Worlds AIDS Day is taking place on December 1st and this year I am asking local people to show their support for people living with HIV, improve their understanding of the condition and demonstrate their commitment to tackling HIV in Lewisham Deptford.

Despite the growing number of people living with HIV and improved treatment, public knowledge and awareness of HIV haven't kept pace and are actually declining.

I believe that only by educating people about the reality of what it is like to live with HIV will we reduce the stigma that many people living with the virus still face.  Stigma also leads people to fear getting tested, which can have an impact on their health and increase the risk of HIV transmission.

I am so proud to wear a red ribbon to mark this year's World AIDS Day.  With around 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, we must do more to improve HIV prevention and testing, especially given 1 in 5 people with HIV remain undiagnosed and almost half of people are still being diagnosed late.

For people living with HIV in the UK one of the biggest challenges is still stigma, which is often the result of ignorance about HIV and unnecessary fear.  Stigma also stops some people from taking an HIV test.

Every year the Big Lottery Fund awards grants to community groups, organisations and charities.

If you are interested in applying, you can find more information about the types of funding which might be available to you on the Big Lottery Fund website.  

As we all know, times are tight at the moment and many people are finding themselves in financial difficulty.

The Money Advice Service is a free, impartial organisation which helps people in the UK to make the most of their money.  Some of its key services include:

• Help with everyday money management, such as how to put together a realistic budget.
  
• Information to help people choose the financial product that is right for them.
• Advice for people making large purchases.
• Guidance on issues which are in the news, such as payday loans, and how to find a more suitable alternative.

Advice is available over the web at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk or through MAS's Freephone line 0300 500 5000.

Lewisham Borough Police are carrying out a survey to find out what local people think of the service they provide.

It only takes 5 minutes to complete and is available here.

Your views will enable Lewisham Police to determine how satisfied people are with the current service they provide and what they could do to improve things in the future.

Following the government's defeat in the appeal court on Tuesday I immediately tabled a parliamentary question asking how much the appeal cost.

Today the government admitted to spending £92,000 of tax payers’ money trying to defend a lost cause.

This as an absolute scandal. Everyone urged the government to accept their defeat at the High Court in July but they went on regardless. This is the government that argues there is no more money for public services, yet when it suits them they squander our money. An apology is due.

This money would have paid the salary of 4 nurses for a year.