Hounslow: 'Transport Borough of the Year'

I would very much like to congratulate Hounslow Council on being recognised by the London Transport Awards 2011 as 'Transport Borough of the Year.'
The Council, which won the 'Most Improved Borough' Award in 2008, has continued to improve the transport infrastructure of the Borough, and it is heartening to see that all the hard work that has been put in by both the current and previous administrations has been recogninsed. In 2009, the Conservative-led Council succeed in making Hounslow outer London's first 'Biking Borough,' by co-planning and hosting the successful Skyride in Brentford. The event attracted a staggering 11,000 participants.
I wish to pay tribute to the Council's previous and current Lead Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Barbara Reid and Cllr Corinna Smart, who have done a sterling job in attracting investment in infrastructure and worked hard to help revitalise transport across the Borough.
I do hope that the Council will use this award to spur them on to even greater successes in the coming years.

Pot Hole Repair in Hounslow

In response to the abnormal damage to roads caused by the severe weather this winter, it was announced in the Budget last week that the Government has allocated a further £100 million to Local Highway Authorities to repair pot holes and other damage to roads. This is in addition to the £100 million already announced earlier this year. This £200 million of additional funding to Local Authorities is possible because of the savings the Department for Transport is making on its budget for 2010/11. The funding has been allocated based on the Department for Transport's existing formula, which takes into account road length and condition. Hounslow has been allocated £321,467. To promote greater transparency and accountability to local communities, all local highway authorities have already agreed to publish information on their website by 30 September 2011 showing how this additional money has been spent. I am delighted that the Department for Transport has been able to make such significant savings and that they are passing these savings directly on to the public. The maintenance of roads is an issue that local residents feel strongly about and I look forward to Hounslow Council using these funds to make a real difference to our local roads. I have written to the Chief Executive of Hounslow Council asking for clarification on where and when these funds will be spent.

Hounslow Chamber AGM

Earlier this month, I was asked to be the guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hounslow Chamber, at Fuller's Brewery. This AGM was apparently the best attended in recent years, with just under 100 members and guests. I used the opportunity to speak about the importance of entrepreneurship in boosting the economy and how the Government plans to support small and medium businesses.

I was delighted to meet so many businessmen and women and hear their concerns and aspirations for the future. Enterprise and growth are at the top of the Government's agenda and we want to support small businesses and encourage innovation. I have written to more than 600 businesses locally to call on them to take on young people for work experience and apprenticeships. This will benefit the businesses themselves and help equip the young people with the skills they need to secure long-term jobs.

The new President of Hounslow Chamber, Ela Grabinska-Raubusch, spoke of the exciting year ahead for Hounslow Chamber. Plans include the appointment of a part-time CEO to strengthen Hounslow Chamber's membership and improve the sector representing the Borough. 2011 has apparently started very well for Hounslow Chamber and membership is increasing.

Working closely with Hounslow Council, Hounslow Chamber hopes to re-establish the Hounslow Association of Tourism. One of the success stories of the last year is the revitalisation of the Women in Business group.

International Women's Day

On Saturday, I helped mark the centenary of International Women's Day (IWD) by speaking at an event at Hounslow Civic Centre. The event brought together women from across the Borough, giving them an opportunity to celebrate achievements and diversity in the community.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to address more than 900 women who had gathered to celebrate the fantastic wealth of female talent locally. This year's theme for IWD is about 'providing equal access to education, training and science and technology' which in turn will 'provide pathways to decent work for women.'

We are fortunate in this country that girls and women have good access to education and indeed are outperforming their male counterparts at all stages in the education system - but I believe there is more we can do to encourage and increase uptake of science and technology subjects by women in the UK, both of which are extremely important to the future of the economy.

The global picture is of course quite different. I welcome the role that the Millennium Development Goals have played in defining global aims on key issues including access to education for women. In many countries in the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and West Asia and North Africa, women do not have easy access to education, particularly beyond Primary level. It is right therefore that we use International Women's Day to focus on this issue for girls and women accross the globe.

We have made significant progress in increasing the number of female politicians but the reality is that it is currently a male-dominated world. There are areas, such as the treatment of women in the justice system and the issue of domestic violence in this country that may not always have been given sufficient focus.

Last week, Lord Davies published a report about Women on Boards. Having worked in the City for a number of years, I am keen to address the issue of giving more women the opportunity to take on senior roles in business.

I have organised a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday in the main chamber to debate women's issues and to celebrate women's achievements to date.

