Private Members' Bills

This section details Private Members’ Bills that I have introduced. Such Bills are tabled by individual MPs, in order to try and bring about legislative change.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

With this bill, Frank hopes to gain proper financial compentation for victims of terrorist acts in this country and abroad.  Frank talks about the bill below. 

8 July 2009

Short Selling Bill

This bill, it is hoped, will put an end to what many believe to be an underhand and immoral trading practice.  Short-selling is a trading technique that involves lending shares with the hope to buy them back later for a lower price.   Such activity often leads to a devaluation of major financial instiutions including banks and pension funds.  

23 March 2009

Work and Pensions Questions

31 March 2008

Pensions (Unclaimed Assets) Bill

7 March 2007

The purpose of the Bill is to create an Unclaimed Assets Agency with the functions of obtaining information about unclaimed assets of banks and building societies and the transfer of a proportion of such assets to the Agency for distribution among certain members of occupational pension schemes

Anti-social Behaviour Bill

24 March 2005 as a ten minute rule bill

A Bill designed to make provision in connection with anti-social behaviour.

Background note to an anti-social behaviour Bill

The Government scores full marks in the emphasis it puts in trying to counter anti-social behaviour. There is however a big question mark over its strategy and the assumptions which underpin its strategy to counter anti-social behaviour. This Bill sees a growing failure of families to teach their offspring the basis of civilised behaviour. A successful anti-social behaviour strategy must therefore hold the line as effectively as possible while also looking at the root cause of the rise and rise of today’s yobbish behaviour.

It is not only a matter of holding the line but of effectively enforcing sanctions quickly. The Bill assumes that if anti-social behaviour is not countered immediately the chances are that those indulging in such activities will not only actively recruit accomplices but that the longer such actions are left unchecked the greater the likelihood is of them being escalated – speed is the essence.

Where parents fail or are unable to control the behaviour of their offspring, or worst still, participate themselves in anti-social behaviour, Police need the power to act as surrogate parents. The Bill gives the Home Secretary powers to pilot proposals to give Police the power to be surrogate parents. Modelled on the powers of a football referee, the Police would be given powers to caution, warn and then impose anti-social behaviour orders. It would then be up to those on whom the orders have been placed to go into court to appeal the decision if they through it was unfair.

Rite of Passage (Welcoming and Coming of Age) Bill

15 October 2004

This Bill seeks to establish Civil Welcoming Ceremonies, Responsibility to Children Agreements and Coming of Age Ceremonies; to make provision as to their conduct; and for connected purposes.

Foundation for Unclaimed Assets Bill

5 July 2004

This Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Foundation for Unclaimed Assets and makes provision as to its functions.

Draft Constitutional Treaty on the Future of Europe (Referendum) Bill

21 May 2003

The new European Constitution will affect nearly every aspect of our lives, including criminal justice, employment and social rights, the economy and our relations with the outside world.

Despite the fact this will mean fundamental and irreversible changes for Britain, the Government is unwilling to let the people have their say. This Bill calls for the Government to put the decision to a referendum, to let the people decide their future.

Although scheduled to receive its second reading on 11th July 2003, the Bill was talked-out.

You can contact my office at the House of Commons to request a copy of this Bill

Community Prosecution Lawyers Bill

8 April 2003

This Bill seeks to establish the post of Community Prosecution Lawyer in each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales for the purpose of bringing to account those responsible for committing offences relating to anti-social behaviour. It aims to bring the law closer to the people by making such posts elected, ensuring that local policing of anti-social behaviour mirrors the needs and demands of local people.

The Bill was scheduled to receive its second reading on 20th June 2003, however, it was not debated.

You can contact my office at the House of Commons to request a copy of this Bill

Pensions (Winding-Up) Bill

16 December 2002

This Bill makes four key provisions to protect scheme members when occupational pension schemes are either voluntarily or involuntarily wound-up:

• To alter the current creditor priority order so that scheme funds are allocated on a fairer and more proportionate basis, according to how much a member has invested in the scheme;
• To place a levy on ‘unclaimed assets’ to fund a compensation scheme for those who have received less than their full benefits under the current winding-up rules;
• To introduce a collective national insurance based scheme (which may not be state run), which places a levy on employees; and
• To place a cap on fees paid to professionals from the fund of a scheme in wind-up.

Although this Bill was twice scheduled for its second reading, on 20th June and 11th July 2003, it did not receive parliamentary time on either occasion.

You can contact my office at the House of Commons to request a copy of this Bill

Annuities (Competition) Bill

23 April 2002

This Bill sought to require pension providers to provide information from the Financial Services Authority on annuity rates to all holders of personal pension policies, to allow the purchase of an annuity from any provider

Housing Benefit (Withholding of Payment) Bill

27 February 2002

This Bill made provision for housing benefit payments to be withheld on the grounds of anti-social behaviour in certain circumstances.

Although this Bill did not reach the statute book, the idea was considered by the Government, which put the proposal out for consultation. You can click on the title of the bill to read my response to the consultation exercise.

You can contact my office at the House of Commons to request a copy of this Bill.