The Health and Social Care Bill

I co-sponsored an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill to try to prevent  Ministers being allowed to close successful health services that communities want and need without any kind of local scrutiny and democracy.

Clause 119 in the Bill would increase the powers of Trust Special Administrators, who are brought in to take over NHS organisations deemed to be failing. The Clause would allow them to impose changes on a neighbouring organisation.  Sadly, however, our amendment was unsuccessful.

This is a major issue for people in Brighton and Hove and for anyone who cares about the NHS, or local democracy. Decisions about health service provision must be clinically led and made locally.  

Domestic violence

I wrote to Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, and Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, to ask them to support a new survivor’s charter on domestic violence.

The survivor’s charter, published last week by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic and Sexual Violence, sets out what survivors of domestic abuse should expect as a minimum from the police and justice system. 

As a member of the APPG, I believe we need far stronger action to increase rates of reporting and conviction for domestic abuse cases, and better training for everyone in the criminal justice system.

City Deal launched

I was very pleased to attend the official launch and signing of the City Deal for the Greater Brighton city region, which has now been agreed with government. I lobbied ministers to help win a long term commitment to investment in City Deal, and hope it will bring partners together from across the city region to secure a vibrant local economy which will provide jobs, culture, education and housing to over 600,000 people.

Badger cull

Hundreds of people have written to me about the debate on the badger cull. I was a top sponsor of Thursday’s debate and, as a long standing campaigner against badger culling, took the opportunity to set out, once again, the case against the cull.

I’ve always maintained that we need an evidence based approach. We know from the leaked report of the Independent Scientific Panel that the pilot culls failed in every respect when measured against the criteria they were set up to test, specifically on the humaneness of free shooting and on effectiveness. Less than 50% of badgers had been killed in the pilot areas and costs have soared to an eye-watering £4000 per badger killed.

I spoke at length in the debate and also intervened on other MPs when I felt it was important to correct claims they were making. You can read my main speech here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140313/debtext/140313-0003.htm#140313-0003.htm_spnew71

I was delighted when the motion was overwhelmingly supported by MPs, with just one voting against.

Your support and lobbying is critical. We still have a chance of overturning the Government’s culling policy and securing an approach based on vaccination, vastly improved bio-security and better animal husbandry. Public campaigning can help ensure this happens and I’m fully committed to continuing to stand up to Ministers and represent your concerns.

Are we fit to Frack?

Last week saw the launch of a new report on fracking launched by the RSPB, The Angling Trust, The Salmon and Trout Association, The Wildlife Trusts, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and the National Trust.  I attended a round table discussion to discuss the report, 'Are We Fit to Frack', which aims to stimulate an evidence-based, rational debate about the future of the shale gas industry in the UK.

It warns that drilling for shale gas could cause severe harm to our countryside, wildlife and the climate and concludes that the current regulatory framework is not fit for purpose.

The report also makes it clear that shale gas exploitation is not compatible with the UK’s goals on climate change, and highlights a risk that support for the fracking industry could undermine investment in alternative ways to generate energy from low carbon, renewable sources such as wind, wave and solar power.

Sussex is in the front-line in the exploitation of shale gas and, if there is a significant gas resource, that could mean well-heads every few kilometres across the county, according to Sussex Wildlife Trusts.

Surgery in Asda Hollingbury

I want it to be as easy as possible for people to meet me in person to discuss the issues that matter to them. On Friday afternoon, I held a drop-in constituency surgery at the Asda superstore in Hollingbury which was a great success. I hold surgeries every week in my constituency office, but it’s good to get out and reach people who might not otherwise think of making an appointment.

Lots of people raised a wide variety of topics - the need for more affordable housing being a key concern.  I would like to thank Kerry Ancell and all of the staff at Asda Hollingbury for making it such a success.

WhaleFest 2014

I was delighted to speak at the launch of WhaleFest 2014 on Friday.

Whalefest welcomed the world’s whale watchers, charities, trip operators, artists, experts and children to Brighton for the largest celebration and expo about wild whales and dolphins.

The ‘Save the Whale’ campaigns of the 1970s culminated in a global vote taken at the Hilton Metropole in 1982 which suspend commercial whaling.

Here we showed the world that whales matter, and WhaleFest made that message loud and clear again this weekend.

Contacting Me

If you are a local resident and want help with case work or to find out more about my activities locally please contact me at the office of Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Media Centre 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL. Tel: 01273 201 130. Email: brightonoffice@parliament.uk

I hold regular surgeries across the constituency. If you want to book an appointment at a forthcoming surgery please call Liz Collis on 01273 201130. She coordinates my constituency office and is able to help with most local enquiries.

If you want to know about my parliamentary work please get in touch at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Tel: 020 7219 7025. Email: caroline.lucas.mp@parliament.uk