Contents

Published – Friday 23 October 2026

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 22 October 2026

Early Day Motions (EDMs) are motions for which no days have been fixed.

The number of signatories includes all members who have added their names in support of the Early Day Motion (EDM), including the Member in charge of the Motion.

EDMs and added names are also published on the EDM database at www.parliament.uk/edm

[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.

New EDMs

1019Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026

Tabled: 22/10/26 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House expresses deep concern over the chaotic opening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 application window on 22 September 2026; notes that the budget was exhausted within hours; recognises that the window followed 18 months without new schemes and coincided with expiring 2023 SFI, Mid Tier and Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship agreements, leaving thousands of farmers unable to apply despite months of preparation; further notes repeated rule changes, removed actions and reduced payment rates; believes farm businesses already under pressure cannot wait until 2027 for funding; and calls on the Government to increase the budget for environmental land management schemes, publish opening dates well in advance, introduce year-round or quarterly windows, lengthen agreement terms, stop annual rule changes, and consult farmers with direct experience of the broken system.

1020Max Langland Top 8 of Drywite Young Fish Frier category

Tabled: 22/10/26 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House congratulates Max Langlands of Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther, on reaching the Top 8 of the Drywite Young Fish Frier category in the 2027 National Fish and Chip Awards; recognises this outstanding achievement in one of the fish and chip industry's most prestigious competitions; commends Max for the dedication, skill and professionalism that have earned him national recognition; acknowledges the important contribution made by Anstruther Fish Bar to the local economy, tourism sector and community life in North East Fife; further recognises the vital role that fish and chip shops and other independent hospitality businesses play in providing employment, supporting local supply chains and sustaining high streets across the United Kingdom; and wishes Max every success as the competition progresses into the fourth round.

1021Application of Extended Producer Responsibility

Tabled: 22/10/26 Signatories: 1

Sarah Olney

That this House recognises the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in reducing packaging waste, tackling plastic pollution and increasing recycling rates; supports the principle that producers should pay for the packaging they place on the market; notes, however, that many businesses are not complying with their responsibilities; underlines that this creates an unfair playing field which advantages non-compliant businesses; highlights that the shortage of Packaging Recovery Notes has led to businesses having to pay even more to comply with EPR; and calls on the Government to level the playing field to ensure that businesses do not feel punished for being compliant.

1022Independent cinemas

Tabled: 22/10/26 Signatories: 1

Dr Peter Prinsley

That this House recognises the vital role of independent cinemas in enriching cultural life, supporting local economies and bringing communities together; celebrates the contribution of independent cinemas in championing diverse storytelling, showcasing independent films and providing accessible cultural experiences; congratulates Abbeygate Cinema in Bury St Edmunds on being named one of the UK's 15 best cinemas in the 2026 British Independent Film Awards' Cinema of the Year competition, following nearly 50,000 public votes nationwide; commends Gareth Boggis and his team for their outstanding commitment to community engagement, charitable initiatives and independent film; further recognises Abbeygate Cinema as an excellent example of the positive impact independent cinemas have on their local communities; and calls on the Government to continue supporting independent cinemas as valued cultural and community assets.

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.

922Garvaghy Road

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 18

John McDonnell

Iqbal Mohamed

Kim Johnson

Andy McDonald

Ian Byrne

Neil Duncan-Jordan

That this House welcomes the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's ruling to overturn the decision by the Parades Commission to permit an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road; recalls that in 1998, the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant group, applied to parade down the Garvaghy Road which was predominantly home to nationalist families; understands that the application was refused and, during the subsequent widespread protests, three young Catholic boys were burnt to death in an arson attack on their home; is aware that the current ambiguity surrounding this march threatened to reopen a painful chapter in Northern Ireland’s history, jeopardising nearly three decades of peace, stability, and reconciliation achieved under the Good Friday Agreement; notes that the proposed parade has been criticised by significant sections of the Protestant community; further notes that allowing this march to proceed, in any form of guise, risks undoing the hard-won progress and reopening old wounds which does not reflect the content of either the Good Friday agreement or Stormont House Agreement; and urges the Government to ensure this legacy is upheld permanently.

926Consultation on an alternative second chamber

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 22

Dr Simon Opher

Dr Peter Prinsley

Cat Eccles

Tom Gordon

Liz Saville Roberts

Nadia Whittome

That this House calls on the Government to support the House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL] and begin an inclusive national conversation to replace the House of Lords with a representative alternative second chamber; urges the Government to undertake a consultation with the devolved governments, representatives of English local government, experts in constitutional reform and the public; believes that this consultation should begin within six months of the Bill receiving Royal Assent, last for at least 12 weeks and include deliberative forms of public engagement; further believes that proposals for an alternative second chamber should explain how it would represent the regions and nations of the United Kingdom; and further calls for the publication of the consultation proposals, a summary of responses and the Government’s response, and for those documents to be laid before Parliament.

