| Lawrie Quinn | Press Releases |
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Lawrie Quinn is hosting a visit by David Miliband, a Cabinet Office Minister to the Sure Start Children's Centre, Briercliffe on Wednesday the 4th of May.
The aim is to highlight the Government's drive to raise the life chances of all children. The Centre is next to Barrowcliff Infant and Junior School
3 May 2005
Scarborough & Whitby's Labour candidate Lawrie Quinn invited Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Health ( responsible for NHS Dentistry) and Douglas Alexander, Minister of State for Trade and Foreign Affairs to meet local people in Scarborough to discuss local health and business issues in Eastfield on Tuesday 3 May.
The Ministers will meet with John Renshaw, Scarborough Dentist and British Dental Association, BDA's President and Colin Barnes local Voluntary Sector Chief Executive to hear about the progress being made in delivery of primary healthcare locally.
Both Ministers will be available for media interviews/photocall outside Eastfield's Dental Practice, Westway from 08.45 Tuesday 3rd May 2005
Following media interviews the Labour Candidates will be led by Lawrie for discussions with local business leaders and election campaigning in the Eastfield area of Scarborough
PRESS CALL :
ROSIE WINTERTON, Minister of State for Health and DOUGLAS ALEXANDER, Minister of State for Trade and Foreign Affairs will accompany Lawrie Quinn to the Eastfield Dental Practice arriving at 8.45 am on Tuesday 2nd May . Lawrie and the Ministers will also be joined by John Renshaw, President of the BDA and Colin Barnes for press interviews
3 May 2005
Labour candidate Lawrie Quinn has invited Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn to visit Whitby this Bank Holiday Monday to meet local campaigners on International Development issues after a walk through the Town.
Later Hilary and Lawrie will be joined by Yvette Cooper, Minister for Local Government and Community Renewal and Ed Balls, Labour's candidate in Normanton and former Chief Economic Advisor to Gordon Brown for media interviews in the Worldport shop in Whitby's Skinner Street over Fairtrade coffee and tea.
Following media interviews the Labour Candidates will be led by Lawrie for campaigning in the Strenshoel and Mayfield wards in Whitby.
2 May 2005
Labour candidate Lawrie Quinn has thrown down the gauntlet to the Conservatives to come clean with local people about how their plans to cut public service spending by £35 billion would affect proposals for the future of Whitby Hospital. In an open letter to their Deputy Leader Michael Ancram he pledged to fight for more investment in healthcare services for local people and against Conservative plans which would mean charges for operations.
Speaking about his Ietter he said
"I don't know how Michael Ancram can look the staff at Whitby Hospital in the face when his plans mean they could face the sack if the Tories were elected. I've written to him to urge him to tell the truth about the choice people in Whitby face at this election - between a Tory whose plans for cuts in healthcare services would jeopardise the future of Whitby Hospital and someone who is fighting for this community. People in Whitby know that as long as I'm the MP around here I'll fight to keep Whitby Hospital safe from Tory cuts and for more investment in local healthcare for our area."
Lawrie Quinn has been campaigning for substantial investment into the NHS at the Yorkshire Coast ever since he was first elected and fought to secure a consultation on proposals for the future of Whitby Hospital. As part of this campaign he has personally arranged for John Hutton, the Health Minister, to visit Whitby Hospital on the 28th April 2005 and see for himself the facilities and meet with staff and local residents to hear their views on this issue.
John Hutton, Minister of State for Health will accompany Lawrie Quinn on a visit to Whitby Hospital arriving at 12.40 pm on Thursday 28th April, this to be followed by a meeting with NHS staff, local GPs and local community members at the Whitby Coliseum from about 1.45 pm after the visit to the Hospital.
