Blogminster » MP Blogs

'Alan Turing Update: The Campaign goes on' -- John Leech (Lib Dem)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:08:44 +0000

No campaign worth its salt gives up at the first knock back. I understand why Lord McNally answered the question regarding Alan Turing’s pardon the way he did, but how can we tell other countries that they shouldn’t have anti-gay … Continue reading →…

'Column in Morley Observer' -- Ed Balls (Lab & Co-op)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:53 +0000

By the time this goes to print the snow may have melted away. But as I write it’s a foot deep in our garden in Castleford and the sun shining on the snow is fabulous. With temperatures plummeting, we are being told to wrap up and stay indoors. But while for many of us the stress of the cold weather is about roads being clear to get to work or school, for many pensioners, the worry is whether they can afford to keep warm.…

'Europe and the polls' -- Douglas Carswell (Con)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:15:00 +0000

In December last year, the PM vetoed a new EU treaty. We overtook Labour in the polls and enjoyed the highest popularity ratings since the election.

In January this year, the PM watered down the veto and caved into Euro dealmaking as usual. Labour this morning is apparently back to 5 points ahead in the polls.

How much of an expert political strategist do you have to be not to draw the obvious conclusions? …

'How could Greece exit the Euro legally?' -- John Redwood (Con)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:04:38 +0000

There is no exit in the Consolidated Treaties for countries needing to leave the Euro. There is no provision for a country to organise its own departure, and no provision for a vote of the other members to expel a member state. As the existing members in the Euro wish to remain members, that would seem to be an end to the discussion.

However, the Consolidated Treaties do require Euro members to conform to the convergence criteria and obligations of membership. These include tough targets for debts and deficits which many states do not meet. Those states that are far away from meeting these requirements are the most vulnerable to politcal and legal pressures from within the Union.

In practice, when a member state is no longer able to borrow the money it needs to finance itself in the markets, it is forced into a political negotiation with the rest of the Euro area. Such a member state seeks loans from the Euro area and from the …

'The Year of the Dragon' -- Robert Halfon (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Harlow has one of the largest Chinese Community Centres outside any major City in the UK. It is not just a meeting place, but a school, a centre of adult learning and also a club for the local Chinese.

On Sunday, I was invited to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Dragon - a very special occasion. Food and special ceremonies abounded.

The pictures give a flavour of what was a very special event.promoted by Russell Perrin on behalf of Robert Halfon all at Harlow Conservatives, Latton Bush centre, Harlow, Essex…

'Compulsion' -- Kerry McCarthy (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:40:41 +0000

Well I had a fun evening last night… I may as well have stayed in Parliament for the late night adjournment debate on Early Day Motions, which you can read here. I have also replied to the comments on the NHS risk register post below… And I think that is where we are going to leave it.

Tonight the House of Commons is debating metal theft. So here’s some Test Department. To think I saw them in the basement bar at Liverpool Uni something like 27 years ago…

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'The most insulting accusation' -- Paul Flynn (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:17:25 +0000

Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): I congratulate the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on obtaining the debate.

The hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mark Field) has reminded me of the extraordinary genius that produced “Peppa Pig”. In the past fortnight I have seen Père Cochon and Maman Cochon, watching on Gallic television, as I do frequently—and there is a Dada Moch and a Mama Moch—in versions of “Peppa Pig”. Why should young children including my many grandchildren be fascinated by a mutant pig with both eyes on one side of her face? That, I presume, is explained by the nature of errant genius.

I speak with a special interest in the matter, because the Intellectual Property Office has the great good luck to be located in the wide open spaces of Newport West. When it was the Patent Office, its relocation was cited in the Lyons report as the exemplar of a splendid, profitable and intellectually successful relocation. I remind the House …

'The most insulting accusation' -- Paul Flynn (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:17:25 +0000

Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): I congratulate the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on obtaining the debate.

'Crooked Mile speed limit reduction is good news – but more needs to be done' -- Robert Halfon (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:25:00 +0000

A move by Essex County Council to reduce the speed limit on a notorious stretch of Crooked Mile is to be welcomed. It has been the scene of numerous accidents in recent years.

However more needs to be done.

Last week, three people were taken to hospital following a collision on the road which runs between Nazeing and Waltham Abbey.

This week I have launched a petition - SEE HERE… - calling for road safety measures on the Crooked Mile. The county council issued a public notice proposing to reduce the speed limit on nearly 5,000 metres of the road to 50mph.

This is something that I have urged them to do for almost a year.

Last October, for example, I met with a constituent whose grandson and his girlfriend were unfortunately killed on the road in February 2011. I subsequently contacted the highways authority to join the efforts of local councillors on this issue.

Incidents, including the one last week, have only reinforced my view that the current unrestricted speed

'Motions for an “early day”' -- Steven Baker (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:22:51 +0000

Last night’s adjournment debate on Early Day Motions (EDMs) was a welcome push towards reform of this outdated, expensive and ineffective piece of Parliamentary theatre. I found it surprisingly well attended. The Chairman of the Procedure Committee was present and undertook to convey the thrust of debate to the Committee. As many constituents know, I…

'Meeting East Yorkshire Buses To Discuss Route Changes' -- Andrew Percy (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:25 +0000

I recently met Peter Shipp of East Yorkshire Motor Services to discuss the changes to bus services in the Goole area. Residents have been particularly concerned about the changes to the 156/155 bus, with people expressing disappointment of the loss of a direct link to Goole Hospital.

Peter explained the changes to me in some depth and also provided me with the usage numbers for this service, explaining that the the 156/155 route between Goole and South Cave has lost money for some time.

Peter did explain that EYMS responded to this by extending the express services X55 and X56 which does provide a faster link between Goole and Hull, taking in many local villages along the way. I was told that due to timetabling it is not possible for this route to service the Hospital due to the added time that would be needed in the timetable. The extension of the express services is something of a gamble for EYMS and it is therefore important that, …

'Concerns grow over brutal repression in Syria' -- Caroline Lucas (Greens)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:57:13 +0000

This week we have seen more brutal repression of Syrian democracy activists, especially in the city of Homs.

I asked the Foreign Secretary whether he had any plans to expel the Syrian ambassador, as has been called for by the Syrian National Council and Tunisia, the first country to be liberated from a despot in the Arab spring.

Such a move would de-recognise the murderous and criminal Assad regime, and a number of Arab countries are now following Tunisia's lead.

You can read the Foreign Secretary's response to my question here.

Sanctions will also play an important role in putting pressure on the regime, although it's crucial to ensure they do not make things worse for the civilian population whose daily lives have been deeply deteriorating over recent months.

And I very much hope that the UK will do its best to encourage the setting up of humanitarian corridors at the Syrian-Turkish borders, with a view to protecting Syrian refugees and anyone fleeing the country to escape the ongoing military repression. …

'English Votes for English Laws' -- Robert Halfon (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Today I asked the Deputy Prime Minister about English Votes for English Laws. This is commonly known as the West Lothian Question.

Please read my question and its response below:

Robert Halfon (Harlow): "Thank you Mr. Speaker. Treasury figures show that every English household, pays £420 in Tax to subsidies Scottish services. This means that Harlow families from my constituency are sending £16million a year to Scotland. Is it not time to readdress the balance and have English votes for English laws."

Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister): "Well Mr Speaker, I'm sure he'll want to take the opportunity to make his views known to the commission. But the commission its self, of course is focused, as my Hon. Friend has just explained on procedures in this House, as they are effected by the process of devolution. So I'm not sure, if his concerns will be directly relevant to the central terms of reference of the commission."

I have spoken about this issue in the House before.

Please click one of the links below to read my other Blog posts on this issue.

Post 1, …

'My iPad is my own!' -- Steven Baker (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:49:51 +0000

A story in The Sun today – MPs vote to have an iPad … in £400k bid to save paper costs - says MPs will be issued with iPads to save paper – at a cost of £400,000 to the taxpayer. Top range iPads are £659 but the Commons would expect a discount for buying in bulk.…

'NEWS: South Swindon MP supports stalking law reform' -- Robert Buckland (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:40:04 +0000

Today Member of Parliament for South Swindon, Robert Buckland, helped launch the ‘Independent Parliamentary Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform; Main Findings and Recommendations’ report. The report and recommendations arising from the Independent Parliamentary Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform is [...]…

'Liverpool Age Concern' -- Luciana Berger (Lab & Co-op)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:38:25 +0000

Last week I visited Age Concern in Liverpool. It was fantastic to see for myself the huge range of support and services the charity offers to older people.

The charity does a lot to encourage healthy lifestyles including promoting physical activity and healthy cooking. They showed me the care packages on offer and we discussed their concerns about government cuts to social care budgets including cuts to moderate care. They are concerned that this will really impact on the quality of care and as a charity are having to do much more fundraising to maintain the service.

Fuel poverty and the cost of electricity and gas is also a major cause for concern for the charity. Working with Mersey Fire support Network they have introduced a dangerous heating amnesty. There are 140 free radiators available, which will be given out to people who are aged 65 and over, who have an old out-dated heater. Each of Liverpool’s seven fire stations have 20 to give away and they will be available …

'Welfare Reform Bill and Benefit Cap' -- Andrew Bingham (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:04:04 +0000

After much publicity the Welfare Reform Bill returned to the Commons this week for consideration of the amendments suggested by the House of Lords.

All Bills go to the House of Lords who debate them in a similar way to the MPs in the House of Commons. They then discuss, propose and vote on amendments they would wish to see to a Bill. Once that is done it returns to MPs who then consider those amendments.

There was much media talk about an amendment championed by the Bishops in the Lords around the proposed benefit cap. The benefit cap would set a limit on the total amount of benefit any family could receive. The proposals are that this limit would be set at the national average wage - currently standing at £26,000 per year. The Bishops wished to see child benefit removed from this calculation.

£26,000 is higher than the average wage in the High Peak by almost £4,000 and someone in employment would have to earn approximately £35,000 to …

'The Power of None' -- Douglas Carswell (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:24:00 +0000

What do UK contributions to Eurozone bailouts, the failure to deport Abu Qatada and wind farms each have in common?

They are, explained my constituent, “the sort of things I voted Conservative to stop. Yet they just seem to happen anyway”.

No one voted to allow industrial-size wind turbines to march across the countryside, changing the English landscape forever. Yet officialdom is actively encouraging it. For all the talk of localism giving people more power, it is often impossible for local people to make more than token objections. Worse, every householder is now forced to pay for wind farms via hidden surcharges on their energy bills.

No one seems quite sure when it was decided that we could no longer deport people we do not want to live in our country. But it just sort of happened - and nothing any politician says about it seems to make any difference.

We thought that we had stayed out of Europe’s single currency. Yet under governments of all three parties, we have somehow been slipped the bill to prop it up. When …

'Jon supports Homes for Heroes plan' -- Jon Cruddas (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:48:32 +0000

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has backed recent government plans to offer ex-service personnel help with housing.

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has backed recent government plans to offer ex-service personnel help with housing, including giving priority to those who want a home.

The importance of the new initiative was highlighted when Jon was approached for help by veteran soldier Simon Steadman.

Simon, who spent 12 years in the army, has recently moved into a home in Dagenham under the new scheme.

Simon was pointed towards the scheme by Jon, after turning to his MP for help.

'Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in South Derbyshire' -- Heather Wheeler (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:33:03 +0000

Following on from my post on the 18th of January cold weather payments have now been triggered in the following postcodes in South Derbyshire.

DE1, DE11, DE12, DE13, DE14, DE15, DE2, DE23, DE24, DE3, DE6, DE65, DE7, DE72, DE73, LE6, LE65… This means that the average temperature has been zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days. Cold Weather payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit during periods of very cold weather. The payment is a fixed amount of £25. Payments are made automatically to those entitled to them and normally take about three working days to reach the recipient's account. There should be no need to make a claim, but people who think they may be entitled but did not receive a payment should contact the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, or Jobcentre Plus.

'Community Focus: Liberty Credit Union' -- Jon Cruddas (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:08:23 +0000

Liberty Credit Union tell us about their work.

“Exciting times are ahead as we have just negotiated our first permanent base in Vicarage Field Shopping Centre in Barking. We are looking to open by the end of March 2012 which will make our services even more accessible - you can of course join in our existing temporary site at Vicarage Field (details below).

'Jon questions fairness of CCTV smart cars' -- Jon Cruddas (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:53 +0000

Last Friday Jon Cruddas was in Rainham to discuss the local council’s controversial use of CCTV smart cars to target local shoppers and residents. He met with John Kirkwood, a small businessman in Rainham, who is unhappy about Havering council’s use of the CCTV cars which he feels is damaging businesses in the area. This highly controversial policy has proved disastrously unpopular amongst traders, residents and shoppers alike, with claims that it is harming an already struggling high street and is unfairly targeting local residents.

'10 minute Rule Bill: Road Safety' -- John Leech (Lib Dem)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:03:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions for a 10 minute rule bill. I have amalgameted several suggestions around road safety and the bill is reproduced below. “That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require drivers to … Continue reading →…

'BLOG: Neighbourhood Justice Panels to be piloted in Swindon' -- Robert Buckland (Con)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:02:51 +0000

At the end of last year, I wrote about my support for the idea of Neighbourhood Justice Panels, and said I’d be lobbying hard for Swindon to be part of the government’s pilot project. As you may have read on the front page of yesterday’s Adver, we’ve been successful. I’m delighted that Swindon [...]…

'Ken’s policing pledge for London' -- Tom Watson (Lab)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:29:43 +0000

Ken Livingstone today launched a new campaign against rising violent crime and police cuts in London, pledging to:

1. Reverse Boris Johnson’s cuts to 1700 police officers

2. Reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams, more of which will be beefed up to a minimum of nine officers, reversing the Tory Mayor’s cut to 300 sergeants in 2011.

According to the Metropolitan Police violent crimes such as robbery, residential burglary and rape have all risen while police have been cut. Knife crime has risen every year under Boris Johnson.

Police officer numbers peaked in 2010 at 33,260 officers. According to the Metropolitan Police there are currently just 31,657 officers in London. On Tuesday 24th January 2012 Boris Johnson admitted cutting 1700 police officers on LBC.

Ken Livingstone said,

“Boris Johnson has admitted cutting 1,700 police officers. If I am elected, I will reverse his cuts. And I will reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams, more of which will be beefed up to a minimum of nine officers.…