Session 2014-15
House of Commons
11th March 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
782 BETTING, GAMING AND LOTTERIES (S. I., 2015, No. 121) 10:2:15
37That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 121), dated 2 February 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 4 February, be annulled.
827 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA 2:3:15
63That this House agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that there is a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza; fears the outbreak of further hostilities unless the situation improves dramatically; notes the considerable amount of British and other international aid required to keep Gaza from deteriorating further and to assist in the reconstruction of infrastructure and homes; regrets that the Israeli authorities continue to refuse access to British elected representatives to visit Gaza via Erez checkpoint; further notes that, given the dangerous security situation in the Sinai, the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing is the only viable entry point; and asks the Government to do everything in its power to persuade the Israeli authorities to permit parliamentary access into Gaza to assess the situation, the needs of the population and how British funds are being spent.
828 POLICE WIDOWS' PENSIONS 2:3:15
35That this House recognises that police officers often place themselves in the way of harm to protect their communities, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice and leaving behind families and loved ones; believes that we have a moral and public duty to ensure all police widows and widowers are financially provided for for their lifetime; is deeply concerned that the Police Pension Regulations 1987 do not allow police widows or widowers the opportunity to marry or cohabit, without losing their right to a police widows' or widowers' pension for life; agrees with the Police Federation of England and Wales that it is morally and ethically wrong to make police widows and widowers and their dependants effectively choose between future financial security and the possibility of future personal happiness; welcomes the fact that the Police Pension Regulations 2006 allow new entrants or serving officers to transfer to a new scheme which permits their survivors to access benefits which are payable for life regardless of whether they remarry; regrets that nevertheless many police widows and widowers still remain disadvantaged by the Police Pensions Regulations 1987, and calls on the Government urgently to review the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 to ensure that the families of those who have served their community and been lost in the line of duty receive financial security regardless of their decision to remarry or cohabit.
829 PARDON FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED UNDER REPEALED ANTI-GAY LAWS 3:3:15
22That this House welcomes the recent pardon granted to Alan Turing for his conviction under anti-gay laws; recognises that a further 50,000 to 100,000 men were also convicted of offences under those laws during the 20th century; believes this is one of the UK's great historical injustices; notes with concern the continued problem of homophobia in Britain today; and calls on the Government to issue, firstly, a universal apology to all men convicted of consenting adult same-sex behaviour under now repealed anti-gay laws and, secondly, a pardon, on a case by case basis, for all men convicted of consenting adult same-sex behaviour under now repealed anti-gay laws, with the convicted person or their partner, family, descendants, friend or any interested third party being eligible to apply for a pardon to the Home Secretary.
831 HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN MEXICO 3:3:15
29That this House notes, on the occasion of the State Visit to the UK of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, that continued violations of internationally accepted labour rights take place on a daily basis in Mexico, many of which have been carried out in an attempt to crush the National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM); further notes that the US State Department's 2012 Human Rights Report concluded that the Mexican government did not consistently protect workers' rights in practice; condemns the continued use of protection contracts in which many thousands of workers are governed by illegitimate collective agreements that they have never ratified, were never consulted on and in many cases have never seen; further condemns arbitrary denials of trade union recognition, limitations on the right to strike, and serious health and safety problems in the mining and petroleum industries; believes the existence of free and independent trade unions is essential to the functioning of any democracy; and therefore calls on the Government to make representations to the Mexican government to carry out fundamental reforms to ensure that Mexican labour law respects and enforces international standards; and following the complete exoneration of SNTMMSRM General Secretary, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, of all allegations against him, that the government of Mexico will guarantee his freedom, safety and wellbeing when he decides to return to Mexico.