927Taxation of bank windfall profits

Tabled: 12/10/26 Signatories: 36

Richard Burgon

Rebecca Long Bailey

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Cat Eccles

Kim Johnson

That this House notes that major banks have made tens of billions of pounds in additional profits as interest rates have increased in recent years; further notes that this has happened while millions of people struggle with higher mortgage payments and rents and a wider cost-of-living crisis; also notes analysis estimating that a tax on bank windfall profits could raise up to £15 billion a year; recognises that the Government rightly applied a windfall tax to the super-profits of oil and gas companies; believes that the same principle should apply to the banks; and further believes that the Government should introduce a tax on bank windfall profits, with the revenues used to support people with the cost-of-living and to invest in public services.

943Human rights in Bahrain

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 19

John McDonnell

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Jim Shannon

Carla Denyer

Brian Leishman

Dr Ellie Chowns

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.

946Work of Sands and Baby Loss Awareness Week

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 9

Dr Peter Prinsley

Vikki Slade

Jim Shannon

Adrian Ramsay

Dr Zubir Ahmed

Dr Scott Arthur

That this House commends the invaluable work of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, in supporting families affected by pregnancy and baby loss; recognises the dedication of its volunteers and local groups, including West Suffolk Sands, in providing vital emotional and peer support to bereaved families; acknowledges Baby Loss Awareness Week, held annually from 9 to 15 October, and its importance in raising awareness and breaking the silence surrounding baby loss; and pays tribute to all those working to ensure that families experiencing the loss of a baby receive the compassion, understanding and support they deserve.

948Post-16 education

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 26

Rachael Maskell

Apsana Begum

John McDonnell

Ms Diane Abbott

Kim Johnson

Hannah Spencer

That this House expresses concern at the deepening crisis in post-16 education; notes with alarm that universities have cut more than 30,000 jobs over the past three years alongside thousands of courses, restricting student choice and placing unsustainable pressures on staff; believes these pressures are damaging the quality and accessibility of higher education; further expresses solidarity with University and College Union (UCU) members in higher education taking strike action to defend jobs, terms and conditions, and to defend education as a public good; recognises the vital role of further education in delivering opportunities and the skills the country needs; further notes with alarm that further education educators are paid between £7,000 and £9,000 less per year on average than secondary school teachers, contributing to a recruitment and retention crisis; welcomes the Government’s commitment to investing in vocational education but believes this requires sustainable additional funding and action to address the pay disparity; further welcomes UCU’s Education: It’s Ours campaign, which seeks to address the broken further and higher education systems; calls on the Government to deliver immediate and sustainable funding for higher education, to protect university jobs, pay and pensions, to transform the long-term funding model, to adopt a fairer approach to international students and to strengthen sector governance; and further calls on the Government to provide sustainable long-term further education funding, to deliver pay parity with schools across college, prison and adult education, to tackle unsafe and unmanageable workloads and to establish sector-wide standards on pay, terms and conditions.

949Planned job losses at Greggs plc

Tabled: 13/10/26 Signatories: 21

Grahame Morris

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Ian Byrne

Andy McDonald

Ian Lavery

That this House deeply regrets the announcement by high street bakery retailer Greggs that it plans to close four manufacturing sites across the UK with the loss of 740 jobs; notes that the plans involve closing manufacturing sites at Seaham, North Lakes, Kelso, and Enfield, with operations in Treforest and Manchester also seriously impacted; further notes that in the first half of 2026, the company saw its pre-tax profit increase by 19.7% to £76.0 million; joins with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union in believing that this success would be impossible without the contribution of workers across the business, and regrets the impact which job losses would have on the individuals, families and local communities concerned; regrets that the company announced these plans further to any formal consultation process with the recognised unions; and therefore calls on the company to pause the implementation of the closures and get round the table with the unions to consider alternatives to site closures and compulsory redundancies.

951Seafarers and the Employment Rights Act 2025

Tabled: 14/10/26 Signatories: 19

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Ian Byrne

Hannah Spencer

Cat Eccles

Neil Duncan-Jordan

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.

953Livelihoods of civil servants

Tabled: 14/10/26 Signatories: 20

John McDonnell

Mary Glindon

Ian Byrne

Ian Lavery

Nadia Whittome

Jeremy Corbyn

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: 20

Grahame Morris

Luke Akehurst

John McDonnell

Cat Eccles

Rebecca Long Bailey

Ian Byrne

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: 23

Helen Maguire

Victoria Collins

Ian Roome

Gideon Amos

Alex Brewer

Claire Young

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: 18

John McDonnell

Siân Berry

Carla Denyer

Hannah Spencer

Dr Ellie Chowns

Adrian Ramsay

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.

