That this House acknowledges the sad passing of Kent and England cricketer Derek Underwood MBE, who represented England from 1966 until 1982; notes that he claimed 297 wickets over 86 Test match appearances at an average of 25.83, making him the sixth leading wicket taker to represent England and the most of any England spin bowler; recognises that he played for Kent County Cricket Club between 1963 and 1987, making over 900 appearances and taking 2,523 wickets; acknowledges that he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1969, served as President of Kent Count Cricket Club in 2006 and the President of Marylebone Cricket Club in 2008, was inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame in 2009; and remembers him as an advocate for growing cricket worldwide while protecting the sport’s rich heritage.

That this House acknowledges the sad passing of Kent and England cricketer Derek Underwood MBE, who represented England from 1966 until 1982; notes that he claimed 297 wickets over 86 Test match appearances at an average of 25.83, making him the sixth leading wicket taker to represent England and the...

That this House congratulates the Football Association (FA) and Barclays for hosting its third Biggest Ever Football Session on International Women’s Day, as part of its Let Girls Play Campaign; notes a record breaking 475,000 girls from 5,000 schools across England took part; further notes that this year, the Biggest Ever Football Session saw more registrations than ever before, with 71% of the schools who signed up having never done so before; welcomes that 76% of schools who took part in the previous sessions stated the activity had influenced equal access in their school; acknowledges that The Let Girls Play campaign, which was launched in October 2021 to support The FA's strategic ambition to provide girls with equal access to football, encourages an active generation of children, highlighting the physical and mental benefits of sport in schools; and commends the work the FA and others do to continue their support for the ever-increasing demand for girls to play football.

That this House congratulates the Football Association (FA) and Barclays for hosting its third Biggest Ever Football Session on International Women’s Day, as part of its Let Girls Play Campaign; notes a record breaking 475,000 girls from 5,000 schools across England took part; further notes that this year, the Biggest...

That this House congratulates the Galveston Historical Foundation in Texas on the 50th anniversary of the annual Dickens on The Strand celebration from 1 to 3 December 2023; welcomes the expected 50,000 visitors to the festival which celebrates the life and work of Charles Dickens who spent many years of his life in Kent, most notably in Chatham; notes that the Tall Ship Elissa– the official Tall Ship of Texas – which will host the ‘Salute to Sunset’ during the festival was built in the United Kingdom; celebrates the historical ties between the United Kingdom and the city of Galveston which was home to the first British Consulate in the State of Texas in 1846; and welcomes the role of the British Consulate-General in Houston as the presenting sponsor for this year’s historic event.

That this House congratulates the Galveston Historical Foundation in Texas on the 50th anniversary of the annual Dickens on The Strand celebration from 1 to 3 December 2023; welcomes the expected 50,000 visitors to the festival which celebrates the life and work of Charles Dickens who spent many years of...

That this House recognises the brilliance of the Lionesses’ goalkeeper Mary Earps; notes that Nike chose not to produce a replica shirt for England’s keeper, which has been criticised as shameful, hurtful and devaluing the role that the keeper plays in women’s football; and calls on Nike to reverse this decision and to put on sale Earps’ replica goalkeeper shirt, so that girls who were inspired by the FIFA Women’s World Cup and who want to play in goal feel that their role is as important as that of an outfield player.

That this House recognises the brilliance of the Lionesses’ goalkeeper Mary Earps; notes that Nike chose not to produce a replica shirt for England’s keeper, which has been criticised as shameful, hurtful and devaluing the role that the keeper plays in women’s football; and calls on Nike to reverse this...

That this House congratulates England's Lionesses on reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup final; notes that the team under the brilliant stewardship of Sarina Wiegman gave everything right up to the final whistle; further notes that the team and the support staff deserve all the plaudits; highlights the team's impeccable sportsmanship throughout the tournament; thanks the team for being exceptional role models both at home and around the world; and recognises that all those achievements will have inspired girls and women to play football for years to come.

That this House congratulates England's Lionesses on reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup final; notes that the team under the brilliant stewardship of Sarina Wiegman gave everything right up to the final whistle; further notes that the team and the support staff deserve all the plaudits; highlights the team's impeccable...

That this House wholeheartedly congratulates the Lionesses, England women's national football team, and their manager Sarina Wiegman, for their victory in this summer's UEFA Women's EURO competition; recognises the work of the FA in ensuring a successful home tournament with a lasting legacy for the future of women and girls' football; pays tribute to the Lionesses for their work as role models for aspiring footballers across the country, and wishes the team the best of luck for next summer's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

That this House wholeheartedly congratulates the Lionesses, England women's national football team, and their manager Sarina Wiegman, for their victory in this summer's UEFA Women's EURO competition; recognises the work of the FA in ensuring a successful home tournament with a lasting legacy for the future of women and girls'...

That this House calls on the Government to zero rate VAT on period pants in line with other menstrual products such as pads, cloth pads and menstrual cups; notes that period pants are sustainable and reusable and have 5-6 times less carbon footprint than tampons or pads; recognises research that shows throughout the pandemic, over a million girls aged 14-21 in the UK struggled to access period products, with many forced to cut back on other essential items in order to purchase sanitary items; and further notes that the current classification of period pants as a garment means that a 20 per cent VAT rate on period pants makes an environmentally and financially sustainable alternative more expensive.

That this House calls on the Government to zero rate VAT on period pants in line with other menstrual products such as pads, cloth pads and menstrual cups; notes that period pants are sustainable and reusable and have 5-6 times less carbon footprint than tampons or pads; recognises research that...

That this House congratulates Dame Deborah James on her richly deserved Damehood; recognises her phenomenal fundraising efforts through the BowelBabe Fund for Cancer Research UK; thanks her, Lauren Mahon, the late Rachael Bland and Steve Bland for raising awareness and talking openly about cancer in the podcast You, Me & the Big C; regrets that nearly 43,000 new bowel cancer cases are diagnosed each year and that Bowel Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK; calls on the Government to keep to its commitment of extending the age of NHS Bowel cancer screening to those over 50 across the whole country; appeals for the Government to increase endoscopy capacity to improve earlier and faster diagnosis; acknowledges more needs to be done to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel and other cancers in younger people by supporting campaigns such as Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign championed by Dame Deborah; and seeks long term funding for clinical trials and research into personalised medicine that could result in new treatments for cancer patients.

That this House congratulates Dame Deborah James on her richly deserved Damehood; recognises her phenomenal fundraising efforts through the BowelBabe Fund for Cancer Research UK; thanks her, Lauren Mahon, the late Rachael Bland and Steve Bland for raising awareness and talking openly about cancer in the podcast You, Me &...

That this House welcomes the British Liver Trust’s campaign to make early diagnosis of liver disease routine, to be launched in Parliament on Tuesday 26 April 2022; is concerned that the UK is facing a liver disease crisis as a result of the seriously late diagnosis of liver disease across the UK; notes that delays in diagnosis have worsened during the covid-19 outbreak; and calls for urgent action to ensure effective patient pathways are commissioned and implemented.

That this House welcomes the British Liver Trust’s campaign to make early diagnosis of liver disease routine, to be launched in Parliament on Tuesday 26 April 2022; is concerned that the UK is facing a liver disease crisis as a result of the seriously late diagnosis of liver disease across...

That this House commemorates the Penlee Lifeboat disaster 40 years ago on 19 December 1981; honours the bravery of the eight man crew of the Solomon Browne who in severe conditions went to sea to rescue eight people on board the stricken coaster The Union Star; remembers the tragedy of that night when, despite heroic rescue attempts, all 16 people lost their lives; pays tribute to the families of lost crew members who continue to honour their memory through fundraising efforts for a memorial stone to honour the 40th anniversary of the disaster; recognises the bravery of the Royal Navy helicopter crew from RNAS Culdrose and the efforts of lifeboat crews from The Lizard, Sennen Cove and St Marys that night; notes the hard work of those who subsequently changed the rules giving the authorities the power to order a ship to take a tow; and sends humble gratitude to every volunteer RNLI crew member around the whole country who, despite knowing the risks, selflessly goes to sea to save lives and to the volunteer shore crew who support them to do so.

That this House commemorates the Penlee Lifeboat disaster 40 years ago on 19 December 1981; honours the bravery of the eight man crew of the Solomon Browne who in severe conditions went to sea to rescue eight people on board the stricken coaster The Union Star; remembers the tragedy of...