832 REPLACEMENT OF THE ASPIRE CONTRACT 3:3:15
22That this House welcomes the publication of the Committee of Public Accounts report, HC705, Managing and replacing the Aspire Contract; notes the importance of the Aspire contract in creating a single IT system where previously numerous standalone systems that could not talk to each other had existed, and the 650 linked computer systems that now aid the collection of £50 billion in revenue for HM Treasury as a result; recognises the skills and business knowledge of current Aspire contract staff in achieving a 98 per cent delivery record and a 90 per cent reduction in downtime, as well as their expertise in working on the complex IT system; is troubled that the government proposals to break up that contract will limit contract sizes and risk serious problems, with untested suppliers being asked to work to technical specifications from a government department when both parties may lack the necessary skills; is deeply concerned that the current hubs in Telford and Worthing are being moved to a location hundreds of miles away, possibly even off-shore, and that critical expertise will be lost as staff are unlikely to want to transfer to an employer that has had a seven-year pay freeze; and urges the Government and HM Revenue and Customs to consider the value of the staff who work on the Aspire contract and the dangers of their proposals for the day-to-day delivery of the work.
833 EPILEPSY IN THE UK 3:3:15
36That this House is aware that there are more than 500,000 people in the UK who are affected by epilepsy, an illness that can develop in anyone at any age and be difficult to diagnose, with treatment often taking years to successfuly be established; understands that currently only one in five sufferers are being seen by specialists within the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended waiting period; further notes that significant numbers also experience severe problems or delays in accessing other services or treatment to help manage their condition; further notes that many people having this illness often have to claim benefits to cope and remain independent and that claiming periods for accessing such support can often be lengthy and stressful with many assessors having only a limited knowledge of this illness; and calls on the Government to provide better training for benefits assessors dealing with such conditions, provide sufficient investment to deliver quicker access to specialists and ensure full provision for patients in their communities.
834 FANS ON THE BOARDS OF FOOTBALL CLUBS 4:3:15
14That this House congratulates Greenock Morton Football Club for voluntarily appointing Nick Robinson, chairman of the club's Supporters' Trust, to the board; believes that football fans should have a voice in every boardroom; recognises that this is the only way to ensure that those running football clubs share information, power and responsibility with the fans; notes that this is what the fans themselves are saying; is concerned that fans are often disregarded when clubs take important decisions; is convinced that having fans in the boardroom is a good thing for the game; calls on other clubs across the UK to take similar steps; praises the Greenock Morton Chairman Mr Douglas Rae not only for his board's leading example to put fans at the heart of football but his commitment to Greenock Morton Football Club over many years.
835 FURTHER EDUCATION FUNDING 4:3:15
8That this House deplores the cuts to the further education budget which will impact severely on Bradford College and on other colleges throughout the country; notes that 24 per cent is to be cut from that budget in the next financial year; believes that crucial stepping stones back into learning for many people, including those who missed out on qualifications at school and those who need to update skills and retrain, will be removed; further notes that since 2009 student numbers have fallen by one million and the University and College Union believes a further 400,000 will go with the next round of cuts; and calls on the Government to reverse this appalling loss and to boost further education and people's life chances by not only retaining but increasing the present sums spent on this crucial arm of education.
836 SEWAGE ON RAILWAY TRACKS IN SCOTLAND 4:3:15
21That this House is dismayed that ScotRail train services and also East Coast rail services into Scotland still discharge effluent onto railway tracks; is concerned that there is no formal or legal requirement to stop train operating companies from discharging toilet waste onto the track or to force rolling stock leasing companies to retrofit controlled emission toilets to those trains that currently discharge waste onto the track; believes it is utterly disgraceful that rolling stock and train companies are making billions in profits while railway track workers have to endure being splashed with effluent and passengers witness disgusting conditions; is further concerned about the impact on track workers' health and welfare; and calls for the UK and Scottish Governments to take immediate action to clean up UK rail routes.
837 SIKH SOLDIERS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR 4:3:15
37That this House notes the contribution of Sikh soldiers in the First World War when over 138,000 Indian troops fought in Belgium and France, many of them Sikh; recognises that more than one-quarter of these soldiers would become casualties; further notes that in March 1915, 100 years ago, Sikh troops along with counterparts from around the British Empire fought in the bloody battle of Neuve Chapelle and many made the ultimate sacrifice; further recognises that Sikh regiments lost nearly four-fifths of their men and three regiments stood at only 16 per cent of their original strength; and urges the Government to support the erection of a permanent monument in Central London to highlight and commemorate their brave actions and grave losses.
