Session 2014-15
House of Commons
11th 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
695 SOCIAL SECURITY (S. I., 2014, No. 3270) 15:1:15
26That 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.
749 NAMING OF PIETER SCHELTE VESSEL 2:2:15
18That 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
14That 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
31That 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.
754 WAGE INEQUALITY 3:2:15
23That 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
31That 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
28That 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
30That 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 two 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
22That 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
27That 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.
761 DISABILITY MATTERS PROGRAMME 3:2:15
26That 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
21That 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
30That 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
25That 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.
765 SAFE NURSE STAFFING LEVELS 4:2:15
7That this House commends the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill, being brought forward in the Welsh Assembly by the Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, which aims to ensure that there is a safe number of nurses at all times on Welsh hospital wards; and notes that similar legislation in other countries has brought huge benefits to patients and nurses, including a reduction in mortality rates, shorter hospital stays, lower re-admission rates, fewer medication errors and fewer hospital-acquired infections.
766 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS 4:2:15
18That this House is aware that the Government’s own statistics show that the average primary school teacher works for at least 60 hours per week, a workload which has increased by 10 per cent since 2010, with many of those employed in this field considering leaving their profession; notes that much of this increase is connected with high levels of administration and accountability programmes which deflect teachers away from their tasks of educating children in their care; and calls on the Government to respond to teaching trade unions who recently advocated an eight-step programme in response to the Education Department’s Workload Challenge survey.
767 LLANERCH COLLIERY DISASTER 6 FEBRUARY 1890 4:2:15
26That this House notes that 6 February 2015 commemorates the 125th anniversary of the explosion at the Llanerch Colliery, Abersychan, Pontypool, when 176 men and boys lost their lives; and takes this opportunity to pay tribute to those thousands of people who have sacrificed their lives in the coal mining industry in this country.
768 FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE PENSIONS 4:2:15
43That this House notes that public service firefighters and police officers who retired in a period from 1998 to 2006 were significantly and knowingly disadvantaged by the failure by the Government Actuary's Department, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office to secure up-to-date actuarial valuations in respect of pension entitlements surrendered on retirement; further notes that maladministration in this matter was established in 2008; further notes that since then the Government Actuary's Department has acted in bad faith by adopting delaying tactics, including a dubious and failed legal challenge to the authority of the Pensions Ombudsman, thereby causing lengthy and unnecessary delay to the resolution of this matter and occasioning a situation whereby many of those affected have not or will not live sufficiently long to see this injustice corrected; and calls on the named departments to accept the imminent ruling by the Pensions Ombudsman and take immediate steps to pay any recommended awards.
769 UNSAFE STREETS 4:2:15
14That this House is aware that in today's modern society, streets are rapidly becoming hostile to the vulnerable in local communities because of fast-moving traffic, inappropriate street architecture, parking and inadequate design; notes that according to recent research half of over 65 year olds feel unsafe around traffic; and calls on the Government to recognise the needs of senior citizens and the vulnerable by bringing together, via planning regulations and guidance, measures to reduce traffic speeds in built-up areas, longer pedestrian crossing times, greater restrictions on pavement parking and the introduction of other measures to make the UK's streets easier to negotiate.
770 SIXTH FORM COLLEGES 4:2:15
8That this House, recognising that sixth form colleges provide better value for money by delivering better outcomes, providing a wider range of courses and educating more disadvantaged students than schools and academies at a lower cost to the public finances, urges the Government to reduce the huge and unfair inequality in funding which exists between the different types of 16 to 18 providers by refunding the VAT and insurance costs of sixth form colleges, as they do for schools and academies, and also to give them 100 per cent capital grant for their buildings, as they do for schools and academies, so that all 16 to 18 year olds receive the same level of investment in their education irrespective of where they study.
771 NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITIES 4:2:15
3That this House notes the importance of the relationship between the Lake District National Park Authority and its local communities; further notes with concern recent disagreements between the Park Authority and Lake District communities; and calls on the Secretary of State to consider the proposal for boards of all national parks to be democratically elected to continue strong relations between local communities and national park authorities.
772 HEARING LOSS 4:2:15
28That this House is aware that hearing loss is a serious health condition which can and often does have a significant adverse impact on people's health, wellbeing and quality of life, with at present an estimated 10 million people in the UK with such a health prognosis facing the risks of developing other conditions such as dementia or depression; recognises that NHS audiology services provide vital support for people who suffer hearing loss and related adverse conditions, allowing them to retain their independence, maintain relationships and stay in employment, giving them the essential support to help them cope; notes the World Health Organisation's predictions that by 2030 adult onset hearing loss will be in the top 10 disease burdens in the UK; acknowledges the forthcoming publication of the National Action Plan on Hearing Loss; but calls on the Government to request the NHS to commission NICE to prioritise the immediate development of a hearing loss clinical guideline to establish and maintain quality standards for patients suffering hearing loss.
