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IN PARLIAMENT
Tuesday 23rd April: I am Chairman of the APPG on Building Communities and we launched a call for evidence as part of our report which will look at how important and beneficial placemaking is when factored into the planning process. Over the course of the afternoon I chaired a meeting between the Sri Lankan Muslim community and the Rt. Hon. Mark Field MP, a minister at the Foreign Office, where we discussed oppression of minorities and the Easter terror attacks. After this I attended an evidence session at Housing, Communities and Local Government committee where we examined the Homelessness Reduction Act which – as you may be aware – I authored and steered through parliament.
Wednesday 24th: I had a positive meeting with the Education Minister, Lord Agnew, at the department to discuss the ongoing and very serious issue of funding for Pinner Wood School – I support the action taken by Harrow Council and I feel the government should help them financially to resolve the matter and put it to bed. I then dashed to Procedure Committee and rounded off the day’s business with 1922 committee.
Thursday 25th: At a major conference with the Confederation of Indian Industry, the UK’s future international trade proposals were discussed and I contributed to the debate by highlighting the great asset Indian industry would be. In the evening I was delighted to show some constituents around Westminster for a tour.
Monday 29th: I enjoyed a fantastic visit to Swan Housing’s modular housing factory in Basildon, where myself and other MPs learnt about offsite construction and recent innovative developments with UK housing.
Tuesday 30th: It was my pleasure to celebrate World Buddha Day with others in Parliament. It was an excellent opportunity to support the CWO London Outreach team and show appreciation for the multicultural and multi denominational society we live in.
Wednesday 1st: I spent the evening at the High Commission of India to celebrate Gujarat Day - a major state in India where many of my friends and constituents are from.
Thursday 2nd: I attended business in the Commons and made verbal contributions in the chamber.
Friday 3rd: I had the great opportunity to appear on a BBC Sunday Politics recording where we discussed the replacement of cladding materials in buildings and I spoke out about how grossly unfair it is that leaseholders have been left with the bill. I have been pressing the government to provide the funding or to force the freeholders to do the work. We also discussed the progress of my Homelessness Reduction Act and I am proud to see that more than 10,000 people across the country have been prevented from being homeless in this time.
Monday 6th: Bank holiday
Tuesday 7th: I had three committees – all of which overlapped in some way – and I attended them all: Backbench Business (considering applications for debates submitted by backbench MPs), HCLG committee (taking evidence as part of our inquiry into modern methods of construction), and finally a Delegated Legislation Committee (going through new legislation line by line with the responsible minister). Finally, a committee in the early evening on housing policy which was led by senior officials from Number 10 and the Ministry of Housing.
Wednesday 8th: As it was Opposition Day, debates were set aside for subjects of the Opposition's choosing. There were orals for Scotland, a PMQs, and an urgent questions meeting on the Iranian nuclear deal as well as a motion on Pension Charges.
Thursday 9th: Today, I had plans to play cricket for the
House of Commons and Lords versus the Media in Blackheath, but it was rained off. Unfortunately, I was also unable to have my meeting with Harrow Council, the Metropolitan Police and stakeholders to discuss crime in Kenton because I arrived in the UK too late to make it. It is still an issue I care deeply about and intend to address in the future.
Friday 10th: I had a meeting with Council officers to discuss environmental strategy and waste disposal in north and west London in the morning before other business locally.
Monday 13th: I held an advice surgery at my local office before attending HCLG committee and the sessions in the Commons.
Tuesday 14th: I was on a panel, hosted by the think tank Reform, to discuss their new report: 'Preventing Youth Homelessness: An Assessment of Local Approaches'. While some local authorities have gone above and beyond to prevent homelessness in the past year, others are stuck in their bad old ways - and we're seeking to change this.
Wednesday 15th: I was the parliamentary sponsor for a Hindu Forum of Britain event for Dr Subramanian to make a speech. Dr Subramanian is an Indian parliamentarian and a renowned intellectual on economics and statistics. It is always great to hear from people like him.
Thursday 16th: I attended the Commons in the morning for the respective departmental questions before attending meetings in and around Westminster linked to my position on the 1922 Committee.
Monday 20th: I started the week with an advice surgery in Harrow before travelling to SW1 as we had defence questions to start the day in the Commons. From there I attended HCLG select committee like every sitting Monday afternoon before ending the day with a briefing by senior figures from the RAF.
Tuesday 21st: In addition to business in the chamber and Backbench Committee meeting, I attended a meeting of the executive of the BGIPU.
Wednesday 22nd: Further to my regular Wednesday afternoon Procedure and 1922 Committee meetings, I was in the chamber for departmental questions and assorted business. In the evening I joined friends at Harrow Central Mosque for Iftar dinner.
Thursday 23rd: On the occasion of the National Day of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Azerbaijan hosted a reception which I attended and I made a keynote speech in my capacity as Chairman of the APPG on Azerbaijan. Prior to this I was in the Commons in the morning asking questions and in the afternoon I played cricket for the Commons and Lords.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN PARLIAMENT:
Parliament is currently in recess.
I was also fortunate enough to be called to ask a question at Prime Minister's Questions on 16th April. You can view my question to the PM through the video link below:
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