That this House marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month and draws attention to the continuing shortfall of blood donors from Black and ethnic minority communities and its direct impact on patients living with sickle cell disorder, thalassaemia and other rare blood conditions; notes that sickle cell disease is the fastest-growing genetic blood disorder in the UK and disproportionately affects people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage, many of whom rely on blood closely matched to their own, most reliably obtained from donors of the same ethnic background, particularly the Ro blood subtype, present in around 55% of Black heritage donors compared with roughly 2% of donors from other backgrounds; is concerned that NHS Blood and Transplant can meet only around half of hospital demand for Ro-matched blood, and that Black African, Black Caribbean and mixed-race donors together accounted for only around 2% of completed donations in the twelve months to April 2026, despite Black ethnic groups making up 4% of the population of England and Wales; further notes the disproportionately high deferral rates experienced by Black African donors; welcomes the reduction in such deferrals achieved through venous HemoCue testing, while noting that a stark gap remains; and calls on the Government to mark Sickle Cell Awareness Month by reviewing donor deferral criteria, setting out a national strategy and target for recruiting new Black and ethnic minority donors, and committing NHS Blood and Transplant to the annual publication of donation and deferral data by ethnicity and gender.

That this House marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month and draws attention to the continuing shortfall of blood donors from Black and ethnic minority communities and its direct impact on patients living with sickle cell disorder, thalassaemia and other rare blood conditions; notes that sickle cell disease is the fastest-growing genetic...

That this House is alarmed by the sustained decline in voter participation at UK general elections; recognises that turnout at the 2024 general election fell to 59.7%, the lowest since 2001 and a drop of 7.6% from 2019; notes that low voter turnout is also an issue in local elections and by-elections across the UK; acknowledges the precedent set by Australia, where compulsory voting was introduced in 1924, with the immediate effect of raising turnout to 91.4% at the subsequent election, with 90% turnout consistently maintained ever since; is further alarmed that fewer than 42% of teachers in England report that their school provides regular citizenship lessons, despite nearly two-thirds of the public supporting an increase in civic education; further notes that young people themselves report they are not taught about the political system and do not know how to vote or register to vote; believes UK democracy would benefit from the introduction of compulsory voting to increase democratic participation and that this should be accompanied by the introduction of a comprehensive programme of civic education; and calls on the Government to use the Representation of the People Bill to provide a much-needed refresh of the UK’s democracy to put forward proposals for compulsory voting alongside a programme of civic education in schools and for adults.

That this House is alarmed by the sustained decline in voter participation at UK general elections; recognises that turnout at the 2024 general election fell to 59.7%, the lowest since 2001 and a drop of 7.6% from 2019; notes that low voter turnout is also an issue in local elections...

That this House notes the long-standing legal efforts of the Nassar family to protect and re-register their family farm, known as Tent of Nations, located south-west of Bethlehem in Area C of the occupied West Bank; recognises the farm’s educational, ecological and peace-building work, including its activities with local women and children and its links with churches, volunteers and visitors from the UK and internationally; further notes that the family’s land has been the subject of legal proceedings over many years, including a 2006 Israeli Supreme Court ruling allowing the re-registration process to proceed; expresses concern at the continued delays in that process, the construction of roads through the family’s land, the development of a nearby outpost, restrictions on access to the farm, surveillance, reports of settler harassment, and the reported military or security use of a road constructed across the family’s private land; believes that the case concerns the protection of private land, freedom of access, due process, the rule of law and the prevention of further escalation; and calls on the Government to continue and, where necessary, strengthen its monitoring of developments affecting Tent of Nations, seek clarification from the Israeli authorities on the timetable for completing the land registration process and on any military or security use of roads crossing the Nassar family’s land, and raise the protection of the family’s land, access and safety with the Israeli authorities.

That this House notes the long-standing legal efforts of the Nassar family to protect and re-register their family farm, known as Tent of Nations, located south-west of Bethlehem in Area C of the occupied West Bank; recognises the farm’s educational, ecological and peace-building work, including its activities with local women...

