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In the newspapers..... Since 1997, Dan Norris has been writing regular 'Letter from Westminster' and 'Viewpoint'-style columns in a number of local news publications (see local press for the latest.) They're just one of the ways Dan keeps his constituents up to date with topical issues, as well as seeking local views. Some of the columns have also covered 'off-beat' Westminster happenings. On this page you'll find a small sample of the many hundreds of columns penned by Dan since 1997. All content on the pages of this website is copyright Dan Norris MP 1999 - 2008
Transforming young people's prospects Partnership with businesses could mean more public toilets for North East Somerset Government funding gives green light to long-awaited Midsomer Norton skate park Some of the UK's largest falls in unemployment are in Somerset The safety of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists on the A37 Flexible working to be extended to all parents of youngsters up to 16 Talent and potential should determine who enters higher education, not wealth It's not racist to talk about migration Post office review shows differences between political parties' approaches Reduced bus fares for Keynsham and Saltford residents Important schemes enrich young people's education and life experiences Hunters keep on losing the arguments Extended opening hours for GP surgeries Capping stops B&NES taking more for Bath Spa disaster Let's recognise younger people's positive contributions & strengthen youth services B&NES Council listening to other councillors instead of residents Funding boost for affordable housing Bullying booklet demand continues to soar Cadbury's announcement: fighting closure and shaping Keynsham's future B&NES gambles our hard-earned money in Bath Spa wrangle Opening up new paths to higher education Switching energy suppliers online - thanks to local school Protecting children: Sarah's Law A new second tier of Parliament - in the west The hunting ban - two years on B&NES tries to save money with Single Status Bullying: half a million reasons International Development White Paper Education and Inspections Bill Terrorism won't stop the British B&NES - Most Incompetent Council in Britain Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme More than nine out of ten people who responded to my recent MP survey aimed at improving safety on the busy A37 think there is a problem with speeding traffic on the road. Just four per cent thought no such problem existed. Gazette readers may recall the purpose of this major survey was to find ways of making the A37 safer for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists alike. There was a very high volume of survey responses, underlining the strength of local opinion and further highlighting how vital it is that the A37 is made as safe as it reasonably can be. I am grateful to all those who got involved. Sixty per cent of those who took part believe current speed limits on the road are ineffective. When given a short list of possible measures that might help remedy the problem, nearly half wanted fixed speed cameras put in place, whilst a third think more flashing speed signs would act as a reminder to motorists of speeding dangers. I have sent the survey findings to the Chief Executive of B&NES Council, which has responsibility for making this road safer and I will carry on pursuing the Council to take appropriate action. I’ve also sent the findings to Avon and Somerset’s Chief Constable. Respondents were invited to use a map on the survey form to pinpoint specific locations where problems and dangers are greatest. Geographic areas where most dangers were indentified included Hursley Hill, Clutton and Temple Cloud, the stretch between Clutton and Chelwood roundabout, and Whitchurch village close to the primary school. However, the greatest concentration of concerns were focused in and around my home area of Pensford. As I expected, local people came up with many well-thought out suggested solutions. Whilst the introduction of lower speed limits and more enforcement were the most frequently mentioned remedies, there were a number of imaginative ideas, many of them detailed. Coming from people who live close to the road, and who frequently use it, I think they should carry an appropriate weight when they’re being considered. In the meantime, if you have any further views or ideas, please Written for the Chew Valley Gazette September 2008
Transforming young people's prospects This year’s A-level and GCSE results are once again the best ever recorded. Yet some people always try to suggest that standards are falling. They clearly can’t have spent much time in our terrific North East Somerset state schools. Britain’s education has been transformed since 1997. The government has doubled the amount spent on each pupil in real terms. Class sizes are smaller, and extra staff have been recruited. Classrooms are properly resourced and pupils use the latest computer equipment. New buildings allow students to learn in modern, welcoming environments. Writhlington School, currently being rebuilt, is just the latest example. Today’s schools offer a much wider range of courses so young people can specialise in areas that engage and motivate them. Courses are often tailored to an individual’s needs, providing a vital stepping-stone to a future career. So it's hardly surprising that results have improved. It’s good too, that as a result, young people’s prospects have never been better. We have every reason to be proud of our local state schools, which are now amongst the very best anywhere in the UK. We should celebrate the achievement of every student receiving results this summer. They deserve the congratulations of us all. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
August 2008
Partnership with businesses could mean more public toilets for North East Somerset My regular coffee mornings across North East Somerset provoke a useful exchange of views, keeping me in close touch with local opinion. Whether it’s concerns about fuel prices, the excessively high salaries paid to B&NES’ bosses, the need for GPs to extend their surgery opening hours, or more local ‘pavement’ concerns, it’s good to know people are always willing to give their views. At a coffee morning in Paulton this month the state of our area’s public toilets was raised. It’s interesting to learn from B&NES’ website there are just eight public loos in the whole of North East Somerset. Reflecting the council’s usual ‘Bath First’ approach, Bath has 22. In some parts of the country, councils negotiate to pay shops and businesses to open their loos to the public. Prominent signs encourage people to use these facilities. The shops involved join the scheme voluntarily but stand to benefit from extra passing trade. Councils can find that it cheaper than paying to open and properly maintain their own conveniences. Could an innovative partnership scheme with business work here in North East Somerset? What do you think? Please get in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
July 2008
Government funding gives green light to long-awaited Midsomer Norton skate park A new government award of £2.5 million to improve facilities for young people across our district is wonderful news. It will see the long-awaited skate park for Midsomer Norton and Radstock youngsters become a reality. Local demand for facilities like this has been crystal clear for years. But B&NES Council’s Bath first approach, and its Bath Spa multi-million pound waste and incompetence, has seen too many resources drained away from North East Somerset to go to Bath. Young people and their parents are really welcoming the turnaround this important new government investment brings. B&NES may prefer to focus on Bath, but this government money is allowing North East Somerset needs to be met. With the money now lined up to build a skate park and adventure play park in Midsomer Norton, this exciting project can get moving and I attended a meeting last week to hear how plans are progressing to ensure both these terrific facilities are open by spring 2010. There’s money
for other vital play projects for North East Somerset too. Do you have
ideas for where such resources are needed? Please get
in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
July 2008
As Gazette readers may recall from this Letter from Westminster column last March, the government was determined to make it easier for people to get weekend or evening doctor appointments. Since writing that column, doctors’ organisation, the British Medical Association has conceded the need to open surgeries for longer hours. That’s good news. Yet it seems some GPs, whose average pay has risen over 50% since 2002 to £100,000+ a year, resented this. And since the BMA climbdown they’ve turned attention to government plans to introduce an extra 152 GP-led health centres across the country. There would be one of these new centres – dubbed ‘polyclinics’ - in each Primary Care Trust area, opening from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. They’d be new services, in addition to existing GP practices. Politicians get used to interest groups who don’t fully think through the impact of their actions before resorting to ‘scaremonger’ tactics. But the suggestion by some GPs that the government is planning to replace existing surgeries have caused genuine concern, particularly for the most vulnerable. The suggestions are complete nonsense. In recent months I’ve held meetings with North East Somerset GPs, individually and in groups. to discuss their concerns over extra surgery hours and polyclinics. They’ve agreed with me there is a need for us to continue this dialogue to ensure that, together, the government and family doctors continue to provide first-rate services for local people. We won’t always agree on how to achieve this, but all those involved in the NHS (and this includes politicians) do need to listen carefully to each other and, most importantly, to the patients who most rely on a service that is still – and that must remain - free at the point of delivery. This month, on 5 July, our NHS celebrates 60 years since its introduction by a Labour government. Many readers will agree that it’s amongst the country’s very greatest assets. The government is determined to ensure it stays that way. This is why we continue to invest such huge sums of money into this precious service and demand that it is used efficiently. People’s expectations of the NHS have changed dramatically since I became North East Somerset’s MP eleven years ago, let alone over the past six decades. Healthcare needs are changing as quickly as people’s lifestyles. So there is a need to combine the extra money with changes which fine tune the NHS to even better meet people’s health needs in the years ahead. It’s an investment in all our futures, in all our interests … and long may it continue. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette July 2008
