Petitions

21:41:00

Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)
I remind Members presenting petitions that they are restricted to reading out the material allegations contained in the petition, the prayer of the petition and a very short statement on the parties from whom it comes.

Recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry

Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)
I rise to present this petition on behalf of the people of Newport West, many of whom have been in touch with me in recent weeks and months to express their justifiable rage at the contaminated blood scandal. I particularly acknowledge Mrs Hazel Jones and Ms Shirley Newnham, two strong local women who have signed this petition. I also acknowledge my indefatigable and brilliant right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson), who has demonstrated such leadership on this issue.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to implement the recommendations in the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry without delay.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of Newport West,

Declares that people who received infected blood and who have suffered as a consequence have, along with their families, waited for too long for redress.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to implement the recommendations in the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry without delay.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P002940]

Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)
I rise to present this petition on behalf of all those in my constituency of Weaver Vale affected by the contaminated blood scandal. I commend all campaigners, including my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson). My constituent Michael was infected with hepatitis C from an NHS treatment. I have raised Michael’s case since I was elected to Parliament in 2017. He said:

“I felt my life was left in tatters.”

This petition urges the Government to implement the recommendations in the second interim report of the infected blood inquiry without delay.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of Weaver Vale

Declares that people who received infected blood and who have suffered as a consequence have, along with their families, waited far too long for redress.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to implement the recommendations in the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry without delay.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002941]

UNRWA Funding

Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)
I rise to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Linlithgow and East Falkirk in relation to United Nations Relief and Works Agency funding. My constituents have been deeply troubled by the scenes emerging from Gaza, where unprecedented levels of human suffering have been witnessed. Tens of thousands of innocent women, children and civilians have already been killed, and a quarter of Gazans are at risk of death from starvation and destitution. Humanitarian aid is now beyond critical. I think it worth pointing out that the petition was prepared prior to Israel’s refusal to allow UNRWA aid into the north—effectively a death sentence for many.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the UK Government to help protect the rights and lives of those affected by the War in Gaza by reallocating funds to the UNRWA to ensure the immediate deliverance of humanitarian assistance to address the adverse threat to life of Palestinians.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of Linlithgow and East Falkirk,

Declares that the crisis in Gaza has already resulted in thousands of deaths and shows no sign of a resolution; further declares that UNRWA has warned that not enough aid is entering the besieged Gaza strip, and that a quarter of the Gazan population has been determined as an IPC Stage 5 crisis, which means that they are under immediate threat of death from starvation and destitution; notes that whilst the allegations against the 12 employees of the UNRWA are serious and must be investigated thoroughly, the UNRWA operates in the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan as well as Gaza, and the UK government punishing civilians in these places by pausing funding will have significant humanitarian repercussions.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the UK Government to help protect the rights and lives of those affected by the War in Gaza by reallocating funds to the UNRWA to ensure the immediate deliverance of humanitarian assistance to address the adverse threat to life of Palestinians.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P002942]

Bank Closures in Paisley and Renfrewshire North

Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
I rise to present a petition on behalf of my Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituents. Six years ago, almost to the day, I presented a petition about the Royal Bank of Scotland closing its Renfrew branch, leaving one RBS branch for the entire constituency. Since then, both Santander and TSB have also closed, leaving only the Bank of Scotland. Having completely modernised that branch, we had hoped that it would have been around for a wee while at least, but sadly not as Lloyds has decided to close the Renfrew and Bridge of Weir Bank of Scotland branches, thus leaving a growing town of 26,000 and a village where doing anything without a car is already difficult without a bank.

Nearly 800 people have signed my petition in a short space of time to stop the branch closure. Thanks to Good Food, Card Box, The Co-op in Bridge of Weir and Katie’s Kitchen for helping to collect signatures.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire North,

Declares that the closure of two Bank of Scotland branches in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency will have a detrimental impact on the local community; notes that the decision will leave 70,000 constituents with access to just two bank branches; further notes that the removal of high street branches exacerbates the inequality of certain groups, such as those in lower incomes, people with disabilities, rural communities, senior citizens and small business owners; and further declares that all banking groups have a duty to communities to provide in person services thus alleviating barriers to access.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to ensure that residents in Renfrew and Bridge of Weir have access to a local banking provision.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002944]

Warwickshire Hunt

Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab)
I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of Warwickshire. Locally, there has been a separate petition signed by some 2,000 residents related to this same issue: the matter of Warwickshire police and the Warwickshire hunt agreeing a secret protocol, following an alleged crime by the Warwickshire hunt in December 2022. Residents have raised their concerns over the relationship between Warwickshire police and the police and crime commissioner, who is understood to be a member of the Countryside Alliance—an organisation that campaigns for foxhunting.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to require that Warwickshire Police publish the contents of the protocol.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of Warwickshire,

Declares that on Wednesday December 14th 2022, Warwickshire Police issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) to the Warwickshire Hunt Limited after repeated anti-social use of public roads in Warwickshire; notes that the hunt put in an appeal meaning the CPN was unenforceable until the appeal had been heard; further notes that the CPN would have been a sensible and reasonable solution to keep the community safe on the roads; further notes that days before it was due in court, Warwickshire Police dropped the CPN, replacing it with a non-legally binding ‘protocol’; further notes that Warwickshire Police are refusing to publish the contents of this secret agreement they now have with the Warwickshire Hunt; further notes that it has been reported that Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is a membership of Countryside Alliance which campaigns for fox hunting; and further declares that it would be in the best interests of the public and police to bring full transparency to this issue and make the protocol public.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to require that Warwickshire Police publish the contents of the protocol.

And the petitioners remain etc.]

[P002945]