House of Commons
12th 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 |
| 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 Amendments to Graham Stringer's proposed Motion (Payday Loan Companies): |
| Line 1, leave out from `notes' to `notes' in line 2. |
| Line 4, leave out from `downturn;' to `deplores' in line 5. |
| Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Dr William McCrea |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Mr Geoffrey Robinson |
| Line 14, at end add `and further calls on television companies not to advertise such services'. |
| 302 | INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO BANKS | 2:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Mark Durkan |
| Jim Shannon |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Mike Weir |
| 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. |
| 308 | TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL CHARTER | 3:7:12 |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Jim Sheridan |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| John McDonnell |
| That this House expresses its deep concern about the Turkish government's recent decision, following a breakdown in discussions between its airlines industry and trades unions which resulted in a strike being called by the Turkish Civil Aviation Union, to amend its law to include its aviation sector amongst those of its industries in which a ban exists restricting its workforce from taking strike action; and calls on the Government to remind its Turkish counterparts that such actions are in conflict with European legal instruments, including those found in the European Social Charter (CETS No. 163) which has been in force in Turkey since August 2007. |
| 309 | RECALL OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES | 3:7:12 |
| Zac Goldsmith |
| Mark Durkan |
| John Cryer |
| John McDonnell |
| Mark Reckless |
| Martin Caton |
| That this House welcomes the Coalition Agreement commitment to introduce a power of recall for constituents to recall their hon. Members; shares the disappointment expressed in the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee's First Report, Recall of MPs HC 373, which stated that `the restricted form of recall (proposed by the Government) could reduce confidence by creating expectations that are not fulfilled. Under the Government's proposals, constituents themselves would not be able to initiate a recall petition'; further welcomes instead the provisions of the Recall of Elected Representatives Bill that would permit voters to recall their elected representatives if a majority has lost confidence in them, for whatever reason, and if enough voters sign a petition to trigger a recall vote; and urges the Government to incorporate these provisions as part of its legislative programme to rebuild trust between people and power. |
| 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 |
| Richard Burden | Graeme Morrice | Teresa Pearce |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Caroline Lucas |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| Stephen Williams |
| Mr Adrian Sanders |
| John Hemming [R] |
| Sir Alan Beith |
| Sir Malcolm Bruce |
| Annette Brooke |
| That this House supports a diverse and ethical banking system; welcomes the reported increase in account applications to ethical banks, such as Triodos in Bristol, as a result of the ongoing banking scandal; and encourages the public to embrace banks which serve ordinary people, small businesses, social enterprises and local communities. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 328 | DVLA OFFICE NETWORK CLOSURES | 4:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Ian Lavery |
| Graham Stringer |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Mr John Leech |
| Sir Tony Cunningham | Caroline Lucas |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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. |
| Andrew Stephenson |
| David Morris |
| That this House welcomes the success of Pendle Borough Council in promoting tourism; notes that 2012 is the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch trials and the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, whose Bandmaster Wallace Hartley came from Pendle; commends the opening of the Titanic in Lancashire Museum to remember the many Lancastrians caught up in the tragedy; further notes that over the summer events will include the Trawden Agricultural Show and Barrowford Show, the Trawden Garden Festival, the Pendle Cycle Festival, including the Colne Grand Prix Cycle Race, the Pendle Pedal and the Tour of Pendle; further notes that the highlight of the summer for music lovers has to be the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne, spanning four days and featuring some of the greatest names in blues, and that the event was named the Best British Blues Festival in the British Blues Awards 2011; further notes that September brings the annual Pendle Walking Festival, which is now the largest in the UK; believes that promoting tourism is vital for economic development across the north of England; and encourages hon. Members to visit Pendle during 2012. |
| 339 | HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE | 5:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mark Durkan |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| Jim McGovern |
| 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. |
