Julie Morgan MP

Daily Bulletin: Wednesday 28 February

Today, Julie is in London. The business in the House of Commons will include oral questions to International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, and Prime Minister Tony Blair. The main business will be the remaining stages of the Offender Management Bill.

Reducing poverty

Presenting up to date figures on the government's work in tackling poverty and social exclusion, Tony Blair said Labour’s many successes were an "untold story". He went on to argue that Labour’s challenge now was to tackle the problems faced by the small numbers of families that had been left behind.

He criticised simplistic arguments from the Tories who portrayed recent guns and gang incidents as some sort of marriage versus lone parents argument. The PM said: “The debate is about how you target measures specifically on those families, some of whom will be lone parents but some of whom will be couples …That's the issue. The issue is whether you've got this generalised social breakdown — which I dispute — or whether in actual fact what you have is a specific problem with specific families that have been left behind by the general system.”

He said: “If our concern is those groups of kids or their families who are shut out of society's mainstream who are causing problems for themselves and their families, my point is ... recognise that the problems of these families go far far deeper. Unless we are prepared to take I think quite tough measures with support at a very early stage then we are not going to deal with this problem.”

Guns and blood sports ... a very modern Mr Cameron

The Mail on Sunday has revealed that David Cameron regularly goes deerstalking and boasts he can blast two stags in one go. It’s apparently one of the reasons he takes regular holidays on the vast Scottish estate owned by his wife's stepfather, Viscount Astor (by tradition, when a stalker shoots his first stag, he is 'blooded' with the animal's blood smeared over him; the animal is then disembowelled).

Asked about hunting, shooting and fishing by local Tories during his selection for Witney, Cameron said: "I take part in the first two but haven't got the patience for the third."

However, when he was asked recently about his love of Jura, his story changed and his passion for hunting seemed to escape him. He said: “I love swimming in the sea there. The beaches are beautiful and I love to fish.”

Fan of the Tory leader, Bruce Anderson, revealed on Sunday: “David has been stalking deer for 20 years or more. He is very good with a gun. I have seen him shoot a stag. He has the 'right-left' knack whereby you shoot two deer in one go before they run off. Only the best stalkers can do that.” Absolutely!

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Daily Bulletin: Tuesday 27 February

Today, Julie is in London. The business in the House of Commons will include oral questions to Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander and Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly. The main business will be the remaining stages of the Greater London Authority Bill.

Headlines

More than 1.7 million people in the UK will have dementia by 2051, experts have forecast; a suicide bomber has killed three people outside a US airbase being visited by Vice President Dick Cheney; and evidence is being presented to the International Criminal Court on war crimes in Darfur.

Politics

Immigrants should carry out community work before being given citizenship, says Gordon Brown; the Government is due to launch its parenting strategy; and key powers have ended 'productive' talks on Iran in London.

Border control

The Tories have set up a working group on creating a policy on UK borders. They claim they will use money saved from scrapping planned identity cards, as well as savings in the Home Office budget, to fund the plans for a border police.

Julie said: "The Tories seem to forget that border agencies already work together in joint teams like the new Serious and Organised Crime Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre. Labour's approach has increased the numbers doing the job, given them new powers they need, and encouraging them to work together successfully in joint teams — without going through the cost and distraction of changing cap badges."

Labour’s Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne, said that David Cameron's plans were nothing more than "posture politics backed up by fantasy finances". He said: “Cameron’s plans to shut down Britain's ID infrastructure will prevent us stopping illegal journeys and tackling illegal jobs . . . His plans will render this country defenceless against illegal migration.

“How is he going to pay for his plans? There is no magic pot of cash for ID cards sitting in the Home Office for him to switch, so he will have to introduce new taxes to pay for it. The real test as to whether David Cameron is serious about tackling illegal immigration will be in Parliament when we see whether he supports Labour's plans for compulsory ID cards for foreigners that organisations from major employers to MigrationWatch support."

