Andy Reed MP met rail bosses from East Midlands Trains and Network Rail this week to highlight concerns over plans for the station. Andy said he came away from the meeting reassured over the main areas of concern - platform lengthening, car parking, station improvements and the eastern gateway project.

Andy said "I expressed my frustration that project timetables seemed to have slipped and I didn't want to see vital and agreed improvements lost. Far from it. I was reassured that some of the delays have been caused because there appears to be more joined up long term thinking about the station a s a whole - rather than piecemeal development. As this is what I have been calling for I am pleased to hear it is now happening. For example the disabled access will now be designed with platform lengthening in mind - rather than being built and then unsuitable when the platform is lengthened later. This seems sensible.

"I will still be tackling the Minister to make sure these issues remain under the spotlight. With 2012 and Loughborough's position as an international camp all parties are keen to make sure things are ready.

"I was also pleased to learn at the meeting that Loughborough will be one of a few stations to be part of a national pilot scheme to develop local transport plans.

Loughborough Train Station has been chosen as one of only 24 stations nationwide to take part in a pilot scheme to promote sustainable travel.

The station was selected by the Association of Train Operating Companies for the pilot project to develop a Station Travel Plan. The aim of a Station Travel Plan is to help improve accessibility and to encourage people to leave their cars at home, and travel to and from the station by bike, bus, or on foot.

Andy Reed MP yesterday joined the British Olympic Team in Birmingham as they got themselves kitted out for Beijing.

The MP for Loughborough is working 10 days with the BOA over the next year as part of an initiative for MPs to work in other sectors and see how they operate at ground level.

Andy Reed said "This was an amazing day. The logistics of sending the team to Bejing are mind boggling. Even just for this kit there are 900 individuals with about 95 bits of kit to take. Nothing is left to chance. The BOA need to take away any distractions so that athletes can do what they do best- compete and win medals.

Andy Reed MP demanded that the Government ends child poverty as they signed up to the “Keep the promise” campaign”. He called on people to back the campaign and demand a better future for children in Loughborough.

The campaign is being run by End Child Poverty, which is mobilising public support to ensure the Government keeps its promise to end child poverty. Without urgent investment in the next year any progress on child poverty is at risk. The charity is asking people to sign an online petition, campaign locally, and attend the largest ever event to end child poverty, in London on October the 4th this year.

Andy Reed said: “We are one of the richest countries in the world, yet we have higher rates of child poverty than many other countries. Child poverty robs people of the opportunities to succeed in education and in the workplace. We can see the damage poverty does for children and our country. Please join me, support the campaign and help end child poverty.”

In Loughborough 14% of children live on very low incomes, dependent on out of work benefits. Across the East Midlands 29% of children live below the poverty line. Across the UK 3.9m children, approximately 1 in 3, live in poverty, one of the worst rates in Europe. In 1999 the Government pledged to eradicate child poverty. Since then 600,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, however, much more needs to be done in order to achieve the goal.

We inherited a scandalous record fom the Tories who INCREASED CHILD POVERTY in this country in their years. They are still not promising to match our targets to reduce child poverty despite hiding behind some warm words. I wouldn't trust them to deliver anything meaningful on this issue and that alone drives me to campiagn to prevent them ever getting their hands on power again"

Andy Reed MP last night welcomed the Treasury promise to deal with all outstanding issues for those losing out on the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

"I am pleased the Treasury have made progress for the majority and have promised to deal with the remainder in the Pre Budget report in the autumn. I think they know how back bench MPs feel and they need to come back with pretty concrete proposals. They have acknowledged their mistake and have done much already. But they know they need to do more.

"The one group of people I will take no lessons from are the Tories. They proposed the abolition of the 10p rate 2 years ago, abstained earlier this year and still have no idea what they would do. The politest thing I can say about them is they are being disingenuous nationally and locally with their public pronouncements"

Andy Reed MP today gave his full support to the government plans to update and change the law on co-operatives and the mutual’s sectors. The government has announced plans to bring about legislative change to help co-operatives compete on an equal footing with business and help them to continue to grow.

The aim of the changes is to help enable the sector to grow in economic terms, help to increase efficiency and cut red tape as well as level the field so that co-operatives can operate on an equal footing as other companies.

Andy Reed MP joined Seb Coe and managers of the 2012 team this evening.

Andy works closely with 2012 to ensure the regions voice i heard in the planning of the 2012 games and took part in a wide ranging discussion on the progress of the plans and what more can be done to ensure there is a genuine sporting legacy from 2012.

Andy said "I have said right from the start that whilst I am looking forward to the 2012 games my real passion is to see a sporting legacy for every region and community. The stadia legacy is just a small part of the transformation we need to see. From community sport to elite funding the games can be used as a force for good but we need to plan for that NOW or we miss the opportunity. No other games has increased participation in sport so this is a massive challenge. But one I think we have the people to deliver.

Andy Reed MP has today welcomed a government announcement that it is planning to make it easier for credit unions, like the one operating locally in Loughborough to expand.

In an announcement made to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Credit Unions, Treasury Minister Kitty Ussher MP announced that the Government plans to bring forward legislation to enable local credit unions to attract new members and help more people borrow at affordable rates.

Thoughts on issues of the day from Andy Reed MP.

Here Andy Reed reacts to issues in the press and the stories circulating in Westminster. These are the behind the scenes stories that add flavour to the parliamentary week.

Andy Reed MP today put down an Early Day Motion in Parliament about slums around the world and the people who live in them who face appalling conditions. The EDM is calling Parliaments attention to the facts about the slums that exist around the world. It raises the issue of more help being given to people in slums and ensuring such people are able to access basic necessities such as running water, sanitation, electricity, employment and schools which are rarely present in slums at the moment.

With 1 in 6 people of the world’s population living in slums the EDM seeks to raise awareness of life in these places. The EDM is calling on the government to ensure progress is made on improving these people lives.

Local MP welcomes Government announcement on funding for free swimming

Loughborough MP, Andy Reed, has expressed his delight at the announcement of a new £140m fund to help local authorities in England offer free swimming to over 60s and under 16s. Funding for the scheme, which will be split between revenue and capital investment will be available from April 2009. It will be up to local authorities to choose whether they want to participate in the scheme.

The government should not be held to ransom by hauliers threats to disrupt people on our roads. That is the view of Andy Reed MP.

"Sooner or later these people will kill somebody needing emergency treatment by blocking our roads. If they have a genuine case they should make it without threats. We all suffer from global oil prices. At least they get the VAT back already. There have been no extra fuel duty rates since the last protests - simply global price increases. There demands are unrealistic.

Whilst I am sure there are people who would love everything to be easy, and their fuel prices never to increase life isn't like that. As I have said before we need to be moving away from our dependence on oil and these high prices are a better incentive if we needed one."

Andy Reed today chaired a meeting of the All Party Debt, Aid & Trade Group on 'Undermining Development' an investigation into the impact of mining and extractive industries on development.

To Follow.....

Loughborough MP Andy Reed was on hand to present the prizes to award winners at the annual 3M/Echo awards on Friday night. The event took place at Quorn Country Hotel on Friday night and was a chance for local community groups to win up to £3000. Andy Reed was the special guest of honour to present the awards and to speak about the importance of the community groups involved.

Andy said "This is the 11th award ceremony I have been involved with and it is always a humbling experience to see how much people do for others in our local community. This year in particular the winners were groups I know well or have worked with in the past few years and I know they deserved their win. Although everybody there on the evening could have won. We live in a cynical world where the media give a depressing picture of our society - but thanks to the Echo and 3M we get a glimpse of what is good about life."

Today Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Health, unveiled the results of Lord Darzi’s year-long review into the NHS – High Quality Care For All.

The purpose of the Next Stage Review is to build on the progress made in delivering the vision set out in the NHS plan and the Government’s reform agenda, to identify the way forward for a 21st century NHS which is clinically–driven, patient-centred, responsive to local communities and to deliver consistently high quality of care for everyone in all aspects, not just some.

Loughborough MP Andy Reed said he welcomed the focus the 60th anniversary of the NHS gave to looking forward not just back.

"Locally the Tories have tried to talk down our NHS yet in every survey and in every table we can produce we have saved the NHS from their years of cuts to services and massive waiting times. Patients surveys show satisfaction at record levels and people waiting a fraction of the time they would have expected under the Tories. Now they find themselves opposing our reforms for greater flexibility and greater choice. The NHS will always be changing to meet new demands and they seem incapable of understanding that."

"Whilst the Tories talk down our NHS and staff I will be telling the review that whilst some increase in choice is welcome what I really want to see with public service reform is the best quality care in every local area. I want the only choice to be the local choice because it is the best care you can get.

"There are still issues in the NHS about rationing, about control of bugs like MRSA but we can cope with these new challenges only if we continue to drive up standards and continue to invest in the NHS. Don't forget we have nearly 80,000 more nurses now than in 1997 and nealry 40,000 more doctors."

Loughborough MP Andy Reed hit back at the press at the weekend - by taking to the rugby league field at Leeds Carnegie stadium.

Andy Reed was taking part in a politicians versus journalists charity match in aid of the rugby league benevolent fund.

Lining up alongside Andy Reed were match organiser and Lib Dem MP for Leeds North West Greg Mulholland, , and Lib Dem peer Lord Addington, as well as councillors from all over the north.

The journalists' side was made up by presenters on the BBC's League Weekly show and other local hacks, who proved the pen is mightier than the dispatch box. The journalists ran out 32-16 winners.