Some of the UK's largest falls in unemployment are in Somerset Somerset has seen some of the UK’s largest falls in unemployment according to independent figures just published by the House of Commons Library. Since 1997, unemployment in Wansdyke has fallen by nearly three quarters – the sixth highest drop of all 646 UK Parliamentary constituencies. Meanwhile nearby Somerton & Frome and Wells have also seen unemployment tumble by more than two-thirds in the same period. Both these places rank in a league table of England’s top 25 jobless cuts. And other Somerset residents – in Yeovil, Taunton and Bridgwater – have gained hugely too. The new report tells us that in these six Somerset constituencies combined there are 7,800 fewer people unemployed than there were in 1997. Some people are understandably sceptical about statistics. But behind every one of these official figures is a life changed by the creation of job opportunities that were tragically lacking in Somerset in the 80s and much of the 90s. The planned Cadbury
closure in Keynsham in 2010 is a blunt reminder we cannot be at all complacent.
Challenges lie ahead locally, as they do across the UK and globally. That
means the government must keep making the right, albeit tough, economic
choices to ensure continuing stability. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
May 2008
The safety of pedestrians, motorists and cyclists on the A37 Judging by my postbag and email inbox, concerns about the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists using and living close to the busy A37 have increased over recent months. Traffic worries also dominated the discussions at one of my regular coffee mornings in Pensford a few weeks ago.
I recently received a petition signed by scores of Pensford residents who feel new and effective safety measures should be put in place on the A37 in the village. They’re alarmed that a very serious accident could be about to happen. They believe B&NES Council, which has responsibility for the road, should be doing all it can to make things safer for everyone who uses the road, and for those who live, walk, work or go to school close to it. They are of course absolutely right, and I am urging B&NES to act swiftly.
But A37 safety fears are not confined to Pensford. Far from it. The dangers on certain stretches of this road, in and around Temple Cloud, Clutton, and Whitchurch Village, for example, have been highlighted recently, in letters, emails and texts from those I represent.
That’s why as well as looking into the specific concerns that have been raised with me I am carrying out a major A37 safety survey. The aim is to gather views from as many residents as possible to pinpoint locations where the problems and dangers are greatest, and to identify possible safety improvements.
I will be collating the findings of this survey and conveying them to all the relevant authorities in a bid to ensure greater safety. Chew Valley residents know how vital it is that this road is made as safe as it reasonably can be, and I urge Gazette readers to take the opportunity to get involved. If you’d like me to post you a copy then please get in touch. Experience tells me that, with traffic issues, the very best ideas for community safety often come from the people who live in those communities. Your traffic safety opinions and suggestions really are very important and could, quite literally, be the difference between life and death. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette June 2008
Flexible working to be extended to all parents of youngsters up to 16 The quality of family life for thousands of North East Somerset families will get a boost next year following a plan announced last week. The government has accepted the findings of an independent review into flexible working rights. It now wants to extend the right to request flexible working to all parents of youngsters up to 16. Current rules mean the opportunity only exists for parents who have disabled children or children aged under six. The change will strengthen other measures to help families. Surestart, free childcare for three- and four-year olds, and the childcare element of Working Tax Credit - paying up to £140 a week for one child and £240 a week for more – are really helping. The new flexible working rules should be in place by spring next year, giving a real lift to busy North East Somerset parents. Firms benefit too, since motivation and productivity rise when mums and dads are given the chance to better balance work and family life. This is something working parents really appreciate and value. What do you think? As ever, please get in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
May 2008
Petitions are an effective way to tell MPs what matters to you, and how many others feel the same way. Indeed, just recently I received an A37 road safety petition from residents near my home in Pensford. Back in January I used this column to explain that a new Parliamentary ‘e-petition’ system might be introduced. This would allow people to sign Westminster petitions from miles away using their computers in the comfort of their own homes. There are now firm proposals to establish this over the next few years. Petitions, are of course, but one way to express views. I’m delighted North East Somerset residents are never backwards in coming forwards with their concerns particularly when I’m doing my weekly supermarket shop in Midsomer Norton or Radstock, and as always, at my regular surgeries and coffee mornings. And I know people will continue emailing me dan@dannorris.org.uk or texting 07930 556697. But a Parliamentary e-petition system might be a significant new way for local groups of campaigners to try and get things changed and improved. As for that important Pensford petition - I’m urging B&NES Council, which has responsibility for the road, to act swiftly in addressing locals’ wholly legitimate safety concerns. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
May 2008
Talent and potential should determine who enters higher education, not wealth Many local teenagers are currently considering higher education possibilities. Schools and universities are giving them and their families a range of information to help guide those thinking of studying for a degree from autumn next year. Research shows nine out of ten parents and grandparents want their children to go to university. Since, over a lifetime, a degree is worth an average of over £100,000 more in salary than going into a job after A-Levels, it’s easy to see why. The government is determined to ensure those with the talent and determination to succeed in higher education can do so, and is introducing a new package of financial support for students later this year. Anyone whose family income is less than £25,000 per year will be able to claim a full grant to help cover university living costs. And the threshold for claiming a partial grant is going up – meaning all North East Somerset students with a family income up to £60,000 will qualify for some support. Two thirds of all students will now be eligible for grants. No-one should be deterred
from university because they fear financial difficulty. Talent and potential
should determine who enters higher education, not wealth. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
April 2008
It's not racist to talk about migration A concern that crops up occasionally at my twice-weekly surgeries, and when I'm out and about in local communities, is migration. It's a topic which many are initially reluctant to talk about, fearing they may be branded 'racist'. But it's essential we do discuss it. What almost always lies at the heart of local people's concerns about migration is not racism, but the true British value of fairness. My major local consultation on migration last year found a strong view that skill levels of potential migrants to the UK should be properly taken into account when deciding whether or not people are able to come and work here. So I believe most Guardian readers will join me in welcoming the new points-based system to assess migration. Introduced by the government this month it is aimed at ensuring the UK attracts only people with the skills we need. Further migration measures which came into effect in April also include the introduction of the new UK Border Agency to strengthen our border controls. It's important that UK migration policy is robust but fair. Please get in touch with your views. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
April 2008
Post office review shows differences between political parties' approaches It is said that all political parties are the same. Actually there are differences on many major issues, for example, post office closures. The Conservatives in power never subsidised post offices, closing 3,500 branches. They still don’t believe in any subsidy now. That would mean closing all non-profitable outlets - about two-thirds of all UK branches – many more closures than currently proposed. Lib Dems say they’d
spend whatever it takes to keep all post offices open, regardless of the
burden to the taxpayer. This type of ‘blank cheque’ economics
is known to B&NES council tax payers through the Bath Spa disaster.
