Contents

Published: Friday 12 February 2021

Early Day Motions tabled on Thursday 11 February 2021

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

1490Scottish Government's Connecting Scotland scheme

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Drew Hendry

That this House welcomes the news that Highland Council is expecting a delivery of 617 tablets and laptops this week to ensure that the most vulnerable children, young people and families are not digitally excluded; notes that those who receive a device will also have access to Digital Champions in Highland Council to help them to maximise their devices and connectivity; and recognises that this initiative was made possible through the Scottish Government's Connecting Scotland scheme, supported by Mi-Fi devices which will help ensure connectivity with unlimited data for families for up to two years.

1491Low carbon vehicles and construction work

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Mike Amesbury

That this House congratulates the Batch on Site Association (BSA) and its members for reducing the carbon footprint of essential construction supplies, especially in town and city centres, rural areas and in carrying out emergency road repairs by utility companies; further congratulates Mobile Concrete Batching Plant manufacturers, Armcon, BayLynx, KC3, Mixamate, Proall and Roadmaster Omega using aluminium and Hardox lighter steels to reduce vehicle weights, but accepts the evidence of 200 UK construction companies that cutting their weight from 38.4 and 44 tonnes to 32 tonnes damages the ability of those vehicles to supply the widest possible range of cements to the biggest number of customers in one trip, replacing single lorry journeys with multiple journeys, causing a much higher carbon footprint, with more fuel used and generating more CO, Nox, SO2, VOCs and PMs; further notes that planned Government restrictions from 2028 on those specialist vehicles severely limits the flexible supply of concrete and has contributed to a 600% decline in the manufacture of MCBPs from over 220 in 2017 to fewer than 35 now; notes that users of MCBPs provide 3,150 FTE jobs directly, and 5,350 indirectly, generating £210 million in GVA; further notes the report submitted to the Department of Transport by Regeneris Analysts calculating the weight changes will increase the number of round-trip lorry journeys by 325,000 pa and add 750,000 more miles to lorry journeys, a 25 per cent increase in vehicle miles; and calls on the Government to make permanent the temporary 38.4T and 44T weight limits.

1492Global vaccines

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Ben Lake

That this House celebrates the development of several vaccines against covid-19; highlights that with the development of covid-19 mutations across the world UK domestic recovery is dependent on collective vaccination efforts globally; believes that the UK has a duty to support vaccine distribution in low-income countries and promote the expansion of production capabilities in the global south; and calls on the UK Government to work with the World Health Organisation’s Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) allies to accelerate vaccine distribution to defeat the virus worldwide and prevent future pandemics.

149320th anniversary of the foot and mouth disease outbreak

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Tim Farron

That this House notes the 20th anniversary of the first recorded case of Foot and Mouth Disease on 19 February 2021; pays tribute to the thousands of farmers and their families, agricultural workers, and rural communities who bore the brunt of the tragedy and faced appalling emotional trauma and financial loss; notes the damaging impact of the outbreak on the hospitality and tourism sector; expresses gratitude to the veterinarians and military personnel who played vital roles in containing the disease; resolves to keep the lessons learned from the outbreak in the three subsequent independent inquiries under permanent review to ensure that no such animal disease outbreak happens again; and celebrates the resilience and determination of rural communities that enabled them to emerge stronger, providing hope and inspiration to this generation as it tackles the coronavirus.

1494Provision of free transport to vaccine appointments

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Owen Thompson

That this House commends transport charity Handicabs Lothian (HcL Transport) on its offer to provide people in Midlothian and the Lothians with mobility challenges with free transport to get their Covid-19 vaccine; understands that anyone who has challenges getting out and about due to age, disability, health issues, additional support needs or geographic remoteness can take up the offer; notes that HcL Transport has its Midlothian base in Loanhead and has been operating for 37 years providing door-through-door transport for people with mobility challenges; and urges anyone in need of this service to contact that charity.

1495Children and young people’s mental health funding in Midlothian

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Owen Thompson

That this House congratulates the Midlothian Children and Young Peoples Consortium on being awarded £170,000 to provide additional mental health support for children and young people in Midlothian; notes that the consortium is comprised of Midlothian Sure Start, Home Link Family Support, Play Therapy Base, MYPAS and Play Midlothian; understands that the funds were provided from Midlothian’s share of the Community Support Mental Health Services Framework fund – an annual fund from the Scottish Government distributed to local authorities; and wishes these groups well in using these funds to work with 130 young people and 95 parents/carers to improve children, young people and family mental health.

1496Visiting in care homes and hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 2

Ms Harriet Harman

Ms Karen Buck

That this House notes the letter from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the matter of visits to people in care homes and hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak; is deeply concerned about the acute distress many older and disabled people and younger people in residential care and their families are experiencing by being prevented from visiting; recognises that a failure to adopt an individualised approach to the safety of visits risks breaching the right of patients, residents and their families to family life (Article 8 ECHR); further recognises that this must be balanced with the duty to protect the right to life (Article 2 ECHR) for those living and working in care homes and hospitals by preventing infection within these settings; further notes the Committee’s proposals in the draft regulations using powers in the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which they published alongside their letter; and calls on the Government to legislate to ensure that visits are able to take place subject to individualised risk assessments.

1497Support to tackle food waste

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Neil Parish

That this House recognises the valuable work of FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste, in providing two million meals per week to people in need during the covid-19 pandemic; acknowledges that it is deeply regrettable that two million tonnes of food goes to waste in the UK every year, as well as noting that food waste has a significant negative environmental impact, which can be mitigated by FareShare’s work with British farmers and the food industry to divert waste food to people’s plates through their Surplus With Purpose scheme; and encourages the Government to continue to support FareShare in that endeavour.

