Brian's Diary

• Interview with Tower FM Radio about the lack of public transport over the festive season
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Funeral of former Councillor Donald Grime
• Meeting with Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, Architectural practice in Silverwell Street

• Meeting with Science Minister Ian Pearson MP to discuss the funding of ‘science centres’ such as Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (where Brian Chairs the Board of Directors)
• National Day Reception of the State of Qatar at Claridges Hotel
• Meeting with Observer journalist Denis Campbell to discuss a major article on the physical dependency and addiction possible with prescription and over-the-counter drugs (the All-Party Parliamentary Drug Misuse Group has launched a public inquiry into this subject under Brian’s Chairmanship)

• Meeting with Achim Holzenberger, Economic Counsellor, German Embassy about the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Chemical Industry
• Innovation, Universities & Skills Committee, taking evidence on the proposed ‘UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation’
• Celebration of the enactment of The Statistics and Registration Services Act 2007 (this is the second piece of successful legislation for Brian who was until the beginning of this Parliamentary Session Patron of the Society of Registration Officers)
• Royal Society of Chemistry’s Christmas Reception (hosted by Brian who is a Fellow of the RSC and one of their Parliamentary Advisers)

• Labour Party rally, Victoria Sq, Bolton

• Interview with BBC Radio Manchester about the Police pay offer

• Away-day of the Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee to discuss future inquiries and structure of the main Committee and any Sub-Committee, Dorich House, Kingston-Upon-Thames

• Innovation, Universities & Skills Committee, taking evidence from Prof. John Beddington, appointed Chief Scientific Adviser to HMGMeeting with Officers of Greater Manchester Police over their pay offer of 1.9%
• AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary FRAME Group
• Presentation to Brian by the National Association of British Market Authorities for his work on legislation on pedlars
• Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) Christmas drinks
• Christmas reception with Minister for Science, Ian Pearson MP, at 1 Victoria St
• Parliamentary Launch of the Comparative Clinical Science Foundation

• All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group visit to St Mary’s NHS Trust, Paddington to study liver diseases
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Pneumococcal Disease Prevention in the Developing World Group
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Drug Misuse Group (Brian is Chairman of this APG)
• Performers’ Alliance reception
• Christmas reception with the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson and his DoH Ministerial Team

• Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill presented
• Meeting of the Programme Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee
• Meeting with the NW Regional Development Agency
• Strangers’ Bar Choir Annual Works Outing at The Albert, Victoria Street (a Christmas ‘do’ if ever there was one)

• Open Day at Bolton Samaritans

• Meeting of the Board of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of the TIC Board)

• Brian gave notice of presentation of The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill as a Presentation Bill (Standing Order No. 57)
• Parliamentary Launch of the new Institute of Place Management

• Innovation, Universities & Skills Select Committee, taking evidence from the Chief Scientific Adviser to HMG, Prof. Sir David King, whose term of office is coming to an end
• Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Press Conference on the release of Palestinian university and other students from Gaza who are studying abroad
• Interview on the above topic with More4TV
• The Parliamentary & Scientific Committee Annual Luncheon at the Savoy Hotel; Prof Sir David King as Guest of Honour
• Inter-Parliamentary Union (British Group) Annual General MeetingFirst meeting of the Board of Directors of the newly formed CNK Alliance Ltd (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• Annual Dinner of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy with Johnny Ball (born in Daubhill) as the Guest Speaker

• Meeting with the Special Advisers (SpAds) from the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)( Brian is a Member of the new DIUS Select Committee)
• Brian met some visitors from Bolton CVS
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Warm Homes Group (Brian is Treasurer of this APG), addressed by Yvette Cooper
• ITV Christmas Reception at The Atrium, 4 Millbank

• Minister for the North West, Beverley Hughes, opened the Children’s Accident and Emergency Unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital (Brian cut the first sod for this building)
• Meeting with Mme Denise Laberge, General Manager of the Quebec (Canada) Science and Technology Centre, about the funding of British ‘science centres’
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Gordon Brown
• Meeting with Bill Rammell, Minister responsible for Higher and Further Education, about Equivalent or Lower Qualification (EQL) students

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

November 2007

• Lecture for young people by Professor Colin Pillinger (of ‘Beagle 2' fame) at the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Funeral of Ellis Bailey
• Visit to a home in Harper Green Ward where Warm Homes Grant work has been carried out by EAGA, accompanied by the National Energy Action charity
• Meeting at Bolton Town Hall with the Assistant Chief Executive about two intractable cases

• Royal Society ‘Pairing Scheme’ breakfast meeting at the Royal Society in Carlton House Terrace (hosted by the RS President and Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees)
• Interview on Radio 4's The World at One programme on the funding of political parties
• Public Lecture by Professor Colin Pillinger at the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (this is the first of a series of lectures by famous scientists and engineers that Brian has planned at the TIC)

• Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee, taking evidence from Bill Rammell, Minister for Further & Higher Education and David Eastwood, Chief Executive of HEFCE
• Palestinian Solidarity Campaign rally, meeting with Alexie Sayle, Bruce Kent and other supporters of the PSC
• ‘ Justice for the Palestinians’, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign rally, Brian spoke at the evening rally

• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Chemical Industry (Brian was re-elected as the Chairman of this APG at this meeting, also the AGM)
• All-Party Parliamentary Warm Homes Group Annual Dinner, the Atrium, 4 Millbank - guest speakers were Minister Phil Woollas and John Clough, CEO of EAGA

• Talk to the Royal Society’s Pairing Scheme scientists (Brian is paired for the year with Dr Catherine Lawrence, a neurobiologist from Manchester University, who was in Westminster all this week)
• Lunch with the Royal Society’s Pairing Scheme scientists
• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee Council (Brian is a Vice-President of the P&SC)
• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee on ‘How can Science Help to Prevent Disasters from Becoming Economic and Human Catastrophes?’P&SC Discussion dinner on the above topic

• Q&A Session at Brandwood Primary School
• Interview with a Leeds University (Rebecca Goodwin) student on addiction to prescription and over-the-counter drugs
• Opening of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Octagon Theatre

• Meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Brian is a Fellow of the RSC and their Parliamentary Adviser on the Labour benches
• Meeting with the Serious Organised Crime Agency on drugs

• Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee, taking evidence from Lord Sainsbury on the ‘Sainsbury Report’
• Fifth Delegated Legislation Committee to consider the Company and Business Names (Amendment)(No. 2) Regulations 2007
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Britain-Palestine Group, addressed by John Ging, UNWRA Director in Gaza

• Meeting with Field Studies Council
• Meeting with Good4Business (Alan Grant)
• Meeting with Lord (Lyndon) Harrison on HoL Private Bills to control the activities of pedlars (the Manchester and Bournemouth Bills)
• AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Planning
• Meeting on the Planning Reform Bill, organised by a consortium of organisations that campaign on sustainability
• ‘Care NOT Killing Alliance’ fund-raising dinner (Brian is Chairman of this national organisation), Chandos House, London

• Visit of students from Bolton Sixth Form College
• Meeting with Chryssostomos Chryssostomidis from Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT) about a science collaboration for teachers between MIT and the Bolton TIC
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by John Denham, DIUS Secretary of State
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Knowledge Transfer Challenge Award Evening, Russell Hotel

• Interview about ‘Welfare to Work’ on the BBC Politics Show, North West

• Bolton Bazaar 2007
• The Bolton Diversity Awards 2007 (Brian received the first Anne Gough Lifetime Achievement Award)

