Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

Paul Rowen speaking in Parliament

The news this week has continued to be dominated by the world banking crisis. David Cameron’s offer to PM Gordon Brown was sensible and shows that we do politics different here in the UK. Nick Clegg, our leader has given the PM a similar pledge and next week we will see the first fruits of that when the government introduces a bill on Monday (6 October) to reform the banking system. I expect it will have a rapid passage through the House of Commons.

Last week I spent some time with the Kingsway development team. With the slow down in the world economy we will see a slow down in development at Kingsway. However I was delighted to hear that the first two units are now occupied. We discussed how we can adapt our strategy particularly the £1.5b of both public and private money that is being invested in projects like new schools, metrolink and the new Six Form College. It is vital that as many jobs as possible go to Rochdale folk. The work of Bob Barber, the Project Manager of J21, is vital to the success of this strategy and I discussed with Council Leader Alan Taylor what the Council can do to ensure this strategy succeeds.

Following this I was able to speak to some young people at the Rathbone Open Door Project on Dane Street. I know that Danny Burke from Greave is typical of many young people who are given a fresh start grasp it and succeed. Danny is planning to go in the Army next year and I wish him well.

I was also able to visit Mecca Bingo opposite the Bus station to publicise their and Southern Electricity’s free light bulb give away. I was also able to call a line of bingo which I greatly enjoyed. The campaign however highlights a very serious issue – fuel and food prices have gone through the roof. People of fixed incomes like Pensioners simply cannot afford the basics. I hope that in the Government’s autumn statement there is some relief. The real solution however, as I explained to a group of Pension experts at a conference in Brighton last week is to get rid of means testing and give everyone a Citizens Pension equivalent to the minimum pension credit. I’m very concerned for example that people claiming pension credit or other benefits from next week will only be able to backdate their entitlement to three months and not a full twelve months as at present. Over 2 million pensioners do not claim what they are entitled to at the moment so it is a scandal what the government are doing.

Over the weekend I learnt that Sister Maureen, one of the Franciscan nuns and chaplain at the hospital had been rushed into the Coronary Care Unit at the Infirmary. However I am pleased to hear that she has now had her operation and will continue her recuperation at the Infirmary before being discharged home.

Yesterday (Tuesday 30 September) areas of Rochdale were again flooded. My office has been busy dealing with this. I have requested a meeting with the Council to discuss a way forward to solve the problem at the junction of Mellor Street and Bury Road. The problems suffered by Mr Jackson, owner of Mellor Street Garages and the owners of CTV are intolerable and I am doing everything I can to sort this out.

Tomorrow (Thursday 2 October) I attended the Freedom of the Borough Ceremony for Rochdale Football club. I was pleased to be able to propose that honour before I retired as a Councillor. I’m delighted also that Margaret Geoghegan, the Chairman of the Springhill Hospice Trustees has also been nominated for this honour. I can think of no person who better deserves to be recognised.

On Friday I am pleased to be able to welcome Simon Hughes MP, the President of the Liberal Democrats to a dinner for all current and former Liberal Democrat Councillors. I am pleased also to be able to meet up with some old colleagues like Dawn Davidson, Brian Ashworth, Bernard Rostron, Cyril and Norman Smith, Pat Barnes and Doris Morriss amongst others.

Parliament returns on Monday when our first business is the Banking Bill – I hope by then the US have sorted their problems out.