Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Last week I was appointed to the Standing Committee of the Finance Bill. This is a committee that examines the Budget and goes through each part of the Bill clause by clause! There are many clauses in the Bill and the committee is not expected to finish before the 20th June 2006! We are meeting four times a week so a considerable amount of my time will continue to be taken up by this.
On Monday 8th I had my normal drop in surgery at Earlsfield Library.
Last week, I spent a day and a half on a delegation to France. We visited Clicy sous Bois in Paris where the riots began six months ago. The area is overwhelmingly non white, and unemployment is in excess of 50%. Although things in the UK are by no means perfect, it is worth reminding ourselves that we have had racial discrimination laws here for more than 40 years. There is some hope for the future in areas like Clicy sous Bois in France as community groups are beginning to be set up to work more closely on the estates, and a Minister for Equality of Opportunity has been appointed. It was a fascinating but brief visit.
On Friday 12th I held my inaugural pensioners advice morning focused on helping people find out if they are claiming their rightful benefits and whether they are entitled to grants for heating insulation. It was organised with the Eaga partnership who manage the Warm Front scheme on behalf of DEFRA. Eaga was only one of the nine organizations who were at the event giving information and advice. The local police, fire brigade, Community Safety Department from Wandsworth Council, the South West London Energy Advice Centre, Energy Watch, Age Concern, the Pension Service and the Home Improvement Agency were also present. The event was a huge success, with more than 50 local pensioners attending. I hope to hold another such event in autumn.
The Third Reading of Mark Lazarowic's Private Members Bill on Climate Change was also on Friday. I’ve supported this Bill in its passage through the Commons, and it will now be sent to the Lords. More information in a previous entry here.
On Saturday, I spent the most of the day watching mighty Liverpool defeat West Ham in this year’s FA cup final. The match was superb. I had given up hope of Liverpool equalising and then came Stevie Gerrard in the 90th minute… Things bode well for the World Cup Finals in Germany, even without Wayne Rooney.
I also attended a BBQ at the home of the newly elected labour Councillor in Furzedown, Cllr Judy Gasser. One of the highlights for Labour in Wandsworth was the Labour gain in Furzedown in the recent Council elections.
Sadiq
On Monday 8th I had my normal drop in surgery at Earlsfield Library.
Last week, I spent a day and a half on a delegation to France. We visited Clicy sous Bois in Paris where the riots began six months ago. The area is overwhelmingly non white, and unemployment is in excess of 50%. Although things in the UK are by no means perfect, it is worth reminding ourselves that we have had racial discrimination laws here for more than 40 years. There is some hope for the future in areas like Clicy sous Bois in France as community groups are beginning to be set up to work more closely on the estates, and a Minister for Equality of Opportunity has been appointed. It was a fascinating but brief visit.
On Friday 12th I held my inaugural pensioners advice morning focused on helping people find out if they are claiming their rightful benefits and whether they are entitled to grants for heating insulation. It was organised with the Eaga partnership who manage the Warm Front scheme on behalf of DEFRA. Eaga was only one of the nine organizations who were at the event giving information and advice. The local police, fire brigade, Community Safety Department from Wandsworth Council, the South West London Energy Advice Centre, Energy Watch, Age Concern, the Pension Service and the Home Improvement Agency were also present. The event was a huge success, with more than 50 local pensioners attending. I hope to hold another such event in autumn.
The Third Reading of Mark Lazarowic's Private Members Bill on Climate Change was also on Friday. I’ve supported this Bill in its passage through the Commons, and it will now be sent to the Lords. More information in a previous entry here.
On Saturday, I spent the most of the day watching mighty Liverpool defeat West Ham in this year’s FA cup final. The match was superb. I had given up hope of Liverpool equalising and then came Stevie Gerrard in the 90th minute… Things bode well for the World Cup Finals in Germany, even without Wayne Rooney.
I also attended a BBQ at the home of the newly elected labour Councillor in Furzedown, Cllr Judy Gasser. One of the highlights for Labour in Wandsworth was the Labour gain in Furzedown in the recent Council elections.
Sadiq
