Update from Linda Gilroy MP: Monday September 29 2009
Posted by Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth, Sutton, at 11:26, Mon 28 September 2009:
Hopefully the overview below will give you a flavour of some of the work I have been undertaking while Parliament is in recess. You can also keep up to date at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/news
Visit to PJHQ
On Friday 18 September I went on a visit to the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood as part of my placement on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. This is where UK military planning for overseas operations takes place, including for those Devonport based warships on operations worldwide. Having visited Afghanistan last year, I was really interested to see how lessons learned about equipment and tactics are fed back so that improvements can be made on a continual basis.
Wolseley Fun Day
On Saturday 19 September I attended the Wolseley Trust's fun day which was a great chance to meet the local community and see the work being done by groups in the area. The Trust runs the Wolseley Trust Business Park with the aim of encouraging local businesses to develop and prosper. Any trading surplus is used to support local community organisations, individuals and initiatives. You can find out more at http://www.wolseley-trust.org/ I really enjoyed the entertainment from the All Stars group who sang thier hearts out. A learning disability is clearly no bar to singing a good song!
Fairer Water Charges for Plymouth
On Wednesday past I met with the CCWater Southern Sector Committee who were in town for their quarterly visit. The focus was water affordability and the draft price limit due to be set by Ofwat very shortly.
Investing in Plymouth's Schools
On Thursday I welcomed School's Minister Vernon Coaker MP to Plymouth and together we visited Stoke Damerel Community College. He spoke to staff and pupils and was very impressed. Stoke Damerel College Community – students, staff, and the families supporting them - have had some fantastic results this year. The visit was an ideal chance to show how upgrading the buildings in which the college operates, plays an important part in supporting achievement – and that Plymouth has a good track record of making sure that improved standards and investment go hand in hand!
I invited the Minister so that he could see for himself how Plymouth has put to use the Government's significant investment over the past twelve years and, more importantly, to argue for Plymouth to be included in the next round of the Government's Building Schools for the Future funding programme. I know from my door to door visits that many people in Plymouth are worried by the prospect of cuts, so I was delighted that the Minister confirmed that there would be no cuts under Labour in frontline education spending such as on teachers and class room assistants.
The deterrent and the Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Prime Minister this week announced at the UN that Britain is prepared to cut the number of replacement Trident submarines from four to three. If it proves possible to maintain a continuous nuclear deterrent with only three boats then this is will be a welcome step in advancing the cause of multi-lateral disarmament as part of next May's Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. I believe it that it could be possible to make further changes to the nuclear deterrent programme which would contribute to multilateral disarmament and possibly result in more work for the dockyard. To find out more on my position on this matter please visit http://www.lindagilroy.org.uk/trident_update
Plymouth's Marine Excellence
On Friday night I gave a short speech at a reception on Plymouth Hoe to celebrate Plymouth University's Marine Institute. We have in the region of 500 marine scientists, 1,500 undergraduates studying marine related subjects; and 270 marine related businesses, not to mention major employers such as Babock, the Royal Navy, Brittany Ferries and Princess Yachts. We are also developing an international reputation for marine planning and science. So all in all it is major sector of Plymouth's economy and something our City should be very proud of. Certainly it is an area which I seek to support in my work in Plymouth and in Parliament - of which you can find out more at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/marine
Heads Up on Climate Change
Next week I will be participating in an online debating forum to encourage young people to take an interest in current affairs. We will be discussing what can be done about climate change. You can visit the forum at http://www.headsup.org.uk/content/
On a similar subject Cooperatives UK has recently launched ACT - Addressing the Climate Threat - to coordinate the work of Co-operative Enterprises across Europe. You can find out more at www.actonclimate.coop
Party Conference
Our Prime Minister was in great form when he called in on the South West Region Conference reception. I think he felt very much at home with delegates, visitors, councillors and MPs who are used to "delivering against the odds" - and that was his message to us! We can do it, just as we did in delivering the National Health Service, education for all, minimum wage and (so far) three terms of government delivering a fairer, more prosperous, more just society. Are we prepared to fight alongside him to do more and prevent the Tories damaging all that?...of course we are!
Proportional Representation - What Do You Think?
A number of pressure groups and think tanks have written to me recently advocating their support for a referendum on introducing proportional representation to elections to Parliament. I've set out some of my thoughts on this subject on my website. I'm quite open minded on it, so I would be really interested to hear your views on this. You can post your comments on my website at: http://www.lindagilroy.org.uk/proportional-representation
Best wishes Linda Gilroy MP
Comments
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Posted by Little, 08:13, Tue 29 September 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thanks Linda for keeping in touch with us constituents about your activities. I'm impressed! You seem to be one MP at least who does take her responsibilities seriously. The Dispatches programme last evening (Mon Sept 28) about the overseas travel 'gravy train' conferences was another shocker. Personally, I'm not the only one among several friends and colleagues who are utterly disgusted with the behaviour of our political representatives, and their apparent arrogance and complacency. Let me underline however that you are one among the exceptions - and very grateful for it. Without you and your hard-working colleagues, I would be one of those to stop voting next time around, and even spoil my ballot paper in protest. WHAT ELSE CAN ONE DO IS MY OWN MAIN QUESTION FOR WHICH HOPEFULLY THERE MIGHT BE AN ANSWER? Many thanks, Jim Little (Dr)
Posted by Liam Brennan, 11:59, Thu 1 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
I'm not very impressed, just another round of soundbites the usual drivell from a MP, One of the greedy,self indulgent, hipocrites who view thenselves superior to the rest of us, the rest of us being the people who pay your wages (YOUR EMPLOYERS) the ones you are still ripping off. Roll on the election then we can put lots of you all on the dole... Can't come soon enough Excuse any spelling mistakes but I am still very angry and the foreign travel now highlighted in the press has not made it any better. Still on the fiddle, Thieves the lot of you
Posted by Linda Gilroy, 16:22, Mon 12 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dr Little - thank you for your comments. I too was outraged with those of my colleagues who broke the rules - and more importantly the spirit of public service. All of us in Parliament share a degree of responsibility for not reforming earlier a system that was sloppy and outdated. If something good comes out of the expenses scandal then I hope it is the chance to take a step back and look at our political system and see how we can make it better meet the demands of 21st Century Britain. The Prime Minister has announced that a referendum will be held within the first years of the next Parliament into an alternative voting system and also that the possibility will be investigated of introducing a mechanism for voters recall MPs who have acted improperly between elections. I have set up a forum on my website for constituents to discuss proportional representation - I would encourage you to add your own comments. http://www.lindagilroy.org.uk/proportional-representation