Speaking Out in Hounslow

I recently visited Hounslow Manor School to judge a public speaking competition for local schools. "Jack Petchey's 'Speak Out' Challenge!" run by SpeakersBank, part of the Speakers Trust charity, is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world. Initial rounds are taking place in over 550 schools across London and Essex.
Twelve secondary schools in Hounslow took part in this year's challenge, which involved 500 year 10 students, who all received a full day of training in public speaking and effective communication. The strongest pupil from each school was selected to go forward to a regional final of sixteen students speaking out passionately about issues important to them. Topics included Buses, Facebook, Beauty, Chocolate and the BNP.
Fifteen-year-old Fatima Mahmood from Cranford Community College won the top prize in the Hounslow final. Fatima's speech on her chosen subject, "Stereotyping Teenagers," won her an iPod Touch and a chance to go through to the grand final of the Speak Out Challenge in July 2011. The speech was described by SpeakersBank as "challenging and dramatic," calling on adults to put aside their prejudice and talk to teenagers to discover they are "humans with souls and feelings." I presented Fatima with her iPod and a trophy.
Second place was Leah Black from Hounslow Manor School, speaking on Parenting, and in third place was Ella Whidett from St Mark's Catholic School, who spoke on Prejudice.
It was a fantastic evening. The students were inspiring and so talented - a credit to themselves and their schools.
This initiative teaches young people the vital life skills of confidence in speaking in public and effective communication. This is crucial for so many situations later in life, from job interviews to every day in the working environment. Thanks to the "Speak Out Challenge" for giving students the opportunity to participate.
Sponsored by the Jack Petchey Foundation, and now in its fifth year, up to 20,000 young people are expected to compete for over £25,000 worth of prizes in this year's Grand Final of Jack Petchey's "Speak Out" Challenge.

Opening Indian Affair in Hounslow

I was delighted to be asked to attend the recent opening of the Indian Affair restaurant in Hounslow which is under new management.

Restaurants like Indian Affair are an important part of our economy and community.

I received a very warm welcome at the opening of the Indian Affair and certainly enjoyed the food that I tried. I look forward to returning in the near future to sample more of the delights from the menu. All the best to the team there in their new venture!

My First Surgeries

Yesterday was my first surgery as the local Member of Parliament. It was a packed schedule in Hounslow Community Hall, with lots of residents wanting to meet with me to discuss their issues. I followed this up with another surgery today in Chiswick Town Hall. I listened to a range of issues - all of which were really important to each person.

This is a major part of what being a Member of Parliament is about. Trying to help local people with their specific concerns and to improve their lives on an individual level.

I will follow up with all these issues when I am back in the House of Commons on Monday as it is important to get a response back to people as quickly as possible. I always try and put myself in their shoes...."if this was the issue affecting me, how would I feel?". At the moment, whilst we still don't have an office, it may not be possible to get back to residents as quickly as I would like, but I will make every effort to do so.

Brentford School for Girls

London Mayor Boris Johnson visited the constituency again yesterday. He did a Question & Answer session with pupils at Brentford Girls School, yesterday, which I had the pleasure to be at along with members of Housnlow council.

It was a typical energetic performance from Boris, who answered a bag full of questions from the smart, well behaved girls at the school: the Olympics, food, cycling, trains, buses, walking and crime all came up. My only surprise, given last week’s High Court decision, was that there were no questions on Heathrow!

Education is a key policy area for a potential Conservative administration so if you want more details see here: http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Schools.aspx

Labour cuts back on right to buy

With housing such a high profile issue locally, courtesy of a group of squatters, I thought it was worth highlighting what a Conservative government plans for social housing.

The goal is to extend the opportunity for social tenants across England, by:

• - Rewards for good behaviour: Offering tenants with a record of five years’ good tenant behaviour a 10% equity share in their social rented property, which can be cashed in when they want to move up the housing ladder.
• - A ‘Right to Move’: Introducing a comprehensive national mobility scheme for good tenants who wish to move to other social sector properties.
• - Supporting low-cost housing sector: Strengthening shared ownership schemes which allow those on intermediate incomes to part-own their home.
• - Cutting waiting lists: Relaxing the rules that prevent thousands of habitable empty properties being used to house those on local authority waiting lists.

Labour has cut back on council tenants' ‘right to buy’, making it increasingly hard for people on lower incomes to own their own homes. We want to find ways to help tenants get into the property ladder.

An independent report commissioned by the Government has highlighted the benefits of the Right to Buy in promoting home ownership, giving people a stake in the state of their neighbourhood and creating mixed communities:

“The Right to Buy was one of the most successful housing policies… because the policy enabled many households to become owner-occupiers who would not otherwise been able to do so… It has been a positive influence in maintaining mixed communities in spatial terms. It has also provided a cheaper access point into owner-occupation for lower income employed households helping to sustain mixed communities are these properties are transferred into the market.’

