Published – Thursday 22 October 2026

New EDMs

1004Drilling at Jackdaw

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 5

Carla Denyer

Hannah Spencer

Adrian Ramsay

Siân Berry

Dr Ellie Chowns

That this House notes that the UK Government’s decision to license new drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea is at odds with their 2024 manifesto commitment not to issue licences to explore new fields because they will not take a penny off bills and cannot make us energy secure; believes that this decision ignores the climate science consensus and the UN’s warning that immediate and sustained cuts to greenhouse gas emissions are crucial to avoid the worst impacts of climate breakdown; further notes that Jackdaw is projected to contribute just 2% of UK gas demand at most over its lifetime, will only create 27 direct full-time jobs and, according to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, does not solve the problem of affordability; further believes that the only way to achieve genuine energy sovereignty is to get the UK off fossil fuels as fast as possible; recognises the ongoing and extensive public support for action to protect against the impacts of climate breakdown; and therefore calls on the Government to keep all new fossil fuels in the ground, including at Rosebank oil field in the North Sea, and instead focus on measures that would bring down bills and create secure jobs, like scaling up cheaper home-grown renewables, rolling out a fully-funded national home insulation programme, fully decoupling the price of gas from electricity, and ending rampant profiteering by energy companies.

100550 years of Queens Cross Housing Association

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Martin Rhodes

That this House congratulates Queens Cross Housing Association on 50 years of service to the people and communities of Glasgow North; celebrates its growth from a small community-led association into a major provider of nearly 4,500 affordable homes; recognises its outstanding contribution to improving housing, building new homes and regenerating neighbourhoods across north-west Glasgow; commends the Association for remaining firmly rooted in the communities it serves and for helping people and neighbourhoods to thrive alongside its investment in bricks and mortar; pays tribute to the generations of Board members, staff, tenants, volunteers and partners whose vision, commitment and hard work have shaped Queens Cross over the past five decades; and wishes the Association continued success as it remains at the heart of its communities and begins the next chapter of its story.

1006Industrial action at The Lancet

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House supports members of the National Union of Journalists taking strike action at the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, in a dispute which has seen members walk out for the first time in two hundred years over pay; believes that the rise of AI-generated research submissions makes the need for retaining qualified and experienced human workers to weed out slop and fabricated studies greater than ever; notes that the work of journalists at The Lancet Group, which comprises 29 monthly specialty titles and a weekly journal, plays an integral role in countering misinformation on public health and supporting medical research; further notes that the ownership group Elsevier reported an adjusted operating profit of £1.035 billion in 2025, which translates to a 7% underlying profit increase and a 38% profit margin, yet failed to bring forward a pay offer which addresses sustained low staff remuneration; and therefore calls on the employer to enter urgent pay negotiations to address the concerns of NUJ members.

1007Opening of the eco-roundhouse at St Brigid’s Chapel and Field, Glastonbury

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Sarah Dyke

That this House welcomes the opening of the eco-roundhouse at the St Brigid’s Chapel and Field project in Beckery, Glastonbury; congratulates the Friends of Bride’s Mound, Somerset Wildlife Trust and South West Heritage Trust, alongside volunteers and the wider community, on their work to protect and celebrate the site’s rich heritage and natural environment; notes that the project forms part of the Glastonbury Town Deal and encompasses 33 acres of historic landscape and wildlife habitats; further welcomes the provision of a new space for meetings and educational activities, alongside improved access for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility; recognises the project’s contribution to enhancing biodiversity, supporting health and wellbeing and bringing the stories of this ancient place of pilgrimage to a wider audience; wishes all involved continued success in developing the site for residents and visitors alike; and calls on the Government to invest in the protection and conservation of historic sites, support community-led heritage projects, and improve public access to the UK’s cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

1008Cleaning and catering workers on Transpennine Express

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 5

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Apsana Begum

Ian Lavery

That this House commends the work of cleaning and catering staff who work to make travelling on Transpennine Express a hygienic, safe and pleasurable experience; notes that cleaning and catering are essential services and will be a crucial part of Great British Railways’ offer to passengers; further notes with concern that cleaning is outsourced to Bidvest Noonan while catering is outsourced to Rail Gourmet as legacies of the failed experiment with privatisation; is disturbed that workers in both these companies on Transpennine services have been driven to take strike action as a consequence of low pay offers while Bidvest Noonan paid out a dividend of £37 million last year and Rail Gourmet’s parent company SSP paid out £29.6 million; believes that this behaviour by outsourcing companies undermines the Government’s aspiration that Great British Railways be one railway, one team, a champion of diversity and an employer of choice; supports the RMT’s Better Jobs, Better Services campaign, which aims to end outsourcing on the railways; further believes that this aligns with the Government’s long-stated aim of overseeing the biggest wave of insourcing for a generation; and calls on the Government to direct publicly-owned Transpennine Express to insource its contracts now to create better jobs and services.

