Pensioners
in receipt of the annual Winter Fuel Payment will
get an extra one-off boost towards their energy
bills this coming winter. More...
School
Visit During a visit to Taylor Road
Primary School Peter discussed plans to rebuild
the school. Sir Peter, who supported the crumbling
primary school's campaign for a new home, said:
"I really appreciated the opportunity to meet
with pupils and staff at Taylor Road to discuss their
thoughts on the plans. I made the case to the Government
for an increased school size in St Matthew's. The
Government listened, meaning almost £6 million
of investment is being made to pay for the school.
Children deserve the best start in life and that means
making sure each child in Leicester gets the best
education in the best schools. Second best is not
good enough for the children and teachers in my constituency,
and that's the message I will continue taking to the
Government."
Peter
participates in Westminster First
Recent reforms to the House of Commons mean that witnesses
can be called and evidence taken while MPs are discussing
the details of bills. Peter, a member of the Public
Bill committee on the Local Government and Public
Involvement in Health Bill, took part in the first
ever Public Bill evidence session on January 30th.
Impressed by Children’s
Centre
On a visit to the Eyres Monsell and Gilmorton Children’s
Centre in Hillsborough Road, Peter met with a number
of childminders and Sue Sprott, the regional manager
for the Midlands Region. “I was most impressed
with what I saw and heard”, said Peter.
Farepak Peter Soulsby
was angered by the events which led to the collapse
of Farepak, and has backed actions by the government
to help those affected. He told the Leicester Mercury
"People who have lost money with Farepak are
facing a Christmas of misery. I hope this is tearing
at the consciences of the Farepak directors and those
responsible for this situation." He has thrown
his support behind the Farepak Response Fund and echoed
Trade Minister Ian McCartney who told the House of
Commons that the firm's collapse was a national emergency
and invited companies, as well as individuals, to
pay into the fund.
Peter is personally
backing this fund, and with other colleagues in the
House of Commons, has contributed a days pay towards
it. Peter has signed
the EDM which states:
“That this House draws attention to the pivotal
role HBOS has played in the collapse of Farepak, the
Christmas savings scheme, whose bankruptcy blights
the Christmas of half a million decent people, many
of whom have been saving since January of this year;
notes that HBOS allowed Farepak to continue trading
and to draw in savings averaging around £1 million
a week since January this year; also notes that HBOS
has publicly stated that it’s total clawing
back of funds from Farepak’s parent company
since the start of the ‘savings year’
amounts to £30 million, and that this sum of
money, together with that raised by voluntary contributions,
comes within striking distance of the money owed to
Farepak customers who have been carefully saving all
year to offset the extra costs of Christmas; and further
notes that in the last financial year HBOS reported
a staggering record pre-tax profit of £4.8 billion
and calls on the bank to repay the £30 million
it has been able to recover from the wreckage into
which half a million decent citizens have been plunged
since the collapse of Farepak.”
Peter
visits Leicester’s Postal Delivery Office As the Christmas
card rush reached its height, Peter Soulsby visited
the Central Delivery Office of the Royal Mail in Campbell
Street. The MP met with Delivery Office Manager Mandy
Palmer and local postmen and women and toured the
Delivery Office to see firsthand how Royal Mail manages
the mail service during the Christmas rush.
“I met my own
postman, one of 40 postmen and women at the Central
Office who provide an excellent service throughout
the year, and saw how they deal with the annual Christmas
rush.”
Peter
meets Friends of the Earth
Environment Select Committee member, Sir Peter Soulsby,
has met with representatives of Friends of the earth
at his Leicester Office. (Enlarge
photo)
Peter
Visits Lung Cancer Treatment Facilities at Glenfield
During the summer
recess Peter took the opportunity to visit the cancer
treatment facilities at Glenfield Hospital. Peter
has taken a keen interest in fighting lung cancer
and will be participating in Lung Cancer Awareness
Month.
Peter
calls Severn Trent profits ‘Scandalous’ Peter has attacked Severn
Trent for increasing its profits whilst failing to adequately
tackle its poor record on leaks. Speaking to the Leicester
Mercury he said their recent profit announcement was
"an absolute scandal".
He said: "They have one of the worst leak records.
The company has made these enormous profits with one
of the worst services for customers. I will be writing
to the regulator to look into the company and I'm sure
customers will be as angry as me. I'll also be telling
them to write to Ofwat."
