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Latest news from Mark Lazarowicz MP

Posted by Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, at 12:31, Fri 4 February 2011:

CUTS TO DISABILITY BENEFITS

I know from my postbag and meetings that I have attended locally just how worried many disabled people are by the changes that the UK Government is proposing to make such as removing the eligibility to claim the mobility component for Disability Living Allowance for people in residential care homes.

This benefit allows people to still be independent and to keep up with friends and family. I wrote an article for the Evening News on this which you can read here: http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Mouthpiece-Quality-of-life-not.6684021.jp

There are other changes as well which are creating anxiety such as limiting contributory Incapacity benefit to one year and the cuts to council budgets will undoubtedly have a major impact on care services and voluntary groups that work with people with disabilities.

I am keen to hear from people locally how they are being affected so I can act as your voice in Parliament on this issue. I have already arranged meetings with CAPS, a group that works with users of mental health services, and parents from Pilrig Park special school to discuss their concerns.

GREEN INVESTMENT BANK

I recently pressed the Secretary of State for Scotland again for assurances that the Coalition would go ahead with the last Government’s plans to create a Green Investment Bank. You can see what I said her: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110126/debtext/110126-0001.htm#11012654000967

I have brought together a group of public and private sector organisations to lobby for this. I hope shortly to lead a delegation to the Secretary of State for Scotland to put the case for the bank to be headquartered in Edinburgh.

Green technology and industry have the potential to create new skilled jobs at a time when they are badly needed. There are innovative companies working in the field in Edinburgh North and Leith and I want to see businesses like this get the support they need, especially at an early stage when they might find it difficult to get investment from other sources. Locating the bank in Edinburgh would also provide new and sustainable jobs in the financial services sector.

COASTGUARD CLOSURES

Like my colleagues elsewhere in Scotland, I have been strongly opposing the UK Government’s plans to dramatically cut the coastguard service around the UK coast. The area station at Fife Ness would be forced to close leaving only one main coastguard station open 24/7 in Scotland at Aberdeen with another to back it up either on Orkney or Shetland just open office hours. The lifeboats within the Fife Ness sector were the busiest in Scotland last year although the station’s running costs were actually the lowest in the UK.

You can read an article I wrote for the Evening News on the proposed cuts here http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Mark-Lazarowicz-This-sort-of.6666313.jp and I also raised the issue in a debate at Westminster this week.

SAVE OUR FORESTS

I have been contacted by a large number of local people concerned about the UK government’s plans to sell off publicly owned forests in England. This is worrying many people in our area who enjoy these forests, particularly in Northern England. There are also implications for the jobs of people who work at the Forestry Commission office in Edinburgh, as much of their work depends upon Forestry Commission work in England. I raised this issue in a debate in Parliament as you can see here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110202/debtext/110202-0003.htm#11020248002424

NORTH EDINBURGH NEWS

I am sure many of you are amongst the 35,000 people who regularly read the North Edinburgh News which is facing closure after thirty years. Since the Council ceased funding, it has relied on a grant from the Scottish Government’s Fairer Scotland fund but that is now set to end as well.

There is now a big community campaign to Save the North Edinburgh News on Facebook. You can find the latest issue at http://www.northedinburghnews.co.uk/ .

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

This honours all those who perished in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. It takes place on 27th January each year - the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.

I signed a Book of Commitment which is placed in the House of Commons and also wrote an article for the Edinburgh Evening News to call attention to the duty of all of us never to forget the persecution and mass murder that took place under the Nazi regime and to combat racism and prejudice in our own time. You can find more information on my website at http://www.marklazarowicz.org.uk/holocaust-memorial-day and read my Evening News article at: http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion/Mouthpiece-We-must-stand-in.6699137.jp

TACKING GLOBAL POVERTY

I was one of a number of MPs who recently met with campaigners on global poverty from the Micah Challenge which saw over 11,000 people calling on the UK to reaffirm its commitment to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. You can read more about it at this link: http://www.micahchallenge.org/micah-media/354-christians-most-readied-and-powerful-agents-to-eradicate-global-poverty

This year’s Fairtrade fortnight is also coming up fast. It runs from 28 February - 18 March. I will be holding an event locally on how we can build on the movement’s success and take it to the next level. It will take place on 5th March from 10am – 12noon in MacDonald Road Library – with the chance to sample Fairtrade produce courtesy of Edinburgh One World Shop.

EXHIBITION AND MEETING ON BIOMASS PROPOSALS

There is an exhibition on the proposed biomass plant near Albert Dock currently taking place in Leith Library, Ferry Road until 7 February (Opening hours: Mon-Thurs-10am-8pm, Friday - 10am-5pm or Saturday - 9am-1pm).

After that it’s at Ocean Terminal from 8-21 February and finally the Edinburgh Council Buildings (Waverley Court) from 22 February-11 March.

There will also be a public meeting on the proposals at 7pm on February 9 at Drummond Community High School. Places are limited - register at jennifer.wood2@edinburgh.gov.uk or 0131-529 6173

HOW TO CONTACT ME

If you have any comments or views on these or other issues, you can email me at mark@marklazarowicz.org.uk or comment on my blog http://marklazarowicz.blogspot.com/

You can write to me at my office at 5 Croall Place, Edinburgh EH7 4LT or come to one of my weekly Friday surgeries (no appointment necessary) at • 4pm in Stockbridge Library • 5pm in my constituency office at Croall Place There will also be a surgery from 12 till 1pm on Friday 4 March 2011 in South Leith Parish Church Halls, Henderson St.

Mark Lazarowicz

You can download copies of this newsletter from my website at www.marklazarowicz.org.uk