Diary Release
1. HIGHLIGHTING RISK AND COST OF OCCUPATIONAL CANCER
West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, will host an event in the House of Commons today highlighting the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s “No time to lose” campaign on this issue.
Mr George has also tabled a Motion to the House of Commons highlighting the human and financial cost of occupational cancers – with an estimated 8,000 lives lost and 13,500 new cases each year in Britain.
The campaign event hosted by Mr George will take place at 4pm, at Strangers Dining Room, House of Commons.
The Commons Motion is set out below:
NO TIME TO LOSE
That this House notes with concern the huge human and financial cost of occupational cancers, with an estimated 8,000 lives lost and around 13,500 new cases registered each year in Britain; and a national economic cost the Health and Safety Executive puts at “double-figure billions” annually; further notes the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s ‘No Time to Lose’ campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of this significant health issue, suggest solutions to tackle the problem and help businesses to deliver effective prevention programmes; further calls on the Government to support proactive regulator activity in this area, more research and the creation of a national carcinogen exposure database.
2. DEVOLUTION DEBATE
On Tuesday 4th November, Mr George will take part in a BBC led debate on devolution and the consequences of cross-party commitments to further devolution following the recent Scottish referendum campaign.
Mr George was a founder and is an active member of the Cornish Constitutional Convention which has consistently made the case for significant further devolution to Cornwall and for a Cornish Assembly.
Mr George will take part in a debate at the Eden Project from 6pm and further interviews during the day.
3. CAMPAIGN TO SCRAP THE “BEDROOM TAX”
Andrew will host a meeting with representatives from charities including Shelter and Crisis to explore ways of reinstating his “Affordable Homes Bill” which proposes to introduce significant exemptions for poor and disabled families from the Government’s “bedroom tax”.
Last week Mr George’s Bill – which had previously won overwhelming support in the House of Commons when the Conservatives were defeated by 75 votes – was adjourned at Committee stage because the Conservatives refused to provide the money necessary for the Bill to continue.
Mr George said, “If the Conservatives won’t listen to common-sense and they don’t understand the concept of social justice then we’ll have to increase the political pressure”.
4. MEETING WITH RCM CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Andrew will meet the Royal College of Midwives Chief Executive, Cathy Warwick, on Thursday 6th November in the House of Commons.
Mr George has led the campaign for safe staffing to ensure that midwives have the support necessary for safe delivery and improved midwifery services. Mr George supported the RCM’s recent industrial action.