That this House regrets the Government’s decision to abstain on the recent United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 rather than vote for it; recognises the immense harm and suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade, and the legacy of harm left by the practice, as well as colonialism and neocolonialism; notes that the Ghanaian Government’s resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade a crime against humanity was backed by the African Union, the Caribbean Community and a large global coalition; further notes that engagement with discussions on reparations would reveal that this is not just about financial compensation, but accountability, equality and justice; believes that, given Britain’s central role in the trafficking and enslavement of African peoples, the decision to abstain was a betrayal of every life consumed by this gross human rights abuse; is concerned that no Parliamentary debate was held prior to the vote and therefore does not believe this vote reflects the will of Parliament; and calls on the Government to commit to a full Parliamentary debate prior to any future UN resolutions on reparations for the transatlantic slave trade.

That this House regrets the Government’s decision to abstain on the recent United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/80/L.48 rather than vote for it; recognises the immense harm and suffering caused by the transatlantic slave trade, and the legacy of harm left by the practice, as well as colonialism and neocolonialism;...

That this House notes with concern the increasing reports of human remains being sold through online marketplaces, in-person auctions, and curiosity and antique shops; recognises the serious ethical and moral implications of such practices, particularly when the origins of the remains cannot be determined; acknowledges that current UK legislation, including the Human Tissue Act 2004, does not adequately regulate the sale, purchase or advertising of human remains; welcomes the work of professional and sector bodies, including the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology, in highlighting the harms caused by the commercial trade in human remains; supports measures to explicitly prohibit the commercial sale, purchase and advertising of human remains, including those of archaeological and historical significance; and calls on the Government to make time for the Human Remains (Prohibition of Sale, Purchase and Advertising) Bill to be debated.

That this House notes with concern the increasing reports of human remains being sold through online marketplaces, in-person auctions, and curiosity and antique shops; recognises the serious ethical and moral implications of such practices, particularly when the origins of the remains cannot be determined; acknowledges that current UK legislation, including the Human Tissue...

That this House recognises that sickle cell anaemia is the UK’s fastest-growing genetic condition, with nearly 300 babies born with the condition each year; notes that approximately 15,000–17,000 people in England are living with sickle cell disease and that the condition can cause severe, life-threatening pain crises and complications requiring specialist care; acknowledges the value of dedicated services such as the Sickle Cell Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital, which provides rapid, expert treatment and reduces pressure on emergency departments; is concerned by the trial closure of this Day Unit which will extend travel times for urgent care, place increased strain on neighbouring services, and risk poorer health outcomes for patients requiring highly specialised support; calls on the Government and NHS England to ensure that specialist sickle cell services are maintained and expanded in line with clinical need and patient demand; and urges the Government to develop a national strategy for specific and specialised sickle cell care that includes sustainable investment in specialist units, staff training and treatments.

That this House recognises that sickle cell anaemia is the UK’s fastest-growing genetic condition, with nearly 300 babies born with the condition each year; notes that approximately 15,000–17,000 people in England are living with sickle cell disease and that the condition can cause severe, life-threatening pain crises and complications requiring specialist care; acknowledges...

That this House notes with serious concern the unsafe and undignified conditions in temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum, including inedible food, lack of privacy, and sites being targeted during anti-refugee protests; recognises that the current system is dehumanising and represents poor value for public money; welcomes the Safe Accommodation Checklist developed by people with lived experience working with Conversation Over Borders, which sets out practical standards based on reducing isolation and prioritising safety, ensuring meaningful resident involvement in decision-making, and respecting autonomy over daily life; and calls upon the Government to adopt the Safe Accommodation Checklist as minimum standards for all temporary asylum accommodation.

That this House notes with serious concern the unsafe and undignified conditions in temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum, including inedible food, lack of privacy, and sites being targeted during anti-refugee protests; recognises that the current system is dehumanising and represents poor value for public money; welcomes the Safe Accommodation Checklist...

