Update from Linda Gilroy MP: Week ending Thursday April 1 201
Posted by Linda Gilroy, MP for Plymouth, Sutton, at 11:06, Thu 1 April 2010:
Thought for the Week
Last weekend, the Prime Minister launched Labour’s key election pledges:
1. Secure the recovery and halve the deficit through economic growth, fair taxes and cuts to lower priority spending.
2. Raise family living standards, keeping mortgage rates as low as possible; increasing tax credits for families with young children; providing new help for first-time buyers; and restoring the link between the state pension and earnings from 2012.
3. Build a high tech economy, supporting businesses and industry to create 1 million more skilled jobs and modernising our infrastructure with High-Speed Rail, a Green Investment Bank and broadband access for all.
4. Protect frontline investment in policing, schools, childcare and the NHS, with a new guarantee of cancer test results within a week.
5. Strengthen fairness in communities through an Australian style points-based system to control immigration; guaranteed education, apprenticeships and jobs for young people; and a crack down on anti-social behaviour.
I know from the telephone canvassing and door knocking I've been doing, together with the letters and emails you have been sending me, that many people are worried about what a Conservative Government would mean for them and for the front line public services they rely upon. It is clear that action needs to be taken to reduce the deficit, but I think some in the Conservative Party see this merely as a cover to secure their smaller state agenda.
When the Conservatives criticising "big government" we must remember that it was big government that rescued the banking system from collapse, it was big government that stuck by small businesses and individuals during the recession and it is big government that supplies the doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen and PCSOs that we rely upon. This is particularly true in Plymouth, where we have some 36,000 public sector jobs. Yes we need smart government - but to make sensible efficiency savings takes planning and time - again I know from my own experience that people in the public sector are looking ahead - and there is (as the government identifies on a rolling basis) much scope for savings - but knee jerk reaction means bad decisions, poorly thought out and delivered badly - some will remember the 1990's when the cuts the Tories inflicted gave people no time to work out how to minimise the damage.
I shall also be working hard as part of a wider campaign I have started to sustain the levels of public sector employment in Plymouth. Last week’s budget confirmed a further 15,000 jobs are to be moved out of London and the South East – and I believe Plymouth has much to offer as a venue for relocation. This is in stark contrast to the position of the Tory Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke who simply says the South West is “dangerously over dependant” on the public sector and that we must look to the private sector for future employment. If Plymouth’s long held and well thought out aspirations for growth are to be met it is not one or the other but both which need to be championed. You can count on me to give a high priority to exactly that!
Defence Question
In Defence Questions on Monday I highlight the importance of the new aircraft carriers to Devonport. Once work begins on assembling the vessels at Rosyth, further refit work will be diverted from Scotland to Devonport, which is in keeping with out role as the lead yard for deep maintenance. You can read the question - and the Minister's answer - here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-03-29b.503.6&s=speaker%3A10229#g504.5
The Future of Social Care
I am pleased that the Government has published the White Paper this week, although I regret that the funding basis for taking this ahead has become a political football. There was a long period of consultation in which thousands - including people in my Plymouth consultation participated - and from this the most support was for the Comprehensive Approach (41%), with partnership second (35%) and the Insurance (where people could take out insurance on a voluntary basis) - the Tory 's favoured option third with 22%. This will now be looked at in the Commission that the White paper promises - and although this slows things down I welcome the scrutiny that will be given to this - it allows everyone to be involved and to see what will make what we all know is needed realistic and workable.
(See here for previous information: http://www.lindagilroy.org.uk/the-future-of-social-care)
I support the Government in the vision and the principles that it sets out in the White Paper and believe that establishing a National Care Service which is affordable, free at the point of delivery and sustainable is one of biggest challenges which we need to face up to. The ground work has been laid in the work that has been done leading up to the White Paper today - and the Personal Care at Home Bill which reached its final stages in the House of Commons this week. For many women who provide care across three generations getting this right is vital. A voluntary insurance scheme will not be the answer for the many - the Tories in opting for this are coming out once again in their true colours - proposing a policy that will only work for the few, leaving the many to struggle.
Looking ahead
It is widely expected that the General election will be called on Tuesday and Parliament will be dissolved shortly after that, probably on the Thursday or Friday. However...I shall be working hard in Westminster right up until the last minute! On Tuesday I have an adjournment debate on Tackling Crime in Plymouth. The statistics show that crime has fallen across the City - I want to explore how this has been achieved and what lessons can be learnt. It starts at 1pm and you can watch it live via the Parliament website (http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Home.aspx) or BBC Democracy Live (http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi)
Then on Wednesday I have a question to the Prime Minister.
Have a very happy Easter Weekend!
Commenting on this message is now disabled.