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"It has been my privilege to represent the people of Stockton South in Parliament since May 1997. I was successfully re-elected in 2001 and on 5 May 2005. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the constituency who placed their trust in me by voting for me again. As your Member of Parliament, I will always be accessible and help or advise any of you when and where I am able to do so."
INFORMATION RELATING TO MY EXPENSES
The House of Commons Authorities are publishing the expenses claim forms of all MPs this week. I have decided to publish mine on my website in order that anyone who wants to examine them can do so esily.
The Evening Gazette and Northern Echo have already had full access to my claim forms, and have published their findings. I would like to stress that I have always operated within the spirit of the rules. I do, however, recognise that the system is in need of serious reform and welcome the enquiry, currently taking place, into how this should be done.
Finally, please be aware that the blacked-out areas are to prevent sensitive information such as credit card details, telephone numbers and addresses from being made public. I have also added an additional page to my forms from 2007/2008, which corrects an inaccuracy on page 7 whereby the total claim wasn’t broken down. The total claim, however, remains the same.
ACA April 2005 - Expenses 2004-2005
ACA May 2006 - Expenses 2005-2006
ACA June 2007- Expenses 2006 - 2007
ACA July 2008 redacted - Expenses 2007-2008
ACA September 2007 additional page - Corrected page 7 (2007-2008)
My Parliamentary Report for 2008
A flavour of what I have been doing recently:
25th June
We know that the world recession is biting hard at home and today’s announcement of 400 redundancies at Corus plants in the UK is bitterly disappointing and upsetting. I know this will be the source of real anxiety for those Corus employees who live in our constituency. My immediate concern is to offer whatever help and advice I can to all the families who are affected by this dreadful news. Please contact me if you feel I can help in any way. To all employed at Corus please be sure that I am working flat out with my parliamentary colleagues to ensure that the company remains open. Our absolute requirement is to protect the 1,600 employees who remain in work at Corus.
I spent this afternoon with Vernon Coaker, the Minister of State for Schools and Learners, pressing him to include St Patrick’s Catholic school in phase one of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. I made the case that Thornaby has waited a long time for excellent education to be available to all children.
Next year we will see the start of the development of a new Academy in Thornaby, with buildings and facilities that will be the best that money can buy. I want all local children to be treated equally and pressed the Minister to ensure that St Patrick’s be in the first phase of development and that it should be given the opportunity of either having the existing school premises rebuilt or alternatively of moving to the bigger and better equipped school buildings that Thornaby Community School (TCS) will vacate. Demolishing TCS when it can be put to proper educational use is a complete nonsense.
I am confident that having spoken with local people, the Head of Governors and the Head Teacher of St Patrick’s, the future of the school as part of the Catholic Federation will be secured through either a rebuild or a move to the community school premises. St Patrick’s delivery of education is excellent, as recognised through its specialist status in ICT and Maths and the fact that last year, 67% of pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs A*-C, including maths and English. St Patrick’s has received a letter of congratulation from the Minister of State for education to acknowledge that it is one of the most improved schools in the UK. It is clear that the school is giving local children an excellent education and an excellent start in life. We need to ensure this improvement is recognised at a higher level and built on. Rest assured I will not be found wanting in any battle to get St Patrick’s into phase one of BSF and moved into a better school building. You get nothing if you are not prepared to stand up and be counted and I urge all to continue the fight. That is what I am doing and will continue to do.
22nd June
Today is the day when we elected our new speaker and I was delighted with the outcome.
19th June
Alongside my regular surgery for constituents I also attended meetings of One North East, the Stockton International Family Centre and the Government Office North East in an attempt to get better funding for the Centre.
17th June
I was very privileged to attend a performance of Home by Tangled Feet at the Arc. The performance was excellent. Arc is clearly going from strength to strength in the quality of the theatre they are providing.
15th June
The Speaker Hustings started today and it was fascinating to watch the process of MPs being nominated and drawing up their manifestos.
12th June
I volunteered for an hour and half in one of our local British Heart Foundation Shops in the Stockton High Street. It was very educational and I even managed to buy a few bargains!! Charity Shops need your help. If you are willing to give up some of your free time to volunteer in a local charity shop, please either drop in to the charity shop or contact my office. These shops are vitally important and volunteers play a vital role in the work of the BHF. The dedication of volunteers helps save and improve the lives of those affected by heart disease so if you can help get in touch with the BHF through their shop in Stockton. The little bit each of us can contribute makes a big difference. When all our efforts are put together, a lot can be delivered which will benefit all with heart conditions in our community.
9th June
Today was the inaugural meeting of the APPG for Women in the Penal System and I also participated in a meeting concerned with seeking ways of ending or at least alleviating child poverty.
8th June
As Co-Chair of the Adoption & Fostering All Party Parliamentary Group, I regularly meet with constituents concerning their desire to have a family through adoption or fostering. There are many hurdles that couples face in accessing the services available and not all these hurdles are fair to the couples or children involved. The APPG Adoption & Fostering Group held a meeting today to discuss some of the problems facing potential parents and to see how and in what way these barriers can be overcome.
5th June
Today I attended a meeting of the North East Regional Select Committee.
3rd June
As many constituents will know, I have always felt very strongly about animal welfare and consequently I attended the BUAV (Abolition of Animal Vivisection) annual reception.
21st May – 1st June
I was away on a Trade and Industry delegation to Vietnam.
19th May
I attended an Olympics briefing focusing on how Olympic North East and particularly Teesside firms can take advantage of Olympic contacts to boost their businesses and local employment.
15th May
All Saints Secondary School invited me to talk to students about the work and mechanisms of Government. The students asked very pertinent questions and were a credit to their school.
As well as surgery appointments I visited Reflex Vehicle Solutions, another excellent Teesside company and Tetley’s Tea Factory where the company have signed up to the Trade Union Council Skills pledge I also attended the Stockton, Thornaby and District Scouts AGM.
14th May
I attended the opening of the Infinity Bridge linking Thornaby with the North Shaw Development. The bridge not only looks amazing but will provide a safe crossing for cyclists and pedestrians alike. The opening ceremony was fantastic and I am sure the bridge will become a future icon for the Tees Valley.
12th May
Students from the Rambots Team from Ian Ramsey Secondary School visited me in Parliament today and spoke with a Secretary of State about their ideas reducing the amount of rubbish we throw away. The Secretary of State was very impressed with the students and their ideas.
11th May
Today was the launch of the Foster Care Fortnight. This was a very important event highlighting the need for new foster parents. We need to underline just how important is the work that they do and the benefits that having a foster parent can have for those children who have no other guardians.To provide a child with a secure, loving and supportive home is a gift beyond price.
10th May
I was invited to attend the grand opening of the new Pavilion at Ropner Park. I have always supported the organisers in their efforts to gain funding for this important local endeavour and I want to put on record my appreciation for all the hard work which has now come to a successful conclusion. They are an excellent example of what can be achieved when people come together to work in a positive way to improve the local environment.
9th May
This Saturday, like most Saturdays, I carried out an on-street surgery, this time in Ingleby Barwick. Residents raised a variety of problems and questions relating to issues notably the CSA, the adequacy of bus services and School provision.
8th May
Local Ingleby Barwick Councillors have been busy collecting names on a petition calling for the creation of a second secondary school in Ingleby Barwick. As many constituents know I have met with the councillors on numerous occasions to discuss this issue and was very happy to be asked to present the petition to the Mayor of Stockton Borough Council, Mr Paul Kirton.
The issue of post-primary school provision in Ingelby Barwick is serious. Ingleby Barwick is a large estate that is still expanding and it is important that all Parents should have the option of sending their child to a good local school. In that regard we need to identify and explore all the options carefully
6th May
I attended the launch of the National Apprenticeships Service this is an excellent organisation which aims to promote skills training especially for young people.
3rd May
I was invited to the Waterloo Road Mosque in Middlesbrough by one of our local Councillors and listened to various excellent speeches from members. This was followed by Stephen Hughes our MEP giving a speech on the benefits of being in the EU, such as flexible working and paid maternity leave.
1st May
I met with representatives of St Patrick’s Secondary School and afterwards received a comprehensive briefing from Community the Union. This was then followed by a visit to Aker Solutions, an excellent company.
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