| Lawrie Quinn | Press Releases 2001 |
|
Press Releases from Lawrie Quinn 2001 |
 |
| Back to front page | Current Press Releases |
Lawrie Quinn who is also president of the Scarborough United Nations Association will tonight be speaking to local members and will be calling on churches, voluntary organisations, businesses and trade unions to support the campaign to step up progress to tackle world poverty.
Lawrie Quinn said,
"I have also invited Hilary Benn MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, to visit Scarborough next month to meet representatives of interested local organisations.""After the events of September 11, it is more important than ever that the international community makes faster progress in reducing poverty in the world's poorest countries. These events have illustrated our global interdependence and no nation can retreat behind national boundaries and pretend what happens elsewhere does not affect us."
"I believe our aim should be to:
- Progress on international trade and open up markets so developing countries have a fair deal in the trading process.
- Raise levels of domestic and international investment in developing countries in ways which are right for the countries and protect them from exploitation.
- Find better ways to protect the most vulnerable countries from economic instability, in return for greater transparency in each country's own systems.
- Secure the commitment of all richer countries to raise the finance necessary to achieve our agreed 2015 global targets."
22 Nov 2001
Lawrie Quinn said,
"I had already been approached by local constituents who are patients of the Sheffield heart and lung transplant centre and feared that because of the problems in sustaining this vital service, it was going to be transferred to another centre elsewhere in the country. As secretary of the Yorkshire and Humberside MPs I called for my colleagues to consider the impact of such a move in their own constituencies and by working together we now have a discussion document that sets out to maintain all six centres including Sheffield."If anyone would like to contribute to the discussion please contact 01723 507000 for a copy of the document.
01 Oct 2001
Lawrie Quinn said
"I am delighted the Trust has won this award. It is a government initiative aimed at improving standards in people's working lives and this particular category was for organisations with more than 250 employees."He added, "It is vital that the NHS recruits and retains skilled and experienced staff. Improving Trust employees' working lives is a step in the right direction and in turn will help provide best quality care for their patients. I wish them well in the national finals, which will be held later this year."
01 Oct 2001
The office telephone number will remain the same, 01947 821733, however there is a new fax number, 01947 604726. The opening times are 10am until 12 noon and 2pm until 4pm on Mondays and 10am until 12noon on Fridays. If anyone wishes to call in and speak to Clare Dossor, the Whitby caseworker, ask the receptionist on the main desk at the Coliseum to contact her.
10 Aug 2001
Mo Mowlem, and Lawrie Quinn can be seen with East Whitby Primary School Headteacher, Chris Milone and some of the pupils using the Computer Suite at around 5.30 p.m. at the school
The new facilities will be used by pupils at the school to develop their IT skills and to be used as a resource for teaching many of the subjects in the national curriculum
"I'm pleased that our Labour Government has supported all our schools. We are committed to more investment in education at all levels so our young people are fully prepared for life in the 21st Century," states Lawrie Quinn.Local Labour County Councillor Brian Summerson says,
"East Whitby has a fine reputation for serving the needs of our local community. The new facilities have resulted from the excellent partnerships between the community, the private sector, staff and governors."
5.45 p.m : Party depart school for walkabout on the adjacent St. Peters Estate, Whitby.
04 June 2001
"I am delighted that Michael Meacher has come to see this world class company which is based at Eastfield and has a strong reputation for good management staff relations," states Lawrie Quinn. "The Minister will see how the company is preparing to conform with the new requirements which will ensure environmental considerations are taken into account for the packaging of manufactured goods."Michael Meacher and Lawrie Quinn will be shown around the factory which employs over 300 workers and will meet with both managers and staff representatives on the company's works council."It is also encouraging that the constructive approach to industrial relations at the factory reflects the Government's own approach to greater partnership working being developed across British industry, replacing the more confrontational policies of the last Tory Government," said Mr Quinn.
12.40 : Party arrives at Eastfield shopping centre, High Street, Eastfield to meet local residents to discuss neighbourhood renewal projects.
