News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:52, Thu 20 March 2008:
HOSPITAL PLANS APPROVED!
I was delighted that the Council’s development control committee unanimously approved the planning applications for the South Bristol Hospital and Skills Academy at their meeting last week. We have been waiting a very long time for the much needed hospital and I was very glad to see councillors backing the important Hengrove Park development. There has been a real impetus behind the project in recent months and, thanks to the hard work of many people, it looks like the idea can finally become a reality. I am hopeful that construction work will commence later this year and I will keep you posted of any further progress.
BUDGET 2008
Last week the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, delivered his first Budget. As always, I was interested to hear what the Budget would mean for people living in Bristol South and was pleased at the great news for pensioners, families and children. As a result of new measures announced in the Budget, over 18,000 pensioners in Bristol South will get extra cash to pay their heating bills this year and over 12,000 families in this area will gain from the increase in Child Benefit. Key announcements made include:
- Raising child tax credit by £50
- Boost in Child Benefit to £20 a week
- Investing £125m in innovative approaches to tackling child poverty
- Alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, an additional one-off payment of £100 to over 80s households and £50 to over 60s households
- Encouraging lower carbon homes and offices
- Giving incentives for motorists to purchase fuel efficient cars
- Committing to tough legal targets on emissions
- Steps to eliminate single use carrier bags
- £200m to help pupils achieve 5 A*-C grades at GCSE
We have had 10 years of economic stability and growth in our country and the Budget reports that the economy is resilient and continuing to grow. I support this responsible Budget to secure Britain’s’ stability in the face of global uncertainty.
SPORT RELIEF
Last Sunday, I joined thousands of other runners and power walkers in Bristol city centre to raise money for Sport Relief by completing the ‘Bristol Mile’. I managed to raise £300 through sponsorship and this money will go towards helping people both at home in the United Kingdom and in some of the world’s poorest countries. Over 200 events took place across the country, with more than £20m raised so far. It was an enjoyable event with a serious message. As well as helping others, those who took part showed that short busts of regular exercise – like brisk walking – help to keep people well and reduce the chances of the diseases obesity can cause.
CRIME & COMMUNITIES REVIEW - HAVE YOUR SAY
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has called upon members of the public to share their ideas on tackling crime in their communities by launching a ‘Have Your Say’ questionnaire. The Crime and Communities Review is a cross-government exercise looking at how the police and other front-line organisations can improve their services by working with local communities. It covers four main areas:
· How the police and other agencies can work with communities to cut crime;
· How to raise public confidence in crime fighting organisations;
· How best to police local neighbourhoods; and
· How to ensure the justice system has the public’s full support by being open and responsive.
Nobody knows more about the needs of an area than the people who live there, so members of the public are being encouraged to shape the Review’s final recommendations to cut crime and make neighbourhoods feel safer by completing a ‘Have Your Say’ form, available at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/crime or by writing to: FREEPOST, PO Box 1748, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 4XR.
LISBON TREATY
Last week the Lisbon Treaty cleared its final stage in the House of Commons following high profile debates that took place over several weeks. The Treaty of Lisbon is an amending Treaty, not a Constitutional Treaty, and as such it does not involve major new constitutional arrangements, nor does it involve a significant shift in the balance of powers. I supported the Treaty because its ratification will make the EU work more effectively and deliver in areas that matter to British people such as jobs and prosperity, climate change and our international influence. The Treaty makes the EU more accountable to member states and gives power back to national Parliaments. Further information about the Treaty can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.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. Alternatively, for more information on what’s happening in and around Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.
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