May 8, 2008

10:22am Wednesday 7th May 2008

I HAD a bad start to this week. I left home at 7.25am to get to my office in London before 11am to catch up with my assistant before an important meeting and Health Questions.

April 24, 2008

10:26am Wednesday 7th May 2008

TWO controversial matters are before the House now. The 42-day detention decision is in the committee stage and will come back to the House soon and the other is the abolition of the 10p income tax rate.

May 1, 2008

9:36am Wednesday 30th April 2008

Part of last week's Viewpoint, owing to deadlines and some unbreakable commitments, was overtaken by events and therefore out of date.

April 17, 2008

10:03am Wednesday 16th April 2008

I WAS able to follow closely behind the Duke of Gloucester on his visit to Oldington and Foley Park and Broadwaters last week.

April 10, 2008

9:03am Wednesday 9th April 2008

I HAVE been guilty of not supporting the Harriers in person much this season. Being in London most of the week and having a number of engagements at weekends, Saturday afternoons are precious but the Harriers vastly improved form with five victories and a veritable bonanza of goals in their last six games will encourage wider support.

April 3, 2008

10:55am Wednesday 2nd April 2008

THIS week I have an important message from the Big Lottery Fund. The fourth year of our People's Millions programme is being launched. This is a partnership with ITV under which organisations can apply for one of 90 grants of up to £50,000 for communities to transform their local environments by improving green spaces, buildings and amenities.

March 27, 2008

8:48am Wednesday 26th March 2008

THIS week I am writing with unashamed nostalgia about steam railways.

March 20, 2008

9:07am Wednesday 19th March 2008

THERE is understandable anger and indignation among GPs that an agreed contract between their negotiators and the Department of Health should be altered unilaterally as it appears that the department has only recently woken up to the consequences of the contract for evening and weekend working.

March 13, 2008

12:40pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

READERS will know by now that the debate on a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty ended in a division where there were several rebellions by members from all the main parties but none large enough to change the result from an easy victory for the Government to deny a referendum on the Treaty which most commentators say is at least 95 per cent the same as the European Constitution.

March 6, 2008

9:03am Wednesday 5th March 2008

THE main business in the House recently has been the Treaty of Lisbon and the European Union (Amendment) Bill.

February 28, 2008

9:03am Wednesday 27th February 2008

MPs' expenses are in the news and I have received the first report of the Review of Members' Allowances.

February 21, 2008

11:45am Thursday 21st February 2008

AT the public meeting about the future of Lea Castle Hospital on February 13 it was unanimously resolved to pass on an additional fourth option: "Maintain services for Worcestershire patients, under the management of the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership Trust, on the Lea Castle site but on a smaller financially viable part to meet existing requirements." This option must be seriously considered, and hopefully adopted, because 92 per cent of the current staff live nearby and their dedication and expertise should be retained for the benefit of the users of the service.

February 14, 2008

3:10pm Wednesday 13th February 2008

I AM writing this, because of deadline, before the public consultation meeting on February 13 about the proposed closure of Lea Castle Hospital.

February 7, 2008

9:02am Wednesday 6th February 2008

I ACHIEVED the almost impossible last week by attending two meetings at the same time!

January 31, 2008

10:35am Wednesday 30th January 2008

TWO happy events took place last weekend. The Oldington and Foley Park Pathfinder Oscars took over the Town Hall for their awards ceremony followed by buffet supper and entertainment by the Abba Girls.

January 24, 2007

9:06am Wednesday 23rd January 2008

ON Monday the first of a series of debates on Europe was held. The substantive motion was on the Second Reading of the European Union (Amendment) Bill.

January 17, 2008

9:24am Wednesday 16th January 2008

THE consultation on the future of Lea Castle Hospital as we knew it, now the Lea Castle Centre, runs from January 7 until March 28.

January 10, 2008

2:55pm Wednesday 9th January 2008

CHRISTMAS and New Year seem to have gone quicker than ever this year and now MPs are back in London faced with a barrage of legislation and Mr Brown's measures to attempt to restore his own party's and the country's confidence in his leadership.

December 20, 2007

11:37am Tuesday 18th December 2007

I HOPE that all ex-Bevin Boys from the Second World War have heard that there is now a Veterans Badge to recognise the importance of the part they played during the war and the period of post-war reconstruction.

December 13, 2007

12:17pm Wednesday 12th December 2007

LAST week I mentioned the well-meaning petition for a radiotherapy unit in Kidderminster and my impending meeting with Primary Care Trust chiefs.

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