Zac's News Roundup

It has been a busy three months since the election, and I wanted to send you a brief update - both in terms of national issues that affect us here in this area, and in terms of what I have been up to locally.
Very best wishes,
Zac Goldsmith
MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston

Heathrow: the new Government swiftly fulfilled its pledge to scrap plans for a third runway. In addition, the Minister of State for Aviation confirmed to me, in Parliament, that it would protect runway alternation.
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Parking charges in the Park: The Tourism and Heritage Minister officially stopped the previous Government's plans to introduce parking charges in Richmond Park after sustained pressure from local people and their representatives.
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Garden Grabbing: Gardens will now be reclassified to give them greater protection against inappropriate development.  National density targets are to be scrapped, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government also confirmed, in response to my question in Parliament, that he will repeal perverse rules that make it impossible for Councillors to represent their constituent's views on local planning matters without forfeiting their right to vote.
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Local Democracy: The Government is committed to enabling local referendums and introducing the power to 'recall' members of Parliament. However its proposals fall short of what is needed, and as a result, I have launched two Bills, which I hope will strengthen the Government's position.
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Daylight Savings: I have co-sponsored the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to bring about a permanent change to UK time to give an extra hour of daylight in the evening. The Private Member's Bill "Daylight Saving Bill 2010-11" was presented, known as First Reading, to Parliament on 30 June 2010.
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The Keep: I have campaigned for some time to have the homes used by service families in the Keep, North Kingston, renovated. In response to my questions, the Ministry of Defence has now said that it "will look at whether there is scope to refurbish the armed forces' accommodation in Kingston, and elsewhere, from efficiencies within the Ministry of Defence." I will pursue this issue.

Disability Benefit: Following meetings with residents, I have written to Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, raising concerns about the criteria used by ATOS Healthcare for assessing people for Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.

Maiden Speech: I delivered my Maiden Speech in Parliament shortly after being elected. I focused on the environment and direct democracy - arguing that environmental stewardship is a core Conservative value, and for the need for Parliament to shorten the distance between people and power so that politics is less remote and people have more say.
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Green Economy: I delivered a speech during a debate on government support for jobs and the unemployed arguing for the Government to take the opportunity to raise from the wreck of an economy built on housing bubbles, uncontrolled public spending and financial services a more balanced economy that is both stable and sustainable.
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Quality of Life: Following my work as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party's Quality of Life Policy group, I have met with Ministers and officials from the following departments for discussions on how to implement the key quality of life and environmental policies in the Coalition Agreement: Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; Department for Energy and Climate Change; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Department for International Development; and the Department for Transport.

Oak Processionary Moth: I arranged a meeting between the Forestry Commission, DEFRA and Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club to ascertain the Government's plans to tackle the increasing problem of the Oak Processionary Moth. The Moth is a particular problem in Richmond Borough, already costing tens of thousands of pounds to deal with. Without immediate measures, the problem could spread throughout London and eventually the country.

Questions: I have tabled more than 110 parliamentary questions on a variety of topics relating to both national policy and local issues, including on the levels of fuel poverty in the constituency and on the future and funding of Kingston Hospital.

EDMS: I have signed and initiated a number of 'early day' parliamentary motions, including calling for the swift implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 to support local proposals for community sustainability, the celebration of Carers Week, human rights in Burma, the future of community pubs, and higher welfare standards for farmed animals.
 
Votes: I have voted for legislation to restore freedoms and civil liberties through the abolition of identity cards, and voted for the Emergency Budget and Finance Bill 2010 to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth.

Baroness Warsi: I was invited to speak at an event in the House of Lords organised by the United International Community to pay tribute to new Party Chairman and Cabinet Minister, Baroness Warsi for making history as the first female Muslim government minister.

Businesses' Appetite for change:  I hosted an event in Parliament to launch a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers Appetite for change - the most comprehensive survey of the international business community's attitude towards environmental regulation, legislation and taxes. Speakers at the event included Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne MP and Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency.

Deforestation: I hosted a dinner in Parliament for visiting Senators from Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico to discuss how legislators from development and developing nations can work together to halt global deforestation and tackle illegal logging.

Environmental Audit Committee: I have been elected to serve as a member on the Commons Environment Audit Committee (EAC). Unlike other Commons committees, the EAC works on a cross-departmental basis looking at the extent the policies and programmes of government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
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Vice President, Globe International: I have been elected as a new Vice President of Globe International, the Global Legislators Organisation which works with parliamentarians in the 16 major economies to develop and advance progressive climate and energy legislation within their national parliaments that will underpin any future international climate agreement.
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Shene School: I met with the new leader of Richmond Council, Nicholas True, our education spokesman, Paul Hodgins, the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove MP and Schools Minister Lord Hill to discuss the future of Shene School and its plans to re-open as a new school with academy status and answerable to a strong local parent board. We are making progress and I will keep you informed.
 
