Session 2014-15
House of Commons
23rd 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
56That 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.
871 NHS AND THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP 16:3:15
22That this House notes with concern that the NHS is still included in the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) despite the risk of this leading to a privatised, fragmented service that is run for private profit rather than public wellbeing; recognises that only a complete and explicit exemption of the NHS from TTIP will protect the UK's health service from inclusion in the treaty; reminds the Government that the risks of not ensuring that the NHS is excluded from TTIP include increasing deaths from tobacco and higher costs for vital medicines; observes that the TTIP investor-state dispute settlement provision would allow companies to sue governments which bring in legislation to protect public health for billions of taxpayers' money as lost future profits; further notes with concern that this is already happening around the world under existing trade deals; further observes that allowing greater competition into the NHS would lead to further fragmentation and cherry-picking of profitable services, damaging the quality of healthcare available to citizens; further observes that the primary function of governments is to protect citizens' rights and wellbeing, including where necessary by defending them from the greed of global corporations; further notes that the Prime Minister has the right to insist that the UK's NHS is explicitly excluded from TTIP; and calls on him to use this right to protect the health and wellbeing of the citizens he was elected to serve, rather than the profits of private healthcare companies and their shareholders.
872 REDRAWING PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES 16:3:15
3That this House asks the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee to reconsider the issues and conclusions in its Eighth Report on fairer constituency boundaries and fewer hon. Members.
875 ST PATRICK'S DAY 17:3:15
12That this House calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for St Patrick's Day, 17 March, to become an annual public holiday in Northern Ireland; recognises that a shared celebration of St Patrick, as a common symbol for all the people of Northern Ireland regardless of faith, belief or background, would play an important role in reconciliation; and acknowledges the deep historical, cultural and religious significance of Ireland's patron saint, whose teaching and life forms a universal example espoused by all Christian traditions.
876 PENSION SCAMS 17:3:15
16That this House recognises the imminent change in the way personal pensions can be utilised; is concerned that tens of thousands of people, who qualify for more flexible arrangements from April 2015, have been targeted by those operating financial scams which seek to convince people to invest substantial pension savings in worthless schemes offering impossibly high returns; and calls on the Government to do more to alert all potential victims to the actions of the fraudsters.
877 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION FUTURE FUNDING CAMPAIGN 17:3:15
20That this House welcomes the Local Government Association's Future Funding campaign and supports its aim of securing sustainable long-term funding for local authorities; acknowledges that councils have made £20 billion worth of savings since 2010, and applauds their resilience and ability to innovate; recognises that millions of people rely on local services and that any reductions to public spending in the next Parliament need to be driven by public service reform to improve outcomes; and calls on whoever takes power after May 2015 to engage in meaningful devolution of decision-making powers and funding to communities through councils.
878 CHURCH BOMBING IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN 17:3:15
21That this House extends its deepest sympathies to those killed in the recent bombing of two churches in Lahore, Pakistan over the weekend of 14-15 March 2015; condemns the actions of the bombers which killed and injured those who were simply exercising their faith; and asks the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ascertain what help and support is available to ensure churchgoers are safe.
879 SALE OF PARACETAMOL 17:3:15
16That this House is concerned that many vulnerable young people under the age of 18, who regularly self harm, are able with ease to buy paracetamol over the counter in shops; is aware that as UK law stands no age restrictions are currently in place to prevent this; notes, however, that some concerned local companies voluntarily operate such a policy; and further notes that as a nation we readily enforce purchase restrictions on a number of items, notably alcohol, cigarettes, knives, even on the buying of a Lottery Ticket, yet decline taking action to help protect some of the most vulnerable people in out society by taking immediate action to stop such practices.
882 INDIA'S DAUGHTER AND ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 17:3:15
53That this House notes the very powerful effect of Leslee Udwin's documentary, India's Daughter, inspired by the Indian peoples' response to the gang rape of a 23 year old medical student, Jyoti Singh, as demonstrated by the resulting month-long protests of men and women from all walks of life; further notes the relevance of the film in raising awareness of on-going worldwide efforts to educate everyone against violence against girls and women; congratulates the UK for its leadership in working to end female genital mutilation, child marriage and gender inequality; deplores the Indian government's decision to ban the film, which has denied the people most affected by rape and murder a platform to speak for themselves and has prevented a light being shone on what needs to change in the grossly unequal attitudes toward women worldwide and especially Dalit women who are disproportionately affected; further notes that the blanket ban contravenes fundamental rights of free speech and freedom of expression; and calls on the international community to do more to extend their solidarity to all those who are suffering as a result of continuing violence against girls and women, including the family and friends of Jyoti Singh, and to all those campaigning to end it.
