Campaign victory for play areas

Slough Borough Council has been given a second chance to get play right for local children, following a campaign I have led with support from local Labour activists. The council could now get around two and a half million pounds from the government to spend on outdoor play.

Slough has so far missed the chances it has had to use an earmarked grant of nearly one third of a million pounds from the lottery, because it had an inadequate play strategy. Slough Council wanted to make profits by building on playgrounds, while children are condemned to cross busy roads to find a place to play.

Slough is one of only 65 authorities in the running for 30 pathfinder projects.  So that they do not miss out on this opportunity again, I have offered to help them to get these funds and I have already met the director of the Council' Children's s Services Department.

I have listened to parents and other local people and they want safer and better equipped play areas for their children to play. They agree that neighbourhoods work better when their children have somewhere safe and stimulating to play and so I will continue to press the Council to make sure this happens.

In Parliament...

I voted to support Andrew Miller's Agency Workers Bill, which will give protection to people employed through agencies. This is an important issue for Slough, where many people are employed through agencies. It fits well with my local skills campaign as the aim is to give rights to training as well as equal pay for agency workers.

I led a debate on child poverty, urging action in the budget to improve the incomes of the poorest families. I spoke on women's representation, and how the increased number of women in parliament has led to issues such as childcare, child protection and prostitution being debated.

The Europe debate meant late nights and petty arguments. I voted against a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, it is not a constitution and does not require a referendum. It also, for the first time since the Treaty of Rome, provides for members to leave the Union as well as join it. I think that once the treaty is in place there is a good argument for holding a referendum - in or out. But it would be a massive distraction from building a better Britain which is the government's first task.

Police Parliamentary Scheme

Working with the police is key. My time with Thames Valley Police on the Police Parliamentary Scheme. has included work with the CID and sniffer dogs, the air support and the domestic violence branches. Martin Salter and I also pressed the Home Secretary on regional police pay deal. I also attended Haymill's NAG.

Prostitution and human trafficking

I have reported before on the campaign to end prostitution by criminalising men who pay for sex. This has had a setback, following the dropping of parts of the criminal justice bill which needs to finish early in order to have powers in the event of a strike by prison officers.

However, I continue to press ministers on the issue and am now pressing for a bill to deal with all forms of violence against women.

I am also asking our local papers to stop publishing advertisements of women for sale.

Meeting Ministers...and others

I have met a series of ministers on key issues for Slough: Jacqui Smith about police pay and regional allowances, Liam Byrne about new immigration rules and the next census, John Denham about innovation and universities, Yvette Cooper about child poverty, Iain Wright on private sector housing... and others.

I spoke with college principals from the Thames Valley about the skills campaign , Mars about child trafficking in the cocoa industry and the founders of RIM about their plans for the future of their company (which makes the BlackBerry). The meetings do not get publicity but I hope they help to make a difference.

John Healey the local government minister came to Slough to help our campaign to win back the Council. He visited Age Concern in Cippenham and some appalling derelict garages in Farnham.