Early Day Motions

SEAFARERS AWARENESS WEEK

That this House supports Seafarers Awareness Week 2013 on 24 to 30 June; notes that shipping accounts for 95 per cent by volume and 75 per cent by value of the UK's annual imports and exports; recognises the social, economic and historic value of the 12,610 officer, 9,330 rating and 2,160 officer ca

FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AT FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES

That this House notes that young people attending further education colleges do not receive free school meals despite being eligible for them; further notes that the Association of Colleges has found that 79 per cent of colleges believe that free school meals for 16 to 18 years olds would encourage

ELECTION RESULTS IN IRAN

That this House welcomes the election results in Iran and the victory won by the moderate cleric Dr Hassan Rouhani; and urges the new government to move in a new direction to address international concern over the Iranian nuclear programme, begin a constructive relationship with the international co

FORTIFICATION OF BREAD AND FLOUR

That this House values the benefits for the nation's health that fortification of bread and flour brings; notes the findings of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition that not fortifying flour would adversely affect the nation's intake of nutrients, in particular calcium intakes for children

UN WORLD REFUGEE DAY AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

That this House notes that 20 June 2013 has been designated by the United Nations (UN) as World Refugee Day; further notes that according to official UN figures there are consistently over 10 million more internally displaced persons than refugees; and therefore calls on the UN to rename 20 June 201

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE COMPANIES AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

That this House notes that the most significant development that has followed from the Government's healthcare reforms has been the £7 billion worth of new contracts being made available to the private health sector; further notes that at least five former advisers to the Prime Minister and the Chan

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF BETTING SHOP STAFF

That this House notes, as highlighted by the tragic death of a betting shop worker in Morden recently, that staff in UK betting shops are subject to risk from assault and abuse on a daily basis; believes that this risk is significantly enhanced by longer opening hours and single staffing in betting

FUNDING FOR THE SCIENCE MUSEUM

That this House notes that more than five million people visited Science Museum Group museums last year, including more than two million visiting its three flagship museums in the North of England, the National Railway Museum in York and Shildon, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and

SAFETY AT WORK

That this House congratulates the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians and Unite trade unions for holding a joint lobby of Parliament titled Save Our Safety on 11 June 2013 to expose the Conservative-led Government's attacks on health and safety laws; believes that the Prime Minister

RELEASE OF IRANIAN CHRISTIANS

That this House notes the election in Iran of Hassan Rouhani as President; further notes that his election is being claimed as a victory for moderation; and calls on the Government to open discussions immediately with the new President to ensure that prisoners of conscience in Iran including the imp

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND TOLERANCE

That this House notes that Religious Education (RE) is a rigorous academic subject that allows young people to increase their knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs; further notes the importance of mutual understanding and the community cohesion it engenders, p

TOP UNIVERSITIES LESS REPRESENTATIVE

That this House is deeply concerned about the report from the Social Mobility Commission that Britain’s leading universities have become more socially exclusive; deplores the fact that the proportion of students from state schools in these Russell Group universities is lower than it was a decade ago

FAILURE TO PAY MINIMUM WAGE

That this House believes that many employers are avoiding paying even the minimum wage of £6.19 an hour; understands that there are only eight HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) compliance officers for the whole of Greater London and just 93 nationally; considers this to be totally inadequate to the prob

BRIAN HAW MEMORIAL

That this House fondly remembers the peace campaigner Brian Haw, who kept up a 10-year vigil outside Parliament; notes that he died two years ago of ill-health after he was forced to leave his camp in Parliament Square; commends the initiative by campaigners in his home town of Whitstable to put a c

ACTION TO CAP PAYDAY LOANS

That this House believes that the Government has backtracked on a commitment to cap payday loans; notes that in November 2012 a capping amendment in the House of Lords was withdrawn by the proposers on the urging of the Government following an assurance that a more comprehensive one would be introdu

CENTENARY OF THE BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY

That this House congratulates the British Ecological Society on its centenary in 2013; notes that the Society is the oldest such ecology organisation in the world and the largest in Europe; further notes the Society's enormous contribution to the development of ecology over the past hundred years; w

SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY'S PARLIAMENTARY LINKS DAY

That this House congratulates The Society of Biology on organising this year's Parliamentary Links Day on 25 June 2013 on behalf of the science and engineering community; applauds the theme of Science and Diversity; welcomes the Society's commitment to serve the public interest by improving the acce

THAMES WATER AND TAX

at end add 'and that proposals be brought forward to take the whole water industry into public ownership.'.

IMPACT INTERNATIONAL NAMED THE UK'S No.1 BEST WORKPLACE

That this House hails the success of Impact International, an organisation which works with its clients to help it to understand what motivates its employees to be happy and effective at work, on being named the UK's No. 1 Best Workplace by Great Place to Work; notes that this Windermere-based organ

RURAL CULTURAL STRATEGY

That this House recognises the need for a Government-led rural cultural strategy (RCS), to be delivered in conjunction with the Rural Cultural Forum; notes that rural communities are being denied their cultural voice at present due to the significant disadvantages they face compared to urban areas i

NO MORE PAGE 3 CAMPAIGN

That this House is concerned about the strong link between the portrayal of women as sexual objects and attitudes that underpin violence and discrimination against women and girls; notes that this has been demonstrated by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Wome

THALIDOMIDE GRUNENTHAL CAMPAIGN

That this House notes the devastating impact thalidomide had on the children of pregnant women who were prescribed the drug to help with morning sickness; further notes that in the UK there are currently 467 thalidomide survivors aged between 49 and 53 damaged by this drug; acknowledges that while i

MAIDEN FLIGHT OF AIRBUS A350 XWB

That this House welcomes the successful maiden flight of Airbus' next generation of aircraft, the A350 Xtra Wide Body, on 14 June 2013, piloted by experienced British test pilot Peter Chandler; further welcomes the use of the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide a

ENDING THE TRADE OF CONFLICT MINERALS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

That this House notes that the European Union (EU) has opened a public consultation on a possible EU initiative on conflict minerals; applauds the hard work of UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs), notably Global Witness, Christian Aid and Save the Congo, as well as Congolese NGOs, particularly

FUTURE OF BRITISH RAIL MANUFACTURING

That this House notes with dismay the Government's confirmation that Siemens of Germany has been awarded the £1.6 billion Thameslink Rolling Stock contract at the expense of the only British-based train manufacturing company, Bombardier of Derby; is appalled that the award of the contract is over th