Viewpoint from Westminster - 27 November 2008




	VIEWPOINT FOR 27 NOVEMBER 2008 FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR It is desperately disappointing to report that my representations to the Secretary of State responsible for awarding the Post Office Card Account to the Post Office who told me there was an appeal process for post office closures, to the Minister of State responsible for the Post Office and the Minister for the West Midlands have not led to movement on the post office closures. The last sentence of my last letter to the Minister for the West Midlands was, *"I shall continue to apply for an adjournment debate to highlight the deficiencies of official consultation processes as in Wyre Forest we are experts on this topic".* _________ This week there is a final rush of Bills that have to be completed before pro-rogation so we can start afresh with a new Queen's Speech next Wednesday. 1..We have had the Planning Bill where most of the Lords' amendments were accepted but a Labour back bench amendment, that I thought was sensible, fell because it had not been formally put before time ran out. 2..This was followed by a motion about the remuneration of the new Information Commissioner which was accepted without a vote even though, at £140,000 per annum, his salary will be over twice that of the head of the new Care Quality Commission that has the job of monitoring all health and social care services. 3..We have also had the final stages of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill, 4..the Pensions Bill 5..and the Banking Bill which will allow the Government to invest heavily in the failing banks it has identified. 6..Also we heard the Chancellor's pre-budget statement which most commentators believe is a gamble which will either make the recession shallower and shorter as the Chancellor hopes, or have little effect other than to increase the chance of a change of Government at the next election. ________ Last Friday I visited Stourport High School to judge the Stourport Life Skills Partnership youth cookery challenge competition based on the BBC Ready Steady Cook programme. Five pairs of students were involved and given bags of ingredients by Giovanni the School's head chef who inspired and encouraged the competitors. The results were delicious and visually attractive. I was glad not to be the only judge and with great difficulty we gave first prize to "Curry in a Hurry" and second to a super cheesecake. Thanks are due to the head teacher and staff for encouraging this exciting and rewarding competition and to Paul Powell of Barnardos Dudley Community Routes for his vital support. ________ The Stourport Three Kings Procession, followed by the switching on of the Christmas lights was amazingly well supported by many hardy souls despite the cold and the rain. At least it was not raining for the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Kidderminster and it was good to see this privilege awarded to the young winners of a competition based on their letters to Father Christmas. The rain was intermittent for the Kemp Hospice Santa Fun Run last Sunday and it was possibly unique to see more than 200 Father Christmases spread out across Brinton Park as they set off. R.T. © Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern 1995-2008 (webdesign@chaddesley-corbett.co.uk)
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