That this House is very concerned about threats facing democratic governance and Indigenous leaders in Guatemala; is alarmed that the unexpected but emphatic electoral win of anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arevalo and his party Movimiento Semilla is being challenged by apparently politically motivated prosecutions and that largely peaceful pro-democracy protests are reportedly being attacked; notes that an Independent Delegation of International Human Rights Lawyers on a fact-finding mission in March concluded that structural reform is needed to address the systemic discrimination and widespread human rights violations against Indigenous peoples, almost half of Guatemala’s population, and that extractive industries and agribusiness are causing environmental and other harms undermining Indigenous rights; calls on the Guatemalan Government to comply with the resolution of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights of 24 August and provide enhanced protection for Bernardo Arevalo and his Vice-President; asks that it provide greater protection to Indigenous leaders, who face continual police and judicial harassment, stigmatisation, and physical threats; and further calls on the Government to impose sanctions on Guatemalans accused of undermining democracy and press freedom, as the US has done, and to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous peoples from throughout the world, who are in the frontline of the battle against climate change, at relevant fora, including the upcoming COP 28 in the UAE.

That this House is very concerned about threats facing democratic governance and Indigenous leaders in Guatemala; is alarmed that the unexpected but emphatic electoral win of anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arevalo and his party Movimiento Semilla is being challenged by apparently politically motivated prosecutions and that largely peaceful pro-democracy protests are...

That this House notes with sadness the death of Sir Bobby Charlton, arguably England’s greatest ever footballer; highlights that Bobby was one of the elite group of players known as the Busby Babes and made his way into first team football and won his first champions medal in the 1956-57 football season; further highlights that Bobby luckily survived the Munich air crash, which destroyed the lives of an emerging great football team, and went on to be part of the rebuilding of Manchester United; applauds that in his playing career he won the Ballon d’Or once, the English First Division three times, the FA Cup once, and is one of only two English players to have won both the European Cup in 1968 and World Cup in 1966; further notes that Manchester is in mourning, as is the whole world where football is played; and believes that Bobby will be remembered for his amazing football skills and great goals but also as Sir Bobby Charlton, a kind and decent gentleman.

That this House notes with sadness the death of Sir Bobby Charlton, arguably England’s greatest ever footballer; highlights that Bobby was one of the elite group of players known as the Busby Babes and made his way into first team football and won his first champions medal in the 1956-57...

That this House condemns the imprisonment for twelve years of Belarusian journalists Maryna Zolatava and Liudmila Chekina by the Lukashenka regime on politically-motivated charges; further condemns that the two have been added to the Lukashenka regime’s list of extremists, meaning they will be banned from taking on any public role in Belarus and the police will be able to follow them when they are released from prison; emphasises that their cases are part of the wider crackdown launched by the Belarusian authorities following the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020, with over thirty journalists currently behind bars in Belarus, making the country the fourth largest jailer of journalists in the world; supports the campaign by Reporters Without Borders, who are collecting messages of support for Maryna Zolatava to be delivered to the Belarusian Embassies in several countries, including the UK, on her birthday on 6 November; and calls on the Lukashenka regime to release Maryna Zolatava and all other political prisoners in Belarus.

That this House condemns the imprisonment for twelve years of Belarusian journalists Maryna Zolatava and Liudmila Chekina by the Lukashenka regime on politically-motivated charges; further condemns that the two have been added to the Lukashenka regime’s list of extremists, meaning they will be banned from taking on any public role...

That this House condemns the arbitrary detention in Azerbaijan of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, a senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics; notes that Dr Ibadoghlu has been an outspoken critic of the systemic corruption surrounding Azerbaijan’s ruling elite; highlights that Amnesty International considers the charges against Dr Ibadoghlu to be fabricated in another example of the Azerbaijani authorities’ misuse of the criminal justice system to target peaceful criticism and dissent; is deeply concerned by reports that Dr Ibadoghlu’s health is severely deteriorating during his detention; calls on the Azerbaijani government to immediately and unconditionally release Dr Ibadoghlu, ensure his access to the medical treatment he needs and fully respect his rights and those of his family, lawyers and supporters without subjecting them to reprisals; and, as the UK is one of Azerbaijan’s largest foreign direct investors, calls on the Government to use its influence to work urgently for Dr Ibadoghlu’s immediate release and access to medical treatment.

