Page 23 - link magazine

LETTER FROM WESTMINSTER 23

Literacy schools, child soldiers and wildlife protection

Julia Drown Labour MP for Swindon South, had a busy end to the Parliamentary term
In August I enjoyed visiting the summer school I urged the Government to introduce a new
at Greendown where the students asked me Wildlife and Countryside Bill in the 1999
about my schooling and about how much I Queen's Speech, not only to benefit people
read in my work (a lot!), right. today, but to create a legacy that we can pass on
The Greendown project, like the one atHreod to future generations. This would also be the
Parkway, was part of the Government's cam- ideal opportunity to achieve the Government's
paign to ensure that by the year 2002, eighty proposals to improve access to open countryside.
per cent of all 11 year olds reach the standards Since the debate, I and other MPs have set up
expected of their age in English. the All Party Parliamentary Group for Wildlife
The end of the parliamentary term was ex- Protection to provide a forum for discussing all
tremely busy, with lots of important legisla- matters affecting wildlife and habitats, and to
tion to tie up and some very interesting de- promote policies that improve their protection.
bates to take part in. I was also pleased to be elected as vice-chair
One was on armed forces personnel. I took of the All Party Jubilee 2000 group in Parlia-
the opportunity to call on the Government to ment. This will enable me to help to keep the
end the recruitment and deployment of under important issue of debt relief for the poorest
18 years in the British armed forces. The Swin- countries on the agenda in Parliament as we
don Amnesty Group is campaigning on this move towards the next Millennium.
issue which is backed by a coalition of national the worldwide elimination of the use of child If you would like to get in touch with me on
and international organisations. soldiers. any issue, please write to 39 Victoria Road,
At present, 17 year olds can be deployed in Another debate was on the protection of Swindon SNI 3AT, or contact my office by
military operations and die for our country, wildlife species and habitats in the UK, and 'phone or textphone on Swindon 615444.
even though they cannot go into a pub to buy took place on the 50th anniversary of the Wild-
an alcoholic drink, or vote for the Government life and Countryside Act. Part of my message Wiltshire's Wonderful Wildlife
that sends them on those missions. This should was that this Act is not giving our wildlife the Eight meetings from 15 September, 7.30pm
be changed - our armed forces should only protection it needs and that urgent action is to learn about Wiltshire's diverse wildlife
recruit and deploy people who have reached required to minimise future damage and de-
Organised by the WEA.
the age of legal adulthood, 18. It is important struction to wildlife habitats and species. More Tutor: Steve Whitworth, MSc.
that we should put our own house in order as than 300 of the UK's best wildlife sites are lost Pinehurst People's Centre. Fee £27.
we negotiate with other countries to achieve or damaged every year, nearly one a day.
For details, call Marilyn Beale on 331516.
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