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 calls on Health Ministers to engage with the General Dental Council, the National Health Service and the British Dental Association to identify and to overcome the difficulties that delay or prevent qualifiable dentists to be able to demonstrate without delay that they are qualified to practise and to help reduce the delays for NHS patients facing difficulties in access to dentistry services; calls on the Government to review regulations described as outdated and rigid that may require priority candidates to be sent to the back of the queue; and invites the Secretary of State to consider how to allow appropriate exemptions or to allow candidates to sit overseas registration examinations that they booked two years ago.
That this House congratulates the Desperadoes Mountaineering Club, founded in the West End of Glasgow in 1971, as members celebrate its 50th anniversary; notes that the club began as a group of friends, several of whom had been undergraduate members of the Glasgow University Mountaineering Club, as a means of sharing limited personal transport to remote and hilly areas with little or no public transport, and formally registered with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland in 1974; notes that the group has remained tightly-knit, and that even though members now live throughout Scotland and beyond, the group continues to meet for social purposes and to arrange walking and climbing sessions, and that several members have completed rounds of Scotland's Munros as well as expeditions to the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc; believes the group's longevity demonstrates the perennial attraction of hillwalking in Scotland as a source of exercise and recreation; and wishes the group all the best in its activities for many years to come.
That this House pursues welfare regulations designed to improve the lives of racing greyhounds in the UK, including implementing a statutory levy on bookmakers; acknowledges the 104,883 signatories of a UK petition to ban dog racing submitted to Parliament; requires to see an end to self-regulation within the greyhound racing industry; champions the implementation of compulsory full life tracking for racing greyhounds in the UK; desires to see an end to the construction of new tracks, re-licencing of old tracks; and commends organisations and charities working to ensure and improve the welfare of greyhounds across the UK.
That this House expresses its concern at the UK Government’s failure to adequately support low income countries in the fight against coronavirus; notes that 81 per cent of the eligible UK population has received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, compared to less than 8 per cent of people across Africa according to Amnesty International; further notes that the UK Government are blocking countries from producing their own vaccines by refusing to support the temporary waiver on vaccine patents which is supported by the South African and Indian governments, as well as the United Nations Secretary General; disagrees with the statement made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that a patent waiver would “disincentive” pharmaceutical companies from producing new technology; is further concerned by the World Health Organisation’s research showing that there could be a shortfall of 3 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines in poorer nations in the first quarter of 2022 if the richer nations give boosters to everyone including children; recognises that at least 97 per cent of the funding for the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine came from taxpayers; believes that the failure to vaccinate low income countries increases the risk of new variants like the Omicron variant; urges the Government to put public health before private profit; calls on the Government to support the waiver of vaccine patents at the World Trade Organisation; and further calls on the Government to increase the supply of vaccines the UK is distributing to low income countries.
That this House congratulates the winners of the 8th Scottish Italian Awards; notes that many winners were located in the Glasgow Central constituency; appreciates that La Fiorentina won both Scotland's Favourite Italian Business and High Recommended restaurant of over fifty seats; further notes that Scotland's Best Chef was awarded to Giuseppe Graziano of Mediterraneo Ristorante & Champagne Bar, with Santa Lucia Restaurant in the Merchant City being Highly Recommended; notes that Osteria was the winner of Scotland's Best Restaurant under 50 Seats, with Joia Italian Restaurant & Bar being Highly Recommended; further notes that La Lanterna was awarded as Scotland's Best Restaurant Over 50 Seats; welcomes that Stilla Finest Scotland were awarded as a Highly Recommended Best Newcomer; thanks the organisers of the Scottish Italian Awards and chef Aldo Zilli who led the judging of the awards; notes that £8400 was raised at the awards for Benevolent Society Scotland, appreciates the significant contribution that the Italian community makes to society, economy, culture and cuisine; and wishes all in the Italian hospitality sector all the very best for the year ahead.
That this House congratulates the Cinnamon restaurant in Cambuslang on their win at the 13th Annual Scottish Curry Awards for Best in Glasgow; notes that this achievement builds on their previous win of best loved restaurant, as voted by the local community; and recognises the pride taken by the staff in their work and the contribution of the hospitality sector to local communities.
