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Watch live coverage of debates, committee meetings, speeches, and Prime Minister Questions on Parliament Live

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Local newspaper for communities in and around Burslem, Tunstall, Cobridge and Middleport.

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The Angel magazine - an update on the Burslem Regeneration Process

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Bills and Legislation

Please click here to see a full list of the Bills that have been introduced to Parliament this session.

Bills in Parliament in 2008

As we move into the new-year I thought it would be a good time to talk about the Bills which will be going through parliament in the next 12 months and what these will mean for us here in Stoke-on-Trent. It is certainly going to be a busy year ahead trying to deliver the key reforms needed but I am confident that this package of measures will bring real benefits to our constituency

I will give a brief summary of each of the major bills and if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact my office:

Housing and Regeneration Bill-

This is a key Bill to deliver greener and more affordable housing. The Bill will drive forward the Government’s pledge to build 3 million new homes by 2020. It includes:

Affordable Housing- The Bill establishes the new Homes and Communities Agency which will focus on delivering more new and affordable homes across all tenures and will drive and invest £8bn in regeneration. To be delivered through shared ownership schemes, key workers schemes, housing associations and local councils.
Council Housing- The bill makes it possible for local councils to build more council houses and frees housing associations from red tape allowing them to concentrate on building new homes
A New Deal for Social Tenants- Establishes a new watchdog for social tenants called Oftenant to ensure housing associations provide a good service to their tenants. Gives tenants more say on the future of their homes and compels councils to co-operate if tenants wants to transfer ownership of their homes (ie to a private housing association)
Greener Housing- stringent building requirements will compel house builders to build all new homes as zero-carbon homes by 2016
Eco-Towns- Ten Eco-Towns to be built across the UK. Although none of these will be in our constituency I believe that this is a welcome move towards a sustainable future

Issues for Stoke:

Will be central to much of the regeneration work going on in the city
Increasing the supply of council housing is particularly significant. With over 8000 people currently waiting on the housing register increased council housing is desperately needed

Energy Bill-

The Energy Bill aims to address all aspects of UK energy to ensure long term supply and energy security. It introduces a range of measures to address the twin challenges of tackling climate change and securing energy supplies.

The Bill includes:

Encouraging development of offshore gas infrastructure,
Carbon Capture and Storage- a competition for the 1^st commercial scale demonstration
Strengthening the Renewables Obligation, to encourage increased generation of renewable energy
Protect taxpayers money in the decommissioning of energy installations (nuclear, renewables, oil & gas)
the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations

Issues for Stoke-on-Trent

Though I oppose the development of new nuclear power stations I welcome the increased incentives to develop renewable energy. This is without doubt a benefit to everyone in Stoke-on-Trent and the country as a whole as a cleaner environment is crucial to all our futures.

Climate Change Bill-

The Climate Change Bill will make the UK the first country in the world to have a legally-binding long-term framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. It will:

put into law targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and 26-32% by 2020, against a 1990 baseline. This commitment will be reviewed to see whether it should be stronger still
Set a new system of legally binding five year “carbon budgets”, set at least 15 years ahead, which will set binding limits on CO2 emissions. This in turn will provide clarity on the UK’s pathway towards its key targets and increase the certainty that businesses and individuals need to invest in low-carbon technologies.
establish the Committee on Climate Change, to provide independent expert advice and guidance to Government on achieving its targets and staying within its carbon budgets and will report to Parliament annually.
Commit the Government to review the implications of including greenhouse gases and emissions from international aviation and shipping in the overall targets
introduce the Carbon Reduction Commitment, a new cap and trade scheme for large organisations not already covered by other schemes

Issues for Stoke-on-Trent

A hugely important Bill which will go a long way to protect our environment

Whilst the bill is very much welcomed there is some concern about what effect the Emissions Trading Scheme may have upon the competitiveness of our heavy industries such as the ceramics industry. I have been consulting with the Government to ensure that these concerns are considered when the carbon allowances are calculated

Planning Reform Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to streamline and improve planning decisions including introducing a single consents regime for major infrastructure projects and further measures to simplify the town and country planning system. It will:

Establish an infrastructure planning commission for nationally significant infrastructure such as airports and power stations
Speed up the enquiry stage in the decision making process
Allow decisions to be made according to national needs rather than local objections
Reduce the ability of local authorities and local people to block large scale infrastructure projects

Issues for Stoke on Trent

Will help to speed up regeneration projects in Stoke by making planning permission much easier to be get

Education and Skills Bill

This is a landmark Bill which will extend educational opportunity to young people and adults. It will:

raise the education and training leaving age to 17 from 2013 and 18 from 2015. This can be full time education, work based learning such as an apprenticeship or part time education/training if they are working
By 2013 apprenticeships will be made available to every young person who wants one
Support for people with special educational needs to enter education or training post 16
It will give adults new rights to basic and intermediate skills training, to be administered by the Learning and Skills Council
Establishes the National Youth Volunteering Programme to encourage social involvement and participation amongst young people

Issues for Stoke-on-Trent

The Bill offers real opportunities for Stoke in improving educational attainment and re-skilling local people
The sharp increase in apprenticeships could be vital to the re-skilling of our workforce here in Stoke. If there are any employers who would like to know more about offering apprenticeships please contact my office
Stoke has been granted £240,000 for the National Youth Volunteer Programme. If you have any ideas or would like to enquire about voluntary projects please contact my office or call the North Staffordshire YMCA on 01782 864 500. You can also get more details on the Youth Involvement section of this website.

Health and Social Care Bill

The Bill:

Establishes a single regulator called the Care Quality Commission to focus on safety and quality issues across health and social care services in both the NHS and the private sector. This Commission brings together existing health and social care regulators into one regulatory body, with tough new powers to ensure safe and high quality services.
The new regulator will have a key role in tackling and preventing Healthcare Associated Infections through annual infection control inspections
The public health protection part of the Bill provides a comprehensive set of public health measures to help prevent and control the spread of serious diseases caused by infection and contamination. (MRSA etc)
Introduces a pregnancy health grant of £190 to all expectant mothers in the final weeks of their pregnancy

Issues for Stoke-on-Trent

Provides better regulation of the city’s hospitals and reduces chances of infections such as MRSA

Employment Bill

The Bill is a key piece of legislation to protect the rights of vulnerable workers and ensure that employers understand and abide by their responsibilities. The Bill:

Protects the rights of vulnerable workers by increasing the penalties for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage
Replaces the current statutory dispute resolution procedures with a new non-regulatory system, as part of a wider programme to help resolve disputes at an earlier stage and improve the way employment tribunals work.
Provides clearer rights for trade unions to determine the membership (largely designed to prevent BNP members joining trades unions)

Issues for Stoke on Trent