This Week in Westminster

Gordon started off his week on Monday by questioning Health Minister Ann Keen on the provision of Gluten Free Meals in Hospital.  The Health Minister saw the need for effective admission procedures to ensure patients dietary requirements are met.  Gordon takes a strong interest in these issues as the Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coeliac Disease and he works closely with Coeliac UK.

Gordon was then back in the Chamber for Department of Work and Pensions Questions to work with Secretary of State James Purnell in his role as Parliamentary Private Secretary.  Later on it was a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party which this week was addressed by the Prime Minister.

On Tuesday morning, Gordon was in Committee as the Regulatory Reform Committee sat to consider its ongoing business.The Committee heard from bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, and the British Chamber of Commerce about how burdensome regulations and ‘red-tape’ could be eliminated. 

After Committee, Gordon met with Innovation Minister Ian Pearson to discuss his campaign for a change in looped blind cord legislation and to examine joint EU proposals to tighten up legislation for the blind industry. These changes will be effective from June but Gordon felt they did not go far enough so Uk officials will now be presenting a position paper before the European Union on ways to tighten up legislation further.

Gordon then went on to attend the Caravan Club Awards Event in the House of Commons.  His constituents, John and Iris Lamb from Comrie were awarded third place in the Top Caravan Club Certified Locations and Gordon was eager to congratulate them.

After the event, Gordon was again with James Purnell as he met with Scottish MPs to discuss various policy issues in the Department.  The meeting was in advance of James Purnell’s visit to Glasgow this week where he is looking at the DWP’s impact on Scotland – most notably the 12,000 Scottish workers employed by the Department.

On Wednesday, after Prime Ministers Questions which were answered by Leader of the House Harriet Harman, Gordon led the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing into their Annual General Meeting.  At the meeting, the groups activities over the past year were discussed and a work programme was put in place for continuing its work in 2008 and beyond. Also discussed was ways in which the Group could work with other APPG’s involved in similar fields.

After the AGM, it was off to Westminster Hall to contribute to a debate on the Scotland Act where Gordon and fellow Labour MPs had the opportunity to evaluate the Scotland Act ten years on and to look at Scotland’s future path in constitutional terms. Gordon’s contribution to the debate can be viewed via the Hansard section of the House of Commons Website.

 

Thursday was a One Line Whip so Gordon returned to the constituency to meet with constituents from Crieff and Methven.  However before returning home he did ask Business Minister Pat McFadden about the impact of the recent rise in Minimum Wage and how that would affect women in the UK.  The Minister responded that over 600,000 women would benefit directly from the increase.

On Friday, Gordon met with Alison Lowson, Editor of the Perthshire Advertiser to discuss some issues in and around South Perthshire.  The Gordon continued his regular programme of surgeries by visiting Tullibody and Clackmannan where he met with constituents on a wide range of issues.