At 3.10 pm Lawrie will accompany the Minister on a visit to Lawrence House the newly opened Primary Care practice in Scarborough
Notes
| Cataract Removal | | £2,550 |
| Hip Replacement | £6,650 | |
| Knee Replacement | £7,550 | |
| Heart Bypass | £11,500 | |
| Hysterectomy | £3,800 |
Lawrie Quinn Campaign Team
53 Westborough Dear Michael I am delighted to hear that you've taken time out of your busy schedule to visit us here in Whitby and see for yourself the improvements in local healthcare services a Labour Government has delivered. I'm proud of my town and proud of the difference Labour has made to this community in the last eight years and I know many local residents feel the same way. There is a clear choice for the people here between your plans for healthcare and our proposals for services. Ever since I was elected I've been fighting for investment in the NHS at the Yorkshire Coast. I've made my case for more investment in Whitby Hospital direct to the ministers and I know they are listening because one of them is coming here tomorrow to learn first hand about our plans for the future of our local hospital. I've pledged to local people that if I am re-elected I will continue to fight for Whitby Hospital and improvements in local healthcare services so they know a vote for me is a vote for public service investment. In contrast I'm deeply concerned by Tory proposals for NHS and what they would mean to people here in Whitby. It seems to me that your plans to cut public service spending by £35 billion threaten the proposed investment in services at Whitby Hospital. I know many local people are frightened by your plans to make them pay for their operations, and wonder where they would get the money from if they were to fall ill. The future of Whitby Hospital is critical to the health of this town and the surrounding area and your plans could mean they would have to rely on services in Scarborough which many feel are too far away. I hope you will feel able to respond to these concerns and give straight answers on these issues. I believe its important that local people know where we stand so they can make a choice at the ballot box between our plans for investment in the NHS and your plans for cuts I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely |
28 Apr 2005
Electors have a choice between different sets of values underpinning the policy programmes of the main parties: Labour governing for the many not a privileged few; and Conservative taking Britain back to the days of 'no such thing as society'.
That is the choice. Not just policy but different values.
This Election is also about the future, so my priorities for the Yorkshire Coast and Moors are:
Maintaining record levels of employment with further delivery of new local jobs and business start-ups.
Community renewal, revitalisation of local tourism and hospitality industries.
Improved transport links and telecommunications to the Yorkshire Coast.
Education : a minimum school leaving age to 18, more investment into local schools and colleges, at least 4 new Children's Centres adding to excellent existing Sure Start schemes and the new Barrowcliffe Children's Centre.
Health : extra investment into Scarborough Hospital and the NHS service you want.
Minimum wage in rising to £ 5.05 in October then £5.35 next year.
To see overall crime down, the number of offenders brought to justice up with
increased resources, extra police and community support officers fighting crime and tacking anti-social behaviour in Scarborough, Eastfield and the villages.
Pensioners getting a better share of our national prosperity with benefits in line with national earnings.
A fairer local government tax system based on the ability to pay.
Free local off-peak bus travel for all pensioners and over-65 households receiving an additional £200 towards council tax bills.
Local government still needs reform. I'll continue to keep SBC to account.
Our local farming, fishing and forestry industries will continue to receive my personal priority.
Work with local church groups on refugees and to "make poverty history".
Bringing reality to making Scarborough and Whitby world-class places to live, work and play
If you value it, vote for it.
27 Apr 2005
On Wednesday 20th April Minister for Trade, Douglas Alexander, will be visiting Britain's only potash mine at Boulby, North Yorkshire.
The visit comes as a result of an invitation from the management and mining communities of Staithes, Loftus, Brotton, Skelton, Hinderwell and Whitby.
Douglas Alexander has worked with Ashok Kumar of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Vera Baird of Redcar and Lawrie Quinn of Scarborough and Whitby to put in place the correct international trading conditions for Britain's deepest mine. Following the representations of Ashok, Vera and Lawrie the DTI and Regional Development Agencies, Onenortheast and Yorkshire Forward were able to successfully persuade the nations of the EU to continue restrictions on the importation of cheaper, lower quality potash from the Russian Federation and Belarus.
Mr Alexander said:
"My Labour Party colleagues convinced me of the long term strategic interest of the United Kingdom and the important contribution to the local economy in Cleveland and North Yorkshire of this world class facility. I am delighted to have this opportunity to accept this long standing invite from these communities to see for myself just how important the Boulby mine is to this part of Yorkshire."
Speaking on behalf of Lawrie and Vera, Ashok Kumar said:
"Cleveland Potash is the largest employer in rural East Cleveland and North Yorkshire. It is particularly important as the area has more than 7 times the unemployment rate than any other rural development area. We will work very hard to ensue that Cleveland Potash enjoys success well into the future.
