Session 2015-16
House of Commons
29th 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
162 CLOSURES OF ABORTION CLINICS 22:6:15
16That this House is deeply concerned that anti-abortion clinic protests are escalating and having a significant impact on women's ability to access safe, legal reproductive healthcare services and advice; is alarmed to hear that one abortion clinic is to close due to intimidating protests and others have been unable to open due to local fears about anti-abortion activity; notes that groups of threatening protesters continue to harass and film women on a regular basis across the country, displaying graphic banners, and distributing medically inaccurate and deliberately distressing material; further notes that police have stated they are unable to use existing legislation to protect women, clinic staff, and local residents in response to these protests; recognises the right to protest peacefully but asks that this is balanced against women's legal right to access medical care free from intimidation; and calls on the Government to establish abortion clinic buffer zones only to be used in cases where women are being forcefully prevented from accessing treatment, to ensure women are able to access healthcare free from intimidation, and to issue national guidance to local police forces to provide clear advice about dealing with intimidating protesters whose aim is to prevent women from exercising their legal right to access medical treatment.
163 UN PUBLIC SERVICE DAY 22:6:15
44That this House welcomes and supports the UN Public Service Day on 23 June 2015; recognises that Public Service Day pays tribute to all those who work in roles that serve the public and highlights their contribution to society in delivering key services to residents and communities across the length and breadth of the UK; and urges the Government to promote a worldwide celebration of this day in future years.
164 LEVELS OF DIABETES IN THE UK 22:6:15
29That this House is deeply concerned that diabetes in the UK has now reached an all-time high according to latest NHS data; notes that there are now 3.9 million people with diabetes in the UK, and more people continue to be diagnosed; further notes that Type 2 diabetes, which is preventable, accounts for over 90 per cent of diabetes cases in the UK; is further concerned at the severity of diabetes complications if the condition is not managed carefully, including amputation, kidney, eye, brain, nerve and heart damage; and calls on the Government to provide regular updates on the progress of the National Diabetes Prevention Programme and to implement it across the UK as soon as possible.
165 NEO-NAZI RALLY IN GOLDERS GREEN 22:6:15
58That this House notes with concern the planned neo-Nazi demonstration in Golders Green on 4 July 2015; highlights that this rally is due to take place on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, in an area in which 40 per cent of the population is Jewish; praises the public activism in opposition to the rally, particularly the change.org petition to ban it and the work of Hope Not Hate and the London Jewish Forum, under the umbrella of the Golders Green Together campaign, to promote solidarity and celebrate diversity in the local area; believes that every measure should be taken to protect Golders Green's vibrant community from provocation and abuse; and calls on the Home Secretary to consider what further actions the Government could take to isolate the politics of hate and division on our streets.
166 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARTICK HOUSING ASSOCIATION 22:6:15
29That this House congratulates Partick Housing Association on its 40th anniversary; notes that since its founding in 1975 it has grown to become one of the largest registered social landlords in the north and west of the city of Glasgow, owning and managing over 1,700 social rented homes and providing factoring management services to more than 2,000 private occupiers in and around the Partick area; further notes the range of celebratory events taking place to mark the anniversary, including a successful Community Festival in the area's Mansfield Park on 20 June 2015; and wishes the Housing Association, its tenants and the wider community all the best for the future.
167 MALARIA RESEARCH AT DUNDEE UNIVERSITY 22:6:15
27That this House congratulates Dundee University for its exciting and potentially world-changing discovery of a new compound which could treat malaria while also protecting people from the disease and preventing the spread of the disease; considers that such innovation in malaria drugs is necessary in light of the threat of resistance to current anti-malarial medicines; recognises that malaria continues to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths a year; and commends the Scottish Government's higher education policy, which continues to encourage such world-class innovation in Scottish universities through its supportive and progressive higher education policies.
168 CONSULTATION ON THE EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT TO BUY SCHEME 23:6:15
20That this House believes the Government should conduct a full, transparent and public consultation with local authorities and housing associations on its plan to expand the right to buy scheme to encompass housing association properties; notes that councils and housing associations across the country, particularly in areas suffering from acute housing shortages, need time to prepare for the proposed sale of council and housing association homes; and further notes that some local authorities may have to sell three quarters of available council homes at a time when the Government should be increasing the supply of houses, to make home ownership more affordable for millions of people across the country.