| 343 | NORTH EAST DELUGE | 5:7:12 |
| Ian Mearns |
| Grahame M. Morris |
| Pat Glass |
| Ian Lavery |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Martin Caton |
| Paul Flynn |
| Lorely Burt |
| David Morris | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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. |
| 353 | INNOVATION IN SURGERY | 6:7:12 |
| Rosie Cooper |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mr Virendra Sharma |
| David Simpson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Martin Caton |
| 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 |
| Dr Eilidh Whiteford | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 362 | SAVE HARRY THE HEDGEHOG CAMPAIGN | 9:7:12 |
| Andrew Rosindell |
| Jim Shannon |
| Mrs Eleanor Laing |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Mr Adrian Sanders |
| David Tredinnick |
| 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 |
| Stephen Williams |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Martin Caton |
| David Tredinnick | David Morris | Caroline Lucas |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Martin Caton |
| Lady Hermon |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Mr Dennis Skinner | David Tredinnick | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Martin Caton |
| Lady Hermon |
| Jim Dobbin |
| David Tredinnick | David Morris | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Glenda Jackson | Yasmin Qureshi | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Glenda Jackson | Yasmin Qureshi |
| 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 |
| Stewart Hosie | Dr Eilidh Whiteford | Pete Wishart |
| Glenda Jackson | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| John McDonnell |
| Paul Flynn |
| Jonathan Edwards |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| 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 |
| John McDonnell |
| Paul Flynn |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| Jim Sheridan |
| Caroline Lucas | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| 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 |
| Paul Flynn |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mr Ronnie Campbell |
| Sir Alan Meale |
| Martin Caton |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| 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. |
| 372 | NATIONAL DIABETES STRATEGY | 11:7:12 |
| Austin Mitchell |
| Andrew George |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Jim Dobbin [R] |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House is deeply concerned by the National Audit Office report, The management of adult diabetes services in the NHS, which found that NHS diabetes services in England are delivering poor performance against expected levels of care, high numbers of avoidable deaths and are not delivering value for money; notes that in 2009-10, there were an estimated 3.1 million people aged 16 years and older with diabetes in England, of which 2.34 million were diagnosed and 760,000 were undiagnosed; further notes that NHS spending on diabetes services in 2010 was at least £3.9 billion, or around 4 per cent of the NHS budget; and calls for the introduction of a new national diabetes strategy to replace the National Service Framework for Diabetes which is due to expire in 2013 to make diabetes a health service priority and deliver improvements in diabetes prevention and in the quality of care for patients. |
|
[R] Relevant interest declared |
| 373 | UNIVERSAL PENSIONER BENEFITS | 11:7:12 |
| Mr David Crausby |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Yasmin Qureshi |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House is deeply concerned at suggestions that pensioner benefits such as free television licences, winter fuel allowances and bus passes ought to be means-tested; recognises the tremendous success of these benefits, in particular the free bus pass in bringing about increased use of public transport, reduced car dependency and improvements to the quality of life of pensioners by allowing them to keep mobile and socially connected; and calls on the Government to strongly resist means-testing of all these benefits and this significantly costly suggestion and to continue to fully fund these beneficial schemes for all pensioners. |
| 374 | GLASGOW RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB | 11:7:12 |
| Mr Gregory Campbell |
| Mr Nigel Dodds |
| David Simpson |
| Dr William McCrea |
| Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson |
| Jim Dobbin |
| That this House acknowledges the strenuous efforts being made by the current management, playing and backroom staff at Rangers Football Club to set the Club on a sound financial footing; commends the sacrificial financial moves made by many at Rangers in recent months to help alleviate the problems caused by previous owners; and calls on the Scottish football authorities, if they believe in integrity, to move quickly so that both Rangers with their worldwide fan base and all other clubs can prepare for the new season, allowing genuine football fans to enjoy the game and the clubs they love. |
| 375 | OLYMPIC SECURITY AND FRED WIGG TOWER | 11:7:12 |
| John Cryer |
