| Lawrie Quinn | Press Releases 2001 |
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Press Releases from Lawrie Quinn 2002 |
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Lawrie Quinn, Member of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby, joined the Chancellor in his campaign to encourage people to claim their share of an extra £2.7 billion a year in Tax Credits.
Lawrie Quinn said,
"I want to ensure that local people and families have all the information they need about the new Tax Credits. The new Child Tax Credit is designed to bring together all income-related payments for families with children and it is estimated that 85% of all families with children may be entitled to receive the Child Tax Credit.
The new Tax Credits, which come into effect in April 2003 will also benefit some single people on a low income who are over 25 and working more than 30 hours per week .
If you already receive Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit or Children's Tax Credit, you should receive an application form automatically from the Inland Revenue. If you think you may be entitled to one of the new tax credits and would like more information call the Inland Revenue help line on 0800 500 222. If you have any further questions, please ring either of my offices on Scarborough 01723 507000 or Whitby 01947 821733."
04 Nov 2002
18 Oct 2002
The petition, which has been signed by residents of the Sandybed estate, calls for the Sunday bus service to be reinstated for local residents.
Lawrie Quinn said,
"I have been approached by local residents who have told me that they have no service at all on Sundays which leaves them unable to get to church or enjoy any of the other activities taking place in the town centre, or on the sea front. I understand that this has been a problem for local residents for many years and I am pleased that they will have this opportunity through the local bus forum to bring their request to the attention of the bus company managers."
17 Sep 2002
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Lawrie Quinn MP outside the House of Commons with Faye (right) and Stacey Hargrave
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After attending the launch of Arriva Trains Northern's 'Sea, Scarborough and Save' 2002 campaign earlier this month Mr Quinn asked the train operator if it was possible to have a copy of the new campaign poster for his office in the House of Commons - as well as his constituency.
And to make the presentation special Faye (14) and Stacey Hargrave (11) - the stars of the new campaign - went to London to hand over the poster. The sisters, who are both from York, regularly visit Scarborough with their family. To thank the girls, Mr Quinn took the pair for a guided tour of Westminster.
Mr Quinn explained:
"I am proud of Scarborough and I want other people from outside of the region to see how the town is growing and what is has to offer. Arriva's campaign last year was very successful in bringing thousands of people into the town and the new campaign again promotes the attractions that make Scarborough such a good place to visit, live and work.Arriva's campaign, which is backed by Scarborough Borough Council, gives rail travellers using Arriva Trains Northern's services big discounts at key visitor attractions. It also offers significant savings on places to eat and stay in the town."The poster is pride of place on my office wall in the House of Commons. Now when fellow MPs and business people visit I will be able to give them a better idea of what Scarborough is like and explain why the town deserved its gold award for the 'Most Improved Resort' in England."
The campaign, which ran for the first time last summer, was incredibly successful bringing nearly 10,000 extra visitors into the town in the space of only three months. To find out more about 'Sea Scarborough and Save' 2002 contact Arriva Trains Northern's customer relations on 0870 602 3322
2 August 2002
Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc.) Bill - Report and Third Reading July 19, 2002
On 19 July Lawrie Quinn, Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby will be in Parliament supporting the Private Members Bill promoted by his colleague Neil Gerrard MP. The proposed legislation, Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc.) Bill seeks to fill the loophole in the Disability Discrimination Act 2001 by placing a legal duty on private hire companies to accept bookings at no additional charge from Guide Dog owners and for the private hire driver to accept the booking passed onto him by the operator.
Guide dog owners rely more than many of us on reliable and accessible taxi services. In a RNIB survey carried out in 1999, one in seven in a sample of over 500 visually impaired people stated that regulated taxis and private hire vehicles were their most frequently used form of transport. One in five said that they used taxis or private hire vehicles once a week. This is bemuse many visually impaired people find this form of door-to-door transport the most convenient way of getting around because of their impairment.
In March 2001, Section 37 of the Disability Discrimination Act cane into force requiring the carriage of guide dogs in licensed taxis at no extra charge. However, private hire vehicles were not covered. The case for this Bill can summed up from the following quote from the Bill's Second Reading debate from a typical Guide Dog owner:
"Four times now I have been refused getting into private hire cars with my guide dog Brandy. It makes me so mad and angry being treated like a freak because of my use of a guide dog. My dog has given me a lot of independence and freedom to go out and about, without the help of my family and friends to rely on."The disruption to people's lives caused by refusal of carriage has been enormous and includes a mother missing her five year old daughter's first performance in a nativity play, lost clients far a small business man and a couple missing their own wedding anniversary celebration.