After visiting the mine Mr Alexander will join Labour Party campaigners who will be visiting the homes of local people in the picturesque North Yorkshire village of Staithes to hear first hand from one of England's most remote communities on how important Boulby mine is for them.
19 Apr 2005
Lawrie Quinn MP has today sent this letter regarding Henley's Pensions:
Lawrie Quinn MP220 Portcullis House 11 Apr 2005
D N James C.B.E. (Chairman) Dear Mr James Henley's Pension Action Group concerns about Company Insolvency As one of my last priorities before the General Election starts properly, I write to you in conjunction with my Parliamentary colleagues listed below who represent the Pensioners and Deferred Pensioners of the Company, Henley's. We have been contacted by the Henley's Pension Action Group following their frustrated attempts to contact you. Following the compromised deal agreed with the Courts last September we call on you to publish immediately your timetable for company insolvency in response to the requests made by our constituents the Henley's pensioners. Members of the Henley Pension Action Group number almost 4000 people. They are currently excluded from the Government's Financial Assistance Scheme, FAS on the grounds of Henley's solvency and recently retired members are currently receiving no compensation at all. We would also like you to consider further our belief that your expediency in the interests of creditors is at the expense of Pensioners (people who are now retiring after the so called compromise deal) the people who are the innocent victims in all of this private company pension failure. We are particularly disturbed to hear your comments in the press regarding our constituents suffering a dilution of value in their new pensions and wish to express our concern to anyone taking credit via the media at the expense of prospective pensioners. We believe that it is our duty to fully support our constituents in these matters and will ensure that Henley's scheme members will receive the maximum support of Parliament after the General Election as they pursue justice both through the courts of this land and those of America. We will not rest until this gross injustice has been rectified. It has also not gone unnoticed that during your stewardship, Henley's directors and other net benefactors of the scheme all managed to secure their pensions before wind up, in order to spend more time with their families. We would therefore welcome your considered response to the apparent trend of reward for poor performance especially in the light of 4000 pensioners (app 2000 pensioners & 2000 deferred) having to bear substantial losses for no such reason. We are copying this letter to our local media and passing on the details to the appropriate financial editors of the national newspapers as well as to the Secretary for State for Work and Pensions, Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP. As the matters raised in this letter are both urgent and extremely serious for the 4000 people affected by the collapse of the Henley's Pension Scheme we look forward to a reply by return. Yours sincerely
On behalf of |
11 Apr 2005
Scarborough & Whitby Labour Party will hold its General Election candidate adoption meeting at the Stephen Joseph Theatre from 11 a.m. Saturday 9th April 2005 to formally adopt Lawrie Quinn.
Before the formality of adoption, local Labour Party members, trade unionists and supporters will hear from Rodney Bickerstaff the President of the National Pensioners Convention who will outline why Scarborough & Whitby should Go Forward Not Back and support Lawrie Quinn's re-election as the constituency MP.
As part of Rodney Bickerstaff's visit to Scarborough he will accompany Lawrie Quinn and other supporters to hit the streets in Castle ward to drum up support in the campaign to re-elect Lawrie Quinn as the constituency's MP.
Prior to the meeting Rodney Bickerstaff and Lawrie Quinn will be meeting with local pensioner campaigners and discussing issues of interest to older people.
9 Apr 2005
County Councillor David Billing, Leader of North Yorkshire County Council Labour Group and local Member for Scarborough Woodlands will be joined by Derek Twigg MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Schools) at the Department for Education and Skills and Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, in a visit to Barrowcliff Community Junior School and Pindar School on Tuesday 5th April 2005.
In his tour around Barrowcliff School the Headteacher will show the Minister the recently opened Information Technology suite.
At Pindar School the Minister will meet with the Headteacher and Chair of Governors. He will be told about the ambitions of the local community since Special School Status in Sports has been attained.
Mr Twigg will be shown how this new direction for all at Pindar and across Eastfield supports the continuing academic improvements at the School and how a new confidence among students and staff is having a positive affect on everyone concerned.
