Contents

Published: Friday 26 May 2023

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 25 May 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

1220National Highways' shortlisting of Lower Thames Crossing road tunnel

Tabled: 25/05/23 Signatories: 1

John McDonnell

That this House is deeply concerned that National Highways has shortlisted Bouygues Murphy Joint Venture for its £2.3bn contract to build the Lower Thames Crossing road tunnel; acknowledges that Murphy International have had legal action launched against them in Ireland by Unite the Union since the company sacked a union shop steward and three union members for discussing concerns about their employment at the RUSAL Aluminium Plant at Auguinish, County Limerick, Republic of Ireland; wants recognition that a company, that has demonstrably and very recently dismissed a trade union shop steward for discussing workplace concerns with members, should not be invited to enter into the next stage in the contract tender process; urges that all construction contractors should maintain respectful industrial relations and respect the rights of elected trade union representatives; and send a strong message to all that if you attempt to stifle trade union members' ability to raise workplace concerns, you should not benefit financially from lucrative contracts ultimately funded by UK taxpayers.

1221Impact of dogs and Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Tabled: 25/05/23 Signatories: 1

Margaret Ferrier

That this House celebrates the positive impact that dogs can have on our mental health; distinguishes that this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is exploring the theme of anxiety and how that issue can affect people of all ages; notes research collated by The Kennel Club which highlights that when feeling stressed or down 69 per cent of people choose to stroke or cuddle their dog to feel better; recognises that owning a dog can aid people in routinely getting out for exercise and fresh air which also helps to ease anxiety; and thanks these four-legged friends for all of the joy they bring to lives and the role that they play in improving our mental health.

1222Giffnock Soccer Centre 2005s

Tabled: 25/05/23 Signatories: 1

Kirsten Oswald

That this House congratulates Giffnock Soccer Centre 2005s on winning the Paisley Johnstone and District Division 1 Youth Football League; commends the Centre on their victory against title rivals Hillwood F.C. which ended with a 2-1 score in favour of Giffnock; notes that Giffnock Soccer Centre 2005s ended the league with 17 wins out of 20 games, having scored 93 goals, giving them 52 points out of a possible maximum of 60; highlights the hard work of all players and the coaches, including Mark Brinkworth, Erman Cabuk and Liam McDougall for their voluntary efforts in managing the team; recognises that this win marks the second time Giffnock Soccer Centre has won the Paisley Johnstone and District 1 Youth Football league; and wishes the team all the very best of luck as they play Dumbarton F.C. in the final of the West Regions Cup 2023.

1223Asbestos-related lung cancer

Tabled: 25/05/23 Signatories: 1

Martin Docherty-Hughes

That this House is concerned that sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer are denied full compensation if they are unable to trace all their former employers whose negligence contributed to the disease; recognises that the number of people affected is small, but the impact on their lives and the lives of their families can be devastating; is aware that section three of the Compensation Act 2006 allows sufferers of mesothelioma in these circumstances to receive full compensation; further recognises that mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer are similar diseases which are often difficult to distinguish, even with expert medical evidence; believes that sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer should have their right to full compensation protected by legislation; and urges the Government to introduce legislation similar to section three of the Compensation Act 2006 for suffers of asbestos-related cancer.

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.

1159Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Tabled: 11/05/23 Signatories: 15

Wayne David

Rosie Duffield [R]

Jonathan Edwards

Christina Rees

Caroline Lucas

Sir Mike Penning

This House is concerned at the increasing number of dog attacks and is alarmed that 13 people have been killed as a result of a dog attack since the start of 2022 and more have been seriously injured; notes that the cost to the NHS of dog bites has been calculated at £777 million per year; recognises that an approach based on breed specific legislation has failed and that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is woefully ineffective; looks forward to the publication of recommendations by the Government’s Responsible Dog Ownership working group and calls for this to take place before the summer recess; and further calls on the Government to introduce new legislation covering all aspects of the control of dangerous dogs that protects the public, promotes responsible dog ownership and improves animal welfare.

1164University and College Union marking boycott

Tabled: 15/05/23 Signatories: 26

Zarah Sultana

Apsana Begum

Kim Johnson

Cat Smith

Mary Kelly Foy

Richard Burgon

That this House notes that workers in higher education have endured over a decade of pay cuts, rising workloads, equality pay gaps and rampant casualisation; supports the recent industrial action that members of the University and College Union were forced to take in defence of pay and pensions; condemns plans by some vice chancellors, as instructed by the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association, to dock up to 100 per cent pay of staff that are working full-time but taking part in a legal marking boycott; calls on the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association to address the concerns of university workers, withdraw the instruction to vice chancellors to implement punitive pay deductions; and further calls on the Government to demand employers resolve the dispute.

