Wendy Chamberlain for North East Fife
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Dog Meat Trade Cruelty
Menzies Campbell has signed EDM159. Motion reads: "That this House calls for an immediate end to dog meat trade cruelty; supports the Humane Society International's campaign to end the dog meat trade by working with government officials and local organisations in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and China to raise public awareness and strengthen laws related to this trade; and calls on the Chinese government and Yulin and Guangxi officials to stop the Yulin dog meat festival where thousands of dogs are being cruelly bound, confined, trucked and slaughtered for meat."
Expulsion Of Un Human Rights Director From Democratic Republic Of Congo
Menzies Campbell has signed EDM372. Motion reads: "That this House is gravely concerned by the continuing assault on human rights in Congo, and in particular the Kabila regime's decision to expel Scott Campbell, director of the UN's Joint Human Rights Office in Congo, for publishing a report implicating the Congolese National Police in the summary execution of at least nine civilians and the enforced disappearance of 32 others in Kinshasa between November 2013 and February 2014; notes that Save the Congo has described this as Kabila's latest attempt to silence human rights defenders in Congo; supports Save the Congo's call to the Minister for Africa to make urgent representation to the Kabila regime over these issues; and urges the Government to report to the House on the results of the representations as soon as practical."
Homecare Workers And The National Minimum Wage
Menzies Campbell has signed EDM349. Motion reads: "That this House is shocked to note that the National Audit Office reported earlier in 2014 that up to 220,000 care workers in England are illegally paid below the national minimum wage (NMW); further notes that an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of care providers between 2011 and 2013 found that 48 per cent were guilty of non-compliance with the NMW; further notes that homecare workers in particular are consistently not paid for travel time or training, too often have illegal deductions made from their pay and are frequently put on zero-hours contracts to deny them their legal rights; recognises that these arrangements have a deleterious impact on quality of care through high turnover of staff and shortened care visits; calls for a statement from the Government on what measures it is proposing to tackle the illegal under-payment of homecare workers; strenuously suggests that HMRC launch a programme of proactive investigations into the sector to help end non-compliance with the NMW, with adequate resources to ensure a thorough and sustained effort; requests that the Government names and shames care providers and councils who fail to pay or commission the NMW as well as name and praise those care providers and councils who have signed up to UNISON's Ethical Care Charter; and further calls for a change in the law to make local authorities and care providers jointly and severally liable for non-payment of the NMW as well as the introduction of stringent regulations under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that care workers are paid at least the national minimum wage."
Citizens Advice Scotland Report, Voices From The Frontline: Personal Independence Payments
Menzies Campbell has signed EDM366. Motion reads: "That this House welcomes the publication of Citizens Advice Scotland's report entitled Voices from the Frontline: Personal Independence Payments, which examines the roll-out of personal independence payment to replace disability living allowance; notes that claimants are having to wait an average of six months to receive a decision and in some cases over a year; further notes that such delays prevent people from receiving certain passported benefits, payment of some of which cannot be backdated; considers the cumulative impact of Government policy on disability benefits to have been damaging to many of the most vulnerable people in society; and urges the Department for Work and Pensions to take on board Citizens Advice Scotland's recommendations."
Fair Trial For Ghoncheh Ghavami
Menzies Campbell has signed EDM363. Motion reads: "That this House is extremely concerned over the current condition of Miss Ghoncheh Ghavami, a 25 year old British Iranian woman who has been detained since June 2014 by the Iranian authorities, after attending a protest outside an all-male volleyball match against the ban of women at such sporting events in Iran; notes that for long periods of her arrest without trial she had been in solitary confinement and without access to her family or a lawyer; and encourages pressure on the Iranian government to release Miss Ghoncheh Ghavami who has reportedly been on hunger strike since 1 October 2014, to ensure her safety and a fair trial."