Peter
has raised the issue in Parliament, asking the
Leader of the House, Jack Straw, “Will my
right hon. Friend join me in welcoming the announcement
this morning by the water services regulator that
he intends to fine Severn Trent Water for its
appalling level of service to customers?
Will my right hon. Friend also speak to my right
hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs about making a statement
to make it clear that it is the Government's intention
that the fine should be paid from the recently
announced excessive profits of the company, rather
than by the hard-pressed customers who have to
suffer the poor service and unique record of leaking
pipes, prosecutions for pollution and the fiddling
of figures to inflate bills and overcharge customers,
recently admitted by the company?
It would be much more appropriate for the fine
to be paid by those who own the company, not by
those who suffer from its appalling service.”
More on
Severn Trent... WATER FARCE!
(Article in Leicester Mercury) As the county swelters in a heatwave, the
amount of water lost to leaks has risen again. Severn
Trent Water is now losing more in leaks per household
than the average person uses every day, according
to water watchdog Ofwat. Leicester South MP Peter
Soulsby will table an early day motion about the company
in Parliament on Monday.
More…
OBSCENE BONUS (Reader's
comments in Leicester Mercury) "The two Severn Trent bosses on your
front page ought to look pleased with themselves..."
More...
Leicester
Hospitals Get £600m Boost Leicester
is to benefit from a boost in investment at its three
hospitals. Final development plans have been announced,
and the emphasis is on effective and affordable improvements.
A massive programme will include major refurbishments
and new ‘modular buildings’. These units
can be constructed quickly, but have a life span of
25 years. Peter recently visited the orthopaedic operating
theatre, which cost £1 million and was constructed
in 16 weeks.
Peter commented, “What we will see is a dramatic
transformation of all of the three Leicester hospitals.
I think that is something we should be very pleased
about.”
MP
steps in to help Community Centre Peter has stepped in to
help residents waiting to use a new community centre
that was built four years ago. Many of the rooms in
the £4.8million building, in Melbourne Road, Highfields,
are not in use. Chairs are still covered in cellophane
and computer equipment lies behind locked doors. Campaigners
say the city council has not yet come up with the cash
to pay for staffing and equipment.
The council says the issue "is more complex than
first thought" but it is working with community
associations to draw up a business plan and find more
funding.
Peter Soulsby has said: "It's an absolute disgrace
that the centre has been left unused, particularly as
it's such a needy community. I hold my surgeries at
the centre and we are the only ones in the building.
I have written to the chief executive and asked for
an early meeting with him and the councillors involved."
World
Environment Day
Sir Peter is personally backing, and is encouraging
his constituents to back, the ‘promises’
which are being promoted for World Environment Day.
These are about small changes in behaviour which can
have a big impact on the health of our planet. Visit
the “Promise” website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed/
Small
promises make a big difference
Making little lifestyle changes can have a big
effect if everyone does it. Whether you take a
shower instead of a bath, reduce your energy use
or use the car less, the benefits are big.
Debt
Relief – Peter tables written question Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Chancellor
of the Exchequer what progress he has made on 100 per
cent. bilateral and 100 per cent. multilateral debt
relief for the poorest countries.
Mr. Ivan Lewis: At the G8 meeting in
Moscow Finance Ministers called for full implementation
of commitments made on the multilateral debt relief
initiative, aid effectiveness, and increasing resources
for development. They supported the decision by the
IMF Board to implement 100 per cent. debt relief for
19 countries and encouraged the World Bank and African
Development Bank to finalize urgently all necessary
steps for implementation.
Russia also announced that it will be providing 100
per cent. debt relief to the heavily indebted poor countries.
With this step forward the G8 are now all providing
additional debt cancellation on the bilateral debts
of HIPCs.
The UK has also proposed going further than the existing
list of HIPC countries to extend relief to all low-income
countries that can use the debt service savings effectively
for poverty reduction. The UK is paying 10 per cent.
of the share of the debt interest payments of the eligible
non- HIPC countries.
Leicester
Needs its own Mayor
Sir Peter Soulsby has called for the establishment of
an elected mayor to spearhead regeneration in the City.
Responding to calls for Leicester’s own mayor,
Peter told the Leicester Mercury, “The advantage
of people knowing who is responsible for taking decisions
and making things happen is something that would be
of enormous benefit to Leicester, in exactly the same
way the mayor has been in London.”
