News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 18:28, Fri 30 May 2008:
PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
Last week, I voted in the House of Commons to keep the upper limit of 24 weeks for abortions where no severe disabilities are obviously present. In doing so, I recognised that only a very small percentage of abortions take place after 20 weeks. In these cases, women are often particularly vulnerable. Lowering the limit without the support of either scientific evidence or those bodies representing the medical profession is nothing more than a tool to restrict the right of a woman to choose. No woman undertakes an abortion lightly, and later abortions (which are very rare) are likely to occur in circumstances where women are particularly vulnerable.
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AGENCY WORKERS
I was delighted to see that trade unions, business representatives and the Government have agreed a way forward for protecting the rights of agency workers. Proposals will be introduced which will ensure that agency and temporary workers are given the same rights as their permanent colleagues after 12 weeks in a job. This will go a long way to protecting the rights of these workers, some of whom are very vulnerable and are exploited by a very small minority of employers.
CASH BONANZA FOR LOCAL BUS SERVICES
There was fantastic news for bus users last week, as Transport Minister Rosie Winterton announced £42 million funding for buses in and around Bristol. The Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN) will see ten new showcase routes developed. These routes will run frequently, and will be fully accessible for people with disabilities and parents with pushchairs. On some stops, real-time information will let you know when – exactly – you can expect the next bus. All these measures will help to make buses the smart choice for people travelling in and around Bristol, and help remedy our city’s congestion problem.
ALCOHOL - KNOW YOUR LIMITS
Part of my role as Public Health Minister includes providing people with information on alcohol consumption. Nobody is suggesting that people should stop drinking altogether, simply that they should be aware of the effects that excessive or binge drinking may have on us. With this in mind, I was pleased last week to launch the NHS’s new Know Your Limits campaign. The campaign will use high profile TV, radio, press and billboard ads to show members of the public how many units are in individual drink, and explain the health effects of drinking more than the recommended daily guidelines. If you’d like further information, please contact my office, or visit www.nhs.uk/uinits.
VISITING LOCAL SCHOOLS
I popped into Ashton Gate and Gay Elms Primary Schools this week, to help support campaigns that they are running to help promote healthy lifestyles. At Ashton Gate, they’re celebrating the success of their breakfast club, which has been voted as the UK’s best sustainable breakfast club. Then it was over to Gay Elms, to promote a ‘Don’t Drive to School Event.’ These practical schemes and events help get children into healthy habits early in life, which is absolutely vital in our quest to tackle obesity.
SURGERIES
Parliament has been in recess this week, so I have been able to spend most of the week in my constituency office in Bristol, catching up on work, in meetings, and out on visits. I have held three surgeries, one in the fantastic new Withywood Centre. I also visited Chalcroft House in Ashton, first to hold a surgery for residents about specific problems, followed by a more general and wide-ranging discussion of local and national issues.
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.
Comments
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Posted by Matt Kane, 10:54, Sat 31 May 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Is this "cash bonanza" for local bus services going to go right into the pockets of First as usual, or will there be an actual effort to encourage competition in public transport in Bristol?
Posted by michael fletcher, 17:26, Sat 31 May 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Protecting a Woman’s Right to Choose
Last week, I voted in the House of Commons to keep the upper limit of 24 weeks for abortions where no severe disabilities are obviously present. In doing so, I recognised that only a very small percentage of abortions take place after 20 weeks. In these cases, women are often particularly vulnerable. Lowering the limit without the support of either scientific evidence or those bodies representing the medical profession is nothing more than a tool to restrict the right of a woman to choose. No woman undertakes an abortion lightly, and later abortions (which are very rare) are likely to occur in circumstances where women are particularly vulnerable.
regarding the above:- what about the childs right to a life?
Posted by Pete Ferguson, 20:59, Thu 5 June 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AGENCY WORKERS...
So on the eleventh week they will now be told "work has dropped off, you are no longer required". On the following Monday morning new agency workers will start, it will happen, be sure!
ALCOHOL - KNOW YOUR LIMITS...
We certainly don't need the Nanny State (ie this Labour Gov) lecturing us on the health effects of drinking.
BUS SERVICES & VISITING LOCAL SCHOOLS...
We all hope (and expect) you chose the smart choice and traveled to these schools by Bristols wonderful bus service, or better still reduced your carbon footprint and used a bicycle.
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, 15:50, Thu 12 June 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for your question, Matt. The Government’s contribution of £42 million for the Greater Bristol Bus Network will be brought up to over £70 million with funding from local authorities, as well as businesses and developers. You might be interested to know that First is contributing £20m towards the scheme for a fleet of 66 new buses. The upgrades will include new, more comfortable low-floor and low-emission vehicles, dedicated bus lanes and improved traffic signals for buses to create faster journeys. The new network will ensure better bus services across the city and I hope as a result that people will choose to travel by bus, reducing pollution and congestion in our city.
In response to Michael’s question, I suspect this is not the best forum to engage in a debate on the rights and wrongs of abortion. This is a topic on which people hold very strong views, which I respect. However, scientific evidence on babies born between 20 and 24 weeks does not support the reduction in the limit – and neither do the professional bodies representing doctors. As I said in the article, later abortions take place where a woman is particularly vulnerable and, given that survival chances as this stage of pregnancy have not improved, I could not support the limit being lowered.