Contents

Published – Friday 6 December 2024

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 5 December 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

505Residence-based voting rights

Tabled: 5/12/24 Signatories: 1

Wera Hobhouse

That this House believes democracy works best when all who are a part of our community can participate; acknowledges that everyone who has made the UK their long-term home, pays taxes, does their bit and contributes to society should have the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections; regrets that over 4 million people have no right to vote in UK general elections; further regrets that the voting rights of EU citizens have been curtailed and that over 171,000 previously-eligible EU voters have been removed from the electoral register as a consequence of the implementation of the 2022 Elections Bill.

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.

444Violence against women and girls

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 26

Tonia Antoniazzi

Claire Young

Jodie Gosling

Ruth Jones

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Cat Eccles

That this House marks 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and White Ribbon Day 2024; recognises that violence against women and girls is the most pervasive breach of human rights in the world; further recognises that women and girls around the world face violence, abuse and persecution due to their sex; expresses deep concern that in recent years in the UK, one woman has been killed by a man every three days on average; further expresses alarm that violence against women has surged by almost 40% in England and Wales; notes violence against women and girls as a global and national emergency; honours and remembers all women affected by men’s violence; praises organisations supporting women affected by male violence and working to combat it; welcomes the Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade; and urges everyone in this House to work together to end violence against women and girls as an urgent priority.

446Carers Rights Day 2024

Tabled: 21/11/24 Signatories: 28

Jamie Stone

Wendy Chamberlain

Caroline Voaden

Claire Young

David Chadwick

Adam Dance

That this house recognises the importance of carers in the UK, in the light of Carers Rights Day; in addition acknowledges the poor working conditions and low pay that carers struggle with; highlights the value of carers to societies across the UK; notes that while the recent budget has added more support for the care sector more needs to be done following the repercussions of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic; further acknowledges that unpaid carers are now providing care worth £184 billion per year; and calls on the Government to further support carers both in paid and unpaid roles.

450Suspension of Israel from international sports competitions

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 13

Brian Leishman

Andrew George

Nadia Whittome

Andy McDonald

Zarah Sultana

Chris Law

That this House expresses profound concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continued suffering and loss of life caused by the lack of a ceasefire and the failure to advance peace talks; condemns the disruption to Palestinian sports resulting from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the inclusion of teams from illegal Israeli settlements in domestic leagues, in clear violation of international sports regulations; highlights the growing calls for action from civil society, sports fans, and advocates who emphasize the critical need for diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire and revive negotiations towards a peaceful two-state solution; notes the precedent of sports boycotts, including the campaign against apartheid South Africa, which demonstrated the power of international sporting solidarity in addressing injustice; further notes the responsibility of major international sports bodies, including FIFA, UEFA, the International Olympic Committee, and others, to uphold their principles of fairness and justice by refusing to normalize oppressive practices; calls for the suspension of Israel from all international sports competitions until it complies with international law, respects human rights, and engages in meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting peace; and urges the UK Government to utilise all diplomatic and sporting channels to support peace, justice, and stability in the region.

452Replacement of Personal Independence Payments with a voucher system

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 20

Steve Darling

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Wendy Chamberlain

Tom Morrison

That this House expresses its concern regarding the Minister for Work and Pensions' refusal to rule out proposals to replace Personal Independence Payments (PIP) with a voucher system; notes that this proposal, originally put forward by the previous Conservative Government, would significantly reduce the autonomy of disabled claimants; recognises the substantial concern raised by disabled people, who rely on regular PIP payments to cover essential living costs, including mobility aids, equipment, therapy, and everyday necessities; further acknowledges that replacing cash with vouchers would undermine the independence of disabled people and could not adequately meet their diverse needs; calls on the Government to immediately reject the idea of replacing PIP payments with vouchers and grants, ensuring that disabled individuals retain control over their finances; and urges the Government to engage meaningfully with disabled people, their families, and relevant advocacy organisations to guarantee that reforms to the benefits system truly address the needs of those with disabilities without undermining their rights to autonomy and dignity.