773 GLOBAL DIVESTMENT DAY 4:2:15
13That this House welcomes the growing fossil fuel divestment movement in the UK, consisting of universities, churches, institutions, pension holders and other individuals demonstrating climate leadership by withdrawing financial support from the fossil fuel industry; further welcomes Global Divestment Day taking place on 13 and 14 February 2015; recalls that in June 2014 British Medical Association members voted to end investments in the fossil-fuel industry and increase investment in renewable energy, because of the serious health threat posed by unmitigated climate change; notes the Unhealthy Investments report from UK health-based non-governmental organisations, which calls for other health organisations to end investment in the 200 largest publicly-listed fossil fuel companies, over a period of five years; acknowledges the work of Carbon Tracker in highlighting financial risks of investment in high-carbon assets and the carbon bubble; further notes that the Governor of the Bank of England is among numerous high-profile figures agreeing that the vast majority of fossil fuel companies' reserves cannot be burned if the internationally agreed goal of limiting global temperatures to below two degrees above pre-industrial levels is to be achieved; considers that hon. Members have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership on climate change; and calls on the Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Scheme to quantify and review the Fund's investments in fossil fuel industries in light of both their contribution to advancing climate change and the risks facing those industries from effective climate regulation.
774 TACKLING ANTI-SEMITISM 9:2:15
24That this House notes the publication of a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism; welcomes the cross-party nature of the report and the positive engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in the process; further welcomes the inquiry panel's action plan to address the concerns of the Jewish community, such as enhancing police and other relevant guidance, encouraging responsible public debate and language, enhancing inter-communal co-operation and raising awareness through education; and further calls on the Government, police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and social media platforms to work on tightening their existing frameworks on combating anti-Semitism in line with the report and to respond fully to the recommendations of the inquiry.
775 TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS FRANCHISE DIRECT SERVICES BETWEEN EDINBURGH AND LIVERPOOL 9:2:15
9That this House notes the Government's intention to publish the Invitations to Tender for the new TransPennine Express franchise in the first quarter of 2015; calls for changes to be included in the specifications for the TransPennine Express franchise to increase capacity on services between Scotland and North West England; further notes that all journeys between Edinburgh or Glasgow and Liverpool currently require changing trains, and in some cases stations; and calls for the new franchise specifications to include direct services between these major population, economic and cultural centres.
776 ANDARGACHEW TSIGE 9:2:15
12That this House congratulates Mr Andargachew Tsige on his 60th birthday; regrets that this is being spent in prison in Ethiopia; is aware that Mr Tsige, who is a British citizen, was tried in absentia, sentenced to death and later illegally removed from Yemen to Ethiopia, where he is now being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location; acknowledges that only two British consular visits have been permitted; is shocked that the Ethiopian government has refused requests by British parliamentarians, including his constituency MP, the hon. Member for Islington North, to visit him; and calls on the Government to put all possible pressure on the Ethiopian government to secure his immediate release.
777 PARKING ON PRIVATE LAND APPEALS AND PARKING DISCOUNTS 9:2:15
8That this House notes that appeals can be made in respect of parking on private land to an independent body; further notes, however, that certain parking organisations will not give discounts for early payment to people who appeal to the Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA); and believes that this is unjust and that the clock that calculates whether or not a payment has been made early should start ticking when POPLA concludes that a parking charge is due.
778 BARNET UNISON CARE WORKERS PAY DISPUTE 9:2:15
7That this House notes with grave concern the continuation of the long-running industrial dispute between Barnet Council and Your Choice Barnet (YCB), a local authority trading company 100 per cent owned by the London Borough of Barnet, which provides services for adults with disabilities; further notes that this dispute relates to a 9.5 per cent pay cut imposed on low paid care workers on 1 April 2014; further notes that the pay cut imposed on the YCB care workers comes just a year after YCB workers saw over 30 per cent of their colleagues made redundant due to a restructure and all shift allowances were removed; believes there is excessive use of agency and casual staff meaning the regular staff carry an extra workload in familiarising casual staff with the work to be done; and calls on the London Borough of Barnet to enter into serious negotiations with YCB, Barnet UNISON and the local trade union, to resolve this dispute constructively and allow YCB to focus once again on its provision of high-quality services for adults with disabilities.
