On Monday, I had my usual drop in surgery at Balham Community Centre on Bedford Hill. I then had to go to the headquarters of Tubelines to be trained in advance of my vist to inspect the maintenace work Tubelines are doing on London Underground (see later). Tubelines is the company responsible for maintaining and upgrading the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines under a 30-year contract with London Underground. Before anyone is allowed on the tubes after hours they must have been on a health and training course and passed a test. I am pleased to announce that I am now the proud owner of an Entry Permit that allows me to visit the Underground after hours!

In the evening I attended a ceremony at Wandsworth Town Hall where I had the honour of being awarded the title Honorary Alderman of the London Borough of Wandsworth. The 12 years that I was a councillor for Tooting ward in Wandsworth seem to have flown by and I was particularly pleased that longstanding Council colleagues Del Hossain, Diane Whittingham and Gordon Passmore were amongst those who received the title as well.

On Tuesday I spent most of the day in Oxford visiting Harcourt and Elsevier offices as part of the IPT (Industry and Parliament Trust) project that I am on, with Ed Vaizey MP.

On Wednesday, I hosted the first ever attestation of Special Constables from Wandsworth to take place in the House of Commons. Special constables are unpaid, trained volunteers who devote their spare time to helping regular officers patrol the streets. They perform patrols in a variety of situations and have the same powers as regular officers but do not perform some of the essential support functions that some regular officers do, ensuring they will always be available for patrolling. The Wandsworth members of The Metropolitan Constabulary play an important role in providing additional officers at peak periods such as Friday and Saturday nights.

On Thursday, I attended a Parliamentary meeting with UNISON. After my parliamentary engagements I took 20 MPs and a MEP to Tooting for a cricket match at Spencer Cricket ground on Burntwood Lane. The game was between the Labour Party and the Opposition. Unfortunately, the bad guys won! You can click here to see a team picture.

In the evening and late into the night I was in the tunnels underneath Tooting Bec tube station inspecting the work that Tubelines do. A considerable section of the Tube is almost 100 years old now and has been neglected for decades. I witnessed some of the line being changed than had a journey down to Morden to see the major modernisation and step free access that is going on at the end of the Northern Line. Building works are hoped to be completed at Morden by August and the work looks pretty impressive which will improve the quality of journey of literally thousands of passengers. The replacement of sections of the lines should eventually lead to a better journey and less delays due to problems with the lines or signal failures. You can see a Press release by clicking here.

On Friday morning I met with senior officers from Wandsworth Town Hall to discuss the options available at the end of Thrale Road and Furzedown Road for some sort of crossing for pedestrians travelling to and from Tooting be common. Local Labour Furzedown Councillors John Farebrother and Judy Gasser were also present.

I also visited Balham Nursery School on Endlesham Road with Battersea MP, Martin Linton and Tooting Councillor Nick Bowes. The staff, parents and governors are extremely concerned that Wandsworth Council may have plans to relocate this excellent nursery from it's current location to a new site on Oldridge Road. The Labour government is investing millions of pounds in Children's Centres and there is a concern that this may be used as an excuse to move the only maintained nursery in Tooting to the site of the proposed new Childrens Centre on Oldridge for the primary purpose of sellling off the old site of the nursery to raise funds for the Council. I have written to the Director of Education in Wandsworth for his response to the genuine and serious concerns parents have raised.

On Saturday, I joined Graveney's Labour Councillors, Belinda Randall, Rex Osbourne and Andy Gibbons and Furzedown Councillor John Farebrother on Rame Close Estate in Tooting celebrating the acheivements of local young people and community consulation on development ideas for this estate. In conjunction with Groundwork, Wandsworth Council and YPAC (Young People Agents for Change) Board, local young people in Tooting made some terrific contributions to learn about gardening in order to make their local area a greener and nicer place to live. Young residents developed designs to turn an underused car park to a community garden which was being consulted on.

On Sunday, after a gruelling game of football at the Furzedown Recreation Centre, I took part in a sponsored walk in support of White Pigeon Charity at Tooting Bec Common. Councillors Rex Osborn and Belinda Randall from Graveney joined me and more than fifty others to talk part in various events organised to raise funds and awareness of the work this excellent charity does in the area of supporting those disabled by landmines and war in Sri Lanka.

Sadiq

On Monday 3rd June, the Public Accounts Committee examined the Quality of Postal Services. We examined the performance of Royal Mail, including how they are monitored.

On Tuesday morning I attended the Islamic Finance and Trade Conference organised by the MCB, where Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer was the keynote speaker. Gordon was on top form and talked about Britain being the "gateway to Islamic trade….the global centre for Islamic finance." I also chaired a seminar on ethical and socially responsible investment.

I was also interviewed about young people and democracy by a student who is doing a study on this. It should be a cause of real concern that only 37% of those aged between 18 and 24 voted in the last General Election. It is encouraging that there appears to be a growing awareness amongst younger voters that one of the consequences of low turnout may be elected politicians neglecting issues that matter to young people and disproportionately focussing on issues that matter to those who are more likely to vote.

I am still sitting on the Standing Committee of the Finance Bill.

On Wednesday, I attended the annual sports day at Fircroft Primary School. I was really present as a proud dad, rather then the local MP, I have to confess! The termly Governor’s meeting at Fircroft was also on Wednesday. In the evening, I hosted a fundraising dinner for Tooting Labour Party, where Dr John Reid MP, the Home Secretary, was the guest speaker.

On Thursday I chaired a meeting organised by Save the Children, who gave MPs and their staff a briefing on the recent Indonesian earthquake.The quake happened at the end of March and hit the island of Java. Current estimates show that 6,000 people have been killed with up to 53,000 injured and up to 600,000 people displaced. 67,000 houses have been destroyed, with a further 72,000 damaged. Save the Children have been providing shelter kits which include corrugated iron sheets, tools and cash. Their website is here.

On Friday, I took part in a roundtable discussion on Britishness. I was on the panel with Culture Minister, David Lammy MP, Opinion Leader Research representative Deborah Mattinson, and leading playwright David Edgar. The event was organised by the Fabian Society.

In the evening I attended the 100th Birthday celebration of Battersea Labour Party. The Battersea centenary was a great night. I am afraid I was not brave enough to wear fancy dress but I was surrounded by suffragetes, factory workers and railway workers. In addition to a history presentation and a special Any Questions set in 1906, Martin Linton MP led the Battersea Singers through chart toppers from the last 100 years.

On Saturday, I attended my usual advice surgery at Tooting Library.

I spent the rest of the day with my family at the Furzedown Funday. It was as enjoyable as ever. I "looked after" the bouncy castle for a short slot but also got the chance to see Jim the Juggler, the bands on the mini stage, the face painting, entertainers and the games. The aim of the Furzedown Festival, which lasts a week, is to promote community feeling, provide fun activities and put on a show for all the family. The organisers all live locally and give up their time, ideas and hard work for free. I am still in awe at how they organise such fantastic weather each year!

On Sunday, I joined Martin and Louisa from my office, Earlsfield Boxing Club and 27,000 other cyclists in the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride. It's 56 miles, and all money raised goes to the British Heart Foundation. Our team raised over £1000.

Sadiq

On Monday 5th, I had my usual drop in surgery at Earlsfield Library. I then rushed back to the House of Commons to meet Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar from Harrow, who was on a hunger strike for 101 hours to raise awareness of the continuing problems in Sri Lanka . I have recently taken part in an adjournment debate on this issue which is a huge cause of concern to a number of Tooting residents. You can read the debate online here.

I also had a meeting with the Rector of St Nicholas Church in Tooting to discuss matters that were concerning the church and its congregation (picture here.)

In the afternoon, the Public Accounts Committee, examined the collapse of the Paddington health campus which resulted in the loss of almost £15 million.

On Tuesday, I undertook my commitments on the Finance Bill Standing Committee, which is scrutinising and approving this year’s budget. I was also interviewed by a representative volunteer from Wandsworth Museum for a project they are undertaking there.

