Contents

Published: Friday 12 January 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 11 January 2024

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

267Flood resilience

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Sarah Dyke

That this House is concerned by the impact of flooding caused by the recent Storm Henk following a year of frequent flooding in many parts of the UK; supports calls for extreme weather resilience plans to be in place for all communities in identified catchment areas; notes the significant impact flooding has on people’s mental health and the anxiety it can cause; recognises that some of the most vulnerable people in society are unequally affected by flooding; understands that the increased cost burden on homeowners damaged by flood damage through increased insurance or uninsurable homes is significant; and calls on the Government to increase Environmental Agency funding in order to increase the flood resilience of communities across the UK.

268Hosting refugees and asylum seekers: Council Tax Single Person Discount

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Sir Mike Penning

That this House calls on the Government to amend the Council Tax (Additional Provisions for Discount Disregards) Regulations 1992, so that refugees and asylum seekers with leave to remain being hosted in their home by a person living alone are disregarded for the Council Tax Single Person Discount; and notes that this is already the case for Ukrainian citizens permitted to stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

269Holocaust Memorial Day

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Bob Blackman

That this House notes that on 27 January 2024 the UK will observe Holocaust Memorial Day on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau; further notes that the UK will come together to remember the 6 million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution; pays tribute to the Holocaust survivors, including many who share their testimony day in, day out, to ensure the horrors of the past are never forgotten; thanks the Holocaust Educational Trust for its work to educate every person from every background in the UK about the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance; pays tribute to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for organising the national Holocaust Memorial Day event; and urges all Right hon. and hon. Members to observe this day and to pledge to speak out against antisemitism, which in recent months has risen exponentially and which needs to be tackled head on.

270Martin Slumbers

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House commends the work of Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A and the Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as he steps down; recognises the extensive global business and passion for golf which he has brought to the organisation; congratulates him on overseeing the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the return of the AIG Women’s Open to St Andrews and the 43rd Curtis Cup match at the Sunningdale before relinquishing his role at the end of the year; welcomes the modernisation of The R&A’s activities, which Mr Slumbers led through a merger with the LGU and its subsequent integration, to enable The R&A to represent golf for all at the elite level, with a greater emphasis on representing women and girls in golf; and wishes him all the best for the future.

271Proceedings instituted by South Africa against the State of Israel at the International Court of Justice

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 3

Hywel Williams

Liz Saville Roberts

Ben Lake

That this House recognises the continuing violence in Gaza which has resulted in over 23,000 deaths; welcomes South Africa’s request for provisional measures by the International Court of Justice to prevent acts of genocide; urges the Government to carefully consider the application as it upholds its duty to prevent genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention and actively avoid complicity; continues to support those in the UK calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and an end to the siege; and calls upon Israel to observe any resulting binding provisional measures aimed at protecting the human rights of Palestinians, including the cessation of fire.

272Joe Preece

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House recognises the hard work of Joe Preece who ran the Cupar Foodbank which provided over 2000 people in North East Fife with a three day food package since 1 April 2022; commends the lifesaving provisions that Mr Preece has provided through the Foodbank, with over 60% of recipients being children, handing out 25,936 kilograms of food and actioning 840 referrals from over 40 health and social care organisations; appreciates the Foodbank providing Christmas meals to 268 people as well as having a large selection of toys available to ensure children had a present to open on Christmas Day; supports the initiatives run by the Foodbank, for example the Concessionary Travel Scheme, the Foodbank Laundry, Fuel Bank and CARF; celebrates that Mr Preece is truly a pillar of the Cupar community; and wishes him all the best for the future.

273Rachel Meade's successful employment tribunal

Tabled: 11/01/24 Signatories: 1

Neale Hanvey

That this House pays tribute to social worker Rachel Meade for her courage, forbearance and resilience in the pursuit of justice against Westminster City Council, and her professional regulatory body, Social Work England; congratulates her on her successful employment tribunal for discrimination on the basis of her protected beliefs under the Equality Act 2010; notes that the tribunal found that both Ms Meade’s regulator and her employer had subjected her to harassment for her gender-critical beliefs by wrongly initiating fitness to practise proceedings and suspending her for gross misconduct which precipitated a wrongful final written warning; further notes that prior to the commencement of the tribunal both the regulator’s sanction and the employer’s warning were withdrawn; deeply regrets that Ms Meade was subjected to this campaign of harassment for prioritising child safeguarding and for her lawful views on the importance of single-sex spaces for women and related matters; recognises the judgement found that expressing opinions contrary to the desired amendment to existing legislation, advocated for by trans lobbying groups including but not limited to, Stonewall were not unlawful; and calls on all employers and regulators to uphold their public sector equality duty and to be mindful that this judgement may hold transferable relevance to other public sector bodies and practice disciplines particularly those that hold core safeguarding functions whether that be to children, vulnerable adults or those providing mental health care.

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.

242Compensation for Equitable Life policyholders

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 30

Dr Philippa Whitford

Ronnie Cowan

Patricia Gibson

Kirsten Oswald

Deidre Brock

Martyn Day

That this House recognises the financial, personal and social impact on policy holders following the collapse of Equitable Life Assurance Society; calls on the Treasury to ensure that all of the 1.5 billion pounds set aside for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme, is distributed to Equitable Life policyholders who suffered financial loss due to regulatory maladministration; and further calls on the Treasury to establish a fair distribution of payments following detailed consultation with policyholders and their representatives.

243Pension restitution for women born in the 1950s

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 44

Kim Johnson

Claudia Webbe

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Claire Hanna

Jim Shannon

Mick Whitley

That this House welcomes the positive interventions from so many hon. Members from across the House on behalf of women born in the 1950s who have suffered pensions loss through the targeting of their pension rights; pays tribute to constituents and campaigners in their ongoing fight for justice; recalls that women born in the 1950s were subject to discriminatory laws; and encourages the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to join mediation, noting there are no impediments to doing so.

246Radiotherapy

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 9

Tim Farron

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

Rachael Maskell

Christine Jardine

Wera Hobhouse

That this House acknowledges the pressing need to reduce treatment waiting times for cancer patients across the country, given only 58.2% of patients begin treatment within the recommended maximum 62 days from referral; recognises the need for a National Cancer Control Plan that improves cancer outcomes by delivering patient-centred, equitable and data-informed cancer control that empowers clinical frontline staff; further recognises that radiotherapy is a key cancer treatment required by 50% of all cancer patients; notes that with the integration of modern radiotherapy technology, IT, and AI developments, radiotherapy has the potential to significantly reduce waiting times and improve survival in a cost-effective way; further notes with concern that many radiotherapy treatment machines are currently operating beyond their recommended lifespan of 10 years, with 74 due to be replaced by the end of 2024; particularly regrets that millions of people live outside the recommended 45-minute travel time for treatment, especially those in rural areas like Westmorland and Lonsdale, where average travel time is between two and four hours per treatment; further acknowledges the importance of increasing radiotherapy access from the current 27% to the international standard of 50-63% to ensure enough treatment capacity for NHS early diagnosis ambitions to translate into early stage cures; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that sufficient NHS capital investment is directed towards unlocking the full potential of radiotherapy as a high-tech, cost-effective, and vital cancer treatment method as part of creating a National Cancer Control Plan, which will significantly reduce the backlog.

253Sub-postmasters

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 83

Kate Osborne

Ian Byrne

Ian Mearns

Richard Burgon

John McDonnell

Clive Efford

That this House notes the increased awareness of the life-changing injustices experienced by sub-postmasters throughout the Horizon scandal; further notes it is now known as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history; notes with concern that sub-postmasters have served custodial sentences, suffered bankruptcy for offences they did not commit and many have died before seeing justice; expresses concern that the actions of the Post Office and the Government have prolonged this crisis and added barriers to justice being achieved; further notes that the Post Office has repeatedly been exposed for having given out false and misleading information throughout this scandal and should play no part in determining who is entitled to compensation or how much they should get; and strongly urges the Government to take action to ensure full compensation is paid, the remaining convictions are looked at en masse, that justice prevail for all postmasters and that those responsible for this gross miscarriage of justice are held accountable.

255Government legal advice on Gaza

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 25

Jon Trickett

Claudia Webbe

Mick Whitley

Mary Kelly Foy

Kim Johnson

Richard Burgon

That this House understands that questions have been raised internationally about the legality of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza; recognises that in November 2023 UN experts raised the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza; highlights the UN General Secretary’s reasons for invoking Article 99 that there is a high risk of total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences; further highlights his comments to the Security Council that international humanitarian law includes the duty to protect civilians and to comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution and that the laws of war also demand that civilians’ essential needs must be met, including by facilitating the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief; notes the Spanish Prime Minister’s comments that he has serious doubts that Israel is complying with international humanitarian law; further notes the letter signed by prominent Israeli public figures to the Attorney General in December 2023 which said there have been explicit calls to commit atrocious crimes against millions of civilians, providing evidence of the discourse of annihilation, expulsion and revenge; acknowledges the case South Africa has brought to the International Court of Justice claiming Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is tantamount to genocidal actions; and calls on the Government to publish in full the legal advice it has received from its law officers regarding the situation in Gaza, particularly in the run up to UN votes, and the legality of the UK export licensing of arms to the Israel.

