Commons business papers

Contents

Published: Wednesday 1 March 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Tuesday 28 February 2023

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

906Ofgem boiler upgrade scheme product eligibility list

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jonathan Edwards

This House notes with concern the decision of Ofgem to summarily remove certain domestic biomass heating systems from their approved Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) Product Eligibility List via email to stakeholders on 24 February 2023; notes that this decision was made overnight without prior consultation with small businesses who supply and install renewable heating systems; expresses concern that, potentially, clients who are currently in receipt of BUS vouchers for heating systems and were previously eligible may no longer be; further notes that the decision could immediately threaten the sustainability of small businesses that supply and install renewable heating systems; is concerned that many stone built households with existing radiator systems, particularly in rural areas, will not be able to access low carbon heating systems via the BUS as the most suitable systems for such homes have been removed from the Product Eligibility List; and calls on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to urgently intervene to ensure that any changes to the BUS Product Eligibility List protects those households with existing vouchers, is done in consultation with renewable heating small businesses and continues to support renewable technology best suited for stone built buildings.

907Pakistan Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes with concern that the Pakistan National Assembly passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023 on 17 January 2023; believes that this Bill will further restrict freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan and, if passed by the Senate, will further marginalise the already persecuted communities in Pakistan and will have serious implications on minority groups; condemns the Bill's targeting of Pakistan’s Shia community and overall impact for all minority faith groups; regrets that the Bill will pose further challenges to freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan, and yet serve to strengthen extremist groups and extremist ideology; and urges the Government to raise this pressing matter with their Pakistani counterparts and advocate for the rights of the persecuted communities in Pakistan.

90850th anniversary of Action Cancer

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Carla Lockhart

That this House congratulates Action Cancer, a leading Northern Ireland Cancer Charity, on its 50th anniversary; recognises the vital working of the charity to save lives and support local people through cancer awareness, prevention, detection and support; pays tribute to the staff and volunteers who make this work possible, including fundraisers; and wishes the Charity well for this anniversary year and for the future.

909World Day of Prayer

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes World Day of Prayer on Friday 3 March 2023 which is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen's initiative run under the motto Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action; highlights that it is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March; further notes that this years prayer focus is on Taiwan; encourages people to take time on Friday to acknowledge the power of prayer and pray for Taiwan; and thanks those who are passionately advocating and stirring people to remember other nations in prayer in this difficult time.

910Phoenix Clinic and Resource Centre 30th birthday

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the 30th birthday of the Phoenix Clinic and Resource Centre in Newtownards; offers sincere congratulations on reaching this milestone; thanks all staff for the tremendous work that they do with young residents who live with a range of challenging illnesses and physical disabilities; and wishes them continued success as they provide care in a fun and exciting way for the years to come in the future.

911Death of John Motson

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the passing of legendary football commentator John Motson OBE who passed away at the age of 77; notes the high esteem that he is held in by Northern Ireland Fans due to the coverage of Northern Ireland's World Cup group triumph over Spain in 1982; and conveys sincere sympathy to his family who will mourn the passing of this renowned giant in the world of sporting commentary.

912Hunger in East Africa

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Layla Moran

That this House is deeply concerned about the acute hunger crisis in the East Africa region; notes that despite 36.4 million people in the Horn of Africa region suffering with hunger, the Government has cut humanitarian aid to less than a fifth of what it was in the financial year of 2017-2018 in the region; condemns the Government’s decision to abandon the 0.7 per cent target for international development spending; calls on the Government to urgently reinstate the 0.7 per cent target, and to correspondingly increase vital support to people in the regions; and resolves to continue to hold the Government to account on its broken promise on international development spending.

913Scotland and fair trade

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Patrick Grady

That this House notes the 10th anniversary on 25 February 2023 of Scotland being recognised as a Fair Trade Nation; further notes that recognition of this status commits national and local governments, communities, organisations and individuals to work towards and achieve targets for the use and promotion of fair trade products, and the use where possible of fair trade principles in the development of procurement and purchasing policies, with the aim of ensuring that the producers of goods, such as small farmers or garment workers in developing countries, are paid a fair price for their products; congratulates the many charitable organisations, fair trade shops and community groups that have worked for many years to attain and sustain local and regional Fair Trade awards, which contribute to the award at a national level; welcomes the series of events and activities organised by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to mark the anniversary, and its commitment to continuing to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of fair trade to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world and as a means of building economic partnerships that promote sustainability and tackle climate change; and wishes all those involved in the movement every success in working for the day when all trade is fair trade.

