clinic in Blackfriars, where activists carrying enormous, disturbing and graphic posters are continuously menacing staff and patients; notes that activists are handing expectant mothers horrifying leaflets and filming conversations with members of the public without asking for consent; further notes that the activists have disguised their activities as prayer vigils, or as peaceful protests, but in reality they are taking advantage of the protections afforded to these activities; is concerned that police have not acted in fear of interfering with protesting rights; recognises that these groups are legally entitled to protest; feels that these particular protests are tantamount to harassment; and demands that the police act immediately to protect the clinic and enforce a buffer zone.
739 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND NET MIGRATION TARGETS 27:1:15
61That this House recognises the enormous cultural, academic and economic contribution that international students studying at UK universities make to the country; is concerned at the dramatic drop in students enrolling to study at UK universities from some of the UK's major international trading partners; believes that the public does not generally view international students to be migrants and does not wish to see their number reduced; and urges the Government to exclude university students from efforts to bear down on immigration including by removing university students from any target to reduce net migration.
741 LIVE TELEVISION TRANSMISSION OF BRADFORD CITY CUP TIE 28:1:15
5That this House agrees with the joint chairman of Bradford City Football Club, Mark Lawn, that the BBC and BT Sport's decision not to show live the team's forthcoming FA Cup match against Sunderland or Fulham is ridiculous and that the broadcasters have shot themselves in the foot; points out City's win at Chelsea was voted the upset of all time by viewers of Match of the Day; notes that the Bantams have scored the most goals of any club in the Cup this season; further notes that the decision will deprive the Club of some £250,000 in revenue; believes that the decision also betrays a fundamental lack of knowledge about football and viewers' popular tastes; and urges the Sports Minister to impress on broadcasters the error of this decision and attempt to persuade them to change it.
742 BUS FARES IN LEICESTER 28:1:15
6That this House is concerned that First has increased bus prices in Leicester by an average of 10 pence a ticket; notes that these price hikes come during a huge fall in the price of crude oil; further notes that competitor company Arriva is freezing the price of all single bus tickets; supports bus usage as an environmentally beneficial and affordable alternative to driving; and calls on First to review its pricing structure in Leicester.
743 NHS DIABETES INFORMATION PRESCRIPTIONS 28:1:15
16That this House supports the NHS recommendation that GPs give diabetic patients A4 print-outs detailing necessary steps in managing their condition effectively; is concerned that only a third of people with diabetes have their condition under good control; commends innovative measures, like this one, taken by the NHS to improve that figure; and calls on the Government to consider further steps to assist patients in managing their conditions, such as recruiting more specialised nursing staff for community hospitals and GP surgeries.
744 PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY OF THE DRAFT HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY (MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION) REGULATIONS 2015 28:1:15
15That this House expresses its support for families with inherited conditions such as mitochondrial disease; welcomes the ongoing work across the four administrations on the UK Rare Diseases Strategy; further expresses concern that the Government appears to want Parliament to endorse the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 before all preclinical safety checks recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have been properly concluded and peer-reviewed; notes that there has been a lack of consultative engagement with people in Northern Ireland regarding the regulations compared with the rest of the UK; calls on the Government to address the safety concerns raised by a range of eminent scientists; further calls on the Government to confirm with the European Commission and the European Court of Justice that the regulations are fully compliant with the Clinical Trials Directive and further to confirm their compliance with UK law; and further notes that a motion expressing concern about the regulations is being considered for full debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
745 MILK PRICES AND THE POWERS OF THE GROCERIES CODE ADJUDICATOR 29:1:15
7That this House notes with great concern the negative consequences that falling milk prices are having on British dairy farmers; and further notes that the Prime Minister outlined at Prime Minister's Questions on 21 January that the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) will be given the power to levy fines, and that the Government will look to see if the GCA's remit can be extended so it can look more closely at the UK's vital dairy industry and those organisations involved.
746 THE BIG RIDE FOR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN 29:1:15
13That this House salutes Red Spokes for organising the Big Ride, a sponsored bicycle ride by some 1,000 cyclists from Edinburgh to London to be held from 1 to 9 August to raise money for the Middle East Children's Alliance, a non-profit organisation which is dedicated to helping deprived children who are war victims in Gaza; and hopes that not only will this venture be financially successful but will draw increased attention to the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank.
