I have teamed up with Consumer Focus to urge constituents to check their eligibility for the Government’s Warm Front energy scheme, which could help them to make their homes warmer and cut energy bills.

The Warm Front scheme – which offers heating and insulation improvements to households living on low incomes – is expected to see up to £30 million worth of funding for this year going unclaimed.  This money could help up to 16,000 households in their struggle to afford their energy bills and could potentially cut their costs by up to £650 per year.

Today I signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, and in doing so pledged my support for Holocaust Memorial Day and honoured those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday 27th January will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which became the site of the largest mass murder in history.  In the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during the Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

Today I joined the BUAV in marking the first anniversary of the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign to end animal testing for toiletries and cosmetic products sold in the EU.

Despite UK and EU bans on animal testing for cosmetics, products can still be tested on animals in other parts of the world and then imported and sold in the EU.  A marketing ban which would end this cruelty is due to come into effect in 2013.  However, it is now in danger of being delayed, thereby putting thousands more animals at risk.  These animals will continue to suffer and die needlessly in cruel tests for new beauty products sold in the EU.

Following the success of last year’s competition, January 18th saw the launch of Rock the House 2012.  I am inviting solo artists, bands and music venues from Lewisham Deptford to enter and be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes.

The competition was founded by Mike Weatherley MP, with the joint aims of supporting the UK’s live music sector and raising the profile of issues surrounding intellectual property rights.  Its patrons include rock legends Alice Cooper and Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan.

Prizes on offer include music equipment, a chance to play at a high profile music festival and the opportunity to mix with the great and the good of the music industry. 

I am backing a bill to objectively look at moving the clocks forward by one hour. 
 
The Daylight Savings Bill reaches its final stages in the House of Commons this Friday (20th January).  The bill calls on the Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the costs and benefits of putting clocks forward an hour throughout the UK, resulting in lighter evenings every day of the year. 

In a Commons debate on High Streets on Tuesday, numerous MPs called for the Government to tackle the unwelcome increase in betting shops, seen to be crowding out other retail outlets.

MPs from both north and south London urged ministers to establish a separate use class for betting shops for planning purposes.

My Private Members’ Bill establishing a separate use class and enabling councils to cap the number of such premises is listed for debate on Friday.

On Tuesday 17th January I visited the Olympic Park with a group of fellow MPs and members of the House of Lords.

The visit was arranged by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Emergency Services and was an opportunity for us to hear about work being done by the security forces and emergency services to ensure public safety during this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as to go on a tour of the Park itself.

There is no doubt that the Games signify an exciting time in London’s history and I was impressed by the work currently being carried out on the site.  We were only able to see the exterior of the buildings as they are now too busy inside to accommodate visitors.  However, many of the buildings are of excellent design and have temporary parts as well as permanent.  These temporary parts will go on to new destinations (e.g. Rio), leaving buildings more suited to future use. 

We are pleased to announce that Joan was awarded a DBE in the New Year Honours List for her services to public and political life.  Her full title is now Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP.