MORECAMBE BAY TRAGEDY AND REGULATION OF GANGMASTERS

Early day motion 581, tabled 9 February 2004 by Geraldine Smith (Labour). Signed by 79 members.

That this House is shocked and saddened by the deaths of 19 young men and women in Morecambe Bay in tragic circumstances; offers sympathy to the families and friends of the bereaved; pays tribute to all those in the emergency services who undertook a rescue operation in appalling weather conditions with great expertise and remarkable courage, and to the Lancashire Police for the prompt and effective manner of their investigation into this tragic incident; notes the appalling conditions these young people were working under; further notes the probable link with gangmasters; and calls on the Government to legislate for a mandatory licensing scheme to regulate the operation of gangmasters.

Signatures by party: Labour 64, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1.