OTLEY AND DISTRICT MEN’S FORUM
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A Topical Subject Three years ago Greg Mulholland gave us a talk about “Parliament”, reflecting the views of a callow Parliamentarian who like other Members did not have a Job Description. In the ensuing period he has gained in knowledge, ability, confidence and awareness. His gains contributed to our enjoyment of his interesting and thought provoking talk. We heard about the variety of personalities of the 646 elected members from mavericks like Dennis Skinner via the far less interesting mundane legislators to the almost silent majority working behind the scenes who are there to represent their constituents. To adequately represent their constituents they need to be known and contactable and interested in the local affairs. It is Greg’s aim to be a reliable constituency MP and to this end, over the last three and a half years, he has met with 8,000 people out of a constituency of 71,000. Being
a good husband with sound Another subject he has raised in Parliament, which was brought to his attention locally, is that of “Land Banking”. This practice of a company buying up Green Land and then selling plots of it at inflated prices on the fictitious information that planning permission had been granted for house building enabled them to obtain prices ten times the value of the land. His airing of the issue in The Commons provoked other MP’s to investigate the problem in their constituency. Before
closing he briefly touched on the subject of MP’s expenses, said to be
correctly called allowances, and their exemption from the Freedom of
Information Act. He is quite happy to have his expenses published as we
expect would all honest MP’s. An “Audio Visual Spectacular” is a true description of the show that Eric Spence F.R.P.S. will put on for us at our next meeting in The Main Hall of Otley Civic Centre at 10-00am on Thursday 5th February. Do not miss it.
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