Taking it Easy

A recent story in some national newspapers has been one of outrage at the news that Parliament is to take a 24 day break over the Christmas/New Year period. Now I should start by pointing out that this decision was taken entirely by the Labour Government and imposed without the rest of us having any say at all - and yes the break from London/Parliament is too long. However it is always astounds me that the press (who know better), spread the myth that MP's do nothing at all except on the days when they are actually in London. In reality as much work is done at home in the constituency and elsewhere around the country as actually takes place in the House of Commons.

From Monday 20th to Thursday 24th October for example I was in Parliament for all the usual business including 7 votes on the Human Fertility and Embryology Bill, two Education Select Committee meetings, a meeting with the NAS/UWT to discuss schools issues and the AGM of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism which I am an 'officer' of.

I also sat through a debate on autism in which there were so many MP's wanting to speak that I and a number of others never got called. This of course often happens -even in a full 6 hour debate only perhaps 25 MP's will get a chance to speak, meaning the other 600 or more will often spend their time more usefully in committees and meetings elsewhere in Parliament.

Monday and Tuesday evenings we usually finish at 10-10.30pm, Wednesday at 7-7.30pm and Thursday at 6pm which allows me to get back home to Chesterfield by about 9.30pm Thursday evening.

Friday to Monday morning however are not 'days off'. On Friday morning (25th Oct), I held my usual Advice Surgery at my office at 69 West Bars. The afternoon was spent in Poolsbrook and in Brimington. The evening was spent at the Peak FM Local Heroes awards where I made a short speech and presented one of the 12 awards. In all a 14 hour working day.

Saturday morning I spent talking to people in Poolsbrook and Saturday afternoon I addressed a meeting in Nottingham. Sunday morning I met with a Cllr and local residents in St Helen's Ward to discuss a problem concerning a private builder's derelict site. Sunday afternoon I spent in Dunston. Monday morning at 8am I toured the very impressive new Wheatbridge Health Centre on its first day of operation and then headed off to London to start a new Parliamentary week.