Dave's News Extras

Council repents over Crematorium

Birtley Crematorium (Photo: © Copyright Bilbo and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)

Many local families have strong links with the crematorium, and Dave, who backed their campaign, welcomed the decision.

Dave commented,

"I welcome the decision. Common sense has prevailed. I think the council underestimated how much the crematorium means to local people but has thankfully listened to their concerns."

25 years on, pit closures were a mistake

Dave has been championing clean coal technology which could mean that the centuries' supply of energy under our feet could be used.

Dave, who was a miner at Eppleton Colliery at the time, commented,

"We might not have won, we'd just have been a pain in the neck for the Government to a certain extent. Many people were crying when going back. At the bottom of the village there was the pit banner, families, men, women, children and grandchildren, people all saying 'well done'. We were proud in a sense of what we'd done.

"It was all pretty emotive. I don't think any of us realise how badly it would end and that Thatcher would close so many. There had been a pit at Eppleton since 1825. It was closed within the year."

Even John Redwood, a minister in Thatcher's government and an ardent supporter of her policies, now admits the pit closures "made no economic sense".

Concern over QE bed closures

The move from NHS bosses is to cut costs and they say it reflects the fact that more patients receive treatment in the community or as day patients.

Dave said,

"I was not aware any changes were being made to wards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. It would be respectful if myself and residents were not kept in the dark about the plans.

"I will be wanting to get in touch with those in charge to find out what the exact situation is and what affect it is likely to have on patient care. At present I am concerned patients and staff will be negatively affected by the number of beds being reduced."

Welcome for payout for pleural plaque sufferers

Sickness benefits will rise above inflation and some will be eligible for a £5000 payout. There will also be help tracking down employers' insurers and a research centre into asbestos related diseases.

Dave has vowed to fight on for full compensation, but in a joint statement with Stephen Hepburn MP, he stated,

"These improvements will make a huge difference in the future to anyone who is presently suffering from pleural plaques if they subsequently develop mesothelioma.

"While we are pleased that thousands of people with pleural plaques, including many in the North East, will be compensated if they registered a claim before the Law Lords ruling in 2007, we cannot hide our deep disappointment that our Government has not gone further by taking action to reinstate a compensation scheme for all pleural plaques sufferers."

Pleural plaques bill passes first hurdle

Dave, who has been a prominent campaigner on this issue, welcomed the passage of Andrew Dismore's bill.

Dave said,

"I have supported Andrew Dismore in his efforts and we have been part of the team trying to get the Government to reverse the disgraceful Law Lords ruling since 2007.

"I therefore strongly welcome the introduction of his Parliamentary Bill to ensure that people who have negligently been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with pleural plaques can pursue claims for compensation through the courts.

"It underlines the need for the Government itself to overturn the Lords ruling."

The bill has now gone to the House of Lords.

Dave backs the North-East

Launched by The Journal last week, the campaign has already gathered momentum as the region's leaders add their support.

Dave said,

"It is massively important. The truth is that if we don't stand up for ourselves, no one else will. And we have got a good case to make. The North East is a stronger position than has been. The best way to continue that is by working together."

Dave's early day Motion reads:

EDM 725
CASE FOR THE NORTH EAST CAMPAIGN
26.01.2010
Anderson, David
That this House supports the campaign Case for the North East, that has been launched by the Newcastle Journal to preserve the regional identity, pride and voice of the North East whose contribution to the UK counts even more with the growth of new green technologies and manufacturing industries already established in the region; notes that the North East currently contributes around £41 billion annually to the national economy; shares the Journal's view that the country's leaders need to do more to safeguard this contribution and offer targeted measures to get the most out of its businesses; and further endorses the need for recognition at the highest level that the North East's cultural renaissance and regional voice should be further developed, supported and strengthened.

Integrated education in Northern Ireland

He points out the divide between the communities and that only 6% of children are in integrated schools.

His Early day Motion reads:

Early Day Motion
EDM 746
INTEGRATED EDUCATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND
28.01.2010
Anderson, David
That this House recognises that sustainable power-sharing in Northern Ireland would be massively enhanced with greater moves to bringing Catholics and Protestants together in daily life, especially in housing and education; further recognises that these two communities are deeply segregated from each other; notes that only six per cent. of children attend integrated schools which seek to promote mutual understanding; and urges policy-makers to make increasing the size of the integrated education sector a far greater priority.

One Voice, more investment

The Tories plan to scrap the Regional Development Agency OneNorthEast in favour of smaller agencies each arguing its own little corner.

Having one single strong voice for the whole region gives the North-East more clout and a single voice has transport benefits for the whole region.

Dave said,

"It is one of the reasons we need a regional voice in terms of regional development agency One North East, because if it does become dispersed in different areas, people will quite rightly argue the case for their area first which may be detrimental to the long-term regional interest."

Breast Cancer Screening

He has tabled a Commons motion applauding "tremendous progress by the government and dedicated staff" in boosting access to cancer screening.

He said:

"This should provide further assurances to women that breast checks are effective."

And the Breast Cancer Campaign charity has backed Mr Anderson:

"We really appreciate Dave Anderson's enthusiastic support for the campaign and encourage others people across the north east to contact their Members of Parliament by going to the Breast Cancer Campaign website www.breastcancercampaign.org/election"

Last year 95,605 women were screened and 731 cases of cancer were detected, of which 589 were invasive. The current target age range is 50-70 but the widening of the screening programme from April 2008 includes those aged between 47-73 with full coverage expected in 2015.

