In Parliament
If you would like to find out more about my work in Parliament, you can use the Commons Hansard to access archived records of debates, statements and questions I have asked. Hansard is the official, edited verbatim report of the proceedings of the House and debates are usually published on the website by 6am the next working day.
The easiest way to search for my entries is via the ‘By MP’ option on this page of the Parliament website:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/
The easiest way to search for my entries is via the ‘By MP’ option on this page of the Parliament website:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/
Recent Contributions in the House
To give you an idea of the issues I have been addressing, these are some of my recent contributions. If you click on the links you will be able to read the full transcript of my contribution.
2014/2015 Session
20/01/15 Trident Renewal
12/01/15 Defence Questions (Nuclear War)
11/12/14 Business of the House (Austrian Conference on Nuclear Weapons)
2013/2014 Session
Care Bill - Clause 119
Clause 119 gives the Health Secretary sweeping powers to force hospital closures over the heads of local communities and I have vehemently opposed it from the beginning. On 11th March I was in the chamber once more to express my opposition. You can read my contributions (along with those of the other Lewisham MPs) in full here.
The Labour Party remain firmly opposed to this clause and voted against it, but we were defeated by 297 votes to 239. Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat MP who tabled amendment NC16, withdrew his amendment as he felt the government had proposed changes which addressed his concerns, but Labour’s Jamie Reed pressed it to a vote: 241 MPs voted in favour of NC16 and 288 against.
Although the government has pledged to consult local people and clinical commissioners, we continue to be concerned that these concessions do not go far enough. I am sorry not to be able to report a more positive result.
Clause 119 gives the Health Secretary sweeping powers to force hospital closures over the heads of local communities and I have vehemently opposed it from the beginning. On 11th March I was in the chamber once more to express my opposition. You can read my contributions (along with those of the other Lewisham MPs) in full here.
The Labour Party remain firmly opposed to this clause and voted against it, but we were defeated by 297 votes to 239. Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat MP who tabled amendment NC16, withdrew his amendment as he felt the government had proposed changes which addressed his concerns, but Labour’s Jamie Reed pressed it to a vote: 241 MPs voted in favour of NC16 and 288 against.
Although the government has pledged to consult local people and clinical commissioners, we continue to be concerned that these concessions do not go far enough. I am sorry not to be able to report a more positive result.
Convoys Wharf Development
In an adjournment debate on 22nd January I challenged the Government to recognise the unique heritage features of the site of Henry VIII’s naval shipyard, otherwise known as Convoys Wharf (in Deptford) and the subject of a multimillion pound planning application. I believe the site is one of London’s best kept secrets and also one of its greatest opportunities.
I am pleased to report that the Minister, Ed Vaizey from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was keen to recognise the importance of the site. He has offered to seek clarification from English Heritage on its stance and assist in arranging meetings with developers and the GLA.
You can read the debate in full here or watch it below (adjournment debate starts at 18:54).
In an adjournment debate on 22nd January I challenged the Government to recognise the unique heritage features of the site of Henry VIII’s naval shipyard, otherwise known as Convoys Wharf (in Deptford) and the subject of a multimillion pound planning application. I believe the site is one of London’s best kept secrets and also one of its greatest opportunities.
I am pleased to report that the Minister, Ed Vaizey from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was keen to recognise the importance of the site. He has offered to seek clarification from English Heritage on its stance and assist in arranging meetings with developers and the GLA.
You can read the debate in full here or watch it below (adjournment debate starts at 18:54).
08/01/14 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (proliferation of betting shops)
08/01/14 Healthcare in London [Westminster Hall debate] (Clause 118 of the Care Bill)
16/12/13 Care Bill [Lords]
05/12/13 Modern-day Slavery (trafficking)
05/12/13 Autumn Statement (energy companies)
19/11/13 Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (staffing levels)
30/10/13 Changes to Health Services in London (Lewisham Hospital)
29/10/13 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Questions (Sri Lanka)
High Streets
On Wednesday 16th October the second half of the Opposition Day debate was given over to a discussion of high streets and changes to use orders. I was disappointed with the speech delivered by Brandon Lewis MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) and felt that it did nothing to address the issues affecting Deptford High Street.
Despite being voted the best high street in London in 2005, Deptford High Street continues to suffer the consequences of the large number of betting shops, pawn brokers and payday lenders which have been allowed to proliferate in the area. Unfortunately the high street has been seriously damaged by some of those using these businesses.
