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News from Your Local MP

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 14:25, Mon 22 November 2010:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE STUDENTS

Last Saturday I was delighted to attend City of Bristol College’s Higher Education awards ceremony held at Bristol Cathedral. More than 600 pupils were present to formally receive their qualifications which included Foundation Degrees, BSc (Hons) Degrees, NVQs, Diplomas, Certificates and PGCEs. Congratulations to all the college students who have worked hard to gain the qualification and skills they need for further study or employment.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

I attended the Remembrance Day commemorations at the Cenotaph on Sunday 14 November. A very large crowd gathered in the City Centre for this important and solemn occasion. It is always important to remember all those who have lost their lives in conflict and, at times when British troops are deployed abroad, the day is especially significant.

PARKS AND GREEN SPACES SELL OFF – UPDATE

As readers may know, I have been working with local residents to try to stop the Council selling-off green space in Totterdown, Bishopsworth and Knowle. Last week, at the meeting of the Full Council Labour and Conservative Councillors put aside their differences to call on the Council to think again. Unfortunately, every single Liberal Democrat councillor who was present voted to proceed with the sell-off, despite furious protests from the public gallery. A final decision will now be taken by the City Council’s Lib Dem Cabinet. I hope that they will be persuaded to think again.

HOUSING BENEFIT

The Government is pressing ahead with changes to Housing Benefit, which will leave many people in Bristol South worse off. Many people receive Housing Benefit including employed people on lower incomes pensioners, carers and disabled people. Indeed, despite what you might have seen in the press, only one in eight people who are in receipt of Housing Benefit are unemployed. I was especially concerned last week to see a report from Age UK, who believe that 80,000 pensioners will lose out, some by as much as £30 a week. I will continue to lobby the Government on this important issue.

BIG LOTTERY FUND

On Tuesday last week I met with representatives of the Big Lottery Fund, the organisation that awards millions of pounds of National Lottery money to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment. We discussed the progress made by community organisations in Bristol South who have received lottery funding for various projects in recent years, and we also spoke about new funding opportunities for the future. I would encourage all local community groups to take a look at the Big Lottery Fund’s website to see their range of funding opportunities: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/.

FIREFIGHTERS

Firefighters gathered in London on Wednesday last week to lobby MPs about the Government’s 25% cuts to Fire Service budgets. I met with representatives of the Fire Brigades Union who raised concerns about the scale of the cuts and the likely impact, including fears for job losses and resulting safety concerns for firefighters and the wider public. I have written to the Government Minister responsible for Fire Services to raise the firefighters’ concerns.

ANY QUESTIONS?

If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Just email primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH.