40 ingested motions from United Kingdom introduced in 2023. Year filters use the introduced date shown on each card. Walk years back as far as this source still publishes.
That this House congratulates sporting hero Julie Fleeting on her induction to the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame; recognises Julie’s exceptional achievements as a professional footballer, having won 17 major trophies with Arsenal, 121 caps for Scotland, and being the first Scot to play as a full-time professional in the US women’s game; notes that Julie also represented Scotland in basketball and was awarded an MBE in 2008; admires Julie’s talent as a professional footballer, which has seen her star for teams such as Ross County, Arsenal, Celtic and Valur, as well as her native team Kilwinning; praises her many years of service to North Ayrshire as a physical education teacher at Auchenharvie Academy, Stevenston, where she has been teaching since 2008; and understands that Julie’s incredible career is a testament to her remarkable determination, skill, and commitment to sport.
That this House notes that at least 18,000 civilians have already been killed by the bombardment and siege of Gaza alongside an escalating death toll in the West Bank; further notes that 60 per cent of buildings in Gaza have been flattened and hospitals and schools bombed, food, water and medical supplies denied; notes that civilians are being forced into a smaller and smaller area without shelter or aid and that civilian death is escalating through starvation, disease and lack of medical treatment as well as from bombing and shooting; and calls upon the Government to immediately implement a Palestinian Visa Scheme, based upon the Ukraine Visa scheme, that allows those with family in the UK to be given safe passage to the UK and to be allowed to join their families here.
That this House acknowledges the centenary year of St Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Clarkston; welcomes this milestone marking 100 years of the Church playing a pivotal role in the local community; joins the congregation in commemorating this important anniversary; notes that a special centenary service of thanksgiving and commemoration took place on Sunday 3 December at which the Rt Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway preached; recognises the importance of St Aidan’s Church to the community and the broad range of open, welcoming activities which the Church is involved in locally; appreciates the continued care of the congregation for the local community and those further afield; and wishes all involved with St Aidan’s Church the very best for the next 100 years at the heart of the local community.
That this House recognises the importance of the Life in the UK test for applicants and their concern that if something goes wrong they may face severe delays to their settlement, the risk of deportation, the loss of their livelihood and separation from their families; notes with concern that the Government has failed to publish details of adjustments and alternatives to the test for those unable to complete it due to long term mental or physical health conditions; is dismayed by reports of lost evidence and delays to applications and further that the Home Office does not record data relating to requests for exemptions; expresses distinct unease that the Home Office many not be able to monitor its compliance with equalities duties without such information; regrets that the Government has failed to address the concerns in the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee report dated 28 June 2022; and urges the Government to review the functioning of the Life in the UK test, consider means of making the test fully accessible to disabled candidates, publish a range of reasonable adjustments available to candidates who need them and urgently monitor and report on the extent of processing delays and errors for applicants requiring adaptions and take steps to address them.
That this House expresses its admiration for the courage displayed by the women leading the Long March to Islamabad from across Balochistan to raise awareness of the disappearances, abductions and killings associated with the operations of Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department; notes that there have been violent attacks on the marching protesters by the Police; and calls upon the Government to raise its concerns about the violation of fundamental human rights against the people of Balochistan with the Pakistani government.
That this House remembers the Harrods bombing which took place on 17 December 1983, in which a car bomb placed by the IRA took the lives of three police officers, three civilians and injured more than 90 people; highlights the 37-minute warning which did not give enough time to clear the area on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, the busiest shopping day of the year; expresses our sincere and continuing sympathy to those who live without a loved one and those who live with the physical and emotional impact of that dreadful atrocity designed to take lives and injure as many as possible in the lead up to Christmas; and condemns utterly the actions of the IRA and Sinn Fein who defended them and continue to attempt to justify and eulogise those who engaged in despicable life changing activities.
That this House congratulates Hopscotch Theatre Company, based in Govan in Glasgow South West constituency, on their award of a £24,010 grant from the People’s Postcode Lottery; understands this funding will be used to put on their production of Plop! In the Ocean, which is an ancient Greek comedy for children aged between eight and 12; notes that the show was created using the diaries and experiences of Sarah Mooney, former Roald Dahl Foundation storyteller, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with a group of twelve female-identifying scientists who were studying the impacts of plastic pollution and ocean toxicity on our seas; supports the aims of the production to educate children and young people, in an age appropriate way, about the dangers of plastic pollution to our oceans and the small everyday actions we can all make to change this; further supports Hopscotch Theatre Company’s plan to tour the production to thirty primary schools in Edinburgh and the North East of Scotland, with each school receiving an hour long performance of Plop! along with a creative resource pack to support pupils learning before and after the production; and wishes Hopscotch Theatre Company good luck with their production and success in all its future endeavours.