1498Child poverty in the North East

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Ian Lavery

That this House notes that more than one in three children and young people are growing up in poverty in the North East and this figure rises to 42 per cent for children under the age of five; further notes that with a rise from 26 per cent to 35 percent the North East experienced the steepest increase in child poverty rates of anywhere in the country between 2014-15 and 2018-19; recognises the serious impact that childhood poverty can have on children’s physical health, mental wellbeing, education and life chances; welcomes the cross-sector support from the region for urgent and ongoing action to tackle growing levels of child poverty, including from the North East Child Poverty Commission, North East Chamber of Commerce and Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East; acknowledges the findings of a recent End Child Poverty survey that less than one in five people think the Government is doing all it can to tackle this issue; and calls on the Chancellor to ensure that the Budget on 3 March 2021 sets out a cross-Departmental plan to tackle child poverty by raising family incomes, including by retaining the £20 a week uplift to universal credit for at least 12 months and committing to increasing child-related benefits in the near future.

1499Death of Byron Criddle

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 1

Alison Thewliss

That this House notes the sad passing on 20 January 2021 of Dr Byron Criddle, author and emeritus reader in politics at the University of Aberdeen; appreciates the contribution Dr Criddle made to political and parliamentary studies through his work on the British Election Series, Parliamentary Profiles, and the Almanac of British Politics; thanks Dr Criddle on behalf of the generations of students whom he inspired and entertained with his uniquely colourful accounts of British, French and US politics; and sends sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

1500Covid-19 and BAME deaths

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 4

Apsana Begum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Claudia Webbe

Zarah Sultana

That this House notes the analysis of 3 February 2021 highlighted by Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England that London’s Asian communities have been hardest hit by the covid-19 second wave; further notes that for some time evidence has shown that covid-19 has had a disproportionate effect on people from a Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) background; believes that BAME communities should be prioritised for a vaccine rollout in addition to the other vulnerable groups and healthcare workers; calls on the Government to amend its advice on priority groups for covid-19 vaccination in order to reflect this and to ensure that the data on covid-19 deaths and the vaccination rollout broken down by ethnicity is published; and further calls on the Government to communicate this widely through a range of effective and targeted media as a part of a comprehensive strategy to address the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on BAME communities.

1501Library closures

Tabled: 11/02/21 Signatories: 5

Apsana Begum

Jeremy Corbyn

John McDonnell

Beth Winter

Ian Byrne

That this House notes the ongoing concerns on the effect of austerity on local library services and that the covid-19 pandemic has led to new worries that financial pressures on local authorities could mean further cuts and reductions to services; believes in the value of local libraries and that despite the growth in digital technologies, there is still a clear need to physically access books and a demand within communities for modern, safe, non-judgemental, flexible library spaces for people of all ages, supported by the help and knowledge of the library workforce; further notes that local libraries are particularly important for the vulnerable in society who need support and guidance and for children and young people who benefit from engagement with libraries outside of the formal classroom environment; is concerned that the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted existing educational inequalities and the digital divide, and that many do not have access to devices or internet provision; and calls on the Government to ensure that libraries are reopened when it is safe as part of a sustainable, long-term future for local public libraries.

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.

1421Proposed funding cuts to Nottingham’s Linkbus Network

Tabled: 28/01/21 Signatories: 8

Ian Mearns

Grahame Morris

Jeremy Corbyn

Ian Lavery

Claudia Webbe

Jim Shannon

That this House notes that Nottingham City Council is consulting on its 2021-22 budget that includes a proposed annual funding cut of £700,000 to the City’s Linkbus Network which would lead to a number of bus services being withdrawn; believes that those bus services play a vital role in connecting communities and supporting the local economy and therefore must be protected; is concerned that the proposed service cuts could increase social isolation, increase carbon emissions which would worsen air quality and have public health implications; calls on Nottingham City Council to withdraw those proposals and ensure that all Linkbus funding, services and jobs are permanently protected; and calls on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to publish its National Bus Strategy and for this to provide all local authorities, such as Nottingham City Council, with sufficient ring-fenced national funding to ensure that their bus services are protected.

1423UNISON activist Gordon Gray

Tabled: 28/01/21 Signatories: 17

Chris Stephens

David Linden

Alison Thewliss

Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Carol Monaghan

Patrick Grady

That this House recognises the life and work of Gordon Gray, a UNISON activist for 10 years, who died on the 16 January 2021 due to covid-19; recognises his work as co-convener for UNISON in Glasgow City Council’s Neighbourhood and Sustainability Department, Assistant Conditions of Service Officer, and Deputy Learning and Organising Officer within the Glasgow City Branch of UNISON; sends condolences to his family at this time; recognises his work as a Lay Trade Union tutor, having completed his TUC Diploma in Employment Law; further recognises his community work as a Community Councillor in Leven and District Community Council, and as a Trustee of Friends of Househill Park; remembers his employment as a Training Instructor and as an avid horticulturist; notes and supports his strong advocacy for strong council services and investment in horticulture; and recognises the esteem in which he was held by his many friends and colleagues; and offers condolences to all who knew him at this time.

1427Cancer treatment waiting times

Tabled: 1/02/21 Signatories: 13

Jon Trickett

Claudia Webbe

Jim Shannon

Rachel Hopkins

Mike Hill

Clive Lewis

That this House is concerned that cancer treatment waiting lists are increasing as a consequence of the covid-19 pandemic; notes with further concern that vital cancer diagnoses are being missed, with data from Public Health England showing that 106,732 cases were diagnosed between April and September 2020, down from 142,324 over the same period in 2019; recognises the commitment shown by NHS staff over the summer while the threat from covid-19 was lower in attempting to reduce cancer waiting lists; expresses concern that the increasing seriousness of covid-19 has since resulted in tens of thousands more people continuing to miss cancer diagnoses; supports the need for urgent action to prevent what could be thousands of cancer deaths due to missed diagnoses or treatment delays; and calls on the Government to urgently publish an action plan setting a target for the backlog of cancer treatments to be cleared.

