Letter from Parliament

Paul Rowen MP

During each parliamentary session the opposition parties are allocated a number of days when we can decide the subject for debate. Last Monday was such a day, when the topic of discussion was, "Should there be an inquiry into the war in Iraq?"  Not surprisingly the Labour Government opposed this, though there was a lively debate. I am sure that there will be an inquiry at some date in the future but long after Tony Blair and all those involved are no longer politically active.

On Tuesday I took part in a conference in Manchester on Congestion Charging with Graham Stringer, the MP for Blackley. Graham is a fierce critic of congestion charging and, with the PTE about to engage in public consultation on their proposed £5 per day charge, we can be assured of a lively debate.

What Graham's stance does show is that there is no uniform party view!

On Thursday I had a meeting with David Mellalieu from Littleborough about the T&N Pension scheme. He is a leading member of the T&N Pension Action Group which is campaigning for a fair deal for all T&N pensioners. With over 3000 people affected in Rochdale this clearly is an important issue. The news that Countryside Properties have withdrawn from plans to develop the Spodden Valley site was not in my view unexpected. There are huge implications for anyone who wants to build on this site not least of which is the asbestos contamination. Jason Addy and the Spodden Valley group have been tireless campaigners to ensure that the site is developed safely. We need the developer to sit down with Council Officers and agree a sensible way forward.

I came back down to London on Friday for the Report Stage of the Sustainable Communities Bill. This is a private members bill which a number of constituents had written to me about. I was pleased to say that the bill completed all its stages in the Commons and now goes to the House of Lords.

I continue to get visitors from Rochdale to the House of Commons. Last week I was very pleased to be able to show Paul Neate, the former Chief Executive of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and his wife Margaret around. Yesterday [Tuesday 19 June] both Oulder Hill and St Patrick's Primary School were due to visit. It is always a great pleasure to be able to explain how our democracy works, especially to our young people.

On Tuesday, as well as attending the National Prayer Breakfast, very ably organised by Jim Dobbin in Westminster Hall, I had dinner with Mr Speaker Martin in his apartments. The dinner was for those MPs who had been taking part in a Sports Fellowship. I have been working with the Rugby League and hope to complete it over the summer. Also there was Derek Mapp, Chair of Sport England. Derek has a link with Rochdale as he used to run the Kingsway Hotel on Kingsway. I've invited him to Rochdale to look at how our new leisure trust is developing sport in Rochdale.

This week was a sad week for many charities in Rochdale and across Greater Manchester. Bernard Manning was often controversial but just ask his good friend Sir Cyril Smith and you won't hear of many more tales of generosity over such a long period of time to so many worthy causes.

Everything here is now on hold waiting for the Prime Minister-in-waiting to take over. Most people are expecting major changes in the Cabinet and beyond. What the 'Great Clunking Fist' does for the rest of us remains to be seen!