Applying it to post offices would mean income tax increases and cuts to
vital services like the NHS and education. Under current plans 99% of people will continue to be within three miles (and 90% within just a mile) of a branch. But there’s no doubt that any closure comes as a great blow to the community it serves. What do you think?
Please get in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
April 2008
Reduced bus fares for Keynsham and Saltford residents Bus travel for people
who live in Keynsham and Saltford becomes cheaper with the introduction
of a reduced-fare promotion, negotiated by Dan Norris MP.
Important schemes enrich young people's education and life experiences Details of funding for two important schemes, both aimed at enriching the education and life experiences of younger people, emerged in the last few weeks.
A new £10 million global volunteering scheme aimed at young adults between 18 and 25 got the green light last month. Focusing on young adults from less advantaged backgrounds, ‘Platform 2’ will fund a 10-week programme abroad for some 2,500 volunteers who will live and work in developing countries over the three year initial period of the scheme.
A strong partnership between Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) will run Platform 2 in Ghana, South Africa, India, Malawi and Peru.
Participants will work in groups of 12 on local community development projects such as HIV/AIDS awareness or environmental conservation. There’s a requirement that, on their return to the UK, participants share what they’ve learned with their peers, taking part in presentations and activities to help strengthen their understanding of development issues and to encourage them to join the fight against global poverty. It all kicks off this summer.
Meanwhile government funding means two students from each North East Somerset sixth form and college will be able to visit the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, learning about the horrors of the Holocaust. The continuation of this already-successful programme will help more local young people come towards an understanding of an event that saw the deaths of millions of Jewish people, and many trade unionists, homosexuals, and people with disabilities - anyone, in fact, that the Nazis hated. Like Platform 2, participants will have to spend time explaining what they learned to their peers when they return. The Schools Secretary’s announcement of £4.6 million of government money to continue the programme triggered a badly-judged reaction from the Conservative Party’s leader who dismissed these visits as a ‘gimmick’. I’m rarely, if ever, shocked - but I was about this. Both schemes will
create exciting opportunities for many local young people who wouldn’t
otherwise have had the chance. Want to find out more? Please
get in touch. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette April 2008
Hunters keep on losing the arguments The third anniversary of the ban on hunting passed last week with predictable calls from pro-hunt supporters for the law to be repealed. Ever since I can remember, hunters have said anything and everything to try to justify their peculiar desire to enjoy inflicting pain. What they won’t tell the world is that they keep on losing the arguments, whether at the Cambridge University debating society earlier this month, or in the latest opinion polls. A new independent national poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI to coincide with the hunt ban anniversary showed support across the country for the ban remains as high as ever, with around three quarters of people supporting it. Special International Fund for Animal Welfare monitors, who watch hunts to ensure they are following the new law, face hostility from hunters as I found when I joined a session last autumn. That’s because hunt legislation is working. Hunters who want to indulge in cruelty feel very vulnerable to scrutiny because the law works against them. As ever I welcome constituents’ views about hunting with hounds, and effective means of enforcing the ban. Please email dan@dannorris.org.uk or write to Dan Norris MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
March 2008
Extended opening hours for GP surgeries North East Somerset residents are overwhelmingly positive about their own NHS experiences. But a key concern is the difficulty of getting an evening or weekend GP appointment that fits their lifestyle. Major national research backs up this feeling, so it’s right for the government to ensure GP opening times better meet patients’ needs. The very poorest in our communities have the least power to take time off work. They should be the ones who can most rely on accessing GP services. Under new proposals practices would open for an average extra three hours per week, either on Saturday mornings or on one or more weekday evenings. These would be additional hours, not a substitute for existing daytime services. Average GP pay has risen by well over 50 per cent since 2002/03. But some GPs oppose these plans. The government wants to work with them, and in return for the changes is offering a guaranteed 1.5% increase in primary care investment. Put simply, if practices offer extra appointments at more convenient opening times, they will receive more income from the NHS. What do you think? Please write to me Dan Norris MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or by email Written for the
Somerset Guardian
February 2008
It was good to meet so many residents of Radstock, Peasedown and Midsomer Norton at the latest of my regular coffee mornings at Radstock Museum. Feedback shows that people really appreciate the opportunity to have an informal chat during these sessions over a cup of tea or coffee. At this ‘Warmer Homes’ event at the Museum I was delighted to learn the total value of government ‘Warm Front’ grants to pay for home insulation and heating grants in Wansdyke homes has now passed the £1 million mark. The government-funded Warm Front scheme makes homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. Grants are available to provide a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended). Well over 1,000 local homes have so far received ‘Warm Front’ grants. It’s good to know that so many North East Somerset householders have already benefited from this government scheme, but there are many more people out there who could gain in this way. Any Guardian reader who owns their own home or rents it from a private landlord can find out if they might be eligible for a grant by calling 0800 316 2805 or visiting www.warmfront.co.uk Written for the
Somerset Guardian
February 2008
In 2008 strokes will be the UK’s third biggest killer, meaning a tragically unhappy New Year for some 50,000 people and their family and friends. And for those who survive, a third will still suffer a long-term disability. Great strides have been made in recent years with stroke, heart disease and cancer. But despite the development of specialist stroke units and falling mortality rates, much needs to be done to bring stroke services in line with those for cancer and heart disease. Just before Christmas Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced details of a new stroke strategy which could avoid several thousand deaths each year. Under the plans anyone in North East Somerset who is in a higher-risk group who suffers a minor stroke will receive an MRI scan within 24 hours. The strategy also aims to accelerate the emergency response to stroke and set out a framework of care for those already affected. And it will invest £105 million for extra training posts and, importantly, for raising awareness. People affected by strokes tell me the new strategy is hugely important. What do you think? Please write to me, Dan Norris MP, at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
January 2008
Last autumn, when I conducted a survey across North East Somerset to find local views about key housing issues, well over a thousand residents took time to respond.
That figure is an indication the strength of feeling in our area about housing. Over the past couple of years it’s become one of the most frequently raised issues in my postbag and at my twice-weekly surgeries.
When I analysed the survey responses it was clear local residents strongly feel the government is right to make building homes for families one of its top priorities in the coming years. We must balance the need for new housing with need to protect our beautiful and irreplaceable countryside. But nearly two thirds of people who took part recognised the serious difficulty in trying to buy a first home, agreeing that the government should try to tackle it.
So I’ve no doubt the successful Second Reading of the government's Housing and Regeneration Bill, which came before the Commons late last year, will be welcomed locally.
This government Bill aims to help our country build good-quality affordable homes that are desperately required by local families who are on council waiting lists, by would-be first-time buyers and others who need the supply of new housing to increase.
The legislation also contains proposals to allow councils to keep the full rents from new council houses to help pay for new social homes, and to deliver a better deal for Housing Association tenants. It will help tenants who are not getting their repairs done and will lead to landlords who are not giving a good service being penalised.
The Bill attracted widespread support. But when it went to the vote Conservative MPs from the west country opposed it. Some Gazette readers may be surprised to learn this, given the way it aims to address such a vital concern for so many people in our area. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette January 2008
Capping stops B&NES taking more for Bath Spa disaster The process known as ‘capping’ – the government stopping high-spending councils raising bills above a certain level – means increases in council tax of more than five per cent here in North East Somerset have been prevented. Capping has stopped councillors trying to recoup still more of the wasted Bath Spa millions from hard-working householders’ pockets.
So last month’s announcement by Conservative Party chiefs that they want to abolish capping will send a collective shiver through our area. Under their proposals B&NES would be able to seek council tax increases even greater than we have been landed with up to now!
As well as proposing to abolish capping, the Tories also suggested that councils should ask residents to approve increases above a certain level.
Conservative councillors have held posts in B&NES Council’s controlling Cabinet for nearly five years. Do you remember them asking whether you wanted your hard-earned money spent on the Spa? When did they ask you to authorise their cuts to rubbish collections, meals-on-wheels, social services, housing budgets, youth services and so on?
Of course, powers for local councils to hold a referendum on the level of council tax increase already do exist. Gazette readers may recall they were used in Bristol, for example, back in 2001 as part of decision-making about council tax levels in that city. But Tory-run B&NES has chosen not to do the same. Ever wonder why?
Regardless of the fine detail of capping, consultation and referenda, one simple fact remains. Without the Bath Spa fiasco, council tax for B&NES residents needn’t have gone up at all this year. Not a single penny. As 2008 approaches, let’s hope B&NES makes a resolution to start listening – and acting. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette December 2007
Let's recognise younger people's positive contributions & strengthen youth services Sometimes older people feel threatened when they see teenagers gathered in a group. That sense of unease is probably fuelled whenever the media spotlights negative teenage behaviour above young people’s many, many good deeds. Whatever our age there is no excuse for abusive or offensive behaviour. But concerned people usually agree that youngsters hang about in groups because they often lack confidence in themselves. If we cast our minds back, most of us felt much the same way in our teens. When I recently organised the ‘Battle of the Bands’ music contests in Peasedown, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, all three events ran smoothly without any hint of trouble – just a lot of young people having fun and enjoying music in a happy atmosphere. If young people need more positive things to do then there is little doubt that North East Somerset youth services need significant strengthening. It’s a little too early for New Year resolutions, but perhaps we do all need to try harder to recognise the many positive contributions made by younger members of our community. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
November 2007
B&NES Council listening to other councillors instead of residents I regularly talk with people in their communities to hear their concerns. Roads and pavements which badly need repair, housing difficulties, and a lack of facilities for younger people crop up regularly. Yet since becoming North East Somerset’s MP ten years ago, nobody has ever told me that the quality of their life would be improved if only the local authority would spend money re-designing the logo it uses on letterheads, vehicles and noticeboards. But that’s exactly what Conservative-run B&NES has just done. Despite having wasted over £30 million of our money on the Bath Spa disaster, councillors chose to splash out more council tax to pay for designer fees and staff liaison time to draw a new B&NES logo. Instead of listening to residents’ views about priorities, out-of-touch B&NES accepted the suggestion of other councillors from a neighbouring authority in a so-called peer review. Guardian readers can name plenty of things that truly would improve the quality of their community, if they were handed big money and some council staff time. And if only B&NES would ask them. What do you think? Please contact me, Dan Norris MP, at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or email dan@dannorris.org.uk Written for the
Somerset Guardian
November 2007
Funding boost for affordable housing Most local homeowners remember the difficulties of getting a foot on the housing ladder. Even those who first bought a home many years ago recognise these challenges remain today. In some ways they've become even more acute. Nearly two thirds of North East Somerset residents who completed my recent housing survey, feel it's very important for the government to tackle issues faced by first time buyers due to the lack of affordable housing. So Housing Minister Yvette Cooper's recent announcement of a £10.2 billion investment in housing over the next three years is to be welcomed. Targeting the need for more affordable housing in every region means that by 2011, not only will there be significant improvements to current social housing, but 110,000 new homes will have been built nationwide. Our £789 million share of the additional spending means our region's funding will rise by 50 per cent - a bigger increase than anywhere else in the UK. You can read the findings
of my housing survey at www.dannorris.org.uk/housing. But if you didn't
take part, and want to let me have your views, please get in touch. Let
me know what you think by emailing me at dan@dannorris.org.uk Written for the
Somerset Guardian
November 2007
Bullying booklet demand continues to soar It’s school half-term week, and some of our excellent schools’ will be preparing to mark Anti-Bullying Week next month. This annual UK event raises the profile of bullying, helping to tackle something which is the scourge of far too many young people’s lives. Demand for my free booklet ‘Don’t Bully Me!’ is likely to rocket again, just as it did during last year’s event. The booklet offers children and their parents practical advice and support on how to beat the awful misery of bullying. I co-wrote the booklet with children's charity Kidscape in 2005. Pupils at Welton Primary School, Midsomer Norton, provided illustrations and Guardian readers may recall how free copies were first circulated here in North East Somerset through the generosity of Western Power Distribution. Since then demand has been truly massive. Tens of thousands of copies have been requested from me and posted out, leading to a re-print. Across the UK, I'm very proud to say, over 600,000 free copies have now been distributed. And visitor numbers to the online version – www.dannorris.org.uk/bullying have skyrocketed over the past two years. Please drop me an