That this House expresses deep concern at reports of serious human rights violations in Tanzania; notes credible accounts from observer missions and civil society of widespread intimidation, harassment and violence during recent political events; further notes reports of the unlawful arrest, disappearance and exclusion of opposition figures; is alarmed by restrictions on opposition parties preventing free participation in democratic life; condemns the alleged use of state forces and militias resulting in civilian deaths; is gravely concerned by ongoing allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture and ill-treatment of political opponents; affirms that the rights to life, liberty, expression and association are fundamental to democracy; calls on the UK Government to press the Government of Tanzania to end politically motivated violence, intimidation and arbitrary detention, and to release all those held without due process; and further urges the UK Government to encourage the establishment of an independent, transparent and internationally monitored inquiry into all alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses in Tanzania, ensuring full accountability and redress for victims and their families.

That this House expresses deep concern at reports of serious human rights violations in Tanzania; notes credible accounts from observer missions and civil society of widespread intimidation, harassment and violence during recent political events; further notes reports of the unlawful arrest, disappearance and exclusion of opposition figures; is alarmed by...

That this House recognises that nearly four million private renters regularly struggle to pay their energy bills, with private renters more likely to experience fuel poverty than any other tenure type and poorly insulated homes costing tenants on average £570 per year, while energy use in UK homes causing an estimated 40% of carbon emissions; believes the Government’s ambition of uprating all private rented homes to EPC C or above by 2030 is welcome; but warns that renters will not be sufficiently protected from rent hikes or evictions as a result of their home increasing in value following energy efficiency improvements; further believes the Renters’ Rights Bill is a positive first step in addressing the power imbalance between tenants and landlords, but does not offer sufficient protections for renters in the case of retrofitting; is concerned that, without further protections, renters, particularly those on low incomes, will not enjoy the benefits of a warmer home and lower bills; and believes the Government should protect renters from rent increases through classifying grants as an improvement contributed by the tenant, not the landlord, at the First-tier Tribunal rent assessment process and protect renters from eviction through introducing a protected period from eviction after a government grant is used to retrofit a privately rented property.

That this House recognises that nearly four million private renters regularly struggle to pay their energy bills, with private renters more likely to experience fuel poverty than any other tenure type and poorly insulated homes costing tenants on average £570 per year, while energy use in UK homes causing an...

That this House notes with deep concern the arrest, detention and charging of the leader of the main Tanzanian opposition party with highly questionable treason charges, which indicates a serious deterioration in the rule of law and the undermining of international standards for a fair trial in Tanzania; further notes with alarm the forcible deportation of former senior judicial and legal figures from a neighbouring country who travelled to Tanzania as independent observers; also notes with particular concern the denial of consular access to detained individuals, prompting formal protests from the governments of neighbouring states; condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest, reported mistreatment and forced removal of human rights defenders from neighbouring countries, as well as the false arrest and continued unlawful detention of regional legal professionals, actions which constitute grave violations of individual liberties and due process under the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; observes that these actions signal a dangerous trend towards the political weaponisation of the judiciary and suppression of legitimate opposition, undermining prospects for free and fair elections; regrets that these developments erode the democratic legacy of Tanzania’s founders and violate the principles of African unity and human rights enshrined in the charters of the African Union and East African Community; and calls on the UK Government to use all diplomatic efforts to push for a full restoration of democratic principles in Tanzania.

That this House notes with deep concern the arrest, detention and charging of the leader of the main Tanzanian opposition party with highly questionable treason charges, which indicates a serious deterioration in the rule of law and the undermining of international standards for a fair trial in Tanzania; further notes...

That this House notes the publication of the Laying Ancestors to Rest report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Afrikan Reparations, which highlights the impact of the continued retention, display, and sale of African ancestral remains in UK institutions and private collections; recognises the cultural, spiritual, and ethical significance of these remains to descendant communities and the ongoing distress caused by their continued possession outside their places of origin; expresses concern over reports that African ancestral remains continue to be sold on online marketplaces and through private collectors with insufficient legal oversight; calls on the Government to implement the report's recommendations, including to amend legislation to ban the sale and public display of human remains, introduce a clear, transparent process for the repatriation of African ancestral remains, and fund provenance research to identify the origins of remains in UK institutions; further calls on the Government to facilitate discussions with descendant communities on the creation of memorials or reburial sites for unidentifiable remains; urges museums, universities, and other institutions to adopt ethical policies on the storage, display, and restitution of African ancestral remains, in consultation with affected communities; and supports greater international cooperation to address the colonial legacy of human remains retention and ensure that affected communities are at the centre of decision-making processes regarding their ancestors.

That this House notes the publication of the Laying Ancestors to Rest report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Afrikan Reparations, which highlights the impact of the continued retention, display, and sale of African ancestral remains in UK institutions and private collections; recognises the cultural, spiritual, and ethical significance of...

That this House notes with concern that Black women in the UK are still three times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth, and Asian women are two times more likely; is further concerned by reports from MMBRACE UK’s maternity mortality data which indicates a statistically significant increase in the overall maternal death rate in the UK in 2020-22 and that this increase remained statistically significant when deaths due to covid-19 were excluded; acknowledges that racial disparities persist in maternity care, with ethnic minority women more likely to experience poorer health outcomes, substandard care, and higher rates of complications during pregnancy and childbirth; recognises that factors contributing to these disparities include structural racism, unconscious bias, socioeconomic inequalities, and gaps in culturally competent care; urges the NHS to ensure that all maternity services adopt targeted policies to address inequalities, including better access to interpreters, community midwives, and tailored perinatal mental health support for ethnic minority mothers; welcomes the Government’s commitment to set a target to end the racial disparity in maternity care but regrets that one has not yet been set; and calls on the Government to establish a national strategy to eliminate racial disparities in maternity care, with clear accountability mechanisms and measurable targets.

That this House notes with concern that Black women in the UK are still three times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth, and Asian women are two times more likely; is further concerned by reports from MMBRACE UK’s maternity mortality data which indicates a statistically significant increase in...

That this House celebrates the opening of the new Brixton Blood Donation Centre, which has welcomed over 3,700 donors in its first three months of operation, including more than 1,000 first-time donors and 10 per cent identifying as Black; recognises this as a promising step towards improving the diversity of the donor pool; notes with concern that this progress remains insufficient in the face of rising demand for the Ro blood subtype commonly found in people of African descent, which is essential for treating sickle cell anaemia, the fastest-growing genetic condition in the UK, with usage increasing by 15 per cent annually; is aware that only 2 per cent of regular blood donors currently have the Ro subtype; further notes that many willing donors, particularly of African and Caribbean heritage, are being turned away due to travel deferral rules due to the presence of diseases which can be tested for and iron testing protocols that are not precise and reject a number of Black women from donating for low iron levels when a further test could be done; acknowledges the importance of maintaining a safe blood supply, but stresses that outdated and overly restrictive guidelines are excluding healthy donors and putting patients’ lives at risk; and calls on the Government, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and NHS Blood and Transplant to urgently review travel-related deferral policies and haemoglobin thresholds in line with the latest scientific evidence and international practice, including the use of more accurate, population-sensitive testing methods.

That this House celebrates the opening of the new Brixton Blood Donation Centre, which has welcomed over 3,700 donors in its first three months of operation, including more than 1,000 first-time donors and 10 per cent identifying as Black; recognises this as a promising step towards improving the diversity of...

That this House regrets that despite being a serious lifelong condition, sickle cell disease is not consistently recognised in workplaces; notes that many employers still lack awareness of how the condition affects daily life, resulting in individuals living with sickle cell disease finding it difficult to secure flexible working, reasonable adjustments or medical leave without penalty; calls on the Government to take steps to protect the workplace rights of people living with sickle cell disease by recognising it as a workplace disability requiring clearer guidance under the Equality Act 2010; encourages the Department for Work and Pensions to promote a programme of sickle cell disease awareness training for employers, HR teams, and occupational health providers so employees are not subjected to misunderstanding or mistreatment; and further calls on the Government to expand Access to Work support so that employees with sickle cell disease can receive financial assistance for transport, workplace adjustments, and flexible working options.

