Update from Michael
Posted by Michael Wills, MP for North Swindon, at 14:42, Tue 12 December 2006:
Dear Resident,
I am writing to update you on my work in Westminster and Swindon over the past few weeks.
In Westminster, among other things I have spoken about the reclassification of methylamphetamine to a class A drug and the problems drugs create in Swindon, British Waterways and the potential for canals to regenerate Swindon Town Centre, problems with the Health and Safety Executive, and Affordable Housing in Swindon.
I know that many constituents will be pleased that the Government has responded to the arguments I and other MPs have made by announcing a Climate Change Bill in the Queen’s Speech on 15 November.
This month also saw the biggest change to our pensions system since Clement Attlee’s post-war Labour Government implemented the Beveridge reforms. The Pensions Bill, published on 29 November will make the state pension more generous by linking the Basic State Pension to earnings, make the system fairer for women and carers, and provide a solid foundation for saving. The bill will make the system fairer for women and carers by reducing the number of years needed for a full Basic State Pension, and introducing weekly credits to recognise and reward caring in the same way as working.
Gordon Brown’s Pre Budget report announced a commitment to increased spending in education. Specifically, every primary and secondary school pupil will receive free books. Also, direct payments made to primary schools will increase from £39,000 to £50,000 and direct payments to secondary schools will increase from £150,000 to £200,000. The Pre Budget report also included plans to improve the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage, extend the support offered to help lone parents into employment, raise by £80 the child element of the Child Tax Credit, and further steps to tackle climate change, including an increase in air passenger duty and measures to promote the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles.
Since the collapse of the Swindon based company, Farepak, I have been trying to get a solution for constituents who lost money. I have been pressing ministers to take action and I have also been in touch with credit unions to look for ways to support those affected and to steer residents toward safer forms of saving in the future. Personally, I donated a day’s salary to the fund for compensation and wrote to FTSE 100 companies and city firms along with 20 other MPs asking them to make proportionally similar contributions.
Recent heavy rains have brought flooding to some homes in Swindon, and this has included three episodes in recent weeks of foul water flooding in several homes and gardens in Colebrook Road. The response from Thames Water has been lamentable, as they have failed to provide a comprehensive clean up service, and are refusing to compensate those affected. As foul water flooding has happened previously in the area, Thames Water appears to have done nothing to rectify the problems, and my constituents are understandably angry. I believe that Thames Water has failed in their duty to my constituents and I will continue to fight on their behalf until this company takes proper responsibility for its failures.
I held a meeting with residents to discuss the continuing problems with Lorry traffic in Gypsy Lane. Following this meeting, I have written to the Chief Superintendent of Swindon Police asking for more action to enforce the speed limit on the road. I also wrote to EMR, one of the main companies involved asking them to explore ways they might be able to reduce noise coming from the plant, to consider using a back way into the plant for deliveries, and asking them to do more to secure deliveries to ensure nothing falls from them while the load is in transit. I hope progress will be made on these issues to bring relief to these residents.
I am very pleased that Swindon Borough Council has now finally given in to all the pressure on them from me, parents and teachers to do the right thing and use the money allocated to them by the Government to rebuild Seven Fields School in Penhill with urgency. I am sorry it took so long for the Council to take this much needed action and that so much stress was put on the parents and staff at Seven Fields School. I know that this is a huge relief for the students, parents and staff who have worked so hard to turn the school around and I am pleased that they will now receive the facilities they deserve.
I hope this update is useful and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss any of this further.
With best wishes
Michael
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