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News from Your Local MP

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:17, Fri 4 March 2011:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter. If you would prefer not to receive it in future, please respond to this email and I’ll remove you from my mailing list.

SAINSBURY'S AT ASHTON GATE

Earlier this week councillors on Bristol City Council’s planning committee voted in favour of Sainsbury’s plans to relocate their Winterstoke Road store to Bristol City Football Club’s current site at Ashton Gate. I was pleased with this decision as the new store will provide finance for the football club’s proposed new stadium and will also free up Sainsbury’s existing site for housing and employment opportunities. Together, these three new developments will create many much-needed jobs in Bristol South during these difficult times.

GOVERNMENT U-TURNS

We’ve witnessed two very welcome Government u-turns in recent weeks. Firstly, I was delighted that the Government backed down on its plans to sell-off our forests. Following pressure from members of the public and Labour MPs the Government withdrew its controversial forests consultation last month and instead will be creating an independent panel to look at the future of our woodlands. I will be keeping a close eye on this issue to ensure public access is not diminished and bio-diversity is protected.

Secondly, I was pleased when the Government committed £27 million to continue provision of face-to-face debt advice for another year, after having earlier announced the end of the Financial Inclusion Fund which had previously funded these valuable services. At a time when people are facing job losses, higher prices and benefit cuts it’s extremely important that specialist financial advice is available to those in need. I have written to the Chancellor seeking confirmation that all the existing debt advice services will be maintained and asking what plans the Government has for the long term future of debt advice services.

All this makes people wonder if the Tory-led Coalition know what they are doing!

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Next Tuesday marks the centenary of International Women’s Day and celebratory events are taking place across the world marking women’s achievements and contributions to society. I recently helped to promote Oxfam’s fundraising campaign which encourages people to hold an event, such as a dinner party or cake sale, to mark International Women’s Day with the aim of raising money for Oxfam projects tackling issues that are close to every woman’s heart: maternal health, being able to feed your family, education and domestic abuse. More details about Oxfam’s campaign are available on the following website: www.oxfam.org.uk/celebration

RAIL ELECTRIFICATION

There was good news for Bristol rail passengers earlier this week when the Transport Secretary confirmed that electrification of the Great Western Mainline from London to Cardiff would go ahead. This project was initially introduced by the previous Labour Government back in 2009 and it is disappointing that the Coalition Government has taken so long to decide to take the scheme forward. However, I am very pleased that we’ve now got the green light for the electrification plans which will mean quicker and more reliable journeys, extra seats and lower energy use.

WESTMINSTER ROUND-UP

This week in Westminster I met a representative of the Beating Bowel Cancer campaign to discuss how I could support their important work to help raise awareness of bowel screening. We sadly see many deaths from bowel cancer every year, yet it can be beaten if patients are diagnosed early and given prompt and appropriate treatment. More information is available on the following website: http://www.beatingbowelcancer.org/

I was also very happy to attend the Parliamentary launch of the British Lung Foundation’s Children’s Charter. The Charter sets out 12 challenges for better care and treatment for children with lung disease and aims to improve the lung health of children in the UK. Visit http://www.lunguk.org/media-and-campaigning/childrens-charter/read-the-charter for more information.

LIBYA

Several local residents have been in touch with me to express their concern about the situation in Libya. I have been extremely concerned by reports of the humanitarian crisis on the Tunisian border and I believe it’s very important for Britain to help in whatever way it can. Following appeals from the UN Secretary General for an international airlift, the UK has this week sent evacuation flights to rescue adults and children trapped at the border. The Department for International Development has also flown out blankets and tents to provide shelter for the refugees.

CENSUS

I have been contacted by the Office of National Statistics asking me to promote Census 2011. Census day is 27 March and over the next few weeks every household will be receiving a questionnaire to complete. The population statistics provided by the Census are used to plan public spending so it’s very important for everyone to take part and help ensure the data collected is as accurate as possible. If you need any help completing the census questionnaire you can call: 0300 0201 101 or for those with hearing impairments: 18001 0300 0201 160 or go online at: www.census.gov.uk

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.