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Jeremy Browne MP’s Monthly Update - July

Posted by Jeremy Browne, MP for Taunton, at 16:27, Mon 6 August 2007:

Jeremy's monthly update (below) is also available via email. If you would like to keep up to date with his work in Taunton, please email office@tauntonlibdems.org.uk.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Jeremy’s activities in Taunton this month included;

- presenting awards to St John’s Ambulance Cadets in Wellington and local adult learners at social inclusion company A4e in Taunton.

- addressing the Home Start Celebration AGM in Halcon, Somerset Chamber of Commerce President’s Dinner at Somerset Cricket Club, and Taunton Vale Rotary Club.

- visiting Halcon Primary School, Selworthy School, Beech Grove Community School, Wimbleball Sailing Club near Dulverton, Manor Care Home in Bishops Hull, the Royal British Legion Care Home in Bishops Lydeard, and the annual summer exhibition of arts and crafts at Wellington Arts Centre.

- attending St Augustine of Canterbury School’s Community Science Day, Ladymead Community School’s performance of ‘Our Day Out’, West Buckland Fete, Oake Fete, the Almshouse Social Club Fete in Bishops Lydeard, Bathpool Chapel Summer Fete, the launch of Taunton Community Acupuncture Centre, and an evening event for 40 Royal Commandos at Norton Manor Camp.

- meeting with Somerset County Youth Service and the YMCA to discuss Taunton youth initiatives, with senior staff to discuss customer safety at the Co-op store in Wellington, with stall holders at Westival Food Fair in Taunton, and with the acting CEO of Musgrove Hospital.

- helping to raise funds for St Margaret’s Hospice New Build Appeal outside the Tesco store in Taunton.

TAUNTON DEANE'S BREWING TRADITION

July also saw Jeremy celebrate Proud Pubs Week in Wiveliscombe. Jeremy has invited Exmoor Ales to be the first guest beer at the House of Commons’ famous Strangers Bar when parliament returns in the autumn, and he met with the owners of Cotleigh Brewery and Exmoor Ales at the White Hart pub to mark 200 years of brewing in Wiveliscombe. He said; “Wiveliscombe is celebrating 200 years of beer brewing this year. I am sure people from across Somerset will enjoy the beer festival in the town in August and will also continue to support their own local pubs.”

IN WESTMINSTER

NO UNITARY AUTHORITY

After lobbying new Local Government Minister John Healey MP at a private meeting in Westminster, Jeremy was delighted by the Minister’s decision not to create a unitary authority in Somerset. Jeremy commented; “I welcome the decision not to proceed with Unitary Authority status for Somerset. There was a cross-party campaign against it as well as an overwhelming public vote against the proposal. I am pleased that the Government was willing to listen to the representations.”

SCRAP THE COUNCIL TAX

In July Jeremy presented his Scrap The Council Tax petition to Parliament calling for a fairer system of local taxation, especially for those on low incomes. See the official Hansard at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070718/debtext/70718-0022.htm#070718104000941

HOLDING THE HOME SECRETARY TO ACCOUNT

The new Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith MP, made her first appearance before the Home Affairs Select Committee this month, where Jeremy challenged her on control orders and intercept evidence. Jeremy observed; “[Your predecessor] always maintained that control orders were an absolutely essential tool within trying to combat terrorism but we have heard of many instances where they have proven to be inadequate. I think about one third of the people who have been subjected to them have absconded and there has been difficultly in finding them again.” Read the Home Secretary’s response at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmhaff/uc980-i/uc98002.htm

PRIORITISING LOCALISM IN PUBLIC SERVICES

This month, Jeremy challenged the Government’s attempts to centralise probation services at a cost to local accountability. Leading for his party on the Offender Management Bill, he said; “We need probation services that are finely attuned to the individual needs and requirements of each community, and an approach driven from the top down by the Secretary of State with his regional enforcers seems unlikely to achieve that desired objective.” Read Jeremy’s speech at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070718/debtext/70718-0018.htm#07071899000621

SERIOUS CRIME BILL

Jeremy is the leading Liberal Democrat on the Serious Crime Bill, which finished in Committee in July.

In Committee Jeremy moved amendments to require a code on data matching to be implemented before data matching between public and private organisations could take place, and to prevent indefinite renewal of ‘gangster-ASBO’s’ without evidence. He argued; “[The subject of an order] will have no ability to know how long those restrictions will be in place. The figure of five years is slightly misleading, because if the restrictions can be renewed and extended in multiples of five without any new evidence being produced, five years is just a starting point. If the Bill goes through unamended, some people will be restricted for the rest of their lives.” Read all Jeremy’s Committee stage speeches at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmpbserious.htm

SURVEILLANCE AND CITIZENRY

Jeremy spoke of the benefits of a balanced approach to the surveillance society when he chaired the seminar series ‘Big Brother Britain?: ID cards, surveillance and data security’ hosted by WestminstereForum in the capital this month. He commented; “CCTV, ID cards, data sharing and DNA profiling are hot political topics which go to the very heart of the debate on civil liberties. While I cannot see the merit of allowing law enforcement to retain huge banks of genetic information on innocent people, I do recognise that the functionality of CCTV and secure data sharing can help to prevent crime and reassure the public.” Find out about WestminstereForum at; http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/eforum/default.aspx

ALSO IN WESTMINSTER

- Jeremy met with pupils from Wellington School to discuss his role as an MP.

- he discussed employment issues with senior UNISON reps from Taunton.

- and he attended receptions to celebrate police bravery and the use of the new media.

Contact Jeremy at office@tauntonlibdems.org.uk , or write to him at: Masons House, Magdalene Street, Taunton, TA1 1SG