4 June 2001
In a ground-breaking initiative Labour activists delivered 5,000 copies of a short video featuring their candidate Lawrie Quinn to households across the constituency. The video highlights Lawrie Quinn's work as a constituency MP over the last 4 years and shows interviews with Scarborough and Whitby residents who have been helped with various issues.
"This is an imaginative way of getting our message across," said local Labour Vice-Chair, Marion Gordon who is also standing as a County Council Candidate for Cayton Ward. "We hope that those who have received the video will play it and see what an excellent MP Lawrie Quinn has been since 1997 and will support him at the Election on Thursday so he wins a second term."The video ends with an endorsement from Tony Robinson who plays Baldrick in the TV series Blackadder and recently visited Scarborough to speak at a Labour Party rally. It is hoped the video will then be passed to friends and neighbours.
04 June 2001
There will be a Photo Opportunity for the Press & Media at around 2:50 pm when Chris Smith, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and Lawrie Quinn can be photographed on their tour of the theatre
Lawrie Quinn said :
"Chris Smith was one of many to support: the Stephen Joseph Theatre. SJT and Sir Alan's bid for financial support in the nineties. This afternoon's visit is a reprise of his trip to Scarborough when he first met Sir Alan Ayckbourn.Alan Ayckbourn says,I believe that public money devoted to the arts, should be spent on excellent arts, not bureaucracy The Secretary of State today will hear from Sir Alan how the SJT has developed into not only a regional but a world class centre of excellence for theatre. The SJT is simply the best.
Labour's arts funding system backs excellence, giving artists and arts organisations the long term stability they need to continue to lead the field globally as a vital engine for our economy."
"I will be taking the opportunity to discuss with Chris Smith our plans to produce more new work at the SJT, plans for our education department to expand their work particularly in the north of the borough and for the outreach projects taking our shows out on the road to the smaller more rural communities."
2.00 pm Join Labour's street stall outside Brunswick Shopping Centre junction of Vernon Rd
31 May 2001
Over a week ago, following a Tory spokesman claiming that their policy was to aim for £20bn of cuts In public expenditure, Mr Quinn demanded that the Tory Candidate should clarify how the estimated £30m share of these cuts would be met from local services. In the absence of a reply Lawrie Quinn has now gone over the head of local Tories and has written to the Party's Leader, William Hague.
"I am disappointed that as we approach the last week of the campaign my Tory opponent has either been unable to unwilling to explain how his Party's policies would affect voters in this Constituency," said Lawrie Quinn. The Conservatives started off by trumpeting their objective of slashing public expenditure to provide for tax cuts. But it seems they are unwilling to be specific as to what health services would be cut in local hospitals, what teachers would lose their jobs in Scarborough and Whitby schools, what the reductions in regional aid would mean to the essential recovery plan to secure Plaxton's future, what police stations would be robbed of much-needed resources"
"If the local Tory Candidate is to be in any way credible, he and his Party need to come clean on what their policies mean for Scarborough and Whitby. The electors have a right to know," concluded Mr Quinn.
29 May 2001
Letter to Mr Hague | Letter to Mr Sykes
He will be visiting the state of the art facility which is almost nearing completion after a partnership approach between Yorkshire Water , the Local Authorities and the local communities. Mr Caborn will be joined by Sheffield colleague. Helen Jackson who did much work during the 1990s in parliament to ensure that the best environmental standards were achieved for waste water management around our coasts.
Along with Lawrie Quinn, Labour's candidate for Scarborough & Whitby the party will hear about progress towards achieving enhanced standards for waste water and the export opportunities for Yorkshire Water's parent group KELDA for the technology advances here in Scarborough.
Lawrie Quinn, who invited the Minister to Scarborough said,
"As a civil engineer myself I have taken a big interest in the Coastcare scheme from a professional point of view. I know that around the world this technology advance will serve as a showcase for major export opportunities and I'm very pleased Richard has joined us today.From a regional perspective. Helen Jackson can take lots of credit, along with local campaigners, Sons of Neptune, in helping persuade Yorkshire Water to invest extra over to the European standards. The resulting scheme is British engineering at its best and I look forward to many international visitors coming to Scarborough to hear how a community can work successfully to achieve the high standards of the KELDA Group to invest in our infrastructure for the long-term not the short. Over a private lunch, Richard and Helen will hear from the Sons of Neptune how significant improvements were achieved in the scheme because of the responsive approach of Yorkshire Water's project team".
29 May 2001
Lawrie Quinn said,
"When Frank helped launch my campaign a couple of weekends ago he was very interested to hear about the progress at Cross Lane. I was very grateful to him whilst he was Secretary of State for Health for his concerns for my representations for health investment for the people of Scarborough & Whitby. Along with the millions of pounds of extra investment in our acute hospital service the excellent additional facilities at Cross Lane will enhance local community health services provided by Tees and NE Yorkshire Community Health Trust."Labour's spokesperson for Social Services at North Yorkshire County Council, David Billing said,
"Labour's commitment to modernising mental health provision is demonstrated in the new facilities Mr Dobson will see this afternoon. This brand new accommodation replaces the former Victorian workhouse conditions at St. Marys, Dean Road, Scarborough. I know that this will help health and social services to better serve local people - a new partnership in new buildings which is managed jointly between the Trust and the County."
2.15pm Arrive Cross Lane Hospital to be met by Caroline Parnell and representatives of Tees and NE Yorkshire NHS Trust. Tour of new buildings commences.
3.15pm Depart for walking tour of Scarborough town centre commencing outside Veron Road entrance to the Brunswick Centre.
25 May 2001
He will be visiting Social Housing Schemes in Eastfield and Edgehill, Scarborough provided by a partnership between Sanctuary Housing Association, Local Authority, Voluntary and private sectors. Mr Raynsford will hear about progress towards renewal within these local communities, which have been supported by recent government initiatives.
Lawrie Quinn who invited the Minister to Scarborough said,
"I have great ambitions to secure a revitalised and vibrant sense of community across Scarborough and have already indicated that Eastfield and Barrowcliff must be a regional priority as neighbourhood renewal projects."Labour's candidate in the County Council elections Paul Cross said,
"l have lived in the Eastfield area since childhood. I am delighted that the Housing Minister is taking a personal interest in the future of Scarborough's housing. This government's initiatives will provide much needed additional community services for residents who have often felt neglected by Town Hall and Whitehall alike over many decades."
11:00 am Edgehill Community Centre and housing scheme to see Partnership development following stock transfer vote.
24 May 2001
Lawrie Quinn said:
"The Tories have now let the cat out of the bag as it has emerged that they are committed to £20 billion in public spending cuts. That means on average £30 million of cuts in every constituency including here in Scarborough & Whitby."Lawrie Quinn's letter to Mr Sykes"The Tory manifesto admits that: 'This is not the end of our tax cutting ambitions. In the second half of the next parliament we can cut taxes further'.
"And now a member of the Tory Treasury team has put a £20 billion price tag on the cuts in public services - that's £30 million in every constituency. So I want my local Tory opponent to come clean and admit where the axe would fall."
"The people of Scarborough & Whitby will want to know how the Tories will find their £30 million of spending cuts here in Scarborough & Whitby."
"Locally, the future of the A64 corridor, the much needed recovery plan for Plaxtons and the hard won concessionary bus scheme for pensioners and the disabled are in serious doubt if these plans are ever actioned."
"Labour will continue to expose the truth - the Tories would be an economic disaster and a public services disaster. A disaster for local schools, hospitals, pensioners and police. But especially a disaster for the community here in Scarborough & Whitby after the devastating recent news on local jobs and the economy."
17 May 2001
The campaign team will be meeting people who live in Staithes, Hinderwell, Lythe and Sandsend. They'll be outlining Labour's ambitions for the next 10 years for our area.
