2013 January

On 24 January 2013 Valerie signed the Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Commitment in the House of Commons.

Valerie said:

“I signed the Book of Commitment to remember those who lost their lives during the Holocaust. On Holocaust Memorial Day, on the 27 January, we can remember the victims of the Holocaust and the survivors who were persecuted for their beliefs. It is a time to reflect on the suffering that continues today.”

For further information on the Holocaust Memorial trust, please click here.

This week, Valerie has sent a free booklet, “A Guide to Attachment and How it can Affect Peoples’ Lives”, by John Timpson CBE, to all schools and libraries in Walsall South.

Valerie said:

“I have been campaigning on issues relating to adoption since I was elected in May 2010. In June 2011 I introduced my Adoption (Leave Pay and Allowances) Bill which contained provisions to equalise pay, leave and allowance arrangements for adoptive parents with those available to parents whose children are born to them. One of the main reasons I introduced the Bill was the importance of enabling adoptive parents to ensure that children are able to develop healthy attachments.”

“A Guide to Attachment takes the reader through what healthy attachment means and the effect attachment difficulties can have on a child’s development. The book was written by John Timpson CBE, Chairman of the Timpson’s Ltd shoe repair business.

Mr Timpson has extensive experience with fostering and adoption. He and his wife Alex were foster carers for 29 years and during this time they fostered over 80 children. Mr Timpson has also been Chair of the Governors at many schools and was a trustee of ChildLine until its merger with the NSPCC. Mr Timpson has kindly donated a number of copies of the book.”

“I decided to send the book to schools and libraries as it is an excellent source of information for children and families dealing with foster care and adoption. I am grateful to Mr Timpson for providing the books and I hope that they are helpful to my constituents.”

Valerie has today tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) calling on the Government to ensure the future of the Royal Institution at 21 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, following reports that the building may be sold.

On Tuesday 22 January 2013 at Foreign and Commonwealth Questions, Valerie asked the Minister of State about the current situation in Burma.

On Thursday 17 January 2013, Valerie spoke in a Backbench Business debate in the House of Commons on problems with ATOS Work Capability Assessments.