838 NATURAL RESOURCES OF PALESTINE 4:3:15
19That this House acknowledges the view of the World Bank that Israel's occupation is preventing Palestine from accessing its natural resources, including not only oil and gas but also agricultural land and water acquifers; notes the natural gas reserves of Gaza Marine One and Noa South of Gaza Marine Two are in Gaza's territorial waters and contain at least $5 billion of gas; further notes that BG Group has held a licence since 1999 but Israel's intransigence has prevented it from commencing exploration; further notes the already operational Meged oil field in Israel is believed to contain reserves of at least 3.5 million barrels and to extend into the Occupied West Bank; further notes that Israel has also issued licences for oil exploration in the occupied Golan Heights in violation of international law; recalls that the Oslo Accords oblige Israel to co-ordinate exploration for natural resources in shared territory with the Palestine Authority and share its benefits; and therefore calls on the Government, together with its European partners, to press Israel to abide by its obligations and cease obstructing legitimate Palestinian endeavours aimed at accessing its natural resources.
839 PRIME MINISTER'S QUESTION TIME 4:3:15
8That this House is appalled at the demeaning spectacle of Prime Minister's Questions, where the Leader of the Opposition's questions are not answered by the Prime Minister, who uses the occasions as a bully pulpit for his own chosen issues; notes the widely expressed public revulsion at this ill-mannered, pointless spectacle; and calls for its replacement by meetings where the Prime Minister will answer questions from 20 randomly-selected backbenchers in a committee room in an atmosphere of calm and dignity.
841 MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE 4:3:15
14That this House is delighted that the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square will be unveiled on 14 March 2015 by the Prime Minister and Indian Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley; congratulates the various stakeholders, including the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust, Councillor Robert Davies, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Built Environment of Westminster City Council and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who chairs the Gandhi Statue Special Advisory Board; applauds the hundreds of generous donors from the UK, India and around the world; notes that this is the third Mahatma Gandhi statue in the UK, the others being in Tavistock Square, London and Belgrave Road, Leicester; and believes the statue is an important testimony to Gandhi's powerful legacy and a very positive step for the relationship between the UK and India.
842 BENEFITS SANCTIONS 4:3:15
34That this House welcomes the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into Benefits sanctions policy beyond the Oakley Review; notes the large amount of compelling evidence from the PCS union, charities, welfare advisers and academics showing that the current sanctions regime is excessive, punitive and failing; is concerned that sanctions are not a last resort, as their use and severity have both escalated dramatically and that they hinder rather than enable claimants to get work; and urges the Government to instigate a far-reaching independent review of sanctions and their effects and to suspend the 2013 stricter benefit regime at least until such time as such a review has been completed.
843 EXHIBITION ON THE PILLAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF MORPHOU, CYPRUS 5:3:15
19That this House warmly congratulates the Mayor of Morphou and the members of the Morphou municipality on holding their photography exhibition, Morphou: The Pillage and Destruction of Age-Long Heritage, in the UK to remind the British public, the EU and the major countries of the world of the ongoing injustice and cultural destruction that Morphou and its citizens still suffer from the Turkish military invasion and ongoing occupation of large areas of the Republic of Cyprus since July 1974; notes with deep concern the appalling conditions and cultural destruction of Morphou and its surrounding areas, including cemeteries, one of which has been concreted over and is now used as a car park; and calls on the Government to bring these matters to the attention of the Turkish Cypriot administration and the government of Turkey and to request that they show proper respect for cemeteries and places of religious worship and stop destroying the cultural heritage of not only the Morphou area, but the whole occupied northern part of Cyprus.
