Tuesday, January 24, 2006
On Monday 16th we had the Report stage and Third Reading of the Equality Bill. This is a landmark bill that will play a crucial role in reducing inequalities in the UK. The Bill will lead to the establishment of a single Commission for Equalities and Human Rights and eventually a Single Equality Act. I spoke in the debate in the Second Reading and also made an intervention in the Report stage. I did try to speak in the Third Reading but was not lucky enough to be called by the Speaker.
Last week, the Public Accounts Committee examined patient safety in NHS trusts. Everyday over one million people are treated successfully by the NHS. However, healthcare relies on a range of complex interactions of people, skills, technologies and drugs, and sometimes surgical treatments go wrong or there are errors with medication and patients have accidents. The Department of Health estimates that one in ten patients admitted to NHS hospitals will be unintentionally harmed, and that around 50% of incidents could have been avoided if lessons from previous incidents have been learnt. These findings are similar to those seen in other countries!
On Monday I also co hosted an Eid reception in the House of Commons. Speakers included Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Simon Hughes, Jack Straw, Michael Howard as well as the leaders of leading Muslim groups in the UK such as the MCB and UMO.
On Wednesday 18th, another important Bill completed its final stage in the Commons - the Work and Families Bill. This Bill will extend paid maternity and adoption leave, extend the right to request flexible working to carers of adults, help fathers to play more of a role in their child’s upbringing if the mother returns to work, and make it easier for employers to manage the administration of these rights. The Bill also includes powers to ensure all workers are entitled to 4 weeks statutory leave in addition to 8 days bank holidays. I was a member of the Standing Committee that examined this Bill. I was particularly angered at a Tory attempt to put a sunset clause on parental leave, especially bearing in mind their claims to have learnt lessons from the past when they voted against Labour measures to support working families. I spoke in the Report Stage and Third Reading. You can find details here.
I was in the Chamber on Thursday 19th, for Ruth Kelly’s statement on the arrangements for vetting those working with children, and barring those who are unsuitable. It was a good, coherent statement, and helped to clear up a lot of the confusion and worry that had been circulating in the press. She outlined measures that had been taken by previous administrations on the safety of children. The Conservatives paved the way for the Sex Offenders Register, and the barring of teachers convicted of sex offences. In 2000, the Labour Government decided that all those included on List 99 would be banned from schools indefinitely. However, her statement highlighted the problem that the legislation had built up in a piecemeal fashion over the years, and that recent events have made drawn attention to the urgency of overhauling the system.
She gave a full explanation of the operation of List 99. This list contains 4045 names, and for convictions for 40 of the most serious offences inclusion on the list is automatic. In other cases, the decisions are taken by the Minister or officials, after seeking advice from a wide variety of relevant sources. Last week, Ruth Kelly ordered a review of these discretionary decisions, and this identified 10 cases since 1997 where individuals could apply for a job in a school so long as it is disclosed. The Police have visited these cases, and none are currently working in schools. She also set out some immediate measures that would be taken – banning all those who are convicted and cautioned for any sexual offences against children whether the individual is on the sex offenders register or not; introducing mandatory CRB checks for all newly appointed school employees; and for Ofsted to carry out an urgent survey of existing vetting practices. Further reforms will be brought forward soon. Her statement was very welcome, and I am glad that action has been taken swiftly and decisively.
I also attended a Franco-British Colloque with leading French and British Politicians, Business people, academics and professionals. Speakers included George Osborne, the Chancellor Gordon Brown, the French Economic, Finance and Industry Minister Thierry Breton and Adair Turner (Chair of the Pensions Commission). Topics covered included "Europe beyond the constitutional debacle", "Islam; integration or alienation", "China and India; economic threat or opportunity for Europe" and "Energy; between security and environment". It was a fascinating conference with plenty of food for thought for both countries.
On Friday 20th, the International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill (a Private Member’s Bill) had its second reading in the Commons. This was sponsored by Tom Clarke MP. If passed into law, the Bill would require the Government to produce an annual report for Parliament outlining international development assistance. The requisite information is in relation to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the first seven of which relate to the progress made on poverty, education, the environment, health and gender equality within developing nations. The Government would also be required to publish the latest five year figures on spending for international development and an assessment for when it would expect to achieve the UN target of 0.7% of GDP. Tom Clarke MP has called for a single report in order to collate information together from the variety of sources within which it is currently published. I am very pleased that the Government decided to support this Private Member’s Bill, which passed its Second Reading without a division being necessary. The Bill will now go to Committee where it will be subjected to further debate and probable amendment. You can read the speech given by Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State within the Department for International Development, here. This outlines the Government’s position in relation to the Bill, including the areas that it feels need re-drafting during the committee stage.
On Sunday 22nd, I visited the Kelson Club and study centre on Nightingale Lane. I had previously visited the centre when I was a candidate and my return gave me an opportunity to feedback on my first 8 months as a MP. My talk was followed by questions from the members and an excellent discussion about the impact MPs and Parliament can have on people’s lives.
Sadiq
Last week, the Public Accounts Committee examined patient safety in NHS trusts. Everyday over one million people are treated successfully by the NHS. However, healthcare relies on a range of complex interactions of people, skills, technologies and drugs, and sometimes surgical treatments go wrong or there are errors with medication and patients have accidents. The Department of Health estimates that one in ten patients admitted to NHS hospitals will be unintentionally harmed, and that around 50% of incidents could have been avoided if lessons from previous incidents have been learnt. These findings are similar to those seen in other countries!
On Monday I also co hosted an Eid reception in the House of Commons. Speakers included Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Simon Hughes, Jack Straw, Michael Howard as well as the leaders of leading Muslim groups in the UK such as the MCB and UMO.
On Wednesday 18th, another important Bill completed its final stage in the Commons - the Work and Families Bill. This Bill will extend paid maternity and adoption leave, extend the right to request flexible working to carers of adults, help fathers to play more of a role in their child’s upbringing if the mother returns to work, and make it easier for employers to manage the administration of these rights. The Bill also includes powers to ensure all workers are entitled to 4 weeks statutory leave in addition to 8 days bank holidays. I was a member of the Standing Committee that examined this Bill. I was particularly angered at a Tory attempt to put a sunset clause on parental leave, especially bearing in mind their claims to have learnt lessons from the past when they voted against Labour measures to support working families. I spoke in the Report Stage and Third Reading. You can find details here.
I was in the Chamber on Thursday 19th, for Ruth Kelly’s statement on the arrangements for vetting those working with children, and barring those who are unsuitable. It was a good, coherent statement, and helped to clear up a lot of the confusion and worry that had been circulating in the press. She outlined measures that had been taken by previous administrations on the safety of children. The Conservatives paved the way for the Sex Offenders Register, and the barring of teachers convicted of sex offences. In 2000, the Labour Government decided that all those included on List 99 would be banned from schools indefinitely. However, her statement highlighted the problem that the legislation had built up in a piecemeal fashion over the years, and that recent events have made drawn attention to the urgency of overhauling the system.
She gave a full explanation of the operation of List 99. This list contains 4045 names, and for convictions for 40 of the most serious offences inclusion on the list is automatic. In other cases, the decisions are taken by the Minister or officials, after seeking advice from a wide variety of relevant sources. Last week, Ruth Kelly ordered a review of these discretionary decisions, and this identified 10 cases since 1997 where individuals could apply for a job in a school so long as it is disclosed. The Police have visited these cases, and none are currently working in schools. She also set out some immediate measures that would be taken – banning all those who are convicted and cautioned for any sexual offences against children whether the individual is on the sex offenders register or not; introducing mandatory CRB checks for all newly appointed school employees; and for Ofsted to carry out an urgent survey of existing vetting practices. Further reforms will be brought forward soon. Her statement was very welcome, and I am glad that action has been taken swiftly and decisively.
I also attended a Franco-British Colloque with leading French and British Politicians, Business people, academics and professionals. Speakers included George Osborne, the Chancellor Gordon Brown, the French Economic, Finance and Industry Minister Thierry Breton and Adair Turner (Chair of the Pensions Commission). Topics covered included "Europe beyond the constitutional debacle", "Islam; integration or alienation", "China and India; economic threat or opportunity for Europe" and "Energy; between security and environment". It was a fascinating conference with plenty of food for thought for both countries.
On Friday 20th, the International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill (a Private Member’s Bill) had its second reading in the Commons. This was sponsored by Tom Clarke MP. If passed into law, the Bill would require the Government to produce an annual report for Parliament outlining international development assistance. The requisite information is in relation to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the first seven of which relate to the progress made on poverty, education, the environment, health and gender equality within developing nations. The Government would also be required to publish the latest five year figures on spending for international development and an assessment for when it would expect to achieve the UN target of 0.7% of GDP. Tom Clarke MP has called for a single report in order to collate information together from the variety of sources within which it is currently published. I am very pleased that the Government decided to support this Private Member’s Bill, which passed its Second Reading without a division being necessary. The Bill will now go to Committee where it will be subjected to further debate and probable amendment. You can read the speech given by Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State within the Department for International Development, here. This outlines the Government’s position in relation to the Bill, including the areas that it feels need re-drafting during the committee stage.
On Sunday 22nd, I visited the Kelson Club and study centre on Nightingale Lane. I had previously visited the centre when I was a candidate and my return gave me an opportunity to feedback on my first 8 months as a MP. My talk was followed by questions from the members and an excellent discussion about the impact MPs and Parliament can have on people’s lives.
Sadiq
