Mrs Eileen Gordon: Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that I love London so. Wherever I go in the world, I come back to London, and my constituency of Romford, convinced that we have the most historic, interesting and vibrant capital city anywhere in the world. London has lacked direction and co-ordination over the past 12 years, but I believe that the Greater London authority will restore...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: I absolutely agree. All parties are looking to modernise the system. I welcome the new police authority for London, the majority of whose members will be from the elected assembly. I also welcome the provision for environmental and waste management issues to be dealt with Londonwide because, again, pollution does not stop at a borough boundary. I further welcome the strategic overview of...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: What steps the Government are taking to ensure the clear labelling of genetically modified foods. [58053]
Mrs Eileen Gordon: Will my hon. Friend emphasise the Government's view and intention that consumers should be told exactly what is in their food so that they can make an informed choice about whether to purchase it? Does he intend to take further measures to increase consumer confidence and is he planning any sanctions or actions against food producers and retailers that do not comply with clear-labelling...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to discuss back pain, an issue that affects many people's lives. I am lucky in that, to date, I have not suffered back pain. However, since becoming a Member of Parliament, I have gained empathy for people who do. I had not realised before my election that Members of Parliament are like nomads: they seem to spend a lot of time moving from...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: When he expects to publish a White Paper on the future government of London. [35441]
Mrs Eileen Gordon: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I was quite impressed that, no sooner had I tabled my question, the White Paper was published. That highlights the speed and determination with which the Government are bringing democracy back to the governance of London. Does not my right hon. Friend consider it fitting that we should be discussing the matter today, the 12th anniversary of the...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: I am pleased to speak in the debate and to be the first woman Member of Parliament for Romford. I congratulate the Government on the initiatives that they have already taken to put women at the heart of the Government's agenda. I particularly welcome the child care initiatives. I went back to part-time teaching when my children went to school, and it was difficult to find facilities for the...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: Will my right hon. Friend pass on our thanks to Sir Leslie Turnberg and his panel for the excellent news for east London and Romford in particular, and also thank them for endorsing the local community's view that hospital services should be at the heart of the community—and that part of the community is Oldchurch?
Mrs Eileen Gordon: There is considerable interest in the Bill in my constituency and I thank the right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir G. Young) for introducing it. I hope that it will not be too long before this overdue legislation is on the statute book. I represent a part of London with a large taxi driver population. As it is on the edge of London, many of my constituents are also regular users...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: I shall take a few minutes to draw the attention of the House to a constituency case that illustrates the problems described so eloquently by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Cryer). My constituent worked for some 27 years at Waltham Forest college in east London—he was a senior manager. He was devoted and loyal and made a valuable contribution to that college. In March 1997,...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: If we are radically to improve and reform the Child Support Agency, as we must, it is important to consider what went wrong after its implementation. In my previous life—before I was elected as the Member for Romford—I was the constituency caseworker for the Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage, my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham (Mr. Banks). I was working for him when the...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker for calling me to make my maiden speech. I had to get here so early this morning that, after yesterday's late night sitting, I had to check that I did not have my fluffy slippers and dressing gown on when I walked into the Chamber. Since being elected, I have been on a steep learning curve, and last night it seemed to be downhill all the way. I am honoured to be...
Mrs Eileen Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to increase the number of listed sporting events on television. [366]
Mrs Eileen Gordon: Does my hon. Friend agree with the popular demand from my constituents in Romford that everyone is entitled to watch all the major fixtures that feature the national team, including all the world cup qualifiers, and that the right to see the world cup finals free to air should mean exactly that—the right to see every match and not just the last few fixtures?
