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Jeremy Browne MP’s Monthly Update - February 2009

Posted by Jeremy Browne, MP for Taunton, at 15:13, Fri 27 March 2009:

Momentum is gathering behind Jeremy’s Organ Donation (Presumed Consent) Bill.

“My legislation would offer a lifeline to seriously ill patients whilst also including strict safeguards to prevent anyone from donating an organ against his or her wishes. MPs from all parties have signed a motion in support of my Bill and it is also supported by The British Medical Association.

Read the Motion at: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37961&SESSION=899

PROJECT TAUNTON

Jeremy has secured strong support for Project Taunton from the South West Minister. After meeting the project’s leaders in Taunton, Jeremy met with the Minister, Ben Bradshaw, in London. He commented;

"Project Taunton can make a hugely positive difference to the future of the town. That is why I am so committed to seeing it succeed, particularly when the economy is struggling.

"There is already significant progress being made. The major funding for the Somerset Museum and the overhaul of Castle Green will further enhance one of the most attractive parts of Taunton. The new County Ground and the development of Somerset Square by the Brewhouse will make the river a greater feature of the town, while the Gadd's homes being built at Firepool will significantly improve that area.

"The biggest goal is to achieve the successful redevelopment of the whole Firepool site. Transforming the existing waste ground into a vibrant area of shops, homes and offices will massively boost the physical appearance and prosperity of Taunton.

“I would also like to see a Government Agency relocate to Firepool, which would invigorate Project Taunton and bring new jobs to our area.

"The Minister was very keen to stress his personal support for Project Taunton and offered to assist or intervene whenever that might be beneficial."

Jeremy is also backing the local campaign led by Councillor Danny Wedderkopp to get Network Rail to clean up the bridge on Station Road. He said;

"The railway bridge on Station Road is a complete mess. It was last painted so long ago that an ancient advert for 'Wills Capstan cigarettes' can still be seen along with the old British Rail logo.

As well as the peeling paint, the underside of the bridge is infested with pigeons and the pavement underneath is filthy.

"Network Rail has tried to dodge its responsibility for sorting out this problem. The bridge gives a terrible impression of Taunton to visitors arriving at the train station and I have written to Network Rail calling on them to clean-up the bridge."

HEALTHIER CHOICES

Jeremy urged councillors on Taunton Deane Council not to block plans to provide free swimming for over 60s and under 16s. He said;

“The initiative will be funded by a grant from central Government, but no extra money for swimming facilities will be available for Councils that do not participate in this scheme.

“It will offer an incentive to older people to enjoy an activity which will help keep them fit and healthy. Free

swimming will also be great for young families at a time when many parents are worried about their personal finances.

“ It would have been a huge shame to turn down extra Government funding for a scheme that will benefit many retired people and young families and I am pleased it was passed.”

SPOKESPERSON'S NEWS

Jeremy is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, focusing on issues such as accountability in public spending, personal debt, taxation and affordable housing.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION

SAVINGS CULTURE

Jeremy is supporting legislation to incentivise the development of a savings culture amongst low-earners. He commented;

“[This Bill] will provide a buffer for people who otherwise run their finances down, often because they have very little money, to a point where they have no security if there is some external shock for which they have not budgeted. That can make people’s lives difficult. As we have said before, if the washing machine breaks down or some feature of their life is suddenly changed without their being able to anticipate it, those people have no scope to address that difficulty. If the Bill helps in that regard, it is very much worth while.

“The bigger objective is to give people who currently have the smallest stake in society a bigger stake, and particularly a financial one. The amounts of money saved do not have to be particularly large, but the people who are enticed to save money because of the Bill will feel that they are participating in a wider collective endeavour... They will then feel that they have a stake in the process, which is hugely important. As I said on Second Reading, it is the equivalent of the share-owning democracy being extended to people in the bottom 10 to 20 per cent of society. That will bring widespread social benefits if the Bill works out as successfully as we all hope.”

Read the debate at; http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090225/debtext/90225-0009.htm

THE CHILD TRUST FUND

Jeremy has called for early intervention to increase the life chances of children. During a debate on the Child Trust Fund, he observed;

“This country has some serious issues to address: educational underachievement and children, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds, failing to maximise their potential in the school system. About one in five children leave school with no grade A-to-C GCSEs; fewer than half of children achieve five grades A to C, including English and maths; and about a quarter of children choose not to stay in any further formal education beyond the age of 16.

“It seems to me and my party that the question is what can we do to assist children from very low-income households. Is the money best spent by storing up a cash bonus for them at the age of 18?

“If a young person reaches the age of 18 having failed to garner sufficient qualifications to make themselves an attractive proposition to employers—they might have left school two years earlier with no, or insufficient, meaningful qualifications—that money will be of far less use to them than if they had had the advantages of smaller class sizes and greater rigour and attention in being taught to read and write when they were five or six years old.”

Read the debate at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmgeneral/deleg1/090209/90209s01.htm

ECONOMIC CRISIS

In February, Jeremy welcomed Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg to Taunton for the party’s South West Conference. Nick said;

"The economic crisis is causing financial hardship and anxiety for families throughout the South West. People are worried about their household budgets and their jobs.

"The British people have been let down by our financial system and our political system. The banks have been irresponsible and the regulatory system has failed.

"The Liberal Democrats have a long and impressive record of standing up for people in the South West. We were warning as far back as 2003 that Gordon Brown's credit boom was unsustainable. Those warnings were ignored and everyone is now paying the price.”

"New policies are needed to help businesses and to increase environmental investment so we can benefit from a more stable and sustainable economy."

Jeremy also commented;

"Nick Clegg visits Somerset frequently and I was delighted to welcome him again to Taunton Deane.

"In these tough economic times, I am committed to making sure that the needs of Taunton Deane are understood in the corridors of power. Safeguarding existing jobs and attracting new investment are both crucial to the financial prosperity of our area."

Contact Jeremy at office@tauntonlibdems.org.uk , or write to him at: Masons House, Magdalene Street, Taunton, TA1 1SG