Letter from Westminster and Bristol, April 2009

Another busy month, though with a welcome Easter break in the middle!

The biggest local issue of late has been the continued crisis in primary school places in Bristol. I've met with several local parents and many more have written to me. I've been pleased to hear that since the administration of the Council passed back to the Lib Dems last month, at least parents feel that they are being listened to and that the Council realises the seriousness of the problem. The new exec member for children, cllr Clare Campion-Smith has brought back our plans from 2007 to build a new school in Ashley Down. Other sites are being looked at for extra places in 2010 and 2011 to solve the shortage. This year two schools, Sefton Park and Bishop Road, have agreed for a temporary extra reception class. This sorry saga is perhaps the most obvious reason why the Lib Dems need to win a secure majority in the June elections...

I've supported large and small scale local environmental initiatives. Definitely on the large side was the launch of the Lib Dem proposals for harnessing the power of the Severn. For several months a group of Lib Dem MPs from the English and Welsh sides of the estuary, along with Welsh Assembly Members and local councillors have been hearing expert evidence. We've decided to support a short barrage, roughly in alignment with the existing Severn bridges. This will limit ecological damage and safeguard the Port of Bristol. There is also potential for a new rail link across the top as one day the Severn Tunnel will need replacing.

On a more local scale I officially dedicated a new Plane tree, planted on the roundabout at the junction of Redland Road and Redland Hill. The tree was paid for by local residents. I also climbed onto the roof of Redland Park church for the launch of their new solar panels.

I supported Bristol's Sikh community by attending two Vaisakhi events. I spoke at the Punjabi association dinner and went on a long march from the St George Gurdwara (Sikh temple) on Church Road to College Green and spoke to the thousand people there. I've also met with the artistic director of the St Pauls Carnival to discuss this years event. And on the cultural front I was pleased to be at the ceremony to mark the completion of the Colston Hall extension.

I've continued to support Bristol's growing number of social enterprises. I presented a social enterprise award to Bristol Wood Recycling and was the guest speaker at the launch of a new network for Bristol's black community enterprises. In April I also sat in on an English as a second language lesson by a training company in Orchard Street.

Up in Westminster the highlight of the month was the defeat of the government on a Lib Dem motion calling for British citizenship for Ghurkha soldiers. Nick Clegg has been pressing this issue for about a year and has always been given the brush off by Gordon Brown. The Lib Dems are allocated a handful of Opposition Days in each Parliamentary session, so we used one of our debates to highlight the issue. Usually the Tories disdainfully abstain on our motions. This time even they saw it was a good issue, as did a large number of Labour backbenchers. We won the vote by 20, the first time the government has been defeated on an Opposition motion and only the fourth time the Labour government has lost any votes. We went outside to meet a large crowd of jubilant Ghurkhas and their families....and Joanna Lumley! A good day for Parliament and for Nick Clegg and another bad day for Gordon Brown.

Indeed, it's been a really bad month for the Prime Minister. I support a reform of MPs' expenses and have several times given evidence to Commons committees and external consultants. It's a serious issue about restoring dignity and trust back into Parliament. It certainly is too serious for a Prime Minister to make a gauche and frankly demeaning (to his office) appearance on You Tube to announce some half baked proposals. His proposal to replace a system of claiming for accommodation expenses that is backed by receipts for the money spent (bath plugs and all by some...) with a flat rate daily allowance requiring no evidence of expenditure could only come from a man and an entourage detached from the real world. In the end he had to stage an embarrassing climb down. We did vote on some more sensible proposals, in particular for MPs to disclose non Parliamentary earnings.

In my Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills role I answered questions from a group of "MUKYPs" - members of the UK Youth Parliament, elected by schools. I met with the new Learning & Skills Council Chief Exec and with the Association of Chairs of University Councils. I made one of the four Lib Dem front bench speeches on the Budget, the debate on which takes place over several days. The Budget was also the main topic of conversation in my appearance on ITV South West's new political programme. In my monthly oral departmental question I asked about delays in the Colleges building programme.

Constituents continue to come to lobbies in Westminster, of just for a tour. This month I met with a representative of Bristol's head teachers to discuss testing in schools. I also organised a tour and gave tea on the terrace to a Henleaze couple who had bid in an auction raising funds for Ugandan school children. It's good to know that an enjoyable day out in Westminster was also doing good for children less privileged than our own.

Stephen Williams MP

Bristol West (Liberal Democrat)

Parliamentary email - stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk