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News from Your Local MP

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:51, Mon 13 June 2011:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.

BUS CUTS IN BRISTOL

I am extremely concerned by the Council’s widespread cuts to our public transport services in Bristol. As a result of Government spending cuts and a failed local tendering exercise, Bristol City Council is withdrawing funding from many of the services it currently supports – this includes some early morning and evening bus services and the complete withdrawal of funding for some other services. I’m very worried about the impact of these cuts – for some people these bus services are a life line and a necessary means to travel to work or to visit friends and family. I’ve written to the Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport expressing my great concern on behalf of bus passengers in Bristol South.

LOCAL VISITS

During Parliament’s Whitsun recess I had a busy time here in Bristol. As well as responding to letters, emails and calls from Bristol South residents and holding two surgeries, I also visited Airbus and MShed. At Airbus, I saw the production of the A400M wing and the A380s landing gear test facility. It is good to see that Bristol continues to play an incredibly important role in the future of aviation, providing and supporting thousands of jobs in and around the city. Back in the city centre, at M-Shed, I had a tour of Bristol’s new museum, which opens to the public next week. It promises to provide a fantastic opportunity for people to learn about Bristol’s rich history.

SENTENCING U-TURN

I was pleased when it emerged last week that the Government appears to have backed down on its proposals to halve the prison sentences of rapists if they plead guilty at an early stage. I was strongly opposed to these plans. It sounds as though the Government will also abandon its plans to halve sentences for other offences following an early guilty plea – this includes other violent crimes such as attempted murder and GBH although this has not been officially confirmed by the Government. The proposals for reduced sentences are being driven by the Government’s desire to cut costs and reduce prison numbers, and are not focussed on how best to serve justice which should be the primary consideration in all cases.

SCHOOL PLACES SUCCESS

Parents in BS3 worried about school places for their children have received some good news. The governors at both Ashton Gate and Compass Point Schools have agreed to take an extra class this September. This is fantastic news, which will mean that all parents who applied for a local reception place in Bedminster and Southville should receive one this September. Of course, we now need to ensure that a long term solution is in place to stop a situation like this year’s from ever happening again.

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE BILL UPDATE

Hundreds of Bristol South residents have been in touch about the Government’s ‘reforms’ of the NHS. People were rightly horrified that the proposals paved the way for an NHS which, while publicly funded, relied on private providers. There was also an overwhelming rejection of the suggestion that GPs should be put in charge of the vast majority of the NHS budget – including from many GPs who would rather focus on patient care than endless bureaucracy. The Prime Minister has now announced a raft of concessions, but they do not go far enough. He should scrap the Bill and look to work with patients, health professionals and trade unions to protect and improve the NHS.

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 me at dawn.primarolo.mp@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH.