Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Proposed Boundary changes

The proposed new boundaries for parliamentary seats has just been published by the boundary commission with the idea of making all MPs represent around 75000 residents. The largest constituency was the Isle of Wight at over 100,000 so starting by reducing the size of the electorate over there , there is a knock effect nation wide plus there is proposed a reduction in the overall number of parliamentary seats. The new boundaries will be brought into place in October 2013.
Everyone is invited to comment over the next 84 days before the commission publish their final recommendations . You can see the proposals by logging into
http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/

You can also leave comments with us in Walsall Labour Party as we shall of course be looking carefully at the new proposals and will be happy to raise comments on your behalf.

Ian Robertson ( secretary Walsall South)

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Please do your bit to hit illegal part of scrap wagons trade

Cashless Scrap Metal Trade - Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964


Responsible department: Home Office

Due to a significant rise in value, metal has become a much sought after commodity. This increased demand has resulted in a sharp rise in metal theft nationally. Metal fencing, gates, manhole covers and other metallic items are stolen on a regular basis. Property is raided for lead, copper and cabling. War memorials and statues have been taken. Overhead power lines are stolen at serious risk to personal safety with huge costs for replacement and major inconvenience to the public. Historically the scrap metal trade has been a cash in hand industry. This creates difficulties as there is no audit trail, making identification of individuals who may be trading stolen metal or who may be committing tax or benefits fraud, a difficult proposition. An amendment to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory and would be a significant component in reducing metal theft.

Please follow this link sign and forward to as many people as possible

Thanks

Ian Robertson

Walsall.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/406

Friday, September 2, 2011

August newsletter

August 2011 Walsall South Valerie Vaz newsletter


VALERIE OPENS WALSALL SAMARITANS AWARENESS DAY

Valerie opened the Walsall Samaritans Awareness Day at the New Art Gallery, and unveiled the artwork, „A Call for Help,‟ donated free of charge by local artist Lynn Hughes.

Valerie said: “It is a privilege to open the Samaritans Awareness Day. The event is an excellent way for Walsall Samaritans to make more people aware of their vital work offering emotional support to people in need.”

Walsall Samaritans was set up in 1969 and is staffed and managed entirely by volunteers and paid for by donations. For each of the last three years Walsall Samaritans have seen an increase in contacts. In 2010, 18,900 contacts were made with the branch.

Valerie said: “It is important to recognise the commitment of the volunteers and to raise awareness of the Samaritans‟ vital service which provides confidential, 24-hour emotional support, available to everyone, every day of the year.”

VALERIE PRESENTS BILL FOR ADOPTION RIGHTS

Valerie introduced the Adoption (Leave, Pay and Allowance Arrangements) Bill to Parliament under the Ten Minute Rule procedure. Valerie identified 3 areas where there are inequalities between the statutory entitlements for adoptive parents and the entitlements for parents whose children were born to them: the eligibility for adoption leave; the different rates for the first 6 weeks of statutory maternity pay and statutory adoption pay; and maternity allowance, which is available to self-employed mothers but not to self-employed adopters.

Valerie said: “I am bringing in this Bill because more needs to be done to support people who do so much for society by adopting children who do not have families of their own. It cannot be right that the people who come forward to give children a family life and offer them a stable and secure environment are not currently entitled to the same support as other parents.”

The Bill is listed for second reading on 20th January 2012.

VALERIE FIGHTS AGAINST PHONE MAST

The phone mast recently erected at the junction of Bea-con Road and Waverley Avenue in Pheasey, will be removed. The mast was put up despite Walsall Council refusing Vodafone planning permission. Residents raised their concerns with Valerie.

Valerie‟s suggestion to the Council of obtaining a second legal opinion on the position led to the issuing of an enforcement notice. The notice would require the removal of the mast within 3 months of the service of the notice.

The Council have also met with Vodafone to look at other sites.

PUBLIC DISORDER

Parliament was recalled on the 11th August due to the recent rioting in London and around England. Despite rioting and looting in parts of the West Midlands, Walsall Town Centre was secure thanks to the police and local authority.

Valerie said: “I want to thank the police and the local authority for working together protect the Town Centre.”

HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE

The Health Select Committee, of which Valerie is a member, published its report into Complaints and Litigation. They found that the current com-plaints system is not effective, and called for an overhaul of the role of the Health Service Ombudsman. Valerie said:

“The Government need to be clear about how com-plaints will be handled. It is important that information gathered during com-plaints procedures is properly reported and analysed, in order to avoid systematic weaknesses being over-looked.”

The Committee recognised that the number of general NHS complaints has gone up, and that action should be taken to resolve this. More than 100,000 complaints were made in 2009/2010, a 13.4% increase on the previous year.

To Contact Valerie:

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

Telephone: 020 7219 7176

Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk Constituency Office: 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS1 1SZ Telephone: 01922 635835

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

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

Friday, August 5, 2011

enewsletter

Valerie has welcomed Walsall Borough Council’s decision to look at introducing a 30-minute parking  amnesty on Ablewell Street. Since the introduction of charges on 7th March 2011, businesses have seen a decline in trade of up to 50%.

Valerie raised the issue in the House of Commons in a Pre-Recess Adjournment Debate on 24th

May 2011 after which she presented a 700-name petition to Parliament. Walsall Borough Council  subsequently announced that they will be looking in to the possibility of introducing 30-minute parking amnesties on Ablewell Street and Lichfield Street.

Valerie said: “The Ablewell street traders have made it clear that they need a 30-minute amnesty to restore trade. The Federation of Small Businesses also contacted me about the local traders’ concerns.”

“I have also heard from the traders on Bridge Street who have had difficulty in receiving deliveries due to parking restrictions and I will continue to work to address this issue.”

Valerie Discusses Epilepsy Bill with the Prime Minister

To Contact Valerie:

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

Telephone: 020 7219 7176

Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk

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

Telephone: 01922 635835

Surgeries

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

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

Walsall South July 2011

VALERIE VISITS WALSALL FC

Valerie visited Walsall FC following local concern about the sale of

Banks’ Stadium. Valerie met with the club’s  Chairman, Jeff Bonser

and Chief Executive,

Stefan Gamble.

Valerie said; “Walsall

FC is important in bringing the town together and raising the national

profile of the town. It is very important that the  Club’s long term future

is assured.”

VALERIE CELEBRATES REINTRODUCTION OF 639 ROUTE

VALERIE WELCOMES NEWS THAT COUNCIL WILL LOOK AT 30

MINUTE PARKING AMNESTY ON ABLEWELL STREET

Photo by Alan Williams

On Wednesday 27th July, Valerie and local campaigners celebrated the launch of

the new 38 bus service from Kings Hill in Darlaston to the Manor Hospital and Walsall town centre.

The 639 bus was withdrawn in January 2009. Local residents and campaigners,

Julie Bosley and Doreen Laban, visited Valerie at her surgery with a petition from  residents to ask for her support to reinstate the route. Valerie pursued this by writing  to Centro, National Express West Midlands and each of the local bus operators. Valerie also presented the petition to Parliament.

Valerie said: “I am delighted that National Express West Midlands have listened to the views of local people. People had to take three buses to reach the hospital. This  was particularly difficult for senior citizens and women with children. The new 38 route will have a real impact on people’s quality of life.”

At Prime Minister’s Questions on 22nd June 2011, Valerie asked the Prime

Minister to meet with her to discuss her ten minute rule bill on Epilepsy and

Related Conditions. Valerie said: “I wanted to raise this matter directly with the Prime Minister.

There are almost 1000 deaths from epilepsy related causes each year and

400 of these are potentially avoidable. What is required is immediate referral

to a tertiary specialist and assessments in schools to indentify young

people’s needs.”

“The Prime Minister agreed to meet with me and the epilepsy experts and I

am hopeful that we can make real progress on this matter.”