1432The Rohingya community

Tabled: 2/02/21 Signatories: 6

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Jonathan Edwards

Sir Mike Penning

Mohammad Yasin

That this House notes, not for the first time in recent years, that Burmese military leaders have committed crimes against humanity; highlights the brutal assault against the Rohingya community which has displaced hundreds of thousands of men women and children; further notes that this has been described by the UN as a textbook case of ethnic cleansing; and calls on the Government to note that the international community’s failure to take any substantial action against the Burmese military following this assault has emboldened its leaders to act against democracy in Burma and to commit to righting this wrong by using all diplomatic means possible to deliver aid and change in this awful situation.

1439Festival of Brexit

Tabled: 3/02/21 Signatories: 7

Jamie Stone

Paula Barker

Chris Stephens

Neale Hanvey

Kenny MacAskill

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House regrets the Government’s commitment to spending £120 million on the planned festival of Brexit; recognises that regardless of how people voted in the EU referendum that money would be better spent on a covid-19 recovery fund; and calls on the Government to cancel its plans for that festival.

1440Minimally invasive cancer therapies

Tabled: 3/02/21 Signatories: 14

Grahame Morris

Claudia Webbe

Rachel Hopkins

Sir Mike Penning

Mike Hill

Kate Osborne

That this House welcomes World Cancer Day on 4 February 2021 and supports NHS efforts to deliver world leading treatments to all cancer patients across the UK; further recognises the role of innovative, minimally invasive cancer therapies in improving the quality of life for patients by reducing side effects and supporting quicker recovery time from treatment; and accepts the need to increase the number of patients who can benefit from minimally invasive treatment.

1441Universal credit MPs' helpline

Tabled: 3/02/21 Signatories: 7

John Nicolson

Jonathan Edwards

Chris Law

Chris Stephens

Neale Hanvey

Hannah Bardell

That this House is disappointed by the lack of a dedicated universal credit helpline for hon. Members; notes that this is a particularly desperate time for claimants and that many have problems which require urgent action; highlights that contact with the local job centre is not adequate provision for hon. Members to represent their constituents effectively; and urges the Government to rectify this problem urgently.

1442Undocumented migrants and covid-19 vaccination

Tabled: 3/02/21 Signatories: 20

Claudia Webbe

John McDonnell

Chris Stephens

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Apsana Begum

Kim Johnson

That this House believes that access to essential healthcare is a universal human right; regrets the continued existence of structural, institutional and systemic barriers in accessing NHS care experienced by undocumented migrants and those awaiting determination of their asylum, visa and immigration applications; considers that an effective public health response to the covid-19 crisis requires that the most vulnerable can afford to access food, healthcare, and self-isolate where necessary; understands that some of the most vulnerable people in society will not access vaccination against the virus, since to disclose their identity to the authorities would risk their arrest, detention and deportation; fears that without urgent Government intervention this will lead to further avoidable premature deaths, especially in the African, Asian and Minority Ethnic population; and therefore calls on the Home Office to grant everyone currently in the UK at this time who are undocumented migrants and those awaiting determination of their asylum, visa and immigration applications indefinite leave to remain, and to be eligible in due course to receive the covid-19 vaccination.

1443Coalfield Regeneration Trust report on the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on older industrial Britain

Tabled: 3/02/21 Signatories: 10

Jon Trickett

Mike Hill

Jonathan Edwards

Kenny MacAskill

Mary Kelly Foy

Allan Dorans

That this House notes the research commissioned by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust examining the health and economic effects of the covid-19 pandemic on older industrial towns and former coalfields; notes that this research has found that up to the start of 2021 the cumulative death rate in older industrial towns and former coalfields was on average 30 per cent above the UK average; expresses concern that between March and November 2020 claimant unemployment among 16-24 year olds in older industrial Britain doubled; notes that older industrial Britain had been disproportionately affected by major losses of industry and austerity prior to the covid-19 pandemic; expresses concern that those same regions will lag behind other parts of the UK in any post-pandemic recovery; believes that action must be taken to ensure that those areas are not disproportionately affected by the long-term economic effects of covid-19; and calls on the Government to ensure that any levelling up agenda targets older industrial towns and former coalfields.

1444World Cancer Day 2021

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 13

Tim Farron

Munira Wilson

Jamie Stone

Clive Lewis

Mary Kelly Foy

Allan Dorans

That this House recognises World Cancer Day 2021; acknowledges the difficulty that cancer patients and their families have faced during the covid-19 pandemic; notes that 2.9 million people across the UK are living with cancer; further notes the reduction in cancer screenings and routine diagnostic work throughout the pandemic has resulted in approximately 35,000 missing cancer diagnoses; calls on the Government to refocus efforts on the prevention, detection and cure of all cancers; and further calls on the Government to pursue a national cancer recovery plan to offer diagnosis and treatment to all those who have been left behind as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

1445Vulnerability to alcohol harms

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 11

Grahame Morris

Mike Hill

Mary Kelly Foy

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Navendu Mishra

Kate Osborne

That this House is alarmed at the recent sharp increase in alcohol deaths revealed in provisional data released recently by the Office for National Statistics which have hit a record high during the pandemic; is disturbed that the number of people in treatment for an alcohol issue has fallen by nearly one fifth since 2013-14 with around four out of five dependent drinkers not accessing any kind of support; is deeply concerned by reports of increased domestic violence, recognising the strong relationship between alcohol consumption and domestic abuse; notes that Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) research examining patterns of alcohol-related violence across England and Wales between 2013-14 and 2017-18 revealed that those from the lowest socioeconomic groups were disproportionately at risk of victimisation; further notes that the IAS recommendations included removal of barriers to accessing support services, improvements in provision of publicly funded domestic violence services and a substantial increase in alcohol-treatment services; recognises that for many isolated older service users, who value face-to-face contact above all, their phone call from an alcohol service has been one of the few interactions with the outside world during the pandemic; commends the Drink Wise, Age Well programme for highlighting the vulnerability of the over-50 age group and helping to reduce stigma, build resilience and secure support; and calls on the Government to prioritise an alcohol action plan, informed by service providers and service users, and its implementation, to address these issues and reduce alcohol harms.

