Monthly Report for October 2009
Below is a summary of my work in Parliament and in Southampton for the month of October 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 & Other National Policy Work
Pay As You Save Progress
In addition to the headline items at Labour Party Conference, I held a number of meetings relating to housing, local Southampton industry, and other policy developments on renewable energy and carbon capture and storage.
One particularly positive development coming out of these meetings is that the government has picked up a proposal I made earlier in the year to pilot ‘Pay as You Save’ loans to fund the installation of energy saving devices in homes. The idea is that these loans would pay for the retrofitting of homes to make them more energy efficient (either through the installation of microgeneration devices or through insulation and boiler improvements, for example) and the loans would be repaid based on the amount of energy the household saves in the future.
Alternatively, the fitting of such devices could be done through leasing arrangements, which would be serviced on the same basis. There are still details to iron out about this pilot project, such as repayment schedules and what level of savings should be passed on directly to households in fuel poverty, but if successful it could provide a template for how very substantial improvements could be made to the UK’s housing stock could be funded.
Houses in Multiple Occupancy
Earlier this month I travelled to Belfast with other MPs as part of the campaign to improve regulations on Houses in Multiple Occupation (the regulatory system for HMOs in Northern Ireland is similar to the system that I think should be brought in for England). The government’s review on HMOs should report before Christmas.
Cigarette vending machines
I was due to vote in favour of banning cigarette vending machines on Monday evening, however the amendment was nodded through unopposed when the ‘noes’ failed to appoint tellers. So this was a positive result stemming from bad organisation.
Support for the Cruise Terminal
I have written to the Department for Transport regarding the Port of Liverpool’s application to change the operational terms of their Cruise Terminal to encompass turnaround cruises as well as calls. Such a change would put Liverpool’s new cruise terminal in direct competition with terminals in Southampton. Cruise operators in Southampton have told me they would not object to such competition, were it not for the fact that the new Liverpool terminal was largely funded by a £19 million government regeneration grant, while similar improvements at Southampton’s terminals have been funded entirely by the private sector. I have suggested to the government that the original purpose of the regeneration grant for Liverpool was never to give its port an unfair commercial advantage over its competitors, and that if the Port of Liverpool wants government permission to compete with Southampton for turnaround cruise business, it should first be required to repay the original grant. I gave a further briefing to Transport Minister Paul Clarke earlier today during a visit to Southampton’s docks, and believe a decision from the government should be made very soon.
Work in Southampton
Energy Workshop
Last weekend I ran a second Energy Saving Workshop in Lordshill (the first was run in Portswood earlier in the year). My judgement is that this workshop helped even more people get practical help to reduce their energy bills compared to the first workshop in February. A number of residents came in with their energy bills in their hand and were able to get detailed advice on how to apply for Warm Front grants, and on whether they were eligible to be put on social tariffs from their energy provider.
My thanks to all the agencies who came along to offer advice on the day- including Southampton Environment Centre; Scottish & Southern Energy; Southern Water;
Southampton City Council; The Citizens’ Advice Bureau; The Energy Saving Trust and Ofgem.
Autumn Report
My Autumn Report, which focuses largely on my work in Southampton over the Parliamentary recess, is currently being delivered to households across the constituency. You can also download a copy here .
Friends of the Earth Debate
I spoke at a debate organised by Friends of the Earth at the Central Baptist Church Hall on the future of renewable energy in the UK. In my talk I went through the nature of the energy gap that will come about due to an increase in demand for energy, and the winding down of existing nuclear and coal-fired power stations. I then explained that this gap was likely to manifest before 2020, which is the very earliest any new nuclear power plants are likely to come on line. The only way to meet our energy gap in the meantime is either through importing more gas- which would completely blow out of the water our ability to reduce our carbon emissions as specified in the Climate Change Act- or through a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, which I favoured.
I was asked by one member of the audience ‘have you explained this to your party, and if so what did they say,’ and I explained that I had secured an agreement by the government not to ‘fix the market’ to help new nuclear power stations, and that without fixing the market, I think it is unlikely that new nuclear power will contribute significantly if at all to Britain’s future energy needs.
The debate also helpfully highlighted that building commercial wind turbines in Southampton is an entirely realistic possibility if the local Council has the will to do so. The Conservative representative at the debate did talk about CHP and other measures already put in place before his party took office, but there was little in new thinking and quite a bit of rowing back regarding the encouraging wind power plans that were floated in 2007-8.
Members can also now read on my website my latest article for Progress, in which I argue that tackling climate change must be viewed as a ‘front line service’ just as vital to Britain’s future as health and education.
The Future of Lordshill
Over the summer I surveyed the views of Lordshill residents about the proposals to move the new Oasis Academy to a new site, and if this goes ahead what should happen to the existing school sites and community facilities there. Following on from that survey, I have now met with Council officials to press them on the practicalities of protecting the community facilities like the pool, sports hall and theatre located on the current school sites. I also highlighted the need for greater consultation with residents over the future of the entire area, rather than just the narrow issue of Academy move to Five Acres. I will be working with local residents’ groups to flesh out more detailed proposals for how the area could be improved over the next 5 years.
Red Rose Surgeries
I held my regular surgeries in Shirley, Lordshill and the city centre, and held Red Rose surgeries in Coxford and Shirley.
Other engagements
Also this month I visited the Pickles Coppice Children’s Centre as part of national Sure Start Week; sang along with infants at Shirley Library’s ‘Rhyme Time’ as part of National Literacy Week; and took part in a political Q&A for Awaaz 87.7FM radio; attended a street surgery for residents in Sutherland Rd about continued problems with anti-social behaviour in the area; and attended a community meeting at the Abu Bakri Mosque about parking in the city centre.