779 CHIMNEY COLLAPSE AT VEDANTA RESOURCES BALCO OPERATIONS IN CHHATTISGARH STATE, INDIA 9:2:15
10That this House expresses its grave concern that the London-listed mining company, Vedanta Resources, has yet to account for the circumstances in which at least 40 workers died when an under-construction chimney suddenly collapsed at its Balco operations in Chhattisgarh state, India in September 2009; deplores the fact that Vedanta took steps to suppress publication of the official Indian judicial report into the event, which ascribed primary responsibility for the disaster to Vedanta; and notes that an English version of this report was released in August 2014 and a copy presented to the board of Vedanta at its annual general meeting, but that no response has yet been given by the company to the many serious allegations contained within it.
780 KIDS COUNT CHARITY 10:2:15
12That this House applauds the work undertaken by the Kids Count Charity and associated bodies in raising awareness about issues affecting young people's lives; recognises that the charity gives children and young people a voice to determine and influence their own future; welcomes the publication Youth Crime: Bringing the voice of the street to the House, which is a unique piece of youth-led and community research drawing attention to the serious issue of knife crime among young people; commends the fact that this research draws on grass-roots initiatives and evidence collated over a two-year period; and calls on the Government to consider carefully the matters raised therein.
781 AUTOMATIC CUP TICKET SCHEMES AT FOOTBALL CLUBS 10:2:15
3That this House notes that the Manchester United Automatic Cup Scheme obliges season ticket holders to buy tickets for home cup ties; further notes that the punishment for not doing so is a stadium ban for the next Premier League home game, even though such games have already been paid for; further notes that tickets for the FA Cup replay against league two Cambridge United on 3 February 2015 ranged from £31 to £53 for adults and that the date for this tie was only confirmed eight days before the match; recognises that this additional cost at such late notice is a financial burden on fans who may be unable or not wish to attend the game; further recognises that the enforcement of a one-game stadium ban upon supporters who do not wish to or cannot afford to attend an extra mid-week match is an unnecessary and callous punishment; further notes that the voluntary cup schemes offered by other clubs both provide season ticket holders with flexibility in match attendance and enable non-regular attendees to see football in their place; condemns the policy of any football club forcing season ticket holders to sign up to compulsory ticket purchases for cup ties; and calls on Manchester United FC to remove this clause from its terms and conditions and replace it with a Voluntary Cup Scheme.
783 REDUCTIONS IN ALCOHOL DUTY 10:2:15
6That this House notes the estimate made by HM Treasury that the abolition of the Alcohol Duty Escalator in 2014 will cost the Exchequer over £1.2 billion over the next four years; further notes that over the same period the same money could fund the salaries of 7,838 A&E nurses, 4.6 million bed days or over five million emergency ambulance call-outs; views with alarm calls for further cuts in alcohol duty which will reduce prices, increase alcohol consumption and impose greater pressures on the NHS; and calls on the Government to support hard-working nurses, doctors, ambulance personnel, social workers and police officers.
784 USE OF DRONES AND INSURANCE 10:2:15
4That this House notes the growth in the use of drones and increase in permits granted by 80 per cent in 2014; is concerned that the use of drones in national airspace will cause an accident potentially with serious harm to one or more people or damage to property; believes that anyone operating a drone should assure that they have adequate insurance to cover harm to third parties and be careful about infringing other people's privacy; invites the Government to consider whether no-fly zones in high-risk areas should be increased and enforced by geo-fencing technology as advised by the British Association of Airline Pilots; calls on the Government to review the existing light-touch-regulation of small drones under 20kg and consider increasing the responsibilities of the Civil Aviation Authority to maintain a register of drones in operation which must include details of (i) the legal entities operating each drone, (ii) individual identifiers for each drone, (iii) confirmation that third party insurance has been obtained and (iv) confirming that they are not being used to infringe other people's privacy; and further calls on the Government to promote informed and open debate outside the Cross Department Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Systems Working Group on this issue forthwith.
785 COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS REPORT ON REFORM OF LEGAL AID 10:2:15
17That this House welcomes the Thirty-sixth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, on Implementing reforms to civil legal aid, HC 808; is concerned by the figures published by the Committee which highlight a 30 per cent rise in cases starting in family courts where both parties are representing themselves as well as a significant fall in mediation for family law cases of 38 per cent in the year after the reforms were implemented; is alarmed by the lack of routine data collection by the Ministry of Justice on key issues such as the length of hearing, types of cases and representation of parties; agrees with the Committee's recommendation that such information should be collected in order to understand and manage the long-term impact of litigants in person; and calls on the Government and the Secretary of State for Justice urgently to review their reforms and fully evaluate their impact on the public.