No EU constitution by the back door

The Prime Minister's spokesman yesterday dismissed suggestions that the EU constitution could be brought in "by the back door". Britain has said that any new proposal would have to clear French and Dutch public opinion.

Downing Street said that the leaders of the EU nations would not sign up to any constitution at the forthcoming EU summit, and pointed out that German Chancellor Merkel had said that this was not the time for these discussions.

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Daily Bulletin: Monday 26 February

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The business in the House of Commons will include oral questions to the Defence Secretary, Des Browne. The main business will be the seventh allotted Opposition Day of the Session, with debates on the state of the Royal Navy and the integrity of the electoral system.

Headlines

Dame Helen Mirren has been named best actress at the Oscars; the UN's top court has cleared Serbia of the charge of genocide; and initial findings are due into the rail crash in Cumbria last Friday.

Politics

Key UN nations are meeting in London for a summit on Iran; the Defence Secretary is due to confirm the deployment of another 1,000 men and women to Afghanistan; and radical Islamic cleric Abu Qatada has lost his appeal against deportation.

Tackling gun crime

Senior Labour politicians have been reacting to recent media coverage of the attitude of a minority of Britain's youth towards gang culture.

Tony Blair said in an interview with the BBC on Thursday: “It’s absolutely shocking but I think we’ve got to be very careful in saying that is the state of Britain today. That is the state, horrifically, of a very small number of children in particular areas within specific cultures, who are getting into this gun and gang way of life. But as I’ve heard from many of the people I’ve spoken to, for example in Moss Side in Manchester, actually there are enormous improvements that are happening in those communities, but they’re not reaching that small group of people.”

He said: “We have halved the number of kids in absolute poverty, we’ve boosted family incomes at the lower end, we’ve put more people into work, we’ve got the New Deal and Sure Start and all these things for families. But the truth is, and this is what I’ve learnt in the ten years, is that for this specific number of families who are just outside of the mainstream of society you need very specific measures, and in particular in my view you’ve got to intervene very early with these children, sometimes aged six or seven you can tell that these children are going wrong.”

Home Secretary John Reid visited Hackney on Friday to explore how police, community leaders and local people are working together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. On his walkabout around the Borough with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and local police officers, the Home Secretary saw how responsive safer neighbourhood policing is helping to make people feel safer by cracking down on violent crime, anti-social behaviour and graffiti.

Reid said: "Police on the streets, backed by police community safety officers, help to protect whole neighbourhoods. Hackney's 19 safer neighbourhood teams provide responsive policing and reassurance to the diverse communities that live here, and this has led to a 16 per cent fall in overall crime this year.”

Drugs and alcohol

The Government announced on Friday that £54.3m in capital funding would be spent to improve in-patient and residential drug and alcohol facilities and access to those services. The money will be used to increase capacity and improve outcomes for patients.

This investment will mean more places for patients, improvement to buildings and improved access to services for all client groups. The successful bids include provision for women only facilities and for women with children, as well as families with children, individuals with disabilities, offenders and those at risk of offending, and individuals from black and minority ethnic communities.

Announcing the allocations, Labour’s Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint said: "The Government is committed to increasing the availability of in-patient treatment and residential rehabilitation for substance misusers. This money will provide additional beds and improvements to service quality for some substance misusers with some of the highest levels of need. Better services will bring about better outcomes.”

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Daily Bulletin: Friday 23 February

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The House of Commons will consider Tory MP Gary Streeter's Private Members Bill on Disabled Children (Family Support).

Labour vs. the Tories: it's a straight choice in Wales

Prime Minister Tony Blair today addressed Welsh Labour's annual conference in Llandudno, reinforcing the message to voters ahead of the Assembly elections on May 3: it's a straight choice between Labour or the Tories.