170 ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DETENTION OF ANDARGACHEW TSIGE 23:6:15
23That this House is dismayed by the continued detention of UK national, and Ethiopian opposition activist, Andargachew Tsige, who was kidnapped from Yemen a year ago on 23 June and held since in solitary confinement in an undisclosed location in Ethiopia; notes with concern that Mr Tsige was sentenced to death in in absentia proceedings in Ethiopia 2009; deplores the absence of due process by the Ethiopian authorities in dealing with Mr Tsige's case; is extremely worried about Mr Tsige's current health and well-being; concurs with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinion No. 2/2015 (on Ethiopia and Yemen) which concludes that the adequate remedy would be to release Mr Tsige and afford him adequate compensation; and calls on the Government to make further representation to the Ethiopian government about Mr Tsige's welfare and prison conditions, as a matter of urgency, and to urge the Ethiopian government to release and return him to the UK.
171 INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN OLDER INDUSTRIAL AREAS 23:6:15
34That this House welcomes the report by the Industrial Communities Alliance, Whose Recovery? which notes the widening economic gap between former industrial areas in the English regions, Scotland and Wales compared to London and the South East; asks the Government to bring forward policies to address the growth gap which is damaging the UK economy through failing to fulfil the economic potential of all regions and nations of the UK and which is also reducing the life chances for people in the poorest regional economies; and calls on the Government to seek to rebalance the economy through matching the rhetoric of the Northern Powerhouse with practical policies prioritising the needs of former industrial areas through fairer funding, targeted investment and specific support based on the economic needs of former industrial communities to ensure that substantial parts of the country are not excluded from the economic recovery and that the benefits of growth are shared by all regions and nations of the UK.
172 BUFFER ZONES AROUND ABORTION CLINICS 23:6:15
21That this House notes with concern the recent escalation in anti-abortion activity targeted at women and staff attending abortion clinics and pregnancy advisory services; further notes that approaching and recording women and staff, alongside the distribution of misleading information and distressing images, intimidates women and jeopardises access to legal healthcare services; believes in upholding the right to peaceful protest; further believes that the right to peaceful protest should not interfere with the fundamental right for women to make individual reproductive choices; further notes that campaigns against women exercising their sexual health rights can continue without occupying the space immediately outside clinics; supports the British Pregnancy Advisory Service's Back Off campaign to implement buffer zones outside reproductive health clinics as a means of ensuring that women are not harassed or obstructed from accessing confidential advice and treatment; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to protect the rights of women to access lawful healthcare by enabling the introduction and implementation of buffer zones around clinics offering abortion and sexual health services.
173 ESSENTIAL SMALL PHARMACIES SCHEME 23:6:15
19That this House recognises the effects of the withdrawal of the Essential Small Pharmacies (ESP) scheme on areas where patients, especially the elderly and those with small children, struggle to access pharmacies more than a kilometre away from their homes; understands that this is impacting most on areas with high levels of deprivation and low car ownership; acknowledges its ramifications on substance misuse programmes; believes that this is causing unreasonable pressure on small pharmacies to increase the number of prescriptions; further believes that there are irrational expectations of how much pharmacies can do in their areas to increase their own business; and further recognises the special circumstances of pharmacies that were designated as ESP, which means that the application of a one mile distance criteria to other pharmacies, as currently applied under standard market entry assessment criteria, is inadequate and fails to recognise the reasoning behind the grant of ESP status to those pharmacies in the first instance.
174 KINGHORN LIFEBOAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY 23:6:15
32That this House congratulates Kinghorn Lifeboat Station on its 50th anniversary; recognises that, since its establishment in 1965, the station has launched over 1,000 times to save lives at sea and along the coastline; appreciates the skill and bravery of the lifeboat crews; and wishes it continued success for the next 50 years.
177 SEAFARERS' RIGHTS 23:6:15
29That this House is appalled by the plight of Indonesian, Filipino and Romanian seafarers stranded in Newport, Wales on the Italian-flagged cargo ship Sunflower E which was arrested on 10 March due to the shipowner's unpaid debts, the eighth case this year of a ship being detained in a UK port owing to dubious financing; is deeply concerned that the Sunflower E's 13 crew are owed nearly four months wages and live in deteriorating conditions onboard, in blatant contravention of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC); welcomes and supports the intervention of inspectors from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in highlighting this case, and attempting to retrieve wages owed and secure safe passage home for these seafarers; notes that 32 per cent of the 7,500 vessels inspected by the ITF across the world in 2013-14 breached the MLC's provisions, particularly on wages and repatriation; and calls upon the Government to contact the Italian Registry to ensure the seafarers on the Sunflower E are paid and supported in travelling home to their families, in compliance with the MLC and for the rights of abandoned seafarers to be afforded greater priority in domestic and international shipping policy.