454Reducing the age for bowel cancer screening offered on the NHS

Tabled: 25/11/24 Signatories: 19

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Jim Shannon

Wera Hobhouse

Christine Jardine

Ian Roome

Steve Darling

That this House recognises the hard work of Stephen Rippington, who whilst battling against bowel cancer, was active in raising awareness for the disease both within his local area and online, and his wife Jessica who has raised over £10,000 for bowel cancer research; notes that 1 in 4 diagnoses occur among people aged under 50; and, following Stephen's passing earlier this year, calls for the age eligibility of screening tests for bowel cancer offered by the NHS to be reviewed.

462Friends of Scottish Settlers, winners of the the King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 5

Euan Stainbank

Jon Trickett

Chris Law

Jim Shannon

Kirsteen Sullivan

That this House congratulates Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS) for winning the King’s Award for Voluntary Service; notes that Friends of Scottish Settlers won this award for their inspiring support for people arriving in this country; further notes that FOSS is an organisation of local people extending a hand of welcome and solidarity to newcomers to the Falkirk district; understands that they began in 2016 as a community group welcoming Syrian families seeking refuge here; recognises that FOSS volunteers extend dignity, humanity and practical responsiveness to people navigating the asylum system, refugees, as well as those simply moving to the area to live and work; and celebrates that, in so doing, they support the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of community-members who arrive in often incredibly difficult circumstances, embrace the potential and contributions of these new locals, and make human rights real in our communities.

464International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 16

Jim Shannon

Ellie Chowns

Jon Trickett

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Wera Hobhouse

Chris Law

That this House celebrates International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, marked on November 25; notes that for at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act, their murder by partners and family members, meaning a woman was killed every 10 minutes; highlights that since 2020, 24 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland, each one of them was a daughter, the majority of them mothers; underlines that violence against women and girls remains largely unreported due to the perceived impunity for perpetrators, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it; and further notes the fantastic charities across the UK providing support for those victims of violence and that all efforts must be made to put a stop to violence against women and girls.

466Union derecognition by RELX at LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 16

Rebecca Long Bailey

John McDonnell

Kim Johnson

Grahame Morris

Jeremy Corbyn

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House strongly condemns the decision by RELX to issue notices to the National Union of Journalists and communications to journalists at LexisNexis and Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions terminating longstanding trade union recognition agreements crucial to successful negotiations and strengthened agreements on pay and terms and conditions; believes this backwards and ultimately futile action to remove collective bargaining rights from editorial and journalistic staff is ill-judged and must be reversed; further believes that coming from a company which promotes legal services and aims its content at professionals including those working in human resources, this naked hostility to basic democratic rights can only be damaging to the brand’s reputation, running contrary to stipulated values; commends the ongoing resolve of the National Union of Journalists to defend the rights of its members whilst challenging proposals to prevent the diminishing of workers’ rights; and supports the union in its recruitment and organising efforts.

467Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Tabled: 26/11/24 Signatories: 30

Pippa Heylings

Ellie Chowns

Ian Roome

Edward Morello

Wera Hobhouse

Angus MacDonald

That this House notes that Wednesday 27 November marks Fuel Poverty Awareness Day; remarks with grave concern that this winter will leave thousands of people cold and hungry; further notes that homelessness in the UK is at a record high and an estimated six million households are in fuel poverty; recognises UK housing stock is the oldest in Europe and among the least energy efficient; regrets the growing number of vulnerable people who are living in poorly insulated homes and struggling to choose between heating and eating; further regrets that food banks and local services are overwhelmed; also regrets that the former Conservative government failed to commit to an ambitious programme to support renewable energy or decent homes standards to bring down energy bills, reduce emissions and improve public health; also regrets the Government’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments during the cost of living crisis; notes with concern Ofgem’s decision to increase the fuel poverty cap by 1.2% in January 2025; observes that new decent homes standards have been further delayed; regrets that the Government’s Warm Homes Plan is not due until next year; and calls on the Government to urgently implement a ten-year emergency home insulation programme and to reduce energy bills and protect vulnerable households this winter.