883 LESBIANS AND GAYS SUPPORT THE MINERS GROUP 1984-85 TO 2015 17:3:15
20That this House places on record its thanks to the Lesbians and Gays Supports the Miners' Group for its solidarity with mining communities organised by the Neath, Dulais and Swansea Valley Miners' Support Group and many other mining families in other coalfields during the miners' strike of 1984-85; recognises the work of the late Mark Ashton and the late Hefina Headon in building this special alliance; notes the £4,000 raised on the 14 March Anniversary Event at Onllwyn Miners' Welfare Hall for the Mark Ashton Red Ribbon Fund of the Terrence Higgins Trust; and congratulates the Terrence Higgins Trust on its outstanding work in campaigning to support people living with HIV.
884 CONSULTANT LOBBYING (S. I., 2015, No. 379) 17:3:15
12That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Registration of Consultant Lobbyists Regulations 2015 [SI, 2015, No. 379], dated 24 February 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 26 February 2015, be annulled
885 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (S. I., 2015, No. 102) 17:3:15
25That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 [SI, 2015, No. 102], dated 4 February 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 5 February 2015, be annulled
886 SECONDARY EDUCATION IN POWYS 17:3:15
3That this House views with concern the proposals of Powys County Council to close secondary schools and sixth forms in Brecon and Radnorshire; notes that closing schools will add to the cost of transport and very long journey times for pupils; believes that many pupils will opt to be educated across the border in England because of travel times; and urges Powys County Council to commission a re-assessment of secondary education right across the county and to defer any decision-making until all the consequences of those proposals have been fully considered.
887 WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE IN ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKSHIRE 18:3:15
14That this House commends the current plans to secure the future of one of the grandest stately homes in England, Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, by placing it in a charitable trust and opening it to the public; acknowledges the exceptional splendour of this house and recognises the work already carried out in restoring parkland, lakes, monuments and temples, as well as repairs to the house itself; underlines the huge potential stimulus to economic regeneration in South Yorkshire; and calls on the Government and the National Heritage Memorial Fund to recognise the imperative to give strong and urgent support to these efforts.
888 PERSECUTION OF THE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY IN BURMA 18:3:15
12That this House notes that the Rohingya community in Burma continues to suffer serious abuse of its fundamental human rights; further notes that many members of the Rohingya community have been forced into camps or to leave the country; believes that the Burmese government should establish a special administrative territory in Northern Arakan, reinstate the national identity registrations card, and guarantee the basic human rights of the Rohingya community and its right to equal treatment and respect in particular; also believes that the Burmese government should take strong action to halt the anti-Muslim propaganda which has stimulated the killing of members of the Rohingya community and the burning of their property and to protect the Rohingya community from these attacks; and calls on the Government to make these demands of the Burmese government.
889 FORGOTTEN 14s 18:3:15
15That this House recognises that those people working in Northern Ireland at ages 14 and 15 between 1947 and 1957 continue to be the subject of a discrepancy in that they have worked longer in comparison to their Great Britain counterparts when the working age changed to 15 in 1947; further recognises that Home Responsibilities Protection and Category B pensions do not adequately address this discrepancy; also recognises that not all are protected by state pension credit and other income-related benefits; and, as an excepted matter and the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs, calls on the Government to address this discrepancy.
890 MEASURING THE COST OF LIVING 18:3:15
24That this House believes that the Retail Price Index (RPI) remains the most accurate measure of the rise in the cost of living faced by UK workers; notes that over many decades the majority of pay bargaining in the UK has traditionally taken the RPI as its main reference point but that the Johnson Review poses a major threat to the continued publication of the RPI; further believes that given the alternative Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and CPIH measures run around one per cent lower than the RPI, this would deal further blows to the pay packets of workers who have been experiencing years of deep declines in the value of their wages; further notes that a rigorous study of inflation by Dr Mark Courtney which sets out why the coverage of the RPI is most relevant to the costs faced by workers; and further believes that the importance of accurate measurement is central to recent proposals calling for the introduction of an independent Living Standards Index to measure the success of Government in dealing with the cost of living.
891 BURIAL OF RICHARD III 18:3:15
4That this House is delighted that the burial ceremony of Richard III will begin on 22 March 2015, ending with his remains being re-interred on 26 March 2015 in Leicester Cathedral; believes that this event unites the Protestant and Catholic communities of the UK, as his re-interment will be led by both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster; thanks the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, for such incredible work in making these events possible; and notes that this will be a historic day for Leicester, and highlight the rich cultural history of the city.
892 GLOBAL DIABETES PREVALENCE 18:3:15
14That this House is deeply alarmed by a recent study by the University of East Anglia, which found that diabetes affects around 382 million people worldwide, a figure expected to rise to 592 million by 2035; is concerned that the consistently increasing economic impact of this disease on low, middle and high income countries is having extremely negative consequences for public health services; notes that two-thirds of type 2 diabetes cases are now diagnosed in low-income and middle-income nations, with particularly high levels of prevalence in Mexico, India, China and Egypt; and calls on the Government to include diabetes-related public health measures in relevant international development programmes.
893 PRIORITIES FOR ROAD SAFETY 18:3:15
13That this House welcomes the publication of Priorities for Road Safety by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (an All-Party Parliamentary Group); notes that these priorities include the setting of ambitious casualty reduction targets, measures to reduce drink and drug-driving, implementation of double/single British summertime, safer road design and safety management based on the safe system approach; and calls on the Government to redouble its efforts to improve safety for all road users.
894 HORMONE PREGNANCY TEST DRUGS (NO. 2) 18:3:15
12That this House notes that children were born with serious deformities due to hormone pregnancy test drugs taken by expectant mothers between 1953 and 1975; further notes with concern that many of those affected cannot retrieve their medical records from this period; further notes evidence from 1964 which shows that GPs discussed moves to destroy reports about controversial medicines; welcomes the Government's announcement instructing the Women's Health Expert Advisory Group to carry out an independent review of all evidence on oral hormone pregnancy tests; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to ensure that the review is fully comprehensive and transparent.
895 SAVILE INQUIRY AND VERITA 18:3:15
8That this House notes that Verita were responsible for centrally editing the reports from individual hospitals as part of the Savile Inquiry; further notes that Verita state on their website that We are renowned for our thoroughness and commitment to producing evidence-based reports that can withstand rigorous challenge; recognises that this is a commitment to a public relations objective rather than an objective of getting to the truth; further notes that there are concerns that Verita has been involved in at least one cover up previously; and believes, therefore, that the details of and edits made by Verita to individual hospital inquiry reports should be made public.
897 EXTENSION OF THE BADGER CULL 19:3:15
10That this House believes that commencing the next badger cull in June 2015 is completely misguided and that it will result in many badger cubs being killed when they do not have TB; and calls on the Government to abandon plans for the 2015 cull since this has been found by the Independent Expert Panel to be ineffective in reducing bovine TB.
898 DISPOSAL OF WET WIPES AND OTHER MATERIALS 19:3:15
16That this House is appalled to learn that the number of wet wipes found as part of the Marine Conservation Society's Beach Clean increased by 50 per cent in a year; understands that wet wipes do not break down like toilet tissue due to their tougher, sometimes plastic, fibres; further understands that water companies estimate that about 70 per cent of blockages are avoidable if wipes and other materials are disposed of properly; supports the 3p's campaign of nothing but pee, poo or paper; and calls on the Government to do more to promote the campaign and encourage manufacturers to raise awareness of correct disposal methods.
899 COVERT SURVEILLANCE OF TRADE UNIONS 20:3:15
9That this House is deeply concerned by the revelations of Peter Francis, former member of the Metropolitan Police Force's Special Demonstrations Squad, in relation to the unit's covert state surveillance of trade unions and their members, including Unison, the Fire Brigades Union, the Communication Workers Union, National Union of Teachers, and the construction workers union UCATT, together with the family of Stephen Lawrence, anti-racist groups, civil society organisations and political campaigners; welcomes the judge-led inquiry into the abuse of women by undercover police officers; calls for the remit of that inquiry to include the involvement of state agencies in the operation of blacklisting and the covert surveillance of lawful trade union activities; further welcomes the offer of Mr Francis to provide further evidence; and calls on the Home Secretary to offer whistleblowers immunity from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act in order to encourage people to come forward and disclose essential information in the public interest without fear of criminal charges being brought against them.
900 PROTESTS IN DETENTION CENTRES 20:3:15
5That this House notes with serious concern that protests, demonstrations and hunger strikes by detainees have taken place in detention centres around the country, including Harmondsworth Detention Centre; and calls on the Home Secretary to launch an independent public inquiry into the grievances of the detainees which have sparked these protests and to bring forward a report on the use of detention overall.
901 ALAN TURING SQUARE 20:3:15
6That this House welcomes the campaign to rename Leningrad Square in Wythenshawe after Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) computer and Enigma code breaker, Alan Turing; notes that Manchester is currently twinned with St Petersburg, formerly Leningrad, the birthplace of Russia's appalling anti-gay laws which ban homosexual propaganda; further notes that Baby, the first modern computer, was born in Manchester thanks to Alan Turing's work at the University of Manchester; regrets that Turing was arrested by City of Manchester police in 1952 for homosexuality and was punished with chemical castration; further welcomes the posthumous Royal Pardon in 2013 and the campaign to achieve it; believes that Manchester's city leaders should stop honouring a city and country where LGBTQ people are so appallingly discriminated against; further regrets that too many LGBTQ people still suffer discrimination in the UK and abroad; recognises that renaming a landmark square after a gay Manchester hero would show solidarity to everyone fighting for equality in Manchester, Russia and around the world and that it would also help the fight to pardon the thousands of other gay men who were convicted of offences relating to their sexuality; and calls on Manchester City Council to back the campaign to rename the square in time for the 31 March anniversary of Alan Turing's conviction.