178 SITUATION IN BURUNDI 23:6:15
20That this House expresses deep concern about the human rights, security and political situation in Burundi, and in particular about the political repression carried out by authorities against political opponents, and the situation of nearly 100,000 refugees driven away from their country by fear; expresses alarm that this security and political situation does not offer conditions conducive to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections for the legislative polls planned for 29 June, but bears the risk of mass killings and armed conflict; acknowledges and welcomes efforts carried out by the international community, including those by the African Union, the East African Community and the United Nations; further welcomes the recommendations made by the African Union Peace and Security Council on 13 June, in urging Burundi stakeholders to resume their political dialogue and to agree on new dates for the upcoming elections; further welcomes the conclusions adopted by the European Council on 22 June to support recommendations of the African Union; deeply regrets the decision expressed by Burundi's ruling party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) not to take part in the political dialogue planned to be resumed under the aegis of international organisations; asks the UK Government to intensify its pressure on the Burundi government to press its members to participate in political dialogue and to postpone the upcoming elections as a matter of urgency; and in particular urges the UK Government to push the EU Council to start negotiations under article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement immediately.
179 LOCAL NEWSPAPERS IN SOUTH LONDON 24:6:15
13That this House believes that local newspapers play a crucial role in enhancing local democracy, such as by reporting on council meetings, holding local decision-makers to account and providing a forum for local issues; recognises that many local journalists are paid below the London Living Wage, despite the valuable work they do; is therefore concerned that Newsquest South London, a large regional publisher, is planning to cut the number of journalists and impose redundancies at local newspapers in South London, including the Croydon Guardian, Sutton Guardian, Wimbledon Guardian, Wandsworth Guardian, Epsom Guardian, Surrey Comet, Elmbridge Comet and Richmond and Twickenham Times; notes that Newsquest has made large profits in recent years; is further concerned about the impact that these job losses could have on the quality of local journalism; regrets that many local journalists have decided to go on strike over the last fortnight; and calls on Newsquest to review urgently its plans for job losses in South London.
180 DAY OF THE SEAFARER 2015 24:6:15
24That this House supports the International Maritime Organisation's Day of the Seafarer on 25 June 2015; notes that 1.5 million merchant seafarers move 90 per cent of the world's traded goods every year in an exceptionally hazardous and unevenly regulated industry; is concerned that there is a global shortage of seafarers ahead of a forecast doubling in sea trade over the next 20 years; further notes that UK seafarers account for only 1.5 per cent, or just under 23,000, of the international workforce, the result of a 60 per cent fall since 1982; further notes that the welcome quadrupling in the number of ships registered under the UK flag resulting from the introduction of the tonnage tax in 2000-01 has accrued a £1.6 billion tax concession for the international shipping industry; further notes that over 2,300 of the 7,500 vessels inspected by the International Workers Federation across the world in 2013-14 breached provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, particularly on the payment of wages; and calls on the Government to support Day of the Seafarer by committing to pursue domestic and international policies that further improve employment, safety and equality rights of UK and international seafarers.
181 DALAI LAMA'S 80TH BIRTHDAY 24:6:15
17That this House congratulates Tibet's exiled spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, on his 80th birthday on 6 July 2015; recognises him as a global icon of peace and compassion; commends his work promoting mindfulness and non-violence; and encourages the Chinese government to enter into immediate and meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives to find a peaceful solution to the grievances of the Tibetan people which will allow the Dalai Lama to return to his homeland.
182 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS WITHIN SECC LTD 24:6:15
17That this House is dismayed by the actions of Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) Ltd, a company in which Glasgow City Council is the 91 per cent shareholder, regarding its regular failure to recognise a trade union for its staff for collective bargaining rights which has been exacerbated by the recent dismissal of a Unison health and safety representative following an unwitnessed incident and a recent refusal by the management of SECC to establish a health and safety committee; welcomes the recent announcement that trade union literature may be displayed on staff noticeboards; but nonetheless calls on SECC Ltd to grant Unison full trade union recognition and to re-instate the employee recently dismissed.
