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Tougher Action on Climate Change

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 15:42, Fri 17 October 2008:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.  If you would prefer not to receive it in future, please email primarolod@parliament.uk and I’ll remove you from my mailing list.

ECONOMIC UPDATE

The Government has taken firm steps this week to support the banking system. Everybody is aware that we are in unprecedented economic times. The Government has invested a total of £37 billion in the system in order to protect savers and mortgage holders across the country. The money will be tightly controlled, and has strings attached. We will end rewards for failure, with bonuses tightly capped or stopped, and the Government will appoint independent board members on to those banks we are supporting. The Prime Minister and Chancellor have pledged to do whatever it takes to ensure the stability of the British economy, and of British jobs.

ASHTON VALE HEDGEROWS

A number of residents have contacted me about the removal of hedgerows in Ashton Vale. Local people were very concerned about this work, and the effect it may have had on wildlife. They were given no notice of the work, and are understandably distressed and angry. Last week, I went down to Ashton Vale with local Councillor Colin Smith to see the destruction for myself, and to meet with residents. Along with Colin and his fellow Bedminster Councillor Mark Bradshaw, I have been making urgent enquiries with the City Council. They are continuing to investigate the situation, and I will keep you updated.

TOUGHER ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

I was delighted yesterday when Ed Miliband, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, announced a commitment to tougher targets on climate change. Previously the Climate Change Bill included a target of a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050. This has now been strengthened to 80%. I’ve received hundreds of letters and emails from local people who were keen to see an 80% target introduced, and the change has been widely welcomed. The Climate Change Bill will make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law, and the creation of the new Department for Energy and Climate Change shows our commitment to taking on one of the greatest challenges the world faces.

FREEING MONEY FROM FORGOTTEN BANK ACCOUNTS

For some time, the Government has been looking into whether local organisations could benefit from money left in ‘dormant’ bank accounts – which have been left untouched for at least 15 years. Generally, these are old bank or building society accounts with just a few pounds in, which have long since been forgotten. Individually the amounts may be small, but estimates show that there could be as much as £500 million laying untouched in banks and building societies. The Government is now proposing that this money be used for good causes, particularly facilities for younger people. Of course, it is important that every effort is made to reunite the money with the account holder. A website has been set-up - http://www.mylostaccount.org.uk/ - which allows people to search for any lost accounts in their name, and the law has been drafted so that people will be able to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. However, much of this money has simply been forgotten about, and it is sensible that steps are being taken to allow its reinvestment.

CHANGES TO SCHOOL TESTING

Education Secretary Ed Balls announced major changes to testing in schools on Tuesday. Formal testing pupils at Key Stage 3 (14 year olds) will be stopped. Instead, teachers will be expected to carry out ongoing evaluations of pupils’ work in their first years of secondary school, before preparation begins for GCSEs. The changes will allow teachers more flexibility – so that they can offer more help to pupils who may be falling behind in the early stages of secondary school without having tests looming. Tests at Key Stage 2 (11 year olds) are here to stay – they provide an invaluable indication of a child’s progress at the end of primary school. In addition to the changes to testing, a new School Report Card will be introduced. These reports will contain a broad range of information about a school in a clear format, and have been designed to help parents make the best choices for their children.

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

I was concerned to see the publication of figures which show that unemployment has increased slightly in the last year. Unemployment in Bristol South is 3.2 per cent, well below the national average of 5.7 per cent. The global economic situation means that the Government cannot, unfortunately, promise to eradicate unemployment. What we can promise to do is to provide as much support as possible for people seeking work. That’s why the Government has announced £100 million new funding to help people who have been made redundant to find new work. While these figures are a worry, it is important to realise that, in 1997, around 3,500 people were unemployed in Bristol South and many, many more were treated as statistics to be hidden rather than people to be helped. That number has now fallen to 1,500, thanks to policies like the New Deal. We now need to ensure that we pull together to help people seeking work..

VISIT TO MERCHANT'S ACADEMY

I’ve just got back from a visit to the new Merchant’s Academy in Withywood. Replacing the old Withywood Community School, the Academy has fantastic, state of the art facilities. I met with the new principal, Stephen Kings, who used to teach at the old Withywood School some years ago, and is pleased to be back in the community. The pupils I spoke to were amazed at how their learning environment has been completely revamped and they seem really determined to succeed at the new school.

GP EXTENDED OPENING HOURS - UPDATE

A major patient survey showed that six and a half million people were unhappy about the opening times and access of their GPs. That is why the Government took action to ensure that practices move towards more weekend and evening opening. Figures released this week indicate that two thirds of practices in Bristol are offering extended opening hours, compared to around 50 per cent nationwide. This is great news for patients who know that illness isn’t 9-5, and want their GP practices to reflect that.

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.