That this House condemns the arbitrary detention in Azerbaijan of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, a senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics; notes that Dr Ibadoghlu has been an outspoken critic of the systemic corruption surrounding Azerbaijan’s ruling elite; highlights that Amnesty International considers the charges against Dr Ibadoghlu...

That this House is seriously concerned by the impact on small businesses of the decision by Amazon to hold onto the funds from sales for an increased period of time before releasing them to those businesses; is further concerned by Amazon offering loans to those businesses impacted by Amazon itself withholding funds; sees those actions as being exploitative of Amazon’s position in the market and the reliance that many small businesses have on its platform; believes that the Government has not done enough to challenge that practice; calls on Amazon to reverse this decision; and calls on the Government to bring meaningful pressure to bear on Amazon.

That this House is seriously concerned by the impact on small businesses of the decision by Amazon to hold onto the funds from sales for an increased period of time before releasing them to those businesses; is further concerned by Amazon offering loans to those businesses impacted by Amazon itself...

That this House is concerned about the visit by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the UK; highlights the continued detention of an estimated 1,200 political prisoners, including Abdulwahab Hussain, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Sheikh Ali Salman, Hassan Mushaima and Abduljalil Al-Singace; further notes reports of mistreatment and denial of medical treatment of some political prisoners; condemns the wider context of repression in Bahrain; reiterates misgivings about death penalty convictions, some of which may be carried out imminently, further to allegations of coerced confessions and other serious violations of fair trial rights; and calls on the UK Government during meetings with the Crown Prince to press for the release of all political prisoners, an urgent review of the death penalty convictions and the reinstatement of the de facto moratorium on judicial executions, and to ensure that any free trade agreement concluded with the Gulf Cooperation Council includes human rights protections and benchmarks.

That this House is concerned about the visit by Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the UK; highlights the continued detention of an estimated 1,200 political prisoners, including Abdulwahab Hussain, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Sheikh Ali Salman, Hassan Mushaima and Abduljalil Al-Singace; further notes reports of mistreatment and denial...

That this House is concerned about reports that Bill PL 2903, formerly Bill PL490, in Brazil could, inter alia, invalidate indigenous peoples’ claims to their ancestral lands and result in their forced displacement and the obliteration of their communities; notes this proposed legislation is expected to allow for mining, logging, ranching, and agribusiness, and the continuation of such activities now being carried out illegally, on these lands; further notes this Bill is strongly backed by relevant commercial lobbies and opposed by indigenous peoples and their international allies; supports Brazil’s hosting of COP 30 in 2025; encourages both at the conference and more generally President Lula da Silva’s Government to build on steps already taken to engage and collaborate with indigenous communities, widely regarded as the most effective guardians of the Amazon rainforests; and calls on the UK Government to continue working with civil society organisations, among others, to bolster Brazil’s efforts in protecting indigenous peoples, including uncontacted tribes who are deemed to be especially vulnerable, and their territories.

That this House is concerned about reports that Bill PL 2903, formerly Bill PL490, in Brazil could, inter alia, invalidate indigenous peoples’ claims to their ancestral lands and result in their forced displacement and the obliteration of their communities; notes this proposed legislation is expected to allow for mining, logging,...

That this House notes the sentencing of Yana Pinchuk to 12 years in prison in Belarus; considers the secretive and pre-determined process through which she was sentenced to have been reminiscent of the worst times of the former Soviet Union; highlights Russia’s complicity in this case, having extradited Yana to Belarus last year; recognises that Yana Pinchuk is a political prisoner following the politically-motivated charges which led to her sentence; notes that the Viasna human rights organisation considers there to now be around 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus; and calls on the Lukashenka regime to release all political prisoners in the country.