1169Potential merits of new legislation on mandatory corporate due diligence

Tabled: 16/05/23 Signatories: 33

Tony Lloyd

Caroline Lucas

Ben Lake

Alison Thewliss

Wera Hobhouse

Sammy Wilson

This House welcomes the campaign for a new UK mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law in connection with supply chains; notes that more than 100,000 people in the UK have signed a petition asking the Government to hold business, finance and the public sector to account when they fail to prevent supply chain human rights abuses and environmental harms; notes also that businesses and investors have backed such legislation to level the playing field, and that similar laws are being introduced in other countries; and calls on the Government to adopt such a law as soon as possible.

1174Access to justice and challenges to parking fines

Tabled: 16/05/23 Signatories: 4

Mr Barry Sheerman

Chris Stephens

Rachael Maskell

Richard Burgon

That this House notes the importance of private car park provision in urban areas; is aware of the need for ticketing systems and consequent fines for users not abiding by car park regulations; highlights the need for fair and equitable access to justice; acknowledges the requirement for the County Court Business Centre to allow adequate processes for individuals wishing to challenge court fine decisions; is concerned by the efficiency of the County Court Business Centre to accommodate such requirements; regrets the difficulty for people to obtain justice within current County Court Business Centre provisions; and calls on the Ministry of Justice to further support the County Court Business Centre to provide fair and transparent access to justice.

1181Extrajudicial executions in Iran (No. 2)

Tabled: 17/05/23 Signatories: 17

John McDonnell

Mary Kelly Foy

Alison Thewliss

Chris Law

Chris Stephens

Liz Saville Roberts

This House is deeply concerned by the extrajudicial executions of Shademan Ahmadi, Atefeh Naami, Emad Heidari Nokish, Esmail Dezvar,Saman Ghaderpor, Matin Nasri, Samira Ebrahimi, Sarina Shiri, Mohamad Abdullahi, Esmail Dazvar, Mohamad Abdullahi, Ali Bani Asad by the Iranian state; sends condolences to the family and friends of the victims; condemns the actions of the Iranian regime in perpetrating these crimes; and urges the Government to call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop executing protestors and to stop violating women's and other citizen's rights and freedoms.

1186Conduct of the Rt hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and legal funding

Tabled: 18/05/23 Signatories: 21

Karl Turner

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

Hywel Williams

Mary Kelly Foy

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

That this House expresses deep concern over the decision to make taxpayers fund the legal bill of the Rt hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip for advice and assistance on the inquiry by the Committee on Privileges into the allegations that the Rt hon. Member misled the House in relation to social gatherings held in Downing Street during the covid-19 national lockdown; notes that the Treasury did not sign off this funding; considers that it is unacceptable that taxpayers are being forced to foot the bill, not least given that the Rt hon. Member has earned a reported £5 million since he stepped down as Prime Minister; also believes that it is particularly troubling that any other individual requiring legal advice and assistance through legal aid would not be eligible if their gross annual income exceeded £12,475; regrets that the legal bill has now passed £245,000; notes that this is a significant cost to the taxpayer; further considers that it is inappropriate for public funds to be used in this manner, not least during a cost of living crisis in which most families are struggling to manage; unequivocally condemns the Rt hon. Member’s decision to request taxpayer funding for his legal bill; calls on the Government to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not used in the future for such purposes; and urges the Rt hon. Member to pay his own legal fees and not to rely on the British taxpayer to foot the bill.

1189Promotion of Abercynon RFC, Aberdare RFC and Abercwmboi RFC

Tabled: 18/05/23 Signatories: 22

Beth Winter

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

Hywel Williams

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the promotion of Cynon Valley rugby clubs Abercynon RFC, Aberdare RFC and Abercwmboi RFC to Welsh Rugby Union League 1 East Central; notes the efforts the clubs have put into developing their own Mini, Junior and Youth sections; further notes they will join Mountain Ash RFC and Ynysybwl RFC in the same league; believes this is the first time five teams from Cynon Valley have been represented in that division; congratulates each club's officials, players volunteers and supporters; and commends the continued flourishing of rugby union in the valley and the role of local rugby clubs for providing a positive contribution and focal point for community life.

1198Proposed withdrawal of day travelcards

Tabled: 22/05/23 Signatories: 14

John McDonnell

Apsana Begum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Jeremy Corbyn

Ian Mearns

Grahame Morris

That this House notes that the Mayor of London is considering withdrawing Day Travelcards from sale; further notes that the change is proposed to assist in generating additional income; is mindful that that the likely impact of the withdrawal is to make travel more expensive for passengers who currently purchase Day Travelcards; recognises that National Railcard discounts can be used on Day Travelcards and that these discounts are not available via contactless payment on the London transport network; further recognises that a recent report by London Travelwatch on digital exclusion found that already one in six people in London say they are unable to buy a ticket as they do not have access to a smartphone or the internet; is concerned that further restricting fares available to purchase as tickets risks exacerbating digital exclusion; believes that scrapping Day Travelcards could disincentivise travel into and around London on public transport and encourage car use as an alternative; understands that the terms of Transport for London’s current funding agreement with the Government require it to generate additional revenue; further understands that TfL has forecast a £75m surplus on its budget this year and passenger numbers are rising faster than forecast; therefore calls on TfL and the Mayor of London to retract proposals to withdraw Day Travelcards; and calls on the Government to enable a fair funding arrangement for London’s public transport system.

1200Blasphemy laws in Nigeria

Tabled: 22/05/23 Signatories: 8

Jim Shannon

Rachael Maskell

Carla Lockhart

Martyn Day

Fiona Bruce

Ms Marie Rimmer

That this House condemns the blasphemy laws in Nigeria that have caused individuals with minority beliefs to receive long prison sentences or extreme mob violence; urges President Buhari to pardon those facing the death penalty for alleged blasphemous expressions before he leaves office, including Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, whose case is currently before the Supreme Court; and extends its full support to Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a 22 year old singer at risk of execution for circulating a song via WhatsApp considered blasphemous.

1201Impact on patients of NHS practices in absorbent continence product purchasing

Tabled: 22/05/23 Signatories: 5

Jim Shannon

Rachael Maskell

Carla Lockhart

Chris Stephens

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes that the current approach by the NHS to the purchasing of absorbent continence products adversely impacts upon patients' safety, quality of life and health outcomes, including avoidable hospital admissions, urinary tract infections, skin conditions, pressure ulcers and overall health and wellbeing; considers that the current focus on unit price, rather than value and assessment of the most clinically appropriate product for a patient, leads to avoidable increases in the number of items used, the cost of laundering clothes and bedding, staff time and avoidable harm to staff and patients, and so to substantial overall increases in the financial cost to the system; and encourages His Majesty's Government to deliver on its commitment to reducing unwarranted variation of care and delivering value based procurement and urgently to review the priorities of and incentives for purchasing managers to ensure that patients access the most clinically appropriate product for them, so improving patient outcomes and quality of life, whilst also reducing avoidable cost to the system.

120270th anniversary of St Patrick's in Millisle

Tabled: 22/05/23 Signatories: 3

Jim Shannon

Carla Lockhart

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes the 70th anniversary of St. Patrick’s, Millisle which was built in 1953 as a daughter church of Donaghadee Parish; notes the history of the church, which saw it become the responsibility of the rector at Carrowdore in the 1960s, and so the grouped parishes of Christ Church, Carrowdore and St. Patrick’s, Millisle, were formed; further highlights the very close connections with its community and village and its strong desire and willingness to be God’s kingdom there, along with the other denominations; and prays for God's richest blessing upon the parish as they continue to show the love of God in word and deed within their community.

1203Government of Wales (Devolved Powers) Bill

Tabled: 22/05/23 Signatories: 6

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

Hywel Williams

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Stephens

Caroline Lucas

That this House congratulates Lord Wigley on his Government of Wales (Devolved Powers) Bill passing its third reading in the House of Lords; notes that the private member’s bill would prevent any change or reduction in the Senedd’s powers without the support of a super majority of two-thirds of its members, and would formalise relationships of respect between the Welsh and UK Governments; is increasingly concerned that the powers of the Senedd have been undermined by the actions of the UK Government since the Brexit vote; highlights a recent report by the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales that the status quo or unwinding devolution were neither reliable nor sustainable bases for the future governance of Wales; maintains that self-government is the settled will of the people of Wales following successive referendums in 1997 and 2011; argues that all Members, in Westminster and in Cardiff Bay, should do all they can to ensure its stability and a transparency of its powers; and calls on the UK Government to support the Bill and give it the time it needs to pass through Parliament.