1009Abbeyfield School’s success in the International Youth Rocketry Challenge

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Sarah Gibson

That this House congratulates the students of Abbeyfield School in Chippenham on winning the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge and subsequently achieving victory in the international final at the Farnborough International Airshow on 24 July 2026; celebrates their success in representing the United Kingdom alongside teams from the United States, Japan, Ukraine and France; commends the scientific knowledge, engineering skill, creativity and teamwork demonstrated in designing, building and launching a model rocket and returning its fragile payload safely to the ground; pays tribute to the teachers, school staff and families who supported the team; recognises the contribution of ADS and the competition’s organisers and supporters in providing practical opportunities for young people to develop their skills; highlights the importance of access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and enrichment activities; and wishes the students every success in their future studies and careers.

1010BBC Scotland channel closure

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Chris Law

That this House expresses concern that the BBC will close the BBC Scotland linear television channel in Spring 2027; notes that since its launch in 2019, the channel has provided viewers with a range of exclusive Scottish content encompassing arts, comedy, documentaries, drama, news, and sport, and has been an important launchpad for a number of BBC commissions as well as on and off screen talent that have gone on to have considerable success; regrets that the closure of BBC Scotland will result in 10 jobs being lost adding to the 60 BBC jobs lost in Scotland this year alone, and that the BBC Scotland’s director Hayley Valentine has warned that there will be further cuts in the coming months; shares concerns for the staff affected, who have lost or will lose their livelihoods; further notes that this decision comes in an attempt to save £500m over two years as the BBC faces significant financial pressures; underlines that the decision will be a significant blow to Scotland's media landscape in a long-standing pattern of BBC underinvestment in Scotland, raising serious questions about the broadcaster’s commitment to Scottish audiences and the creative sector, and its public service obligations to serve all parts of the UK fairly and equitably; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to devolve broadcasting to the Scottish Parliament to enhance accountability of BBC Scotland to Scottish audiences and to the Scottish creative sector.

1011Home-Start West Berkshire’s long-serving volunteers

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Mr Lee Dillon

That this House pays tribute to Gill Foster, Lynne Taylor, Sarah New, Pat Gooch, Deirdre Carr and Erica Barker for their exceptional long-standing service to Home-Start West Berkshire; recognises their collective contribution of more than 100 years of volunteering in support of families during challenging and sometimes overwhelming periods of parenthood; praises the wider Home-Start West Berkshire team for its compassionate and empowering work through peer support groups, home-visiting guidance, fundraising events and its Baby Bank; acknowledges the importance of its confidential and reassuring approach, particularly for those in rural and isolated communities, providing a network of care and companionship that helps parents regain confidence and build stable home environments in which children can thrive; and thanks the charity’s volunteers, staff and supporters for their lasting impact on families across West Berkshire.

1012Jackdaw gas field

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

Seamus Logan

That this House welcomes the end of the uncertainty for businesses and households across the North East of Scotland following the UK Government’s decision to license new drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea; stresses that the economic benefits of new drilling at Jackdaw must be felt by local communities now and for decades to come; recognises the need for domestic production of critical resources and the associated smaller carbon impact of these against international imports and their associated market volatility, and the resulting impact on household energy costs; and therefore calls on the Government to commit to use this opportunity as a turning point, to fund critical long-term green energy projects in Scotland and specifically the North East, such as the Acorn Project at St Fergus using funding allocated within the UK Government’s announced Energy Wealth Fund and denounces past, failed UK Government approaches to Scottish energy resources, which often plugged Treasury funding gaps at the expense of Scotland.

1013Fuel duty and the cost of living

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

James McMurdock

That this House recognises the continued pressure that fuel costs place on households, commuters and businesses; notes the importance of affordable road transport to the movement of goods and the wider economy; believes that further increases in fuel duty would risk worsening the cost of living and increasing costs throughout supply chains; calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to rule out further increases in fuel duty in the forthcoming Budget and to consider further reductions to ease the burden on motorists; and further calls on the Government to consider an Essential User Rebate for road haulage businesses and other essential commercial operators.

1014Supporting small businesses and the high street

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

James McMurdock

That this House recognises the vital contribution of small businesses, independent retailers and hospitality businesses to local economies and employment; expresses concern that high operating costs and business taxation place pressure on the viability of high street businesses; believes that the forthcoming Budget must deliver meaningful and predictable tax relief for small businesses; calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the business rates burden on smaller high street premises, review the impact of VAT and energy costs on small hospitality businesses, and provide greater certainty for businesses planning to invest and employ staff; and further calls for a fairer competitive environment for domestic retailers facing competition from overseas online sellers.

1015Overseas aid spending and domestic priorities

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 1

James McMurdock

That this House recognises the importance of ensuring that taxpayers’ money is spent responsibly and delivers demonstrable value; expresses concern that significant sums continue to be spent on overseas aid projects when public services at home face substantial financial pressures; believes that the Government should prioritise essential domestic services, including healthcare, education and national security, when allocating limited resources; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the overseas aid budget in the forthcoming Budget, review programmes that do not demonstrate clear value for money, and redirect savings towards essential domestic priorities.

1016Cleaners on Merseyrail

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 5

Kim Johnson

John McDonnell

Ian Lavery

Apsana Begum

Grahame Morris

That this House commends the work of station cleaners who work to ensure that Merseyrail services are hygienic, safe and pleasurable to travel on; further commends the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Steve Rotheram for his decision to bring Merseyrail services into public ownership in 2028; notes with concern that cleaning on Merseyrail services is outsourced to Churchill Contract Services; is disturbed to learn that cleaners employed by Churchill on Merseyrail are now in dispute with their employer after the company refused to maintain current pay rates that sustain a 20p differential over the Living Wage; further notes with dismay that Churchill has paid out £57 million in dividends in the last two years; supports the Government’s promise to oversee the biggest wave of insourcing for a generation and agrees that the age of outsourcing is over; welcomes Mayor Rotheram’s support for insourcing the Churchill cleaners and believes that creating a single integrated Merseyrail workforce will be better for passengers, taxpayers and workers alike; and calls on Merseyrail to direct its contractor to resolve the dispute by agreeing to pay the 20p differential and to sit down with the RMT to agree a timetable for insourcing the cleaners at the earliest opportunity.

1017Autumn Budget and cost of living support

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 5

Dr Ellie Chowns

Hannah Spencer

Adrian Ramsay

Carla Denyer

Siân Berry

That this House notes with alarm that we are facing an enduring and escalating affordability crisis, made worse by this summer’s record breaking and deadly heatwaves; further notes that this is only set to get worse this winter, with energy bills going up by over £270 from January and devastating flooding predicted; believes that the Autumn Budget should not be a business as usual affair but must be a Budget to make the UK affordable and to invest in our long-term climate resilience; further believes that over £60 billion could be raised to achieve these ends, by taxing the extreme wealth and profits of those with the broadest shoulders; supports measures to tax wealth fairly including bringing Capital Gains Tax in line with Income Tax, introducing National Insurance on investment income and an annual wealth tax on billionaires and multi-millionaires; further supports measures to introduce a tax on the huge windfall profits of banks; demands an end to all fossil fuel tax breaks and a permanent energy profits levy; also believes tax reliefs for data centres should be removed; and calls on the Treasury to introduce the above revenue raising measures to fund vital cost-of-living support on the 28th October.

1018Needle and syringe programmes

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 3

Grahame Morris

Ian Lavery

John McDonnell

That this House welcomes the Out of Reach report, published by the Hepatitis C Trust, alerting us to the declining access to needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) and the threat to public health; notes that NSPs are an evidence-based public health intervention which help prevent the transmission of hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV and provide an important point of contact with wider health and support services; notes with concern that only 26% of responding local authorities showed a strong understanding of NSP provision in their area; further notes that, of pharmacies identified through local sources as providing NSP services, only 47% were confirmed as doing so; is further concerned that one third of pharmacies contacted in both the 2023 and 2025 mapping exercises reported that they had stopped providing NSP services; further notes significant variation in the accessibility and quality of NSP provision, including restrictions on the amount of injecting equipment available; recognises the vital role of community pharmacies, drug and alcohol services, outreach services and peer-led organisations in providing high-quality, accessible harm reduction services; believes that accurate and comprehensive information on NSP availability and quality is essential to effective public health planning and the prevention of blood-borne viruses; and calls on the Government to undertake a national evaluation of NSP provision and take action to ensure that NSP provision is adequately monitored, commissioned and resourced across England.

Added Names

Below are EDMs tabled in the last two weeks to which names have been added. Only the first 6 names and any new names are included.

