Published – Monday 31 March 2025

New EDMs

1020Scams and fraud

Tabled: 28/03/25 Signatories: 2

Alex Brewer

Sarah Gibson

That this House expresses deep concern over the rise of scams across the UK which target older and vulnerable people; notes the speed at which new technologies continue to provide increasingly sophisticated tools to criminals to commit fraud, at the cost to thousands of individuals who often face little chance of compensation; recognises that scams can be in a variety of forms, including but not limited to, phone scams, cold calls, postal scams, doorstep scams, email scams, pension scams, and investment scams; and calls for increased safeguarding processes in retail spaces to ensure that staff have the necessary information and advice to help them spot and avoid scams targeting the money of older or vulnerable individuals.

102110 Years of Big Hearts

Tabled: 28/03/25 Signatories: 1

Dr Scott Arthur

That this House congratulates the Big Hearts Community Trust on its tenth anniversary; commends the Trust for the outstanding work they do supporting the local community in Gorgie and across Edinburgh promoting positive mental health, fostering meaningful social connections, and creating pathways for a brighter future; further congratulates the trust on its successful Big Hearts Day earlier this month that saw over £16,000 raised for their vital work; and wishes them well 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.

963Chronic urinary tract infections and women's health

Tabled: 17/03/25 Signatories: 27

Helen Maguire

Helen Morgan

Dr Roz Savage

Luke Taylor

Andrew George

Wera Hobhouse

Sarah Gibson

That this House recognises the urgent need for improved care and support for those suffering from chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), a debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life; notes with concern the lack of awareness, research, and effective treatment options available to patients; acknowledges that women's health as a whole demands greater attention, funding, research and care from the Government; and calls on the Government to prioritise investment in women's health, improve access to specialist care, and ensure that those affected by chronic UTIs or other debilitating conditions receive the diagnosis and treatment they deserve.

971Bank closures

Tabled: 19/03/25 Signatories: 26

Alex Brewer

Wera Hobhouse

Steve Darling

Jim Shannon

Helen Maguire

Adam Dance

Sarah Gibson

That this House notes with concern that Santander is set to close its Fleet High Street branch at the end of June 2025;believes that this closure, along with others across the country, will greatly impact many in our community who rely on high street bank branches for essential services, particularly the elderly, disabled, and those without transport; further notes that many residents from surrounding rural villages already face significant challenges in accessing banking services, and that this closure will exacerbate those difficulties; acknowledges the disproportionate impact of branch closures on rural communities, where public transport options are limited and alternative banking facilities are scarce; and calls on the Secretary of State to urgently engage with banks and local MPs to prevent further branch closures before the establishment of adequate banking hubs in these areas.

979Scottish Tourism Month 2025

Tabled: 20/03/25 Signatories: 6

Jamie Stone

Wendy Chamberlain

Jim Shannon

Graham Leadbitter

Christine Jardine

Sarah Gibson

That this House recognises that March is Scottish Tourism Month; notes the importance of the tourism industry in the Highlands, welcoming over two million visitors every year; highlights the significance of the tourism and hospitality sector to the economy and culture of the Far North, bringing in £762 million from international and domestic visitors in 2023; acknowledges that the Highlands possess some of the most unique, diverse, and breathtaking scenery in the United Kingdom; celebrates the hard work of all of those working in the tourism industry; and recommends that all enjoy the beauty and adventure that Scotland has to offer.

982Support for young disabled people after education

Tabled: 20/03/25 Signatories: 23

Max Wilkinson

Ellie Chowns

Helen Maguire

Tom Gordon

Liz Jarvis

Claire Young

Siân BerrySarah Gibson

That this House acknowledges the findings in the National Star and the Together Trust’s report entitled What Comes After Education; recognises the report’s key findings, including that young people do not feel listened to, feel worried about leaving education, need access to meaningful activities, want to choose where they live and who they live with, want to be able to work, want meaningful relationships, need reasonable adjustments to attend university, and that transition plans must be proactive and involve the young person and their family; urges the Government to consider the report’s findings when deciding on changes to welfare policy; and calls on the Government to enact the report’s recommendations when enacting welfare changes.

