2,484 ingested motions from United Kingdom. Year filters use the introduced date shown on each card. Walk years back as far as this source still publishes.
That this House expresses its concern and disappointment in Girlguiding UK’s withdrawal of support in the British Overseas Territories and on military bases and the closure and sale of all their outdoor activity centres in the UK; notes this will have a detrimental impact on young women and communities within each Overseas Territory and military community; further notes that the Crown Dependencies are already part of Girlguiding regions in the UK (North West and South West), representing a disparity between the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies; also notes that these places are an important part of the British family; and calls on Girlguiding UK to reconsider its decision.
That this House notes with deep concern the forthcoming trial of Mr Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, founder and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, under the National Security Law in Hong Kong; expresses alarm at the prospect that he will not receive a fair trial, and has been denied his first choice of legal counsel; further notes with profound concern his continued imprisonment on multiple other charges for the past three years; expresses urgent concern that, having marked his 76th birthday on 8 December, he faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison in Hong Kong; observes that his unjust arrest and imprisonment illustrate the grave dismantling of freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of peaceful assembly, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong; welcomes the recent meeting of the Foreign Secretary with Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai; urges the Government to lead the international community in highlighting the human rights situation in Hong Kong in general, calling for the repeal of the National Security Law in particular and for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai specifically, in the forthcoming Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations; and calls on the Government to publicly and repeatedly demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, as the United States, the European Parliament, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and of association, among others, have done.
That this House congratulates Norrie Brown on securing the Duke of Edinburgh Torchbearer of the Year award at the This is Youth Awards 2023; notes that these awards showcase the achievements of young people participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award, as well as adults who support them; further notes that Norrie has led the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme at Auchenharvie Academy in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, for 20 years; recognises that Norrie has helped countless young people realise their potential and develop valuable skills and experience; acknowledges that the Duke of Edinburgh programme supports many Auchenharvie pupils in securing positive destinations; and commends Norrie’s inspiring commitment to improving opportunities and outcomes for young people in North Ayrshire.
That this House congratulates West Lothian Schools Brass Band (WLSBB) on their amazing success at the Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships; notes that the competition involved over 500 talented musicians from across Scotland; understands that 30 youth bands performed at Perth Concert Hall in this competition; highlights the team's terrific achievement of winning the silver award with their renditions of Eye of the Tiger and Final Countdown; commends the efforts of the team's conductors, teachers and other folk who supported this achievement; and wishes future success to all team members.
That this House congratulates Caledonian Credit Union on its 25th anniversary; notes that the Credit Union began as North Livingston Credit Union in 1998 operating out of St Peter’s Church; commends its recent expansion to serve members from as far as Lanarkshire all the way through to the Borders; recognises Caledonian Credit Union’s commitment to serving the public and ensuring they have access to local financial institutions; highlights their founders Fr Gerry Prior, Billy Thomson, and Nancy MacGillivray, and the rest of the wonderful staff and volunteers keeping the Credit Union thriving today; and wishes Caledonian Credit Union every success for the future.
That this House deplores The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) failure to pay staff in line with the civil service pay remit guidance; regrets that TPR is the only civil service employer of 212 employers to do so, imposing only a 3% pay rise instead of the recommended 4.5 - 5%; further deplores the refusal of TPR’s sponsoring Department, the Department for Work and Pensions, to take any part in assisting the resolution of the dispute; further regrets that TPR has refused to engage with proposals to reallocate any of its bonus pot to meet the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) pay claim; notes that the union’s widely supported strike action has continued into December 2023, with PCS membership at TPR increasing from 150 to 360 during this dispute; and calls on the Government to encourage further talks between TPR, PCS, and ACAS to ensure this issue is resolved quickly to provide a fair pay deal and the resumption of TPR services.
That the Agreement, done at Kigali on 5 December 2023, between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership Agreement to Strengthen Shared International Commitments on the Protection of Refugees and Migrants (CP 994), a copy of which was laid before Parliament on 6 December 2023, should not be ratified.
That this House congratulates renowned wildlife photographer and television presenter Hamza Yassin and his dance partner Jowita Przystal on winning Strictly Come Dancing 2022; acknowledges the hard work, commitment and impressive dancing skills shown by all contestants on the show; welcomes Sudanese-born Hamza’s decision to make his home in Scotland on the beautiful Ardnamurchan Peninsula; notes that Hamza is reputed for his wildlife photography and presenting Countryfile and Animal Park; looks forward to the upcoming Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, aimed at educating children about wildlife and the environment; and wishes both Hamza and Jowita continued success in the future.
