IN PARLIAMENT

EDUCATION

I added my name this week to a letter in support of the “Drop the Learning Tax” campaign. I’ve been involved for some years in this campaign to stop Sixth Form Colleges being charged VAT on their purchases, and there’s growing support for the idea that colleges shouldn’t be taxed in this way when schools and academies aren’t. I’ve worked with City College, BHASVIC and Varndean on the campaign locally, and this latest cross party letter to the Secretary of State points out that Sixth Form Colleges have experienced deeper cuts to their funding than schools or academies since 2010, and two thirds have been forced to drop courses as a result. A VAT refund would enable Sixth Form Colleges to continue to offer key subjects such as languages and sciences and maintain enrichment activities such as drama, music and sport. It would also help to keep class sizes at a manageable level and support the training and development of teaching staff. I’ll be keeping up the pressure for a change ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring budget statement in March.

It was lovely to welcome a group of students form Dorothy Stringer High School to Parliament this last week. They had lots of questions for me, on everything from local bus services to the way in which young Muslims are discriminated against. 

And I was pleased to meet with Sussex Education Business Partnership to discuss their work on careers advice.

IRAQ

I’ve consistently asked questions in Parliament designed to keep up pressure for the release of the Chilcott inquiry’s report and, following on from my debate to mark the 10^th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. I am one of a cross party of group of MPs that’s secured a further debate about Chilcott and the urgent need to publish the inquiry’s findings. So when news broke last week that nothing would be released before the General Election, I was interviewed widely for my response, including by Channel 4 news.

This blog sums up my position: http://www.carolinelucas.com/latest/caroline-on-chilcot-inquiry-delays

HEALTH

I’ve been continuing to make enquiries in relation to the closure of the GP surgery on Eaton Place, which although just over the border into another constituency, affects many Brighton Pavilion residents. It’s great news that there’s a bid to keep the surgery running but the case has raised some serious questions about the management of GP provision and the decisions taken by NHS England and NHS Properties.

During a health debate in Parliament last week, I put this question about NHS privatisation:

Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that with private health firms now on course to win more than £9 billion of NHS contracts, one of the real problems is the fragmentation of the NHS in front of our eyes. Is that not a good reason to oppose further privatisation of the NHS, and will he admit that the process that set in train the privatisation of Hinchingbrooke should never have happened?

Andy Burnham: I have said that the market was let in too far, and, as Health Secretary in 2009, I changed policy away from what was a version of “any willing” or “any qualified” provider to “NHS preferred provider” and I stand by that. I agree with the hon. Lady that the market is simply not the answer to 21st-century health and care. When the Prime Minister stood at the Dispatch Box about an hour or so ago and said no privatisation on his watch, he was not being straight with the public. Services across the country are being put out to open tender and then transferred to the private sector. That is the Government’s record and the people of this country know it.

Both Labour and the Coalition have promoted privatisation in the NHS and I remain committed to holding them fully to account, as well as making the case for public services like our NHS to be fully protected from the profit motive.

MORE TRAINS 

I am delighted that the Minister Claire Perry and train bosses have responded to my call for an urgent summit in Parliament. This will take place in early February and I’ll be raising the many concerns constituents have spoken and written to me about recently. 

These include changes to the timetable at Preston Park station. There’s currently consultation taking place over the new timetable – even though some services have already changed – but the consultation documents are as clear as mud and I am keen to ensure that local people get a proper say. I’ve contacted Govia to ask them to explain the changes and they tell me that Preston Park will be better served under the new proposals. That’s not what passengers using the station now say though, with many finding that the timetable changes that have already been made have upset their journeys and do not match up with connections. I’ll keep on talking to Govia and, in the meantime, please do add your name to my petition calling for local train services to be protected: http://www.carolinelucas.com/save-preston-park-trains The deadline for the consultation is the end of this week.

I’ve also had replies to two parliamentary questions about the poor performance of local trains, including one train between Brighton and London that did not run on time once all of last year. You can see the questions and the reply here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-01-15/220882/

TRIDENT DEBATE

I helped secure last week’s parliamentary debate on the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapon system and was one of the MPs who summed up the debate towards the end and just ahead of the vote.

