Working for you in Westminster
As Northampton North MP I take up your concerns for you in Westminster , either speaking or asking questions in Parliament, or in meetings with Ministers.
In addition to raising issues of local concern, I also concentrate on some subjects that are particularly important for constituents generally. These are:
The Economy - raising issues in parliament with the Chancellor the Exchequer and his team of ministers at the Treasury, and also with the Department of Work and Pensions, especially pressing for a universal pension for all pensioners.
Law and Order - I have recently been on special committees scrutinising new laws on sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence. I have also had private meetings with Home Office ministers to raise concerns about treatment of constituents in prison, and problems with children who are being trafficked into Northampton .
Housing - Lots of constituents approach me about problems with housing. I ran a successful campaign with other MPs to get the Government to agree to amend legislation to improve the over-crowding standards for families with children.
Children and Families - I take up issues of child welfare, and also press for Government support for families. This has included meeting ministers privately to press for better safeguards for children in Northampton . I am also lobbying to get the law changed to provide better housing rights for families with children to prevent some of the hardship I have seen for children in Northampton .
Margaret Hodge, Minister for Children and me unveiling a plaque at the Northampton College on becoming a Centre of Excellence in Childcare and Early Years Development.
International Development - Africa - I also take a special interest in Africa . I have traveled to southern and eastern Africa to look at some of the problems of poverty, famine and HIV/Aids, and am especially concerned about the problems facing HIV/Aids orphans. I attend meetings for MPs on Africa , and lobby ministers for more aid to fight global poverty.
If you want to get more information about what I do in Westminster , you can click here for the parliamentary website. It's got lots of information, and you can watch live broadcasts too.
Or you can click on the They Work for You link to the right which provides easy access information about MPs.
For my most recent activities in Westminster please see my News page.