Andy Reed grinned: "I was delighted to be there. Everyone knows what I think of political journalists. But these were ok so I didn't hit them too hard in the tackle"

He added: "It was for a good charity - it's important we look after players who've played rugby league.and I was delighted to get on the scoresheet at the end with my conversion"

Andy Reed MP is today joining Cllr Kev Parker in Shepshed to meet bosses proposing to build a new Land Fill facility at Newhurst Quarry.

Andy Reed and Kev Parker were briefed about the details of the proposed site now that permission has been granted. Discussions included noise, traffic and environment controls on the site and the proposals for including the community in the future on a liaison group.

Andy Reed said "We had a very useful meeting about the details of the plans and what will be done to include the community in the planning of the site, how the community can benefit from the construction and future employment opportunities and how Shepshed can gain from the landfill tax grants available. We were also able to raise the concerns of residents on traffic, noise smell and the environment. By working with Biffa we hope to keep the residents voices high on their agenda by minimising the impact on the town whilst maximising the opportunities."

A planned debate on the future of Loughborough Rail station will have to be rescheduled after the Hose of Commons business did not reach the 6pm start time allocated yesterday. Business in the House of Commons finished at 4.18pm instead of the usual 6pm.

Andy Reed said "I had another appointment earlier in the day and was heading back to Westminster for our debate when I was told business had finished. It is a shame we were unable to hold the debate today because of the strange rules in the Commons - but they are a fact of life & am annoyed I missed out by 14 minutes. I now hope the Speaker can allocate an alternative time for the debate to take place."

Loughborough MP Andy Reed today chaired a meeting of MPs and Lords in the House of Commons on a Christian Response to the Climate Change Bill. The meeting was addressed by the Bishop of London and campaigners from Tearfund, Christian Aid and CAFOD.

Andy said "The church and Christian based development agencies have been at the forefront of those campaigning to welcome and strengthen the Bill in Parliament. Development agencies in particular are seeing the effects of climate change already and their disproportionate effect on the poorest people in the world. That's why I was pleased to help facilitate further lobbying today of MPs on the moral issue of climate change and not just the scientific need to act."

Andy Reed MP today welcomed the publication of the Members Estimates Committee on MPs allowances as a 'fair' attempt at restoring balance to the issue.

Andy said "This is a problematical issue because of the lack of trust in a system that was created for a different era. Unfortunately rational debate is almost impossible because of the lurid media headlines. However, I think this report goes a long way to argue why certain Allowances need to be maintained yet increases scrutiny to a level that can give public reassurance. I am sure there are bits colleagues will want to argue over but the public can't accuse the Committee of not tackling the issue pf public confidence."

Andy Reed tonight backed the Micah Challenge in Parliament. Andy helped launch the UK Challenge in parliament a couple of years ago.

He said "The Micah Challenge helps keep global poverty reduction and the work toward the Millennium Development Goals at the heart of our thinking."

"With sharp global price increases in food and oil it would be all too easy to forget that it is the poorest in the world who will feel the effect most. Indeed it would be too easy to forget that as our quality of life has increased beyond recognition over the last decade the poorest in the world have continued to suffer. Still 30,000 children a day die of preventable diseases. The Micah Challenge makes sure we do not forget the genuinely poor who work to maintain our comfortable western lifestyles."

The status of some of Britain’s MPs and pers was determined by a roll of the dice on Monday night, at a Micah Challenge event highlighting global poverty.

Press release from the event:

Lords and MPs were joined by church leaders who all rolled the dice to determine whether they would be “rich” or “poor” at the Westminster event, with the “rich” guests dining on canapés while the “poor” were limited to bread and water.

Micah Challenge – a worldwide movement of Christians and local churches standing together to see the Millennium Development Goals achieved – held the reception to encourage Christians to raise their voices on te issue.

Andy Clasper, Executive Director of Micah Challenge UK, said: “While some of us missed out on the luxuries available last night, this was nothing compared to the daily injustices experienced by the world’s poorest. The fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals is vital to change this.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development said: "Faith groups, through their network of followers, have the power to mobilise millions across the world and inspire others to do the same. For centuries Christians have been working to eradicate poverty.

“In this year of action on the Millennium Development Goals I am heartened to know this will continue and that together in partnership we are pushing to accelerate progress on the MDGs and truly form a global partnership for development."

The event also saw the launch of Micah’s Challenge: the Church’s Responsibility to the Global Poor. In his foreword to the book, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown reflects on the role of the Christian faith in creating a more just world.

Later this summer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will lead an unprecedented mass walk of bishops and other faith leaders through London during the Lambeth Conference. In this public act, 800 bishops take up the Micah Challenge and demonstrate their determination to help end extreme poverty.