News Releases
If you would like to be kept up to date with the latest news from Alan Whitehead's office, please email
news@alan-whitehead.org.uk
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2010
December 21st: Youtube interview on fees
A few weeks ago Alan gave an interview to local student Stuart Appleby covering his stance on top-up fees, the economy, a graduate tax, and other issues. You can now watch the interview below.
December 16th: Southampton faces double the cuts claimed by Pickles
The Tory Government is cutting funding for Southampton City Council by more than twice the amount claimed by Eric Pickles on Wednesday, according to figures uncovered by Alan Whitehead. More information
December 13th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – Telephone briefing with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group. Socialist Environment and Resources Association Executive meeting.
- See more of Alan's week.
December 10th: Protect the Civil Service Sports Ground
Alan Whitehead has written to city planners calling on them to reject a new bid by property developers to use the ex-Civil Service Sports Ground in Freemantle for housing. More information.
December 8th: Why Alan will vote YES for electoral reform
Alan Whitehead has co-signed a letter to the Guardian with 50+ leading Labour figures backing a YES vote in the upcoming referendum on changing the voting system. Read the letter here.
December 6th: Monthly Report for November 2010
Alan's Monthly MP's Report for November 2010 is now online. This report covers his meeting with residents at Erskine Court; support for Southampton port; private rented housing regulations; and the local impact of housing benefit cuts.
29th November: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday – Meeting with the Chief Executive of Southampton PCT. Meeting with Coxford councillors regarding anti-social behaviour in Lordshill. Staff meeting. Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
- See more of Alan's week
November 26th: Privatisation risks future of post offices
Plans for a wholsale privatisation of the Royal Mail risk the future of post offices across the country, Alan Whitehead said today. More information.
November 25th: *Still* against higher fees
You can read Alan's case against raising student fees here
November 24th: Tory HMO plans are toothless and tokenistic
The Tories have come forward with revised plan to regulate HMO landlords- but in practice it will leave most communities powerless, Alan Whitehead said today. More information.
November 22nd: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – Staff meeting. Speaking at a Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership event. Meeting regarding the regulation of houses in multiple occupation. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
- See more of Alan's week.
November 15th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – Meeting with the Trees Day Care Nursery Chief Executive regarding business rates.
- Tuesday - Standards and Privileges Select Committee meeting. Meeting with IP Plc regarding carbon floor price. Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group meeting. Delegated Legislation Committee on houses in multiple occupation
- See more of Alan's week
November 2nd: No public inquiry, no explanation
Alan Whitehead yesterday slammed the way the Conservatives and the Lib Dems are removing key requirements for the Boundary Commission to consult with local people before drawing up new constituency boundaries. Alan said:
"This is a complete rejection of all those previous checks and balances, and a rejection of the principles put forward by the Deputy Leader of the House, for whom I have a great deal of respect, but who would have made exactly the same arguments about public representation, the public's say and the due process of democracy until one day before the election."
November 2nd: Government must uphold cruise ruling
Southampton’s Labour MPs have spoken out against Liverpool City Council’s new application for turnaround cruises from its publicly funded Liner terminal.
November 1st: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – staff meetings. Voting & correspondence. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
- Tuesday - Standards and Privileges and Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings. Meeting regarding human rights in Palestine. Meeting with the Energy Services and Technology Association regarding the Green Investment Bank. Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group & Associate Parliamentary Design and Innovation Group seminar 'Resource Efficient Living: Behaviour Change by Design'. Meeting with ESBI regarding carbon capture and storage and the Marchwood Power Station. Meeting with E.ON regarding energy policy. Green Business Awards
- See more of Alan's week
October 26th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – staff meetings. Constituency corespondence. Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.
- Tuesday - Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting. Meeting with Which? Advocacy regarding energy tariffs. Environmental Audit and Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting with six Rwandan MPs. Chairing Parliamentary Labour Party Energy and Climate Change Group and Environment Food and Rural Affairs Group meeting. Compassion in World Farming briefing regarding the implications of industrial-style dairy farming in the UK.
- See more of Alan's week
October 25th: Congratulations to residents of Erskine Court!