That this House congratulates the Hamilton Academical’s under 14s girls’ team on their victory in the Scottish Cup final at Petershill Park in Glasgow; commends Niamh McCulloch on winning the Player of the Match award and her teammates on their collective efforts as they overcame Celtic to lift the trophy; praises the hard work, determination and dedication to training of the players which led them to success; appreciates the time and effort of the coaches who supported the team to their victory; and applauds the investment by Hamilton Academical Football Club in their Women’s Academy to give young girls the opportunity to play football and realise their sporting ambitions and potential.
That this House congratulates Gregorie and Whirly Marshall and their small team at Blackthorn Salt in Ayr on receiving numerous awards for their environmentally friendly and sustainable method of producing artisan salt crystals by the process of using water from the sea nearby, allowing the water to be evaporated naturally using only the wind and sun as it slowly filtered through a tall wooden graduation tower, comprising mainly of blackthorn twigs, imbuing the salt crystals produced with a unique flavour, taste and shape; notes the recognition received of their success and some of the prestigious awards achieved including two stars at the Great Taste Awards 2021, Scotland’ Best Small Producer (ambient) at the Scottish Retail Awards 2022, Platinum Award at Scottish Retail Awards 2022, Sustainability Pioneer of the Year at Speciality and Fine Food Awards 2022, Primary Producer at Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2022; further notes the commendations and recommendations from local, national stockists and a number of top UK chefs; and congratulates them on securing a significant contract to work in partnership with a national supermarket to use the salt crystals as a component and flavouring in a unique Scottish salmon product.
That this House recognises that one in five people in the UK live in a rural community; acknowledges the significant impact of the cost of living crisis on rural areas; notes with concern the ongoing ambulance crisis in rural and coastal communities; further notes that farmers in rural communities are struggling with increasing running costs, unfair trade deals and a botched rollout of the ELMS scheme; notes that councils in rural communities are struggling to deal with an increasingly strained budget and are often required to spend a greater proportion of their budget than their urban counterparts on social care; and calls on the Government to create a cross-departmental Minister for Rural Communities to lead the way in addressing these issues and ensuring rural communities are fully considered in decision making.
That this House congratulates the Royal Conservatoire on their 175th anniversary in 2022; notes that they have been teaching the performing arts in Glasgow since 1847; understands that the institution has grown over the past 175 years to become consistently ranked within the world’s top 10 performing arts institutions; further notes that the Royal Conservatoire ranked fifth in the QS World Rankings for Performing Arts Education in 2022; appreciates the contribution the institution makes to the arts in Glasgow and in Scotland; and wishes them all the best for the future.
That this House congratulates the Legion of Mary, who in 2022 celebrated 90 years of service to those in need through their work at the Wayside Club; understands a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark this was hosted by the Franciscan community at Blessed John Duns Scotus on 18 September; notes that The Wayside Club was established in 1932 to meet the needs of the homeless and those suffering from hardship, addiction to alcohol or gambling and continues to do so to this day; thanks them for their support to many people in Glasgow who need it; and wishes them the very best for the future.
That this House congratulates Glasgow Women's Library on receiving funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a two-year project celebrating the fourth decade of the library after celebrating its 30th anniversary in September 2021; notes that since 1991 Glasgow Women's Library has grown from an unfunded, grassroots project into a renowned and respected heritage resource which has worked tirelessly to increase the knowledge and understanding of women’s history, lives, and achievements; understands that the 30 Years of Changing Minds project is already well underway to publicly mark 30 years of an exceptional organisation that has informed and responded to equality's agendas; and wishes them many more years of success for the future.
That this House congratulates Scottish Detainee Visitors on their 20th anniversary; understands that the project offers non-judgmental social, emotional and practical support to people in Dungavel detention centre, the only one of its kind in Scotland; notes that it provides a vital service for detainees in supplying information, signposting and mobile top-ups to help people keep in touch with friends and family; further notes that above all the most important aspect of their service is the friendship and solidarity they offer, invaluable to those who have been detained; and wishes them all the best for the future.
