That this House expresses its concern that the ceremonial bearskin caps worn by members of the armed forces, most notably at events such as the upcoming annual Trooping the Colour parade, involve the unnecessary slaughter of black bears; acknowledges the dedicated efforts of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in advocating for the humane treatment of animals, including their campaign to replace the King's Guard's bearskin caps with high-quality faux fur alternatives; notes with concern that recent data secured by PETA through freedom of information requests shows a significant increase in orders from 22 caps in 2024 to 96 for 2025; further notes that this rise comes with a substantial cost to the Ministry of Defence, which spent over £225,000 on the caps in 2025, a price per cap increase of 8% compared to the previous year; believes that tradition is never an excuse for cruelty and demands an immediate ceasing of any future plans to order real fur bearskin caps; and urges the Government to progress promises made to explore alternatives and to pursue a cost-effective faux fur fabric as a priority, thereby aligning with the nation's ethical standards and fiscal responsibility.

That this House expresses its concern that the ceremonial bearskin caps worn by members of the armed forces, most notably at events such as the upcoming annual Trooping the Colour parade, involve the unnecessary slaughter of black bears; acknowledges the dedicated efforts of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals...

That this House expresses its alarm at the growing number of higher education institutions deploying approaches that are having a negative impact on the pension schemes of academics and staff, including through use of subsidiary companies, fire and rehire threats and other approaches tantamount to forcing workers onto worse contracts, terms and conditions; further expresses alarm that such actions have triggered trade disputes at institutions such as Southampton Solent, Northumbria and Chichester universities; insists that using shell companies to circumvent employment rights and to undermine pay, terms or conditions is unacceptable behaviour that simply serves to negatively impact industrial relations further in a sector already suffering from mass redundancies and industrial action; calls on the Office for Students immediately to investigate institutions accused by trade unions of undermining pension rights to establish whether they are failing in their duties, including those relating to good governance and protecting the interests of students; and further calls on the Government to take urgent steps to prevent pension cuts and a race to the bottom in higher education provision, including through legislative change if necessary.

That this House expresses its alarm at the growing number of higher education institutions deploying approaches that are having a negative impact on the pension schemes of academics and staff, including through use of subsidiary companies, fire and rehire threats and other approaches tantamount to forcing workers onto worse contracts,...

That this House sincerely congratulates York City for its promotion from the National League and its return to League Two, following the last minute goal scored by Josh Stones; recognises the hard work of all the players and wider community at York City Football Club and the incredible support of York City fans that made this possible; notes the important role that football has in uniting communities as it has in York; and wishes them every success next season.

That this House sincerely congratulates York City for its promotion from the National League and its return to League Two, following the last minute goal scored by Josh Stones; recognises the hard work of all the players and wider community at York City Football Club and the incredible support of...

That this House notes that Government are consulting on the use of physical restraint techniques to be applied to children during the removal process in the asylum system, including the handcuffing, carrying and physically handling of a child, which is well recognised as inducing psychological trauma to a child; therefore calls on the Government to immediately withdraw such considerations, instead providing a safeguarding approach to children in the asylum system, treating them with dignity and care and engaging with their distressed forms of communication, including refusal to comply with officers in the system; and condemns such considerations of promoting the use of physical restraint to children.

That this House notes that Government are consulting on the use of physical restraint techniques to be applied to children during the removal process in the asylum system, including the handcuffing, carrying and physically handling of a child, which is well recognised as inducing psychological trauma to a child; therefore...

That this House expresses grave concern that fipronil and imidacloprid, pesticides banned for outdoor agricultural use, are still being widely used in domestic veterinary treatments for ticks and fleas in cats and dogs; recognises that the widespread use of these substances contributes significantly to freshwater pollution; highlights that these chemicals are among many available to pet owners, and that limiting their application would not impede effective pet parasite control; and therefore, calls upon the Government to urgently implement stricter regulations on veterinary medicines to effectively reduce the concentrations of these harmful pesticides in order to protect beneficial invertebrates and ecosystems for future generations.

