| Race convention 2006, Politics show for Olympics and a usual appointment surgery at Tooting libary |
| Tuesday, 12 December 2006 11:03 |
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On Monday I attended the CRE Race Convention 2006: A Catalyst for
Change. I spoke in a debate with Boris Johnson MP and Sarah Teather MP,
which was chaired superbly by Sunder Katwala, who is General Secretary of the
Fabian Society. Our discussion was titled: Britishness-Does it
matter? You can find a short BBC report of the debate by clicking HERE.
In the evening I had the pleasure of welcoming Jodie Mottley, a year 6 pupil from Furzedown Primary School, who was the winner of my Christmas Card Competition to the House of Commons. More than 800 pupils entered my competition this year. You can read about the competition HERE. I mentioned my competition to the Prime Minister who was keen to meet the winner of the competition. Not only did Jodie, her mum and the Head Teacher of Furzedown Primary School get a chance to meet the Prime Minister (to see a photo click HERE), they also get a tour of Number 10 Downing Street! On Tuesday I attended a meeting with Macmillan Cancer Support to discuss issues affecting cancer patients in the area. You can find out a bit more about the most recent campaign by clicking HERE and to see a photo, click HERE. During Health Questions I was able to ask Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health, a question about the dissemination of research undertaken about patients attitudes to the NHS. You can see my Question and the answer by clicking HERE. I also attended the launch by "End Violence Against Women" of the Second Annual analysis of Government initiatives on violence against women. Alan Johnson MP, the Secretary of State for Education, was the keynote speaker. There has been huge progress in this very important area but unfortunately, there is still much more to do. I attended a meeting with Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint MP, to discuss the Healthy Start Scheme which was be introduced in Tooting and the rest of the UK on 27th November. Healthy Start will provide eligible pregnant women, including all pregnant under-18 year olds, and children under the age of four with vouchers to spend on milk, fresh fruit and vegetables and infant formula. This will be an invaluable service to many new parents and mothers. I was also at meeting as a Member of a Standing Committee looking into Water and Sewage in Northern Ireland! On Wednesday, in addition to my usual duties, I sat on the Public Accounts Committee which examined the BBC's outsourcing of the contract between the BBC and Siemens Business Services. You can find a transcript of the hearing HERE. On Thursday I gave an assembly at Furzedown Primary School where I was able to give an award to the runners up of my Christmas card Competition and certificates to all who entered. I then rushed to the Oval for the launch of the British Heart Foundation’s Campaign called ‘Doubt Kills’ to emphasise the importance of calling an ambulance if one begins to suffer chest pains. It was extremely insightful and useful to know how important it is to be aware of your body’s signals that something is wrong. I hope that this campaign will save many lives. In the evening I hosted the inaugural reception for Trade Unionists who live in Tooting from the GMB, UNISON and CWU in the House of Commons. The evening was a huge success and had some extremely inspirational speakers. Dennis Skinner MP spoke to all those who came, reminding everyone that the Trade Union movement was the foundations of the Labour Party. He spoke of the need and importance of workers having a voice in parliament and inspired many people. Jon Cruddas MP and Harriet Harman MP also spoke. We were extremely pleased to have as our guest and speaker Geraldine Ferraro. Geraldine is the first and (so far) the only woman to be nominated to run for either President or Vice President of the United States and it was great to hear her take on the recent Mid-Term elections in which the Democratic Party re-took control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. She was notably impressed to see such a gathering of trade unionists. It was also great to be joined by my neighbouring MPs, Battersea MP Martin Linton, Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhan McDonough and Streatham MP Keith Hill. On Friday I attended a wonderful "twinning ceremony" at Trinity St Marys School where Trinity St Marys twinned with the Iskra-Nduenga School, a school in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. This also gave me a chance to give out a Runner up certificate to Tamara Daley for my Christmas card competition and certificates to all the children who had entered. I then went to St Nicholas Church on Church Lane, for the opening of the Christmas Tree Lights. Unfortunately the very heavy rain spoiled the running order of things but the children of Franciscan Primary School cheered us all up with their wonderful singing of Christmas Carols inside the Church hall. On Saturday I held my usual appointment surgery at Tooting Library. On Sunday I appeared on the Politics Show to discuss the Olympics. |
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