Here’s a summary of my work for Brighton Pavilion locally and in Parliament from January 26th - February 1st 2015. As usual, please don’t hesitate to get in touch of you need my help with anything.

PARLIAMENT

The Infrastructure Bill

This Bill was the main legislation going through the House of Commons last week. It is designed to do many things, including create the conditions for increased fracking of shale gas and seeks, amongst other things to create a new duty to maximise" the economic recovery" of oil and gas - at a time when we're duty-bound to reduce it in order to meet our climate commitments. I tabled a number of amendments to the Bill, including one calling for a moratorium on fracking, several designed to improve the regulatory regime if fracking is allowed to go ahead, and I backed a key amendment to try to prevent companies trespassing to frack under people's homes without their permission.

My reflections on the votes are here: http://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/caroline-on-the-infrastructure-bill-vote  and I also wrote this blog: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/caroline-lucas/fracking-shale-gas_b_6546600.html?1422283149&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

Hundreds of constituents wrote to me ahead of the vote and I spoke at a rally outside the House of Commons and accepted a petition from 38 Degrees, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace signed by those opposed to the Government's fracking plans. 

I also used the debate in and outside of Parliament to put forward the case for alternatives. The Department of Energy and Climate Change predicts fracking could generate up to 32,000 jobs. But - despite government cuts - the renewables industry already supports more than 100,000 jobs. And a nationwide energy efficiency programme could create an additional 108,000 jobs every year between 2020 and 2030.

Pubs

The Infrastructure Bill included proposals on protecting pubs. I worked with a cross party of group of MPs to try to strengthen these and to stop the deliberate closure of the vast majority of pubs and their conversion to supermarkets. There was widespread support for our amendment to the Bill but, sadly, it just missed getting a majority of MPs voting in favour.

Pubs are at the heart of our communities and have a vital role in our local economies, so it’s absolutely right that communities have a say in their future. Having had the pleasure of a drink in The Bevy last weekend - a Brighton pub that's being run as a not for profit co-operative venture - that's something I am doubly determined to continue to campaign for, locally and in Parliament.  

Holocaust Memorial Day

Each year there's a book of commemoration in Parliament for MPs to sign and mark Holocaust Memorial Day. This year being the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it was an especially humbling and moving occasion.

I took the opportunity to reaffirm my pledge to ensure future generations do not forget the Holocaust and to thank the Holocaust Educational Trust for the incredibly important work they do locally and nationally.

holocaust.jpg

Health

During a debate about the NHS, I raised the issue of proper pay for staff and the impact of privatisation on patient care. I also took the opportunity to mention what one of my young constituents, in Parliament for the day, had been saying to me.  Her mother works for the NHS, and has to work all hours just to get by.  She wanted to know why the Prime Minister doesn’t care about NHS workers, so I asked the Minister directly.  As you can probably imagine, I didn’t get a direct answer in response.

I was all set to join NHS staff at the Royal Sussex striking over the issue of pay but the strike was called off in the light of last minute negotiations with the Secretary of State. This is something I've repeatedly lobbied Ministers about and I remain in touch with trade unions and constituents concerns about pay levels over how best to keep up the pressure.

The Alzheimer's Society delivered some training on being a Dementia Friend in Brighton this week and I was able to learn more about the kind of support sufferers and their families need. I also found out more about the Right to Know campaign, which aims to raise diagnosis rates to 75% across the country.

Cold Homes

This week is Cold Homes Week - a call to action by the Energy Bill Revolution, highlighting that cold homes cost lives. There will be lots going on in Parliament and I hope you will sign my new petition: http://www.carolinelucas.com/cold-homes-petition

Ending the scandal of cold homes is a central part of my Housing Charter, the final version of which has now been published - see: http://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/housing-charter-for-fairer-rents-and-affordable-homes

AROUND MY CONSTITUENCY

Pupils from Hertford Junior School visited Parliament this week and had lots of questions to ask me, including about the high cost of buses, the safety of fracking and the low number of women in parliament.

I enjoyed Seedy Sunday at the Corn Exchange and thanks to all the volunteers, speakers and visitors who made it such a success this year.

And it was good to see so many members of the Clifton Montpelier Powis Community Alliance at a public meeting at St Nicholas Church. There were questions on everything from tuition fees and wind farms to an EU referendum, and voter turnout.

Last summer saw the second ever TransPRIDE event take place in Brighton and Hove, and I launched my campaign for more gender identity services in the city. I met constituents this week who continue to suffer because of long waiting lists at the central London clinic and I also had a meeting about the next steps for the campaign.