June Report

Parliamentary Business

Children and Families Bill

The bill had its report stage and third reading on 11 June.

There was too little time to debate huge swathes of changes which MPs were keen to discuss. We lost a vote on ensuring that sex and relationship education are compulsory in schools.

But in a dramatic change of direction the Government dropped its proposals to increase childcare ratios (see below). See details of the debate “here“http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130611/debt....

Childcare ratios

The Government has finally caved in and dropped its plans to increase the ratio of unders 5s that an adult can care for.

I have been opposing this proposal since it was first mooted in 2012. I've not met a single parent or carer in Hackney who supported it. Most were dismayed at the threat to quality childcare.

Children's minister Liz Truss made it clear in the House of Commons that she is still keen to pursue higher ratios, so it seems to remain the policy of the Conservative party if not the Government.

In Hackney over one fifth of residents are under 16 and the cost and availability of childcare is a worry for many parents. I will remain vigilant on this issue as well as focusing on the cost of childcare and wrap around care for school age children.

Teaching assistants

Six months ago I picked up that the Treasury was looking at the value for money of teaching assistants. I've been watching Government plans ever since. Recently right wing think tank Reform repeated the view that teaching assistants don't bring value in the classroom.

I persuaded the Sunday Times to run a story and the resulting publicity led to local primary school Berger in Homerton hosting the director of Reform so that he could see for himself the challenges in classrooms in Hackney. Radio 5 broadcast the experience.

Thanks to headteacher Karen Coulthard and Berger Primary school for helping to shine a light on the issue. Teaching assistants have been a welcome boost to Hackney and provide important support to individual children and classes.

GCSE reform

The Government's proposals on reforming GCSEs have caused confusion and concern to pupils, parents and teachers.

In Hackney, where there has been such commitment to raising school standards, I am concerned that the Government's constant changes to GCSEs will undermine the good work. The Government initially talked about scrapping GCSEs and introducing a baccalaureate system. They have now changed their plans and intend to keep GCSEs but change the grading system.

I pressed Michael Gove in Parliament to stop causing confusion by repeated announcements of change.

Woolwich murder

On 3 June the Prime Minister updated the House of Commons on the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

I raised with the Prime Minister the need for support on the ground for parents, teachers and community leaders who are best placed to spot someone who is being radicalised and needs help.

I am saddened by the recent spate of attacks on religious buildings following the murder of Lee Rigby and visited Sulemaniye Mosque on 7 June.

The inter faith work ongoing between communities in Hackney is an example to the rest of the country. I continue to work with the mosque and other faith leaders to make sure that locally we have any support necessary.

Legal aid cuts

The proposed legal aid changes led to a strong reaction in the House of Commons.

I recently sponsored a debate in backbench time (which means the subject was determined by backbench MPs rather than Government or opposition front benches) on 27 June. Of the 31 MPs who spoke only one was wholly in favour of the changes which would see a reduction in the number of firms providing legal aid funded advice from 1,600 to 400 and anyone under arrest having no choice over which lawyer to use.

I have raised concerns with the national public auditor the National Audit Office which looks at the value for money of Government policy. The NAO looks at projects after implementation but I have particularly asked it to be mindful of system wide costs of the changes.

Without reasonable access to legal aid more people will represent themselves in person, for example, and this can lead to delays, longer court hearings and therefore higher costs.

I am particularly concerned that under the changes a solicitor will be paid the same fee whether the defendant pleads guilty or has a trial lasting three days or less

Labour's front bench team has promised a debate and vote on the issue. We need to maintain pressure on the Government and the backbenchers - both Liberal Democrat and Conservative - who spoke out against the plans.

See my speech here.

EU Police, Justice and Home Affairs

Labour called a debate on 12 June on a key decision the Government needs to make about our cooperation with EU member states on justice and home affairs issues.

The Government has until 2014 to decide whether to remain in all recent justice and home affairs agreements including the European arrest warrant.

As the Conservative party's Euro sceptic wing dominates the Government agenda The Home Secretary is suggesting that the UK can opt out and negotiate back in on more favourable terms.

The reality is that once the UK opts out there is no guarantee that we can opt in again on any measure. This would be very bad news for the safety and security of UK residents.

In the past it has taken 20 years to extradite (bring to the UK from another country) someone charged with a criminal offence in another country. Any changes to the arrest warrant are best negotiated with the 27 other member states in Europe (Croatia joins at the end of June).

The Government is gambling on readmission to this and a raft of other measures with no guarantee that this will happen. This could leave the UK having to negotiate 27 separate treaties of cooperation on EU criminal matters.

See my contribution to the debate “here“http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130612/debt....

Thameslink

The Public Account Committee recently investigated the project to upgrade this important trans-London rail line.

For once there were positive aspects to the project management but I was concerned at the experimental new seven year franchise being offered as an interim measure.

The committee report will be published by the end of July but the National Audit Office report can be seen “here“http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10164-001-Thameslink-Fu....

