Letter from Parliament

Jim Dobbin MP

Having previously accepted congestion charges as part of the Metro Link funding proposals, Cllr Alan Taylor then reneged on his agreement with the 10 Greater Manchester Authorities which could put the Rochdale Oldham scheme in danger.  This political opportunism is nothing new since their transport authority delegate a few years ago voted in favour of the Metrolink line to Hazel Grove in preference to the Rochdale link.  They have also attempted a number of times to pull out of Manchester Airport owned by the 10 Greater Manchester authorities by withdrawing the Rochdale Council Airport shares.  I am never surprised by any u-turns the Lib Dems make and always around election time.

The decisions to withdraw support for adult care and to cut our bin men’s take home pay by £7000 per year are particularly vicious decisions. Voluntary sector groups who run playgroups, luncheon clubs and advice services are the victims of further cash cuts.  I note also that the Liberal Democrat council promised as part of their local election campaign to build and provide more social housing. How will they do it? Do they intend to halt the present re-generation programme or are they going to invest more in the state?  I am interested in how they intend to progress this commitment.

Pensions dominated the House of Commons the first week back after the recess and the opposition parties showed themselves to be in total disarray.  The Chancellor gave the opposition a drubbing in the opposition debate.  Gordon Brown’s superiority was recognised by many of the national press.  The opposition’s false Pensions promise backfired. The support for the Pensions Bill will mean increased financial help so all 125,000 people who lost their pensions when their schemes wound up under-funded between 1997 and 2005 will get support from the government’s Financial Assistance scheme.  The financial assistance scheme will guarantee all 125,000 people who lost out will receive 80% of their expected pension.  After listening to the voice of MPs and Trade Unions, it was decided to set up a review to establish whether alternative sources of funding can be found to achieve a 90% return.

It was good also to hear that there will be new government help for schemes that are solvent. I know from casework in my constituency that this will give help to many local people.

I voted with the government on this issue because the opposition amendments were promising unfunded proposals that the Association of British Insurers described as damaging and unhelpful for pensioners.  The opposition Work and Pensions spokesperson was forced to admit in the House of Commons that their proposals would have increased the risk to the public purse.  The opposition parties despite claims to the contrary had no realistic response to the Government’s pension proposals that could be guaranteed to work.  

The government will deliver up to 200 carbon neutral eco schools over the next 3 years, saving nearly 5million tonnes of CO2 as part of the government’s programme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school across the country.  An additional £110million will be invested in new schools.

Ten years ago our young people were being taught in crumbling schools with leaking roofs and broken windows following many years of lack of investment.  You will see a number of new schools being built in my constituency.  Every school has benefited from new investment in education.

I hosted a visit from 20 constituents from Rochdale Rotary Club led by President Dean Sherriff.  I was delighted to show them round the Commons.  There were members from Heywood as well as Rochdale in the group.  While they were there I was able to introduce them to Brian Quinn, Chairman of Glasgow Celtic FC and an adviser to the World Bank who was in Westminster that day. 

I am already a Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust and I have decide to embark upon a course associated with learning more about the City of London as the financial centre of the globe.  As my constituency is sponsored by the Co-operative Movement I attended the monthly Co-op Party meeting in the House of Commons.  It is comforting to see the progress that is being made across the country as co-operative mergers and other initiatives go from strength to strength, particularly since Co-op movement began here in this borough.  I hosted a meeting on behalf of the Pro-life Group Alive and Kicking that is striving to halve the number of abortions by reducing the upper limit and also to eliminate discriminatory abortion on the grounds of disability. 

Following a surgery at St Paul’s Church Hall Norden and one at the Community Centre Castleton, we attended a Prom Praise concert at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.  It was a superbly uplifting musical evening.  Sunday was St George’s Day Parade and my first service was at St Thomas More’s Alkrington, followed immediately by a service at St Luke’s Heywood.  The Guides, Scouts, Brownies and Cubs were out in force, supported by their leaders who make a huge voluntary contribution to the lives of all these young people.  I commend the work they do.  I was delighted to see Sue Rothwell, an old friend, selected as Woman of the Year in Rochdale.  Sue has been involved for many years with charitable organisations and was an extremely popular winner.  This event is in aid of Springhill Hospice.

On Friday 27 April I visited the head teacher at Queen Elizabeth, Middleton to discuss the future of the school and the changes that are coming.  The main aim is to make sure that the standard of education throughout my constituency continues to improve.  There are major plans for delivery of 16-19 education and vocational training and I want to offer positive support wherever I can. I congratulated the Head and chair of governors, Peter Dawson for the tremendous strides Queen Elizabeth has made in recent years.  It’s back to London on Monday and then Local elections day on Thursday 3rd May.  I just hope that the turn out is up this year and people cast their votes wisely.  May also marks 10 years of a Labour government and I’ll have more to say on that in my next letter.