Weekly Bulletin  2 – 8 Dec 2013

This is a summary of my work for Brighton Pavilion locally and in Parliament last week.  For more information, go to www.carolinelucas.com

Speaking out on Sexism

On Friday evening I compered the ‘Speak out on Sexism’ event at the Sallis Benney theatre.  Organised by the fledgling Brighton Women’s Voices network, the idea was to explore and expose the everyday sexism that permeates the media, and which is a contributory factor towards violence.

However, the night was much more than that – it was a truly inspiring celebration of women speaking out.  There were excellent speakers and performers, including Lucy-Anne Holmes of the No More Page Three campaign, Holly Dustin of End Violence Against Women, local campaigner Jean Calder, and the journalist Melissa Benn.  Brighton Women’s Voices meets again on 16 January at the Friends Meeting House on Ship Street to discuss further activity. More information from Indi Hicks at brightonwomensvoices@gmail.com

Small Business and the Economy

For last week’s Small Business Saturday – part of the campaign to encourage people to shop locally –  I was very glad to be asked to welcome a fantastic addition to Brighton and Hove’s independent shopping scene by opening the new hiSbe supermarket on York Place.  hiSbe is short for “how it Should be”, and it will aim to offer customers food that is healthy, sourced locally and ethically, and affordable to all.  Best of luck to the founders, Ruth and Amy Anslow.

The week before last, I wrote to the Treasury calling for an extension of rates relief for small businesses.  I was pleased therefore that Thursday’s Autumn statement from the Chancellor contained an announcement of a rates discount for small businesses.  I’ll wait to see more detail, but it’s positive to have some recognition from the Government of the pressures facing small businesses.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much else to welcome in the Chancellor’s speech, which did nothing to tackle the root causes of challenges such as fuel poverty. Instead of watering down energy efficiency schemes, he should have announced  a major programme to make all homes super-energy efficient.   Such a programme, if funded through recycled carbon taxes, could bring an estimated nine out of ten homes out of fuel poverty, quadruple carbon savings, and create up to 200,000 jobs across the UK.  He also delivered a lavish Christmas gift to fracking companies – giving them tax breaks to support an irresponsible and dangerous dash for gas that will undermine the urgent action we need to reduce our carbon emissions.  

Living Wage

In September I tabled Parliamentary Questions to various Government Departments, asking how many of their employees receive less than the living wage. The answers I received were not satisfactory: of the four Departments to which I put the question, two acknowledged that not all their staff were paid the living wage; one answered only half of the question; and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills—which I would have expected to be aware of the many benefits the living wage brings to both employers and employees—denied the existence of a “universally agreed definition” of the living wage and so refused to answer the question.

Last week I wrote to the Cabinet Office to express my concerns about the lack of clarity around the payment of a living wage to all Government employees, a move that would set a positive example to employers nationwide.

Football Governance

Having been contacted by many constituents, I’ve written to the Government raising concerns about the lack of progress on implementation of the reforms recommended by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on the governance of football.  Fans are anxious to see a game that is well governed at all levels, rather than devoted only to making a small minority of the people involved with it extremely wealthy.  Issues of particular concern include the limited progress made on the internal governance of the FA, including the introduction of a balanced and representative FA Board.

International Issues and Human Rights

Thursday was International Volunteering Day, a celebration of the power and potential of volunteerism.  This week I blogged about a constituent, whose experiences of VSO are particularly inspiring.

The humanitarian consequences of the blockade of Gaza continue to be a major concern for me, and for many constituents.   This week I received an answer from the Foreign Office to my question about the effect of the blockade on children, and the Gazan economy.  While he recognised the severe impact of the blockade, the Minister’s response (“We have called on Israel to open up legal trade for Gaza.”) didn’t fill me with confidence that the Government is applying any serious pressure to make this happen.

On a related issue, I signed an Early Day Motion calling for all states in the Middle East to dismantle nuclear arsenals; and for the Government to push for a conference supported and attended by all states in the region.

I also took part in an Amnesty International letter-writing vigil to mark International Human Rights Day.

Day in Patcham

I spent much of Friday in Patcham, where I met residents, attended a local book group and poetry group, and spoke to members of Patcham Companions about my work.  I’m looking forward to the carol service at All Saints Church 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