That this House celebrates the centenary of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RCDS); notes that the RSCDS was founded on 26 November 1923 in what is now the Hardrock Cafe, formerly the Atheneum, on Buchanan Street in Glasgow; appreciates that the RSCDS aims to grow a vibrant worldwide community of Scottish dance and music through local organisations who teach and encourage participation in Scottish country dancing; notes that the RSCDS has 160 branches in Scotland and around the world, including in Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South African, Sweden, the US and Wales, as well as 235 affiliated groups which include Dundee, Cambridge, St Andrew's, Edinburgh and Oxford universities; acknowledges that the RSCDS also publishes dance books and recording music, creating an archive for the future as well as providing valuable resources to those dancing today; is grateful to the initial founders Mrs Ysobel Stewart, Mr Michael Diack and Miss Jean Milligan for their work in ensuring Scottish country dancing has continued to thrive 100 years after their initial meeting; and wishes all involved in the RSCDS the very best for the future.
That this House congratulates the Parish of St.Bernards R.C. Church, Nitshill, Glasgow on its 60th Anniversary; notes a number of events were carried out throughout the year, including a special mass conducted by Archbishop William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow on 3 December 2023; congratulates all in the parish for this significant anniversary; and sends them our best wishes for the years ahead.
That this House welcomes the publication of the Members of Parliament (Oil and Gas Companies) Bill on 13 December 2023; supports the Bill’s aims of prohibiting Members of Parliament from working for or receiving any financial or other benefit from oil and gas companies as well as its call for the divestment of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund from oil and gas companies; notes that the world faces a climate emergency that has been driven by the fossil fuel industry; further notes that the science is clear that it will be impossible to limit global heating to 1.5°C without the phasing out of all fossil fuels; also notes that for decades fossil fuel companies and their lobbyists have used their financial and political influence to delay, weaken and undermine climate action to protect their profits; believes that as with the tobacco industry in the past, the damaging influence of the fossil fuel industry on democratic processes poses a huge risk to the public; and believes this Bill can play a positive role in creating the necessary firewall to protect democratic institutions and political decision-making from fossil fuel industry interference.
That this House celebrates St Leonards School in St Andrews, Fife for being named Scottish Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024 (A-level) by The Sunday Times’ Good Schools Guide 2024; recognises this ranks the co-educational boarding and day school above every other Scottish independent secondary school; acknowledges that St Leonards were also named Top Independent School in Scotland for IB/A Level results in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022; and commends the teachers, students and the Head of St Leonards, Simon Brian for their hard work and dedication in order to achieve this award.
That this House celebrates Pratis Barns on winning the Fife and Tayside Venues award at the Your Scottish Wedding Awards in November 2023; understands Pratis Barns is a luxury events venue which specialises in weddings with in-house service such catering headed by Chef Calum and onsite events manager Louise; recognises the owners Nicola and Patrick Gilmour’s commitment to sustainability, such as past couples donating wedding decorations and props that can be re-used to avoid creating waste; commends Business Gateway Fife’s support for Pratis Barns through the Expert Help and Fife Investment Fund; notes that this award is a result of the Gilmours and their team’s passion and dedication for the venue; and welcomes the contribution of Pratis Barns and other hospitality businesses to the local community.
That this House recognises the essential contribution of all staff across the Parliamentary Estate, including, but not limited to, cleaners, caterers, chefs, kitchen stewards, baristas, doorkeepers, clerks, library support specialists, tour guides, police and firefighters, as well as those in Parliamentary offices and Departments, such as the Speaker’s office, the Serjeant at Arms, Health and Wellbeing, Service Delivery, Maintenance, Visitors Assistants, Porterage, Workspace, Members Services, Heritage, Accommodation, Governance, Parliamentary Health and Safety, Broadcasting, Project, Renewal and Restoration, Learning and Development, and Diversity and Inclusion; accepts that, without them, Parliament could not function; notes the vital role they therefore play in ensuring this institution runs safely and efficiently and in upholding our democracy; and acknowledges that all deserve to be respected for their important contribution and treated equally with dignity, kindness and respect.
That this House notes that an annual statement is read out in the Dail to welcome Santa Claus into Irish air space; further notes that the Civil Aviation Authority does not make a similar gesture; recognises the importance of Santa Claus to children; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the contribution of the idea of Santa Claus to Christmas.
That this House expresses its dismay at the number of children in poverty in the UK; believes that as the UK is one of the richest countries in the world, it is shocking that 29% of children in our country are living in poverty and that 71% of those children live in a household where at least one person works; notes the recent UNICEF report which found that child poverty levels in the UK were the worst among the world’s richest nations and have increased faster than all other rich nations; highlights that child poverty has increased because of the huge programme of public service cuts enacted since 2010, the current cost of living crisis and policies such as the two-child limit on claiming welfare benefits; and calls on the Government to tackle child poverty by extending child benefits and restructuring our economy to deliver for working families and children.
That this House congratulates Rotary St Helens on the 100th anniversary of its formation in 1923; notes its commitment to the borough through volunteering, charitable work and community activities; commends it on receiving the Kings Award for Voluntary Service in its centenary year; and wishes its members well as they continue to put Service Above Self locally, nationally and globally.
That this House notes with concern the huge variance in local NHS spending on children’s hospice and palliative care in England, as found in the recent freedom of information requests published by the charity Together for Short Lives; is concerned that the amounts spent by each NHS integrated care board (ICB) varied by as much as £483 per child or young person in 2022-23; is also concerned by the lack of understanding among ICBs on the number of children who need palliative care or the numbers accessing services; calls on the Government to urgently confirm how and when the £25 million NHS England Children’s Hospice Grant will be distributed in 2024-25; further calls on the Government to direct NHS England to hold ICBs to greater account for the way in which they commission children’s palliative care; asks the Government to direct NHS England to ensure ICBs work with neighbouring ICBs in their region to plan and fund children’s palliative care services; and also calls on the Government to commit to a dedicated long-term strategy in the NHS mandate that addresses the palliative care needed by children and young people.
That this House notes with sadness the passing of Councillor Hanzala Malik, who represented Hillhead ward on Glasgow City Council, whose death at the age of 67 was announced on Thursday 14 December 2023; further notes that Councillor Malik served for two periods on the City Council, from 1997 to 2012 and again from 2017, and served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Region between 2011 and 2016; notes the many tributes to Councillor Malik that have been paid from across the political spectrum and the wider community in Glasgow, recalling his dedicated service to his local community in Hillhead as well as championing equality, diversity and social justice across the city and region as a board member of the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council; and sends its deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.
That this House congratulates Glasgow Rangers for their victory over Aberdeen which has secured them the Viaplay Cup; highlights the tremendous game that was played as Rangers seek to keep their head down and their focus sharp; and wishes them every success in their league and cup goals this year.
That this House notes with concern the announcement by Lloyds Banking Group to close the Bank of Scotland branch on Byres Road in the West End of Glasgow; further notes that the branch has been a long-standing and much-valued presence on the street, and that its closure represents a further significant reduction in the availability of branch-based banking services to the local community, following the closure of other major retail bank branches in recent years; expresses concern about the impact of the closure especially on older, more vulnerable or less computer-literate customers who may have to travel further at greater expense to access alternative provision; and calls on Lloyds Banking Group and the Bank of Scotland, if not willing to reconsider this decision, to ensure that affected customers are fully consulted, engaged and supported in order to be able to use banking services that meet their needs in the future.
That this House acknowledges that to meet net-zero targets significant new electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure will be required; notes that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published a revised National Policy Statement (NPS) EN-5 in November 2023, with the aim of setting policy guidance for the required new infrastructure; recognises that there is significant opposition to traditional pylon development for electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure; notes that many European countries are undergrounding new and old infrastructure which may maintain public support for net-zero targets; queries whether cable-ploughing technology offers a way to underground electricity cable infrastructure at a minimised cost and with reduced impact; calls for the removal of paragraph 2.9.20 from NPS EN-5 and a reversal of the Government’s position that overhead lines should be the strong starting presumption for electricity networks developments in general; calls on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to commission an expert panel to investigate the different undergrounding technologies now available, such as cable ploughing, and to assess the costs and impact comparisons and the feasibility and viability comparisons of all alternative technologies, types and methods available for conveying electricity for transmission and distribution; further calls on the Department to revise and formulate policy on pylons versus undergrounding for conveying electricity once the expert panel has reported and to re-issue guidance accordingly; and also calls on the Government to set aside Government time for a debate on electricity transmission and distribution policy.