| John McDonnell |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House recognises the need to provide reasonable security for the Olympic Games but is concerned at the unprecedented decision of the Ministry of Defence, in peacetime and where no emergency has arisen, to station troops, armed police and ground-based air defence missile systems on top of Fred Wigg Tower, a civilian residential block of flats, Leyton, without any consultation with the residents affected and without bringing the matter before this House for consideration by hon. Members, despite the fact that seven years have passed since this country was awarded the Olympic Games; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to examine urgently the possibility of building a temporary tower as for the missile systems instead of siting such weapons and launch pads over the heads of the ordinary men, women and children who have had no say in the decision or alternatively to provide proper security to protect the residents living in Fred Wigg Tower from potential terrorist attack and to provide financial assistance to concerned and worried residents who wish to move for the duration of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. |
| 376 | RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE ARAB WORLD | 11:7:12 |
| Naomi Long |
| Jim Shannon |
| Sir Alan Beith |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Sir Tony Cunningham | Mrs Mary Glindon |
| That this House recognises the importance of freedom of religion as a fundamental element of an open, liberal democracy; calls on the Government to use its influence, directly with the nations of the Arab world and indirectly through the EU and the UN, to protect Christians and other religious minorities under threat and ensure that they are not forced to flee from their homes and become refugees and asylum seekers; urges that any new constitutions fully support religious freedom as defined by Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and asks the Government to raise issues of religious liberty as a key topic in all dealings with the governments of the Arab world. |
| 377 | 2nd BATTALION, THE YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (GREEN HOWARDS) | 11:7:12 |
| Tom Blenkinsop |
| Alex Cunningham |
| Jenny Chapman |
| Phil Wilson |
| Mr Kevin Barron |
| Jim Dobbin |
| That this House commends the services of the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards); recognises the 300 years of exemplary service of its predecessor, the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment); notes the cultural and economic importance of the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment throughout Teesside and North Yorkshire; acknowledges that Teesside is one of the areas most affected by cuts; calls on the Secretary of State for Defence to reconsider the Battalion's proposed abolition; and asks him to take steps to ensure the name and spirit of the Green Howards survives. |
| 378 | HOUSE OF COMMONS SWITCHBOARD STAFF | 11:7:12 |
| Kate Hoey |
| Nicholas Soames |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sammy Wilson |
| Mark Durkan |
| Keith Vaz |
| David Tredinnick | Teresa Pearce | Glenda Jackson |
| Yasmin Qureshi | David Morris | Caroline Lucas |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| That this House is very concerned that from May 2013 its switchboard staff will be moved to Southampton; worries that the quality of service based on strong relationships and trust may be damaged by this; is dismayed that many longstanding staff may find themselves redundant if they do not move; values and appreciates the service provided by existing staff; and calls on Capita, as the Operator Bureau contractor, to reconsider this move and maintain these services on site. |
| 379 | QUEUING AT HEATHROW AIRPORT | 11:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House notes that the British Airports Authority wrote to the Government expressing its concern at the lengthy queuing by passengers at Heathrow Airport caused by the lack of fully trained border control staff resulting from Government staffing cutbacks; considers that this country will be deeply embarrassed if visitors to it over the coming weeks risk spending more time queuing than enjoying the Olympics; and given the failure of the responsible Minister to address this problem effectively, despite repeated warnings from the Public and Commercial Services Union which represents the border control staff, calls on the Prime Minister to intervene urgently and take personal responsibility for resolving this potential nightmare. |
| 380 | NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY | 11:7:12 |
| Graeme Morrice |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House notes that 18 July 2012 is Nelson Mandela International Day, marking the 94th birthday of the great South African statesman; further notes that, following South Africa's official designation of the Day in 2009 to acknowledge Mr Mandela's 67 years of public service, people there are encouraged to give 67 minutes of voluntary service each year on 18 July; welcomes the UN General Assembly's unanimous adoption of an annual Nelson Mandela International Day in a resolution sponsored by 165 countries in November 2009; further welcomes the fact that, on the initiative of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Government and ACTSA Scotland, this date in 2012 is being inaugurated as an annual fixture in Scotland with the intention of building on co-operation between Scotland and South Africa; and congratulates all involved with this initiative and with the sending of a nine-tonne container-load of donated books, sorted and packed by ACTSA volunteers, to school libraries in South Africa. |
| 381 | OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS | 11:7:12 |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Martin Vickers |
| That this House notes that a consequence of changing its sitting hours on Tuesdays from the afternoon to the morning will mean that each year an estimated 20,000 visitors, predominantly organised school parties, will no longer be able to visit the House; believes that the opportunity for young people to visit the Houses of Parliament is an important part of their education and of contact with the democratic process; and calls on the House authorities to consider what alternative arrangements can be made to enable school parties and others to attend Parliament on sitting days. |
| 382 | RACISM IN THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE | 11:7:12 |
| Keith Vaz |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| That this House strongly condemns recent abusive comments made in the Big Brother house in the Channel 5 television programme Big Brother, some of which have been perceived as racist; notes, in particular, that a total of 1,225 complaints were made by members of the public following those comments, 1,108 of which followed one specific, particularly severe comment; further notes that Big Brother has been warned in the past about racist comments made in the Big Brother house; and calls on Ofcom to ensure that Big Brother enforces its rules more effectively. |
| 383 | ZERO WASTE STRATEGIES, RECYCLING AND INCINERATION | 11:7:12 |
| Martin Horwood |
| Daniel Kawczynski |
| Mr Tom Clarke |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Stephen Gilbert |
| Mr Graham Stuart |
| That this House notes the European Parliament's adoption by a large majority, on 24 May 2012, of a resolution on a Resource Efficient Europe, which commits to working towards a zero waste strategy and the Parliament's call on the Commission to bring forward legislative proposals, by the end of 2014, to ban both landfill and the incineration of recyclable and compostable waste in Europe, by 2020; further notes growing evidence of incinerator overcapacity in the UK by 2015, which seriously risks harming recycling performance, as has already happened in some European countries; further notes UK figures showing a steady and significant decline in residual waste since the middle of the last decade - even allowing for the economic recession - and rising recycling rates; acknowledges the impact that these developments will have on the economic case for, and environmental sustainability of, mass-burn incinerators in the UK within a decade; and calls on the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and Communities and Local Government, and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to work together to examine how government policy can positively facilitate the pursuit of zero waste strategies, and to report to Parliament on their findings as a matter of urgency, as many local communities across the country are currently opposing their local waste authorities' costly, environmentally damaging and unsustainable plans to build mass-burn incineration plants. |
| 384 | DRUG CONTROL AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 11:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| That this House deplores the use of the death penalty for drugs and the worldwide prevalence of detention centres for drug offences; commends the recent report from Harm Reduction International, Partners in Crime, which identifies nations where international aid for drug enforcement has often resulted in gross human rights violations; notes that in the name of drug control, donor countries are supporting practices in other countries that they themselves regard as morally reprehensible and illegal; and calls on the Government to act on the report's recommendations to promote drug control policies that truly respect, protect and fulfil human rights. |
| 385 | FAMILY-BASED INTERVENTIONS IN TACKLING SUBSTANCE MISUSE | 11:7:12 |
| John McDonnell |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| David Tredinnick |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| That this House commends the recent report from Addaction, Breaking the Cycle, which highlights the importance of family-based interventions for families with drug and alcohol misuse problems; notes that a million children live with a drug misuser or dependent drinker; further notes that an effective family intervention costs £4,000, whilst the estimated cost to society for one troubled family is over £75,000; and calls on the Government to act on the report's recommendations to break the cycle of inter-generational substance misuse as a matter of urgency. |
| 386 | CATERING FACILITIES ON INTERCITY WEST COAST RAIL SERVICES | 11:7:12 |
| Sir Gerald Kaufman |
| John McDonnell |
| Grahame M. Morris |
| Katy Clark |
| Jim Dobbin |
| Kelvin Hopkins |
| Sir Tony Cunningham | David Morris | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Mrs Mary Glindon |