That this House welcomes the unveiling of the Hope Sculpture at Cuningar Loop in Rutherglen; notes the sculpture’s symbolism as a beacon of hope and positivity in reaching environmental goals, and the power of collaboration in working towards a better future; congratulates the sculpture’s designer and artist, Steuart Padwick on his incredible vision and execution of the project; notes the input of Clyde Gateway in their support of the project and contribution to its build; further notes the contributions of project partners Ramboll, Urban Union and Aggregate Industries; and looks forward to the sculpture’s future as an inspiration to the local community.
That this House congratulates Kaleidoscope Trust on reaching the milestone of its 10th Anniversary; notes that the Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based charity focused on fighting for the human rights of LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth and that it funds, fights for, and empowers those upholding the human rights of LGBT+ people by working with governments, change-makers, and civil society organisations to effect meaningful and lasting change in the lives of LGBT+ people everywhere; recalls that when Kaleidoscope Trust was established it recognised that the problem it faced then, and still does today, is that the violence, discrimination, and persecution experienced by LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth reflected discriminatory laws inherited from the colonial-era and their social and cultural residue; welcomes the fact that Kaleidoscope Trust continues to play its part in solving that problem, one that continues to cause unwarranted, unfair and unacceptable harm to LGBT+ people, and those who defy restrictive gender norms; and wishes the Trust every success over the next ten years, which look to be years of great upheaval and uncertainty for so many LGBT+ people and organisations around the world, as it works with its partners and people of goodwill to achieve a world in which LGBT+ people are free, safe, and equal absolutely everywhere.
That this House notes with concerns reports from Malawi that a serious shortage of pharmaceutical drugs has led to the closure of operating theatres, clinics, health care centres, and many patients, including pregnant women, going without effective treatment; further notes that the Anaesthesia Association of Malawi described the situation an emergency, that the Chief Medical Adviser to the British Red Cross, Dr Barry Klaassen, is among those calling for urgent action to what he describes as a maternal humanitarian crisis in Malawi; further notes that the Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi has said that the lives of women requiring caesarean sections are at risk due to the lack of suitable anaesthetics, and that reports suggest over a third of Malawi’s 28 districts have completely run out of many drugs; believes that while there have been long-standing concerns about the management of Malawi’s Central Medical Stores, the current acute shortages require emergency intervention; notes with regret that the latest accounts document from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office suggest a 50 per cent. cut in UK aid funding to that country in the next financial year; and calls on the Government to work with stakeholders in the UK and Malawi to improve the sustainable supply and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs in that country.
That this House notes the celebration of Christmas across the UK as an important time for faith and family in every corner of the nation; further notes that there are many who will continue to go into work and care for others throughout the Christmas period and thanks them wholeheartedly for leaving their family so others are not alone; highlights the wonderful charitable work that sees the homeless fed, the needy helped and the lonely befriended as people seek to fulfil the aim of Christ to help the poor and needy and to point them to a loving God who never leaves and never forsakes; and takes the opportunity to wish all a very happy Christmas and a blessed, peaceful and safe New Year.
That this House notes the calls for a change of national anthem for the Northern Ireland Football Team; highlights that there is only one national anthem in Northern Ireland and that God Save the Queen is neither offensive or dated; and affirms that consideration and cooperation should not and does not mean the eradication of anything that is British as a concession to political activism.
That this House believes that any legislation proposed or passed in order to prevent serious public disorder should not, as a matter of course, enable the suppression of freedom of speech; believes that laws regulating public order are too often applied beyond the original intentions of Parliament, to the detriment of freedom of speech; resolves to ensure that powers contained in proposed public order legislation will only affect freedom of speech in a manner that is proportionate, unambiguous, and predictable; and calls for improved training and guidance for the police and prosecution services that better balances freedom of speech protections with the legitimate aim of preventing serious public disorder.
That this House congratulates Dairy UK in staging the 2021 Annual Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses, which forms the beginning of the Chelsea Pensioners' traditional Christmas celebrations; further congratulates in-pensioner Mrs Carol Knight, who was given the honour of cutting the ceremonial cheese at this historic ceremony; recognises that dairy products form a key part of a balanced diet for all ages; welcomes the work of the Royal Hospital in ensuring that dairy products play an important role in the diet of the Chelsea Pensioners; and calls on the Department of Health and Social Care to take steps to promote the consumption of nutrient-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt.
That this House marks the tenth Panto Day, appropriately themed the Year of Love, on 17 December 2021; acknowledges the joy and happiness that pantomime brings across the UK every year; notes that after cancellations last year due to the pandemic, theatres and entertainers seek stability and security this Christmas season; and calls on the Government to account for losses made to the theatre sector as a result of Plan B covid restrictions.
That this House welcomes the bid from Dunfermline, as the former capital of Scotland, to be recognised as the eighth city of Scotland; celebrates Dunfermline’s rich heritage and strong links with royalty, religion and international relations going back centuries; recognises Dunfermline’s contribution to well-being through the philanthropic activities of Andrew Carnegie and his generosity in building libraries and cultural centres across the world, and Dunfermline’s contribution to more modern culture through a plethora of bands such a Big Country, Nazareth and The Skids and artists such a Moira Shearer and Barbara Dickson who graced many a stage; further recognises the future of Dunfermline, as one of Scotland’s fastest growing towns, which has a focussed economic base in defence, financial services, food and distribution services, backed up by enviable road, rail, air and maritime connectivity links with other parts of Scotland, the UK and Europe; and further celebrates recent decisions to build a new Learning Campus involving St Columbas High, Woodmill High and Fife College to create one of the most exciting innovative educational projects in Europe where the focus is firmly on the future.
That this House commends the amazing efforts of Springburn based Glasgow Baby Food Bank over the last 18 months, culminating in the food bank winning the Glasgow Times Community Champions Award for Public Service and the Glasgow Lord Provost’s Special Recognition Award; is grateful for the work the food bank does in supporting young families and providing baby and child essentials including food, clothing and equipment across Glasgow; congratulates the selfless dedication of their volunteers who give so much of themselves to this crucial venture; and thanks them on behalf of thousands of grateful families who have benefited from their care and assistance.
That this House commends the critical role that Jackie Shearer has played in launching the new Business Improvement District (BID) in Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow; congratulates her on winning the Place Leader Award for Inspirational Leadership at the Scotland Loves Local Awards; welcomes her work to bring an alliance of businesses, public authorities, social landlords and politicians together to show what the power of local collaboration can deliver; and looks forward to seeing the much deserved benefits of that work being enjoyed by the Possilpark community for generations to come.
That this House congratulates Bailie Jacqueline McLaren on winning the Community Champion award at the 2021 Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) Scotland Councillor Awards for her hard work and dedication to her community; celebrates her successes including securing £800,000 funding from the Scottish Government in partnership with North United Communities for the creation of a new services hub in Milton; looks forward to seeing the continued regeneration of Canal Ward in partnership with the fantastic local community groups in the area; and recognises that the efforts of local councillors such as Bailie McLaren are often overlooked but are vitally important to thriving communities and neighbourhoods.
That this House congratulates Bishopbriggs Academy in East Dunbartonshire on being named Scottish State Secondary School of the Decade in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2022; notes that Bishopbriggs Academy has continued to rise in the rankings over the last decade; thanks the staff at Bishopbriggs academy for their exceptional leadership and encouraging children to participate and succeed in all areas of school life, not just the exam hall; further notes the influence of former Headteacher Gordon Moulsdale on Bishopbriggs Academy becoming one of the top state schools in the country; understands that this placement is a testament to Bishopbriggs Academy’s outstanding academic achievements and high teaching standards; looks forward to seeing what more the school will achieve in the future under new Headteacher Mr Donaghey; and once again congratulates everyone at Bishopbriggs Academy on this glowing endorsement and for being an outstanding representation of East Dunbartonshire schools.
That this House congratulates photographer Joe Gilhooley on being awarded Distinction of the Licentiate of The Royal Photographic Society (LRPS) on 8 December 2021; notes that Joe is based in Loanhead, Midlothian and is self-taught in photo editing, restoring and manipulation, with interests including sports, wildlife and landscapes; further notes that Joe has been a regular photographer for Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic; congratulates Joe on his other past achievements including being awarded The Scots Magazine Photographer of the Year 2017 and 2019, as well as reaching the shortlist for the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2021; and understands that the Distinction of the LRPS is an internationally recognised photography qualification, judged by the submission of 10 photographs to a panel.
That this House recognises the extraordinary work of NHS staff throughout the covid-19 pandemic; appreciates the incredible effort that they continue to put into the national vaccination programme, especially as the booster campaign is ramped up in the face of the Omicron variant; and calls on the Government to provide the necessary support that our NHS workers so desperately need and deserve.
That this House expresses its concern about the treatment of Iranian asylum seekers and refugees in Turkey; notes that more than 30,000 Iranian asylums seekers and refugees, many of whom are political dissidents, human rights activists and journalists, are living in an unacceptable state of limbo, without access to work or healthcare and are facing increased risk of deportation to Iran and persecution; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for the Home Department to facilitate and expedite the relocation of those asylum seekers whose cases have been approved for transfer to the UK by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees without further delay.
That this House thanks local authorities for their leadership during the covid-19 pandemic and for the ongoing contribution of their essential workforces to communities; notes National Audit Office figures showing central Government funding for local authorities in England has been cut by 52.3 percent overall in real terms between 2010-11 and 2020-21; believes the Government should address in full the financial challenges arising from this decade of underinvestment, while tackling the enhanced financial pressures local authorities face because of extra costs, increased referrals, loss of income and cash-flow challenges associated with covid-19; further believes Ministers must take responsibility for the financial stability of local government and its ability to plan, sustain and improve community and essential frontline services such as adult and child social care, and support for older people, looked-after children, care leavers, people with disabilities or special educational needs, survivors of domestic violence and low-income families in crisis; notes recent Local Government Association analysis that social care-providing authorities are spending more than 60 percent of their outgoings on these essential care services; considers locally-led initiatives to urgently improve equality, sustainability and resilience, such as providing genuinely affordable, energy efficient homes, supporting socially necessary bus services, and transforming waste collection, should be funded nationally; considers there is an urgent need to address the pressures on local authorities now; and therefore calls on the Government to immediately provide local councils with the money to protect and restore spending on community and frontline services to sustainable levels and reset local economies.
That this House welcomes the orderly conduct of Presidential elections in the Gambia, the first in decades not to feature the participation of former long-term President Yahya Jammeh whose rule was marked by serious human rights violations including state-backed execution squads; notes the incumbent Adama Barrow won another term as President with the backing of a faction from Jammeh’s party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, and despite having initially promised in 2016 to serve only as a transitional leader; urges President Barrow to undertake comprehensive democratic reform, and as soon as possible make public the report of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, which took harrowing testimony from victims of Jammeh’s brutal regime, and implement its recommendations; calls on the Government to provide continued tangible support towards the Gambia’s democratic transition and inclusive development; and further call on the Government to encourage President Barrow’s administration to adopt a renewed focus on transitional justice, with the criminal prosecution of Jammeh and his main accomplices and satisfactory redress offered to those targeted by Jammeh’s former regime.
That this House welcomes the Panorama episode Crisis in Care: Follow the Money, broadcast on 6 December 2021, on the involvement of financial entities such as private equity firms and hedge funds in the adult social care sector; notes that this has put pressure on the sector to grow its revenues, not to improve quality of care but to meet exorbitant costs associated with complex corporate group structures, high debt burdens, and offshoring of profits; further notes that as much as one sixth of the weekly fee for a residential bed can go towards interest payments on company debt; further notes that this financially extractive and growth-dependent model is draining adult social care of funds and plunging the sector deeper into economic precarity; believes that the Government’s focus on developing new funding streams for adult social care fails to address this crucial underlying problem; calls on the Government to address these predatory financial practices by amending the Health and Care Bill to prevent financial assistance being used to rescue overindebted private companies in the care sector, to require providers of adult social care in England to report annually full financial accounts for all companies within the same corporate group including offshore entities, and to review the financial regulation of the adult social care sector to identify ways of reducing the large financial costs and risks created by financial engineering practices such as debt loading, asset stripping, and the offshoring of profits.
That in April 2016 this House recognised the Daesh atrocities against religious minorities, Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria as genocide under Article II of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; notes the UK Government's long standing policy that genocide determination is a matter of competent courts, including domestic criminal courts; and notes the German criminal court's verdict of 30th November 2021 finding a Daesh fighter guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity; and calls on the Government to formally recognise the Daesh atrocities against Yazidis, Christians and other religious minorities as genocide and take further steps to ensure justice, including by leading efforts to establish an international mechanism to prosecute the perpetrators.