5 Apr 2005
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Hilary Armstrong
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Members of Scarborough & Whitby Labour Party will be joined by Cabinet Minister, Rt. Hon Hilary Armstrong MP, Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons, along with Scarborough & Whitby's MP Lawrie Quinn at the following locations tomorrow.
They will be collecting signatures towards the Labour Party's national petition to keep the NHS free. Local people will be encouraged to express their objection to the introduction of charges for hospital operations.
Note: For further information about these events please contact Linda Brittain on 01723 507000 after 9.30am Tuesday 29 March 2005.
28 Mar 2005
Stephen Ladyman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community Care at the Department for Health visits Scarborough on Wednesday 16th March, he will be joined by local MP, Lawrie Quinn, and will meet local carers.
Both MPs will also be available to discuss the key issues from Gordon Brown's Budget Statement which will be shown live from 12.30 at a special lunch meeting in Scarborough at The Crescent Hotel, The Crescent Scarborough. YO11 2PP
Lawrie Quinn said
"I am glad that the Minister accepted my invitation to visit Scarborough tomorrow to highlight this important Parliamentary occasion here at the Yorkshire Coast."
New figures that show unemployment in Scarborough & Whitby down 1292.
Unemployment will rise if the Tories scrap the New Deal.
Lawrie Quinn and Gordon Brown met in Westminster this week to discuss Labour's plans to extend the New Deal and provide more jobs.
And they challenged the Tories to come clean on plans to scrap the New Deal which would send unemployment rising again in Scarborough & Whitby.
Lawrie Quinn said:
"When I became an MP, I said that jobs and employment would be a priority for me and for people in Scarborough & Whitby.
We all remember when unemployment in Britain hit three million in the early 90s and we never want to return to those days.
New official figures show there are 186,000 more people in Yorkshire and Humberside in work now than were in 1997.
They also show that here in Scarborough & Whitby, since Labour came to power, 950 young people have found work through the New Deal, cutting local long-term youth unemployment by 82 per cent. In addition, adult long-term unemployment has been slashed by 81 per cent.
But there is still more to do. That's why I renew my pledge to keep employment and jobs a priority.
Only Labour is committed to full employment, offering employers free skills training for every employee who needs it and expanding the New Deal.
The Tories are committed to scrapping the New Deal and privatising Job Centre Plus which would lead to hundreds of thousands more unemployed. We cannot afford that risk in Scarborough & Whitby. Local Tories must come clean and admit to people here in Scarborough & Whitby that jobs would be lost as a result of their policies.
The Liberals have also now committed themselves to axing the New Deal. From now on we'll make clear that the Liberals just like the Tories would wreck the economy in Scarborough & Whitby.
To reinforce my message on employment, I met with Chancellor Gordon Brown this week and told him of my challenge to the Tories in Scarborough & Whitby on unemployment. He is giving me his full backing."
Gordon Brown added,
"Lawrie Quinn MP is right to make jobs a priority in Scarborough & Whitby and to warn against a return to high unemployment. Employment is now at record levels. Labour will never take risks with our hard-won economic stability. If we are to continue to succeed in the global economy, we need more people in work, not fewer. The Labour Government will extend the New Deal, not scrap it."
15 Mar 2005
Lawrie Quinn MP is backing a new government campaign to advise older people on how to avoid being victim to bogus callers.
The Home Office campaign is backed by organisations including Age Concern who are delivering thousands of leaflets and stickers to the elderly to help ensure they know and follow the simple steps to doorstep security.
Lawrie Quinn MP, said:
"Preying on the elderly and most vulnerable members of society is a particularly despicable crime which causes immense distress to victims and their families.
"Although the chances of being a victim of crime are at a historic low, the Labour Government is not complacent and we continue to work hard to bring crime down further. In the last year our region had the highest number of new police staff in the country and we are seeing crime fall across Scarborough & Whitby.
"Simple measures can be taken to ensure older people are safe from distraction burglary. The simple advice of the 'Lock, Stop, Chain and Check' campaign is to keep front and back doors locked, install a door chain, check ID, and if in doubt, keep callers out.
"This initiative is part of Labour's plans to ensure we have safer streets in Scarborough & Whitby."