That this House expresses concern over the current honours system, which gives power to the Government and its senior Ministers to recommend candidates; highlights the potential misuse of the system as a result, noting the findings of an Electoral Reform Society report, which found that 65% of the public believe that party donors can effectively buy honours; and calls for an overhaul of the honours system, to ensure that big money stays out of the system and that the awarding of political honours is independent and weighted towards the contribution of ordinary British people.
That this House notes that tooth decay is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in young children, despite the fact that it is a largely preventable disease; expresses concern that, according to Government statistics, as of 2022, 23.7% of five year-olds in England experienced dentinal decay, with notable regional disparities, ranging from 19.1% in the South West to 30.6% in the North West; highlights that, in 2022, children living in the most deprived areas of the country were almost three times as likely to have experience of dentinal decay as those living in the least deprived areas; further highlights that poor oral health in children can lead to school absenteeism and that, as the Government has stated, it can cause pain and infection and affect a child’s ability to eat, smile and socialise; calls on the Government to urgently develop a comprehensive national children’s oral health strategy to secure a healthier future for children in England; believes that such a strategy should be led by the Department of Health and Social Care and that there should be collaboration with other Government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, including specialist paediatric dentists, in developing the strategy; and further believes that the strategy should commit to investing in oral health promotion initiatives, that it should outline clear goals to reduce waiting times and should focus on targeted preventive measures, early intervention, and improved access to high-quality dental care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
That this House notes the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists in the UK and the prolonged waiting times for children's dental procedures; highlights that specialist paediatric dentists provide comprehensive oral healthcare for children and adolescents, including those with special care needs; further highlights that they undergo three years of additional specialist training, gaining expertise in child psychology, growth and development, pharmacology, pathology, oral diseases, and advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures; draws attention to data which indicates that there are only around 200 full time equivalent specialists in paediatric dentistry working in the UK and that, to meet the demands of the population, there needs to be approximately triple this number; believes that this shortage worsens health inequalities, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged children who are more than twice as likely to face oral health issues than those in the least deprived areas; further believes that timely access to paediatric dental care is a fundamental aspect of children's health and wellbeing; expresses disappointment that the recent Government-backed NHS Long Term Workforce plan makes no specific reference to specialist paediatric dentistry; and calls on the Government to urgently address the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists and improve accessibility to dental care for all children.
That this House expresses its deepest condolences following the death of Lady Prue Penn at the age of 97; understands that Lady Prue’s father was born in St. Andrews and that she spent time living in Carnbee, situated in the East Neuk of Fife; notes her impressive accomplishments working at the Foreign Office and for MI6 in a male-dominated era; acknowledges her services to the royal family as a close friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, and a confidante of Princess Margaret; understands this loss is felt widely; and expresses sympathy to her friends and family following the sad news of her passing.
That this House congratulates North East Fife music venue Letham Nights on their nomination for Club of the Year in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 2 December at Dundee’s Caird Hall; understands Letham Nights brings small gigs to Letham Village Hall; recognises they are a member of Scotland’s Green Arts Initiative who promote sustainability; commends them for using their profit from gigs to make Letham Village Hall carbon neutral; celebrates that this is a platform for local talent to shine and local businesses to sell their alcohol and food; and notes the venue opened in 2008 and this nomination is testament to the founders and local community’s support.
That this House is aware that workers at Defence Equipment and Support (DE and S) at Beith in North Ayrshire, an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence, are continuing strike action for improved pay and conditions; notes that this strike action is unprecedented, the first in the history of that organisation, and backed by 93 per cent of members; is concerned to hear that non-craft workers preparing arms for shipment at the depot, face discrimination in the payment of bonuses, relative to craft workers who assemble munitions; rejects the fact that retention payments are made to managers and craft workers, while non-craft colleagues earning less than £21,000 a year have been excluded from retention bonuses; understands that the operation of the facility is vital in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of equipment to UK armed forces and the Ukrainian frontline as it fights to protect its territorial integrity and freedom in the face of Russian aggression; is mindful of the fact that the striking workers have not undertaken this action lightly; believes it is essential to stand with these workers who reject a two-tier workforce and support their action for a fairer and more equal working environment where the work of all those at DE and S is respected and recognised with a bonus scheme which is fair to all workers at the site; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to urgently intervene to ensure a fair resolution to the industrial dispute.
