Dr Fionna Moore MBE

Chief Executive

London Ambulance Service

220 Waterloo Road

London SE1 8SD

18^th June 2015

Dear Fionna,

I am writing to express my concern at a recent incident involving the London Ambulance Service.

On the 15^th June there was an appalling attack on a pregnant 21 year old woman in Peckham in my constituency. The woman concerned, Ms. Malorie Bantala, is my constituent and the attack resulted in the tragic loss of her unborn child. She remains critically ill in hospital. 

I am extremely concerned at reports that no ambulance attended the scene and that ultimately, as I understand, the police took Ms. Bantala to hospital an hour after the initial call to the ambulance service was made.

This was an extremely serious assault on a young woman who was 32 weeks pregnant.

I would be grateful if you would send me a full report that includes answers to the following: Did the ambulance service receive a call? If so, at what time? Was an ambulance dispatched? If so, at what time?

 
Best wishes,

Harriet Harman

I am shocked and appalled at the vicious attack on my constituent causing the tragic the loss of her unborn child. She remains critically ill in hospital, and my thoughts are with her and her family.

I am concerned at reports that the London Ambulance service failed to attend at the scene, and that the local police had to take her to hospital over an hour after the attack.

I have written to the Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service urging her to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation.

I know that local residents will be particularly disturbed by this crime in their normally quiet and peaceful neighbourhood. But I hope that the attacker will be convicted so that justice is done for the victim and the community can know that those who committed this crime are behind bars.

Ends

Background

A 21 year old woman who was 32 weeks pregnant was violently assaulted by two masked men at around 8pm on Monday 15^th June in Talfourd Place in Peckham, South London. The police arrested a 20 year old man who was charged on the 18th June with child destruction and GBH with intent.

Where you live is one of the most important things. To be in a secure home in a good neighbourhood is basic. And that means that there need to be enough homes for people who want to rent - which they can afford. And enough homes for people who want to buy - at a price they can afford.

With 12,000 people on Southwark Council's housing waiting list, and house prices sky high, many turn to the private rented sector. But because Southwark is so close to the centre of London the average cost of a privately rented two bed flat is £2,000 a month. Such high rents mean that local people are forced to move away.

Many people in Southwark either own their own home or want to. But with house prices also sky high, many can't afford to. One of the reasons that house prices in central London are so high is that there are not enough homes being built. Under this Government house building fell to its lowest level in 30 years. And ‘Help to Buy’ still doesn’t get people on to the housing ladder because, even if they can afford a mortgage, they can’t get a deposit. That's why we need more shared ownership properties.

It’s so important that Southwark Council is building 11,000 more council homes. Council tenants currently have the right to buy their homes at a discount. But the problem is the Government didn't keep its promise to replace them.

Now the Government is planning to give tenants in housing associations, like council tenants, a discount to buy their own homes. There are currently 16,500 housing association tenancies in Southwark and under the new policy an estimated 8,600 of these homes will be opened up for tenants to buy.

Southwark's housing associations like L&Q, Hyde, Family Mosaic, AmicusHorizon, Wandle and Metropolitan provide much needed affordable housing for families. They tell me that this is not the right policy for London.

To pay for the housing association discount, under these new proposals, Southwark Council will have to sell off its most expensive properties, when they become empty, including 30% of the homes they’ve just built.

The Government has promised that under this new scheme sold off properties will be replaced on a one-for-one basis. David Cameron promised the same thing for every council home but that did not happen – for every ten homes sold, only one has been built.

There‘s a housing crisis in Southwark with people not able to afford to buy, private rents too expensive and long waiting lists for council and housing association homes.

The Government should be building more homes for sale, helping people get the deposit they need to get on the housing ladder and helping councils and housing associations build more homes to rent. But instead their only housing policy is to extend Right to Buy to housing association tenants which will mean a very few people will get on the housing ladder while waiting lists for council and housing association homes will only grow.

Rt Hon George Osborne MP

Chancellor of the Exchequer

HM Treasury

1 Horse Guards Road

London SW1A 2HQ

17^th June 2015

Dear George,

Re: Kids Company

I am writing because the charity Kids Company, which does important work supporting exceptionally vulnerable children and young people from my constituency and all around London and beyond, requires urgent financial assistance.