Assistant Chief Constable Graeme Gerrard, Chair of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Burglary Reduction Working Group, commented:
"Bogus calling is a particularly disturbing crime as perpetrators generally tend to prey on the trust of the most vulnerable within our communities. Bogus callers turn up unannounced, with the intention of tricking their way into the home and distracting people in order to steal money or valuables.
"Though it is a relatively rare, police are working hard together with other agencies to tackle these crimes. We urge people to take these simple steps when someone you don't know calls at your door, and to help police by always reporting this crime or anyone they suspect is a bogus caller operating in their neighbourhood."
Simple steps to avoid bogus callers
1. LOCK
Always keep your back and front door locked even when you are at home or just popping out briefly.
2. STOP
If there is someone at your door, stop and think whether you are expecting anyone. Ensure the back door is locked before answering the front door so that nobody can access your house while you are distracted.
3. CHAIN
If you decide to open the door, put the door bar or chain on first. Keep the chain on while you talk to the person on the doorstep. When the door is closed, remove the chain in case you need to get out quickly.
4. CHECK
If a stranger wants to come in and claims that they are from a utility company, the local authority or any other organisation, always ask for their ID, even if you were expecting them - genuine callers will happily show you ID. Close the door and check the ID carefully. Call the head office if you are still unsure, but use the number from the telephone directory or a recent utility bill, not the one on the card.
Remember, only let a caller in if you are absolutely sure that they are genuine - if in doubt, keep them out!
9 Mar 2005
Notes:
Working mothers across Scarborough & Whitby received good news this week from their local MP who was promoting the extension of maternity and adoption pay, which is to be extended by three months.
Lawrie Quinn MP welcomed the government drive which asks families to directly respond with ideas about how to achieve the best balance in work and family life.
Lawrie Quinn MP said:
"Maternity and adoption pay will be increased from six to nine months by April 2007, giving working mothers in Scarborough & Whitby an extra £1,400. This is fantastic news both for families and the local economy at the Yorkshire Coast, but I believe we can go further. I therefore fully back the government's goal which is to have a year's paid leave just a couple of years after that."
On 28 February 2005 the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that from April 2007, paid maternity and adoption paid leave for mothers will be increased from six to nine months.
A new initiative was also introduced for mothers to transfer a portion of their maternity leave and pay to fathers - which will give parents more choice over care arrangements for their children during the first year.
Back in 1999 the government introduced 13 weeks guaranteed parental leave. It was extended to 26 weeks in 2002 when two weeks paid paternity leave was also introduced for the first time for working fathers.
Lawrie Quinn MP added:
"Businesses and other employers in Scarborough & Whitby tell me all of the time that one of reasons the economy is successful is because a healthier and happier workforce is more productive and motivated."
The MP is encouraging people across Scarborough & Whitby, especially families, to log on to the DTI website and take part in the consultation ('Work and Families; Choice and Flexibility') which ends on 25th May 2005. (http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/choice_flexibility_consultation.doc)
"The more people we can get locally at the Yorkshire Coast to take part and give the government their views, then the more able we are to shape national policy in our local interest" said the MP.
2 Mar 2005
Notes:
* An electronic version of this consultation document can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/workandfamilies.
Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough & Whitby, will lead a delegation from the Henley's Pension Action Group to meet with the Pensions Minister, Malcolm Wicks MP, at the Department for Work and Pensions, Richmond House HQ building on Whitehall at 4pm on Wednesday 23rd February.
Lawrie will be accompanied by fellow Yorkshire MP, Rt. Hon Kevin Barron, Rother Valley, and representatives of the Henley's Pension Action Group, Jim Marflit and Walter Schneider along with officials from Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union.
Lawrie said:
"I believe the meeting offers a very timely opportunity for the Group to meet with the Pensions Minister following very useful discussions with DWP officials at the end of last year.
"With so many households at the Yorkshire Coast affected by the decisions taken at the High Court last September to wind up the Fund, the Action Group hopes this meeting will allow them to come closer to a more sustainable and fair solution for their Pensions.
"With the new arrangements for the pensions compensation fund due to come into effect in April the 4000 pensioners or deferred pensioners of the failed Henley's Scheme need to know how the Minister's proposals will impact on their future entitlements."
