A Westminster Parliamentary motion praising the establishment of the UKs first UNESCO centre at Dundee University was laid down by Jim McGovern MP today. The UNESCO centre will continue to build on the University’s already renowned International Water Law Research Institute (IWLRI) which attempts to find solutions to regulate pressing problems regarding management of the world’s water resources.

Jim McGovern MP has welcomed efforts to reduce the amount of people who are unregistered on the electoral roll. Mr McGovern spoke in favour of a Bill that will make it easier for people to be registered to vote and make the voting process itself even more accessible.

Jim was fortunate enough to be chosen for his first Prime Ministerial Question. Unfortunately the Prime Minister was unable to be there that week so Jim’s question was answered by the Leader of the House Geoff Hoon MP who was deputising for him. Jim raised the Warwick agreement; this was an agreement between the Trade Unions and the Labour Party which agreed about certain key policies for the current Parliamentary Session. This included increasing the amount of guaranteed paid holiday to 20 days with 8 days additional public holiday.

Here Jim speaks in favour of a Government Bill to adjust the rules governing elections. Jim was shocked by the amount of people disenfranchised at the recent election due to systematic problems with the electoral register. Jim is also keen to increase the level of turnout at elections and whilst this Bill will not do that it does provide for better registration practices and thus at least gives everyone the option of voting as well as making fraud more difficult.

Jim McGovern MP joined with veterans and fellow Parliamentarians to help launch the 2005 Scottish poppy appeal. The Earl Haig fund has been working on behalf of veterans and their families since 1921 and this marks the launch of one of the focal points of their fundraising efforts.