471Potential closure of post offices

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 27

Daisy Cooper

Steve Darling

Anna Sabine

Ian Roome

Wendy Chamberlain

Helen Maguire

That this House recognises the importance of Post Office branches across the UK; believes that they form a vital part of our local communities and highstreets with millions of people depending on them; recognises the importance of Post Offices as community hubs, providing access to communication, banking and other vital services; notes the particular need for such services for people with restricted access, such as older or more rural populations with little connectivity; is deeply concerned about the news that 115 branches of the Post Office may be closed and around 1,000 jobs could be at risk; and calls on the Government to take action to set the Post Office on a sustainable footing for the long term and to ensure that none of the 115 post offices close until a consultation with each local community has been undertaken.

472Grangemouth Boys Brigade

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 3

Brian Leishman

Jim Shannon

Kirsteen Sullivan

That this House commends the Grangemouth Boys Brigade for its remarkable contribution to the community of Grangemouth and beyond, having served as a guiding light for young men since its founding in 1897 and its re-establishment at Kerse Parish Church in 1903; applauds its resilience in continuing operations through both World Wars, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other challenges over its 121-year history; recognises its long-standing tradition of summer camps, including its first in Aberfoyle, Perthshire in 1925, and its consistent provision of a safe space for young people to grow, learn, and thrive; notes its outstanding achievements in Falkirk and District Battalion competitions in marching, first aid, football, and other sports, as well as its success in national Boys Brigade competitions, including winning the national five-a-side football and table tennis competitions; celebrates the leadership of figures such as Captain James Napier, whose dedication over 51 years exemplified the brigade’s ethos of service; acknowledges the brigade's impact in fostering community spirit and producing notable alumni, including former Scottish international footballer George Corky Young; and calls on the Government to support organizations like the Grangemouth Boys Brigade, which play an invaluable role in shaping future generations.

474Assistance and access for disabled people at railway stations

Tabled: 27/11/24 Signatories: 26

Adam Dance

Ian Roome

Steve Darling

Helen Maguire

Mr Paul Kohler

Edward Morello

That this House is gravely concerned by the challenges disabled people face in getting support at railway stations, particularly in rural constituencies such as Yeovil; expresses alarm at the absence of available assistance staff in stations such as Yeovil Pen Mill; notes with concern that only one in four train stations have step free access, that only 2% have level boarding, that at 67% of stations the platforms are too narrow for wheelchairs to turn, and that around 40% of rail stations have no tactile paving which is a vital safety feature for blind and visually impaired people; strongly believes that these people should have the same access to railway stations as able-bodied passengers and should not be at risk of accidents; acknowledges that many find the booking systems for requesting support staff difficult to access and use; also notes that inaccessible stations and a lack of support staff also pose challenges for parents with buggies and the elderly; and calls on the government to improve accessibility and support for disabled people on our railways, such as by improving the Access for All programme to deliver more projects, more rapidly, and by holding operators like Great Western Railway to account.

475Lobby of Parliament by refugee groups

Tabled: 28/11/24 Signatories: 9

Ian Lavery

Mary Kelly Foy

Jon Trickett

Jim Shannon

Andrew George

Ayoub Khan

That this House welcomes the lobby of Parliament by refugee groups including Northumberland County of Sanctuary; acknowledges that the UK has, for centuries, provided a safe haven for those fleeing oppression; understands that many people seeking asylum display qualities of great courage and resilience and have abilities which can serve this country well; and further acknowledges the need to hear from those inside the asylum system about important ways to reduce the costs of asylum, smash the illicit market in human traffic by enabling safe routes to get to the UK, and to treat human beings with dignity and fairness ahead of the forthcoming borders, asylum and immigration bill.

