Early Day Motions

PROTECTION OF ANCIENT WOODS

That this House notes that the Government has announced its intention to improve and protect ancient woods and veteran trees by adding them to a list of the nation's assets, thereby granting them added protection from development; and believes that to ensure the success of such good intentions it wi

HIGHWAY CODE

That this House is aware that 25,160 people were killed or seriously injured in the last year in the UK, a six per cent increase on the previous year, while driving, cycling or walking with negotiating a junction being the most hazardous manoeuvre and two thirds of all collisions and three quarters

INCREASES TO BUSINESS RATES FOR SOLAR POWER

That this House notes with concern the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision in the Spring Budget 2017 to hugely increase business rates for rooftop solar by up to 800 per cent; further notes that solar power is a clean and sustainable technology which is quick to install, produces no carbon emissi

100th BIRTHDAY OF DAME VERA LYNN

That this House celebrates the 100th birthday of Dame Vera Lynn; thanks her for the truly inspirational role she undertook as the Forces' Sweetheart; extends its best wishes to Dame Vera on her new album in the hope that it will become a best-seller; and rejoices in Dame Vera's long life, boundless

MARIE CURIE

That this House notes the exceptional work carried out by the Marie Curie cancer charity; thanks it for everything it does to make a real difference to the lives of ill men, women and children throughout the UK; further thanks every Marie Curie nurse for their dedication to end of life care; and rea

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

That this House celebrates World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March 2017; recognises the unique, joyful contribution people with Down Syndrome bring to our families and our communities; and welcomes the support of organisations, such as Down Syndrome Scotland, in providing help, encouragement and advice

SPARTANS COMMUNITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY

That this House congratulates Spartans Community Football Academy in North Edinburgh on winning the Innovative Youth Work Award at the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2017; notes that the dedicated team at Spartans successfully use football to develop skills, build confidence, improve healt

JOHN MCGHEE

That this House sends its condolences to the family of D-day veteran John McGhee who sadly passed away in February 2017; commends him on his receipt of the Legion d'Honneur; acknowledges the valued contribution he has made to his country; praises the involvement he had in his local community and his

BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY FOOTBALL GROUNDS

That this House commends Cowdenbeath Football Club on its announcement of Central Park as a breastfeeding friendly football ground; acknowledges that Cowdenbeath FC's initiative is a very positive and pro-active step towards making football grounds across the country accessible to families with youn

EDUCATION FUNDING IN COVENTRY AND NATIONWIDE

That this House welcomes the decision to create a fairer funding formula for schools across the country; is concerned that, whilst funding for some local authorities schools will increase, other local authorities will see a reduction in schools funding; is further concerned that Coventry schools wil

ANNEXATION OF GILGIT-BALTISTAN BY PAKISTAN AS ITS FIFTH FRONTIER

That this House condemns the arbitrary announcement by Pakistan declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as its Fifth Frontier, implying its attempt to annex the already disputed area; notes that Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which is illegally occup

TRANSITIONING FROM ESA TO JSA

That this House commends the People's Assembly Fife on its report on transition from ESA to JSA; understands that volunteers from the People's Assembly Fife undertook a project over the course of 2016 aimed at advising people who faced benefit sanctions and that this involved speaking to claimants a

LOCAL NEWS MATTERS

That this House celebrates the importance of quality local and regional news and whether provided online, by photographers, newspapers or local broadcasters; believes that access to local and regional news is essential to the quality of life, informed citizenship, and promotion of a flourishing of d

GOVERNMENT LIFE IN THE UK TEST

That this House expresses grave concern that the Home Office is advising EU nationals, and those from other countries, living in the north of Scotland and wishing to apply for UK citizenship, that they must be prepared to undertake the Life in the UK test in offices as far away as Newcastle, Preston

CHARTER OF THE UN, CHAPTERS IX AND XI: INTERNATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION AND DECLARATION REGARDING NON-SELF GOVERNING TERRITORIES

That this House reflects carefully on the terms of the Charter of the UN and the emphasis placed on the creation of conditions of stability and wellbeing that are considered necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on the principle of equal rights and self-determination; not

GROSVENOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

That this House recognises the achievements of Grosvenor Grammar School in East Belfast, which has won the Northern Ireland Football School's Cup for a second year running, defeating St Columb's College 3-1 on St Patrick's Day.

REGISTER OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROVIDERS

That this House is concerned that at least 21 colleges across England failed to get onto the new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers; notes that the new process and the trialled new approach to assessing quality was unfamiliar to all providers; further notes that the majority of failed pro

SOCIAL SECURITY

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2017 (S.I., 2017, No. 349), dated 9 March 2017, a copy of which was laid before this House on 13 March 2017, be annulled.

MIDLOTHIAN YOUNG PEOPLE'S ADVICE SERVICE

That this House congratulates Midlothian Young People's Advice Service (MYPAS) for being awarded the Silver level of the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter; recognises that MYPAS is the first organisation in Midlothian to be awarded this award; supports the hard work of the staff and volunteers in the orga

CONVERSION OF PUBS TO SUPERMARKETS AND THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COOPERATIVE AND CAMRA

That this House notes that predatory purchasing of pubs by supermarkets remains a significant problem, with supermarkets targeting pubs due to permitted development rights that allow a pub to be converted into a supermarket without planning permission; further notes that these rights mean that commu

PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL TIME LIMIT

That this House notes the key findings of research funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and undertaken by the Equality and Human Rights Commission that some 54,000 women a year are forced out of work by pregnancy or maternity discrimination, and that 77 per cent of w

PARLIAMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY (No. 2)

That this House considers it would be more appropriate for messages from HM the Queen to be notified accordingly at the despatch box rather than by the current ceremonial practice of a whip coming into the Chamber carrying their wand of office, a stick and then walking to the table of the House to a

UN INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (No. 2)

That this House welcomes the 2017 UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as an opportunity to reaffirm and demonstrate its commitment to eradicating unlawful racial discrimination and promoting racial equality in the UK; is deeply concerned that 40 years after the 1976 Rac

NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AND LEARNING CENTRE

That this House understands that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Holocaust Commission whose report indicated suitable sites near Tate Britain at Millbank, near City Hall at Potters Field and by the Imperial War Museum; notes the apparent failure to consult locally and more wid

PARTICK THISTLE FC JOINS BREASTFEEDING-FRIENDLY FOOTBALL GROUND CAMPAIGN

That this House warmly congratulates Partick Thistle FC on declaring Firhill as a breastfeeding-friendly football ground; commends the Jags's initiative as being a very positive and proactive step to making football grounds all across the country accessible to families, and to women in particular; n