Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

I’ve been involved with a variety of issues around employment and training – both issues are important to Rochdale locally and the economy nationally.

On Monday morning, after a meeting with the Headteacher Jim Hollingworth of Littleborough Community School and School Governor Councillor Pauline Maguire, I travelled down to London to meet asbestos campaigners. This was a pre meeting prior to our meeting with the Schools Minister Diana Johnson MP which is due in a couple of weeks time. I also updated the group on my recent meeting with industrial injury lawyers in Bury a couple of weeks after Lord Nicholson’s review of costs. I am very concerned that these proposals which, I’m told do not need parliamentary approval, will considerably increase the costs for asbestos claimants.

On Wednesday I travelled to Sheffield to speak at the Health and Safety Executives staff conference about the effects of the cuts on HSEs role, business regulatory regimes and staff pay and pensions. Yesterday (Friday) I was due to visit Willow Point Bridgefold Road to meet a group of young apprentices refurbishing and building new homes. Creating employment and protecting jobs particularly in manufacturing is vital in the current recession and this is a point which I made at a meeting with the North West Development Agency. We cannot afford to see massive cutbacks in public expenditure now and I’m glad that the Conservatives have now been forced to concede this.

Last Friday I met up with Councillors Dale Mulgrew and Pat Colclough to look at how the Council is repairing pot holes created by the bad weather. I discussed what Rochdale is doing at a meeting with other MPs and representatives of the asphalt association. There is no doubt that the cold weather has cost us a lot and will continue to cost both businesses and councils millions of pounds. Rochdale, in common with many other Councils, is putting millions more into road maintenance but faces huge pressures on resources in areas like adult care.

Following on from my recent debate in Westminster Hall, I met the new Chief Executive of Arthritis Research UK Liam O’Toole. I also attend a reception organised by ARMA the umbrella body that co-ordinates the work of those charities concerned with arthritis issue.

Saturday night I attended the Mayor's Charity Ball in the Town Hall. I think both Sue and Keith have done a tremendous job as our Mayoress and Mayor. Their chosen charities are music and young people including the Music Service and the Back Door Project which featured last year in the Secret Millionaire. Both do a tremendous job in supporting and encouraging our many musically talented young people.

Today I am due to meet representatives of the Cooperative Union to discuss how they and the Liberal Democrats can work more closely together. As Rochdale is the home of the worldwide cooperative movement I am keen to develop closer ties.