Parliamentary Campaigns Backed By Andrew George MP #2

This is the second in a series of articles looking at the Parliamentary campaigns that have been backed by Andrew George MP this year. These campaigns are raised through Parliamentary Early Day Motions.

The St Ives MP recently backed:

EDM 452 which condemns the use of stoning to death as a means of execution by the Iranian Government and calls on the Government and international community to use every means at its disposal to cause the Iranian Government to free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose death by stoning is imminent.

EDM 442 which raised awareness of World Population Day – held on July 11 – and commended the United Nations Population Fund for designating a day to focus attention on the importance of world population and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The EDM also highlighted statistics showing that upto half-a-milllion women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth and 32 per cent of maternal deaths could be prevented through family planning alone. The EDM calls on the Government to increase population assistance to 10 per cent of official development assistance, and focus especially on family planning.

EDM 445 calls on the Government to do more to combat undiagnosed diabetes. It estimates 1.1 million people suffer from undiagnosed diabetes, and the diabetes population could rise to more than 5 million people by 2030. The EDM notes that early diagnosis and regular management can reduce risks of complications heart disease and kidney failure.

EDM 446 commended the work of Shelter Cymru’s Information Matters To Rural Communities Project, which aims to improve awareness of services to alleviate homelessness and poverty in rural communities. It recognises the lack of readily available advice and support in rural areas and the stigma attached. It welcomes the distribution of 3000 information packs containg advice on housing, debt, welfare benefits and rural well being in the project area.

EDM 455 notes 80,000 cancer cases could be prevented, every year, in the UK through diet, physical activity and weight management. It applauds the work of the World Cancer Research Fund for its funding of scientific research and raising awareness of how people can reduce their cancer risk.

EDM 457 welcomes the coalition government’s committment to introduce a statutory register of political lobbyists, however it is concerned that without a statutory code it could be flouted by lobbyists and calls for the government to implement an obligation to comply with statutory ethical principles.

EDM 459 praises the organisers behind British Pub Week 2010 – October 30 to November 6, which include Justice for Licensees, and the British Institute of Innkeeping. It also celebrates the vital role pubs play in local communities, the benefits they offer and the unique social experience they provide. It encourages MPs to support their local pub’s participation in British Pub Week to help boost trade and footfall.