Local people are crying out for a change in policy to end the ruination of our high streets and to return the high streets to places with the diversity and vibrancy that our community and many others have to offer. Nothing less than Labour’s proposals to do something about the use classes order, to create a situation whereby a local council can respond to local needs, is going to solve the problems and meet the wishes of local people.
You can read my speech in full here.
On Wednesday 16th October the second half of the Opposition Day debate was given over to a discussion of high streets and changes to use orders. I was disappointed with the speech delivered by Brandon Lewis MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) and felt that it did nothing to address the issues affecting Deptford High Street.
Despite being voted the best high street in London in 2005, Deptford High Street continues to suffer the consequences of the large number of betting shops, pawn brokers and payday lenders which have been allowed to proliferate in the area. Unfortunately the high street has been seriously damaged by some of those using these businesses.
Local people are crying out for a change in policy to end the ruination of our high streets and to return the high streets to places with the diversity and vibrancy that our community and many others have to offer. Nothing less than Labour’s proposals to do something about the use classes order, to create a situation whereby a local council can respond to local needs, is going to solve the problems and meet the wishes of local people.
You can read my speech in full here.
10/09/13 Accident & Emergency Departments (Lewisham Hospital)
04/09/13 Prime Minister's Questions (Syria)
03/09/13 Syria
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Syria - Use of Chemical Weapons
Parliament was recalled on Thursday 29th August to debate the situation in Syria.
I am not opposed to the principle of intervention in conflict where it can be shown there is a duty to protect under international law. However, I did not believe the case had been made by the Prime Minister and clearly the recall of parliament had been organised in such a way as to pre-empt the UN inspectors report. I made an intervention on David Cameron to this effect in the debate.
Nothing was said in the debate to convince me that a punitive strike to deter further use of chemical weapons would not have made things much worse.
The Syrian people desperately need a cease-fire and our government should be trying a lot harder to involve all those such as Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia who might be able to broker a settlement.
Parliament was recalled on Thursday 29th August to debate the situation in Syria.
I am not opposed to the principle of intervention in conflict where it can be shown there is a duty to protect under international law. However, I did not believe the case had been made by the Prime Minister and clearly the recall of parliament had been organised in such a way as to pre-empt the UN inspectors report. I made an intervention on David Cameron to this effect in the debate.
Nothing was said in the debate to convince me that a punitive strike to deter further use of chemical weapons would not have made things much worse.
The Syrian people desperately need a cease-fire and our government should be trying a lot harder to involve all those such as Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia who might be able to broker a settlement.
17/07/13 Managing Risk in the NHS
16/07/13 Hospital Mortality Rates
19/06/13 Family Migration [Westminster Hall debate]
11/06/13 NHS Accountability
06/06/13 Student Visas
06/06/13 Pollinators & Pesticides
05/06/13 Accident & Emergency Waiting Times
13/05/13 Health & Social Care (A&E closures)
2012/2013 Session
20/03/13 Prime Minister's Questions (Lewisham Hospital)
26/02/13 Health Questions (A&E & Maternity Provision in South East London)
14/02/13 Violence Against Women & Girls
13/02/13 Police
07/02/13 A&E Departments
31/01/13 South London Healthcare NHS Trust
22/01/13 Hospital Services (South London) [Westminster Hall debate]
17/01/13 Nuclear Deterrent (nuclear threat to Britain)
09/01/13 Prime Minister's Questions (Lewisham Hospital)
08/01/13 Urgent Question - South London Healthcare NHS Trust
19/12/12 Energy Bill (decarbonisation target)
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NHS Reform - Lewisham Hospital
On Wednesday 12th December 2012 I took part in an Opposition Day Debate on NHS Funding. I took the opportunity to air my views on the restructuring of the NHS in South London and the proposed closure of the A&E and Maternity Services at Lewisham Hospital in my constituency.
I reminded Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, that when David Cameron was in Opposition he named Lewisham as one of the 29 hospitals he would personally defend. Lewisham is a successful, solvent and highly regarded hospital. 120,000 people use the A&E department each year, and more than 4000 babies are born in the maternity unit. It is crazy that our borough should be forced to lose these excellent services.
My colleague Heidi Alexander MP (Lewisham East) also took part in the debate. You can view our contributions below (my speech begins at 14:59:50 and Heidi's begins at 3:58:28).
On Wednesday 12th December 2012 I took part in an Opposition Day Debate on NHS Funding. I took the opportunity to air my views on the restructuring of the NHS in South London and the proposed closure of the A&E and Maternity Services at Lewisham Hospital in my constituency.
I reminded Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, that when David Cameron was in Opposition he named Lewisham as one of the 29 hospitals he would personally defend. Lewisham is a successful, solvent and highly regarded hospital. 120,000 people use the A&E department each year, and more than 4000 babies are born in the maternity unit. It is crazy that our borough should be forced to lose these excellent services.
My colleague Heidi Alexander MP (Lewisham East) also took part in the debate. You can view our contributions below (my speech begins at 14:59:50 and Heidi's begins at 3:58:28).
05/12/12 Autumn Statement (veto of 2030 decarbonisation target)
29/11/12 Deputy PM's Statement on Leveson Enquiry (PM's position)
29/11/12 PM's Statement on Leveson Enquiry (establishing a legal framework for regulation)
29/11/12 Statement on the Energy Bill (help for pensioners)
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Lewisham Hospital
At Health Questions on Tuesday 27th November 2012 I questioned the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt MP) on the future of Lewisham Hospital:
Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab): The trust special administrator’s report proposes the closure of the full A and E service at Lewisham hospital —which currently sees 115,000 people a year—and asserts that 30% of that department’s work can be transferred to the community. Will the Secretary of State provide evidence of how that can be done, especially considering a cash-strapped NHS and a local authority that is suffering from deep cuts by his Government?
See here for the full exchange.
Lewisham East MP Heidi Alexander also pressed Mr Hunt on the statutory guidance surrounding service reconfiguration.
At Health Questions on Tuesday 27th November 2012 I questioned the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt MP) on the future of Lewisham Hospital:
Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford) (Lab): The trust special administrator’s report proposes the closure of the full A and E service at Lewisham hospital —which currently sees 115,000 people a year—and asserts that 30% of that department’s work can be transferred to the community. Will the Secretary of State provide evidence of how that can be done, especially considering a cash-strapped NHS and a local authority that is suffering from deep cuts by his Government?
See here for the full exchange.
Lewisham East MP Heidi Alexander also pressed Mr Hunt on the statutory guidance surrounding service reconfiguration.
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22/11/12 Life-Saving Skills in Schools (compulsory training)
29/10/12 Ash Dieback Disease (identification of pathogen)
25/10/12 Business of the House (new sitting hours)
25/10/12 Environment, Farming & Rural Affairs Questions (import of ash seedlings)
17/09/12 Communities & Local Government Questions (housing - section 106 agreements)
11/09/12 Universal Credit & Welfare Reform (burden on businesses)
07/09/12 Social Care (Local & Sufficiency) & Identification of Covers Bill (potential for second reading)
12/07/12 Shale Gas Extraction (Royal Society & Royal Academy of Engineering report)
11/07/12 Sitting Hours of the House
04/07/12 West Bank (Area C) [Westminster Hall Debate] (Area C and future of Palestine)
02/07/12 Negative Equity (repossession of homes)
26/06/12 Rio+20 Summit (Nagoya protocol)
11/06/12 Family Migration (children and dependent relatives)
24/05/12 Business of the House (sitting hours - Procedure Committee report)
24/05/12 Feed-In Tariffs Scheme (future of the social housing sector)
17/05/12 Green Deal (Warm Front scheme)
29/10/12 Ash Dieback Disease (identification of pathogen)
25/10/12 Business of the House (new sitting hours)
25/10/12 Environment, Farming & Rural Affairs Questions (import of ash seedlings)
17/09/12 Communities & Local Government Questions (housing - section 106 agreements)
11/09/12 Universal Credit & Welfare Reform (burden on businesses)
07/09/12 Social Care (Local & Sufficiency) & Identification of Covers Bill (potential for second reading)
12/07/12 Shale Gas Extraction (Royal Society & Royal Academy of Engineering report)
11/07/12 Sitting Hours of the House
04/07/12 West Bank (Area C) [Westminster Hall Debate] (Area C and future of Palestine)
02/07/12 Negative Equity (repossession of homes)
26/06/12 Rio+20 Summit (Nagoya protocol)
11/06/12 Family Migration (children and dependent relatives)
24/05/12 Business of the House (sitting hours - Procedure Committee report)
24/05/12 Feed-In Tariffs Scheme (future of the social housing sector)
17/05/12 Green Deal (Warm Front scheme)
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Palestine
On Tuesday 15th May 2012 I spoke about my recent experiences in Palestine as a member of a delegation from the All-Party Palestine Group and Council for Arab-British Understanding.
I used my speech to draw particular attention to how Israeli justice is administered in Palestine and in particular to the appalling treatment of child prisoners. I urged the Government to raise the issues highlighted in my speech with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that the international community must find the will to ensure that peace talks on the two-state solution are restarted.
The full transcript of my speech is available in Hansard and you can watch the video below (my speech starts at 17:18:21).
On Tuesday 15th May 2012 I spoke about my recent experiences in Palestine as a member of a delegation from the All-Party Palestine Group and Council for Arab-British Understanding.
I used my speech to draw particular attention to how Israeli justice is administered in Palestine and in particular to the appalling treatment of child prisoners. I urged the Government to raise the issues highlighted in my speech with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that the international community must find the will to ensure that peace talks on the two-state solution are restarted.
The full transcript of my speech is available in Hansard and you can watch the video below (my speech starts at 17:18:21).
2011/2012 Session
30/04/12 High Streets (betting shops; Deptford High Street)
30/04/12 Sunday Trading (London Olympic & Paralympic Games) Bill [Lords] (nationwide chains)
19/04/12 Business of the House (Aung San Suu Kyi)
17/04/12 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Questions (Iraqi criminal justice system)
16/04/12 Education Questions (Lewisham NEETs programme & apprenticeship providers)
27/03/12 Assisted Suicide (consultation on statutory basis for guidance)
27/03/12 Health Questions (care at home)
22/03/12 London Olympics (ticketing)
21/03/12 Budget Resolutions & Economic Situation (impact on average families)
20/03/12 Health & Social Care Bill (risk register)
14/03/12 Palestinian Territories (denial of land & fishing rights)
13/03/12 Health & Social Care Bill (waiting times)
07/03/12 Prime Minister's Questions (disability benefits)
05/03/12 Jobs & Growth in a Low-Carbon Economy (renewable energy)
29/02/12 Water Industry (Financial Assistance Bill) (Thames Tunnel)
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NHS Risk Register
On Wednesday 22nd February 2012 my colleague Andy Burnham MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, moved an Opposition Day debate asking for the Government to publish the risk register associated with the Health and Social Care Bill.
I took the opportunity to speak about the fact that the London strategic health authority has published a risk register listing 18 areas of risk. I also highlighted the superb local campaign to save the NHS (SOS Lewisham .
Read my full contribution and the rest of the debate here.
On Wednesday 22nd February 2012 my colleague Andy Burnham MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, moved an Opposition Day debate asking for the Government to publish the risk register associated with the Health and Social Care Bill.
I took the opportunity to speak about the fact that the London strategic health authority has published a risk register listing 18 areas of risk. I also highlighted the superb local campaign to save the NHS (SOS Lewisham .
Read my full contribution and the rest of the debate here.
22/02/12 Sri Lanka [Westminster Hall Debate] (human rights)
21/02/12 NHS Constitution (waiting lists)
01/02/12 Welfare Reform Bill (proposed benefit cap and high rental prices)
26/01/12 Business of the House (time limit on backbench speeches during debates on Private Member's Bills)
26/01/12 Feed-In Tariffs (consultation)
17/01/12 Future of Town Centres & High Streets (betting shops)
16/01/12 NHS (Private Sector) (treatment of private vs NHS cancer patients)
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Parliamentary Representation
On Thursday 12th January 2012 my colleague Dame Anne Begg (MP for Aberdeen South) opened a debate on the representation of women, ethnic minorities & people with disabilities in Parliament.
I have long been a campaigner on greater equality of representation and used this opportunity to highlight my belief that Parliament must reform itself so that it becomes a place in which ordinary people feel that they can be productive and effective. Each party must also ensure that a level playing field is created and maintained so that people from diverse backgrounds feel able to put themselves forward for selection.
Read my contribution and the rest of the debate here.
On Thursday 12th January 2012 my colleague Dame Anne Begg (MP for Aberdeen South) opened a debate on the representation of women, ethnic minorities & people with disabilities in Parliament.
