Session 2015-16
House of Commons
8th June 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
55 INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE AND THE SCOTTISH CUP 1:6:15
40That this House wishes to congratulate Inverness Caledonian Thistle on their first ever win in a Scottish Cup Final and praises manager John Hughes, the coaching staff, players and supporters on a remarkable season in bringing the oldest trophy in world football, namely the Scottish Cup, to the fine city of Inverness; and further wishes Inverness Caledonian Thistle good luck in their forthcoming European campaign, which has been secured courtesy of their league position to complete a historic season.
57 RESTRICTIONS ON JOURNALISTS IN BURMA 1:6:15
28That this House deplores the restrictions recently imposed on journalists in reporting proceedings in the Burmese parliament, the Assembly of the Union; notes that the restrictions have now been lifted; believes that the reporting of parliamentary proceedings is vital for public information and to hold Members accountable; further notes the importance of the fight by John Wilkes to secure reporting of Parliament in the development of the UK's own democracy; further notes the latest report on Burma in 2015 by Human Rights Watch that highlights increasing intimidation of the media over the past year, including new restrictions on both foreign and domestic journalists; further notes the current imprisonment of 13 journalists and the shooting in October 2014 of the freelance reporter, Ko Par Gyi, by the army whilst held in custody; and calls on the Government to raise concerns about the restrictions on parliamentary reporting in Burma and to express its determination to monitor developments in media freedom in Burma in the future.
58 ACCESS FOR HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES TO RAKHINE STATE IN BURMA 1:6:15
27That this House expresses its concern at the number of Rohingya Muslims from Burma and Bangladesh who have fled their countries since the start of the year, risking their lives in order to reach Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand; calls on the Government to make clear to the Burmese government the need to address the reasons that people feel forced to do so; and further calls on the Government to ask the UN Secretary-General to take a personal lead in negotiating with the Burmese government to allow access for humanitarian agencies to Rakhine State.
59 DEATH SENTENCE ON FORMER PRESIDENT MORSI 1:6:15
26That this House condemns the unjust death sentence handed down to Former President of the Republic of Egypt, Mr Mohammad Morsi and to a number of his party members by an Egyptian court on 15 May 2015; believes this judgement is cruel and falls short of the principles of justice; further notes the death sentence pronounced on a President popularly elected in 2012 after successful agitations against the despotic and corrupt government of Hosni Mubarak will not help the current government and reinforces the traditional approach adopted in Egypt to silence political dissent and malign pluralism; affirms the view that political leaders should not be purged for their views even if those views are contrary to the current government; further believes the judgement shows a move to seek revenge, not justice and that the application of the death sentence will be considered as a judicial murder, a continued stain on the reputation of the present leadership of the country; expresses concern that the application of the death sentence is likely to unleash an unprecedented wave of violence and insecurity in Egypt and the wider Middle East; urges the Egyptian government to recognise that the judgement is cruel and falls short of the principles of justice; and calls on the government of Egypt to revoke the death sentence and order a fair retrial.
60 EVICTION OF PALESTINIAN BEDOUIN COMMUNITIES FROM ISRAELI-OCCUPIED WEST BANK 1:6:15
44That this House notes with deep concern that, despite being a clear and egregious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel advanced a 'relocation plan' that will see 7,000 Palestinian Bedouins and herders, 60 per cent of them children, who currently reside in 46 small residential areas, forcibly transferred and their homes demolished; further notes that, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, most families have pending home demolition orders, 85 per cent of which lack connection to electricity and water, and that two-thirds of Palestinian communities have experienced extreme settler violence creating a coercive environment that functions as push factors; affirms Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the International Committee of the Red Cross's legal interpretation, that mass forcible transfer and forced evictions of protected peoples in occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law and human rights law; reminds the Government of its obligations to ensure that Israel, as an occupying power, abides by its legal obligation to protect the civilian population in the occupied territory and administer it for their benefit; believes that these plans will undermine Palestinian presence in the area, further disconnect Palestinian Jerusalem from the West Bank and disrupt the territorial contiguity of the occupied territory; urges the Government to condemn Israel's actions and policy as flagrant violations of international law; calls for urgent action to be taken to oppose these policies; and further calls on the Government to pressure the State of Israel to immediately scrap the outrageous relocation plans.