786 ACTION BY BISHOP OF GUILDFORD ON VICAR'S REMARKS 10:2:15
3That this House is pleased at the action taken by the Bishop of Guildford regarding a vicar’s absurd and conspiratorial theories about the 9/11 attacks; and moreover considers that such a senseless outburst in no way assists the plight of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
788 AIR PASSENGER DUTY 10:2:15
11That this House acknowledges that UK levels of air passenger duty (APD) continue to be the highest in the world, and represent a growing barrier to trade, investment and tourism; notes the recommendation from the Smith Commission that responsibility for APD should be devolved to Scotland; further notes that the Scottish Government has consistently stated its ambition to reduce APD by 50 per cent in the short-term, to be followed by eventual abolition; and believes that were APD to be cut in Scotland then all parts of the UK, as soon as possible, should receive the exact same reduction, so that no areas of the country are disadvantaged in any way.
789 LEICESTER FOOD PARK LAUNCH 11:2:15
1That this House applauds the launch of Leicester's £5.8 million Food Park, which was officially opened on 3 February 2015; commends Leicester City Council for completing the complex, which provides nine specialist manufacturing units; notes the centre will provide a boost to the local economy and create dozens of jobs; and congratulates the tenants of the food park: Alassala, Shelton Imports, Royal Tea, RJC Trading, UKay Khoa Manufacturing and Jibby.
790 HOUTHI CONSOLIDATION OF POWER IN YEMEN 11:2:15
4That this House is deeply concerned by recent developments in Yemen, where the Houthi faction has announced that it will dissolve Parliament and establish an interim government; notes that the Houthi rebel group stormed the Presidential Palace and toppled the Yemeni government on 21 January 2015; is alarmed by the protests and clashes between rival factions across the country; urges all parties to return to talks; and calls on the Government to do all it can to prevent an escalation of violence and civil war, in this important and beautiful country.
791 SUE RYDER DYING DOESN'T WORK 9 TO 5 CAMPAIGN 11:2:15
9That this House expresses support for Sue Ryder's campaign, Dying doesn't work 9 to 5, and believes that all dying people, their carers and families should have access to dedicated 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, palliative advice and support and co-ordination; expresses concern that only eight per cent of clinical commissioning groups responding to the charity's freedom of information request ensure that there is comprehensive, which includes dedicated and immediately available, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, expert emotional support, practical advice and co-ordination in the form of a dedicated palliative helpline and co-ordination service for both dying people and their carers; recognises that in order for people to be supported to die in a place of their choice, including their home, there must be comprehensive 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, expert support available; further recognises that carers of people at the end of life must have their needs for dedicated 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, support recognised; and urges that the Government ensures that there is improvement in end of life and palliative care in the UK and to ensure that more terminally ill people and their families can have a good end of life experience.
792 APPEALS REFORM IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR 11:2:15
3That this House notes that Ofcom is currently subject to a full merits appeals regime in the Competition Appeal Tribunal which goes significantly beyond the requirements of EU law; is concerned that the current regime results in almost every major decision being challenged in costly and often lengthy proceedings; acknowledges that the current system works in favour of incumbents and against newer entrants, challengers, downstream businesses and consumers, by allowing incumbent operators to use litigation to frustrate the promotion of effective competition; recognises that this results in the creation of a second regulator which re-examines decisions in great detail; further notes the inconsistencies in Ofcom's appeals regime as the Postal Services Act specified that appeals against Ofcom decisions should be made by judicial review and acknowledges that modern judicial review is the standard by which most decisions by public and regulatory bodies in the UK are judged; agrees that as a regulator Ofcom should be held to a high level of scrutiny and challenge as it reinforces market confidence in the regulator's decision-making and ensures that standards are kept high; believes, however, that the current regime goes beyond what is required and can prevent Ofcom from being effective as a regulator; further believes that an effective appeals system in this area must be built around the concepts of materiality and fairness; and calls on the Government to reform the appeals system in the communications sector to ensure long-term effective competition in communications markets.
