Parliamentary Report - October 2004
Local Activity
- Spoke at the launch of the Civil Society Forum at the West Park Centre in Spen Lane
- Met staff of the Peace Studies Department at Bradford University
- Attended the constituency fundraising dinner at Akmals Tandoori in Hyde Park (big thanks to Angela Gabriel for all her hard work in organising this successful evening)
- Regular advice surgeries. Each third Friday at Lincoln Fields Day Centre (4.30 to 5.20pm) Osmondthorpe One Stop Shop (5.30 to 6.00pm) and Richmond Hill Community Centre (6.15 to 7.15pm). Each first Saturday at Hunslet Sports and Social Club (9.30 to 10.20am), Tunstall Road Community Centre (10.30 to 11.45am), Little London Community Centre (12.00 to 1.00pm), New Wortley Labour Club (1.15 to 2.00pm) and St Matthews Community Centre, Holbeck (2.15 to 3.15pm).
Local Issues
It’s just been announced that Stanley Casinos Limited has purchased an option on land next to Elland Road for £5 million. They intend to apply for planning permission to develop a 150,000 sq foot regional casino on the site. I would welcome views on this, but I am far from convinced that we really need a huge casino in Beeston.
A new announcement for Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) by the ODPM means that Leeds City Council will get an allocation of £ 23.4 million for 2005/06. The announcement underlines the Government’s continued commitment to social housing and building sustainable communities.
Regeneration experts are working on proposals to develop the Water Lane area of Holbeck. The scheme, which would capitalise on the area’s industrial and historic heritage, would include homes, shops, bars, restaurants, offices, workshops and open spaces. The city council and Yorkshire Forward are working in partnership on the proposals and hope the village will attract a cluster of IT media and other creative industries. The RDA suggests that over the next 10 to 15 years, the scheme could attract investment put at £800m and create 5,400 jobs and make a massive difference to the lives of local residents.
Remember, remember – the traditional three week period for selling fireworks has begun, and the new laws to control the nuisance have now come into effect. They mean:
- No more air bombs or nuisance rockets
- Possession of fireworks by under-18s is now illegal. It is an offence for under 18s to buy or handle fireworks – not the case previously
- Except for New Year’s Eve and a small number of other dates, it’s now illegal to let off fireworks after 11 pm.
There have been questions about the enforceability of this measure, but given enough publicity and a tough stance by magistrates, it should provide new protection for local people.
More goodnews from the National Health Service in Leeds. The number of doctors (whole time equivalent) employed by the NHS in Leeds has increased from 1,299 in 1997 to 1,644 in 2003 – an increase of 27%.
The number of nurses has risen by 11% over the same period. Proof that Labour’s record investment in the NHS really has made a difference.
Political Developments
The Turner Report on pensions was published last week. It sets out the challenges we will have to face to ensure that the next generation of pensioners will have a decent income to retire on.
Labour’s priority in 1997 was to tackle the legacy of pensioner poverty. Through the measures we have introduced – including Pension Credit – we are spending £10 billion a year more on pensioners. Nearly 2 million people have been lifted out of poverty and the poorest third are £1,750 a year better off as a result. Our reforms are ensuring for the first time that millions are able to build up decent second pensions through the State Second Pension. This will give extra help to 20 million low earners, carers and disabled people.
By having introduced these reforms, it allows us to continue to build a system with the basic state pension at its core, giving special help to the poorest and providing incentives for hard working families to save. As the Prime Minister said, “There is more to be done, and following the Turner Commission’s final report we will set out proposals to address these issues systematically”
The Labour Party Conference went well, with lively debates on the railways and Iraq. A resolution calling for troops to be withdrawn by a set date was heavily defeated. Several speakers came to the rostrum to say that although they opposed the war, they recognise now that we have to see it through and help the Iraqis to hold successful elections in January.
The Tomlinson Report has proposed a radical change to GCSEs and A levels in a bid to widen the range of subjects taken and to improve levels of achievement.
Ministerial Activity
I visited Sudan and Ethiopia with the Prime Minister. In Khartoum we met President Bashir and Vice-President Taha to discuss the crisis in Darfur. In Addis Ababa, we held the second meeting of the Commission for Africa.
I met the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan this week to discuss a range of issues, including Iraq, Darfur, the DRC, Somalia and the prospects for the getting more aid and debt relief in 2005.
On Tuesday this week, I attended a TUC event at Congress House in support of the new Iraqi trade union movement. I talked to two union leaders – from Baghdad and Basra – about how they had suffered under Saddam, and how they are working hard to build a new union movement.
Other activities have included:
- Oral Questions in the House of Commons
- Meeting with the Vice-President of Iraq
- Meeting with Caribbean represent-atives about the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan
- Debate with George Monbiot of the Guardian on development
- Media interviews on a new vaccine technology which DFID is helping to fund
- Attended reception at 10 Downing Street for the African community in the UK
