House of Commons
10th July 2012
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
| 299 | PAYDAY LOAN COMPANIES | 2:7:12 |
| Graham Stringer |
| Mark Durkan |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Iain McKenzie |
| Ms Margaret Ritchie | David Tredinnick | Grahame M. Morris |
| Mr Frank Doran |
| That this House notes the warning by the trade union, Unite that more than 80 per cent of British workers are unable to make their wages last the month; further notes the rise in payday loan companies such as Wonga, QuickQuid and Money Shop since the economic downturn; is concerned by Unite's findings that one in eight workers regularly turned to payday loan companies to make ends meet; deplores the exorbitant rates of interest charged by payday loan companies, which are typically 1,200 per cent APR and can reach 4,200 per cent APR; believes that such rates are likely to trap borrowers in a spiral of debt; is concerned that Citizens Advice Bureaux have seen a fourfold increase in the number of people with payday loans seeking help; recognises that the harm that such loans do to individuals has a further knock-on effect on the UK's high streets; further deplores the fact that some payday loan firms have even been known to use threats; supports credit unions as a civilised alternative to payday loan companies; further notes that the majority of voters believe a cap should be imposed on the total costs that can be charged by payday loan companies; and calls on the Government to impose such a cap. |
| As an Amendment to Graham Stringer's proposed Motion (Payday Loan Companies): |
| Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Line 14, at end add `and further calls on television companies not to advertise such services'. |
| 301 | LONDON LIVING WAGE FOR CLEANERS AT JOHN LEWIS | 2:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Ian Lavery |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| That this House notes that the cleaners employed at John Lewis Partnership's Oxford Street store under contract by Integrated Cleaning Management Ltd are paid below the London living wage; expresses disappointment that John Lewis has been praised as a model employer but has failed to ensure the compliance of its contractors with the Greater London Authority rate of £8.30 per hour which is designed to provide a minimum acceptable quality of life; is concerned that the cleaners are facing excessive cuts in their jobs and hours, whilst their trade union IWW has been refused recognition for collective bargaining; and expects the cleaners to be treated with respect, paid fairly and remain employed in sufficient numbers to meet the demands of a flagship store of Oxford Street. |
| 302 | INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO BANKS | 2:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Mark Durkan |
| Jim Shannon |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Mike Weir |
| Ms Margaret Ritchie | Iain McKenzie |
| That this House supports the petition launched by Ann Pettifor that calls for an independent, judicial public inquiry into fraud, wrongdoing and ethics of British banks, their management and their staff and the role of the British Bankers Association, whose terms of reference should also include the manipulation of interest rates on about £225 trillion of assets, with the inquiry having full powers to compel witnesses to appear on oath, and to obtain all forms of evidence; and urges the Government to accept the popular demand for a full independent public inquiry. |
| 305 | FAIR TRADE NATION STATUS FOR SCOTLAND | 2:7:12 |
| Graeme Morrice |
| Sandra Osborne |
| Mark Lazarowicz |
| Iain McKenzie |
| Jim Sheridan |
| Lindsay Roy |
| Jo Swinson | Angus Robertson |
| That this House commends the Scottish Fair Trade Forum's campaign for Scotland to achieve Fair Trade Nation status; welcomes the campaign's aims which include increasing awareness of fair trade and associated issues, increasing the sale of fair trade products, contributing to greater trade justice and engendering a meaningful commitment to fair trade from all sectors of Scottish society and public life; and supports the ongoing work of the Forum, local fair trade groups, local authorities and others engaged in the campaign to achieve Fair Trade Nation status and ensure that Scotland plays a leading role within the UK on Fair Trade issues. |
| 306 | COST OF PRIVATE FINANCE INITIATIVES | 2:7:12 |
| Mr Roger Godsiff |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Mark Durkan |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Tony Lloyd |
| Mr Elfyn Llwyd |
| That this House notes that the Government holds assets worth a capital value of £56 billion, which have been built under PFI contracts; but is deeply concerned that these will cost taxpayers around £229 billion by the time the debt is repaid up to 30 years later; further notes the South London Healthcare Trust has been put into special administration because its £2.5 billion PFI deal costs £61 million a year to service, more that 14 per cent of its income which it cannot fund; and fears that many other hospital trusts will also be unable to meet their annual PFI debt payments without massive reductions in staffing and patient care. |
| 307 | EUROPEAN BAN ON HIGHER POTENCY VITAMINS AND MINERALS | 3:7:12 |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Mr Marcus Jones |
| Kate Hoey |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| David Tredinnick | Caroline Lucas | Jim Dobbin |
| Robert Halfon | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House notes that the recently published minutes of the 30 April 2012 meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health record that many Member States are pressing the European Commission to bring forward the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; recalls that on every previous occasion this project has been commenced it has threatened the continued availability of many safe and popular food supplements used by millions of British consumers to help them achieve and maintain good health; observes that such products are already regulated by the Food Safety Act and that no further legislation is necessary; further notes that successive governments have robustly resisted such moves to restrict consumer choice and have so defended the interests of specialist manufacturers and retailers; and invites the Secretary of State to reassure the House that he, his Ministers and his officials will do all within their power to prevent such unnecessary and burdensome meddling in British markets. |
| 311 | SHOOTING OF GAME BIRDS FOR SPORT | 3:7:12 |
| Michael Connarty |
| Paul Flynn |
| Jim Sheridan |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Mr Tom Clarke |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| That this House supports the League Against Cruel Sports in its aim to end the suffering of game birds being shot for sport and other species being killed to preserve such birds, as shown in the League's recent documentary Gunsmoke and Mirrors; and calls on the Government to ensure that animals are protected from such senseless destruction. |
| 312 | PESTICIDE USE AND BUMBLE BEES | 3:7:12 |
| Martin Caton |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Jim Shannon |
| Grahame M. Morris | Jim Dobbin | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House notes the recent publication of the scientific paper, Effects of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, on reproduction in worker bumble bees, by Laycock, Lenthall, Barrett and Cresswell, which reports research showing that exposure of bumble bees to environmentally realistic levels of imidacloprid reduced brood production by one third; believes that this is a major concern as bumble bees are important pollinators whose population has declined over recent years; recognises that this research adds further to the considerable body of evidence linking neonicotinoid use to population reductions in a range of invertebrates; and calls on the Government to ban the use of this group of systemic pesticides anywhere in the UK. |
| 313 | SUPPORT FOR ROAD CRASH VICTIMS | 3:7:12 |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Andrew George |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Mark Durkan |
| Jim Shannon |
| That this House recognises that road deaths and serious injuries cause horrendous suffering every day; understands that bereaved and injured victims often experience long-term and acute emotional suffering and other serious implications such as debt, health problems and social isolation; notes there is no comprehensive Government-funded support automatically offered following a serious crash; congratulates road safety charity Brake on the literature and helpline services it provides to road crash victims but recognises that this remains a grossly under-funded area; and calls on the Government to significantly increase funding for support for road crash victims, using revenue from the planned increase to driving offence fines to ensure there is a clear pathway of integrated, specialist support, including face-to-face support, available to all bereaved and seriously injured crash victims who need it. |
| 314 | MURDER OF HILDA MURRELL | 3:7:12 |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Mr Charles Kennedy |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| John Cryer |
| Mike Wood | Jim Dobbin | Joan Walley |
| That this House notes with concern that, as documented in the recent book entitled, A Thorn in Their Side: The Hilda Murrell Murder, by her nephew, Commander Robert Green, Royal Navy (retired), key forensic and other evidence was not disclosed at the 2005 trial and the 2006 appeal of Andrew George, who was convicted for the abduction and murder of the internationally renowned rose grower and anti-nuclear campaigner Hilda Murrell in 1984; further notes Michael Mansfield QC's view that the book raises serious and substantial doubts about the criminal investigations to date into this controversial murder; supports Mansfield's call for a Commission of Inquiry or a reinvestigation by another police force unconnected with any previous inquiries into the case; further notes the overwhelming endorsement of the same at public meetings in Shrewsbury and London in March 2012; recommends that all the relevant papers should now be published by the Home Office, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Sizewell B Inquiry, the Atomic Energy Authority, the West Mercia Police and the Northumbria Police; and further recommends that all these matters should be examined by the House of Commons Justice Committee. |
| 320 | GET BRITAIN BUILDING CAMPAIGN | 3:7:12 |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Mr David Crausby |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Mike Wood |
| Katy Clark |
| That this House gives its support to the Get Britain Building campaign which calls on the Government to start building social housing, stimulate home improvement with a cut in VAT and invest in infrastructure; notes that the campaign has already attracted a wide range of support from the trade unions, community groups and individual people; praises companies like Marshalls plc in Halifax who are leading on the campaign at a local level; acknowledges that with the UK now officially back in recession, unemployment at 2.6 million and one in five young people now unemployed, that radical action needs to be taken to address the situation; calls on the Government to recognise the important role the construction industry can play in getting the economy growing; recognises that every £1 invested in construction generates £2.84 in economic activity; further recognises that there are over five million people in the UK on waiting lists for social housing; further acknowledges that urgent action needs to be taken to address this situation; and further calls on the Government to take note of the Get Britain Building Campaign and implement its policies as soon as possible to help stimulate economic growth in all regions of the UK. |
| 322 | MR CHRISTOPHER MORAN | 4:7:12 |
| Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson |
| Mr Nigel Dodds |
| Dr Alasdair McDonnell |
| Sammy Wilson |
| Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| Jim Shannon |
| That this House acknowledges the excellent contribution made to Community Relations in Northern Ireland by Mr Christopher Moran in his capacity as Chairman of Co-operation Ireland; recognises the special role that he played in hosting a reception for Her Majesty The Queen during her recent visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations; and commends Mr Moran for the quiet diplomacy that he has brought to his role over many years. |
| 323 | WEMBLEY RUGBY LEAGUE STATUE | 4:7:12 |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Yvonne Fovargue |
| Mr John Leech |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Tony Cunningham |
| Dr Hywel Francis |
| David Simpson | Lisa Nandy | Jim Dobbin |
| John McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates Billy Boston, Alex Murphy, Martin Offiah, Eric Ashton and Gus Risman on being shortlisted to represent Rugby League in perpetuity as a statue at Wembley Stadium; recognises the significant contributions made by each player to rugby league; welcomes the debate the statue has created within this House and without; further congratulates those involved at the RFL and the FA in expediting the statue to be in place for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup; and looks forward to seeing the statue in place. |
| 325 | COMMERCIALISATION IN THE BBC | 4:7:12 |
| Austin Mitchell |
| John McDonnell |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| That this House notes with dismay the email sent to all BBC staff working in the Global News department from Peter Horrocks, the Director of BBC Global News, which asks staff to generate money making ideas for the BBC; further notes that the email states that staff will be required to exploit new commercial opportunities as part of their appraisal process; condemns such an idea as threatening the ethos at the heart of the BBC's public service broadcasting; believes that ordering staff to focus on commercial ideas will distort the Corporation's fundamental news-gathering and reporting objectives; further believes that journalists working for the Global News Service, which includes the BBC World Service, work in some of the most challenging terrain in the world and can only carry out their work as impartial reporters rather than money gatherers; and calls on the BBC to abandon this ill conceived initiative. |
| 326 | LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AS COMMUNITY ASSETS | 4:7:12 |
| Austin Mitchell |
| John McDonnell |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Graham Stringer |
| John Pugh |
| Mark Durkan |
| David Simpson | Tony Lloyd | David Tredinnick |
| Jim Dobbin | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House supports local newspapers as a valued part of the community across all parts of the UK; believes they should be designated as community assets under the Localism Act 2012; supports such an extension under the Act as it will allow threatened newspapers to explore alternative ownership models; further believes that local newspapers are able to report on and hold to account local politicians in ways that the national media is not able to do and that local newspapers are essential to local business through advertising; and calls on the Government to convene discussions with local newspaper groups and the National Union of Journalists in order to safeguard this invaluable source of local news across the country. |
| John McDonnell |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Katy Clark |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Mr John Leech |
| Mark Durkan |
| Grahame M. Morris | Jim Dobbin | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House commends the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for its work in improving media standards and championing quality journalism; notes that the NUJ is a core participant at the Leveson Inquiry; believes that this is fitting as the NUJ represents thousands of journalists throughout the press including national and local newspapers; supports the NUJ's campaign for a Conscience Clause for journalists, which will protect them in their workplaces if they are asked to carry out work that would compromise their journalistic ethics; believes that the Press Complaints Commission failed as a regulatory body and should be replaced by a truly independent body which has press freedom and high journalistic standards at its core and which includes representatives of ordinary journalists and the wider public in a co-regulatory approach; further believes that in order to be effective such a body needs to be underpinned by statute with a press ombudsman to mediate with the public; and supports such a body having the power to hear appeals from the ombudsman and administer an ethical code, such as the NUJ code of conduct, as well as the powers of investigation and the ability to decide on punishments including fines and compensation for newspapers which breach the code. |
| 328 | DVLA OFFICE NETWORK CLOSURES | 4:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Ian Lavery |
| Graham Stringer |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Mr John Leech |
| David Simpson | Mr Frank Doran | Jim Dobbin |
| That this House notes with concern the announcement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 4 July 2012 on closure of the DVLA Office Network which, if implemented, will result in the closure of 39 local offices, 10 enforcement centres and three process units; further notes that these proposed closures will result in the loss of over 1,200 jobs at a time of growing national unemployment; regrets the detrimental effect these closures will have on local communities and the motor trade, which relies on the Local Office Network; recognises that the loss of local offices will make the DVLA much harder to access and will lead to the inevitable increase of unlicensed vehicles; further notes that the Government has disregarded its own public consultation in which 79 per cent of respondents wanted the DVLA local offices kept open; and calls on the Government to reverse this ill-thought-out decision with immediate effect. |
| 330 | IRISH OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT | 4:7:12 |
| Jim Shannon |
| Sammy Wilson |
| Mark Durkan |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Tony Cunningham |
| Jim McGovern |
| David Simpson | David Tredinnick | Jim Dobbin |
| That this House congratulates the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for the promotion of the Irish Open Golf Tournament at Portrush in Northern Ireland; and notes that this encourages golf organisers to bring the British Open to Northern Ireland and reinforces Northern Ireland's status in World Cup circles. |
| 331 | LEEDS QUALITY BUS CONTRACT SCHEME | 4:7:12 |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Graham Stringer |
| Mr John Leech |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| That this House welcomes the announcement by Metro (West Yorkshire Integrated Passenger Transport Authority) that a Quality Bus Contract scheme will be introduced, in a move supported by an overwhelming majority of local people asked, bringing responsibility for routes and fares back under the control of the local authority for the first time since the 1980s, under a scheme which is the first of its kind in the country, and bringing to West Yorkshire a quality integrated transport system similar to that enjoyed for many years now in London; congratulates Metro as well as those who have campaigned for this for many years including councillors, hon. Members, bus users and the Fairer Fares campaign; notes that this comes after 12 months of talks with the operators, three years after the initial moves towards a Quality Bus Contract were welcomed by Early Day Motion 321 (2009-10) and after years of campaigning before that to achieve the legislation to permit Quality Bus Contracts; and further welcomes the fact that improvements envisaged include a simple and more reliable framework, as well as the introduction of an integrated ticketing system which will allow travel with different operators across the region. |
| 332 | BUS RE-REGULATION | 5:7:12 |
| Graham Stringer |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr John Leech |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins | Tony Lloyd | Mr Dave Watts |
| Andrew Miller | Katy Clark | John McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates Metro (West Yorkshire Integrated Passenger Transport Authority) for commencing the process to introduce a Quality Bus Contract scheme; believes that this re-regulation of buses will lead to a more effective and efficient public transport system; and therefore calls on other transport authorities to follow the excellent lead given by Metro. |
| 334 | TRANSCRIPTS OF COURT JUDGMENTS | 5:7:12 |
| John Hemming |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| That this House notes that there has been a substantial delay before sending the transcript of the judgment of the court of appeal in case reference B4/2011/2952 (which was heard on 2 May 2012 and received an oral judgment at the end of the hearing) to the appellant, who won the case on the basis that the court of first instance had not provided an adequate judgment; recognises the difficulty that arises when transcripts of judgments are not made available in a timely manner; and calls for the Government to consider changing the law so that parties to a case can record oral judgments themselves so that they can produce their own transcripts in a timely manner, which does not place a burden on the public purse. |
| 335 | FAMILY IMMIGRATION RULES | 5:7:12 |
| Mr David Ward |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Mr John Leech |
| Tony Lloyd |
| That this House recognises the important economic and cultural benefits of immigration; notes that the Government's plans to increase the income threshold at which UK citizens can bring a spouse to the country to £18,600 (£27,200 with three children) will deprive many residents of towns like Bradford, where 21 per cent of households have incomes under £15,000 per year, of the right to a family life; believes that the right to a family life should not be contingent on earnings; further notes several reports from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration which call into question the quality of decision making on family immigration cases; and therefore calls for the Government to review its plans both to increase the income threshold at which UK citizens can bring a spouse to the country to £18,600 (£27,200 with three children) and to remove the right of appeal against the refusal of family visitor visas. |
| 336 | MIS-SELLING OF INTEREST RATE SWAP PRODUCTS | 5:7:12 |
| Mr David Ward |
| Sandra Osborne |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Ian Swales |
| Mr Gary Streeter |
| Mark Durkan |
| David Simpson | Caroline Lucas | Jim Dobbin |
| Katy Clark | Sir Tony Cunningham | John McDonnell |
| That this House welcomes the Financial Services Authority's investigation into the alleged mis-selling of interest rate swap products by high street banks; expresses condemnation of such practices; notes the many accusations made by hon. Members' constituents against banks including making loans contingent on the purchase of interest rate swap products, failure to inform businesses about the associated risks, failure to properly explain high exit charges and attempts to silence people who seek compensation; further notes that many affected businesses are running out of time to claim compensation; and calls for the Government to ensure the investigation into this matter is thorough, that affected businesses receive adequate compensation and that banks found guilty of mis-selling are dealt with robustly. |
| 338 | TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT AWARD TO QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY | 5:7:12 |
| Fiona O'Donnell |
| Mr David Hamilton |
| Jenny Chapman |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Sheila Gilmore |
| Mark Lazarowicz |
| David Simpson | Jim Dobbin | Katy Clark |
| That this House congratulates Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh on winning the Outstanding Leadership and Management Team category, the top accolade of The Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2012; notes that this award recognises the transformation of Queen Margaret from a university facing many challenges in terms of its finances, strategy and organisational culture to one with a clear and widely understood mission, vision and strategy, with healthy finances and greatly improved key performance indicators; and further notes the role of the strong leadership, clear decision-making and staff engagement at Queen Margaret University in achieving this result. |
| 339 | HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE | 5:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mark Durkan |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Jim McGovern |
| Tony Lloyd | Jim Dobbin | Katy Clark |
| That this House recognises that the severe cuts within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are a serious threat to Health and Safety at Work for workers all over the UK; notes the valuable work carried out by the HSE, its office staff and inspectors which is of assistance to employers and businesses as well as to workers; regrets the loss of expertise and professional health and safety knowledge that will result from the cuts within the HSE; recognises that decisions to cut regulation and inspection in order to save money and increase profits are misguided and detrimental to both the smooth running of business and the safety of those at work, who will be consequently at greater risk of injury and even death; and therefore urges the Government to reconsider its strategy and accept that the consequences of such cuts will not only affect employees of the HSE but also the families of those injured or killed at work. |
| 340 | ALBANIAN ELECTIONS | 5:7:12 |
| Lorely Burt |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mr John Leech |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Mr Andy Slaughter | Jim Dobbin | John McDonnell |
| That this House notes that it is 100 years since Albania declared independence from the Ottomann Empire; recognises the desires of Albanians resident in Britain to help build a more democratic Albanian state; acknowledges that the ability to vote plays a vital role in assisting with this; regrets that British-based Albanians are currently unable to vote in Albanian elections, unlike Albanians in countries such as Kosovo and Macedonia; and calls on the Government to support the cause of British-Albanians in securing the right to vote in Albanian elections in order to ensure the democratic equality of all Albanians regardless of geographical location. |
| Ann Clwyd |
| Dr Hywel Francis |
| Mark Tami |
| Mr Dai Havard |
| Ian Lucas |
| Huw Irranca-Davies |
| Tony Lloyd | Kelvin Hopkins | John McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates Cynon Valley-born Dr Lyn Evans, former project director of the CERN Hadron collider project in Geneva, who began working at CERN 41 years ago, on his outstanding contribution to the project that has found the Higgs boson particle; and calls on the Government to recognise his significant contribution to science. |
| 343 | NORTH EAST DELUGE | 5:7:12 |
| Ian Mearns |
| Grahame M. Morris |
| Pat Glass |
| Ian Lavery |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| David Tredinnick | Jim Dobbin | Kelvin Hopkins |
| John McDonnell |
| That this House congratulates the emergency services and local authorities on their professional and caring work in helping people affected by the recent severe floods in the North East; and congratulates BBC Radio Newcastle on its decision to scrap scheduled programming in favour of cutting edge coverage of the flooding, which did much to help people to overcome the problems caused by the torrential downpour. |
| Ian Mearns |
| Grahame M. Morris |
| Pat Glass |
| Ian Lavery |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Tony Lloyd | Jim Dobbin | Kelvin Hopkins |
| Sir Tony Cunningham | John McDonnell |
| That this House welcomes the recent analysis in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle of the serious impact of the Government's bedroom tax which will penalise families for under-occupying their social home even if they have nowhere else to move to; notes that people deemed to be under-occupying their social homes will see their benefit cut by up to £88 per month; further notes that this will have a devastating impact on families in the North East as the region with the highest number of people deemed to be under-occupying; and urges the Government to commission detailed research into the impact of the bedroom tax in the North East and reconsider the policy in the light of this. |
| 345 | REPATRIATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO | 5:7:12 |
| Ian Mearns |
| Pat Glass |
| Grahame M. Morris |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mark Durkan |
| Jim Dobbin | Kelvin Hopkins | Paul Blomfield |
| Katy Clark | John McDonnell |
| That this House shares the growing concern for the plight of Congolese nationals who have sought asylum in the UK, whose appeals have been refused and who have been forcibly removed to the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2006 and 2011, detailed in the Justice First report entitled Unsafe Return by Catherine Ramos; notes that the Justice First charity was set up in 2006 to work with people in Tees Valley whose asylum appeals had been refused; and urges the Government to respond in detail to this harrowing report which documents many serious violations of the human rights of those forcibly returned. |
| 346 | METROPOLITAN POLICE PAY | 5:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Jim Dobbin |
| That this House expresses its concern at the impact on the income of Metropolitan police, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and police staff, many of whom work within Parliament, of the current pay offer which would result in a loss of between £300 to £500 per month in the pay of these officers and staff following a three year pay freeze; notes the impact on staff morale this threatened pay cut is having; and calls on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to resolve this matter through constructive negotiations that will protect the standard of living of the Metropolitan police, PCSOs and police staff on whom our capital city and Parliament relies for its safety and security. |
| 347 | OFFICIAL BEER OF THE OLYMPICS | 5:7:12 |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Graham Stringer |
| That this House expresses its disappointment that Heineken lager, a mass produced non-British beer, has been chosen as the official beer of the London 2012 Olympics, despite beer being the UK's national drink and with the UK being one of the world's leading brewing nations; notes that the London 2012 Olympics is an excellent opportunity for the nation to showcase to the world the best of British, which could and should have included a British beer as the official beer of London 2012; further notes that a British brewed beer would be far more appropriate than a Dutch beer for the London Olympic Games; deems this a wholly inappropriate decision based purely on the size of Heineken's cheque book, and totally at odds with the strong emphasis on British character and identity at the heart of both the original bid and the preparations for the forthcoming London Games; and calls on the Government to ensure that any further opportunities to showcase British produce to the rest of the world are not lost to non-British companies purely for financial benefits. |
| 348 | LYNNE HUDSON, HEADTEACHER, ST AGNES'S SCHOOL CRAWCROOK | 5:7:12 |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Ian Mearns |
| Fiona O'Donnell |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson |
| Pat Glass |
| Mr Stephen Hepburn |
| That this House recognises the achievements and career of Mrs Lynne Hudson, Headteacher at St. Agnes's School in Crawcrook, on her retirement; praises the excellent teaching she has brought to schools across Tyne and Wear throughout her career; commends her for establishing links to European schools through the Comenius Project and the success of the school in receiving international and Artsmark Gold awards; celebrates the outstanding Ofsted report gained under Mrs Hudson's time as Head stating that at the forefront of the school's success is the outstanding leadership of the Headteacher whose vision and commitment has enabled the school to maintain its first rate provision; and thanks St Agnes's school for helping to add to the family of superb primary and secondary schools in Gateshead. |
| 350 | COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT CUTS AND LOCAL CONSULTATION | 6:7:12 |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Adrian Sanders |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Katy Clark |
| John McDonnell |
| That this House notes that the Government has given responsibility for deciding who should receive council tax benefit to local authorities, whilst simultaneously cutting the budget available for council tax benefit by approximately 10 per cent; further notes that the national Government cut to council tax benefit funding is happening against the backdrop of the planned 27.4 per cent real terms cut in funding to local government for the four years from 2011 to 2015; is concerned that councils are being forced into the position of having to either deny benefit to some of their poorest residents or increase the burden of council tax on other residents; hopes that to minimise hardship and to maximise fairness every local authority charged with administering a local council tax discount system will convene an independent panel of voluntary and public sector experts, including cross-party representation of councillors, to ensure that decisions are not influenced by short-term political aims and that consultation on where Government cuts to council tax benefit will fall is undertaken; and calls on the Government to reverse the cuts to the council tax benefit budget and to local government funding overall. |