747 WALSALL FOOTBALL CLUB 29:1:15
6That this House congratulates Walsall Football Club for progressing to Wembley for its first appearance at the home of English football in the Club's 127 year history; acknowledges this historic achievement by manager Dean Smith and the players; commends the performance of the captain Adam Chambers; notes his brother James Chambers was awarded Man of the Match on 27 January 2015; further notes that the Saddlers' supporters have provided loyal support over the years; further notes the impact the Saddlers are making in the local community and now nationally by reaching Wembley; also notes that Walsall FC's home ground Bescot Stadium will host 2018 UEFA U17 Championship matches, and Elton John, in June 2015; and looks forward to the final at Wembley on 22 March 2015.
748 SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN BURMA 29:1:15
13That this House condemns the rape and murder of Maran Lu Ra, aged 20 and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin, 21, by members of the Burma Army; notes that these two women were Kachin teachers working with the Kachin Baptist Convention; further notes that local police have taken no action; further notes that the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand has documented over 70 cases of gang-rape, rape and attempted sexual violence by Burma Army troops in Kachin and northern Shan states since the Burma Army broke a 17-year ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Army in June 2011; also notes that the government of Burma signed the Declaration to End Sexual Violence in Conflict last year but has failed to implement its provisions; calls on the Government to urge the government of Burma to stop immediately the military offensives in these ethnic areas and bring the perpetrators of sexual violence to justice; and further calls on the Prime Minister to enact provisions in the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative to send a team of experts to Burma to hold an inquiry and investigate this case.
749 NAMING OF PIETER SCHELTE VESSEL 2:2:15
7That this House notes that Shell UK Ltd has awarded the Swiss-based Allseas Group SA the contract for the removal, transportation and load-in to shore of the topsides of three of its Brent platforms that are situated on the UK Continental Shelf; further notes that Allseas will use its newest vessel the Pieter Schelte for the task; further notes that the vessel operates under a Panamanian flag of convenience and is named after the Company owner Edward Heerema's father who served as a Waffen SS officer and was jailed for war crimes at the end of the war; further notes that events were recently held throughout the UK to commemorate the Holocaust and crimes committed against humanity during the war; believes that communities throughout the UK will be outraged that a vessel named in honour of a Nazi officer is to be utilised in the North Sea; and calls on the UK and Scottish Governments to protest to Allseas Group SA and Shell UK Ltd with the demand that until such times as there is a change of name, this vessel does not operate.
750 CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE UNFCCC COP21 2:2:15
6That this House believes that climate change is one of the greatest threats of our generation; urges the Government to agree to legally binding targets at the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC in Paris later this year to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and further believes that the Government should work with its international partners to ensure that both developed and developing nations do the same and accept their common but differentiated responsibilities to stop the planet warming by more than two degrees.
751 ATTACK ON MR ALAN BARNES AND FUNDRAISING BY MS KATIE CUTLER 2:2:15
20That this House recognises, thanks and congratulates the magnificent initiative of Ms Katie Cutler, and the response of the people of Gateshead, the North East and the UK, which has raised over £300,000 so far, to the vicious and callous assault on Mr Alan Barnes who was attacked and had his collarbone broken outside his home on 25 January 2015; and believes Ms Cutler's initiative and the public response demonstrates the very best in human nature and has provided a wonderful opportunity for the community to assist Mr Barnes.
752 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN BRADFORD 3:2:15
1That this House is appalled that primary school pupils in Bradford continue to be failed by those who administer education in the city; points out that in Key Stage Two examination results covering reading, writing and mathematics, Bradford is ranked 147th out of 152 authorities; notes that one pupil in three attends a poor school and the chances of attending a good one have actually declined; contrasts this with Tower Hamlets, where 90 per cent of pupils attend a school which is good or outstanding and has school results which are among the best in the country; further notes that Tower Hamlets has an almost identical demographic where pupils' first language is not English but nonetheless these students have out-performed native speakers in school tests; concludes that claims that poor results are due to lack of language skills in primary pupils is demonstrably untrue; and calls on the Government to urgently address the educational crisis in Bradford by setting up a taskforce similar to the London Challenge which has clearly had a major effect in improving standards.