email at dan@dannorris.org.uk if you would like me to send you a copy
for your family. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
October 2007
Cadbury's announcement: fighting closure and shaping Keynsham's future (October 2007) Cadbury's proposed closure of its Keynsham factory has come as a hard and heavy blow, not just to workers there, but to the Keynsham community as a whole. The world-famous Somerdale factory has a long and proud history stretching back over 70 years. The workforce there are among the best staff that Cadbury have anywhere in the world. And their excellence meant that what was seen in some quarters for many years as an inevitable closure has been successfully deferred for so long. Sadly, the way Cadburys' bosses appear to see it, this excellence has not been enough against the backdrop of a highly competitive global market where the factory was running at under-production for several years. Very tough competition in a crowded marketplace has already seen Cadbury's competitors make similar moves. Nestle, for example, axed 645 jobs in York just a year ago and moved production of brands such as Black Magic and Smarties to Europe. But company bosses' recently-announced decision means our Keynsham community is now having to take stock as it faces the harsh reality of Cadbury's plans. Somerdale staff and Keynsham residents will rightly stand firm against the closure. And make no mistake, nobody should consider throwing in the towel while a glimmer of hope remains. I've pledged to fight hard to reverse the closure decision. But if it proves unavoidable, what happens next? We simply have to start thinking ahead. Nobody would seriously propose waiting until a closure of this scale had been concluded before starting to consider the future of the workers. We know from similar closures in our area, that those made redundant stand an excellent chance of finding high quality jobs elsewhere. Sadly, while a strong economy can never stop companies making redundancies in a competitive global market, a strong economy does give people the best possible chance of finding new work. That's why unemployment has fallen so much over the last 10 years - more jobs have been created than lost. I have been arguing that any closure of Somerdale should be implemented over years rather than months and I will work hard to ensure Somerdale staff would be fully supported in their efforts to secure those new jobs and wherever possible, and where wanted, redeployment to other Cadbury sites. What of the longer-term effect on Keynsham as a whole? Look ahead to the year 2020. Would we expect Keynsham residents to still be actively mourning the loss of Cadbury's? Or would they be reflecting on how a closure of ten years ago was actually turned to local advantage? Keynsham people could be said to have chocolate running through their veins. We will never forget our proud chocolate making history - indeed, we aim to fight hard and save it even at this late stage. But if the worst does happen, I strongly believe those who live in the town, whether they work at Somerdale or not, are strong enough to ensure the community would fully recover … and thrive in future. It is essential that Keynsham residents themselves lead the recovery and that it's they who shape the future prosperity of the town. So they must have the opportunity to have their say about the future of the site, and of their community, should the factory close in three years' time. That is why I am organising a major residents' consultation now, to properly measure local opinion in the event of closure. Should part of the site be used for affordable housing to help families who are struggling to find a home of their own? Or perhaps a major new secondary education campus should be built as part of the government's commitment to rebuild every secondary school. How important might the close proximity to the railway station be in making decisions about the use of the site? How might the site figure in plans to ensure there are more local jobs for people living in the town? One idea is for B&NES Council to support Keynsham by relocating its main Bath offices from The Guildhall to vacated space at Somerdale which is, of course, close to the railway station. This would make Keynsham the council's main base - a much more central one for the large district it serves. Should this idea be seriously pursued? These are just some questions that I hope and expect residents will be keen to think about, and suggest answers to. I want as many Keynsham residents as possible to take part - not just to include as many locals as possible, but because it will give us a stronger voice with which to shape our future. I will do my best to ensure Keynsham households receive a consultation paper soon. Please get in touch in the meantime if you'd like a copy now or use this link on my website. (PDF file) Together we can ensure
that, whatever happens over the coming months, Keynsham emerges stronger. October 2007
B&NES gambles our hard-earned money in Bath Spa wrangle Every local householder understands the importance of managing their hard-earned money. Especially when times are tight, most try not to spend what they haven’t got. Sensibly they avoid buying anything they can do without. So the latest decision by B&NES Council - to gamble £2 million of our money on a legal battle over the Bath Spa disaster - has not only baffled residents here, it’s made them angry too. Rightly so. The council has blown over £30 million on the project, mismanaging it from start to finish. Now B&NES has let slip it’s facing a £7.2 million budget deficit. Many hard-working council staff fear for their jobs. Those of us who live here in North East Somerset fear further cuts to the much-needed front line services we rely on. Everywhere I go people complain about the state of the roads, the cuts to youth budgets, internet charges in libraries and more. The list goes on. And bungling B&NES’s proposal? Raid budgets that are supposed to be for buildings, culture, leisure and other things, to scrabble together £2 million of lawyers fees. They’re taking from the poor to give to the law for a battle in which, chillingly, there’s no guarantee of success. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
October 2007
Last month one Chew
Valley resident told me he thought there were too many people from eastern
Europe looking for jobs in the UK. Later the same day someone else said
how pleased she was that she could now get a plumber to call within 24
hours. And of course, both comments concern the same Some people fear that by simply talking about immigration, they could be considered racist. But as the government has made very clear, it is not racist to talk about these issues. When I tell people this, there’s sometimes an almost-audible sigh of relief. After an event I recently organised locally - to which the Home Office Immigration Minister came along to listen to local views - many present said they really appreciated the opportunity to express and share opinions about an issue they felt is too often overlooked - simply because it can be contentious. The huge majority of people I meet strongly agree that UK immigration policy must be based on the true British value of fairness. Most also agree with the government that people who come to live in the UK should learn to speak English. The new points system which is about to be introduced here in the UK, is aimed not only at simplifying the rules but also at ensuring that only those people that Britain needs are allowed to come here to work or study. The woman, who, found a plumber when she needed one was correct – these new workers have helped plug some gaps in our labour market and it is now much easier to find skilled people and often at a more reasonable price than in the past. Some people think
we need to look more carefully at the skills our country already has,
what it needs, and what it doesn’t need. Then if we’re short
of some necessary skills in our economy we could allow enough people in
until we have met the shortfall. For example, ten years ago foreign workers
helped But the concerns of
the gentleman I met at my surgery are equally valid. A sudden influx of
migrant workers has significant implications, such as the impact on local
communities and services. That is why it is important to assess thoroughly
the benefits and problems caused by migrant workers. We The government has
already responded to a number of concerns raised by North East Somerset
constituents, for example introducing £1,000 fines on any employer
found employing workers without the proper permits. In addition, anyone
wanting British citizenship will face tests, including a language In my view, if we are to have a really successful and fair immigration policy in the UK, ID cards are a vital component. For unless we are able to ensure that only those who are properly contributing to the nation (or have done so in the past) can enjoy the benefits of our welfare state, there will be a shortfall of services and housing in the longer-term. The main concern about immigration for the vast majority of people, is fairness – not racism. We ignore this at our peril, for extreme right wing parties will exploit any feelings of unfairness to further their own distorted and racist ends - to the cost of us all. It’s a hugely complex and challenging issue, and one on which I very much welcome local input. Do let me know what you think. Please write to me, Dan Norris MP, at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or email dan@dannorris.org.uk Written for the Chew Valley Gazette October 2007
The huge contribution made to the nation’s second world war effort by the Bevin Boys is at last to be recognised. In 1943 Somerset-born
Ernest Bevin, then Minister for Labour and National Service, introduced
a scheme to address a shortage of labour in the coal Some 48,000 young men were drafted to work in the mines but after the war ended the role of these so-called Bevin Boys was played down. And unlike service personnel, their peace time jobs weren’t kept open for them. Now the government is to produce a special commemorative Badge to express the country's gratitude to these unsung war heroes. The application process will be introduced later this year, with a view to awarding the first Badge next March - coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the demobbing of the last Bevin Boy. The Badge, to be worn proudly in public to raise awareness, will be available to surviving Bevin Boys including volunteers and those who were selected to work down the mines. If you know of anyone who may be eligible, do let me know. Please write to me, Dan Norris MP, at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or email dan@dannorris.org.uk Written for the
Somerset Guardian
August 2007
Opening up new paths to higher education Hundreds of Chew Valley families with children could find new paths to good quality higher education opening up following a government announcement last month. In a major investment in new talent, the government unveiled a new support package which will see thousands more students across our region receive grants to help towards their studies. And in the years ahead, there will be student loan 'repayment holidays' available. Starting next September, all students whose parents' total income is £60,000 or less will be eligible for at least a partial grant to help cover their university living costs. At present, the cap is set at much lower, so that nobody whose parents earn more than £37,425 qualifies for help. This will mean an extra £1,100 a year for a student from a household on £25,000 income, and around an additional £1,000 for someone from a family whose annual income is £40,000. And Universities Minister John Denham announced that, starting with those who enter higher education next year, students will also be able to freeze their loan repayments for up to five years to make it easier for them at key pressure points - like when they want to get on the property ladder or start a family. They'll be able to take a single five-year stretch or smaller breaks over shorter periods. It's the young people who are currently studying hard at our local secondary schools who will benefit. The government is determined to get more young people from lower income families into our excellent universities to help them fulfil their potential. It's upped the parental income limit for which students qualify for a full grant - from £17.500 to £25,000. Last month's student finance package will have wide appeal amongst middle-income families too. The government is committed to raising the aspirations of all our young people, regardless of their background and family circumstances. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette August 2007
Switching energy suppliers online - thanks to local school As Guardian readers know, millions have been invested in North East Somerset schools in recent years. So its brilliant when our excellent local state schools share their resources with the wider public. An outstanding example of this community engagement came last month when Norton Hill School, Midsomer Norton, opened the doors of its Computer Suite. My aim, which Headteacher Peter Beaven enthusiastically embraced, was to give people who don't have internet access the chance to go online to find better energy deals. There are so many different energy firms, offering many different price tariffs, that it can be hard to know where to start to secure the best deal. But at the event school students helped residents use special internet websites which do tailor-made price comparisons for householders in seconds. People who came along quickly discovered hundreds of pounds' worth of savings they could make. Congratulations to
those who came along and have are now saving money. And well done Norton
Hill! Written for the
Somerset Guardian
June 2007
Many local people who have contributed to our country's economy for many years by working hard and paying taxes are still not claiming all the benefits, tax credits and services to which they're entitled. Some £3.5 million goes unclaimed here in North East Somerset. It's money that many local residents could and should be receiving. My Benefit Entitlement and Warmer Homes event in Midsomer Norton this month helped local people claim some of it. In fact, as a result of the free confidential Benefit Entitlement Checks, many thousands of pounds were claimed by our fellow North East Somerset residents. Many of those who found they could claim were genuinely taken aback, not just by knowing what they'd been missing out on, but also discovering that in some circumstances backdated payments could also be made to them. Nobody who has contributed to the system through their hard work should be backwards in coming forwards to claim what's theirs. Doing so won't just help their own quality of life, it'll also boost our local economy. Want to know more? Please get in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
June 2007
Protecting children: Sarah's Law Many readers will know for some time I've been lobbying the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to give more information to parents so they can better protect their children from sex offenders. Most parents and grandparents that I talk with support the introduction of some form of 'Sarah's Law' to give them more information about people who potentially pose a risk to their children. Backing has been reinforced nationally by recent newspaper opinion polls, and whilst the statistics generated may not be scientific, the message is clear: parents want more information to help empower them. Feelings run strong and deep, and this is one of those subjects about which most people hold a view. Not everyone agrees more information should be disclosed. Following news that North East Somerset will be the first part of the UK to benefit from a pilot run of a form of Sarah's Law, one or two charities voiced opposition. There have been times in the past few weeks when media portrayal of what's proposed in the local Sarah's Law pilot has been totally at odds with what's actually planned. Some politicians seem to have misunderstood too, with Liberal Democrat representatives criticising the pilot, appearing to think the proposal is for full disclosure of names and addresses of sex offenders. It is not, and I hope this misinterpretation is purely accidental, and not fabricated deliberately to cause unease. The Conservatives meanwhile have been curiously quiet on the issue. At a time when we are asked to believe it is no longer the nasty party but a caring one, the Conservative silence on this critical aspect of child protection is deafening. This pilot is not a full-blown 'Megan's Law' as exists in the USA. What is planned here is a trial of limited disclosure so the Home Secretary and his officials can properly assess how many people use new powers and what impact they have on local communities. One of the pilot's priorities is making sure that disclosure of key information about any individual can happen at the points where there is most risk to children. We know the huge majority of abuse against children takes place by people who are known to the victim, often within the child's own family. Evidence shows paedophiles often target lone parents in a bid to deviously get themselves into a relationship in order to gain access to children. That's why perhaps the most significant part of the pilot proposal is allowing single mums to be able to find out if a new partner has a record of harming or abusing children. New legislation of
this type will be difficult and challenging to get right, which is why
trials are needed. This is a measured response to a serious issue which,
in truth, governments have ducked for too long. It's an area on which
the public are actually ahead of many law makers. As always I welcome
readers' views on this or any other issue. Please write to me, Dan Norris
MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. Written for the Chew Valley Gazette May 2007
Mesothelioma is a dreadful type of cancer which can result from exposure to asbestos. Sadly too many victims die before they receive compensation. Others find they don't qualify because they contracted the disease from living near a factory or from being exposed to a relative who worked there, rather than working at the factory themselves. Last week the government pledged to put right this injustice, by getting legislation through Parliament so everyone with mesothelioma can claim, regardless of their employment history. Of course, no amount of compensation ever makes up for the suffering and loss caused by this awful disease. That's also true of the financial support the government has provided to former miners here in North East Somerset - currently around £3.4 million in total. But the new plans, which would mean victims getting some compensation within just six weeks of making a legitimate claim, mean nobody should have to wait years to see a penny of compensation. Tragically many victims simply do not have years to wait. If you'd like to know more please get in touch. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
March 2007
A new second tier of Parliament - in the west Reform of a House of Lords whose membership depends on patronage or, worse, accident of birth, has been talked about for centuries. But last week the Commons voted to replace it with a 100 per cent elected Second Chamber. Even the most optimistic advocates of Lords reform won't be holding their breath for imminent change, but there's an unmistakeable sense that an historic shift will happen in the next few years. That's because there is real momentum behind the current mood for change. As Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw said "We cannot put the genie back in the bottle." With the Lords being completely elected like the Commons there are huge implications for our constitution and the way national power is exercised and decisions made. Firstly, having been subordinate to the Commons without endorsement via the ballot box gave the Lords a moral authority that, on paper at least, allows it to challenge the current supremacy of the Commons. To ensure the Commons remains the nation's most important political forum the Lords has to be different - a clearly revising-only chamber which can improve or delay government legislation but not block it. The details of its composition and the electoral models used to fill it will of course need careful consideration. But whatever transpires, there is a pressing need for the newly elected forum to be entirely distinct from the House of Commons. So the brand new second chamber needs to be just that. Brand new. Not just in name and organisation but, crucially, how it looks and where in the nation it meets. What better way to create a fresh second tier of Parliament than by moving it away from polluted and crowded London to a modern property elsewhere? Transport links would be simpler, with property and upkeep costs much, much lower. And the selected venue would get a significant regeneration boost. New Parliament buildings have been constructed recently in Edinburgh and Cardiff. But this one needn't be expensive. There are many buildings in and around major UK cities that could be converted cheaply by comparison. This would be a tangible way of showing the newly elected forum is different from what has preceded it for hundreds of years. A strikingly separate building in another non-London location. Chalk and cheese. The BBC is another British institution that's too London-centric, as its Chairman admitted when announcing plans to move many of its functions from London to Manchester. And the north west might have a case to be the new second chamber's base. The Midlands too. But so do the Bristol and Bath area. Our Parliament's second chamber based here in the west country. Why not? Taking government out of London is a very positive step, as was seen just before Christmas when The Northern Ireland Grand Committee met in Belfast instead of Westminster for the first time. That issued a really powerful message about the decentralisation of government. Imagine the impact on Bristol or Bath residents if a new Parliament were created on the doorstep. Relocation would be good not just for the chosen region, but for all parts of the UK. It would help steer politics away from a London-centric focus, helping purge Parliament of its 'Westminster-village' image. Helping politicians connect with people, as well as sharing the financial benefits of maintaining and running a Parliament to somewhere other than London. Tourism would get a huge lift. For example, there's no reason why a grand Opening ceremony, a great British tradition, shouldn't continue, albeit in a different format. Visitors to the UK would have less reason to think that London is the be-all-and-end-all of our nation's attractions. Maybe the new forum's home should change from time to time, the way England football internationals were hosted in different parts of the country when the 'old' Wembley closed. A costlier option, perhaps, but worth thinking about. There are other spin-offs too. Parliament's green Commons benches can only seat two thirds of the UK's MPs. After the May 1941 blitz destroyed the House of Commons, MPs were temporarily moved to the larger Lords Chamber. That could be repeated, and made permanent. Around half of Palace of Westminster space is taken up by House of Lords facilities. The end of the current system should free up space for Commons use. So expensive Portcullis House - which opened in 2001 to accommodate offices for hundreds of MPs - could be sold or leased to companies who'd pay 'top dollar' to have a base in its prestigious location. This would offset the costs of creating the new forum perhaps undercutting the current overall Parliamentary costs - good news for taxpayers indeed. In my ten years in Parliament I have watched how the current House of Lords, and the peers who make it up, operate. Many attach an enormous status to Lords membership. Most is artificial and unmerited, perceived by peers themselves, not the public at large. Based in the same building many treat the Lords as a retirement home for ex-MPs: a place where they can bumble along, relatively inactive. One has to wonder what rush of 'establishment' stalwarts we'd see desperate to win an election for place in a second chamber located on the outskirts of a provincial city. The new forum would have to be made up of people committed to work for the good of the country, not people who are in it for perceived status. That's good for democracy. Relocation would represent a truly positive and radical departure for Britain. Let's ensure it's part of the debates that lie ahead. Yes, the genie is
out of the bottle. And there's now a very strong case for breaking the
bottle completely. It's time to push the genie in a different direction
altogether - and in my view it should come west. Written for the Western Daily Press March 2007
The hunting ban - two years on Last month saw the two-year anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs. Before 2005, the more hysterical pro-hunters claimed the new law would spell disaster for our countryside. Thousands of rural jobs would be lost, coupled with the mass slaughter of hounds, they claimed. Such gloom and doom was always a scare tactic from people willing to say anything to justify and prolong a cruel pursuit, regardless of evidence or consistency. So two years on what do we see? Well, no major job losses and aside from the usual number of hounds being destroyed by hunts when they're of no further use, the packs remain. And contrary to their
own dire predictions, hunts now claim more people than ever are joining
them. If that's true is it any wonder? The ban means the fun elements
of their pursuit remain - the socialising, the pomp and ceremony, the
rides across beautiful British countryside. But the Today some hunters vow to carry on killing, regardless of the law - many of the very same people who used to carry out grotesque "blooding" rituals. Understandably, a large majority find this practice - of daubing fox blood on a child's face -abhorrent. Most hunts now say they're abiding by the ban - indicating the law is working as intended. But if it isn't, and it's pointless - as some hunt supporters try to claim - then why are they attempting to get it repealed? The answer of course is that the hunting ban is working and preventing cruelty, but alarmingly, they want to return to the killing. Hunt-supporting Conservative leader, David Cameron, has said his Party would repeal the law were they ever to get into power. But the latest polls show that the vast majority - 5 out of 6 people - are against repealing the hunting ban. His Party receives generous donations from hunt supporters, and other West Country Tories are also known for their active hunt support. The Honourable James Gray MP, for example, is known to be in bed with the pro-hunt Countryside Alliance. Political commentators aren't talking about hunting very much now, but I suspect it will form a significant issue at the next election. Over recent months in my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, I've been involved in discussions with those directly linked to major terrorist atrocities. The peace process has progressed faster than anyone dared hope. The Government has worked very hard to ensure people on all sides accept the rule of law and act entirely within it. No ifs, no buts. Anyone who thinks
resorting to intimidation and violence can resolve disagreements is completely
misguided - be they in Northern Ireland or here, like those pro-hunters
who punched and seriously injured a female member of my staff two years
ago. They don't understand true British values of fair play and justice.
Whether dealing with terrorists, or local bullies, the law Written for the Chew Valley Gazette March 2007
B&NES tries to save money with Single Status Dubbed the most incompetent council in Britain, Bath and North East Somerset now seems hell-bent on becoming the meanest too. Thousands of staff who work in key council services, many of them Chew Valley residents, have suffered months of anxiety and worry as a result of B&NES' latest attempts to claw back some of the millions it's wasting on the Bath Spa. Single Status job evaluation is a national process to ensure people who do similar jobs get similar pay. Few reasonable people would argue with that principle. Councils up and down the country have been busily working on Single Status since they were first alerted to it in the late 90s. But the Conservative Lib Dem councillors who jointly run B&NES have ignored it for years, instead channelling their attention to their expensive Bath Spa. Then, with an April 2007 implementation deadline looming, they tried to rush changes through by tearing up the contracts of some of the authority's lowest-paid staff and re-employing them on different terms and conditions. Big pay cuts were part of new deals. In effect this means councillors are asking staff to accept lower salaries to help pay for the Spa. Seemingly unaware of the impact their proposals have on hard-working people - or the anger their plans would attract - B&NES told staff if they didn't sign up they wouldn't have a job. No wonder so many who work in our schools, libraries, care homes and other key services now feel bullied. Carrying out Single Status properly would cost £1 million, claim B&NES, who say they don't have that sort of money. Chew Valley residents, who dread news of another Spa-motivated B&NES Council Tax hike soon, know why. This latest B&NES
fiasco comes from a heartless authority which in the past four years has
doubled the number of highly-paid bosses on more than £50,000. Evidence,
if any Gazette readers need convincing, that incompetent B&NES has
well and truly waved bye-bye to any concept of fairness or common sense. Written for the
Chew Valley
Gazette February 2007 Bullying: half a million reasons An article written for the Western Daily Press, which appeared in November 2006, during National Anti-Bullying Week, can be found on the 'Anti-Bullying' pages of this website, or by using this link. The government pledge to rebuild or refurbish all B&NES secondary schools within 15 years clearly had to be based on greatest need. Guardian readers will be pleased the first wave of this government money is coming to us here in North East Somerset. Writhlington School is set for a £22 million rebuild by 2009. In line with the pledge, further money will follow for our other schools. Writhlington's rebuild follows last year's opening of the new Trinity and St Nicholas Primary Schools in Radstock, funded by £5 million of government money. But there's much more to quality education than school buildings. Top quality leadership and excellent teaching and support staff are vital if schools are to thrive. So is pupil and parent commitment. Good resources are critical too, and the government has made major additional cash injections to all schools' budgets, for Heads and governors to spend on their priorities and needs. Our children's exam results are proof that great things are happening here in North East Somerset, but there is much more to do. What else should the government do to keep improving local education? Please write to me, Dan Norris MP, at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Written for the
Somerset Guardian
November 2006 October saw lots of media coverage of politicians trying to master new technology in a bid to appear more proactive in engaging with voters. There were webcams and weblogs, for example. But do these latest techniques actually help ordinary people feel more engaged with politicians and the political process? A lot has changed since I first became the MP representing the Chew Valley. Back in 1997, few local people had access to the internet and the boom in mobile phones was yet to happen. Of course electors tend to vote for people with whose political philosophy they agree. But in addition to this - and for some people more important - is the wish to have representatives who will take up their case if they have a problem. This applies at town, parish or district council level as well as for Parliamentarians. They want someone who is available to help them all the year round, not just at election time. In that context the value of webcam broadcasts and weblogs may - or may not - be helpful. Last month several politicians chased publicity for their on-webcamera antics. But has it done anything to promote them or their party as legitimate and credible, with coherent policies and plans for our future? There is a danger that politicians can devote a great deal of time, effort and money into things which could become gimmicks for their own sake. That's not a Luddite philosophy! I'm genuinely unsure about the true value to politicians of some of these new things. But I'm always open to new ideas and would like to hear Chew Valley Gazette readers' views. So what do you really
want from local politicians, and does the use of new technology fit into
that picture? Please let me know your views by writing to me, Dan Norris
MP, at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, or email me: dan@dannorris.org.uk |