Post by Punjab2000 on Feb 27, 2005 22:30:57 GMT
Sikh Lobby Day - Calling on Sikh constituents from Slough, Wolverhampton South West and Glasgow Maryhill
At the Adjournment Debate in the main Chamber of the House of Commons on 2 February 2005 Rob Marris the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West invited the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Fiona Mactaggart the Labour MP for Slough) to attend the public meeting at the House of Commons in Committee Room 10 on Wednesday 9 March from 3-5 pm (the date of the next Sikh Lobby Day).
Rob Marris has written to the Sikh Secretariat to say: Fiona Mactaggart apologised to him for misreading the clock and running out of time in the debate. She had intended to deal with human rights and to confirm (as she has since done, in writing) that she hopes to attend the public meeting on 9 March.
Sikhs living in Slough have a special role in exerting pressure on Fiona Mactaggart to ensure she attends and are encouraged to take an active part in the Sikh Lobby Day. Fiona Mactaggart is the Minister that has been responding on behalf of the UK Government to issues relating to Sikhs raised in the recent Adjournment Debate and a number of associated Parliamentary Questions.
The issues raised in the last few weeks with Fiona Mactaggart have included:
the need to revise the statutory code of practice to ensure that all public bodies separately recognise and monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 2000.
separate monitoring of Sikhs to discover the demographic profile and to help target the provision of services.
the Indian High Commission's opposition to the separate recognition and monitoring of British Sikhs by public bodies in the UK.
meetings the Home Secretary has had with Sikh organisations in the last three years.
separate consultation with the Sikh community and steps to encourage an increase in the number of public appointments for Sikhs in local and national decision-making bodies
the Government policy regarding English language proficiency tests for Granthis, Kirtanis and Katha Vachaks
guidance to the police regarding Nagar Kirtans
Government support for Sikh faith schools
the right of Sikhs to wear kirpans and steps the Government are taking to widen knowledge of the importance of the kirpan and the sensitivities surrounding it
representations the UK Government has made to the Government of France and to the EU regarding Sikhs right to wear the dastaar.
pressure the UK Government and the EU are bringing to bear on the Government of India for a proper investigation and, where appropriate, for proper criminal charges to be brought and convictions secured, particularly against police officers, for those human rights abuses in June and November 1984 and for many years after that.
Fiona Mactaggart's responses to many of the issues have not been satisfactory. The public meeting in Committee Room 10 of the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 March should provide an opportunity to put questions to her and other MPs.
Rob Marris the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West is hosting the public meeting in Committee Room 10 of the House of Commons. Sikhs from Wolverhampton are urged to attend the Sikh Lobby Day in large numbers to show support for Rob Marris who has probably done more than any other MP for Sikhs in the last 4 years.
Ann McKechin the Labour MP for Glasgow Maryhill has also been in contact with the Sikh Federation (UK) enquiring if Sikhs from her constituency will be travelling to Westminster to meet her. Sikh constituents from Glasgow Maryhill are urged to contact Ann McKechin's constituency office as soon as possible to make arrangements to meet her locally, if this is more convenient. However, she should be urged to attend and take part in the public meeting in Committee Room 10.
Ann McKechin has also written to say she looks forward to becoming an active member of the new to be established British Sikhs All Party Parliamentary Group. The response to the announcement of this new parliamentary group has been very positive. Do not miss the Sikh Lobby Day and contact your Mp to ensure they agree to join the British Sikhs APPG.
Jagtar Singh
PS. Many MPs are now aware of the Memorandum of Understanding produced by the Sikh Federation (UK), which is available for download on www.sikhfederation.com. Ensure you have a copy of the Memorandum when you take part in the Sikh Lobby Day as some MPs that have yet to sign the Memorandum have indicated they want to do this on Wednesday 9 March when Sikh representatives from their constituency come to meet them.
At the Adjournment Debate in the main Chamber of the House of Commons on 2 February 2005 Rob Marris the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West invited the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Fiona Mactaggart the Labour MP for Slough) to attend the public meeting at the House of Commons in Committee Room 10 on Wednesday 9 March from 3-5 pm (the date of the next Sikh Lobby Day).
Rob Marris has written to the Sikh Secretariat to say: Fiona Mactaggart apologised to him for misreading the clock and running out of time in the debate. She had intended to deal with human rights and to confirm (as she has since done, in writing) that she hopes to attend the public meeting on 9 March.
Sikhs living in Slough have a special role in exerting pressure on Fiona Mactaggart to ensure she attends and are encouraged to take an active part in the Sikh Lobby Day. Fiona Mactaggart is the Minister that has been responding on behalf of the UK Government to issues relating to Sikhs raised in the recent Adjournment Debate and a number of associated Parliamentary Questions.
The issues raised in the last few weeks with Fiona Mactaggart have included:
the need to revise the statutory code of practice to ensure that all public bodies separately recognise and monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 2000.
separate monitoring of Sikhs to discover the demographic profile and to help target the provision of services.
the Indian High Commission's opposition to the separate recognition and monitoring of British Sikhs by public bodies in the UK.
meetings the Home Secretary has had with Sikh organisations in the last three years.
separate consultation with the Sikh community and steps to encourage an increase in the number of public appointments for Sikhs in local and national decision-making bodies
the Government policy regarding English language proficiency tests for Granthis, Kirtanis and Katha Vachaks
guidance to the police regarding Nagar Kirtans
Government support for Sikh faith schools
the right of Sikhs to wear kirpans and steps the Government are taking to widen knowledge of the importance of the kirpan and the sensitivities surrounding it
representations the UK Government has made to the Government of France and to the EU regarding Sikhs right to wear the dastaar.
pressure the UK Government and the EU are bringing to bear on the Government of India for a proper investigation and, where appropriate, for proper criminal charges to be brought and convictions secured, particularly against police officers, for those human rights abuses in June and November 1984 and for many years after that.
Fiona Mactaggart's responses to many of the issues have not been satisfactory. The public meeting in Committee Room 10 of the House of Commons on Wednesday 9 March should provide an opportunity to put questions to her and other MPs.
Rob Marris the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West is hosting the public meeting in Committee Room 10 of the House of Commons. Sikhs from Wolverhampton are urged to attend the Sikh Lobby Day in large numbers to show support for Rob Marris who has probably done more than any other MP for Sikhs in the last 4 years.
Ann McKechin the Labour MP for Glasgow Maryhill has also been in contact with the Sikh Federation (UK) enquiring if Sikhs from her constituency will be travelling to Westminster to meet her. Sikh constituents from Glasgow Maryhill are urged to contact Ann McKechin's constituency office as soon as possible to make arrangements to meet her locally, if this is more convenient. However, she should be urged to attend and take part in the public meeting in Committee Room 10.
Ann McKechin has also written to say she looks forward to becoming an active member of the new to be established British Sikhs All Party Parliamentary Group. The response to the announcement of this new parliamentary group has been very positive. Do not miss the Sikh Lobby Day and contact your Mp to ensure they agree to join the British Sikhs APPG.
Jagtar Singh
PS. Many MPs are now aware of the Memorandum of Understanding produced by the Sikh Federation (UK), which is available for download on www.sikhfederation.com. Ensure you have a copy of the Memorandum when you take part in the Sikh Lobby Day as some MPs that have yet to sign the Memorandum have indicated they want to do this on Wednesday 9 March when Sikh representatives from their constituency come to meet them.