477Celebrating the achievements of Terry Kirby and the inclusivity of golf

Tabled: 28/11/24 Signatories: 5

Brian Leishman

Mary Kelly Foy

Jim Shannon

Richard Burgon

Kirsteen Sullivan

That this House applauds the remarkable achievements of Terry Kirby, a paraplegic golfer from East Yorkshire, who will represent Europe in the 30th Phoenix Cup at St Andrews, Scotland, next week; commends Mr Kirby for his extraordinary resilience and dedication to golf, having continued to excel in the sport despite paraplegia caused by a spinal tumour and a prior motorbike accident; notes his impressive record as a six-time national wheelchair golf champion and his pioneering role as the first seated golfer to captain a club; celebrates his work as Chair of the Handigolf Foundation, where he supports and inspires others with disabilities to take up the sport; recognises the Phoenix Cup as an exceptional showcase of the inclusivity of golf, demonstrating how players of all abilities can compete together through the handicap system; and wishes Mr. Kirby and Team Europe every success as they prepare to compete on the historic Old Course at St Andrews.

479Ukraine energy security Marshall plan

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 7

Alex Sobel

Chris Law

Luke Akehurst

Luke Myer

Jim Shannon

Cat Eccles

That this House recognizes that a Ukraine Energy Security Marshall Plan will protect the people of Ukraine, promote global security, and accelerate the worldwide transition to clean energy; believes that distributed clean energy is resilient against attacks as it does not have single points of failure, is faster and less expensive to produce, can be repaired much quicker, and removes the dependency on autocratic nations that control fossil fuels; is concerned that that over half of Ukraine’s power infrastructure is destroyed, underscoring the imperative for an immediate overhaul with a transition to distributed clean energy that is a priority as reconstruction plans are created and implemented; notes that solar energy can keep hospitals and schools running and provide running water and heat; further notes that electric buses and minivans can power hospitals and command posts when missiles and drones strike; also notes that wind turbines like those Ukraine constructed near the front line cost less to build than the missiles needed to destroy them and are hard targets, being narrow and dispersed; finally notes that only 0.46% of the solar and 0.4% of the wind potential in Ukraine will supply the entire country with electricity; recognizes that Ukraine’s wind generation is enough to power the electricity demand of Europe six times over; and finally recognizes that supporting Ukraine’s energy security is critical for the UK's security.

480Equal pay and prize money in women’s football

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 11

James MacCleary

Adam Dance

Jess Brown-Fuller

Liz Jarvis

Helen Maguire

Jim Shannon

That this House expresses concern over the significant disparities in pay and prize money between men’s and women’s football; notes that the prize fund for the women’s FA Cup remains far lower than that of the men’s competition, despite the impressive growth and increasing popularity of women’s football; commends Lewes Football Club for being the first and currently only football club in the world to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally, setting an inspiring example for others to follow; calls on the Football Association to take immediate action to ensure that the women’s FA Cup prize money is brought into line with the men’s competition; further notes the ongoing inequity in player pay, with many women footballers earning considerably less than their male counterparts; and urges governing bodies, sponsors and clubs to commit to closing the pay gap, ensuring fairness and equality for all players regardless of gender.

482Uphall Golf Club

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 4

Gregor Poynton

Jim Shannon

Brian Leishman

Kirsteen Sullivan

That this House congratulates Uphall Golf Club for triumphantly reopening its clubhouse after a fire during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 which destroyed the building; commends its response to the challenge by successfully getting the golf club back up and running; applauds its innovation by franchising the restaurant and golf shop to allow for greater focus on the golf course and its members; celebrates the welcoming role which it plays in the local community through its provision of a restaurant which welcomes members and non-members every day of the week; and wishes them all the very best for their business in the future.

484Treating retail workers with kindness during the festive trading period

Tabled: 29/11/24 Signatories: 20

Chris Kane

Graeme Downie

Kenneth Stevenson

Martin Rhodes

Katrina Murray

Brian Leishman

That this House welcomes the press and social media campaign from the Scottish Retail Consortium and Usdaw which is urging Scots to be kind, considerate and respectful to retail workers and fellow customers when shopping this Christmas; notes that the festive period can be an especially complex and challenging time for retail businesses with colleagues working hard to keep shelves stocked and products delivered; understands that abuse towards those working in customer service has climbed with figures from Usdaw showing over two thirds of retail staff have experienced verbal abuse in the past twelve months; affirms that any mistreatment of colleagues in stores is wholly unacceptable and should not be tolerated; and commends this responsible and positive initiative from employers and trade unions for a little Christmas kindness and courtesy from Scots so that we can all enjoy shopping over the festive period and in turn support local jobs and the vibrancy of our town and city centre destinations.

