The Post Bag: Letters To Squall

Agenda Amenda

Squall 07, Summer 1994, pg. 32.

Dear Squall,

As yet I am still trying on the amendment front but not with much success. On squatting, the Government have decided it is a Home Office matter and takes it out of my area. I don't agree and I want to get the debate focussed onto homelessness, lack of affordable housing and effectively change the agenda to what causes squatting.

The Caravan Sites aspect is my responsibility except it is being dealt with in a bill out of my area. I am still trying to get amendments onto the agenda.

You will appreciate this bill is a rag bag of a bill and everyone is to get items on to the "Agenda". That is the first hurdle - to get them selected for debate, the next is then to get a vote on a key point.

If I don’t succeed I will look at other ways of trying to have a realistic and objective debate on the issues involved. With regard to Artillery Mansions, I visited it several times. In my view the squat focussed attention very much on the real issues involved and they received a fair measure of public support.

On reading the magazine it is quite clear that you fully understand the situation.

Best Wishes,

Peter Pike MP
House of Commons
London SW1