Sandra Gidley MP

Sandra Gidley MP (Lib Dem) for Romsey

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson. Spokesperson for Older People. Shadow Minister for Women's Issues. Sandra is a qualified pharmacist and before becoming an MP she managed a pharmacy store. She is also the Chair of the Gender Balance Task Force, an initiative to get more women into politics; vice-chair of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Men's Health; vice-chair of the APPG on Domestic Violence and the co-chair of the APPGs on Mental Health and Cancer. Vice Chair All Party Music Group.

Member of the All Party Internet Group. She has a majority of only 125. Politically motivated sniping at her happened a lot on the comments section of her blog and got so bad she had to turn the comments off.

Digital Economy Bill

Contacted by at least one ORG supporter.

Surgeries

Details needed.

NHS

Sandra Gidley told BBC News Fears over NHS e-records system 12 September 2007

"This ambitious project has suffered from a lack of consistent direction."
"Confidence in the system will not be boosted by the government's woeful record at handling large scale IT projects."

Copyright

House of Commons debate Point of Order Sound Recordings (Copyright Term Extension) 5 December 2007

Pete Wishart, supported by Mr. Ian Cawsey MP, Mr. Mark Field MP, Sandra Gidley MP, John Robertson MP, Rosemary McKenna MP, Adam Price MP, Mr. Greg Knight MP, John Hemming MP, Stewart Hosie MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP and Janet Anderson MP, presented a Bill to extend beyond 50 years the copyright term of sound recordings; and for connected purposes: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time on Friday 7 March, and to be printed [Bill 33].

Discgate

Sandra Gidley said in a press release Thousands at risk in benefit blunder 21 November

"It is beggar's belief that anyone could think it is acceptable to entrust such sensitive data to an untracked postal system"
"The Government just simply cannot be trusted with people's personal information. If this is true in HMRC with Child Benefit, what is going to happen when all our medical histories are on a single NHS computer that can be accessed by millions of people up and down the country?"

Identity cards

Sandra Gidley said in a press release Thousands at risk in benefit blunder 21 November

"This debacle also places a large question mark over the Governments plans to introduce ID cards."

She has received quite a large volume of mail about ID Cards from her constituents.

Early Day Motions

Signed Early Day Motion 263 Identity Cards 06 June 2005

That this House believes that a convincing case for the introduction of compulsory biometric identity cards and a national database has not been made, that the risks involved far outweigh any discernible benefit, that the introduction of identity cards will fundamentally change the relationship between the citizen and the state, diminish personal privacy and threaten civil liberties, that the present proposals do not provide properly costed, proportionate or effective solutions to the problems they are claimed to solve; and calls upon the Government to shelve plans for their introduction.

Signed Early Day Motion 2699 Freedom of Information 10 December 2006

That this House welcomes the finding of the Constitutional Affairs Committee (HC991) that the Freedom of Information Act has `already brought about the release of significant new information and....this information is being used in a constructive and positive way' and the committee's conclusion that it sees `no need to change' the Act's charging arrangements; views with concern reports that the Government is considering changing these arrangements to permit an application fee to be charged for all requests or to allow authorities to refuse, on cost grounds, a significant proportion of requests which they currently must answer; and considers that such changes could undermine the Act's benefits of increased openness, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities.

Links

News

2007-11-21 - Sandra Gidley Press Release - Thousands at risk in benefit blunder
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: Over ten thousand families in the Romsey constituency, will have to keep a close check on their bank accounts after the biggest security blunder in history led to the personal details of 25 million fathers, mothers and children being lost by the Whitehall department responsible for all tax and benefits. The records included the name of the recipient and of their children, their addresses and dates of birth, child benefit numbers, national insurance numbers and, where relevant, bank or building society account details - all the facts that fraudsters need to illegally remove money from banks. Sandra Gidley MP said "It is beggar's belief that anyone could think it is acceptable to entrust such sensitive data to an untracked postal system" "The Government just simply cannot be trusted with people's personal information. If this is true in HMRC with Child Benefit, what is going to happen when all our medical histories are on a single NHS computer that can be accessed by millions of people up and down the country?" "This debacle also places a large question mark over the Governments plans to introduce ID cards."
2007-09-13 - Sandra Gidley Blog - Not a nice day
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: One of the rare days in recess spent in London. I had decided to attend the press conference accompanying the launch of the Health Select Committee's Inquiry into the Electronic Patient Record...
2007-09-12 - BBC News - Fears over NHS e-records system
Summary: A key plank of the £6.8bn NHS IT upgrade project in England has come under attack from MPs. The Health Committee said there was a "worrying lack of progress" and raised concerns about the security of patients' electronic records. ... Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said: "This ambitious project has suffered from a lack of consistent direction." "Confidence in the system will not be boosted by the government's woeful record at handling large scale IT projects."
2007-09-10 - Sandra Gidley Blog - NHS IT
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: Later this week the Health Select Committee's report into The Electronic Patient Record will be published. I can't say too much about the conclusions of the report but it was a fascinating inquiry and could have been a lot wider. ... I was puzzled as to why the visit had effectively been blocked and then I learnt that the gentleman in charge of implementation at Winchester had, a few years ago, worked at Whitehall on NHS IT. I can't help thinking that maybe he knew too much......
2007-08-14 - Sandra Gidley Blog - I've missed this
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: It's over 18 months since I posted a blog. I've missed it but sometimes it is useful to step back and reflect. I had always wanted to start blogging again but the fact is that being a few grand poorer because of legal action makes one cautious. So, as much as my inner liberal wants to allow free debate my wallet cannot risk it. I am happy to stand by anything I say but I am not going to be responsible for the musings of third parties. Am happy to engage in debate with anyone but it will have to be by direct e mail to gidleys@parliament.uk. Am also now on facebook and pondering on why so many people seem moved to comment on the beautiful game.
2005-08-09 - Sandra Gidley Blog - ID cards - does this add to the debate
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: A colleague sent me a link to this (Flash animation against ID cards. Eclectech)
2005-07-29 - Sandra Gidley Blog - ID cards
Author: Sandra Gidley MP
Summary: The arguments for and against these are well rehearsed and I have received quite a large volume of mail on the subject - I don't need to go into all of it here. Best bit was when Diane Abbott's opening remarks were interrupted by an almighty clap of thunder. As one of the diary columnists remarked today - it was about the only time in living history that anything has stopped her talking. The much trumpeted Labour rebellion came to nothing and I am beginning to think that the Labour party Whips have developed a system of managing these rebellions and retaining a majority. I don't really want to see this and sincerely hope that I am proved wrong.


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