I join with my colleague Sue Hayman, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, when she says of the recent River Lea industrial oil spill: ‘We must try and stop this happening ever again’. 

I have written to the Environment Agency (EA), urging that action be taken to contain such waste spills into the river, and for longer term planning to make sure better provision is in place to tackle such crises.

I met with Transport for London (TfL) recently about their proposed cutting down of bus routes through Hackney including plans to cut the 277 route between Dalston Junction and Highbury and Islington.

I stressed importance of an increase of frequency of the 30 bus - and other buses - to compensate for any such cut and ensure an even better link through to the tube at Highbury & Islington.

TfL will increase the frequency from seven to eight buses an hour, not enough to make up for the loss of the 277.