Clare Dossor said,
"I'm pleased Lawrie will be joining me today to emphasise the need to renew our communities through investment in jobs, education, health, rural policing, social services and improved transport links to Teesside, York and beyond.Later, Lawrie will join Kevin Allen, the Labour hopeful for Lindhead division when he meets Mrs Groom and local residents in Newby. They will discuss concerns about the planning system following an application for new buildings which impacts on the visual amenity of the existing neighbourhood."I've worked with Lawrie on parliamentary business and local campaigns. I know he wants to see our rural communities benefit from the prudent economic policies of this Labour government. I offer my commitment to speaking up for Danby division at County Hall to mirror the raised parliamentary profile he's achieved for the people of Whitby and Scarborough."
Kevin Allen said,
"All communities need to have faith in a fair planning system... the concerns raised by Mrs Groom are valid in my view....but we need Parliament to reform the accountability of the planning system...I know that Lawrie has spent much time with local residents on similar problems and is campaigning for a wholesale reform of planning law...until that happens I know he'll do his best to understand the concerns and raise them with the planning authorities."
16 May 2001
In Scarborough
Saturday 12 May 2001.
11.00am
At
The Stephen Joseph Theatre
In Whitby
Saturday 12 May 20(31.
2.30prn
The Whitby Mission a Seafarers Centre
Haggersgate
Lawrie Quinn said, "I am delighted that our campaign is being launched by Frank Dobson - a long standing senior MP and a personal friend with his roots here in Yorkshire".
11 May 2001
The delegation was encouraged by the Minister's response. In particular, his invitation for the company, unions and local authorities to develop a plan of action with DTI, Government Office, the RDA and other local partners to consider options for retaining a sustainable level of activity at the TransBus Scarborough plant.
08 May 2001
The Minister will meet the delegation led by Lawrie Quinn which will include representatives of TransBus International, the Transport and General Workers Union, Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council at the Department of Trade and Industry in Victoria Street, London.
The meeting will seek to focus on the consequences for the Scarborough community and economy as result of the TransBus International announcement to close the Plaxton Eastfield bus and coach plant. As well as the 700 directly employed workforce facing redundancy the threatened closure will result in 1 in every 20 local workers losing their livelihoods with local component suppliers, shops and services.
Lawrie Quinn said:
"The plain truth is Scarborough faces a major economic collapse as a result of the TransBus announcement. The minister will hear from those attending tomorrow's meeting about the bleak prospects for our community and the initial work of our Eastfield rapid action taskforce set up last Friday. I welcome the support the DTI has offered so far. I'm glad the company have indicated they'll meet some of their obligations by participating in these vital discussions."Jim Marflitt, union convener Plaxton said:
"I hope to see vehicles produced at Eastfield into the next century. We have the skills. The country needs our quality vehicles and I'm sure the minister will recognise the pleas from the people of Scarborough."
07 May 2001
A positive meeting has now taken place between the Leaders of Scarborough Borough Council and Lawrie Quinn MP. The following action has been agreed:
A rapid response meeting is to be held on Tuesday afternoon of next week at the Town Hall to deal with the immediate issues arising out of the announcement insofar as it relates to the workforce and the wider community.
Friday, 4th May 2001 - 3.30pm
Lawrie Quinn said, "From 9 April 2001 the rates for the Minimum Income Guarantee have significantly increased to £92.15 per week for a single person and to £140.55 per week for a couple. In addition the lower savings limit has been increased to £6,000 and the upper savings limit to £12,000. (£16,000 if you live in a residential care or nursing home)
The Minimum Income Guarantee is worked out by checking the money you have coming in, including your savings, against the new Minimum Income Guarantee rates and the amount you will get is the difference.
Lawrie Quinn said, "It is easy to apply using the claim line free phone, a trained operator will be able to take your claim details, complete the form for you and then post it for you to check and sign."
02 May 2001
Lawrie Quinn MP said,
"I'm delighted to be involved in this excellent initiative to recognise the contribution that older people make to our community. Many older people have been volunteers for years, helping in hospitals or with children and young people or being good neighbours and they often keep active well into old age."In this year above all, the International Year of Volunteers, I'm pleased to be asking local organisations to nominate the older volunteers that they value and appreciate.
"I would ask anyone who wants to put forward a name to write to me: at 53 Westborough, Scarborough Y011 1TU."
