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

Energy  Announcements

At the start of the week, the Government announced it had signed off a deal with EDF to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point.  They’ll be guaranteed a strike price of almost twice the wholesale cost of electricity, all funded by billpayers.   I think it’s a terrible deal –  especially when you consider that EDF will only have to pay a share of the costs of dealing with the toxic waste created by their generators – and I’ve written to the National Audit Office requesting that they investigate whether this is genuinely value for money.

Then later in the week David Cameron declared that there would a review of ‘Green Taxes’.  His message, that investment in renewables and other low-carbon measures are to blame for rising fuel bills, is irresponsible and factually wrong. The reason families are paying more for energy is the increasing wholesale price of gas - the Government’s own Committee on Climate Change has said that the costs of low-carbon measures have been small by comparison. If the Prime Minister really wants to help families struggling with bills he should put in place measures to insulate homes up and down the country.  This could be funded using revenue from the carbon tax, and the  EU Emissions Trading Scheme, as proposed by the Energy Bill Revolution campaign.

But more broadly,  the current party political debate on fuel bills – with talk of price freezes on one side, and cuts to ‘green taxes’ on the others, completely misses the point.  The fact is that as long as we depend on gas for our energy, and fail to invest in renewables, prices are going to continue rising.

I also met with representatives of  the Green Deal Finance Company.   The notion that we can make thousands of homes energy efficient without significant government action was flawed from the start, and it’s unsurprising that so few households have signed up.   Nevertheless, it was good to have the opportunity to talk to those who operate the scheme and to question some of their claims.

Mental Health Services in Brighton and Hove

Last week, a report in the Argus highlighted the huge pressures facing our mental health services. I’ve published a blog post on this crucial aspect of NHS care, and problems are being felt particularly acutely in Brighton and Hove where we have a very high level of need. 

The euphemistically entitled 'cost improvement target' for the Sussex Partnership Trust is over £13 million, and shockingly, next year it will once again receive less for providing the same level of service.  

There are some incredibly dedicated and talented staff working in mental health, and their work should get the recognition and funding it deserves.  I’m working  to organise a round-table meeting in Brighton and Hove to bring people together and with the aim of making sure that the Government and commissioners understand the overwhelming need, humanity and value for money in getting the funding of our mental health services right.

Zero Hours Contracts

On Thursday I held my weekly surgery for constituents, and in the evening spoke at a public meeting on zero hours contracts organised by the Brighton Benefits Campaign and Brighton and Hove Trades Council. I think it’s disgraceful that we’re seeing hard-fought rights being rolled back in the name of greater  "flexibility".  

Farming and conservation

On Tuesday, I met Camilla Puzey (left). Her farm – near Devil’s Dyke - is home to farmland birds like the corn bunting, which need a managed habitat within a working and productive countryside.  She was in Parliament as part of a lobby organised by the RSPB, the National Trust, and the Wildlife Trust, who are campaigning for a switch of funding within the CAP to help farmers conserve threatened species, landscapes and heritage features. 

Sadly, over the past 40 years there has been a 50% decline in farmland birds, with species like turtle doves, lapwings and skylarks, particularly hard hit.

Surfers Against Sewage

Also on Tuesday I met up with Aaron Jennings and Hugo Tagholm from Surfers Against Sewage.  They’ve just published a report which estimates that surfing is worth over £1.8billion a year to the UK, and with Brighton a popular destination for surfers, it’s vital to our local economy too.  Unfortunately, neglect of the marine environment has made surfing in the UK a less safe and pleasant activity.  In the 2013 bathing season there were 549 untreated human sewage discharges across beaches, and the amount of marine litter has almost doubled over the past 15 years.

I’ve signed their petition calling for Parliament to legislate for better protection of waves and beaches, and I’ll continue to try push the issue up the political agenda.

Feminism in London conference

This weekend I was at the Feminism in London conference  where the debate was lively and inspiring. There are some amazing grass-roots feminist campaigns right now, not least Everyday Sexism and No More Page 3, and it was wonderful to hear so much dedication to rid society of the insidious role of sexism in the media and other areas of everyday life.

In Other News...

I paid a visit to the Brighthelm Centre on North Road - a vibrant community space used by environmental groups and churches, which also functions as an auditorium for theatre productions, concerts and conferences.  There’s  a pre-school in the basement, and a community garden.  The centre is a fantastic example of churches and other community organisations working together to promote sustainable living.

And  I attended an event to mark the launch of the Brighton Energy Co-Op’s second solar energy project.  They’re seeking to raise revenues to install more new solar in the area, which would make it the largest solar project in Sussex.

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