Yesterday I had a question on the Order Paper to ask the Secretary of State for Culture what plans the Government has to commemorate the 200th anniversary in 2007 of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. My question was too far down the paper, so we didn’t get to it, but the Minister responded in writing afterwards to say that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are liaising with the Home Office to decide how best to mark the occasion. The DCMS will meet the £250,000 per year running costs of the new Slavery Gallery in Liverpool, due to open in 2007.

Many museums and galleries and heritage sites are planning to mark the anniversary with special exhibitions and educational programmes, and I am looking forward to hearing more about these plans. British anti-slavery was one of the most important reform movements of the 19th century. It was the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, organised in May 1787, which set the movement on its modern course, evolving a structure and organisation that made it possible to mobilise thousands of Britons.

I have also been asking some written questions about the Identity Cards Bill ahead of the Second Reading debate later this month.

Elsewhere in parliament, I am still without an office, but by the end of this week myself and my staff should be moving into one that has been allocated for us. I will then be able to update everyone with how to get hold of us; You may have noticed that I now have a news section on the website where I intend to put all my press releases.