1446Trussell Trust report on universal credit uplift

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 19

Steven Bonnar

Paul Blomfield

Clive Lewis

Mary Kelly Foy

Hywel Williams

Liz Saville Roberts

That this House acknowledges the latest report by the Trussell Trust, entitled Dignity or Destitution? which outlines the positive impact the uplift has had on those in receipt of universal credit; recognises the serious risk of increased hunger and food bank use if removed in April as currently planned; and calls upon the Chancellor to make the uplift permanent at the upcoming Budget.

1448Access to Cystic Fibrosis drug Kaftrio

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 28

Grahame Morris

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Sir George Howarth

Mike Hill

Kim Johnson

That this House welcomes the landmark deal secured by the NHS in June 2020 which permitted the licensing of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) drug Kaftrio to a large number of people with CF aged 12 years and over in the UK; recognises the life-changing effect of access to this new drug for CF patients in the UK eligible for prescription; however notes with concern that the deal secured by NHS England excludes many CF patients with specific gene mutations because England is the only nation awaiting approval of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its use by patients with additional mutations; further notes the disparity between England and the devolved nations since Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have granted access for CF patients with additional mutations approved by the US Food and Drug Administration; acknowledges that the alternative pathways offered to patients by NHS England whilst they await EMA approval such as applications on compassionate grounds or individual funding are often time-consuming and ineffective; and urges NHS England to bring eligibility criteria into line with the devolved nations by granting access without caveat to CF patients with additional gene mutations.

1449Turkey and NATO

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 6

Chris Stephens

Kenny MacAskill

Martyn Day

John Nicolson

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

That this House is concerned by the current security implications of Turkey’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, both on its neighbours and Europe more generally; notes the findings of Sallux, the political foundation of the European Christian Political Movement, published in the Sallux report, European security, Turkish foreign policy and Article 5 of the NATO Treaty that since 2013 Turkish state foreign policy has consistently undermined and threatened the security of both its neighbours and Europe more generally; further notes that the authorities in Turkey have sought to expand Turkey’s power in the Middle East, North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus and on numerous occasions have used jihadist organisations, including Islamic State, which have perpetrated terrorist attacks in the Middle East, in Europe and the UK; calls on the Government to declare that NATO members are not bound by the mutual defence obligations designated in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and that Turkey forfeit its rights to such protections.

1450Zero covid strategy

Tabled: 4/02/21 Signatories: 34

Richard Burgon

Ms Diane Abbott

Liz Saville Roberts

Caroline Lucas

Dr Philippa Whitford

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

That this House notes with sadness that the UK has now had more than 100,000 covid-19 deaths, with one of the highest death rates in the world; further notes that the Government's strategy to live with the virus and balance the loss of lives and the economy has led to failure on both counts with the UK also experiencing a particularly large economic downturn; recognises that in New Zealand, Vietnam and across countries following a Zero covid plan, the death rate is over a hundred times lower than in the UK and that their societies are reopening safely and their economies are recovering; recognises that, while covid-19 vaccines offer real hope and can be a key weapon in the battle against covid-19, it will be many months until everybody has been fully vaccinated; is concerned that if in the meantime the virus is allowed to circulate widely, many more will be infected with many more losing their lives, putting huge additional strain on the NHS, and risking further dangerous mutations of the virus; and calls on the UK Government urgently to adopt a Zero covid plan that seeks the maximum suppression of the virus as the best way to save lives and allow our communities and the economy to safely reopen.

1451Intellectual property and covid-19 response

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 20

Caroline Lucas

Navendu Mishra

Clive Lewis

Layla Moran

Claudia Webbe

Wendy Chamberlain

That this House considers nobody is safe until we are all safe from covid-19; believes all policy tools should be deployed to address the global crisis around access to covid-19 vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and equipment; notes that the head of the World Health Organization warns we face a catastrophic moral failure because of unequal covid vaccine policies; welcomes the Government’s commitment to ensuring access for all to safe and effective, high-quality and affordable vaccines, diagnostics, medicines, and other health technologies as part of an effective response to the pandemic; further welcomes the substantial amounts of public funding for research, development, at-risk manufacturing and purchasing of covid-19 vaccines, reducing the risks for private sector companies developing vaccines; notes that existing flexibilities within the TRIPS agreement are not sufficient in the context of a pandemic; urges the Government to defend the rights of countries to use TRIPS flexibilities especially as they have long been subjected to intense pressure in the interests of pharmaceutical companies when they have done so; notes that 100 countries support a proposal from India and South Africa for a TRIPS waiver, which would allow WTO members to quickly overcome Intellectual Property barriers to access much-needed vaccines and treatments during the global crisis; is concerned that the Government does not yet support this proposal; and urges the Government to recognise that intellectual property barriers are hindering equitable access to covid-19 health technologies, reconsider its position and support the waiver proposal at upcoming TRIPS Council and WTO General Council Meetings.

1452Para Dance UK

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 9

Dr Lisa Cameron

Drew Hendry

Jonathan Edwards

Margaret Ferrier

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

That this House celebrates the work of Para Dance UK and their efforts to relieve loneliness and isolation among people shielding from covid-19 as a result of a disability; draws particular attention to their dance videos, released throughout January, which have brought over 100 wheel chair users together online through the power of dance; highlights the hard work and dedication of their 100 affiliated instructors who have been working tirelessly to improve the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of people with a disability who are most likely to have experienced prolonged periods of isolation and disruption of care during the pandemic; thanks EMD UK and the National Lottery for providing financial support for this vital work through Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund; and calls on the Government to prioritise the physical and mental health needs of people with disabilities throughout the covid-19 outbreak.

