Annette's question came as MPs queried the ministerial team over standards in the private rented sector.

Annette asked: "What is the Department's view on local landlord accreditation schemes, and what advice does he give on such schemes to local authorities?"

Having had a good experience with a local accreditation scheme run by Poole Borough District Council, Annette sought to highlight the positive impacts these schemes can have in raising standards.

In his response, Grant Shapps, the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, confirmed his support for such schemes. He said, "local accreditation and licensing schemes can be good value for local people." He also highlighted the flexibility of these schemes, noting their ability to meet local needs, and concluded; "it can be fitted in with what the community …

Organised by Bupa in partnership with MEND, the Youth Sport Trust and Diabetes UK, Annette joined other Members of Parliament on the walk, which took in some of London's most famous landmarks.

Commenting on the walk, Annette said: "I can't wait to find out if I've won. The walk was fun and made even better with the prospect of winning some equipment for people in my constituency. Fingers crossed.

Martin George, Managing Director, Group Development, Bupa, said: "It's great that Members of Parliament are taking part in the Bupa 'Get Moving' Challenge to be in with a chance of winning sports equipment for a local school or sports club. Bupa and our partners [MEND, Youth Sport Trust and Diabetes UK] are committed …

Friday January 27th will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history - and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In signing the Book of Commitment, Annette paid tribute to the extraordinary men and women who having survived the Holocaust, work to educate young people about what they endured, through the Holocaust Educational Trust's Outreach programme.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged …

She raised the issue during Treasury Questions in the House of Commons. Questions were taken by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander due to the Chancellor's attendance at the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council.

Annette spoke out on this following the Institute for Fiscal Studies' assertion that the Autumn Statement's "new tax and benefit measures are, on average, a takeaway from lower-income families with children."

Specifically she asked what more actions could be taken to make our tax system fairer. Annette highlighted some possible approaches including "a demonstrable crackdown on tax avoidance, perhaps a mansion tax, and certainly more progressive tax measures".

In responding Mr Alexander asserted that the tax system had become fairer under this government and that "the bank levy, the increase in capital gains tax, changes to pensions tax relief and the maintenance of …

Annette was told that patients are waiting longer for treatment as NHS physiotherapy services struggle to cope with budget cuts and staff shortages.

She was attending the parliamentary launch of 'Stretched to the Limit', a hard-hitting report from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) which draws on an analysis of statistics gained through an audit of all primary care trusts (PCTs) in England using freedom of information laws; plus two separate surveys of physiotherapy managers.

The audit found that in the worst case, patients are waiting up to 27 weeks to access physiotherapy, potentially causing their condition to worsen.

Nearly two thirds of managers surveyed by the CSP said they do not expect to have sufficient resources to meet demand for physiotherapy services this financial year.

Commenting on the report, Annette said: "Physiotherapy services play a vital role in …

6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity's report proposes that 1,200 babies' lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.

Annette, pictured at last Wednesday's event with bereaved parents and local residents Emma and Nick Johnston, pledged her support for the Sands campaign.

She said: "I was shocked to discover the scale of baby deaths in the UK. 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day, with stillbirth being the largest contributor to child deaths under the age of five years. These deaths have a devastating impact on parents and their families, and I fully support Sands in …

Annette first praised those in her constituency that voluntarily pick up litter, citing Canford Heath Community Litter Pickers. She then asked Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what more will she would do to empower local councils to take effective action against people in vehicles who are responsible for roadside littering. The question raised audible approval from across the house.

In response Mrs Spelman accepted that the problem was a serious one and cited a number of potential actions. She accepted the need for a broad approach to the issue and said that, "we have to start in schools by educating children and taking them with us on litter picks, because it then dawns on them what a nuisance this is."

She …

Annette Brooke, who represents Mid Dorset and North Poole, is backing the Daylight Saving Bill which receives its Third Reading in the House of Commons tomorrow. The bill calls on the Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the costs and benefits of putting clocks forward an hour throughout the UK, resulting in lighter evenings every day of the year.

"The arguments in favour of clock change are compelling. This one simple low-cost policy could bring wide ranging benefits to the whole of the UK including saving lives on our roads, creating much needed jobs in the tourism sector and reducing the fear of crime on dark evenings." said Annette Brooke MP.

Supporters argue that lighter evenings would save lives on our roads by making more of our busiest evening rush hours occur in daylight, create jobs by boosting the tourism sector, and make many people, especially older …

Help is at hand through Big Energy Week (16-21 January 2012) which is being run by Citizens Advice - and has received support from local MP Annette Brooke.

During Big Energy Week you can get practical advice on cutting your fuel bills and help to see if you are getting all of the financial support you are entitled to. You can pick up a leaflet with tips and advice on cutting your fuel bills at your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

A new website - www.bigenergyweek.org.uk - is full of tips on how to cut your energy bills. The website also has details of local Big Energy Week events in your area.

Citizens Advice, Chief Executive, Gillian Guy said: "We know hikes in prices have put extra pressure on people's budgets at a time when money is already tight. Day in day out our Bureaux is helping people who can't afford …

Annette's concerns are shared by many of her constituents, who want to protect the playing fields for use by the community and the children of Wareham. Annette's question comes as part of a campaign by local people to oppose proposals by Dorset County Council to sell off a large proportion of the playing fields for development.

In his response Nick Gibb stated that Dorset County Council had not, as of yet, filed an application to sell the playing fields. Under rules laid down by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the county council would have to seek approval from the Secretary of State in order to sell the fields.

He further assured …

The Bill seeks to introduce a business rate retention scheme which will allow councils to raise over 80% of their revenues locally and give them a stake in supporting local shops and companies. Annette argued that "the proposals in the Bill will move us away from a complex, non-transparent, centralised system, which offered no built-in incentives for councils to drive economic growth."

Annette, who welcomed the Government's recent announcements of a £100m Empty Homes programme to bring vacant properties back into use, supported the bill's proposals to introduce "an empty home premium after a property has been empty for two years." This means the council, under certain circumstances, could have …

Meningitis is still a serious and life-threatening disease, affecting around 3,400 people in the UK each year. Infants and young people are at greatest risk: meningitis causes the largest number of deaths amongst children under five - more than any other infectious disease.

The Meningitis Matters campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease and ensure that the NHS reforms do not have a destabilising effect on meningitis research, surveillance and immunisation rates.

Supporting the campaign, Annette Brooke MP met with Nicky and Matt McClure, local constituents and parents of meningitis survivor Megan, in Parliament this week, to find out more about the diseases, and how the lives and outcomes of those affected could be improved.

Along with other MPs, Annette Brooke MP has signed an Early Day Motion (EDM 2476) …

Annette accepted that given the coalition's proposed policy changes, there are some potentially amazing opportunities-specifically within the Health and Social Care Bill, but added that the Government needs to grasp those opportunities and address the issues that are seen as threats.

Among the concerns she raised, Annette pressed the Minister on the need for measures to ensure that the Secretary of State, the NHS Commissioning Board, …

MPs from all major political parties were joined by representatives from twenty organisations who are calling on the coalition government to deliver on their agreement that enforcement agencies should "target irresponsible owners of dangerous dogs." Those present are hoping to successfully introduce a government Bill in the Queen's Speech next year updating current dog control legislation to improve public and worker safety as well as animal welfare and reduce the costs of enforcement to the public purse.

The issue of irresponsible dog ownership covers many different areas, from allowing dogs to foul or stray, to encouraging them to be dangerously out of control, contributing to anti-social behaviour or even using them as a weapon. There is much evidence that dog ownership has a benefit to society when the dog is …

The reception heard from Transport Minister Norman Baker MP; Sir Bert Massie, one of the founders of the Railcard; and Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), Michael Roberts.

Annette also welcomed new figures released by ATOC, which manages the Railcard, showing that record numbers of people with disabilities are getting about by train, with 3.5 million trips made last year.

Launched in 1981, the Railcard was the first of its kind in Europe and offers cardholders and a friend or companion travelling with them 1/3 off the cost of most train tickets on the National Rail network. Journeys made using the Railcard have more than doubled in the last 15 years.

On average last year, Disabled Persons Railcard holders made 29 journeys and saved £99 on rail travel. If they had held a Railcard …

Around one in four economically active adults is functionally innumerate. A survey by the UK Payments Council has found a notable lack of knowledge around the meaning of some of the most common financial terms, for example, only 36% of people understand that the term APR relates to payments. Moreover, lack of financial education has cost Brits nearly £250 million in charges and penalties alone, with almost a quarter (24%) having been hit by charges because they don't understand the terms and conditions of financial products, according to research from uSwitch.com.

A survey carried out by the inquiry found that in schools across England the existing provision of personal finance education is ad hoc, with …

The session brought MPs together with a member of the police force, the consumer rights agency Consumer Focus and various park home stakeholders to discuss the pressing issues that surround the industry.

Consensus among the independent experts met with willingness from MPs and the group agreed upon a number of specific actions to take forward. MPs agreed to contact the Association of Chief Police Officers to call for a single officer to lead on park home issues within the police force.

They also agreed to invite Grant Shapps MP, a Minister at the Department of Communities and Local Government, to attend the next meeting of the APPG - importantly his department will be publishing a consultation on the park homes industry in the New Year. The MPs also agreed to keep pressure up on the Government over park home …

Annette's question focused on the reduced spending on services for those with lesser needs. Annette pointed out that this may prove a false economy as smaller interventions today may prevent the need for more serious interventions in the future. She also highlighted the difficult situation being faced by many councils across the southwest region in trying to fund increasingly expensive social care bills.

Specifically, Annette sought more freedom for councils to act proactively. She asked if Mr Neill would, "consider making it easier to invest to save, so that we can have important interventions now rather than later?"

In his response Mr Neill highlighted the need to give councils proper flexibility to manage their budgets to meet local needs. He also offered to meet …

Annette's question focused on the reduced spending on services for those with lesser needs. Annette pointed out that this may prove a false economy as smaller interventions today may prevent the need for more serious interventions in the future. She also highlighted the difficult situation being faced by many councils across the southwest region in trying to fund increasingly expensive social care bills.

Specifically, Annette sought more freedom for councils to act proactively. She asked if Mr Neill would, "consider making it easier to invest to save, so that we can have important interventions now rather than later?"

In his response Mr Neill highlighted the need to give councils proper flexibility to manage their budgets to meet local needs. He also offered to meet …

During Department of Energy and Climate Change Oral Questions in the House of Commons, Annette asked whether schemes designed to help struggling households pay their fuel bills could be made available to those in park homes, as many park home owners had previously been ineligible for assistance. Site owners are likely to buy in bulk and then resell, perhaps at quite a high price, meaning park home owners cannot apply for assistance. In his answer Mr Huhne both acknowledged the extent of the problem and promised action to "get to the bottom of this."

Annette also pressed Mr Huhne to better promote the benefits of the Green Deal on offer to park home …

This meeting came after Annette asked Prime Minister David Cameron why the Government is lagging in its promises to stamp out the abuse, intimidation and harassment seen on many park home sites across the country during Prime Minister's Questions on 9th November. In his answer, the Prime Minister confirmed the Government's commitment to increase rights and protections for park home owners, and promised to arrange a meeting between Annette and Housing Minister Grant Shapps to discuss the urgent action needed.

During a productive meeting Annette and Mr Shapps discussed a number of issues which face park home owners. Annette is pleased to report that Mr Shapps is committed to giving park home owners proper protection under the law, and the Department of Communities and Local Government will soon be publishing a consultation on park homes issues.…

Annette took part in an event in Parliament on Wednesday 23 November which saw a cross-party group of MPs and peers having their photograph taken in front of hundreds of handmade kites designed by campaigners from around the country to symbolise their support for women's rights in Afghanistan.

The campaign - led by ActionAid UK, Amnesty International UK, CARE UK, GAPS, Womankind Worldwide and Women for Women International - has seen 18,000 campaigners petition the UK government to support Afghan women's rights, with more than 8,000 kites designed.

Campaigners are using the kite symbol because in Afghanistan women and girls make kites but are effectively prevented from actually flying them because of cultural attitudes that make it socially unacceptable.

Annette said:

"This is an important campaign which I'm very pleased to support. If the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan is not front and centre of peace …

Annette enquired about the details for reinvigorating the Right to Buy Scheme - which facilitates the acquisition of homes for social tenants. Specifically, she questioned how the Government planned to meet its commitment 'that for every home bought under Right to Buy, a new affordable home will be built.' She also asked how the Minister would ensure that, if there was an overwhelming need for family homes, that two bedroom flats would not be built instead.

In responding to Annette's question, the Minister promised action in the form of a report detailing how the promise will be fulfilled.

Annette said: "The Government's new Housing Strategy is certainly a step in the right direction and will go some way to alleviate the current housing shortage. I particularly welcome the added assistance given to build more affordable homes. Helping the construction industry get back …

The event comes after Bliss found that one in every three units caring for premature and sick babies in England are making cuts to their nursing workforce through redundancies, freezing vacancies or downgrading nurses. Bliss released a report last year that found that 1,150 extra neonatal nurses were needed to provide care for premature and sick babies. Since then, almost 140 frontline nursing posts have been cut, putting vulnerable babies at risk. Bliss wants all babies to receive the highest level of care delivered by the right number of specialist nursing staff as there is strong evidence to show that increasing the ratio of specialist nurses to babies in intensive care heightens their chance of survival …