Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

I welcome the agreement on climate change reached by the G8 leaders. Gordon Brown has been putting pressure on other countries including America for some time. The G8 leaders have reached an agreement to cap global temperature rise by 2degrees Celsius and greenhouse gases by 80% by 2010.

This agreement reached in Italy paves the way for a global agreement at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

The Prime Minister is hoping that the emerging powers, China and India will follow. Every country needs to reassess their policies on energy usage.

The UK’s government was the first to put in place a legally binding set of carbon targets and to encourage low carbon industries.

The continuing debate on the economy goes on in Parliament. The Prime Minister argues that by bringing forward investment from 2010/11 to 2009/10 is essential to support local businesses and jobs throughout this global downturn. The investment in schools in Rochdale means that every school benefits.

The funding will go directly to Head teachers and schools can choose how to spend the money as they see fit, from building new classrooms and science laboratories to fitting new gyms or ICT facilities.

It is vital that we support the economy at this time and I am delighted that our schools will benefit from extra funding this year. This is all part of the government’s determination to put extra money into the classrooms to help this country through the recession.

This should support small businesses and jobs in the borough. Both opposition parties oppose this additional spending. This opposition would be unhelpful for local businesses and local industries and local schools. So I urge the Liberal Democrat council in Rochdale to bring forward spending plans to use this extra investment.

Both Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition parties have indicated they would take the £20 billion out of the Public Services. This would decimate your local services drastically. We would go back to the Major/Thatcher era of massive cuts in the public sector.

The situation in Afghanistan is very worrying at the moment. The death of 15 British troops is tragic and beyond belief. However it would be wrong to walk away at this time. The NATO focus led by America and Britain is determined to stop the export of drugs and terrorists. Despite the sad deaths of our soldiers this probably remains an achievable goal.

The media impression is that all of Afghanistan is war torn and in anarchy. The North and West of that country are relatively peaceful. Drug production has reduced. If large areas of the country can achieve stability, there is no reason to think this would not happen across the country. Their education programmes are actually beginning to taste some success especially with the increased numbers of girls in education. My point is that there is some hope, despite the recent setbacks.

I have had six work experience students from different schools in either my local constituency office or in my office in the House of Commons over this past month. It is important that when young people show an interest in politics that we respond and offer a brief insight into the work of democratically elected representatives. All of them, I hope, have enjoyed their time with us but most of all I hope they return to their education with renewed enthusiasm. My advice to them all is continue your education, have a life in another occupation before even considering politics. Life experience in the real world is the best training you can have.

On Friday 3 July, I visited St Michael’s Primary Alkrington and Norden Primary School. Both visits demonstrated how well these schools are performing. I met the Head teachers and discussed their future programming. The children were polite and knew a little about the Palace of Westminster and Guy Fox. I was able to tell them something of the history of Parliament. They were worthwhile visits.

At 12 noon, I spoke and welcomed the launch of the Rochdale Legal Partnership which will bring together legal advice from the C.A.B, the Rochdale Law Centre and the council to support the local community.

At 2:30pm, I went to Matthew Moss High School to view the impressive Year 7’s world of learning, where I saw some real innovative ideas on the development of life skills. The displays were brilliant.

On Sunday I opened the new garden development at Cherwell Court. Congratulations to Susan Coates and her team of volunteers who drove this project. I thank the management of Guinness Northern and Councillor Linda Robinson and Susan Coates who donated garden benches for the local residents. We were entertained by Rochdale Music Service.

I was delighted to visit St Edward’s Primary, Castleton and meet Mrs Coxelle the Head teacher who told me that the school had been voted the most sustainable school in the North West and would be one of the three competing to be number one in the country. After seeing the wonderful eco–friendly projects that surround the school building it was no surprise they had done so well. Good luck for the finals.

I chaired a meeting between the residents of Moss Farm Close and the Management in the Brookside Centre, Arlkrington to resolve a few concerns. It was a good meeting and it pointed the way ahead.

On Saturday 11 July I had a surgery at the Middleton arena. Then I had a quick drop in at the Bamford Primary barbeque for a short visit before attending the Bamford Chapel garden party opened by Councillors Jane and Jim Gartside, two longstanding political friends. Jane and Jim have given 50 years between them to represent their local community in Norden and Bamford and have made a huge contribution over these years.

I ended the day at Middleton Cricket where I sponsored the game. It was a nice relaxing ending to a very busy day. I then had to travel to London to begin another week, the last full week before the summer recess. However I shall begin a busy schedule around the constituency during the break.