793 DISPUTE INVOLVING CONTRACT CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE (LONDON) LTD 11:2:15
5That this House condemns in the strongest possible terms the employment practices of the cleaning contractor employed by Sotheby's London branch, Contract Cleaning and Maintenance (London) Ltd (CCML), towards the cleaners and porters who are members of the trade union United Voices of the World (UVW) who have issued a notice of a formal trade dispute; is appalled at CCML's poor employment practices, which include the unwarranted suspension of a porter following a grievance he made about poor treatment, the refusal to stop using certain chemicals which leave cleaners with breathing difficulties, chest pains and rashes, the unwarranted deduction of wages and working hours, overworking and shouting at porters and cleaners, reprimanding a porter for using the toilet outside his official break time, threatening a cleaner with suspension for not being clean shaven, a refusal to discipline aggressive managers, a refusal to pay contractual sick pay instead of statutory sick pay, so as to relieve the cleaners and porters of the choice between working sick, or not working, and therefore falling behind on their rent or risk facing eviction, and a refusal of CCML to backdate the current London Living Wage to 1 November 2014; supports the demands of CCML employees for dignity and respect at work and for the London Living Wage to be backdated; calls on CCML to work to resolve this dispute; and urges Sotheby's to bring pressure to bear on CCML in resolving the dispute as a matter of urgency.
794 A9 SAFETY AND THE RIGHT HON. MEMBER FOR INVERNESS, NAIRN, BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY 11:2:15
1That this House welcomes the latest figures from Transport Scotland which show that accidents on the A9 are significantly down and that incidents of speeding have been reduced by 97 per cent; recognises the contribution of the average speed cameras in changing the behaviour of motorists and in improving safety on the A9 by enforcing existing speed limits; believes that the experience of travelling on the A9 has been significantly improved and that those on the road feel safer and more secure; calls on those campaigning to have these cameras taken down to stop, particularly the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, who has led this irresponsible campaign; looks forward to the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey accepting and acknowledging these impressive safety figures and apologising to the people of Perthshire and the Highlands for campaigning to put them at risk again; further welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to dual the whole of the A9 from Perth to Inverness; and further welcomes every measure that cuts accidents and fatalities on this road.
795 MCKENZIE FRIENDS 11:2:15
4That this House notes that following the cuts in legal aid provision there has been an increase in people representing themselves in court with the assistance of a McKenzie Friend; understands that a McKenzie Friend is usually a non-lawyer and is often a friend or colleague of the litigant in person, who accompanies them to a court hearing for the purpose of assisting them in matters such as taking notes, organising documents and quietly making suggestions; recognises that McKenzie Friends can be a helpful presence for those experiencing court proceedings for the first time; believes, however, that they are a poor substitute for proper legal advice and representation from a qualified lawyer; is concerned that vulnerable families and individuals could be taken advantage of by unqualified people who charge for their services or who may have a political agenda; is alarmed that professionals report anecdotal evidence of a recent incident of a paid McKenzie Friend, who acted for a number of vulnerable women, who was subsequently found to have a substantial criminal record; and calls on the Government to create a suitable framework for the oversight and regulation of McKenzie Friends.
796 TRANSFER OF NATIONAL GALLERY STAFF TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR 11:2:15
5That this House condemns the decision by the National Gallery to transfer 400 of its 600 staff to the private sector; notes that these staff are responsible for the security of the paintings and the public and provide information about the collection to the Gallery's millions of visitors each year; is concerned that the National Gallery is the only major museum or gallery that does not pay the London Living wage; further notes that over 40,000 people have signed a petition that demands that the National Gallery remains a public service and the privatisation should be halted; calls on the Government to intervene in the case of Candy Udwin, who has been suspended for allegedly breaching commercial confidentiality for drafting a question for the Public Commercial Services Union to ask about the cost of a private company, CIS, which has been brought in temporarily to take over the services of a third of the staff while negotiating at ACAS; further calls on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to review the running of the Gallery; and further calls on the Government to ensure that funding is in place so valuable skills, knowledge, experience and dedication of the current staff of the National Gallery are not lost.
NAME WITHDRAWN
754 WAGE INEQUALITY: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
755 CANCER CHARITIES IN THE UK: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
756 MEANS TESTING FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
763 BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
766 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
767 LLANERCH COLLIERY DISASTER 6 FEBRUARY 1890: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
772 HEARING LOSS: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
774 TACKLING ANTI-SEMITISM: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
775 TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS FRANCHISE DIRECT SERVICES BETWEEN EDINBURGH AND LIVERPOOL: Sir Gerald Howarth has withdrawn his name.
CORRIGENDUM
In the Notices of Motions given on 10 February the name of Sir Gerald Howarth appeared incorrectly in support of Early Day Motions 754, 755, 756, 763, 766, 767, 772, 774 and 775 and has been removed. The name of George Howarth should have appeared instead.