House of Commons Hansard, April 19, 2002 Column 875
The amended Bill will put a legal duty on private hire companies to accept the booking at no additional charge and the driver to accept the booking passed onto him by the operator.
Lawrie Quinn MP says:
"I welcome the Bill and believe it will make a great difference for blind and partially sighted people in Scarborough and Whitby and the rest of the country. I am grateful to the work that Viv Wright and the Scarborough Blind and Partially Sighted Society do on behalf of local people who are visually impaired especially to the consistent lobbying to Parliament to improve the daily lives of so many people. "
18 Jul 2002
Lawrie Quinn MP today welcomed Labour's massive new boost for education -our number one priority for the people of Scarborough & Whitby.
Lawrie Quinn MP said:
"At the last election Labour promised to put schools and hospitals first. In the Budget, we delivered the largest ever increase in NHS spending. Now, the Government has delivered more for education -our number one priority -with the biggest ever sustained rise in schools budgets."Today's announcement by the Chancellor Gordon Brown means spending per pupil will rise from £2, 700 a year in 1997 and £3,500 last year to £4,900 per pupil by 2005- 06- a rise, after inflation, of 50% more per pupil than 1997: more investment to help the 14, 115 pupils in Scarborough & Whitby fulfil their potential.
"This long-term investment is only possible because we have delivered economic stability. We have the lowest inflation and interest rates for forty years, and a fall in unemployment in Scarborough & Whitby by 40% since 1997.
"In addition to investing in education, the Labour Government has announced extra investment to improve productivity and strengthen our key public services:
- £1.6 billion by 2005-06 for tackling crime: Building safer, more secure communities with more police on the street.
- More than £1 billion a year by 2005-06 for investment in housing and reforming the planning system
- £4 billion for the Department of Transport to invest in our infrastructure to improve rail travel and tackle road congestion.
- Increases in defence and international development to tackle the ever growing insecurities of today's world, and fulfil our obligations to the world's poorest countries.
"And to ensure our investment secures value for money, we are tying resources to reform and results -with more money invested, more results are required.
"The Conservative Party oppose this investment and refuse to match it. The Tories cannot say public services are their priority while committing themselves to cutting Labour's investment in schools, hospitals, transport, and the fight against crime.
"The investment the Labour Government has announced today enables us to build efficient and strong public services for Scarborough & Whitby delivering greater opportunity and security not just for some but for all."
15 Jul 2002
The Roads Minister, David Jamieson will meet with the MPs and representatives from North Yorkshire to discuss the future of the A64 on Tuesday 2 July at the House of Commons.
Lawrie Quinn said
"I am pleased to be joining to be joining my Ryedale Westminster colleague once again on an important meeting with the current roads minister David Jamieson. I will particularly be seeking an update on the position outlined by the Minister in his letter dated l6 April 2002""I am glad that colleagues from local government will also join us on 2 July to support the clear aspiration of the community and businesses at the Yorkshire coast for the much needed improvement to the A64 corridor."
20 Jun 2002
In her speech Claire Ward MP proposed that VAT be reduced or removed on items such as fire guards, smoke alarms, stair gates and hip protectors as an incentive to increasing the use of this equipment in the home. Each year 4000 people die from accidents in the home and a further 3 million require medical treatment. Statistics indicate that those most at risk are lower income households. The injury death rate for children from unskilled families is five times that of children from professional families. The bill would also require all new domestic properties to be fitted with a sprinkler system. Research suggests that this is the most effective means of saving life in the event of a fire. No lives have been lost in the UK where a fire has occurred in a building with a sprinkler system.
Lawrie Quinn MP said, "I am delighted to sponsor this bill that will help to reduce the number of accidents and deaths in the home each year by cutting the cost of smoke alarms and stair gates. I hope too that the requirement to install domestic fire sprinklers will dramatically cut the number of deaths in household fires. As this is Child Safety Week, I believe it is even more important that we focus on reducing the 45,000 Accident and Emergency admissions that take place each year of young children who fall down stairs."