• 10th Anniversary Celebration of Bolton WISE
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• All-Party Parliamentary Engineering & Information Technology Group lunch, with Iain Gray, new CE of the Technology Strategy Board as guest speaker
• Meeting with Iain Wright MP, one of the Ministers responsible for the Housing and Regeneration Bill
• Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology seminar: ‘Climate Science: Communicating the Uncertainties’, sponsored by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

• Inaugural meeting of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee
• The AIRTO Parliamentarians Lunch
• Interview with Bradford Police (watch this space)
• Diwali Party, organised by the Hindu Forum

• ‘Potential for Concentrated Solar Power and a High Voltage DC Supply Grid’; a breakfast meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee
• Science 2020 Parliamentary Seminar (this group believes that greatly enhanced computer power is going to revolutionise our lives in the next two decades)
• Launch of ‘The Case for Housing in the North West’ by the NW Housing Forum (Brian introduced this report and the Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, responded)
• Meeting of the PLP Work and Pensions Committee to discuss the future of Remploy factories

• Interview with BBC TV South East on the Science & Technology Select Committee’s report on ‘Abortion’
• Commonwealth Scholars’ Reception, Locarno Suite, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

• Remembrance Sunday Services at Farnworth Cenotaph and Victoria Square, Bolton

• Concert of Remembrance, Albert Hall

• Meeting of the Board of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of the Board of Directors)
• Q&A Session at Plodder Lane Primary School (Farnworth Ward)

• Rethink Breakfast seminar on ‘Cannabis and Mental Health’
• Meeting with Prof. Hans Kwist (John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA) about pneumococcal disease prevention in Africa
• Meeting with Paul Spencer from Yorkshire Forward (Regional Development Agency)
• Westminster Education Forum (Brian is a Patron) Parliamentary reception

• Presentation to Parliamentarians by the FCO Science & Innovation Network, organised by POST (Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology)
• Presentation of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s ‘Bill Bryson Prize’ (hosted by Brian)
• Conference on ‘Biosimilars’ (Chaired by Brian) - taking evidence from professionals in the field on the safety of these new ‘biological medicines’
• Launch of the 1st Annual Science Report by the Food Standards Agency, Royal Society of Chemistry HQ, Burlington House, Piccadilly

• STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
• Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting on the Queen’s Speech
• B&Q reception to launch the range for people with disabilities
• Advance showing by 20th Century Fox of ‘Lions for Lambs’

• ‘The Value of Public Science Surveys’; an event at The Royal Society

• Interview with BBC News 24 TV about the declaration of a State of Emergency in Pakistan

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall
• NW Region Labour Party Conference, Southport Floral Hall
• Interview with Saturday PM Programme (Radio 4) about the declaration of a State of Emergency in Pakistan

• Speech at the ‘Affordable Warmth’ event at Bolton Town Hall

• Opening of the Garden of Tranquillity at Bolton Hospice by HRH Princess Alexandria
• Brian joined a discussion on ‘Older Drivers’ on Radio 5 Live at midnight

October 2007

• Meeting with a group of students from the University of Passau, Germany

• Parliamentary Session prorogued
• ‘Providing Sites for Gypsies and Travellers’, a meeting organised by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Meeting organised by ‘Talking about Cannabis Parent Action Group’

• Interview with Prof. Philip Cowley, Nottingham University, about Parliamentary rebellions (for a new book)
• Final meeting of the Science & Technology Select Committee (a five hour marathon to finalise the report on ‘Abortion’)

• ‘Make a Difference Day’ - Brian supported Barnardos in their Farnworth shop

• Brian was Guest Speaker at the Bolton PCT ‘Take It to the Top’ event on mental health, Octagon Theatre
• Photo opportunity at Bolton Police HQ to mark ‘National Specials Weekend’, to thank existing Special Constables and to help recruit more
• Meeting with the owner of Hartford Mill to discuss new regulations on empty business property rating (a problem with old mills)
• Meeting with World Development Movement (Keith Dewhurst)Presentation Evening at the Farnworth and Kearsley Labour Club (five people received awards for 25 years service to the club)

• Extraordinary meeting of Newton’s Apple Think Tank Ltd, to agree a change in the constitution to become a charity (Brian is a Trustee of this science ‘think tank’)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, Taking evidence for the ‘Abortion’ inquiry from Minister of State at the DoH, Dawn Primarolo
• Meeting with a journalist (Dennis Campbell) from the Observer newspaper on the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaccine Damaged Children
• AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group (Brian was re-elected as Vice-Chairman of this APG)
• SBAC (Society of British Aerospace Companies) aerospace reception
• Meeting of the Middle East Peace Initiative of the Universal Peace Foundation (Brian chaired this meeting)
• Launch by Transform Drug Policy Foundation of their report ‘After the War on Drugs - Tools for the Debate’

• Meeting with RAPt (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust)
• Science & Technology Select Committee, interview with Ian Pearson (Science Minister) about the ‘Annual Report on the Science and Innovation Framework 2004-14'
• Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s ‘Fly-In’ (Brian met Constituent Yvonne Laidlaw), Westminster Methodist Central Hall
• Joint meeting of the Association of Colleges and Skills for Business
• Brian hosted a meeting of ‘Debt on Your Doorstep’ for the launch of a new report on debt and its prevention

• Meeting at Bolton Technical Innovation Centre about staging a national ‘Innovation Live’ event
• Meeting organised by MIND on ‘Psychological Therapies’
• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee (Brian is a Vice-President) on ‘Global Population Growth - Is it Sustainable?’

• Lifetime Achievement Award to Vincent Simpson, presented by Brian posthumously to his family (at the New Unity Centre)

• Visit to Turton School and Westhoughton High School with Jenifer Burden, author of the 21st Century Science syllabus
• ‘Engineering Your Future’ a career awareness day at Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Meeting of representatives of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Council Housing with Yvette Cooper
• Interview for Granada TVs ‘Party People’ on MRSA and other Healthcare Acquired Infections

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Abortion’ inquiry
• Launch by the Healthcare Commission of ‘The Annual Health Check 2007-2007'
• Meeting of Safety First, a coalition set up to oppose criminalisation of sex workers, to mount opposition to Clause 72 of The Criminal Justice Bill
• Meeting with representatives of the US company Gore (most famous brand name is Gore-Tex) about the EU REACH Regulation
• Meeting of Consumers for Health Choice
• Briefing meeting with George Jones, journalist (Daily Telegraph), about older drivers - he is writing an article for Saga Magazine

• Interview with BBC Radio Manchester on organic food
• ESRC conference on ‘Science in Society: Innovation, Culture, or Anti-science Britain?’, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
• Interview for commercial radio stations on organic food
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Mis-use of Drugs Group (Brian is Chairman of this APPG), addressed by Dame Ruth Runciman and CEO Roger Howard of the UK Drug Policy Commission
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office Edid Al-Fitr reception
• Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTE) Parliamentary Event
• GMPTE dinner, Marriot Hotel

• Interview for BBC Radio Wales on the call by the Chief Constable of North Wales to legalise all drugs
• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Abortion’ inquiry

• External Advisory Board, School of Chemistry at Manchester University (Brian is an External Adviser)
• Annual Professional Dinner of the Bolton & District Branch of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

• Meeting of Newton’s Apple Think Tank Ltd (Brian is a founder Member and Trustee)
• Meeting of Care Not Killing Alliance (Brian is Chairman)
• World Sight Day (12 October) event, sight tests for MPs

