June 2010

Thank you for re-electing me as MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch.

Hackney faces big challenges as public spending cuts bite. I will be working to highlight the impact on families in Hackney and tackle the Government.

One of my other priorities this year is tackling gangs and gun crime.

Since the election I have been appointed Chair of the Cooperative group of MPs. I have also been elected as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary group for Nigeria and Vice-Chair of the All Party Cycling group.

I am a member of the All Party groups on employee ownership, Crossrail and the Great Lakes area of Africa.

I am currently shadow minister on the opposition Home Affairs team

Parliamentary business

Queen's speech

The new Government announced its legislative programme for the next Parliamentary year on 25 May.

Only three bills have been debated since the election: the Academies Bill, Finance Bill and Identity Documents Bill (details below).

In September we see more new bills including the changes to electoral boundaries which, if passed, will mean that Hackney South and Shoreditch has different boundaries at every General Election from 2015.

Backbench business

On 15 June, MPs had the opportunity to vote on changes to House business.

The most significant were on the establishment of a backbench business committee to give a greater voice to backbench MPs. Proposals were introduced in the last Parliament. The historic first session of backbench nominated business took place on 20 July.

Previously the Government of the day decided on most business in Parliament.

Academies Bill

The Academies Bill was introduced in the Lords at the end of May.

The bill aims to enable all local authority maintained schools to apply for academy status including for the first time primaries and special schools.

The bill removes the right of local authorities to be consulted on the creation of academies in their area and makes other changes which will help the Government to create academies from existing schools, starting with those rated "outstanding" by Ofsted.

The bill also paves the way for the creation of 'free schools'. This would enable businesses, charities or other groups to set up schools in response to parental demand. The capital costs of the schools will be met by a central government capital fund (from former Building Schools for the Future funding) and ongoing costs by a per-pupil funding system allocated directly to schools from central government education budgets.

The bill was passed on 26 July. I voted against it. An Education and Children Bill will be published later in the year following a White Paper.

Identity Documents Bill

The Identity Documents Bill was given its first reading in the House of Commons on 26 May 2010.

The main elements of the bill are the cancellation of all ID cards within one month of Royal Assent, cancellation of the National Identity Register and closing the office of the Identity Commissioner. There will be no refunds for those who already have cards.

I have spoken in the House on this bill. I am concerned that there will be no reimbursement for those who already have and use their cards and for the transgender community who could hold cards in more than one gender.

I sat on the committee for this bill at the beginning of July. The bill will have its third reading in September.

Housing benefit debate

I tabled an adjournment debate in July to challenge the Government on changes to housing benefit.

Under new rules housing benefit paid for renting in the private sector will be capped at £250 for a one bedroom home, £290 for a two bedroom home, £340 for 3 bedrooms and £400 for four bedrooms. Caps to local housing allowance (housing benefit) will affect around 1,500 Hackney residents.

Of all London boroughs only four have rents within the new caps.
The debate was well attended by London MPs and we will be following up with a further debate after the summer.

The changes are due to come in from April next year and reductions (of 10 per cent) in HB for those unemployed for 12 months or more will be implemented from 2013.

A full transcript of the debate can be read on the Parliament website at www.publications.parliament.uk

Adjournment debate - rape defendants

I attended an adjournment debate tabled by Caroline Flint MP to raise concerns about the Government's proposals to give anonymity to rape defendants.

I agree with many other MPs that this proposal sends out a dangerous and clearly false message that victims of rape – predominantly women – are less trustworthy than victims of other crimes. I was alarmed by these proposals.

Over 30 Labour MPs raised objections to the plans in the House and it has now been reported that the Government has dropped the proposals. I am pleased that the minister has seen sense on this issue.

Freedom flotilla

I questioned the Foreign Secretary during a debate on the appalling attack on the international humanitarian aid flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, asking if he would agree to meet with Hackney residents detained after the seizure of the flotilla.

Two Hackney residents were on board the Freedom Flotilla when it came under attack. I pressed the Foreign Office to arrange a meeting with British aid workers on their return to the UK to hear first-hand about their experiences.

A full transcript can be read here
www.publications.parliament.uk

Other matters

Voting problems

I met with the Electoral Commission this month to discuss the problems voters in Hackney experienced on polling day.

A review into the polling station queues was published at the end of May. A copy can be viewed at www.electoralcommission.org.uk

The report finds that 27 polling stations in 16 constituencies experienced problems on the day and calls for a change in the law to make clear that people in the queue to vote before close of poll should be allowed to do so. It also calls for better election planning and accountability. The report also recommends significant modernisation of the current electoral system.

I also met with the Returning Officer immediately after the election to find out what had gone wrong and what steps were being taken to address the issues.

It is clear that work needs to be done to prevent this happening again. Thank you to those who submitted their experiences to the review which has helped this process.

Parliament and the Games

Between 28 June and 28 August 2010 Parliament is hosting a Parliament and the Games exhibition exploring the relationship between Parliament and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On display will be objects loaned from Parliamentarians who have competed in the Games, memorabilia from the 1908 and 1948 Lodnon Olympics and models of the new venues for the 2012 Olympics.

The exhibition is free and open to all. It will be held in Westminster Hall accessible via the Cromwell Green main visitors' entrance.
For more details about visiting Parliament go to www.parliament.uk/visiting

Cycle hire

The new London self-service public bicycle sharing scheme was launched this month.

There are now up to 6,000 bikes for hire from around 400 docking stations around the city. Docking stations in Hackney South are located throughout St Luke's and Shoreditch and in Shoreditch Park, Wenlock Road, Murray Grove, Falkirk Street, Windsor Terrace, East Road and Fanshaw Street.

Membership is available at a daily, weekly or annual rate.

Further information about Barclays Cycle Hire and the location of the docking stations is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire

Hackney issues

Local award

Hackney Council for Voluntary Service (HCVS) has won a national award for quality. The award has been given by the national association for voluntary and community action and it recognises the impact of HCVS on the local third sector.

HCVS is one of 11 councils for voluntary service in London that has received the award. For more information visit www.hcvs.org.uk

Think Big

Are you aged between 13 and 25? Do you have a big idea for a community project?

O2 are looking for young people with big ideas to bring their communities together and are awarding £300 grants towards project costs with the opportunity to apply for an additional grant of up to £2500 with four days leadership training.

Visit www.o2.co.uk/thinkbig to find out more

Culture line

The newly extended London Overground line is bringing more people to Hackney to experience the fantastic variety of museums we have to offer.

Ten London museums are working to promote East End cultural spots as an alternative to central London hotspots. All ten museums are near stops on the London Overground line from Dalston to West Croydon.

The London Overground line stops by Hackney Museum, Geffrye Museum, Wesley's Chapel, Whitechapel Gallery and the Brunel Museum among others.

Amongst the myriad treasures waiting to be discovered on the CultureLine are George Washington's false teeth, a marine iguana from Darwin's expedition to the Galapagos Islands and the oldest tunnel in the London metro system.

For more information and a map of what you can discover on the line visit www.cultureline.org.uk