Monday, December 12, 2005
The Public Accounts Committee looks not just at Government expenditure, but how efficiently tax payers money is being spent. The topic we examined on the 7th December was tackling the complexity of the benefit system. The Department for Work and Pensions aims to relieve poverty by helping people find work, provide assistance during sickness and disability, and helping people support their children and plan for retirement. It is a highly complex organisation with millions of customers and a wide range of responsibilities. We looked at the benefits system and its development, the causes of complexity, the effects of complexity, and tackling complexity. The DWP have already published a five year strategy looking at future simplification.
On 8th December, I attended a meeting at Ernest Bevin College (my former school) which had been organised by Cllr Stuart King (Tooting ward Councillor and leader of Labour in Wandsworth) where senior staff at the school, local Safer Neighbourhood Team police officers, Stuart and I discussed various ways we can improve even more relations between local residents, the school and the Police, and devise a strategy for working together. The meeting was extremely productive, with many good ideas being suggested and accepted, including for example, a regular meeting between senior staff and co-ordinators of local Neighbourhood Watch teams, regular meetings between the school and local residents and the distribution of newsletters produced by the school, about the school to local residents. The school does a great deal of community work and it is a shame that a lot of this goes unnoticed.
I also attended a briefing organised by CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers) on climate change and the role of building services in consuming energy. CIBSE are a national organisation based in Balham (within my constituency!).
On Friday 9th, I met with Earlsfield pensioner Winston Gordon who was keen to meet me to tell me how he had benefited as a pensioner recently as a result of the Government’s various initiatives. A photo is here. He pointed out that many of his pensioner friends were not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to. I have just launched a Guide for Tooting pensioners about the range of entitlements that they can claim. You can download this here.
I also went to Trinity St Mary’s Primary School on Balham Park Road to give out certificates and prizes to the pupils who had entered my competition to design my parliamentary Christmas Card. The Head Teacher, Helen Quintrell gave me a tour of the school before the assembly with the children. I had a little surprise for Ms Quintrell and the staff which was a framed photograph of the Prime Minister and myself holding the winning entries from the school.
In the evening, I had the pleasure of opening the Fircroft Primary School Christmas Fair. I have been coming to the Fircroft Christmas Fairs for the last 25 years, but this year has to be the best as it was the first time I had been given such an honour. We also exceeded previous records by raising more than £3000 during the 2 hour fair.
On Saturday 10th, I attended a Sri Lankan Yuletide Carol Concert organised by DABAL, Deaf and Blind Aid Lanka. The charity does some remarkable work with all Sri Lankans irrespective of their religion. The performers included highly trained graduates from the Royal Academy of Music as well as traditional Sri Lankan songs. If anyone wants details of this charity, they can contact the secretary on BeulahMendis@aol.com
On Sunday 11th December, I went canvassing with the Furzedown Labour team (Cllr John Farebrother, Mark Thomas and Judi Gasser), as well as other local residents. More than 370 Furzedown residents signed a petition in favour of a full Safer Neighbourhood Team in the ward. Crime has increased recently in Furzedown, and although the two existing officers do an excellent job, it is clear that a full team would be beneficial.
In the evening, I attended a Christmas celebration at the Samaj Hall in Tooting Broadway. This was organised primarily by Tooting Business Network, which is made up of local retailers and other volunteers. The highlight of the evening was a performance by a local jazz quartet from Graveney School, and a selection of carols and songs performed by Franciscan Primary School choir.
Sadiq
On 8th December, I attended a meeting at Ernest Bevin College (my former school) which had been organised by Cllr Stuart King (Tooting ward Councillor and leader of Labour in Wandsworth) where senior staff at the school, local Safer Neighbourhood Team police officers, Stuart and I discussed various ways we can improve even more relations between local residents, the school and the Police, and devise a strategy for working together. The meeting was extremely productive, with many good ideas being suggested and accepted, including for example, a regular meeting between senior staff and co-ordinators of local Neighbourhood Watch teams, regular meetings between the school and local residents and the distribution of newsletters produced by the school, about the school to local residents. The school does a great deal of community work and it is a shame that a lot of this goes unnoticed.
I also attended a briefing organised by CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers) on climate change and the role of building services in consuming energy. CIBSE are a national organisation based in Balham (within my constituency!).
On Friday 9th, I met with Earlsfield pensioner Winston Gordon who was keen to meet me to tell me how he had benefited as a pensioner recently as a result of the Government’s various initiatives. A photo is here. He pointed out that many of his pensioner friends were not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to. I have just launched a Guide for Tooting pensioners about the range of entitlements that they can claim. You can download this here.
I also went to Trinity St Mary’s Primary School on Balham Park Road to give out certificates and prizes to the pupils who had entered my competition to design my parliamentary Christmas Card. The Head Teacher, Helen Quintrell gave me a tour of the school before the assembly with the children. I had a little surprise for Ms Quintrell and the staff which was a framed photograph of the Prime Minister and myself holding the winning entries from the school.
In the evening, I had the pleasure of opening the Fircroft Primary School Christmas Fair. I have been coming to the Fircroft Christmas Fairs for the last 25 years, but this year has to be the best as it was the first time I had been given such an honour. We also exceeded previous records by raising more than £3000 during the 2 hour fair.
On Saturday 10th, I attended a Sri Lankan Yuletide Carol Concert organised by DABAL, Deaf and Blind Aid Lanka. The charity does some remarkable work with all Sri Lankans irrespective of their religion. The performers included highly trained graduates from the Royal Academy of Music as well as traditional Sri Lankan songs. If anyone wants details of this charity, they can contact the secretary on BeulahMendis@aol.com
On Sunday 11th December, I went canvassing with the Furzedown Labour team (Cllr John Farebrother, Mark Thomas and Judi Gasser), as well as other local residents. More than 370 Furzedown residents signed a petition in favour of a full Safer Neighbourhood Team in the ward. Crime has increased recently in Furzedown, and although the two existing officers do an excellent job, it is clear that a full team would be beneficial.
In the evening, I attended a Christmas celebration at the Samaj Hall in Tooting Broadway. This was organised primarily by Tooting Business Network, which is made up of local retailers and other volunteers. The highlight of the evening was a performance by a local jazz quartet from Graveney School, and a selection of carols and songs performed by Franciscan Primary School choir.
Sadiq
