January
2006 - December 2006 |
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We use this page to let you know what's
happening in the constituency or further afield.
Of course, we cannot put everything on this
page - life is a little too hectic for that, but when
the issues are important we will try to make sure
we tell you about them.
| Also,
read articles in News Archives |
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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.
Click
for enlargement
December 2006 |
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.”
November 14 2006
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“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.”
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Canals
and Rivers
There has been a transformation of canals and rivers
in recent years as more people use them for recreation - as
boaters, anglers, walkers, cyclists or nature lovers; more
freight is being transported and these waterways, as in Leicester
itself, are the backbone of many inner city improvements.
However the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
has reduced British Waterways' grant by 15 per cent. this
year.
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Peter
has backed an EDM noting that this decision will result “in
a devastating effect upon the inland waterways; further notes
that 180 British Waterways' staff are to lose their jobs and
canals are to be closed; and calls upon the Government
to reinstate immediately the cuts imposed upon British Waterways
and to ensure long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued
investment and restoration of the waterways.”
Cuts to funding
for British Waterways have been criticised by Peter in an
EDM which states “notes with alarm that the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reduced British
Waterways' grant by 15 per cent. this year resulting in a
devastating effect upon the inland waterways; further notes
that 180 British Waterways' staff are to lose their jobs and
canals are to be closed; and calls upon the Government to
reinstate immediately the cuts imposed upon British Waterways
and to ensure long-term funding is guaranteed to enable continued
investment and restoration of the waterways.”
Peter commented, “Improvements to canals and waterways
have had such a beneficial effect both on people’s leisure
and local economies, it is plain wrong that cuts should now
be imposed”
November 29 2006
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David Miliband
has responded to Peter’s support of an EDM calling for
binding annual targets for emissions reductions. David wrote:
“I am
writing in response to your recent support for the EDM calling
for binding annual targets for cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions. As you know, we today announced in the Queen’s
speech that we will introduce a Climate Change Bill in this
session.”
Read
the Secretary of State’s letter in full…
November 17 2006
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| Wednesday
November 1 2006 : Peter calls for immediate Iraq inquiry
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Sir Peter Soulsby intervened
in the debate over demands for an inquiry into the Iraq debacle,
telling a crowded House of Commons, “in their amendment
the Government talk of “the importance of learning all
possible lessons” from what went wrong. Does (the Government)
agree that there is a widely perceived inadequacy in the inquiries
that have taken place so far, which have completely failed
to address the mistakes that were made or to reassure the
House and the public more widely that the lessons have been
learned?
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Does it agree that in
saying that this is not the right time for a major inquiry
the Government would be in a much stronger position if they
were to tell us when the right time would be?”
Dissatisfied with the response from Government Ministers,
Peter was one of the twelve Labour MPS who voted for an immediate
inquiry, despite heavy pressure from Government whips.
Peter said later that
“this matter was too important to be ignored. I don’t
rebel lightly, but principle was at stake here. The House
and Commons and the public need to know how we came to make
the biggest foreign policy mistake in over fifty years, and
to make sure it never happens again”
Later that evening Peter featured
as lead item on BBC Newsnight.
November 1 2006
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Leicester MP pledges
to reduce energy use at office and at home
Peter Soulsby will be ‘standby
busting’ to save energy Leicester
South MP Peter Soulsby is supporting this week’s Energy
Saving Week, organised by the Energy Saving Trust. The week
is encouraging people to reduce their energy consumption by
20% to help the fight against climate change.
The Energy Saving Trust is encouraging
people to take simple steps as part of their everyday life
to reduce their energy use, including:
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| 1. Only boiling
enough water that is needed when making hot drinks
2. Turning down the thermostat by 1 degree centigrade
3. Switch off appliances, do not leave them on standby
4. Replace light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs
5. Washing laundry at 30 degrees |
Peter Soulsby
MP is pledging to implement these measures at his office and
at His Leicester home.
Peter said: “We need to see urgent action on climate
change. We need action from Government, from business but
crucially from us all as individual citizens. The scientific
evidence is devastating, if we do not act now parts of Britain
will simply disappear under water as sea levels rise. If we
do not act we will see irreparable damage done to the Earth
We can all take some simple actions in our day to day life
to bring down our energy use. I have launched a new policy
this week in my Leicester office. My staff and I will no longer
be boiling full kettles of water to make one or two cups of
tea. The heating will be turned down. At home I will now be
washing laundry at 30 degrees.
At home and in the office I will be standby busting. All appliances
will be turned off properly. Computers at my office will not
be left on overnight and TVs and other appliances at home
will all be turned off.
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I
know that some people do these things already, including myself,
but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the importance
of this issue.
We also need to see action from bigger organisations. I want
to see every school have its own wind turbine to generate
its own energy like the one we already have in Leicester at
Eyres Monsell School. I am supporting the campaign for a Climate
Change Bill to be included in the Queen’s Speech in
November.”
Visit
the Energy Saving Trust website and find out more...
October
2006
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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)
October 2006
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| 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.
October 2006 |
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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.” |
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 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.” |
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." |
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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/
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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.
June 2006 |
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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.
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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.” |
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. |
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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. |
| Chancellor of
the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Home Office Minister Hazel
Blears joined Leicester South MP Peter Soulsby to visit Crown
Hills College. Peter showed them the excellent work that the
College is doing to train young volunteers as sports coaches.
They met and talked with college students and staff and heard
from College Principal Gary Coleby about their pioneering
work.
Speaking after the visit, Peter said, ‘Both Gordon and
Hazel were enormously impressed. The young people were so
keen and committed and the College is showing how to build
successful partnerships in education. ‘Many years ago
I started my own teaching career working at Crown Hills. It
was good to visit it with the Chancellor and show him how
far it has come since those days!’
March 2006
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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
Saffron
and 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.
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| QUICK NEWS-LINKS -
Sir Peter Soulsby as seen in the Leicester Mercury |
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Peter’s activities
are regularly featured in the Leicester Mercury. We record some
of the important ones here.
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Peter
meets Chief Minister of Delhi
June 2006
Peter met Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister
of Delhi on a factfinding trip to India with a small group
of Labour MP. The group visited Calcutta and Delhi.
(enlarge photo...)
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Sir Peter pops in to launch
advice booklet
July 19 2006
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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…
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‘Make Our Wish Come
True’
April 14 2006
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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Leicester FC – FA
Cup Triumph celebrated
January 12 2006
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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
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December 11 2006
Plans to cut funding to British Waterways were debated in the
Parliament, thanks to a local MP. Leicester South MP Peter Soulsby
was granted a debate, which took place in Westminster Hall on
Tuesday, on the 12.5 per cent cut in British Waterways' budget
by the Government. More...
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| EARLY
DAY MOTIONS (EDMs) signed by Peter Soulsby |
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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…
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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
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UK swimmers at The Commonwealth
Games
March 22 2006
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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
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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
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MP Speaks Out Against Gambling
Plans
January 7 2006
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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."
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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
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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.
Some
of the EDMs signed by Peter Soulsby are here…
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