That this House notes the 50th anniversary of the murder of UDR soldiers Kenneth Smyth and Daniel McCormick who were killed on the 10th of December 1971; notes that Kenneth was off duty and that Daniel had left the UDR and they were slaughtered as they headed to work together; further notes that no one has ever been brought to justice for this evil terrorist murder that saw these men brutally slain for no other reason than serving Queen and Country in the UDR and that the family still mourn their loss; highlights that whilst other 50 year old crimes are still being investigated at great cost to the public purse, the murder of Kenneth and Daniel remains unsolved; and reaffirms the commitment of this House to support justice for all victims of the Troubles, and not only for those who have politically motivated support.
That this House notes with grave concern the findings of the Uyghur Tribunal of 9 December 2021 which detailed the depth and severity of abuses taking places against Uyghurs in Xinjiang by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) including rape, forced re-education, forced labour, mass surveillance, forced sterilisation, cultural and religious destruction; further notes the Tribunal’s verdict that there is proof beyond reasonable doubt that the People’s Republic of China are committing crimes of torture, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide as defined under international law; calls on the UK Government to accept Parliament’s declaration of the atrocities in Xinjiang as a genocide; and urges the UK Government to step up sanctions against CCP officials involved in perpetrating these abuses.
That this House commends the work of Non-Governmental Organisations and civil activists to raise awareness of the presence of forced labour in the manufacturing of products around the world; recognises that existing UK regulations are insufficient for stopping the import of products which have been produced through forced labour; notes that the United States has implemented an import ban on some products from countries where there is evidence of forced labour; further notes that the European Commission has stated its intentions to implement a similar ban; and calls on the Government to implement an import ban on specific products where there is reasonable suspicion of forced labour and apply it to regions where forced labour is systematically used by the State, thereby preventing companies from enforcing their due diligence obligations.
That this House notes with concern the issue of air pollution and its ensuing effects on health and wellbeing; recognises the 2018 guidance on air pollution by Public Health England that cites poor air quality as the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK; acknowledges that every human being has an inalienable right to breathe clean and safe air; urges the Government to consider making reference to this in any future legislative proposal; further recognises that policy to improve air quality requires evidence and records of public and private entities that contribute to air pollution in local authorities; further urges the Government to make provision for local authorities to take an air pollution audit of public and private entities in their area; and calls on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to report annually to Parliament on these audit reports.
That this House congratulates East Lothian charity Roots and Fruits SCIO on receiving £9,000 from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland; understands that this will fund installation of a summerhouse in their hub to offer more community lunches, activities and events; and wishes the group the best of luck with their future.
That this House congratulates Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health on their recent opening of their Café and Wellbeing Centre in Wishaw; recognises the invaluable work they have done to create a community space which aims to provide healthy, well priced meals, alongside wellbeing services to support mental health; commends their Pay It Forward Scheme which provided over £600 worth of free meals last month to those in need; and further commends all of their staff on their excellent work to support people in Wishaw, particularly during this difficult year, and wishes them the best for the future.
That this House congratulates Newtongrange Development Trust on its award of £9,800 from the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland; notes that the Trust will use this funding to develop an action plan for their organisation and run events; applauds the Trust’s aim of to building on the strong community spirit in Newtongrange to develop inclusive, dynamic and sustainable initiatives to enhance social, economic, environmental and cultural benefits for its growing community; recognises the sterling work done by the National Lottery Community Fund to distribute funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK; welcomes the awarding of £588.2 million of funding last year alone; and encourages projects and organisations to apply for grants whether large or small.
That this House calls on the Government to encourage both Azerbaijan and Armenia to work together to build a strong, stable and peaceful region; further calls on both sides to honour the full implementation of the trilateral agreement of 10 November 2020; raises concern of the number of humanitarian issues such as the exchange of accurate mining maps, sharing of information about the whereabouts of close to 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the hostilities in 1990s, the re-opening of regional transportation and communication routes; and expresses support for the British companies that are involved in the reconstruction of the liberated lands in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
That this House congratulates Liberta Restaurant in Bathgate on being named Scotland’s Best Family Business at the 8th annual Scottish Italian Awards; recognises that the Scottish Italian Awards celebrates Italian hospitality and culture in Scotland; praises Fikret, Tahir, Mustafa, Fatima and all the staff for their hard work; congratulates Liberta on receiving this prestigious accolade; and wishes the family-run business every success for the future.