(ODPM, Lessons from the past, challenges for the future for housing policy)
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/evaluationenglish

I’d be interested in your views on this, of course.

And if you’d like to know more about Conservative policy in this area check this out:http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2009/02/Our_plan_to_tackle_Britains_social_housing_crisis.aspx

Boris Johnson in Hounslow today

This afternoon, the Mayor of London is in Hounslow to celebrate the launch of Freewheel, Hounslow. http://www.london.gov.uk/freewheel/signup/

After his official duties, Boris will be joining me and some Councillors and doing a walkabout on the High Street. Please do come along and meet us at 4.30-5pm. We will be walking from School Road and heading west to Bell/Cressy Corner.

There are a lot of issues that Boris and I agree on. The most important being our opposition to Heathrow expansion.

Support for Gurkhas

On Saturday, I visited Dharma Tamang, the President of the Hounslow Branch of GAESCO (Gurkha Army Ex Servicemens Organisation).

Mr Tamang did a fantastic job last week on the Gurkhas' campaign when he appeared at the Home Office Select Committee to discuss Gurkha entry and residence rights. He then fought alongside Joanna Lumley in the campaign for ensuring there is justice for Gurkhas in allowing them stay in the UK.

I went to see him as I wanted to show my support to him and the work he is doing. I believe that people who fight for our country should have the right to come and live in our country. Former Gurkhas, and other foreign-born ex-service personnel, have already contributed to our society, and have therefore earned the right to come here. I am delighted that a Conservative Government would allow pre-1997 Gurkhas the right to settle in the UK.

Photo: Mary Macleod with Dharma Tamang and Cllr Paul Lynch in Hounslow

Boris Johnson meeting local residents

Boris Johnson made a great impression as he visited Chatsworth Avenue in Hounslow to talk to local residents about Heathrow expansion. Unlike Ruth Kelly, he came to see for himself, what it was like to live under the flight path.

Boris has said clearly that he is against Heathrow expansion as he knows how much it will affect the quality of life of residents who live in the area.

Given the ridiculous mess and confusion at Terminal 5 last week and this week ... how can we even trust BAA to run their current capacity effectively and professionally.

Photo - Mary with Farhana Letzelter with daughter Ophelia, aged 4 years, and Cllr Brad Fisher, Boris Johnson MP and Tony Arbour (London Assembly member)

Local Post Offices under threat

169 Post Offices across London are facing closure under the latest cuts programme, including Chiswick High Road, South Street in Isleworth and Whitton Road in Hounslow South.

The consultation closes on the 2nd April, but the final announcement will not be made until June – conveniently after the elections for London’s Mayor and Assembly.

Across the country over 4,000 Post Offices have closed with a further 2,500 due to close by 2009. Following the last Labour cuts programme, the number of Post Offices in London was slashed to just 849 in September 2007, from 1,225 Post Offices in 2001. Labour holds the record for closing Post Offices faster than any other Government – almost 10 a week since they came to power.

Our local Post Offices provide a valuable service to the local community, particularly to the elderly who most rely on them. I will therefore fight the closure of our Post Offices which are under threat. I plan to:

- Give Sub-Post Offices more freedom to offer a wider range of business services
- Push for more Post Offices to be ‘One Stop Shops’
- Allow the Post Office to work with carriers other than the Royal Mail
- Find other outlets for current Post Offices where it may be more cost effective

Do please sign the petitions that are available at all three locations in the Constituency, if you think they should stay open.

Photo: Cllr Brad Fisher, local resident Lucia Frangiamore of Whitton Road and Mary

Women at the heart of the Hounslow

Today I attended a conference at the Civic Centre in Hounslow - 'A Window on Extremism Conference' - led superbly by the Council Leader, Peter Thompson.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the youngest member of the House of Lords and the Shadow Cabinet member for Community Cohesion, gave a very personal speech on how to build cohesion in the UK. Using her own life journey, she talked about the need for us to unite around local issues, having a shared language, learning British history and empowering local communities.

We then went to see this in action - finding out the issues that the ethnic communities face and the support that is given to them. The Hounslow Racial Equality Council gave us an overview of the projects that they manage and the help that the Hounslow Asian Community Advice Service gives to local people. We then went to see an Asian women's group in Montague Hall - a wonderful group of women who gave us a warm welcome with music and song. Sayeeda spoke to them in several languages and although I hadn't a clue what she was saying, I am sure it was all good!

Community cohesion is about understanding each other, being at ease with one another, learning to trust each other, working together and feeling a sense of belonging. In the large group of Asian women today, I felt I belonged.