• Science & Technology Select Committee, Evidence Session with the Minister for Science followed by a seminar for the inquiry on ‘Abortion’
• Minister’s (Vernon Coaker) consultation with MPs on the Government’s Drug Strategy
• Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Britain-Palestine Group
• ‘Photo opportunity with SIGOMA, College Green
• Meeting of SIGOMA [Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (outside London)]
• SIGOMA discussion dinner

• Health Food Manufacturers’ Association breakfast briefing meeting, chaired by Brian
• Science & Technology Select Committee, private meeting to finalise several reports before the committee is disbanded at the end of the Parliamentary Session
• ‘Photo opportunity with the Breast Cancer Campaign
• The Cuba Initiative’s Annual reception

• HOUSE RETURNS AFTER SUMMER RECESS
• Meeting with Dr Richard Simpson MSP, convenor of the Alcohol and Drug Misuse Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Gordon Brown
• Meeting about Remploy, addressed by Roger Poole, appointed by Government to bring the union and management sides into agreement about the proposals to close 43 of the Remploy factories (Farnworth MP George Tomlinson launched Remploy)

• Interview with BBC Radio Manchester about identity fraud
• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

• Meeting of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd.’s Board (Brian is Chairman)

• Meeting with Stewart Kellett, CE of Sport England NW about funding for Darcy Lever Cricket Club (Cllrs Sean Hornby and Tony Connell attended)
• Meeting with CE of NW Arts Council (Michael Eakin and Anthony Preston)
• Little Lever Branch meeting

• Meeting with representatives of the NW Housing Forum (Brian and George Howarth MP have been working with them in an attempt to raise the profile of housing in the NW ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review announcements)
• Hulton Ward Branch meeting, Rumworth Hall

• June Corner’s funeral, Parish Church
• Interview with a French TV station on immigration and asylum seekers in the UK
• Bolton SE CLP General Management Committee

September 2007

• Street Surgery at Little Lever Precinct

• Two ‘Question and Answer Sessions’ for Years 5 and 6 at Queensbridge Primary School (Farnworth Ward)
• ‘Tickled Pink’ store visit to Asda’s Burnden Park store (raising money for the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign)
• Protest rally at Little Lever Precinct for the illegal erection of a mobile ‘phone mast by T_Mobile
• Interviews with BBC TV News NW and MTV
• ‘And Did Those Feet’, a play by Les Smith (previously a LP member in Central Branch) and Martin Thomasson (both lecturers at the University of Bolton), Octagon Theatre (Brian is a Patron for the 40th Anniversary Season of Plays)

• Labour Party Annual conference in Bournemouth (Brian chaired a fringe meeting of the Chemical Industries Association on 24 September and spoke at a meeting organised by DrugScope on 26 September )

• Meeting with Dave Lea, Chief Superintendent, GMP, Bolton Police HQ
• AGM of Age Concern and 60th Birthday Celebration (Brian spoke briefly)
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Management Board of Science in Parliament (Brian is Chairman), London

• Bolton Labour Group visit Paderborn to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their link with the SPD (Brian was a founder member of this link in 1977)

• Ghana 50th Year Anniversary of Independence Celebrations: 11.00 a.m. Entertainment in Victoria Square 7.00 p.m. Fund-raising event in the Festival Hall

• Meeting with Penny Walker, Headteacher of Mount St Joseph’s School and Business & Enterprise College, and Tony Birch, Assistant Director of Children’s Service at Bolton Council, about Bolton TIC
• Octagon Theatre _ Lisa’s Sex Strike by Blake Morrison (Brian is a Patron of the Octagon’s 40th Anniversary Season)

• Visit to Mayor’s Parlour with Bolton’s volunteering ‘Heroes’
• Brian opened Neo Artists Art Exhibition at 1 Merchant Place, a building newly refurbished by the Charles Topham Group in River Street

• Meeting with Penny Walker, Headteacher of Mount St Joseph’s School and Business & Enterprise College about Bolton TIC
• South Area Forum at Cherry Tree School (Harper Green Ward)

• Meeting of the Board of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (TIC) Ltd (Brian is Chairman of the Board)
• Kearsley Branch meeting

• Meeting with Paul Round and Cllr Sean Hornby regarding grant aid for Darcy Lever Cricket Club
• Bolton SE CLP General Management Committee

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

August 2007

• Meeting to discuss ‘The Case for Housing in the North West’ at MP George Howarth’s office in Knowsley
• Interview with Granada TV (Claire Ashworth) about retiring from politics at the next General Election

• Presentation of The Registration Service Bill (Brian’s Private Member’s Bill) and The Statistics and Registration Act 2007 to Oliver Barton, previously Chief Superintendent Registrar at Mere Hall Register Office, and Andrea Fitton, present Manager of the Civil Registration Service in Bolton
• Meeting with Brian’s Royal Society Pair for the 2007-2008 Parliamentary Session

• Meeting with AXA Insurance in London about ‘Induced Car Crashes’, prevalent in Bolton
• Meeting with Makhdoon Mahmamod Irtaza, a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Lahore region of Pakistan for the PPP (the Pakistan People’s Party, whose leader is Mrs Bhutto)

• Funeral of Bernard Ramsden, St Bartholomew’s Church, Westhoughton

• Bolton Mela, Bolton Arena

• Unveiling of memorial plaque to Derek Patel at the Bolton Indians Cricket Club, Hacken Lane (Little Lever Ward)

• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Astley Bridge BBQ

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

• Meeting with Director and Assistant Director of Children’s Services at Bolton Council about future plans for the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (Brian is Chairman of the Board of Directors)

• Meeting with Bolton Primary Care Trust about ICATS
• Interview with Tower FM Radio about the Draft Embryology Bill

July 2007

• Meeting with technology firm STN

• Bolton Interfaith Council concert with the band ‘Berakah’, Victoria Hall, Bolton

• Interviews with The World at One (Radio 4), The Guardian newspaper, Radio Five Live and BBC Radio Wales about The Lancet article (2007, July 28, vol. 370, p. 292, 293 and 319) on the link between psychosis and cannabis misuse

• Science & Technology Select Committee, visit to CERN in SwitzerlandHOUSE RISES FOR SUMMER RECESS

• Science & Technology Select Committee, private meeting to finalise several reports
• Meeting with Jane Kennedy as the Minister responsible for the Inland Revenue about the proposed closure of the IR tax office in Churchgate, Bolton
• OneVoice Europe event - recording messages from UK MPs to the people living in Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories, College Green, London

• Brian (as Vice-Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Pakistan Group) chaired an informal meeting with Mr Humayun Akhtar Khan, Secretary of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, and his delegation, in the presence of Pakistan High Commissioner Dr Maleeha Lodhi
• CWU lobby about their pay claim, strike action and other matters related to Royal Mail (Ian Young and John Simpson came down from the SE Constituency)
• ‘The Use of Drugs as Weapons’ (based on a recently published BMA report) - meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation
• New Statesman New Media Awards 2007
• Brian launched an inquiry into the mis-use of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines in the UK on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group (of which he is Chairman)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Gordon Brown and Ed Balls on Summer campaigning

• Visit to Bolton Art Gallery and Museum as part of National Archaeology Week and to meet organisers of the Portable Antiquities Scheme

• Meeting of the Board of Directors of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman)
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Brief meeting with Gary Titley MEP
• Meeting with members of ALERT (Brian is a Patron)
• Meeting with BASF about damage to their crop trials of GM blight-free potatoes
• Guide Dogs for the Blind Parliamentary reception to launch ‘The Missing Piece: Losing your sight shouldn’t mean losing yourself’

• ‘Photo opportunity with The Samaritans to support their 24/7 campaign
• Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Islam All_Party Parliamentary Group
• Manchester Airport Group of MPs forum
• Tenth Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of the Draft Verification of Information Passport Applications Etc (Specified Parsons) Order 2007
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Group for ALMOs
• Meeting of the NW Group of Labour MPs
• The House Magazine Parliamentary Awards reception and dinner

• Science & Technology Select Committee _ Press Launch of ‘2007: A Space Policy’ at the Science Museum in Kensington (a major inquiry into space research in the UK)
• Fourth of a new series of Lunchtime Health Seminars (‘Innovations in Healthcare’) _ ‘Bowel Cancer: Is this Getting the Attention It Deserves?’ (Brian Chairs this Series)
• Meeting with Mike Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS North West (SHA) on health priorities in Greater Manchester
• Meeting of the PLP Health and Social Services Committee with Alan Johnson (SoS for Health)
• Launch of ‘Medical Advances and Animal Research’ by the Coalition for Medical Progress and the Research Defence Society
• Presentation of children’s books for the Bolton Library Service at a meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries and Information Management

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans Inquiry’
• Round Table Discussion on ‘Climate Change’ with Sir Emyr Parry Jones, Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative at the UN
• Meeting of SIGOMA (the Special Interest Group of Metropolitan Authorities [Outside London])(Cllr Rosa Kay attended from Bolton)

• Q & A session at Little Lever Specialist Language College
• ‘Proud of Pubs Week’ (organised by ‘The Publican’) visit to the Sweet Green Tavern in Crook Street (one of only four CAMRA_listed pubs in Bolton)
• Election Celebration Party for Cllrs Anthony Connell (Little Lever Ward) and John Byrne (Breightmet Ward) at Darcy Lever Cricket Club

• Brian Chaired a Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar on ‘Big Brother Britain? ID Cards, Surveillance and Data Security’ at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Meeting with the Chief Whip about the future of the Science & Technology Select Committee
• Brian hosted the ‘Presidents’ Dinner’, with the President of the American Chemical Society and the President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Brian is a Fellow and Parliamentary Adviser) and their ‘entourages’ present, House of Commons

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Science and Discovery Centres’ inquiry, instigated by Brian through his Chairmanship of the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Board
• Brian gave evidence to the Archer Inquiry on ‘Contaminated Blood and Blood Products’
• Reception for the Chemical Industries Association (hosted by Brian as Chairman of the All_Party Parliamentary Group on the Chemical Industry) to launch the results of their survey on skills shortages in the industry
• Brian hosted a discussion dinner for the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry’s NW Pharmaceutical Group on ‘Future Competitiveness of the Pharmaceutical Industry in a Rapidly Changing Environment’

• First Delegated Legislation Committee in respect to The Draft Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment)(England and Wales) Order 2007
• Unison lobby on equal pay (two delegates from the Bolton Branch)
• Scientists for Labour Annual General Meeting (Brian is a member)
• Interviews with Granada TV, Tower FM Radio and BBC Radio Manchester on Brian giving evidence to the Archer Inquiry (on haemophiliacs contracting blood borne disease through NHS blood transfusions)
• ‘Making Your Voice Heard! A Stakeholder Investigation: Impact of the NICE Appraisal of EPOs on Cancer Patients and the NHS’ (a conference at which Brian gave evidence of Parliamentary lobbying on this subject)

• Meeting with Discovery Pharmaceuticals
• Discussion dinner of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee on ‘Clinical Trials’

• Hull University Reunion Weekend

• Hull University Reunion Weekend

• Funeral of Anne Gough, Parish Church
• Reunion Weekend at Hull University (Brian met with half his graduation class of 1961 in Honours Chemistry _ 52 started and about 26 graduated)

• Royal Society of Chemistry’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Burlington House, Piccadilly (Brian is a Fellow of the RSC and one of their Parliamentary Advisors)
• Bolton SE CLP’s fundraising dinner at the Namploy Restaurant

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry
• Launch of the Youth Parliament’s report ‘SRE (Sex and Relationships Education) _ Are You Getting It’.
• Brian entertained Michael Peet and his bride_to_be Nicole, along with American guests to the wedding, to be held in Chichester on Sat 7 July (Michael Peet is MD to the company that produce health products on the Europa Estate in Kearsley Ward)
• Summer Soiree of the Royal Society of Chemistry at the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly

• Meeting with DrugScope about the future programme of the All_Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group
• Meeting of the Programme Sub_Committee of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Warm Homes Group (Brian is Treasurer of this APG)

• ‘Removing Stigma _ Access to Services for Problematic Drug Users’; conference at the Royal Society of Arts
• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Improving Research Conduct and Preventing Fraud’ inquiry
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Prime Minister Brown
• NESTA reception

June 2007

• Meeting with Jerusalem Peacemakers

• Funeral of former Councillor Ray Stones at St John’s Church and Bolton Crematorium, West Chapel

• Royal Society Of Chemistry’s Parliamentary Links Day (‘Earth, Air, Fire and Water: Science and the Global Challenge’)(As one of their Parliamentary Advisers Brian hosts this meeting, which is the biggest annual science event in Parliament)
• MP Heroes Tea Party, which recognises the work done by volunteers _ Mr Dhirajlal Jhala was nominated this year by Bolton CVS and won one of two special awards at the event for his work with Age Concern, Bolton Carers Support and the Sport Health and Inclusion Project

• Parliamentary Launch of STEPS (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Centre, University of Sussex (ESRC funded)
• ‘Nanotechnology: Is Britain Leading the Way?’, a conference about the future of nanotechnology, addressed (amongst others) by Prof. Sir Harry Kroto (Nobel Prize winner for chemistry, educated in Bolton)
• Second Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of The Draft Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007
• Photo opportunity on the smoking ban in England on 1 July with Health Minister Caroline Flint
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Tony Blair and John Prescott, with presentations as their term of office comes to an end
• Summer reception of the All_Party Parliamentary Local Government Group
• Meeting with BASF (German chemicals conglomerate)

• Bolton Children’s Book Award 2007 Award Ceremony, Festival Hall

• Brian opened a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CITB) test centre at Labour Ready (Manchester Road) on their 7th Anniversary in Bolton
• Opening of The Bolton Hub in Bold Street
• University of Bolton Degree Congregation, Victoria Hall
• Brian visited a carer in Little Lever as part of National Carers Week

• Third Delegated Legislation Committee in respect of The Smoke-Free (Signs) Regulations 2007

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence from the new Chairman of the Medical Research Council (Sir John Chisholm) and for the ‘International Policies and Activities of the Research Councils Inquiry
• Meeting with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
• Meeting of the NW Group of Labour MPs
• Drinks reception with Rosie Winterton MP who is steering The Mental Health Bill through Parliament (Final Stages in the House of Commons on 19 June)
• DODS 175th Anniversary Summer Party in the Locarno Suite at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) reception, addressed by Science Minister Malcolm Wicks

• Third of a new series of Lunchtime Health Seminars (‘Innovations in Healthcare’) _ ‘Febrile Neutropenia: Fighting Infection During Treatment of Cancer’ (Brian Chairs this Series)
• Meeting of the Care NOT Killing Alliance (Brain is Chairman of this National Alliance)
• AGM of the All_Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group (Brian was re_elected as Chairman)

• Joint seminar of the All_Party Parliamentary Hepatology (Brian is a Vice_Chairman) and Health Groups to discuss health campaigns (Brian Chaired the first half of this seminar)
• Photo opportunity with the All_Party Parliamentary Markets Group (this week was Markets Week)
• Care NOT Killing Alliance (Brian is the National Chairman) fundraising dinner at The Royal College of Medicine, Wimpole St.

• Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Board meeting (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• Bolton at Home ‘Taking a Stand’ Award Ceremony, Town Hall, Bolton
• Sod cutting event for Bolton Sixth Form College’s new Farnworth Campus in Queen Street
• Advice Surgery in Bolton Town Hall

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry
• Meeting with the Chair and CEO of the NHS Independent Reconfiguration Panel about the reorganisation of NHS children’s and maternity services in Greater Manchester
• USDAW Carer’s Day meeting
• Launch of the British Lung Foundation’s ‘Blow the Whistle on Lung Disease’ campaign and their Charter in Parliament during ‘Breathe Easy Week’

• LP photography session
• Photo opportunity with Wallace and Gromit on behalf of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Foundation
• Meeting to conclude the report on a proposal to change ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to POMs (Prescription Only Medicines)(Sudafed is one of these products) as a result of their potential use to manufacture methamphetamine (‘crystal meth’)
• Meeting of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs with John Monks on the EU Temporary and Agency Workers Directive
• Meeting of the PLP Communities and Local Government Committee, addressed by Phil Woolas on The Sustainable Communities Bill

• Meeting with a York University student writing a MA Thesis on Drugs Policy
• Meeting with the Parliamentary Relations Officer of ‘Life Education Centres’
• Meeting with Pat McFadden MP, Cabinet Office Minister, about the Pedlars (Street Trading Amendment) Bill, a Ten_Minute Rule Bill being steered through Parliament by Brian
• Meeting of the Science in Parliament Editorial/Management Board (Brian is Chairman)
• Elijah Trust meeting, addressed by HE Archbishop Elias Chacour, an Arab Christian living in Israel, believing in a one_State settlement to the conflict

• ‘Enough’ - a National Demonstration and Rally in Trafalgar Square, London, to mark 40 years of occupation of the Palestinian territories (Brian spoke at this rally)

• Q & A Session and attendance at the School Assembly at Spindle Point Primary School (Kearsley Ward)
• Visit to Lloyds TSB Hotel Street Branch

• Science & Technology Select Committee visit to the British Antarctic Survey at Cambridge, as part of the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘International Policies and Activities of the Research Councils’ inquiryLaunch of the N8 Coalition of Northern universities

• Meeting with the CEO of the CIA (Chemical Industries Association)
• Deputy Leadership hustings
• Meeting with psychiatrists on The Mental Health Bill
• The Wildlife Trust’s ‘Petition Fish’ launch - campaign for a Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech (‘photo opportunity)
• Parliamentary Launch of N8 (a collaboration of eight Northern universities)
• North West Rail Parliamentary event
• AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary Britain-Palestine Group (Brian was re-elected as Secretary), addressed by Kim Howells
• NHS Connecting for Health Parliamentary reception (‘The NHS Programme for IT’)

• Launch of National Housing Week, addressed by Minister Yvette Cooper
• Meeting with Phil Royal (Whitehouse Consultancy) about a proposed Adjournment Debate on alleged infringement of the law on the distribution of health foods and food supplements by companies operating out of the Channel Islands
• Meeting with Minister Rosie Winterton on the Report Stage of The Mental Health Bill
• Launch of Christian Aid’s new report on ‘Israel and Palestine: A Question of Viability’, Chaired by Jon Snow at Chatham House

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

May 2007

• Meeting with Labour Ready, and employment Agency operating on Manchester Road

• Bolton Primary Care Trust’s Estates Strategy Review Stakeholder Event, Last Drop Hotel

• Science & Technology Select Committee visiting the USA (Boston and Washington DC) as part of its ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry

• Keynote speech at the 4th UK/European Symposium on Addictive Disorders (UKESAD 2007), Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London (Brian also Chaired a Plenary Session at this Conference)
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall
• ‘Shining City’ at the Octagon Theatre (Brian is a Patron of their 40th Anniversary Year)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry
• Interview with BBC Southern Counties Radio on the Mental Capacity Act Regulations, which the Daily Mail believes open the way to assisted suicide
• Meeting with NABMA (National Association of British Market Authorities)
• Speech at a meeting in Holborn, organised jointly by NABMA and Sharpe Pritchard (Solicitors & Parliamentary Agents) on ‘Local Acts of Parliament, Street Trading Enforcement and Pedlars’ (Brian is attempting to steer through The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulations) Bill
• Special International Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Misuse of Drugs Group (Brian Chairs this APG)
• Launch of the Lyell Centre and Lyell Room at the Geological Society HQ, Burlington House, as part of their bicentenary celebrations

• Tenth and Eleventh Sessions of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (10.30 a.m. _ 1.00 p.m. and 4.30 _ 5.00 p.m.)
• Second of a new series of Lunchtime Health Seminars (‘Innovations in Healthcare’) _ ‘Bone Disease: Research, Care and Treatment’ (Brian Chairs this Series)
• Reception for Renew Northwest _ a Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities
• Communication Workers Union lobby (Ian Young came down from Bolton)

• Interview with Tower FM radio on the non_payment of court fines
• Interview with Talk Sport (John Gaunt) on the Mental Capacity Act Regulations, which the Daily Mail believes open the way to assisted suicide
• Meeting of the PLP to launch a campaign for the election of a new Leader and Deputy Leader of the LP (John Prescott and Tony Blair announced their resignations formerly to a NEC meeting on 13 May)
• Launch of the newly formed ‘Action on Addiction’ (a merger of the old Action on Addiction, Clouds and the Chemical Dependency Centre)

• Brian took part in a one hour late-night debate on Radio Five Live (with presenter Steve Nolan) on the Government’s new attempts to deal with prostitution, particularly kerb-crawling men

• Brian hosted a conference for STN (a company marketing an innovative new technology based on mobile ‘phones) at the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Interview with GMR on ‘a manifesto for Gordon Brown’
• Board meeting at the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (Brian is Chairman of the Board)

• PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT
• Ninth and Tenth Sessions of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (9.25 _10.25 a.m. and 1.30 _ 5.00 p.m.)
• Interview with GMR on Tony Blair’s ‘legacy’ and the future of the Labour Government

• Patron’s speech at the Annual Conference of the Society of Registration Officers (SORO) at Leicester City Hall (Brian announced his retirement from this role at the end of the current Parliamentary Session after 10 year’s service) (He was made the first Honorary Member of SORO)

• Seventh and Eighth Sessions of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (10.30 _1.00 a.m. and 4.30 _ 6.26 p.m.)
• Brian entertained Cllr Noel Spencer and his family for lunch following his MBE investiture at Buckingham Palace

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

• Meeting with Keith Davies, Director of Development and Regeneration for Bolton Council
• Q & A session with pupils at St James’ C of E Secondary School

•  LOCAL ELECTIONS IN BOLTON

• "US Challenges in the Middle East" (US Ambassador R Nicholas Burns, US Under_Secretary of State for Political Affairs as guest speaker), organised by the All_Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non_Proliferation
• Meeting with journalist Bill Jacobs, who is writing three pieces for the Bolton News on the three Parliamentary Constituencies _ in the case of Bolton SE, on Brian’s retirement and the "race" to be his successor

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Investigating the Oceans’ inquiry
• Fifth and Sixth Sessions of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (10.30 _1.00 a.m. and 4.30_7.10 p.m.)
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Group on the Chemical Industry with guest speakers Roger Highfield (Science Correspondent, Daily Telegraph) and Fiona Fox (Director, Science Media Centre) _ ‘Science and the Media’
• Meeting with the NHS Independent Re_configuration Review Panel

April 2007

• Meeting with Prof. Nigel Cameron, Associate Dean and Research Professor of Bioethics, Illinois Institute of Technology and Chicago Kent College of Law
• Labour Members’ meeting on progress with The Mental Health Bill
• European Standing Committee; Limiting Global Climate Change
• Evening reception (‘The IET in Your Community’) with the Institute of Engineering & Technology

• Visits to Dixon Green and Farnworth and Kearsley Labour Clubs to promote election candidates for Harper Green, Farnworth and Kearsley Wards

• Street stall in Victoria Square (local election campaign)

• Visit to Macca Mosque (local election campaign)

• Third and Fourth Sessions of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (9.25_10.25 a.m. and 1.30_4.00 p.m.)
• Interview with Radio 5 Live on the impact of drugs (licit or illicit) on a drivers ability to drive
• Brian presented the prizes to the winners and runners_up of the 2007 British Physics Olympiad at the Royal Society

• Science & Technology Select Committee _ private meeting to decide future inquiries and taking evidence from Mr Ed Wallis, new Chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council
• All_Party Parliamentary Group on Local Environmental Quality reception
• Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service advice on blood pressure and strokes (sponsored by the Stroke Association and Rotary International in Gt Britain and Ireland)
• Parliamentary launch of the RNIB’s ‘Access to Information Campaign’
• Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s Annual Dinner at Grosvenor House

• Meeting with CEO of Remploy
• First Session of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (10.30 a.m._1.00 p.m.)
• First of a new series of Lunchtime Health Seminars (‘Innovations in Healthcare’) _ ‘Kidney Disease: Understanding the Challenges in Delivering Renal Care’ (Brian Chairs this Series)
• Second Session of The Mental Health Bill Standing Committee (2.30_7.00 p.m.)
• PLP Health & Social Services Committee

• Meeting of the Management Board of ‘Science in Parliament’ (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• AGM of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee (Brian was re_elected as a Vice_President)
• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee on ‘Science & Religion’ followed by a discussion dinner on the same theme

• Bolton Metropolitan Borough Scout Districts’ St George’s Day Service and Parade from the Town Hall to Trinity Church to celebrate their Centenary Year
• Watan Volleyball Club National Tournament at Harper Green Leisure Centre

• Street surgeries at Little Lever Precinct and outside Asda in Farnworth

• Launch of AGMA’s Mobile Advice Centre in Farnworth, sponsored by Age Concern, the Pensions Service and the Benefits Agency
• Q & A Session at Cherry Tree Primary School (Harper Green Ward)
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall
• St George’s Day Celebratory Dinner at the Holiday Inn, in aid of the Mayor’s Charity

• Science & Technology Select Committee; final evidence session in the ‘Space Research’ inquiry _ taking evidence from Malcolm Wicks MP (Minister for Science)
• Standing Committee on The Vehicle Registration Marks Bill
• Meeting with the Association of British Insurers on ‘Young Drivers: Reducing Death on the Roads’
• Meeting of the ‘Care NOT Killing Alliance’ (of which Brian is Chairman)
• Joint meeting of the All_Party Groups on Drugs Misuse (Brian is Chairman) and Primary Care and Public Health on Government proposals to restrict the availability of medicines (such as Sudafed) that contain ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (evidence was taken from a number of organisations)
• POST (Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology) reception for International Polar Year

• Science & Technology Select Committee launch an inquiry into ‘Investigating the Oceans’ by a visit to facilities in Plymouth

• Meeting of the Board of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of the Board)

• New changing rooms opened at Darcy Lever Cricket Club

• Little Lever Branch meeting

• Safer Neighbourhoods Launch and Beacon Award Celebration, Victoria Hall, Bolton
• Visit to Kearsley Station to view a litter problem with the Bolton News
• Joint interview with Alan Beswick at Roots FM, Asburner Street Market (this community radio station had a 10_day licence for Easter)
• Harper Green Branch meeting

• Bolton SE CLP Management Committee meeting at Dixon Green Labour Club

• United Co-operative Society’s ‘Community Day’ at the Co-operative Travel Superstore, Burnden

March 2007

• Q & A session with pupils at St William of York Primary School, Nugent Road
• Leaving event for CE Bernard Knight at Bolton Town Hall
• Attendance at the declaration of the result for the election of Bolton’s two MYPs, Council Chamber, Bolton Town Hall
• Interviews with Tower FM Radio on the result of the MYPs election and on USDAW’s campaign on flexible working hours
• Leaving event for Sue Parry, who started up the Bolton Neighbourhood Dispute Service in 1991 (Brian’s idea)

• Q & A session in the Board Room at the Royal Bolton Hospital between those involved with mental health issues and Minister Rosie Winterton MP, who is steering The Mental Health Bill through the HoC starting on 16 April
• Ministerial Visit by Rosie Winterton MP to the Royal Bolton Hospital (opening of the recently refurbished C1 and C3 Wards)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, private meeting to finalise two reports: 1) ‘Government Proposals for the Regulation of Hybrid and Chimera Embryos’, and 2) ‘Office of Science and Innovation; Scrutiny Report 2005 and 2006'
• Interview with Tower FM Radio on the decision to locate the first Regional Casino in Manchester (agreed later by the HoC and refused by the HoL)

• Science & Technology Select Committee visit to the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (visits to the new Diamond Light Source, the Central Laser Facility and the Space and Technology Department)
• Meeting with Patricia Hewitt about a long_standing (unsolved) constituency case
• Briefing meeting with Liam Byrne on the new immigration charges

• Briefing meeting with Roger Howard, CE of the UK Drug Policy Commission (to launch on 18 April)
• Meeting with the Institute for Community Cohesion (iCoCo), addressed by Ted Cantle, organised by former MP Oona King
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Group on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis
• Inaugural Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan

• Interview with BBC Look North on cannabis
• Meeting with PAGB (Proprietary Association of Gt Britain, trade association for over_the_counter medicines)
• Meeting with the Mental Health Alliance about The Mental Health Bill [HL]
• Reception in recognition of the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and their 60th Anniversary of Independence, guest of High Commissioner Dr Maleeha Lodhi at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, Cadogan Place, London

• Parliamentary Press Gallery Lunch Club as a guest of Jim Hancock, address by the Leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage
• ‘Dying the Liverpool Way’, a meeting organised by ALERT (Brian is a Patron) with Dr Gillian Craig as guest speaker

• Meetings of the Science & Technology Select Committee; a) Question Time with the new Science Minister, Malcolm Wicks; and b) Horizon Scanning event with outside advisors
• Budget Day: Interview with Tower FM Radio
• Meeting of the Executive Members (Brian represents Gt Manchester) of the ‘Below Target Group’ of Labour MPs
• Meeting of SIGOMA [Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (Outside London) Within the LGA]
• 25th Annual Dinner of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), The Royal Lancaster Hotel

• Meeting with Peter Styche from the NW Housing Forum
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group (Brian is Chairman of this Group)
• Reception for backbench MPs and their spouses at Buckingham Palace

• Brian hosted ‘Presentations by Britain’s Younger and Early_Career Researchers in Science, Engineering, Medicine and Technology’ (poster sessions), organised by SET for Britain (several sessions in the day and evening)
• Meeting of the PLP Communities and Local Government Committee, addressed by Prof. John Hills (Hills Report on Housing)
• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Space Research’ inquiry from the D_G of the European Space Agency
• Second Delegated Legislation Committee _ Draft Child Benefit Up_rating Order 2007, The Draft Guardian’s Allowance Up_rating Order 2007 and The Draft Guardian’s Allowance Up_rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
• Transition to Transformation; Housing Market Renewal and Our Changing Communities, a discussion of Housing Market Renewal
• Weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, addressed by Gordon Brown

• Meeting of the Board of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• Q & A session on energy, climate change and global warming with the children of Queensbridge School, Farnworth
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Keynote speech at the 2007 National Drug Treatment Conference, Novotel London West Hotel, Hammersmith

• Interview for Tower FM Radio on the Trident debate
• Science & Technology Select Committee, private meeting to finalise the ‘Research Council Institutes’ report

• TOAST (The Obesity Awareness & Solutions Trust) reception (Brian is a Patron of TOAST)
• Royal Society of Chemistry’s ‘Voice of the Future’ event, including an address by Science Minister Malcolm Wicks and a Q & A session with Members of the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee (Brian hosted this event)
• Meeting with Bolton Primary Care Trust about a trial of NHS electronic records in Bolton (Kearsley Medical Centre have volunteered as one of two surgeries to take part)
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Markets Group [Brian reported on progress with his Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill]
• Interview with BBC Regional News NW on the Trident debate

• Meeting with the CEO of Novartis about the future of the pharmaceutical industry and the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Meeting with Naomi Richards, a PhD student from the University of Edinburgh, who is writing a thesis on assisted suicide and euthanasia (Brian is Chairman of the national ‘Care NOT Killing Alliance’)
• Meeting with Bolton Sixth Form students visiting Parliament (an annual event)
• Meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee (Brian is a Vice_President this year)
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Patricia Hewitt MP, SoS at DoH
• Royal Society of Chemistry’s Parliamentary Awards Evening (Brian hosted this event)

• Meetings with Penny Walker at Mount St Joseph’s School and Paul Abbott at Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Brian presented the awards at the Final of the Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society’s ‘Electricity Challenge 2007' at the School of Chemistry, University of Manchester
• Bolton’s Civic Dinner, Bolton Town Hall

• Meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Brian is a Fellow of the RSC and one of their Parliamentary Advisors)
• Meeting with Steven Broomhead about Bolton Technical Innovation Centre
• Launch event for the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Commission on Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy report, ‘Drugs _ Facing Facts’ at the RSA (Brian was a member of the four_man panel and was its Chairman), followed by a reception and discussion dinner

• Private meeting of the Science & Technology Select Committee to clear reports on present inquiries
• Meeting with Ian McCartney to discuss Brian’s Ten Minute Rule Bill, The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill 2007
• Meeting of the NW Group of Labour MPs
• Meeting with the Health Food Manufacturer’s Association (HFMA)

• Science & Technology Committee’s visit to the HQ of the European Space Agency in Paris to take evidence for the ‘Space Research’ inquiry

• Meeting with health Ministers on meeting the 18 week target (Integrated Clinical and Treatment centres)(ICATS)
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Margaret Beckett and Des Browne on the replacement of Trident

• Mayor’s Charity Dinner and Cabaret

• Meeting with Skynet Technologies Network
• Meeting with Jenifer Burden, Co_director of ‘Twenty First Century Science’
• Meeting of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs on the ‘Temporary and Agency Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Bill’
• Appearance on Granada TV’s Party People programme on the GMP Budget

February 2007

• Science & Technology Select Committee, introductory hearing with Prof. Philip Esler, CE of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and taking evidence for the inquiry on ‘Government Proposals on the Regulation of Human_Animal Chimera or Hybrid Embryos’
• ‘Engaging Mathematics Showcase Event’, organised by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
• ‘Care Not Killing Alliance’ Steering Group meeting (Brian is the Chairman of CNK, a national organisation)
• ‘Treasures of the North’ exhibition, organised by Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) North West

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence on ‘Government Proposals on the Regulation of Human_Animal Chimera or Hybrid Embryos’
• Interview with Jo Taylor, a student, on The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill 2007
• Meeting of the Parliamentary University Group on a crisis of funding of medical and nursing schools
• Meeting of the PLP Health and Social Services Committee, addressed by Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence

• Launch of International Polar Year 2007_2008 at the Royal Society by the Princess Royal
• Meeting with the Director of the National Association of Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
• National Open Centre (open access to the internet is growing) reception
• Meeting with the NW Regional Development Agency
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Ruth Kelly (housing issues)
• Meeting with the Greater Manchester Police in support of Graham Stringer’s Private Members’ Bill, The Off_Road Vehicle (Registration) Scheme Bill

• Meeting of the External Advisory Board, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester (Brian is a member)
• Presentation of Bolton’s ‘Fairtrade Guide’ to the Mayor and Bolton’s three MPs in the Mayor’s Parlour

• European Launch of Family On_line Safety Institute
• Roundtable discussion on housing with the National House Builders Council (NHBC)
• Interview with ITV West for their programme ‘The West this Week’ on issues surrounding the Kelly Taylor case (Kelly, aged 30, lives in Bristol, and is asking doctors to put her in a coma with morphine, then starve and dehydrate her to death)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Space Inquiry’
• HDTV demonstration; part of a campaign to make HDTV available on Freeview TV
• Meeting of the NW Group of Labour MP’s
• Celebration of Keith Vaz’s 50th birthday and his 20th year in Parliament, The Red Fort, Soho

• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva
• Rehab UK’s Annual Pancake Race on College Green
• Interview with Tower FM Radio on The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulations) Bill, which Brian is presenting on 21 February as a Ten Minute Rule Bill
• Launch of the ‘selectcommittees.co.uk’ web site
• Meeting with Stephen Timms on the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007
• Interviews with BBC Spotlight SW TV and Radio on Brian’s Early Day Motion (EDM904) entitled ‘Exclusion of Channel Islands from Requirement to Comply with EU Directives’ (on health food products and herbal remedies)
• Meeting of the All_Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group, with a speech by Anita Roddick and a showing of Gemma Peppe’s film, ‘Louie, Me and Hepatitis C’
• Interview with GMR on Early Day Motion 888, ‘Price of Premiership Football Season Tickets’ and the Rehab UK Annual Pancake Race
• Defend Council Housing Rally at HoC

• Interview with the BBC lunchtime ‘Politics Show’ on The Mental Health Bill
• Meeting with the General Director of the Palestinian Return Centre
• Weekly meeting of the PLP, addressed by Hazel Blears as Party Chairman

• Board Meeting of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of the Board)
• Interview with Granada TV for their Politics Show on Thursday 22 February on Brian’s Ten Minute Rule Bill, The Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill, to be presented on 21 February (First Reading)
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall
• Celebration of the award of MBE to Cllr Noel Spencer at the Farnworth & Kearsley Labour Club

• Interview with Channel M TV on the travel expenses of Members of Parliament (of all Gt Manchester MP’s Brian claimed the least)

• Meeting with the CEO at the Bolton Primary Care Trust about ICATS (Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Centres)