753 SECONDARY SCHOOL ATTAINMENT IN BRADFORD 3:2:15
1That this House views with the deepest alarm the latest results for secondary school attainment in Bradford where just 44 per cent of pupils sitting GCSEs gained five or more A to C levels; notes that this ranks the city's results equal second bottom of 151 local authorities; points out that two-in-three students attend schools rated less than good; further notes that, according to Ofsted, the standards of literacy at 16 are among the lowest in England; totally dismisses the argument that poor education outcomes are because many pupils have English as a second language and notes that in Tower Hamlets, with an almost identical profile of children from non-native speaking homes, results are among the best in the country; concludes that those who have been running education in Bradford for almost five years and have presided over worsening educational results are unfit for the job and should resign; and calls on the Government to urgently recognise the crisis in Bradford and to take special measures akin to the London Challenge so that children in the city are no longer disadvantaged by the schools they are forced into.
754 WAGE INEQUALITY 3:2:15
1That this House notes that the average FTSE 100 CEO is now paid 143 times as much as their average employee; recalls that as recently as 1998 this ratio was only 47 to 1; further notes that in some cases in the UK this ratio is now as high as 800 to 1; is aware that this is happening at a time when average wages are little better than stagnant; is concerned that such inequality damages the social fabric and indeed democracy itself; believes that such inequalities, which have only recently developed, have no economic justification; further notes that the High Pay Centre has called for a debate on more radical measures to address the widening income discrepancy in the UK, including introducing a maximum pay ratio and appointing workers' representatives to company boards; commends Switzerland for offering its people a vote, in November 2013, on capping executive pay at 12 times what the lowest-paid worker at a company received; and urges the Government to consider measures that would reduce such gross inequalities in the future.
755 CANCER CHARITIES IN THE UK 3:2:15
7That this House notes that every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer; further notes that within an individual's lifetime risk of cancer is predicted to rise in the future; further notes that the UK's cancer survival rates still lag behind best performing countries in Europe making it vital that we do more to improve outcomes for patients; praises the work of charities such as Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support for the sterling work they do in this field; and calls on the Government to give such charities whatever help necessary to aid them in their efforts.
756 MEANS TESTING FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 3:2:15
2That this House believes all women suffering domestic violence should have the right to safe accommodation when at risk of harm; notes that employed women are means tested at the point they attempt to access accommodation resulting in some women having to self-fund their time in refuges; further notes that domestic violence often includes financial abuse that prevents some women from having access to money; believes women's immediate safety should be prioritised above their ability to access private funds at a time of personal crisis and serious risk of physical harm; further believes that the Government's call to end violence against women and girls: strategic vision should recognise the risks posed by means testing employed women; and calls for the means testing for eligibility of public funding to include an assessment of the economic impact of abusive and controlling relationships.
757 DEFENCE SPENDING 3:2:15
17That this House believes that the UK faces a growing and ever more complex range of current and future threats, many of which were unforeseen, such as the Ukrainian crisis; calls on the next Government to adopt effective and properly resourced diplomatic, development and defence policies to meet these threats; and supports the UK devoting at least 20 per cent of its gross domestic product to defence, including a one per cent per annum increase in the defence equipment budget.
758 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN BURUNDI 3:2:15
3That this House expresses deep concern about the arrest of Bob Rugurika, Burundian journalist and director of the African Public Radio (Radio Publique Africaine), on several criminal charges, including conspiracy to murder, following his interview of a man claiming to have participated in the recent murder of three Italian nuns and who implicated senior state officials in the crime; calls for his immediate release and for all charges against him to be dropped; further calls for charges pressed in May 2014 against prominent human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa following comments he made on the radio about allegations that youth groups affiliated with Burundi's ruling party were receiving arms and military training, and which include threatening state security, to be dropped; is alarmed by the enduring deterioration of the political climate, the increasing clampdown on political dissent and fundamental freedoms and the subsequent risk of destabilisation of Burundi, ahead of the elections planned later this year; and further calls on the Government to make firm and direct representations and to press for continued, strong representations by the EU and the UN on the matter of these arrests and on the issue of the persistent intimidation and harassment of political opponents, journalists and human rights activists in Burundi.
