Massive Lottery Boost for local play schemes

Local MP John McDonnell, who is the chair of the Hillingdon Play Association, announced this week that the Big Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £590,668 to fund the improvement of play opportunities for local children.

Four years ago John McDonnell MP established the Hillingdon Play Association which prepared a bid for lottery funding to improve play facilities within our local area.

John said “Four years ago I convened a meeting to bring together all those local groups interested in children’s play within Hillingdon. We established the Hillingdon Play Association in order to develop a play strategy for our area. At that stage we knew that the Government was looking to develop a national strategy and that funding would hopefully follow. We undertook extensive consultations with local community groups on how best to improve access to play for local children. The Hillingdon Play Association then prepared a bid for the lottery and I am pleased that we have been so successful.

These funds will go towards improving access to play in our local parks and within the community for all our children.”

Government Awards Hillingdon Primary Care Trust a Budget Increase of £18.2m

Local MP John McDonnell today welcomed the Government’s decision to increase funding for Primary Care Trusts over 2008-9.

All PCTs will receive an increase of 5.5%, a total cash increase of £3.8bn, bringing the total revenue allocations to £74bn. In addition, £1.7bn of non-recurrent budgets are also being issued, meaning that 82% of the total NHS revenue budget will be issued direct to PCTs. This compares to 72% in 1996-7.

In 2008-9, Hillingdon PCT will receive a recurrent revenue allocation of £351m, a cash increase of £18.2m compared to 2007-8.

Overall, the Department of Health has trebled investment in the NHS since 1997 and this announcement puts further resources into local communities.

The five priorities for the NHS this year are:

•Improving cleanliness and reducing healthcare associated infections, in particular:

Maintaining the annual number of MRSA bloodstream infections at less than half the number in 2003-4, and delivering a 30% reduction in clostridium difficile by 2011, compared to the 2007-8 baseline figure

•Improving access through achievement of the 18-week referral to treatment pledge and improving access (including at evening and weekends) to GP services, specifically:

By December 2008, no-one should have to wait more than 18 weeks from the time they are referred to the beginning of their treatment unless it is clinically appropriate to do so or they choose to wait longer, and PCTs need to ensure that at least 50% of GP practices in their area offer extended opening to their patients.

•Keeping adults and children well, improving their health and reducing health inequalities by tackling lifestyle diseases:

Cancer: going further on our existing commitments to make progress towards delivering the Cancer Reform Strategy

Stroke: driving up standards of care to reduce mortality and morbidity through implementation of the Stroke Strategy

Children: improving children’s and young people’s physical and mental health and well-being

Maternity: improving access as part of the wider Maternity Matters Strategy to deliver safe, high quality maternity care for all women, their partners and their babies

•Improving patient experience, staff satisfaction, and engagement

•Preparing to respond in a state of emergency such as an outbreak of pandemic flu

In a letter sent to Labour MPs, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health wrote “the allocation of £74bn to PCTs in 2008-9 I am announcing today, alongside the priorities I have also set out for the NHS next year, will ensure continued improvement in the quality of care provided by the NHS.”

Local MP John McDonnell said “Hillingdon PCT has experienced severe financial problems in recent years but is now coming out of these difficulties. This additional funding increase will greatly assist in improving health care within our area and will help overcome some of the past financial issues”.

Local MP John McDonnell challenges the Government to come clean over the real costs of the Heathrow expansion

Local MP John McDonnell challenges the Government to come clean for the first time over the real cost of relocating anything up to the 10,000 people that would be affected by the expansion of Heathrow, and whose homes would either be demolished or rendered unlivable

Local MP John McDonnell exposed in Parliament the dramatic impact of Third Runway proposal on local communities

Local MP John McDonnell, alongside the two other MPs for Hillingdon, exposed in the House of Commons the dramatic impact of the third runway proposal on the communities surrounding Heathrow Airport.

John McDonnell MP set out the real impact of what the third runway and sixth terminal would have on local communities. This included the loss of homes, schools, churches and whole communities.