910Commemorating victims of the Arandora Star tragedy of 1940

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 15

Tonia Antoniazzi

Jim Shannon

Brian Leishman

Torcuil Crichton

Patricia Ferguson

Ben Lake

Sammy Wilson

That this House welcomes Italy’s decision to establish a National Day of Remembrance in honour of the victims of the Arandora Star tragedy; notes that on 2 July 1940 the Arandora Star, carrying Italian, German and Austrian civilian detainees from the United Kingdom to Canada, was sunk by a German torpedo off the coast of Ireland, resulting in the loss of approximately 780 lives, including 446 Italians; further notes that many of those detained had lived peacefully in Britain for many years and were caught up in the fear and uncertainty of wartime following Italy's entry into the Second World War; recognises the profound and lasting impact of the tragedy on families and communities across the United Kingdom and Italy; further welcomes the unanimous approval by both Houses of the Italian Parliament of legislation establishing 11 October each year as a national day of remembrance, honouring the memory of those who died and promoting awareness of the tragedy among future generations; expresses a shared sense of regret for the suffering caused by the conflict and its consequences; celebrates the enduring friendship and close ties between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Italy; and encourages continued cooperation in commemorating this important chapter of shared history in the spirit of reconciliation and remembrance.

936Jammu and Kashmir Accession Day

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 4

Bob Blackman

Jim Shannon

Gill Furniss

Luke Taylor

That this House notes the continued observance on 26 October of Jammu and Kashmir Accession Day by residents of the UK of Jammu and Kashmiri heritage; records that on 26 October 1947 the Instrument of Accession was executed by Maharaja Hari Singh; reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of India over the State of Jammu and Kashmir; notes the importance of strong and constructive bilateral relations between the UK and the Republic of India; expresses sympathy for all civilians killed and injured in acts of terror in Jammu and Kashmir, including those in Pakistan occupied regions; notes with concern the continued impact of terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, which have resulted in civilian and security personnel casualties; notes with sadness the continued targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits, who remain vulnerable to acts of terror and intimidation in parts of Jammu and Kashmir; recognises the significance of this date for communities who mark it as the constitutional accession of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union; acknowledges the contribution of British Jammu and Kashmiri communities to the cultural, social, and civic life of the UK; welcomes peaceful commemorations in the UK that promote historical literacy, cultural exchange, and civic participation; and encourages constructive dialogue, community cohesion, and respect for international norms and sovereign boundaries in discussions about Jammu and Kashmir.

939Autumn Budget 2026

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 14

Andrew George

Dr Ellie Chowns

Iqbal Mohamed

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Dr Roz Savage

Brian Leishman

Nadia Whittome

That this House notes the extent of widening inequality in the UK, that the top 50 richest families now hold more wealth than the poorest half of the population and that there has been nearly 1000% increase in the wealth of UK billionaires since 1990; further notes that a dynamic study commissioned by Patriotic Millionaires and conducted by Dr Ben Tippett on the Sunday Times Rich List reported that £160 billion could have been raised for the UK's public finances over the past 35 years if those on the Rich List were annually taxed 2% on their net wealth, whilst their share of the wealth would still have increased from 1.7% to 2.7%; believes that moderate taxes would not provoke capital flight as lobbyists assert and is repeated by some media and commentators; also notes that an EU Commission study (2026) of 7 countries found negligible migration responses to wealth taxes; highlights considerable evidence that low taxes on wealth can be counterproductive for growth and productivity and that research by tax policy experts at CenTax and the IFS shows that equalising capital gains and income tax rates alongside introducing an investment allowance supports productivity and growth and would raise £19.7bn a year, as does taxing share buybacks and expanding NICs to income from wealth; notes the UK's tax-to-GDP ratio is around 35% according to OECD data (2024), lower than comparable G7 economies France (44%), Italy (43%), Nordic countries (41-43%); and calls on the Chancellor to reflect on these factors.

943Human rights in Bahrain

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 18

John McDonnell

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Jim Shannon

Carla Denyer

Brian Leishman

Dr Ellie Chowns

Jon TrickettRebecca Long Bailey

That this House condemns the escalating campaign of repression in Bahrain, led by King Hamad Al-Khalifa and enforced by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al-Khalifa, which has intensified since the outbreak of the Iran-US-Israel war; expresses grave concern over the arbitrary arrest of more than 700 people, including children, and the revocation of citizenship of 69 individuals, including 33 children, the youngest just 19 days old, leaving most stateless; condemns the enforced disappearance of 32-year-old Sayed Mohamed Almosawi, whose body was returned to his family nine days later bearing visible signs of torture as documented by Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Human Rights Watch; further condemns the mass arrest and prosecution of Shia clerics, with 56 defendants, including 46 clerics, facing trial, among them prominent Friday prayer leader Sheikh Mohamed Sanqour; expresses alarm at serious violations of fair trial rights, the secrecy surrounding the proceedings and allegations of torture to extract confessions; calls for an independent UN-led investigation into these abuses, including the ongoing mass trial of clerics, and the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained; and urges the Government to impose targeted sanctions on Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Al-Khalifa and immediately suspend UK taxpayer-funded training and assistance to Bahrain’s Interior Ministry and other institutions implicated in the crackdown, torture and use of the death penalty.