845 PARTIAL UPRATING FOR FROZEN PENSIONS 5:3:15
26That this House notes with concern the situation faced by 550,000 British pensioners living overseas, primarily in Commonwealth countries, who are currently deprived of annual state pension uprating adjustments by the Government's frozen pension policy; believes that there is a positive incremental solution of partial uprating, involving introducing annual uprating to all currently frozen pensions going forward, but from their current rate only; further notes that partial uprating would cost just £37 million and carry no legal risks of historic back payment claims; further notes that partial uprating would benefit all currently frozen pensioners immediately by ending the real terms year-on-year decline of their state pensions; further notes that partial uprating would remove the frozen pension problem completely for future retirees; further notes that this would remove a significant current barrier to pensioner emigration from the UK, offering significant consequential savings that would more than cover the upfront costs, even in year one; and calls on the Government to implement partial uprating as an affordable and practical means to offer dignity in retirement to all British pensioners, based on their historic contributions, not place of residence.
846 DEATH OF AVIJIT ROY 6:3:15
14That this House condemns the murder of Bengali US citizen, freethinker, writer and blogger Avijit Roy in Dhaka on 26 February 2015, believed to be carried out by an Islamist group which has claimed responsibility; notes that the recent blockade and general strikes by BNP/Jamaat-e-Islami has led to several deaths from arson attacks and violence which is putting a Muslim-majority secular democratic country in grave danger; calls on the Government to assist Bangladesh in any way possible to help with the crime investigation and curtailing the rise of Islamism; further calls on the Bangladeshi government to show restraint in dealing with genuine peaceful demonstrations and protests; and expects the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to demonstrate support for the Bangladesh secular and democratic constitution by engaging in urgent talks to restore order, especially among their supporters, and to appeal for calm in the difficult weeks ahead.
847 PSHE AND CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 6:3:15
22That this House is deeply concerned about recent cases of child abuse across the country; notes that recent reports from the Education Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Home Affairs Committee and the Children's Commissioner have all highlighted the key role that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education can play in keeping pupils safe; further notes that recent reports into child sexual exploitation in Birmingham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Manchester have echoed the important role of PSHE in preventing child sexual exploitation; further notes that the NSPCC, Barnardo's and six royal medical colleges have all called for the subject to be made statutory; and calls on the Government to ensure that children and young people are provided with the skills and knowledge to help protect themselves from child sexual exploitation by making PSHE education a statutory part of the curriculum.
849 DIAGNOSIS OF ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER 6:3:15
24That this House notes the ten-fold increase over 10 years of labelling children with diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); further notes the guidance by NICE on the serious potential side effects of pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for this condition; affirms that there are serious concerns about the overuse of drug treatment and notes that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has expressed deep concern about children being misdiagnosed with ADHD; and calls for a significant review of existing treatments and for existing studies and non-drug methods for treating children with symptoms diagnosed as ADHD to be looked into in greater depth including potential causes such as toxins in the environment, poor nutrition and other biophysical reasons.
850 HUDDERSFIELD LITERARY FESTIVAL 6:3:15
8That this House celebrates the commencement of the Huddersfield Literature Festival taking place from 5 to 15 March 2015; applauds the innovative and high profile events it holds to support and showcase new, emerging writers and performers since its inception in 2006; joins the Festival and others like it in its celebration of the written word; salutes its work in bringing in people and revenue to town centres; and encourages parents and teachers to pass on the joy of reading and performing to the next generation.
851 FUNDING OF FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES 9:3:15
18That this House believes that further education colleges are central to improving the nation's skills; shares the concerns of those working and studying in further education regarding the recently announced 24 per cent cuts to non-apprenticeship adult education funding in England; recognises that this will have a devastating effect on the sector and will shut the door on those sections of the community that rely on adult education the most; and therefore urges the Government to rethink this spending reduction which could threaten the future prospects of hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
852 MEDIATION WITH UNESCO FOR THE REPATRIATION OF THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES 9:3:15
17That this House is aware that half of the Parthenon sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin 210 years ago using a flimsy legal justification during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, remain on display in the British Museum; notes that, when presented with the facts, the British public favours the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles in Athens; further notes an opinion poll conducted by YouGov in October 2014 which shows only 23 per cent of the British public think they should stay in Britain; is further aware that the British Museum has abandoned most of its conventional arguments and now advances the novel concept of a universal museum; regrets the Government's apparent decision to reject the offer from UNESCO to mediate with the Greek government; and calls on the Government to reverse this decision and to demonstrate that Britain is prepared to express its standing in the world by engaging in a gracious act to reunite these British-held Parthenon sculptures with those now displayed in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the monument to which they belong, the Parthenon in Athens.
