Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin

Jim Dobbin MP

The highly publicised debate on Post Office Closure turned out to be rather low key as the Conservatives acknowledged that some Post Offices in rural areas were only attracting around sixteen customers per week and were not viable so should close. Don’t forget they offered no financial support when they were in Government and closed 3,500 Post Offices. The Liberal Democrats have plans to sell them off as a commercial package despite their loud protestations. This Labour Government has already invested £1.7 billion as additional subsidy to save those Post Offices that are viable.

There has been no announcement about local proposals. Rochdale Lib Dems should follow the example of other local Authorities, put their money where they mouth is, and step in to give financial help, after all this year they have had an excellent financial settlement and they are also going to increase local Council Tax by 3.8%.

A thousand of the most challenging young people in England will be targeted for non-negotiable (compulsory) intervention as part of a drive to prevent future antisocial behaviour. We will spend over £200 million in three areas:

• Tough enforcement where behaviour is unacceptable.
• Non negotiable support to address the underlying causes of anti social behaviour.
• Better preventive measures to stop young people offending and causing a nuisance in the first place.

It is right that our first priority has been to put into place legislation to stop anti-social behaviour in its tracks and to bring respite to communities. This action by the Labour Government will go further in tackling anti social behaviour by making sure we take strong actions to address the underlying causes of such damaging behaviours such as substance misuse and family breakdown. Communities want and deserve lasting improvements and that means not only quickly responding to anti social behaviour when it occurs but also changing it by intervening early to stop bad behaviour spiralling into offending behaviour. That is why the government is investing record sums in positive activities for young people to make sure they have places to go and good access to a range of leisure opportunities. This approach does not condone bad behaviour, nor is it a soft option. If young people and their families refuse to engage and accept support then the right pathway is to enforce the anti social behaviour orders. Young people will have to accept a contract and a key worker who will help them confront their actions and accept the consequences, for example, if substance misuse is a cause, they will have to receive drug treatment. The support provided is non-negotiable and if treatment is refused then enforcement measures will be imposed.

This week the Secretary of State for Defence has announced an increase in Commitment bonuses for the armed forces from £5,500 to £15,000. This will be offered to those who commit to 8 years of service. This will offer our valued service men and women increased financial security for themselves and their families.

In a recent speech the Tory Leader indicated that as a government they would cut Sure Start. Sure Start is making a huge difference to thousands of families up and down the country. I know what a difference these centres make to many families in my constituency. Cuts would have a serious impact on these families and on generations to come. This Labour Government has delivered better access to childcare and family rights at work.

People have a right to recover their debts but no one shoal have the right to bully or intimidate people when collecting what they are owed. This week plans were announced to protect house holders from unscrupulous bailiffs. Regulation of bailiffs is important to protect householders in disputes over debts and will raise the standards of the profession by ensuring they are properly trained and know their legal limits. My case work identifies the problems unregulated bailiff intervention can cause.

Recently the Greater Manchester Police briefed MPs about the Governments plans to roll out neighbourhood policing. The District Commissioners will be briefed in May on these plans. In a few months we should see more police visible on the beat and the introduction of neighbourhood Police Officers.

It was lovely to have Mr and Mrs Peter Garrity, constituents of mine to be present at Prime Ministers Question time and the budget speech. I know they enjoyed the experience and found it worth while. It is always a pleasure to have constituents pay a visit to the House of Commons.

I was present at the Raising of the Irish Tricolour to celebrate St Patrick’s Day outside the Town Hall. In the evening we enjoyed a superb performance of Cole Porter’s music by St Thomas More’s Operatic Society. I was able to double up this event with my Middleton Surgery as both were held in the Civic Centre.

The next morning I attended a busy surgery in Castleton Community Centre and in the evening, we attended Rochdale Youth Orchestra’s Spring Show. Rochdale has a prolific musical heritage and as usual the Rochdale Youth Orchestra performed beautifully.

Sunday was the Spring Fair in support of Springhill Hospice at the Springhill High School. Margaret Geoghegan, Chairman, Christine Webb, Chief Executive and Ian Jenkins, Fundraising Manager, are a highly successful team and deserve the ongoing support that people offer.

As this article is published the dangers of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill become more apparent and the need for constituents to make their feelings known to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health becomes more urgent. I shall write in more detail on this Bill in my next article.

Back to London on Monday for the last week before the Easter break.