Praising the strength of First Minister Rhodri Morgan’s leadership, Blair warned that voting for any of the opposition parties in the Welsh election would usher in a Tory led rag-bag coalition government in the Assembly. He said it would be a vote for the unknown that would put Welsh Labour's record on the economy and public services at risk.

He said: “The policies of our opponents are not consistent with one another. They are not even consistent within their parties never mind consistent between their parties.

"What policy they have on education? We would not know. What policy on health? We would not know. What policy on economic development?"

He added: “If that happened, think then for the people who are making investment in the economy of Wales. Don't take the economic strength of Wales for granted. The school improvements, the record NHS investment — it didn't happen by chance. It happened because Wales has had strong leadership which in partnership with a strong Government in the UK, that was delivering a strong economy and deciding to make that investment. If you want it to continue there is only one sure certain way for it to continue. Return Rhodri and Welsh Labour on May 3.”

Rhodri Morgan has unveiled a £1bn package to drive forward improvements for the people of Wales, including:

·       £450m for social housing
·       £100m for safer roads
·       Free childcare for two-year-olds in Communities First areas
·       A £200m business investment plan.
·       More cash for anti-graffiti and litter-collecting squads.

The PM said: “I think the programme Welsh Labour has put together is exciting, it's progressive, it's modern, it addresses the needs of the people of Wales."

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Public meetings such a good idea

This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

During the ten years I've been an MP, I've held many public meetings. They are one of the best ways of finding out what is on people's minds, providing a forum for their views.

Last week, for example, I held a public meeting on the renewal of Trident. As you may be aware, in December of last year, Tony Blair laid out plans to build a new generation of submarines for Trident missiles over the next 17 years, although the plans also include cutting the number of warheads by 20% and the number of submarines from four to three. The House of Commons is due to vote on this issue next month.

As someone who was there when the women set off from Cardiff to Greenham Common in 1981 to protest against the presence of nuclear weapons at the RAF base in Berkshire, my instinct is not to vote for Trident renewal. I think it's important, however, to consult with the public and to review this issue again.

I was pleased to see a packed meeting last week — the room was full of a variety of people, from Labour Party members (among whom there are sincere differences of opinion), members of CND and members of the public.

We had a good, emotionally-charged debate, with strong views expressed on both sides. Those for renewal emphasised the uncertain and unpredictable world we now face and the fact that a nuclear deterrent seems to offer a degree of safety. Those against were unconvinced whether Trident would work as a deterrent against an enemy we can't identify and feared investing in nuclear weapons would set off another costly arms race.

It was good to have the debate. My inclination is still to vote against renewal, but I will continue to inform myself about all aspects of this issue.

I look forward to public meetings, particularly the next one I'm holding on Saturday 10 March in Ararat Church from 10am to 12.30pm, to celebrate the bicentenary of the ending of slavery.

On this and many other issues, it's so important for people to be able to get together and have their say. I'm convinced this makes for a lively and engaged community and it is clearly one way that people can reconnect with the political process.

Hope on occupational pensions

There is hope that there will be progress on the issue of occupational pensions after a promising statement in the House today from Pensions Secretary John Hutton. Here's the text:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. John Hutton): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I want to make a statement on yesterday’s judgment on the Government’s response to the ombudsman’s report concerning the security of final salary occupational pension schemes. Given the importance of the issue to many right hon. and hon. Members, I want to inform the House of the position that we have reached both in the light of that particular ruling and the decision last month of the European Court of Justice on the implementation of the insolvency directive.

The High Court yesterday made five rulings in its judgment. I want to take each in turn. Its first ruling was that the ombudsman was entitled, on the evidence available to her, to reach the conclusion that official information published on the minimum funding requirement for pension schemes was inaccurate and potentially misleading, and therefore amounted to maladministration. The Court particularly criticised the then Government’s guide to the Pensions Act 1995, which was published in 1996. This, it concluded, gave the clear impression that following enactment of the new law, scheme members could be reassured that their pensions were safe whatever happened.