485Tom and Marie's fundraiser for Dementia UK

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 5

Michelle Scrogham

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Kirsteen Sullivan

Richard Burgon

That this House commends Marie and Tom Burton from Ulverston in Cumbria for their efforts to raise money in aid of Dementia UK through Tom and Marie’s Charity Dog/Pet show and an upcoming sponsored ultra-marathon; recognises the devastating impact this disease can have and the urgent need for research into treatment; notes that there are over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK and that this is expected to rise sharply in the coming years; underlines the current support pre and post diagnosis for those experiencing memory loss and other symptoms; and wishes Tom and Marie the best for their ultramarathon.

486Bath Young Carers

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 21

Wera Hobhouse

Adam Dance

Jess Brown-Fuller

Ian Roome

Jim Shannon

Helen Maguire

That this House congratulates Bath Philharmonia Young Carers' Choir on the release of their single Love is Enough; wishes them luck in the race for this year’s Christmas number one; recognises the talent and hard work of the six current and former young carers who wrote the single; highlights the challenges young carers face, in particular, disruptions to their education and social isolation; and calls on the Government to ensure that all young carers receive the support and services they need.

489Colin S Macleod's 1000-mile swim

Tabled: 2/12/24 Signatories: 5

Torcuil Crichton

Jim Shannon

Mary Kelly Foy

Graeme Downie

Kirsteen Sullivan

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 4

John Slinger

Andrew George

Luke Akehurst

Cat Eccles

That this House supports the Government’s recent agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq on migration, trafficking, and drug smuggling; further supports ever deeper diplomatic efforts by the UK and its allies to strengthen relations with Iraqi Kurdistan across diplomatic, military, educational, cultural, and business spheres; suggests that every effort be made by the UK and our allies to strengthen relations between Erbil and Baghdad for their mutual benefit and on the basis of the federal constitution agreed by the Iraqi people in the 2005 referendum; notes that such efforts, as elsewhere in the world, can foster greater prosperity and political stability through reform, including to tackle corruption and sustainably diversify the economy; and further notes that this can also reduce the push factors for migration to the UK.

496Kevin Sinfield fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease research

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 8

Mr Gregory Campbell

Andrew George

Shockat Adam

Christine Jardine

Kirsteen Sullivan

Richard Burgon

That this House notes the seven ultramarathons in seven days across the UK in December 2024 by rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield CBE, who has continued his incredible fund raising efforts for research into combating Motor Neurone Disease (MND), so far raising over £16 million to help those affected by one of the most debilitating and heart-breaking conditions; recognises BBC Breakfast has consistently helped to highlight the amazing efforts Kevin Sinfield has put in since his friend the late Rob Burrows CBE was diagnosed in 2019; and expresses the hope that a cure for MND will be brought much closer due in no small measure to these outstanding endeavours.

497Bowel Cancer UK report into NHS services

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 19

Clive Jones [R]

Helen Maguire

Steve Darling

Ian Roome

Helen Morgan

Adam Dance

That this House recognises bowel cancer as the second biggest cancer killer, with over 13,500 people tragically dying from bowel cancer each year in England alone; acknowledges the findings from Bowel Cancer UK’s report entitled Delivering the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan: A review of progress of bowel cancer in England that whilst progress for bowel cancer services has been made, progress has still not been good enough; is concerned that progress on early diagnosis of bowel cancer has stagnated and that patients are experiencing longer waiting times than almost all other cancer; further recognises that nine in ten people survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to just one in ten at the latest stage; and calls on the Government, via their new national cancer plan, to deliver the optimisation of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and to create much needed extra capacity in endoscopy and pathology services to encourage early diagnosis.

