To all CCN Members
October 5, 2001
To fellow cyclists,
For your CCN meeting this autumn, 1 want update you on the APPCG group since May. 1 am sure that the C-PAG people present can answer any questions that you might have.
1 enclose a report of APPCG activities between May and now, and a copy of the group's latest membership list. In effect, the group activities cover the crazy six weeks following the general election in June until the time that parliament broke for the summer recess in late July. In that time we achieved a great deal in both re-starting the All Party group and also executing the annual bike ride. In addition, we laid good plans for the autumn.
The general election saw the last of some MP's and APPCG members. In particular, 1 am thinking of David Lock MP who was ousted by an independent. On the other hand, the previous APPCG Chair, Ben Bradshaw MP is now very busy as a Foreign Office minister responsible for Arab countries. The first group Chair, Charles Clarke MP is now Chair of the Labour party.
On the national political side, the Labour Government has said that transport is a high priority and that delivery is all-important. In spite of this, there were very few transport Bills. outlined in the Queen's Speech (apart from one to equalise the age to gain travel benefits for men and women). The Government clearly believes that the laws and national policies to bring about the desired changes are in place. The focus has now shifted onto delivery both within the Government departments, and more importantly by local and regional authorities. John Spellar as the new cabinet level minister has shown himself to be very keen on progressing work on cycling, and this bodes well for the future. However, in the ongoing work around the country to influence local and regional Government, CCN and its actions will be very important.
Yours for cycling
Oliver Hatch, C-PAG Parliamentary Liaison Officer
May 2001 - October 2001
As you will know, all all-party groups are deemed to fall at a general election, and have to be started all over again from scratch. Preparations for this had been put in place before the election, including the questionnaire which was sent to parliamentary candidates. Thus we were able to mail out invitations to all MP's and Peers to join the revived APPCG just a week after the election. This quick turn-round ensured that we got off to a racing start on the membership list. This now stands at a very creditable total of 72 (list at the back of the this report). For comparison, it took us almost three years to get to this number of group members in the last parliament.
The breakdown of the membership is as follows:
Although the autumn group programme (see below) puts us in a good position to get more members, many other all-party groups would be very envious of the 72 members that the group has. There are several members of the group who are in influential positions, being spokespeople for their parties, or ministers.
June 2001. First group meeting
The group reconvened less than three weeks after the election. They decided on the dates for the coming meetings, actions points and the formal annual meeting reconvening the group. It was also agreed that there would be more business meetings in order to progress the work of the group.
November 2000. John Spellar MP, Minister for Transport
Mr Spellar was quickly contacted following his appointment as minister and indicated that he would be happy to speak to the group. This positive response bodes well, although there are many issues that need to be progressed if we are to see the changes that we all want. We look forward to a fruitful ongoing debate with the minister. Further monthly meetings are in the process of being arranged.
'Great Parliamentary Bike Ride', July 2001.
This annual event had to be staged this year outside the National Festival of Cycling as that event took place during the election campaign. The start was at the re-named Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), where a breakfast was available. Jane Griffiths MP as Chair of the group set out some challenges, and the Minister, John Spellar MP said some words and sent the ride off. In spite of the very short planning time, it was a great success bringing us considerable publicity and a tranche of new members as well. 51 MP's and Peers attended the start and rode the new route to the
Palace of Westminster. For this, we negotiated a police motorcycle escort that ensured that all riders came in safely, and had time to enjoy the good weather we laid on.
All Party Annual Reception, November 2001.
This year, we have secured Ken Livingstone as the guest speaker. Given the scale of the challenge of the transport issues in London, and the possible extension of Mayoral executive powers to other UK cities, his policies and programmes will be looked at with great interest by everyone. We have brought the reception date earlier than last year, so that it does not clash with other festive functions. We look forward to a very interesting afternoon.
The new reporting method with a regular updating of events and debates in parliament seems to work well, and 1 think that this new method of working has allowed us to be more effective and to react quickly on the important issues.
Oily Hatch, C-PAG Parliamentary Officer