• Meeting in the office of George Howarth MP in Knowsley to form an ‘organisation’ to lobby for increased housing allocations in the NW
• Brian gave his ‘Science in Parliament’ presentation at the University of Liverpool’s Department of Chemistry to first year students (Brian is a Visiting Professor at Liverpool)
• Interview with Radio 4 for the Today Programme on 13 February on increasing the number of owner occupiers in England and Wales through the sale of more public sector homes

• Q & A session at Hayward School
• Q & A session at Sunninghill Primary School

•  RECESS

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Space Research’ inquiry
• Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee, to consider the Draft Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2007
• Universities UK Winter Reception, addressed by SoS at the DfES Alan Johnson

• All_Party Parliamentary Britain_Palestine Group Annual reception
• Meeting with Singapore Airlines
• Discussion dinner with the Vice_Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence from three groups of witnesses for the ‘Government Proposals on the Regulation of Hybrid and Chimera Embryos’ inquiry

• Advice Surgery at Farnworth Town Hall

• Meeting with the unions at the Royal Bolton Hospital about the proposed ICATS (Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Centres)
• Debate at the Durham Union Society _ "That This House Would Legalise All Drugs" (Brian was paired up with Howard Marks [Mr Nice], who failed to turn up, and in opposition were Jan Berry, Chair of the Police Federation, and Siddharth Khajuria, European student debating finalist)

• All_Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group (Brian is a Vice_Chairman of this APG) ‘Know Your Liver Testing Day’ (with one of only five Fibroscan machines in the UK _ a non_invasive technique using ultrasound)
• Launch of the Disability Rights Commission’s ‘Gojo’ campaign about improving accessibility of public transport for disabled people

January 2007

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for an inquiry into ‘Government Proposals on the Regulation of Hybrid and Chimera Embryos’ from the HFEA and leading scientists in the field (these terms we discovered are the wrong terms)
• Lunchtime discussion with NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts)
• Reception for Tahir Mirza (recently returned from death row in a Pakistan gaol) (Brian supported this campaign
• PLP Education and Skills Committee, addressed by Bill Rammell on ESOL and the FE & Training Bill (now in the Lords)
• Science & Technology Select Committee, informal meeting with Korean (Republic) scientists
• Preview of the Samaritans ‘Stress Down Day’ (1st February)

• ‘Climate Change and the Oceans’, breakfast discussion meeting, addressed by Ben Bradshaw MP
• National launch of the ‘Enough!’ campaign by the ‘Enough! Coalition’ (which marks 40 years of occupation of the Palestinian territories by the Israelis)
• ‘Investing in Health _ Is the UK Keeping Up with the Rest of Europe?’, the third seminar in ‘Innovations in Healthcare’, which Brian hosted (the speeches and discussion are being published by Amgen)
• Meeting with Network Rail (CEO John Armitt and others) on rail safety
• All_Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health, addressing The Mental Health Bill (Minister Rosie Winterton in attendance)
• Scientists Meet the Media Party at the Royal Society HQ, Carlton House Terrace, London

• Launch of ‘Climate Change and the Oceans’, an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall by Malcolm Wicks MP, and organised by Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership
• Weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), addressed by Alan Johnson

• Question and answer session at Harper Green School with members of the School Council
• Question and answer session at Brandwood Community School with members of the school Council
• Meeting with Stop the War/CND Coalition

• Standing Committee on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill (seventh session, 9.00 - 10.25 a.m.; eighth and final session, 1.00-3.00 p.m.)(in the eighth session Brian’s legislation went through)

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence from Sir David Cooksey (on the ‘Cooksey Report’) and the Vice_Chancellor of University College, London on the proposed move of the National Institute of Medical Research from Mill Hill to central London (two sessions)
• ‘Photo opportunity with Cancer Research UK to promote their ‘Reduce Risks’ campaign (Brian is on of their ‘Parliamentary Champions’)
• Meeting of Executive Members (Brian represents Greater Manchester) of the ‘Below Target Group’ with SoS for Health Patricia Hewitt about the ‘Pace of Change Policy’ (Bolton PCT is moving closer to ‘target’ as a result of this lobbying)
• Beating Bowel Cancer’s ‘Loud Tie Campaign’ Parliamentary reception
• North West Group of Labour MP’s meeting, addressed by Jim Knight MP (DfES) _ Schools Minister
• Discussion dinner between Members of the Science & Technology Select Committee and senior representatives of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), soon to merge as the Large Facilities Research Council

• Science & Technology Select Committee, seminar on ‘Government Proposals on the Regulation of Hybrid and Chimera Embryos’
• Standing Committee on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill (fifth session, 10.30 a.m. _ 1.00 p.m.; sixth session, 4.30_7.00 p.m.)
• Brian signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Memorial Book of Commitment

• Parliament pays a tribute to folk singer Tom Paxton, presented by Jeremy Vine and BBC2 in the presence of Ralph McTell (‘Streets of London’)
• Weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, addressed by Hilary Benn

• Board meeting of the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre Ltd (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• Meeting with Bolton Quakers on the replacement of Trident and asylum seekers
• Advice Surgery at Bolton Town Hall

• Standing Committee on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill (third session, 9.00-10.25 a.m.; fourth session, 1.00-4.00 p.m.)

• Showman’s Guild of Great Britain’s Annual Lunch
• Meeting of the Department of Communities and Local Government PLP Committee on the Sustainable Communities Private Member’s Bill, addressed by Phil Woolas

• Standing Committee on the Statistics and Registration Service Bill (first session, 10.30 a.m. _ 1.00 p.m.; second session, 4.00_7.00 p.m.)
• Interview with BBC Asian Network on the increased misuse of drugs in Asian communities
• Interview with GCap Media (the independent that supplies most commercial radio stations with Parliamentary news) on Brian’s Adjournment Debate on ‘Affordable Housing in the North and Midlands’ _ presented on 17 January in Westminster Hall
• ‘Blood _ Safety and Supplies’, the second seminar in ‘Innovations in Healthcare’, which Brian hosted (the speeches and discussion are being published by Amgen)
• Meeting of officials of Care Not Killing Alliance (CNK - Brian is Chairman) with other organisations interested in two Bills being presented, one in each House, on improving palliative care (Jim Dobbin MP is responsible for the one in the HoC and Baroness Finlay is responsible for the one in the HoL)

• Meeting of the Labour Members of Parliament sitting on the Standing Committee for the Statistics and Registration Service Bill
• Meeting of the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee (Brian is a Vice_President) on ‘Conflicts of Interest’ followed by a discussion dinner

• Bolton WFC versus Manchester City FC at the Reebok Stadium

• Brian at the School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, to visit his Royal Society ‘pair’, Professor Nicola Tirelli, and to present a seminar ‘Science in Parliament’

• Meeting of the Statistics and Registration Service Bill (Programming Sub_Committee)
• Interview with Kuwait TV about Arab_British relationships

• Science & Technology Select Committee, taking evidence for the ‘Space Research’ inquiry
• Meeting with Ruth Kelly

• Meeting of the Editorial Management Board of ‘Science in Parliament’ (Brian is Chairman of this Board)
• Meeting organised by Voice of the Listener & Viewer on the BBC licence fee settlement

• Derek Patel’s funeral
• Brian cut the first sod at the Royal Bolton Hospital for the new Children’s Observation and Assessment Unit
• Ruth and Brian met the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Bolton Hospital’s NHS Trust

• Interview with Tower FM Radio on the local conservative prediction of 7 post office closures