Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Thursday 24 March 2022

Early Day Motions tabled on Wednesday 23 March 2022

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

1115P&O Ferries and DP World

Tabled: 23/03/22 Signatories: 1

Karl Turner

That this House condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of P&O Ferries to fire 800 staff without notice or consultation with their trade unions, the RMT and Nautilus; demands the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers; condemns their replacement with agency workers earning as little as £1.80 per hour; condemns P&O’s use of hired private security guards to remove seafarers from their place of work; notes that DP World, the owner of P&O Ferries, received millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money during the coronavirus pandemic; calls on the Government to suspend the contracts and licences of DP World and remove them from the Government’s Transport Advisory Group; and further calls on the Government to bring forward a Bill urgently to outlaw fire and rehire and strengthen workers’ rights.

1116Domestic heating oil

Tabled: 23/03/22 Signatories: 1

Mark Tami

That this House notes that homes heated using domestic heating oil are likely to see some of the largest increases in energy costs as a result of the cost of living crisis; further notes that as the price increases rapidly some householders are seeing their deliveries cancelled by suppliers putting that oil back on the market at the new higher price and deplores this fact; recognises that this sector has very limited regulation at present; and calls on the Government to introduce protection for domestic heating oil customers analogous to the Ofgem price cap for households supplied through the grid.

1117Lifetime Achievement Award won by Alistair Dobson of Taste of Arran and Arran Dairies

Tabled: 23/03/22 Signatories: 1

Patricia Gibson

That this House congratulates Alastair Dobson, Managing Director of Taste of Arran and Arran Dairies, on being presented the Marvin Benton Award, a lifetime achievement award, for services to the ice cream industry; recognises that the award, presented by the sector's trade association, the Ice Cream Alliance, is in recognition of Mr Dobson's achievements during a 23-year career in the sector and is the highest honour that the ICA can bestow; notes that Arran Dairies use only milk and cream from the island’s own dairy herds to hand-produce Italian style ice cream, free from artificial flavouring or colouring; acknowledges the skill and dedication of the team at Arran Dairies, and its passion for quality local produce; commends Mr Dobson’s commitment to supporting not just the ice cream industry, but to promoting the fantastic array of quality food and drink produced on Arran; and encourages everyone to try the award-winning Arran Ice Cream.

1118Protecting Liverpool's green spaces

Tabled: 23/03/22 Signatories: 1

Dan Carden

That this House commends the pioneering partnership between Fields in Trust and Liverpool City Council to protect Liverpool’s parks and green spaces for good, ensuring the positive benefits they provide will always be available for the city's residents; congratulates the Member for Liverpool West Derby, Liverpool Parks Friends Groups and campaigners for their leading role in securing the agreement; welcomes the aim for all residents to be no more than 10 minutes’ walk from a park or green space; and commits to expanding access to green spaces to all our communities.

1119In memory of John Purvis

Tabled: 23/03/22 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House is deeply saddened by the death of John Purvis, former MEP for Mid Scotland and Fife and co-chair of the European Movement in Scotland; recognises his decades of public service including tireless campaigning against Brexit; and extends its deepest sympathies to John's family and friends.

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.

1065Support for Ukrainian refugees

Tabled: 14/03/22 Signatories: 38

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Apsana Begum

Wera Hobhouse

Margaret Ferrier

Kate Osborne

Kenny MacAskill

That this House condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in contravention to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as set out by the United Nations Charter, and resulting in catastrophic consequences for civilians; supports the international community’s call for Russia to withdraw troops immediately and for the humanitarian crisis to be urgently addressed; notes with concern that while the Government has said it will allow some relatives of Ukrainian nationals already in the UK to enter, there have been reports that it has stopped accepting visas from people trapped in Ukraine; is further concerned at reports of racist and unfair treatment of refugees; calls on all countries, including the UK, to provide humanitarian aid and assist all refugees in need; believes in the fundamental rights of refugees which includes an obligation to ensure there are always safe routes for those seeking sanctuary and asylum; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Nationality and Borders Bill does not criminalise Ukrainian or any other refugees who arrive in the UK through an irregular route.

1068Right to roam

Tabled: 14/03/22 Signatories: 13

Caroline Lucas

Liz Saville Roberts

Dan Carden

Kate Osborne

Clive Lewis

John McDonnell

That this House notes that 24 April marks the 90th anniversary of the mass trespass onto Kinder Scout; acknowledges that this trespass united the campaign for access to the countryside and eventually contributed to the establishment of the UK’s first national parks through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949; recognises the growing body of evidence demonstrating the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing which has been highlighted by the covid-19 pandemic when use of parks and public green spaces increased; is concerned that people from ethnic minorities or with low incomes are less likely to live near green space and 2.7 million people in the UK have no publicly accessible green space within easy walking distance from their home; notes that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 only provides access to 8% per cent of English land, and that the public can only access 3 per cent of rivers in England and Wales; acknowledges that legislation in Scotland and European countries including Norway provides for a much greater right to roam; believes that extending the right to roam to cover more landscapes and recreational activities would improve the public’s connection to nature whilst also delivering on the Government’s commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to open up the mental and physical health benefits of the natural world; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to extend the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to include rivers, woods and Green Belt land.

