Monthly Report for August-September 2006

Below is a summary of my work in Parliament and in Southampton for the months of August and September. Click here to read previous reports.

If you'd like to know more about any of the work I've been doing, or if you think there is another issue you think I should be acting on, you can always contact my office.

Work in Parliament
Work in Southmapton
Campaigns

Work In Parliament
Energy & Climate Change I have written articles for local and national press about the Energy Review. The nub of the issue now is this: nuclear power is not competitive in today’s energy market and is unlikely to become viable unless the government ‘fixes’ the market in some way. The danger is that fixing the market could fatally undermine parallel efforts to promote energy efficiency, build up the renewable energy sector and keep our fuel bills low. Whilst the Energy Review claims to favour nuclear, it does not specify any means by which new nuclear might be developed, so there is still all to play for in how energy policy for the next 20 years pans out. I will continue to provide analysis of the energy sector in order to make sure that energy efficiency measures and renewable energy retains a high profile inside and outside of government. Read my article for the House Magazine Read my article for the Southern Daily Echo My summer /autumn newsletter focuses on energy and climate change issues. Read the newsletter (pdf file)
Lebanon I was one of a group of Labour MPs to condemn the disproportionate violence waged by the Israeli government against the people of Lebanon. In addition to putting pressure on the British government to call for an immediate ceasefire, I spoke to just under 100 people at a public meeting organised by the Stop the War Coalition about conflict in the Middle East. Read my joint statement with other Labour MPs. Read what I said at the Stop the War meeting.

Work In Parliament

Energy & Climate Change

I have written articles for local and national press about the Energy Review. The nub of the issue now is this: nuclear power is not competitive in today’s energy market and is unlikely to become viable unless the government ‘fixes’ the market in some way. The danger is that fixing the market could fatally undermine parallel efforts to promote energy efficiency, build up the renewable energy sector and keep our fuel bills low.

Whilst the Energy Review claims to favour nuclear, it does not specify any means by which new nuclear might be developed, so there is still all to play for in how energy policy for the next 20 years pans out. I will continue to provide analysis of the energy sector in order to make sure that energy efficiency measures and renewable energy retains a high profile inside and outside of government.

My summer /autumn newsletter focuses on energy and climate change issues.

Read the newsletter (pdf file)

Lebanon

I was one of a group of Labour MPs to condemn the disproportionate violence waged by the Israeli government against the people of Lebanon. In addition to putting pressure on the British government to call for an immediate ceasefire, I spoke to just under 100 people at a public meeting organised by the Stop the War Coalition about conflict in the Middle East.

Work in Southampton
Early learning I recently visited two projects designed to boost the education prospects of young people. In August I met with children at Lordshill Library who were taking part in the ‘spy-fi’ summer reading challenge to read 6 books over the summer. And last week I met with parents and early learning professionals to celebrate the 7th birthday of Sure Start in Southampton. Find out about the Summer Reading Challenge Read about Sure Start's 7th birthday
Health I met with staff and patients at the opening of a new specialist ward at Southampton General Hospital. I continue to hold regular meetings with the Southampton General Chief Executive about improving health service provision in the city. I met with attendees of a drug users support group organised by the Southampton Regeneration Partnership. Read about the opening of the new HDU Unit Watch a video of the opening courtesy of the Southern Daily Echo
Social Exclusion I visited the new building of the Samaritans in Southampton to raise awareness of the resurgence of the organisation in the city. I met with Pensioners Forum to discuss their views on reforms of the pension system. Contact the Samaritans
Employment I held meetings with executives from British American Tobacco over the future of the Southampton site. I met with employees and employers from the Ordnance Survey and discussed how to resolve their industrial dispute and the long term strategic future of the OS. The Ordnance Survey is facing tough challenges as an in-effect public body facing increasing competition with other private sector providers. It is very important that government understands what the OS needs in order to remain a viable operation and I will be feeding back the results of my meetings to the Under Secretary of State. I met with managers and staff at Job Centre Plus.
Democracy & youth participation I attended a debate organised by Catch21, a pressure group set up to tackle apathy amongst young voters. The audio of the debate is available from http://www.catch21.co.uk/
Anti-social behaviour I met with Coxford residents to discuss how anti-social behaviour in their area could be reduced and passed on their suggestions to the council.
Housing I held meetings with representatives from RISE, Southampton City Council and the National Housebuilding Federation. I met with colleagues from Green Issues to discuss the future of the Civil Service Sports Ground.
The Boat Show I visited the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s ‘Song of the Whale’ boat. I appeared on the southern edition of the Politics Show on a boat designed to be fully accessible and useable by disabled crew.

Work in Southampton

Early learning

I recently visited two projects designed to boost the education prospects of young people. In August I met with children at Lordshill Library who were taking part in the ‘spy-fi’ summer reading challenge to read 6 books over the summer. And last week I met with parents and early learning professionals to celebrate the 7th birthday of Sure Start in Southampton.

Health

I met with staff and patients at the opening of a new specialist ward at Southampton General Hospital. I continue to hold regular meetings with the Southampton General Chief Executive about improving health service provision in the city.

I met with attendees of a drug users support group organised by the Southampton Regeneration Partnership.

Social Exclusion

I visited the new building of the Samaritans in Southampton to raise awareness of the resurgence of the organisation in the city.

I met with Pensioners Forum to discuss their views on reforms of the pension system.

Contact the Samaritans

Employment

I held meetings with executives from British American Tobacco over the future of the Southampton site.

I met with employees and employers from the Ordnance Survey and discussed how to resolve their industrial dispute and the long term strategic future of the OS. The Ordnance Survey is facing tough challenges as an in-effect public body facing increasing competition with other private sector providers. It is very important that government understands what the OS needs in order to remain a viable operation and I will be feeding back the results of my meetings to the Under Secretary of State.

I met with managers and staff at Job Centre Plus.

Democracy & youth participation

I attended a debate organised by Catch21, a pressure group set up to tackle apathy amongst young voters. The audio of the debate is available from http://www.catch21.co.uk/

Anti-social behaviour

I met with Coxford residents to discuss how anti-social behaviour in their area could be reduced and passed on their suggestions to the council.

Housing

I held meetings with representatives from RISE, Southampton City Council and the National Housebuilding Federation.

I met with colleagues from Green Issues to discuss the future of the Civil Service Sports Ground.

The Boat Show

I visited the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s ‘Song of the Whale’ boat.

I appeared on the southern edition of the Politics Show on a boat designed to be fully accessible and useable by disabled crew.

Campaigns
The Respect Agenda Since April I have been surveying the opinion of constituents in Southampton on the government’s ‘Respect Agenda’ and their own experiences with anti-social behaviour. We have received over 500 responses from interested constituents and are now putting the data collected to use. My office has used every incident of anti-social behaviour reported by respondents to create a postcode database of anti-social behaviour incidents in Southampton Test, including particular ASB ‘hotspots.’ A copy of the database has been made available to SCC’s Community Safety team. More information about the Respect Campaign in Southampton Read the one-page summary of the Respect Survey's findings (pdf)
Trade justice I promoted the ‘Help Africa’ petition calling on the EU to cut CAP subsidies to the richest farmers and to spend the money instead on combating AIDS in Africa. While spending more money on treatment is vital in the short term, the longer term benefits of reforming the Common Agricultural Policy are crucial to making trade work in the interest of developing countries and eradicating poverty in Africa. Over 500 Test residents have now signed. Everyone who signed the petition has received a thank you letter from me along with a small Dfid booklet on progress made since the 2005 Gleneagles summit. My office still has a few of the booklets available if anyone would like one. I have also met with children from the Compass Centre and Oakwood School who are campaigning to raise awareness about the need for more teachers in developing countries. The ‘send my friend a teacher’ campaign asks children to create cut-outs of teachers, each representing a missing teacher around the world. I accepted over 60 teacher cut-outs from the schools and have now been photographed at Westminster displaying the children’s work. More information about the Help Africa Petition More information about the Send My Friend a Teacher campaign

Campaigns

The Respect Agenda

Since April I have been surveying the opinion of constituents in Southampton on the government’s ‘Respect Agenda’ and their own experiences with anti-social behaviour. We have received over 500 responses from interested constituents and are now putting the data collected to use.

My office has used every incident of anti-social behaviour reported by respondents to create a postcode database of anti-social behaviour incidents in Southampton Test, including particular ASB ‘hotspots.’ A copy of the database has been made available to SCC’s Community Safety team.

Trade justice

I promoted the ‘Help Africa’ petition calling on the EU to cut CAP subsidies to the richest farmers and to spend the money instead on combating AIDS in Africa. While spending more money on treatment is vital in the short term, the longer term benefits of reforming the Common Agricultural Policy are crucial to making trade work in the interest of developing countries and eradicating poverty in Africa. Over 500 Test residents have now signed.

Everyone who signed the petition has received a thank you letter from me along with a small Dfid booklet on progress made since the 2005 Gleneagles summit. My office still has a few of the booklets available if anyone would like one.

I have also met with children from the Compass Centre and Oakwood School who are campaigning to raise awareness about the need for more teachers in developing countries. The ‘send my friend a teacher’ campaign asks children to create cut-outs of teachers, each representing a missing teacher around the world. I accepted over 60 teacher cut-outs from the schools and have now been photographed at Westminster displaying the children’s work.