Julie Morgan MP

New Year

The constituency office will be staffed from Tuesday 2 January, but in an effort to start the New Year with a clean slate, it will be closed to the public until Monday 8 January. The answerphone will of course be monitored and constituents' calls will be returned, so do leave a message if you have a case or an issue you want to raise with me. I am planning to hold a surgery on the first Friday or Saturday after 1 January, so look out for details.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Daily Bulletin: Friday 22 December

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The House of Commons is on Christmas recess.

The constituency office will close today at 1pm for the Christmas break and will re-open at 9am on Tuesday 2 January. Julie and all her staff would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2007!

Headlines

A 48-year-old man is due to appear in court charged with the murder of five women in Ipswich; Christmas travellers are facing a third day of fog-induced misery; and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has defended the war in Iraq.

Politics

Ministers say that the deal reached at an EU fisheries summit is good for the UK; Labour Minister Malcolm Chisholm has resigned from the Scottish Executive after voting with the SNP in a debate on Trident; and the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly has given his backing to a campaign for an English Parliament.

Cardiff University develops Alzheimer's treatment

Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers said they had created an antibody which could block the production of brain chemicals linked to the debilitating disease.

Good deal for British fishermen

British fishermen can look forward to healthy incomes for the third year in a row after European fisheries ministers agreed catch quotas for 2007. Labour's Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw, welcomed further cuts in cod catches as necessary to protect stocks, but stressed that bigger catches for other types of fish combined with record-high prices meant that fishermen could look forward to increased incomes in 2007.

The agreement reached in Brussels includes a 14% reduction in North Sea cod quota and a 7-10% reduction in the number of days boats are allowed to go fishing, depending on the size of their nets.

Ben Bradshaw said: "The UK was prepared to go further to protect cod, and nobody is more committed to helping its recovery than we are, but in the face of opposition from other countries we accepted a more modest reduction."

Have we missed any stories? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

Dr Emma Kidd, who led the research team, said the results of the tests were "highly encouraging".

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's, which causes irreversible loss of brain function and memory. The disease affects one in 20 people aged over 65 and a fifth of all people aged over 80 in the UK. Read more at the BBC website here.

A friendly ear at a stressful time . . .

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

It's certainly hard to avoid the fact that the Christmas season is upon us — there are lights, Christmas trees and white-bearded men in red suits everywhere.

And even though Christmas is a time of great happiness for many people, for many others, it is a time of great sadness. For various reasons, people end up feeling worried, anxious and full of despair.

It's a difficult time of year for many, made harder by the fact that everyone else may seem to be having a good time and may seem to have the perfect family and the perfect Christmas planned. Amid all the compulsory jollity, many people feel that they are not waving but drowning.

But, fortunately, help is at hand and such help can come in the form of the Samaritans. I found this out for myself a couple of weeks ago when I visited the Cardiff branch to see what help and comfort they offer — they have been doing so for 40 years now.

It was wonderful to talk to the volunteers there who offer a 24 hour service to people all year round, but who are particularly needed at this time of year. People who need someone to talk to can drop into the Samaritans at 75 Cowbridge Road East from 8am until 10pm, seven days a week, or ring (029) 20 344022 or 08457 90 90 90 twenty-four hours a day or e-mail.

And if you feel that you would like to volunteer yourself for the Samaritans, why not contact them on (029) 20 645642 to find out about the open day on 14 January 2007 from 2-4pm. Sometimes it's hard to admit that we need help, but if you feel that everything is too much for you, just contact the Samaritans for free, confidential help.

I wish all the readers of the Cardiff Post as happy a holiday season as possible.

Daily Bulletin: Thursday 21 December

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The House of Commons is on Christmas recess.

Headlines

Fog is causing severe delays to flights across Britain; cod fishing will be cut further as EU Ministers reach a deal to help protect depleted stocks; and police are granted more time to question a suspect in the Suffolk murders.

Politics

The United States and Britain are to discuss the lifespan of a renewed Trident; regulators have amended a licence to allow stem cell researchers to recruit egg donors not already having therapy; and the International Monetary Fund has called the UK's economic performance "impressive".

Supporting trade unionists in Iraq

Labour MPs Dave Anderson and Sharon Hodgson have joined forces to support workers' rights in Iraq with a well-supported Commons motion urging people to send their old mobile phones and chargers to the TUC which will send them to Iraqi unions.

The MPs said: "The new Iraqi trade union movement unites workers regardless of their religion and is seeking to help build democracy and peace in Iraq. Their growth in the last three years is one of the main hopeful developments in Iraq and they desperately need all the help they can get.

"Many people have unused phones and these can be put to good use. So please think of Iraqi trade union members over Christmas and send them your old phone with its charger. It won't take much to do it but can help make a big difference to people just like us who want the normal things in life — peace, jobs and democracy."

Please send used mobile phones (with chargers!) to TUC Aid, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.

Labour's green agenda

Labour's Environment Secretary David Miliband and Transport Sercetary Douglas Alexander have welcomed the EU's decision to include aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), saying that urgent progress is needed to ensure that aviation addresses its climate change impacts.

David Miliband said: "I think it's an important step forward. For the last 60 years there has been an international ban really on taking account of the economic and environmental costs of aviation pollution. That line is being breached today by the European Commission.

"We have been campaigning for a long time that although aviation emissions constitute only about 4 or 5% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, 2% globally, it's one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions and we should effectively classify aviation as a high emitting industry along with electricity and other energy generation. This is an important way of doing it ... it means that we can put caps on the amount of emissions that come from these high emitting industries."

"The important thing about this scheme is it puts clear incentives on the airlines. And instead of the money going to the Treasury or to the European Commission for any fines the money that airlines or anyone else has to pay if they overpollute goes directly into paying for clean energy development in the developing world. Because of course a tonne of carbon dioxide emitted anywhere is just as threatening. A tonne of carbon dioxide in Bangalore is as threatening as a tonne of carbon dioxide in Birmingham and so this scheme does make sure that money goes directly to paying for low carbon development in the developing world."

Have we missed any stories? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

Appropriate services

I managed to speak in both of the oral questions sessions yesterday on the final day of the House of Commons before the recess. On transport, I intervened to ask about providing decent coverage of rail services:

7. Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): If he will take steps to ensure that there is a frequent railway service from all parts of the UK. [109934]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tom Harris): New franchise agreements specify a minimum service level that takes account of demand and network capacity. Bidders can propose more services, where that is operationally practicable. There are also provisions to deal with the need for extra trains during the life of a franchise.

Julie Morgan: What can my hon. Friend do to ensure that First Great Western provides a good reliable service into Wales in view of the fact that the 3.15 pm from Paddington now stops at Cardiff and does not go on to Swansea? The 7.03 am from Bristol to Cardiff and Swansea has been taken off altogether. What can he do to ensure that a better service is provided for Wales?

Mr. Harris: I am aware of my hon. Friend’s concerns and they have been echoed by right hon. and hon. Friends over the past few weeks. The 17.18 Cardiff to Swansea service run by First Great Western is a matter for the company: I do not have the authority to intervene in that matter and insist that that particular service is reinstated. However, the Department will continue to monitor passenger numbers on that route. I am told by First Great Western that capacity on alternative services run by Arriva Trains Wales is sufficient to accommodate passenger numbers on that line.

I was also able to intervene during Constitutional Affairs Questions. On a question relating to social exclusion, I asked about Citizens Advice and the Specialist Support Service, which I campaigned to retain earlier this year when it was threatened with closure:

Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): Does my hon. and learned Friend agree that in Wales the citizens advice bureaux, properly supported by the Welsh specialist support service, have an important contribution to make to reducing social exclusion? Will she comment on the future of those two bodies?

Vera Baird: The future for those two bodies is very positive. The point is to turn them over to a fixed-fee regime. They are increasing their productivity massively, which is commendable. They now have a full year in which to do much more of that before they are gently and supportively moved across on to a fixed-fee regime, enabling them to do more work for more people at better quality prices for the taxpayer. It is difficult to get a value-for-money, good quality legal advice service into this country, particularly in rural areas. The Tories never managed it. This Government will.

Daily Bulletin: Wednesday 20 December

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The House of Commons is on Christmas recess.

Julie will hold her surgery today between 3pm and 4pm at the constituency office in Plasnewydd, Whitchurch. No appointment is necessary.

Headlines

Moderate Muslim states should form an alliance to counter Iran and challenge its influence, says Tony Blair; police continue to question two men arrested over the murder of the five women in Suffolk; and the results of a nine-month investigation into illegal payments in football transfers is to be published.

Politics

The EU has announced that it will include airlines in its Emissions Trading Scheme; Iraq's Vice-President says that Tony Blair was "brainwashed" by President Bush over the withdrawal of troops; and the Constitutional Affairs Committee has said that political donations and the amount that political parties are allowed to spend, should be limited.

Constitutional Affairs Committee recommends party funding reform

The House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, of which Julie is a member, has published a report calling for political donations, and the amount that political parties are allowed to spend, to be limited. The Committee called the current system "unstable" and said that it had a "negative impact" upon voters.

You can read the full report here. Here's the summary:

Our inquiry into the funding of political parties took place against a backdrop of significant controversy in several areas. While not the cause of our inquiry, those controversies gave our investigation a new urgency and a specific context. However, these problems and issues are not unique to the UK; other countries have experienced similar problems, and have passed significant and sometimes radical legislation in order to address these issues.

The present system of party financing in the UK is unstable. Unless this instability is addressed, it is likely that dependence on large donations, and consequent negative impact on public confidence in the system, will increase. This report addresses two key questions therefore: a) what changes to the system of party financing would be acceptable to the public and would facilitate the restoration of public confidence in the system; and b) what can the political parties realistically achieve?

Political parties are key institutions in any system of representative democracy. The report outlines the case for their renewal as a vehicle for the promotion of democratic engagement. The report recommends the strengthening of the Electoral Commission and the development of a robust regulatory framework as a starting point for a new funding regime and renewal of the parties. The report then considers the arguments in favour and against caps on expenditure, caps on income and the extension of state funding.

The report concludes that a package of proposals is required: to contain the growth of and, where possible, reduce the amount of money in the system; to eradicate the possibility of buying political influence; and to guarantee an appropriate level of funding to enable political parties to function. Our report proposes that an increase in state funding for political parties should only follow an agreed and comprehensive framework for the limitation of expenditure and donations. It recommends that any proposed extension of state funding in the UK should seek to achieve consensus amongst the political parties; encourage broad public acceptance of any scheme and support transparent and robust regulatory arrangements. It should be workable, focused towards the local level and should be based on the principle that the main purpose of political parties is to be a vehicle for public activism and engagement.

It would be unrealistic to expect the parties to complete the changes immediately. We therefore recommend a transition period to enable parties to adjust and minimise the scope for a financial disadvantage.

Our examination of the systems in Canada, Germany and the USA suggested that, given time, parties respond positively to changes in the funding regime. For most parties, new legislation had provided new opportunities to broaden the party support base. The package of reforms proposed in this report offers a stable route for parties. It provides a basis for a transparent funding regime and a significant step towards the restoration and renewal of the relationship between political parties and the public.

Have we missed any stories? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

More pressure in the Fawcett

Julie Morgan finds the director of the Fawcett Society broadening her remit and taking aim at a new panoply of obstacles to the advancement of women

MY MEETING with Dr Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society, is particularly timely. Alarming recent research has shown that juries have a tendency to partially blame a women for her rape if she has been drinking, while investigations continue into the murders of women working as prostitutes in Ipswich.

"The situation with the public debate is extremely worrying at the moment, because I can't think of any other crime where we try and blame the victim in the way that we do try to put blame on women for their rape," she tells me. "I find it extraordinary that public attitudes are such that the credibility of women who take rape cases forward is in such doubt, and sets issues around their sexual history, the clothes that they had been wearing, whether they had been drinking or not.

"Interestingly, the issue of why men rape is very rarely discussed, as is why we still have a society in which there is a level of tolerance of violence against women. I think we need to start a debate about public attitudes to rape, but also about services we provide for rape victims. If you happen to be raped in the wrong area, there is no support. Clearly there still neds to be a lot of work done on the attitudes of the police, prosecutors, right through the system, judges, and the public. So I find it a very sorrying situation, and an extraordinary message to give out to women."

The conviction rate for rape is now lower than in the 1970s — at around 5%. What can be done to change the situation?

"What we know is where decent services are provided, you get a higher conviction rate, so where women are supported through the process, you get a higher rate of conviction," Rake explains. "Obviously it's always going to be a difficult crime to deal with, because there are very rarely third party witnesses, but I think we need to work on making sure the evidence is gathered correctly, used properly in court, making sure the prosecutors are informed and communicate properly.