1206Volunteers’ Week 2023

Tabled: 23/05/23 Signatories: 23

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Jim Shannon

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Wendy Chamberlain

Drew Hendry

Gavin Newlands

That this House commends the hard work and dedication shown by volunteers across the country; recognises Volunteers' Week, which runs from 1 to 7 June, as an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of volunteers and inspire more people to try volunteering; notes that the personal benefits of volunteering for individuals and communities are wide ranging; further notes that 27 per cent of Scotland's adult population volunteered for a group or organisation in 2021, equating to over 1.2 million people; and thanks volunteers for their vital role in supporting people in need during the covid-19 pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis.

1210Durham Pride 2023

Tabled: 23/05/23 Signatories: 8

Mary Kelly Foy

Jonathan Edwards

Jon Trickett

Ian Mearns

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Chris Stephens

That this House celebrates the success of Durham Pride 2023, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary; congratulates Mel Metcalf and the organising committee of Durham Pride for their hard work and dedication to inclusion and diversity in the North East; praises the work of the team throughout the weekend which enabled people from across the region to celebrate and come together; recognises that Pride is as much a protest as it is a celebration; remembers and appreciates those who have campaigned tirelessly for LGBTQ+ equality; and looks forward to the gathering of Pride in Durham in 2024.

1213Contribution of international students

Tabled: 24/05/23 Signatories: 5

Alyn Smith

Hywel Williams

Ben Lake

Liz Saville Roberts

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

That this House condemns proposals by the Government to further restrict visas for overseas students and their dependents from coming to the UK for study and research; notes with concern that these proposals are likely to disproportionately affect female international students and single-parents who may wish to bring their children; celebrates the contribution that international students bring to the economy and our local communities; further notes that international students provided a net contribution of £37.4 billion to the UK economy as recently as 2021-22 and enrich local communities with their knowledge and experiences; notes with concern that UK universities are already facing difficulties in attracting overseas students and researchers due to the decision to withdraw from the EU’s Horizon and Erasmus+ programmes; and urges the Government to withdraw its proposals to restrict visas for overseas students and to engage constructively with the university and higher education sector to help them address the challenges they face.

1215Alcohol labelling in Ireland

Tabled: 24/05/23 Signatories: 8

Dan Carden

Rachael Maskell

Grahame Morris

Ian Mearns

Mary Kelly Foy

Ian Lavery

That this House congratulates the pioneering efforts of the Irish Government for introducing mandatory health labelling on alcoholic drinks to alert consumers to calorie content, grams of alcohol, risks of cancer and liver disease and dangers of drinking while pregnant; recognises that standardised health labelling enable consumers to make informed decisions on alcohol consumption; notes that other food, drink and tobacco products contain clear health information, and where necessary, health warnings, therefore mandatory health labelling of alcohol products would be in line with existing practices; is alarmed that alcohol, like tobacco and asbestos, is a group 1 carcinogen and linked to over 100 illnesses yet such risks are not part of UK alcohol labelling requirements; is concerned that the current voluntary self-regulatory UK model of alcohol labelling does not sufficiently inform consumers; and calls on the Government to follow Ireland’s leadership and introduce mandatory health labelling on alcohol products that informs consumers of the significant health risks, to help reduce soaring rates of alcohol harm in the UK.

1216Changes to Bupa Dental Care

Tabled: 24/05/23 Signatories: 3

Tony Lloyd

Richard Burgon

Jon Trickett

That this House expresses concern that Bupa have taken the decision to close, sell or merge a total of 85 dental practices across the UK, the majority of which are focused on providing NHS dentistry; notes that for Bupa this is simply a portfolio change with no recognition that this will have a very serious impact on people who use their dental services, particularly areas where there are significant shortages in dentists and dental care; recognises that an estimated 4 million people cannot access NHS dental care without being able to afford to seek private dental care; further notes that Ministers have been promising reform since 2010; and calls on the Government to ensure that it delivers access to modern dentistry for those who need it.

1218Arrest of Mohammad Sanquor in Bahrain

Tabled: 24/05/23 Signatories: 2

Kenny MacAskill

Claudia Webbe

That this House strongly condemns the arrest of leading Shia cleric Mohammad Sanquor, after he called on authorities to declare the fate of death row inmates following allegations they were assaulted and called for the release of political prisoners during Friday prayers; regrets that this arrest represents a clear violation of freedom of speech and freedom of religious practice; expresses concern at this escalation in repression by the government of Bahrain; notes the spread of protests across the country following the arrest and urges the UK Government to make representations to Bahrain to guarantee freedom of assembly; calls for the immediate release of Sheikh Mohammed Sanquor and for all charges against him to be dropped; and urges the UK Government to call on the government of Bahrain to end its systematic persecution of the majority Shia population.