1072Regulation and support for off-grid households

Tabled: 15/03/22 Signatories: 17

Helen Morgan

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

John McDonnell

Christine Jardine

Wera Hobhouse

That this House recognises the millions of rural homes that are off the UK’s national gas grid network; acknowledges that many of those homes buy fuel from oil, LPG and solid fuel markets; notes with concern that there is no regulation of those markets; calls for similar financial protection to the existing energy price cap on gas and electricity for off-grid households from high prices; and urges the Government to provide financial assistance to insulate those properties and enable the transition to renewable energy sources.

1073Ukrainian students

Tabled: 15/03/22 Signatories: 12

Claudia Webbe

Ian Lavery

Jim Shannon

Steven Bonnar

John McDonnell

Deidre Brock

That this House laments Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable and abhorrent invasion of Ukraine; believes that no good can ever come from war and military escalation; calls on the international community to redouble its efforts to find a diplomatic solution that ensures peace and protects lives; calls on the Government to urgently provide a simple sanctuary route to the UK for all who need it, for the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary to coordinate with the UN and with neighbouring countries to offer urgent humanitarian assistance to those crossing the border; further calls on the Government to provide safe passage and refuge for displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers arriving from Ukraine as well as all theatres of conflict across the globe; is deeply alarmed by worrying reports that thousands of Asian and African immigrants joining Ukrainians trying to flee the country have faced red tape, racist abuse and discrimination at the border; recognises that many of the African and Asian refugees fleeing this crisis are students; calls on the UK education sector to make funds available for disrupted courses to be transferred to UK institutions, and encourage their European counterparts to do the same; commends the heroic efforts of people like medical student Korrine Sky from Leicester who have documented their plight and that of African and Asian refugees fleeing the conflict; and calls for the international community to ensure that there is absolutely no discrimination between all people fleeing this appalling invasion.

1080Veteran homelessness

Tabled: 15/03/22 Signatories: 15

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

John McDonnell

Christine Jardine

Layla Moran

That this House welcomes the Government’s commitment to end veterans’ rough sleeping by the end of 2024; recognises the excellent work that organisations such as Alabaré, Launchpad, Riverside and Stoll do in providing veterans with the specialist support they need to address complex needs and promote independent living; and calls on the Government to provide the long-term sustainable funding needed to ensure the provision of specialist supported housing for veterans who are at risk of homelessness.

1081Purple Day 2022

Tabled: 15/03/22 Signatories: 16

Dr Lisa Cameron

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Jonathan Edwards

John McDonnell

That this House notes that Saturday 26 March 2022 is Purple Day, International Epilepsy Awareness Day; understands that epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition with an estimated 55,000 people living with epilepsy in Scotland and that approximately eight people per day are diagnosed with the condition; recognises that Purple Day is an opportunity to get people talking about epilepsy and dispel the myths and stigma attached to the condition; and further highlights that Epilepsy Scotland will be encouraging people to dress in purple and light landmarks and buildings purple to mark the day.

1091War on Want's report on McDonald's tax affairs

Tabled: 17/03/22 Signatories: 23

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

David Linden

Liz Saville Roberts

Apsana Begum

Zarah Sultana

That this House is disturbed by the findings of the Secrets and Fries report published on 17 March 2022 by War on Want, which exposes a circular, paper transaction by McDonald’s which it alleges has the primary purpose of reducing McDonald’s tax obligations by creating a UK tax shelter for its global franchise income; notes that report further alleges that mechanism could be depriving the UK exchequer of at least £295 million in public funds over ten years without having any corresponding economic substance; further notes that McDonald's UK business received extensive public subsidies in the wake of the covid-19 lockdowns, not least through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, whilst continuing to increase its market share in the UK and continuing to pay dividends to its shareholders; notes with regret that after seeing their tax affairs in Luxembourg and Singapore come under scrutiny McDonald's have moved their intangible fixed asset to the City of London to allegedly take advantage of the UK's lax intangible fixed asset regime; therefore calls on the Government to rigorously review its tax breaks mechanisms, including those that interact with the UK’s intangible fixed asset regime, and ensure that the full costs and benefits of all tax rules for all companies, including large multinationals, are properly reported; and further calls on the Government to scrap any tax rules which cannot be justified by their effects on the UK economy, society and the environment.

1105Uprating benefits

Tabled: 21/03/22 Signatories: 6

Hywel Williams

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Richard Burgon

Allan Dorans

Kenny MacAskill

This House welcomes the call of over 50 major charities and organisations for benefits to be increased by at least 7 per cent in April to help households cope with rising costs of living; notes that prices are rising at the fastest rate in 30 years, and energy bills alone are expected to rise by 54 per cent in April; is concerned that the value of universal credit for families will fall by £570 per year on average and that 400,000 people could be pulled into poverty by the upcoming real-terms cut to benefits; further notes that families with children in poverty face paying £35 per month in extra energy costs through spring and summer, as well as £26 per month in additional food costs; recognises that the erosion of the value of benefits through policies such as the benefit cap, the benefit freeze and other deductions has resulted in a profound mismatch between what those on low incomes have, and what they need to get by; and calls on the Government to tackle this gap, beginning with a uprating of at least 7 per cent to benefits in April.

