Letter from Parliament

Jim Dobbin

We began the summer recess in July and like most Members of Parliament I have been busy in the constituency.

During August I have attended the VE/VJ celebrations in Middleton and Heywood, these were wonderful events organised by the veterans and the British Legion.

I have attended the Langley Fun Day and Heywood Charities Fete; it is always a pleasure to join in the community spirit that makes these events such a success.

I have continued to hold my regular Advice Surgeries during the recess and through these surgeries I am kept up to date on the issues constituents are facing within the community.

During my eight years in Parliament representing my constituents, I have voted on 1636 debates. My most recent involvements in debates and voting have been; I.D cards, the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, Higher Education Funding, Foundation Hospitals, Asbestos and Abortion Time Limits.

The Government is currently undertaking a review of our waste strategy. We intend to publish a substantial progress report this autumn. The Friends of the Earth campaign has called for higher and more ambitious recycling levels including a 50% target for 2010 and a 75% target for 2015. There has been much progress in recent years by local authorities in increasing the recycling rates, and it is important that we all understand the benefits of recycling, and of reducing the amount of waste going into landfill sites.

I am pleased to add my support to the government policy which has allowed money seized from criminals to be spent in local communities to help reduce gun and knife crime. Over £250,000 has been made available from the money seized, to enable community groups to work to reduce crime and offer help to victims. This is a real opportunity for community groups to offer people an alternative to crime. If local groups think they may be eligible for funding they can make contact via the website http://www.connected.gov.uk

I am pleased that a new computer database will help protect people from the country’s most dangerous violent and sex offenders, this database will help protect local communities.

Although crime locally has been falling, the fear of violent crime is still a real problem. The new database ViSOR will help to tackle not only the fear of crime, but it will also play a vital role in tackling incidents of crime.

The Violent and Sex Offenders Register (ViSOR) was put together by the Police Information Technology Organisation in partnership with the police and probation professionals.

Action against Quad Bikes has been in operation by GMP over the summer and I hope the peace and quiet has returned to our community.

Last week I attended the opening of Middleton’s new Bus Station, a modern bus station with safe and up to date facilities.

On the NHS consultation is taking place over the proposals for reconfiguration; I hope all constituents have the opportunity to have their say.

Proposals for new Health Centres in Middleton and Heywood, and clinics in Alkrington, Langely and Castleton, will help deliver a modern NHS in our communities.

I was delighted to have been asked to lay the foundation for the new £18 million super Pathology Laboratory to be built at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

I was previously head of the Microbiology department for over twenty years. Rochdale, North Manchester and Fairfield hospitals will each provide their own emergency laboratory service but all routine diagnostic laboratory services will be focused after 2007-08 from the new state of the art Pathology Building.