Update from Linda Gilroy MP, week ending 16 October 2009
Posted by Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth, Sutton, at 12:32, Fri 16 October 2009:
Hopefully the overview below will give you a flavour of some of the work I have been undertaking in Parliament and in Plymouth this week. You can also keep up to date at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/news
Citybus
On Wednesday I secured an adjournment debate to discuss the future of Plymouth Citybus. Twelve Citybus drivers from Unite the Union travelled all the way to London to demonstrate their opposition to the Conservative City Council's plan to spend almost £1 million on valuing the company prior to a possible sale. We were also joined my Jack Dromey, Deputy General Secretary of the Transport & General Workers Union who rightly held Citybus up as the finest bus company in the country. It really is - its record on bus prices, network coverage and environmental issues is second to none. I feel so very strongly about this issue. The Conservatives' plans have already started a bus war in the City and threaten to damage an efficient, effective and proven service. You can read the speech and all about the camapign at www.lindagilroy.org.uik/citybus
Investment in Plymouth Schools
On Monday I asked the Schools Minister, Vernon Coaker, to confirm when we can expect to hear about the next round of funding under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. This follows a recent visit by Mr Coaker to Stoke Damerel Community College (see here). I have been pressing very strongly for Plymouth to be included so that the improvements we have seen in our local schools over the past twelve years can continue.
Fairer Water Charges
On Monday I participated in a late night debate on water charging. Regular readers of this email will know that Anna Walker is currently considering responses to the interim findings of her Review of Water Metering & Charging. I used the debate to draw attention to the response she has received from Plymouth University's Socio Economic Research and Intelligence Observatory (SERIO). This highlights the fact that approximately a quarter of the English population visited the South West in 2008 which underlines again how our beaches and our coastline are a national asset and how it is therefore unfair that water customers in the South West are left to foot the entire bill for the environmental clear up. I also used the debate to request a meeting with the Water Minister to discuss Anna Walker's final recommendations soon after they published. You can follow my campaign for fairer water charges at www.lindagilroy.org.uk/water
Business Help
RBS have written to me to publicise their new Business Hotline for customers of any bank who have a viable UK business which needs support. Business Hotline can be reached on 0800 092 3087 or by email on businesshotline@rbs.co.uk If you are involved with a small business which is experiencing difficulties and think that I may usefully be able to help please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm particularly keen to hear examples of good / bad support you have received.
Defence Debate
On Thursday the House of Commons had a general debate on defence in which I made several interventions. Needless to say the recent announcement of the Prime Minister of 500 further troops to Afghanistan was much discussed as was the Gray Report into defence procurement. My Plymouth colleague Alison Seabeck made some important points about the importance of sea power in general - and aircraft carriers in particular - and my Defence Committee colleagues Dai Havard and Madeline Moon delivered very thoughtful speeches on Afghanistan. Alison and I both pressed the minister to confirm that the Defence Landing Craft Collocation Project, which could see further elements of the Royal Marines move into the dockyard. Earlier in the week I had received a letter saying “I can confirm that work on the DLCCP is progressing and we continue to develop the evidence to support the main investment decision, which is due, on current plans, to be made early in the next decade…..Specific project implementation dates will not be set until the main investment decisions have been made, but initial indicative timescales from the Assessment Study suggest that collocation will be complete around two to three years after main investment decisions have been made. I hope that this reassures you that work on the business case has not stalled and that we remain committed to progressing these collocation plans through the ongoing approvals process”
Number 10 reception
On Thursday night I attended a reception held by the Prime Minister and Mrs Brown at No10 Downing Street to celebrate the contribution which people from many different backgrounds are making all over Britain. I was very pleased to have as my guest Chief Superintendent Jim Webster who was until recently the senior Police Commander in Plymouth. Jim's leadership has made a significant contribution to falling crime levels in Plymouth:
* Overall recorded crime down by 1,892 offences (-7.3 per cent), * Non-serious injury assaults down by 15 per cent; * Theft of vehicles down 28.4 per cent; * Theft from vehicles down 27.1 per cent. * Domestic burglary down 3.6 per cent – a reduction of 45 crimes. * 94.2 per cent of drug offences detected.
We spoke with the Prime Minster about the Talents programme which was Jim’s idea and how it had made a big difference in communities all over Plymouth. I was delighted to be able to mark his contribution in this special way.
Look ahead
Next week I will be visiting the A4E employment service in Plymouth and I will be receiving a briefing from managers at Derriford Hospital. In the Defence Committee will be continuing our investigation into ISTAR - Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance - which is very important with respect to current operations in Afghanistan.
What do You Think?
Do you have a view on whether we should introduce proportional representation into UK Parliamentary elections? Or do you think we should stick with first past the post? If we introduce PR what form should it take? The Prime Minister has announced that the Government will hold a referendum in the first years of the next Parliament and I am interested to hear what you think. I have set up a discussion forum on my website and warmly encourage you to post your thoughts. You can find the forum here: http://www.lindagilroy.org.uk/proportional-representation
Best wishes
Linda Gilroy MP
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