853 THE LATE LORD MOLYNEAUX OF KILLEAD KBE PC 9:3:15
8That this House notes with sadness the passing of Lord Molyneaux of Killead KBE PC who faithfully served the constituencies of South Antrim and Lagan Valley as a member of this House from 1970 to 1997 and was highly respected by colleagues across the political spectrum throughout his parliamentary career; praises the leadership that he provided in Northern Ireland during the dark and difficult years of the 'troubles' and the part he played with John Major and others in laying the foundations for the progress that has been made towards peace and stability; and expresses its heartfelt sympathy to his family circle.
854 STATE OF MEDIA FREEDOM IN TURKEY 9:3:15
12That this House is concerned about widespread reports of growing authoritarianism in Turkey, particularly illustrated by, but not restricted to, the state censorship and imprisonment of journalists in Turkey; notes the continued imprisonment since 14 December 2014 of Hidayet Karaca who is the chief executive of a Turkish television network of channels, and the arrest of 20 journalists in a series of dawn raids in Turkey in mid-December 2014, including Ekrem Dumanli, who is the editor-in-chief of Turkey's largest circulating newspaper and Sedef Kabas, who is a television presenter facing a prison sentence for posting a tweet about a corruption probe involving high-profile names, and most recently the arrest, charge and remand of investigative journalist Mehmet Baransu; welcomes the statement by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations that the latest crackdown is against the European values and standards Turkey aspires to be part of; further notes the need for the Turkish authorities to remove travel bans imposed on journalists and to drop all criminal charges against them and release all other journalists behind bars in the country; and further calls on the Government to raise these and other concerns that give rise to a growing sense of authoritarianism in Turkey with their counterparts in Turkey.
856 PARITY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 10:3:15
9That this House notes with concern that some outsourced providers of public sector contracts are failing to pay their employees on the same terms and conditions as those carrying out the same work directly for the public sector; believes that all employees carrying out public sector work should have parity of pay and conditions whether employed directly or by an outsourced employer; further notes that some private sector contractors are failing to pay the living wage to their employees; further notes that employment terms and conditions drive low pay and that low pay contributes to poverty in the UK; and calls on the Government to ensure all public sector contracts which are outsourced to private sector providers include measures to ensure that workers are given parity of terms and conditions with workers carrying out the same or similar work directly for the public sector.
857 POSTAL WORKERS AND CYBERSTREETWISE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN 10:3:15
6That this House calls on the Government to withdraw the Cyberstreetwise publicity campaign which makes a joke of dogs biting postal workers; notes that over 3,000 postal workers are injured every year and that two were nearly killed in 2007-08; believes that education, training, encouraging responsible dog ownership, enforcement and prevention should be a priority; and further believes this good practice will also be welcomed by the many thousands of party supporters who will be delivering leaflets in the coming weeks.
858 GENDER EQUALITY 10:3:15
16That this House welcomes the broadcast of the BBC's documentary India's Daughter, which draws attention to the rape and murder of Jyoti Singh and other women; applauds the students from Jawaharlal Nehru University who marched to protest against the treatment of women; commends the police force and justice system of India that arrested those responsible and brought them to trial; notes the documentary brought home the pain of Singh's parents, the brutality of rape and the loss of an empowered woman; acknowledges the economist Amartya Sen's article entitled More than 100 million women are missing, which highlights the unequal rights for women in the developing world and the resulting attitudes to women; further notes that 8 March 2015 was International Women's Day which represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality; and calls on the Government to promote gender equality in the UK and around the world.
859 ADULT SKILLS FUNDING IN LEICESTER 10:3:15
3That this House is deeply concerned that funding for adult learning has been dramatically cut in Leicester, leading to the closure of the Leicester Open Distance Learning Centre and the Evington Road Centre; notes that the adult skills budget has fallen by over 30 per cent since 2010, and will fall by a further 24 per cent in 2015-16 for many colleges; understands that this will have a serious impact on the ability of education providers, such as Leicester College, to support the necessary number of learners; recognises the importance of adult and community learning to economic growth and providing people with the opportunity to gain skills which can benefit their lives and the lives of their families; and calls on the Government to review its cuts to the adult skills budget, and specifically the cuts in Leicester.