That this House recognises that species-rich grasslands offer ways of reducing the impact of greenhouse gases that cause climate change by reducing flooding risk, locking up pollutants and acting as critical ecosystems for pollinators and supporting sustainable and resilient farming; regrets that in the last 100 years the UK alone has lost 97 per cent of its meadows and other species-rich grasslands leading to bumblebee extinctions and butterfly population declines; welcomes the formation of Grasslands+, a growing coalition that has come together to protect and restore the planet’s grasslands, savannahs, plains, heaths, steppes and meadows; urges Government Ministers to use the opportunity of COP26 in Glasgow to seek international recognition and protections for species-rich grasslands, to lead by example in taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change and increase biodiversity and to ensure that those areas of natural beauty are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

That this House recognises that species-rich grasslands offer ways of reducing the impact of greenhouse gases that cause climate change by reducing flooding risk, locking up pollutants and acting as critical ecosystems for pollinators and supporting sustainable and resilient farming; regrets that in the last 100 years the UK alone...

That this House calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 to make it an offence committed if a person (or a third party controlled by the person, including but not limited to; dogs, drones or vessels) intentionally or recklessly kills, injures, takes, disturbs or harasses a seal; recognises the importance of making legislation on disturbance of seals consistent with that for whales and dolphins; notes that seals, like nesting seabirds, are even more vulnerable to disturbance because of their need to rest, digest, moult, socialise and pup on land; further notes that disturbance includes all actions that change a seal’s behaviour or its environment, affecting its wellbeing or survival prospects; understands that seals are highly mobile marine species that swim from site to site and need protection to follow them anywhere around the UK; recognises that such an amendment to existing legislation would have protected Freddie the seal in the River Thames, who regrettably died following a dog attack in 2021; further recognises that seals make a positive contribution to local economies, providing ecosystem and health and wellbeing benefits; and further calls on the Government to amend existing legislation and continue to work with local authorities and seal conservation and welfare organisations to help educate the public on the importance of protecting the UK's globally rare and native species.

That this House calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 to make it an offence committed if a person (or a third party controlled by the person, including but not limited to; dogs, drones or vessels) intentionally or recklessly kills, injures,...

That this House welcomes the Call for Evidence on the fur trade in the UK; urges the Government to introduce legislation to ban the import and sale of fur in the UK having first banned fur farms more than 20 years ago, something that is possible now that the UK has left the European Union; believes that, in view of the UK’s recognition that fur is too cruel to be farmed here, logically it is also too cruel to be sold here; welcomes the suggestion of such a law in the Government's recent Action Plan for Animal Welfare; acknowledges recent polling showing 72% of the British public welcome a fur sales ban; recognises the widespread political support for a ban on real fur sales and imports; further notes the link between Covid-19 and fur farms reported by the WHO in February 2021 which has resulted in millions of mink being culled across the world over the last year; and believes that a fur import and sales ban represents a significant opportunity for the UK to be a world leader in animal welfare.

That this House welcomes the Call for Evidence on the fur trade in the UK; urges the Government to introduce legislation to ban the import and sale of fur in the UK having first banned fur farms more than 20 years ago, something that is possible now that the UK...

That this House acknowledges the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of the UK population; notes the substantial body of research showing how mindfulness can support people managing their mental health; and calls for mindfulness-based interventions to be available to people in all parts of the UK.

That this House acknowledges the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of the UK population; notes the substantial body of research showing how mindfulness can support people managing their mental health; and calls for mindfulness-based interventions to be available to people in all parts of the UK.

That this House expresses its sadness after the tragic loss, post dog attack, of River Thames' resident Freddie the seal; believes that seals in rivers deserve the same protections as those for deer in Richmond Park; notes that the seal population in the River Thames is as many as 4000 and expected to rise further upon competition of the Thames Tideway in 2024; and urges the Government to urgently assess the need for legislation to protect seals and encourage a peaceful co-existence between man and wildlife

That this House expresses its sadness after the tragic loss, post dog attack, of River Thames' resident Freddie the seal; believes that seals in rivers deserve the same protections as those for deer in Richmond Park; notes that the seal population in the River Thames is as many as 4000...

That this House celebrates Britain’s annual blossom season as one of the most beautiful in the world; recognises blossom's significance as a national symbol of spring, renewal and hope that all communities can enjoy, made all the important in the midst of the nation’s effort to tackle coronavirus; notes the importance of trees and nature for tackling climate change and supporting physical and mental wellbeing; further notes that Hanami, the Japanese blossom season boosted its economy by about $2.7 billion in 2018 and provides annual opportunities for connection with natue and tourism; and therefore welcomes the National Trust’s #BlossomWatch campaign to celebrate and raise awareness of the arrival of spring and blossom nationwide

That this House celebrates Britain’s annual blossom season as one of the most beautiful in the world; recognises blossom's significance as a national symbol of spring, renewal and hope that all communities can enjoy, made all the important in the midst of the nation’s effort to tackle coronavirus; notes the...