1455Ten years on from Bahrain's Arab Spring uprising of February 2011

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 10

Brendan O'Hara

Jonathan Edwards

Kenny MacAskill

Chris Law

Layla Moran

Caroline Lucas

That this House commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Arab Spring and the beginning of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising on 14 February 2011; endorses the demands made by hundreds of thousands of Bahraini citizens during protests at Manama’s Pearl Roundabout for democratic reform, social justice and respect for human rights; condemns the brutal suppression of the protest movement by Bahrain’s Government; denounces the continued detention of leading opposition figures imprisoned for their role in the 2011 uprising, including Hassan Mushaima, Abdulwahab Husain and Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace; notes with alarm the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain since the Arab Spring, including the suspension of independent media, dissolution of opposition parties and suppression of civil society; decries Bahrain’s abandonment of a moratorium on the death penalty in 2017 and the subsequent execution of six individuals, five of whom alleged being tortured; notes that reform efforts promised in the wake of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry have been reversed or abandoned by Bahrain’s Government; questions the efficacy and effectiveness of technical assistance provided to Bahrain by the Government since 2012; reminds the Government of Bahrain of their duty to uphold the highest human rights standards in line with their international obligations; urges greater transparency on UK funding to Bahrain through the Integrated Activity Fund and Gulf Strategy Fund; and calls on the Government to make support for Bahrain contingent on tangible improvements to the human rights situation in that country.

1456Tenth anniversary of the Bahraini revolution

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 10

Margaret Ferrier

Jonathan Edwards

Kenny MacAskill

Andrew Gwynne

Steven Bonnar

Marion Fellows

That this House recognises the tenth anniversary of the Arab Spring and the Bahraini revolution of 2011; remembers the horrific events of the deadly pre-dawn raid of 17 February 2011, also known as Bloody Thursday; recognises the countless forms of repression that have targeted peaceful opponents of the regime, such as human rights defender Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and the leader of the political opposition in Bahrain Mr Hassan Mushaima, who has been in prison for the last 10 years; calls on the Government to press the Bahraini Government to abide by the principles of good governance, self-determination and human rights; and urges the Government to use whatever leverage it has with the Bahraini authorities to advance the democratic demands called for by the Bahraini people in 2011.

1457Beinn an Tuirc distillers Valentine’s Day event

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 6

Brendan O'Hara

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

Alison Thewliss

That this House celebrates the Beinn an Tuirc distillers on their Valentine’s Day event, which sold out within a day; notes that the distillery is adapting to covid-19 restrictions by holding the virtual cocktail event; congratulates the distillery on hosting 224 people in their zoom tastings last year; and commends them on organising successful events which bring a community together to celebrate virtually.

1458Pupils at Dalintober School

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 5

Brendan O'Hara

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

That this House praises P6 and P7 students at Dalintober School for their success in the Virgin Money Make £5 grow programme; commends the pupils entrepreneurship skills in doubling their initial investment by selling hand-crafted chocolate kits; and applauds the students for raising £317.45 and donating £50 to the Kintyre food bank, alongside reinvesting the remaining funds into the other school enterprises.

1459Mid Argyll Community Pool

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 5

Brendan O'Hara

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Mid Argyll Community Pool for being awarded £100,000 by Sport Scotland’s Sport Facility Fund; notes that the fund will help towards ensuring that the facility is more user friendly to people of all abilities; applauds the health and wellbeing centre for supporting sport for all; further notes that funds can still be raised for the project; and encourages the local community to make use of the centre once completed.

1460Quinn Mackechnie fundraising

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 7

Brendan O'Hara

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Chris Law

Steven Bonnar

That this House acknowledges the dedicated fundraising efforts of nine year old Quinn Mackechnie; highlights the £1,200 raised by Quinn by running and walking 50 miles in January; notes that the money raised will go towards cancer charity Maggie’s Centre; and praises the determination shown by Quinn to support a deserving charity.

1461Kurdish Development Association encourages Covid-19 vaccine uptake

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 10

Patrick Grady

Drew Hendry

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Chris Law

That this House commends the efforts of Shakha Sattar and the Glasgow-based Kurdish Development Association in Scotland who are urging Scotland’s Kurdish community, as well as all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities across Scotland to get a jab, save a life and step forward to receive their covid-19 immunisation when appointments are offered; recognises that the Kurdish Development Association in Scotland is playing its part by using its community networks to condemn the various conspiracy theories around covid-19 and the vaccine to reassure communities that the vaccine is safe, has been developed by clinical experts, been through all the normal safety procedures, undergone rigorous testing and will undoubtedly save lives; agrees with the Kurdish Development Association in Scotland that it is of great importance for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities across Scotland to get immunised, given their greater risk of mortality compared to other groups, and surveys suggest they may be the least likely to accept a vaccine; and believes that targeted vaccine uptake campaigns led by community leaders can make a powerful contribution to ensuring as many people as possible receive a covid-19 vaccine, which will keep everyone safe, irrespective of ethnicity.

1462Temporary extension to Compulsory Basic Training Certificates for motorbikes and mopeds

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 9

Jonathan Edwards

Margaret Ferrier

Allan Dorans

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Steven Bonnar

That this House notes that Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificates for motorbikes and mopeds are issued on a two year basis for learner drivers; further notes that these vehicles provide a low carbon mode of transport for passenger and cargo; notes that many key workers use this mode of transport as part of their commute, especially in rural areas where public transport links can be poor; notes that as a result of lockdown measures, motorcycle and moped tests are suspended; expresses concern that road users whose CBT certificates lapse whilst lockdown measures are in place are prohibited from using their vehicles on public roads through no fault of their own; notes that whilst road safety concerns are paramount, motorists in this position have been using their chosen mode of transport for two years; calls for a temporary extension of CBT certificates whilst lockdown measures are in place; and further calls on the Government to annul test fees for people with CBT certificates which have lapsed during the current lockdown if they will not extend their validity.

1463Removing barriers to education

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 12

Carol Monaghan

Drew Hendry

Jonathan Edwards

Margaret Ferrier

Kirsty Blackman

John Nicolson

That this House believes removing barriers to education, including ending all forms of violence against children, is crucial to achieving the Government’s goal of ensuring 12 years of quality education for every girl and boy; and further believes that removing barriers to education should be a central theme in the Government’s engagement at the 2021 G7 Summit.