That this House expresses grave concern that fipronil and imidacloprid, pesticides banned for outdoor agricultural use, are still being widely used in domestic veterinary treatments for ticks and fleas in cats and dogs; recognises that the widespread use of these substances contributes significantly to freshwater pollution; highlights that these chemicals...

That this House commends this Government's commitment to advancing animal welfare, as demonstrated by key reforms including a banning of trial hunting, a banning of boiling live crustaceans, recognising their capacity for pain and ending the cruel practice of puppy farming; acknowledges the dedicated efforts of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in advocating for the humane treatment of animals, including their campaign to replace the King's Guard's bearskin caps with high-quality faux fur alternatives; notes with concern that the Ministry of Defence has spent over £1 million of taxpayer money on bearskin caps over the last decade, purchasing 1,000 bearskin hats between 2014 and 2024, which equates to at least as many slaughtered bears; urges the Government to progress promises made to explore alternatives and pursue the replacement of real bearskin with humane and cost-effective faux fur fabric for the King's Guard's caps as a priority, given the availability of high-quality faux fur; and calls on the Ministry of Defence to instruct their cap-makers to work with manufacturers on a faux fur alternative, thereby aligning with the nation's ethical standards, fiscal responsibility and commitment by this Government to deliver the biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation.

That this House commends this Government's commitment to advancing animal welfare, as demonstrated by key reforms including a banning of trial hunting, a banning of boiling live crustaceans, recognising their capacity for pain and ending the cruel practice of puppy farming; acknowledges the dedicated efforts of People for the Ethical...

That this House notes the omission of the crime against humanity of gender apartheid from the current Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity; further notes that gender apartheid has long been recognised by the international community, including by the UN Secretary General; notes the distinction of this crime as unique from others, due to its ambition to maintain an institutionalised regime of systemic oppression and dehumanisation against women with systematically restricting the daily lives of women and girls through cutting them off from equal education, work, healthcare, justice, political power and movement and travel, marriage rights, erasing them from public life and in some contexts oppressing women and girls, perpetrating acts of violence, including sexual violence; is concerned about the lack of accountability this leaves, leaving many victims and survivors without justice; and notes that women and girls in Afghanistan, Iran and in other jurisdictions experience extreme forms of gender apartheid; and calls for the UK Government to seek to amend the Draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention under Article 2 of the draft articles on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity to encompass gender apartheid and to galvanise international support for recognising gender apartheid through advancing a resolution at the UN General Assembly.

That this House notes the omission of the crime against humanity of gender apartheid from the current Draft Articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity; further notes that gender apartheid has long been recognised by the international community, including by the UN Secretary General; notes the distinction of...

That this House recognises the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Boxing Day floods and the devastation caused by Storm Desmond and Storm Eva; recalls the 453 residential and 174 commercial properties that flooded in York alongside the failure of the Foss Barrier causing personal trauma to those effected and significant damage to personal property and homes; is so grateful for the incredible support of the public with the practical clear up following this tragic period; notes the engagement and investment from the Environment Agency which allowed the rebuilding of the flood defences in York, the raising of the barriers across the city and the rebuilding of the Foss Barrier which increased capacity and pace at which the River Foss can be drained where it enters the River Ouse; acknowledges there is still work needed on flood literacy, flood prevention and flood resilience as found in York’s Flood Inquiry, and that there are still 7200 properties in York at risk if extreme flooding occurs; further notes that recent flooding and increased adverse weather events compound these risks; also notes that riverside businesses continue to pay the price of flooding; and calls on Government to focus on upstream water management including slowing run off and flow by planting and natural management, to develop a living with water approach to water management and to extend the support of Flood:Re.

That this House recognises the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Boxing Day floods and the devastation caused by Storm Desmond and Storm Eva; recalls the 453 residential and 174 commercial properties that flooded in York alongside the failure of the Foss Barrier causing personal trauma to those effected and significant...

That this House expresses its alarm at the growing number of higher education institutions deploying approaches which are having a negative impact on the pension schemes of academics and staff, including through fire and rehire proposals and other approaches tantamount to forcing workers onto worse contracts, terms and conditions; further expresses alarm that such actions have triggered trade disputes at institutions such as Southampton Solent and Northumbria universities, where staff are facing threats of dismissal and permanent pay freezes, respectively, unless they agree to pension cuts; insists that using subsidiary companies to circumvent employment rights and to undermine pay, terms or conditions is unacceptable behaviour that simply serves to negatively impact industrial relations further in a sector already suffering from mass redundancies and industrial action; calls on the Office for Students immediately to investigate institutions accused by trade unions of undermining pension rights to establish whether they are failing in their duties, including those relating to good governance and protecting the interests of students; and further calls on the Government to take urgent steps to prevent pension cuts and a race to the bottom in higher education provision, including through legislative change if necessary.

That this House expresses its alarm at the growing number of higher education institutions deploying approaches which are having a negative impact on the pension schemes of academics and staff, including through fire and rehire proposals and other approaches tantamount to forcing workers onto worse contracts, terms and conditions; further...

That this House notes that 15 June 2025 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), an international occasion to highlight the abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by older people; recognises the vital work of Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, in supporting victim-survivors and raising awareness across communities; supports calls for more open, inclusive, and sustained dialogue about the abuse of older people to challenge stigma, support victim-survivors, and prevent future harm; further notes with concern that every year over 2.5 million people are affected by abuse, yet underreporting and public silence remain persistent barriers to action; calls on the Government to consult on a dedicated strategy to end violence and abuse against older people; and further calls on hon. Members to support WEEAD, amplify its message, and work towards a Safer Ageing Society where every older person is respected, heard, and protected.

That this House notes that 15 June 2025 marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), an international occasion to highlight the abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by older people; recognises the vital work of Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, in supporting victim-survivors...

That this House stands in solidarity with the crew of 12, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla Ship bound for the Gaza Strip, attempting to break Israel's siege of Gaza to deliver vital aid including essential medical supplies, food and children's aid; supports the statement by UN experts that the people of Gaza have the right to receive aid through their own territorial waters even under occupation, and that the Coalition ship has the right to free passage in international waters to reach the people of Gaza; agrees that Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognised under international law and must adhere to international law and comply with orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid; notes that malnutrition cases in the region have skyrocketed, UNICEF have stated that currently 14,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition, elderly Palestinians as well as children are dying of starvation due to prolonged food shortages and a lack of access to medical aid, further notes that the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is at risk of famine if the blockade is not lifted urgently; and notes that member states including the UK have a legal obligation and moral imperative to stop the starvation in Gaza.

That this House stands in solidarity with the crew of 12, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla Ship bound for the Gaza Strip, attempting to break Israel's siege of Gaza to deliver vital aid including essential medical supplies, food and children's aid; supports the statement by...

That this House is concerned that CrossCountry trains is the latest passenger train operator to announce cuts to the provision of on-board catering services on long-distance rail services; is further concerned that these short-sighted cuts risks hundreds of railway jobs, while pushing passengers away from the railway network; notes that the provision of rail catering services across the industry has been under attack for many years by train companies seeking to cut costs and staffing at the expense of passenger service; further notes that there has already been a significant reduction in catering services since privatisation 30 years ago, with nearly all restaurant areas on trains abolished and the traditional buffet counter now also disappearing on many services; believes the availability of snacks, drinks and in some cases light meals is an added value to the travel experience on our railways; further believes that on-board catering workers should be celebrated by train operators as an important part of the on-board team, offering passengers excellent customer service and providing reassurance; and calls on CrossCountry to reverse these cuts and on the Government to ensure that Great British Railways presides over expanded and properly funded catering provision, staffed in-house.