That this House commends the efforts of Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) engineers and partners, emergency services and communities during power outages caused by severe weather disruption in Shetland; understands that 5,289 properties lost power on 13 December 2022 due to snowstorms and ice bringing down power lines; further understands that all homes that had lost power were reconnected the afternoon of 18 December 2022, meaning some homes had been without power for six days; pays tribute to the hard work of all SSEN staff, and crews from other contracted companies, many of whom had travelled up to Shetland from the Scottish mainland to assist with the power restoration; notes that weather conditions remained extremely difficult, with workers out in low temperatures and high winds; further commends the response of emergency services in assisting people affected by the severe weather, local resilience partnership organisations and Shetland Islands Council which provided advice and welfare support to those affected; commends NorthLink Ferries for their assistance in transporting vital equipment and crew to Shetland; praises the community response, in particular the provision of shelter, warm spaces and hot food to people whose homes had lost power; further notes that despite all properties being restored to power ongoing work remains on the network to restore normal operation; and expresses gratitude to all continuing to work to restore normal operation to Shetland’s power network.
That this House congratulates Glasgow Print Studio on their 50th anniversary in 2022; notes the contribution the organisation has made to Glasgow's cultural landscape; understands that the studio started as a grassroots organisation, providing workshop space to artists, and has since grown into a professional art organisation with more than 300 members; further notes that the occasion was marked by a special exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum featuring 130 Scottish artists; and wishes them every success in the future.
That this House congratulates the Scotia Bar in Glasgow on their 230th anniversary in 2022; understands it is thought by many to be Glasgow's oldest pub; notes the contribution to Glasgow's cultural landscape the bar has offered over the years, as a home for live music, poetry and political activism, as well as being host to some of Scotland's best loved musicians such as Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty; and wishes them many more years of success in the future.
That this House congratulates Swadish by Ajay Kumar on winning Best in Scotland at the British Curry Awards 2022; understands the restaurant aims to blend fresh, locally sourced Scottish ingredients with traditional Indian flavours; notes its success; further notes that it is very proud to bring the Curry Oscar back home to Scotland; and wishes it every success in its future endeavours.
That this House congratulates Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau on reaching its 80th anniversary; recognises the tremendous work done by staff and volunteers at the charity to assist local people with free, confidential and independent advice on a wide range of issues from consumer affairs and energy advice, to immigration and housing rights; notes that since the Bureau’s records began, they have dealt with almost 925,000 cases, achieved over £57million of financial gain for their clients and rescheduled over £88million of clients’ debt; acknowledges that without the presence of the Bureau in the community over the last eight decades, many citizens would have suffered unnecessary hardships; and extends its grateful thanks to the Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens Advice Bureau and its very best wishes for a successful future.
That this House congratulates The Big Top toy shop on their 30 year anniversary in 2022; understands this family business spans generations; appreciates that this traditional toy shop in Glasgow City Centre is a firm favourite among locals, selling toys such as puppets, kites, bouncy balls and rocking horses; and wishes them many more years of success.
That this House congratulates Bridgeton Citizen's Advice Bureau on their 50 year anniversary in 2022; notes that the organisation was founded in 1972 and has helped countless individuals and families in the time they've been open; recognises the vital work that Citizen's Advice does in Bridgeton, Glasgow, and beyond; and appreciates that their work is as important as ever during this cost of living crisis.
That this House fully supports the more than 100,000 postal workers at Royal Mail engaging in strike action in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions; notes the £758 million in profit made by Royal Mail in the financial year 2021-2022, an increase of £56 million from the previous financial year; acknowledges that the hard work and dedication of Royal Mail’s workforce has heavily contributed towards the organisation’s yearly profits; values the essential work carried out by Royal Mail staff across the UK; denounces Royal Mail’s intentions to cut 10,000 jobs by August 2023, including 6,000 redundancies; urges Royal Mail to negotiate a fairer deal to better support their workforce now and in the future; and wishes Royal Mail workers every success in their fight for better pay and conditions.
That this House is deeply concerned by the Israeli High Court of Justice’s decision to approve the eviction of Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta region of the occupied West Bank to make room for Israeli military training; highlights that the demolitions and confiscations occurring in the occupied West Bank contravene international humanitarian law and undermine social stability and security; strongly condemns the proposed forced removal of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 580 children who are at imminent risk of displacement; emphasises that those involved stand to lose their homes, belongings, access to water, livelihoods, primary health facilities and schools; is appalled that Israeli forces raided and demolished a recently-built Palestinian primary school in Masafer Yatta that served 22 students from four different villages; and calls on the Government to press the Israeli authorities to halt all forcible evictions and demolitions in the occupied West Bank.
