Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark has given his support to local small businesses who are concerned that Transport for London's (TfL) plans to change the parking provision along Old Kent Road will damage their businesses.

TfL has floated plans to increase parking restrictions along the Old Kent Road in order to improve the flow of traffic. However, small business owners have reacted strongly against the plans, arguing that such changes will only encourage people to shop at the big supermarkets in the area as they have their own customer parking.

Reacting to Thames Water's latest response to the public's views on the plans for a London 'super sewer' Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Simon Hughes said:

"I am disappointed that Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey remains Thames Water's preferred option to drill the proposed main Thames tunnel to Abbey Mills Pumping Station (Newham), remains the preferred eastern end of the proposed main tunnel from Kirtling Street (Wandsworth), and remains the preferred site at the end of the Greenwich connection tunnel.

Simon Hughes, local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has welcomed news that unemployment and in particular youth unemployment has begun to drop in the three parliamentary constituencies in Southwark over the last three months.

The figures show that in Simon's constituency the number of unemployed fell by 178 from 4,542 in February to 4,368 in April, broadly reflecting the wider trend in London which saw the number of unemployed fall from 57,095 to 53,410 over the same period. In the constituencies of Camberwell and Peckham, and Dulwich and West Norwood the numbers fell by 97 and 100 respectively.

In response to Southwark council's Draft Open Spaces Strategy consultation, Simon Hughes MP has called on council officers to develop and nurture working relationships with interested individuals and groups in order to ensure the best possible day-to-day care of Southwark's open spaces.

The consultation asked for people's views on what the vision and objectives for the borough should be and to identify key needs and priorities for the different types of open space throughout Southwark.

Today (Saturday, 13th May) Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark received the Honorary Freedom of Southwark, along with actor Sir Michael Caine and six others at a Civic Awards Ceremony at St George's Cathedral. Speaking after the event, Simon said:

"It was a great honour for me to be one of those who received the honorary freedom of our borough at the splendid ceremony in St George's Cathedral today. I am very grateful to Southwark council for agreeing to give me this honour.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has received assurances from Southwark council that the Open Door Day Centre on Jamaica Road will stay open.

Following concerns raised by local residents who had heard that the day centre was to close, Simon Hughes MP sought assurances from the council that this important community organisation would not be lost.

Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has raised in a meeting with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner residents' concerns about the level of helicopter noise over Southwark at night.

Following several complaints by residents living in the north of the borough near the Thames, Simon Hughes MP raised the issue of noise disturbance with both the Civil Aviation Authority and Bernard Hogan-Howe, Metroplitan Police Commissioner.

Following his enquiries to the Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), Simon Hughes MP has received assurances that the Barclay's Cycle Hire scheme could be extended south east along the Thames.

In April, Simon wrote to TfL to express his disappointment that the recent expansion of the Barclay's Cycle Hire scheme does not include more of his constituency and to ask if Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks are likely to be included in any future expansion.

Simon Hughes MP calls for local conference on health and social care for the elderly

Today (Thursday, 10th May) Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, hosted the latest meeting of the Southwark Pensioners Parliament at the House of Commons.

The Pensioners Parliament had as its main business a debate on proposals from the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust to reduce elderly inpatient beds.

Today (Wednesday 9th May), Simon Hughes MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons, responded to the Queen's Speech on behalf of the party. A full transcript of his response can be found below:

Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD): It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds), and it is a privilege to be the first Liberal Democrat to speak in this Session of Parliament. [Interruption.] Apart, that is, from my right hon. Friend the Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), to whom I am about to pay tribute. Let me start, however, by paying tribute to the soldiers whom we remembered at the beginning of the Session-and all who serve in places of danger in Afghanistan and elsewhere-and to our colleagues who died during the last Session.