Real Help Now
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 14:21, Fri 30 January 2009:
REAL HELP NOW
The Government has this week published a booklet on the range of help and support which is being made available to individuals and business during the economic down-turn. The booklet provides information on a range of topics, including employment, training, housing and debt. It is available online, and I have published a copy on my website – www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk. The guide will be updated as the situation progresses. Please let me know if you would prefer a paper copy.
This booklet is the latest in a series of initiatives from the Government, which will ensure that we provide people with as much support as possible during the recession. Doing nothing is simply not an option. That is why we are continuing to invest in our banking system, to get money flowing and increase responsible lending. Above all, we must continue to support businesses and individuals in these challenging times.
OPENING HARTCLIFFE AND WITHYWOOD'S NEW COMMUNITY KITCHEN I was at the Gatehouse Centre last week, to officially open the new Hartcliffe Health and Environment Action Group (HHEAG) community kitchen. This new facility, which has relocated from the former Withywood School buildings, gives local residents the opportunity to learn how to cook healthy meals for themselves and their families. It was fantastic to meet the people involved with this exciting project. The new kitchens are such an important community resource – we all need to lead healthy lifestyles and the healthy eating and nutrition advice provided by HHEAG is invaluable. The food I tasted at the opening event was delicious – including a fresh soup made from vegetables that had been grown on the HHEAG allotment. I hope many more residents from the BS13 area will be able to take advantage of the cookery courses and learn new skills. To find out more about how to live and eat healthily visit the Change4Life website - http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life.
FREE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH CANCER
At the Labour Party conference last year, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to make prescriptions free for people with cancer. Patients with cancer often need extra prescriptions to help manage the side-effects of their treatment, so I hope this move will help make people’s lives a little bit easier at a very difficult time. An application for a five year exemption certificate can be collected from your GP’s surgery. The Government is also working toward a time where prescriptions can be free for people with all long term conditions and a review is being conducted into the best way to do this. I will keep you updated.
NHS CONSTITUTION
The Prime Minister and Health Secretary have launched the NHS Constitution. This is an extremely important document, and the first of its kind in the world. The constitution is a result of extensive consultation with NHS staff and patients. It pulls together what the patients who use the NHS, the public who pay for it, and the staff who work for the service, can expect to receive from the NHS, and what they can offer in return. More information is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/NHSConstitution/index.htm.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
The Government is continuing to do its best to ensure that desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza. In the last two months, the Government has pledged to provide almost £27 million in aid to Gaza. This comes in the form of food-aid, funding hospital treatment and providing shelter for people who have lost their homes. The Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of charities and non-governmental organisations, has also launched an appeal. You can donate online at www.dec.org.uk, or by phone on 0370 60 60 900.
I believe what is needed in the Middle East is a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine can exist peacefully and securely. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are continuing to work hard to ensure that Britain is playing its part, and it is certainly the case that the inauguration of Barack Obama has boosted the process. President Obama’s Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, has been meeting with Egypt and Israel, as well as Palestinian groups. The President has told him that he expects ‘concrete progress.’ This is a one of a number of very positive steps emerging from the new White House administration. The banning of rough interrogation techniques such as water-boarding, and the proposed closure of Guantanamo Bay are also to be welcomed.
ERADICATING POLIO
Given the difficult international situation, it’s good to be able to bring you some positive news. The Department for International Development has announced funding of £100 million to help eradicate polio. The disease, which can lead to paralysis and death, has been eradicated in Europe, but is still endemic in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. However, comprehensive childhood immunisation will lead to complete eradication of this terrible disease. The United Kingdom’s contribution comes as part of a £435 million package, with the German Government, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rotary International also contributing.
MPs' ALLOWANCES
Contrary to what was published in the media, the House of Commons actually voted to extend the scrutiny of MPs’ allowances last week. Members of Parliament receive allowances to enable them to run their offices, commute to London and stay in the capital for several days a week when Parliament is sitting. Allowances were first made public by the Labour Government in 2004. Set within tough new rules with clear, independent robust audit, all expenditure will now be published in 26 categories (compared to 15 now) and will be automatically available to members of the public. The current tables are available to view at http://www.parliament.uk/site_information/allowances.cfm.
CRIME STATISTICS
The Government publishes crime figures, based both on recorded offences and the British Crime Survey, which asks people about their own experience of crime. Progress is being made, with recorded crime and recorded violent crime down. Importantly, the risk of becoming a victim of crime is at an historically low level, and fear of crime has also dropped for some crimes and remained stable for others. Of course, we cannot be complacent, and there are some areas – in particular knife crime – which need to be tackled nationally. Locally, you can have your say on what priorities the police should have. Every area has a regular Partners and Communities Together, where you can meet your local police team, and set their priorities for fighting crime and anti social behaviour in your neighbourhood. More information is available at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.
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 me on 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.
Commenting on this message is now disabled.