Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

I think it is important to make sure that I tell people what is going on at Westminster as it affects people’s lives. This month some very important changes which I supported and voted for came into effect so I want to let you know about them and what they mean for people in my constituency.

These are tough times right across the world including here. Most experts agree that Gordon Brown played a pivotal role in negotiating with world leaders over recent months to achieve success, give some economic direction and improve the global downturn.

Every leading politician supported a financial stimulus type of policy except David Cameron who has a policy of doing nothing, clearly not an acceptable option.

The steps taken in the G20 will lead to better times ahead. In the meantime the Government is determined not to repeat the mistakes made in previous recessions where families and communities were left to cope on their own.

The Prime Minister is offering lots of help at this moment when people need it most, making sure that my constituents have access to extra support for families, pensioners, home owners and those who lose their jobs. From April Child Tax credits will rise by £150 per year and working family tax credits by £90. Basic rate taxpayers will get a tax cut worth £145 per year. If you or someone in your family is expecting a child there is a new grant worth £190 for mums to be. The state pension is going up by £4.55 to £95.25 from April. Pension credit will increase to £130 for single pensioners and £198 for couples. The Winter Fuel Allowance rose to £250 for over 60s and £400 for over 80s. The Government are also working with mortgage lenders to stop repossessions in the current climate. These cash boosts will help to make a difference for many local people.

From April Labour is abolishing NHS prescriptions for cancer treatment.

Free health checks will be available on invitation for everyone between 40 and 74 to exclude disease such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

It’s 10 years since the introduction of the minimum wage and from 1 April workers will have four extra statutory holidays, pro-rata for part timers. From 6 April flexible working will be extended to parents of 16 year olds and under. Also in April new powers come into force to take action against rogue employers who underpay staff. There will be unlimited fines for those employers who break the law.

Rogue employers need to be exposed so please contact me at my constituency office on 01706 361135 or phone the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845 6000 678. You can remain anonymous. Local working people should know their rights.

The issue of MPs’ expenses rumbles on and although we have been reading about some high profile cases I know that the vast majority of MPs do a good honest day’s work, often under difficult circumstances and do not abuse the system. If I did not go down to London from Sunday evening to Thursday evening, I would not require a flat or need to claim mileage or travel allowance. I could close my local office and sit at home out of touch. I would not be able to vote on legislation nor take part in Parliamentary business. I would be short changing my 74,000 constituents.

The rules need to be reviewed urgently but not by party leaders or other parliamentarians. A totally independent body like the Standards Commission should do the job. The tabloid press also need to be more responsible in their reporting as they could stand accused of damaging the democratic system by sensational reporting. Remember, not all politicians bring the system into disrepute.

I returned from Taiwan after presenting a paper on Pneumococcal vaccines to a conference of Asian politicians, paediatricians, scientists and civil servants from the developing countries. My role was to encourage their national politicians to support efforts to introduce these vaccination programmes to help prevent the deaths of thousands of children in these countries. It was only an overnight stay but it was worth the journey.

I joined Baroness Andrews, the Minister responsible for the New Deal for communities, at a dinner in the House of Lords for Vicki Davenport and her team of Board Directors in recognition of their successes and achievements in Heywood.

I returned to the constituency on Thursday for the funeral service of Susan the wife of former Councillor George Dowie.
In the afternoon Pat and I attended the funeral of Michael Tierney, father of our close friend Rev Fr Kevin Tierney from Castleton.

I visited Elmswood County Primary School Middleton and discussed some issues with the Head Mr Willis. He described some of the problems he encountered with capital schemes as the building is listed and subject to English Heritage scrutiny.
In the afternoon I also visited Hopwood Primary in Heywood and was shown round the building, met staff and pupils and was made very welcome by the Headteacher Mr Chris Iddon.

On the evening of 27 March I flew to Belfast and booked a hired car to drive to Donegal for a meeting of the British Irish Assembly arriving at 1.30am. The Assembly is made up of representatives of the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and England. The discussion was around the continued need for the peace process to ensure lasting peace. Unionist groups and Sinn Fein were most cordial and understanding about what needs to happen next.

I returned to London on Tuesday and travelled back north to the constituency on Wednesday 1 April.

I was back in time to be present at the opening of the refurbished Bowlee Primary School on Langley by Kerri-Ann Payne our Olympic silver medalist. She is an inspiration to the children. Mrs Windle the Headteacher has every right to be proud of the school’s recent achievements.

On Friday 3 April my next port of call was the Farmers’ market at St Mary’s RC School Middleton where Mr Atkins the Headteacher and Claire Harrison, Deputy Head had encouraged the pupils to raise money for charity as part of the Learning Enterprise Week. They did a superb job.

Saturday 4 April I joined Heywood Labour councillors in the Civic Centre for our monthly surgery which was a busy one.

In the evening Pat and I were privileged to join the Rochdale Music Society at a concert by the Halle Youth Orchestra in the Middleton Arena. It was a fantastic evening.

Later we went on to the Golden Wedding Celebrations of Mick and Mary Nolan at Heywood Unionist club (No - the building did not collapse because of my presence). It was a great family celebration and we wish Mary and Mick many more happy years together.

We are in recess now but I will still hold my surgery in Middleton Arena on the 11 April at 10 am.