"There has been increased reporting, so on one level people are feeling more confident in the system. But we just haven't given enough priority to services, or work on attitudes."

With this in mind, I wanted to know Rake's opinion of the media coverage of the recent tragic murders in Ipswich.

"These are victims of murder, and they're all labelled as prostitutes, and I think that is quite extraordinary. Again, I think it plays into this notion that somehow their lives are less valuable, but also that they're responsible for what's happened. My heart goes out to the families of those women; for that to be the media portrayal is quite awful."

As well as these alarming reports focusing on women's safety, there have been interesting developments at Westminster. As an MP who was selected from an all-women shortlist, I am particularly interested in how we can increase the representation of women in Parliament. But Katherine Rake is quick to point out that "it's not just about numbers for numbers' sake".

"What is very worrying is that every poll we've seen shows that women are becoming more and more disengaged from the political process," she warns. "And we know that where there is a woman MP, their sense of engagement increases. In terms of delivering more women candidates, internationally we know that the only real way there have been significant increases in the number of women candidates has been through positive measures like all-women shortlists."

So what does she make of David Cameron's 'A-list' of candidates? How is that making an impact?

"A big issue has been about the winnability of seats that women are selected for. It seems to me that the A-list is a bit better than the situation before it. One of my biggest concerns at the moment is with the Lib Dems — the Conservatives have got the longer journey, but I feel that the debate has started with them. If the Tories deliver more women, the Lib Dems are going to have to face that debate."

And what about Cameron's support among women voters — does he really appeal to them more than Tony Blair or Gordon Brown? Or is this a myth?

"What we've found is that the notion he had more personal appeal among women is actually a myth," Katherine confirms. "All the political leaders are ranked more negatively by women than men; generally, women are more sceptical of politics, more disillusioned, and they have more negative views of Cameron as well. And certainly on things like honesty, they can be much more negative about Cameron, but that is going on at the same time as him actually picking up those votes, so I think there's quite a complex picture out there.

"On personal appeal, women seem to be ranking him negatively, but he is picking up women's votes — he's picked up four percentage points, and that's been matched point-by-point with a drop in support for Labour among women. So I think what that signals to me is that everything's up for grabs at the moment. Politicians really need to push themselves boldly with things that will appeal to women voters, because certainly those votes aren't lost forever to Labour."

So how could the forthcoming leadership election in the Labour Party improve the situation?

"Well, I think it's important that all the candidates look at their agenda very seriously and think about what they're going to deliver," she says. "On a couple of issues, I think that while there has been immense progress, I think people have been disappointed about the lack of progress on pay equality. It's a symbolic issue, but it affects the living standards of women and children across the country."

So with all these challenges in mind, are Katherine Rake and the Fawcett Society optimistic about the future?

"It's our 140th birthday this year, so we've been in this business for a hood while and I think we've had a very long journey — but there's still a very long way to go," she says. "Feminism and that agenda is really our route towards social justice and a good society, and it has to be a part of that. And so that I think gives you optimism.

"Our challenge is to really galvanise that concern into a movement. Hopefully after the next 140 years we'll be able to close our doors. But I suspect there will always be a need for an organisation like Fawcett."

This article appears in this week's House Magazine, the in-house journal of the Houses of Parliament.

Daily Bulletin: Tuesday 19 December

Today, Julie is in Westminster for the final day of the House of Commons before the Christmas recess. The business includes oral questions to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister of State in the Department of Constitutional Affairs. Julie is down for question 7 to the Transport Secretary — "If he will take steps to ensure that there is a frequent railway service from all parts of the UK". You can watch questions live here from 2.30pm. The main business in the Commons will be a debate on the Christmas recess adjournment, wherein MPs can raise any matter of importance to them or their constituents.

The House will rise at 7pm and resume at 2.30pm on Monday 8 January.

Headlines

A second man has been arrested in the investigation into the Suffolk murders; Britons are hooked on 'essential' gadgets; and fresh clashes have erupted between supporters of Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza Strip.

Politics

Workers fighting to keep the Treorchy factory open in the Rhondda are taking their fight to the House of Commons; Home Secretary John Reid is to publish detailed plans of the Government's ID card scheme; and the Commons Defence Committee has warned that the UK skills base required to build a new generation of Trident submarines is at a "critical level".

