Session 2014-15
House of Commons
24th 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
59That 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
32That 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
5That 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.
873 POLICE (S. I., 2015, No. 630) 17:3:15
7That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Police Federation (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I., 2015, No. 630), dated 9 March 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 12 March, be annulled.
874 BRADFORD CITY FOOTBALL CLUB AND THE FA CUP 17:3:15
8That this House congratulates Bradford City Football Club, the directors, coaches, playing staff and supporters on their magnificent FA Cup exploits this season; and notes they have been a credit to football and have enhanced the reputation of the city.
875 ST PATRICK'S DAY 17:3:15
14That 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
22That 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
26That 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
28That 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
20That 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.
880 URBAN DEVELOPMENT (S. I., 2015, No. 53) 17:3:15
20That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation [Establishment] Order 2015 [SI, 2015, No. 53], dated 23 January 2015, a copy of which was laid before this House on 27 January 2015, be annulled
881 INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY 17:3:15
11That this House commends Health Poverty Action's report of February 2015, Casualties of War: How the War on Drugs is harming the world's poorest, which highlights how the predominant drug policy of prohibition has undermined attempts to tackle poverty and improve health; notes that this is confirmed by evidence presented in the report of January 2015, Drugs and Development: The Great Disconnect from the Global Drug Policy Observatory at Swansea University; is concerned at the alarming violence fuelled by the increased militarisation of repressive responses to the drugs trade; acknowledges the opportunity afforded by the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Drugs in 2016 to help the poorest and most marginalised; and calls on the Government to recognise that drug policy should be treated as a health and development issue, not a crime and security issue, and to advocate this approach at UNGASS.
882 INDIA'S DAUGHTER AND ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 17:3:15
56That 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
26That 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
18That 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
43That 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
887 WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE IN ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKSHIRE 18:3:15
18That 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
16That 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
19That 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
42That 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
6That 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
22That 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
24That 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
19That 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
11That 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.
896 ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE 19:3:15
2That this House notes the immense value of the National Health Service since its launch on 5 July 1948; reaffirms its belief in the founding principles of the NHS, that it should meet the needs of all who need it and should be free at the point of use; acknowledges that the NHS is experiencing severe financial pressures; also acknowledges that the NHS faces a real challenge in delivering services locally while at the same time remaining a national structure; believes that the future of the NHS, how it is run and funded, are issues of huge national importance; further believes that these issues are not well served by party politics and are undermined by electioneering that oversimplifies the challenges and solutions; urgently calls for a Royal Commission to be appointed and set up as soon as possible after the forthcoming General Election with the remit of considering how best to fund and structure the NHS; further calls on all parties and the next Government to sign up to implement the findings of the Royal Commission; and further believes that in the longer run this would help deliver a sustainable NHS that properly delivers health services on an ongoing basis.
897 EXTENSION OF THE BADGER CULL 19:3:15
23That 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
29That 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
21That 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
11That 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
12That 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
15That 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
14That 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
7That 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
10That 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
8That 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
20That 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.
908 SECONDARY TICKETING MARKET 24:3:15
1That this House congratulates the company Twickets on its success in the re-sale ticket market; believes that Richard Davies and the Twickets board are undertaking vitally important work to address the problems that exist with the secondary ticketing market; notes that the company offers a transparent way for the exchange of tickets for music, sport, theatre and other leisure events; welcomes Twickets' attempt to drive change in the ticket re-sale market by allowing customers to exchange tickets for face value or less; congratulates Twickets for having 250,000 users since 2011; further believes that the Government must bring forward legislative proposals to stop the exploitation of fans by unscrupulous touts, and that ordinary fans are being priced out of seeing the artists, shows or teams that they love; further believes that the Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport is wrong to describe ticket touts as entrepreneurs; and the supports the #PutFans1st campaign.
909 NATIONAL EXPRESS 24:3:15
29That this House condemns the anti-trade union activities of UK-listed National Express PLC in its operations in the US, largely ignoring the safety concerns raised by employees and parents alike when transporting children to and from school; notes that these practices contrast with those of competing companies such as First Student; further notes that investors representing two per cent of National Express Group stock have filed a resolution calling on the company's board to initiate an independent investigation into management denial and violation of Durham Schools Services workers' freedom of association rights; and calls on all National Express shareholders to seek clarification on this issue from the board of directors and to vote for the resolution on this issue at the forthcoming AGM on 6 May 2015.
910 UBER AND TAXI AND MINICAB SERVICES 24:3:15
2That this House notes that Uber, a multinational company based in San Francisco, US, is now providing taxi services in the UK; further notes that Uber threatens to put out of work many established taxi and minicab firms and their employees, currently subject to various regulations to ensure safety standards are upheld; further notes that Uber employees have been involved in a number of scandals, including lawsuits in India where a woman was raped by an Uber driver, the placing of false orders with rival companies, discrimination against blind people, threats against critical journalists and safety concerns over their drivers; believes that Uber is engaging in unfair competition with existing taxi and minicab firms; and calls on the Government to undertake an urgent review of regulations and legislation in order to prevent taxi and minicab firms being forced out of business due to unfair competition from Uber, with a consequent lowering of standards of taxi and minicab provision to the general public.
911 ST EDMUND'S NURSERY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN'S CENTRE, GIRLINGTON, BRADFORD 24:3:15
1That this House notes that St Edmund's Nursery School and Children's Centre, Girlington, Bradford, has been rated outstanding by Ofsted for three successive school inspections and has also been rated outstanding by Ofsted for its children's centre and childcare provision; further notes that this school and centre has a staff drawn from a variety of ethnicities catering for a catchment area of parents and children of a variety of ethnicities and includes a number of men as well as women on the staff; further notes that the school and centre is the lead school for a teacher training programme which is ensuring that young women in particular from the local area are now getting the opportunity to train as teachers; believes that St Edmund's Nursery School and Children's Centre is a model of excellence in Bradford where education remains almost at the bottom of the league tables; further believes that St Edmund's should be allowed to register births within its catchment area, have the cap lifted on the reserves held for business development and be allowed to convert to an academy if necessary; and therefore calls on the Government and Bradford Council to make these changes as a matter of urgency.
912 A MANIFESTO FOR COMMUNITY PHARMACY 24:3:15
2That this House notes that GP services are being overloaded across the country with many patients unable to get appointments with a doctor for many days and sometimes weeks; further notes that A&E departments are also being overloaded, as patients increasingly resort to A&E departments to get basic medical treatment; further notes that qualified pharmacists have to undertake a four-year course of study to qualify and are qualified to treat and prescribe drugs for more minor ailments; believes that there is no substitute for the proper funding of the National Health Service in order to provide the health service the public expects and deserves; nonetheless further believes that pharmacists could play a much larger role in the direct treatment of minor ailments and thereby alleviate pressure on GP and A&E services; and therefore calls on the Government to undertaken an urgent study of A Manifesto for Community Pharmacy, a manifestso put together by pharmacists across the country, with a view to implementing their recommendations and demands as a matter of urgency.
913 CIVIL WAR IN YEMEN 24:3:15
2That this House is dismayed by recent developments in Yemen, which has descended into chaos and civil war; is appalled by the recent series of bombings against mosques in Sanaa, for which the group Islamic State have claimed responsibility; deplores attempts by groups loyal to former autocrat Ali Adullah Saleh, and associated with the Houthi rebel group, to bomb President Hadi's residence in Aden; notes that British and US Special Forces have both been evacuated from the country, following the evacuations of numerous Western and regional embassies in recent weeks; further notes the assertion by the UN Special Envoy, Jamal Benomar, that the conflict risks descending into a Iraq-Libya-Syria combination; calls on the Government to take any and all possible measures to halt the descent into violence; and calls for all parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to negotiations.
914 MAINTAINING THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY IN PRINTED FORM 24:3:15
2That this House welcomes the Save the Oxford English Dictionary campaign founded by Abbie Maguire, which calls for the Oxford English Dictionary to remain in printed form; notes that the Dictionary, first published in 1884, is the largest dictionary of English in the world and should be treated as a historical artefact; further notes it follows a fine pedigree of British writers and innovators who composed some of the first recorded books of words in English, Latin, German and French and we should be honouring their work as opposed to erasing their influence from physical editions of the Dictionary; believes that Britain is famous for its rich and diverse heritage and that to deny the Dictionary a printed edition is to deny the future a glimpse into our past; supports the idea that to improve literary skills in Britain it is vital dictionaries be kept in print as resources for learning or curiosity; considers that all English literature is intrinsically linked to the Dictionary by its provision of standardisation in language; further considers it vital that everyone, including future generations, should have access to a work that inspired what we currently read; and further believes that world-renowned English writers such as William Shakespeare, whose linguistic inventions can be found in the Dictionary, should be kept alive in our culture through what we choose to preserve in its original form.
915 YORK'S COMMUNITY STADIUM 24:3:15
7That this House notes that York's professional, semi-professional and amateur sports clubs have worked closely in partnership with the local authority to develop a community stadium at Monks Cross; believes that the only suitable site for a community stadium is at Monks Cross; welcomes the economic and socio-economic benefits that will accrue to the York City Football Club and the York Knights Rugby League Club, the community of York and the local authority, directly through increased tourism, educational opportunities, skills-training and employment; further recognises the community stadium will promote social inclusion by providing a focus from which to build community programmes; further welcomes the opportunity for York City FC and York City Knights to build on their existing community links and expand their successful community programmes; acknowledges the public support for the plans; urges City of York Council Planning Department to approve the proposal at its meeting on 27 March 2015; and commends the Monks Cross site proposal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
916 KURDISH NATIONAL AWARDS 24:3:15
1That this House warmly welcomes the recent inauguration of the Centre for Kurdish Progress' national awards for the most successful Kurds in Britain as a sign of the growing importance and vibrancy of the Kurdish Diaspora in the UK; notes that the award categories include business, role model, social responsibility, art, press and publication, student society and young entrepreneur; congratulates the right hon. Member for Cynon Valley and Gary Kent, Director of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, for their awards for extraordinary contributions to the Kurdish cause and the hon Member for Stratford on Avon, who won the most successful politician of the year award; and believes that such initiatives do much to help foster connections between Kurds and British people, who appreciate the positive role that Kurds play in resisting the genocidal and misogynistic activities of the so-called Islamic State.
917 2015 YORKSHIRE MANIFESTO 24:3:15
1That this House welcomes the Yorkshire Post's manifesto; acknowledges Yorkshire's impressive and wide-ranging economic and cultural achievements; believes Government can and must do more to fully unlock Yorkshire's potential if it is to truly achieve a northern powerhouse economy; therefore supports the Yorkshire manifesto's calls for devolving greater powers and allowing local people to decide on key transport and infrastructure projects, particularly those needed in rural areas; also supports calls to further support Yorkshire's cultural offerings, given the success of the 2014 Tour de France, Hull set to be the 2017 UK City of Culture, the beautiful Yorkshire countryside including the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Part of the Peak District national parks, and Arts Council England figures showing for every £13 was spent in Yorkshire; further believes in Yorkshire's untapped economic potential, with the fastest-growing digital sector inside the UK and a manufacturing base 50 per cent above the UK average; also supports the manifesto's calls to provide stronger support for local greenbelt, get building on brownfield sites, get more affordable housing built in the right places and put cycling at the heart of planning decisions; further commends the manifesto as a welcome contribution to the general election campaign; and calls on all political parties and the next Government to give the manifesto serious consideration for formulating policies affecting Yorkshire and its people.
918 PATIENTS WITH ULTRA RARE DISEASES AND POWERS OF THE HEALTH SECRETARY 24:3:15
1That this House notes the Public Administration Select Committee meeting of 25 February 2015 where the Secretary of State for Health referred to the document he uses to hold NHS England to account, the Framework Agreement between the Department of Health and NHS England; also notes that the Health Secretary went on to say in reference to the document that if NHS England is failing on that, we can hold them accountable on that; further notes that paragraph 4.11.3 of the Framework Agreement says if the Secretary of State considers that NHS England is significantly failing in its duties and functions he is able to intervene and issue directions to NHS England; also notes the cross-party Early Day Motion 819 thus far signed by 61 hon. Members; reiterates its strong concern at NHS England's bureaucracy blocking access to drugs to 180 patients with the ultra-rare diseases Morquio disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and tuberculosis sclerosis; further notes that this matter has been raised repeatedly with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Health Secretary and Life Sciences Minister; further notes that Ministers are constantly saying that resolving this situation is a matter for NHS England; however is dismayed at the lack or urgency on the part of NHS England; therefore calls on the Health Secretary to immediately intervene as the Framework Agreement allows him to and announce interim funding for the drugs these 180 patients urgently need.