Member of Parliament's Report.

By David Lepper - October 2005

Campaigning

My regular Monday morning 'Meet your MP' sessions have resumed in St. Peters and North Laine.

As reported to the June GC I have written to a number of Labour voters in wards thanking them for their support and inviting them to join the party. These have resulted in some new membership applications.

Labour Party Conference

Having the conference in Brighton always provides good opportunities to lobby ministers and to involve them in local issues and organisations. I have taken part in a number of these events.

As chair of the cross party group on Foyers I was with Children and Young people's minister Maria Eagle MP when she visited the Brighton and Hove Foyer in Pelham Street to discuss the Youth Green Paper with some of the young residents and representatives of a number of national organisations working with young people.

Another Education and Skills minister, Beverley Hughes MP, officially opened the headquarters of 'ru ok?' the young persons substance misuse service in West St. which brings together Brighton and Hove City Council, South Downs Health NHS Trust and a number of vlountary agencies. The minister had the chance to meet younf service users.

With Councillor Simon Burgess, I took part in the launch by Environment minister Jim Knight MP of the council's new countryside access scheme in Stanmer Park.

The Prime Minister and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly visited the breakfast club for pupils of St. Bartholomews primary school in Ann Street to highlight the policy announcements on school food. While there Ruth Kelly officially opened the school's new community room. The school is looking forward to the increased pupil numbers and other benefits which should come from the completion of development of the station site.

Regeneration minister Phil Woolas MP and I visited Working Links, the scheme linked to our Employment Zone status which has helped some 2,500 long-term unemployed people into work since 2000. We had the chance to meet service-users and staff.

Linked to conference I took part in a publicity event for the South Downs Campaign calling for an early decision on National Park status and the Brighton and Hove Albion seafront demo. I met the Cypriot High Commissioner and attended the South east Region Labour Party delegates reception at Donattelo's restaurant where Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP was guest speaker.

Also in the Constituency

We had a major event to highlight regeneration work in the Tarner Neighbourhood Renewal Area and central sure start area when Secretary of State for Education Ruth Kelly MP accepted my invitation to visit Tarnerland Nursery School, Carlton Hill Primary School and then officially open the new Tarner Family Centre in Ivory Place on September 14th. The building also provides a city centre base for the Friends centre's education work and I returned a few days later for the Friend's Centre open day.

I met the new Divisional Police Commander Chief superintendent Jeremy Paine, the new senior officer for the central area of Brighton Chief Inspector Steve Barry, and East Sussex Chief Fire Officer Des Pritchard.

I visited the Martlets Hospice, attended the launch of the training video for Council and South Down's Health staff working with people with learning disabilities and took part in the annual Macmillan event at Homelees House - the world's biggest coffee morning - to raise funds for Macmillan's cancer services.

I took part in the Brighton and Hove Chinese Society's Autumn Moon Festival, the annual service at St. Martin's Church to commemorate the Battle Of Britain and the Association of Jewish ex-servicemen and women's event at Hove Town Hall to commemorate the end of the Second World War.

I visited Two Piers Housing Co-op and the headquarters of Inkfish in Queen Square, one of the city's biggest call centres working for the Royal Mail, b.a. and other national companies. I attended a meeting of the Council's Forum which I helped to set up on illegal traveller camps.

There is more about my work on my website where the press release section in particular gives regular information on my activities and my comments on issues.

David Lepper MP 30th September 2005

MP's advice sessions

1st Friday each month from 5.30-7pm (except 7th October)
Brighthelm Church and Community Centre, North Road.

4th Saturday each month from 10.30am-noon (except 24th December)
Old Boat Community Centre, Carden Park, Carden Hill.

No appointment is needed but it helps if those coming ring 551532 in the week beforehand to let us know.