183 MEASUREMENT OF CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY AND FITNESS LEVELS 24:6:15
11That this House recognises that formal measurement of children's activity and fitness levels is required to put in place effective solutions to stop the rise of the least active generation in history; accepts the varied benefits to be had by ingraining an appreciation for physical activity in even the most disengaged youngsters; acknowledges that half of seven year olds fail to meet the target of 60 minutes of daily physical activity recommended in the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines for children; further recognises that drop-off rates in activity accelerate as children enter their teenage years; notes the findings of ukactive's Generation Inactive report highlighting the disparity that exists in requiring teachers to understand children's academic abilities but not their basic fitness levels; and calls on the Government to extend the National Child Measurement Programme to also measure fitness to support local public health initiatives and better inform the local planning and delivery of services for children.
185 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 24:6:15
15That this House congratulates Auchinleck Talbot on its most recent Scottish Cup victory at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, defeating Musselburgh 2-1; notes that the tournament was sponsored by Dyslexia Scotland and it is hoped that this sponsorship has raised awareness of this condition; further notes that this was Auchinleck's 11th Scottish Cup success, a wonderful achievement making it the most successful junior football team; and observes that for a village of 3,500 to produce so many successful teams is remarkable.
186 CHILD MAINTENANCE SERVICE CHARGES 24:6:15
20That this House is greatly concerned at the impact that charging for the use of the Child Maintenance Scheme (CMS) is having on families and children; believes that these charges in effect constitute a tax on children in contradiction to the Government's professed child-friendly stance; notes that charities such as Gingerbread have warned that this increases the potential for conflict between parents, which can only negatively impact on the child; recognises that most single parents struggle financially; is deeply concerned that many poor families may be deterred from applying for child maintenance as a result of this policy and therefore remain in poverty; and calls on the Government urgently to bring forward its review of the CMS in light of these grave concerns.
187 RAIF BADAWI 24:6:15
50That this House recognises the unjust arrest and imprisonment of Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia in May 2014 for championing free speech and freedom of expression; is concerned that he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, 1,000 lashes, a fine of one million Saudi Riyal - over a quarter of a million US dollars - and prevented from using any kind of media and banned from travelling until 2034; applauds Amnesty International's global campaign to secure the release of Mr Badawi; is aware that Mr Badawi is now suffering from ill health which has worsened since the first lashes of his sentence were administered and believes he may not survive further physical punishment; is further concerned that the United Nations Human Rights Council has expressed concern at the treatment of peaceful dissidents and human rights activists in Saudi Arabia; and calls on the Government to use its influence to secure Mr Badawi's release from imprisonment as soon as possible.
188 INTERNATIONAL DRUGS POLICY AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE 24:6:15
13That this House welcomes the third global day of action for the Support Don't Punish campaign, to highlight the harms caused by the war on drugs; further welcomes the international day in support of victims of torture; notes that both events take place on 26 June 2015 and that both issues are interlinked; expresses concern that Government funding is being channelled into aggressive anti-narcotics programmes overseas which lead to violations of international human rights law, including torture and use of the death penalty for drugs offences; further notes that the threat posed by drugs and the drugs trade can be used by governments to attempt to justify grievous abuses of human rights; further notes that punitive approaches towards drug users, particularly compulsory treatment programmes, sometimes amount to degrading treatment and torture; and calls on the Government to ensure that its funding for anti-narcotics programmes overseas does not contribute to human rights abuses such as torture being committed, that at least 10 per cent of its budget for anti-narcotics programmes should be re-directed towards harm reduction, and that it continues to play a positive role in the run-up to and during the 2016 UN General Assembly special session on drugs.
189 NATIONAL COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT SERVICE 24:6:15
18That this House applauds the work done by staff in the National Compliance Enforcement Service (NCES) who brought in £518 million in fines, penalties and confiscation orders during 2013-14 and have continued to improve collection rates despite cuts to staff and resources; recognises the value of sharing data held on defaulters by other Government departments, such as HM Revenue and Customs, in improving collection rates; commends the joint work NCES staff do with the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in ensuring effective and just enforcement; believes that the on-going threat of privatisation, under the auspices of the Compliance and Enforcement Service Project, should be immediately removed to ensure that this good work can continue; and calls on the Government to listen to the concerns of staff working within the NCES to make certain that this vital part of the justice service is not put in the hands of a private company who will put profit before justice.
190 SCHOOL STUDENTS LEGALLY RESIDENT IN THE UK AND ACCESS TO STUDENT LOANS 24:6:15
6That this House notes that, as a result of 2011 changes to the Government Student Loans Scheme, there are thousands of lawfully resident and British educated students who are no longer eligible for student loans; further notes that this is because such students do not have full citizenship; further notes that very often, because such students are legally resident, they do not realise there is a problem until they apply for student finance; believes that it is wrong for lawfully resident British students to be denied university education in this way; and calls on the Government to revise these student finance restrictions so that all lawfully resident persons are entitled to student finance.
191 INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT GUNSTONES BAKERY 24:6:15
18That this House notes that management at Gunstones Bakery, near Sheffield, having recently made over 400 redundancies, is now trying to impose a pay freeze on the remaining workforce; further notes that the Chief Executive of the parent company, 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan, and his wife, are estimated by the Asian Rich List to enjoy a personal fortune totalling £1.35 billion; deplores the exploitative business model that has seen attacks on jobs, pay and conditions across the 2 Sisters Group; highlights the goodwill previously shown by Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) officials and members in offering to suspend pay negotiations whilst the redundancy process was conducted; believes that the company management is now being unreasonable in insisting that any increase in pay would need to be financed via reductions in existing terms and conditions of BFAWU members; recognises that BFAWU members have been obliged to take industrial action to protect their pay and conditions; and calls on their employers to enter into meaningful negotiations to resolve the dispute.
192 WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES 25:6:15
18That this House notes that a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses was included in the manifestos of the Conservative, Labour and Green parties at the recent general election, showing the unified support across the House on this animal protection issue; recalls that 94 per cent of respondents to a Defra public consultation supported a ban and the House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of such a ban in 2011; further notes that currently two circuses with fewer than 20 wild animals are touring England and Wales; notes that a deadline of December 2015 was included in the Government's draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill; notes that the UK has fallen behind 31 countries which have introduced similar national measures; notes the work of Animal Defenders International highlighting circus suffering in the UK and currently assisting the Peruvian government to enforce a ban; and calls on the Government to bring forward this manifesto commitment at the earliest opportunity
193 NATIONAL GALLERY INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE 25:6:15
13That this House commends the knowledge, experience and dedication of the visitor and security services staff at the National Gallery; does not support the Gallery's decision to use a private company to manage services that include ticketing, security and information; deplores the victimisation of Public and Commercial Services Union representative Candy Udwin; notes that an Employment Tribunal found at an interim relief hearing that a full tribunal was likely to find that she was dismissed for legitimate union activities and that the tribunal made a continuation of employment order to restore her to the payroll; urges the National Gallery to comply with that order; believes that visitor and security services should remain in-house at the Gallery to ensure that world-famous art can be viewed and enjoyed by the public in an educational environment; and calls on the Government to ensure the funding is in place so that valuable skills and knowledge of the current staff of the Gallery is not lost.
194 PROPOSED CLOSURE OF NATWEST HOOLE BRANCH 29:6:15
1That this House expresses deep concern at the announcement by NatWest Bank that it proposes to close the Hoole branch in Chester as part of a group restructure; further expresses concern at the impact of such a development on independent local businesses and domestic customers; notes the impact this will have on those employees who face job losses; and urges NatWest to hold an urgent review of this decision in order to hear the needs of the local community prior to making a decision.
195 HIGH SPEED 2 AND THE MAJOR PROJECTS AUTHORITY REPORT 29:6:15
1That this House welcomes the delayed publication of the Major Projects Authority 2015 Annual Report on the costs of High Speed 2; notes the Department of Transport's conclusion as reported in a 2012 Project Assessment Review by the Cabinet Office, that the costs of this project are so large, and over such a long period, that it will not be able to afford it alongside all its other commitments; recalls the previously leaked assessment that High Speed 2 costs would rise to £138 billion, more than twice the publicly-stated estimate of £50 billion; considers that the likely costs of High Speed 2 if ever built would be so high as to require substantial subsidies and high fares for the long-term future; and therefore urges the Government to cancel the project forthwith, releasing funding for more useful and economically viable investment projects across the railway industry.
