Alan Whitehead

Infobox MP


honorific-prefix =
name = Alan Whitehead
honorific-suffix = MP
constituency_MP = Southampton Test
parliament =
majority = 7,018 (16.8%)
predecessor = James Hill
successor = Incumbent
term_start = 1 May 1997
term_end =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1950|09|15|df=yes
birth_place = Isleworth
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse = Sophie Wronska
party = Labour
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = University of Southampton
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Alan Patrick Vincent Whitehead (born 15 September 1950, Isleworth) is the Labour Member of Parliament for Southampton Test. He was first elected to the seat in 1997.

Early life

He went to Isleworth Grammar School (now Isleworth and Syon School) on "Ridgeway Road" in Isleworth.

He studied Politics and Philosophy at the University of Southampton, was President of Southampton University Students' Union and holds a PhD in Political Science. From 1979-82 he was Director of OUTSET, then from 1983-92 he worked for BIIT, being Director, both being charities. Before becoming an MP, Dr Whitehead was the Leader of Southampton City Council from 1984 to 1992 and a Professor of Public Policy at Southampton Institute.His name is mentioned by lead singer of Led Zeppelin in a bootleg recording from Southampton University on 22nd January 1973. He asks the crowd "who's that geezer whose name is on the bog wall?" to which the crowd reply "Alan Whitehead". The song "Whole Lotta Love" iat that performances dedicated to him.

Personal life

Dr Whitehead married Sophie Wronska in 1979, and they have a son and daughter. He is a member of the Saints Trust and plays in the UK parliamentary football team. He is currently set to be the first MP to have a wind turbine installed on his roof.

Career in Parliament

* 1997-1999: Member of the Select Committee on Environment Transport and the Regions
* 1999: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Baroness Blackstone, Minister for Higher and Post 16 Education
* June 2001 - May 2002: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (responsible for local government, the regions and the Fire Service)

Current committee memberships:
* Member of the Justice Committee
* Member of the Standards and Privileges Select Committee.
* Member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Marine Bill [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/2008/may19.html]

Chair of PRASEG, the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy GroupCo-Chair, Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Waste GroupSecretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on PolandMember, Associate Parliamentary Ports and Merchant Navy GroupMember, Group on Charitable Giving Member, Estonia All-Party Parliamentary Group

Dr Whitehead voted against the Iraq war on the basis of the mission not receiving endorsement from the UN [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/articles/articles_2003/004.htm] . He lobbied for changes to the Government's Education White Paper. He does not support building new nuclear power stations, believing nuclear to be uneconomic. He voted in favour of ID cards and for a ban on fox hunting.

Renewable energy politics

Dr Whitehead has lobbied for the increased use of sustainable energy sources, particularly microgeneration. He criticised the results of the Energy Review [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/pr2469.htm] and was the co-author of EDM 2204 [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/pr2453.htm] which states ‘the case for nuclear has not yet been made’ and urges the government to ‘recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power, and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration.’

As leader of Southampton City Council in 1986, Dr Whitehead proposed that the city council take measures to become a ‘self sustaining city’ with regard to energy generation [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/pr2455.htm] . One such measure was the conversion of Southampton Civic Centre to being heated by local reservoirs of geothermal energy. The scheme recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. In a recent survey of carbon emissions in major UK cities conducted by British Gas, Southampton was ranked as being one of the lowest carbon emitting cities in Britain [http://www.britishgasnews.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=16&Year=2006&NewsID=686] .

Dr Whitehead now sits as a non-executive director of a new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project, funded by the Government as part of the regeneration of outer Shirley [http://www.southampton.gov.uk/environment/energy/default.asp] . The CHP system recycles the by-product 'low grade heat' made during the electricity generation process and uses the by-product to heat water which is piped to local homes.

Dr Whitehead’s Private Members Bill [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/022/2006022.htm Management of Energy in Buildings] , was ‘talked out’ by Conservative backbenchers in 2005, but many of the Bill’s most important aspects were incorporated into the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, sponsored by Mark Lazarowicz MP. The Act received royal assent in 2006 [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/pr2464.htm] .

Dr Whitehead’s amendments to the bill included:
* requiring better compliance of building regulations for energy efficiency
* the removal of planning permission for microgeneration in homes
* new regulations to ensure a minimum energy standard in new homes including microgeneration

Houses in Multiple Occupancy

Due to the high concentration of houses in multiple occupation in Southampton, in 2007 Whitehead proposed changing planning regulations which would mean a landlord would be required to apply for planning permission if they wanted to convert a family home into an HMO housing more than 4 people. [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/2007/may22.html] . The proposal is being considered as part of the government's current review of the private housing sector, which will report in October 2008. [http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/742257]

Pre-pay meters

Alan Whitehead is currently campaigning with the National Housing Federation to end the current pricing practice utilised by several energy companies which sees customers who pay for their electricity or gas via pre-pay meters pay more for the same amount of energy than customers who pay via direct debit. [http://www.housing.org.uk/default.aspx?TabID=485] Dr Whitehead argues:

“Ten per cent. of pre-pay electricity customers are in fuel poverty compared with only 3.5 per cent. of direct debit customers. In short, those who need affordable energy most pay far more for it than those who do not. What is worse, because of the nature of pre-payment, most of them are not aware of that fact.”

Source: http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/2007/october09.html

Education Bill 2006

Along with fellow Labour MPs Estelle Morris, John Denham and Martin Salter, Dr Whitehead co-wrote the so-called alternative education white paper [http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/news/features/education_bill/alternative_white_paper.asp 'Shaping the Education Bill- Reaching for Consensus,'] which criticised the weakening of the role of Local Education Authorities in the provision of education services and called for the schools admissions code to be made mandatory. He voted for the Bill when Alan Johnson, the new Education Secretary, accepted many of the alternative white paper’s proposals.

Rebellions

Dr Whitehead has rebelled against a government 3-line whip on the following issues:
* The renewal of the UK Trident programme
* The invasion of Iraq

Following Labour's defeat in the Crewe and Nantwich By-election Alan Whitehead compared Gordon Brown to the former US President William Taft, citing that both had lacked the “phwoarr” factor which is now seen as necessary to survive in today's political climate. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021702/Brown-It-8217-s---suicide-pact.html]

= World Cup 2006 = Professor Whitehead was criticised in the press when he accepted free tickets to attend the world cup from his friend the Labour MP Clive Betts. Mr Betts had received the tickets from corporate sponsor McDonalds on behalf of the Parliamentary Football Team where Whitehead plays in goal. Some England supporters were angry that tickets were being given to sponsors rather than to fans while the issue also raised questions over MPs that accepted hospitality may compromise their future impartiality over tackling issues like obesity. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3813601.stm] [http://archive.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/2004/6/17/27831.html] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/070326/memi28.htm]

ee also

* Wessex Constitutional Convention
* Energy policy of the United Kingdom
* Geothermal power in the United Kingdom

References

* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/2007/october09.html Unfair energy pricing]
* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/articles/articles_2007/homesforall.html Homes for all? The best way to tackle Southampton's housing crisis]
* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pdf/Springnewsletter.pdf Alan Whitehead's Spring 2005 newsletter]
* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/pr/pr2455.htm Southampton is a low carbon city]
* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk/articles/articles_2003/004.htm The situation in Iraq]

External links

* [http://www.alan-whitehead.org.uk Alan Whitehead MP] official site
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-5497,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Alan Whitehead MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/alan_whitehead/southampton,_test TheyWorkForYou.com - Alan Whitehead MP]
* [http://www.praseg.org.uk/index.php PRASEG, the Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/528.stm BBC Politics page]