If you could change one law in this country, what would it be?

Written by Lorely Burt MP and published in Solihull Times - 31st January 2007 on Wed 31st Jan 2007

If you could change one law in this country, what would it be?

I'm inviting you to tell me because I have come up in the ballot for a Private Members Bill. I can introduce any new Bill I want to, so I thought I'd ask the people of Solihull.

You may recall I was lucky enough to come up in the ballot last Parliament, and introduced Lorely's Law, which dealt with windfall development and the sale of parkland by Local Authorities.

Lorely's Law was debated for a full three hours on the floor of the House of Commons at its second reading last October, but was eventually voted out by the Government. However, it proved a great way to bring the issues I know are so important to us here in Solihull to ministers' attention, and some of the provisions in Lorely's Law have already been adopted into government legislation.

I could introduce another version of the Local Government and Planning (Parkland and Windfall Development) Bill - the official and uncatchy title of Lorely's Law, but I will be leading the debate for the Liberal Democrats on a similar Bill being introduced next month. So while there is no shortage of suggestions coming from lobby groups and Parliamentary colleagues I thought I'd ask my own constituents.

For the best chance of success it should be reasonably straightforward and not have too many cost implications. We've recently debated Bills on changing daylight hours, sustainable communities and I'm speaking for the Lib Dems on one coming up to increase protection for temporary and agency workers.

Please let me have your suggestions by 28th February. You could then come down to London and listen to me make the introductory speech on 27th March. Email me at burtl@parliament.uk or write to me at House of Commons, London SW1A 1AA.