40 ingested motions from United Kingdom introduced in 2020. Year filters use the introduced date shown on each card. Walk years back as far as this source still publishes.
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.
That this House recognises the outstanding technological achievements which have led to Clydebank’s environmentally friendly system being installed which uses water from the River Clyde to heat nearby homes; notes that this heating system is the first large-scale water source heat pump scheme of its kind in Scotland, and will transform the way homes, businesses and public buildings in the centre of the town are heated; recognises the hard work and planning of West Dunbartonshire Council in conjunction with partners to create and launch the system; and hopes that this impressive technological achievement will inspire other such advancements across the nation to combat the growing climate change emergency.
That this House recognises the outstanding work of Dumbarton charity worker Jade West in keeping the heritage of the tragedy of Dunkirk alive by working to restore Skylark IX, which is believed to be the only surviving Dunkirk vessel in Scotland, that over the nine day mission rescued over 600 cold and tired soldiers helping transport them onto larger naval ships whilst under fire; notes her work to build skills and job opportunities for the local community; and recognises that the projection of her image onto the ancient site of Stonehenge was well deserved to recognise her work and achievements.
That this House recognises the well deserved achievement for Clydebank resident Jim McLaren in being awarded the ‘’Local Legend’’ award for Glasgow for his valuable work during the Covid pandemic through helping the most vulnerable in our community; further notes that Jim’s work with his Golden Friendship’s charity has performed outstanding work in the local community with disabled people and the elderly; further recognises that Jim’s charity continues to provide an invaluable service despite the global pandemic and being unable to access their local hall and hopes that this charitable work will inspire others to do what they can for their local community.
That this House applauds the fantastic artistic endeavours of the almost 700 East Renfrewshire primary school children, from schools across the local area, who took part in the 2020 Christmas picture competition organised by the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire; notes that children produced festive and creative artwork, designed to share good cheer; appreciates the efforts and participation all of those who took part; acknowledges the high standard of all entries received; heartily congratulates all winners; recognises that the overall winner was Adam Geejo of St Cadoc’s Primary School; understands that the winners in the P1-P2 category were Aasiyah Ali of Maidenhill Primary School and Molly Ness of Netherlee Primary School; notes that the winners of the P3-P5 category were Keeva Smith of St John’s Primary School and Phoebe Mann of Eaglesham Primary School; appreciates that the winners of the P6-P7 category were Olivia Aitken of Hillview Primary School and Fergus Cao of St Joseph’s Primary School; thanks the outstanding school teams across East Renfrewshire for all their efforts throughout this challenging year; and wishes teachers, families and children a peaceful and happy Christmas.
That this House appreciates this has been a challenging year and that this Christmas will be a difficult one for many families; recognises that there are unsung heroes in all our communities working hard to ensure Christmas magic is delivered where it is needed most, even against the odds; notes the tireless efforts of community based groups and organisations including Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas, in making Christmas possible for families and children all over West Central Scotland; appreciates the vast undertaking and huge efforts which have enabled thousands of individually selected Christmas gifts to be collected, funded, sorted, wrapped and delivered; appreciates the enormous work of East Renfrewshire resident Julie Griffin and her colleagues in bringing together the generosity of donors, with a wide range of referring organisations who support families experiencing difficulties; believes that this selfless kindness reflects the true spirit of Christmas; and wishes ‘Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas’ well for their continued endeavours.
That this House congratulates all those involved in the launch of Fatma's Waltz, a specially-composed piece of music, performed and recorded by 28 artists from Scotland and around the world, with the aim of raising over £5000 for the Glasgow-based Beatson Cancer Charity; notes that the unique and uplifting piece was written by Scottish traditional musician Adam Sutherland, inspired by the experience of his student Fatma Neilson who has bravely fought cancer and been supported in her fight by the services of the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and its associated Charity; thanks the musicians who gave freely of their time to make audio and video recordings of their parts for the performance, and producers Marc Clements who mixed the audio and Paul Jennings who produced the video, despite the economic hardships caused by coronavirus; further notes that the entire performance has been produced using remote and virtual technology due to coronavirus restrictions; and wishes the team behind the project all the best in reaching and exceeding their fundraising target.