985Access to football pitches for women and girls

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 23

Helen Maguire

Ian Roome

Anna Sabine

Wera Hobhouse

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Rachael Maskell

Siân BerryRichard BurgonSarah Gibson

That this House expresses concern over ongoing inequalities in access to quality training facilities for women’s and girls’ football; notes that women's and girls’ teams are often allocated pitches in worse locations and poorer conditions than their male counterparts; further notes reports from local clubs that training slots for women's teams are frequently being taken by men’s teams, limiting opportunities for women and girls to participate in the sport; believes that equal access to quality facilities is essential for gender equality in football; and calls on the Government, local authorities, and sporting bodies to take urgent action to ensure fair distribution of pitches and training resources for players at all levels.

986Fee waivers for ILR applications

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 16

Kim Johnson

Rachael Maskell

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Nadia Whittome

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Siân Berry

That this House supports the Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London’s call for a fee waiver to be introduced for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications for those on family and private life visas; notes that ILR provides security and stability, yet the £2,885 fee is unaffordable for many despite costing the Home Office just £646 to process; regrets that this denies many people, including UK born children and parents of British children, permanent status and forces them into financial hardship and repeated visa renewals; believes this system is counterproductive, creating unnecessary administrative burdens for both individuals and the Home Office; and calls on the Government to introduce a fee waiver to ensure financial barriers do not prevent people securing permanent immigration status after completing their qualifying periods.

991Corpus Christi Primary School's Big Brew coffee afternoon

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 3

Patricia Ferguson

Jim Shannon

Richard Burgon

That this House commends Corpus Christi Primary School in Glasgow West for hosting a Big Brew coffee afternoon to raise money to support fairer trade and climate justice; congratulates the work of the P6 Fairtrade Committee for organising this event; further commends the pupils who worked hard on the day to make the event a success, from serving tea, coffee and treats, to selling raffle tickets and the can you guess numbers game, and speaking so well about the issue of farmers’ pay and the impact of switching to Fairtrade products; notes that in hosting this event, the pupils drew attention to an important issue, raised awareness of the small changes we can make in order to consume in a smarter, fairer and greener way; and acknowledges the work of Transform Trade in organising the Big Brew 2025 Campaign, providing fun activities and ideas for hosting these events, as part of their important fundraising work.

992Boghall Butchers

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 3

Kirsteen Sullivan

Jim Shannon

Tracy Gilbert

That this House celebrates the achievement of Bathgate's Boghall Butchers whose kebab pie was crowned champion at the British Pie Awards in Melton Mowbray; acknowledges the creativity and dedication of Christine and Paul Boyle in developing the award-winning pie, featuring a doner kebab filling; recognises the significance of this victory among 900 entries from across the UK, involving many diverse and unique competitors; commends the Boyle family's butcher shop, which has been serving the community for 50 years; further recognises the butchers as a point of pride for the Bathgate community; and wishes Boghall Butchers well in future.

997Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance 25th anniversary

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 15

Edward Morello

Helen Maguire

Anna Sabine

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

Sarah Gibson

That this House recognises the brilliant work of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance on its 25th anniversary of dedicated service; further recognises the extraordinary contribution of its pilots, volunteers, paramedics, and doctors in providing lifesaving pre-hospital critical care to people in need, particularly in remote, coastal and rural areas; notes that the service has responded to nearly 3,000 incidents in the past year alone; acknowledges the vital role the air ambulance plays in transporting patients to Dorset County Hospital; pays tribute to the first patient treated by the charity 25 years ago, who has spoken of his gratitude and the service’s lifesaving impact; applauds the unwavering support of the public, whose donations have enabled the service to grow from small beginnings to a vital emergency response resource; and expresses profound gratitude for the dedication and commitment of all those who have contributed to the continued success of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in saving lives across the region.

1000Ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 27

Pippa Heylings

Helen Maguire

Ian Roome

Wera Hobhouse

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Rachael Maskell

Siân BerrySarah Gibson

That this House believes that Ukrainian refugees fleeing war must be treated with compassion in the UK; recognises that the war in Ukraine still wages on, more than three years after Putin first invaded; notes with concern recent reports that some Ukrainian refugees have faced losing their homes and jobs due to uncertainty around their visa extensions; acknowledges that Ukrainian refugees deserve certainty, enabling them to rebuild their lives in the UK if they wish and fully contribute to our economy; further acknowledges that certainty regarding visa extensions would grant young Ukrainians the opportunity to complete their education in the UK to protect and enhance their future; and calls on the Government to give Ukrainian refugees the certainty they deserve by automatically extending their visas and setting out a pathway for obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain.