The Government had, in good faith and acting on proper advice, taken a different view from that of the ombudsman, on the basis that the leaflets concerned were not a full statement of the law and were for general guidance only. However, we clearly now need to study the Court’s ruling very carefully. In particular, we need to consider the possible implications across government of the Court’s significant proposition, on which this ruling was based, that findings of fact made by the ombudsman are binding, unless they are flawed, irrational or peripheral, or unless there is fresh evidence.

The Court’s second ruling related to the important issue of causation. The ombudsman had found that maladministration was a significant contributory factor in the creation of the financial losses suffered by individuals. She went on to argue that everyone who between 1997 and 2004 suffered losses on the winding up of their pension scheme was the victim of injustice because of maladministration. The Government had argued that that was not well founded. The Court found in favour of the Government on this point, describing that aspect of the ombudsman’s report as “logically flawed and unreasonable.”

The Court’s third ruling rejected the ombudsman’s finding that the Government were guilty of maladministration when they made changes to the pension scheme funding rules in 2002. It decided that the ombudsman’s finding was not logically sound. In its fourth ruling, the Court also dismissed the claim that the Government’s refusal fully to restore the pension entitlements of all affected scheme members was in breach of the European convention on human rights. The Court’s fifth and final ruling concluded that I should reconsider the ombudsman’s recommendation that the Government should consider making arrangements to restore fully the pension losses of the people concerned when their employers became insolvent.

In a clear sign of both the complexity and, yes, the importance of these matters, both sides have sought and been granted permission to appeal. We have not yet decided the precise grounds for such an appeal, but it is absolutely right and proper that we take time to study the judgment and consider its implications in detail.

The judgment of the European Court of Justice in January on the implementation of the insolvency directive has an important bearing on the issue of financial redress for those who have lost some or all of their pension entitlement. The decision of the European Court of Justice effectively requires the Government to reconsider whether the present arrangements offer sufficient protection for people’s pensions when their employer becomes insolvent. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the system of protection that was in place before 2004 did not comply with the terms of the directive, even taking account of the subsequent introduction of the financial assistance scheme, albeit before its 2006 extension. We are already reviewing the financial assistance scheme with that finding in mind. It is now for the High Court to be asked to decide whether damages for breach of the directive should be paid, taking account of the steer apparently given by the European Court of Justice that damages may not be payable.

The Government have already acted to provide substantial financial assistance to people who lost pension rights when their employers became insolvent. The financial assistance scheme, supported by £2.3 billion of public money, has been set up precisely for that purpose. Throughout, we have always sought to ensure that those who have suffered the most should receive financial assistance to mitigate their loss. At the same time, we have sought to strike a balance with the interests of taxpayers, who cannot be asked to accept responsibility for effectively underwriting the total value of pension savings.

In considering the right way forward, we are always prepared to consider practical proposals from both sides of the House. I can confirm also that, so as not to add to their financial difficulty, we will meet the costs of the applicants in this case so far, together with the costs associated with our appeal.

People who have lost their pension rights in these circumstances have suffered a great deal. My aim will be to return to the House with our conclusions and our proposals for how we should proceed, and to do that before the conclusion of proceedings on the Pensions Bill.

The news that there will be a new package for those such as the Allied Steel and Wire workers who have suffered through losing their pensions is welcome. Responding to the statement, I asked the Secretary of State:

Julie Morgan (Cardiff, North) (Lab): I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement, particularly his concluding remarks, and I hope that there will soon be an end to the misery that so many of our constituents have experienced. I am thinking in particular of the 800 Allied Steel and Wire workers from Cardiff who lost their jobs, some of whom also lost all their pension. I hope that they can sleep soundly in their beds, confident that the Government are going to come up with something good for them. Is my right hon. Friend aware, however, that there are people in my constituency who have worked for 30 years and paid in dutifully for 30 years, as the Government advised, but who have ended up with absolutely nothing under the present financial assistance scheme arrangements? Will he take them into account when he makes his statement to the House during the passage of the Pensions Bill?

Mr. Hutton: We are looking at all these issues in the context not only of yesterday’s High Court ruling but, most importantly, of last month’s ruling of the European Court of Justice.

I am going ahead with tabling an amendment to the Pensions Bill currently before the Commons to improve the position for the ASW workers. I will continue to keep constituents updated on this crucial issue — at last it appears we may have some good news to look forward to.

Daily Bulletin: Thursday 22 February

Today, Julie is in London. The business in the House of Commons will include oral questions to Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling. The main business will be a motion on the prevention of terrorism and a debate on public health in England.

Improving life chances

A survey among more than 1,000 lone parents in the UK has shown that over three-quarters (77%) of respondents who have gone back to work say that working has made them feel more independent and 73% felt more confident. The research was commissioned by Jobcentre Plus and carried out by One Parent Families, the national charity for lone parents and their children.

Those who took part in the survey were asked to compare their working lives to the time spent caring full-time for their children. Most agreed that the benefits of work went beyond just financial security, with over half (57%) of those back at work saying that work made them feel more satisfied with life generally.

Respondents who were working were particularly positive about the wider impact of work on their lives: 69% said that it gave them a sense of identity; 67% said work made them feel more sociable; and 65% said that working gave them a greater sense of achievement.

Cameron facing both ways on road pricing

Under the slogan "Conservatives say 'No' to road tolls", David Cameron's Tories have launched a Scottish election campaign opposing road pricing. This is despite the fact that, in January, Cameron told the Oxford Mail:

"We should also look at road charging. There isn't an endless pot of money — so I think new roads may need to be paid for by tolls or some form of road pricing."

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Daily Bulletin: Wednesday 21 February

Today, Julie is in London. The business will include oral questions to Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Prime Minister Tony Blair — watch live here from 11.30am. The main business will be an Opposition Day on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services.

Headlines

Rhetoric continues to ratchet up in the nuclear dispute with Iran; Robert Mugabe has said that he has no intention of stepping down as President of Zimbabwe; and Hollywood celebrities have raised $1.3 million for the Presidential campaign of Barack Obama.

Politics

Tony Blair is expected to announce the return of hundreds of troops from Iraq to the UK; the PM has responded via e-mail to the petition on road pricing on the Downing Street website; and their has been a victory in the High Court for four people who lost their pensions when their occupational scheme collapsed.

Priority offending programme cuts crime

A new, more intensive way of tackling offenders has cut their offending by almost two-thirds, a report reveals today.

An Impact Assessment of the Prolific and other Priority Offender Programme shows that conviction rates for 7,800 offenders who had been through an intensive programme of supervision fell by 62 per cent after 17 months of the scheme.

The Prolific and other Priority Offender Programme (PPO), which was launched in September 2004, aims to prevent prolific offenders from reoffending by monitoring, training, accommodation and drug treatment over a period of two years. Those who reoffend face a fast track back to the courts.

Labour Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: "This targeted approach to tackling crime and re-offending among prolific offenders works. Drug treatment, where required, helps individuals and protects the public by cutting crime. The results of this evaluation are very impressive and show that if we can focus on dealing with the small number of most problematic offenders, including problematic drug addicts who are responsible for large amounts of crime, we can improve the quality of life for communities.”

Child poverty report 'out of date', admit Tories

After all the ructions about a Unicef report saying that the UK was the worst place out of 21 countries to grow up, the Tories have admitted that the report is actually out of date.

Asked about the report, key Cameron ally Michael Gove, MP for Surrey Heath, said: "I'm mildly sceptical about the Unicef report, I have to say. I think that, without being drawn into its details, some of its methodology and some of its facts are mildly out of date and again, not that I'm desperately keen to show how generous I am ... but nevertheless I think it was actually unfair to the Government."

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Daily Bulletin: Tuesday 20 February

Today, Julie is in London. The business in the Commons will include oral questions to Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett. The main business will be the remaining stages of both the Planning Gain Supplement (Preparations) Bill and the Income Tax Bill.

Headlines

At least ten people have been killed in heavy fighting in the Somali capital; Iran and Russia are rowing over payments for a nuclear power plant; and the Office of Fair Trading has said that the NHS is paying too much for branded drugs.

Politics

MPs are warning of doubts over the plans for London's 2012 Olympics; Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman is resolute on road pricing; and Leader of the Commons Jack Straw has undertaken a U-turn on the voting system for the upcoming Lords reform debate.

Road pricing and petitions

Writing in the Observer, Tony Blair has said: "The million-strong e-petition against road pricing on the No 10 website is an opportunity, not because I share the petitioners' views — I don't — but because I know the country needs to have a full debate on how we tackle road congestion and this petition has helped spark it.” You can read the full article here.

Asked about the petitions on the BBC on Sunday, Tony Blair said: “It's the way the world is today, and it's a perfectly good thing, if the technology's there use it. The fact that people haven't got the means of articulating their view doesn't mean to say they don't have a view. So you might as well find out and then have a debate about it.”

He explained the opportunity the site provides, pointing out that: “I was able, on identity cards, to send an email back which can reach the thousands of people who've petitioned against identity cards, just saying ... here's the other side of the argument." Take a look at the petitions website here.

Julie said: "We need a full debate on all measures which could help to tackle congestion on the roads, including congestion charging and road pricing. This is particularly important for us here in Cardiff with so many cars on the roads."

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Daily Bulletin: Monday 19 February

Today, Julie is in the constituency. The Commons returns today after the half-term recess and the business will include oral questions to Home Secretary John Reid and his team of Ministers. The main business will be motions relating to benefits uprating, followed by a debate on "Human Rights: Values, Rights and Responsibilities".

Headlines

The leaders of India and Pakistan say that a bomb blast hitting a train between their two countries will not derail their peace process; a suspect has been arrested in the hunt for the letter bomber who among other targets struck the DVLA in Swansea; and the US is hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders for talks.

Politics

The House of Lords is challenging the Government over its plans to reform mental health laws; the Government has been urged to end the ban on the tapping of MPs' phones by the security services; and the independent reviewer of terrorist legislation says that control orders are justified, but must be used as a last resort.

Women held back by Tories, empowered by Labour

Welsh women cannot afford a return to Tory rule in Wales, Labour will say today on the day Cherie Blair visits Cardiff North.

On a visit to a story time club in Whitchurch, Cherie Blair will say that Welsh Labour's programme of action for women represents the real priorities of the women of Wales.

Cherie will say: "Women such as Sophie Howe, our candidate for Cardiff North, have been able to get ahead because of Labour. Welsh women can pursue a successful career, play a full part in bringing up their children — and even stand for election.

"Welsh Labour's programme for women represents the real concerns of women in Wales. It is a positive plan to allow more women to pursue a successful career if they wish to, but also to empower women by allowing them to feel safer and more secure."

Sophie Howe will say: "For years, women were held back by the Tories. They remain an outdated party, unable to offer women the opportunities they need. Welsh women can't afford a return to Tory rule.

"Welsh women deserve the chance of a prosperoud life, deserve to be able to live in safe neighbourhoods, pursue well-paid careers and feel secure about their health."

Welsh Labour's priorities for women include:

• More and better childcare — better childcare for families across Wales, free part-time nursery care for two year olds in our most disadvantaged communities
• More Children's Centres — providing more families the opportunity of wraparound childcare by establishing more integrated children's centres in every area of Wales
• Tackling domestic violence — improved support for victims
• Safer public transport — improved lighting and security at train and bus stations across Wales
• Quicker treatment for cancer patients — Labour will cut waiting times for patients with suspected and diagnosed breast cancer

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