Other Matters

Total Politics 'MP of the Month'

I was flattered to be named Total Politics magazine's 'MP of the Month' in their July issue.

Total Politics highlighted my recent work on childcare ratios, legal aid reform and tax avoidance as a member of the Parliamentary spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee.

It is constituents and local organisations who often shape my work in Parliament. I I always say to ministers that whatever the issue is nationally, there is nearly always an example of how to solve it in Hackney.

Roll out of benefit cap

The national roll out of the household benefit cap is due to start from

15 July and will begin in Hackney from 12 August.

This is the cap or annual limit on how much any household can receive in total benefits.

There will be families in Hackney who will not be able to afford their private sector rents locally under this scheme. A short period of unemployment could lead families falling into arrears or having the expense of moving house.

I am all for encouraging people to work but for every simple policy there are real human examples of people who will suffer unfairly as a result. Coupled with the bedroom tax, which is already in place, there are some very real challenges for local families.

GP out of hours services

There are still no clear answers as the issue of who will provide Hackney's out of hours health services is being determined.

I urged Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt again to explain whether clinical commissioning groups, the new GP led organisations which now determine which health services to buy into locally, are required to tender their service.

National NHS leaders say this is not necessary but locally in Hackney the CCG's predecessor first encouraged GPs to bid for the contract and months later decided to tender the contract for fear of legal challenge.

In the meantime I persuaded the Guardian to run the story and it featured local GP Deborah Colvin who highlighted the absurdity of the local situation. Click “here“http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jun/04/out-hours-out-gps-hands?IN... to see a copy of the article.

High rental agency fees

An investigation by Shelter underlines what so many Hackney private renters are facing as they are hit by unfair fees of as much as £700 by letting agencies.

Over 9 million people now rent their homes privately in England, including 1.3 million families with children and in Hackney more residents rent privately than own their home. Tenants face an average of £350 in fees to letting agencies when moving, on top of what landlords are already paying agencies.

These fees are costly. Of every four people who have dealt with a letting agency in the last three years, one says they had to borrow money to pay for fees, while one in six reported cutting down on food or heating to pay fees.

Although agencies are contracted by landlords, it has become routine to charge tenants for elements of their core service, often much higher than actual costs, and are often charged without the landlords' knowledge. I back Shelter's campaign to put an end to unfair fees charged to renters, and for costs to be borne by landlords.

Google and tax avoidance

The Public Accounts Committee (of which I am a member) called Google to give evidence after media reports highlighted concerns about Google's tax contribution.

The session highlighted the extent to which sales related activity takes place in the UK but because the final deal is sealed with a click of a button in Dublin the company avoids paying UK tax.

Google, along with other large corporations, pays expensive lawyers and accountants to make sure they are just the right side of the law. These revelations highlight how current tax law is not suitable in the internet age with even Marks and Spencer playing the game.

Crime and policing bill

The Anti Social Behaviour Crime and Policing bill (dangerous dogs section) was a missed opportunity to consolidate the myriad of dog control legislation into one specific dog control bill. The Dangerous Dogs Act has not adequately protected the public from dangerous dogs.

As a result of dog attacks 17 people, including 10 children, have been killed in the UK, 16 since 2005. And 250,000 people are attacked by dogs every year, including 5,000 postal workers. The cost to the NHS of dog attacks is £9.5 million a year.

The Communications Workers Union strongly supported the introduction of dog control notices for tackling dogs which are not being properly controlled.

Government ministers have argued that the new community protection orders will be as effective as dog control notices introduced in other parts of the UK.

Hackney Matters

Shoreditch tech summit

Over recent months local businesses in Hackney and Shoreditch have raised with me concerns about broadband. There are issues with speed of connection and the length of time it takes to get physically connected. There is a local plan to increase speeds.

I brought some of these businesses together with Hackney Council, BT and Virgin at one of my regular Shoreditch Summits to discuss what can be done.

I will continue to press the Government to ensure there is proper investment in this key infrastructure. The Government is keen to laud the success of the tech start ups in Shoreditch but it also needs to make sure that the basic infrastructure is there for businesses to operate effectively.

London College of Fashion

The college are holding two exciting upcycling fashion projects in collaboration with St Joseph's hospice over July. The projects include creating fashion accessories from second hand clothing which can then be sold to raise money for the hospice.

The projects are aimed at year 9 and 10 students and are running on 3 - 5 July and on 13 July at the London College of Fashion's campus on Mare Street.

For details about how to apply for a place please contact the project co-ordinator at the London College of Fashion on 020 7514 9350.

Estate to plate cooking workshops

Cooking club with Shoreditch Trust Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm from 23 July to 20 August in Nye Bevan Community Hall.

For more information, contact Edouard:edouard@shoreditchtrust.org.uk or 020 7033 8506.

Or visit Shoreditch Trust’s website “here“http://www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk.estate-to-plate.