News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:41, Fri 22 February 2008:
HELPING PARENTS MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD
Everyone will be aware of the sweets and chocolates that are strategically placed by the queues in our supermarket, and most of us will have either succumbed ourselves or been pestered into buying by our children. Of course, a small amount of chocolate and sweets are perfectly sensible as part of a balanced diet, but the growing problem with obesity is making people think about the choices they make. With that in mind, I’ve written to all the supermarkets in Bristol South to ask what they are doing to help families make informed choices about their children’s diets. We’ll need to work together to tackle obesity, and I hope I can count on supermarkets to take their responsibilities seriously.
NORTHERN ROCK
You will have seen in the news that the government has taken the decision to bring Northern Rock into public ownership. The government has been carefully examining two bids for the bank from private investors. These bids were not found to be suitable in the current market, so Northern Rock has been temporarily taken into public hands. The bank will continue to run commercially, and will go back into the private sector as soon as is practically possible.
CHANCELLOR VISITS KNOWLE WEST MEDIA CENTRE
Last Thursday I joined the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, on a visit to Knowle West Media Centre. I was delighted that the Chancellor was able to tour the brand new, purpose-built Centre where construction work is nearly complete. During his visit Mr Darling met with staff and users of the Centre and learnt about their various media projects, and he spoke with young people who have been working with the architects to design the new, environmentally friendly building.
PROBLEMS WITH FIRST GREAT WESTERN
While he was in Bristol, the Chancellor was asked by the local media for his opinion of First Great Western’s train services. As many of you will be aware, there have been ongoing problems with First Great Western’s services with too many late, cancelled, or overcrowded trains. Alistair Darling said he was aware of the problems and felt the public deserved a better service. Many constituents have contacted me to complain about train services in recent months and I share their concern. I have written to the Secretary of State to ask what action is being taken to ensure First Great Western’s services improve.
FIND YOUR TALENT
Last week the Government announced that it wants each child to be offered at least five hours of high quality culture per week which will them the chance to discover and develop their talents. The cultural activities will include the chance to:
Perform on stage and attend top quality performances, exhibitions at museums and galleries, and heritage sites; Get hands-on experience of the creative industries including film making, radio and TV; Learn a musical instrument, and take part in a musical performance in front of an audience; Produce creative writing and appreciate authors and how they work; Learn about - and practise – new media and digital art; Develop art and craft skills.
I welcomed the announcement because participation in cultural activities can have a significant impact on young people’s development, including improving their attainment and self-confidence. A £25 million “Find Your Talent” scheme will initially be piloted in ten areas to help define what activities should be included in the programme when it is rolled out nationally, and how the five hours can best form part of a child’s education either inside or outside school.
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.
Commenting on this message is now disabled.