1464Debora Kayembe elected 54th Rector of the University of Edinburgh

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 7

Owen Thompson

Drew Hendry

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

That this House congratulates Debora Kayembe on her election as the 54th Rector of the University of Edinburgh; notes that Debora Kayembe has a distinguished varied career as a lawyer and linguist, having been called to the Congolese Bar Association in 2000, being a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting from 2010 to 2020 and working in the language services of the office of the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court Bar Association; further notes that Debora served as Scottish Refugee Council board member from 2013 to 2016; further recognises that she joined the Royal Society of Edinburgh/Young Academy of Scotland representing refugee minorities, has a seat as an expert lawyer to the RSE Working Group for Africa and in 2017 founded the charity Full Options; understands that as Rector, Debora will be a member of the University’s most powerful decision-making body, the University Court, playing a presiding role to ensure all voices are heard in making important decisions that effect students and staff; and wishes Debora the best of luck as well as thanking her predecessor in the role, Ann Henderson.

1465UN's International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 13

Owen Thompson

Drew Hendry

Jonathan Edwards

Kirsty Blackman

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

That this House observes the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science; acknowledges that the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the crucial role women researchers have played in the different stages of the fight against this pandemic; recognises that more work is still required to ensure a fairer equality balance in the scientific field; and identifies that this day is important in endorsing the critical work that women and girls bring to science and technology.

1466Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 9

Kirsten Oswald

Kirsty Blackman

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Douglas Chapman

Chris Law

That this House expresses its concern at the decision of the Treasury to go ahead with the introduction of the Construction Industry VAT Reverse Charge with effect from 1 March 2021; notes that this is of great concern to small and medium sized firms in the construction industry, who are still reeling from the impact of a prolonged pandemic and the disruption of the UK leaving the EU, and are currently fighting to consolidate their businesses and protect any cash reserves they have after a devastating year; further notes that many firms fear the VAT Reverse Charge will have a devastating impact on their cash flow, with a requirement for additional cash flow to meet this of approximately 5 per cent of annual sales for those companies that submit quarterly VAT returns and 3 per cent for those that submit monthly returns; considers that the introduction of the charge at this time will put jobs and businesses at risk and may result in companies that survived the covid-19 outbreak and the UK's withdrawal from the EU being undone by this additional burden; and calls on the Government to reconsider its decision to press ahead with the change at this time.

1467Neilston and Madras Learning Campus 7th Green Flag

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 6

Kirsten Oswald

Drew Hendry

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

That this House wishes to congratulate Neilston and Madras Learning Campus, including Neilston Primary School and Madras Family Centre, on achieving a seventh Eco-Schools Green Flag; congratulates the Head Teacher, Mr Curley, all the staff, the pupils and their families who contributed to this tremendous achievement; is pleased to hear that the habits being taught now are creating wonderful ripples as children engage their families in this work, and joins Mr Curley in congratulating the children on their commitment to caring for our environment.

1468West Cumbria Coal Mine

Tabled: 8/02/21 Signatories: 12

Tim Farron

Ed Davey

Caroline Lucas

Alan Brown

Kenny MacAskill

Wera Hobhouse

That this House is dismayed by the decision to approve a new deep coal mine in West Cumbria; believes it is a dangerous backwards step in the fight against climate change; further believes it undermines the UK’s COP26 Presidency, damaging the Government’s international credibility; notes that it both contradicts Climate Change Committee advice to phase out all coal, including coking coal, by 2035 and jeopardizes the UK’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050; implores the Government to incentivise steel manufacturers to adopt and innovate low-carbon production methods, including hydrogen direct reduction and electric arc technology; further implores the Government to utilise Cumbria’s boundless renewable resources of water, wind and solar to generate sustainable jobs and sustainable energy as part of a Green Industrial Revolution; stresses that national Government must intervene on issues of global climate justice; and urges the Government to reverse its decision and call-in the Woodhouse Colliery planning application.

1469Clackmannan Development Trust

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 5

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

Drew Hendry

Chris Law

Allan Dorans

That this House commends the work of the Clackmannan Development Trust; highlights some of the incredible projects the Caring and Connected group have carried out during the covid-19 oubreak; further mentions Brucie’s Buddies for its stellar effort from March 2020 onwards, not only in supplying people in need with essential food and prescriptions, but also in helping locals to combat loneliness.

1470Cabs for Jabs Scheme Inverness

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 7

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Jonathan Edwards

Neale Hanvey

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

That this House commends the Inverness Taxi Alliance on their proposed cabs for jabs scheme, offering safe transport to elderly and vulnerable people receiving their covid-19 vaccine; notes the unique scheme would be financed through community fundraising, exchanging donations for cab rides to allow individuals free transport in their local area; and finally, thanks all taxi drivers who are willing to help set this scheme up in the Inverness area.

1471Highland Third Sector Awards

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 7

Drew Hendry

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

Steven Bonnar

That this House congratulates all those who were honoured in the Highland Third Sector Awards, held online on the 4 February 2021; notes that the awards were hosted by Highland Third Sector Interface and included three new categories to recognise the immense work of volunteers during the covid-19 outbreak; congratulates Highland Blindcraft of Ardconnel Street, Inverness who were named Social Enterprise of the Year for how they looked after their 23 employees, 19 of whom have a disability, during the outbreak; congratulates Heather Fraser from Grantown for receiving the Covid Response Volunteer award for her work in setting up a volunteer helpline from 8.00am to 10.00pm, seven days a week during the first lockdown to help anyone who needed it; congratulates local charity Mikeyline on being named Community Welfare champion, for responding to people’s fears and distress with their You Are Not Alone call back service; and finally, congratulates all other winners who were recognised in the awards.