196 ALTERNATIVES TO HIGH SPEED 2 (No. 1) 29:6:15
1That this House believes that there is a range of sensible alternatives to High Speed 2 for railway investment which would bring great benefit to the travelling public, to rail freight capacity, to the nations and regions of the UK and to the economy as a whole; urges the Government to give serious consideration to the specific alternative of electrifying and upgrading the Birmingham Snow Hill to London line, linking it to Crossrail at its southern end, thus providing fast and direct passenger services between the business centre of Birmingham, the City of London and Canary Wharf, and Heathrow Airport; and notes that this upgraded route could be linked easily to the West Coast Main Line providing for direct services from the North to Crossrail and linking Birmingham and Heathrow Airport with a fast shuttle service.
197 ALTERNATIVES TO HIGH SPEED 2 (No. 2) 29:6:15
1That this House believes there are sensible alternatives to High Speed 2 which would provide greatly improved railway services between Scotland and England and would have considerable advantages over High Speed 2 at a fraction of the projected High Speed 2 costs; suggests that practical modifications to the East Coast Main Line could provide for fast non-stop passenger services between London and Edinburgh in the same journey time as that claimed for High Speed 2; notes that this was demonstrated in a test run from King's Cross to Edinburgh, with a two minute stop at Newcastle, in 1990; further suggests that additional practical improvements to the West Coast Main Line would provide for faster and more frequent passenger services between Glasgow and London; and urges the UK and Scottish Governments to consider the next steps in making these rail investments in the near future.
198 ALTERNATIVES TO HIGH SPEED 2 (No. 3) 29:6:15
2That this House believes that, further to sensible alternative passenger rail investments to High Speed 2, investment in new dedicated rail freight capacity should also be considered as a matter of urgency; urges the UK and Scottish Governments to assess the practical case for the GB Freight Route scheme, the proposal to build a freight line from the Channel Tunnel to Glasgow linking all the major regions of Britain to each other and the continent of Europe and Asia beyond; notes that the GB Freight Route would be built to a loading gauge capable of carrying full-scale lorry trailers on trains, not possible on Britain's existing rail routes beyond the Channel Tunnel rail link; and further notes that the proposed route could take some five million lorry journeys off Britain's roads each year as well as rail freight traffic from existing rail routes, freeing them up for more and faster passenger services, and would be built on old, track bed and underutilised lines so minimising construction costs and environmental impact.
199 GREECE AND THE EURO ZONE 29:6:15
3That this House considers that the current crisis engulfing Greece and the Eurozone has demonstrated beyond argument that the single currency project is fundamentally flawed and that modern national economies need their own currencies capable of flexing their international values as vital instruments of macroeconomic policy together with domestic interest rates adjustable to national economic needs; believes that the UK's decision not to join the Euro showed great wisdom and foresight; and, in the event of Greece leaving the Eurozone, would urge the Government to extend the hand of friendship to Greece and the Greek people in their new circumstance as a fellow independent and democratic European nation.
200 MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES 29:6:15
15That this House notes that mental health challenges affect one in four people every year, and it is now essential that through the ambition to achieve parity of esteem that services are properly resourced financially and with trained professionals so that they can be accessed at the earliest opportunity, including services which concentrate on prevention, resilience and wellbeing, as well as services which focus on rehabilitation, with clear objectives set for accessing talking therapies within 28 days and immediate access to emergency care services at the appropriate health setting close to home; and believes that with good public education, stigma and discrimination is replaced with understanding and support.
201 REDUCTION OF THE TURTLE DOVE POPULATION 29:6:15
3That this House expresses concern over the slow rate at which action to tackle the turtle dove depopulation is being resolved; notes that the RSPB has claimed that extinction is a real possibility; supports the efforts of organisations such as Operation Turtle Dove in the research of depopulation; and further supports the conservation programme Fair to Nature which sells conservation accredited food, ensuring farmland is dedicated towards creating natural habitats and food for wildlife such as the turtle dove.
202 EXTINCTION OF TREE KANGEROOS 29:6:15
3That this House recognises and expresses concern over the 14 tree kangaroo species that could soon become extinct due to their endangered status; is concerned with the illegal deforestation and hunting in provinces within Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia that has a detrimental impact on the population of tree kangaroos and other species; supports the Forest Stewardship Council encouraging the public to use only certified wood products and influencing consumer attitudes regarding sustainability standards; and further supports programmes such as Traffic to encourage the Australian, Papua and Indonesian governments to enforce and implement their laws and policies concerning hunting, protecting wildlife areas and deforestation, and its Tree Kangaroo conservation programmes in New Guinea that are engaging the public in protecting the species.
203 TRANSPARENCY IN GREYHOUND RACING 29:6:15
3That this House is concerned over the transparency of greyhound racing welfare records; notes that an estimated 4,000 greyhounds still suffer serious injuries annually through racing; recognises the importance of the upcoming review and assessment of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and calls for greyhounds' injury statistics to be made available to the public for named tracks and also for the complete disclosure of the dog's rehoming after retirement and injuries.
204 REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF RED SQUIRRELS 29:6:15
3That this House is concerned at the decrease in the number of red squirrels over the last 50 years, despite attempts to promote and safeguard the species; supports wildlife organisations that have conservation programmes directed at protecting and sustaining the animals; and encourages local communities to keep a data record of red and grey squirrels sited in order for a map to be made identifying potential areas for action.
205 SPORTS LEADERS' ORGANISATION SCHEMES ACROSS BASSETLAW 29:6:15
2That this House supports the implementation of the Sports Leaders Organisation Scheme in secondary schools across Bassetlaw; recognises the prestige of the qualification and its development of various skills such as motivation and organisation; and requests that each school has the funding to operate the programme from level one up to level three.
206 CAR PARKING ON PAVEMENTS 29:6:15
10That this House supports the campaign by Guide Dogs for the Blind and others to stop cars parking on pavements; considers that parking on pavements is a hindrance to many pedestrians, particularly those with wheelchairs or pushchairs, as well as being of great danger to those who are blind or visually impaired, because of the training of guide dogs, who are trained to lead their owners into open spaces like a carriageway, rather than narrow space between wall and vehicle; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals for powers to legislate for this to be given to the devolved governments and local authorities, while noting that increased awareness of the issue could improve the situation, which is often caused by lack of consideration for vulnerable pedestrians.
207 SUPPORT FOR TAX CREDITS 29:6:15
3That this House supports the current tax credits system as a way to combat poverty and help families as a means of topping up their income and assisting with childcare payments; and opposes any proposal to reduce the family element that would result in lower awards for claimants.
208 SHOTTS TOWN STATUS 29:6:15
8That this House welcomes the efforts of community activists in Shotts, North Lanarkshire in their campaign to see Shotts recognised as a town, rather than a collection of villages, by North Lanarkshire Council; acknowledges a petition nearly 1,000 signatures from local residents demanding the change; recognises that town status would allow community groups, businesses and the local authority to potentially lever new money to regenerate the town centre; and calls on North Lanarkshire Council to process the formalities as soon as possible so that Shotts can take its rightful place as a Scottish town.
209 SUGAR FILM 29:6:15
1That this House commends the makers of The Sugar Film with Damon Gameau, which raises awareness of the alarming levels of sugar in ordinary food and drink products; notes that for 60 days the film-maker consumed foods perceived to be healthy, which actually consisted of around 40 teaspoons of sugar a day; believes that public awareness of the nutritional content in food and drink is an important step in promoting balanced and healthy diets; and further notes that products high in sugar and fat content have contributed to record child obesity, rotten teeth and diabetes levels.
210 RELEASE OF FORMER PRESIDENT NASHEED OF THE MALDIVES 29:6:15
2That this House recognises the arbitrary and unjust arrest and imprisonment of former President Nasheed of the Maldives, a great friend of the UK in an important Commonwealth country; supports the Prime Minister's call on 24 June 2015 that President Nasheed be swiftly released from detention, along with all other political prisoners in the Maldives; calls on current Maldives President Abdulla Yameen to use his powers of clemency to free President Nasheed; and urges the Government to use its influence to ensure President Nasheed is released and fully able to return to public life, including being able to freely contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
211 PARKHEAD HOUSING ASSOCIATION 29:6:15
21That this House congratulates Parkhead Housing Association on their fantastic achievement in being named Best (Small) Housing Association in Scotland 2015; and recognises the significant impact they have had in the local community and for their tenants.