News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 12:41, Fri 4 April 2008:
CYCLE PATH
As some of you will be aware, Bristol City Council and neighbouring local authorities have been looking into setting up three Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors in the Bristol area to help address the transport needs of our sub-region. For one of these routes (Ashton Vale to Emerson’s Green) an option was being considered which could have seen a segregated bus way running alongside the Bristol to Bath cycle path. This proved to be very unpopular many people in Bristol, and several local residents contacted me about this issue. Personally, I have strong reservations about such a scheme because of its likely impact on the many cyclists and walkers who use the path regularly. The cycle path is a unique and popular green corridor in our busy city and I am wary of plans to alter the current use of the path, especially at a time when we are all being encouraged to walk and cycle more for both environmental and health reasons. Given this, I was very pleased to learn last weekend that Bristol City Council has decided to concentrate on other options and on the BRT link from the city centre to Long Ashton.
CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES
This week saw the launch of nationwide free off-peak bus travel for older and disabled people. From 1st April, every person over 60 and eligible disabled people can travel for free on local buses no matter where they are in England from 9.30am every weekday and all day at weekends. In 2006 the Government introduced free travel for pensioners and disabled people on local bus services but this has now been rolled out so people can travel free in other areas too – for example, when visiting relatives or when on holiday in other parts of the country. I am very pleased that the Government has taken this step because providing free bus travel contributes to greater mobility, independence and social inclusion, and should result in reduced congestion and improved air quality. In Bristol, there are 72,300 people aged over 60 who can benefit from the new scheme. Many of these people have already applied for the new All England Travelcard, but those who haven’t yet done so can contact Bristol City Council on 0117 922 3089 or download a form from the Council’s website www.bristol.gov.uk.
CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL
Last week, the Governance of Britain: Constitutional Renewal White Paper and draft Bill were published with the aim of continuing the Government’s programme of constitutional reform which has diffused powers way from the centralised state. The Government has already introduced the Human Rights Act which brought home fundamental rights of individual against the state, and the Freedom of Information Act which has established transparency as a mechanism for empowering the individual against the state. The White Paper and draft Bill take this further by strengthening Parliament and increasing civil liberties. Proposals include:
- Lifting restrictions on the right to protest outside Parliament;
- Lifting restrictions on flying the Union flag on public buildings;
- Giving Parliament a clear role in decisions on the deployment of Armed Forces abroad and on the ratification of international treaties;
- Increasing the independence of the judiciary by removing Prime Ministerial involvement, and reducing the Lord Chancellor’s involvement in judicial appointments.
More information about the White Paper and draft Bill is available on the Ministry of Justice website: www.justice.gov.uk
CIGARETTE DISPLAY BAN
Everybody is aware of the dangers of smoking, and seven out of ten smokers would like to give up. As Public Health Minister, my role is to help those who do want to give up, protect people from second hand smoke and try to persuade people not to take up the habit at all. That’s why the Department of Health is considering proposals to ban cigarette vending machines in places where young people are allowed to go. The Government is also looking at telling shops and supermarkets to keep cigarettes out of sight. These are radical steps, which aren’t meant to demonise smokers, but rather to protect children and young people – and smokers trying to give up – from temptation. We will develop a range of measures to help those who want to quit – including looking at how nicotine patches and gum can be made cheaper and much more accessible.
HELPING YOU TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
Labour’s Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced an exciting series of initiatives to enable people to tackle climate change in their own homes. To make it as easy as possible for people to make their homes greener the Act on CO2 Advice Line has been launched, so that anyone, from anywhere in England, can call 0800 512 012 to access a one stop shop for free, tailored, impartial advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce their carbon footprint. Callers can now get advice on how to save water, reduce waste, green their travel, and connect to grants and offers from energy companies. The Government is providing the Energy Saving Trust with more than £100 million over the next three years to deliver a broader programme for green homes. It will be rolled out so that in 12 months there will be a network of one stop advice centres around the country.
Comments
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Posted by Dean Ford, 19:50, Sun 27 April 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
thanks for reply to my email i received you letter this week in the post
i cant believed you so out of touch with watts going on in south Bristol .
with smoking you said most smokers want to give up this is not true. all you have done is isolated people and driven it from the pubs clubs and bingo halls to there homes, putting tobacco under the counter will only isolate smokers even more and take away there chance to choose a product and a price. you should get of you take the time to actually speak to the people who voted you in and start representing them including smoker. Drinkers over wait people and so on . you action as close dozens of pubs ,clubs ,bingo hall , shops and so on .
you said you only had a1.9% pay rise does this in clued all the expenses and every this else you clamed . do you intend publishing you expenses for the last 10 years so we can see how you have robbed of the British people.
Iraq you said Iraq was a better place with out sedum Husain , tail that to the 3000 dead American soldiers, 200 uk soldiers and the 100 thousand died Iraqis i don’t know how you can sleep at night with seeing the faces of these people you sent to there depth.
you said immigration is a good thing for the uk. in Bristol this weekend we had a minority Asian cabbies threatening the majority of taxi drivers with violence and you the police and the council gave into them and closed the city centre at midnight , they have taken all the jobs that the people of south Bristol wanted and they do with your backing , you should visit Bristol airport, the mushroom farm, baileys caravan and so on where English workers have been pushed out by immigrants.
you should wake up before it's to late and start representing the people who voted for you next week in the local elections you will have a big wake up call , but it is probably to late to save your job . after robbing the least well of by removing the 10 tax band you should be ashamed to call you self labour
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, 15:33, Mon 28 April 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for your comments.
On smoking, the Department of Health estimates that 70 per cent of smokers want to quit. I make no apologies for doing what I can to help people who want to give up, and for doing everything possible to discourage young people from taking up the habit.
You mention MPs' expenses. MPs' expenses are published annually on the House of Commons website. A review is currently underway to look at how this can be done in an even more transparent way. You can find the latest figures at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/HoCallowances0607.pdf. My allowances cover the costs of living away from my home in Bristol from Monday to Thursday when Parliament is sitting, costs for running my constituency office, salaries for my staff, the costs of travelling to London, and stationery and postage so that I am able to reply to constituents.
I accept you have strong views on Iraq, which I respect, and will not attempt to change.
With regard to immigration and jobs; unemployment in the United Kingdom continues to fall. My postbag used to be full of letters from people who were desperate to work but could not find a job. This is simply not the case now.
On the 10p tax rate, the Government announced last week that we will be looking at a range of measures to assist those who may have lost out following this change to the tax system.