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

june news from Valerie Vaz MP

Valerie hosted the launch of Walsall College’s Accredited Skills for Industry (ASFI) programme at the House of Commons.
The programme has been developed in partnership with SEMTA, the manufacturing skills council and employers, including Accord Housing Group, where a qualification supporting energy efficiency and retrofit technologies has been developed.
Valerie said; "I was delighted to welcome Walsall College to the House of Commons to celebrate their new qualifications pro-gramme. Chief Executive Amarjit Basi and his colleagues have worked hard to achieve this. The new links between education, industry and skills councils will be a great asset for the young peo-ple of Walsall."
Valerie secured a debate in the House of Commons on the new parking charges in Walsall Town Centre. After the debate, she presented a petition of more than 700 names to Parliament.
The rigorously enforced charges were introduced on 7
Valerie said; "These parking charges have hit local businesses hard at a time when trading conditions are already challenging. It is vital that Walsall Borough Council reconsiders these charges in light of clear evidence that they hinder the very busi-nesses we need to flourish in order for the economy to get back on track".
th March and since then local businesses have reported a significant fall in trade—some by as much as 50%. Valerie asked the Education Secretary, Michael Gove MP, about plans to replace skilled outreach workers in Sure Start Centres with health visitors.
During Education Questions in the House of Com-mons Valerie explained that skilled outreach workers in Sure Start Centres have been very successful in driving outreach projects.
These include a Fathers’ Club held at Palfrey Sure Start that 84 fathers attended. It was the first in the country to be rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted.
To Contact Valerie: Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk
114a Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS1 1SZ Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk June 2011 Valerie Challenges Minister Over "Medical Model" Sure Start Plans
Valerie Hosts Walsall College Launch Event at the House of Commons
Valerie Secures Parking Charges Debate Walsall South Valerie Attacks Women’s Pension Changes The Government recently published plans to force women in their late fifties to wait 18 months longer to receive their state pension.
Valerie said; "When money and financial planning are tight, the impact of this is huge and very unfair. Many women in their late fifties are being forced to change their retirement plans with only a very few years notice. This is very unjust."
On 20th June, the Pensions Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Commons.
Valerie with Walsall College Principal, Amarjit Basi, ASFI Board member, Chris Hunt and ASFI Managing Director, Sue Reynolds.

Friday, May 27, 2011

News from Valerie Vaz MP

Valerie has challenged the decision to close the New Art Gallery on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays – the only days that many people are able to attend. The move follows a substantial reduction in funding from Arts Council England and Walsall Borough Council.
Following the announcement of the changes – which will save just £35,000 a year – Valerie wrote to Culture Secretary, Ed Vaizey to ask him what could be done to avoid these closures. He refused to intervene.
Valerie raised the issue with the Leader of the House during Business Questions on 27
On 9
Speaking during the Opposition Debate on the future of the NHS, Valerie said ―I am staggered by the uncertainty sur-rounding how much this reorganisation will cost the tax-payer‖ and went on to accuse the Government of having ―lost control‖ of the NHS budget.
The controversial Health and Social Care Bill contains measures to give GPs budgets worth £60 billion to commis-sion services for their patients
th April and is con-tinuing to explore further funding options. th May, Valerie spoke out in Parliament against the Government’s much criticised plans for the future of the NHS. . To Contact Valerie: Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk
114a Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS1 1SZ For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk May 2011 VALERIE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST NHS PLANS NEVER ON A SUNDAY
Valerie Presents Pleck Library
Petition to Parliament
Walsall South Smalltown by Cameron Galt Valerie has expressed concern at the latest unemployment figures for Walsall South. The number of unemployed claimants in Walsall South in April was 4,145—an increase of 215 since March.
Valerie said; ―These figures show that the Government does not have the answers on the economy. It must urgently look at how to get people back into work.‖
Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 O
1,108 people signed the petition against any plans to close Pleck Library in the future.
n 27th April, Valerie presented a petition to Parliament urg-ing the Government to ―take all possible steps to protect Pleck Library for the future‖. Valerie Expresses Concern About Local
Unemployment Figures