1109Alcohol strategy (No. 2)

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 7

Grahame Morris

Dan Carden

Kate Osborne

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Claudia Webbe

That this House notes that ten years have passed since the last Alcohol Strategy was published on 23 March 2012; recalls that, although the Government announced plans for a new strategy on 8 May 2018, this was not forthcoming; recognises that, since then, the initiatives of the Alcohol Charter, published on 16 October 2018 by APPGs and the Commission on Alcohol Harm report, published on 19 April 2021, provided an informed and widely supported basis for a new strategy; notes with concern that approximately 70 people in the UK die every day from an alcohol-related cause; and calls on the Government to prioritise the introduction of a new comprehensive alcohol strategy without further delay.

1110NICE guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 8

Hannah Bardell

Emma Hardy

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Mohammad Yasin

Cat Smith

That this House urges the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to review and update guideline NG 73 on endometriosis diagnosis and management and to begin the process of doing so before the end of 2022; notes that endometriosis affects one in ten women and those assigned female at birth from puberty to menopause although the impact may be felt for life; further notes that lengthy diagnosis times and lack of treatment options can negatively impact both the physical and mental health of those with endometriosis; recognises that while NICE guideline NG 73 outlines a baseline of care for endometriosis there are gaps in it that need addressing, including but not limited to improving pain management for pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, endometriosis outside the pelvic cavity and mental health support; highlights that the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) published a new updated European guideline on endometriosis on 2 February 2022, which includes extensive review of recent research and other evidence and makes some new recommendations not covered by NG 73; notes that NICE usually reviews guidelines every five years and in September 2022 it will be five years since the guideline was published and that it remains unamended since publication; and calls on the Department of Health and Social Care to ask NICE to update guideline NG 73.

1111Access to telemedical abortion care beyond September 2022

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 7

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Kate Osborne

Jeremy Corbyn

Charlotte Nichols

Nadia Whittome

Ms Diane Abbott

That this House is dismayed by Government plans to end the availability of telemedical abortion care services for early medical abortions up to 9 weeks and 6 days gestation, beyond September 2022; notes that access to this temporary service during the covid-19 lockdowns was crucial to ensuring that women needed an abortion were still able to access vital women’s health services; further notes that the availability of at-home abortion pills has halved women’s waiting times for abortion services and has dramatically reduced the risk of women choosing to access abortion medications illegally or using unsafe methods of termination; is outraged by this Government’s decision to roll-back on women’s reproductive rights; agrees with the Chief Executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) that should the Government proceed to end this service it would be a shameful betrayal of women and a decision devoid of both evidence or justice; and calls on the Government to make permanent the temporary telemedical abortion care introduced during the covid-19 pandemic.

1112Registration of deaths after a public inquiry

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 11

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Kate Osborne

Nadia Whittome

Graham Stringer

Jim Shannon

Peter Dowd

That this House notes the urgent need to amend legislation to allow grieving families the choice to register the death of a loved one after a public inquiry; highlights the heartbreaking case of Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford from South Shields who were tragically murdered in the Manchester Arena terror attack in May 2017 and whose parents are being denied the chance to register the death of their own precious children; further notes that for many families, registering a death may be a vital step in their grieving process, especially in cases of an unexpected and traumatic death that results in an inquiry; and calls on the Government to put bereaved families at the heart of inquiries by listening to their needs and making the necessary changes to this important issue.

1113Launch of Local Women's sports magazine in Northern Ireland

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 6

Mr Gregory Campbell

Carla Lockhart

Claire Hanna

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Tracey Crouch

That this House notes the launch in Northern Ireland of the first ever regional female focused standalone sports magazine, giving coverage on a localised basis to women in a range of sporting codes and disciplines; commends the management and staff of the Local Women brand on the vision and initiative they have shown to launch the monthly magazine; and wishes the project well for the future.

1114Health inequalities for patients with sickle cell disease

Tabled: 22/03/22 Signatories: 4

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Allan Dorans

Marion Fellows

That this House welcomes the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia’s report, No One’s Listening, which highlighted the growing burden of sickle cell disease in the UK; notes that the report revealed a pattern of several years of sub-standard care, stigmatisation and lack of prioritisation which have resulted in deep failings in the care sickle cell patients receive; agrees with the view that severe health inequalities are associated with the long-standing lack of investment in sickle cell research and new medicines; is concerned about delays in the introduction of a health inequalities modifier, which would allow treatments for conditions where inequalities are a concern, such as sickle cell, to be more readily approved, following the conclusion of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) methods and processes review; calls on the Government to implement the recommendations of the APPG on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia’s report in full; and encourages the Government to actively engage with NICE to ensure work on the introduction of a health inequalities modifier is prioritised with clear timelines.