Parliamentary Activity

Paul Burstow hosted a Protecting Young Backs” parliamentary reception on Monday 6th November at the House of Commons and gave his support to the campaign in a strong address. Paul encouraged Members to sign the EDM (see above) and also announced his plans to set up and chair a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Health and Well-Being at School. The group will have a broad remit, addressing many issues relating to pupil’s health but will begin with those relating to adolescent back pain. Paul put forward Overton Grange Secondary School from his constituency of Sutton and Cheam to take part in BackCare’s “Watch Your Back” initiative during BackCare Awareness Week. Paul has also featured the campaign and Overton Grange school on his own parliamentary website www.paulburstow.com Paul also tabled campaign-related questions in the House on Commons for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills during the last parliamentary session.

Barry Sheerman, met members of the Protecting Young Backs campaign group in the summer and showed interest and support for the campaign. Barry asked BackCare to submit evidence to the Education and Skills Select Committee for their enquiry into the Building Schools for the Future, Academies and Colleges of Further Education building programmes. Our submission on Pupil Back Pain was lodged on October 18th, during BackCare Awareness Week. The Select Committee hopes to announce its findings in the New Year. Barry put forward Royds Hall Academy secondary school in Huddersfield to take part in BackCare’s “Watch Your Back” initiative during BackCare Awareness Week.

Andy Reed MP, (Labour MP for Loughborough)
		Andy has been supportive of the campaign as his constituency is the home to the Ergonomics Society and to ergonomic furniture manufacturer and “Protecting Young Backs” campaign group member Anthony Hill. Andy has featured the campaign on his parliamentary website www.andyreedmp.org.uk Andy also tabled campaign-related questions in the House on Commons for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills during the last parliamentary session.

Baron Browne of Belmont, in the County of Antrim, was raised to the peerage on 12 June 2006. He is a Northern Irish politician in the Democratic Unionist Party giving his party their first representation in the House of Lords. He was Lord Mayor of Belfast 2005/2006 and is also a retired schoolteacher. Lord Browne attended the Protecting Young Backs parliamentary reception recently and has shown much interest in the campaign. We hope that he will take forward some of the campaign issues to the House of Lords.

Lord Browne of Belmont