Following my morning advice surgery at Wood Green Library, I went to the launch of the Renate Campbell Trust Deaf Job Club at the Winkfield Resource Centre. In short – this will be a facility, for the deaf and hard of hearing, where staff will be there to help them into work. This might comprise support in putting a CV together or learning skills – as well as educating employers and providing training awareness for staff.

Renate is the daughter of former Labour councillor Mary Neuner, who in middle life literally woke up one morning deaf. Mary worked tirelessly to improve things for the deaf and this launch today is on the back of her efforts. Mary was a real driving force and it is terribly sad that she, herself, died only recently. At least she knew that this was going to happen.

It is one of those things in life, you know. Most people don’t even know someone who is deaf. Most people don’t know someone in a wheelchair. And what people don’t have in their own lives appears as strange and alien. And I am sure that employers or would be employers think that deaf people won’t be able to do the job or it will cost them to have one working for them. And yet – if it is your mother or brother who is deaf, or blind or in a wheelchair or whatever – then they are just people – same as you or me. I have this total belief in a better world where the differences are as nothing compared to what we have in common. And that cuts across not just disability – but culture, race and religion too!

A little while ago I spoke at the All Party Group on Overseas Development about the future for international development. It was one of a series of speeches – one each from each of the main parties – and I see the series has now been written up on the ODI blog. Interesting to see how they compare what the three of us all said!

Met with OFCOM earlier today following my raising of the issue of pirate radio stations illegally broadcasting in my area and adversely affecting London Turkish Radio – which is in my constituency.

I can’t go into details about the specifics of what they will be doing to act on this particular issue – but am assured that act they will.

I had a master-class in the issues around radio, bands, enforcement and so on. One issue that sticks up quite clearly is the complete nonsense of the difficulties of catching and raiding illegal stations and the costs involved therein – compared with the ‘punishments’ meted out when someone is caught and convicted.

The average fine is somewhere around £118. There’s nothing wrong with the penalties that can be meted out – they are up to and including two years imprisonment – and other countries treat this seriously and apply such penalties. But for reasons I don’t understand – here the judiciary doesn’t to the same degree. No wonder they’re raided one night and then start up again the very next day. It’s financially still advantageous for them to do so as the fine and the cost of the equipment taken don’t come to anything like the money they make per week – and clearly they have no fear that the court will lock ’em up.

First stop of the morning is a photo op with a sardine and Jenny Agutter. To all those too young to remember – Jenny Agutter was one of the three child actors in a now classic film ‘The Railway Children’ – a film I loved and still do (and yes I cry every time).

As for the sardine! Well this is about a better railway system for Britain – and the point being – in case you haven’t twigged – that we are all packed together like sardines when we travel by train. This is a campaign by Transport 2000 who do really excellent work and in this campaign are highlighting the really appalling treatment we get when we use the railways.

High prices for overcrowded and uncomfortable journeys. Not good enough!