944Rent levels

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 10

Carla Denyer

Siân Berry

Hannah Spencer

Dr Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Zarah SultanaApsana Begum

That this House notes with alarm that renters across the UK now pay on average a third of their wages on rent, the highest level on record; recognises the huge impact this is having on communities, with families forced to cut back on essentials and young people priced out of the areas they grew up in; further notes that the government is set to transfer £70 billion to private landlords through housing support between 2024 and 2028, six times the amount of money that was spent on affordable homes over the past five years; also notes research by the Joseph Roundtree Foundation that shows that rent controls would cut the cost of linking Local Housing Allowance rates to local rents by £1.1 billion in 2030/31; calls on the government to adopt an immediate emergency brake on private rents at the Budget, so that rent rises do not go above the lowest of CPI, wage growth or 2%; believes an emergency brake would give renters breathing space, saving the average private renter in England at least £884 over three years, while a national Fair Rents Guarantee is implemented; and demands this urgent and immediate Government action to end rip-off rents at the upcoming Autumn Budget.

951Seafarers and the Employment Rights Act 2025

Tabled: 14/10/26 Signatories: 18

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Ian Byrne

Hannah Spencer

Cat Eccles

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Andy McDonald

That this House welcomes measures to strengthen the employment rights of merchant seafarers, following the P&O Ferries scandal; is concerned that some shipowners continue to profit from seafarer employment contracts which pay below the National Minimum Wage, require fatigue-inducing hours of work and exclude basic rights such as pensions; believes that collective bargaining agreements between employers and UK maritime unions are the most effective mechanism for recovering good seafarer jobs and training programmes, particularly in deprived coastal communities; agrees with the RMT trade union that seafarers on merchant ships with a sufficiently close link to the UK economy should be covered by all provisions, including improved trade union access rights and the ban on fire and rehire, in the Employment Rights Act (ERA) 2025 regardless of flag or nationality; further welcomes the commitments to seafarer rights which the Government gave during passage of the ERA, including to work with ambition and determination to advance seafarers’ rights; and calls on the Government to deliver on its commitments by starting work with the maritime trade unions on the full application of the Employment Rights Act 2025 for seafarers.

952Cable Street 90th anniversary

Tabled: 14/10/26 Signatories: 31

Apsana Begum

Dawn Butler

Jeremy Corbyn

Ian Byrne

Carla Denyer

Dr Ellie Chowns

Seamus Logan

That this House welcomes the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street; pays tribute to the tens of thousands of Jewish East Enders and socialist, trade unionist, and anti-fascist allies who stood together to halt the antisemitic march of Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists; celebrates the rich cultural and political history of the Jewish community in East London; notes that the events at Cable Street remain a defining example of cross-community solidarity, which has influenced subsequent generations of East Londoners resisting racism, fascism and discrimination; expresses concern at the contemporary rise of antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and far-right extremism in the UK and across Europe, including attacks on synagogues and mosques, and against minority communities, refugees, and asylum seekers; and reaffirms that all people have a responsibility to oppose racism, antisemitism, and intolerance in the spirit of the Cable Street protestors.

953Livelihoods of civil servants

Tabled: 14/10/26 Signatories: 19

John McDonnell

Mary Glindon

Ian Byrne

Ian Lavery

Nadia Whittome

Jeremy Corbyn

Rebecca Long BaileyAndy McDonald

That this House recognises the vital services that civil servants deliver every day, from securing borders to delivering benefits, from renewing passports and driving licences to ensuring tax revenues are collected; further recognises that the public services delivered by government workers touch all of our lives; notes that it is therefore concerning that the livelihoods of these workers are suffering as the value of their pay has fallen significantly with many thousands of civil servants now claiming in-work benefits and relying on the national living wage increases for a pay rise and that while pay falls short of cost-of-living increases the same staff face continued uncertainty over job security, office closures, attacks on flexible working and the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence; understands that the largest trade union in the civil service, the Public and Commercial Services union has put forward a set of reasonable demands aimed at seeking guarantees and assurances for their members which, if met, would address these issues; and urges the Government to negotiate with the union with a view to reaching an agreement that gives those working in the civil service and related areas the assurances they deserve.

