2016 December

I officially opened Darlaston Town FC’s new spectator stand on Saturday 17 December 2016 at the Paycare Ground, thanks to a £15,288 grant from the Premier League, through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) – the largest funders of non-league football in the country. In addition to this, the club raised more than £6,500 for the development itself. The opening celebrations were held as part of the club’s Birmingham FA Vase fixture against Alvis Sporting FC, who emerged 4-0 victors.

The 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was held in London from 11- 17 December 2016. The picture shows the UK delegation ( l) Dr Rupa Huq MP, and (r) Baroness Berridge.

In June 2012 the UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence – more commonly known as the Istanbul Convention – but has yet to ratify it.

At Business questions , I raised the issue of debates on leaving the EU and its effect on Young people. My speech is below:

The armed conflict in Yemen is one of the greatest humanitarian crises. 68 % of the population (18.7 million people) are in need of humanitarian assistance and almost 300 health centres have either been destroyed or seriously damaged. The meeting heard a video message from Stephen O Brien who is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. He stressed the importance of humanitarian aid getting through to people.