News from Westminster
Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:18, Mon 29 March 2010:
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
29 MARCH 2010
WELCOME!
Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.
BUDGET 2010
I welcomed the Budget last week which set out how the Government will secure the economic recovery and build a future based on growth and jobs. The Chancellor announced measures that will continue to help families, working people, businesses, and pensioners. The young person’s guarantee of a job, training or work placement has been extended and pensioners will receive an additional payment alongside their Winter Fuel Payment again this year. There’s a new two-year Stamp Duty holiday for first time buyers on properties up to £250,000 in value and targeted support for small and medium businesses. The Budget made clear the Government’s plan to halve the deficit while still protecting: NHS frontline spending; Sure Start funding; frontline spending for schools; spending on 16-19 participation; and numbers of police officers and PCSOs.
VISITING FAIR FURLONG
I went along to Fair Furlong Primary School on Friday morning to help present some of the children with gardening equipment. The equipment was donated by Morrison’s, as part of their Let’s Grow scheme. Local families have been collecting Let’s Grow vouchers over the past two years, and they are now being redeemed for equipment which will help the children grow their own fruit, veg and plants. Hopefully it will encourage them to eat their five-a-day!
BUS RAPID TRANSIT APPROVAL
I was very pleased when Transport Minister, Paul Clark, visited Bristol to award Programme Entry status to the Bus Rapid Transit scheme between Ashton Vale and Temple Meads. The Department for Transport has provisionally agreed to provide a contribution of £43 million towards the cost of the new route. I believe it’s really important to make this type of significant investment in our city’s future transport to tackle the traffic congestion problems we currently face.
MEETING PARENTS AT FIRST STEPS NURSERY
I had a very productive meeting with parents at First Steps Nursery on Friday. The nursery, based at the Southville Centre, is offering great provision to local parents. There are lots of families with young children in Southville though, so it’s important that we make sure there are adequate nursery places for parents who want them. Government investment means that all three and four year olds are entitled to free nursery sessions, and we are looking at how we can extend this for young children. In the meantime, it’s important to ensure that excellent local provision is available. I will be working with the Council to ensure that they are able to satisfy demand for nursery places.
BANNING WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES
I know from the emails and letters I receive from local residents how important an issue animal welfare is in Bristol South. In Parliament, I’ve always tried to back moves which help improve the welfare of animals, so I was delighted that the Government announced last week that it is banning the use of wild animals in circuses. The use of animals – including lions, tigers and elephants – in circuses was simply not acceptable, and 94 per cent of respondents to the Government’s consultation on this issue agreed. The Government will now be working with circuses to ensure that these animals are well looked after in the future.
POTHOLES
You can’t have failed to have noticed the potholes in many of our roads following the exceptionally cold weather in the winter. Potholes are a potentially costly nuisance for motorists, and can prove exceptionally dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists. I’ve been in touch with the Council about a number of potholes that people have reported to me, and I was very pleased to see last week that the Government is making funding available to local councils to fix these problems. Bristol will receive £282,000 from the Government to help repair the damage done by the cold, so there’s no excuse for the Council not getting the job done. If you’ve noticed any road damage which hasn’t been repaired yet, get in touch and I would be happy to make enquiries for you.
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. Just email primarolod@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH.
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