July Monthly Report

Changes to social care

The Government published a white paper on the reform of social care on 11 July.

The proposals aim to ensure a continuity of care between different local authorities. Currently anyone needing care from the state will be reassessed if they move local authority area.

The proposals focus on patients having personal budgets and greater choice about what to spend their money on.

Specific proposals include training more care workers, including an ambition to double the number of care apprenticeships to 100,000 by 2017; appointing a chief social worker by the end of 2012; and legislating to give people an entitlement to a personal budget.

However the Government has ducked the major issue of long term funding of care. This has been deferred until after the next spending review in 2014 which will outline spending proposals for the next Parliament from 2015.

The future of childminding

I recently met with 40 Hackney childminders who raised their concerns about fears that the Government will water down the skills and quality of service required for registered childminders.

I secured a debate in the House of Commons, to directly question Sarah Teather MP, the Minister for Children and Families, about the Government's intentions.

In seeking to reduce child care costs to parents, we should not water down quality. As one Hackney childminder put it we should not return to "the bad old days when the child carer put kids in front of the television all day".

I also referred the minister to the Government's own review, undertaken by Professor Cathy Nutbrown, who is Professor of Education at Sheffield.

One of Professor Nutbrown's recommendations was that childminders should have relevant qualifications in recognition of their key role in educating the young children in their care. To watch or read my full speech go to www.meghilliermp.com.

Inquiry into the banking industry

On 5 July the House of Commons voted on holding an inquiry into the banking industry.

My colleagues and I voted in favour of an independent, judge-led inquiry into professionalism in the banking sector. However the Government favoured a parliamentary inquiry. After a debate in the House of Commons a majority voted in favour of a Parliament-led inquiry which is now underway.

The Government needs to act swiftly on the inquiry's recommendations. The inquiry's report is expected by the end of 2012.

Social mobility

I recently became a vice chair of the all-party parliamentary group on social mobility. I spoke in a debate on social mobility on 28 June. To watch my full speech click here

I have recently held a number of networking events for young people in Hackney. These help young people meet a range of people from different professional and work backgrounds.

Young people are asking for help in developing communication and networking skills they need to get on in life that they do not necessarily get in more formal education. If you are interested in learning more please contact me.

Over the past eight years educational achievement has been a good news story for Hackney with an increase in pupils getting five A* to C grades including maths and English from 29 per cent in 2004 to 57 per cent in 2011. More young people are going to university too.

However young people tell me that they lack the contacts needed to break into the professions. For example, around 90 per cent of banking jobs go to people who have already had some work experience. But placements far too often go to children of partners or clients. This cuts out most of Hackney's young people.

House of Lords Reform Bill

The House of Lords Reform Bill has passed its second reading in the House of Commons. At this stage, the vote was on the principle of the bill.

I am in favour of House of Lords reform, however I do have concerns with the Government's bill. Electing members on non-renewable 15 year terms means that they will not be accountable.

I am pleased that the Government dropped the programme motion which would have meant that Parliament only had 10 days to scrutinise the Bill.

It needs considerable amendment and a time limited debate would have reduced the opportunity to improve the bill.

I do worry though that there will be an attempt to talk out the bill. The time should be used to allow Parliament to examine carefully the impact of the bill on our constitution.

First results from the 2011 census

On the 16 July the Office of National Statistics produced the first results from the 2011 census.

The report identifies the number of households including details of population by age and gender in England and Wales. Results are also presented for each nation and region separately. The census figures show Hackney's population is the third fastest growing in London, up by 18.9 per cent since 2001, and was over 246,000 at March 2011.

The census results will be used to decide where public money is spent.

The results can be found on the Office of National Statistics website

Cooperative Bank

The Cooperative bank will be taking over 632 Lloyds TSB high street branches across the UK.

The Co-op Bank, as a member-owned bank, will provide greater choice for customers. It is answerable to its members rather than shareholders. It also has an ethical investment policy.

As a Labour and Cooperative MP I support more mutuals in personal finance. After the failure of the Government to convert Northern Rock into a mutual this move will provide more choice for customers concerned about the management of other banks.

Commission on a Bill of Rights

In March last year the Government established a commission to look into creating a British Bill of Rights.

The commission has been consulting for the past 15 months. It has met with various groups, and held seminars across the UK to receive views about what a British Bill of Rights should include.

This month the commission published its second consultation paper. And will be publishing its report in six months time.

The consultation paper is here Deadline for responses is 30 September.

Games4Life

Games4life, part of the NHS change4life, is a new campaign to inspire the nation to get active in the spirit of the Olympics. The Change4Life website is full of fun, free ways to get involved and get moving this summer.

Families can download the 'fun generator' app which has over 100 activity ideas that are great for children of all ages. To find out more click here

A fair tax on flying

In the budget the Government announced there would be an 8 per cent increase in duty from April 2012 and another rise by inflation in 2013.

The increase will not only affect people taking their annual summer holiday and many of my constituents who visit family abroad, but could also have a negative effect on the aviation industry and UK trade. I have written to the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise these concerns.

Global Health

I am a vice-chair of the All Party Group on Global Health which recently launched a report about skills of health care workers.

Our inquiry looked into the issues in the UK and a number of developing countries to assess what skills mix could deliver the best results for patients.

For example, in Malawi there are 300 doctors and one of the worst rates of maternal death in the world. In order to reach a widespread population the country cannot rely on doctors alone. Local, lower qualified health workers need to be equipped and trained. The new President has set an ambitious target for training midwifes.

In Nigeria community health workers have been trained to distribute a treatment for river blindness to nearly 5.5m people - far more than visit doctor or nurse led clinics.

In the UK nurse prescribing has now been well established and as a group we are clear that we can learn lessons from countries with developing healthcare systems as we manage the future skills mix and make securing treatment easier for patients.

To download copies of the report and its summary click here

Olympic Update

Olympic security

The fiasco over the recruitment and deployment of security staff by G4S is particularly disappointing for Hackney. I have long been concerned about the fact that too few Hackney residents have secured jobs on the site.

I held two local job fairs and a number of residents secured jobs with G4S as a result. Others secured jobs though the local job brokerage. I am angry that the jobs now being carried out by our armed forces are ones that could have been an opportunity for local people.

Constituents have approached me with evidence of incompetence by G4S. After securing jobs a number do not know where they are working less than a week before the Games starts.

But to blame G4S is to over simplify the problem. The Home Office was ultimately responsible for ensuring that security was delivered. It should have been on top of the arrangements and scrutinising the work of LOCOG and G4S to make sure security was delivered.

I sit on the Parliamentary spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee. In December last year the committee challenged top civil servants after the security budget more than doubled from October 2010 to December 2011. I raised concerns about the ability to recruit and train within the short timescale.

The top civil servant at the Home Office was confident that there was no problem.

As late as 26 April civil servants were telling us how confident they were about the security arrangements. With the armed forces stepping in I have no doubt that the Games will be secure but Hackney residents would have been keen to take on these jobs.

Olympic torch

I joined in the party atmosphere when the Olympic torch made its way through the streets of Hackney on 21 July.

I caught up with the relay in Kingsland Road and later attended a street party in Trehurst Street, Homerton joining residents and traders of Marsh Hill in the tug of war.

Olympics and the environment

Behind the scenes the Environment Agency has been working to ensure the Games will not suffer from any major environmental problem.

Recent rain fall means drought is no longer a threat but it has to be prepared for flooding, water quality issues and managing potential environmental hazards on local industrial estates.

The southern area of the Olympic Park that is planned as wetland is the highest flood risk but the depth of the River Lee provides a high level of protection.

All major venues are designed to cope with a 20 per cent increase in current river flows.

On a day to day basis the 37 regulated sites within 3km of the park which could cause everything from bad smells, dust and fire hazards are keeping Environment Agency staff busy. There are a number of illegal sites which the Agency is working to close down. If you have any concerns about these sites please let me know.

Hackney Wick station

Transport for London announced closure of the westbound platform of Hackney Wick station after 1pm every day for the duration of the Olympic Games.

I asked Transport for London to reverse the decision. They have acted and passengers will now be able to get off trains on the westbound platform at any time.

However no passenger will be able to get on a train from 1pm every day because of the risk to passenger safety because of overcrowding. This restriction will not apply during the Paralympics.

I am pleased that at least some change has been made but it's all very last minute which means that many passengers will be confused.

Hackney Olympic Ambassadors

I enjoyed an inspirational evening at the Hackney primary school Olympic Ambassadors presentation at the Hackney Empire.

Highly professional entertainment was provided by the Kingsmead School Steel Pans and St Dominic's school street dancers. Special guests included former Olympic medallists and future Hackney hopefuls in weightlifting and table tennis.

Over the last year two children each from 51 Hackney schools have been involved in workshops, visits and events to celebrate the Olympics. They have produced a website, two Olympic songs, a book, a magazine and a fashion collection.

Parents told me what a difference the programme had made for their children.

All 102 ambassadors have since been invited to meet US First Lady Michelle Obama at the US Ambassador's residence in Regents Park.