Weekly Bulletin  18-24 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.

Education and schools

Last week was Parliament Week, a series of events and activities co-ordinated by the House of Commons to encourage people to engage with the UK’s democratic system.  This year there was a particular focus on Women in Democracy.  I took part by visiting students at Dorothy Stringer School, where I met the recently formed Junior Leadership Team, which was set up to ensure students have a say on the issues that affect them.  We had an enjoyable discussion about some of the challenges facing us in a democratic society, such as how to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, and how best to achieve change.

Coldean Primary School has achieved exceptional results in promoting active and sustainable travel to school. In two years, their walking rate has increased by 12 % - in 2013, 56 % of all pupils were walking or scooting to school.  Last week they were deservedly recognised for their achievements.  I went along to the school to see them awarded the national Modeshift Award for Contribution to Sustainable Travel to School, the Modeshift STARS National Sustainable Travel Accreditation, silver level (they are the first school in Brighton to achieve this) and the Gold Bike It Sustrans Award, which again they are the first school in Brighton to achieve. I was honoured to raise their Eco School Flag in the school grounds following the ceremonies.

There is growing opposition to the Government’s plans to sell off the student loan book to the private sector, which I believe risk taking us towards a US-style system, with many students priced out of higher education.  Last week students at Brighton University took part in a National Day of Action organised by the Student Assembly Against Austerity .  You can read my message of support here.

In Parliament I was one of the initial sponsors of the Early Day Motion against the proposals, which 35 MPs have now signed.

Social Enterprise Day

To mark National Social Enterprise Day I visited Brighton Youth Centre. I was joined by Benita Matofska, the Brighton-based founder of the global social enterprise The People Who Share, the campaigning organisation behind Global Sharing Day, which seeks to build a Sharing Economy and organises Crowdshare events at the centre.  Examples of this include ‘Communitoy’  ‘toy hacking’ workshops, run by partners Exploring Senses  (also a social enterprise), which show young people how waste materials can be turned into toys.  I gained first hand experience of this form of ‘upcycling’.

Release Isa Muaza

Isa Muaza is a Nigerian asylum seeker currently on hunger strike in protest at his detention at Harmondsworth.  He has said he would rather die than return to Nigeria, but despite his hunger strike continuing for more than 85 days, the Government has refused to free him.  I’ve signed a cross-party letter to the Home Secretary calling for him to be released immediately, so that he can be admitted to hospital and receive the medical care he urgently needs.

Credit Unions

Credit unions ought to be able to represent an essential alternative to pay day loan companies that charge extortionate interest rates.  Yet ongoing restrictions on their scope mean they are disadvantaged compared to high street banks.  Along with Richard Priestman of the East Sussex Credit Union, which estimates that it helped save its members helped save its members £600,000 in interest in the past financial year, I met with Treasury Minister Sajid Javid to discuss policy changes.  He has promised to follow these up.

Women and Equality

The Badger (the University of Sussex’s student newspaper) were kind enough to invite me to take part in a debate on Page Three.  On my side was former Page Three model Marina Pepper; opposing us were Donna Edmunds of UKIP, and the model Summer St Claire.  An extremely heated debated ensued – you can see the highlights here.

Brighton Women’s Centre has been supporting women in the city for over 35 years.  Last week I attended an open event at the centre to chat with the fantastic staff and volunteers, and find out more about the diverse range of services they offer to women and children in the community, which include counselling, drop-ins, and childcare.   I was also a keynote speaker at the Centre’s AGM.

I was also pleased to drop in on the 23^rd birthday celebrations of the Survivors’ Network – which supports female survivors of sexual violence and abuse – and enjoyed performances from some brilliant local musicians.

Women have been hit particularly hard by the recession and the Coalition’s austerity agenda.  I took part in a debate on women and the cost of living, in which I pointed out that cutting public services hits women as a triple whammy—as the group most dependent on public services, as employees of public service and as the ones who have to fill the gap when services are cut.

Interfaith Service

National interfaith week was marked in the city by a wonderful service at the Unitarian Church in New Road.  I was delighted to be asked to say a few words, and very much enjoyed some beautiful readings, and the music of the Brighton Voices Choir.

Badger Cull

Last month, the Environment Secretary told Parliament that some of the badgers culled in pilot areas were “desperately sick”.  Afterwards, I submitted a written question to DEFRA, querying the evidence for his claim.   Last week I received a response which revealed that one of the sources of this information were “comments” from those taking part in the cull, that only 155 post mortems had been carried out.  Given that the clinical signs of TB are very difficult to detect, I find it deeply worrying that the Government feels able to make sweeping comments about bovine TB without a strong evidence base, and I will be pressing ministers for more detailed information.

Prime Minister’s comments on Green Levies

Last week, the Sun reported that the Prime Minister had dismissed the fuel bill levies that fund energy efficiency measures, as “green crap”, In my response I said that whatever language the Prime Minister has used to describe them, his determination to roll back green levies says everything about his contempt for the most vulnerable, and his lack of interest in serious action to tackle climate change, or to bring down fuel prices in the long term.   If the Prime Minister really wanted to help families with their fuel bills, he’d be investing in a major energy efficiency programme to super-insulate the country’s housing stock.  This would bring nine out of ten homes out of fuel poverty, quadruple carbon savings, and create up to 200,000 jobs.

This Week

My diary this week includes the Liberty Human Rights Awards, and meetings with staff from Stop Aids, and constituents taking part in a lobby on Palestine.  I will also be attending All Party Parliamentary Group meetings on domestic and sexual violence and fuel poverty.

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