That this House expresses its concern at the Government's decision to abolish the VAT Retail Export Scheme, otherwise known as tax-free shopping, from 1 January 2021 with inaccurate determinations having been made of the impact of that decision; acknowledges that since that decision was announced, businesses have been facing the challenges posed by new covid-19 restrictions and that that decision will worsen that situation; believes that by implementing that decision thousands of job losses could be caused around the UK; recognises that since that announcement, France has lowered its threshold for international shoppers to claim back VAT and Ireland has extended its scheme to include the UK, making the UK the least competitive market in Europe for international shoppers; notes that no businesses have spoken up publicly in favour of that move but many have warned of its consequences; calls on the Government to avoid causing significant damage to the retail and hospitality sector in the UK and to not bring forward the required legislation to implement that decision; and further calls on hon. Members to vote to annul any Statutory Instrument on that matter if it is laid before this House.

That this House expresses its concern at the Government's decision to abolish the VAT Retail Export Scheme, otherwise known as tax-free shopping, from 1 January 2021 with inaccurate determinations having been made of the impact of that decision; acknowledges that since that decision was announced, businesses have been facing the...

That this House urges the Government to introduce legislation to ban the imports and sales of real fur products; notes that the UK has long banned the main methods of fur so-called production, namely leg-hold trapping and fur factory farming, due to their inherent cruelty; believes that, in view of these bans, it is hypocritical to continue to allow the import of real fur; further notes that the fur industry in the UK has significantly declined over the last 40 years, is now rejected by the majority of global fashion houses and UK high street retailers, and that fur sales are soon to be banned in California; acknowledges that there is a political and legal opportunity for a fur ban with the UK leaving the European Union; further acknowledges that there is widespread public support for a fur ban; and further believes that a fur ban is a natural extension of the existing import bans on cat and dog fur and commercial seal products, and that a comprehensive fur ban will help maintain the UK as a global leader in the promotion of animal welfare.

That this House urges the Government to introduce legislation to ban the imports and sales of real fur products; notes that the UK has long banned the main methods of fur so-called production, namely leg-hold trapping and fur factory farming, due to their inherent cruelty; believes that, in view of...

That this House welcomes the Government's public consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies; notes the strong cross-party support for EDM 1829, Session 2017-19 and that 86 per cent of the British public support an end to trophy hunting; further notes that most UK trophy imports are of threatened species and that the number of trophy imports from captive-bred animals is growing; believes that trophy hunting has had devastating impacts on some wildlife populations and that the pursuit of animals with the largest tusks, horns, or antlers is resulting in artificial selection which imperils the survival of these species; further believes that trophy hunting fees rarely provide substantive funding for conservation or benefits to local communities; is strongly of the view that killing animals for trophies is indefensible and cruel and that it has no place in the modern world; urges policy-makers to work with stakeholders to support sustainable economic development that creates real prosperity for people through preserving our natural heritage; and calls on the Government to implement a comprehensive ban on trophy hunting imports and exports as quickly as possible, to consider an immediate moratorium, and to work with other Governments to help bring an end to trophy hunting.

That this House welcomes the Government's public consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies; notes the strong cross-party support for EDM 1829, Session 2017-19 and that 86 per cent of the British public support an end to trophy hunting; further notes that most UK trophy imports...

That this House notes that approximately one in 10 children between the ages of five to 16 years old suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder and that 75 per cent of mental disorders emerge before the age of 25 years, about 25 per cent before the age of 12 years; further notes that 40 per cent of teachers leave the profession within five years and that stress is the predominant reason cited for leaving the profession; further notes that where staff turnover is high, lack of stability is likely to have an impact on pupils' learning and the cost is significant; further notes that costs of mental ill health are set to double over the next 20 years and billions of pounds could be saved through emphasis on prevention and early intervention; recognises the solid evidence-base for the reliable impact of mindfulness for adults on many aspects of psychological and physical health and a growing body of work with school staff and young people, showing that mindfulness interventions can have significant impacts in terms of reduced stress, depression and anxiety, increased sense of control, better behaviour, increased social and emotional skills, cognitive skills and performance in terms of focus and attention; believes that all young people and those who work in education, should have access to mindfulness training; and further believes that a Government-funded mindfulness programme will constitute value for money as access will lead to children and school staff being less likely to access costly interventions later.

That this House notes that approximately one in 10 children between the ages of five to 16 years old suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder and that 75 per cent of mental disorders emerge before the age of 25 years, about 25 per cent before the age of 12...