966Support for outsourced gatesolutions catering workers at LNER

Tabled: 15/10/26 Signatories: 14

Grahame Morris

Luke Akehurst

John McDonnell

Cat Eccles

Rebecca Long Bailey

Ian Byrne

Lorraine BeaversAndy McDonald

That this House commends the work of outsourced catering workers who supply LNER trains with food along the route between London and Edinburgh; notes that providing a high quality catering offer will be vital to ensuring that Great British Railways is able to provide an attractive offer to passengers; further notes with concern that catering staff who supply LNER trains are currently outsourced to gatesolutions, an arm of Swiss multinational Gate Group, whose turnover last year was £4.7 billion; is disturbed to learn that the management of gatesolutions are now refusing to honour the Real Living Wage, having previously paid it; is dismayed that some of these workers, who are disproportionately from BME backgrounds and work unsocial hours, will now face rates barely above the statutory minimum; believes that this undermines the Government’s aspiration that Great British Railways be one railway, one team, a champion of diversity and an employer of choice; calls on publicly owned LNER to bring its contractor into line and ensure that a pay offer is made that resolves the dispute; and further calls on the Government to direct LNER to begin discussions with the RMT over insourcing this contract.

967World Menopause Day 2026

Tabled: 15/10/26 Signatories: 17

Helen Maguire

Victoria Collins

Ian Roome

Gideon Amos

Alex Brewer

Claire Young

Mr Joshua ReynoldsWendy Chamberlain

That this House notes that 18 October 2026 marks Menopause Awareness Day; acknowledges the profound impact menopause can have on women's physical health, mental wellbeing and ability to participate fully in society and the workforce; highlights the ongoing barriers many women face in accessing timely diagnoses, appropriate treatment and affordable hormone replacement therapy; raises concern over regional inequalities in access to menopause-related healthcare; welcomes the increased public and parliamentary recognition of menopause as a significant health and equality issue; supports initiatives to raise public awareness, challenge stigma and improve understanding of the menopause; and pays tribute to the organisations, healthcare professionals and campaigners working tirelessly to ensure that every woman can access the advice, treatment and support she needs throughout every stage of her life.

970Arrest of Leicester journalists

Tabled: 15/10/26 Signatories: 17

John McDonnell

Siân Berry

Carla Denyer

Hannah Spencer

Dr Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

Rebecca Long BaileyNadia Whittome

This House expresses its alarm at the arrest of journalists under the Terrorism Act, including two Leicester Gazette reporters and two union-accredited freelancers, who were covering a demonstration outside UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester, a subsidiary of the Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems on 8 October 2026; notes that the journalists had been blanket arrested under Section 13 and detained by police for three hours before they were de-arrested after handing over their personal information, despite the reporters having already identified themselves with their press credentials to multiple officers; and considers this police overreach to be a deeply concerning threat to the basic right of journalists to undertake the vital role they play in UK democracy.

971Pope Leo XIV

Tabled: 15/10/26 Signatories: 8

Mary Glindon

Valerie Vaz

Dr Scott Arthur

Luke Akehurst

Ian Roome

Dave Doogan

Seamus Logan

That this House is deeply saddened that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with Lung Adenocarcinoma; and hopes and prays that he recovers swiftly from his recent surgery and thrives for many more years to come.

974BBC Northern Ireland’s Give My Head Peace and The Blame Game

Tabled: 16/10/26 Signatories: 3

Robin Swann

Colum Eastwood

Jim Shannon

That this House regrets the decision by BBC Northern Ireland to cancel the long-running and iconic programmes Give My Head Peace and The Blame Game; recognises their contribution to Northern Ireland’s cultural identity, homegrown comedy and creative industries; notes their enduring popularity with audiences; and calls on BBC Northern Ireland to reconsider its decision and reinstate both programmes.

975UK Disability History Month

Tabled: 16/10/26 Signatories: 18

John McDonnell

Kim Johnson

Peter Lamb

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Lorraine Beavers

That this House welcomes the 17th UK Disability History Month which runs from 19 November to 19 December; calls on hon. Members, the media and the public to devote some time to developing their understanding of disability as a social oppression, which is created by the barriers of prejudice and attitude; is aware of inaccessible environments, communications and organisational practices within education, workplaces, transport and services, sport and leisure, that create problems for the 16 million disabled people in the United Kingdom with either long term physical or mental impairments; and calls on the Government to put in place measures to combat these barriers.

976Wishes for a full and speedy recovery for Pope Leo XIV

Tabled: 16/10/26 Signatories: 14

Ian Byrne

John McDonnell

Sorcha Eastwood

Rebecca Long Bailey

Brian Leishman

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Luke Akehurst

That this House sends its warmest wishes to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV following his recent surgery and wishes him a full and speedy recovery; recognises the comfort, compassion and hope he brings to millions of people across the world; acknowledges his commitment to peace, human dignity and standing alongside the poorest and most vulnerable; thanks the medical staff caring for him; joins people of all faiths and none in expressing solidarity and goodwill; and wishes His Holiness strength, peace and good health throughout his recovery and in the years ahead.