256Scottish Government's industrial strategy

Tabled: 8/01/24 Signatories: 20

Douglas Chapman

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Law

Ronnie Cowan

Anne McLaughlin

Stewart Hosie

That this House recognises the UK's low growth, poor productivity and high debt economy which has been a feature of the UK's economic demise over many decades; now welcomes the recent statement by Scotland's First Minister to establish an industrial strategy to help reverse the most negative impacts of UK economic policy on the people of Scotland, while rejecting the mantra of the Governor of the Bank of England which warned the people across the UK to prepare to be poorer; supports the First Minister of Scotland's statement on the Scottish economy which would focus on (a) joining the EU to have unfettered access to the world's largest single market, (b) creating a dynamic government ministry to drive industrial policy and build consensus across sectors and institutions and (c) committing to large scale public investment in key areas of comparative advantage; and further recognises that Scotland, as an independent country, would have all the ingredients, skills and valuable resources to be a successful, high growth, high wage, modern economy and a member of the EU where the national mantra would be prepare to be prosperous.

25740th anniversary of the FTSE 100

Tabled: 9/01/24 Signatories: 4

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Mohammad Yasin

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes the 40th anniversary of the FTSE 100, the UKs top stock market index; highlights its launch in January 1984, containing the biggest 100 companies on the London Stock Exchange; further notes its use in gauging the health of the wider UK economy and that it holds constituents with a value that is 11 times higher than the £165.6 billion market capitalisation which was first available in 1986; further highlights that the index contains 26 companies which featured during the initial 1984 launch, including Lloyds, Sainsburys and Tesco; and underlines the tremendous impact FTSE has on the UK economy in terms of stock exchange and that so many local businesses rely on it every day to succeed.

259JPR Williams

Tabled: 9/01/24 Signatories: 3

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Sir Mike Penning

This House mourns the passing of Welsh Rugby Union great John Peter Rhys (JPR) Williams at the age of 74; notes that JPR played at full back for Wales and the successful touring British Lions teams of 1971 and 1974; recognises that JPR won 55 caps for Wales between 1969 and 1981, captained his nation on five occasions and helped his country to win three Grand Slams; further recognises that he was capped by the British and Irish Lions on eight occasions; further notes that JPR was a talented tennis player in his youth and worked as a surgeon in his professional career; and sends its condolences to the family and friends of this great Welshman.

261Anniversary of the Kegworth air disaster

Tabled: 9/01/24 Signatories: 4

Mr Gregory Campbell

Jim Shannon

Gavin Robinson

Sir Mike Penning

That this House notes that 8 January 2023 marked the 35th anniversary of the Kegworth air disaster when 47 people were killed and 74 seriously injured as British Midland flight 92 from Heathrow to Belfast suffered engine trouble and came down near Kegworth in Leicestershire; recognises that following the tragedy airlines across the world began providing cockpit resource management training to their staff and significant improvements to safety ensued; and expresses the hope that never again in air travel will it take such a tragic event to ensure improved and effective safety measures are implemented as standard practice.

264Occupied Palestinian Territories and arms exports to Israel

Tabled: 10/01/24 Signatories: 3

Richard Foord

Sarah Dyke

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House notes with deep concern the number of lives lost in the Israel-Gaza conflict; recognises tensions involving other actors in the wider region; expresses fear for those remaining hostages in Gaza, and for the hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians who do not share Hamas’ objectives and who need humanitarian aid urgently; reaffirms the belief that we need movement to a political solution that guarantees security for Palestinians and Israelis; further notes with concern possible breaches of International Humanitarian Law by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; condemns a failure by all sides to use distinction between combatants and civilians; expresses its concern that UK arms supplied to Israel may have been used to commit breaches of International Humanitarian Law; resolves to improve parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s control of arms exports; urges the UK Government to introduce a presumption of denial for arms exports to governments listed as human rights priorities in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual human rights report; further recognises that the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas are listed within the Occupied Palestinian Territories section of the 2022 FCDO human rights report; calls on the UK Government to use all political and diplomatic powers to halt arms supplied to Hamas from Iran and other actors that are hostile to Israel; and condemns the arming of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah by Iran and other actors that are hostile to Israel.

265Gaza

Tabled: 10/01/24 Signatories: 3

Angus Brendan MacNeil

Neale Hanvey

Dr Philippa Whitford

That this House believes there should be a weekly vote in the Commons calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, until there is a ceasefire, given the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.