Session 2015-16
House of Commons
1srt July 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
163 UN PUBLIC SERVICE DAY 22:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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.
167 MALARIA RESEARCH AT DUNDEE UNIVERSITY 22:6:15
That 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.
170 ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DETENTION OF ANDARGACHEW TSIGE 23:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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.
174 KINGHORN LIFEBOAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY 23:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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.
180 DAY OF THE SEAFARER 2015 24:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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.
184 RETIREMENT OF PAUL WELLENS 24:6:15
That this House acknowledges the retirement of Great Britain, England, Lancashire and St Helens full-back Paul Wellens; notes that his retirement comes early due to injury; congratulates him on a professional career spanning 20 seasons, comprising 495 appearances for Saints RFC, 31 caps for England and Great Britain and four representative games for Lancashire; salutes his 1,027 total points scored in that time; recalls the integral part he played in the award-winning St Helens side; considers him to be one of the most outstanding defenders in rugby league, justifying awards such as the Lance Todd Trophy, the Harry Sunderland Trophy, the Man of Steel Award and many other personal accolades; and wishes him and his family well in retirement from rugby league and for the next stage in his career.
185 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 24:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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.
190 SCHOOL STUDENTS LEGALLY RESIDENT IN THE UK AND ACCESS TO STUDENT LOANS 24:6:15
That 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.
192 WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES 25:6:15
That 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
That 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.
199 GREECE AND THE EURO ZONE 29:6:15
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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
That 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.
212 FRIENDS OF QUEEN MARGARET DRIVE AND G20 HERITAGE EXHIBITION IN GLASGOW 30:6:15
That this House welcomes the launch of the Friends of Queen Margaret Drive group in Glasgow, which has been marked by an exhibition in the city's Kibble Palace, exploring the heritage of the G20 postcode area and local Conservation Area; notes that over 20,000 people have visited the exhibition and 3,000 people attended a special street festival in the Drive on 21 June 2015; thanks the many local residents and business owners who have supported the initiative, including artist Andy Scott who loaned a model of his Kelpies sculpture to front the exhibition; further notes the many plans the Friends group has for redevelopment of the Drive to make it a welcoming, accessible and thriving area of north and west Glasgow; and wishes the group well in its work with Glasgow City Council and other funding bodies in seeking support to realise their vision for the area.
213 RETAINING AS/A-LEVEL MODERN GREEK 30:6:15
That this House believes that Edexcel's initial decision to discontinue the GCSE, AS and A-level Modern Greek examinations from 2017 is deeply regrettable; recognises that the Greek language is one of the official languages of the EU, spoken in two member states, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, and that the policy of the EU on languages is to support language learning and linguistic diversity; notes that it states that the Greek language has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records, and forms the basis for a number of modern languages and therefore holds an important place in the history and indeed the future of Europe; further believes that, given this context and the fact there are significant numbers of people of Greek origin living across the UK, the GCSE, AS and A-level Modern Greek qualifications should be retained; and calls on the Government to take steps to ensure exam boards do offer AS and A-level Modern Greek.
214 DUTY EXEMPTION FOR SMALL-SCALE CIDER PRODUCERS 30:6:15
That this House recognises and values the social and economic contribution of small-scale cider producers, which comprise some 80 per cent of Britain's individual cider makers, believing that they are integral to a great British tradition, supporting a lively pub culture and tourism sector; is concerned that small cider producers are threatened by the European Commission's demand to remove their historic exemption from excise duty, thereby exposing them to a punitive and potentially damaging tax; considers that this action could drive many producers out of business and undermine one of the nation's most historic industries; and therefore urges the Government to reject the European Commission's request and maintain the current position.
215 BUSINESS RATES REVALUATION 30:6:15
That this House notes that present business rates are based on valuations carried out in 2008, prior to the world financial crash and ensuing recessions; is concerned that the revaluation postponement in 2013 severed the link to rental values, which would otherwise have seen business rates fall in many parts of the country; is further concerned that businesses are, and have been, paying top of the market rates in a depressed climate and will have to do so for a further two years; further notes that this has been felt most by struggling small and medium-sized enterprises, businesses and traders located in town centres, particularly outside London and the South East, the area which has been the biggest beneficiary of the postponed revaluation; calls on the Government to address this problem urgently, and to help small businesses and towns by creating a more conducive environment in which smaller businesses and town centres can grow and thrive; and further calls on the Government to bring forward the date at which business rates will be revaluated and introduced, and to commit through its review to ensure that there is a fair mechanism that enables companies to generate jobs and create wealth and growth in communities.