1001Changes to Great Western Railway ticket offices and stations

Tabled: 24/03/25 Signatories: 13

John McDonnell

Jim Shannon

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Ayoub Khan

Kim Johnson

Shockat Adam

Siân BerryRichard Burgon

That this House is alarmed that First Group rail operator Great Western Railway (GWR) has proposed a number of changes to its stations and ticket offices which include reducing ticket office windows and opening hours; is shocked that it should propose these changes despite the unprecedented and overwhelming public opposition to plans in 2023 to close around 1,000 ticket offices, including at GWR, which demonstrated the importance of ticket offices and station staff for many rail passengers; recognises that the recent Transport Committee report found that the ticket office closure plans risked significantly damaging people’s access to rail and the presence of staff is often a crucial determinant as to whether disabled people are able to travel by rail; is concerned that GWR’s proposals will undermine the role of ticket offices, to the detriment of passenger safety, security and accessibility; understands that the RMT union, which represents GWR station staff, is opposed to these proposals and has expressed concerns about a lack of proper negotiation by the company; notes that GWR paid out dividends of £24.3m in 2024; further notes that GWR is operating under a National Rail contract managed and funded by the Government; and calls on the Government to instruct GWR to scrap its proposed changes to ticket offices and stations and commit to retaining all ticket office and station staffing levels, operating hours and window provision.

1003Support for the World Health Organization

Tabled: 25/03/25 Signatories: 14

Monica Harding

Helen Maguire

Claire Young

Rachael Maskell

Jim Shannon

Zöe Franklin

Siân BerryRichard BurgonSarah Gibson

That this House affirms its support for the World Health Organization (WHO); believes that President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO via an executive order is irresponsible and dangerous; recognises that in an interconnected world, global health security and national health security are closely connected; further recognises that multilateral cooperation is vital for addressing health threats arising from climate change, anti-microbial resistance, low vaccination rates, and the proliferation of conflict and state fragility; further believes that the WHO’s work on these issues and on pandemic preparedness is essential for delivering the improved global health outcomes that will help to keep the UK safe; welcomes the Government’s continued support of the WHO; and calls on the Government to encourage its American counterparts to restart support and funding for the WHO.

1005Royal Academy of Arts proposed job reductions

Tabled: 25/03/25 Signatories: 9

John McDonnell

Rachael Maskell

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Jim Shannon

Jon Trickett

Ellie Chowns

Siân BerryRichard Burgon

That this House expresses its serious concerns at the proposals of the Royal Academy of Arts to put at risk the jobs of nearly 100 staff which will undermine many of the core functions of the Academy; and calls upon the management of the Academy to enter into serious and meaningful negotiations with the union representing the staff to secure an agreed way forward that protects the interests of both the Academy and its staff.

1008Amlwch Viking Festival 2025

Tabled: 25/03/25 Signatories: 6

Llinos Medi

Ben Lake

Ann Davies

Liz Saville Roberts

Jim Shannon

Richard Burgon

That this House celebrates the return of Amlwch Viking Festival on 26 and 27 July 2025; extends its congratulations to the organisers of the event; pays tribute to Amlwch Town Council and to Val Roberts, Eric Roberts, John Byast and Di and Titch Craddock, the late John Hughes Britannia and Peter Williams who first established this festival in 1996; expresses enthusiasm about the Viking re-enactments scheduled to take place; notes that the Amlwch Viking Festival provides a unique and immersive insight into the Viking’s way of life; recognises that Amlwch Viking Festival offers an opportunity for people across the community to come together and enjoy a cultural experience; acknowledges that such events have a positive impact on the local economy and tourist industry; offers best wishes to the festival organisers and Amlwch community.

1009Avanti West Coast ticket offices and station staffing

Tabled: 25/03/25 Signatories: 11

Rebecca Long Bailey

Ayoub Khan

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Jim Shannon

Kim Johnson

Cat Smith

Richard Burgon

That this House understands that First Group majority-owned rail operator Avanti West Coast has been undertaking a stations rostering review; is alarmed at reports that this review may be used to undermine ticket offices and station staffing, with Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and London Euston stations particularly affected; recognises that the RMT union has longstanding concerns about Avanti’s failure to fill station staff vacancies and its widespread reliance on fixed-term contracts, leading to delays at ticket offices and closures of ticket offices during their regulated hours; is concerned that these issues persist despite the overwhelming opposition to the 2023 ticket office closures proposals which demonstrated the importance of ticket offices and staff for many passengers; acknowledges that a recent Transport Committee report found that the ticket office closure plans risked significantly damaging people’s access to rail and the presence of staff is often a crucial determinant as to whether disabled people are able to travel by rail; expresses concern that Avanti’s proposals risk detrimental impacts on passenger safety, service and accessibility; notes that Avanti paid out dividends of £8.1 million in 2024; further notes that Avanti is on a National Rail contract managed and funded by the Government; and therefore calls on the Government to instruct Avanti to permanently fill all existing vacancies, transfer staff on fixed term contracts onto permanent contracts and ensure its ticket offices and stations are properly staffed.