Welfare reform

Labour's Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton made a speech yesterday, ‘Welfare reform: ten years on, ten years ahead’, at an IPPR event in London. He announced a major review of the benefit system, which will feed into policy review groups. He said that Britain needs to address the hardcore of 'can work but won't work' benefit claimants to prevent them being left behind by foreign nationals eager to work in the UK.

Today, opportunities exist — there are around 600,000 vacancies in the economy across Britain. But there are still more than 900,000 people on Job Seeker's Allowance, and more than two thirds of claims are made by those who have claimed before.

Labour has tackled much of the poverty in our country through a strong and stable economy, the New Deal and tax credits and the minimum wage to make work pay. There are 2.5 million more people in work than in 1997, 700,000 children have been helped out of relative poverty and long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated. Many of those returning to JSA do so only briefly — they are simply moving between jobs, which is a sign of a healthy and diverse labour market. But around half of those repeat claimants are spending more time on benefit than in work — around 12% of all JSA claimants have spent six of the last seven years on benefits.

John Hutton said: "The next challenge we face is to ensure tha hardcore of 'can work but won't work' benefit claimaints take advantage of the opportunities out there and compete for jobs alongside growing numbers of migrants who arrive in Britain specifically to look for work rather than to settle for the long term.

"Economic migration from the EU has only served to highlight this issue. If workers from Poland can take advantage of these vacancies in our major cities, why can't our own people do so as well?"

Sound of the underground

David Cameron's confusion about Girls Aloud appears to be growing.

John Pienaar: "It was one of the stars of the Girls Aloud group who said, the only reason you said that you fancied her was — which one was it ..."
David Cameron: "Cheryl …"
John Pienaar: "She said the only reason you fancied her was because you wanted to look cool. Do you want to put this one to rest?"
David Cameron: "I can try … no, I'm not a fan of Girls Aloud, I can't name a single of their songs, I own none of their albums, I've never, as far as I know, seen them in concert."

— BBC Radio Five Live Weekend News, 16 December 2006

But earlier in the year, he said:

Edith Bowman: "Girls Aloud or the Pussycat Dolls?"
David Cameron: "I saw Girls Aloud at a concert in my constituency. I wasn't mad and don't know about the others."

— BBC Radio 1, 'Colin and Edith', 5 January 2006

Middle East

Prime Minister Tony Blair is continuing his tour of the Middle East in an attempt to revive the peace process there. You can read transcripts of press conferences from Ankara, Cairo, Baghdad and Ramallah, as well as Blair's address to British troops in Basra, at the Number 10 website.

Have we missed any stories? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

Daily Bulletin: Monday 18 December

Today, Julie is in the constituency. She will travel to London for the final two days of the Commons sitting before Christmas later today.

The business in the Commons includes oral questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell. The main business will be the Second Reading of the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill.

Headlines

Tony Blair is in Israel as part of a Middle East tour to try and revive the peace process; police investigating the Suffolk murders are to stage reconstructions of the victims' last known movements; and Australia have regained the Ashes.

Politics

Long-term jobless people could face having their benefits cut; a Tory think-tank has attacked the Iraq war; and Labour Deputy Leadership contender Harriet Harman has argued that the law should target those who pay for sex.

Warning to mini-moto users

Anyone using a mini-moto (mini motor bike) on housing estates, footpaths, parks and playing fields faces having their machine confiscated and receiving a fine, according to Labour Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman.

The Government and the national governing body of motorcycle sport, the Auto-Cycle Union, are calling on parents considering buying a mini motorbike for Christmas for their child to stop and think before they buy.

It is important that parents remember that these bikes are only for use on private property and with the permission of the landowner. Housing estates, footpaths, parks and playing fields are not to be used and anyone caught using a mini bike in these areas risks having their machine confiscated and receiving a fine.

Stephen Ladyman said: "The vast majority of these machines cannot and must not be used on the roads or in public areas. If this law is broken, the mini motos will be seized by the police and crushed."

Have we missed a story? Want to discuss these issues? Leave a comment below.

Next surgery

I'll be holding my next constituency surgery this coming Wednesday, December 20, from 3pm to 4pm at my constituency office in Plasnewydd, Whitchurch.

No appointment is necessary, so if you are a constituent of mine and have a case or an issue which you would like me to take up, come along to the office between 3 and 4 o'clock for a discussion! (Be sure to bring any relevant paperwork with you . . . )

Get in touch with my office on (029) 20 624166 for more information.