Peter backs
Callum’s Law
Sir
Peter Soulsby took the campaign, inspired by the tragic
death of Callum Deacon, to change the law on causing
death by dangerous driving to the House of Commons.
During a debate on the second reading of the Road Safety
Bill, Peter told MPs “I wish to draw attention
to a particular case (which points) up the gap between
the present offences of dangerous driving and careless
driving, and the penalties associated with them. The
case illustrates why that gap must be filled.
On the afternoon of 12 June 2004, 12-year-old Callum
Deacon, from the Saffron Lane area of my constituency,
was out on his bike with friends in Asquith Way. He
was hit and, tragically, killed by a speeding motorcyclist.
Significantly, the motorcyclist did not brake immediately,
but carried on for a few hundred yards. Because he did
not brake, there were no skid marks, so it was not possible
to tell definitively at what speed he had been travelling….
As a result of the inability to convict for dangerous
driving, the motor cyclist, who had admitted careless
driving, was fined £2,000 and given a few points
on his licence.
To
my mind and those of many hon. Members, that penalty
was derisory. It is not surprising that Callum's parents,
Mandy and Ivan, who had to wait 20 months for that verdict,
described it as an insult to his memory.
Of course, they know, as we all know, that nothing can
bring Callum back, but they have, very much to their
credit, actively campaigned to ensure that drivers who
cause death by careless driving receive an appropriate
prison sentence in future….
Callum's death is by no means unique or, I suggest,
unusual. It is one of many cases in which justice has
been denied to the friends and relatives of those killed
by careless drivers.
There have been far too many such cases. With some exceptions,
the majority of right hon. and hon. Members will agree
that we should quickly ensure that his death is one
of the last cases when those who are guilty appear to
escape proper punishment because of an unacceptable
gap in the law.
Saffron Sure Start Venue Sure Start Children’s
Centres provide integrated education, care, family
support and health services. These are key factors
in determining good outcomes for children and their
parents.
This government initiative is targeting some of Leicester’s
most vulnerable five to 13 year-olds, with £4.8
million directed towards Beaumont Leys, New Parks,
Braunstone, the Saffronand Eyres Monsell estates, Belgrave, St Matthews,
Highfields
and Greater Humberstone.
Around 50 projects –
including after school care clubs, play schemes, health
initiatives and projects aimed at preventing anti-social
behaviour – are being supported by the Children’s
Fund.
QUICK NEWS-LINKS
- Sir Peter Soulsby as seen in the Leicester Mercury
Sir Peter pops in
to launch advice booklet July 19
2006
A comprehensive
directory of advice services in a city neighbourhood
is being distributed to residents. Leicester South MP
Sir Peter Soulsby visited the Highfields Centre last
month to help launch the booklet. More…
‘Make Our
Wish Come True’ April 14
2006
Youngsters
dressed up as fairies to help make their wish for a
bigger school come true. Pupils from Taylor Road School,
in St Matthew's, gave up some of their precious Easter
holidays to present Leicester South MP Peter Soulsby
with 400 letters signed by worried parents. More…
Phone-masts rules
are ‘a disgrace’ March 24 2006
Leicester
South Labour MP Sir Peter Soulsby spoke out after a
Government inspector backed phone firm O2's bid to put
six antennae on Elizabeth House, in Leicester, which
already has 16. More...
Parents’ school
campaign may go to minister March 14 2006
Campaigning
parents could be heading to London to take their cause
to Education Secretary Ruth Kelly. Mums and dads from
St Matthews want to head to Westminster to present a
letter to her outlining why the planned £7.5million
Taylor Road School will be too small.More...
Big
Breakfast Call to Boost Breakfast Research March 7 2006
Leicester South MP Sir Peter Soulsby is backing the
Cancer Research UK appeal Wake Up to Britain's Biggest
Breakfast to raise more than £400,000.
The charity is asking people to organise a breakfast
before the end of the month. More...
Asbestos Campaign
Supported March 7 2006
Leicester
South MP Sir Peter Soulsby called on the Government
to address measures outlined in the British Lung Foundation's
Action Mesothelioma plan. This week, protesters presented
a patient charter, signed by 14,294 people, at 10 Downing
Street. More...
Hundreds back call
for 'Callum's Law' February 21 2006
Hundreds
of people have backed a campaign for tougher laws against
careless drivers who cause deaths. Peter Soulsby said:
"I will be supporting their campaign to make sure
the Road Safety Bill is brought in as quickly as possible
and will try to gain support from other MPs." More...
Centre to help refugees
rebuild lives February 20 2006
A community
centre to help asylum-seekers and refugees build new
lives has opened on Friday. Leicester South MP Sir Peter
Soulsby cut a ribbon to formally open the centre. He
said Leicester had changed over the years partly because
of the input of refugees and asylum-seekers. More...
Smoking Ban - How
our local MPs voted February 15 2006
MPs have
voted by a huge margin to ban smoking from all pubs
and private members' clubs in England. Ministers gave
a free vote to MPs and the House of Commons decided
by a margin of 200 to impose a ban on smoking in all
enclosed public spaces. See
how your MPs voted…
Leicester FC –
FA Cup Triumph celebrated January
12 2006
Members of
Parliament have congratulated Leicester’s football
team after their spectacular victory against Tottenham
Hotspur in the third round of the FA Cup. See
the Leicester EDM
EARLY
DAY MOTIONS (EDMs) signed by Peter Soulsby
There are
many occasions that MPs speak or support subjects in
the House of Commons. This includes proposing or supporting
an Early Day Motion, or EDM. An EDM is a motion put
down ("tabled") by Members of Parliament calling
for a debate on a particular subject.
In practice, there is rarely time to debate EDMs nowadays
and their true modern-day purpose is to enable MPs to
draw attention to an issue and to canvass support for
their views by inviting other Members to add their signatures
in support of the motion. Members may table amendments
to existing EDMs.
You can see the EDMs signed by Peter Soulsby in this
session (from Nov 15th 2006) here…
Peter backs International
Day Against Homophobia March 30 2006
That this
House welcomes the second annual International Day Against
Homophobia on 17th May 2006; further welcomes the fact
that much progress has been made towards the fuller
equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
(LGBT) people in the UK; notes however that much yet
needs to be done to create full equality; further notes
that LGBT people around the world suffer harassment,
discrimination, persecution, torture and execution,
purely on the grounds of their LGBT status; and calls
on the Government to bring full equality to LGBT people
in the UK and actively to encourage equality for LGBT
people around the world, both through international
institutions and through bilateral dealings with other
states.EDM
1958
UK swimmers at The
Commonwealth Games March 22 2006
Sir Peter
Soulsby congratulated the swimming teams from the countries
of the United Kingdom “on their brilliant success,
medal winning performances and personal best times at
the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia”.
Peter said “my three daughters were all keen swimmers
and I know how much fun and fitness swimming can bring.
I am particularly impressed by the support given by
the Amateur Swimming Association to the sport at all
levels.” EDM
1877
MP
Alarmed at Proposed Asbestos Change December 7 2005
Sir Peter
Soulsby has expressed his concerns about a Health &
Safety Executive proposal to drop textured coatings
from the list of materials that only licensed contractors
are approved to remove. “This could have serious
repercussions for workers, homeowners and their families.
The draft regulations must be reviewed urgently.”
EDM
1224
MP Speaks Out Against
Gambling Plans January 7 2006
Commenting
upon the news that Leicester City Council has told the
independent Casino Advisory Panel it is still interested
in the idea of a super-sized gambling venue in the city,
Sir Peter Soulsby spoke out saying, "Of course
we want to attract investment to regenerate our city,
but not on the back of large-scale commercial gambling
which just makes money for big business."
Parliament salutes
inter-faith football January 26 2006
An EDM tabled
by Sir Peter Soulsby has gained all party backing –
“That this House congratulates the clergy and
imams of Leicester who competed against each other in
a recent football match; commends the imams who, being
in a winning position, generously lent several of their
players to the opposition during the second half; thanks
Tony Nelson of the Leicester Hebrew Congregation for
his impeccable refereeing, Inspector Nick Glynn of Leicestershire
Constabulary for playing vigorously for both teams and
the Lord Mayor of Leicester for presenting the Shield;
recognises the substantial sums raised for Christian
and Muslim appeals in Malawi and for the Lord Mayor's
Appeal; further commends the Leicester Christian-Muslim
Dialogue Group, particularly Suleman Nagdi MBE of the
Federation of Muslim Organisations and Canon Dr Andrew
Wingate for organising the event and the associated
tournament which involved hundreds of local schoolchildren;
and encourages the clergy to train harder during the
forthcoming year in preparation for the second annual
match.” EDM
1486
