230,000 Support Gov Death Statistics Release

Marie Rimmer MP

Jeremy Corbyn was one of the first MPs to sign the early day motion this week calling on the government to publish the ESA death statistics. The early day motion was proposed by Marie Rimmer MP, St Helens South and Whiston. 

That this House notes that on 30 April 2015 the Information Commission took a decision that the Government must disclose the number of incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance claimants who have died since November 2011 until May 2014 within 35 calendar days; acknowledges the petition signed by over 230,000 members of the public calling for this data to be released; further notes that even though the 35 day deadline has passed this data has not been released; has concerns that the data released may be a standardised figure rather than a full picture; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure the release of this data in full and without further delay.

PLEASE SEE BELOW - IS YOUR MP ON THE LIST? 

According to Parliament. 

Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated.

How are EDMs used?

EDMs are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.

Do they get debated?

Although there is very little prospect of EDMs being debated, many attract a great deal of public interest and frequently receive media coverage.

Do they have to comply to a format?

EDMs have a strict format. Each one has a short title, like 'Internet Gambling', and a sentence no longer than 250 words detailing the motion.

What are the rules?

Other than following the above format, EDMs must abide by certain rules about their subject matter. The main ones are:

EDMs may only criticise other MPs, Lords, judges or members of the royal family if that is the main subject of the motion

no reference should be made to matters before the courts

no unparliamentary language or irony should be used

titles must be purely descriptive

Types of EDMs

EDMs against statutory instruments (are known as 'prayer') - generally the only type of EDM that leads to a debate.

Internal party groups - put forward by party members to express a different view on an issue to the official party position.

All-party EDMs - usually promote an issue, such as animal welfare, across party divides. Generally, only all-party EDMs attract a large number of signatures.

Critical - occasionally EDMs are tabled criticising another Member of the House, or a member of the House of Lords.

Promotion - of an outside campaign or report (often by the voluntary sector).

Constituency issue - drawing attention to and commenting on.

Commenting on deficiencies in other parties' policies - often by government MPs as they can't criticise the Opposition at question time.

Signatures

In an average session only six or seven EDMs reach over two hundred signatures. Around seventy or eighty get over one hundred signatures. The majority will attract only one or two signatures.

An EDM is not likely to be debated even if it gains a large number of signatures.

Who will not sign?

The following people in Parliament normally will not sign EDMs:

Ministers and government whips

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

The Speaker and his deputies

Ministers and whips do not normally sign EDMs.  The 2005 Ministerial Code stated that Parliamentary Private Secretaries “must not associate themselves with particular groups advocating special policies”, and they do not normally sign EDMs.  Neither the Speaker nor Deputy Speakers will sign EDMs.  Internal party rules may also affect who can sign early day motions.

Amendments to EDMs

After an EDM has been tabled, other Members can then table amendments to the original EDM. Proposed amendments must not increase the motion’s length beyond 250 words and any names of Members signing an amendment are automatically withdrawn from the main motion.

EDM's that are amendments to a previous motion have an 'A' after their number followed by a further number to indicate whether it is the first amendment, second etc.

Withdrawl of EDMs

The Member in charge of an EDM (i.e. the first signatory) may withdraw it even if other Members have signed it. Individual names may also be withdrawn.

Tracing EDMs

EDMs dating back to the 1989-90 session of Parliament can be traced using the EDM database. It records the full title and text of EDMs and signatures of supporting MPs.

Which MP's have signed so far?