This message has been sent from your MP as part of HearFromYourMP's pre-launch testing - our thanks to Diane
Posted by Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, at 10:41, Sat 15 October 2005:
Newsletter from Diane Abbott MP
Dear friends,
Thank you for your interest in my work as your representative in Parliament. I am working hard to ensure that Hackney North and Stoke Newington is constantly improving. This newsletter will hopefully give you an idea of some of the things I do on an everyday basis in order to achieve this.
This is a great opportunity for us to discuss issues that matter to you. I look forward to hearing your views and comments.
A Busy Summer
You will have read that MPs now get 80 days summer holiday. This, of course, is misleading. Parliamentary recess does not mean that MPs stop working. I was back at my desk in late August.
Unfortunately the summer was overshadowed by the atrocious July bombings. However, London finally seems to be recovering and I am working closely with the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, on his United Communities project. Only by bringing our diverse communities closer together can we start to tackle the threat of similar attacks in the future.
Earlier in the summer I went to Guyana in my capacity as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. We went there to forge links with our local counterparts and to gain an understanding of issues that are particularly pertinent to the region. However, most importantly, recess is an excellent opportunity to spend time in the constituency and meet local residents. I tend, among other things such as holding regular surgeries, to tour our local schools to ascertain how they are doing. Hopefully this newsletter will give you some idea of how I have spent the Parliamentary recess so far.
Visiting Hackney's Primary Schools
Over the parliamentary recess I usually visit 5-10 schools a week in order to get a comprehensive overview of our local schools. I want to be reassured that our children are doing as well as they possibly can and that our schools are doing their part to help them. I meet with Head Teachers, classroom assistants and pupils to hear from them what challenges they are facing and what can be done to help them raise their performance levels.
It is always a pleasure to meet Hackney's children—especially those at Primary School. They are so uninhibited and ambitious at that age. I will continue to work hard to ensure they receive the best possible schooling.
More telephone Masts in Hackney?
In September I met with the mobile telephone provider, Orange, to discuss their plans to erect more masts here in Hackney. They explained how the ever increasing demand for business and personal mobile use necessitates more masts as they have insufficient coverage in our local area. I went along to meet their government executive to discuss the implications for local residents and alert them to the serious reservations that Hackney's residents have about having more masts. I will be scrutinising further developments closely and will try to set up a meeting where Hackney residents can meet Orange representatives face-to-face to discuss their concerns further.
Sorting out traffic chaos in N16
In May I met the managing director for Transport for London, Peter Hendy, to alert him to the traffic chaos caused by bendy buses, new parking restrictions and poor enforcement in Stoke Newington.
After that meeting Mr Hendy promised that TfL officials would visit Stoke Newington to witness first hand the convoluted traffic in the area.
In July I finally had the chance to meet TfL officials including Peter Brown, Chief Operations Officer for TfL. I made him aware of problems that small business are having with parking and discussed how improving local transport is essential for the regeneration of East London. I emphasised the need for making sure local businesses are able to thrive and stressed that the ability to park within a reasonable distance in order to load and off-load vehicles is essential.
I was not convinced that TfL officials really understood the everyday frustration felt by people in Hackney and Stoke Newington. I therefore asked them to walk with me down Stoke Newington High Street and to speak directly to local restaurant and business owners about the problems they experience. The local business owners were very vocal and made clear that parking restrictions and traffic congestion is bad for business.
I think this brought the message home and I am confident that we will be able to make some real progress in sorting out the traffic chaos in Stoke Newington.
MBE for Hackney Schoolkeeper
Earlier this year I nominated Derek Tipler, a local school keeper, for an MBE for his 25 years of service to education in Hackney. Mr Tipler was added to the Queen's Birthday Honours list and in July he received an MBE for his commitment and service to education. I am very pleased my campaign to recognise his hard work and life long commitment to Hackney was successful.
I attended a local party to celebrate his award and retirement after 25 years at one of Hackney's very best Primary Schools, Grasmere Primary School. I think it is very important to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our local unsung heroes and heroines such as Mr Tipler, who make significant contributions towards our community on an everyday basis, but are rarely celebrated.
Standing Committee on Violent Crime Reduction
I have been chosen to sit on the Violent Crime Reduction Bill Standing Committee. The Committee will be scrutinising the new Violent Crime Reduction Bill when it is put before Parliament.
I have a long standing interest in this area. Gun crime in particular is something I have campaigned on for years. Whilst the remit of the Committee is broader than gun crime, I am very pleased to have been given this opportunity to carry on the work undertaken in my All Party Group on Gun Crime and make sure the legislation surrounding violent crime will be coherent and appropriate.
If you need to contact me please write to me at : The office of Diane Abbott MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Or email me at: glennc@parliament.uk
If you need to see me please make an appointment with my senior caseworker Duncan Trevan on 0207 219 4330.
Commenting on this message is now disabled.