| 351 | FAIRTRADE YORKSHIRE 2012 | 6:7:12 |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr John Leech |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| John Healey |
| That this House welcomes the Fairtrade Yorkshire campaign for Yorkshire and the Humber to be declared, by the Fairtrade Foundation, as the UK's first ever Fairtrade region; notes the efforts to raise the profile of the Fairtrade agenda in Yorkshire, through dedicated work in schools and local communities to promote awareness of fair trading practices and the benefits of buying fairly traded products for customers and producers; further notes the enthusiasm and support which has grown in the region for Fairtrade, which offers fair prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world; and urges the Fairtrade Foundation to recognise the work which continues to flourish in Yorkshire and the Humber by naming it the UK's first official Fairtrade region. |
| 352 | HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE GAMBIA | 6:7:12 |
| Katy Clark |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| John McDonnell |
| Teresa Pearce |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Tony Lloyd | Jim Dobbin | Kelvin Hopkins |
| Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House is deeply concerned by the continued detention of Gambian journalist Ebrima Manneh who was detained in 2006 and was said to be alive in 2011 by the Gambian Attorney General and Minister for Justice Edward Gomez; notes that since then no further information has been released about the wellbeing of Ebrima Manneh; recognises there have been recent occurrences in 2012, as reported in a Public Statement by Amnesty International, where journalists and activists have been unlawfully arrested, harassed and detained; further notes the remarks of the Attorney General and Justice Minister in the Gambian Daily News newspaper that those within the Gambian diaspora talking grimly about Gambia's human rights would experience a backlash if they returned to the Gambia; is very concerned for the safety of those Gambians who are seen as opponents of the Gambian government; and calls on the Government to urgently raise the case of Ebrima Manneh with the Gambian government as well as looking for opportunities to safeguard the human rights of Gambian nationals and diaspora. |
| 353 | INNOVATION IN SURGERY | 6:7:12 |
| Rosie Cooper |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins | John McDonnell |
| That this House supports the recommendations of the Royal College of Surgeons' report Overcoming barriers to innovation in surgery; notes that on average a person will have five surgical episodes in their lifetime and that surgery is one of the most effective treatments for cancer; further notes that less than two per cent of national funding for medical research is given to surgical projects; asks the Government and medical research charities to support the recommendations of the report, namely that providers of NHS services should be incentivised to support surgical trials, research modules should be incorporated into surgical training and that surgeons should have protected time to carry out research and be able to offer patients the opportunity to take part in clinical trials; and calls on the Department of Health and the surgical profession to explore how to disseminate the latest information on new techniques and technologies. |
| 354 | 2nd BATTALION, THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF FUSILIERS | 9:7:12 |
| Graham Stringer |
| Tony Lloyd |
| Hazel Blears |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Mr Dave Watts | Andrew Miller |
| That this House opposes the disbandment of 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which has a long and distinguished history dating back to the Lancashire Fusiliers, whose brave soldiers famously won `six Victoria Crosses before breakfast' in the Gallipoli landings of the First War; supports the campaign by the Manchester Evening News to preserve the regiment in its current form; recognises the concerns of brave servicemen and women and relatives of fallen soldiers such as Pete and Ann Annis, who lost son Simon in August 2009 as he tried to rescue a comrade in Afghanistan; and urges the Ministry of Defence to reconsider reductions which will see 600 soldiers and officers currently in the battalion facing redundancy. |
| 355 | CONTINUED FINANCIAL HELP FOR VICTIMS OF THALIDOMIDE | 9:7:12 |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Mr David Crausby |
| Jim Sheridan |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| Ian Lavery |
| Graham Stringer | Mr Dennis Skinner | David Simpson |
| Mr Adrian Sanders | Jim Shannon | Tony Lloyd |
| Grahame M. Morris | Katy Clark | Iain McKenzie |
| Sir Tony Cunningham | Ms Margaret Ritchie | John McDonnell |
| That this House is aware of the devastating effects that the drug thalidomide caused in its victims; understands that representatives of the Government recently met members of the National Advisory Council to the Thalidomide Trust and discussed future assistance to replace the health grant sufferers have received from the Department of Health during the period 2010-12 but that no further financial commitment was given; believes that both the moral case and evidence of need for such help is overwhelming; and urges the Government to act immediately to provide permanent financial assistance to all surviving thalidomiders for the rest of their lives. |
| 356 | DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY (NO. 2) | 9:7:12 |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Mark Durkan |
| Graham Stringer |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Shannon | Jim Dobbin | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| John McDonnell |
| That this House welcomes the screening on 10 July 2012 in the Attlee Suite of the film by Dr Jon Hastie entitled, A Life Worth Living: Pushing the limits of Duchenne; recognises Dr Hastie's achievement in producing the film; acknowledges the powerful contributions of everyone who took part in the film; notes that the film is raising awareness about Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the hopes and aspirations of people affected by that severe life-limiting condition; further notes the role of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and Action Duchenne in supporting the film; and hopes that the film will highlight the need for improvements to independent living and support for people affected by muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions across the UK. |