New Secondary School Kingston: Following news that the Building Schools for the Future scheme has been axed, I have repeatedly raised the urgent need for a new secondary school in North Kingston with the Secretary of State
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Network Rail Masts: Local Councillors and I have persuaded Network Rail to delay building its 15m communications mast in North Richmond until it has held a consultation with residents in August.
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Railway Consultation in Richmond: Network Rail has agreed to let me organise a public meeting where residents will be able to quiz them on a wide range of issues, from the proposed Airtrack Scheme to the increasing problem of downtime at our level crossings. The meeting will be at 7:00pm on October 22nd, at Duke Street Church, Richmond.

Whale of a protest in Parliament: I invited children from Barnes Primary School to Parliament, to display a magnificent five meter long whale that they made out of recycled materials at an event in support of future whale conservation. Through parliamentary questions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), I received a commitment from the Minister for Fisheries Richard Benyon MP that he would write to the Japanese Fisheries Minister to express the UK's continued opposition to the killing of whales in the southern and Northwest Pacific oceans, and to the hunting of small cetaceans in Japanese coastal waters.
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Number 10 School Petition:  I arranged for pupils from St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary school in Richmond to hand-deliver a petition to the Prime Minister at Number 10 Downing Street On Thursday 15th July.  The petition relates to the 'Send My Friend to School' Campaign, which is part of a global movement involving children in over 100 countries, asking world leaders to keep the promise they made in 2000 that everyone should have the chance to get an education by 2015.
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Richmond Station Development: Before the election, local Conservatives and I promised to hold a proper consultation re the controverisal proposed development of Richmond Station. We will do so after the Summer, allowing local people to have their say before any changes are made.

Grey Court School Farm: I was thrilled to open Grey Court's School Allotments at their community fair in July. The schools' head, Maggie Bailey, spoke about the benefits for pupils of growing their own produce, providing for the community and educating those around them about the importance of fresh, local food.

Missing People and Stop UK: I met the two East Sheen-based national charities, 'Missing People' and 'Stop UK', to hear about their vital work.
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Cassel Hospital: I was honoured to be asked to officially open Cassel Hospital's annual Garden party in Ham.
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Buy Local: 'Buy Local' is a campaign sponsored by The Best of Richmond, a local company that champions independent businesses in the borough
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Anti social behaviour in Kingston: I joined officers from the Metropolitan Police for a night-time operation, focusing on anti social behaviour at the transport hubs in Kingston.
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Morden's Baitul Futuh mosque:  I was invited to the Batiul Futuh mosque, to sign  a condolence book following the tragic murder  of nearly a hundred members of the  Ahmadi community in Lahore, Pakistan
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Barn Elms: I attended the pre-consultation meeting for the proposed regeneration of Barn Elms. Given that the site was so close to being sold to developers, the fact that the community has reached this stage is remarkable. I have committed to helping the Barn Elms Sports Trust raise the remaining funds it needs, and will be organising events later in the year.
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Kingston Magistrates Court under threat: Kingston Magistrates Court has been included in a list of over 100 courts that may be closed by the Ministry of Justice in an effort to save £15.3m in yearly running costs.
The reasons for a court in Kingston are just as valid now as they were nearly 600 years ago, and I have teamed up with local newspapers and representatives to prevent the closure.
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Tudor Drive Surgery opening: After two years of campaigning, residents have been rewarded for all their hard work with the opening of the new Tudor Drive Doctor's surgery on Thursday 16th July.
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Opening Deer Park Care Home for the Elderly: I was honoured to be asked to open the new Deer Park Care Home, which has been purpose built to provide nursing and residential care for elderly people with dementia.
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Abbeyfield Care Home, Kew: I visited the wonderful Abbeyfield Care Home last week, and shared in two birthday celebrations.
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Kew Dog Show: I was invited to judge The Kew Midsummer Fête Dog Show in June. It was a daunting task, and particularly the 'dog that looks most like its owner' category.
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Flower Shop: I joined 20th anniversary celebrations at the Sun Inn Flower shop at Barnes Fair.  Given the hard time almost all independent businesses have faced, even before the recession, the survival and success of this stall is a genuine good news story.
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Meadows Hall Q+A: Age Concern kindly arranged for me to visit Meadows Hall Social Centre in South Richmond to discuss a range of topical issues with users of the facility.

Election Spending: Some of you will have seen that Channel 4 put out an extraordinary report on election funding, focusing specifically on me. The report itself was frivolous and unfounded, and for those interested, I provided an answer here:
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Finally:  'Young Cruse', an off-shoot of the Richmond-based Cruse Bereavement Care, has reached the final of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards for its project in Northern Ireland. Cruse is a hugely valuable organisation, and helps tens of thousands of young people cope with profound loss. Please help Cruse Bereavement Care go all the way by voting for them  Voting ends on midday 13 August 2010.
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To contact Zac:  Email: zac@richmondconservatives.co.uk

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