That this House is disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court to rule in favour of Heathrow airport’s appeal to the decision in February 2020 that the Airports National Policy Statement was not legal because it had been written using a warming target of 2? rather than the Paris Agreement target, signed by the UK, of 1.5?; notes that a third runway at Heathrow would increase takeoffs from 2030 onwards by 54%, which would increase air and noise pollution and impact the mental and physical well-being of millions in the surrounding area; recognises that an expansion would increase carbon emissions as well as the harmful contribution of aviation to other forms of global warming; notes that projections continue to show that the Government is unlikely to reach their 2050 net zero targets; further notes that the international community is also currently unlikely to reach the 1.5? warming target as recognised in the Paris Agreement; calls on the Government to update aviation policy to meet its target for net zero carbon by 2050; and further calls on the Government to eliminate any possibility of net expansion to UK airports including Heathrow in line with guidance from the Committee on Climate Change.
That this House recognises the hard work and endeavours of all the volunteers involved with the Stay Connected Project in Coatbridge; commends the project for the support they have shown to the local community this festive period by providing supplies to those who are elderly, vulnerable or isolated; and in particular praises all the local school children who have shown incredible community spirit by providing huge numbers of donations to the project.
That this House commends Royston Youth Action and the participation of the Youth Forum in the 12 Months 12 Acts of Kindness project; notes that throughout the year these young people have been both an inspiration and invaluable help to the community with their charitable work; appreciates the help they have provided to different organisations each month including providing food and supplies for people who are homeless, supporting RNIB, delivering baby clothes to Barnardos and raising money for the Baby Loss Retreat; congratulates the young people who have carried out hundreds of hours of volunteering during a most challenging year and one in which the group experienced its own losses; and looks forward to supporting their programme for 2021.
That this House welcomes the commitment of this Government to increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings; is encouraged that £2.58 billion has been made available for home insulation and greener heating solutions; asserts that the rollout of the Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme has negatively affected the ability of local authorities to bid and effectively deliver energy efficiency projects and has created unnecessary challenges for councils; notes that the short timescales required by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for bids and completion of projects will affect the quality and long-term efficiency of projects under the scheme; and urges the Government to align the deadlines for all phases of the LAD scheme to the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme deadline of March 2022 and to acknowledge that the work conducted under the scheme’s current deadlines is not a fair assessment of the quantity or quality of work that local authorities can deliver.
That this House recognises that during the 2020 Spending Review the Chancellor of the Exchequer noted that unemployment is likely to reach 2.6 million by the middle of 2021; notes that, despite this expected surge in unemployment, the Office for Budget Responsibility has warned that the 2020 Spending Review presented a future real term cut in the Local Housing Allowance; further notes that the National Residential Landlords Association has described that cut as a kick in the teeth for both renters and landlords; is concerned that that cut will force people to choose between eating and keeping a roof over their head; believes that the welfare system must be a safety net for people in their time of need; and calls on the Government to avert an impending housing crisis by cancelling the freeze in the Local Housing Allowance and providing on-going real term increases in the Local Housing Allowance to cover average rents.
That this House notes UK Official Development Assistance spending has helped millions and stands as a testament to the best of British values; observes that the Government's decision to cut development spending to 0.5 per cent of GNI breaks its manifesto promise to the British people and has serious consequences for the world's poorest people; notes that despite claims from the Government, primary legislation is not needed to temporarily cut the development budget, and that such legislation would only be needed were the cut to be permanent; calls on the Government to maintain the 0.7 per cent commitment set out in the International Development (Official Development Assistance) Act 2015; and further calls on the Government to retain an Independent Commission for Aid Impact, the International Development Committee and a Development Minister in Cabinet.
That this House welcomes the 25th anniversary of CVS Inverclyde who support community groups and agencies through collaborative working in the Inverclyde area; notes that CVS Inverclyde provides confidential and professional support to groups and organisations of all sizes and aims while bringing them together to connect and work collaboratively; further notes that to celebrate its 25th year, CVS Inverclyde plans to celebrate the milestone with considered campaigns, with its first being to search for 25 faces to support during its anniversary year and into the future; and congratulates the organisation on its anniversary and wishes everyone involved the very best for the future.
That this House reflects on the report by the Bevan Foundation, A snapshot of poverty in Wales Winter 2020, which indicates that 328,000 (24 per cent of) households in Wales have seen their income fall during the covid-19 pandemic; notes that 41 per cent of Welsh households have seen energy costs increase and 38 per cent of Welsh households have seen an increase in food prices; further notes that 9 per cent of Welsh households have fallen behind on bills since the start of the covid-19 pandemic; is concerned that families with children have been hit the hardest; recognises that poverty levels in Wales are chronic with 700,000 people, 23 per cent of the population, living in poverty before the start of the covid-19 pandemic; and calls on the UK and Welsh Governments to reflect on the findings of that report and urgently introduce measures to help those in need.
That this house notes the recent week of demonstrations and public outcry over the high unemployment rate in the Kurdish Region; notes that state employees have not been paid their salaries for months; recognises that protesters are angry over allegations of corruption concerning the dominant political parties affiliated to two powerful families, the ruling Barzani family of the western provinces holds the regional premiership through its Kurdistan Democratic party, while the Talabani family of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party controls the east; notes the continuing protests over the management of oil revenues; further notes the coronavirus lockdown has escalated the negative impact on the economy and living conditions have deteriorated as a result; is concerned about the level of state violence and that at least eight protesters have been killed in Iraq's Kurdistan by security forces and that the authorities imposed curfews; notes that Kurdish Security forces raided broadcasters affiliated with political opposition parties and have been taken off air; notes that the UNs political mission in Iraq condemns the acts of violence; believes that this is a hugely worrying situation for the region and is deeply concerned over attacks on freedom of expression that undermines the rights of people protesting freely to have their democratic will; is further concerned over allegations of corruption and continuing austerity; supports calls for a solution to pay public sector employees; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to express those concerns and support calls for transparency and accountability in the region with his Kurdish Regional Government counterpart as a matter of urgency.
That this House recognises the environmental damage brought to marine habitats by detonations of unexploded ordnance at sea; is concerned that marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, are dependent on their auditory system for navigation and communication, and that disruptive detonations can lead to mass-stranding events; notes that is is nearly 10 years to the day since the Kyle of Durness mass-stranding; further notes that low-order deflagration is a safe alternative to clear offshore munitions without a harmful explosion; understands that a BEIS-funded trial has found deflagration is up to several hundred times quieter than detonation; welcomes the calls of the Stop Sea Blasts campaign for regulations to favour the deflagration technique; and urges the Government to progress those issues.
That this house supports the need for a focus on the emotional and mental wellbeing of communities as the UK recovers from the effects of the covid-19 Pandemic; recognises the importance of national remembrance for all those people who tragically lost their lives; understands the need for sustainable places of reflection for the bereaved and for people whose mental health has been affected; and supports the initiative of The Forest of Memories that achieves these objectives by creating a network of forests across the UK in memory of people adversely affected during the covid-19 pandemic, whilst addressing climate change, benefiting biodiversity and establishing an educational and cultural resource for local communities.