That this House notes the sentencing of Yana Pinchuk to 12 years in prison in Belarus; considers the secretive and pre-determined process through which she was sentenced to have been reminiscent of the worst times of the former Soviet Union; highlights Russia’s complicity in this case, having extradited Yana to...

That this House expresses concern that Bupa have taken the decision to close, sell or merge a total of 85 dental practices across the UK, the majority of which are focused on providing NHS dentistry; notes that for Bupa this is simply a portfolio change with no recognition that this will have a very serious impact on people who use their dental services, particularly areas where there are significant shortages in dentists and dental care; recognises that an estimated 4 million people cannot access NHS dental care without being able to afford to seek private dental care; further notes that Ministers have been promising reform since 2010; and calls on the Government to ensure that it delivers access to modern dentistry for those who need it.

That this House expresses concern that Bupa have taken the decision to close, sell or merge a total of 85 dental practices across the UK, the majority of which are focused on providing NHS dentistry; notes that for Bupa this is simply a portfolio change with no recognition that this...

That this House notes the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus on 21 May designated by the Viasna Human Rights Centre and further promoted by the Office of the National Leader of Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; highlights that 21 May was chosen in memory of Vitold Ashurak, a political activist who died in a penal colony in Belarus on 21 May 2021; is aware that Viasna has now recognised nearly 1500 people as political prisoners in Belarus and has documented a daily average of 17 detentions; highlights the case of the founder of Viasna, Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, himself now a political prisoner sentenced to a 10 year term; further highlights the case of journalist Raman Pratasevich, detained in 2021 after his flight from Athens to Vilnius was forced to land by the Belarusian authorities and sentenced to 8 years in prison; condemns the death in a penal colony on 7 May of Mikalai Klimovich, jailed for posting an online caricature of dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka; expresses concern about the welfare of former presidential contender Viktar Babaryka, hospitalised in April after reportedly being beaten in prison; highlights several politically-motivated trials that are still ongoing, including that of Yana Pinchuk, whose trial began on 10 April and about which there has been no information since; and calls on the Lukashenka regime to release all political prisoners, respect human rights, and enable a transition to democracy.

That this House notes the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus on 21 May designated by the Viasna Human Rights Centre and further promoted by the Office of the National Leader of Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; highlights that 21 May was chosen in memory of Vitold Ashurak, a...

This House welcomes the campaign for a new UK mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law in connection with supply chains; notes that more than 100,000 people in the UK have signed a petition asking the Government to hold business, finance and the public sector to account when they fail to prevent supply chain human rights abuses and environmental harms; notes also that businesses and investors have backed such legislation to level the playing field, and that similar laws are being introduced in other countries; and calls on the Government to adopt such a law as soon as possible.

This House welcomes the campaign for a new UK mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law in connection with supply chains; notes that more than 100,000 people in the UK have signed a petition asking the Government to hold business, finance and the public sector to account when they...

That this House notes the report by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism into the exploitation of agricultural seasonal workers; recognises the identified risks of exploitation for workers entering the UK on the agricultural seasonal worker visa, including debt, bullying, wage theft and substandard accommodation; highlights the importance of recruitment to the scheme being safe and accountable and complying with the Employer Pays Principle as well as the International Labour Organization definition of recruitment fees and related costs; calls on the Government to commit to urgently address the identified risks to seasonal workers before the scheme is extended or expanded and to introduce measures which allow better monitoring of compliance with employment law and labour standards on the scheme; further calls on the Government to clarify departmental responsibility for the scheme and departmental accountability for access to and enforcement of rights under employment law for seasonal workers; additionally calls on the Government to ensure that there is transparency about the scheme by publishing an annual report including recruitment supply chains, working conditions, hours and earnings in the UK and complaints and redress to inform planning and decision making; and urges the relevant select committees to conduct an inquiry into the scheme to establish whether seasonal workers are able to exercise their rights and access UK employment law and compensation schemes where needed without risking their work, visa or income.

