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Sunday, July 23, 2006

Responses

Afghanistan

I take the point that stabilising countries like Afghanistan is a long and painful process and needs more then just defence training for the local army and police but there is no obvious alternative. We either let these countries continue to fail with all that that implies or we stay involved until we succeed. I'm in favour of continued involvement and if you look at the make up of UN operations there and elsewhere in the world it is obvious that most other countries think the same.

One of our problems is that it is only a few countries with the appropriately trained troops. Western European, US, Indian for example. This is expanding and the emergence of some African countries into the peace keeping/nation building process is particularly welcome even if it has some way to go yet.

Obesity. I don't think we can be too complacent about this problem. Ask yourself why it has suddenly and dramatically increased in this country more then any other European country.

Norma. I tried replying by email to your post but it bounced back. I don't now publish details of personal situations unless I am absolutely sure that is what is wanted.

       

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Responses

Obesity

The issue is not about a moral judgment of fatness and it is certainly not the case that all obesity is greed or ignorance. The problem is more complex. Diabetes does have a link to obesity. Depression may have and I am sure that in many (but not all) cases that may be due to societies view of fatness.

Historically fatness was not always unfashionable. A "plump" woman (and note it is usually woman who are being referred to) was more fashionable in Tudor times and is still fashionable in some other countries.

The link with depression is more difficult to assess then diabetes partly for this reason but it doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it. And although I am reluctant to legislate on issues like this, if certain types of food do make people obese and putting the information on the pack is not enough, then some regulation by society is not necessarily wrong. The same applies to smoking and drinking.

An interesting point arises about smoking. Because passive smoking can damage other people's health we are now banning it in many places. If there is a link between depression and obesity and if that impacts (as depression certainly does) on child rearing should we not legislate on those foods containing chemical additives that make people obese?

Editing policy. I want to remind people that I don't normally publish comments about private life.

Heathrow. Can I ask Lobster Blogstar to look back on my Heathrow posts to see the more extensive discussion about expansion and modernisation? But two other points here. Firstly Heathrow is not sustainable right now. It is my contention that we can and must make it much better. Leaving it as it is must surely be a bad option.

Secondly, my main point in the climate change debate was to point out that if we just focus on one or two industries or services we lead people to believe that we can cope with climate change just by stopping people from flying or driving. I would argue that we all need to examine the way we run our private lives, what we do at work, our leisure time and in all other areas to try and find ways of reducing carbon emissions. Hence my examples of the House of Lords and the media.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Climate Change

This was an interesting debate on the economics of climate change. Only Lord Lawson was sceptical about whether or not it was happening. Several contributors including myself expressed concern about the Green movement becoming a little too anti science and technology. Lord Giddens suggested it needed rescuing from the anti science lobby.

I wanted to emphasise the importance of a more sustainable approach by all industries and in all activities. I believe the Bishop of Newcastle is right when he says people are now aware of the importance of this question. This gives us an opportunity to engage much of the population in a more sustainable approach to life.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60714-0959.htm

Crown Prosecution Service

I put down the following question after the Crown prosecution service published its new charter. Later this year I hope to have a debate on ASBO's and the way we deal with them. There is not a slot until at least November and it might be later then that - so don't hold your breath!

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60713-0947.htm#06071361000005

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Food advertising

There was a question in the House on food advertising yesterday and I used it to flag up the mental health aspect of obesity. I am increasingly concerned about the link between obesity and depression.

I don't think there is a proven link - although I stand to be corrected on this - but I would be surprised if there wasn't a link in many cases. Life style alone can have a powerful impact on a persons mental state and it would be surprising if obesity didn't affect this in a lot of cases.

Any views?

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60710-0885.htm#0607106000011

Afghanistan

There was a statement in the House on the extra troops deployed in Afghanistan yesterday. I intervened after the Conservative Shadow Minister said he thought the troops might not know what they were doing there.

I don't think that is true and I think our troops are well trained for these complex nation building and war fighting situations. It is a difficult balance but it is one we are going to frequently encounter in the context of failed states.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60710-0890.htm

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Light relief from the House

The House of Commons never fails to inform and entertain! There is an all party group on UK Raw Meaty Bones. Yes it's true! They are having a meeting on human and pet health and the economic issues surrounding processed pet food.

The other activity that caught my eye is being organised by the new MP Madeleine Moon. Together with Butterfly Conservation she will be setting up a moth trap to find out what moths are active around Westminster! This will be followed by a talk on moths and biodiversity.

There is more! There will also be a bat recording walk around the House (outside I hope!) with members of the Bat Conservation Trust. Bat detectors will be available and Michael Howard will NOT be coming!

I did not make this up and it is not April 1st! And I am sure that biodiversity and veterinary practices will all benefit from this. It does however remind me of the Labour MP many years ago who introduced a Bill to prohibit the sale of inflammable aftershave! He was a smoker!

Friday, July 07, 2006

Responses

My apologies for a lack of posts on this site recently. Andrew Baker says the site "has lost some of its edge". I tend to agree which is why I have been thinking how best to revitalise and/or restructure it.

I want to continue placing extract from the Lords debates/questions on the site but I would like to return to wider political debates. My problem is keeping up with the demands of those activities. It may be that I should devote a specific period of time in each week for general posts and just add Lords debates as and when they happen.

Looking at some of the comments on disillusionment makes me want to try putting Labour policies in the context of a process of what we are trying to achieve. I could waste a lot of time explaining to Martin Hoscik that we are not "privatising schools" but he will never believe that because it doesn't fit with his view of the world.

The schools debate is part of this much wider debate about the reform of the public sector. The central political threat we face (and is also faced by the public sector itself) is that having poured money into services like education there are still far too many parents opting out, or expressing dissatisfaction. So you don't need to be too bright to see that a future Tory government will be well placed to say "Look. You have all paid the tax but it hasn't worked therefore let us abandon the public sector approach".

The other problem related to this is that people are focusing on specific failures at this point in time. I don't object to that because we have got into serious problems with some aspects of policy, eg the Home Office issue.

This however, ignores the longer term strategy on most of our policies. So the story of overseas aid and Africa is an ongoing story. The moves on family and child poverty are far more positive then many allege and are going in the right direction.

The changes made to our society by this government are important and long lasting and not just in financial or organisational terms but in attitudes and values. That is why David Cameron has dramatically shifted the Tory Party's position on so many issues. But don't assume he is carrying all his members with him. Look at the election result in Bromley. Or consider The attitude of the Conservative Peers even to the election of a Speaker in the Lords. Ask yourself how many Conservative Peers have still not come to terms with a black woman as leader of the Lords. When Tony Blair appointed her it was more then mutterings that reached the other end of Westminster!

Final point. I was asked about the Probation Service. The abandonment of training by Michael Howard when he was Home Secretary damaged the ethos and functioning of the service. I would not rule out buying in services because we already do that with Family Courts and if we didn't the quality of service would deteriorate - and it is not as good as it ought to be right now.

I think the Left really does have to focus on quality of service rather then whether we provide it directly through a state organisation or by the state via contractual arrangements. I am still critical of my own failings as a councilor in the 1970's when I spent time trying to justify why it was necessary to keep council housing as it was rather then focus on the quality of service. Telling tenants that they were lucky they weren't in the private sector was no substitute for not doing the repairs properly or on time.

That is why Margaret Thatcher was so successful in getting many Council tenants to vote for a Tory government. Buying your own house was a more attractive political option then hearing an explanation from me as to why the public sector was better!