That this House regrets that despite being a serious lifelong condition, sickle cell disease is not consistently recognised in workplaces; notes that many employers still lack awareness of how the condition affects daily life, resulting in individuals living with sickle cell disease finding it difficult to secure flexible working, reasonable...

That this House notes with concern that the new £25,000 cap on the Listed Places of Worship scheme has created significant financial difficulties for churches across the country that have building projects already in progress; believes that the sudden and unexpected introduction of the cap on January 22nd amounts to an unfair change of policy for places of worship that have already signed contracts; notes that the cap has put in jeopardy projects that are designed to restore important historic buildings and provide crucial community services, such as Holy Trinity Clapham which has raised £6.2m to expand its community services for the homeless and vulnerable, families and children but which now faces an extra £1m tax bill; recognises the scheme has received cross-party support across successive governments; and calls on the Government to ensure the introduction of an exemption for places of worship that already have signed contracts for projects set to conclude in the 2025-26 financial year, before the cap was introduced.

That this House notes with concern that the new £25,000 cap on the Listed Places of Worship scheme has created significant financial difficulties for churches across the country that have building projects already in progress; believes that the sudden and unexpected introduction of the cap on January 22nd amounts to an...

That this House welcomes the ongoing review of the Home Office's Adults at risk in immigration detention policy; notes that LGBTQI+ people face heightened levels of harassment, discrimination, abuse, and physical and sexual violence in immigration detention; recognises that the bullying of and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in detention can re-traumatise those who have fled persecution; believes that immigration detention is costly and punitive, and that cheaper and more humane alternatives to detention exist; further welcomes the community-based Alternative to Detention pilots undertaken by the Home Office and supports their wider expansion; calls on the Government to include being gay, lesbian, bisexual or queer in the Adults at risk in immigration detention policies indicators of risk and to remove the categorisation of vulnerability based on evidence levels; and supports the greater use of community-based alternatives to detention.

That this House welcomes the ongoing review of the Home Office's Adults at risk in immigration detention policy; notes that LGBTQI+ people face heightened levels of harassment, discrimination, abuse, and physical and sexual violence in immigration detention; recognises that the bullying of and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in detention can...

That this House welcomes the Government’s Passenger Rail Services (Public Ownership) Bill, which is nearing completion of its passage through Parliament; notes that the Government’s impact assessment of the Bill states that there will be significant savings to the Government and that public ownership represents an opportunity to improve passenger rail services; further notes that the private-sector concession contracts for the Elizabeth Line and London Overground, which are similar to the national rail contacts due to be nationalised, are coming to an end soon and that the Government has confirmed that the decision over whether also to run these services under public ownership rests with the Mayor of London; also notes that MTR paid out a dividend of £7.6 million last year, equivalent to a 2.4% cut in Elizabeth Line fares, while Arriva Rail London paid a dividend of £9.6 million, equivalent to a 4.4% cut in Overground fares; notes the Rail Minister’s view that these concessions are more expensive than this Government’s plans for public ownership and would be even more costly to taxpayers than current national rail contracts; agrees with the general secretaries of the RMT and ASLEF unions, who have argued that Londoners deserve every penny of public funding and passenger revenue being spent on the capital’s railways and not on shareholders dividends; and urges the Mayor to make the decision to bring both the Elizabeth Line and London Overground into public ownership when contracts expire and run them directly within Transport for London.

That this House welcomes the Government’s Passenger Rail Services (Public Ownership) Bill, which is nearing completion of its passage through Parliament; notes that the Government’s impact assessment of the Bill states that there will be significant savings to the Government and that public ownership represents an opportunity to improve passenger...