22 Feb 2005
Following the decision by Scarborough Borough Council to suspend the 'Goode inquiry' into the Council's procurement and governance procedures highlighted by the District Auditor's report on sea defence contracts, Lawrie Quinn MP met with members of the Labour group of councillors on Scarborough Borough Council.
Lawrie Quinn MP said:
"After meeting with the Borough's Labour Councillors last night, I agreed to send the attached letter to, Sir John Bourn, Comptroller at the National Audit Office and to Sir Anthony Holland of the Standards Board for England. Following the collapse of the 'Goode inquiry' and after receiving legal advice on employment law, we agreed that I should seek the opinion and guidance from these two eminent national public servants, how the Borough Council can expedite a proper, full and early complete response to the concerns raised in the District Auditors report before Christmas.
"My previous representations to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministerial colleagues had indicated we should await completion of the 'Goode report'. Following yesterday's collapse of the inquiry it is my understanding that the councillors who had formed the membership of the inquiry team will not now be able to resume these duties, in the same way that members of a jury who are discharged can not hear the same trail. Therefore, it seems logical to ask Sir John Bourn and Sir Anthony Holland to take a look from a national level, at the proceedings that followed the District Auditors report.
"It is important that all of these matters are given due legal consideration and my constituents and other residents of Scarborough Borough get a clear statement about how we can restore Local Government at the Yorkshire Coast to the highest level of confidence."
On behalf of the Labour group on Scarborough Borough Council Cllr. Brian Simpson said:
"The Group has always maintained a fully independent inquiry should look into the contract awarded for the sea defence works. We put this motion to full Council, only five other councillors supported this, the leader of the Independent Group voted against the motion in favour of the 'Goode inquiry' which he rejected yesterday. We believe the 'Goode inquiry' is redundant and can not now be reopened. Labour councillors fully endorse our MP's letter calling on Sir John Bourn Sir Anthony Holland to advise him on the best way forward. We will be recommending this course of action at the meeting scheduled for 28 February."
Lawrie Quinn MP220 Portcullis House 18 February 2005 Dear Sir John & Sir Anthony Scarborough Borough Council - Coastal Protection Schemes After many months of consideration by myself I write to you both to request your advice and hopefully your intervention through the National Audit Office and the Standards Board for England so far as the above projects are concerned. I understand that the recent report December 2004 Ref: SC003 on these projects compiled by Mr Mark Kirkham, the District Auditor for North Yorkshire, will be well known to you. Consequently you may also be aware of the acceptance by Scarborough Borough Council of Mr Kirkham's recommendations about the procurement and governance issues surrounding these important coastal defence schemes across the Borough. A key response by Scarborough Borough Council was the establishment of a committee of investigation chaired by an independent person, Mr Michael Goode, composed of senior Borough Councillors on an All Party basis to finalise improvements to the Council's procedures and to satisfy concerns raised by the public. Prior to the establishment of this investigation both the Labour group on the Council and myself, with the wide and substantial support of the local community, called for a fully independent and professionally chaired investigation with competence in areas of construction law and procedure. We also indicated publicly our concerns about the entitlement of any council employee to the full support of employment law so far as any pending disciplinary action might be concerned. The second hearing of the investigation, which was scheduled to take witness statements in public, should have taken place yesterday Thursday February 17th, however legal advice on the points of employment law resulted in the resignation of a senior councillor from the investigation team and the subsequent abandonment of the process. I understand that the background to the wind-up of the investigation is to be reported back to the full Scarborough Borough Council on February 28th. Many weeks have elapsed since Mr Kirkham's report and both I and the local community are increasingly concerned that key issues of governance concerning the Council are not being adequately taken forward. It is basically against this background that I hope you might both be able to respond to the following points I make on behalf of my constituents in Scarborough and Whitby, and also with the support of many members of the community around Filey, who are represented by John Greenway MP for Ryedale but who have chosen to write directly to me.
As a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers I am also professionally concerned that the matters around these projects have an important national perspective and I am aware that many colleagues across the UK construction industry are looking closely at the outcomes from the Scarborough investigation. I hope you may be able to help the people in the communities of the Yorskhire Coast to work towards a satisfactory and sustainable solution which will allow them to have confidence in Local Government process and procedure again. I am copying this letter to John Greenway MP, Mark Kirkham, Audit commission, John Trebble, Chief Executive Scarborough Borough Council and the Leaders of all political parties of Scarborough Borough Council. If you or your representatives from either the National Audit Office of the Standards Board for England wish to meet me in London to discuss these concerns further or to gain access to the considerable documentation I have collected over the duration of these projects, please contact Linda Brittain on 01723 507000 to arrange an appropriate diary date Yours sincerely
Sir John Bourn |
18 Feb 2005
Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough & Whitby, this week met with Eric Clark, North Yorkshire Chief Fire Officer, to discuss local concerns about the public consultation on proposals to change staffing systems at Scarborough Fire Station.
Following the meeting Lawrie wrote to Mr Clark detailing the specific concerns of tourism businesses and hoteliers in Scarborough.
Lawrie Quinn MP220 Portcullis House 11 February 2005 Dear Eric Draft - Integrated Risk Management Plan 2 (2005-2010) Thank you for visiting Westminster on Monday, I attach a copy of the notes that were taken at the time. Having been able to reflect on the conversation you were able to have with myself and John Grogan MP and following further discussions with representatives of local hotels in my constituency I am still concerned that the manner and methodology with which the Authority undertook the consultation is not sound. I am sorry to have to come to that conclusion but you will recall the tragic events around the fire at the Richmond Hotel in the early 1990s. The very serious concerns held in the community at the Yorkshire Coast and amongst the tourism and hospitality profession in particular remain very strong and therefore it is very surprising that these stakeholders were neither aware of your recommendations or given the opportunity to be involved in the consultation. It is my opinion that the Fire Authority's Meeting, scheduled for Monday 14th February, should consider, not only the concerns I am highlighting from the Yorkshire Coast, but similar concerns from other parts of the county. I hope the Authority will consider a way of deferring the decision, so that an extended consultation period, which must by necessity include a series of public meetings, to allow all stakeholders to engage in a much needed stakeholder discussion. I took seriously your point that the meeting on Monday will also be setting the future budget for the Fire Authority. I took the opportunity to ask members of the Authority whether this was a substantial issue which necessitated a decision on the Risk Management proposals next week. I have been advised that this was a very marginal issue and therefore hope that the Fire Authority will see the need to ensure public community participation in these important proposals as having a higher priority than a budget neutral effect. I hope that these issues will be fully considered in the debate on Monday. Can I once again thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important issues and can I offer my support and fullest participation in, any public meeting the authority is able to organise at the Yorkshire Coast before implementation of the revised policy. Best wishes for your forthcoming retirement and my thanks on behalf of my constituents in Scarborough & Whitby for your leadership of the excellent team at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. Yours sincerely Cc Phil Hope MP, ODPM |
11 Feb 2005
Lawrie Quinn, Labour MP for Scarborough & Whitby, welcomed today's announcement by John Reid of an extra £18.5 million for front-line NHS services in Scarborough & Whitby.
Lawrie said:
"This is great news for patients in Scarborough & Whitby. By 2007/08 it will be equivalent to £1,378 for every man, woman and child and will help the NHS in this area speed up access to treatment. This compares with £890 per person in 2003.
"The local NHS will be able to recruit school nurses and community matrons to help tackle public health, chronic diseases like diabetes and reduce deaths from heart disease and cancer.
"With Labour and the hard work of NHS staff, waiting times have been halved and we will halve them again. Under the Tories, people waited 18 months or more for an operation.
"This money will help get rid of the bottlenecks in the system so no one by 2008 will wait more than 18 weeks end to end for an operation."
9 Feb 2005
Lawrie Quinn Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby has this week raised the issue of funding and support for Children's Centres in the House of Commons.
Lawrie Quinn asked about the investment in Sure Start, child care, nursery education and children's services and Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that ensuring that every child has the best start in life was a priority.