Most of the children at Kids Company have found their own way there because their needs have not been adequately met by any of the statutory agencies. And because the charity takes children from all around London and other cities, it does not receive local authority funding.

The charity is mainly financed by private donations but currently receives financial assistance from the Government as well. I strongly believe that Kids Company should receive proper government funding.

The unique work that they do with some of our most deprived and vulnerable children and young people should be a public policy priority. I’m concerned that without the continuation of government funds and financial stability, Kids Company will have to close and these children and young people will be denied the care that helps them to overcome the particular challenges they face and reach their full potential.

Please can you arrange for your officials to meet Kids Company as soon as possible to discuss funding arrangements for the remainder of this financial year, and government funding for the long term.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Harriet Harman

Dr. David Collins

Further Education Commissioner

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

2 St. Pauls Place

125 Norfolk Street

Sheffield S1 2FJ

17^th June 2015

Dear David,

Closure of Camberwell College Campus

Many of my constituents are very concerned about the proposal to close the Camberwell campus of Lewisham Southwark College in my constituency of Camberwell and Peckham.

It’s very important to have a Further Education facility on this site. The Camberwell campus is very accessible to the local community who need it there because of work and childcare commitments. For many local people, particularly women, it’s their only opportunity to improve their skills and find better jobs.

I strongly believe that the Camberwell campus should not be sold and the site should be kept for Further Education. This community should not lose out because of problems that have beset the running of the College.

I’d be grateful if you would send me a full report and I look forward to your reply at the earliest convenience.

Best wishes,

Harriet Harman

Harriet Harman MP for Camberwell and Peckham said: “It’s tragic that yet another cyclist - a young woman - has been critically injured in Southwark. My thoughts are with her. I want to see London being a safe place for cyclists. That’s why I strongly support Southwark Council’s proposal for a ‘safe cycling hour’ during the morning and evening rush hour, banning HGV’s on the roads at those times. People must be able to cycle to work safely”.

Background
Police and ambulance services were called to Denmark Hill junction with Orpheus Road near Camberwell Green at 07.58 this morning following reports of a road traffic accident involving a lorry and a cyclist. Officers attended and found a female cyclist, aged in her 30’s, suffering serious injuries. The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and has not been arrested at this time.
 

It is a great privilege to represent Camberwell and Peckham in Parliament and an honour to once again be re-elected as your MP and I rededicate myself to serving this diverse and dynamic constituency.

It’s my role to represent everyone - the people who were born and brought up in this area who represent its great heritage and traditions, the young people who have come to set up home here, the people who have come from all different parts of the world to raise their children here, to work hard and be part of this community. I will stand up for all of my constituents and help with any individual problems - whether or not you voted for me.

I’ll stand up for our precious public services particularly the NHS. And I’ll stand up for my constituents against unfairness - like the Bedroom Tax.

I pay tribute to Simon Hughes for his many years as MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark. And I warmly welcome Neil Coyle as the new MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark. I look forward to working with him and with Helen Hayes MP for Dulwich and West Norwood who steps into the big shoes left by Tessa Jowell who has retired. 

I will work with our dedicated Labour Council who will be even more necessary in the future to take forward plans for jobs and opportunities for young people and progress on housing. Especially against a background of unfair cuts that the Tories will inflict on Southwark Council. I’ll make it a priority to improve public transport in our area, and I’ll work with the Council and schools to ensure that all our schools are good enough to be parents’ first choice. And I look forward to working with our Greater London Authority representative Val Shawcross.

We will hold this Tory government to account. People need to be able to get to see their GP, to be seen in A&E without delay. The Tories made promises on the NHS - when they break them, we will challenge them every step of the way. They are threatening swingeing welfare cuts and we will do everything we can to make sure we protect those who will suffer the most.

I will speak up for Camberwell and Peckham and ensure that we are the most effective, determined voice of Opposition to this government we can be. I'm interim leader of the Labour Party until September 12th and thereafter I will continue as MP for Camberwell and Peckham.

Lots of support for Labour at busy Queens Road station in Peckham! Thanks to Rumbi, Sham, Mariam, Rachel and Warda for joining me despite the wind and rain!

Lots of support for Labour in Nunhead this morning. Thanks to Councillor Barrie Hargrove and Shireen Ijoyah for joining me.