That this House stands in solidarity with the Maasai people of Tanzania who are being forcibly evicted by their Government on the false pretext that they are damaging the eco systems through population growth; notes that some 150,000 Maasai people live in the Ngorongoro and Loliondo Conservation; further notes that the United Nations Special Rapporteurs have already called on the Tanzanian Government to immediately halt plans for the relocation of indigenous people; also notes that on 5 February 2024 the Secretary General of the UN made a detailed report of violent evictions to the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council, from the Society for Threatened Peoples; notes that Tanzania persists in violating international law by depriving Maasai in the greater Serengeti Ecosystem of their access to grazing land and forcing relocation; further notes the removal of funding by the World Bank for the REGROW project; expresses alarm that the Tanzanian security forces are using unlawful force to remove local indigenous communities without consultation or lawful reason to do so; calls on the Tanzanian Government to cease such action forthwith, to permit visits by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to repatriate those removed to date, and to compensate those injured in the process; further calls on British tourists to boycott areas where forcible evictions are taking place; and also calls on the United Arab Emirates to refuse to participate in any displacement of indigenous people, and to cease to engage in trophy hunting in Tanzania.

That this House stands in solidarity with the Maasai people of Tanzania who are being forcibly evicted by their Government on the false pretext that they are damaging the eco systems through population growth; notes that some 150,000 Maasai people live in the Ngorongoro and Loliondo Conservation; further notes that...

This House notes that President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has delayed the general election that was meant to take place in February 2024, which has been accompanied by a violent crackdown on subsequent protests by the Senegalese police and gendarmerie who have been witnessed using brutal and often lethal tactics; notes that four people have died amid protests over the announcement of the delay of the Presidential election; further notes the calls by the President of the African Union Commission and the US Department of State for the urgent reinstatement of the election and the rejection by the Senegalese constitutional council of the decision to suspend the elections which has led to Macky Sall agreeing to reschedule the election and to stand down; calls on the UK Government to back the calls for immediate fair and free elections and to call for the lifting of the suspension of political parties, the freeing of opposition party members who are currently political prisoners, the ending of the repression of media outlets and the shutting down of the internet, the arresting and assaulting of journalists and to condemn all anti-democratic measures and abuses of human rights.

This House notes that President of Senegal, Macky Sall, has delayed the general election that was meant to take place in February 2024, which has been accompanied by a violent crackdown on subsequent protests by the Senegalese police and gendarmerie who have been witnessed using brutal and often lethal tactics;...

That this House seeks to honour and continue the work of the late Bernie Grant, former Member of Parliament for Tottenham, on the restitution of African artefacts and ancestral remains; notes the recent report by the APPG on Afrikan Reparations entitled, Hearings on the Restitution of Stolen African Artefacts and Ancestral Remains, which brings together a diverse range of experts and perspectives on the matter of restitution of African artefacts and human remains from museums and other cultural institutions; agrees that countries have the right to care for their own cultural heritage, and their own cultural artefacts; is appalled by the disregard shown by the British Museum for the significance of some of the cultural artefacts in its possession, which has led to several cultural artefacts being improperly quantified, organised or labelled; believes this demonstrates the British Museum’s unsuitability to be a proper custodian of the cultural artefacts of other nations; regrets that British institutions are falling behind other countries such as Germany who are now leading on restitution issues after having recognised the moral and ethical dimensions of the issue; suggests that through supporting restitution efforts and implementing necessary changes to legislation and museum practices, the Government can take significant steps towards rectifying historical injustices and fostering a more equitable and inclusive approach to cultural heritage; and calls on the Government to acknowledge and enact the seven recommendations in the APPG for Afrikan Reparation’s report entitled, Hearings on the Restitution of Stolen African Artefacts and Ancestral Remains.

That this House seeks to honour and continue the work of the late Bernie Grant, former Member of Parliament for Tottenham, on the restitution of African artefacts and ancestral remains; notes the recent report by the APPG on Afrikan Reparations entitled, Hearings on the Restitution of Stolen African Artefacts and...