1472Sale of unsafe goods on online marketplaces

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 6

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Shannon

Margaret Ferrier

Paula Barker

Claudia Webbe

Alison Thewliss

That this House notes that unsafe products continue to be sold on online marketplaces; further notes the risks that these unsafe products pose to users; recognises that more consumers are dependent on online marketplaces due to covid-19 restrictions; further recognises that many online marketplaces are not taking responsibility for the goods sold on their platforms; is concerned that research by Electrical Safety First shows that an estimated 7,000 domestic fires in Great Britain are caused by faulty electrical products every year; is further concerned that consumers are not protected by consumer rights legislation when shopping on online marketplaces; and urges the Government to include the sale of unsafe goods on online marketplaces within the scope of the online safety Bill.

1473Legacy benefit uplift in response to covid-19

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 13

Dr Lisa Cameron

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Jonathan Edwards

Hannah Bardell

Chris Law

That this House recognises the financial effect that the covid-19 outbreak has had on disabled people; further recognises that research from the Disability Benefits Consortium found that over six in 10 disabled people in the survey had gone without essentials such as food, heating or medication since the pandemic began; is concerned that no uplift was provided to people on legacy benefits such as employment and support allowance, jobseeker's allowance and income support; calls on the Government to implement a £20 uplift for legacy benefits to reflect the additional costs disabled people have faced; and further calls on the Government to commission research to assess the adequacy of benefits for disabled people.

1474Christopher Kapessa

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 15

Beth Winter

Apsana Begum

Jeremy Corbyn

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Kate Osborne

Kim Johnson

That this House stands in solidarity with the family of Christopher Kapessa, a 13 year old child, who died after being pushed into the River Cynon in South Wales on 1 July 2019; extends its sympathy to his family; has concerns about the South Wales Police investigation into Christopher’s death; expresses alarm at the Crown Prosecution Service decision that it was not in the public interest to seek a prosecution despite their own admission that sufficient evidence did exist to bring a charge of manslaughter; acknowledges the family’s assertion that the case has been marred by institutional racism; demands justice for Christopher and his family; and calls on the UK Government and others to recommit to learning the lessons from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and to challenge and root out systemic and structural racism within the criminal justice system.

1476RNIB Eye Too Work project

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 12

Jim Shannon

Paul Girvan

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

Jonathan Edwards

Sir Mike Penning

Margaret Ferrier

That this House notes the RNIB Eye Too Work project which is helping the blind and those suffering from visual impairment to find employment; notes that currently only one in four registered blind people work; highlights that the programme offers an extensive range of activities, training and support and is tailored to each participant's individual needs and abilities prior to an optional paid work placement; and thanks RNIB for the sterling work that they are doing to enable more blind people to enter into employment and further show employers that this disability does not in any way impact their ability to be a productive member of any team.

1477Glue traps

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 5

Mark Tami

Sir Mike Penning

Andrew Gwynne

Navendu Mishra

Paula Barker

That this House calls for an urgent review into the use of glue traps as a means of pest control due to the inhumane suffering they cause animals; is deeply concerned by the cruel way in which they leave animals to face slow, painful deaths and strongly asserts that animals being left for days to starve or suffocate is abhorrent; believes that the Government has a duty to protect small mammals and birds from the accidental prolonged suffering and deaths that glue traps cause and argues that the wide availability of less cruel methods of pest control makes the use of glue traps unnecessary.

1478Pay of British Council workers

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 11

Paula Barker

Chris Stephens

Kim Johnson

Navendu Mishra

Rachel Hopkins

Grahame Morris

That this House appreciates the invaluable role played by the British Council in promoting arts and culture, education and the English language overseas and the benefits it brings to the UK; believes that workers employed by the British Council deserve to be remunerated accordingly; regrets the anxiety caused by the Government’s delay in responding to requests for funding any pay settlement until December 2020 and subsequent refusal of even a token payment, which resulted in no pay award being made throughout the whole of 2020; believes that the British Council is alone among government bodies in failing to make any pay award whatsoever to staff in a year when the covid-19 pandemic has caused grave financial insecurity; and therefore supports members of the Public and Commercial Services Union in calling on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that British Council employees receive a fair pay settlement in recognition of their work and have parity and equal treatment with other civil service departments, non-departmental public bodies and organisations.

1479Maternity leave and covid-19

Tabled: 9/02/21 Signatories: 10

John Nicolson

Jim Shannon

Neale Hanvey

Hannah Bardell

Andrew Gwynne

Paula Barker

That this House recognises that many pregnant and new mothers were prevented from accessing the essential benefits of maternity leave due to the covid-19 outbreak; missed out on important elements such as free dental care and socialising in person with other mothers; and recommends that those people who missed out on these benefits are given an extension to their maternity leave and any additional benefits that have been denied to them, importantly, dental care which is a crucial aspect for pregnant and new mothers.

1481Seafarers' hours of work and rest

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 15

Ian Mearns

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Chris Stephens

Grahame Morris

Kim Johnson

Rebecca Long Bailey

That this House notes the World Maritime University’s (WMU) EVREST report evaluating the regulation of seafarers’ hours of rest and work; notes that the report, based on interviews with seafarers, maritime safety and port state regulators, flag states and seafarer organisations, finds an ingrained culture of under-reporting and falsification of seafarers’ hours of work and rest which implicates the entire industry, from flag states and shipowners to the seafarers onboard; further notes the report’s conclusion that a 14 hour working day has become standardised for some seafarers, in contravention of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention; agrees with maritime union RMT that the WMU report exposes a culture of fatigue and downward commercial pressure on seafarers and safe crewing levels, long standing problems in the ferries sector, which are exacerbated in the deep sea supply chain by the demands of multinationals such as Amazon; believes that the coronavirus pandemic has intensified the crisis in seafarer working conditions and that this requires stronger regulatory and enforcement responses at domestic and international level; and calls upon the Government to work with maritime trade unions to implement the recommendations of the WMU report.

