The agonising row over the lack of prison space has become a potential hot potato since the recent letter sent from the Home Secretary to the Judges. Now all I can ascertain is that he reiterated the need to be measured in the need to send the most violent criminals to prison, as opposed to those committing crimes of a lesser nature. Then last week we saw one judge decide that due to the lack of prison space he would not imprison a paedophile, instead letting him out into the community. Yet on the same day another judge sent to prison for 4 months a reporter who had hacked into the phonecalls of members of the Royal family. Now I am not saying for one minute that both should not serve a sentence but I know which one was a bigger danger. As far as the bigger picture is concerned there are serious issues regarding the numbers in prison. Perhaps we need to re-evaluate whether some should indeed be in prison. We need to have punishment for offences but we need a measured approach and that is what the Lord Chief Justice said about the Home Secretary’s letter.

January saw the start of the Private Members Bills. Two that have received a degree of publicity are the Sustainable Communities Bill and the Daylight Hours Bill – both of which I support. Unfortunately I could not attend either Bill when they were being debated on consecutive Fridays but having the Sustainable Communities Bill go through with a decent majority means it will be back. However the Daylight Hours Bill unfortunately didn’t, but lets hope we can still at some time in the near future see a full and reasoned debate on the issue of British summer time.

Going to watch the World Indoor Bowls men’s final on Sunday, gave me another opportunity to see the marvellous leisure facilities at Potters. The coverage on BBC of the prestigious final not only provided coverage of Potter’s but also of Great Yarmouth, and proved that we can host world class competitions. And isn’t it nice that British sports people can win competitions – I must admit to being biased though by supporting Mervyn King who came from Swaffham. Unfortunately he was just beaten by Alex Marshall from Scotland. Anyway, it was an excellent final. 

January 27^th was Holocaust Memorial Day – unfortunately I couldn’t get to the commemoration ceremony in Caister but I did sign the memorial book in Westminster. Having spoken to the Holocaust Education Trust, I am aware that high schools in Great Yarmouth will be able to nominate two students to go with me to one of the concentration camps. I am sure it will be a very emotional visit but one I think is necessary.

With the preferred location of the super casino now known, and that of the larger casinos, I am sure that things will move on at pace to get the first one completed – it may be that we are first in Great Yarmouth. Whilst I recognise the concerns expressed of going down the road to creating a large casino, regulations have been tightened up to give protection for vulnerable groups, but I do still remain of the opinion that the bigger problem is that of internet gambling.