61 SUGAR CONTENT IN FRUIT SNACKS 1:6:15
26That this House is deeply concerned at the evidence gathered by the group Action on Sugar, which shows a large number of fruit snacks aimed at children contain unacceptably high levels of sugar; notes that of the 94 products researched by Action on Sugar, 85 per cent were more sugary than Haribo Starmix sweets; condemns the misleading advertising by manufacturers, which claim that these processed food products are healthy for children; further notes that the overconsumption of high sugar products is partly responsible for record levels of child obesity, rotten teeth and diabetes; and calls on the Government to intervene and set limits on the levels of fat, sugar and salt in children's food products.
62 7th INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE DIABETIC FOOT 1:6:15
12That this House commends the organisers, speakers and attendees at the seventh International Symposium of the Diabetic Foot; notes that the symposium is a large and influential health conference held in The Hague, to share best practice on treating and preventing the complications of diabetes; is deeply concerned that there are over 70 lower limb amputations every week as a direct result of diabetes; further notes that effective management of diabetes is vital in preventing these serious operations; and urges the Government to provide the resources, specialist diabetes teams and educational materials necessary for preventing complications arising from serious diabetes.
63 WAR GRAVE RECOGNITION HMT LANCASTRIA 2:6:15
18That this House expresses its full and sincere support for those campaigners and family members whose loved ones died on 17 June 1940 when the troopship HMT Lancastria was sunk off the coast of France with the loss of an estimated 4,000 souls; further supports their efforts to have the Lancastria designated as an official war grave and encourages the Government to commit to further discussions with the government of France to allow the last resting place of the Lancastria achieve this recognition; and requests, in addition, and to relieve the families on-going distress of not knowing how their loved ones died, that all the documentary evidence, much of which was suppressed at the time of the tragedy, is placed in the public domain without further delay.
64 DAIRY FARMERS 2:6:15
29That this House recognises the important role dairy farmers play in supplying dairy products to consumers; highlights the high quality dairy products which are supplied by local farmers and the benefits that dairy produce brings to providing a healthy, well-balanced diet; expresses concern at the way in which dairy farmers face pressure from the major supermarkets on reducing the cost of farmgate milk prices; and calls on the Government to work with the supermarkets and the dairy farming sector to promote home-grown produce and ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their milk.
65 ILLEGAL AND UNSUSTAINABLE TIMBER 2:6:15
23That this House notes the problem of illegal logging, estimated at between 15 per cent and 30 per cent of the international timber trade, which results in lost revenues for producer countries, environmental damage, loss of biodiversity and increased carbon emissions; further notes that the European Union's Timber Regulation (EUTR) which came into force in 2013 fails to ensure that all timber sold in Europe is of legal origin or from sustainably managed forests; further notes that WWF-UK has highlighted these issues in its current Forest Campaign, which is supported by 40 businesses and over 70,000 people; urges the Government to support changes to the EUTR which ensure full product coverage and consistent implementation across Europe to prevent unfair competition for UK business and assure consumers that all timber and wood-based products sold in the EU are legal; and calls on the Government to ensure a 100 per cent sustainable timber and wood-based product trade by 2020, as a key step in meeting the UK's commitments under the New York Declaration on Forests, including the goal of halving natural forest loss by 2020 and halting it entirely by 2030.
66 SUPERMARKET DISPOSAL OF EDIBLE FOOD 2:6:15
24That this House notes that the UK throws away 15 million tonnes of food and drink every year and that half of this food and drink could have been consumed; further notes that if people stop wasting edible food, the environmental benefit would be the equivalent of taking one in four cars off the road; therefore calls on the Government to introduce legislation to ban supermarkets from throwing away food approaching its best-before dates and instead make it available to charities and food banks; and finally notes that such legislation has been successfully introduced in France and would have significant social and environmental benefits.
As an Amendment to Ms Diane Abbott's proposed Motion (Supermarket Disposal Of Edible Food):
3Line6, after 'banks;', insert 'calls on the Government to engage with the Scottish Government on issues of food waste;'. 3:6:15(a1)
As an Amendment to Ms Diane Abbott's proposed Motion (Supermarket Disposal Of Edible Food):
1Line7, at end add 'and furthermore would enjoy widespread public support in Britain, as demonstrated by the petition started by Lizzie Swarf from Brighton, which secured over 165,000 signatures in its first 10 days, notwithstanding the need for Government urgently to develop and implement a cross-departmental strategy to reduce food waste and support food redistribution further up the supply chain too.’. 4:6:15(a2)
67 PROPOSED STRATEGIC SMALL SURGERIES FUND 2:6:15
6That this House recognises that the funding formula for general practice surgeries disadvantages small rural practices, such as those in Coniston and Hawkshead, where Coniston surgery faces a drop in funding of £25,000 over seven years; notes that this loss in funding may result in these surgeries being forced to close; further notes that these practices are vital to the communities they serve, particularly in large rural areas; and therefore calls on the Government and NHS England to create a strategic small surgeries fund which would make up the shortfall that small rural surgeries face, enabling them to continue to provide vital health services to the rural communities, residents and visitors they serve.
68 PREVENTION OF DEBT CRISES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 2:6:15
20That this House supports taking action to prevent debt crises taking place in developing countries, as these delay development and can cause great suffering; welcomes the $130 billion of developing country debt which was cancelled through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative; notes that lending to low-income countries has trebled since 2008, and that the IMF and World Bank state that 45 low-income countries are at moderate or high risk of not being able to pay their debts; further notes that multilateral institutions are responsible for 60 per cent of loans to low income countries; in this context, urges the Government to keep giving bilateral aid as grants rather than loans; further urges the Government to require the multilateral institutions that it funds to take further measures to ensure loans do not lead to unpayable debts; calls on the Government to support a UN Intergovernmental Tax Body to give developing countries a say in creating fairer global tax rules, and to support and implement the UN principles on responsible borrowing and lending; and further calls on the Government actively to support and participate in the UN negotiations to create new international bankruptcy rules for states which will indicate to the private sector that it will no longer be bailed out at taxpayer expense for reckless lending.
69 SCHOOL TRANSPORT FUNDING FOR 16-18 YEAR OLDS IN RURAL AREAS 2:6:15
7That this House recognises the benefits of keeping pupils in education or training up until the age of 18; notes the increased costs for pupils travelling vast distances to their nearest suitable centre of learning or training in sparse rural areas, compounded by the lack of existing transport infrastructure; further notes with concern that the increased cost of transport not covered by local authority schemes impacts disproportionately on students from lower income backgrounds, often amounting to hundreds of pounds a year per pupil; and therefore calls on the Government to consider implementing a Rural Sparsity Post 16 Travel Premium to enable these uniquely disadvantaged pupils from rural areas to continue their education without fear of being unable to afford to travel there.
71 DAWN RAIDS BY BORDER AGENCY STAFF 2:6:15
23That this House condemns the dawn raid reportedly carried out in Glasgow on 28 May 2015 during which it is understood that 20 UK Border Agency staff detained a family, including three young children and split the family up by immediately removing the mother and her children while the father remained in the UK; believes dawn raids to be inhumane; and calls for effective, humane and sustainable alternatives to be fully explored with a view to ending the practice.
72 DUNGAVEL IMMIGRATION REMOVAL CENTRE 2:6:15
22That this House commends the protestors who gathered at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre on 30 May 2015 to call for the closure of the centre; and agrees that the Government must pursue alternatives to detention with a view to achieving the closure of Dungavel House and other immigration removal centres.
73 TRIDENT AND THE STRATEGIC DEFENCE AND SECURITY REVIEW 2:6:15
39That this House notes that a decision on the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapon submarines is due in the life of this Parliament; further notes that the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) will precede that decision; recognises that international circumstances have significantly changed from those in which the current Trident missile system was conceived, designed and constructed; further recognises the Government's decision to require departments to reduce expenditure; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the SDSR sets out how it has considered the delivery of UK defence and security capability without nuclear weapons, including threat assessments, estimated costs and all non-nuclear options, as a basis for public debate ahead of the replacement decision.
74 EU REFERENDUM AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES ELECTION 3:6:15
7That this House notes the Government's commitment to a referendum on UK membership of the EU; recognises the importance of allowing the public time fully to consider the issues and implications surrounding the EU referendum debate; further recognises the importance of ensuring focused and adequate debate on the issues facing the National Assembly and the Welsh Government prior to the election in May 2016; and calls on the Government to ensure that the EU referendum is not held on the same day, nor in the run up to, the National Assembly for Wales election in May 2016.
75 BLEARY PIPE BAND 3:6:15
6That this House congratulates Bleary and District Pipe Band on its recent title as British Pipe Band Champions 2015 (Grade 2) at the British Pipe Band Championship in Bathgate on 10 June 2015; and wishes the Band every success in future competitions.
76 BURNING ALIVE OF A 15 YEAR OLD CHRISTIAN BOY IN LAHORE 3:6:15
8That this House condemns the beating, torture and burning alive of a 15 year old Christian boy Nauman Masih, on 9 April 2015, in Lahore, after he was identified as a Christian by two Muslim youths; and calls on the government of Pakistan to ensure that the perpetrators of this violence are brought to justice.
77 APPLICATION OF VAT TO POLICE SCOTLAND AND THE SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE 3:6:15
15That this House calls on the Government to agree to requests from the Scottish Government for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to have the same ability to recover VAT as other emergency services across the UK; notes that providing a level playing field for Scotland would free up an additional £33 million to invest in frontline policing, fire and rescue in Scotland at a time when budgets are under real pressure as a result of the Government's austerity policies; and urges the Government to finally do the right thing and provide a fair deal for Scotland's emergency services and end the disparity with other emergency services across the UK.
78 CARERS WEEK 2015 3:6:15
17That this House notes that there are 6.5 million unpaid carers across the UK and 6,000 people take on new caring responsibilities every day; gives its full support to Carers Week which falls on 8 to 14 June 2015; further notes that this is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, and to highlight the challenges that carers face and the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK; further notes that this year the campaign is focusing on building Care Friendly Communities, which are communities supporting carers to look after their loved ones while recognising that carers are individuals with their own needs too; also notes that three in five people will be carers in their lifetime and that there will be nine million carers in the UK by 2037; is concerned that full-time carers are twice as likely to be in bad health as non-carers, 54 per cent of carers are struggling to pay household bills and 60 per cent struggle to maintain friendships; further notes that the cost to the economy of carers having to give up work is £5.3 billion and six in 10 carers have reached breaking point, with a quarter requiring medical treatment; commends the supporters and sponsors of Carers Week, including Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support and MS Society; and calls on the Government to support Carers Week, work with the above organisations to build Care Friendly Communities and give the country's 6.5 million carers the support they deserve and desperately need.
79 CONFLICT IN YEMEN 4:6:15
6That this House is dismayed by the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where the Houthi rebel group continues to fight forces loyal to the legitimate government and President Hadi; notes that a coalition of Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, continues to launch air strikes against the rebels; further notes that over 1,000 people have died in the conflict since the beginning of 2015, including over 100 children; supports international efforts to forge a negotiated political solution, and to allow aid agencies to provide vital humanitarian aid into the country; and calls on the Government to take all possible action to support the international efforts to stabilise Yemen and bring all parties to the negotiating table.
80 CLASSIFICATION OF CHILDREN'S FANCY DRESS CLOTHES 4:6:15
10That this House notes with concern that, at present, children's fancy dress costumes are classified as toys and, as such, are not necessarily fire-proofed or retardant; further notes that whilst fancy dress clothes have passed a flammability test and been awarded a CE mark this test, known as an EN71 test, was designed to test toys and not clothes, and is only suitable for toys which burn a lot slower than fancy dress clothes; further notes that the number of children admitted to hospital with injuries resulting from a fancy dress costume catching alight is increasing; further notes that this could be prevented by simply changing the classification of fancy dress clothing from toys to clothes; and calls on the Government to investigate this issue and to review classification criteria urgently to ensure that fancy dress clothing is properly classified and undergoes proper flammability testing to promote safety for children and adults alike and to significantly reduce the risk of accidents occurring.
81 ONSHORE WIND 4:6:15
16That this House welcomes the commitment from the Government in the Queen's Speech that, the Government will consult with the devolved administrations on changes to subsidy regimes for onshore wind farms; expresses its concern at the possibility of the subsidy for new onshore wind farms being ended due to the negative impact that this will have on investment and upon reducing carbon emissions both in Scotland and across the UK; and calls on the Government to honour its commitment on consultation and engage in urgent talks with the Scottish Government over the subsidies for new onshore wind development in Scotland.
83 ACCOUNTABILITY OF NHS ENGLAND 8:6:15
3That this House is concerned that it has been six months since the threat of a legal challenge forced NHS England to suspend its scorecard system for deciding which drugs to fund; notes that this system was eventually scrapped completely and that a three-month consultation was launched on 27 January 2015 to come up with a new system; is extremely concerned NHS England has still not announced what the new process will be; is further concerned at repeated failures by NHS England during these six months to turn up to meetings or respond to correspondence in a timely or proper manner; expresses particular concern that a 27 March 2015 letter from the #fundourdrugsNOW campaign setting out very serious issues has still not received a proper response over eight weeks later despite the Life Sciences Minister requesting this letter and asking NHS England's Chief Executive, Simon Stevens, to 'respond in full'; expresses further concern at NHS England evading accountability when Ministers have repeatedly claimed the issues at hand are matters for NHS England; further expresses strong concern that 180 people with Morquio syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Tuberous sclerosis complex are being repeatedly let down; urges NHS England to respond in full, which it has so far failed to do; calls on Ministers to stand up for the 180 patients and urgently hold NHS England accountable; and further urges NHS England, at its upcoming 25 June 2015 meeting, to grant the interim funding campaigners have called for.
84 THE BIG RIDE FOR PALESTINIAN CHILDREN 8:6:15
1That this House salutes Red Spokes for organising The Big Ride, a sponsored bicycle ride by some 1,000 cyclists from Edinburgh to London to be held from 1 to 9 August 2015 to raise money for the Middle East Children's Alliance, a non-profit organisation which is dedicated to helping deprived children who are war victims in Gaza; and hopes that not only will this venture be financially successful but will draw increased attention to the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank.
85 SUPPORTING SCOTLAND'S CARERS 8:6:15
12That this House supports Scotland's 759,000 carers and thanks them, and the millions of unpaid carers across the UK, for the unwavering work that they do; recognises and gives its full support to Carers Week from 8 to 14 June 2015; congratulates third sector organisations, such as Carers Scotland, MND Scotland and Renfrewshire Carers Centre, for the crucial support that they provide to our carers; notes that, despite the extensive work of aforementioned organisations, there are a significant number of carers who remain unidentified and unsupported; condemns the Government for the devastating impact that the rollout of the Personal Independent Payment will have on carers and their families, with many losing the right to receive Carer's Allowance as a result of a change in the eligibility for the benefit; further supports calls for an increase in Carer's Allowance to match the current rate of Jobseeker's Allowance; and calls on the Government to abandon its commitment to proceed with a further £12 billion of cuts to the social security budget, as further cuts will only serve to exacerbate the devastating impact on the lives of people living with disabilities and the people who care for them, instead of providing support and ensuring dignity in living.