| That this House welcomes the work of catering staff on Intercity West Coast services; is appalled at reports that some of the four bidders for the new West Coast Mainline franchise, namely Abellio, First Group, SNCF/Keolis and Virgin may be proposing to remove catering facilities from future services, including the removal of the onboard shop; believes passengers should enjoy the right to have access to food and drink, including hot food on these intercity services, this especially being the case when rail fares are the most expensive in Europe; is alarmed that as well as leaving passengers with a vastly inferior service, axing catering staff could also result in the loss of over 800 rail jobs; and calls on all the bidders for the franchise and the Government to provide urgent reassurances that they will be looking to maintain and enhance catering facilities. |
| 387 | HALL'S OF BROXBURN | 12:7:12 |
| Graeme Morrice |
| Michael Connarty |
| Iain McKenzie |
| Mark Lazarowicz |
| Pamela Nash |
| Jim Sheridan |
| That this House notes with regret the decision by Vion Food UK to consult on the future of Hall's of Broxburn meat factory in West Lothian, putting at risk 1,700 jobs; further notes that the company waited until the very last moment before engaging with its employees and their unions about the potential for closure; accepts that Hall's of Broxburn, a well-known Scottish brand, has been a major employer and vital part of the local economy in West Lothian for many decades and that the loss of the plant would be a hammer blow for Broxburn and the communities of West Lothian; welcomes the establishment of a task force to try to secure the future of the plant and its workforce; but believes that, in light of last September's announcement that £20 million was to be spent to create a new centre of excellence at the plant supported by nearly £2 million of public funds to create 250 new jobs and safeguard 1,000 others, which was welcomed as `fantastic news' by the First Minister, there are numerous important questions to be answered about how this crisis point has now been reached; and calls on the Government to do all it can to help secure the future of the factory and workforce. |
| 388 | JOHN CLARE NATIONAL CELEBRATION | 12:7:12 |
| Mr Barry Sheerman |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House recalls the poetic genius of John Clare, born in Helpston, Northamptonshire on 13 July 1793; remembers he was from the humblest origins and now his poetry is regarded as some of the finest in the English language; and calls for his greater national recognition by the dedication of his birthday as a national day celebrating rural heritage. |
| 389 | OPERATION INERTIA | 12:7:12 |
| That this House congratulates officers from the Sierras team of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of HM Revenue and Customs for their hard work, skill and tenacity in securing convictions and significant terms of imprisonment against 15 members of criminal gangs in the £176 million Missing Trader Intra Community VAT fraud known as Operation Inertia; and recognises that this represented one of the longest and most complex investigations embarked upon, with the team operating in a determined and professional manner to uncover evidence to bring before the courts to ensure many organised criminals were brought to justice, protecting and securing millions of pounds of taxpayers' money in the process. |
| 390 | ELEPHANT PROTECTION | 12:7:12 |
| Neil Parish |
| Mr Graham Allen |
| Mr David Anderson |
| Zac Goldsmith |
| Mr John Leech |
| Caroline Lucas |
| Sir Bob Russell | Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House recognises that elephants in Africa and Asia are facing a severe and growing threat; highlights with grave concern the hundreds of elephants massacred in Cameroon earlier this year and notes that ivory seizures in 2011 reached record highs; welcomes the Coalition Agreement commitment to press for a ban on ivory sales and encourages greater resources to be made available to combat the illegal ivory trade both in the UK and abroad; further highlights with grave concern the decline in the Asian elephant population by up to 90 per cent in the last 100 years, particularly due to extensive loss of habitat, a threat which remains unaddressed on an international level; notes with concern the illegal trade in live elephants in Asia for the tourist and entertainment industries; further welcomes the Government's support for the African Elephant Action Plan and calls on the Government to support the development of an Asian Elephant Action Plan; and encourages the Government to take a lead in protecting elephants internationally. |
| 391 | BALWANT SINGH RAJOANA | 12:7:12 |
| Greg Mulholland |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House welcomes the decision of Her Excellency President Patil of India to postpone the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana, and very much hopes that the process to execute him will not be re-started; considers the use of the death penalty to be a cruel and inhumane punishment; is encouraged to see both that there has been a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in India since 2004, and also that more countries are moving towards its abolition; believes that because of the strong ties between Britain and India it is suitable to express this request to the Indian Parliament; and hopes that the Indian Parliament will see fit to ask Her Excellency President Patil to exercise her prerogative of mercy on Balwant Singh Rajoana and all others on death row who face such an uncertain fate. |
| David Morris |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| Sir Peter Bottomley |
