Stephen's week

MONDAY 30th OCTOBER 2006

This afternoon's Education Select Committee was a private session on citizenship in schools. We are nearing the end of our evidence taking on this topic so will report soon.

TUESDAY 31 OCTOBER

In the morning I spoke for the party in a debate on teaching children to read. The main focus was on "catch up" programmes for children who are falling behind their peers. You can read the full date transcript here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061031/halltext/61031h0004.htm#06103157000002

This was a "Westminster Hall" debate - which are topical subjects initiated by any MP, rather than legislation from the government. They last for either one and a half or half an hour. The longer debates are responded to by the Lib Dem and Tory opposition shadow ministers and the relevant govt minister. The main point being made was that you need to get children on track by about age 7 and help them thereafter.

I then gave a tour of Westminster to Cllr Evelyn Ellworthy and her family. Many councillors and constituents have been up in the last 18 months. Let us know if you want to visit (if you are a constituent), though I can't guarantee that you'll get me as your tour guide!

I then called in on the World Wide Fund for Nature reception. They were highlighting their research on the "carbon footprint" and resource use of different parts of the UK. If we go on as we are we will soon need three planet Earths to support our unsustainable lifestyles. So their photo op is me holding up three globes!

Off to the main House of Commons chamber for two debates. Firstly, a Tory MP was introducing a "10 Minute Rule" Bill to restrict abortion. This means that a proposer has literally 10 minutes to make a case. That is usually the end of the story and there is no vote as the Bill will not get further time. However, very occasionally if there are strong feelings a vote can be called for, to test opinion. This happened to my own Ten Minute Bill on reducing the voting age to sixteen in November last year. I agree that the abortion laws should be reviewed by Parliament, but only after scrutiny by a committee and a full debate. So when this motion was put to a vote, I went to the no lobby. The Bill was lost.

The main business was straight after. The opposition parties get occasional slots to table motions. Today was the turn of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish Nationalists. They called for an enquiry into the war in Iraq. This was an excellent debate - the only occasion since I have been an MP that I have sat through an entire debate, when I was not scheduled to speak myself. The Liberal Democrats were of course in favour of the motion, as were some Labour MPs who had always opposed the war. But in the latest display of naked opportunism, the Tories also pledged support. In the end the government won with a majority of 25, about 40 down on their usual number.

WEDNESDAY 1st NOVEMBER

Morning meeting of Education Select Cttee was another session on sustainable school design. PMQs at noon was even livelier than normal. David Cameron raised NHS cuts. Whenever the Tories raise concerns over the NHS I just want to throw up. Their concern is so synthetic, with Tory MPs behind us shouting "cuts, cuts cuts!" He then tried to ask about the Labour leadership but was cut short by the Speaker. The Speaker has since been criticised for this but I think the internal affairs of parties are not the subject for PMQs. Incidentally, Blair and other Labour ministers are often stopped by the Speaker from citing opposition party policy when answering questions. At the last Education questions, when the Higher Education minister Bill Rammell was answering me he was cut short by the Speaker when he started criticising Lib Dem policy. AT PMQs Ming Campbell was on much safer ground than Cameron by calling for an enquiry into Iraq.

The afternoon debates were "free" votes on House of Commons business. I voted against the House returning for business for two weeks each September. I feel it would be a waste of time. The period is useful for constituency business. Parliament does not need to be sitting for MPs to be busy! However, there does need to be a better mechanism for a recall of Parliament for a day or two if there is a pressing need. We had an example of just such a need this summer recess when Parliament could not question the government's stance on the Israeli action in Lebanon. I also voted for an increase in our constituency communication budgets, which are too tight at the moment.

Incidentally, there will be a review of MPs' pay later in the year. Today was the day our salaries increased by 1% - a cut in real terms after inflation...

Prior to our weekly Parliamentary Party Meeting ("PPM") I called in on a regional museums reception. I met with Kate Brindley, head of Bristol's museums service. We chatted about the Museum of Bristol project and the refurbishment of the main site's Egyptian gallery.

At PPM we heard from one of the Sergeants At Arms. She gave us a talk about what would happen if Parliament was attacked by terrorists. Grim stuff. I forgot to mention last week that I took part in a drill to evacuate the main chamber. An actor pretending to be a demonstrator threw what looked like a toilet roll into the chamber, just missing Jack Straw...

THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER

Mainly spent on admin. But unusually stayed in London for an extra night. This was because I was a guest at the first Stonewall awards at the Royal Academy. There were various categories and I was a nominee for Politician of the Year. But I was beaten by the Constitutional Affairs Minister from the House of Lords, which was somewhat disappointing. There was a moving moment when Sheri Dobrowski collected her award for speaking out against homophobia after her son Jodi was murdered. You can read about it here

http://www.stonewall.org.uk/media/current_releases/1524.asp

FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Tube to Paddington then train back to Bristol. Straight to Council House for briefing from Police on neighbourhood policing and community support officers. Then my surgery and then back to Temple Meads (after a quick change of clothes!) for a train to Exeter. I was the main speaker for the opposition in a university debate "This House would make university more exclusive". With my student pair we won the vote at the end. Dinner with students in Exeter and stayed overnight in the university's guest accommodation.

SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Train from Exeter back to Temple Meads. Had a walk around Broadmead before getting another train, this time north to Gloucester. Gloucestershire Lib Dems were having a conference of councillors and activists and I was leading their education discussion.

Back to Bristol late afternoon and had an evening off! Saw the "History Boys" in the cinema - a fantastic film apart from a couple of disparaging references to Bristol University history graduates...

Tonight (SUNDAY) I am about to head off back to London as the select committee has a visit in the morning to an Islamic School as part of our citizenship enquiry. So just one night in my own Bristol bed this week, and a lot of time on trains!