02 May 2001
Lawrie Quinn said, " I know from my work throughout Scarborough and Whitby that the many elderly people felt they were worse off if they lived in residential accommodation, were under 75 years of age and had benefited from the earlier scheme for communities sharing common facilities. I welcome Chris Smith's statement and the common-sense approach it brings to a frustrating and unfair situation for a significant group of older residents in Scarborough & Whitby and across the country".
Mr. Quinn asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith, about the government's plans for amending the regulations governing the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary television licence scheme to allow residents to retain their entitlement to the concession following changes introduced by their housing managers.
In response, Mr. Smith acknowledged the government's shared concern about residents in sheltered accommodation losing their entitlement to a £5 licence fee concession. He confirmed his Department was currently working on proposals to preserve the rights of older people living in a sheltered or residential homes. Mr. Smith further revealed that the government is currently involved in consultations with the BBC regarding necessary amendments to the regulations governing the concessionary television licence scheme.
11 Apr 2001
".....to establish improved governance management and community well-being to ensure that the UK has the best managed coast in Europe, and to identify appropriate and sustainable funding strategies to support this aim."The launch in Dining Room 'A' of the House of Commons from 4 p.m. on Tuesday 20th March, 2001.
Lawrie has invited every English MP who has a coastal interest to join him on Tuesday. Refreshments will be provided and members of the LGA's Special Interest Group will be on hand to discuss the issues. On the 24th March the LGA present the strategy at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Mr Quinn is backing this initiative after approaches from Scarborough Borough Council, SBC who take taken a leading role in developing the strategy through Councillor Allanson and John Riby , SBC Principal Engineer
Lawrie Quinn said,
" I am happy to have been asked to 'champion' this strategy. I know from my work throughout Scarborough and Whitby coupled with my background as a chartered civil engineer how important this work is to the economic future of our community. "I believe the partnership between government and local government is very important one. That's why I'm delighted to support this LGA initiative and hope my coastal MP colleagues agree with me this document is welcome as a crucial part of the debate about our future as an island community".
Lawrie Quinn MP has welcomed Labour's Budget boost for public services, saying that in its decisions, "Labour put schools and hospitals first".
Speaking from the House of Commons after hearing Gordon Brown deliver the Budget, Lawrie Quinn said:
"Local schools will see bigger direct payments coming this year. Head-teachers of every primary school will receive not £10,000 as planned but £13,000 with the larger primary schools receiving not £50,000 but £63,000. And the head-teacher of each secondary school will receive for the smaller schools not £57,000 but £68,000 and the larger schools a payment of not £92,000 but £115,000."And there's a direct cash boost for local acute hospital trusts as well as a fund to recruit key health service staff.
"Every parent worries about their children and wants them growing up safe from the scourge of drugs. That's why we are investing an extra £300 million over 3 years to fight crime and drugs, with money going direct to local crime and safety partnerships.
"But investing in Britain's future requires a balanced approach - with stability the foundation, more investment not less and targeted tax cuts we can afford.
"Labour's package for hard working families includes extending the lowest, 10p rate of tax to give an affordable income tax cut to many of the 11,031 families throughout Scarborough & Whitby and a £5 a week increase in the Working Families Tax Credit for local families. This will reinforce our plans to make work pay and help reduce unemployment which has already fallen by 14% since 1997.
"And there's the £10 a week Children's Tax Credit - Labour's family tax cut. For families in the year of a child's birth it will rise, as a baby credit, to £20 a week - up to £1,040 a year from April 2002.
"On average families with children will be £240 a year better off as a result of all the measures taking effect this year. Today's Budget shows that Labour has made its choice - stability first to allow us to help hard working families and put schools and hospitals first.
"It is a choice our opponents can't match. The Tories are committed to making £16 billion of cuts in vital public services or £24 million here in Scarborough & Whitby, hitting local schools and hospitals. People remember the last Tory economic disaster when unemployment hit 3 million and interest rates rose to 15% for a full year. Nobody wants a return to those days.
"Today's Budget shows Labour is investing for the long term to build a Britain of opportunity and prosperity for all."
07 March 2001
 |