News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:14, Mon 5 November 2007:
OXFAM BREAKFAST
I was delighted to join Bristol’s Labour MPs for a breakfast meeting hosted by Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Christian Aid. We had a very useful and wide ranging discussion on how best to tackle climate change and eliminate world poverty. These are two of the great challenges of our time, and it’s vital that the Government continues to work closely with our global partners to find solutions. At the meeting, I signed up to Oxfam’s Six Million More pledge. The pledge reflects the fact that six million more doctors, nurses and teachers are needed in the developing world. If you want to sign the pledge, please visit: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/actions/health_edu.html.
PRIME MINISTER'S EDUCATION SPEECH
The Prime Minister spoke about his passion for education in a major speech last week. Gordon Brown welcomed the successes of the last decade, but highlighted the need to relentlessly strive for higher standards and equality of opportunity. I was particularly pleased that the Prime Minister announced the commissioning of a major report on how we can best increase applications to universities for comprehensive schools in disadvantaged areas. To have 40 per cent of school leavers entering higher education is a fantastic achievement, but we need to do more to ensure that all young people have a chance to fulfil their talents. A new financial package – which will mean that two thirds of students will receive a grant from next year – will help enormously. But we also need to look deeper, at the range of social, cultural and historical reasons which have prevented children from disadvantaged backgrounds getting into higher education.
TOUGHER ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced that the Government will look at even tougher carbon emissions targets in the Climate Change Bill. The draft Bill was the first of its kind anywhere in the world, and sets legally binding commitments to reduce emissions. Now the Government will set up a committee to look at whether the original target – of a 60 per cent reduction by 2050 – needs to be tougher still. This, along with the launch of an international partnership to promote carbon trading, shows that the Government is committed to reducing the effects of climate change nationally and internationally.
CERVICAL CANCER IMMUNISATION
Last week, I launched an immunisation programme which will routinely vaccinate 12 and 13 year old girls against cervical cancer. The vaccine protects against the human papilloma virus, which causes 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer and could save 400 lives a year. This programme forms a vital part of the Government’s priorities to make the NHS a service which prevents ill health and prioritises keeping people well.
QUEEN'S SPEECH
As I write this, Parliament is preparing for the Queen’s Speech, which will set out the Government’s plans for the next Parliamentary year. My next newsletter will look at some of those proposals.
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 respond to this email, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
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