That this House is concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, where severe drought has left 9.9 million people facing hunger and 24 million in need of humanitarian assistance; highlights that 2.2 million children in Ethiopia are acutely malnourished; recognises the role that climate change plays in the scale and severity of this crisis; highlights that the UN has listed Ethiopia in the top five countries in need of humanitarian aid; highlights that the World Food Programme was only able to reach 10 per cent of mothers and children across northern Ethiopia needing nutrition support in August due to a lack of funding and supply shortages; emphasises the effects of the conflict in Tigray which has displaced hundreds of thousands and left 90 per cent of the region’s population in acute need of food assistance; notes that between April 2021 and June 2022 at least 1,900 children under five died from malnutrition in Tigray; further notes that the World Food Programme says aid shipments to Tigray are not meeting needs, and that although roads into the region have opened since the peace agreement, delivery remains constrained; is dismayed that the world is set to fail the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030; and calls on the Government to (a) do all it can to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Tigray, (b) support international and non-governmental humanitarian organisations operating in Ethiopia, and (c) restore the commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on international aid.
That this House notes the decision by the Government to close offices of Defence Business Services in Liverpool and Cheadle Hulme in order to relocate staff to a new site at Talbot Gate in Blackpool; expresses concern at the way the Government has handled the process with the decision being initially announced at Conservative Party Spring Conference this year before being formally announced on 2 August; highlights that the new site is not actually expected to be open until early 2026 with the consequence that staff will have to be temporarily based at Thornton Cleveleys once Walker House in Liverpool is closed by November 2023; further expresses concern that many of the staff affected are low paid or have caring commitments which could make it difficult to relocate or commute; highlights the knowledge and skills which would be lost if staff are made redundant or leave and the impact that could have on the delivery of services, including Veteran Services; and calls on the Government to halt the closure of the offices in Liverpool and Manchester and reconsider the decision.
That this House pays tribute to the continuing success and growth of Laings of Inverurie, established as an independent family business in 1862, who have recently celebrated their 160th anniversary as one of the largest independent retailers of kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms in the UK; acknowledges the vital importance of independent businesses like Laings to the retail sector and the importance of such business to the long-term economic prospects of our local economies; further commends the owners, management and staff of Laings for their commitment to excellent service to the many thousands of loyal customers in Aberdeenshire and beyond; and wishes the company continued success into the future.
That this House celebrates the recent ground-breaking ceremony at Royal DSM’s Bovaer manufacturing facility in Dalry, carried out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP; understands that Bovaer is a unique methane-reducing feed additive, which can reduce emissions by 30 per cent in dairy cows and 45 per cent in beef cattle; believes that reducing atmospheric methane is a crucial step in keeping global warming below the 1.5 degrees Celsius outlined in the Paris Agreement; further understands that 30 November 2022 marked the beginning of the facility’s construction, following the announcement of DSM’s £100 million investment, backed by a £12 million grant from the Scottish Government during COP26 in 2021; congratulates DSM for delivering what it considers a unique project, with Dalry chosen from plants across the world, a tribute to the skills and commitment of the Ayrshire workforce; is heartened by reports that employee numbers will rise to 400 at Dalry, with a further 150 contractors over the 30-month construction phase, while boosting the supply chain; considers that this development shows Scotland’s leadership in tackling the climate emergency and meeting the 2030 pledge to cut methane emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030; and wishes DSM and its workforce the best in delivering what it sees as this exciting and globally significant project.
That this House acknowledges the report by the Regulator of Social Housing following its investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after the death of Awaab Ishak; is shocked by the report’s conclusions, including that there have been significant failures in the way RBH manages damp and mould in its homes, resulting in harm to tenants, that RBH waited nearly two years after Awaab Ishak died to check other homes on the estate where he lived, and that once RBH did finally check these homes they found that almost 80% of tenants there had signs of damp and mould; notes the very belated resignation of the board of RBH, who so signally failed to provide any adequate scrutiny of the actions of the Chief Executive; insists that any reconstituted board must be charged with the obvious importance of their role in making RBH accountable for protecting the interests and particularly the health of RBH tenants; notes that in the past there were local authority representatives on the board of RBH but these were removed; and believes that a strong role for elected members of the local authority is key to ensuring accountability and that social housing is maintained to an acceptable standard.
