Early Day Motions

Conduct of Judge Robin Tolson QC

That this House welcomes the overturning by the High Court of Justice Tolson’s ruling in the Central Family Court that a sexual assault did not constitute rape because the woman had taken no physical step to encourage the man to desist; notes with concern the High Court’s findings that Justice Tolso

Permanent Funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit

That this House notes the success of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit through its intelligence-led role in the prevention and detection of crimes relating to a wide range of wildlife issues; recognises that the unit provides specialist skills, knowledge and expertise to the Police, UK Border Forc

Use of the whip in British horseracing

That this House notes that racehorses are routinely beaten with a whip under rules set by the industry's regulatory body, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) which sanctions this violent treatment in order that jockeys may, as it is claimed, encourage racehorses to improve their chances of winni

World Wetlands Day

That this House highlights World Wetlands Day and the tremendous work that is carried out by the Wetlands Trust every day of the year; notes the importance of the fact that 40 per cent of all species live or breed in Wetlands and that peatlands store 30 per cent of land based carbon; and thanks all

Children's Mental Health Week

That this House highlights that it is Children's Mental Health Week as set up by children's mental health charity Place2Be; notes the purpose of this week is to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people's mental health; understands that this year's theme is Find your Brave; an

Assessing the effect of the increase in the state pension age on women born in the 1950s

That this House believes that the Government has for over two decades failed women born in the 1950s who were not properly informed of the changes that were made to their state pension age due to equalisation brought on by the Pensions Act 1995; regrets that the Government only began writing to wome

Ladybank primary school

That this House congratulates Ladybank primary school on its achievement of the sportscotland Gold School Sport Award; commends Ladybank’s commitment to putting sport at the heart of the school’s planning, practice and ethos; notes with admiration that Ladybank is the first primary school in North E

East Renfrewshire and Bank of Scotland 2020 Quality of Life survey

That this House notes the outcome of the Bank of Scotland 2020 Quality of Life survey, which looks at 26 criteria relevant to the quality of life in communities; congratulates East Renfrewshire on being named second top area in Scotland; recognises that measures including safety, health, wellbeing,

Passionate People, Passionate Places campaign and tourism in the North-East

That this House supports the regeneration of the Passionate People, Passionate Places brand that did so much to sell the North East to the country and raise regional pride previously; notes that VisitEngland measured an exceptional rise in North-East tourism as a result of the previous campaign; rec

90th anniversary of Lochaber aluminium smelter

That this House warmly congratulates Liberty-GFG Alliance on celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Lochaber aluminium smelter, the UK’s only aluminium smelter, which started production in December 1929; welcomes the fact that former employees joined present day staff to view a number of exhibition

Death of Lord Robert Sheldon

That this House remembers with deep sadness, the passing of Lord Robert Sheldon, former Member of Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne, who died on 3 February 2020; recalls Lord Sheldon's contributions to both Houses and to Greater Manchester; and extends deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Lo

Closure of Loanhead Bank of Scotland branch

That this House notes with concern the proposals by Bank of Scotland to close a number of branches, including the Loanhead Bank of Scotland in Midlothian; notes that the Loanhead branch is the only bank in Loanhead and is the nearest bank for the communities of Bilston, Damhead and Roslin; considers

Interserve industrial action at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

That this House supports members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) employed by Interserve at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who will embark on a month of strike action throughout February 2020; notes that this dispute has been ongoing since March 2019 over issues including

Solidarity with GMB and Unison workers at Luton and Dunstable Hospital

That this House supports GMB and Unison workers at Luton and Dunstable Hospital taking action against the outsourcing of non-clinical staff; notes that outsourcing in cleaning and catering risks not only higher rates of hospital-acquired infections but brings worse conditions for staff; further note

Sparta Trampoline Club: Gymnastics Club of the Year 2019

That this House congratulates Sparta Trampoline Club SCIO based in Glasgow on winning the British Gymnastics National Club Award at a glittering awards ceremony in Telford on Saturday 25 January 2020; notes this award is well-deserved recognition of the club’s outstanding commitment throughout 2019

Commemoration of the 30th year of the displacement of Hindus from the valley of Kashmir in India

That this House commemorates with deep sadness the 30th anniversary of the attack in January 1990 by cross-border Islamic militants on the population of Jammu and Kashmir; expresses its condolences to the families and friends of all those who were killed, raped and injured in that massacre and conde

Universal credit and state pension transition

This House notes that a claimant of universal credit that is approaching state pension age may be subject to nine weeks without income between the end of universal credit and the first payment of the state pension if they are not eligible for pension credit; further notes that that period includes u

National Trust 125th anniversary

That this House congratulates the National Trust on reaching its 125th anniversary; wishes the Trust every success in its goal to plant 125,000 trees in Northern Ireland over the next 10 years; highlights the events and specials that are being planted at the 40 sites in the Province over the year; w

90th year of Ballywalter Young Farmers Club

That this House congratulates Ballywalter Young Farmers Club on reaching its 90th year of service to the community; recognises the vital lifeline that the Club provides to people that are socially isolated in the countryside especially in light of research which shows a worrying trend for young farm

River Garden project wins Scottish EDGE social enterprise competition

That this House congratulates the whole team from Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland on their residential recovery centre, River Garden, at Auchincruive winning the Scottish EDGE social enterprise competition; and looks forward to them putting the £40,000 funding to good use in developing

Prestwick wins Scottish Champion High Street

That this House congratulates the shops, businesses and residents of Prestwick on the town being named as Scottish Champion High Street at the Great British High Street Awards; and commends the community involvement in projects such as Prestfest Music Festival, The Community Garden and Dementia Frie

Zero Hours Justice Campaign

That this House commends successful businessman Julian Richer for launching the Zero Hours Justice campaign to provide advice and legal support for workers forced to work on a zero hours basis; believes that good employers recognise that their staff deserve financial security and the ability budget

Grants for electric vehicles

This House supports the growth of electric vehicle sales; notes that Government funded grants for electric cars have been running since 2011 and that battery electric vehicles now represent 1.6 per cent of new car sales in the UK; further notes that those grants are due to end in March 2020 and that

In memory of Harry Fletcher

That this House notes with great regret the passing of Harry Fletcher, former assistant general secretary of the probation officers’ union Napo and an accomplished criminal justice campaigner; commends his many achievements while campaigning for victims’ rights and giving a voice to probation office

Racial Justice Sunday 2020: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

That this House welcomes the Catholic Church’s focus on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities for Racial Justice Sunday on 9 February 2020; recognises the valuable contribution that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities make to the Church and to wider society; notes with concern that over three-quar