Dave's Early day Motion reads:

EDM 724
BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN THE NORTH EAST
26.01.2010
Anderson, David
That this House applauds the tremendous progress made in recent years to increase access to cancer screening and to prevent premature deaths; congratulates the Government and dedicated staff for the fact that cases of breast cancer picked up by screening have already doubled in the North East over the last decade, which should provide further assurance to women that breast checks are effective; notes that 95,605 women were screened in 2009 and 731 cases of cancer were detected of which 589 were invasive; and further notes that the current target age range is between 50 and 70 years old, but that the widening of the screening programme from April 2008 included those aged between 47 and 73 years, with full coverage expected in 2015.

Some progress but 'crusade' goes on

But he is very disappointed that there is still no definite news for pleural plaque sufferers who were denied compensation by a 2007 Law Lords ruling

Of the government's plans, Dave said,

"This is not a take it or leave it option, just a proposal the Government will take to the unions. I am very disappointed and I have made that clear to the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary. But we have made progress and our crusade is not yet over."

"There is good news here. Those with mesothelioma will get quicker pay-outs, and a research centre, which has long been needed could now be built. These are not finalised proposals, but I am disappointed the decision doesn't go further. We will keep fighting for them."

Plaque verdict within weeks

There are concerns over the cost as many sufferers contracted the disease while working in then state owned industries. But Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, expects to make an announcement within weeks.

Dave said,

"The government says the costs of this would be between £26m and £41m every year for the next fifteen years. That works out at about 50p person in the UK each year.

"There has been some progress on compensation for mesothelioma and setting up a National Asbestos Research Centre. But there is still a huge argument about the financial implications."

The Prime Minister has asked Dave and the Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn to look at ways forward on this issue.

Dave's response to a letter in The Journal

The letter referred to Dave's recent participation in the Commons debate on Energy Security.

Dave's letter reads:

Norman Bateman (letters dated 21/01/10) comments on the fact that it would have been much more productive if I had spoken further about the potential for coal in the recent House of Commons debate on Energy. I couldn't agree more, this was exactly what I was aiming to do - and if we had not run out of time and I had been called to speak I would have contributed further.

I would have pointed out that if we had maintained the most technically advanced, safest and cleanest coal industry in the world then we would not need to import coal from the Ukraine where 7 miners are killed for every million tonnes that are produced, or from China where 6,000 miners are officially reported as being killed at work every year.

It is not propaganda to point this out; it is a statement of fact. The Tories did not have to run down the coal industry but they chose to. And their energy spokesman commented in the same debate that by doing so they delivered the cheapest energy prices in Europe.

Well you could claim that if you ignore the economic and social costs of the damage done to all of our mining communities and if you are prepared to ignore the fact that there is a huge amount of innocent blood on the coal that we are now forced to import.

Clean and plentiful coal could and indeed should have a future in this country, and we in the north east are leading the way on this, but it won't happen if we put price before everything else.

'We are not going away'

Dave and other MPs were due to meet Mr Brown this week but it was cancelled at short notice. This means further delay in helping the victims of pleural plaques gain compensation.

Dave said,

"It is imperative that the government departments who will have financial responsibilities accept their responsibility and work with us to put through the legislative changes required to reinstate the previous position. The Prime Minister needs to tell them to get on and do it. We are not going away."

Scotland leads on plaque compensation

The Law Lords backed the insurance companies in 2007, leading to a change in Scottish law which Dave wants for sufferers in England. He is meeting the PM on Wednesday.

Dave said,

"I believe what has happened in Scotland has shown the way forward for the Westminster Parliament doing exactly the same thing. We have been arguing that the Scottish way could have been implemented across the UK before now."

Things getting better

Citing the steel industry in the light of the Corus shutdown, he says it is important that the growth be maintained. He is meeting with steel industry bosses later this week.

Dave said,

"One of the key things we will be pushing for is for sectors such as the steel industry to be taken far more seriously now.

"We'll be meeting with steel bosses on Friday as part of a special hearing of the [regional select] committee and then taking their case to Whitehall.

"Because I have seen for myself just talking to people in Blaydon that things seem to be getting better, but we could so easily lose that growth if we do not act now to offer support to the manufacturing sector."

Victimisation at work

He says that while a small number abuse the tribunal system, they are not a problem and does not believe that measures designed to expose them should jeopardise the employment prospects of the vast majority of genuine victims.

Dave's Early day Motion reads:

EDM 542
VICTIMISATION IN THE WORKPLACE
06.01.2010
Anderson, David
That this House recognises that people who are victimised in the workplace or treated unfairly in the recruitment process need to be able to challenge employers and seek redress; understands that a very small number of serial litigants are abusing this right for financial gain and condemns their actions; does not accept that these individuals are a big problem, and does not believe that measures designed to expose them should jeopardise the employment prospects of the vast majority of genuine victims; further condemns the launch of a website by Gordon Turner of Partners Employment Lawyers and Damian McCarthy from Cloisters Chambers which allows employers to find out if a person has taken an employer to tribunal in the past; believes that such a website could be used to screen unfairly applicants who have legitimately taken their employer to tribunal in the past, which runs contrary to the Government's progress on dealing with the victimisation of trade union members; is concerned that such a website would be in breach of data protection laws; and calls on the Information Commissioner's Office to investigate whether the website is compliant with the Data Protection Act.

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