John said “BAA and the Government have refused consistently to set out the real costs of constructing a third runway and sixth terminal. Nowhere in any consultation documents or speeches by ministers has there been any indication of what it would cost to relocate the thousands of local residents whose homes would be demolished or rendered unlivable by the expansion of the airport. I am challenging them to publish this information as it would expose the true costs of Heathrow growth.”

Local MP John McDonnell pledges support for RNIB campaign to increase Disability Living Allowance for those with severe sight loss

Local MP John McDonnell today highlighted the RNIB campaign, launched in August 2006, which aims to allow people with severe sight loss to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the higher rate.

DLA helps disabled people who have difficulty getting out and about safely and independently. However, despite being blind and facing some of the biggest barriers to independent mobility, people with severe sight loss are only able to claim the lower rate mobility component of DLA (£17.10 per week). The RNIB believe this is unfair and that blind people should be able to claim the higher rate like wheelchair users, who receive almost £45 per week.

The RNIB asked people with severe sight loss to record diaries highlighting the day-to-day difficulties they face getting out and about safely on their own and the impact that not being able to claim the higher rate mobility component has on their lives, their health, employment opportunities, choices and independence. Please find a transcript of excerpts from these diaries attached.

The RNIB believe that £17.10 simply is not enough to enable people with severe sight loss to go out to do the things that we all need to; with the higher rate (£45.00) people would be able to do more of the things that others take for granted such as going to the doctor, shopping on their own, looking for work, meeting friends, being a member of groups or attending adult education courses. Not being able to do these things has a profound impact on people’s lives.

Local MP John McDonnell said “It is unfair that people with severe sight loss are unable to gain adequate financial support from the DLA. That is why I am supporting the RNIB campaign to secure justice for this group of my constituents”. John McDonnell MP also wrote to Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People, to raise this issue in greater detail.

For more information, please go to http://www.rnib.org.uk

Crossrail Bill Approved in Parliament

This week the Crossrail Bill was finally approved in the House of Commons, enabling the construction of the new railway line which will connect Hayes and Harlington Station to the City and to East London in the East and to Slough and Maidenhead to the West, with connections to Heathrow.

This £16bn project will now go forward for construction and will be completed in 2017. Crossrail is widely predicted to make a major contribution to the regeneration of the Hayes area.

Local MP John McDonnell said “Now that the Crossrail Bill has completed its Commons stages and has secured Government funding of more than £5bn as well as private sector funding, it is certain that this major transport infrastructure project will be undertaken. This new railway will have a major impact on the regeneration of our local area and will make a significant contribution to the creation of a new and vibrant town centre in Hayes”.

For more information please visit http://www.crossrail.co.uk/

John McDonnell MP and other local MPs present the petition “Save Cancer Services at Mount Vernon Hospital” to the Ministry of Health in Whitehall

Local MP John McDonnell, along with other local MPs - Nick Hurd MP (Ruislip / Northwood) and, Gareth Thomas MP (West Harrow) - presented the “Save Cancer Services at Mount Vernon Hospital” petition to the Ministry of Health in Whitehall.

The petition was presented to: the Minster of Health for London, Ben Bradshaw; David McVittie, Chief Executive the Hillingdon Hospital Trust; Nick Carver, Chief Executive, East & North Herts Hospitals Trust; Anne Walker, Chief Executive of both West Herts and East & North Herts Primary Care Trusts – as well as several Ministerial aides.

The petition was organised by The Community Voice, which links together over 50 groups and individuals who want good NHS services in North West London and South West Hertfordshire.

To find out more please go to http://www.communityvoicehealth.org.uk/2007/12/77781-petition-signatures-reached.htm

Local MP John McDonnell warns Government about further civil unrest if community views are ignored over Heathrow 3rd Runway Plan

Speaking in a debate in Parliament on Monday (10th December) this week, John McDonnell MP attacked the Government’s proposals to reform the planning process, which would enable major infrastructure projects to be developed without adequate procedures for enabling either local people or Parliament to have a say.

The Planning Bill currently before Parliament introduces a new process for dealing with major infrastructure projects such as airport expansions and the construction of new nuclear power stations. The Bill establishes a new Infrastructure Planning Commission, comprising experts appointed directly by the Government. It also curtails the opportunity for local people to voice their opinions effectively in planning enquiries.

