Letter from Westminster
October 28, 2005 12:33 PM
By Stephen Williams MP in The Clifton Chronicle
By Stephen Williams MP in The Clifton Chronicle
People often ask me, "Just what does an MP do?" Well, the first thing to understand is that it is not one job, but two. I act as the representative of over 80,000 electors across Bristol West. Every week I meet a variety of organisations and attend events in Bristol. I also represent individuals who have problems with some aspect of government. The second part of my role is being an active Parliamentarian in Westminster as part of the Liberal Democrat team. Charles Kennedy has given me three jobs. I am the party's Shadow Public Health Minister, which means that I can campaign for improvements in preventative health care to tackle cancer, heart disease and other ailments. I also sit on two high profile committees, the Education & Skills Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
An account of my activities this week should bring all this to life. I travel up to London every Monday morning, taking the train from Temple Meads. But this week I left a little later than usual so I could open the Charity Christmas card shop at Victoria Methodist Church at the bottom of Whiteladies Rd. After catching up with some mail in my Westminster office I attended Education Select Committee. The committee meets twice a week to hear evidence from witnesses on different topics. Today we have Sir Bernard Crick who answers our questions about citizenship classes in schools. The intention is that school leavers will have a better rounded view of society. I hope it will lead to more young people voting and getting involved in democracy. My next meeting in a packed afternoon if of the Public Accounts Committee where we grill the Learning & Skills council about the financing of post 16 education. I have recently visited both the City of Bristol College and St Brendan's 6th Form College to hear about the disparity in funding between colleges and schools.
On Tuesday local MPs had a briefing from Colin Port, the Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset on issues facing the region's police. I spent much of the afternoon in the chamber of the House of Commons, at health questions and then listening to Ruth Kelly introducing the Education "white paper" for secondary school reforms. I'm still digesting the details but I hope that Bristol will be able to benefit, we certainly need a step change in our school standards. I attended a reception for the West of England Aerospace Industry and caught up with Council Leader Barbara Janke. Later in the evening I hosted a very lively dinner for the Bristol Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Wednesday saw two more committee meetings, this time questioning university vice chancellors and the later the Home Office Permanent Secretary about immigration. Wednesday evening saw the weekly meeting of Lib Dem MPs and then I did an hour long interview for Bristol's radio Ramadam.
Thursday is usually spent catching up with mail in the office although today I also picked up my copy of the Health Bill that will restrict smoking in public places. This new law will occupy much of my time in the coming months. I take the tube to Paddington only to find that trains are being cancelled and delayed. Quite often I get back to Bristol later than expected!
Friday and the weekend are spent in Bristol and the highlights are meeting the Bishop of Clifton, discussing issues facing Bristol with my fellow MPs and leading city councillors, my weekly advice "surgery", attending a Divali celebration and spending time doing voluntary work in the Oxfam book shop on Park Street.
So a hectic week, but I'd rather be busy than bored!
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