Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

This week the government launched its White Paper on Welfare to Work and predictably the media concentrated again on Falinge. This is because of the high number of people receiving incapacity benefit living in the area.

I spoke to the Secretary of State James Purnell MP about this immediately after his statement as Rochdale is part of the Greater Manchester pathfinder that is piloting additional support as they move onto the Employment and Support Allowance.

Much has been made of the proposals to make people work for their benefits – which I support. However I know that the majority of folk on Falinge or elsewhere who are unemployed want to work. There are only 500,000 job vacancies but 2 million people unemployed and 2.6 million on incapacity benefit. It does not take a genius to work out that there are not enough jobs so if the government is going to match its rhetoric with action a Community Programme or Community Volunteering scheme will need to be funded. There are no plans to introduce this.

Last Thursday, I spoke at a transport conference on Tram/Trains in London. Tram Trains are vehicles which are able to work on light and heavy rail tracks. In June this year I led an All Party Light rail Group delegation to Germany where they have been very successfully introduced. There is a pilot being introduced on the Penistone line and I am keen to see this extended. For example Burnley could be served by reopening the Todmorden curve travelling through Littleborough and then on the loop line to Manchester.

Friday was Carer’s Rights day and I visited the Manchester Carer’s Centre to see how they are using assistive technology to support carers. I was also very pleased when they said what an excellent Carer’s Centre we have on Water Street. I spent the evening in a live debate on Granada TV on Congestion Charging and transport improvements totalling up to £250,000,000 for Rochdale. The results of the referendum will be announced tomorrow. What I will say is that I will accept the decision of the people of Rochdale and throughout Greater Manchester.

I followed this by hosting my annual mulled wine and mince pie evening which was a huge success. I am grateful to Councillor Angela Coric for assisting me in organising this event.

On Saturday I was delighted to attend the Scope Christmas Party as well as a concert at the Ukrainian Club on Mere Street to mark 60 years of the UK Ukrainian Youth Association. It was a good mixture of contemporary and past experiences of the association.

In the evening I attended a concert which included the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and groups from the Rochdale Music service at the Gracie Fields Theatre. This was organised by the Rotary Club of Rochdale East where Ian Sandiford is President in aid of the Hospice. It was a sell out and an excellent example of the wealth of talent we have in Rochdale.
This was followed on Sunday by the Rochdale Music Service's annual ‘Christmas Cracker’ Concert, compered again by Ken Davies - another excellent evening! I was pleased to see that the Christmas tree I donated last year was on stage and that my colleague Councillor Andrew Abbott had also donated one. After Ken complained of no Christmas Trees at all last year – then suddenly two come along! It’s always the way!

This week, Parliament has continued its discussion on the Queens Speech. I spoke on the day devoted to Health and Education highlighting among other things the continuing lack of dentists in Rochdale. I also spoke against the Government’s plans to stop cigarettes being put on open display in shops. This is political correctness gone mad and will only result in more local shops closing. I am not a smoker myself and do want to discourage people from smoking but this is just window dressing.

Parliament closes for Christmas next week and this will be my last letter until the New Year. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.