Monthly Report for February 2007
Below is a summary of my work in Parliament and in Southampton for the month of February 2007. 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.
In Parliament
International Action on Climate Change
Twice in the past month I was balloted to ask questions at Prime Minister’s Question Time.
I used my first question to ask the Prime Minister to renew efforts to push the USA to sign up to international agreements to combat climate change, especially in light of George Bush referring to climate change in this year’s State of the Union address.
My second question asked the PM about progress on working with the German government to develop a European electricity ‘Supergrid’ to connect up offshore wind farms across Europe. Each wind farm would experience a different phase in the region’s weather system, which would allow the energy output of the connected wind farms to be relatively constant despite local weather fluctuations at one part of the grid. A Supergrid would therefore render mute one of the most often-repeated criticisms of wind power- that it is a nice add-on, but too unreliable to depend on as a ‘baseload’ for electricity generation.
The Prime Minister answered both my questions positively. He reiterated the importance of a binding international framework that included the world’s biggest polluters, and he confirmed that the development of a Supergrid had the support of the German government. Find out more
I have also asked Transport questions on the way local authorities might re-regulate bus services, and a constitutional affairs question on the future of legal aid.
I have also spoken in a Westminster Hall debate on overcharging practices by energy companies where prepayment meters are installed, and in a debate on the floor of the house on independence of Government Statistics.
Local Government
The Local Government bill is now being debated in Parliament. The bill reflects the themes in the Local Government White Paper concerning the devolution of more authority to cities like Southampton, but there are still mixed messages coming out of Whitehall about how exactly this will be implemented. There are also apparent contradictions in clauses of the bill relating to how proposed four year ‘contracts’ for Council Leaders might fit into annual council election cycles. I spoke at a regional LGA conference on the future of Local Government emphasising the practical elements of a devolutionary programme and underlining the need to include the regional dimension in future structures. More information
Public Services
I met with TUC representatives at the ‘Speak up for Public Services’ lobby of Parliament and took part in the regional Unison Labour Link conference in Reading. I haver also discussed local budgets and services with Unison in Southampton.
In Southampton
9th Annual Report
My 9th Annual Report has now been published and is being delivered across the constituency. You can read it online here, or email alan@alan-whitehead.org.uk if you would like a hard copy.
Read an introduction to the report
Green spaces in Freemantle
Over the Christmas period I surveyed opinion by local residents in Freemantle about the proposals to buy the Civil Service sports ground. The survey results have now been published and show strong support for buying the fields as part of a redevelopment of a joint St Mark’s – Regents Park campus. However there were also a number of concerns raised about access to the sports ground- both in terms of congestion, and in terms of whether outside community groups would be allowed to use the fields once they were owned by the school. These concerns have now been passed on to the City Council officer responsible for carrying forwards the Learning Futures Review.
Parking around the General Hospital
A long-running campaign to improve parking conditions around the General Hospital finally achieved movement from the Council this month. There has been a long running problem of overflow of cars from the General Hospital parking in nearby residential streets. Local residents have found it increasingly difficult to find space in their streets to park their cars, and many have resorted to concreting over their front gardens to guarantee they have somewhere to park. In response to a continued campaign by myself, Don Thomas and other Labour members, the Council has now agreed to substantially extend the residents’ parking scheme further out around the General Hospital, which should reduce the pressure on many of the affected streets.
Community use of the former BAT site
Enquiries from my office about the future of the BAT resulted in the resurrection of the BAT Steering Group, which met for the first time in over a year this month. The key point of discussion at the meeting was the amount of the site that would set aside for community use, and what proportion could be sold on for other development.
Financial Inclusion
Child Trust Fund Week was 15th – 21st January. As part of the week, I wrote an article for the Daily Echo explaining the scheme and encouraging take up. I am also writing to interested childcare groups across the constituency about the funds and how they can be advertised. Read my article
Surgeries
I ran surgeries at the Third Age Centre and Lordshill Housing Office, and a ‘roving’ Red Rose surgery in Shirley.
Education in Southampton
I have held a number of meetings over the last two weeks concerning future education provision in the City, with particular reference to arrangements for the two proposed amalgamated/new schools in Southampton Test.