At last the Government has suffered a major setback over a controversial Bill. Contrary to predictions one vote does count in the House of Commons! The PM's own rarely cast vote saved the Government last week in their tiniest victory by 300 votes to 299 against a Labour back bench amendment to the Terrorism Bill. The amendment aimed to establish that there has to be "intent" in the new offence of encouraging terrorism. I and Peter Law, the other Independent, voted with the Labour rebels and the Opposition for the amendment. Three Opposition MPs had no excuse for missing this vital vote. How must they be feeling now?

The welcome result from this near defeat was that the Government agreed to review its proposal for the extension of detention of suspects without trial to three months. This avoided almost certain defeat over the later rebel amendment which sought to limit this period to 28 days. I wonder if the Government will honour this agreement despite the PM's apparent determination to force through the original length of detention. Typical of normal Government behaviour, the only Opposition amendment allowed through was the correction of a minuscule typing error, the omission of an 'a'!

Thus our previously dictatorial Government can be opposed successfully. Let us hope this is a good omen for opposition to some more of its proposals relating particularly to education and health.

Last weekend I unveiled the Civic Society's latest commemorative plaque at The Cedars in Mason Road. This was originally built by John Broom one of the founders of the Kidderminster carpet industry and later owned by the Dalley family and so is an important part of the town's heritage. It is now the home of the enlarged Kemp Hospice and it is fitting that lovely buildings too large for private occupation are being opened for use and appreciation by a broad selection of people, in this case, those who most deserve comfortable, beautiful surroundings.

I visited the Fire Station to watch electric blankets being tested and learnt that around half of the blankets tested have to be condemned due to poor and even visibly faulty wiring leading to risks of electric shock and fire. I hope this will be a regular annual event made possible by support from WFDC, the Community Housing Group, the Fire Brigade and others. While there I talked to the Station Officer about service reconfigurations and their impressive new vehicle for major disasters that carries one kilometre of hose to extract water from any available source for remote emergencies.

I listened to some talented orators at King Charles I School preparing for a mock debate on Identity Cards at Westminster next week. I shall await the result of the vote with great interest as they nearly persuaded me that I was wrong to oppose the Identity Card Bill.

R.T.

© Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern 1995-2006
(webdesign@chaddesley-corbett.co.uk)