| OXFAM, British Asian Rugby Association and a Labour party Quiz |
| Tuesday, 15 August 2006 14:24 |
|
Although we are in the Summer Parliamentary Recess, this does NOT mean that MPs
are on holidays for this period!
In the week leading up to the recess I spent most of one day sitting in the Chamber trying to speak in the 2nd reading of the Welfare Reform Bill. Unfortunately despite my best endeavours for almost 6 hours I was not called. This legislation will replace incapacity benefit with a new employment and support allowance, which will provide the majority of claimants with additional support in returning to the workplace, while providing extra financial security for those unable to work. Housing benefit in the private sector will also be replaced by the Local Housing Allowance (which is already being piloted in Wandsworth) and measures to tackle benefit fraud are also included. I did get to make some interventions during the debate which can be found by clicking HERE. I have also attended a meeting of the Labour Middle East Council which brought together some of the world's leading legal experts to discuss the International legal perspectives of the situation in the Middle East. I have also had a meeting with representatives of the charity OXFAM to discuss their efforts to try and alleviate some of the humanitarian suffering taking place due to the crisis in the Middle East and to discuss ways MPs like myself could help. You can click HERE to find out more about what I have been doing in this regard. On a less serious note, I have met with representatives of the British Asian Rugby Association to discuss what this new body has been up to on South London and their plans for nationwide. If you are interested in their work please click HERE. As part if the Industry and Parliament Trust scheme that I am participating in I attended the London Stock Exchange to see the interim results of Reed Elsevier. I was also on the winning side in the Tooting and Graveney Labour party quiz! Congratulations to my fellow team winners in the "Red Hot Beds". (our name was chosen as all team members, except me, live in the ward of Bedford) Big thanks to Cllr Rex Osborn and his partner Kim who organised the quiz which was great fun, raised funds for the local party and achieved the right result.....my team winning! I have also met with the Attorney General to discuss the Extradition Act and Treaty. Details of the case of constituent Babar Ahmad, who faces extradition to the USA can be found by clicking HERE. As part of Sickle Cell Awareness Month Battersea MP Martin Linton and I attended an open day in Balham Health Centre. The visit formed part of an open day at the centre offering the community a chance to find out more about sickle cell and related disorders such as Thalassaemia. Helping to raise awareness of the disorder and the importance of being tested, Martin and I met with the team of experts running the centre and underwent a screening during the visit. To view a photo of my visit, please click HERE. I also attended and was chief speaker at the Annual General meeting of the Furzedown Project. Cllr Vanessa Graham, who is the Cabinet Member for Adult Care Services also said a few words. In addition to the more than 50 users in attendance were local Furzedown Cllr John Farebrother and Graveney Cllr Belinda Randall. The Project offers a meeting place for older people, providing a wide range of classes and activities including two adult education classes. It is open 5 days a week, offering information and advice, also giving support to carers. The project has 69 volunteers - mostly drawn from its membership. The Project is a registered charity, grant aided by Wandsworth Council. They rely greatly on donations and fundraising to offer the wide range of services available. For more details about their work, please click HERE. As part of the Tooting Bec Lido Centenary celebrations I popped into the Opening Gala Night of the Dive-In movie. This went on for 3 evenings and meant the Lido receiving much deserved recognition and good press nationwide. With the temporary closure of the swimming pool at Tooting Leisure Centre and the good weather combined with the 100th birthday, this is proving to be a very good summer for the Lido. For more information please click HERE. |
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