That this House warmly welcomes the decision of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the case of Oliver Campbell to the Court of Appeal to review his 1991 conviction for murder; thanks the current Chair of the CCRC, Helen Pitcher, for agreeing to look at the case once again thoroughly, independently and objectively; congratulates the former Member of Parliament for Ipswich, Sandy Martin, for raising the matter in a Westminster Hall debate and for outlining the many and various deeply worrying concerns about the safety of the conviction; pays tribute to Oliver Campbell’s long standing lawyers, Glyn Maddocks KC Hon and Michael Birnbaum KC who have worked tirelessly over the last 23 years conducting thousands of hours of work pro bono; and hopes that justice for Oliver Campbell can be achieved.
That the House congratulates the Howe of Fife Bell Baxter under-16 rugby team on their joint-win in the final of the Scottish Rugby Union Schools Shield which was held at Murrayfield on 7 December; understands that the match against North Berwick ended with a 14-14 tie but that Howe of Fife recovered from 14-7 at half time; recognises the success of the partnership between Howe of Fife and Bell Baxter High School; and commends the hard work of the team’s coaches and the commitment of its players.
That this House is dismayed that the pioneering Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme has closed due to the withdrawal of funding; applauds the exemplary efforts of Danny Ahmed and his colleagues at the addiction treatment clinic in helping to save and rebuild lives; recognises the success of this scheme in providing invaluable health benefits to participants and reducing offending and criminal justice costs significantly, as verified by Teesside University’s independent evaluation; acknowledges that drug deaths are at record levels, with people in Middlesbrough statistically more likely to die from a drug-related death than a car accident; notes that the Government’s Drugs Strategy, From Harm to Hope, published a year ago, stated that the cost of drug misuse is absolutely staggering and the human toll is incalculably larger, measured not in pounds lost but in lives shattered; further notes that the strategy stressed the need for evidence-based interventions and innovation, and identified Middlesbrough as the area worst-affected by opiate use; reaffirms the cross-party views of the Home Affairs Committee and the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice APPG that this evidence-based and cost-effective treatment scheme should be continued; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment is rescued and restored at the earliest opportunity and sustainable funding can be secured.
That this House is shocked and angered by the treatment of workers made redundant at Orchard House Food’s Gateshead factory; notes that the company - which supplies companies such as Marks and Spencer, Morrisons and Pret a Manger - remains a going concern with some workers offered the chance to relocate to the Midlands; understands that the majority have been unable to relocate and were initially promised redundancy payments within two weeks of receiving their final pay slip, in most cases on 9 December; is outraged to learn that the workers have since been informed that there will be a delay in processing these redundancy payments until the New Year; is concerned about the impact on families now facing the prospect of Christmas without an income and yet to receive a penny of support from the company, leaving many worried about heating their homes or feeding their children; and calls on the management of Orchard House Foods to ensure that all redundancy payments are received in full prior to Christmas.
That this House is seriously concerned by the sharp increase in alcohol-specific deaths in data released by the Office for National Statistics on 8 December 2022, revealing that in 2021 there were 9,641 deaths,14.8 per 100,000 people, from alcohol-specific causes registered in the UK, the highest number on record, representing a 7.4 per cent increase since the previous year and a 27.4 per cent increase since 2019, the last pre-coronavirus pandemic year; notes the clear regional differences in alcohol-specific mortality and alcohol harm with alcohol-specific mortality ranking highest in the North East for eight consecutive years, with double the number of deaths at 20.4 per 100,000 than the London region on 10.2 per 100,000; is alarmed by a lack of a UK Government alcohol strategy, noting that the last strategy was published in 2012; and calls on the Government to take immediate steps to address alcohol harm by commissioning an independent review of alcohol harm to inform a new alcohol strategy.
That this House notes that Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) are conditions caused by misdirected immune responses and brain inflammation following common infections; acknowledges that these conditions can lead to a range of physical and psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, tics, behavioural regression, motor and sensory abnormalities, insomnia, OCD and irritability; expresses concern at the educational difficulties and sudden deterioration in school performance these symptoms can cause for children suffering from the conditions; regrets that knowledge of these conditions is low among medical professionals in the UK; further regrets that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not yet published guidance on dealing with PANS or PANDAS; welcomes the work of PANS PANDAS UK, a charity working with families and children impacted by the conditions; and calls on the Government to support their campaign to increase early diagnosis and effective treatment by ensuring that both conditions are recognised in every GP surgery, every school and every hospital in England.
