Hello Everyone,

It’s all change at Parliament with Gordon Brown finally taking over as Prime Minister.  Brown has put in place some new Ministers, including the one looking after aviation in the Department for Transport.  Previous Aviation Minister Gillian Merron MP is replaced by Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Canning and Poplar Town.  I’ve already asked new Leader of the House Harriet Harman to press the Department for Transport to release the environmental data on Heathrow expansion to me aswell as BAA.  It’s not the only issue I’ve been working on, so a brief update is below.

Meeting with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair
Last week I met with Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair at New Scotland Yard.  It was a great chance to discuss our local policing problems and lack of police numbers with the top man in charge of London policing.  I also spoke with the lead Met policeman overseeing Safer Neighbourhood Teams in London, Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin. We were able to discuss our lack of policing numbers locally and I’ll now be having a separate meeting with Asst Cmsnr Godwin to discuss police numbers further.  We get a raw deal on our local police number allocation and I’m keen to have a constructive discussion with the Met Police about what can be done to tackle the problem.

Wandsworth Community Transport
Putney SW15 readers may have seen my previous articles on the Dial-a-Ride service and the problems constituents have highlighted to me about not being able to get through to book a ride, or not being able to get a ride when they need one.  Earlier this week I met with Wandsworth Community Transport (WCT) to find out what their experience is in providing services to similarly less mobile customers (amongst many others).  We were able to compare notes about what constituents tell me about Dial-a-Ride and what they tell WCT.   Wandsworth Community Transport’s Shopmobility project is something I’ve seen myself, so I know how valued that service is.  I’ll now be able to go back to the Mayor and TfL with a much better picture of what our issues are locally.  TfL is reviewing the whole Dial-a-Ride service, so I want to make sure our local issues are properly considered.

PostWatch Meeting
I’m going to be meeting with Roger Darlington, Chairman of PostWatch in London.  PostWatch acts as a consumer champion for postal services, lobbying the Royal Mail and government.  If you have local postal problems, then email me on greeningj@parliament.uk and I’ll make sure PostWatch are aware of them.  I also wanted to meet with Mr Darlington to discuss the government review of the post office network review that is underway.  We’ve already lost several post offices locally, but this latest review could see even more close which is very concerning.  I’ll be staying in close touch with PostWatch as the review happens.

Out and About Locally
With the end of the school year imminent, I went to the International Evening run by students and staff at Southfields Community College, and I also attended that St Cecilias presentation evening which celebrated the excellent achievements of children at the school. Both school’s celebrations were fantastic and it was great to see so many young people doing well and being recognised for their achievements.

If you have a local issue that you need my help with as MP, then do get in touch with me – email me on greeningj@parliament.uk, write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, or come to my weekly MP surgery by giving me a call on 0208 944 0378.  I’ll do my best to help.

Best Wishes,

Justine Greening MP

Justine Greening MP

July 12, 2007