There have been many comments about my “sleepover” in Parliament, to gain priority for my 12 Private Members’ Bills. No backbencher has ever proposed so many, an “alternative Queen’s Speech”.
The first is the Home Repossession (Protection) Bill. A mortgage company has the legal right to sell someone’s house over their head, without a court order, even if they get behind with just one mortgage payment.
My Bill requires the mortgage company to get court permission beforehand, enabling the judge to ensure all other alternatives have been exhausted, first.
My Pharmaceutical Labelling Bill requires drug companies to put clearer labels on their medicines, to warn users if they might become drowsy when driving or using machinery.
The Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau Bill, means that if someone is injured at work and the employer had broken the law by not having insurance, then the injured person would still be compensated.
We already have this system for victims of negligent uninsured motorists; we should have the same for negligent employers.
The British Museum (Amendment) Bill permits the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece. They represent Greece’s national identity and the pieces we have belong in Greece, reunited with the rest of the sculptures.
The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill helps people suffering from asbestos illnesses to get the recompense they need.
The Land Use (Garden Protection) Bill is of considerable importance in Hendon. At present, a garden is classed as “brownfield”. It can be developed with little planning control. Back gardens should be zoned as “greenfield”, to prevent excessive overdevelopment.
The Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill requires museums to offer the owner of Nazi-looted artwork the chance to decide whether they want it back.
My Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill is one I have long campaigned for. The civil service recruitment provisions have some ancient, discriminatory rules which need reform.
If someone is tortured by a foreign government (and there are many nasty regimes around), then they can’t claim against that country’s assets in the UK. My Torture (Damages) Bill would allow this.
If we are serious about protecting the rainforest, then wood from illegally-cut timber must not be used in the UK. The Illegally Logged Timber Bill makes it an offence to sell timber from illegal logging.
My Human Rights Act (Meaning of Public Authority) Bill extends the protection of the Human Rights Act to privatised services.
I have made some progress: the Government accepts the rules should apply to care homes, so residents are treated with dignity, and they can challenge decisions to evict them or close the home.
However, most privatised services are not covered. They should be.
Lastly, the Arm-enian Genocide Bill. In 1915, more than a million Armenians were murdered in the first genocide of the last century.
Hitler once said: “Who remembers the Armenians now?” We should recognise the realities of history.
Of course, not all these 12 Bills will become law. Maybe none of them will. But in the past, I have used this strategy to persuade the Government about Holocaust Memorial Day, and a new offence of corporate manslaughter.
My Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill, became law, helping Jewish women seeking a divorce.
Ministers have already approached me to support some of my Bills, so I may be lucky again this year.
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