Monthly Report for April 2009
Below is a summary of my work in Parliament and in Southampton for the month of April 2009. 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
Green stimulus package
On my website you can now find a copy of an article I wrote for Progress in which I make the case for a ‘green stimulus’ to form a major part of the Chancellor’s budget (due to be delivered later this month). In it I argue:
“Going around the country systematically fixing houses and offices so that they keep heat in and consume less energy doesn’t sound very exciting or dramatic, but I think we would be hard put to find a form of fiscal stimulus that packs more of a punch for jobs, investment, or putting savings into peoples’ pockets. And of course it will be an early monument to our low carbon way out of recession.”
Shipping taxes
There is currently a consultation ongoing on how to meet a deficit in ‘light dues’ payments- the payments by ships to keep the lighthouses around Britain in operation. Due to the global drop in shipping business, there is currently a £21 million gap between the revenue the government is getting from light dues and the amount that is needed to keep our lighthouses staffed and operating.
I have secured a meeting with Jim Fitzpatrick, the responsible minister, to discuss the future of light dues and press the case to make sure that any change in payments does not fall disproportionately on port cities like Southampton which service primarily heavier ships.
On a slightly separate issue, I have also been lobbying the government regarding securing a better deal for port rate payers, in the wake of the implementation of a 1985 ruling on port rate payments. The government has now announced firms will be able to spread the increased payments out over a number of years, which is a very important way of minimising the impact of this ruling during the recession. I am continuing to press for better arrangements.
Questions & Debates
I have submitted written questions on what plans the government has to introduce the replacement of circulation pumps in proposals to enhance home energy efficiency. I also spoke in the Commons debate on Council tax- both on how the ‘normal’ council tax payment is becoming further divorced from the measure of the band D payment, and on how Conservative proposals to ‘freeze’ Council tax for two years, apart from being flawed in many other respects and not actually being a ‘freeze’ at all, would also centralise council tax to such an extent that councils would have almost no choice on whether to collect high or low council tax levies.
Other engagements
This month I also held meetings on continued support for the British metal recycling industry; meetings on supporting carbon capture technology; chaired a PRASEG seminar on electric vehicles; attended a conference on care and an aging society; and welcomed the government’s agreement to consult on tightening up the licensing arrangements for wheel clamping companies.
Work In Southampton
Red Rose
I ran roving Red Rose surgeries in Millbrook and Portswood.
Celebrating the 10th Birthday of the Minimum Wage
At the beginning of this month, I ran a street stall on Portswood High Street to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the minimum wage.
From this April the Employment Act comes into law, which means employers will now face an unlimited fine if they are caught not paying their employees at least the minimum wage. If you know of a rogue employer who is not paying up then get in touch with me or call the national minimum wage helpline on 0845 6000 678. You don’t have to give your name or details to them if you don't want to.
Also from this April, the right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children aged 16 or under, benefiting an extra 4.5 million people across the country. If you have a child aged 16 or under, you are an employee and you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously before applying, you will have the statutory right to ask for flexible working. Under the law your employer must seriously consider any application you make, and only reject it if there are good business reasons for doing so.
Saints
As a loyal Saints supporter, I was amongst the thousands in attendance at St Mary’s for our last home game, despite having not entirely comfortable knee surgery two days before. I have also put out a statement in support of the Council exploring their options for guarantee a portion of the club’s financial burden and stadium costs, in recognition of the added value the club gives to the social fabric of the city.
Interviews
Readers may be interested in a long interview I gave this month to writers of the Wessex Chronicle. We covered a wide range of subjects that can come up in heated political discussions, including immigration, housing, young people, ‘culture,’ regional assemblies, and the impact of the recession on Southampton.
Other engagements
This month I also chaired the most recent Port City Futures Meeting; attended a meeting of Redbridge Residents Association; and helped publicise the new Health in Pregnancy Grant for mums to be to help with the costs of setting up a home for a new child.