EDM NUMBER 1 AND PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT

In the first term of the new parliament John Leech MP has hit the ground running and submitted the first early day motion of parliament entitled, "Inability of people to vote on polling day".

The Early Day Motion 1 noted the concern that a significant number of electors around the country that were unable to vote having been turned away from polling stations on May 6th. A recent report from the Electoral Commission recommended that a change in the law should be made to allow voters the opportunity to vote if they turn up before the close of poll.

The EDM also called for the government to change the law to prevent multiple elections taking place on the same, following the conclusions in the Electoral Commission report that many of the delays caused on May 6th were over the confusion as to the eligibility to vote in one election and not the other.

John Leech commented "How appropriate that after everything that happened on polling day with the inadequacy of the Labour government, that I managed to get the EDM in first, I just wanted to get it in before they shut the doors again!"

Not only did John Leech get the first EDM of the new parliament, he also submitted the next twelve giving him a baker's dozen of early day motions!

The thirteen early day motions covered a range of issues, including congratulating Manchester Withington constituent and former Beautiful South lead singer on his pedals and pump tour of the UK promoting both the great British Pub and cycling.

Another one of his early day motions recommended that free television licenses should be extend the free licensing schemes to all pensioners, regardless of age.

John Leech said about the polling day fiasco, "I want to see a fundamental change in the law surrounding the polling day procedures; it's unfair that people who queued for hours were denied their right to vote.

I will be personally speaking to the Liberal Democrat deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg about the situation and will fight to get this much needed change to fix this mess we have been left in.

The situation that happened on polling day was farcical and must never happen again."

NOTES TO EDITOR

The full list of Early Day Motions submitted in the new fixed term parliament can be found here:

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMList.aspx

For more information contact James Hennigan on 0161 24 5034.

EDM 1 - 13 BELOW:

EDM 1: INABILITY OF PEOPLE TO VOTE ON POLLING DAY

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes with concern that a significant number of electors around the country were turned away from polling stations on 6 May 2010, denying them the right to vote even though they turned up before the close of poll; welcomes the Electoral Commission's recent report that a change in the law should be introduced so that everyone turning up before the close of poll should be afforded the opportunity to vote; further welcomes its recommendation that local authorities review the number of polling districts and polling stations as well as contingency arrangements in the event of future problems; further notes, with particular concern, that confusion over eligibility to vote in either election was a significant factor in delaying the voting process; calls on the Government to make changes in the law to avoid multiple elections taking place on the same day in future; and further calls on local authorities to take note of the Electoral Commission's recommendations, and carry out a review of polling districts and the number of polling stations available for people to cast their vote.

EDM 2: FREE TELEVISION LICENCES FOR PENSIONERS

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House recognises that the elderly are amongst the most vulnerable during these tough economic times; is concerned at the increasing numbers of pensioners who are finding themselves in fuel poverty; further recognises the benefits of giving those aged over 75 years a free television licence; and encourages the Government to extend the free licensing scheme to all pensioners, regardless of age.

EDM 3: NETWORK RAIL AND MAINTENANCE SAFETY

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House asserts that there can be no compromise to safety in maintenance of the railways, including the adequate inspection and repair of track, signals, overhead lines and other rail infrastructure; notes Network Rail's commitment to ensure safety in its programme of works; and calls on Network Rail to ensure that any changes to maintenance schedules to ensure efficiency in delivering necessary improvements do not compromise safety in any way.

EDM 4: MINIMUM WAGE RATES AND SUPPORT WORKERS

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House recognises the valuable work of support workers who provide overnight support to vulnerable adults; notes with concern that employers are able to pay rates below the minimum wage to support staff who sleep over but remain on call throughout the night; further recognises that it is often impossible for staff to spend any time asleep while on shift; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward proposals to put an end to the legal practice of paying support workers below the minimum wage for their sleep rate and to ensure that they are paid the minimum wage for sleep over hours.

EDM 5: ACCESS FOR DISABLED RAIL USERS

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House appreciates the efforts made to allow disabled persons to use rail services as easily as possible; notes, however, that having to give advance warning of travel by wheelchair-bound persons constitutes a great inconvenience for such rail users; further notes the timekeeping, health and safety and practicality issues involved in having to store mobile ramps for use at stations; calls for more research into the possibility of fitting automated disabled access ramps to all new rolling stock put into operation in the UK; and further calls on the Government to examine every possible development which could lead to this being put into action.

EDM 6: VALUE ADDED TAX ON MEMORIALS

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes with concern that value added tax is applicable to the erection and maintenance of memorials to the deceased; considers this to be an unnecessary and insensitive tax on the bereaved and those who wish to honour the memory of loved ones; observes that a tax refund for charities and faith groups for the erection of memorials has been in place for some years now in the form of the Memorial Grant Scheme; calls on the Government to extend the scheme to all memorials; and urges the Government to raise at European level the possibility of abolishing such taxes altogether.

EDM 7: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE RULING ON AZACITIDINE

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes that patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) suffer from chronic and severe fatigue and are at risk of progressing to a more aggressive form of leukaemia (acute myeloid leukaemia); observes that the drug azacitidine is the first and only licensed drug available specifically to treat MDS and has the ability both to slow the progress of the disease and immeasurably improve patients' quality of life; is disappointed at the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendation that azacitidine is not sufficiently cost-effective; recognises that as few as 700 patients would require the drug each year, which translates to a diminutive portion of the NHS budget; and calls on NICE to reconsider its recommendation on use of the drug which is already widely available in other Western European and North American countries.

EDM 8: PEDALS AND BEER PUMPS TOUR

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House is alarmed at the rate of pub closures around the country; applauds the former Beautiful South and Housemartins front man Paul Heaton in his efforts to highlight the plight of British pubs and to promote cycling; and wishes him luck on his Pedals and Beer Pumps tour which will see him visit 16 pubs around the country

EDM 9: MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE NURSES

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House applauds Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses for the outstanding support they provide to terminally ill cancer patients and their families and those with other terminal illnesses at the end of their lives, allowing them to live out their final days surrounded by the people they love in their place of choice; recognises that such care can dramatically improve patients' quality of life; notes that 65 per cent. of people would wish to be cared for at home if they were terminally ill, yet only around 18 per cent. of people are able to die at home; further notes that caring for terminally ill patients in their homes does not increase the cost to the NHS; and calls on NHS trusts to guarantee funding for home-based palliative care.

EDM 10: TESCO IN STRETFORD AND EFFECTS ON INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes with concern the decision by Trafford Council Planning Committee to approve plans for a giant Tesco store in Stretford; recognises the potential impact that this decision will have on the viability of local centres and in particular the viability of independent retailers in the surrounding areas of Chorlton district centre and Stretford Mall; and therefore urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to call in the decision.

EDM 11: RETRO-REFLECTIVE MARKINGS AND HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes that the rate of fatal accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains high, causing 15 per cent. of all road fatalities, despite accounting for only 5.6 per cent. of UK road traffic; recognises that retro-reflective markings along the side and rear of HGVs have been proved to be an effective means of increasing HGVs visibility and reducing accidents and improving safety for hauliers and all other road users; applauds Reflect for its work on promoting the benefits of these markings; and calls on all haulage companies to sign up to a voluntary code of practice to fit retro-reflective markings on HGVs, prior to it becoming mandatory for newly-registered vehicles in June 2011.

EDM 12: TALKING BUSES CAMPAIGN

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House, acknowledging the role of accessible local bus services in the mobility of disabled people, recognises that the lack of audio visual information systems on buses makes those services difficult to use for many people; supports the Talking Buses campaign led by Guide Dogs and supported by 20 other national organisations; and calls on the Government to amend the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations to require audible and visual information systems on all new buses, which would announce next stop and final destination information.

EDM 13: PROSTATE CANCER CHARITY

25.05.2010

Leech, John

That this House notes that prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, with over 35,000 men in the UK diagnosed with the disease each year; is concerned that a significant proportion of men affected by prostate cancer report that they receive inadequate support to help them cope with the disease; applauds the work that The Prostate Cancer Charity does to promote improved prostate cancer care and provide support and information; and welcomes commitments to reduce inequalities in support, outcomes, research and early detection of prostate cancer in the Charity's Pledge for Cancer Cance