John Hemming's Web Log

Silent Call Campaigner John Hemming MP has welcomed Ofcom's recent announcement on banning silent calls. "All telephone users", he say " should welcome Ofcom's action that will finally end the nuisance of the Silent Call. The use of an informational message will eradicate the worry and stress in relationships caused by Silent Calls. In essence the UK has now implemented the rules used in the USA. Hundreds of thousands of people have been harrassed by these nuisances." "This is a major step forward in resolving automated phone nuisance. It is, however, not the complete solution. What is important, however, is that people will know what is happening so they can take action against those companies which continue to harrass them. The cowboys in the industry have hidden behind anonymity. They will no longer be able to do so." "I would like to offer thanks to Ofcom for acting. Questions could be asked about why it took so long, but I woul...

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide released by private motor vehicles in (a) 1984, (b) 1994 and (c) 2004. (John Hemming) A: The following table shows carbon dioxide emissions from the private use of household vehicles: Million tonnes of carbon dioxide 1990 58.7 1991 58.3 1992 59.0 1993 59.2 1994 57.9 1995 56.9 1996 60.0 1997 61.0 1998 60.5 1999 62.0 2000 61.3 2001 62.0 2002 64.1 2003 63.4 Source: Environmental Accounts, Office for National Statistics Data prior to 1990 are not available on this basis, and 2004 data is not yet available. The figures are on the private use of vehicles and so exclude use of vehicles by businesses. (Stephen ladyman, Minister of State, Department for Transport)

This is our first list of regional authors both contemporary and past that could comprise the entries for the Wall of Fame. Thanks are due to Carl Chinn the Historical Consultant for the regional Wall of Fame. William Shakespeare J. R. R. Tolkien D. H. Lawrence Philip Larkin (Warwickshire poet) Wilfred Owen (poet killed 1916) Walter Brierley (Means Test Man Derbyshire) Walter Allen (All in a Lifetime, born Aston) John Hampson (Birmingham inter-wars novelist) Edith Pargeter (novelist Shropshire) William Shenstone (Halesowen Poet) Meera Syall (contemporary novelist) Henry Treece (historical novelists for children. Wednesbury) P. G. Wodehouse (Shropshire) Stanley Weyman (Shropshire historical romance novels) Izaak Walton (fishing) Sir Philip Sidney (16th century poet) David Christie Murray (Cap O' Nails West Bromwich) Washington Irving (wrote Rip Van Winkle in Brum) Francis Brett Young (novelist Halesowen) Jerome K. Jerome (Walsall) A. E. Houseman William Langland (Medieval. The Vis...

This is an interesting article about problems with deforestation in the past. This extract is particularly pertinent: The timber crisis of the late Bronze Age was obviously not the extinction of all trees in the world. It didn't need to be, just as we don't need to run out of oil to face a similar fuel crisis. There was still lumber to be felled; but as Bronze Age kingdoms deforested their surrounding ecosystem, the nearest forest became farther and father away. Loggers had to travel farther to reach the forest, and once the trees were felled, they needed to be transported longer and longer distances back home. The energy invested was constantly increasing, but the energy returned remained the same. The ERoEI plummeted, and Bronze Age civilization collapsed into a dark age for several centuries. ERoEI is Energy Returned on Energy Invested. Economists are obsessed with money when energy is far more important.

Benefits Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government continue to provide benefits to meet the interest payments on a loan which had been taken out by a person now on benefits when an endowment policy accompanying a mortgage matures but does not provide sufficient funds to pay off the balance of that mortgage. (John Hemming) A: Yes; the balance of any loan which originally qualified for help with interest payments would remain eligible for such help where part of the capital is repaid. (James Plaskitt, Under Secretary of State Department for Work and Pensions) Encounter Reciept Pilot Schemes Q: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities are operating pilot schemes of encounter receipts. (John Hemming) A: We are not aware of any police authorities operating pilot schemes of encounter receipts.(Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister) Telephone Nuisance Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pre...

Last night I visited the final day of the Yardley District Youth Festival. This was organised by Ginny, Ness, Carol and the other youth workers (Ginny is actually not a youth worker) to whom thanks need to be given. Sadly the room (at the Lea Hall British Legion) was too dark to warrant taking photos, but it was an opportunity for local children to lobby their MP and Councillors. Later on I attended the police surgery in Willclare Road. The local drugs officer turned up and explained about a new system for concealing Ecstasy found in Leeds and other parts of Yorkshire. It involves creating a drugs paste and hiding it between the teeth and the upper lip. It is known as "E by gum". (well the joke went down well in the meeting - it may not work in writing)

Russia's oil production is unusual because it initially peaked during the soviet period. They made a bit of a mess of things generally and there is now a move towards a second peak. The Russians recently (Tuesday) said that they were aiming at about 10.3 mbbl a day which is higher than September 2005's 9.53 mbbl/d. Yesterday the Daily Express led on the cold winter and possibility of a consequent difficulty with gas supply - you read that first here.

National Grid Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation has occurred with (a) the general public and (b) industry about the reduction in voltage on the national grid that may be required in the event of a one in 50 cold winter. (John Hemming) A: My officials are investigating the impacts of voltage reduction measures undertaken in other countries in the past year. We will share the findings with industry and other interested parties.(Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister) Power Cuts Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the possible implications for the operation of medical equipment of a cut in mains voltage during a one in 50 cold winter.(John Hemming) A: Medical equipment is designed to operate at the standard supply voltage and within the statutory limit for the UK of plus 10 per cent. minus 6 per cent. In NHS hospitals, where the supply voltage falls to a value likely to give rise to danger or equipment ...

The attached story is about how the Call Centre Industry is getting ready to get rid of silent calls. What we need now is for Ofcom to play their part. I received an email today from Ofcom which said: We're happy that we're making good progress. We'll be in touch when we have anything more useful to report. This is not as good as it could be, but is better than nothing.

A bit of a mixed metaphor I suppose. I was pleased that the Spirit Group withdraw their application for an extension of hours at the Sheldon Inn which has in recent years caused major problems. Regardless of the efforts of the manager and his wife the fact is that the Spirit group make it difficult to maintain order. It would have helped if they had given some notice of withdrawing the application as I had to get permission from the Whips to atttend this rather than The House, Cllr Sue Anderson also had to take time out as did local residents. We all warned them that they may see the pub shut down unless they move very quickly to sort things out.

There was someone else shot in Lozells last night. "Luckily" it was an "ordinary shooting" and not related to the racial disorder that happened on Saturday night. It is really sad, however, that we are now in a situation in which there are "ordinary shootings". The situation in Lozells/Handsworth/Perry Barr is from one perspective simple, but from a more detailed perspective quite complex. Although it is not directly faith related the council has been working on supporting multi-faith activity recently. Sadly this has been undermined partially by the bureaucracy creating unnecessary hurdles, but hopefully I knocked over the hurdles this morning and we should make more progress.

People may wonder what Medical Confidentiality actually means. Well in practise it means that the Doctor may pass matters revealed in confidence to Social Services and then it can end up being passed by them to the national media. Although this is not with the consent of the management of Social Services it does show simply that you should be very careful what you tell your Doctor as it may end up in the national media.

Gas and Electricity Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what demand modelling he has performed to examine the interplay between gas and electricity generation in the event of a one in 20 cold winter. (John Hemming) A: The Department has not undertaken demand modelling to examine the interplay between gas and electricity. This is undertaken by National Grid, as system operator. National Grid's consideration of the interaction between gas and electricity can be found in Section C of its Winter Outlook Report, published on 5 October: (Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister) National Grid I Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of a reduction in the voltage on the national grid in the event of a one in 50 cold winter on (a) domestic and (b) commercial consumers. (John Hemming) A: If voltage demand measures were needed to handle a short-term electricity shortage the most likely visible impact on consumers would be...

I find myself in London to support the Private Members Bill in support of parliamentary approval of the initial deployment of troops before going to war. This is an important piece of constitutional legislation. One interesting argument a Conservative used against it was that the PM should be able to go to war and sign treaties without coming to parliament. One would presume that he would make an exception for European Treaties such as the EU Constitution. Whilst here I have submitted an EDM about the NHS which follows: John Hemming Title: Financial Crisis in the Health Service That this house notes persistent statements from health service managers implying that both 25% of NHS bodies are insolvent and that the NHS in aggregate is insolvent, recognises that much of this results from simplistic, ideologically driven meddling in the operation of the Health Service which has been underpinned by a failure to understand where market mechanisms are appropriate and where they are not appro...

There do appear to be some problems relating to an alleged criminal offence developing in Perry Barr at the moment. We had similar difficulties about 2 years ago. What is critical is that people accept that they need to use the rule of law to resolve such problems rather than merely force of numbers or political pressure. The first step has to be for witnesses to report the allegation to the police.

THE QUESTION: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK daily natural gas import capacity via pipeline or LNG was during the winter of 2004–05; and what the estimated import capacity for the coming winter of 2005–06 is. [17558] THE ANSWER: Total import capacity for winter 2004–05 was 60mcm/d. For the winter 2005–06 it is estimated at 95mcm/d. Further information, in particular concerning the likely evolution of UKCS gas production levels and our gas import capability, can be found in the Secretary of State's "First Report to Parliament on Security of Gas and Electricity Supply in Great Britain". This was published in July 2005, and is available on the DTI website, at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/sec_supply_first_report.pdf

THE QUESTION: To ask the Secretary of State of Trade and Industry , why the UK-Europe gas Interconnector was unable to import at full capacity during winter 2004-05; and what assessment he has made of the performance of the facility in 2005-06. THE ANSWER: The flows of gas through the Interconnector are driven by the price differentials between the UK and the Continent. The direction of the flows during the winter 2004-05 was as expected, given the differentials. National Grid, in their Winter Outlook Report 2005-06, have indicated that they have adopted conservative assumptions that imports through the Interconnector for winter 2004-05 will be an average level of 42mcm/d, with a maximum capacity of 48mcm/d. The report is published on the Ofgem website at: www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cashe/cmsattach/12493_214_05.pdf

For those who are not aware of the Film the plot is basically that someone continues living the same day time after time (34 times in the film). With the ejection of Ken Clarke from the Tory leadership contest we are essentially at the same position. Even pseudo wet David Cameron goes on about reducing taxes. The problem is that, although the Labour Party have made a mess of running public services, a substantial majority of people - particularly those living in urban areas - depend on public services. Public services do need revenue to run. The Conservatives, therefore, are guaranteed to continue to issue a message that they are not a political party aiming to represent the interests of the financially weaker members of society. There is also a difficulty in developing a type of politics which is not in any way dependent upon convictions and beliefs. There is always the difficulty that politics is a bit like an ocean where some ships drift aimlessly, others steam purposely in a di...

The operators of the Port of Dundee said today they had no choice but to have a pedestrian using the cycle path through the area “arrested” under anti-terrorism legislation, writes Steven Bell. An incident involving local businesswoman Sally Cameron has led to claims of “ridiculous” heavy-handedness on the part of port security and the police. Ms Cameron (34) was stopped by police, allegedly under the Terrorism Act, but the case has subsequently been dropped by the Procurator Fiscal. This issue. The one relating to Walter Wolfgang, the proposals to introduce internment by the back door (90 days), show the problems with the balance of where legislative powers lie. The police do make mistakes. The problem arises that the consequences and fall out from those mistakes can be very damaging. This is what happened in Northern Ireland. Justice needs to be done and seen to be done to obtain acceptance that justice has been done. Otherwise resentment grows and has a consequential effect.

We visited the Cats Protection League again today. Our home visit had happened earlier today to check whether we had appropriate accommodation for a cat. We have encountered a slight problem in that the CPL rules say no more than 2 cats. We have around 5 now, only two of whom are officially based in our house. I almost managed to find a White Persian, but it was actually a Seal Point Persian. One interesting notice was about the Radio. They keep a radio for the cats, but it is crucial that it is tuned only to Radio 2 or Radio 4. I wonder what would happen to the cats if it were to be tuned to Heart FM or even Kerrang. I can understand the logic of using a station which has some talking on it as well as music. However, it creates interesting thoughts of heavy metal rock cats addicted to cat nip being developed by exposure to Kerrang with perhaps a tendency to claw the furniture.