NHS
The Care Bill receives its second reading in the Commons today. It's an important Bill, but sadly the Government is using it as a vehicle to change the way decisions are made about local NHS services; Clause 118 would give new powers to special administrators to make changes without proper local scrutiny and democratic process. I’ve tabled an Early Day Motion and written to the Guardian to raise concerns about this stealthy attempt to change the law to allow the closure of successful services that communities want and need.
Out and about in Pavilion
I attended the official opening of the new ‘container housing’ at Richardson’s Yard on Monday. Brighton Housing Trust is using adapted shipping containers – transformed into flats – to create temporary accommodation for people without homes, and to address our housing shortage. It's an exciting and innovative way of providing surprisingly sustainable homes very quickly and at low cost
On Tuesday, I went to a Network Rail event on the future of the Brighton Mainline. I’ve been lobbying for more capacity on the line, and the Government has just announced that a study into Brighton Mainline 2 (via Lewes) has been accelerated, so I will keep up the pressure.
On Thursday, I attended an event with Rockinghorse, the fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, which raises money for life-saving and medical equipment. Schools, businesses, and community groups were encouraged to ‘Dress as an Elf on the Twelfth’, and the event was hugely successful.
It was great to meet the amazing staff at the Alex who are doing such important work, and some of the children who benefit from it.
Pay Day Loans
I wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority regarding their proposals for regulating payday lenders. I’m calling on them to ensure that any regulation goes much further than is currently planned, and is in line with the recommendations of the “Charter to Stop The Payday Loan Rip-Off”. That means stopping loans being made to people who can’t realistically afford to pay them back, stopping companies from repeatedly rolling over loans, and ending excessive charges.
Climate Change
I was one of the speakers at the Radical Emissions Reductions Conference on Tuesday, organised by the Tyndall Centre. Discussion focused on strategies to achieve the radical reductions in carbon emissions we desperately need, and in my presentation I argued that if radical emissions reductions are to get onto the political agenda, we need much more debate and engagement outside Westminster.
Human Rights
This week I wrote to the UK Borders Agency to voice my concerns, shared by many constituents, about the deportation of Irina Putilova – an LGBTQI activist escaping persecution in Russia who sought asylum in this country. Last week she was taken to Yarl's Wood Removal Centre and she is at risk of being sent back to Russia, where she faces possible imprisonment and mistreatment. I’ve asked the UKBA to release Irina from Yarl's Wood, with a view to ensuring her application is properly considered.
Supporting Students at Sussex University
I signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Vice-Chancellor of Sussex University to retract the suspension of five students who protested against the outsourcing of the university's services to private companies, and in support of striking staff campaigning for fair and equal pay. The motion highlights the fact that the protest did not disrupt the work of students or university staff and calls for dialogue rather than penalties for those who speak out. I'm very pleased that they have now been reinstated.
Badger cull
I took part in a Westminster Hall Debate on the future of the badger cull on Tuesday, in which I argued that the cull can only be judged a spectacular failure, even against the Government’s own yardstick. The policy specified that at least 70% of the badger population should be removed within a six-week period, but in Gloucestershire under 40% of the population was culled after 11 weeks. These figures are likely to make things even worse for farmers, as perturbation of surviving animals leads to an increased prevalence of bTB.
I also received less than satisfactory answers to written questions I submitted to DEFRA, asking why post mortems were carried out on fewer animals had than originally announced, and whether the Government would put in place mechanisms to assess how the animals selected were killed .
MPs’ Pay
IPSA has recommended that MPs’ pay should increase to £74,000 in 2015. I took part in a discussion on Newsnight, in which I argued that in the current economic climate, an 11% pay rise would send completely the wrong message.
Christmas
I attended a beautiful carol service at All Saints Church in Patcham, and dropped by to give my support to the local RSPCA group raising money by singing carols at Brighton Station.
The House of Commons is in recess from 20th December to 6th January so this will be my last bulletin until the 13th January.
Wishing you a wonderful festive break, all the very best for 2014
Caroline
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
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