216 CAR MANUFACTURERS 30:6:15
That this House notes the consistent criticism that has been levied against car manufacturers for a number of years, whereby new cars are given miles per gallon (mpg) performances almost all of which are more than 20 per cent in excess of genuine real-time car usage, so that a vehicle which is, in strictly controlled tests, capable of 50 mpg is only able to achieve less than 40 mpg by those buying and using the vehicle; and calls on the motor trade industry to implement a realistic driving assessment so that the general car-buying public knows when it sees a mpg figure that it is genuine, realistic and achievable.
217 BATTLE OF WATERLOO 30:6:15
That this House remembers the Battle of Waterloo two centuries ago this month; honours the 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers who were the antecedents of today's Royal Irish Regiment and who fought so bravely to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo; pays homage in particular to the Duke of Wellington, a native of Ireland as it was then; and reaffirms its pledge never to forget those who fell so gallantly for freedom and democracy and who paved the way for the UK's tremendous armed forces of today.
218 QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST 30:6:15
That this House expresses its most sincere congratulations to Queen's University Belfast for its excellent and ongoing research which has resulted in the development of new drugs to help fight cancer; and acknowledges the importance of such research and development undertaken by Queen's University Belfast and other institutions throughout the UK and across the world.
219 SCHOOL WORSHIP 30:6:15
That this House acknowledges the importance of daily worship in schools; expresses concern that some are calling for an end to daily worship; and reaffirms the position that currently exists which teaches children the importance of acknowledging God.
220 SEND MY FRIEND TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN 30:6:15
That this House recognises the importance of education around the world; notes that 58 million children around the world are unable to access their right to education; further recognises that over half of the children who do not go to school are girls; and welcomes the Send My Friend to School campaign for raising awareness of these issues with young people in the UK and encouraging young people to remind world leaders of their promise that all children should get the chance to go to school.
221 TOLL EXEMPTION FOR THE SILVER JUBILEE BRIDGE AND MERSEY GATEWAY BRIDGE 30:6:15
That this House notes the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 23 April 2015 to exempt residents in Warrington, Cheshire West and Chester from paying a toll to cross the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the Mersey Gateway Bridge when it is opened in 2017; calls on the Chancellor to also exclude the people of Merseyside from toll charges for crossing the bridges, given that many people in Merseyside live as close to the crossings as do residents in Warrington, Cheshire West and Chester; further notes that the local authority areas of Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens all border the Borough of Halton; and calls on the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Transport to open discussions with the Liverpool City Region councils to agree a toll exemption scheme for local residents funded by the Government.
222 SEND MY FRIEND TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN (NO 2) 30:6:15
That this House applauds the work of the Send My Friend to School campaign, which has brought together thousands of school children across the UK to speak up for the right to education and to remind world leaders of their promise that all children should get the chance to go to school; notes that this promise has not been fulfilled with 58 million children missing out on a primary education; urges governments to address this failing as part of the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals; and commends the excellent work around this campaign by Whittaker Moss and St Vincent's RC primary schools in Norden, Rochdale.
223 CALLING TIME ON NUISANCE CALLS 30:6:15
That this House recognises that too many members of the public are bombarded with nuisance calls and texts which is a huge issue of concern; is aware that the Which? campaign, Calling Time on Nuisance Calls and Texts, found that eight in 10 people said that cold calls were an annoying interruption to their daily lives and one third saying they have felt intimidated by them, with more than half of people (56 per cent) saying that they had been discouraged from picking up their landline telephone when it rings owing to cold calls; recalls that following this campaign the Government published its Action Plan to tackle the issue and a subsequent Which?-led taskforce was established; supports the series of recommendations this taskforce set out for the Government, regulators and businesses, including introducing legislation to make senior executives more responsible for the actions of their company; calls on the Government to introduce mandatory caller line identification for all marketing calls to enable consumers to more easily report an unwanted caller or to contact the company and request to be removed from their database; and further calls on the Government to look at whether the rules around how our data is collected, used and traded needs to be tightened so that the right balance can be struck between enabling decent businesses to carry out direct marketing activity where consumers have given their consent for their personal data to be used, and preventing the abuse of their privacy by unscrupulous businesses.
224 SUCCESS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS 30:6:15
That this House congratulates the University of St Andrews on its continued success in higher education league tables; notes that St Andrews was recently ranked first in Scotland and third in the UK for a second year in a row by The Guardian University Guide; further notes it was ranked first in Scotland and fifth in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2016 and 45th in the prestigious 2015 Leiden Ranking of world universities; and praises the hard work of its staff and students in contributing to this success; and wishes recent graduates well in their future careers.
225 ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY IN FASHION 30:6:15
That this House notes the health and safety progress made since the Rana Plaza disaster two years ago; commends the signatories of the Bangladesh Accord for their commitment to improving health and safety standards in Bangladesh; calls on business to deliver health and safety in corporate social responsibility, improve reporting and increase transparency in supply chain management; further notes the efforts of Fashion Revolution in asking people to think about the working conditions of those producing their clothes and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health for highlighting the essential role of good health and safety management; and further calls on businesses and the Government to continue to work with the fashion industry, health and safety professionals and the Bangladeshi authorities to improve conditions for all workers in the garment industry.
226 ACCESS TO VIMIZIM 30:6:15
That this House is concerned that it has been 14 months since the treatment Vimizim was licensed by the European Medicines Agency in April 2014; notes this was a treatment for which the UK led the clinical trial, with the first person in the world receiving the drug being a child in Birmingham; expresses strong concern that no decision has been made on reimbursement following months of process failures; further notes that this is despite the treatment now being available in Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation, Turkey, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Canada and United States; is further concerned at this delay given numerous assurances that continuity of drug will occur to those on the clinical trial; expresses urgent concern that, following a lack of engagement and failed process, compassionate free drug provided by the pharmaceutical company will cease by July 2015; believes it is unacceptable that children and young adults are being repeatedly let down and suffering the consequences of bureaucracy; urgently calls on NHS England to provide interim funding for those with ultra-rare progressive conditions who do not have the luxury of time and not immediate access to this licensed life changing treatment.
227 INTERNATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE MATCH BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE 30:6:15
That this House welcomes news of the international rugby league game between Ukraine and Russia taking place on 4 July 2015 in Serbia; is grateful to the Serbian Rugby League Foundation for hosting the game; believes sport is above national differences; looks forward to the day when the two countries can play one another once more in their home countries; considers those involved as displaying values typical of rugby league's long and proud tradition of binding communities and nations together; congratulates all involved for going ahead with the game despite circumstances; and wishes both teams and hosts well in the game.
228 SMA' SHOT DAY CELEBRATIONS 30:6:15
That this House welcomes the annual SMA' shot day celebrations in Paisley on 4 July 2015; recognises that SMA' shot day is one of the oldest workers' festivals in the world, celebrating Paisley's weavers in an industrial dispute of the 19th century; and congratulates all those who take part in this annual event.
229 INDEPENDENT PRESS STANDARDS ORGANISATION INVESTIGATION INTO AN ARTICLE IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH REGARDING FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND AND THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR 30:6:15
That this House welcomes the investigation by the Independent Press Standards Organisation into the inaccurate Daily Telegraph story published in early April 2015 about the memorandum, leaked with the authority of the then Secretary of State for Scotland, regarding a meeting between Scotland's First Minister and the French Ambassador; looks forward to the conclusion of this inquiry; deplores the spurious reasons given by the Scotland Office for not disclosing under Freedom of Information legislation who in the UK Government this memorandum was sent to and in particular the claims by the Scotland Office that to do so would harm relations between the UK and France and damage the physical and mental health of civil servants; and urges the Scotland Office to be open about which Ministers the memorandum was sent to and stop covering this information up.
230 HATFIELD COLLIERY CLOSURE 1:7:15
That this House notes with dismay that, despite the Herculean efforts of the work force, its representatives and others to keep open Hatfield Colliery in South Yorkshire, a decision has been made to cease production at the pit with immediate effect; recalls that the trades union concerned together with many hon. Members have openly and long campaigned for the Government to recognise the needs of the area, industry and the UK energy supply sector, pointing out that in contrast to what little efforts have been made to support UK coal production, the EU Commission has stated repeatedly that monies were available to invest to maintain the pit, providing that the Government would support an application for aid; and calls on the Government immediately to become involved in sorting out the mess its inaction has caused and to invest whatever it takes to help miners and their families recover from the negative effects of closure.
231 GLASGOW UNIVERSITY'S CHARLES KENNEDY MEMORIAL FUND 1:7:15
That this House welcomes the launch of a Memorial Fund by Glasgow University in honour of the late Rt hon. Charles Kennedy MP; recalls the enduring connection Charles Kennedy had with the university as a student, President of the University Union, recipient of an honorary doctorate and latterly as Rector from 2008 to 2014; notes that funds raised will support the naming of a state-of-the-art lecture theatre within a new Learning and Teaching Hub as part of the university's expansion on to the Western Infirmary site close to the current Gilmorehill campus; and shares the university's belief that this permanent memorial in a student-centred project is both a fitting and timely way to commemorate Charles Kennedy's remarkable contribution to the university, and his impact on politics and public life in Scotland and the UK as a whole.
232 CLYDE & HEBRIDES FERRY SERVICES 1:7:15
That this House notes the current dispute between RMT members and Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) over concerns about future operations of services and employment terms and conditions linked to the tendering process of Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) currently operated by Calmac; further notes that these services were first put out to tender in 2005 by the then Scottish Executive and that repeated attempts by the Government since then to exempt ferry services from the tendering process have been unsuccessful; supports Calmac workers for the work and services that they provide and calls for their concerns to be addressed; further notes that the private sector corporation, Serco is bidding for the CHFS contract; and believes that the interests of islanders, tourism and the Scottish economy would be best served by these vital lifeline ferry services continuing to be operated under a publicly owned operator.
233 MONIAIVE CREATIVE PLACE AWARD 1:7:15
That this House congratulates the small village of Moniaive in Dumfries and Galloway on receipt of its recent award of £50,000 as a Creative Place, recognised by Creative Scotland; notes that Moniaive is a village full of artists, writers and musicians and has more festivals per capita than anywhere else in Scotland; and further congratulates the Moniaive Festival Village, which is a collaboration of all groups in the village, for their tireless work undertaken in pursuing and winning this prestigious award.
234 MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN THE WORKPLACE 1:7:15
That this House commends the Women's Tennis Association for introducing regular heat breaks for competitors at Wimbledon once the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius; is surprised that similar provisions are not also in place for male competitors; regrets that workers in the UK have no guaranteed legal safeguards from working in uncomfortably high temperatures, owing to the lack of a statutory maximum temperature at which employers would have to introduce control measures, such as breaks, access to water or air conditioning; appreciates that excessive heat in the workplace is responsible for heat stress and thermal discomfort, and can impact seriously on health, well-being and productivity; recognises that this is not just the case for highly paid tennis stars, but is a matter of concern for workers in a wide range of workplaces including offices, schools, shops, bakeries, vehicles, trains, call-centres, theatres and construction sites; and calls on the Government to adopt the recommendations of the TUC and joint union Cool It! campaign to introduce into law a maximum working temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (or 27 degrees Celsius for those doing strenuous work), beyond which employers would have a statutory duty to introduce effective control measures.
235 HATFIELD COLLIERY CLOSURE (NO. 2) 1:7:15
That this House is disappointed and deeply saddened by the announcement that employee-owned Hatfield Colliery has ceased production following a refusal by the Government to provide the required financial assistance; deeply regrets the imminent loss of the jobs of 428 miners and support staff, the impact this will have on the supply chain and the wider community; and urges the Government immediately to intervene, providing additional funding to secure the future of deep mining at the colliery.