That this House celebrates the life of community activism and dedication to others of Kay Latimer and mourns her passing on 18 November 2023; notes Kay’s life of service as a nurse both in England and in Scotland; recalls her care for terminally ill people through her work with the Marie Curie Hospice and latterly her nursing of the elderly and people living with dementia; further notes her passion for sharing her knowledge and skills; celebrates the many younger colleagues who benefited from her support and guidance; recognises her dedication to Balerno Parish, her pastoral care for parishioners, her work as an Elder and the training and support she provided across the Presbytery; gives special recognition and thanks for her pioneering work in Balerno supporting people living with dementia and their carers through the establishment of the People with Advanced Loss of Memory, or PALM, Café and through her enthusiasm and drive spreading this model of dementia care to the neighbouring parishes of Currie and Juniper Green in part through The Meeting Place Community Cafe; gives thanks for the formation of her charity Dementia Friendly Pentlands which fights to improve the quality of life for families and unpaid carers and the people they care for; extends condolences to Kay’s family, her wide circle of friends and all those who continue to benefit from her legacy of devotion and care for others; and is certain she will be missed.
That this House acknowledges the invaluable work carried out by the Graeme Ramage Football Academy in Alexandria in supporting the local community; understands that the Academy provides coaching to over 150 kids and adults each week, which contributes to the health and wellbeing of the local community, and also works closely with Daniel's Wish to support children with complex support needs; notes that this year Graeme and his team are holding a Christmas toy appeal to support over 1,000 families in the area, which is an increase from the 300 families last year; further notes that many local companies have given their support to this appeal which is a testament to the impact of Graeme's work in the community and how well thought of he is; also notes that in addition to supporting families, the Christmas toy appeal will also support local organisations such as Food For Thought, Women’s Aid, West Dunbartonshire FoodShare and many others; and wishes to put on record sincere thanks to Graeme and his team at the Academy for their dedicated service to the local community.
That this House notes with huge concern the figures from National Energy Action which has estimated that the total number of households across the UK in fuel poverty increased from around 4 million in summer 2020 to 6.7 million in October 2022 and expects it to reach 7.5 million households by April 2023; further notes that the Government’s estimates are even higher, estimating that 8.8 million households in England could be classed as fuel poor by the end of 2023; highlights that the number in fuel poverty could continue to increase, as the fuel poverty gap continues to grow, from £338 per fuel poor household in 2022 to a projected £443 in 2023, noting that this would be a new record high, beating the previous record of £354 in 2010; in addition notes that currently five million people are in debt to their energy supplier; raises concerns over the regional spread of fuel poverty, with 17.5% of households in fuel poverty in Yorkshire, compared to the English average of 13.2%; and calls on the Government to urgently protect the most vulnerable in our society and introduce a Emergency Energy Tariff.
That this House expresses its deep concerns about the future of local government funding and the cuts which have been imposed on local authorities by the Government, which on average amount to a 40% decrease in funding; highlights the comments made by some council leaders who have expressed their concerns about how difficult the financial situation could get, particularly those of Wakefield Council leader Denise Jeffery who has said Wakefield could face financial hardship by 2027 without better investment; notes the SIGOMA report which showed that the most deprived council areas have seen three times the cuts at the richest; and urgently calls on the Government to properly fund and invest in local government.
That this House acknowledges the decline in manufacturing in the UK; notes that the number of manufacturing jobs has fallen from 7.8 million in 1971 to 2.3 million in 2022; further notes that most of these cuts to manufacturing have occurred in the North of England, with nearly a million manufacturing employees in Yorkshire in 1971 and only 280,000 such jobs in 2022; also notes the recent Two Nations report by the Social Justice Commission which stated that a key driver of low pay is de-industrialisation, which left a vacuum of good jobs that paid a medium to high wage; and calls on the Government to rebalance the economy and tackle the regional dimension of low pay as well as investing in manufacturing jobs across the country.
That this House expresses its dismay at the number of children in poverty in the UK; believes that as the UK is one of the richest countries in the world, it is shocking that 29% of children in our country are living in poverty, with 71% of children growing up in poverty living in a household where at least one person works; notes the recent UNICEF report which found that child poverty levels in the UK were the worst among the world’s richest nations and have increased faster than all other rich nations; highlights that child poverty has increased because of the huge programme of public service cuts enacted since 2010, the current cost of living crisis and policies such as the two-child limit on claiming welfare benefits; and calls on the Government to tackle child poverty by first extending the two child limit and also by restructuring our economy to deliver for working families and children.
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.