Andrew Gwynne MP Parliamentary News March 2009
Posted by Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, at 12:06, Mon 30 March 2009:
Questions to the Prime Minister
I have had the opportunity to speak twice at Prime Ministers Questions recently. On the most recent occasion I highlighted the plans by the Guardian Media Group to close down the local offices of the Tameside Advertiser and Stockport Express.
These announcements by the Guardian Media Group will mean that scores of journalists will lose their jobs and have a huge impact on the quality and coverage of local news in our area.
I also recently asked a question to the Prime Minister about the recent wintry weather and the travel chaos it caused in London due to Mayor Boris Johnson’s bad planning. Here is the text of my question about the closure of local newspapers, where the Leader of the House stood in for the Prime Minister. I asked:
“Some 150 jobs will be lost at the Manchester Evening News and other Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers as all the local newspaper offices are closed, and great titles such as the Tameside Advertiser and Stockport Express are consolidated in central Manchester. Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that local newspapers are the lifeblood of local democracy, and will she join the Greater Manchester MPs in calling on the Guardian Media Group to think again?”
Leader of the House Ms Harman replied:
“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. It is certainly the Government’s position that local and regional newspapers, radio and television are important and, as he says, part of the lifeblood of this country. That is why Lord Carter and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport are working on this important issue, which was raised in a debate in this House last Thursday.”
Supporting Fair Trade Fortnight
I am a supporter of the Fair Trade movement. That is why I welcomed the launch of Fair Trade fortnight recently.
Fair trade is hugely important and is a lifeline to the 7.5 million people worldwide who currently benefit from the system. The Government has also recently announced further support for the initiative. Whatever we can do to be a part of it, by picking a Fair Trade product off the supermarket shelf , we are sending out the message that we all stand together. Fair Trade fortnight was a real opportunity to see fantastic products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark and learn about the real difference Fair Trade is making to farmers who face increasingly tough times. I hope to attend a Fair Trade event at Denton Methodist Church later next month.
Success at Guide Bridge Station
I was pleased that Network Rail reversed their decision to charge at Guide Bridge railway station car park in Audenshaw. They have already started to remove the pay and display machines. I thought it was a badly thought out decision to start charging at the car park, which had previously been completely free. I was contacted by a number of local people who agreed with me that the charges should stop. Because of the level of local protest Network Rail had to take notice and change their decision. I am glad to see that in this case common sense has prevailed!! Well done to Network Rail.
Best deal on phones services by OFCOM
I welcome the advice published by communications regulator Ofcom to help consumers save money and get the best deal on mobile and landline phone services. This advice from Ofcom will help people who are looking for ways to tighten their belt during this difficult time. As more and more homes make use of mobile phones, landlines and broadband, it’s vital they make sure they’re getting value for money. There are lots of ways for the people of Denton and Reddish to keep the same services they currently enjoy but reduce their bills. Ofcom has provided advice about what to look for from mobile and landline phone deals, including details of different tariffs and how they work. I urge everyone in Denton and Reddish to have a look at their bills and see if they can save money. I’ll certainly be doing it myself. Ofcom’s recession busting guidance for consumers is available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/features/recessmain
Consulting tenants
I am urging constituents who live in housing association, ALMO, co-operative or local authority controlled social housing to make sure they have their say in a nationwide consultation of tenants. The Tenants Service Authority, the new independent regulator for social housing, wants to hear from as many social housing tenants as possible, to help decide on new standards which landlords will be expected to follow. This is a unique chance to make your voice heard about your housing and how you are treated by your Landlord. Tenants can download a questionnaire from www.nationalconversation.co.uk or call 0845 230 7000 (choosing option 1) for further information. A resource pack explaining how to organise your own consultation meeting is also available. Alternatively, if people prefer to feed their views through me, I can make sure that they are passed on to the Tenant Services Authority. The Tenants Services Authority (TSA) is the new Independent regulator for affordable housing, set to raise the standards of services through a well governed sector that puts tenants first. It was launched on 1 December 2008. The TSA will be consulting with tenants across 5 million households and their landlords – including Local Authorities, ALMOs and housing associations – to develop the new standards framework and implementation the new powers granted in the Housing and Regeneration Act. The TSA intends to “Switch on” its new powers for Housing Associations in December 2009 and across the Local Authority sector in April 2010.
Dementia Care
I welcomed a major plan to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers living in Denton and Reddish. The National Dementia Strategy for England will be used to bring about improvements in services and support for people with dementia in Denton and Reddish.
The Strategy calls for public awareness campaigns to help reduce the stigma associated with the illness, earlier diagnosis of dementia and for higher standards of care. The numbers of people affected by dementia is set to soar in the future. That is why improving the lives of people with dementia and tackling the stigma that surrounds the condition must be a priority for our local services. If implemented locally, the dementia plan could be life changing for the 999 people with dementia and their carers in living in Denton and Reddish. Dementia is a devastating illness not only for the person affected but for those who care for them. We must end the myth that once diagnosed there is nothing that can be done. Given the right kind of support and access to high quality services, people with dementia and their carers can learn to better cope with the condition, maintain their independence for longer and enjoy a better quality of life.
I look forward to seeing the local council and PCT working together to put a local dementia plan into action. Their commitment to change is imperative if we are to see the lives of people with dementia and their carers radically transformed.
Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, says 'I am delighted that Andrew Gwynne MP is supporting the launch of the National Dementia Strategy, which sets out an ambitious national rescue plan to transform the lives of people with dementia. Strong leadership from the NHS and council at a local level are essential if these plans are to be made a reality.’
Success for Audenshaw High School
I am pleased that the Government has announced the next steps in getting the nation’s children cooking, with Audenshaw High School in Tameside being awarded £300,000 over the next two years to help teach cookery in School. Under the government proposals there will be a £3.3m package to recruit 750 cookery teaching assistants and boost existing teachers' skills, from 2011, cookery lessons will be compulsory in England's secondary schools for children aged 11 to 14. £2.1m would be allocated over the next two years to recruit and train 750 specialist higher-level teaching assistants to run cookery classes. And £1.2m would be made available for a new continuous professional development programme to train 400 teachers to teach cooking classes.
Teaching children how to prepare basic recipes from scratch is fun to do at school and at home. It helps young people get the skills to go on to cook healthily for life. I am very pleased that Audenshaw High School has been awarded this money and pupils will be able to improve their cooking skills. Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said: “Today’s measures are vital in gearing up secondary schools to offer practical cooking lessons from 2012 – putting expert and well-trained staff and good facilities in place across the board. “But I’ve always been clear that the onus to pass on cooking skills should not just fall on teachers. This is not about telling families what to do and what to eat. The fact is that if parents never prepare or eat meals together, then we risk children growing up uninterested in cooking or living healthily.”
Free Theatre Tickets
I would like to encourage people in Denton and Reddish to take advantage of the Free Theatre Initiative. This aims to make theatre tickets free of charge to all persons under 26 for the next 2 years as part of a groundbreaking national scheme to increase cultural opportunities for young people.
The local theatres taking part include the Royal Exchange Theatre, Library Theatre Company and Contact Manchester. The Free Theatre Initiative has been pioneered by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and is specifically aimed at young adults and their families, with the goal to give away one million free tickets and is a bold move to boost a new generation of theatre-goers. I would encourage everyone in Denton and Reddish to go along and see what the theatre has to offer.” If people are interested in the scheme, they can search for theatres that are signed up to the scheme as well as apply for tickets through the Night Less Ordinary website: http://www.anightlessordinary.org.uk/ For more information on my campaigns, and for full copies of my press releases please visit my website at http://www.andrewgwynne.co.uk/.
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