914Freedom of religion or belief in Iran

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Alexander Stafford

That this House deplores the ongoing human rights violations being perpetrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran; notes that these violations come in a context of more general restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief for many religious minorities in Iran, including Christians and the Baha’i, and also Sufi and Sunni Muslims; mourns the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her arrest for wearing the hijab "improperly" and her reported beating by members of the so-called morality police; considers the enforcement of religious dress codes for all Iranian women, regardless of their beliefs, to be a violation of the freedom of religion or belief of women from religious minorities in Iran, and also of Muslim women who do not wish to conform to mandatory hijab; highlights that these restrictions are in violation of Iran’s obligations as a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); urges the Government of Iran to amend its constitution and relevant legislation to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief for all Iranians, as envisaged by Article 18 of the ICCPR; and calls on the UK Government to continue to defend freedom of religion or belief, in its fullest meaning, and to support the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran and of the UN’s Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Human Rights in Iran.

915Claremont Rambling Club: 40th Anniversary

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Dr Lisa Cameron

That this House congratulates Claremont Rambling Club in its 40th anniversary year; commemorates its founding members, Ann Stoddart and Cathy Kirk, who first put an advert looking for like-minded people to go rambling with in the local newspaper, East Kilbride News, in May 1983; notes the development of the club, its affiliation with the Ramblers Association, and the example it sets to other walking clubs subsequently set up in East Kilbride; recognises both the senior and junior members, with members up to 85 years-old; acknowledges the commendable and committed community spirit of the club, putting on regular activities that are considered a lifeline by many of the club’s older members; and congratulates Claremont Rambling Club for being awarded a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, which will enable Claremont Rambling Club to continue to provide this valuable service to the community for years to come.

916The Miley: 30th anniversary

Tabled: 28/02/23 Signatories: 1

Chris Law

That this House celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the designation of The Miley in Lochee as a wildlife reserve; recognises the hard work and dedication of the group of volunteers from the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Angus and Dundee Branch who have helped transform the site over the last three decades; notes that The Miley has been turned from a mile-long stretch of disused railway into a beloved local attraction; further notes that to mark the event volunteers met with local school pupils from St Mary’s Primary School to plant bulbs and wildflower seeds; and wishes the team of volunteers who look after The Miley all the best for the future.

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.

857Judgment on Bahrain state immunity

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 14

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Kenny MacAskill

Mick Whitley

Andy McDonald

Richard Burgon

That this House welcomes the High Court’s landmark ruling that the Kingdom of Bahrain does not have state immunity in a case brought by two UK-based Bahraini dissidents against the Bahraini government over spying allegations involving the use of spyware, which enabled it to conduct surreptitious surveillance on Bahraini political activists living in the UK and recognises that this decision comes in the same month as the 12 year anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising; further asserts that this decision clearly confirms that Bahrain and other states which conduct transnational repression on UK soil cannot hide behind state immunity and will be held accountable; and calls on the Government to protect individuals on UK soil from foreign cyber attacks and to hold the government of Bahrain to account.

859National Lottery Community Fund recipients in Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 3

Margaret Ferrier

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates the following National Lottery Community Fund recipients in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency and recognises the worthy work that this funding will facilitate: Burnhill Action Group who will continue the roll out of community engagement and activity programmes such as weekly family and youth hubs, Cathkin Duke of Edinburgh Centre and their establishment of a permanent base in the Whitlawburn Hub which will provide young people and their families with an integral community space, LEAP Project who will endeavour to offer safety, comfort and nourishment to individuals during the 12 weeks of Winter in 2023, Recycled Teenagers who facilitate generational peer support and, in turn, reduce social isolation in the community, Rutherglen West & Wardlawhill Parish who will provide much needed food, clothing and socialisation to those struggling due to the cost of living crisis, Whitlawburn Community Resource Centre who will create a space in which people can access food and drink, take part in activities, and receive IT advice and financial support; and commends the National Lottery for its work in funding community groups across the UK which strive to aid and enhance their wider communities.