498University of St Andrews cost of living and sustainability initiatives

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 3

Wendy Chamberlain

Adam Dance

Helen Maguire

That this House notes the achievement of the University of St Andrews working in partnership with bus operators Stagecoach East Scotland and Moffat & Williamson to deliver a 75% travel discount for students and staff as a cost of living support measure over the last two years; recognises that this discount has contributed to a saving of £1.7million for students and staff and made a significant impact on household budgets during this time; further recognises that this unique initiative has resulted in an estimated carbon saving of 1,325 tonnes over the last 24 months, the equivalent of a 34% drop in carbon emissions in that time; and celebrates efforts made by the University to support increased use of public transport, reduce car use and cut congestion in St Andrews through the promotion of sustainable alternatives.

499Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 3

Andrew George

Shockat Adam

Ellie Chowns

That this House welcomes Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis on his visit to the UK today; notes that the British Museum still holds about half of the Parthenon Sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1812, during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, then purchased from him by the Government following a decision by this Parliament in 1816, and that they remain on display in the British Museum to which they were transferred by Act of Parliament in the same year; considers it is no longer appropriate for these sculptures to be held and displayed in the UK and notes that the sculptures have not always been well protected and have indeed been damaged whilst in the possession of the museum; further notes that the remaining Parthenon Sculptures have been well displayed since 2009 in the purpose built Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the Parthenon; notes that Prime Minister Mitsotakis has compared the UK’s possession of the Parthenon sculptures as like cutting the Mona Lisa in half; and calls on the Government to work with the trustees of the British Museum, to agree a gracious act to reunite the Parthenon Sculptures with those in Athens and to finally put right this enduring wrong.

501Certificate of Common Sponsorship

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 6

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Mary Kelly Foy

Andrew George

Carla Denyer

Richard Burgon

Ellie Chowns

That this House believes that migrant health and care workers on Tier 2 visas play an essential role in the delivery of UK health and care services; recognises that current rules tie these workers to a single employer, and that if a worker loses their job they may face financial hardship, debt, lost investment and the possibility that their partner will also lose the right to work; further believes that the dependency on a single employer creates a significant power imbalance; notes that it also contributes to potentially exploitative and unsafe working conditions, with workers reluctant to report concerns for fear of retaliation or deportation; further notes that employers may exploit these fears by making unfair demands, and that many migrant workers report feeling trapped in bonded servitude with constant job insecurity; acknowledges the negative impact that this situation can have on mental health and wellbeing; agrees that migrant workers deserve the freedom to change employers within the sector; supports UNISON’s campaign for a Certificate of Common Sponsorship for health and care workers on Tier 2 visas as a way of breaking the exclusive link between a single employer and a worker’s visa status; and calls on the Government to begin the process of introducing such as scheme as part of the overall drive to reform and improve the social care sector.

502Merry Christmas Harrogate single

Tabled: 3/12/24 Signatories: 3

Tom Gordon

Adam Dance

Richard Burgon

That this House congratulates the Straymen, Simon Cotton, Joe Pearce and all other individuals and organisations involved on the release of the single Merry Christmas Harrogate; highlights the dedication of all those involved to improving and advertising the town of Harrogate and all that it offers; and wishes them luck in the Christmas charts.

503St Leonard’s Catholic School

Tabled: 4/12/24 Signatories: 2

Mary Kelly Foy

Valerie Vaz

That this House sends its congratulations to St Leonard’s Catholic School in City of Durham for achieving an outstanding Ofsted report; remembers the appalling situation that befell pupils and teachers at the school in August 2023 following the discovery of RAAC; expresses admiration for the resilience of parents, pupils and teachers for overcoming the fallout of RAAC; believes that the RAAC crisis could have been averted had the Building Schools for the Future programme not been scrapped in 2010; consequently condemns the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition Government for ending the programme in 2010; further condemns the previous Conservative Government for their lethargic response to the RAAC crisis in City of Durham; notes the support that St Leonard’s received throughout County Durham, reflected in a parliamentary petition early this year; and applauds pupils for defying expectations in their examinations this year, and for the determination of the entire school community.