| Lisa Nandy |
| John McDonnell |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| That this House congratulates the magazines, Elle and Cosmo for agreeing to pay their interns; believes that unpaid internships in the media remain the norm and that this should be challenged; notes that the report to the Cabinet Office entitled Fair Access to Professional Careers by Alan Milburn identifies journalism as `one of the most socially exclusive of professions'; further notes that unpaid internships play a role in excluding many people looking for work in the media industry; further believes that interns in the media profession should be paid for their work; and supports Cashback for Interns, the National Union of Journalists' campaign to protect interns in the media industry. |
| 358 | COASTGUARD STATIONS | 9:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Katy Clark |
| Graham Stringer |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| David Simpson |
| Mr Adrian Sanders | Grahame M. Morris | Jim Dobbin |
| Iain McKenzie | Sir Tony Cunningham |
| That this House is alarmed by the Government's plans to close coastguard stations at Clyde, Forth, Yarmouth, Thames, Portland, Brixham, Solent, Swansea and Liverpool; notes that this would reduce the number of coastguard stations in the UK from 19 to 10 with aggregate job losses of over 140 and have a negative economic impact on coastal communities; is deeply concerned over the maritime and other safety implications of reducing the number of coastguard stations; recognises that technological advances offer some opportunity for rescues to be co-ordinated from a distance but does not believe that the case has been made by the Government to implement these changes; believes that technology should complement the knowledge of local coastal areas which coastguards possess, rather than supplant them; further notes that despite assurances that no closures will be made until the robustness of the new Maritime Operation Centre has been demonstrated, the closure of Clyde, Forth and Yarmouth will happen before it opens in 2014; and calls on the Government to ensure that no coastguard officer will be made redundant and to step back from this hazardous reduction in the number of local coastguard stations. |
| 359 | PROTECTION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS | 9:7:12 |
| Katy Clark |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| John Hemming |
| Mr Richard Shepherd |
| John McDonnell |
| Paul Flynn |
| Graham Stringer | Mr Dennis Skinner | Sir Alan Meale |
| David Simpson | Mr Adrian Sanders | Jim Shannon |
| Tony Lloyd | Jim Dobbin | Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House believes greater protection should be provided to whistleblowers in the workplace; is alarmed at the Court of Appeal's decision in NHS Manchester v Fecitt & Ors which indicates that employees are no longer protected from harassment of co-workers; believes that this is just one of a number of issues, including the implementation of the Shipman Inquiry's recommendations to remove the good faith test and the use of gagging clauses, which require serious debate; further believes that the changes put forward in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill will make it more difficult for individuals to rely on the Public Interest Disclosure Act; and calls on the Government to hold a wider consultation on possible reforms to ensure a meaningful strengthening of the protection of whistleblowers. |
| 360 | EU REGULATIONS AND FUEL PRICES | 9:7:12 |
| Robert Halfon |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Karl McCartney |
| Graham Stringer |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Shannon |
| That this House notes that bureaucrats in Europe are planning to push up the price of petrol by four pence a litre by dictating green fuel targets to Britain; is concerned that EU regulations now insist that 10 per cent of UK transport fuel must come from biofuels by 2020 at the latest, which will hike UK fuel prices for motorists who are already struggling to fill up the family car; and therefore calls on the Government to continue its work in keeping fuel duty down and to stand up again for hard-pressed Brits. |
| 361 | GOOGLE AND THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE | 9:7:12 |
| Robert Halfon |
| Graham Stringer |
| That this House notes that the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has now admitted that one of its former privacy managers, who reportedly worked on its Google StreetView investigation, is now employed by Google as a senior executive; concludes that this revolving-door policy raises serious questions about the ICO, and whether it is fit for purpose, as there is already evidence that it was incredibly slow to act on this breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 and only did so following pressure from Parliament and the media; and therefore urges the Government to consider whether the public can continue to have confidence in the ICO. |
| 362 | SAVE HARRY THE HEDGEHOG CAMPAIGN | 9:7:12 |
| Andrew Rosindell |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mrs Eleanor Laing |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Adrian Sanders |
| David Tredinnick |
| Jim Dobbin | Sir Tony Cunningham | John McDonnell |
| That this House is alarmed at the rapid decline of the UK hedgehog population which is estimated to have dropped from approximately 36 million in the 1950s to under one million today, the dramatic decline of the species being in large part due to habitat loss and the proliferation of roads; and urges the Government to take heed of the Save Harry the Hedgehog campaign led by the Wildlife Aid Foundation and the former hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald the right hon. Ann Widdecombe, and to consider the campaign's call for the introduction of legislation specifically for the protection of hedgehogs. |
| 363 | YOUTH SELECT COMMITTEE | 10:7:12 |
| Mrs Louise Ellman |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House welcomes the founding of the Youth Select Committee, a pilot initiative enabling young people to hold inquiries into issues it considers to be important; offers its strong support to the Committee; recognises the importance of the Youth Select Committee in inspiring young people to have an interest in politics; further welcomes the decision to consider public transport including the challenges faced by young people in accessing services and travelling safely; notes that its representatives are all elected and aged between 12 and 18; further notes that the Committee's inquiries reflect issues prioritised by the British Youth Council, the UK Youth Parliament and a national poll of 65,000 young people; and looks forward to the Committee's report and recommendations. |
