Friday, February 16, 2007
On Monday I held my usual drop in surgery at Earlsfield Library.
In the afternoon I participated in a Fabian Society seminar on Citizenship and Integration at the House of Commons. John Denham MP (Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee) and I are hoping to write a joint piece together on this important theme with The Fabians.
I hosted and spoke at a reception organised by the Citizens Advice Bureux ahead of a one day conference they were holding the following day(see later).
The Public Accounts Committee examined the Progress in Implementing Clinical governance in Primary Care. Following serious conerns about clinical and organisational failures in the NHS during the 1990's (such as Alder Hey, the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Shipman), the Government identified the need for a more systematic approach to improving quality and safety in healthcare. If you want to see a transcript of the session click HERE.
In the evening Tooting Labour Party hosted the Secretary of State for Education Alan Johnson MP at a fundraising dinner in Tooting. In addition to local members, local community activists, Heads and Principals of local educational establishments were also present. After an inspiring speech Alan took questions. To see a photo of the event click HERE.
Once a vacancy for Deputy Leadership for the Labour Party arises, Alan has expressed an interet in standing for this position. I have already declared my support for Alan, once the process begins. You can find out more details of Alan's candidature by clicking HERE
On Tuesday I opened the Citizens Advice Social Policy conference at Methodist Central Hall in Westminister. There were more than 200 delegates drawn from across England and Wales. A significant number were CAB volunteers, some paid advisors and bureau managers as well as Trustees. During my speech I sought to motovate delagtes to feel empowered to camapign for change and acknowledged the importance of the evidence CAB teams gather in their bureau and how this is valued by MP's. I also introduced the All Party Parliamentary Group for CAB's and encouraged CAB's to get involved.
The Public Accounts Committee in the afternoon examined the use of Consultants.In 2005-06 the public sector in England spent appromiately £2.8 billion on consultnats with central government accounting for £1.8 billon. I raised a number of concerns about this trend. Very often it would appear that core skills are being outsourced to consultants with no real assesment of the value spent on this. I was able to use an excellent piece in the Evening Standard the day before to make my points. A full transcript of the session can be found by clicking HERE.
After attending a meeting with Alan Johnson MP to discuss education in London I attended a dinner in the Commons where the Chairman of England Cricket Selectors David Graveney was speaker. I am sure the experience was more bearbale for David as it had come hot on the heels of and England one day victiry in Australia!
On Wednesday morning I attended an early breakfast session organised by Wandsowrth Business Forum in Tooting High Street at Jasmines. There were excellent presentations from the Town Centre Manager, Audrey Helps, YPAC Chair and Traders Association Chair Indrajit Patel as well as local Sergent Lisa Hurley and other key partners. Local Labour Councillors Billi Randall, Judy Gasser and Nick Bowes were also present to speak to and listen to local traders. The main concern raised was the decision by the Tory Council to raise the price of Car Parking permits despite a generous settlement from Central Government. I have asked a Parlimentary Question about the amount of grant this Council has received over the last 10 years. Ringfenced monies refers to that money that should be spent on specific things while non ring fenced funding gives the Council discretion on how to spend it. You can see my Question and answer by clicking HERE.
On arriving at the House of Commons I had a meeting with a constituent to listen to his concerns about OFCOM's proposals to sell off 14 UHF TV bands post analogue switch off. The channel in dispute by people in the sound recording industry is Channel 69. This is the assigned channel for radio microphones and if sold could have devastating implications for many people, especially those who are self employed and buy most of the equipment used themselves. It could also have terrible implications on the British Film industry. I have signed EDM 531 which can be found by clinking HERE. I have also made representations to the relevant Minister Shaun Woodward MP, and OFCOM.
After PMQ's I sat on a Standing Committee on Anti Social Behaviour Orders. In the evening I attended a reception held by London Young Labour in the House of Commons. There must have been more than 150 Young Progressives present. Emily Thornberry MP. Dawn Butler MP and myself attended the event along with LYL members.
On Friday I met children from the School Council of Earlsfield Primary School who accepted an invitation from me to have a Tour of the Houses of Parliament.I shall shortly be going to the School to answer questions the students have. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE.
On Saturday I joined Martin Linton MP for Battersea, members of the Labour Group of Councillors and literally hundreds of local residents at Wandsworth Museum for medieval day. members of the trade union Unison were also there to collect signitures for the petition to keep the museum open. More than 7000 local people have now signed the petition that will be presented to the council
On Sunday I appeared on the Adam Boulton Programme reviewing the Sunday Papers with journalist and author Kathy Lettes.
In the afternoon I participated in a Fabian Society seminar on Citizenship and Integration at the House of Commons. John Denham MP (Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee) and I are hoping to write a joint piece together on this important theme with The Fabians.
I hosted and spoke at a reception organised by the Citizens Advice Bureux ahead of a one day conference they were holding the following day(see later).
The Public Accounts Committee examined the Progress in Implementing Clinical governance in Primary Care. Following serious conerns about clinical and organisational failures in the NHS during the 1990's (such as Alder Hey, the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Shipman), the Government identified the need for a more systematic approach to improving quality and safety in healthcare. If you want to see a transcript of the session click HERE.
In the evening Tooting Labour Party hosted the Secretary of State for Education Alan Johnson MP at a fundraising dinner in Tooting. In addition to local members, local community activists, Heads and Principals of local educational establishments were also present. After an inspiring speech Alan took questions. To see a photo of the event click HERE.
Once a vacancy for Deputy Leadership for the Labour Party arises, Alan has expressed an interet in standing for this position. I have already declared my support for Alan, once the process begins. You can find out more details of Alan's candidature by clicking HERE
On Tuesday I opened the Citizens Advice Social Policy conference at Methodist Central Hall in Westminister. There were more than 200 delegates drawn from across England and Wales. A significant number were CAB volunteers, some paid advisors and bureau managers as well as Trustees. During my speech I sought to motovate delagtes to feel empowered to camapign for change and acknowledged the importance of the evidence CAB teams gather in their bureau and how this is valued by MP's. I also introduced the All Party Parliamentary Group for CAB's and encouraged CAB's to get involved.
The Public Accounts Committee in the afternoon examined the use of Consultants.In 2005-06 the public sector in England spent appromiately £2.8 billion on consultnats with central government accounting for £1.8 billon. I raised a number of concerns about this trend. Very often it would appear that core skills are being outsourced to consultants with no real assesment of the value spent on this. I was able to use an excellent piece in the Evening Standard the day before to make my points. A full transcript of the session can be found by clicking HERE.
After attending a meeting with Alan Johnson MP to discuss education in London I attended a dinner in the Commons where the Chairman of England Cricket Selectors David Graveney was speaker. I am sure the experience was more bearbale for David as it had come hot on the heels of and England one day victiry in Australia!
On Wednesday morning I attended an early breakfast session organised by Wandsowrth Business Forum in Tooting High Street at Jasmines. There were excellent presentations from the Town Centre Manager, Audrey Helps, YPAC Chair and Traders Association Chair Indrajit Patel as well as local Sergent Lisa Hurley and other key partners. Local Labour Councillors Billi Randall, Judy Gasser and Nick Bowes were also present to speak to and listen to local traders. The main concern raised was the decision by the Tory Council to raise the price of Car Parking permits despite a generous settlement from Central Government. I have asked a Parlimentary Question about the amount of grant this Council has received over the last 10 years. Ringfenced monies refers to that money that should be spent on specific things while non ring fenced funding gives the Council discretion on how to spend it. You can see my Question and answer by clicking HERE.
On arriving at the House of Commons I had a meeting with a constituent to listen to his concerns about OFCOM's proposals to sell off 14 UHF TV bands post analogue switch off. The channel in dispute by people in the sound recording industry is Channel 69. This is the assigned channel for radio microphones and if sold could have devastating implications for many people, especially those who are self employed and buy most of the equipment used themselves. It could also have terrible implications on the British Film industry. I have signed EDM 531 which can be found by clinking HERE. I have also made representations to the relevant Minister Shaun Woodward MP, and OFCOM.
After PMQ's I sat on a Standing Committee on Anti Social Behaviour Orders. In the evening I attended a reception held by London Young Labour in the House of Commons. There must have been more than 150 Young Progressives present. Emily Thornberry MP. Dawn Butler MP and myself attended the event along with LYL members.
On Friday I met children from the School Council of Earlsfield Primary School who accepted an invitation from me to have a Tour of the Houses of Parliament.I shall shortly be going to the School to answer questions the students have. You can see a photo of us by clicking HERE.
On Saturday I joined Martin Linton MP for Battersea, members of the Labour Group of Councillors and literally hundreds of local residents at Wandsworth Museum for medieval day. members of the trade union Unison were also there to collect signitures for the petition to keep the museum open. More than 7000 local people have now signed the petition that will be presented to the council
On Sunday I appeared on the Adam Boulton Programme reviewing the Sunday Papers with journalist and author Kathy Lettes.