860 LICHFIELD FUSION CREDIT UNION 10:3:15
4That this House celebrates the 10th anniversary of Fusion Credit Union in the parliamentary constituency of Lichfield; notes that in March 2005 volunteers founded the community-based savings and loans services offering safe savings and equitable loans to the people of the constituency; and further notes that the Credit Union is entirely staffed and led by volunteers and now holds share capital of over a quarter of a million pounds with over 750 members and is now also able to serve the people of the neighbouring constituency of Cannock.
861 SALVATION ARMY 10:3:15
18That this House congratulates the Salvation Army on reaching its 150th anniversary; acknowledges the great work that General William Booth began and that still continues in communities throughout the UK to this day; and commends it for its passion and dedication in the service of others.
862 FLOODING AT BROOKS CORNER, PAR, CORNWALL 10:3:15
2That this House notes that residents of Brooks Corner, Par, Cornwall, have suffered from flooding on scores of occasions over more than a decade; further notes that South West Water Limited has failed to resolve the flooding issues in the area; acknowledges that South West Water Limited has paid a settlement to some residents in return for a non-disclosure agreement; is concerned that South West Water Limited's parent company, the Pennon Group Plc, has subsequently sought to prevent residents from raising concerns about South West Water Limited's handling of the issues at Brooks Corner with their elected representatives and legal representatives; is deeply concerned that lawyers at the Pennon Group Plc have sought to apply pressure on both the residents and their legal counsel; and encourages South West Water Limited to take the necessary steps to fulfil promises made to residents to resolve the flooding issues and to desist from threatening residents and their legal representatives from sanctions subsequent to raising their concerns.
863 SAFETY AND SECURITY ROLE OF RAIL STATION STAFF 11:3:15
13That this House is concerned for the safety of the travelling public by threats to reduce the number of station staff; notes that the platform train interface is a major risk on the railways; further notes that Passenger Focus supports proper staffing at stations and has called for obligatory staffing initiatives as part of the Government's franchise agreements with operators; is further concerned that numerous stations are already de-staffed and further cuts at railway and tube stations will increase platform train interface risks to passengers as well as stations becoming unwelcoming and inaccessible places; believes that rail passengers deserve, and are entitled to, safe staffed stations; and therefore calls on the UK and Scottish Governments and the Mayor of London to ensure that all rail operations guarantee a sufficient number of trained station staff to safely dispatch trains, protect the travelling public and maintain security at all stations.
864 ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK, 14 TO 22 MARCH 2015 11:3:15
1That this House recognises the importance of tourism to the national economy and to the Ribble Valley during English Tourism Week; and notes that local businesses such as The Whalley Wine Shop, Mytton Fold Hotel, Huntley's, D Byrne & Co and Cowman's Famous Sausage Shop encourage visitors to come to Lancashire and provide vital employment for local people.
865 McDONALD'S TAX AFFAIRS AND THE EXCHEQUER 11:3:15
8That this House is gravely concerned at evidence of the aggressive tax avoidance strategies pursued by global fast-food chain McDonald's over several years up to 2013; commends the work of the worldwide coalition of trade unions and global justice campaigns that resulted in the disclosure of these findings in the Unhappy Meals report; notes that the company has potentially cost up to £818.7 million to the UK Exchequer alone in tax by diverting franchise payments to McD Europe Franchising Sàrl, a Luxembourg-resident intellectual property holding company with a Swiss branch, then shifting McDonald's European headquarters from London to Geneva for the purposes of tax avoidance; understands that this was a direct response to a tax policy change in Luxembourg allowing companies to benefit from significant reductions of their tax rate on income earned from intellectual property; further notes that McDonald's and its franchisees, which openly employ much of their workforce on zero hours contracts, earned £2,335.5 million in sales in the UK; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that such multinational corporations are obliged to pay their fair share of tax on profits generated from UK operations.