Local MP John McDonnell said “I believe that this new planning process will allow the Government and major private developers to ride roughshod over the views of local people faced with the devastation of their communities by new runways, roads and nuclear power stations. Even Parliament will not have a decisive role in determining the long term planning policies which will have a direct influence on major infrastructure projects like the third runway.

“In the debate in parliament this week, I warned the Government that if it undermines confidence and trust in the fairness of the planning process the result will be more demonstrations with the risk of civil unrest. I am urging the Government to think again”.

John's full statement in the debate regarding the Planning Bill can be accessed here:
http://snipurl.com/1v5gg

Local MP John McDonnell adopts a humpback whale under threat from Japanese harpoons

Local MP John McDonnell has adopted a humpback whale to show his opposition to Japanese whaling.

John McDonnell accepted an invitation from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), to adopt humpback whale My Auntie to demonstrate his support for IFAW’s efforts to protect this vulnerable species, now being targeted by Japan’s whaling fleet in an internationally recognised whale sanctuary.

The threatened humpback has been protected from whaling for more than four decades after being driven to near extinction by commercial whaling during the last century. Despite this, Japan has now added 50 humpbacks to its target list as it sails towards the Southern Ocean Sanctuary in Antarctica to hunt the humpbacks plus almost 1,000 other whales.

Japan claims its expanding annual whale hunts are for “scientific” purposes, but little science has been produced and the whale meat is put on sale in restaurants and supermarkets.

Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK, said: “IFAW is very grateful to John McDonnell MP for showing their support for the whales. Whaling is inherently cruel – there is simply no humane way to kill a whale.

“Our scientists have analysed footage of Japanese whaling which shows whales taking over half an hour to die a very slow and agonising death. We urge the UK Government and other anti-whaling nations to take diplomatic action at the highest levels to protect whales.”

John McDonnell MP said: “I am very happy to support IFAW’s campaign to protect the whales by adopting the whale My Auntie. Whaling is cruel and unnecessary.”

New findings from international legal experts in recent weeks have challenged Japan’s claim that its expanding whaling programme is legal under international law. Legal analyses by international panels of independent legal experts convened in Paris and London have found Japan’s expanding whaling operations to be in violation of International Whaling Commission (IWC) regulations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Bevin Boys to be awarded Veterans Badges

Local MP John McDonnell calls upon local Bevin Boys to come forward

Local MP John McDonnell today highlighted the introduction of a Veterans Badge for former Bevin Boys in recognition of the important role they played during WWII and in the post-war reconstruction in the UK.

The Bevin Boys scheme was introduced in 1943 by then Minister for Labour and National Service, Ernest Bevin, in response to an increasing shortage of labour in the coal mining industry. The scheme ran between 1943 and 1948 and involved recruiting men aged between 18 and 25 years old to work in coal mines rather than serve in the armed forces. Some 48,000 men were either selected or volunteered under the scheme.

The Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has received nearly 1,000 applications to date and anticipates receiving more.

All surviving Bevin Boys are eligible and, due to the time it took BERR to implement the badge and the application process, applications will also will be accepted from widows of Bevin Boys who died on or after 20th June 2007, when the badge was announced, where a death and marriage certificate are attached to the application. Strict criteria set by the Ministry of Defence mean that other widows or next of kin are unable to submit applications.

Please see below for a letter about this case from Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Energy.

bevin 071207-1

Further details about the Bevin Boys Veterans Badge are available on the BERR website – www.berr.gov.uk


Dear Sir;

I am calling on all surviving Bevin Boys to come forward to claim a unique Veterans Badge as a tribute to their sacrifices during and after WWII. These heroes in our community helped to keep the coal fields running during the way and in the post-war reconstruction of Britain.

The Bevin Boys scheme was introduced in 1943 by then Minister for Labour and National Service, Ernest Bevin, in response to an increasing shortage of labour in the coal mining industry. The scheme ran between 1943 and 1948 and involved recruiting men aged between 18 and 25 years old to work in coal mines rather than serve in the armed forces. Some 48,000 men were either selected or volunteered under the scheme.

It is with honour and gratitude that we recognise their tremendous work with the award of this special badge. All Bevin Boys, be they ballotees, optants or volunteers, are eligible to apply. Applications will also be accepted from widows of Bevin Boys who passed away on or after 20th June 2007, provided a copy of the marriage and death certificate are attached to the application form.

The first badges will be issued in March 2008, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the demobbing of the last Bevin Boy.

If you think you may be eligible, I urge you to complete an application form, available by calling the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency helpline on 0800 169 2277 or 01253 866043 or by visiting www.veteransagency.co.uk .

It is important that we never forget the sacrifices that were made both at home and abroad during the war. If you are a Bevin Boy, or you know someone who is, please come forward to claim this fitting tribute.

Malcolm Wicks MP
Minister for Energy
Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

Local MP John McDonnell hails investment in ‘Things to Do and Places to Go’ for young people

Young people in Hayes and Harlington are being urged to come up with ideas to improve ‘things to do and places to go’ for young people in the area.

Local MP John McDonnell made the call as he welcomed new funding for projects such as skate parks, basketball courts and music workshops in Hayes and Harlington.

Over the next three years the Labour Government is providing a total of £2,760,680 for Hillingdon Local Authority to invest in activities for young people.

£578,700 will be available for the Youth Opportunity Fund and £500,400 for the Youth Capital Fund – funds which have to be spent on projects for young people and decided by young people.

Local MP John McDonnell said “For years Hillingdon Council closed down youth facilities, until the Government instructed all councils to provide services for our young people and gave councils the resources to do it. This latest round of funds will enable us to open a youth centre in Charville and provide many new facilities for our young people.

“The important thing is that young people themselves are in the driving seat – they can put forward ideas for what they want to see in their community and help to decide where the money is spent.

“Because young people in our community need more things to do and places to go, I’m pleased that over the next few years we will see further investment in activities and facilities for young people in our area.

“Young people across Hayes and Harlington should think about what they would like to invest their money in, whether it is places to do sport, music or drama, revamping old facilities or getting new ones built.

“I want to hear what young people in our area would like to see – and I’m keen to do what I can to support those who come up with plans that can be made a reality”.

Local MP John McDonnell pledges support to campaign to tackle AIDS

John McDonnell MP visits giant AIDS ribbon in Parliament Square, to support calls on Government to strengthen efforts in funding fight against AIDS

Two days before World AIDS Day, local MP John McDonnell, today joined a coalition of charities in Parliament Square to call on the government to strengthen its efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS, and keep its promise of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010.

John McDonnell met charity representatives from the Stop AIDS Campaign – a coalition of over 80 UK-based NGOs - around a giant AIDS ribbon made of 6000 red carnations. The AIDS ribbon, which stood 6 metres high, was created for the event free of charge by Floral Designer Chris Jones. Each flower represented one person who dies of AIDS-related illnesses every single day.

John McDonnell agreed to support the Stop AIDS Campaign as it calls on the Government to keep their promises on HIV and AIDS as it launches a new three-year Strategy to tackle AIDS in early 2008. He promised to raise the issues with the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, and support an Early Day Motion (no.183) in the House of Commons.

The Stop AIDS Campaign are calling for the government to announce a funding commitment of at least £2.5bn over three years (2008 -11) in order to provide the UK’s ‘fair share’ of global resources needed to keep the promise of Universal Access by 2010. It is also calling for action to reduce the prices of HIV medicines and address the global shortage of health workers.

Steve Cockburn, Campaign Coordinator for the Stop AIDS Campaign said:
“AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa so requires strong action from the Government to keep the promises they have made and give people the means to stay alive. They’ve promised action, and now they need to deliver it. The support of MPs is in making sure this happens is absolutely crucial, and will be very much welcomed by communities everywhere”.

Although gains have been made in providing more treatment and prevention services, the target of achieving Universal Access by 2010 is badly behind schedule. With just 3 years remaining, over 70% of people do not have access to the HIV drugs they need to stay alive, while over 80% have no access to basic prevention services. As a result almost 6000 people die every day from AIDS-related illnesses, and AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa.