Talking Point - Parliament returns
21st October 2001
I returned to Parliament last week after a recess in which I have been busy with surgeries, visits to communities and setting up a joint office with Dr Brian Gibbons AM. It was a hectic week dominated by Afghanistan. Parliament was recalled three times in September to deal with the terrorist atrocities. I support the Prime Minister's view that the culprits of the terrible events of September 11th must be brought to justice and that action must be based on international diplomatic, military and humanitarian co-operation.
I believe too that the terrorist attacks have nothing to do with the Muslim faith and I have written to the Muslim community locally indicating our respect for them and their religion.
At Welsh Question-time, I congratulated Cymer Afan and Sandfields Comprehensive Schools on their success as the two most improved schools in Wales. The following evening I repeated my congratulations in Sandfields when I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the Year 2001 Leavers Presentation.
My other Parliamentary duties included visiting North Wales with the Welsh Affairs Committee; organising a welcome meeting for Paul Robeson Jnr; attending a meeting of MP's representing steel communities and a meeting of the Disabilities Group.
I was pleased to have requests to visit Parliament from Aberavon RFC, Sandfields Primary School and two groups from Bryn: I look forward to welcoming them all over the next 2 months.
Back home
Back in the Constituency I was in Taibach and Cwmafan for surgeries. At Taibach, I also visited the Community Education Centre and was impressed by the enthusiasm of all the adult learners making use of the excellent facilities, recently improved with Objective One Funding.
Congratulations Mrs Jones!
At the weekend I was delighted to visit Mrs Edith Jones who was celebrating her 105th birthday. Mrs Jones lives at 'Cartref' in Skewen and has the same zest for life that that I witnessed with the young people I met in Sandfields earlier in the week.
I hope that this will be the first of many columns I will be writing for Talking Point outlining my work in Parliament and the Constituency on behalf of the people of Aberavon.