8612022 Champions League Final and Liverpool Football Club supporters

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 46

Ian Byrne

Dan Carden

Maria Eagle

Paula Barker

Kim Johnson

Sir George Howarth

That this House welcomes the findings of the Independent Panel Inquiry into the near-disaster at the UEFA Champions League Final in Paris on 28 May 2022; notes, further to EDM 131 tabled by the hon. Member for Liverpool West Derby, the total exoneration of Liverpool supporters by the panel from any blame for the chaos and horror at the Stade de France; notes the panel’s finding that overarching organisational failures caused the problems; supports the panel’s identification of eight key contributing factors including a securitised approach to the game by authorities which compromised the safety and security of those in attendance; notes that the panel draws parallels between Paris and Hillsborough; further notes the panel’s finding that UEFA and French authorities sought to deflect responsibility for this near-disaster away from themselves and onto blameless fans; demands a full public apology and retraction from UEFA and the French authorities for announcing on screens inside the stadium and to a global TV audience that the delay to kick-off was caused by the late arrival of fans at the stadium, when this was categorically untrue; further demands a full response from the FA in support of these findings; also demands full and transparent implementation by UEFA of the 22 key recommendations in this report; acknowledges the panel’s commitment to a fair and thorough inquiry and thanks them for hearing evidence from fans; and commends Spirit of Shankly supporters’ trust and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association for their substantial contribution to the panel inquiry.

862Ukrainian refugees and driving in the UK

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 7

Siobhain McDonagh

Jim Shannon

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Patrick Grady

That this House calls on the Government to support Ukrainian refugees who have made the journey to the UK by car to be able to use them without needing to undergo a permanent import and registration to UK number plates for the duration of their stay in the UK; and believes this would vastly simplify the process and bring the legal position of Ukrainian refugees into alignment with that of overseas students and workers who bring their cars to the UK on a temporary basis, as well as to similar concessions provided by other European countries in response to the humanitarian crisis.

863Ashton Wilson’s charity sleep-out for homeless veterans

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 6

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Sir Julian Lewis

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Ashton Wilson on embarking on a 100 night sleep-out to support homeless veterans; commends his consistent effort over three years to raise funds for the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) who support and rehabilitate homeless veterans; recognises the struggles of veterans adapting to civilian life, and the acute struggles of veterans without fixed accommodation, including on access to employment and benefits; thanks the RBLI for its organisation of the annual Great Tommy Sleep out; commends Ashton’s fundraising, which last year reached £3,500 and enabled 15 veterans to receive emergency accommodation and be provided with much-needed training and support; and wishes Ashton the very best of success for this ongoing remarkable and commendable endeavour.

86440th anniversary of the Dance School of Scotland

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 8

Carol Monaghan

Jim Shannon

Hannah Bardell

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Anne McLaughlin

That this House congratulates the Dance School of Scotland on its 40th anniversary; celebrates the school’s Musical Theatre Course which was founded 25 years ago; highlights the Dance School’s national reputation as a Centre of Excellence in both vocational dance and musical theatre training; notes that it is fully funded by the Scottish Government, thereby enabling students from all backgrounds to realise their potential as they pursue a career in the arts; emphasises the expertise and dedication of its teaching faculty and musical accompanists; commends the dedication, creativity, and talent of its students and the success of its alumni; congratulates the Dance School on its achievements over the last 40 years; and wishes it all the best for years to come.

865Local government funding

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 23

Sir George Howarth

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Rebecca Long Bailey

Dan Carden

Richard Foord

That this House acknowledges that local government fulfils a vital role and should be funded in such a manner as to enable it to continue to do so; notes with regret that councils face a funding gap of £3.19 billion for 2023-24; further notes that councils will be confronted with the unacceptable choice of cutting services or using already worryingly declining reserves to balance their budgets; expresses alarm that the gap is likely to increase to £5 billion in 2024-25 without taking into account increased energy costs and inflationary pressures; and calls on the Government to ensure that adequate funding is provided to local authorities in order to ensure that their budgets are future-proofed against the need to cut jobs and services in the short, medium and long term.

866Early diagnosis of special educational needs

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 5

Mr Virendra Sharma

Jim Shannon

Richard Foord

Ian Lavery

Mohammad Yasin

That this House believes that early diagnosis of special educational needs must be a priority for the Government, as a delay in diagnosis is associated with a multitude of negative consequences in later life, as well as an indirect increased financial burden to families and loss of life chances to the individual; notes that early intervention is known to improve a child's long-term outcomes; further notes that, as children undertake a baseline assessment when they enter school, that would be the most appropriate time to assess special educational and disability needs; and urges the Government to ensure early special educational needs diagnosis is a priority.

867Amendments to modern slavery guidance

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 12

Stuart C McDonald

Alison Thewliss

Jim Shannon

Hannah Bardell

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Hywel Williams

This House regrets the Prime Minister’s announcement of 13 December 2022, which included the intention to remove the gold-plating in our modern slavery system and significantly raise the threshold someone must meet to be recognised as a victim of modern slavery; opposes the subsequent updates to Modern Slavery Guidance, which include new, impossibly high standards of evidence required within the timeframe to trigger referral to the National Referral Mechanism, a reduction of the Recovery and Reflection Period for survivors of labour abuse and sexual exploitation from 45 to 30 days, and the removal of the NRM Multi-Agency Assurance panel process, changes that make it harder for survivors to be identified and supported, and represent a regression in efforts to increase identification and support of modern slavery victims; supports comments by anti-slavery campaigners that the existing system was not gold plated but already beset by delays and poor support; calls on the Government to reconsider these plans in light of the potential exploitation and harms they will cause, particularly for vulnerable refugees and trafficking victims, which includes a high proportion of children and young people; proposes that the government adopt a transparent data- and evidence-driven approach, in consultation with anti-trafficking organisations, to improve decision-making, following calls from STOP THE TRAFFIK supported by Anti-Slavery International; and encourages the Government to return to tackling modern slavery as both a serious crime and a safeguarding issue, not an illegal immigration issue, in order to tackle its root causes and better protect vulnerable people.

869Daysoft

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 3

Margaret Ferrier

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Blantyre based manufacturer Daysoft on its one billionth contact lens sold; recognises Daysoft’s commitment to delivering their product with precision and care; commends company founder Ron Hamilton on inventing the affordable daily disposable contact lens; further recognises Ron and Company Director Moyra Hamilton for their efforts to foster an inclusive and stable working environment for employees; celebrates the hard work and loyalty of the Daysoft workforce who continue to deliver excellence on a major scale; and wishes Daysoft, and all who work there, the best in their future endeavours.

870First Ards Presbyterian Church Christian Endeavour Group 100th anniversary

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Mr Gregory Campbell

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Paul Girvan

That this House notes and celebrates the 100th birthday of the First Ards Presbyterian Church's Christian Endeavour Group; further notes the contribution of leaders and individuals throughout all generations who have given of their time and resources to teach the young people who have attended Christian Endeavour for over 100 years; highlights the Christian Endeavour aim to Inspire, Equip and Encourage churches to Biblically develop youth as Christ-centred leaders and that there are over 43 countries worldwide connected to the Christian Endeavour network; sincerely thanks all the volunteers and leaders at First Ards Presbyterian Church for teaching children the importance of learning about God's kingdom; and wishes them all the very best for many more years to come of successful Christian Endeavour.

87140th anniversary of Belfast City Airport

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 7

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Carla Lockhart

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Patrick Grady

Paul Girvan

That this House notes the 40th anniversary of Belfast City Airport, situated in County Down; further notes its tremendous history in administering flights to multiple destinations, including within the United Kingdom, and also abroad to areas in Europe such as Amsterdam; highlights the variety of the numerous airlines that reside with Belfast City Airport, such as British Airways, Emerald Airlines, KLM, Easyjet and Logan Air, which provide readily available and comfortable flights, including over 80 weekly flights io the capital city of London and other cities such as Glasgow and Cardiff, where thousands travel weekly for work and leisure; further highlights the kind and efficient nature of all staff in security, front desks, and airline handlers, who go above and beyond to ensure experiences are enjoyable and most important safe for all; and sincerely thanks Belfast City Airport for their contributions and importance to the Northern Ireland travel economy and wishes them every success for the future.

873Attacks on emergency and blue light service personnel

Tabled: 20/02/23 Signatories: 6

Mr Gregory Campbell

Carla Lockhart

Jim Shannon

Mr Barry Sheerman

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Paul Girvan

That this House notes the ongoing and increasing incidence of attacks on police, ambulance, fire service and other personnel who deal with members of the public in life threatening circumstances; deplores all such attacks and calls upon those in judicial positions to impose sentences that will be seen to be a deterrent to such behaviour and reflect the unacceptability of such attacks as wider society; and pays tribute to all those personnel to whom we owe a debt of gratitude and who should have the full protection of the law whenever needed.

874Horizon Europe

Tabled: 21/02/23 Signatories: 12

Layla Moran

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Tim Farron

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

That this House celebrates the role of international collaboration in driving world leading research and innovation; notes the positive effect this has on productivity and competitiveness; recognises the continued benefit to British scientists and researchers which has accrued thanks to access to the Horizon schemes; notes with concern the significant delay to the UK gaining association as part of Horizon Europe which has resulted in British universities losing millions of pounds in funding and researchers relocating to Europe to more easily access funding there; further notes with concern the recent comments made by the new Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology that the UK is “ready” to pursue its own scheme, rather than take part in wide-scale collaboration with our neighbours that is of huge benefit to our country; and therefore calls on the Government to rule out this prospect and to recommit to gaining association with Horizon Europe as a matter of urgency.

875Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund Wee Box, Big Change Lent Appeal 2023

Tabled: 21/02/23 Signatories: 7

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Alison Thewliss

That this House welcomes the launch of Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s 2023 Wee Box, Big Change Lent Appeal; understands that this year's appeal aims to support families suffering from hunger in Zambia; understands that the Lent appeal will help fund work to act against hunger through supporting the creation of small vegetable gardens, teaching organic farming skills, gifting livestock such as pigs and goats that can produce natural fertiliser, as well as enabling communities to come together to sell their products at market, earning more money for everyone; notes that the appeal will also support activities that enable girls to focus on their education and provide support for women to feed and provide for their families; and wishes SCIAF’s Wee Box, Big Change campaign every success.

879Support for people affected by the earthquake in Turkey by businesses in Inverness city centre

Tabled: 21/02/23 Signatories: 10

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Hannah Bardell

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House commends local businesses in Inverness city centre for their exemplar efforts in supporting people following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey on 6 February 2023; notes that the earthquake left thousands of people without shelter, food and medical care; further notes that the Inverness community has rallied together to provide support to those affected by the disaster; recognises the role played by city centre businesses in collecting donations to aid relief efforts; and commends the compassion and generosity shown by the people of Inverness and beyond.

881St Helens Rugby Football Club

Tabled: 21/02/23 Signatories: 12

Ms Marie Rimmer

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Tracey Crouch

Margaret Ferrier

Conor McGinn

That this House congratulates St Helens Rugby Football Club, its coach Paul Wellens, former coach Kristian Woolf, chairman Eamonn McManus, captain James Roby and all the players, staff and loyal supporters of the club that successfully won its third World Club Challenge; applauds the extraordinary achievement of the club for being the first English side to win the trophy in Australia since 1994; and commends the team on showing the world that the English Super League is the best league in the world.

882Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria (No. 2)

Tabled: 21/02/23 Signatories: 13

Liz Saville Roberts

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

That this House mourns the lives lost and damaged caused by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria; notes that over 47,000 people have died so far and that an estimated 300,000 people in the region are left homeless; and calls on the Government in the short term to implement a family visa scheme for Turks and Syrians who have been left homeless and have family in the UK, and in the long term to establish safe routes for all people who are affected by similar tragedies to be able to find sanctuary in the UK.

884National Lottery Community Fund Award to the Tuesday Friendship Club

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 3

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House congratulates the Tuesday Friendship Club based in the Glasgow South West constituency on their £10,000 National Lottery Community Funding award to support there weekly social club for adults with additional support needs in Govan; recognises the work of the Tuesday Friendship Club and supports it’s aims of hosting bespoke Events for Adults with Learning Disabilities and Additional Needs; and wishes the Tuesday Friendship Club the best with all its future endeavours.

885National Lottery Community Fund Award to the ACVC Hub

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 4

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House congratulates ACVC Hub based in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £10,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to support a hub for Veterans with mental health issues to engage with creative activities to bring balance back to their lives; recognises ACVC Hub uses arts and crafts as a way to help the Veterans they serve improve their overall health; and wishes ACVC Hub the best with all its future endeavours.

886National Lottery Community Fund Award to Community Veteran's Support

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 3

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Community Veterans Support based in Govan in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £194,268 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to support veterans across Scotland through the provision of a drop-in centre based at the Pearce Institute in Govan; recognises Community Veterans Support works with veterans needing assistance with issues surrounding mental and physical health, homelessness, housing, pensions, benefits support, employment and training and a range of other support including friendship and camaraderie; and wishes Community Veterans Support the best with all its future endeavours.

887National Lottery Community Fund Award to Linthouse Monday Club

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 3

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Linthouse Monday Club based in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £10,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to allow the group to run bi-weekly trips to different locations in and around Glasgow, where participants will have a warm meal and have a fun day out with new friends; recognises Linthouse Monday Club aims to increase the connectivity of older people by setting up a sustainable and self-organised club run by older people, for older people in the Govan community; and wishes Linthouse Monday Club the best with all its future endeavours.

888National Lottery Community Fund Award to Govan Community Project

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 4

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Govan Community Project based in Govan in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £9,914 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to employ a Bike Library Co-ordinator to oversee their bike lending service; recognises Govan Community Project supports the diverse communities in the Greater Govan area and refugees and people seeking asylum all over Glasgow.; and wishes Govan Community Project the best with all its future endeavours.

889National Lottery Community Fund Award to Govan Men's Shed

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 4

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Govan Men's Shed based in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £9,950 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to extend their services and offer a warm space for local pensioners during the winter months; recognises Govan Men's Shed provides pensioners with an environment which gives them valuable contact and interaction by providing a workshop to assist local people with their DIY projects; and wishes Men’s Shed Govan the best with all its future endeavours.

890National Lottery Community Fund Award to The Rangers' Charity Foundation

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 3

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Chris Law

That this House congratulates The Rangers Charity Foundation based in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of a £111,577 National Lottery Community Fund grant; understands this funding will be used to deliver a drop-in service for people in recovery from substance abuse and that the service delivered from Ibrox Stadium and the Ibrox complex benefitting 250 people and 30 volunteers over three years; recognises The Rangers Charity Foundation works compassionately to support those in need, by seeking tackle inequalities and by creating opportunities for people of all ages to change their lives for the better; and wishes The Rangers Charity the best with all its future endeavours.

891National Lottery Community Fund Award to Riverside Hall

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 4

Chris Stephens

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Riverside Hall based in Govan in the Glasgow South West constituency on their award of £9,200 from National Lottery Community funding to run sessions twice weekly, 48 weeks of the year for young people aged five to eleven years, with sessions consisting of activities such as football, bike rides and old school games; recognises Riverside Hall provides a community space and activities for a vibrant local community of all age groups; and wishes the Riverside Hall the best with all its future endeavours.

892Andrew Arbuckle and National Farmers’ Union of Scotland Ambassador Award

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 3

Wendy Chamberlain

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Tim Farron

That this House congratulates Andrew Arbuckle of Newburgh, Fife, on receiving the prestigious Ambassador Award from the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland; recognises Mr Arbuckle’s influential work as an agricultural advocate, award-winning journalist and local politician; remembers Mr Arbuckle’s vital coverage of farming emergencies such as foot and mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy; appreciates Mr Arbuckle’s public service as a Liberal Democrat Member of Scottish Parliament and Fife councillor; and further endorses the importance of the Scottish agricultural industry, to which Mr Arbuckle has dedicated much of his career.

893VAT on audiobooks

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 20

Sir Mike Penning

Dr Philippa Whitford

Margaret Ferrier

Allan Dorans

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Deidre Brock

That this House recognises that audio books, now popular and widely available across all genres; from business to academic, from historical to self help, are a lifeline for many people with sight loss, visual impairment, dyslexia or other reading disabilities; agrees that audio books offer unique opportunities for visually-impaired and dyslexic people to improve their education on a par with their peers; recognises that audio books enable visually-impaired and dyslexic people to continue working independently for longer and thereby contribute to the economy for longer; recognises that audio books open up a world of information, literature and poetry to visually-impaired and dyslexic people; welcomes the zero-rate VAT for e-books but also recognises that e-books, when read aloud by automated text-to-speech, are difficult to listen to for long periods, lack intonation, may mispronounce names and places, can often read out every bracket and notation, making it difficult to comprehend or recall meaning; notes that other European countries have recently reduced their rates of VAT on audiobooks, including Norway to zero; and calls for equal VAT-status to be applied to audio books as already exists for e-books and physical books.

894Warm Home Discount Scheme

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 8

Steve McCabe

Valerie Vaz

Caroline Lucas

Mrs Paulette Hamilton

Jonathan Edwards

Charlotte Nichols

That this House notes that many households are struggling with the cost of their energy bills; welcomes the decision to expand the Warm Home Discount to reach more households; is concerned by the number of people who were previously eligible for the Warm Home Discount who are no longer receiving it due to the energy rating of their household, despite their circumstances not changing; is further concerned that energy costs are being measured using Valuation Office Agency data and not including efficiency measures such as insulation; and calls for a review of how energy costs are measured and how it is that many households are no longer able to receive the discount despite being eligible to do so in the past.

