Loughborough MP Andy Reed is making available new public information leaflets for the disabled and carers.

The new public Information Leaflet “Do you, or someone you care about, need help in everyday living?” is written in an easily readable manner by the Local Government Association (LGA). The leaflet is designed to give the disabled, elderly and carers’ simple and straightforward information on where they can receive help and practical support.

Andy Reed MP welcomes the announcement on fair tips and the minimum wage and calls for rogue employers who con staff to be exposed.

This July marks 10 years since Labour voted to introduce the National Minimum Wage in 1998. When it came in ten years ago people like David Cameron strongly opposed it. The Tories said the minimum wage would cost the country 2 million jobs. The reality is totally different. An extra 2.3 million jobs have actually been created since then. Nearly one million low paid employees, two thirds of them women, have benefited from the National Minimum Wage.

Andy Reed MP today welcomed the statement by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons on Iraq. But he said he had hoped troops could have been coming home quicker.

"It is good that Gordon remains committed to bringing our troops back from Iraq as quickly as possible. I had hoped that would be even quicker than the timetable outlined by the Prime Minister today but I understand his need to set no artificial political timetable to a military decision. Whilst I still believe we should never have gone into Iraq I do now believe we have a golden opportunity to withdraw by the end of 2009 with Gordon Brown and Obama in the White House"

Andy Reed MP today urged Health Ministers to change the culture of the department to encourage the growth of co-operative and social enterprise solutions to health care provision.

After he spoke in the Commons Andy Reed said "There is a long tradition of service providers in the NHS. We have GPs who are not salaried but effectively small businesses as well as a large charitable sector like the Rainbows Children Hospice. If we are to have commissioning of services the co-operative sector has proved it provides good service and wit th added values that co-operation bring. Not for profit organisations have quality of care at their heart and although there are many excellent examples like the Shepshed Carers the culture of the Health Department means the have to jump through too many hoops. I call on the government to help with the promotion of this form of service provision and was pleased to hear the Minister agrees."

Justice Secretary Jack Straw has set out the latest plans for reform of the House of Lords.

Under the proposals most, if not all peers, would be elected and serve terms of between 12 and 15 years.

The Lords would be reduced in size from more than 700 peers to no more than 450. The bishops would stay, but the 92 hereditary peers would be abolished.

Mr Straw told the Commons that any change would only take place after the next General Election.

MPs voted last year in favour of a reformed Lords being either 80% or 100% elected.

Andy Reed said "As this paper shows there is still no absolute consensus on the way forward but that must not be a reason not to act. We have an 18th century upper house in the 21st Century. We need to do this as quickly as possible and take as many people with us as possible. I look forward to further legislation and action."

Stripped of their blackberries and mobiles, a cross party group of MPs will spend 24 hours drawing attention to the way 1 billion people spend a lifetime – in a slum.

The MPs will build their own makeshift shelter, walk 4 miles to collect water and eat nothing but rice and dhal. They will face a series of unexpected challenges, to highlight some of the daily harsh realities faced by 1 billion slum dwellers.

This will take place Tuesday 15 July – noon Wednesday 16 July at College Garden, Westminster Abbey, London.

By spending 24 hours focusing on the way a billion spend a lifetime, living in a temporary shelter, eating a limited diet and facing tough challenges and choices, the MPs will raise awareness of the poverty and people that live in the world’s slums.

Andy Reed said "Whilst this can only ever be a token gesture we hope that by doing this we get people talking about this issue. With 1 billion people living in slums where water and sanitation remain a massive problem we know the world could act. But we need to understand the issue and how bad it is. Having seen slums for myself in countries around the globe I am amazed at the resourcefulness of those living these lives. But we are all responsible in the way we live our lives and expect cheap products to maintain our comfortable lifestyles from imported goods. Many will have been made by those living in slums.

"I know some cynical journalists will find it easier to have a pop at us rather than deal with the issue we highlight - but that is their problem and further demeans the journalists as a profession - not us!"