On Saturday Alan met with residents of Erskine Court to talk about the Council reversing it's decision to evict them from their homes. It's a fantastic victory for the residents- and now the work goes on to make sure the Council treats the Court in the same way as every other sheltered block in the city. More information.
October 22nd: The Comprehensive Spending Review- key points
Alan has published a summary of the main cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review and what many will mean in real terms for people living in Southampton. Find out more.
October 21st: Monthly MP's Report
Alan's Monthly MP's Report for October 2010 is now online. It covers Alan's work on the Portswood Sainsburys plan, Council proposals to knock down Erskine Court, student fees, and more. Read Alan's October report.
October 21st: "Vindictive and spiteful" legislation that takes power away from local people
Watch Alan's speech on the Local Government Bill, where he slams the government for taking the decision of how local services are run away from local people.
October 20th: Osbourne is gambling with the economy and people's livelihoods
Alan Whitehead and John Denham have slammed the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review for families, businesses and public services in Southampton. More information.
October 18th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday – Speaking at Solar UK Conference on key engagement with the UK Parliament on solar. Interview with Wave 105 regarding the Comprehensive Spending Review. Meeting with Meg Hillier MP. Socialist Environment and Resources Association Executive Committee meeting.
- See more of Alan's week.
October 14th: Leading the fight for £60 million Green Ports fund
Alan Whitehead yesterday organised a debate in the House of Commons on the future of a £60 million fund to regenerate UK port economies like Southampton to enable them to build offshore wind farms and generate low-carbon energy for the UK. More information
October 13th: The vital climate change promise the Coalition cannot be allowed to forget about
Almost half of the UK's climate changing emissions comes from heating homes and water. The Coalition Government has so far failed to address this in any of their statements on green policy. Alan Whitehead has been pressing them to stick by their promise to tackle this problem. More information.
October 12th: Alan keeps his promise to oppose a rise in student fees
Alan Whitehead has kept his promise to oppose plans that could see all but the richest students priced out of the market for a university education.
October 11th: Meetings from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday – Video interview with Renewable UK for Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday ‘Offshore wind infrastructure competition’. Meeting regarding renewable energy.
- See more of Alan's week
October 8th: Southampton to lose £2 million to wealthier towns thanks to Coalition housing "incentives"
Southampton faces a gaping £2 million council tax black hole thanks to the dogmatic and ideological new house-building “incentives” being rushed through by the Tory-Lib Dem government.. More information
October 6th: Portswood Sainsburys must meet sustainability test
Sainsburys must show how its store will contribute to a sustainable future for Portswood- or its new store plans should be rejected, Alan Whitehead said today. More information
September 27th: Extracts from Alan'd diary this week
- Monday – National Housing Federation seminar regarding the housing crisis. Meetings with the Retail Motor Industry Federation, British Gas, Construction Skills and Renewable UK. Chairing a Fabian Society seminar regarding low carbon 2050 targets. Speaking at Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group seminar regarding retrofit (green) housing. Micropower Council/ Socialist Environment and Resources Association event. Labour Friends of Palestine event.
- See more from Alan's diary this week
September 21st: Recess Report
Alan's latest MP's report is now online. This report covers the continuing BSF campaign, as well as his work on HMO landlord regulations and the Coalition's Boundary Review. Read Alan's latest report.
September 20th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday – Meeting with Southampton Black Heritage regarding the lease on their building. Two Saints homeless charity ‘Places of Change’ launch event. Event to commemorate the contribution of the Polish Air Force to the Battle of Britain 1940.
- See more of Alan's week
September 17th: Upper Shirley High- a case in point of the need for BSF funding
Before the electio, Upper Shirley High was days away from getting £20 million from the government for a total rebuild of the school. The funding was needed to deal with several major works that had already been put off, as well as adapting the school for mixed sex status. More information.
September 13th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
Monday – Meeting with S/W Hants Lift regarding education and health projects. Meeting with the Chief Executive of Solent MIND regarding Bedford House. Interview for a Keele University research project on social democratic parties and climate change. Labour Party event for new members in the South East.
See more of Alan's weekly diary.
September 9th: Warning against police cuts
Southampton’s Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead have reacted to news that the Coalition’s cuts to police budgets could see up to 108 fewer police constables on Hampshire’s streets. More information
September 9th: New Shelter research shows the need to keep tough landlord regulations
Southampton’s Labour MPs have called on the government not to scrap Labour’s tough new regulations on private landlords, in the light of new research by a leading housing charity Shelter. More information
September 8th: Decent Homes improvements must be completed, despite Connaught collapse
Alan Whitehead MP has demanded Southampton City Council guarantee that Decent Homes improvements in the west of the city still go ahead. The call came after the company contracted to do deliver Decent Homes Improvements to Council homes across Southampton went into administration. More information.
31st July: Website on hiatus
Alan's website will not be updated for the next two weeks, as the webmaster is on leave. You can still get in touch with Alan using the details here.
26th July: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday - Third Delegated Legislation Committee to consider the draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Consequential Amendments No. 3) Order 2010. Meeting regarding using community organising to deliver local change.
- See more from Alan's week
July 19th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday - Meeting with the Chief Officer of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Meeting with the Director of the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association
- See more of Alan's week
July 19th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday - Meeting with the Chief Officer of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Meeting with the Director of the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association
- See more of Alan's week
July 15th: Save Millbrook Library!
Alan Whitehead and Millbrook Labour Councillor David Furnell have launched a new petition calling on the Council to guarantee the future of Millbrook Library.
The Council has so far refused to guarantee they will provide a new library as part of the redevelopment of Cumbrian Way.
You can read about the campaign and sign the petition here.
July 12th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday - Chairing All Party Parliamentary Renewable Transport Fuels Group AGM. Labour Party South East event. Micropower Council event regarding the microgeneration strategy, air source heat pumps and micro-wind.
- See more from Alan's week
July 9th: Campaigning against the VAT bombshell
Andy Burnham, Ed Balls, Ed Milband and David Miliband will be at Eastleigh market tomorrow campaigning alongside Southampton MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead and local Labour Party members. More information
July 6th: Tories scrap Southampton school building fund, despite promising not to during the election
The Conservatives have broken a direct promise to the people of Southampton that school building projects across the city would go ahead
July 5th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday- Meeting with Hampshire Community Health Care regarding plans for community care in Southampton. Socialist Environment and Resources Association meeting.
- See more of Alan's week.
June 28th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday- Visiting the Citizens’ Advice Bureau to discuss casework. New Local Government Network event.
- Tuesday- Meeting with Grundfos regarding Part L Building Regulations. Meeting with the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management to discuss the valuation of the offshore renewable energy resource in the UK. Combined Heat and Power Association event. Institute for Government interview. Meeting with the Refugee Council.
- See more of Alan's week
June 25th: How the budget will affect Britain's green agenda
Alan spoke in Parliament yesterday about the implications in George Osbourne's budget for reducing our carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty. In particular, Alan spoke on:
- the importance of long-term investment in greener industry;
- the government's role in setting a 'floor price' for carbon;
- protecting the financing for insulating British homes;
- why the government's policies are likely to result in more people being pushed into fuel poverty.
June 23rd: Does the Coalition have a plan for keeping the lights on?
Alan yesterday spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the Coalition's energy policy. Alan said:
Keeping the lights on requires planning. For the new Government to announce a policy that says, in essence, that there will be no planning as far as new energy supplies are concerned seems perverse given the challenges ahead of us. The new Government's announcements about how they will manage the energy economy... appear to be moving away from ensuring that we plan our energy economy so that we can keep the lights on for the next 50 years
June 22nd: A Backwards Budget- bad for growth and bad for young families
Today's Tory-Liberal budget will put more people on the dole and place unfair burdens on young families struggling to make ends meet, say Southampton's Labour MPs. More information.
June 21st: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
Monday- Meeting with the Principal of Taunton’s 6th Form College. Meeting with UNISON regarding Tory cuts to Further and Higher Education. Rally at Central Library in support of local libraries. Making Point of Order in the House of Commons regarding Houses in Multiple Occupation. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council event ‘Pioneering a Low Carbon Future’.
More from Alan's diary this week
June 21st: Rally for local libraries
Both of Southampton's Labour MPs will be rallying today in support of local libraries. The Conservative-run Council are proposing to cut the quality of service provided by local library services by replacing paid staff with volunteers. More information.
June 19th: Return of the Monthly Activity Report
Alan's monthly activity reports to over 1000 constituents to a brief break during the General Election campaign, but they have now returned. Read more about Alan's work in Parliament and Southampton over the last month.
June 18th- Shopmobility Campaign Update
Alan Whitehead and John Denham met with Shopmobility users today as part of the campaign to keep the service open. If you would like to help, you can join the facebook group or download a copy of the petition Shopmobility is running here.
If you do download a petition, remember- these must all get back to Shopmobility, 7 Castle Way Southampton SO14 2BX, by Monday 21st June 3pm.
June 16th: Save Shopmobility!
John Denham and Alan Whitehead will be urging Southampton's Conservative-run Council to reconsider plans to cut funding to Southampton Shopmobility. More information
June 15th: What the abolition of the Future Jobs Fund means for Southampton young people
New research by Southampton’s Labour MPs has revealed the potentially devastating impact on Southampton of the government’s cuts to help young people into work. More information.
June 7th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday- GLOBE Inter-UK & Indonesia meeting on marine energy, meeting regarding future policy on academies, Parliamentary Labour Party leadership hustings and Local Government event
- Tuesday- Meeting with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, All Party Parliamentary Environmental Group reception, meeting with the Micropower Council, briefing on renewable gas, Energy Saving Trust event.
- Wednesday- International Fund for Animal Welfare anti-whaling event, EDF Energy event to brief MPs on EDF’s climate and social commitments. Fabian Society event.
- Thursday- voting and correspondence
- Friday- Speaking to the Fellowship Dialogue Society in Southampton; judging MECCA BINGO'S GOT TALENT in Portswood
June 2nd: End the illegal blockade of Gaza
Alan Whitehead has signed a Parliamentary motion condemning the Israeli government's attack on a flotilla of ships bringing aid to Gaza. Read the full text of the motion .
May 27th: Government's nuclear policy could be 'catastrophic' for our ability to tackle climate change
In the debate on the Queen's Speech, Alan Whitehead raised key questions for the new coalition government over their real commitment for tackling climate change and fuel poverty. More information.
May 13th: Come home to Labour
Alan Whitehead has urged Liberal Democrat voters and activists in Southampton to 'come home' to Labour in the wake of the Liberal-Conservative coalition.
May 11th: Alan speaks on the role of the third sector
Alan recently spoke to Community Action Hampshire on the role the third sector should play under the next government. You can now watch Alan's speech below.
Alan Whitehead - The 3rd Sector and the next Government
May 7th: Thank You Southampton!
At about 5am on Friday morning, Alan Whitehead was successfully re-elected as the Labour MP for Southampton Test. Thank you to every constituent who voted for Alan and to every activist who supported him during the campaign!
April 29th: Answering questions from Lordshill students
Alan recently answered questions posed by students from the Lordshill Oasis Academy on Labour's policies for the General Election and beyond. Read the Q&A here.
April 21st: "More homes under Labour" pledge
Alan Whitehead and John Denham have visited a new housing project in Portswood that is only going ahead thanks to Government 'kickstart' funding to support the construction industry. More information.
April 14th: Alan gets adopted
At a meeting at St Mary’s Stadium tonight, Southampton Labour Party officially adopted long-standing MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead as their Parliamentary candidates for Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test respectively.
April 12th: Out in Portswood for Labour's Manifesto Launch
Alan Whitehead was today meeting voters in Portswood High Street at the launch of Labour's General Election Manifesto.
Read Alan's comments on what Labour's plans mean for Southampton.
April 7th: Condolences to those who lost their lives at Shirley Towers last night
Condolences go out from everyone in Alan Whitehead's office to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives helping people out of Shirley Towers last night. Alan said:
"The firefighters exhibited unbelievable heroism in ensuring everyone was evacuated from the building under very difficult conditions. Tragically two of them paid with their lives for those actions and that heroism. It is a devastating outcome of this fire - but they did evacuate all the residents of the building."
April 6th: Video interview with Alan about the General Election
The Southern Daily Echo recently interviewed Alan about his pledges to Southampton for the next General Election. Watch the interview here.
April 6th: Alan's Five Pledges to Southampton Test
The General Election has now been called! Find out more about Alan's election campaign in Southampton, including his five pledges to the people of Southampton Test.
March 26th: Alan praised on 100% voting record on gay equality
Alan Whitehead MP has been praised by Stonewall for his 100% voting record on gay equality measures in this Parliament. More information
March 23rd: Alan welcomes budget help for first-time buyers and green investment
Alan said this about today's budget statement: “I particularly welcome the two-year Stamp Duty holiday for first-time buyers on homes up to £250,000, which will benefit huge numbers of people buying their first home in Southampton, as well as the new Green Investment Bank and the additional £60 million for offshore wind to bring cheap, green energy to the UK."
More information about the budget.
March 22nd: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
Monday Meeting with Southampton City Council officers regarding the new licensing arrangements for houses in multiple occupation. Home visit to constituent in Shirley. Meeting with Arqiva regarding smart metering. Chairing the launch of the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group Committee of Inquiry Report.
March 18th: Parking victory for General Hospital neighbours
Alan Whitehead has welcomed new moves to improve parking provision around the General Hospital. More information
March 18th: Unemployment falls in Southampton
Unemployment in Southampton Test fell from 3026 (4.1%) in January to 2789 (3.8%) in February. It's a sign the extra government help for the economy is making a difference- but there is still a lot more to do. You can see the full unemployment statistics for Southampton on this BBC interactive map.
March 17th: Save our Sure Start!
Tory cuts to Sure Start children’s centres would deal a devastating blow to Southampton families on middle and modest incomes - that was the message from John Denham and Alan Whitehead as they launched their “Save Our Sure Start” campaign against Tory plans to take £200 million from Sure Start. More information
March 17th: 900 new local jobs created by the Future Jobs Fund
Alan Whitehead and John Denham have welcomed new Future Jobs Fund investment from the government to create new jobs in Southampton. The investment announced today will create up to 900 jobs for long term unemployed 18-24 year olds, undertaking a range of roles across urban south Hampshire. More information
March 15th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Chairing an Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group event. Meeting with Mott MacDonald Fulcrum regarding zero carbon.
- Tuesday- Standards and Privileges Select Committee meeting and Justice Select Committee meeting. Meeting with Calor Gas regarding the Government¹s climate change targets. Meeting constituent to discuss the student Stop AIDS Campaign
- See more of Alan's week
March 10th: Alan runs for sports relief
Alan Whitehead MP today ran the Sports Relief mile with other MPs, and backed the Southampton run taking place on Saturday 21st March. More information
March 5th: Gearing up for carers week
In preperation for Carers Week 2010, Alan Whitehead today helped highlight in Parliament the fantastic work done by those who care for relatives and loved ones. More information.
March 4th: Alan signs fuel poverty pledge
Alan Whitehead has signed a Parliamentary pledge on eradicating fuel poverty in Britain. More information.
March 3rd: New support for asbestos victims
John Denham and Alan Whitehead have welcomed a multi-million pound package of vital help that the Labour Government is extending to individuals whose health has been put at risk due to exposure to asbestos. More information
March 2nd: Alan's fuel poverty amendment to the energy bill
Alan Whitehead MP has inserted a crucial amendment into the Energy Bill, which has just passed all its House of Commons stages. The Bill, if it also passes in the Lords, will help to significantly reduce the UK’s domestic carbon emissions from energy generation. More information
March 1st: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Meeting with ABP regarding the future of Southampton Port. Meeting with Mott McDonald Fulcrum regarding zero carbon. Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group meeting regarding the Committee of Inquiry Report. Justice Select Committee event.
- More from Alan's diary
February 28th: Monthly Activity Report
Alan's monthly activity report for February is now online. It covers his recent work on the Energy Bill, HMOs, prepay meters, electoral reform, and other areas. Read Alan's report.
February 25th: Alan calls for cut in train fares
Alan has backed the Campaign for Better Transport campaign for a regulation to reduce the cost of travelling by train. More information.
February 22nd: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Meeting with Southampton City Council officers and councillors regarding the future of Lordshill. Meeting with GE Energy regarding Carbon Capture and Storage. Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group meeting regarding the Committee of Inquiry Report. Launch of Ownergy.
- See more of Alan's week
February 25th: Alan calls for cut in train fares
Alan has backed the Campaign for Better Transport campaign for a regulation to reduce the cost of travelling by train. More information.
February 22nd: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Meeting with Southampton City Council officers and councillors regarding the future of Lordshill. Meeting with GE Energy regarding Carbon Capture and Storage. Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group meeting regarding the Committee of Inquiry Report. Launch of Ownergy.
- See more of Alan's week
February 19th: Southampton NOT sold short- Alan congratulates campaigners on saving city art
Southampton's Conservative Council has failed in its bid to sell off part of Southampton's heritage to plug a hole in its budget. More information.
February 18th: Alan commends Saints for community work
Alan has praised Southampton FC for its fantastic community work. Alan said:
"It is clear that the club's work reaches places that other organisations can't. The club is delivering real change across the City and I am very proud of the positive impact they are having."
Read the full story on the Saints website
February 15th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Meeting residents in Redbridge. Home visit to a constituent in Shirley.
- Tuesday- Meeting residents in Freemantle.
- Wednesday- Visiting the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance airbase and attending a presentation about their work. Briefing and site visit at the Adelaide Health Centre, Millbrook, where the integration of Southampton Mental Health Services and Portsmouth Community and Mental Health Services will be discussed.
- See more of Alan's diary this week.
February 11th: Big 6 energy companies agree to abolish prepay meter charges
The last of the big 6 energy providers has agreed to stop charging prepay meter customers more for the same amount of energy.. Today the head of the National Housing Federation thanked Alan Whitehead MP for his championing of the campaign to end these unfair charges.
"We are extremely grateful to Alan Whitehead MP who has been calling for an end to this injustice for years. His tireless campaigning has helped ensure that prepay energy customers don't pay a penny more than those who pay via a quarterly bill. This success will save some households over £100 a year."
Read more about this huge victory for Southampton's poorest energy customers.
February 10: Tory tax credit cuts- up to 14,000 Southampton families could lose out
Tory proposals to cut tax credits for families with a joint income of more than £31,000 could hit the pockets of thousands of young parents in Southampton. More information.
February 9th: Congratulations to Southampton scientists!
Alan has congratulated 6 local scientists from Southampton University who have been chosen to exhibit their work at the Science, Engineering and Technology Student Awards.
Alan said: "To have six students chosen from our city is a serious achievement considering the high demand for places at this exhibition. It shows that Southampton University is able to attract some of the top UK minds in the fields of Science and Technology."
February 9th: A community garden for Portswood?
Alan is working with local residents in Portswood to deliver a community garden on a wasteland site near Portswood school.
Read Alan's article on the proposals in the NBSP local newsletter.
February 8th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
Monday- Meetings with a consultant cardiologist (regarding trans catheter aortic valve implantation) and the Chief Executive (regarding parking) at Southampton General Hospital. Visit to St Mary’s Football Stadium to discuss the work of Saints in the Community.
Read more of Alan's diary this week.
February 5th: Justice reinvestment and cutting crime
As part of Alan's work on the Justice Committee, he lays out plans for cutting crime and prison numbers through the greater use of community courts, probation and youth courts, and other measures. Read Alan's article here.
February 4th: Would a council tax freeze lead to higher council tax rises later?
In Local Government questions, Alan analysed what the Tory proposals for a three year council tax freeze really mean. Read his question here.
February 3rd: Alan calls for early use of new HMO powers
Alan today used Prime Minister's Questions to press for the early use of new powers to regulate HMOs in cities like Southampton.
February 1st: Extracts from Alan's diary this week...
- Monday- Meeting with Ed Miliband at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Meeting with the construction firm, Willmott Dixon, regarding their position paper, ‘A Low Carbon Built Environment’. All Party Parliamentary Environment Group meeting entitled ‘Beyond carbon: an industrial strategy for a resource efficient economy’. Chamber of Shipping event.
- Tuesday- Justice Select Committee meeting. Campaign for Better Transport event regarding train fare increases. Chartered Institute of Housing South East event. International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration.
- Wednesday- Two Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings. PMQs. Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers’ Low Carbon Performance Awards.
- Thursday- Speaking on resource efficiency and recycling at the London Remade Conference
- Friday- First constituency surgery of the month. On panel at the New Forest Business Partnership Question Time.
- Saturday- Second constituency surgery of the month.
- Sunday- Meeting residents in Millbrook.
January 27th: Long campaign to protect family housing pays off!
The government today announced they would implement a change in planning rules to protect family homes in areas like Portswood, thanks in part to a long campaign by Alan Whitehead. Alan has welcomed the fantastic news. More information.
January 27th: Don't take economic recovery for granted
Alan Whitehead and John Denham have welcomed the news that Britain is out of recession, but warned there is absolutely no room for complacency if the recovery is to last. More information
January 23rd: Monthly Activity Report online
Alan's first Montly Activity Report for 2010 is now online. This report covers his proposed amendment to get a referendum on changing the voting system; his work on fuel poverty; schools; the HMO review; and other issues.
Read Alan's January report here.
Jan 18th: Extracts Alan's diary this week
- Monday Meeting with a DEFRA Special Adviser regarding waste as a resource.
- Tuesday- Standard and Privileges Select Committee and Justice Select Committee meetings. Two Energy Bill Committee meetings. On panel at an Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group conference entitled ‘A strategic approach towards a resource efficient economy’. Labour Friends of Poland meeting.
- Wednesday- Two Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings. PMQs. Electoral Commission Advisory Board meeting. Launch of the National Housing Federation’s ‘In Your Lifetime’ Report. Chairing a Sustainable Waste Forum dinner.
- Thursday- Two Energy Bill Committee meetings. Southampton Labour all-members meeting.
- Friday- Visiting Paediatric Services at the General Hospital. Meeting with the Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship Charity. Fourth constituency surgery of the month.
- Saturday- Fifth constituency surgery of the month. Saints v Swindon Town at home.
- Sunday- Meeting residents in Bevois.
Jan 13th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
- Monday- Interview with Southampton University student regarding voter turnout at local elections. Meeting regarding review of Higher Education fees.
- Tuesday- Justice Select Committee meeting. Two Energy Bill Committee meetings. Meeting on incentives to encourage local community ‘buy-in’ for new waste management infrastructure. Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group meeting. Electoral Reform Society event.
- Wednesday- Two Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meetings. PMQs. Meeting with the Chamber of Shipping regarding issues affecting shipping in Southampton. Labour Friends of Palestine event.
- Thursday- Two Energy Bill Committee meetings. Home visit to constituent in Southampton. Speaking at the Southampton and South West Hampshire Trades Union Council meeting.
- Friday- Meeting with Business Southampton.
- Saturday- Third constituency surgery of the month. Meeting residents in Millbrook. Southampton Malayalee Association event.
January 12th: Victory in family homes campaign
Last year Alan pressed the government to invest more in sustainable council homes for families. Now, the government has announced Southampton will get nearly £1 million to build new council homes to just those specifications. More information.
January 11th: Help to stay warm this winter
Both Alan and John Denham are encouraging vulnerable people in Southampton to not be afraid to keep their heating up this winter, due to the extra help with heating being made available by the government.
Find out about the help available in Southampton here.
January 4th: Extracts from Alan's diary this week
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Monday- casework & correspondence catch-up
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Tuesday- Standards and Privileges Select Committee meeting and Justice Select Committee meeting. Energy Bill Committee, which meets for the first time today. Meeting with E:ON regarding carbon capture and storage and the mandatory price support elements of the Energy Bill.
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Wednesday- Energy and Climate Change Select Committee meeting. PMQs.
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Thursday- Energy Bill Committee meeting. Doing Q&A about parliamentary procedures with 6th form students from Taunton’s College.
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Friday- Meeting with Southampton Community Healthcare, PCT regarding the new service. Visit from an E:ON energy efficiency adviser. First constituency surgery of the month.
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Saturday- Second constituency surgery of the month. Saints v Huddersfield at home.
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Sunday- Meeting residents in Bevois.