979Student finance

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 9

Abtisam Mohamed

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Gideon Amos

Gill Furniss

Dr Simon Opher

Apsana BegumRebecca Long BaileyKim Johnson

That this House recognises the vital role of financial support in enabling students from all backgrounds to access and succeed in higher education; welcomes the commitment to increase maintenance loans in line with inflation; notes the continuing pressures that rising living costs place on students and their families; further recognises the challenges faced by estranged students and by families supporting multiple children through higher education at the same time; believes that student support should be fair, accessible and reflective of individual circumstances; further believes that the Consumer Prices Index provides a more appropriate measure of inflation for student finance calculations than the generally higher Retail Prices Index; calls on the Government to keep under review the adequacy of maintenance support, the use of parental income in determining entitlement, access to student finance for estranged students, and the eligibility criteria for future maintenance grants; and urges the Government to ensure that all students facing financial hardship are able to access the support they need to participate fully in higher education.

981Craigies Farm named UK’s best farm shop

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 4

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House congratulates Craigies Farm, on being named the best farm shop in the United Kingdom by Cottages and Castles; recognises the hard work and dedication of the team in building the business from a one-table shop in 1988 into a popular farm shop and visitor attraction; welcomes its commitment to local produce, seasonal food and family friendly activities, including its annual pumpkin and tulip festivals; notes its recognition at the 2026 Farm Retail Awards as Pick Your Own Business of the Year; and celebrates the contribution Craigies Farm makes to the local economy and community, wishing the team continued success in the years ahead.

991E1 settlements

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 10

Calum Miller

Jess Brown-Fuller

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Zöe Franklin

Brian Mathew

Mr Joshua ReynoldsWendy ChamberlainJames MacCleary

That this House notes with grave concern that on 19 October 2026 the first round of bidding for construction tenders covering 1,234 housing units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank will close, with bidding for the remaining 2,167 units running from 25 October to 21 December 2026; states its resolute opposition to settlement development in E1 which would cut the West Bank into two separate geographic zones, preventing the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state; further notes with alarm Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s stated intention to bury hopes for a Palestinian state through this construction; welcomes the Government’s announcements of a goods and services trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements, but notes the bulk of these measures are yet to be implemented; and calls on the Government to identity, where possible, all companies and financial institutions which have submitted bids to provide goods or services for the construction or maintenance of illegal settlements in the E1, to clarify the specific sanctions regime that will apply to all such companies and financial institutions, and to accelerate the legislative process to ensure that the goods and services trade ban announced in September 2026 is implemented as swiftly as possible.

992Drumcree policing and the Provisional IRA

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 5

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Jim Allister

Mr Gregory Campbell

Gavin Robinson

That this House expresses grave concern at references to the 'feelings of PIRA (Provisional IRA)' in a police log concerning Drumcree; condemns the Provisional IRA’s campaign of murder and terror; remembers all those killed or injured during the Troubles and the suffering of their families; rejects any terrorist veto over lawful, peaceful activity; calls on the Chief Constable to explain the reference and its influence on policing decisions; further calls on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to commission and publish a new assessment of the Provisional IRA’s continued existence, structures and activities, specifically examining its links to political parties and any influence or control over their decision-making; also calls on the Government to address the implications for the commitments underpinning power sharing; and insists that policing must uphold the rule of law without fear or favour, rather than reward intimidation.

99460th anniversary of University of Bath receiving its Royal Charter

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 5

Wera Hobhouse

Jess Brown-Fuller

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Brian Mathew

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the 60th anniversary of the University of Bath receiving its Royal Charter; recognises its contribution to education, research and innovation; notes that its founding commitment to advancing learning and knowledge in close association with industry and commerce remains as relevant today as when first established; commends its pioneering placement programme, helping generations of students become skilled, work-ready graduates; further recognises its global network of more than 150,000 alumni across 170 countries; acknowledges its contribution to enterprise, jobs and economic growth in Bath, the South West and the UK; and wishes the University continued success in its seventh decade.

995Temporary accommodation subsidy freeze

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 8

Siân Berry

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Dr Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

Hannah Spencer

Carla DenyerJim Shannon

That this House notes that a record 135,580 households are stuck in temporary accommodation due to the homelessness crisis and a severe shortage of council homes; further notes that the rate at which local authorities are able to claim back the costs from the Government for temporary accommodation has been frozen since 2011, resulting in a detrimental funding gap of hundreds of millions of pounds for local councils across England and Wales every year; also notes that private landlords are charging local authorities as much as £100 per night for a single nightly paid dwelling; recognises that council taxpayers expect their Council Tax to fund clean streets, safe homes, and effective public services, not private landlords profiteering from a broken housing system; notes that the Local Government Association has said that uprating council reimbursement to 90 per cent of the current Local Housing Allowance rate would save councils in England £1.5 billion by 2030; and calls on the Government to lift this freeze as soon as possible.

99610th anniversary of the Co-op Local Community Fund

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 4

Sarah Gibson

Wera Hobhouse

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates the Co-op Local Community Fund on its 10th anniversary; recognises the important contribution that the Fund has made to community organisations and local causes over the past decade; commends the thousands of Co-op members who have chosen to support local causes through their membership; celebrates the volunteers, supporters, donors and community champions whose time and commitment enable those organisations to make a difference in their communities; welcomes the event being held at the Chippenham Community Hub on 28 October 2026 to bring together past and present Local Community Fund causes, Co-op members and supporters to mark this milestone; further recognises the valuable work of community organisations across Wiltshire; and thanks everyone involved in the Co-op Local Community Fund for helping local organisations and communities to thrive.

997Celebrating Black History Month

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 6

Shockat Adam

Andrew George

Richard Burgon

Jim Shannon

Apsana Begum

Ayoub Khan

That this House recognises October as Black History Month under the theme of Honouring Our Communities and celebrates the exceptional contributions that people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Asian descent have made to the culture, science, economy and civic life of the UK; acknowledges that honouring communities means confronting inequalities as well as celebrating achievements, and notes with concern that Black women continue to experience significantly poorer maternity outcomes and inequalities in care; believes that research, education and practice must be informed by diverse perspectives and lived experiences if these disparities are to be addressed; appreciates the vital work of grassroots organisations, community groups, researchers, educators and health professionals who work throughout the year to ensure these contributions and challenges are visible and acted upon; further believes that Black History Month should be recognised not just in October but throughout the year; and calls on the Government to embed the history and achievements of people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Asian descent in the national curriculum, address health inequalities facing Black communities, and sustain investment in the organisations that carry this work forward.

998Vaping and smoking among young people

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 2

Peter Lamb

Jim Shannon

That this House expresses concerns regarding the issue of vaping and smoking among young people, its negative wider impact and the detrimental health implications; and acknowledges previously implemented legislation regarding this issue, but notes that the problem of purchasing vapes and cigarettes persists, in part due to increased visibility of vape shops on high streets across the United Kingdom.

999Opening of the Castlemilk Community Shop

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 2

Gordon McKee

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates the Castlemilk Pantry, in partnership with Ardenglen Housing Association and Good Food Scotland, on expanding as a community shop; recognises that the Pantry plays an essential role in providing affordable, nutritious food to a community lacking a local supermarket; wishes the best of luck to the team at the Pantry for the shop launch on the 22nd of October; and commends the people of Castlemilk for their unbreakable sense of solidarity and supportive community spirit.

1000BBC Scotland TV's reductions to services

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 6

Brian Leishman

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Richard Burgon

Rebecca Long Bailey

Grahame Morris

Andy McDonald

That this House expresses concern that the BBC plans to close its Scotland linear TV station as part of cost saving measures; believes that moving the service to iPlayer will make it less accessible; notes with concern that the News at Seven programme will close; further believes the decision should be reversed as it will weaken democracy due to the reduction in accurate and timely reporting of Scottish current affairs; further notes with concern that this is another change to broadcasting in Scotland after Ofcom allowed STV North to close; and also believes that this is an alarming direction of travel which sees jobs lost and Scottish broadcasting diminished.

1003Oil and chemical spills at sea

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 4

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House expresses concern that between 2011 and 2015 over 2,200 tonnes of oil and over 7,000 tonnes of chemicals were polluted into our seas by UK oil and gas operations; recognises the harms caused to a wide range of marine life from commercial fish stocks to threatened harbour porpoises; notes that water companies have for many years pumped sewage into our seas with few consequences and oil and gas companies are now doing the same with oil and chemicals; further notes that civil penalties for illegal oil pollution events are capped at £50,000, which is a level far below any meaningful deterrent, with the cap introduced to align with regulations on land, yet the cap on land was lifted in 2023; also notes that a one tonne spill on land in England could therefore bring an unlimited penalty, but a 1,000 tonne spill at sea would be capped at £50,000, and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, or OPRED, must be satisfied to a disproportionately high bar that there is enough evidence for a criminal prosecution before issuing a civil penalty; and calls on the Government to tackle this pollution by bringing forward a ban on all new exploration licences for oil and gas as soon as possible and strengthen regulation at sea with OPRED empowered to be satisfied only on the ‘balance of probabilities’ to impose uncapped penalties for this unacceptable ocean pollution.