1014Human rights in Balochistan (No. 2)

Tabled: 26/03/25 Signatories: 3

John McDonnell

Ellie Chowns

Siân Berry

That this House strongly condemns the severe human rights violations with ongoing reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and violent crackdowns on peaceful protests in Balochistan; is alarmed by the recent arrest of Dr Mahrang Baloch, a prominent human rights activist, along with members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and their family members; notes that Dr Mahrang Baloch and activist Bebo Baloch were arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Quetta, sparked by the enforced disappearance of BYC member Beberg Baloch and his brother, Dr Hammal Baloch, a scientist; further notes reports indicate that both were later handed over to the police and placed under remand without due process; is shocked that during the sit-in protest, security forces reportedly opened indiscriminate fire on demonstrators, resulting in at least five fatalities, including 13-year-old Nehmat Baloch, while leaving many others injured; understands that the authorities have intensified their suppression of demonstrations, using excessive force and live ammunition to disperse crowds and prevent further gatherings; calls on the Government to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, Dr Hammal Zehri, Sammi Baloch, Lala Wahab, Nabeel Nodh, and other detained activists; and urges the Pakistani authorities to uphold fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

1015Beer festivals 2025

Tabled: 26/03/25 Signatories: 5

Martin Wrigley

Wera Hobhouse

Mr Joshua Reynolds

Adam Dance

Ian Roome

That this House gives special thanks to MaltingsFest in April 2025, supported by the Society of Independent Brewers, Warminster Maltings, and Newton Abbot Town Council; further gives thanks to other beer festivals across the country; supports businesses struggling with the hike in the cost-of-living which is impacting businesses and jobs across the South West and the whole UK, including the increases in utilities costs, raw material prices, and National Insurance contributions; and thanks CAMRA and the BBPA for their work supporting pubs and breweries across the country.

1016Radiotherapy (No. 2)

Tabled: 26/03/25 Signatories: 11

Tim Farron

Helen Maguire

Wera Hobhouse

Ellie Chowns

Andrew George

Steff Aquarone

Ian RoomeRichard BurgonSarah Gibson

This House acknowledges the urgent need for a bold and comprehensive National Cancer Plan to reduce cancer waiting times from point of referral; recognises that radiotherapy is a lifesaving, highly advanced, and cost-effective treatment needed in half of all cancer cures and by one in four people in the UK at some point in their lives; pays tribute to the frontline professionals delivering this care across the country; notes with concern that cancer waiting times have been routinely missed in recent years, with too many patients unable to access modern radiotherapy; and calls for the National Cancer Plan to prioritise improving access to curative radiotherapy, invest in AI technology that empowers clinicians, and ensure patients receive timely, effective treatment to ease pressures on NHS cancer services, waitlists, workforce, and technology.

1018900th anniversary of Stirling

Tabled: 27/03/25 Signatories: 2

Chris Kane

Katrina Murray

That this House notes the conclusion of a year of celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of Stirling being granted Royal Burgh status by King David I; recognises the breadth and diversity of events that have engaged communities across Stirling in celebrating its rich heritage, including the Walking of the Marches, the Station Square Stirling Timeline artwork by artist David Galletly, and Stirling’s Makar, Laura Fyfe’s poem Her Slow Beating Heart; acknowledges the work of archaeologist and writer Dr Murray Cook in stimulating interest in the anniversary over a number of years; welcomes the contribution of the University of Stirling in launching the free online course Heart of Scotland: History & Heritage of Stirling at 900 Years; celebrates key moments such as Stirling’s first Pride, the 2024 edition of the Forth Valley Food and Drink Festival, and the Massed Pipe Band Parade to conclude the celebrations; commends the coordinating work of Stirling Council, particularly the civic office and the events team; further acknowledges the role of Artlink Central, in their 35th anniversary year, for documenting the impact and contributions of individuals, local groups, and the wider Stirling community throughout the Stirling 900 programme; and expresses confidence that the legacy of these celebrations will continue to inspire civic pride, cultural enrichment, and community engagement in Stirling for generations to come.