On Wednesday, I attended a meeting with the London Probation Board. The probation service has suffered bad publicity recently and it was important to obtain some reassurance about measures that are being taken by them to improve the situation. The probation service is responsible for supervising offenders subject to community orders, including Unpaid Work (Community Payback) and for resettlement of offenders released from prison.

I was one of three MPs on the Simon Mayo Show (along with Julie Kirkbride MP and Danny Alexander MP). I then rushed to St James Park to take part in the Westminster Mile in aid of Sports Relief. Unfortunately, I began the race 4 minutes and 10 seconds after the start but still finished in less than 8 minutes which was pretty respectable I thought! One of the main reasons for us MPs doing this run is to raise awareness of Sport Relief Saturday on July 15th. More details of the Sport Relief campaign are on their website. A picture from the MPs event is here.

In the afternoon, the Public Accounts Committee looked into the Department for Work and Pensions and how they use leaflets to communicate with the public about services and entitlements. We looked into managing the risks of not communicating clearly, ensuring the accuracy and accessibility of information in leaflets and ensuring that leaflets are available for customers.

I was also a speaker at an event organised by an old friend, Dr Richard Stone, launching a Commission on British Muslims and Islamphobia. Richard was a member of the Stephen Lawrence Public Inquiry Panel and a member of the Panel that looked into the death of David (Rocky) Bennett in a mental health institute. Other speakers included Dominic Grieve MP, Professor Tariq Ramadhan and Baroness Uddin.

On Friday, I attended a regular meeting with the senior management team at St Georges Hospital. The main item for discussion was the Trust’s financial position and ensuring that the quality of services provided by staff does not reduce and safeguarding frontline staff.

I am doing a World Cup Blog on the Labour Party Website and this went live on Friday. You can read the blog here.

On Saturday I attended the re-launch of the Black Socialist Society at City Hall and was one of a number of speakers. A photo from the event is here.

Sadiq

Although last week was the Whitson Recess, when Parliament does not sit for a week, the last fortnight has been a hectic as ever.

As well as attending my appointment only surgeries at Tooting library and my walk in advice session at Balham Community Centre and Earlsfield Library I have been busy in Tooting and Westminster.

I met with the Managing Director of Southern Trains, Chris Burchill, to discuss facilities at Balham Railway station. The meeting was very useful and informative. I was able to provide Mr Burchill with concerns that many of my constituents have raised about security and Oyster pre-pay. I was extremely pleased to hear that Balham will become the first station in Southern London later this year to introduce a trial of using pre-pay Oyster cards between Balham station and Victoria station. The final plans are currently being worked out for what will be a real win for Balham constituents. I was also pleased to hear that Balham station’s accessibility is very well managed, with every member of staff receiving training for helping disabled passengers. The station has also been awarded the Secure Station Status Mark, which I hope will comfort regular and irregular users of the station.

The Public Accounts Committee examined ‘Out of hour care provisions’. We examined why out of hours services changed, the commissioning problem, current performance levels, costs of the service, good practice and international comparisons. The transcript of the meeting can be read here.

I also attend an adjournment debate called by my good friend Keith Vaz MP, to raise concerns about detention without trial at Guantanamo Bay. Unfortunately, only thirty minutes was set aside for this debate and I was not able to make an oral contribution.

I attended the funeral of Haydon and Muhammed Ali, two brothers tragically murdered In Tooting recently. The funeral was held in Wimbledon Park Mosque with a massive turnout from locals around South London (and future afield) of all different ages and background. Their murder was absolutely futile. The police have charged a number of people with their murders, and are continuing their investigations into concerns about a delay in police reaction.

On a happier note I attended Tooting Fire Station to see for myself the new Solar Panels that are helping to heat the station. Tooting now has the first fire station in London to have solar heating. This will not only help them to save £3400 on their annual gas bill, but will also ensure that carbon dioxide emissions from the station are reduced by sixteen tonnes per year.

I hosted a launch of a book published by The British Council entitled ‘Media guide to British Museums’ written by Ehsan Masood.

I took part in an adjournment debate outside that raised concerns in Sri Lanka called by a good colleague Andy Love MP. Andy is the Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka and recently returned from a visit to Sri Lanka. I made a couple of interventions to raise concerns highlighted to me by constituents in Tooting. For a full transcript of the debate please click here.

I also attended the monthly General Committee meeting of Tooting Labour Party.

I met with Yvette Cooper MP (who in her capacity as Minister of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for Housing matters) and discussed the concerns around housing in London and Tooting in particular. One of the regular gripes raised with me by local residents is the lack of affordable housing in Tooting.

The supply of social housing within the borough of Wandsworth is extremely restricted following decisions taken by the Tory council. Over the last 25 years, the Tory Council have sold off thousands of Council flats without replacing them with new affordable properties or making developers who build new properties locally do so. I have already raised the issue of the Council’s policy in Parliament and the general lack of affordable housing available for local residents like you. I will continue to campaign for the necessary increase in affordable housing throughout Tooting.

Although progress has been made in recent years, this is a major problem. I have met many young professionals on decent wages unable even on two incomes to afford to buy a property in Tooting. Families in Tooting are being separated by a number of miles with others living in worryingly over crowded accommodation.

I am confident that Yvette will soon return with new initiatives to address these problems that the local Tory Council has neglected for the last 28 years.

I was also the main speaker at the joint Annual Public Meeting held by the Wandsworth Teaching PCT Patient and Public Forum (PPIF) and St Georges Hospital Trust PPIF.

PPIF’s are statutory bodies and both are working closely and constructively with the PCT and St Georges trust to improve health and NHS Services in Tooting and the borough.

The meeting was extremely well attended with members asking me many relevant questions about local health provisions.

I attended a reception assembly at Fircroft Primary school as part of their Science Week.

I visited Penwortham Primary School. Although I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the excellent Headteacher, Mrs Annwen Rigby, the teachers, staff and pupils and inspecting the building works. The highlight was a session with the School Council. The range of issues raised by students in the years 6, 5 and 4 stretched from climate change to litter and included topics such as racism, local art, play facilities the environment, walking to school, the role of Parliament and much much more. Any pessimism I have about low turnout and apathy amongst young voters at elections is soon turned to optimism when I meet articulate, conscientious and switched-on young people such as the students of Penwortham. The school deserves huge credit for participation encouraged of students by school council.

Another highlight was being asked to cut the ribbon, and officially open, the Ronald McDonald House at St George’s Hospital. This house has eight separate ensuite bedrooms with two communal bathrooms, two sitting rooms, a dining room and kitchen and is open to the families of children being treated at St George’s who may live long a distance from Tooting.

I met the Brooks family from Farnborough, who have stayed in the House on two occasions while their beautiful son received treatment at the hospital for Hydrocephalus – a build up of spinal fluid inside the brain.

As Tooting residents living so close to St George’s we often forget how lucky we are to live within a few minutes of a centre of excellence. Having met the House Manager, Jeanette Hill, the Trustees and visited the rooms I am extremely proud that our hospital can now provide a ‘home away from home’ for the families for the families of sick children being looked after and treated by St George’s.

The Royal College of Nursing and Unison recently organised a lobby of Parliament to highlight concerns they had. I met with Karen Barrett who is a nurse at St George’s Hospital and the RCN representatives to discuss serious issues and concerns to frontline staff as St George’s. I am taking these up with senior management at the Trust and the PCT and also with Ministers.

I attended an Independent Monitoring Board meeting at Wandsworth Prison. The IMB is comprised of independent and unpaid members of the public, who monitor the day-to-day life in the prison and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained. It will produce an annual report for the Home Secretary, which will also be available to the local community.

I took part in an excellent discussion with Board members about the provisions and premises at the prison and how steps can be taken too make more progress. I met with the Governor, Ian Mulholland, as well as with staff on the Healthcare Unit.

I also attended the AGM of the Muslim Council of Britain. Sir Iqbal Sacranie stepped down after four years a Secretary General and Dr Abdul Bari (A fellow south Londoner!) was elected to succeed Sir Iqbal. I wished Dr Bari the best of luck in his new practice and paid tribute to the excellent work Sir Iqbal has done in recent years in particularly difficult circumstances and in challenging times. For more information about the work of the MCB please click here.


Sadiq