Only 35 MPs backed the motion calling for Trident not to be renewed, which is incredibly disappointing given public opinion and the strong moral, economic and defence arguments against nuclear weapons like Trident. You can see how MPs voted here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150120/debtext/150120-0003.htm#150120-0003.htm_spnew71

During the debate I said that using nuclear weapons would be illegal, that they make us less safe, and that seeking to spend £100 billion on Trident replacement and maintenance at any time would be a massive diversion of funds from more socially useful things, but to do so at a time of economic austerity, when we have 1 million people using food banks and welfare is being slashed for so many of the most vulnerable in this country, is morally wrong and obscene.

You can read my full speech here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150120/debtext/150120-0003.htm#150120-0003.htm_spnew62

Thank you to all thEse constituents that wrote to me to share their opposition to Trident and other nuclear weapons.

DEMOCRACY DAY

The 20^th January marked Democracy Day – the 750th anniversary of the first parliament of elected representatives.  I was invited to be part of a special BBC Parliament Programme to mark the occasion and to talk about the huge number of ways a backbench MP can influence the political and legislative agenda, as well as the reforms I think are needed to improve our democracy. I was joined by the SNP’s Stewart Hosie MP and we also discussed the growing likelihood that in the next Parliament there will be an even larger number of progressive MPs from smaller parties like ourselves, committed to standing up against austerity, opposed to Trident and prepared to hold the bigger parties properly to account. You can watch the programme here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b050j4sq/democracy-day.

I also marked Democracy Day (albeit a day earlier) with a visit to Sussex Students Union for Refreshers Fair and the chance to remind students of the importance of registering to vote. Record numbers (and not just students) risk being silenced because of changes to the way we register – an estimated 12,000 people have fallen off the register across Brighton and Hove.  Regardless of how someone votes, I am backing the national campaign to ensure everyone has a voice. Details and how to register are here: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk   Please check if you are on the new electoral register as you only have until 20^th April to add your name.

EQUALITIES

I was very encouraged by the news that the Sun newspaper was dropping its Page 3 topless photos and was interviewed widely last week about the decision. I welcomed the move, whilst also stressing that it was a small step and much more needed to be done to tackle the media’s continued objectification of women. It was revealed a couple of days later that the Sun’s “announcement” was simply a cynical marketing tactic and it would still being printing photos of topless women – further evidence that the campaign really does need to continue.

I got a reply this week to my question about putting mothers’ names on marriage certificates – it seems the Home Office is looking into how it can be done (see http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-01-02/219638/) However, the Minister didn’t indicate a timescale, despite this being the main thrust of my question, so I’ll be pressing him further.

AROUND MY CONSTITUENCY

Thanks to Brighton Table Tennis club for inviting me to the grand opening of their new facilities at Brighton Youth Centre. I’ve not played table tennis for years - I fear that might have been a bit obvious!

It was also great to meet so many residents at Belboure Court when I dropped by at their monthly afternoon tea.  And the Older People’s Council made me very welcome when I joined them for part of a workshop designed to help cut fuel bills.

I was shocked by the publication of a report suggesting that 2,500 children in Brighton Pavilion alone are in families which have fallen behind on energy bills. As a chair of Parliament’s all party group on fuel poverty I’ve been campaigning hard for action to help families stay warm. Not one penny of the Treasury's planned £100 billion investment in infrastructure over the next Parliament is allocated to tackling fuel poverty – and this report shows the very real consequences for the city’s children. I have raised this repeatedly with Ministers and as we approach Cold Homes Week, will be ramping up the pressure.

CONTACTING ME

If you are a local resident and need help with case work or to find out more about my activities locally please do contact me at the office of: Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Media Centre 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL. Tel: 01273 201 130. Email: brightonoffice@parliament.uk

I hold regular surgeries across the constituency. If you would like to book an appointment at a forthcoming surgery please call Liz Collis on 01273 201130. She coordinates my constituency office and is able to help with most local enquiries.

If you would like to know about my parliamentary work please get in touch at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Tel: 020 7219 7025. Email: caroline.lucas.mp@parliament.uk

You can also keep up to date with my news on:

TWITTER: @CAROLINELUCAS

FACEBOOK: /CAROLINELUCAS.PAGE