Latest news from Bolton West and Westminster
Posted by Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, at 15:59, Wed 12 November 2008:
Dear constituent,
I am writing to keep you updated regarding developments both in my constituency and at Westminster.
Bolton West
‘Go Ape’ development
I recently met several constituents and ‘Friends of Lever Park’ representatives with Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle and toured the ‘Go Ape’ site in Rivington. As many of you will be aware, the ‘Friends of Lever Park’ action group has been formed to represent local concerns. This is an issue that has been raised with me by several constituents and I am pleased to be able to have met them and listen to their concerns.
I shall continue to liaise closely with Lindsay Hoyle to look into the provisions of legislation and see how these can be applied to this development. The planning application for the Go Ape development has been approved by Chorley Borough Council. One of the Friends of Lever Park’s main concerns has been that the application was not brought before the planning committee of Chorley Borough Council and therefore residents have been excluded from the decision making process.
The Liverpool Corporation Act of 1902 contains clauses which prevent commercial activity from taking place in Lever Park. Questions have been tabled in the House of Commons to enquire whether this legislation could be used to halt the development.
Update on Hart Common consultation
In a previous email, I urged residents of Hart Common to take part in the public consultation concerning speed reduction measures for the area. This is an issue which has been raised with me by many of my constituents.
I have worked closely with Councillor David Chadwick in the last few months to ensure that Bolton Council have been made aware of the opinions of people locally. I am pleased that the council are responding to these concerns and I am pleased that residents in Hart Common have had their chance to ensure their views are included in the process. Bolton Council have posted out questionnaires to residents in the area in the next week and online applications can also be submitted. The deadline for the consultation was 7th November and the findings are currently being collated.
The issues under discussion include cars speeding in the area and pedestrians finding it difficult to cross Wigan Road, where there is no crossing for the Hart Common stretch. Proposals which the council are considering for the area include a lower speed limit and waiting restrictions at the side road junctions.
‘Big Read’ scheme
I have written to local primary and secondary schools, urging them to take part in a book donation scheme to help the children of Sierra Leone. Literacy rates in Sierra Leone are the worst in the world as the country is recovering from a brutal fifteen year civil war which involved 30,000 child soldiers.
It is hoped that the book donation scheme will stimulate learning amongst children as well as improve the country’s very poor literacy rates. There is only one book in circulation for every 200 children in Sierra Leone and only half of the children in the country will get the chance to go to school. I am delighted to back the Big Read scheme and I fully support the aims of the initiative. I am urging pupils in local schools to donate any books that they have grown out of to help some of the world’s poorest children who are in desperate need of such literature. For more information on the Big Read scheme, please visit www.codep.co.uk
Latest waiting time figures for Bolton NHS
Government figures published today showing that over 96% of patients in Bolton are seen within 18 weeks. The statistics for NHS Bolton, formerly Bolton Primary Care Trust, show that 90.83% of admitted patients are seen within 18 weeks, whilst for non-admitted patients the figure is 96.10%.
Both figures are higher than the national average. I am very pleased with these latest figures for Bolton. They reflect both the dedication of health professionals and NHS Bolton as well as the extra investment which the government have put into the National Health Service. Department of Health statistics for August show that nationally, the NHS has achieved the important 18 weeks milestone five months ahead of the end of December 2008 deadline, ensuring that 90% of patients who require admission to hospital and 95% of patients not needing admission, start treatment within 18 weeks of referral from their GP. Whereas health spending in 1997 was £35 billion, this has risen to £96 billion in 2008 which is an increase of 96% in real terms in the NHS.
Extended opening hours
I was delighted by the news that over three quarters of GP surgeries in Bolton have extended their opening hours. The Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, announced this week that the government had met their target of 50% of GP practices within Primary Care Trusts offering extended opening hours three months ahead of schedule. In Bolton the figure is 80% with 44 local practices out of 55 now providing extra weekend and/or evening opening.
I am pleased that more residents are now able to seek medical advice at times which are more convenient to them. Often people who work full-time or are self-employed or paid hourly have found it very difficult in the past to make time to arrange an appointment. I am glad that government investment, liaison with Bolton Primary Care Trust and the hard work of GPs have led to improved choice for local residents.
The government has provided £250 million of investment into new and additional GP services to meet this target, including providing over 150 GP-led health centres around the country.
Events
I presented an award to Dave Ross who has been taken on at Medicina, a medical supplies company in Blackrod. Dave is the 250th worker to be hired under the ‘Temp to Perm’ initiative introduced by Labour Ready, a local agency.
