November 2011

TUC Day of Action 30 November

In Westminster Labour MPs decided to remain in Parliament to challenge the Government at Prime Minister's questions and in a debate on living standards.  However I did visit the picket lines around Parliament.  We have 4 unions, GMB, PCS, Prospect and the FDA all of whom voted for strike action.  I am Secretary of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs and, over the last few weeks have been working with the unions inside and outside Parliament to ensure that the day was properly organised.  All went very well down here and most Labour MPs visited the picket lines to express their support.

Fisheries: Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)  

As Secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Fisheries Group I am well aware of the criticisms levelled against the CFP. Experience tells us that it has failed in its objectives.  

Current decision making arrangements for the setting of quotas make forward planning in the industry virtually impossible. Whilst the review process is underway, and I welcome the possibility of decentralisation offered, there is widespread concern about the lack of detail on how this is to be achieved. For reform to be successful regionalisation needs to be more than a by word for further bureaucracy.  

In addition, the issue of discards has been the subject of much debate. Whilst we all want to see a ban, any proposal must account for the realities in the industry, particularly in the North Sea. The Fisheries Commissioners’ current proposals will work with some fish stocks but will fail if applied indiscriminately to mixed fisheries. 

See my latest Westminster Fisheries debate, which took place on 15 November, on the Common Fisheries Policy here...

See the article from the Press and Journal here...

June 2011

Parliamentary Placement Scheme

I welcomed the setting up of a Parliamentary internship scheme.  The scheme has been launched by the Social Mobility Foundation, which exists to support high-achieving young people from low-income backgrounds into the top universities and professions. Applications and further details can be found on www.socialmobility.org.uk, the deadline for applications is Fri 22 July 2011.

Friends of Union Terrace Gardens Midsummer Ceilidh Ball 

As a firm supporter of the Friends of Union Terrace Gardens Campaign I was pleased to attend the fundraising ceilidh ball. The event was well attended and over £4,000 was raised  - a great night was had by all.

Primary School Visits:
Send my Sister to School Campaign

I recently visited three primary schools in the constituency, Skene Square School, Cornhill and Quarryhill Primary schools, to discuss the children’s contribution to the ‘Send my sister to school campaign’ - see the photos over. 

This campaign aims to highlight the importance of maintaining progress to meet UN Millennium Development Goal targets to improve access to education to children in the developing world.

I was impressed by the in-depth understanding that the children had of the inequalities faced by their counterparts in the developing world. 

In order to highlight the plight of the 67 million who are out of school the pupils designed posters to publicise the cause (see the photo over). In recognition of their concerns I have contacted the Prime Minister direct. 

For more information about the Campaign see Send my Sister to School Campaign

January 2011 - MP backs national homelessness charity

I supported this Shelter Scotland campaign, as I am very conscious that there is a significant housing shortage in Aberdeen.  I met with representatives of Shelter Scotland - see the photo over. 

October 2010 - Wear it pink to fund a cure for cancer

I joined forces with Breast Cancer Campaign to raise awareness of its award winning fundraising event, wear it pink day, on 29th October. 

Supporters in schools, colleges and businesses throughout the country were encouraged to don an item of pink - see the photo. 

Last year over one million people took part in wear it pink to help improve survival rates for the one in nine women who experience breast cancer during their lifetime.

July 2010 - Dancing on Parliament

As Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Dance Group, I attended Dancing on Parliament on Horse Guards Parade (where the annual Trooping of the Colour takes place).

Dancing on Parliament was produced by English National Ballet,  the West London Hub for Big Dance, the T-mobile Big Dance Bus, Dance UK, Westminster City Council and supported by Harlequin.

See the photo over taken with the Stella Mann College and Saints Crew.

The All Party Parliamentary Dance Group is based in Westminster and works to promote dance as an art form and as an important element of healthy living and the fight against obesity.

June 2010 - Subsea Reception in the House of Commons

I hosted this Subsea reception again.  We welcomed Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland and Charles Hendry, the Energy Minister.  

With some 40,000 employees, over £4 billion worth of services and products and over 800 companies, the UK subsea industry sector leads the world in experience, innovation and technology.