This month I held an adjournment debate, with the other Coventry MP’s,  in the House of Commons on the issue of Jaguar. To debate covered the recent Ford announcement of the closure of the Browns Lane production plant in Coventry, with an estimated loss of 1,300 jobs. The Ford Company was encouraged to engage in constructive negotiations with the trade unions.

I asked the Prime Minister what progress had been made on the issue of Jaguar during Prime Ministers Questions on 20 October 2004.

The Prime Minister responded, “I have actually spoken to both the company and the unions. I have asked them both to ensure that the proposals they have made are subject to proper scrutiny by unions and company jointly, and I understand from the conversation I had the other day that that will shortly take place.

Also this month I proposed Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, asking what steps the Government had taken to reduce international drug trafficking in the UK.

The Secretary of State responded that operational activity overseas included the deployment of over 50 Drug Liaison Officers working closely with governments and law enforcement agencies. Between April 2002 and March 2003, HM Customs and Excise seized 9.3 tonnes of cocaine and 9.4 tonnes of heroin destined for the UK.

I was also delighted to attend the Diwali celebrations in Coventry at Edgewick Park, in Foleshill on 24 October 2004. The event celebrates emphasises the multicultural make up of Coventry.