Update from Linda Gilroy MP week ending Friday 10 July 2008
Posted by Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth, Sutton, at 08:11, Fri 10 July 2009:
Thought for the Week
Important developments this week on two of the great challenges of our age. With regard to the economic downturn, the Chancellor Alistair Darling announced much needed reforms that will clean up our banking sector in the long term. You can read about them on the Treasury website. On the issue of climate Change, Gordon Brown has been in Italy this week for the G8 summit where leaders have agreed a deal to cap global temperature rises by two degrees Celsius and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. This paves the way for the forthcoming Copenhagen Climate Summit to which I will be paying very close attention.
My Week At A Glance
Working Links
On Monday Ben Bradshaw, Exeter MP and Secretary of State for Culture Media & Sport, was in Plymouth for the day and together we visited the employment and training organisation Working Links, based in Mayflower Street. We also had a "town hall" meeting in Plymouth Albion, London & Westcountry Suite on Building Britain's future, as well as meeting some 25 party members from in and around Plymouth.
Marine Bill
I've continued to attend sittings of the Marine & Coastal Access Bill Committee this week and we are making very good progress. The fact that the Bill was also examined by a Committee in draft form last year helped iron out many of the issues well in advance, thus saving time at this stage of the process. This week we have been getting to grips with some of the issues concerning opening up access to the coastal footpath. I hope the Bill can return to the Commons in October and could become law soon after.
Community Land Trusts
On Tuesday I asked a question on the floor of the House to the Department for Communities & Local Government. I chose the subject of Community Land Trusts, which I support as a vehicle for providing affordable housing. You can read more about CLTs at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/housing
Public Sector Pensions
On Wednesday I was called to ask a question to Harriet Harman who, as Leader of the House, was standing in during Prime Minister's Questions for Gordon Brown, who is in Italy for the G8 Summit. I chose to raise the issue of public sector pensions - to which there has been a lot of criticism from some quarters, including the Opposition. Yet the average public sector pension is worth £7000 a year. The people who receive them include ordinary, hardworking working cooks, cleaners, administrators, health and social care workers on low incomes and they work in our schools, police stations, hospitals and offices. They do not deserve to be lumped together with the likes of Fred Goodwin and others who bear responsibility for allowing the financial crisis to happen.
Water
On Wednesday we also had the annual General Meeting of the All Party Group on Water. Our guest speaker was Anna Walker, Chair of the Independent Review on Water Metering and Charging. She took us through the interim findings on affordability and fairness. It is quite clear that her proposals are very significant in how they would tackle affordability for at least 88,000 of those on the lowest incomes in Devon and Cornwall. There is everything yet to play for in terms of seeking fairer bills for everyone - but it is up to us to demonstrate a strong case for treating environmental costs (e.g. clean beaches) as a public good, the cost of which should be shared by all who benefit from it.
Responsible Drinking
Today I'm speaking at a conference in Plymouth on alcohol. We will be discussing issues surrounding licensing, binge drinking, anti-social behaviour and young people. I have spoken at length about these issues with police in Plymouth and I am now looking forward to hearing the views of the drinks industry, including speakers from local pubs and Plymouth Gin.
Looking ahead
Next week I am sponsoring an exhibition in the House of Commons by the Royal Academy of Engineering on how engineering can help us beat the recession and be on the front foot for the recovery. I'm looking forward to meeting some of the young engineers, researchers and scientists who will be attending the launch. I will also be continuing to work on my campaign for fairer water bills by meeting with Government Ministers and the Chair of the recent Charging Review, to ensure they take into account the affordability and fairness issues we face in Plymouth and the far South West.
You can keep up to date at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/news
Best wishes
Linda Gilroy MP
Comments
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Posted by j.winn, 09:11, Fri 10 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
i think it would be a good thing if all new build projects were to include solar heating by law,it would mean a cut in greenhouse gases and povide employment for many.
Posted by Bert Symons, 20:05, Fri 10 July 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #
Will I still have a job by Christmas ?! a long service member of Plymouth Citybus
If a new company takes over it will cut unprofitable routes. Those routes which are identified as socially required will then have to be paid for through subsidies from council funds.
But then they'll have £10 million to play with I suppose. That won't last long on bus subsidy payments
Don't sell Plymouth Citybus