2018

I raised at Business Questions the Government’s Green Paper on the integration strategy in which Walsall was mentioned. My constituents have contacted me about this because they resent the fact that Walsall is seen as a place that is not integrated. Places for social cohesion such as Pleck Library have been closed, Sure Start Palfrey children’s centre has been outsourced to a private company and we had to fight for ESOL, English for speakers of other languages, mandation funding from Walsall adult community college.

As Shadow Leader of the House, on Monday 12 March 2018, I responded to an Urgent Question on the treatment of House of Commons staff.

At Business Questions on 8 March 2018, I raised nurses bursaries with the Leader of the House. The Government have not yet provided time to debate early-day motion 937, which deals with the regulations on abolishing nursing bursaries for post-graduate nursing students. The House needs to debate the implications of the Government’s policy, before it is extended even further.

As a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), I met with the delegation from the Parliament of Canada on Monday 5 March 2018 in Parliament.

I was delighted that Pat Halpin, who works hard for his community, was awarded with a Merit Award on Sunday 4 March 2018.