| Mr David Amess |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House congratulates Johnny Marray on being the first British male player to win a title at Wimbledon for 76 years; further congratulates him and his partner on their performance in the men's doubles; and salutes him for representing the United Kingdom so well. |
| Mr David Amess |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House congratulates Andy Murray on being the first British player to reach the men's singles final at Wimbledon for 74 years; further congratulates him on his performance; and salutes him for representing the United Kingdom so well. |
| 366 | EPILEPSY AND EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS | 10:7:12 |
| Valerie Vaz |
| Mark Durkan |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Andrew George |
| Ms Margaret Ritchie |
| That this House notes that epilepsy is a serious neurological condition, which affects more than half a million people in the UK; further notes that epilepsy can develop in all ages so it is important to tackle the issue from an early age so that children with epilepsy can get the right support to develop a healthy and successful life; further notes the work of organisations such as the Joint Epilepsy Council, Young Epilepsy and Epilepsy Action to raise awareness for the need for better education for epilepsy pupils; further notes that 60,000 young people with epilepsy are in education with an average of five students per secondary school; believes that teachers and staff should receive training to help them understand the complexity of the condition and ensure that these children get the appropriate care and teaching at school; and calls on the Government to ensure that there is an action plan for young people with epilepsy and related conditions. |
| 367 | PAEDIATRIC CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGERY UNITS | 10:7:12 |
| Stuart Andrew |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Julian Sturdy |
| Simon Reevell |
| Fabian Hamilton |
| Mr David Ward |
| Martin Vickers | Ed Balls | Hilary Benn |
| Nigel Adams | Julian Smith |
| That this House is very concerned about flaws in the decision making process undertaken by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) regarding the configuration of paediatric congenital cardiac surgery units; considers that the decision made on the future configuration disregards patient choice, is counter to the criteria for re-configuration laid down by the Secretary of State and has been determined by the interests of managers and not those of sick children and their families; calls on the Secretary of State to conduct a thorough review of the process and the evidence, for him to require the JCPCT to make publicly available all the agendas, reports and minutes of private meetings held prior to the so-called `decision making' meeting on 4 July 2012; and asks him to reject the scoring system used and instead have a complete re-evaluation using a different and more accurate method of assessment. |
| 368 | SUB-POST OFFICE FUNDING | 10:7:12 |
| Katy Clark |
| Nicholas Soames |
| Kate Hoey |
| Mr Mike Weir |
| Paul Blomfield |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mr Clive Betts | Paul Flynn | Frank Dobson |
| Alex Cunningham | Mr David Anderson | Lindsay Roy |
| Mike Gapes | Graeme Morrice | Iain McKenzie |
| Mr Dave Watts | John McDonnell | Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Tristram Hunt | Teresa Pearce | Mr Nigel Dodds |
| Mr Dennis Skinner | Mr Frank Doran | John Robertson |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Hywel Williams | Dame Joan Ruddock |
| Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson | Mr Tom Clarke | Mr Dai Havard |
| Mrs Louise Ellman | John Cryer | Tony Lloyd |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell | Grahame M. Morris | Ian Lavery |
| Angus Robertson | Valerie Vaz | Mr Ian Davidson |
| Joan Walley | Mr Andrew Love | Mike Wood |
| Mark Durkan | Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House notes that the Post Office proposes significant changes to the funding arrangements for sub-post office branches, including the complete removal of the fixed core tier payment (CTP) for the new Post Office Local and Main operating models, that removing the CTP risks undermining the financial viability of post offices, particularly in rural areas and deprived urban communities where their social value is greatest, that unplanned closures of post offices will inevitably result, undermining commitments that there will be no closures programme during this Parliament; and calls for the CTP to be reinstated to the new Post Office operating models in order to sustain the long-term future of the Post Office network, which is part of the fabric of British society. |
| 369 | CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION | 10:7:12 |
| That this House congratulates the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for its thorough research in exposing the abuse of power by the City of London Corporation in using its public resources in a multi-million pound lobbying exercise to distort Government policies, in particular its tax regime, in the interests of the banks and finance houses that control the City Corporation through its undemocratic electoral system based on the business vote; and calls on the Government to instigate an urgent independent inquiry into the role and influence of the City Corporation with the aim of bringing forward proposals for its abolition. |
| 370 | BOYCOTT WORKFARE | 10:7:12 |
| That this House expresses its support for the week of action launched by Boycott Workfare to expose the role of the Government and companies in forcing people to undertake unpaid or low paid work by threatening to disqualify them from benefits; congratulates all those companies, charities and organisations that have withdrawn from or refused to participate in the workfare schemes; and calls on the Government to concentrate on providing real jobs and paying a living wage rather than forcing people into no wage or low wage exploitation. |
| 371 | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY LOBBYING | 10:7:12 |
| That this House is appalled at the revelation that the British financial services industry spent £92 million last year lobbying politicians and regulators in an economic war of attrition that has secured a string of policy victories including slashing corporation tax, cutting the value of not-for-profit pension schemes and the dropping of the plan for an industry watchdog; condemns the Coalition's repeated surrenders to the greedy self-serving pressure from lobbyists; and calls for new transparent regulation that will end the present manipulation of the finance industry which favours large firms and cheats millions on modest incomes. |