That this House regrets the decision by Luton Council’s planning committee on 1 December 2021 to proceed with the expansion of operations at Luton Airport; regrets that the increased upper passenger limit of 19 million will contribute to increased harmful carbon emissions and air pollution; considers that the process that allows the Luton Council as the owner of the airport to come to a decision that will generate future revenues without independent external oversight is a conflict of interest; notes with disappointment that promises by Luton Council/Luton Airport of introducing quieter aircraft before any moves to expand operations at the airport have not been met or enforced; recognises the anger and frustration of affected residents in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and beyond that their lives will continue to be blighted by the impact of aircraft noise, that has been shown to be detrimental to health; and urges the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to use his powers to call in and determine this planning application without delay.
That this House recognises the unnecessary slaughter of animals to produce fur for Parliamentary and State garments; calls on the Government to replace these with sustainable non-fur alternatives, now that an indistinguishable alternative has passed the Ministry of Defence’s copyrighted test in the Ministry’s accredited laboratory; notes that the use of real fur is not in line with the Government’s commitment to have and promote the highest standards of animal welfare across the UK; and believes sustainable, faux fur should be the default option for garments and accessories for this purpose moving forward.
That this House thanks Santa for touring Loanhead during Loanhead Children’s Gala Day on 16 December 2020; further thanks the gala’s committee for organising that event; understands that that event allowed children to meet Santa in their street with safety and social distancing, bringing festive cheer and magic; further understands that that event allowed the gala committee to gather donations for future events; and thanks all those who donated during that event.
That this House recognises the great community effort by Saltoun Primary School pupils in helping to tackle speeding in the village of East Saltoun in East Lothian; notes that those pupils joined forces with community police officers and slowed down speeding cars to ask them a number of set questions as to why they were speeding in an effort to help influence drivers behaviour; understands that those pupils waved down vehicles and were set up beside the school and village hall alongside their teachers and the police; further notes that the police officers ensured that drivers not complying with the 20 mph limit were invited to speak to pupils and that both drivers and pupils were educated on road safety; remarks that that action will surely help those drivers think twice and abide by the speed limit when next driving through East Saltoun and other rural villages; and thanks the pupils, police and Saltoun Primary School staff for their efforts in raising awareness and taking action on rural speeding.
That this House notes that on 27 January 2021 the UK will observe Holocaust Memorial Day marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where an estimated 1.1 million people were murdered; commemorates the six million victims of the Holocaust; further notes that the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 is Be the Light in the Darkness; pays tribute to the commitment of Holocaust survivors and Kindertransport refugees who share their experiences with young people across the country; acknowledges the importance of the Holocaust Educational Trust's work in schools across the UK and in particular the Lessons from Auschwitz project, which has so far given more than 40,000 students and teachers the opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau; welcomes the establishment of a permanent National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre adjacent to Parliament; pays tribute to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for organising the national Holocaust Memorial Day event; and urges all right hon. and hon. Members to observe that day so that the appalling events of the Holocaust are always understood by future generations.
That this House recognises Government guidance states, Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school; notes that hon. Members cannot underestimate the profound psychological impact that it would have on a child to go to school, come home with covid-19 and infect a family member and for that family member to then die; further notes that for a child to feel that the death of a family member was their fault would be traumatic in the extreme; regrets that the Government does not hold information centrally on the number of school pupils who live in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable; notes that the Association of Directors of Children’s Services estimates that the number of children withdrawn from school for elective home education increased by 38 per cent in England in 2020 and that feedback from responding local authorities to their research indicated that covid-19 health concerns were a primary reason for parents or carers choosing to formally home educate their child in 2020; calls on the Government to bring forward guidance to ensure that children who live in a household where someone is clinically extremely vulnerable are able to learn from home during the covid-19 pandemic if that is what their parents or carers think is best; and further calls on the Government to provide the necessary financial support to schools so that head teachers can facilitate that home learning without having to worry about resource implications.
That this House recognises the enormous economic and cultural benefit musicians and other touring artists from the EU provide to the UK, and vice versa; further recognises that visa-free travel arrangements are of vital importance to the facilitation of artists touring in other countries; and therefore calls upon the UK Government to agree with the European Union a touring artist visa waiver scheme that would facilitate touring artists travelling between and performing in both the EU and UK without visa requirements.
