Weekly Bulletin  4-10 November 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

Celebrating Brighton and Hove’s Living Wage Achievements

 Last week was National Living Wage Week, and on Monday I attended  a coffee morning to celebrate Brighton and Hove’s excellent progress in this area.   Arranged by the local Chamber of Commerce, the event celebrated the fact that over a hundred local businesses have signed up to the pledge to pay their staff a living wage.

 I’m immensely proud of the overwhelming levels of support that employers have lent to the campaign since it was introduced by the Council in 2011. In just two years, we’ve made great strides, and local businesses have shown that even in a time of economic hardship, it’s possible to tackle inequality while promoting competitiveness.

Vote for Exeter Street Hall!

I’ve blogged before on the amazing efforts by local residents to raise the funds to buy Exeter Street Hall and keep it as a vital, vibrant hub for our community.   However, now that the Hall has been saved, it needs maintaining – and the existing 136-year old roof is leaky and creaky.  Fortunately, the Hall is in the running for a £50,000 grant from the People’s Millions Awards - a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and ITV, where the public help decide which community projects get lottery funding.

If you’d like to be sent a reminder of the number to call when voting takes place on 25^th November, text HALL to 66777.  I’ll be phoning to vote on the 25th and wish the team all the best for reaching their target.

Lunch at Middle Street School

Last week was also National School Meals Week and to celebrate,  the council funded every local   primary school pupil  to have a free school meal.    Middle Street School kindly invited me and Councillor Sue Shanks to join pupils for lunch, and I have to say they do a mean veggie chilli.

Lobbying Bill

I’ve had a lot of emails and letters and constituents about the Lobbying Bill. Many of you are rightly concerned that the Government is trying to suppress the right to campaign on political issues in the run up to a General Election.  Thanks to some fantastic campaigning the Government has put the worst aspects of the Lobbying Bill on hold.    It will now come back to the House of Lords in six weeks’ time, after further consultation.   I’ll be doing all I can to galvanise opposition to the Government’s proposals.

This is an issue also close to the heart of the new Green peer, Jenny Jones, whom I welcomed to Parliament this week.  I'll keep you posted on our work, and thanks again for everyone’s help and support.

Energy Prices

Energy prices were again on the political agenda last week.  I tabled a motion calling on the Government to reinstate its duty to eradicate fuel poverty, which it’s been trying to weasel out of.

Much of the debate has been focused on proposals for a bill freeze, which I think would provide welcome temporary respite from price increases (I’ve been calling for a cap on prices for two years).  However, in a speech in the Opposition Day Debate, I argued that we also need a more ambitious, coherent response, based on a serious, concerted drive to improve the  energy efficiency of homes.

Remembrance Day

Last week was obviously one to remember those who gave their lives in war on our behalf.  I took part in a British Legion Service at Downs Junior School, a Sunday service at the Old Steine War memorial, and a service at Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue. 

TB Alert

It was great to have the opportunity to catch up with representatives of local charity TB Alert on Tuesday, and to hear how they are working to improve the health of marginalised communities – and wider populations – across the world.  It’s a scandal that so many people still die of a disease that can be cured with a course of antibiotics, and I’m proud that a Brighton-based charity is at the forefront of the UK’s fight against TB.

Sussex Colleges

At the start of the week I had a very productive meeting with representatives of Further Education Colleges in Sussex.  Sixth Form colleges like BHASVIC  are facing a massive cut to their budgets in 2016 as a result of a funding formula which means that all 16-18 year olds will attract less funding per head than 11-16 year olds.  Unlike schools,  FE colleges are unable to deal with cuts for 16-18 year olds by cross-subsidising from other areas, and I’m keen to do what I can to raise this issue with ministers.

We also discussed new rules which mean students will have to declare in advance which subjects they intend to pursue to A Level, and which to stop at AS level.  AS levels will become a ‘stand-alone qualification’, taken alongside full A-levels but not counting towards them.  Effectively that means AS levels will wither on the vine,  which might disadvantage some students.  I intend to explore the issue further.

In other news

This week I also met with representatives of the Regency Square Area Society, and I encouraged fellow MPs to get behind a drive to reform parliamentary procedure so that they’re always clear what they’re voting on (sadly that’s not always the case at the moment!)

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