Early Day Motions

Proposed closure of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

That this House regrets the abrupt and unexpected decision to close the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS); encourages relevant stakeholders to reconsider this decision; notes that the ICwS stands at the heart of Commonwealth and Post-Colonial Studies; notes that the ICwS is the only postgradu

Cancer Research UK Uniting Communities Award

That this House congratulates Auchterhouse’s Jo Williamson following his receipt of the Uniting Communities Award at Cancer Research UK’s Flame of Hope Awards; notes that Jo has been a campaign ambassador for Cancer Research UK since 2013, and has featured in adverts and met with Members of Parliame

Thirteen year old Christian girl abducted, converted and married to a 43 year old man

That this House notes with grave concern reports from Pakistan that on 13 October 2020, a 13-year-old Christian girl Arzoo Raja, was abducted from a street near her home in Karachi, forced to convert to Islam and marry the abductor, 43 year old Mr Ali Azhar; is further concerned that, despite her fa

PeachyKeen

That This House recognises the innovative work of Kirkcaldy-based PeachyKeen, who design and manufacture products that utilise human movement to generate electricity; notes the international reach these sustainable products are having, enabling enjoyable and interactive ways to improve fitness as we

Nursing students placements during the covid-19 outbreak

That this House notes that in the first wave of the covid-19 outbreak, student nurses were rewarded with pay for their contribution to the response to the outbreak; further notes that throughout the covid-19 outbreak student healthcare workers have regularly worked 40 hour weeks, without pay, sick l

WASPI women

That this House notes with great concern the continuing unfair treatment of WASPI women; further notes that many of the women concerned had no prior notice that their pensionable age and eligibility was to be pushed back; draws attention to the ongoing injustice of the situation which has placed man

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland support for families of children with life-shortening conditions

That this House recognises the tremendous contribution Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) makes in supporting families of children with life-shortening conditions; commends the extraordinary lengths gone to by the charity to continue this lifeline support throughout the covid-19 outbreak, in

Charity fundraiser Andrew Nicholson

That this House commends Glasgow East constituent, Andrew Nicolson, on his fundraising for the Glasgow North East foodbank; congratulates Mr Nicolson on meeting his fundraising goal of £5,000; highlights the fantastic work of Glasgow North East foodbank in providing emergency food parcels to help fe

Entry into force of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

That this House notes that the United Nations adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017; welcomes confirmation that 50 countries have now ratified this historic agreement which will enter into force in January 2021; further notes that upon entering into force the Treaty will b

Historic distillery in East Lothian reopens

That this House welcomes the reopening of the historic Glenkinchie distillery located just south of Pencaitland after its refurbishment; understands Barbara Smith, managing director, brand homes for Diageo marked the official opening by planting a ceremonial tree; notes the grounds, that have been l

North Berwick artist shortlisted for national prize

That this House recognises the great work of the North Berwick based artist Jayne Stokes; understands Jayne has been put forward for 2020's The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition; notes her nominated piece Day by Day is made up of 132 miniature watercolour paintings, each documenting the local Eas

Community Carrot Co-operative

That this House recognises the great work of the co-operative community run shop the Community Carrot in Dunbar; understands the shop has been recognised as part of a parliamentary report on resilience of co-operatives in Scotland and how this has helped communities during the covid-19 outbreak; not

East Lothian Brownies remember polio victims

That this House notes the Cockenzie chapter of the Brownies have planted thousands of crocuses in Port Seton with help from the Port Seton Rotary Club, to mark and remember those who have died and continue to suffer from polio; understands that on 17 October 2020 the groups planted crocuses in Goolw

Two East Lothian locals nominated for Health Walk Volunteer of the Year award

That this House congratulates East Lothian residents Sue Jardine and Elaine Peach on their nomination for the Health Walk Volunteer of the Year award; understands they were recognised for their significant contribution towards improving the health and wellbeing of people within their local community

British record breaking Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton

That this House congratulates Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton on winning his 92nd Grand Prix thus making him the most successful race winning F1 driver of all time in addition to the world record that he already holds for all-time career points; acknowledges that Lewis is a fantastic ambas

Peter Krykant and drug consumption van facility

That this House is concerned to learn that Peter Krykant, who recently set-up a drug consumption van in Glasgow city centre, has been charged and cautioned by Police Scotland; understands that Mr Krykant set up the facility in an attempt to help and support people with addictions; firmly believes th

Ethnicity pay gap reporting

That this House notes the efforts of Business in the Community to help cross-sector employers better understand ways that ensure the UK workplace is a place that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) employees, business owners, entrepreneurs and communities feel they belong; further notes the pote

Big Bang Competition 2020

That this House congratulates all the competitors who have taken part in the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition 2020 on the day that they would have normally been attending the Big Bang in Parliament during Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and would have been given the opportunity to sh

Future Social Care Coalition and support for care staff

That this House welcomes the launch of the cross party and cross sector Future Social Care Coalition and believes now is time for Government to support a fair deal for the social care workforce; notes that since the covid-19 outbreak social care workers are now seen as essential and not unskilled; i

Centenary of formation of Ulster Special Constabulary

That this House notes the centenary of the formation of the Ulster Special Constabulary, also known as B Specials, in October 2020; further notes 95 USC members were killed in the line of duty with the majority, 72, killed in conflict with the IRA in 1921 and 1922; highlights the death of Kenneth Sm

Immediate return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori to the UK

That this House condemns the unjust imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori; notes the unfair sentencing of Anoosheh to 12 years imprisonment and summoning of Nazanin to court yet again; recognises the difficult and dangerous conditions that Nazanin is facing by being confined

Martin Donaldson's fundraising efforts

That this House congratulates Glasgow East constituent Martin Donaldson on raising over £3,000 for the Celtic FC Foundation and British Heart Foundation; notes that Mr Donaldson cycled nine miles every day for nine weeks, completing a virtual cycle around all Scotland’s top flight football grounds f

Delays to NHS fertility services as a result of the covid-19 outbreak

That this House acknowledges the delays to NHS fertility services caused by the covid-19 outbreak, and the distressing impact of these delays on fertility patients; further notes the imposition of strict female age limits for NHS-funded IVF by CCGs in England, which range from 34 to 42 years old; re

Creating a welfare system that works for disabled people

That this House recognises the serious challenges and barriers disabled people face within the welfare system; further recognises the impact that the covid-19 outbreak has had on people with disabilities; notes that research by Scope has found that, on average, disabled people face extra costs of £5

Ban on goods produced by state-sponsored forced labour

In lines 4 and 14 delete "Chinese Communist Party" and replace with "current government of the People's Republic of China".