That this house recognises the fantastic work of Selina Hales and her team at Refuweegee who have been warmly welcoming refugees to Glasgow since 2015 and have been a vital source of help during the covid-19 pandemic; notes the importance of their service in ensuring that new arrivals can access the food, clothing, toiletries and other essentials they need for a better start in their new home; appreciates that the team have adapted quickly to the recent rise in demand and are currently providing around 150 emergency support packages per week through a growing network of volunteers; recognises that they also bring communities together through other projects such as their recent Claiming Back the Narrative photography series and festive crafting events; thanks the team for courageously campaigning for change and raising awareness of the barriers that forcibly displaced people face when accessing support and opportunities; and finally thanks the organisation for ensuring that Glasgow continues to be a welcoming place to all those people who choose to make it their home.
That this house congratulates the volunteers of Glasgow Recovery Communities who recently received the Volunteer Award at the Scottish Health Awards in recognition of their vital work supporting those in recovery from drug and alcohol misuse; recognises that this a community led service that ensures that people with experience of problem drug and alcohol use are central to the development and delivery of recovery initiatives; acknowledges that they have faced enormous challenges this year due to the covid-19 outbreak and have gone above and beyond to make sure that people who rely on their services can still be supported safely through online activities and socially distanced meetings; recognises that they have provided access to technology to people who would have been excluded otherwise through lack of digital access; appreciates that their work not only benefits service users but also provides opportunities for volunteers to learn and grow and to elevate themselves and their communities; and thanks the volunteers for the continued passion and innovation that will help build a better Glasgow.
That this House welcomes the role of Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body; recognises its status as determined by the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019; further recognises the huge scale of the restoration of the parliamentary estate; notes the immense disruption that this will mean for transport, commerce and movement across Westminster and the wider capital; further recognises the potential of the River Thames in mitigating the disruption that the restoration to the estate will cause across London’s roads; urges the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body to include both a river option for transferring materials as a requirement and an environmental impact assessment in the tendering process; and calls on the Government to consider broader and more sustainable use of the River Thames in terms of commerce, transport and construction and the greater use of the River Thames to improve air quality and lower congestion across the capital.
That this House notes the celebrations of Christmas and the family time that it brings which is needed now more than ever; encourages the public to make good choices and to take every precaution to keep safe and keep our loved ones safe; takes the opportunity to highlight the Birth of Christ and that the beginning of God’s redemptive plan of love is the true foundation of Christmas; conveys our sincere sympathy to those who will find Christmas very difficult to celebrate with the empty chair around the table this year; expresses our profound gratitude to every key worker who will miss part or all of Christmas to keep providing care and love for those in need; and further takes this opportunity to wish every constituent, friend and ally of this United Kingdom a very peaceful and safe Christmas and a healthy and happy new year.
That this House notes with great sadness the death of Dame Barbara Windsor; highlights her tremendous career bringing laughter and joy to so many through her career; further highlights her wonderful charity work that paved the way for her Queen’s Honour in the form of the DBE; and extends sympathy to those who loved her and will miss her knowing that her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of so many throughout this UK.
That this House expresses its profound concern at the growing number of arrests in India of human rights defenders, student leaders, feminist activists, Dalit rights campaigners, trade unionists, Opposition politicians, and writers, artists, lawyers, academics and journalists who are critical of Narendra Modi’s regime; notes that many of these arrests have been made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which owes its origins to colonial-era repressive legislation; further notes that ruling-party leaders have engaged in what many argue to be incendiary hate speech against religious minorities and democratic dissenters throughout the tenure of the present BJP-led government; further notes that militarised police violence has repeatedly been used against peaceful protesters, including farmers currently protesting controversial privatisation bills; further notes that the recent shutdown of the Indian branch of Amnesty International, the world's leading human rights advocacy group, bears witness to the currently perilous state of Indian democracy; stands in solidarity with those incarcerated for raising their voices against the oppressive anti-minority politics of the current regime; and calls upon the UN, its member states and international governments to hold the Indian Government to account, and to subject its violations of basic democratic principles to international scrutiny.