That this House notes the report by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism into the exploitation of agricultural seasonal workers; recognises the identified risks of exploitation for workers entering the UK on the agricultural seasonal worker visa, including debt, bullying, wage theft and substandard accommodation; highlights the importance of recruitment to...

That this House expresses its support for Belarusians celebrating Freedom Day on 25 March to mark that day in 1918 when Belarus gained its independence; notes that the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election in 2020, in which Alexander Lukashenko falsely declared victory over Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, resulted in peaceful mass protests against the Lukashenko regime and the fraudulent election, followed by severe reprisals and repression; considers Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to be the leader of a democratic Belarus and commends the courage and determination of the opposition in exile working towards democratic governance in that country; calls on the authoritarian Lukashenko regime to release the thousands of political prisoners, drop the prosecution in absentia of the Belarusian opposition in exile, uphold freedoms of expression, association and assembly, and end its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; and requests that the Government provides further support to Belarusians in exile, to expand and tighten its sanctions regime against Belarusians responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations, and to join calls for the opening of a BBC Belarusian service and the suspension of Belarus from Interpol and UEFA.

That this House expresses its support for Belarusians celebrating Freedom Day on 25 March to mark that day in 1918 when Belarus gained its independence; notes that the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election in 2020, in which Alexander Lukashenko falsely declared victory over Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, resulted in peaceful mass protests against...

That this House condemns the announced plans by the UK’s largest telecoms companies for above-inflation mid-contract price increases; highlights reports that O2 plans to increase prices by 17.3 per cent while BT, EE, Vodafone, Three, Plusnet Mobile and Talkmobile plan to increase prices by 14.4 per cent and Virgin Media plans to increase prices by an average of 13.8 per cent; emphasises that this comes following Ofcom saying in September 2022 that a record eight million UK households were already facing problems paying mobile, broadband, pay-TV and streaming bills; further highlights that Ofcom has expressed concern about the level of uncertainty customers face about future price rises; notes that Ofcom has launched a review into this; would welcome urgent action by Ofcom; and calls on telecoms companies to reconsider these significant price increases at a time when millions are already struggling with the cost of living.

That this House condemns the announced plans by the UK’s largest telecoms companies for above-inflation mid-contract price increases; highlights reports that O2 plans to increase prices by 17.3 per cent while BT, EE, Vodafone, Three, Plusnet Mobile and Talkmobile plan to increase prices by 14.4 per cent and Virgin Media...

That this House notes the role of HSBC in allowing for the expansion of the Garzweiler opencast coal mine in Germany; highlights reports that HSBC made a secretive multimillion-dollar loan to the energy company involved, RWE; considers this to be in contravention of HSBC’s stated commitment to withdraw financing from clients that are expanding the production of thermal coal and phase out funding for coal-fired power and thermal coal mining; believes that reports stating HSBC told RWE not to publicise the bank’s involvement indicate that HSBC is aware that providing these funds runs against its own stated policies and commitments; and calls on HSBC to stand by its own climate commitments and halt funding to organisations involved in the expansion of coal mining.

That this House notes the role of HSBC in allowing for the expansion of the Garzweiler opencast coal mine in Germany; highlights reports that HSBC made a secretive multimillion-dollar loan to the energy company involved, RWE; considers this to be in contravention of HSBC’s stated commitment to withdraw financing from...

That this House recognises the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people in 1932 and 1933 by the Soviet regime headed by Josef Stalin; commemorates the lives of the seven million people who were brutally annihilated; condemns these acts as a systematic campaign of starvation and destruction of Ukrainian cultural and ethnic identity; further condemns the Soviet regime’s confiscation of food, restriction of population movement, rejection of external aid, and brutal crackdown on protests and suppression of the Ukrainian language for the purpose of Russification; commends the work undertaken to commemorate the dead; calls on the UK Government to promote further awareness of the Holodomor and condemn any attempt to deny or distort this historical truth as being anything less than genocide; and further calls on Parliament to join other parliaments in recognising the Holodomor as a historical reality.

That this House recognises the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people in 1932 and 1933 by the Soviet regime headed by Josef Stalin; commemorates the lives of the seven million people who were brutally annihilated; condemns these acts as a systematic campaign of starvation and destruction...

That this House is deeply concerned by the Israeli High Court of Justice’s decision to approve the eviction of Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta region of the occupied West Bank to make room for Israeli military training; highlights that the demolitions and confiscations occurring in the occupied West Bank contravene international humanitarian law and undermine social stability and security; strongly condemns the proposed forced removal of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 580 children who are at imminent risk of displacement; emphasises that those involved stand to lose their homes, belongings, access to water, livelihoods, primary health facilities and schools; is appalled that Israeli forces raided and demolished a recently-built Palestinian primary school in Masafer Yatta that served 22 students from four different villages; and calls on the Government to press the Israeli authorities to halt all forcible evictions and demolitions in the occupied West Bank.

That this House is deeply concerned by the Israeli High Court of Justice’s decision to approve the eviction of Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta region of the occupied West Bank to make room for Israeli military training; highlights that the demolitions and confiscations occurring in the occupied West Bank...

That this House is concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, where severe drought has left 9.9 million people facing hunger and 24 million in need of humanitarian assistance; highlights that 2.2 million children in Ethiopia are acutely malnourished; recognises the role that climate change plays in the scale and severity of this crisis; highlights that the UN has listed Ethiopia in the top five countries in need of humanitarian aid; highlights that the World Food Programme was only able to reach 10 per cent of mothers and children across northern Ethiopia needing nutrition support in August due to a lack of funding and supply shortages; emphasises the effects of the conflict in Tigray which has displaced hundreds of thousands and left 90 per cent of the region’s population in acute need of food assistance; notes that between April 2021 and June 2022 at least 1,900 children under five died from malnutrition in Tigray; further notes that the World Food Programme says aid shipments to Tigray are not meeting needs, and that although roads into the region have opened since the peace agreement, delivery remains constrained; is dismayed that the world is set to fail the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030; and calls on the Government to (a) do all it can to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid reaches Tigray, (b) support international and non-governmental humanitarian organisations operating in Ethiopia, and (c) restore the commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on international aid.

That this House is concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, where severe drought has left 9.9 million people facing hunger and 24 million in need of humanitarian assistance; highlights that 2.2 million children in Ethiopia are acutely malnourished; recognises the role that climate change plays in the scale and...

That this House acknowledges the report by the Regulator of Social Housing following its investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after the death of Awaab Ishak; is shocked by the report’s conclusions, including that there have been significant failures in the way RBH manages damp and mould in its homes, resulting in harm to tenants, that RBH waited nearly two years after Awaab Ishak died to check other homes on the estate where he lived, and that once RBH did finally check these homes they found that almost 80% of tenants there had signs of damp and mould; notes the very belated resignation of the board of RBH, who so signally failed to provide any adequate scrutiny of the actions of the Chief Executive; insists that any reconstituted board must be charged with the obvious importance of their role in making RBH accountable for protecting the interests and particularly the health of RBH tenants; notes that in the past there were local authority representatives on the board of RBH but these were removed; and believes that a strong role for elected members of the local authority is key to ensuring accountability and that social housing is maintained to an acceptable standard.

That this House acknowledges the report by the Regulator of Social Housing following its investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after the death of Awaab Ishak; is shocked by the report’s conclusions, including that there have been significant failures in the way RBH manages damp and mould in its homes,...

That this House congratulates Ales Bialiatski on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 for his tireless and self-sacrificial work for human rights in Belarus; notes with concern that Ales is unable to collect his award because he has now served more than 500 days in detention but is yet to be tried; highlights that Viasna, the human rights organisation Ales is founder and chairperson of, has now declared there to be over 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus; and calls on the illegitimate regime of Aleksandr Lukashenko to release Ales and all other political prisoners, and start the process of holding free and fair elections in Belarus.

That this House congratulates Ales Bialiatski on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 for his tireless and self-sacrificial work for human rights in Belarus; notes with concern that Ales is unable to collect his award because he has now served more than 500 days in detention but is yet...