That this House is concerned that CrossCountry trains is the latest passenger train operator to announce cuts to the provision of on-board catering services on long-distance rail services; is further concerned that these short-sighted cuts risks hundreds of railway jobs, while pushing passengers away from the railway network; notes that...

That this House notes that from 1 April 2025 the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will limit VAT relief to £25,000, with no further plans beyond 2026; further notes that while 94% of projects will be unaffected by these changes, it has generated significant challenges for projects which have already commenced such as The Belfrey, in York where its £10m project has now lost £1.5m of funding due to these changes at short notice, while the church has already removed the floor, the windows, stripped back the walls, and is removing the roof, leaving a ruin held together with scaffolding; believes that immediate remedy must be provided to support the few projects which are impacted by these changes, recognising that the places of worship impacted by this change have already signed contracts for works, and this will also impact on their social programmes to the city, their worshipers and their plans for the future; and therefore calls on the Government to work with those projects impacted to find a resolution to the loss in funds as a matter of urgency.

That this House notes that from 1 April 2025 the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will limit VAT relief to £25,000, with no further plans beyond 2026; further notes that while 94% of projects will be unaffected by these changes, it has generated significant challenges for projects which have...

That this House notes the loss of over 40,000 people in Gaza resulting from the current conflict with the toll of injured, exposed to infectious disease and famine growing by the day, and far exceeding 100,000, while the destruction of the Gaza's health infrastructure means that people cannot access vital medical attention; and further notes that there are a small number of Palestinians living in the UK whose loved ones are at imminent risk in Gaza, so calls upon the Government to introduce a Gaza Family Visa Scheme, based upon the Ukraine Family Scheme, to enable Palestinians from Gaza to reunite with their family members and seek temporary sanctuary in the UK until it is safe to return.

That this House notes the loss of over 40,000 people in Gaza resulting from the current conflict with the toll of injured, exposed to infectious disease and famine growing by the day, and far exceeding 100,000, while the destruction of the Gaza's health infrastructure means that people cannot access vital medical attention; and...

That this House supports the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative; notes that the treaty initiative is a global effort to foster international cooperation to accelerate a transition to renewable energy, end the expansion of coal, oil and gas, and support an equitable phase out of existing production; believes that the treaty initiative is in keeping with scientific research, which highlights the urgency of the climate crisis; highlights that, through the phasing out of fossil fuels and the acceleration of a fair energy transition, the treaty seeks to ensure that governments adhere to the Paris Agreement targets; is concerned that the world is currently on a trajectory that could result in seven times more emissions than what is compatible with keeping warming below 1.5ºC; further believes that this treaty promotes international cooperation by explicitly stopping the expansion of fossil fuels and managing a global just transition away from coal, oil and gas in a manner that is both fast and fair, so that no worker, community or country is left behind; further notes that the treaty has been backed by a growing global network of governments, civil society organisations, academics, scientists, youth activists, health professionals, faith institutions, Indigenous peoples and hundreds of thousands of other citizens globally; recognises the importance of this treaty; and calls on the Government to put its full support behind the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

That this House supports the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative; notes that the treaty initiative is a global effort to foster international cooperation to accelerate a transition to renewable energy, end the expansion of coal, oil and gas, and support an equitable phase out of existing production; believes that the...

That this House notes the importance of affordable childcare to enable parents, especially mothers, to work; further notes the important contribution of migrants to the economy; welcomes the intention behind the expansion of childcare support for working parents which is currently being rolled out; also notes however that this support is not available equally to all working parents even where they are working the same hours for the same wages; is concerned about the difficulty this creates for excluded families due to the high costs of childcare; and calls on the Government to amend its support scheme so that all parents working the requisite number of hours and earning the requisite salary can access 30 hours of funded childcare, regardless of their immigration status.