I met the recent addition to the Labour Group at Bolton Council, Councillor Richard Silvester, who represents Smithills ward. I was pleased to welcome Richard and I look forward to working closely with him.
Westminster
Action announced on energy overcharging
I have welcomed the moves made by the energy regulator OFGEM last week to highlight the overcharging of millions of customers. OFGEM focused their concerns primarily on customers who use pre-payment meters and similar overcharging of 4m electricity customers in areas not connected to the gas main.
I know that this is an important issue locally and it is one that several of my constituents have raised with me. I agree with them that action is urgently needed. The Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has reassured me that he feels that such overcharging is unacceptable and I fully support government moves to end these unfair practice.
The government has made it clear to the big six utility companies that it expects them to take action. If the companies do not act, the government have promised to bring forward legislation to prevent unfair pricing difficulties. OFGEM have set a statutory consultation period until December 1st. The Government has made it clear to the big six utility companies that it expects quicker action or an explanation to remedy these abuses. If the companies don’t act ahead of Ofgem’s process, Ed Miliband has instructed officials that they should be prepared to consult on legislation to prevent unfair pricing difficulties.
Amendments made to Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Bill is a world first. It sets ambitious binding emissions reductions targets in legislation and introduces a new system of Carbon Budgets across the economy. Many constituents have raised aspects of the Bill with me and I am pleased that the government have made the following important amendments.
• The level of the 2050 target Ed Miliband announced in his widely-welcomed statement to the House on Thursday 16 October, that the Government proposes to increase the level of the 2050 emissions reduction target from 60% to 80%. This very challenging target will put the UK in the forefront of international leadership on tackling climate change.
1. The gases covered by the 2050 target The independent Committee on Climate Change recommended that the list of targeted gases in the Bill should be extended from the start to include the whole Kyoto basket of 6 greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide. The Government are now proposing a series of amendments to incorporate this change into the Bill, including (where necessary) changes to align the base year used for the purposes of the Bill with the base year used under the Kyoto protocol.
• International Aviation and Shipping We want to reflect the Committee for Climate Change’s advice to government; that emissions from aviation and shipping should be taken into account when developing our strategy to reach our targets, and Adair Turner’s recognition that there is currently no agreed method of allocating international emissions to individual countries.
Government help for SMEs
I have welcomed new support announced recently by Skills Secretary John Denham and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson for small and medium sized businesses to help them through the difficult economic times ahead. The package includes free business “health checks”, help with cash flow and better support for training.
I am pleased that the government is taking this action to help small and medium sized enterprises. SMEs locally will benefit from being able to use training funding more flexibly, and can get the information and advice they need to help them with their cash flow in this difficult time. I urge local businesses to contact businesslink to get the support they need. Business Link, the government’s business support service, is offering a free “health check” available to all businesses, which will help them to identify what they need to do to remain resilient in the current tough economic conditions. It has also produced a free guide, produced by the Institute of Credit Management, on how businesses can maintain cash flow and limit problems caused by late or non-payment.
The government is focussing £350 million of funding to help SMEs train their staff with the minimum level of bureaucracy or delay. This will be for subjects such as business improvement techniques or leadership and management, which are proven to provide skills to increase the productivity of individuals and firms. For further details visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/businesshelp or www.traintogain.gov.uk
Employment Bill – Third Reading
The Employment Bill is an important step in our mission to build a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all. Measures in the Employment Bill will strengthen protection for vulnerable workers by increasing penalties for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and cracking down on abuses that can occur in the agency work sector.
The government are aiming to change the law to stop the practice of using tips to make up the minimum wage, which is legal in some circumstances (where the tips are processed through the employer’s payroll). We have said that in future we want tips to be additional to the minimum wage. A consultation document on how exactly – not whether - to make the change is being prepared and will be published this month.
I am pleased that the government are seeking to tighten up the law regarding the minimum wage and that tips will soon become additional to the wage. Whilst the vast majority of employers recognise the benefits of paying a fair wage, there is still sadly a small minority who try to bend the law. I am glad this Bill is addressing this problem. The Bill also increases the power of the Agency Standards Inspectorate to obtain financial information from companies who may be in breach of the regulations governing employment agencies and also makes offences triable in either crown or magistrates courts (which means potentially unlimited fines).
The government have introduced a vulnerable workers forum, whose membership includes unions and businesses. The enforcement and penalties elements of the Bill are an important part of this wider strategy to increase protection for vulnerable workers.
Kindest regards,
Ruth Kelly
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