URGENT - Less than a week to sign the Drugs E-petition!

My e-petition calling for a review of the UK’s out of date and ineffective drug laws closes this week.  It’s gathering pace rapidly, and if we get to 100,000 signatures by the end of this week, we can force a debate and a vote in Parliament. 

If you haven’t already, please consider signing the petition, and spreading the word.

Health

I met with BrightPIP, of which I’m a patron.  This is an initiative to introduce more work on parent-infant psychological therapy in Brighton and Hove; based on the understanding that the earliest years are crucial in a child’s development, it offers intensive support to expectant parents, and those with babies up to the age of three.

Brighton’s Railways - Meeting with Network Rail

I also met with representatives of Network Rail to discuss their response to disruption to Brighton’s rail services caused by the recent flooding, and to call for long-term improvements to the Brighton mainline to reduce the misery to commuters.  You can read more about the meeting here

Flooding and Climate Change

I’ve tabled several parliamentary questions about the Government’s response to flooding, asking how much DEFRA spent on flood protection in Brighton over the past six years, how much has been allocated for the next three, and  what assessment the Environment Secretary has made of the effect of the floods on small businesses.

On a very much related issue, I’m looking to invite young people from Brighton and Hove to come to Parliament to voice their concerns about climate change to policy makers.

Out and about in the constituency

Well done to Patcham High School, whose Eco-Rep students have earned the school the accolade of a Green Eco flag.  I visited the school to meet the reps, whose work includes monitoring the school’s energy bills, and encouraging cycling, and to help them raise the flag.  For National Voter Registration Day on Friday I also spoke to students at the University of Sussex about the importance of voting.

Last week was Cold Homes Week,  organised by the Energy Bill Revolution coalition to highlight the scandal of fuel poverty and cold homes.   The UK lags well behind other countries when it comes to home energy efficiency, a point made clear when I visited , Lynn Niblett, a constituent who looks after her young grand-daughter at home and who’s  desperate to have insulation work done but who keeps being let down.

I was very glad to take part in a Time to Talk event – organised by MINDout to get people talking about mental health issues at the Lovefit café.   It’s a great initiative to tackle some of the stigma and prejudic that still surrounds mental illness.