Letter from Parliament

Date published: 12 November 2007

Before I report on my activities since my last report let me congratulate everyone involved in arranging the Remembrance Day Services across the Borough.  This year I attended the cenotaph service in Heywood.  The Deputy Mayor and I alternate between Heywood and Middleton each year.  It was an impressive turnout and the inclusion of the primary and secondary children in Heywood was a great success. The schools really ought to be included to highlight the sacrifices that past generations have made to protect our freedoms and to better understand the conflicts that have taken place over the years and indeed are still taking place.

Afterwards, I paid a visit to Middleton Civic Centre to meet some of the participants who were involved in the Middleton Service. I shall attend officially in Middleton next year 2008.  Can I also remind everyone that the British Legion  depend very much on the Poppy Collection each year which enables them to support ex-service men and women and their families in many different ways.  Both events in Heywood and Middleton were an opportunity for families, friends and war veteran comrades to enjoy a singsong and a social afternoon.

This week in the Chamber we had the traditional occasion of the Queen’s Speech Ceremony, a uniquely British event where the Queen reads out the Government Legislation for the next session and a lot of people get dressed up. The traditions date back hundreds of years with Black Rod from the House of Lords knocking on the door of the Commons chamber and the door id slammed in his face. A new tradition has evolved over the last few years  with Dennis Skinner taking the mickey by yelling something at Black Rod such as "Isn’t it time you got a proper job?  You only work one day a year".  Beneath all the pomp and ceremony is the serious business of a Labour Government responding to the rising aspiration of the British people by delivering new and better opportunities for all.

Despite all the progress we have made together with Labour being in government, we have to be constantly looking ahead to what the UK needs in the future.  As a government Labour’s starting point is the priorities and concerns of Britain’s hard working families- education, the NHS, security, comfortable affordable homes, a better balance between work and family life and a strong economy — all dealt with in the Queen’s speech.  Our vision is to give the best chances to the people of Heywood, Middleton, Castleton, Norden and Bamford to help them to make the most of their talents so that they can contribute to the well being of the community. That’s why there has been increased investment in schools so that all children can benefit. Labour has listened to what people want and responded to their rising ambitions. We will support hard working families and break down the barriers that prevent people from realising their full potential. I am looking forward to working on the legislative programme at Westminster and I’ll keep you up to date on its progress in future reports.

Labour’s programme for change in Britain will be based on a strong and stable economy with low inflation, sound public finances, high levels of employment and interest rates kept as low as possible.

·        There will be an extension of the right to flexible working

·        The Education and Skills Bill will give every young person the opportunity to stay on in education, training or work based training until the age of 18

·        The Housing and Regeneration Bill will put affordable housing within the reach of the many and not the few

·        The Health and Social Care Bill will make changes so that the NHS meets the individual needs of patients

·        The Children and young People’s bill will help all children to get the best start in life, improving services for vulnerable children and improving youth and community facilities.

·        The Climate Change bill will make the changes needed to protect the environment by making the UK the first country to set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

·        The Counter Terrorism Bill will ensure that the police have the powers to protect the public against terrorism whilst ensuring essential rights and liberties

·        The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill will tackle anti-social behaviour, aim to further cut crime, strengthen our immigration laws and ensure that the criminal justice system works for the law abiding citizen.

The Bill that I have serious reservations about is the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.  This Bill will be introduced in the Lords on the 19 November and will enter the Commons sometime   next Spring.  The bill can be divided into three areas. 

Firstly the creation of inter species embryos from a combination of human and animal genetic materials for research purposes.  This is the human hybrid or chimera creation and is meant to provide material for genetic research.

Secondly, it recognises same sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos and also removes the reference for the "need for a father".

Thirdly, the whole area of embryo and genetic research.

The 1997 abortion legislation introduced by David Steele will also become a centrepiece for debate and amendment.  There have been over 7 million abortions since 1997 which is now running at 200,000 per year.  An entire industry now exists to perform abortions.  The public mood is changing on this issue since Professor Stuart Campbell, a leading gynaecologist published his ultra sound images showing the baby at 12 weeks gestation.  The average weeks limit  for abortion in Europe is 13 weeks but here in the UK it is 24 weeks and up to birth for a child with a serious disability. This will become a very emotional debate but nonetheless very important.

Back in the constituency I met Nigel Lawson who is researching the local flood problems we faced, mainly in Heywood over the past three years.  Nigel is attached to Manchester University and will provide information for the Select committee which is examining flooding problems nationally.

I had to return to London to meet Bill Conner, a former USDAW Trade Union leader to discuss the tragedy of involuntary tranquiliser addiction. I have set up an all party group to focus the Government’s attention on the need for more support for those individuals who through no fault of their own have become addicted to drugs prescribed for them by their doctors.  Addiction to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines can begin after only a few weeks and not enough is being done to make doctors and patients aware of the dangers in prescribing and taking these drugs.  Many have died and thousands have been permanently disabled and it is time something was done.

On Friday 9th I visited the internet café in Middleton.  It is supported by Mind and is celebrating its first birthday.  The volunteers who help keep it going are doing a fine job. Congratulations to you all.

In the evening I attended the Law Society dinner at the Bella Vista restaurant in Milnrow. On Saturday I spent some time and money at 2 Christmas Fairs, one at Alkrington United Reform church and one at St John’s Heywood and enjoyed the chat with many constituents. That evening my wife and I joined Mr and Mrs Shaukat Ali at the wedding in Rochdale Town Hall of their son Umar. It was a great atmosphere with hundreds of guests from all over the North West and we enjoyed the opportunity to relax.

Sunday morning I attended the Cenotaph Services and then we returned to London. The schools really ought to be included to highlight the sacrifices that past generations have made to protect our freedoms and to better understand the conflicts that have taken place over the years and indeed are still taking place.

Afterwards, I paid a visit to Middleton Civic Centre to meet some of the participants who were involved in the Middleton Service. I shall attend officially in Middleton next year 2008.  Can I also remind everyone that the British Legion  depend very much on the Poppy Collection each year which enables them to support ex-service men and women and their families in many different ways.  Both events in Heywood and Middleton were an opportunity for families, friends and war veteran comrades to enjoy a singsong and a social afternoon.

This week in the Chamber we had the traditional occasion of the Queen’s Speech Ceremony, a uniquely British event where the Queen reads out the Government Legislation for the next session and a lot of people get dressed up. The traditions date back hundreds of years with Black Rod from the House of Lords knocking on the door of the Commons chamber and the door id slammed in his face. A new tradition has evolved over the last few years  with Dennis Skinner taking the mickey by yelling something at Black Rod such as "Isn’t it time you got a proper job?  You only work one day a year".  Beneath all the pomp and ceremony is the serious business of a Labour Government responding to the rising aspiration of the British people by delivering new and better opportunities for all.

Despite all the progress we have made together with Labour being in government, we have to be constantly looking ahead to what the UK needs in the future.  As a government Labour’s starting point is the priorities and concerns of Britain’s hard working families- education, the NHS, security, comfortable affordable homes, a better balance between work and family life and a strong economy — all dealt with in the Queen’s speech.  Our vision is to give the best chances to the people of Heywood, Middleton, Castleton, Norden and Bamford to help them to make the most of their talents so that they can contribute to the well being of the community. That’s why there has been increased investment in schools so that all children can benefit. Labour has listened to what people want and responded to their rising ambitions. We will support hard working families and break down the barriers that prevent people from realising their full potential. I am looking forward to working on the legislative programme at Westminster and I’ll keep you up to date on its progress in future reports.

Labour’s programme for change in Britain will be based on a strong and stable economy with low inflation, sound public finances, high levels of employment and interest rates kept as low as possible.

• There will be an extension of the right to flexible working.
• The Education and Skills Bill will give every young person the opportunity to stay on in education, training or work based training until the age of 18.
• The Housing and Regeneration Bill will put affordable housing within the reach of the many and not the few.
• The Health and Social Care Bill will make changes so that the NHS meets the individual needs of patients.
• The Children and young People’s bill will help all children to get the best start in life, improving services for vulnerable children and improving youth and community facilities.
• The Climate Change bill will make the changes needed to protect the environment by making the UK the first country to set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Counter Terrorism Bill will ensure that the police have the powers to protect the public against terrorism whilst ensuring essential rights and liberties.
• The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill will tackle anti-social behaviour, aim to further cut crime, strengthen our immigration laws and ensure that the criminal justice system works for the law abiding citizen.

The Bill that I have serious reservations about is the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.  This Bill will be introduced in the Lords on the 19 November and will enter the Commons sometime   next Spring.  The bill can be divided into three areas. 

Firstly the creation of inter species embryos from a combination of human and animal genetic materials for research purposes.  This is the human hybrid or chimera creation and is meant to provide material for genetic research.

Secondly, it recognises same sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos and also removes the reference for the "need for a father".

Thirdly, the whole area of embryo and genetic research.

The 1997 abortion legislation introduced by David Steele will also become a centrepiece for debate and amendment.  There have been over 7 million abortions since 1997 which is now running at 200,000 per year.  An entire industry now exists to perform abortions.  The public mood is changing on this issue since Professor Stuart Campbell, a leading gynaecologist published his ultra sound images showing the baby at 12 weeks gestation.  The average weeks limit  for abortion in Europe is 13 weeks but here in the UK it is 24 weeks and up to birth for a child with a serious disability. This will become a very emotional debate but nonetheless very important.

Back in the constituency I met Nigel Lawson who is researching the local flood problems we faced, mainly in Heywood over the past three years.  Nigel is attached to Manchester University and will provide information for the Select committee which is examining flooding problems nationally.

I had to return to London to meet Bill Conner, a former USDAW Trade Union leader to discuss the tragedy of involuntary tranquiliser addiction. I have set up an all party group to focus the Government’s attention on the need for more support for those individuals who through no fault of their own have become addicted to drugs prescribed for them by their doctors.  Addiction to the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines can begin after only a few weeks and not enough is being done to make doctors and patients aware of the dangers in prescribing and taking these drugs.  Many have died and thousands have been permanently disabled and it is time something was done.

On Friday 9th I visited the internet café in Middleton.  It is supported by Mind and is celebrating its first birthday.  The volunteers who help keep it going are doing a fine job. Congratulations to you all.

In the evening I attended the Law Society dinner at the Bella Vista restaurant in Milnrow. On Saturday I spent some time and money at 2 Christmas Fairs, one at Alkrington United Reform church and one at St John’s Heywood and enjoyed the chat with many constituents. That evening my wife and I joined Mr and Mrs Shaukat Ali at the wedding in Rochdale Town Hall of their son Umar. It was a great atmosphere with hundreds of guests from all over the North West and we enjoyed the opportunity to relax.

Sunday morning I attended the Cenotaph Services and then we returned to London.