1482Protecting rail catering services

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 15

Grahame Morris

Kim Johnson

Rebecca Long Bailey

Navendu Mishra

Paula Barker

Rachel Hopkins

That this House recognises that rail catering is a vital part of a high quality rail passenger offer and will play an important role in encouraging travellers back to the rail network when it is safe to do so; believes that the presence of catering staff also makes passengers feel more secure when travelling by train and understands that recent research conducted by Transport Focus found that staff play a central role in making passengers feel safe on trains; is concerned that across the UK, many rail catering workers are outsourced, with less job security and inferior working conditions compared to directly employed staff; commends the Welsh Government’s decision in 2020 to bring its on-board catering staff in-house; notes that South Western Railway, whose operations are currently being funded by the Government via an Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement (ERMA) has recently terminated its on-board catering contract with provider Elior and that this decision was authorised by the Department for Transport; supports the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) campaign to protect rail catering; and calls on the Government to ensure that catering is protected across the rail network and all outsourced rail catering contracts are brought in-house at the earliest opportunity.

1483David Martindale Livingston Football Club manager

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 3

Hannah Bardell

Margaret Ferrier

Allan Dorans

That this House welcomes the decision of the Scottish Football Association to deem David Martindale fit and proper to be the Livingston Football Club manager; understands that David Martindale’s previous conviction for drug offences meant his suitability needed to be ratified; recognises the importance of rehabilitation of offenders and the value they can bring to their community; acknowledges the inspirational work of David Martindale which has been recognised in the football community; notes the recent achievements of David Martindale and the Livingston FC team achieving a record 11 games unbeaten and reaching a cup final; and wishes David Martindale, the team and all at Livingston FC the very best of luck in the upcoming Bet Fred League Cup Final against St Mirren.

1484School breakfast

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 30

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

Kim Johnson

Tahir Ali

Kate Osborne

Jamie Stone

Florence Eshalomi

That this House notes that school breakfasts tackle classroom hunger and improve children’s energy, behaviour, and concentration, leading to improved academic attainment; further notes that improved attainment enables children to leave school ready to secure highly paid work, contributing to economic growth; notes that the Government’s current National Breakfast Programme is reaching 650 schools and and the proposed School Breakfast Bill would reach 8700; and calls on the Government to accept the fully costed proposals prepared for the School Breakfast Bill before the National School Breakfast Programme ceases in July 2021.

1485Dai Davies Wales goalkeeper 1948 to 2020

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 3

Jonathan Edwards

Margaret Ferrier

Ben Lake

That this House notes the sad passing of Wales goalkeeping legend Dai Davies; further notes that Mr Davies was born in the village of Glanaman in the heart of the Amman valley, Carmarthenshire; notes that Mr Davies started his career with Swansea City Football Club before joining Everton in 1970-77, later representing Wrexham, Swansea again and serving as a player coach with Tranmere Rovers before retiring in 1987; further notes that Mr Davies was capped by the Welsh national football team on 52 occasions between 1975-82; acknowledges Mr Davies’ contribution as a media commentator on Welsh football after his retirement as a player; recognises his love for Welsh culture and the language and his initiation to the Gorsedd y Beirdd in 1978; and remembers Mr Davies as a true gentleman and great Welsh national ambassador and icon.

1486Tenth anniversary of Bahrain's revolution

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 9

Layla Moran

Caroline Lucas

Jonathan Edwards

Mr Alistair Carmichael

Wendy Chamberlain

Jamie Stone

That this House notes the 10th anniversary of Bahrain's revolution protesting structural inequalities, corruption, oppression, and a lack of government representation; expresses its concern that there remains a lack of democratic structures and that human rights abuses are still occurring in the country; observes that the UK Government has continued to support the Bahraini regime with little meaningful opposition of its continued human rights abuses despite Bahrain being listed as a human rights priority country by the UK; calls upon the UK Government to work for the immediate and unconditional release of Bahraini political prisoners; urges the UK Government to work with Bahrain to facilitate a democratic transition; calls for consideration of Magnitsky sanctions for those known to be perpetrators of human rights atrocities; and urges the UK Government to end arms exports to Bahrain and to adopt a presumption of denial when considering licence applications for exports to the country.

1487Baha’i land in Iran

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 4

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Navendu Mishra

Rachel Hopkins

Alison Thewliss

That this House notes the judgment of Branch 54 of the Special Court for Article 49 of the Constitution in Iran, issued on 1 August 2020 and a further extraordinary session of the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2020 in the case of properties and farms belonging to a community of Baha’is; further notes the effect of these judgments appears to finalise the expropriation of lands that Baha’is have farmed for nearly 150 years; observes that Baha’i rights can be dismissed though their omission from the Constitution; and calls on the UK Government to make urgent representations to the Iranian authorities to prevent the dispossession of this law-abiding religious community.

1489200th anniversary of Heriot-Watt University

Tabled: 10/02/21 Signatories: 3

Joanna Cherry

Allan Dorans

Drew Hendry

That this House notes that Heriot-Watt University will be celebrating in 2021 the 200th anniversary of its founding roots in 1821; further notes that Heriot-Watt University created the world’s first mechanics’ institute in the heart of Edinburgh; commends Heriot-Watt University on its substantial contribution to Scotland and the world through pioneering research in fields as diverse as robotics and autonomous systems, earth and marine sciences, medical technology and decarbonisation; recognises that Heriot-Watt will be looking to the future with a renewed focus on helping society tackle current and future challenges sustainably and on delivering real world impact in the fields of business, STEM and design; acknowledges that that University will recognise the enduring legacy of Scotland’s father of modern economics, Adam Smith, by establishing the inaugural Panmure House Prize for the best research proposal in long-term investment to fund radical innovation; understands that alumni, students, staff and stakeholders are invited to celebrate Heriot-Watt’s remarkable record of innovation at its global network of campuses in Scotland, Malaysia and Dubai through a series of virtual events and debates; and wishes all students and staff at that University every success in their future endeavours.