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Latest news from Bolton West and Westminster

Posted by Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, at 14:58, Tue 7 April 2009:

Dear Constituent,

I am writing to keep you updated regarding developments both in my constituency and at Westminster.

Bolton West

Policing Pledge

I support the new Policing Pledge and have been highlighting the campaign by urging residents to use new tools available to combat crime. I am pleased that residents now have easier access to details of their local police force and when they can meet officers to have their say on crime in their area.

The Policing Pledge also sets out what residents can expect from their local policing teams. Annual reports and crime statistics are also accessible to residents. Residents can find their neighbourhood policing team and learn about what is being done to tackle crime locally by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge and inputting their postcode.

The pledge was drawn up following public consultation conducted by the Home Office last year. The pledges include holding regular public meetings and ensuring residents are kept updated with information.

Residents can also find out when community meetings are being held and how they can help fight crime. They can also text ‘Pledge’ and their postcode to 66101 to receive contact details for their neighbourhood policing team at anytime.

Fitter Families

I have been encouraging families throughout my constituency to commit to change and sign up for the Fitter Families initiative. The initiative, led by Gladiators host and former England striker, Ian Wright, is supported by the supermarket chain Asda.

The aim is to ensure families adopt healthier lifestyles by taking small steps to develop good eating and fitness habits. Without a change in our lifestyles, 60% of the nation will be obese by 2050, with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Families can sign up at www.fitterfamilies.com and commit to simple, achievable and sustainable changes to their lifestyle, which will increase their fitness over the long term.

Planning appeal withdrawn

I welcome last month’s announcement that the planning application appeal at the Dickinsons site has been withdrawn. The planning application, which would have established a new waste heat treatment plant in Blackrod, was rejected on highways grounds by the Planning Committee of Bolton Council. Orchid Environmental had been scheduled to appeal this decision but decided to withdraw. The company have said the reason was that the site was no longer commercially viable.

I am glad that this decision will allay constituents fears. This issue has been raised with me by many residents and I am pleased that local people have had the chance to express their views. I have thanked Eileen Jackson, John Price and the other members of the Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group for the tireless way that they have represented local concerns.

Genesis appeal to stamp out breast cancer

Based in the north west, The Genesis Appeal in the only charity in the UK entirely dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer. 1 in 10 women and 1 in 1000 men will develop breast cancer in their life time.

I have pledged to collect used stamps at my constituency office to help support the charity- and I am urging local residents to do the same.

For every pound in weight of stamps that are donated to Genesis, the charity are able to claim a pound stirling back. This helps to raise vital funds needed to fund research into breast cancer and promote screening for the disease.

If you would like to donate your used stamps, please send them to The Genesis Appeal, The Nightingale Centre and Genesis Prevention Centre, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT. For further information on this campaign and the work of The Genesis Appeal, please visit www.genesisuk.org

Events

I visited a careers information event at the Reebok Stadium with Julie Hilling, who has recently been selected by the local Labour party as their candidate for the next general election.

A couple of weeks ago, I visited Westhoughton High School and met year 10 pupils who had taken part in the national Printit design competition.

Last Friday, I visited Rivington and Blackrod High School and was impressed by their state-of-art television studio. I also took part in a “Question and Answers” session with sixth formers at the school.

I have also been out on the beat in Horwich with PC Andy Vernon, the community beat manager for the area.

Westminster

Community payback scheme

I am pleased that local residents have the chance to take part in a new scheme to give them a greater say in how criminals pay back their debts to society. The plan means that the public can use the internet to choose the sorts of tough physical labour offenders on community sentences should have to do. Offenders are now required to wear high-visibility jackets to highlight the community work being done through the scheme.

People in Bolton West will be able to vote or make suggestions via the direct.gov website at www.direct.gov/CommunityPayback. The scheme receiving the most votes will be undertaken first by offenders carrying out Community Payback, representing a real and distinct choice for the public.

The voting process will be promoted in local newspapers and on local radio and information will be provided on how, across the country, the public can suggest other projects offenders should undertake throughout the year.

These could include renovating community centres, clearing undergrowth and cleaning off graffiti for local communities.

Giving the public a say on Community Payback is the next stage in the Government’s Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign launched earlier this month to address public concerns about crime and justice.

New rights for working people

This week marks ten years since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage. In tough times it is more important than ever to have one.

I am pleased to have consistently supported the Government's efforts to bring more fairness at work. From April three new key rights which I voted for come into effect. It's only right that working people get a decent amount of time off. From 1st April 2009 statutory holiday entitlement will increase by 4 days for full-time workers, pro rata for part-timers.

This will benefit 6 million people across the country. From 6th April 2009 the right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children aged 16 or under, benefiting an extra 4.5 million people across the country. If you have a child aged 16 or under, you are an employee and you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously before applying, you will have the statutory right to ask for flexible working.

Under the law your employer must seriously consider any application you make, and only reject it if there are good business reasons for doing so. In April new powers come in to take action against rogue employers who underpay staff. Every worker should earn a fair wage for a fair day's work - there is no excuse not to pay up.

There will now be unlimited fines for the most serious cases rather than the current maximum limit of £5,000. It will also mean a fairer way of dealing with national minimum wage arrears, calculated so workers do not lose out. Rogue employers need to be exposed. If you think a rogue employer is not paying up then you can call the national minimum wage helpline on 0845 6000 678. I'm proud that ten years after the introduction of the National Minimum Wage the Government is still taking steps to strengthen it.

Health in pregnancy grants

The Government have outlined additional help for families through the 'Health in Pregnancy Grant'. From April 2009, mums-to-be will get tax-free payment when they are at least 25 weeks pregnant.

Having a baby is an exciting time for mums and their families. Whether it's your first time or you're having another child there is loads of planning to do and things to get sorted. And from getting a pushchair to stocking up on nappies, there are bills to pay.

In order to get the grant mums-to-be will need to get a claim form from their midwife or doctor. Women wishing to claim will need to get a claim form to HMRC within 31 days of your midwife or doctor signing the form - otherwise they may miss out on the grant.

I'm proud that the government is putting children and families are at the heart of their policies, especially during these tough times. This cash boost will make a real difference to local families.

You can get a free text message or email reminder to help you remember to claim if you are not 25 weeks pregnant yet. This can be accessed at the following link

www.campaigns.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be/alerts.jsp

Kindest regards,

Ruth Kelly

MP for Bolton West