In Parliament

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, has backed a call by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, for the courts to impose the severest-possible penalties against the Oxford gang that exploited young and vulnerable girls.

Following the Home Secretary’s statement to the House of Commons on the case of Abu Qatada, Margot James welcomes moves to reduce the layers of appeal available to foreign criminals fighting deportation.

Margot James questions the Government about what can be done to increase the number of girls choosing a career in engineering.

Select Committee

Evidence was heard from Paul Coxhead, Chief Executive of Logistics Apprenticeship Training Agency in the West Midlands and John Hayes MP, the Minister of State for Further Education.

Evidence was heard from Paula Vennells, Chief Executive, Post Office Ltd, and George Thomson, General Secretary, National Federation of Sub Postmasters.

The Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee met on 26th April to take further evidence on apprenticeships.

Proud of Stourbridge

Margot James has congratulated Apni Zaroorat Community Network, a community organization in Stourbridge, on receiving £10,000 in funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Margot James has congratulated Leaps and Bounds Trust Ltd, a Stourbridge community organisation, on receiving £9,800 in funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Margot James has congratulated a local student on hosting a performance festival aimed at showcasing the talents of young people with learning disabilities.

29th May 2012

The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Right Honourable John Bercow MP, made a visit to the Dudley Borough on 25th May, beginning with a lecture at Oldswinford Hospital School on MI6 Spy Frank Foley.

The Speaker then followed this with a visit to Dudley Council House, where members of Dudley Youth Council had the opportunity to ask him questions on a wide range of topics including youth unemployment, health, education and the media.

This is the first time in the Borough’s history that an official visit has been made by a Serving Speaker of the House of Commons.

Margot said “It is a real privilege for the Borough to have welcomed Mr Speaker to the area, and a brilliant opportunity for young people involved in politics at the local level to put their views forward on a wide range of pressing issues.”

More information on the visit can be found at: http://www.dudley.gov.uk/welcome/news-in-dudley/may-2012/the-speaker-of-...

Photos from the visit can also be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dudley-council/