Lawrie said:
"Seven years ago, there wasn't a SureStart programme, or a comprehensive childcare strategy, seven years ago nobody talked about childcare. I am proud that today we have got over 500 Sure Start programmes in the most disadvantaged communities in country including Scarborough and Whitby. New findings from a study which is tracking the impact of pre-school on a group of young children found that good quality early years services reduced the risk of them having special educational needs at school from a third to a fifth. There can be no stronger endorsement of the good quality joined up services that Children's Centres provide."
"Last Friday, I visited a brand new children's centre in Barrowcliff and I now hope that the ambitions for the people of east Whitby for a similar children's centre can be rolled out in the future?"
4 Feb 2005
Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough & Whitby is hosting a cross party meeting of North Yorkshire MPs with the County's Fire Chief, Eric Clark, at 10.30 am on Monday 7th February at the House of Commons
Lawrie said:
"Following representations from constituents in Scarborough & Whitby and various conversations with local members of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, I have been able to secure some time at Westminster with the Chief Fire Officer, Eric Clark."
Important proposals in a consultation document entitled 'North Yorkshire Fire Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan 2005/2010' will be considered for the approval of the Fire Authority in mid-February. I believe that it is essential for the MP's in North Yorkshire to have an opportunity to discuss the impact of the proposals in this document on such a vital service."
4 Feb 2005
Labour's Lawrie Quinn today called on Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to condemn a member of his frontbench team for "irresponsibly pushing a Lib Dem plan that would escalate teenage binge drinking," after it emerged that the Lib Dems want to lower the legal drinking age to 16.
Speaking after Lib Dem frontbench spokesman Don Foster MP claimed in the House of Commons yesterday that his party's policy of legalising the sale of alcohol to 16-year-olds would reduce binge-drinking, Labour's Lawrie Quinn said:
"At a time when communities and the police are working hard to tackle binge drinking, it beggars belief that a member of Charles Kennedy's frontbench team has announced that the Lib Dems would allow 16- year- olds to drink in pubs and buy alcohol in the shops.
"Only a fool could believe the Lib Dems' claim that lowering the age at which teenagers can get served in pubs and off-licenses would lower binge-drinking, not cause it to soar. This is more Lib Dem lunacy on law and order - what kind of message does this send out to communities blighted by binge drinking?
"If the Lib Dems are ever to end their appalling record of being soft on crime and anti-social behaviour, Charles Kennedy must publicly renounce Don Foster's remarks and make clear that he will have no truck with his party's policy to let minors buy alcohol with impunity.
" Time and time again, the Liberal Democrats have opposed Labour's measures to get tough on the anti-social behaviour that can blight the lives of hard working families in Scarborough & Whitby. This latest Lib Dem madness on teenage drinking shows that the Lib Dems would be soft on crime and tough on hard working families."
Note to editors
Kevin Brennan: Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that it is Lib Dem policy to legalise drinking at the age of 16? Does he think that that will contribute to a reduction in binge drinking?
Don Foster (Lib Dem spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport): The answer is yes. I do not think that I could explain the position more clearly.
(House of Commons Hansard, 25 Jan 2005, Column 185)
25 Jan 2005
The first major Commons debate of the New Year will be on the future of rural railways. On Tuesday 11th January 2005, Lawrie Quinn, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, will lead the debate with a request for support for the rural rail network and the Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail Development Strategy, launched in November last year. The scenic Esk Valley Line, between Whitby and Middlesbrough, serves Lawrie's constituency and is one of the seven national demonstration projects in the new Strategy.
Lawrie Quinn said:
" I see this debate as an important opportunity for colleagues to express their support for Britain's rural railways, the Community Rail Strategy provides a positive framework for the future development of the rural rail network. It isn't about cuts or lower standards, it's about increasing use and driving down costs."
ACoRP has a membership of over 50 community rail partnerships across the UK, which bring together community groups, local authorities and the railway industry. Several rural lines with community rail partnerships have experienced record increases in passenger use, with improved services and passenger facilities, and better bus links.
ACoRP chairman Peter Roberts underlined the importance of railways to rural communities not just in providing essential transport services but in supporting local economies. 'Rail should be at the heart of strategies for sustainable development in rural communities' said Peter. 'They can make a major contribution to overcoming social exclusion, improving accessibility and boosting tourism'.
10 Jan 2005
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