18 June 2002
Lawrie Quinn MP said:
"Today's announcement of the biggest ever long-term increase in health service spending is good news for the people of Scarborough & Whitby.
"The people of Scarborough & Whitby know that the NHS one of Britain's greatest achievements. But after decades of under-investment. our health service needs massive extra investment to make it the best insurance policy in the world - an NHS free when you need it.
"Gordon Brown's announcement gives the NHS that long-term future. It means spending on the NHS will rise from the equivalent of £2,370 per household this year to £4,060 per household in 2007/08 --a 45% real terms increase. And this investment will go hand in hand with vital reforms to make sure the extra money secures results. Labour believes a taxpayer funded NHS is the best way to make sure costs are spread widely and fairly. The one percent extra in National insurance will mean £3.70 a week for someone on average earnings for the NHS; pensioners will pay nothing more. The Tories oppose our plans because they want to 'break' and charge people to see their GP or stay in hospital and force people to take out private health insurance.
"The Budget delivers a balanced for families, businesses. and jobs.
"The Child Tax Credit next year will give more support for all middle and lower income families who are bringing up children. And this year. the £2.50 a week increase in the Working Families Tax Credit will mean more help to 2,748 families in Scarborough & Whitby.
"Unemployment in Britain is at its lowest since 1975 and has fallen by 25% since 1997 in Scarborough & Whitby alone. Extending the New Deal will help more people in Scarborough & Whitby into jobs and the Working Tax Credit from next year will make work pay for more people on lower incomes.
"Finally the Budget delivers extra help for the 2,645 businesses in Scarborough & Whitby with cuts in the starting rate for corporation tax and small business rate and other measures to encourage enterprise and new businesses.
"We need long-term decisions to rebuild our health service. families and businesses. I welcome today's Budget for having the strength to make those decisions and do what needs to be done for Scarborough & Whitby and Britain."
17 Apr 2002
"She has made a tremendous contribution to the history of the nation and to so many good causes and charities in Yorkshire. It seems like we are getting called back to parliament on Wednesday, I'll be there responding to that call and will be representing the people of Scarborough & Whitby as a sign of the respect the local community and the whole nation has for her.""The fact that she was the Duchess of York will mean that she is in the hearts of many people in Scarborough & Whitby and she will be remembered with particular fondness. Her death will be of great sadness to a great many people."
4 Apr 2002
The £1.5 million campaign, which was launched last September to encourage short breaks to Yorkshire, has been an overwhelming success.
Response rates to the six month campaign have been analysed and it is estimated that the region can expect an extra 57,000 visitors. After converting this figure into extra spend per person it is expected to generate an extra £12 million into the hotel and catering sector and £6 million into other industries, creating or safeguarding up to 800 direct and indirect jobs.
Lawrie Quinn said, "This will be a great boost to the region's tourism economy. Whitby, the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and Scarborough were some of the most popular destinations of this campaign and I think we can expect a further increase in visitors when the Whitby Abbey Headland Centre is opened this weekend by the Archbishop of York."
The campaign featured the region's stars, including Darren Gough, Mel B, Alan Titchmarsh, Brian Turner and Brian Blessed in television advertisements and was aimed at the Midlands and Southeast.
Lawrie Quinn said, "After last year's miserable Easter due to the foot and mouth outbreak the input from Yorkshire Forward is much appreciated by the local tourism industry and I shall be looking forward to being in Whitby this Saturday to see the Whitby Abbey Headland Centre opened."
28 Mar 2002
After working closely with the local authority and department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs Lawrie Quinn said,
"I am delighted that we are going to receive this help, Scarborough has a history of serious coastal erosion and land sliding. This government grant, which represents 75% of a £28 million scheme, is a great boost for the town and the 100 businesses and homes that will benefit directly from the works."
The scheme will take two years to complete and will provide new defences at East Pier, Castle headland and the Holms.
Elliot Morley, Floods Minister said,
"The scheme has been sympathetically designed to take account of listed buildings and the need to avoid any adverse environmental impact on the North Bay to South Toll House Cliff Site of Special Scientific interest.New armouring to the seawall and wave wall will be built to strengthen and protect parts of the town's infrastructure, including road links, the castle and the Roman Signal Station.
Scarborough borough council is the responsible operating authority undertaking this coast protection scheme, designed by High-Point Rendel.
07 Mar 2002
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