Monthly Report for November 2006

The Queen's Speech

The Queen’s Speech for the new session outlines a number of new bills on crime and justice, immigration, road and bus transport, climate change, local government, the Child Support Agency and on further education.

• Whilst the exact content of these bills is not year clear, the Climate Change Bill will introduce 60% reduction in CO2 emissions as a statutory target for Government, with annual reporting to Parliament. There should also be new powers in the bill on energy service companies and on domestic CO2 emissions. More
• The Local Government Bill will enable amalgamations between local authorities if agreement is reached, and the ‘option’ of various forms of cabinet/mayor/executive government which will among other things strengthen the role of the Council Leader in the Council Decision-making process. Further devolution of powers to parish and town councils is envisaged in the Bill.
• The Transport Bill should pave the way for the introduction of Road pricing arrangements, and aims to restore bus planning and service agreement powers to local Transport Authorities.

Written and oral questions and interventions

I have tabled questions for every government department on what steps they are taking to encourage the use of reused and recycled materials in capital procurement projects, and asked an oral question to DEFRA about what steps they are taking to co-ordinate recycled material use in procurement programmes.

I have also tabled questions on CFC imports and co-firing of waste, and the establishment of the Financial Inclusion Fund. I am seeking to undertake an adjournment debate on doorstep lending and interest rates. I took part in the debate on climate change in the house, and in a debate on choice in education.

• Go to my 'Speeches and Questions in Parliament' section

Meetings

I have met with the Sec of State for Transport to discuss the creation of Passenger Transport Authorities in non-metropolitan Areas, and with the Sec. of State for Local Government and Communities on the Local Government Bill.

Events

I hosted the launch of a joint campaign between the Parliamentary Waste Group and the LGA to combat fly-tipping.  At the launch I signed a parliamentary pledge designed to raise awareness about waste crime and its destructive impact on the environment.

I have spoken at conferences on community Combined Heat and Power, and on variable charges for waste collection.

Young people

This month I re-launched ‘Pump Up the Vote,’ a popular campaign to promote political awareness amongst 14-18 year olds.  I have so far visited Oaklands and Redbridge secondary schools to run ‘You are the Prime Minister’ games with students and to conduct youth advisory surgeries with school councillors. 

As part of Pump Up the Vote, I am asking students to complete a survey on their attitudes to politics.  I am also providing every participating student with a ‘Pump Up the Vote’ postcard for them to write to me about an issue that matters to them.  The postcard also displays a dedicated ‘Pump Up the Vote’ email address which they can also use to contact me.

I have written to the heads of every secondary school in Southampton Test offering my support if they would like to get involved in the National Youth Parliament debating competition.

I visited Bellemoor school as part of their ‘Democracy Day’ run by Solent Skills Quest.

Climate Change

I spoke to a meeting of Southampton Friends of the Earth activists.  We discussed the Energy Review, green taxes and the potential for a new Climate Change Bill. Visit my 'energy & climate change' section

I wrote an article for the Politics Show website in support of a new Climate Change Bill.  I also highlighted the obvious flaws in the Conservatives’ proposed Bill, which is to set targets but to give no steer or suggestion on how they might be achieved.

I attended the Southampton Sustainable Energy Ltd board meeting to discuss the future of the Combined Heat and Power Plant.

• Read my advice, published during Energy Savings Week, on how to cut your energy bill by up to 20%.
  

Anti-social behaviour

The long campaign to close the M271 footbridge in Redbridge has finally seen some significant progress.  The council has agreed to install a gate on the eastern end of the footbridge that will be locked 24 hours a day.  I have written to 314 households that are in roads where there have previously been reports of anti-social behaviour relating to the footbridge, explaining the closure and how it will work. I will write to residents again in the New Year to assess if the gating order has made a tangible difference.

Read about the campaign to close the footbridge

I wrote an In My View for the Echo calling on the council to make more targeted use of dispersal orders.

I was interviewed by Wave 105 and Radio Solent about the Respect Agenda and the Police and Justice Bill.

Green spaces in Redbridge and Freemantle

I spoke at the launch of a new £50,000 games arena in Mansel Park, funded by both the government and Barclays.  I used the opening of the site to draw attention to the importance of Southampton’s green spaces, particularly the former Civil Service sports ground. More

Rented Housing

I met with council officers to discuss Southampton City Council’s plans for tightening the regulation of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupancy) in the city.  The council has been holding off from expanding the licensing regime for smaller HMOs due to concerns from their lawyers about the wording of the 2004 Housing Act.  I agreed to get the letter of the law clarified with the government in order to get the agenda for improving rented housing moving again.

Red Rose surgeries

I conducted a Red Rose surgery in Freemantle.

Lifelong learning

I attended the launch of ‘Train to Gain’ in the south-east.  The project, provided by the Learning and Skills Council, is designed to act as a matchmaker between local employers and training providers to ensure that employees are properly trained and have opportunities for professional development.

Visit www.traintogain.gov.uk

Health

I met with representatives from the NHS and the TUC and Southampton University Hospital Trust to discuss the state of health services in Southampton and the future direction of NHS reform.