975UK Disability History Month

Tabled: 16/10/26 Signatories: 24

John McDonnell

Kim Johnson

Peter Lamb

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

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.

979Student finance

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 12

Abtisam Mohamed

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Gideon Amos

Gill Furniss

Dr Simon Opher

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: 5

Christine Jardine

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Wendy Chamberlain

Mr Joshua Reynolds

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.

986National Special Olympics Summer Games

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 4

Lisa Smart

Wera Hobhouse

Jim Shannon

Hannah Spencer

That this House recognises the resounding success of athletes from Stockport who picked up gold, silver and bronze medals at the National Special Olympics Summer Games, specifically Luke Brady, 100m, long-jump, Ethan Buxton, 800m, 1,500m, Daniel Cotton, 100m, standing long-jump, Jake Moore, 100m, 200m, Barnaby Moran, 100m, 200m, Bradley Parker, 100m, softball throw, Nathan Scallon, 100m, softball throw and Ryan Scallon, 50m, softball throw; and recognises their superb achievements in representing the borough so well.

991E1 settlements

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 13

Calum Miller

Jess Brown-Fuller

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Zöe Franklin

Brian Mathew

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: 6

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Jim Allister

Mr Gregory Campbell

Gavin Robinson

Alex Easton [R]

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.

993Neurodivergent educators

Tabled: 19/10/26 Signatories: 12

Chris Bloore

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Gideon Amos

Richard Burgon

Ian Lavery

That this House recognises that many neurodivergent educators bring both professional expertise and lived experience to the education system; notes that this dual perspective provides valuable insight into the realities of inclusion, accessibility and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision; expresses concern that the perspectives of neurodivergent professionals have too often been absent from national debates on SEND reform; believes that policy affecting children and young people with SEND should be informed by those with direct lived experience of navigating educational systems as learners, educators and professionals; further believes that neurodivergent educators represent an underutilised source of expertise capable of strengthening inclusive practice and improving educational outcomes; calls for greater visibility and recognition of neurodivergent educators within the education workforce; and urges the Government to embed the voices of neurodivergent educators within all future SEND reviews, consultations and reform programmes in order to ensure that policy development is informed by a diverse range of professional and lived experiences.

99610th anniversary of the Co-op Local Community Fund

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 5

Sarah Gibson

Wera Hobhouse

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Mr Will Forster

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: 16

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.

1000BBC Scotland TV's reductions to services

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 9

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.

1002The Enchanted Forest's 25th anniversary

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 2

Dave Doogan

Jim Shannon

That this House congratulates The Enchanted Forest autumn sound and light show on reaching its 25th anniversary in 2026, marking a quarter of a century since their first event was held; recognises the Enchanted Forest Community Trust’s achievement in developing Scotland’s premier sound and light show into a nationally acclaimed event, attracting more than 80,000 visitors each autumn and contributing over £7.5 million to the local economy; commends the Trust for reinvesting event surpluses into local charities, community groups and projects across Highland Perthshire; acknowledges the contribution this funding makes to children and young people, health and wellbeing, arts and culture, sport, environmental sustainability and community resilience in the area; and applauds the volunteers, trustees, organisers, local businesses and the community partners whose dedication has helped make The Enchanted Forest such a successful Scottish institution.

1003Oil and chemical spills at sea

Tabled: 20/10/26 Signatories: 11

Wera Hobhouse

Andrew George

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wendy Chamberlain

Mr Will Forster

Adrian Ramsay

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.

1004Drilling at Jackdaw

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 6

Carla Denyer

Hannah Spencer

Adrian Ramsay

Siân Berry

Dr Ellie Chowns

Jeremy Corbyn

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: 2

Martin Rhodes

Jim Shannon

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: 8

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Kate Osborne

Adrian Ramsay

Carla Denyer

Siân Berry

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: 2

Sarah Dyke

Jim Shannon

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: 16

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Grahame Morris

Apsana Begum

Ian Lavery

Jim Shannon

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: 2

Sarah Gibson

Jim Shannon

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: 3

Chris Law

Jim Shannon

Dave Doogan

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: 2

Mr Lee Dillon

Jim Shannon

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: 4

Seamus Logan

Graham Leadbitter

Kirsty Blackman

Dave Doogan

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: 2

James McMurdock

Jim Shannon

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: 2

James McMurdock

Jim Shannon

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.

1016Cleaners on Merseyrail

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 17

Kim Johnson

John McDonnell

Ian Lavery

Apsana Begum

Grahame Morris

Jim Shannon

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.

1018Needle and syringe programmes

Tabled: 21/10/26 Signatories: 10

Grahame Morris

Ian Lavery

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Kate Osborne

Adrian Ramsay

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.