902 CARMEN ARISTEGUI AND JOURNALISM IN MEXICO 20:3:15
9That this House expresses its shock that Carmen Aristegui, one of Mexico's independent journalists, has been dismissed for her work in the MVS Noticias (news); notes that Ms Aristegui's four-hour daily programme is very popular and often exposes corruption and human rights abuses; further notes that the targeting of such journalists is wholly unacceptable and can only have a very negative impact on journalism and indeed on fundamental rights of free speech and freedom of expression in any democratic country, let alone one struggling to rebuild its reputation following recent negative publicity surrounding the deaths of 43 students; calls on the Government and the international community to raise their concerns about this case with the relevant authorities; congratulates Carmen Aristegui and her team for the excellent work they have done to date and over many years; and encourages them to continue with the excellent contribution they are making to an evolving democratic Mexico.
903 YEMEN AND THE KILLING OF JOURNALIST ABDULKARIM AL-KHAIWANI 20:3:15
10That this House condemns the killing of journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani in Yemen and calls for the relevant authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into this and other targeted assassinations; is deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Yemen, which has witnessed restrictions and freedom of assembly and press freedom, as well as attacks on peaceful protests and targeting of civilians by all sides to the conflict; notes that the situation is being exploited by al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula, who has benefited from the unrest and polarisation in Yemen and stepped up its activities targeting Huthis; and calls on the Government and the international community to live up to commitments made at the 2014 Friends of Yemen conference, and press for respect for human rights and a political settlement that will halt the deteriorating situation.
904 PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS 23:3:15
3That this House records its disappointment at five wasted years in which the Coalition Government has failed to reform the parliamentary abuses that continue to undermine the reputation of politics, such as cash for access to politicians and cash for peerages continuing unabated, 99 per cent of corporate lobbying untouched by legislation, the arbitrary unjust Honours system, further degraded with the creation of a new political honours committee dominated by whips, a complete failure to limit moonlighting by hon. Members in outside jobs and the revolving door to retirement riches uncontrolled by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which remains a toothless watchdog without powers to police the prostitution of insider knowledge of departing hon. Members and civil servants; and calls on the next Government to bring in robust reforms that will rebuild Parliament's reputation for probity.
905 DISAPPEARANCES IN BANGLADESH 23:3:15
5That this House notes with alarm the lack of a free and open democratic process in Bangladesh, and in particular the recent disappearance of Salah Uddin Ahmed, spokesperson and joint-secretary of the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP); further notes that there have been many other disappearances, including that of BNP leader Elias Ali in 2012, who has still not been located; further notes that Human Rights Watch has said that the Bangladesh government has a history of failing to investigate the enforced disappearance of opposition members; further notes that there are repeated allegations of extrajudicial killings by the Bangladeshi authorities, especially by the Rapid Action Battalion; and calls on the Government to put pressure on the Bangladesh government to ensure that free and fair elections take place promptly in Bangladesh, that disappearances and extra-judicial killings are ended and that freedom of expression is protected in Bangladesh.
906 INVITATION TO FRANCES CROOK TO VISIT HM PRISON OAKWOOD 23:3:15
4That this House notes that G4S issued an invitation to Frances Crook, the Chief Executive of the Howard League, to visit HM Prison Oakwood; further notes that the Director of Custodial Services at the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), Ian Blakeman, decided that the visit would not be appropriate at the time given Ms Crook's comments about private prisons, and informed G4S that it should withdraw the invitation; expresses great concern that NOMS should seek to prevent this visit, especially given that G4S specifically invited Ms Crook; and calls on the Government to ensure NOMS allows the visit to take place and encourages scrutiny of the justice system.
907 LOWER OIL PRICES AND THE BUS INDUSTRY 23:3:15
12That this House notes that the price of oil is 50 per cent below its recent trend price and is forecast to stay at its new lower level for a prolonged period; further notes that, while falls in the oil price represent pure profit for bus companies, bus fares increased by an average of 4.8 per cent across the UK between December 2013 and December 2014; understands that while some bus companies may have hedged their fuel costs on the basis of a higher oil price, that would only cover a portion of their fuel bill; believes that most bus companies' hedge period has expired since oil prices fell; recognises that bus companies are supported by taxpayer-funded grants which are devolved to local councils; and calls for an inquiry to determine whether the bus companies are profiteering from the fall in oil prices instead of passing on the benefit of the fall through reduced bus fares and improved services.