Letter from Parliament

Paul Rowen MP

Last Friday I met representatives of the Learning Skills Council to discuss plans for new sixth form provision in Rochdale.  The LSC organised a competition and organisations interested (including the Council) have prepared their proposals.  This is an absolutely crucial development for the young people of Rochdale.  I am absolutely determined that Rochdale should get a world class Sixth Form College which can compete not just with colleges in Bury and Oldham but nationally too. 

I travelled down to London early on the Monday for a full week in Westminster.  I’d been asked by Nick Clegg MP (our Home Affairs spokesperson) to lead for the Liberal Democrats on the UK Border’s Bill.  This is the third Immigration Act in as many years prompted by the foreign prisoner’s scandal.  The Government, as usual does not use the existing laws to sort out the shambles of the Home Office.  What they try and do is legislate themselves out of problems and use new laws to grab headlines in the tabloids.  Foreign prisoners can be deported already with existing laws – I will be working on the bill for the next month.

On Wednesday, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt rang me to let me know that she had agreed to Rochdale Council’s request for an independent review of the decision to close Maternity and Paediatric Services.  I was asking her a question during ‘Health Questions’ and she wanted to give me prior warning.  Straight away I called Father Arthur Nearey, who is recovering well from surgery at the Infirmary to let him know the good news.  Thanks are due to both Councillor Brenda Kerslake who Chairs the Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Healey Councillor Elwyn Watkins who moved the amendment.  It is a pity that when the Council was controlled by Labour we couldn’t have such strong support.  We’ve been given a second chance, and over the next few months I intend to work hard with others to put a strong case for Rochdale. 

On Wednesday, I met with Pat Sanchez from the Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group.  She was in London to lobby against the use of depleted uranium in munitions.  I’ve promised to table a question expressing concerns about their use.  I will report back on the answer, the great thing about Rochdale is that people stand up to be counted and it’s great to see people like Pat and Phillip Gilligan standing up to be counted.

On Thursday, I spoke in a debate on Government bus policy.  In contrast to Home Affairs, it has taken ten years for the Government to realise that the current deregulated bus service is not working.  Rochdale has been one of the leading authorities in the country campaigning for more control over bus services.  Back in August 2006, this Council passed a Notice of Motion calling for this led by Councillors Dale Mulgrew and Peter Davison – this has been copied the length of breadth of the country.  Just after that in September I spent a Green Transport Week travelling on buses in Rochdale, assisted by Councillor Wera Hobhouse carrying out a bus survey.  They are predominantly run by First, one of the ‘big five’ bus companies.  They are private monopolies that are not giving good value for money.  I hope that the Government acts to regulate buses that are a lifeline for many people.