Joe Benton

Welcome to my homepage which I hope will give you an insight into the work I do whilst at Parliament and the service I can offer you as your Parliamentary representative.

This is a new website put together by ePolitix. I will provide other information which I think might be useful to anyone visiting my site in due course.

In the meantime, below is a brief statement giving you an insight into just some of the activities I have been involved in during the past twelve months in Parliament and should you have any questions, or have a problem you would like to bring to my attention, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The past year in Parliamentary terms has been a hectic one in which so much has been achieved by our government. I always consider it a worthwhile exercise to reflect on our success.

• The economy has never been in better shape, which is going to enable the nation to achieve better things for all our people in the future.

• The resources invested in the NHS must stand as an all-time record. While our critics and the cynics point to the difficulties that still prevail in the Health Service, it has to be remembered that it takes seven years to train a doctor and four years to train a nurse, and there are now more doctors and nurses in training than ever before. This will once again provide us with the finest Health Service in the world.

• Similarly, with education, here in Bootle I have seen educational morale lifted in all sectors of the service, thanks in the main to Labour government policies. When we came into office in 1997 nearly half a million infants were in classes of more than thirty. This currently is now down to just 30,000 and this year our 1997 pledge to cut classes to thirty or under for children of 5, 6 and 7 years of age will be fulfilled.

Following Gordon Brown's Spending Review we should look with great pride at the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, increases in Family Allowance and the best deal for pensioners announced by any government for a long time. All of which will help the less better off sections of our society.

No government in recent history has worked as hard to deliver on its pledges and no government has gone so far as well. Imagine what people would have said if our 1997 manifesto had promised 1 million more people in full time employment, or a £200 winter fuel allowance for each pensioner household, or all the major improvements in our school results that have occurred. For example, Bootle and Litherland now have five Beacon schools, this is a tremendous achievement for our constituency. I doubt if anyone would have thought it possible within 3-4 years. However, we have done it and there is still much more to be done - change does take time.

These are just some of our achievements to reflect upon as we all prepare for the General Election whenever it comes. We have much to be proud about and we have a great message to send to the electorate.

On a personal basis my Parliamentary time has been fully occupied since becoming a member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen. I have had a hectic schedule and have chaired the following Committees during the past 12 months or so:

• Contracts (Third Parties) Bill

• Transport Bill

• Armed Forces Discipline Bill (Lords)

• Licensing (Young Persons') Bill

• Health Service Commissioners (Amendment) Bill

• Care Standards Bill (Lords)

• Social Security Contributions (Share Options) Bill

Additionally I have chaired sessions on 5 Delegated Legislation Bills and European Standing Committee B. My participation in the British/Irish All Party Group, the British/Spanish All Party Group, and other All Party Groups, together with my membership of Parliamentary Labour Party Groups for Education and Health is still ongoing and I always endeavour to attend these and take part in the discussions.

In September last I was invited by the Labour Friends of India Group to participate in a fact-finding tour of India. This was an interesting and extremely hard working visit. However, I did actually learn much about India, its culture and its horrendous poverty. I trust I will be able to put my experience to some future use to alleviate third world poverty in some way.

Locally, I continue to hold four surgeries per month which are always heavily attended. In addition, my constituency office is always busy and well used.

Should you wish to contact me over any issue, please do not hesitate to do so.

Best wishes,
Joe