| That this House notes that 3,000 dairy farmers met in Westminster on 11 July 2012; further notes this meeting was as a result of the chronic underpayment of farmers for milk; believes that processors and retailers have a duty to pay a fair price for all produce; commends the National Farmers Union for bringing this important issue into media attention; and calls on the whole House to support dairy farmers in their campaign for fair prices. |
| 393 | BRINGING EMPTY HOMES BACK INTO USE | 12:7:12 |
| That this House notes that the Government has given Lancaster City Council £1.9 million to tackle clusters of empty homes; further notes that this will bring 114 empty homes back into use; believes Lancaster City Council should spend that money in the West End of Morecambe; and further believes that by bringing these homes back into use they will give a significant boost of the regeneration of Morecambe. |
| 394 | HELICOPTER FLIGHTS OVER LONDON | 12:7:12 |
| Tom Brake |
| Dr Julian Huppert |
| That this House notes with concern the large number of non-essential helicopter flights over London causing unacceptable levels of noise pollution to large numbers of residents in urban areas; further notes that lack of regulation in this field means that there is no limit on night-time flying and that sufficient safety precautions are not in place for the landing sites; further notes that there is no formal way to monitor whether helicopters have complied with basic flight regulations and guidelines; believes that, given motorists incur additional costs when travelling in congested areas like London, it is inappropriate for helicopter users to pay no additional charges beyond a reduced level of fuel excise duty; and calls on the Government to introduce regulation, similar to that introduced in other major international cities, to reduce the levels of helicopter noise pollution in urban areas, which ensures all helicopter flights are registered with a central agency, incentivises helicopter manufacturers to reduce noise pollution in newer models, bans night-time flights, and disincentivises the use of private helicopters in urban areas. |
| 395 | ESSEX FIRE SERVICE | 12:7:12 |
| Kate Hoey |
| John McDonnell |
| Mr Ian Davidson |
| Ian Lavery |
| Mr Dennis Skinner |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Katy Clark | Michael Connarty |
| That this House is concerned that 160 frontline firefighter posts have been cut in Essex since 2008 and current plans would bring those losses to one in five since 2008; recognises the impact this will have on response times to house fires; notes that despite an increase in the total budget by £7 million since 2008, the frontline budget has been underspent by £1.6 million; further notes that the fire authority has a financial reserve of £12 million; and calls on the Department for Communities and Local Government to urge fire authorities to use their reserves, where available, to limit frontline cuts affecting 999 emergency response services. |
| Graham Stringer |
| Katy Clark |
| Mrs Linda Riordan |
| Graeme Morrice |
| John McDonnell |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| Michael Connarty | Sir Bob Russell |
| That this House condemns employment practices within the Sir Richard Branson-owned Virgin trains that have led to summary dismissal of workers in direct contravention of employment law in the UK; has been informed of the use of confidential compromise agreements that withhold the identification of sums paid out in settlement of claims against summary dismissal; asks for information about how much public subsidy paid to Virgin Trains has been used to pay for this style of employment practice; rejects the discriminatory practices that mean Transport Salaried Staffs' Association trade union staff representatives are targeted; and calls on Virgin Trains to treat its staff in accordance with company policies and employment law to avoid the development of a confrontational approach to industrial relations and to promote dignity at work in accordance with alleged company values. |
| 397 | ADIDAS WORKING CONDITIONS | 12:7:12 |
| Katy Clark |
| Jeremy Corbyn |
| John McDonnell |
| Michael Connarty |
| Sir Bob Russell |
| That this House expresses its concern at the Playfair report highlighting the conditions of Adidas workers in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics; notes that in countries such as Indonesia workers are paid as little as 34 pence an hour; further notes that the report has found that Adidas workers are employed without any job security and face harassment or dismissal if they organise trade unions and are often forced into working long hours to meet production targets; further notes that Adidas is the primary sponsor of Team GB; and calls on the Government to encourage all Olympic sponsors to promote safe and secure working standards for all their employees. |
| 398 | BRETHREN CHURCHES AND THE CHARITIES COMMISSION | 12:7:12 |
| That this House notes the decision of the Charity Commission to revoke the charitable status of a trust that is part of the Brethren Christian Church, which does a lot of good work for charity and community groups; believes that this is an extremely important test case because it has widespread implications for all Christian charitable trusts; and therefore calls on the Government and all parliamentarians to express their belief to the Charities Commission that Christian groups who are serving the community have the right to charitable status and should not be subject to politically correct bias. |
