Recent statements in the Commons have covered “Women’s Ministers priorities”, “Local and regional economic reform in England” and “Alexander Litvinenko” which outlined the measures the UK plans to take against Russia for its refusal to allow the extradition of the alleged murderer of Litvinenko.
These were widely welcomed across the House but Andrew Mackinlay, MP for Thurrock, one of the more forensic and outspoken Labour members, expressed his concerns that the response will be ineffective and that the House’s mood seemed to be anti-Russian.
He reminded us that we are enabling people to remain in this country to avoid returning to Russia to face their courts.
The importance of women’s priorities was brought home to me at a meeting of our Health Select Committee with its counterpart from South Africa last week.
Of the 10 members six were women and on commenting on this I was told that equality of the sexes in representation was mandatory.
Our health committee has only two female members out of 11.
The jovial lady pointed to our committee specialist’s black and white, equally striped cardigan and said, “Like a zebra” graphically demonstrating equality in sex and, without saying it, ethnicity too.
Coming to the end of the Parliamentary term floods have been a major concern and there have been several statements by Hilary Benn, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on this subject.
These have been useful and have given MPs with flooding in their constituencies, opportunities to ask questions and raise concerns.
On Tuesday, the secretary of state held a special meeting specifically to allow MPs more time to pass on any lessons these repeat floods had taught them and to ask more detailed questions with a possibility of discussion that is impossible under the Speaker’s eye in the chamber.
He has shown himself as a knowledgeable and caring minister and equally responsive to all MPs whatever their political position.
He was staggered when I told him that members of the Environment Agency staff have to be taken away from vital work in other areas to protect the Bewdley flood defences from thieves. I trust an answer will be found to this threat that risks harm to safety and property.
It is excellent that the Government has promised extra money for flood defences and also to help with the clean-up operation.
I have to praise the Environment Agency for keeping me in the picture and for responding to my concerns about culverts under housing estates.
The agency is also going to investigate the possibility of more protective earth embankments if there are suitable areas, for less harmful, temporary flooding upstream of these culverts.