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Declares that the loss of life, denial of human rights, and restricted access of the United Nations and other relief agencies in Sri Lanka are unacceptable; and further declares that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians have been displaced by military action and face an uncertain future.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
8.31 pm
Mr. Lee Scott (Ilford, North) (Con): I wish to present a petition on behalf of 1,105 residents of Ilford, North.
The Petition of residents of Ilford North and others,
Declares great concern at the present appalling humanitarian tragedy unfolding in the north of Sri Lanka; notes that this conflict has killed at least 70,000 people and condemns the loss of every innocent life; and strongly believes that both sides must abide by their obligations under international law and protect the lives of civilians.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take action to help bring about an immediate ceasefire that is recognised by both sides; to help ensure that the UN aid agencies and NGOs are granted free access to the region; to take action to suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth if the Sri Lankan Government does not agree to a ceasefire; and to work towards a long term solution that takes into account the reasonable concerns of all communities in a political process that leads to lasting peace.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Immigration (Asylum Seekers)
8.33 pm
John Battle (Leeds, West) (Lab): I am presenting a petition that calls on Parliament to ensure that asylum seekers in the UK receive fair and compassionate treatment. It has been drawn up and collected by the Vincentian Millennium Partnership, which is probably better known as SVP—the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It is supported by more than 11,000 people throughout the length and breadth of Britain. It details a number of difficulties that we all know are faced by asylum seekers coming into the UK, including their being prevented from seeking work, levels of poverty and long periods of detention, all of which make their everyday lives extremely difficult.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure that those entering our country seeking asylum are treated in a just and compassionate manner which honours the long-standing British tradition of treating newcomers to these islands with welcome, respect and fairness; and further urges the Secretary of State to seek to enshrine in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill the rights of asylum seekers to adequate housing, ESOL (English as a Secondary Language) Classes, Criminal Records Bureau checks, earn a wage and contribute to taxes, engage in voluntary work, integrate into local communities, and become valued citizens of the UK.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of the Vincentian Millennium Partnership,
Declares that to be an asylum seeker in 2009 in the United Kingdom can entail any or a variety of the following experiences—detention (often for years), poor housing, isolation, being moved at short notice from communities where the person has been integrated for several years with the resulting severance from their regular sources of spiritual, emotional and medical support, being denied a choice of shops through a poverty level voucher scheme which amounts to £35 per week and, most importantly, being prevented from working or from engaging in voluntary work which often leads to depression and a lack of self worth; further declares that refusal by the asylum seeker to comply with the ‘system’ often leads to destitution and that the only alternative may be criminal activity or prostitution; notes that being an asylum seeker often means being made a scapegoat, especially by the tabloid press which often uses a case of wrong doing by one asylum seeker to demonise them all; further notes that stories about asylum seekers being given priority for high quality housing in preference to local people are blatantly untrue but become part of the myths surrounding them; and believes that to be an asylum seeker in the United Kingdom today is to live on the edge of starvation as a cruel warning to others not to come to the United Kingdom.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure that those entering our country seeking asylum are treated in a just and compassionate manner which honours the long-standing British tradition of treating newcomers to these islands with welcome, respect and fairness; and further urges the Secretary of State to seek to enshrine in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill the rights of asylum seekers to adequate housing, ESOL (English as a Secondary Language)
Classes, Criminal Records Bureau checks, earn a wage and contribute to taxes, engage in voluntary work, integrate into local communities, and become valued citizens of the UK.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
Post Office Closures (Cumbria)
8.34 pm
Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD): I seek to present a petition on behalf of residents of the village of Cartmel, the rural communities surrounding it and the businesses operating out of the village. The petitioners are outraged, as am I, about the closure of their post office, not 12 months after the post office network change programme concluded that it should remain. It has now been downgraded to a part-time, two mornings a week outreach service, with no guarantee of any longevity of that service. On behalf of those petitioners, I wish to present their objection.
The Petition of residents of Cartmel, Cumbria and others,
Declares that the Post Office in Cartmel provided a crucial service which was relied upon by the local community and therefore should not have closed.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government and Post Office Ltd to reinstate a full Post Office branch in Cartmel.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Sri Lanka
8.35 pm
Mr. Edward Davey (Kingston and Surbiton) (LD): I should like to present a petition on behalf of members of the British Tamil community and others who support the concerns that many in that community have about the fate of their friends, relatives and compatriots in the north-east of the island of Sri Lanka. I outlined many of their concerns in the debate today.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of members of the British Tamil community, and others,
Declares that the loss of life, denial of human rights, and restricted access of the United Nations and other relief agencies in Sri Lanka are unacceptable; and further declares that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians have been displaced by military action and face an uncertain future.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
8.36 pm
Susan Kramer (Richmond Park) (LD): I have been asked by members of the Tamil community in my constituency and others across London to represent them by presenting a petition to the House today that reflects their deep concern for relatives and others in the Tamil community who have disappeared in Sri Lanka. They are conscious of the suffering of their families and many of them are unable to be in contact with those families. While they appreciate the debate today, they hope that this Parliament will continue to sustain its interest and concern in their issues.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of members of the British Tamil community, and others,
Declares that the loss of life, denial of human rights, and restricted access of the United Nations and other relief agencies in Sri Lanka are unacceptable; and further declares that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians have been displaced by military action and face an uncertain future.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’ s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
8.37 pm
Simon Hughes (North Southwark and Bermondsey) (LD): I, too, have the privilege of presenting a petition on behalf of Tamil British citizens who live in south London, but also in north, west and east London, who have come to many of us to seek every opportunity to put their case to both Parliament and the Government. Every day, they have news of further loss, death and injury. They are desperate for a remedy. They appreciate what has already been done, but they are using every method open to them—this is one of the most important methods in our political process—to ask us to ask Government to respond immediately in the best and most energetic way that they can. I join colleagues of other parties in supporting those people.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The Petition of members of the British Tamil community, and others,
Declares that the loss of life, denial of human rights, and restricted access of the United Nations and other relief agencies in Sri Lanka are unacceptable; and further declares that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians have been displaced by military action and face an uncertain future.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty’ s Government to take all necessary steps to secure a ceasefire, allow unfettered access for UN and NGO relief, human rights agencies and the media, and make clear to the Sri Lankan Government that a lasting peace can only come through political dialogue and respect for human rights.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.]
Humberside Probation Service
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—( Helen Goodman.)
8.39 pm
Mr. Elliot Morley (Scunthorpe) (Lab): I am grateful for the opportunity to have an Adjournment debate to raise my deep concerns about the effect of proposed cuts on Humberside probation trust, the severe threat to front-line jobs of compulsory redundancies, the threat to the effectiveness of a highly rated and successful probation service, and the threat to the jobs and livelihoods of my constituents and those of my colleagues in the Humberside region.
I hope that my right hon. Friend the Minister will note that such is the concern about the cuts in the service that I am joined here by my hon. Friends the Members for Kingston upon Hull, North (Ms Johnson), for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) and for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey), and I have also received representations from the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) and the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight).
I start by stressing that the Humberside service is highly regarded. It was one of the first probation services in the country to achieve trust status. It is made up of dedicated staff, who do an excellent job, often in difficult circumstances. The director general of the national service, Mr. Philip Wheatley, stated:
“The challenges we face in delivering our ambitious objectives are considerable. We must sustain and build on the excellent work being done by staff in probation and prisons who work in challenging circumstances with some of the most vulnerable and demanding people in society.”
“There has been a significant decline in adult re-offending since 2000 and latest figures show a further fall of 13 per cent. between 2005 and 2006.”
That demonstrates the commitment and dedication.
There seem to be two problems currently facing the service. The first is the implementation of the new formula-based system. I can understand the need for efficiencies, but any approach must be fair and rational across the National Offender Management Service. Something is clearly wrong when the formula has such an impact on the Humberside service compared with other services. I know that it is based on conviction rates, but it makes no distinction between types of offence. Although Humberside may have a lower conviction rate than the national average, I understand that the percentage of convictions for serious crimes is higher than average, with all the implications of that for stress on staff and demands on the service. Front-line cuts will not help and I do not believe that they can be justified.
The second problem seems to be Humberside probation trust’s application of the cuts. Up to 60 compulsory redundancies have been threatened and discussed with staff, with 82 per cent. of those redundancies falling on front-line staff—probation officers and probation service officers. How can any compulsory redundancy in the service be justified? How does that fulfil the aspirations of the Ministry of Justice and the Humberside service?
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