That this House notes the importance of affordable childcare to enable parents, especially mothers, to work; further notes the important contribution of migrants to the economy; welcomes the intention behind the expansion of childcare support for working parents which is currently being rolled out; also notes however that this support...

That this House acknowledges that women’s substance use often results from trauma and abuse; notes that women’s access to trauma-informed, safe spaces has been limited, as cuts and contract competition have driven service provision to concentrate on its majority male user-base; welcomes the Centre for Justice Innovation’s guide to commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services for women, in helping to ensure services are responsive to women’s experiences; and urges the Government to support and promote the development of a range of bespoke, responsive and sustainable resources enabling more women to access drug and alcohol treatment support.

That this House acknowledges that women’s substance use often results from trauma and abuse; notes that women’s access to trauma-informed, safe spaces has been limited, as cuts and contract competition have driven service provision to concentrate on its majority male user-base; welcomes the Centre for Justice Innovation’s guide to commissioning...

That this House congratulates York on its 20th anniversary of becoming a Fair Trade City; further congratulates the York Fair Trade Forum for its work in promoting fair trade in York and beyond, including through holding informative events to educate residents and businesses on the benefit of fair trade and how it ensures that workers across the world are treated justly with fair pay, better terms and are able to develop sustainable businesses; notes that as a city with a major footprint in the chocolate industry, it is important to ensure that fairtrade standards are adhered to throughout that sector in York; and appreciates the work of the Forum in holding a number of events in the city of York throughout 2024, not least at the Mansion House on 14 March to promote the achievements of the York Fair Trade Forum to date and to encourage people to make a positive choice to buy fair trade products, engage with Fairtrade Fortnight and learn more about how fair trade influences the supply chain, combating global poverty and improving healthcare and education for communities in developing countries.

That this House congratulates York on its 20th anniversary of becoming a Fair Trade City; further congratulates the York Fair Trade Forum for its work in promoting fair trade in York and beyond, including through holding informative events to educate residents and businesses on the benefit of fair trade and...

That this House celebrates World Arthritis Day, which is due to take place on 12 October 2023; welcomes its aims to raise awareness of arthritis and educates people about the symptoms, preventive measures and treatment options available; praises the work that researchers, healthcare professionals and campaigners at Versus Arthritis are doing in supporting the over 10 million people living with arthritis across the UK and their ambition to ensure that, one day, no one will have to live with the pain, fatigue and isolation that arthritis causes; recognises that having arthritis impacts a person’s life in numerous ways, including the impact on a person's ability to work, with one in five economically inactive people living with arthritis or another form of musculoskeletal condition; notes the current long NHS waiting times for people having knee and hip surgery; and calls on the Government to bring down waiting times for people with arthritis and support them to wait well across the UK.

That this House celebrates World Arthritis Day, which is due to take place on 12 October 2023; welcomes its aims to raise awareness of arthritis and educates people about the symptoms, preventive measures and treatment options available; praises the work that researchers, healthcare professionals and campaigners at Versus Arthritis are...

That this House notes that 15 per cent of people have experienced bullying at work in the UK which is not related to any protected characteristic; observes that this amounts to 4.9 million people employed in the UK; further notes that the Health and Safety Executive highlights that 17 million days of work were lost last year due to work related stress, depression or anxiety; believes that bullying at work can have a significant impact on someone’s mental health and can lead to the loss of employment for the target of the bullying; further notes that workplace conflict is costing UK companies £28.5 billion each year; and calls on the Government to provide for a statutory definition of bullying at work, no matter the workplace or employment status, to enable people to bring their case to an Employment Tribunal, to give the Equality and Human Rights Commission new powers to investigate organisations and to take enforcement action where there is evidence of bullying and to establish and promote a respect at work code to set minimum standards for positive and respectful work environments.

That this House notes that 15 per cent of people have experienced bullying at work in the UK which is not related to any protected characteristic; observes that this amounts to 4.9 million people employed in the UK; further notes that the Health and Safety Executive highlights that 17 million...