That this House congratulates Giffnock Soccer Centre on a successful first 25 years of operation; notes that the club was started by just 14 parents to provide a safe, fun environment in which children aged 5-12 could develop their footballing skills and has grown to over 200 coaches and 1,200 children of all abilities including a separate girls section and a section for those with disabilities; further notes that the club used various East Renfrewshire facilities until it was able to acquire its own facilities at Eastwood Park and Norwood Playing Fields in 2014; recognises that the Club have been involved in the development of the local East Renfrewshire League, which began in 1995 with 23 teams and now provides non-competitive fixtures for 200 teams, with a Giffnock Soccer Centre representative on its Management Committee continuously since the beginning; further recognises that the club has worked with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on coach development and has retained its emphasis on providing football for all abilities, with some participants going on to make the grade in the senior game, including current Captain of the men’s Scottish National team, Andy Robertson, and others who began with the club as 5 year olds who are now helping to develop the next generation of footballers; and records appreciation that the club has forged very good relationships with East Renfrewshire Council, the SFA and local leagues and clubs to the benefit of thousands of children over the last 25 years.
That this House congratulates the winners and finalists of the OGUK Awards, which brings the offshore oil and gas industry together to celebrate its brightest and best; acknowledges the exceptional work of the winners in the following categories: Apprentice of the Year, Scott Milligan, Graduate of the Year, Connor Robb, Mentor of the Year, John Hogg, Workforce Engagement, Spirit Energy, Business Innovation SME, Omniscient Safety Innovations Ltd, Business Innovation Large Enterprise, Petrofac, Diversity & Inclusion, Baker Hughes, Energy Transition, Total E&P UK Ltd, Excellence in Decommissioning, Fairfield Energy Ltd; notes that 19,000 votes were cast in the first-time Audience Award, won by Omniscient Safety Innovations for their standout performance after receiving over 3,000 votes; further notes the special award given to OGUK’s own Health, Safety and Environment Director Trevor Stapleton for his outstanding work dealing with the challenges brought on by covid-19 and protecting the oil and gas workforce while maintaining safe operations; and recognises that the Oil and Gas industry is a centre of excellence in subsea engineering, mature field operations and decommissioning, contributing to the security of the UK energy supply, whilst playing a part in accelerating the transition towards net zero, as it develops and deploys low carbon and net-zero carbon technologies.
That this House recognises the damage caused by covid-19 to the music industry and the catastrophic impact lockdown measures have had on musicians who rely on income from live performance to sustain a living from their talent; notes in particular that contemporary composers of classical music depend on the live performance of their works and do not benefit from any increase in the use of music streaming services during lockdown; recognises that live performance without social distancing remains prohibited; and calls on the Government to offset classical live performance losses by bringing forward legislation that would enable composers and their publishers to collect royalties for an additional period of three years.
That this House notes that the Government has rejected as unaffordable Recommendation 3 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) of a £3,000 pensionable pay rise for Band 3 prison officers on Fair and Sustainable conditions, the main operational recruitment grade into the Prison Service; further notes that the PSPRB considers Band 3 pay to compare poorly against other occupations in the same broad occupational group, and calculates the cost of new recruits leaving after less than two years at £30 million annually, which it calls an inefficient use of public money; further notes that the PSPRB was established in 2001 to compensate prison officers for the loss of their right to take industrial action in any form, and that, in response to a successful complaint by the Prison Officers Association (POA) to the International Labour Organisation in 2004, the Government committed only to depart from its recommendations in exceptional circumstances; further notes that the Government pledged in July to open discussions with recognised trade unions on the implications of this recommendation, yet no such discussions have taken place with the POA; believes that the decision to deny prison officers pay justice threatens to damage morale and exacerbate the current recruitment and retention crisis; questions whether the recommended award is genuinely unaffordable at a time when billions of pounds have been budgeted to build a new generation of private prisons; and calls on the Government to accept the PSPRB’s recommendations in full.