Andrew Dismore MP Monthly Report
Posted by Andrew Dismore, MP for Hendon, at 11:07, Mon 5 November 2007:
Andrew Dismore Member of Parliament for Hendon
Constituency Report # 20 22nd September 2007 – 23rd October 2007
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Website Can I firstly draw your attention to my interactive website www.AndrewDismoreMP.com: on which I am putting a lot of important and useful information, especially in the new and improved “reports” sections. I hope you will find it of interest.
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I’ve recently set up a profile on Facebook! To add me to your profile, please search ‘Andrew Dismore’ on www.facebook.com.
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House of Commons and Westminster
The Commons has now returned after the conference season, though many of us were not sure whether or not we would resume, because of the “election that never was”! I was widely quoted in the media, as not supporting a November election: whilst I was confident that I would hold my seat and Labour would win the election, I was concerned about the democratic issues involved. I do not think it would provide a very strong mandate to any government, if elected on a low turnout, which I regarded as inevitable if the election was to be held in November. Fewer people would go out to vote, even though an Autumn election is an incentive to obtain a postal vote! If you do not have a postal vote or would like assistance with this, please email admin@hendonlabourparty.com .
The other main Parliamentary occasion was the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Chancellor’s autumn statement. The spending review sets out the Government’s plans for investment in public services over the next three years. I have prepared a series of e-reports on the different Government main departments’ spending plans, and if you would like to see these please visit www.andrewdismoremp.com .
During this period, we had the last of the Private Members Bills’ days. My own Bill, the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill was listed for its final stages in the Commons, but regrettably Conservative Members decided to block it. The Crown Employment Bill would remove a lot of the artificial, mutually contradictory, and out of date nationality requirements of the civil service, whilst reserving posts where it is necessary to do so for UK nationals, for example in security, border control and defence. Other jobs would be open to competition on merit, subject to the normal vetting and interview processes. This was the fifth year in a row that the Conservatives have blocked this Bill, but in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back” in the new session!
The Joint Committee on Human Rights, which I chair, is fully back in session and we have been very active. Hearings have been held on the new proposals for restraint in young offender institutions; and for our continuing inquiry into access to services for adults with learning difficulties. For this inquiry, we have also held one field visit so far, to Lewisham, to visit two projects working in this area.
We also had a visit to Scotland Yard to meet with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, the head of the counter terrorism command; and with Justice O’ Regan, of the South Africa Supreme Court, in connection with our forthcoming inquiry into the Bill of Rights issue.
I also met with our Justice Minister to discuss the outstanding problems for people in care homes due to the House of Lords’ ruling on the applicability of the Human Rights Act; and with the Privy Council inquiry into the use of intercept evidence in terrorist trials.
Greece also seems to be in the fore: I attended the lecture by former Greek Prime Minister Simitis at the LSE; and I met with the political officer from the Greek Embassy in Athens, Christos Psaltis, who was visiting London, to catch up with the consequences of the recent elections in Greece. I also met the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Erdogan, on his recent visit to London.
The Liaison Committee of which I am a member by virtue of being a chair of another Committee, held an informal meeting with Justice Minister Jack Straw, and Leader of the House Harriet Harman, to look at the Government’s constitutional reform programme.
I attended the Jewish News 10th anniversary; the meeting organised by Survival to look at the problems of tribal peoples in Brazil; and I attended the reception organised by the Armenian community.
I met with new Health Minister, Lord Darzi, to discuss his review of the NHS.
Although I was not able to attend the Morphou Rally this year, as vice chair of the Friends of Cyprus group in Parliament, I led a delegation on a short study visit to Cyprus which was absolutely packed with meetings! I am preparing a separate report on this for those who have expressed an interest. If you would like to see this please email updates@hendonlabourparty.com . I will be applying for a debate in Parliament on Cyprus, as I have done every year for the last five years or so.
I previously mentioned that I have been appointed the rapporteur for people trafficking issues by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and I addressed their assembly on the subject. I have been asked to work up a more detailed paper for their meeting next April.
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Constituency
My normal weekend pattern of surgeries, street stalls, doorstep feedback visits and tea parties has resumed after the summer break.
I met with the Buddhist monks at the temple in Colindale, to express support for their brethren in Burma.
I attended St. Paul’s Church Black History and Slavery exhibition.
I attended the Sangam Centre Navratri celebrations.
I met with the leadership of Mill Hill United Synagogue, to discuss their development plans, and wrote in support of those plans. I am pleased that the Planning Committee rejected officer advice and granted planning consent.
I also visited Cheshir House sheltered accomodation to meet with residents.
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Media
I appeared on the Today programme, to discuss the art of speech making, as one of their lighter features. I appeared on Channel 4 television, Radio 5 and World at One channel 4 radio, commenting on the prospect of an election (or not). I also appeared on Radio 4’s Today in Parliament, who covered the debate on the Crown Employment Bill (see above).
I was quoted in the Guardian and Evening Standard on the issue of the election, and a first for me, I appeared in Scotland on Sunday, over the Scottish administration’s plans on alcohol sales!
Finally, omitted from my previous report, I had a lengthy article in the Independent on the 23rd August, concerning the Human Rights Act.
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Updates
Updates published this month include:
• Education & Schools eUpdate 8/1: Comprehensive Spending Review. • Environment eUpdate 10/5: Comprehensive Spending Review. • Law & Order eUpdate 10/5: Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill. • NHS eUpdate 14/4: Access to GPs. • NHS eUpdate 14/5 October 2007: Annual Healthcare Commission Report; Darzi Review; Comprehensive Spending Review. • International Development eUpdate 7/3: Comprehensive Spending Review. • Muslim Community Update 9 – October 2007
Please feel free to look up any you feel of interest on my website www.andrewdismoremp.com – if you’d like to be added to the mailing lists for any of these subjects, please email: updates@hendonlabourparty.com.
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Support
In response to these monthly updates, quite a few people have replied, asking how they can get involved in my campaigning work, or make a donation to support the costs of what I do, or join the Labour Party. If you are interested in any of these please email admin@hendonlabourparty.com and I’ll get back to you, on how you can help!
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I would be very interested to hear any feedback on the issues raised in this report. I have now started a series of occasional meetings for constituents, on Sunday afternoons, to receive feedback, both from these reports and more generally on what is going on in and around the constituency. Please let me know if you would like to have invitations to such events, which will be held at my constituency office next to the Town Hall in Hendon. To register your interest, email me with your name and address; I hope that you have found this report of interest, and if you would like to receive my specific subject based reports, or if you have any comments, please do not hesitate to let me know by emailing me at updates@hendonlabourparty.com. If you have any friends or neighbours in Hendon who might be interested in this report, please feel free to send it to them. If they would like to be added to my email list please ask them to email updates@hendonlabourparty.com. Best wishes, Yours sincerely,
Andrew Dismore Member of Parliament for Hendon
*****You can find out more at my website www.andrewdismoremp.com ***** PS. To leave my mailing list, please send an email with ‘Unsubscribe’ as the subject and your full name and postal address to updates@hendonlabourparty.com
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