Martin Salter's Westminster Diary, February 11, 2010

Martin Salter MP • Published 12 Feb 2010 09:00 0 Comments

See also:

AS THE general election draws nearer, there is even more to do than usual as the Government attempts to rush through the final bits of legislation before Parliament is dissolved, and the fun and games begin.

One casualty of what's known as the "wash up" period could be the recommendations of the Wright Committee on Parliamentary Reform, of which I'm a member. Time and time again, Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman have stated their commitment to Parliamentary reform as a means of helping restore trust in our political system, particularly after the expenses scandal. But yet again, the business managers and whips are doing all they can to put the brakes on the Wright Committee's recommendations by insisting on a bizarre procedural motion which means each one falls if a single member yells "object". No doubt a suitable stooge can be found.

At noon last Thursday an emergency meeting of the Wright Committee agreed to summon Harriet Harman and Sir George Young to appear before us in public. Hopefully this will concentrate minds, and Harriet Harman in particular will now reflect how close the Government is coming to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on the reform agenda. It's not all been bad news from Parliament. The Bill brought forward by Reading Borough Council to toughen up legislation on illegal street trading passed its third reading in the Commons and is now off for scrutiny by the Lords. This would give police special powers such as limiting the activities of pedlars from trading house-to-house and seizing counterfeit or faulty products.

I have no desire to limit the activities of genuine hawkers but I am concerned that consumers in Reading are not ripped off and that legitimate traders do not face unfair competition from fly-by-night operators.

Finally, congratulations to Geoffrey Field Junior head Charlie Clare, and Bath Road Reservoir campaigner Mel Woodward, who met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a Community Champions reception at 10 Downing Street.

I desperately want to see the Ufton Court summer camp project succeed in providing affordable outdoor education opportunities for youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds and I firmly believe that the Bath Road Reservoir site should become a local environmental amenity. Both Mel and Charlie have been at the centre of these projects and thoroughly deserve this wonderful opportunity to look behind Britain's most famous front door.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Opinion archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle