February enews from Valerie Vaz

February 2012


Walsall South

To Contact Valerie:

Constituency Office: 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1SZ

Telephone: 01922 635835

Westminster Office: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Telephone: 020 7219 7176

Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk

For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk

VALERIE CALLS MEETING OVER APPROVED PREMISES

Valerie called a meeting with the Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust following news that the Trust is in the process of seeking planning per-mission to build a 40 bed Approved Premises on the former Moxley Infants School site.

At the meeting, attended by local Councillors and Council Officers, Reverend Inglesby of All Saints’ Church, and local resident, Mr Bill Howell, Valerie asked Mr Mike Maiden, Chief Executive of the Trust about the details of the plans for the site and the strategy for consulting local residents. Valerie also met with the Head Teachers of Pinfold Street School, Rowley View Nursery School and Moorcroft Wood Primary School to hear their views.

Valerie said: “I was concerned to hear that the Probation Trust has not set out a timetable to consult with local residents about its proposals. An Approved Premises would potentially have a big impact on the lives of local residents. I understand the plot of land has been earmarked to be part of the Moxley Regeneration Area. Local residents deserve to benefit from this land. I will be working to ensure that the proposals do not go ahead.”

NHS Risk Register Debate

Valerie urged the Government to publish the transition risk register for the controversial health reorganisation, as rec-ommended by the Information Commissioner.

Valerie said: “There is a fundamental flaw at the heart of the decision not to publish the risk register. The Information Commissioner has deemed this information to be in the public interest but the Secretary of State has chosen to hide it from the public. The Government says the cost of imple-menting the Bill will be £1.2-£1.3bn. But health experts have said it could cost up to £3bn. I have asked the Department of Health how much has been spent on NHS reorganisation since the election and they cannot give me a full an-swer.”

“The Government have already made 1,736 amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill. Regional health authorities’ risk registers warn that the Government’s NHS reor-ganisation may endanger patients and lead to the loss of jobs.”

“I am calling on the Government to publish its transition risk register. The public needs to know that MPs are in possession of all the relevant information before they vote on this legislation.”

Health Questions

At Health Questions in the House of Commons, Valerie asked the Secre-tary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP whether he agreed with the King’s Fund that PFI represents less than 1% of the total NHS turnover of £115 billion. Mr Lan-sley did not directly respond to Val-erie’s question.

Valerie Calls Last  Orders on Binge Drinking

Valerie spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the subject of the Govern-ment’s Alcohol Strategy.

Valerie said: “Alcohol abuse puts great pressure on A & E services, and other public servants including the police have to clear up the mess on Saturday evenings at a cost of £13bn. Alcohol is linked to many other diseases, and to violent crimes, domestic violence and anti-social behaviour. In my view, there should not be 24-hour licensing. Be-fore the law was changed pubs used to close at 11pm and people knew it was time to go home.”

Surgeries

Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835

Health Committee Report

The House of Commons Health Select Com-mittee, of which Valerie is a member, has published its latest report into Social Care.

Valerie said: “We recommend that the Gov-ernment should co-ordinate policy more ef-fectively, and should regularly balance na-tional spending across health, housing and care services.”

Artist’s impression of the proposed Approved Premises

Foreign Office Questions

On Tuesday 28th February, Valerie asked the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, under what circumstances he would stop maintain-ing diplomatic relations with Syria. The Foreign Secretary responded the situa-tion was under review. British diplomats were subsequently withdrawn from Syria on Thursday 1st March 2012.