759 PETER GRESTE AND IMPRISONED EGYPTIAN JOURNALISTS 3:2:15
7That this House welcomes the release of Al-Jazeera journalist, Peter Greste, after 400 days in an Egyptian jail; commends the efforts of all those in Britain and internationally who have helped to raise the repression of journalists in Egypt, including the National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists; continues to urge the Egyptian authorities to release Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamad along with the 10 local journalists who remain imprisoned; remains deeply concerned about the treatment of domestic journalists who are being targeted, threatened and attacked by the Egyptian government simply for trying to do their jobs; and calls on the Government to continue to make representations to bring to an end this travesty of justice and freedom of the press.
760 SIR PETER HAYMAN 3:2:15
1That this House condemns the deliberate cover-up of the unnatural sexual proclivities of senior civil servant Sir Peter Hayman by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1980; deplores that the damning security services report into his behaviour, which stretched back to at least 1966, was kept secret on the instructions of the then Prime Minister Thatcher and has only now been revealed through media pressure; notes that Hayman was a member of the notorious Paedophile Information Exchange which preyed on children and kept voluminous and explicit records of his sexual activities and fantasies, many of them involving children, that he also posted pornography to himself in Canada, a crime which was discovered, but he allowed a junior member of staff to take the blame; and calls on the Government to posthumously strip the 1971 honour given to this deeply dishonourable man.
761 DISABILITY MATTERS PROGRAMME 3:2:15
2That this House welcomes the launch of the Disability Matters programme, an innovative new programme aiming to tackle the inequalities that disabled children and young people face in their daily lives by providing free, practical online resources for those who work or engage with disabled children, young people and their families; calls on UK employers to support their workforce to be disability aware in light of a recent survey by the Disability Matters programme, which found that a quarter of British adults were not confident communicating with disabled children; notes that survey also found that 86 per cent of British adults say, if they had a disabled child, they would worry they would find it harder to get a job; and further notes that the Disability Matters programme will help everyone to reflect on their own attitudes and to improve their communication and problem-solving skills around the challenges and barriers that disabled people and their families face in their lives.
762 PASSENGER SAFETY AND PRIVATE HIRE INDUSTRY REGULATION 3:2:15
7That this House is concerned that Smartphone apps such as Über are circumventing the law governing the taxi and minicab industry; supports the existing regulations whereby private hire vehicles (PHVs) may only pick up passengers when pre-booked rather than from a rank or in response to being hailed; recognises that such regulations provide passengers with important safety protections against unregulated drivers who have not undergone extensive criminal record and medical checks, or had to pass a formal taxi driving assessment like licensed taxi drivers; welcomes Transport for London's public opposition to any move to confuse the distinction between the two services; notes with concern that, in spite of this, Transport for London is failing to carry out its licensing and enforcement functions and is allowing PHVs to operate within the immediate hire market; believes that this is primarily due to the absence of a statutory definition of plying for hire; further believes that this will undermine public confidence in a safe and secure licensing regime and will ultimately undermine the viability of the current taxi service; and calls on the Government to bring forward urgent legislation which provides such a clear statutory definition to protect the distinction between taxis and PHVs.
763 BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION 3:2:15
6That this House is aware of the work of the British Heart Foundation which continually promotes an understanding of heart defects and disease, particularly amongst the young in our society; applauds their efforts in raising enormous amounts of money to fund essential life-saving medical research; calls on the Government to positively respond to their magnificent efforts by matching this excellent organisation's 2015 total of funds raised.
764 GLENCORE MINING 3:2:15
8That this House expresses concern at the actions of Glencore, the global mining company, with specific reference to the lockout of 450 workers at the Glencore-owned profitable Sherwin alumina plant in Gregory, Texas; further expresses concern that Glencore are being investigated by the US National Labor Relations Board with regard to unfair treatment of workers; notes that the Sherwin plant is being investigated by the US National Labor Relations Board under a charge of unfair labour practices; and urges Glencore to act to end the lockout by returning to negotiations with the workers.