86 DIXONS CARPHONE IN WEDNESBURY 8:6:15
1That this House notes with grave concern Dixons Carphone's announcement that it intends to close its factory in Wednesbury and relocate the plant 90 miles away in Newark, leading to the loss of 500 jobs from the local area and £8 million from the local economy; further notes that this is on the back of Dixons Carphone reporting an increase in sales of 9 per cent; and supports the Communications Workers Union campaign calling on Dixons Carphone to reconsider its decision and keep Wednesbury working.
87 DETENTION OF MAJID ALI, CITY OF GLASGOW COLLEGE STUDENT 8:6:15
46That this House is deeply concerned by the detention of City of Glasgow student Majid Ali, who was last week sent to Dungavel Detention Centre; notes that Majid is due to be deported to Balochistan, in Pakistan, at 11.30pm on 9 June 2015; expresses concern that Majid will be in danger of physical harm, and even death, if he is deported, evidenced by the information that two close family members of Majid were murdered due to their political activities; affirms that the UK has a responsibility as one of the world's richest nations, to open our doors and our arms to those fleeing oppression and discrimination wherever they come from; further affirms that international treaties and laws oblige the UK to be of assistance to those who are in fear of their safety and life; calls on the Home Secretary to carry out an urgent review of this case and halt deportation; and further calls on the Government to make changes to the asylum process so that this type of situation can never happen again to anyone else.
88 NEW ADMINISTRATION IN ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL 8:6:15
10That this House notes the change of leadership in Aberdeenshire Council, with the fall of a Conservative-Liberal administration in favour of a new partnership administration of SNP and Progressive Alliance councillors; congratulates the new Provost of Aberdeenshire Councillor Hamish Vernal and Deputy Provost Councillor Allison Grant; further congratulates the new joint leaders of the council, Councillor Richard Thomson and Councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes; and looks forward to a new constructive phase of co-operation between members of Aberdeenshire Council and parliamentarians in the North East of Scotland.
89 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF GLASGOW'S WEST END FESTIVAL 8:6:15
8That this House congratulates the internationally-acclaimed West End Festival, which takes place in Glasgow from 5 to 28 June 2015 and is the city's largest multicultural event, celebrating 20 years of dynamic local and international talent and involving over 100 organisations; understands that the festival includes the famous Carnival Parade, concerts in the newly-refurbished Kelvingrove bandstand and the Glasgow Mela; thanks all who help organise and take part in what it considers to be this fantastic event; and looks forward to many more years of the West End Festival.
90 UNFCCC CLIMATE CONFERENCE 2015 8:6:15
6That this House notes that the forty-second session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the June session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, will be held from 1 to 11 June 2015 in Bonn, Germany; believes that ongoing evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world; further believes that climate change will have far-reaching effects on the environment, people and economies around the world; and calls on the Government to work constructively at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties Summit in Paris in December 2015 for a fair and binding global deal to reduce carbon emissions and support developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change.
91 UK AND THE NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE 8:6:15
1That this House notes that in the Government's Official Statement of 23 May 2015 on the conclusion of the 190-member state Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference that finished at the UN in New York on 22 May 2015, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Bournemouth East said that NPT is vitally important for the international community as a whole and has played an unparallelled role in curtailing the nuclear arms race; further notes he asserted that despite the best efforts of the UK and others, this year's Review Conference was unable to agree a substantive outcome; points out that the failure arose because the UK disgracefully joined Canada in backing the US in blocking the final NPT Review Conference declaration because it promoted a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East as championed by Egypt; further notes with dismay the UK blocked the consensus agreement in support of Israel which opposes Egypt's proposals, even though Israel is not even a party to the NPT; and calls on the Government instead to join with 107 NPT member states who called in New York for a nuclear weapons ban, which is widely supported by civil society groups led by the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons.