Monthly Report for March 2007
Below is a summary of my work in Parliament and in Southampton for the month of March 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.
Work in Parliament
Trident
I put down an amendment to the government motion on Trident which attracted over twenty signatures, but unfortunately, not enough to be ‘called’ as one of the motions to be debated.
The government position was:
‘That this House supports the Government’s decisions, as set out in the White Paper The Future of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994), to take the steps necessary to maintain the UK’s minimum strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system and to take further steps towards meeting the UK’s disarmament responsibilities under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty’
My amendment read:
‘ Line 1 leave out from ‘House’ to end and add, ‘recognises the changing and uncertain nature of threats to global and British security in the post-Cold War world; and therefore considers that the Government should take sufficient steps to maintain the UK’s minimum strategic nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the existing system; notes the recommendations of the Defence Select Committee and recommends that further consideration of the strategic case, costs, and design of the system be undertaken; notes also the conclusion of the Defence Select Committee that the Government’s strategy for non-proliferation needs development, but recommends that further steps should be taken towards meeting the UK’s disarmament responsibilities under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty; and resolves that the approval of the House be required before main contracts are laid.’.
I spoke in the debate and abstained on the main resolution.
More information on the results of the Trident debate
Social Exclusion
I am leading a cross-bench group of MPs in a campaign to end unfair energy pricing practices which disproportionately hit poorer customers. The pricing practises of some major energy companies mean that electricity ‘bought’ through pre-pay meters (PPMs) is, unit for unit, more expensive than electricity paid for by standing order. Pre-pay meters are most likely to be installed in rented accommodation and in HMOs, which in turn are most likely to be inhabited by people on lower incomes. So people who are at a higher risk of poverty are also likely to be paying higher rates for their electricity.
I have tabled EDM 990 which calls for all the major energy suppliers to align their PPM tariffs with their standard tariffs. 97 MPs are now signed up to the motion. Working with the National Housing Federation, I have also written to residents in rented accommodation where PPMs are likely to be installed, to make sure they are aware of the unfair prices they are paying and explaining what action they can take.
In addition to paying more for their energy, people living in rented accommodation are also less likely to be registered to vote. I highlighted this inequality by asking the Electoral Commission to report on voter registration by housing tenure, and by proposing that the Commission continues to report on this in the future in order to get a more accurate picture of why certain groups are not getting registered. The Commission has, so far, responded positively to my proposals.
Climate Change
The draft Climate Change Bill has now been published. I am happy to say it reflects a number of recommendations I made to the government about the Bill (many of which are summarised on an article written for the Politics Show website). If the Bill is successful, we will be the first country in the world to set legally binding targets for cutting our carbon emissions over both the medium and long term. I expect to be very involved in work on this Bill in the coming weeks.
I was involved with two other initiatives on climate change this month. I am lobbying the government to make sure that we meet our existing pledge to get 5% of our fuel from green sources by 2008. I was also one of a number of MPs to sign up to a joint statement on energy efficiency. The joint statement backs a number of measures the government is already pursuing (e.g. the work to make all new homes carbon neutral by 2016 and to improve the Emissions Trading Scheme) but also calls on the government to go further on energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.
Other debates and questions
I was present in the house and voted on moves to ensure time to debate Paul Farrally’s Private Member’s bill on protection for agency workers, but unfortunately it did not have enough time on the floor of the house to enable a further vote to be taken on it.
I spoke in the debate on the future of coroners courts and asked oral questions on the renewable Transport fuel Obligation and on the electoral commission. I also asked questions on the publication of the report on the future of Party funding, and spoke on the constitutional implications of the ‘English votes for English issues’ debate.
In Southampton
Fairtrade
As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, I gave a speech on ‘What can the government do to help fair trade?’ to activists at Solent University. I highlighted the importance of allowing developing economies to liberalise at their own pace, and not a pace dictated by international financial institutions.
Isle of Wight ferry prices
A consumer group from the Isle of Wight has asked for my help in getting the Competition Commission to investigate the prices charged by ferry companies for commuters to and from the island. The Commission last looked at the situation on the island in 1991. Since then a number of services have discontinued and, particularly since 2004, prices have risen significantly faster than the rate of inflation. I have spoken on Meridian about the need for a new inquiry, which has spurred other local MPs (Sarah McCarthy Fry and Andrew Turner) to come out and publicly back the campaign.
Oaklands Pool
Following on from representations and meetings with representatives from Eastleigh and Oaklands Swimming Club, I have publicly criticised the Tory-Liberal budget pact, in particular the proposals to cut opening times at Oaklands Pool. I fear that, without a change in course, the Council could easily sleepwalk into closing the pool, as they clearly have no long term plan for how to make it financially viable. Users of the pool can sign up to my online petition criticising the plans to cut the opening hours.