I have long been a campaigner on greater equality of representation and used this opportunity to highlight my belief that Parliament must reform itself so that it becomes a place in which ordinary people feel that they can be productive and effective. Each party must also ensure that a level playing field is created and maintained so that people from diverse backgrounds feel able to put themselves forward for selection.
Read my contribution and the rest of the debate here.
11/01/12 Prime Minister's Questions (shared accommodation rate)
10/01/12 Group B Streptococcus (national screening programme for pregnant women)
01/12/11 Green Economy (feed-in tariffs)
29/11/11 Afghanistan (women's rights)
23/11/11 Solar Power (Feed-In Tariff) (reduction of feed-in tariffs)
23/11/11 Economic Growth & Employment (closure of Deptford Job Centre)
21/11/11 Housing Reform (new Government housing strategy)
10/11/11 Train Punctuality (cable theft)
09/11/11 Middle East & North Africa (Palestine)
29/11/11 Afghanistan (women's rights)
23/11/11 Solar Power (Feed-In Tariff) (reduction of feed-in tariffs)
23/11/11 Economic Growth & Employment (closure of Deptford Job Centre)
21/11/11 Housing Reform (new Government housing strategy)
10/11/11 Train Punctuality (cable theft)
09/11/11 Middle East & North Africa (Palestine)
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Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill
Wednesday 2nd November 2011 was the third day the House spent debating the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill.
I spoke of my grave concerns surrounding the proposed changes to legal aid and my fears that many people will suffer if they are unable to access it. Although my staff and I, local advice centres, carers and welfare associations do all we can to help my constituents, in some cases legal help is necessary. Without access to legal aid, many people will be denied justice.
Read the debate and my contribution here.
Wednesday 2nd November 2011 was the third day the House spent debating the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill.
I spoke of my grave concerns surrounding the proposed changes to legal aid and my fears that many people will suffer if they are unable to access it. Although my staff and I, local advice centres, carers and welfare associations do all we can to help my constituents, in some cases legal help is necessary. Without access to legal aid, many people will be denied justice.
Read the debate and my contribution here.
01/11/11 - Gangs & Youth Violence (link between council cuts and increase in knife crime)
01/11/11 - Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill (squatting and rising costs of private sector rent)
31/10/11 - Feed-In Tariffs (implications for housing associations providing solar energy)
31/10/11 - Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill (scrapping of legal aid for divorce and child
contact cases)
31/10/11 - Communities & Local Government Questions (betting shops)
26/10/11 - Environmental Protection & Green Growth (renewables; mandatory recycling; waste collection)
26/10/11 - NHS (efficiency savings)
10/10/11 - Defence Responsibilities (Liam Fox's relationship with Adam Werrity)
15/09/11 - Food Security & Famine Prevention (women and the Horn of Africa famine)
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Ten Minute Rule Bill on Betting Shops
On 19th July 2011 I presented a bill to Parliament in which I suggested that local people should be given more power to stand up to the number of betting shops in areas like Deptford. I am seeking to change the planning class of betting shops and allow councils to place a cap on the number of them in an area.
In my speech I described the “turf war” which is taking place as more and more betting shops try to muscle in on Deptford – currently there are at least 10 in the area, with 7 on the High Street alone.
My bill, which has received cross-party support, would take betting shops out of their current planning class (which groups them with banks, building societies and other professional and financial services) and place them in their own class.
For further details and related press, see Latest News.
On 19th July 2011 I presented a bill to Parliament in which I suggested that local people should be given more power to stand up to the number of betting shops in areas like Deptford. I am seeking to change the planning class of betting shops and allow councils to place a cap on the number of them in an area.
In my speech I described the “turf war” which is taking place as more and more betting shops try to muscle in on Deptford – currently there are at least 10 in the area, with 7 on the High Street alone.
My bill, which has received cross-party support, would take betting shops out of their current planning class (which groups them with banks, building societies and other professional and financial services) and place them in their own class.
For further details and related press, see Latest News.
14/07/11 - Business, Innovation & Skills Questions (impact of student funding proposals on conservatoires)
07/07/11 - Energy Efficiency (Housing) (Londoners getting a raw deal from the green deal)
30/06/11 - Recycling (policy on future levels of recycling of domestic and commercial waste)
29/06/11 - Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bills (legal aid)
14/06/11 - NHS Future Forum (waiting lists)
14/06/11 - Waste Review (recycling)
19/05/11 - Green Deal (domestic energy efficiency)
18/05/11 - Nuclear Deterrent (Trident)
18/05/11 - Nuclear Industry Safety (nuclear industry safety)
17/05/11 - Fourth Carbon Budget (renewables)
17/05/11 - Localism Bill (proliferation of betting shops)
10/05/11 - Energy Bill [Lords] (Centrica's threat not to reopen its gas field)
05/05/11 - New Businesses (Women) (lack of women at the top of business)
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Social Housing in London
On 5th May 2011 my Labour colleague Jeremy Corbyn (MP for Islington North) moved a debate on social housing in London. I took the opportunity to make a speech outlining my concerns about the current situation, and highlighting the particular problems faced by my constituents in Lewisham Deptford.
Click here to read the debate in full.
On 5th May 2011 my Labour colleague Jeremy Corbyn (MP for Islington North) moved a debate on social housing in London. I took the opportunity to make a speech outlining my concerns about the current situation, and highlighting the particular problems faced by my constituents in Lewisham Deptford.
Click here to read the debate in full.
03/05/11 - ESOL [Westminster Hall Debate]
26/04/11 - Middle East & North Africa (use of depleted uranium weapons in Libya)
04/04/11 - NHS Reform (midwives and preventable maternal mortality)
22/03/11 - Student Visas (students progressing to postgraduate degrees)
21/03/11 - UN Security Council Resolution 1973 (Libya)
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Financial Services (South-East London)
On 18th March 2011 my Labour colleague Nick Raynsford (MP for Greenwich and Woolwich) moved a debate on financial services in South-East London, with specific reference to Nationwide's decision to close seven branches in the area.
I informed the House of a petition to prevent the closure of the Lewisham High Street branch and spoke of public concern and anger over the disregard for customer loyalty shown by our largest mutual.
Read the debate in full here.
On 18th March 2011 my Labour colleague Nick Raynsford (MP for Greenwich and Woolwich) moved a debate on financial services in South-East London, with specific reference to Nationwide's decision to close seven branches in the area.
I informed the House of a petition to prevent the closure of the Lewisham High Street branch and spoke of public concern and anger over the disregard for customer loyalty shown by our largest mutual.
Read the debate in full here.
18/03/11 - UN Security Council Resolution (Libya)
17/03/11 - North Africa & the Middle East (women's participation in democracy)
16/03/11 - NHS Reorganisation (GPs as managers)
15/03/11 - Sri Lanka (establishment of high-security zones)
10/03/11 - Local Authority Major Transport Schemes (Surrey Canal Road Station)
10/03/11 - UN Women (establishment of a women and equalities audit committee; women in Egypt)
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Forestry Commission - Westminster Hall Debate
On 1st March 2011 I moved a Westminster Hall debate on the future of the Forestry Commission. Over the preceding weeks I had received almost 400 emails from constituents expressing their concerns over the Government's plans to sell off England's forests. During the debate I put my concerns and questions to Jim Paice MP, the Tory Minister responsible for this policy area.
If you would like to find out more about what I said and how Mr Paice replied, you can either read the Hansard transcript of the debate or watch the video below.
On 1st March 2011 I moved a Westminster Hall debate on the future of the Forestry Commission. Over the preceding weeks I had received almost 400 emails from constituents expressing their concerns over the Government's plans to sell off England's forests. During the debate I put my concerns and questions to Jim Paice MP, the Tory Minister responsible for this policy area.
If you would like to find out more about what I said and how Mr Paice replied, you can either read the Hansard transcript of the debate or watch the video below.
16/02/11 - Youth Unemployment (impact of cuts)
07/02/11 - Education (Education Maintenance Allowance)
03/02/11 - Parliamentary Reform [Westminster Hall] (sitting hours of the House)
02/02/11 - Public Forest Estate (England) (impact on urban areas)
27/01/11 - Decent Homes [Westminster Hall] (funding of ALMOs)
25/01/11 - Library Services [Westminster Hall] (situation in Lewisham)
19/01/11 - Education Maintenance Allowance (consequences for current students)
13/01/11 - National Insurance Contributions Bill (companies at greatest risk of failing in first year)
Contributions prior to January 2011 are available in the House of Commons Hansard.