That this House expresses deep regret regarding the UK Government’s decision to withdraw from the Erasmus+ scheme; recognises the importance of Erasmus+ to the many thousands of students and young people who have benefited from the opportunity to live, study and work abroad; notes that EU membership is not a requirement of participation in Erasmus+; welcomes the decision of the Irish Government to fund Erasmus+ grants for Northern Irish students; notes that the UK Government’s Turing scheme will not replicate many aspects of the Erasmus+ scheme such as youth work, adult education, sport, culture and vocational training; and urges the Government to reverse its decision on participation in Erasmus+.
That this House recognises that an Administrative Defence Agreement with the EU would allow the Ministry of Defence (MOD) transparency on the defence projects and activities of the EU, giving the MOD maximum notice, visibility and details on which to base its decisions on participation in specific projects and programmes; calls on the Government to enter into immediate discussions and deliberations with EU allies to facilitate and agree a UK and EU Administrative Defence Agreement at the earliest opportunity.
That this House notes that 2 January 2021 will be the 50th anniversary of the Ibrox disaster which killed 66 people and injured over 200 people; notes that this was the worst football disaster in Britain until the Hillsborough disaster in 1989; notes that all 66 who died on 2 January 1971 were aged under 50 years of age, including five schoolmates from the town of Markinch in Fife; remembers all those who died and expresses continued sympathies and prayers with the families who lost loved ones; and further notes that the disaster is commemorated with a statue at Ibrox stadium; recognises the major changes to football stadia design and standards and that spectator safety is always paramount in enjoying sport.
That this House notes with dismay the damaging effect that the UK leaving the EU is set to have on Scotland’s vital seed potato sector by virtue of the UK’s trade deal with the EU; understands that conventionally around 22,000 tonnes of Scottish seed potatoes, which are highly regarded internationally for their high plant health status, are exported to the EU and Northern Ireland each year; regrets that from 1 January 2021 Scottish seed potatoes will be banned from being exported to the EU and Northern Ireland; further notes that Scotland accounts for 75 per cent of UK seed potato production and 80 per cent of exports; and calls on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urgently provide support for that vital sector.
That this House notes with concern that while the deal agreed between the UK and the EU provides exemptions to visa rules for certain workers travelling to different European countries, this does not include artists and musicians; understands this will result in artists having to apply for separate visas for each individual country visited while touring in Europe resulting in significant added cost; further notes that the petition launched by artist Tim Brennan on that matter has exceeded the 100,000 signatures needed to secure a debate in the House; and urges the UK Government to urgently introduce a visa for touring musicians and other artists to facilitate their work across Europe without requiring the need for multiple visas and attendant additional costs.
That this House notes that the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement ties UK fishing fleets into a continuing Common Fisheries Policy with quotas of total allowable catch being allocated through agreement with the EU which will mean decreasing allowable catches for Scottish boats; further notes that any termination of the fishing heading will also terminate the agreements on trade, aviation and transport under FISH17; considers that fishing communities will consider this a betrayal and that the promised Seas of Opportunity have become lost opportunities; and calls on the Government to address the concerns of the Scottish fishing industry on fishing quotas.
That this House commends Midlothian-based researchers for the role they have played in identifying potential covid-19 treatments as part of the the GenOMICC consortium; further commends all involved in the consortium; notes that this work has led to the discovery of five genes associated with the most severe form of covid-19 by studying the DNA of 2,700 patients in 208 intensive care units in the UK; understands that this work was carried out by researchers from the GenOMICC consortium, a global collaboration to study genetics in critical illness; further understands that the research compared the genetic information of covid-19 patients in ICU with samples provided by healthy volunteers from other studies, such as UK Biobank, Generation Scotland and 100,000 Genomes; and notes that, through institutions such as the Roslin Institute, Midlothian plays a key role in leading scientific research.
That this House congratulates the Midlothian young people who took part in the online Magical Music of Christmas fundraising show organised by Little Voices Big Stars; understands that the Bonnyrigg-based group put the show together to help raise funds for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, and beat their £500 target within days; notes that the show featured kids as young as four and adult members of the group taking part in a fun concert from the comfort of their homes for all ages to enjoy; and commends all those who are finding new and innovative ways to fundraise for important causes during the pandemic.