That this House rejects the claim made in the media by the Prime Minister that it would cost an additional £28 billion to award a pay-rise for all public sector workers in line with inflation; notes that according to economists and fact-checkers the Prime Minister's claim is vastly inflated; further notes that the Institute for Fiscal Studies in its Green Book estimates that pay rises in line with inflation for public sector workers would cost about £18bn and that the Government would, in addition, get around a third of this back in tax revenues reducing the cost further by around £6bn; further believes therefore that such a pay award could cost less than half of the government’s stated £28bn figure; notes that one of the many fair options available for funding such a pay increase in line with inflation would be to equalise Capital Gains Tax rates with income tax rates which would raise up to £17 billion a year; and calls on the Prime Minister to withdraw his claim and to make an offer of a pay award in line with inflation which would be a huge step towards reaching a resolution to avoid further strikes.
That this House congratulates Bathgate bairn Dario Franchitti on being inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame; notes that the motorsport legend is a three-time winner of the famous Indianapolis 500 as well as four-time IndyCar series champion; recognises a lifetime of achievement in racing including winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1992, being crowned BBC Scotland’s Sports Personality of the Year 2007 and elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019; commends Dario Franchitti for his bravery when he was involved in serious career-ending crash at the Grand Prix of Houston in 2013; and wishes him continued success in his new career as a TV commentator.
That this House congratulates Jarrow constituent Robbie Colman on winning his debut professional boxing fight at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead on Sunday 11 December; further notes that Robbie’s win shortly follows another brilliant success by another Jarrow constituent Ewan Mackenzie, who won his sixth boxing fight on a prestigious evening at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena; recognises the important influence that Bilton Hall Amateur Boxing Club has had in Robbie and Ewan’s success and the role it plays in keeping youngsters on the right track; acknowledges the part that famous boxing faces, including former world champions Sugar Ray Leonard and Ricky Hatton, have played in visiting the club in the past, passing on their knowledge to young boxers; further recognises the important role that boxing both historically had and continues to have in the local community; and wishes Robbie and Ewan well for their future careers in boxing.
That this House is deeply concerned by the impact of immigration policy on seafarer jobs and training in Net Zero industries; notes that the recent extension of the Offshore Wind Workers Immigration Rules Concession 2017 has cost at least 36 UK seafarers their jobs on vessels constructing EDF’s Neart na Gaoithe wind farm off the coast of Fife; shares the RMT union’s concerns over this case; notes that crewing agent ERSG recruited UK seafarers for 12 months work, only to replace them two weeks later with Filipino crew on lower pay and longer contracts; is alarmed that the Home Office has extended this temporary concession at least seven times but has refused to provide Parliament with information on its operation or labour market impact; notes that over 2,000 offshore wind turbines have been constructed in UK waters since 2017; further notes that the wind industry has not requested and does not support this waiver; and calls on the Government to scrap the 2017 concession and to work with trade unions, employers and the Migration Advisory Committee to secure long-term jobs and apprenticeships for UK seafarers in the offshore wind supply chain.
That this House celebrates the exceptional accomplishments of Jennie Lee, a miner’s daughter from Lochgelly, who with the support of her community graduated from Edinburgh University with a law degree, a Master of Arts and a teaching diploma; recognises Jennie as one of the first and youngest woman Members of Parliament who as Arts Minister founded and gave name to the ground-breaking Open University; applauds this pioneer of distance learning whose vision has enabled access to higher education for all; and commemorates the enduring legacy of Jennie Lee, the miners daughter who became Baroness of Asheridge.
That this House censures the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for his handling of the National Health Service which has seen waiting times rise in ambulances services and accident and emergency, the waiting list for treatment reach more than 7 million people, and nurses and paramedics voting for a strike in the winter months; and believes the Government should remove the Secretary of State's additional Ministerial salary, as a result of this gross mismanagement of the Health Department.
That this House recognises the significant charitable work carried out by Aileen Kane from East Renfrewshire over the past four decades; notes that Aileen, aged 81, has fundraised for Children in Need since 1985; recognises Aileen initially began fundraising by doing a sponsored walk from Giffnock to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, which she continued to do annually for 15 years; appreciates that Aileen was presented with the Sir Terry Wogan Fundraiser of the Year award at this year’s BBC Children in Need’s Appeal Show; further notes that Aileen raised £2,500 this year by walking around Rouken Glen Park wearing Pudsey pyjamas and a bright pink tutu; and wishes Aileen all the very best for her future fundraising endeavours.
That this House notes the 40th anniversary of Northern Ireland qualifying for the 1982 World Cup held in Spain; further notes the honourable dedication of Head Coach, Billy Bingham who sadly passed away on the 9 June 2022 and the international debut of seventeen year old Norman Whiteside, who became the youngest player ever in the World Cup Finals, a record that still stands; highlights the new documentary created by the Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Service which contains edited video of over eight hours of footage showing the reactions and shockwaves in the crowd as they cheered on Billy Bingham's squad which included Gerry Armstrong, Pat Jennings, Martin O'Neill and Billy Hamilton; and celebrates again the achievements of the NI 1981 Football Squad and the joy many thousands of fans felt at their success.
That this House recognises the true meaning of Christmas being the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the first step of God's redemptive plan; highlights the greatest gift that was given that first Christmas of love and forgiveness in the form of a baby; expresses gratitude that we are able to openly practise and express our faith at Christmas and all the year through; thinks and prays for those in other nations where freedom of religious belief is only a dream and where persecution for faith is a daily battle; and takes the opportunity to wish everyone across this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland a blessed and safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
That this House places on record its thanks and appreciation for the tremendous work and dedication of Valerie Mohammedi and the volunteers of Hillingdon Play Association, as well as Donna Crook and her team of staff volunteers from Hasbro, for providing such wonderful play opportunities for children in Hillingdon and the recent Winterfest children's day, when every child met Father Christmas and went home with a lovely present.
This House congratulates Radio Glangwili on 50 years of dedicated service; notes that the radio station first broadcasted to patients at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, on Christmas Day 1972; further notes that the station has broadcasted bilingually since its inception, providing both English and Welsh language content; congratulates the station on being a key part of the excellent healthcare provided to patients in West Wales at Glangwili; pays tribute to the vision of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh Youth Movement) members who set up the service and to the support they were given by health managers; notes how important the station is in improving the healthcare experience of patients by providing information, reassurance, therapy and a distraction from boredom; and wishes Radio Glangwili well in its next fifty years of service.
That this House notes that Saturday 17 December marks the 80th anniversary of the Government first publicly acknowledging the Holocaust in the House of Commons chamber; recalls that then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Anthony Eden MP, during a statement to the House regarding a joint declaration from European allied countries condemned in the strongest possible terms this bestial policy of cold-blood extermination; understands that the House responded to this statement with a spontaneous moment of silence; appreciates the vital work carried out now by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, ensuring people across the UK are aware of the Holocaust and more recent genocides; appreciates their work to ensure that testimony is shared and lessons learned are understood and remembered; and notes that on Thursday 15 December a moment of silence will be observed in the House and survivors of the Holocaust will be present in the Speaker’s gallery.
That this House recognises the collective efforts of the over eight and a half thousand people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang that participated in the Beat the Street campaign over the course of six weeks; further recognises the impressive 118 thousand miles covered by participants; commends the campaign’s aims of improving physical and mental wellbeing, and fundraising for charity; and congratulates pupils from Burnside Primary School for their exceptional contribution to win the competition aspect of the campaign.
That this House congratulates Perth nurse, Jodie Gunn, on receiving the prestigious accolade of becoming a Queen's Nurse at a ceremony in Edinburgh; notes that this involved participating in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute, Scotland; further notes that this programme is designed to enable clinical leaders in Scotland’s communities to become catalysts for change in their communities; further congratulates Jodie on her new role as Violence Against Women Nurse Advisor for NHS Tayside; and commends Jodie on the vital care she has provided to Tayside residents throughout the covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
That this House congratulates Heriot-Watt University on the award of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the highest honour in UK education, for its pioneering research in the frontier science of photonics; acknowledges that Heriot-Watt University has been a key contributor to this field over the last five decades and has contributed to practical applications to the world’s photonics technologies, with research in fibre optics intrinsic to global communication systems and the internet; understands that uses of the University’s laser technology and optical fibre sensor research applications range from manufacturing to vital health monitoring and supporting the country’s national defence; celebrates the outstanding contribution of Professor Julian Jones, Senior Deputy Principal at Heriot-Watt, who has devoted much his career to advancing photonics research; notes that award of this prize comes during Heriot-Watt’s bicentennial year and exemplifies the University’s enduring commitment to use education and science for the betterment of society; further notes that Heriot-Watt University has been presented with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize on three prior occasions; and conveys its thanks to all those who have helped to advance the understanding and application of this transformational technology.