895Henry Wuga's 99th birthday

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 11

Kirsten Oswald

Ms Anum Qaisar

Christine Jardine

Patricia Gibson

Amy Callaghan

Patrick Grady

That this House sends its very best wishes to Henry Wuga MBE on the occasion of his 99th birthday; notes that he was born Heinz Wuga in Nuremberg in 1924 and was sent to Glasgow on the Kindertransport in 1939 at the age of only 15; understands that he had a long and successful career in the catering business; appreciates that in 1999 he was awarded an MBE for his work with limbless ex-servicemen; celebrates the magnificent contribution he has made to Holocaust Education in Scotland alongside his late wife Ingrid Wuga BEM, also a Kindertransport child; notes that thousands of children and young people have heard directly from Henry and Ingrid about their experiences of the Holocaust; further notes the profound impact this has had on so many people who have heard them; acknowledges the vital importance of testimony such as Henry’s in ensuring a clear appreciation of what happened during the Holocaust and why it must never happen again; thanks him for his continued and tireless efforts in this regard; notes that his contributions have made a significant difference to education in Scotland; and thanks him for his selfless work for others; and hopes that he has a wonderful birthday.

896Chief Inspector John Menzies, East Dunbartonshire

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 6

Amy Callaghan

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House recognises the contribution of Chief Inspector John Menzies during his two and a half years of service in the community; congratulates the Chief Inspector in securing a new role in Argyll and Bute; and wishes him well for the future.

897Brightest Star's 10th Anniversary

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 7

Gavin Newlands

Allan Dorans

Patrick Grady

Anne McLaughlin

Jim Shannon

Alison Thewliss

That this House congratulates Renfrewshire charity Brightest Star on reaching its 10th anniversary since being founded; notes the important work undertaken by the charity in supporting families who have suffered the bereavement of a young child; highlights the provision of paediatric first aid courses, bereavement support, and a specialised family ambulance, to families who need the charity’s support; praises in the highest terms the work of the charity’s founder, Arlene Smith, who founded the charity following the tragic death of her son Jack just six days before his 6th birthday; thanks all who have supported Brightest Star over the past decade; and welcomes the important work it has carried out since its formation and will carry out in future.

898NAO report and Common Platform

Tabled: 23/02/23 Signatories: 27

Liz Saville Roberts

John McDonnell

Ms Diane Abbott

Kim Johnson

Kate Hollern

Chris Stephens

That this House notes the National Audit Office's report on Progress on the Courts and Tribunals Reform Programme, which identifies numerous areas of concern around the Common Platform case management system, including tens of millions of pounds of financial waste and major problems of functionality and reliability; further notes the NAO's finding that His Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service did not receive sufficient assurance Common Platform was robust before rollout, leading to performance issues, or leave sufficient time to learn from early adopter sites; further notes that thousands of important notifications over a 15-month period failed to send due to system errors, including 35 cases where people were not electronically tagged, while HMCTS recorded 231 critical incidents in eight months affecting users nationally; notes that stakeholders reported the system design made user roles more difficult, with staff finding it stressful to record results of complex cases live in court, while poor software performance and stability led to page timeouts affecting live resulting and other high-risk processes; believes this report validates warnings by the Public and Commercial Services union that Common Platform affects the timeliness and quality of the delivery of justice and causes distress for users, leading to increased staff sickness absence and resignations; applauds PCS members for their ongoing industrial action against Common Platform, with targeted strikes by legal advisers and court associates since October 2022; and calls on the Government and HMCTS to suspend the use of Common Platform until NAO and PCS concerns are fully resolved.

899Retirement of Joan Fraser of the Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service

Tabled: 24/02/23 Signatories: 5

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Jim Shannon

Gavin Newlands

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

That this House notes that Joan Fraser of the Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service has announced her retirement from the organisation after 23 years of supporting and advocating for vulnerable people across West Dunbartonshire; understands that the Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service plays an invaluable role in providing independent advocacy to adults with a learning disability, adults who use mental health services and people over 65 across the community; wishes to put on record thanks to Joan for her dedicated and vital work over the years; and extends best wishes on her retirement.

900World Book Day 2023

Tabled: 24/02/23 Signatories: 24

Valerie Vaz

Richard Foord

Jonathan Edwards

Mary Kelly Foy

Jamie Stone

David Mundell

That this House supports World Book Day in its mission to promote reading for pleasure; commends tis success in distributing 50 million book tokens annually to children; with a further 101,000 books donated to children by publishers, the Arts Council and others; notes reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child's future success; further notes with concern that reading for pleasure is at its lowest level since 2005, with fewer than one in two children and young people aged nine to 18 saying they enjoyed reading; recognises the importance of children from all backgrounds having the opportunity to choose and own a book; calls on all Members of the House to be reading champions for their constituencies; and warmly welcomes World Book Day's celebration in schools and homes across the United Kingdom on 2 March 2023.

901Supporting independent and local journalism

Tabled: 24/02/23 Signatories: 8

Daisy Cooper

Richard Foord

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Tim Farron

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House recognises the crucial role that small, independent news publishers play in a democracy; notes the importance for communities of accessing truly local news that speaks to their needs and experiences; laments the sharp decline of local news production due to falling revenue and a rapidly evolving news economy; celebrates the growing innovation in independent news to respond to the challenges its providers face; welcomes the recommendations made by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on the sustainability of local news which build on the 2019 Cairncross Review of public interest news, noting in particular the directive to help independent news publishers become competitive and profitable in the face of tech giant market disruption, also reflected in the 2022 Public Interest Journalism Working Group’s recommendations to the Scottish Government; and therefore; resolves to ensure that publishers large and small benefit from a publisher-platform bargaining code in the forthcoming Digital Markets, Consumers and Competition Bill.

902The late John Ogden, the Green Shack seafood hut, Oban Pier

Tabled: 24/02/23 Signatories: 7

Brendan O'Hara

Jim Shannon

Patrick Grady

Anne McLaughlin

Gavin Newlands

Alison Thewliss

That this House note with great sadness the passing of John Oggy Ogden, the owner of the world-renowned Green Shack seafood hut on Oban Pier, which since he established the business in 1990 has provided hundreds of thousands of visitors and locals with the very best of Scottish seafood, with his now legendary prawn sandwich being recognised by the Observer magazine as being The Best in Britain; sends its sincere condolences to his family, particular his long-time partner Marion Ritchie; and wishes Marion and the staff at the Green Shack all the very best in the future as they build on John’s outstanding success.

903Strathaven Choral Society's 50th anniversary

Tabled: 27/02/23 Signatories: 3

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

That this House congratulates Strathaven Choral Society on reaching its 50th anniversary; notes its significant achievements in involving the local community in choral music over those five decades; recognises the founder, the late David Knox, whose inspiration, vision and high standards have been continued by his successors; applauds the current Musical Director, Christopher Barr, for his skill, enthusiasm and patience in striving to maintain and improve the fine performance and reputation of the choir; acknowledges the accompanists, amateur and professional musicians alike who have participated in not only enriching the music-making, but also bringing enjoyment to members and audiences throughout the Society’s history; and commends the commitment and enthusiasm of Linda Ormiston, Honorary President and loyal ambassador, as well as the Society’s hard-working committee members, choir members past and present, supporters and friends, for the achievements, awards and experiences of the Society over the past 50 years of bringing choral music to the community.

90460th anniversary of Nicholl Oils and electric vehicle charging rollout

Tabled: 27/02/23 Signatories: 2

Mr Gregory Campbell

Jim Shannon

That this House notes the continuing success of locally-owned family businesses such as Nicholl Oils, based in Greysteel County Londonderry; congratulates them on over 60 years of trading, and the recent joint development the firm has announced with renewable company Everun to roll out one of the largest independently-owned and operated network of electric vehicle charging points across Northern Ireland; and wishes them years of continued success.

905Formula One in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and human rights

Tabled: 27/02/23 Signatories: 9

Wendy Chamberlain

Richard Foord

Jamie Stone

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Tim Farron

Munira Wilson

That this House expresses grave concerns over the role of Formula One and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in sportswashing the appalling human rights records of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; notes that Saudi Arabia executed 81 prisoners in one day in 2022, while Bahrain imprisons its population at the highest rate of any country in the Middle East and North Africa region, with an estimated 1,300 political prisoners; condemns F1’s refusal to engage with key stakeholders including human rights groups, such as the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy when awarding Bahrain the longest contract in F1 history, breaching F1’s own policy; urges the Government to support an an independent and impartial inquiry to assess the implications of F1 races in human rights violation, the adequacy and effectiveness of F1’s current human rights policy, or lack thereof, and its implementation and their responses to evidence of serious human rights violations in F1 host countries; further urges the Government to support calls for the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to adopt a human rights policy consistent with the UN’s Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights; further condemns the ongoing imprisonment of political leaders in F1 host nations including Bahrain; and calls on the Government to use all available leverage to make representations to Bahrain for them to immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners, including Hassan Mushaima, Dr Abdulajalil AlSingace, Sheikh Ali Salman, Abdulhali AlKhawaja, Ali AlHajee, Najee Fateel, Sayed Nizar Alwadaei and death row inmates Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa.