Pub EDM still most popular
By Tony Grew - 21st February 2011
An early day motion calling on the government to secure the future of community pubs has attracted the most signatures so far in this session of parliament.
The EDM, tabled by Greg Mulholland and signed by 267 other MPs by the end of last week, praises the role pubs play as both a safe environment and "an essential community meeting place".
It calls for "cross party consensus on the need to support and protect well-run community pubs; and so urges the government to implement a package of policies which will help secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs".
Beer is a popular issue.
A more recent EDM, tabled by Andrew Griffiths last week and signed by ten other MPs, calls on the chancellor to "support Britain's beer and pub sector by suspending the beer duty escalator in 2011 to provide a vital boost for lower-strength drinks like beer, to alleviate pressure on community pubs and help to secure vital jobs throughout the UK".
Back to the top ten early day motions so far this session.
Zac Goldsmith's EDM praising the Fish Fight campaign to eliminate the environmentally and economically damaging practice of discarding fish before landing is backed by 214 other MPs.
Also above 200 signatures:
Lisa Nandy's EDM calling for "an end legal loan sharking by capping the cost of credit for the whole sector, not just for credit and store cards"; Chris Williamson's motion in support of the Hunting Act 2004 and Tony Baldry's EDM marking Carer's Week 2010, "six million people of all ages in the UK who provide unpaid help, care and support to a relative or friend who, because of frailty, illness or disability".
There is also praise for House of Commons accommodation staff.
George Mudie and 187 other MPs said thanks to "the dedicated and hardworking staff who carried out the recent office reorganisation with such efficiency and cheerfulness ... past post-election office changes have often lasted to the summer recess ... delighted that all hon. Members have been settled into their new offices quickly and with so little fuss".
MPs will still be able to put their names to any tabled early day motions when the Commons returns - they lapse at the end of the session.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.