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News From Westminster

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 15:38, Fri 19 June 2009:

Welcome!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.

NEW ROLE IN DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

On 5 June I was appointed as the Minister for Children, Young People and Families in the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). I am very pleased to join the DCSF team, and will be responsible for a range of issues including children’s centres and tackling child poverty. These issues are all absolutely vital to residents here in Bristol South. So far I’ve been busy meeting various children’s organisations and this week I spoke at a parliamentary reception for “4Children”, the national children’s charity which works with a range of organisations, children and parents to ensure joined up support for all children and young people in their local communities.

OPENING OF GATEHOUSE NURSERY

I was delighted to visit Gatehouse Nursery this afternoon, to officially open an additional room and the extension and landscaping of their garden. The extra space has been made possible thanks to a grant of nearly £100,000 from the Department of Children, Schools and Families. This extension means that the nursery can offer more places to local children, which is much needed in Hartcliffe and Withywood. Additionally, the children now have even more exciting spaces to play in. The children and parents I met today were thrilled at the new facilities which will, I am sure, help Gatehouse Nursery to continue to go from strength to strength.

CLIMATE PROJECTIONS

Yesterday saw the publication of the latest UK Climate Projections, predicting what we can expect to see in terms of temperature changes, rainfall and sea level rises over the next 100 years. Although this is not an exact science, the information has been produced using the latest scientific techniques and can help us to plan for the inevitable changes in our climate and help us work to prevent more severe climate change. I believe it’s vital to secure a strong global deal later this year when countries meet in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference. The Government is currently tackling climate change through a five point plan of action:

• Protecting the public from immediate risk

• Preparing for the future

• Limiting the severity of future climate change through a new international climate agreement

• Building a low carbon UK

• Supporting individuals, communities and businesses to play their part

For more information about the UK Climate Projections, visit www.defra.gov.uk, or contact my office.

CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL

I welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement last week regarding democratic reform of MPs’ allowances and the further, more extensive changes planned for Parliament to improve transparency and accountability. Parliament’s reputation has been bruised in recent weeks, largely due to revelations regarding MPs’ allowances, and it’s vital that we restore people’s trust in their MPs. As part of an extensive reform programme, the Government will set out proposals in the coming weeks for widespread debate on key areas:

• House of Lords reform

• Setting out the rights and responsibilities of British citizens

• Devolution of power and engaging people in their local communities

• Taking forward the debate on our electoral system; and

• increasing public engagement in politics including improving registration and considering the voting age.

FUNDING TO TACKLE UNDERAGE DRINKING

I welcomed the announcement made earlier this week that Bristol would be one of 69 local authorities to receive a share of £1.4 million to address the problem of underage drinking as part of a nationwide plan to tackle teenage binge drinking during the summer holidays. Alcohol is a major factor contributing to low level youth crime and anti-social behaviour, especially during the summer months when the days are longer and the evenings are warmer, so it’s important to take forward a range of prevention and enforcement activity such as one-to-one support for young people and work with parents and families alongside use of dispersal orders, confiscating alcohol powers and behaviour contracts where necessary. Bristol will receive an extra £20,000 on top of the £350,000 it has already been given this year to tackle anti-social behaviour and youth crime.

MEETING WITH NEW POLICE INSPECTOR

I recently met with Caroline Bullen, the new Neighbourhood Team Inspector for the Bishopsworth sector of Bristol South which covers beats in Ashton Vale, Hartcli ffe, Headley Park, Highridge & Bedminster Down, Southville, Whitchurch Park and Withywood. I welcomed her to our area and we spoke about a range of issues inclu ding the importance of involving local residents in identifying local problems and potential solutions. Caroline knows Bristol well, having worked in other part s of the city previously, and is keen to make a difference in Bristol South. More information abut neighbourhood policing is available on the Avon & Somerset Po lice website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk or please contact my office.

IRAQ INQUIRY

This week, the Prime Minister announced the launch of an inquiry into the Iraq war. A committee of leading privy councillors has been convened, with a non-polit ical chair, and the committee are required to get to work straight away and report within a year. This is the right moment for an inquiry – to have done so whil e combat operations were ongoing would not have been appropriate. The inquiry will be modelled on the Franks Inquiry, which was set up by the previous Governmen t following the Falklands conflict.

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. Email me at pri marolod@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 arou nd Bristol South, you can visit www.bristolsouthlabourparty.org.uk.