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News from Westminster

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 09:56, Fri 25 July 2008:

SUPPORT FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

The Government has announced proposals to ensure that our armed forces receive the best of treatment, during their service and after they return from duty. Our service personnel are doing a fantastic job, at home and abroad, and it is absolutely vital that we repay their service by ensuring that the vagaries of service life do not prevent them from getting access to public services. Some of the measures announced in The Nation’s Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans include:

1. Upfront lump sums payments for the most seriously injured personnel will double.

2. A military ward will be established at Birmingham New Hospital, recognising that military needs are often distinct from those of civilian patients.

3. Service personnel can currently lose their places on hospital waiting lists because of the mobility required with their job. This will be addressed.

4. Any dentistry, IVF and mental health requirements of service personnel will be improved to ensure there is no disadvantage to being in the forces.

5. A £20m pilot scheme will be developed to promote home ownership for forces personnel, and seriously injured sevicemen and women will receive additional preference for social housing.

6. Barriers to state benefits and entitlements will be removed.

7. Service leavers with over six years service will be able to study for a first undergraduate degree without tuition fees, and there will be more support for the further education needs of families of personnel.

PRIMARY SCHOOL REVUEW

We all agree that children deserve to learn in safe, modern environments, and that primary schools should ensure high attainment and enjoyable lessons for pupils. The council is currently looking at how best to ensure that all children in our city can benefit from their early years at school. Following the proposals of council officers, I have visited St Pius X Catholic Primary School and met with the Headteacher of Ilminster Avenue Specialist Nursery School at my regular surgery. I have passed their views onto the consultation, and will keep a close eye on those proposals which may affect children, parents and teachers in Bristol South. I will keep you updated.

FUEL DUTY

I was pleased to hear that the Government will not be increasing duty on fuel this October, as had previously been planned. Global oil prices and the credit crunch have pushed up prices at the pump, and this decision will help motorists and businesses in difficult economic circumstances. Duty on fuel is actually 17 per cent lower in real terms than in 1999. Of course, money raised from fuel duty goes toward delivering important public services like our transport infrastructure, schools and hospitals. However, bearing in mind the high global prices, the Government has judged that an increase at this time would not be appropriate.

FOCUS ON CRIME AND ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The results of the British Crime Survey showed that people today are at less risk of becoming a victim of crime than at any time since the survey started in 1981. The survey asks people about their personal experience of crime, meaning that crimes which may, for whatever reason, have not been reported to the police get recorded in the figures. Of course, people do still have genuine concerns about crime and isolated serious crime does occur, sometimes with tragic results. The Government is taking the issue of violent crime extremely seriously and has recently announced new measures to tackle knife crime. We have also launched a new Youth Crime Action Plan which will see tough enforcement, better prevention, and more non-negotiable support for parents of children committing anti social behaviour. It is important to recognise that the vast majority of young people make a fantastic contribution to society and cause no problems whatsoever. But, where a minority of young people are causing problems, we need to make sure that they realise their actions are totally unacceptable. I will continue to work with our local police on this very important matter.

REFORMING THE WELFARE SYSTEM

We are rightly proud of our welfare system, which ensures a safety net for people when they are out of work, and provides more extensive support for people who are unwell or disabled. For too long, generations of people have been written off and left in poverty, on benefits which require little interaction and offer inadequate support for people’s needs. Government proposals announced this week should ensure that future benefit recipients get more support in return for greater responsibility. This will mean more benefits for severely disabled people who cannot work. But the proposals will also recognise that the vast majority – around 90 per cent – of people currently on Incapacity Benefit would like to return to work.

Under the new scheme, people would be given individually tailored support to help them on the road back to work. Claimants who have been receiving long term Job Seekers Allowance will also be given more support and advice. Those people who have been unemployed for more than two years will be required to undertake community work. This will help those who genuinely want to work, and crack down on the small minority who play the system. The proposals are wide-ranging, and I have started a discussion forum on my website – www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk/your_say. I hope you will take a minute to let me have your thoughts on these proposals, which I can then pass on to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

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.