Situation in Gaza
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 16:30, Fri 16 January 2009:
SITUATION IN GAZA
A number of residents have been in touch to express their horror about the dreadful situation in Gaza. The humanitarian situation is extremely grave, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are doing whatever they can to secure an immediate cease-fire and lasting peace in the region. The UK proposed and voted for the recent Security Council resolution at the United Nations, which called for an immediate halt to the fighting on both sides. I have always supported a situation where, in the future, two states of Israel and Palestine can co-exist peacefully with secure borders. It is clear that there is much work to do to achieve this aim, but in the meantime I oppose attacks on Israel and condemn rocket attacks by Hamas. However, both the bombing and action by ground forces in Gaza are completely disproportionate to the threat faced by Israel. The humanitarian disaster it has created undermines the objective of lasting peace in the Middle East. Both sides need to agree to an immediate ceasefire, and Israel must open crossings into Gaza to allow humanitarian relief through.
REAL HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE
The world of work was also boosted this week by news of extra help to get unemployed people back into work. This is in addition to a range of measures being implemented by the Government to help deal with the current economic difficulties. From the first day of unemployment, people will be given help and support with writing a CV and completing a job application. If people have been unemployed for over 13 weeks, more intensive support will be provided, along with help with mortgage payments for those at risk of losing their house. Fortunately, most people move off Job Seekers Allowance before six months, but the Government is determined to provide support for those not able to. Incentives will be paid for employers who are giving unemployed people jobs, training and skills provision will be increased, and volunteering options will be made available to help people back into the habit of work. Those interested in starting their own business will be given support with writing a business plan, and will receive funding for the first month’s trading. By investing millions of pounds to help unemployed people now, we can save billions in benefits payments in the future.
CHANGE4LIFE
Earlier this month I launched Change4Life, a new society-wide public health movement to help people eat and live more healthily. You may have seen the adverts on TV urging us all to make changes to our diet and levels of activity. As Public Health Minister I know how important it is to encourage healthier lifestyles to help tackle the problem of obesity. If we carry on as we are, 90 percent of today’s children could be overweight or obese by 2050. Change4Life is about helping people to make small changes towards healthier lifestyles. More information is available on www.nhs.uk/Change4Life where you can request a free welcome pack, check out some myth-busters and find out what is happening in your local area.
COLD WEATHER PAYMENTS
Pensioners, severely disabled people and parents with children under five on qualifying benefits, automatically receive extra payments from the Government, to help with fuel costs during the coldest times of the year. Payments are triggered when the average local temperature is recorded or forecast to be below 0 degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. In Bristol, temperatures dipped below this level over the New Year, meaning that 60,000 residents in and around our city will receive two payments of £25. The Cold Weather Payment has increased this year, from £8.50 to £25 a week, and will provide a real help for pensioners and other vulnerable people.
NEW BRIDGE LEARNING CAMPUS
The new school term has seen the opening of the £36 million Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe. The brand new learning centre provides education for children and young people of all ages – from nursery through to secondary and beyond. The Campus has separate areas for each stage of the curriculum, including a nursery, primary school, secondary school, special school and vocational centre. I visited the Campus in December when construction work was coming to an end and I was very impressed by the state of the art buildings and their environmentally friendly design. I also met with senior staff who were very enthusiastic about the new Campus and the enhanced learning opportunities for their pupils.
THOUSANDS QUIT SMOKING
Last year, over 10,000 people in the South-West gave up smoking with help from the NHS Stop Smoking service and I know that many people use the New Year as an incentive to kick the habit for good. The service offers free, professional and effective advice to people who want to quit. Advice can be provided on the telephone, or through meetings in various venues across Bristol. Many of the sessions are run by ex-smokers, and the service has been proven to be significantly more effective than going it alone. For more information, please call the NHS Stop Smoking helpline on 0800 70 76543 or text NEARBY and your postcode to 88088.
MORE APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
During the global economic down-turn, it’s absolutely vital that the Government does everything it can to help people into work. That’s why I was particularly pleased to hear that the Government has allocated £140 million extra funding to support 35,000 apprenticeships. Learning skills and trades has never been more important, and this investment will make a real difference in Bristol South where we will soon see our new Skills Academy open as part of the Hengrove Park redevelopment. If you, or anyone you know, are currently studying for an apprenticeship or employing apprentices you may also be interested in this year’s Apprenticeship Awards. There are awards for both employers and employees – to find out more please visit – www.apprenticeships.org.uk/awards,
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
In these difficult economic times it’s crucial that we recognise the importance of saving, which provides people with a resource to depend on, so I was pleased to support the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill in Parliament this week. Following on from successful pilot schemes, this legislation will give extra help for working age people on the lowest incomes who often find it the hardest to save. Eligible savers can save up to £25 a month for two years and the Government will contribute 50p for every £1 saved – a potential bonus of £300 for savers.
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