Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has called for “a massive change” in the way the Royal Mail Group is managed during yesterday’s debate on the Postal Services Bill in the House of Commons.
Brian said: “The Post Office is a bust flush. Its management needs rejuvenating, its workforce is demoralised and its pension fund is in a massive deficit. If that does not add up to a company that is totally off the rails, then I don’t know what does.”
Poor workforce relations at Royal Mail are well documented and the relationship between management and the Unions remains difficult.
Brian said: “The lesson should go out to the whole House that bringing in from private sector people who are sometimes seen as bully boys is not in the best way to produce good industrial relations.”
Appealing to Postal Services Minister, Ed Davey, to encourage a higher quality of management Brian said: “The truth is that the success of the Post Office will revolve around better relationships with the workers, better modernisation and removing the great pension fund burden.”
“Any new management must recognise that the whole market place has moved so quickly that there are very many opportunities, but it will take creativity, courage and bravery on the part of that management to achieve the success that the organisation is capable of.”
“Can I urge the Minister to explain how he intends to attract the high quality management which is so central to the success of the operation?”
Friday, 29 October 2010
Monday, 25 October 2010
MP calls for review of care home deaths
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has written to the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley MP and urged him to look into the deaths of five elderly residents at Parkside House Residential Care Home him as a matter of urgency.
In his letter Brian stated: “The conclusions of the report found the residents had suffered ‘Severe Neglect’ at the hands of staff and you will therefore understand just how serious this case is.”
“The case is made worse by the fact the home had been inspect by the Care Quality Commission in November of 2008 when it was judged to be adequate.”
Brian continued: “Secondly, There is good reason to believe that the Care Quality Commission tried to delay the publication of the serious case review and I have it on good authority that attempts were made to water down the findings of that review.”
Brian also criticised the role of the Coroner: “Despite the fact that evidence suggested ‘severe neglect’ no inquest was held into the deaths, no details were released at the time, and a verdict of natural causes was recorded.”
“The Coroners job is to protect the general public and to raise the profile of any misdemeanours which may be taken up with the relevant bodies. This didn’t happen and the public were let down in that respect.”
Brian has written to both the Care Quality Commission and the County Coroner to ask for a full explanation of their actions and for both authorities to seriously look at the case again as a matter of urgency.
In his letter Brian stated: “The conclusions of the report found the residents had suffered ‘Severe Neglect’ at the hands of staff and you will therefore understand just how serious this case is.”
“The case is made worse by the fact the home had been inspect by the Care Quality Commission in November of 2008 when it was judged to be adequate.”
Brian continued: “Secondly, There is good reason to believe that the Care Quality Commission tried to delay the publication of the serious case review and I have it on good authority that attempts were made to water down the findings of that review.”
Brian also criticised the role of the Coroner: “Despite the fact that evidence suggested ‘severe neglect’ no inquest was held into the deaths, no details were released at the time, and a verdict of natural causes was recorded.”
“The Coroners job is to protect the general public and to raise the profile of any misdemeanours which may be taken up with the relevant bodies. This didn’t happen and the public were let down in that respect.”
Brian has written to both the Care Quality Commission and the County Coroner to ask for a full explanation of their actions and for both authorities to seriously look at the case again as a matter of urgency.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
MP “WEARS IT PINK” for Cancer Campaign
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South is joining forces with Breast Cancer Campaign to raise awareness of its award winning fundraising event, “Wear it Pink Day”, supported by Vanish.
On Friday 29 October 2010 supporters in schools, colleges and businesses throughout the country are encouraged to don an item of pink in support of Campaign and each donate £2 to fund innovative world-class breast cancer research.
Last year over one million people took part in Wear it Pink to help improve survival rates for the one in nine women who experience breast cancer during their lifetime.
Brian said: “Every year in the UK, over 45,500 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women. Although it is rare, men can also suffer from breast cancer, with around 300 men diagnosed each year.”
“I know people who have lost friends and family members to the disease and I would like to encourage everyone in my constituency of Northampton South and throughout the country to support Wear it Pink on October 29, to raise valuable funds for breast cancer research.”
To take part in the UK’s original and best pink day call freephone 0800 107 3104 or visit www.wearitpink.co.uk and register to receive your free fundraising pack now. Wear it Pink is supported by Vanish, which has committed to raising an incredible £250,000 for the charity this year.
MP calls for fairer force funding
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South continued his campaign for a fairer funding system for Northamptonshire Police when he headed a delegation from the County which met with Policing Minister Nick Herbert MP yesterday.
Brian said: “Yesterdays meeting was a great chance for the County Constabulary to put its case directly to the Minister; it was of particular importance because of the pending Comprehensive Spending Review which could further disadvantage the County’s Police Force.”
Northamptonshire Police has lost £1.884 million pounds over the last three years because of the way formula grant funding and damping are calculated.
Brian said: “The Minister welcomed the Police Forces commitment for change and recognised the savings it has already made and assured me that they are looking very hard into this case.”
Brian continued: “I am confident that there will be changes in the future which will mean Northamptonshire will be less disadvantaged and I urged the Minister to consider a tapering system.”
Brian said: “Yesterdays meeting was a great chance for the County Constabulary to put its case directly to the Minister; it was of particular importance because of the pending Comprehensive Spending Review which could further disadvantage the County’s Police Force.”
Northamptonshire Police has lost £1.884 million pounds over the last three years because of the way formula grant funding and damping are calculated.
Brian said: “The Minister welcomed the Police Forces commitment for change and recognised the savings it has already made and assured me that they are looking very hard into this case.”
Brian continued: “I am confident that there will be changes in the future which will mean Northamptonshire will be less disadvantaged and I urged the Minister to consider a tapering system.”
Friday, 15 October 2010
MP backs motion calling for smoking ban review
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has once again called on the Government to review the smoking ban in pubs and working men’s members clubs.
Brian was a sponsor of a Bill in the House of Commons yesterday which called for a review and which was narrowly defeated by 141 votes to 86, a margin of only 55 votes.
Brian said: “The Bill stood little chance of being approved by the House but a Ten Minute Rule Motion gives the tabling Members an opportunity to gauge what support there is for the issue within the House.”
“It is clear that there is a sizeable amount of support in the House for a review of the smoking ban in pubs and clubs. 86 Members voted in favour of a review and my EDM also has a large number of supporters.”
Brian has pledged to continue to push the Government for a review of the smoking ban claiming that:
“The former Health Minister, John Reid MP, promised that a review would be held three years after the implementation of the ban but the Government is now saying that it has no plans to do so. That denial is simply unacceptable.”
“Seven pubs a day are going out of business and 2000 clubs have gone to the wall and there is a drastic need of help. Smokers can be fully accommodated in pubs and clubs in segregated smoking areas or rooms if suitable, effective extraction systems are installed. In other words we can achieve the same result with a less draconian approach whilst not turning all smokers into second class citizens”
“I also believe strongly that landlords should have the freedom to choose whether or not they want to accommodate smokers within their pubs and as a result this could really help the Trade.”
Brian was a sponsor of a Bill in the House of Commons yesterday which called for a review and which was narrowly defeated by 141 votes to 86, a margin of only 55 votes.
Brian said: “The Bill stood little chance of being approved by the House but a Ten Minute Rule Motion gives the tabling Members an opportunity to gauge what support there is for the issue within the House.”
“It is clear that there is a sizeable amount of support in the House for a review of the smoking ban in pubs and clubs. 86 Members voted in favour of a review and my EDM also has a large number of supporters.”
Brian has pledged to continue to push the Government for a review of the smoking ban claiming that:
“The former Health Minister, John Reid MP, promised that a review would be held three years after the implementation of the ban but the Government is now saying that it has no plans to do so. That denial is simply unacceptable.”
“Seven pubs a day are going out of business and 2000 clubs have gone to the wall and there is a drastic need of help. Smokers can be fully accommodated in pubs and clubs in segregated smoking areas or rooms if suitable, effective extraction systems are installed. In other words we can achieve the same result with a less draconian approach whilst not turning all smokers into second class citizens”
“I also believe strongly that landlords should have the freedom to choose whether or not they want to accommodate smokers within their pubs and as a result this could really help the Trade.”
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Get Banks Lending to Business
Brian Binley MP for Northampton South has called on the Government to do more to improve bank lending to small businesses during the second reading of the Finance Bill in the House of Commons.
Brian said: “The situation for many small and medium sized businesses is dire.”
“Figures produced by the Bank of England claim that lending to businesses increased by 0.9% in August, but if we dig a little deeper, we find that a large proportion of those loans were issued in foreign currency, and actual lending in pounds sterling decreased by £400 million.”
“The truth of the matter is that banks are lending less than they were 12 months ago.”
Brian is especially concerned that bank lending could be further damaged if the Basel Committee’s recommendations are implemented in December, which would require banks to build up their capital asset base, taking more money out of the economy at a time when business needs access to working capital to finance growth.
Creating better lending conditions for small and medium sized business will grow the jobs and produce the wealth the country so desperately needs and is especially vital to Northampton which experienced one of the fastest growing unemployment rates under the previous Labour Government.
Brain said: “Research suggests that 24% of businesses are struggling to come to terms with current increases in the cost of money and the new capital requirements will compound that situation.”
Brian continued: “The Government needs to recognise that the new capital requirements called for by global regulators should be balanced, and their implementation should be sensibly programmed to ensure real money is made available to support growth in the SME sector.- if that means getting tough with the banks then so be it.”
Brian also called on the Government need to go even further: “They need to provide greater choice and competition in the high street, particularly in the banking sector.”
“I appeal to the Chancellor to talk straight, talk tough and talk honestly to the banks, many of which we now own. They have a responsibility, not only because we bailed them out, but because they were a major factor in getting us into trouble. "
“The message should be heard loud and clear that banks should face up to their responsibilities and recognise that it really is time they came to the aid of our nation.”
Brian said: “The situation for many small and medium sized businesses is dire.”
“Figures produced by the Bank of England claim that lending to businesses increased by 0.9% in August, but if we dig a little deeper, we find that a large proportion of those loans were issued in foreign currency, and actual lending in pounds sterling decreased by £400 million.”
“The truth of the matter is that banks are lending less than they were 12 months ago.”
Brian is especially concerned that bank lending could be further damaged if the Basel Committee’s recommendations are implemented in December, which would require banks to build up their capital asset base, taking more money out of the economy at a time when business needs access to working capital to finance growth.
Creating better lending conditions for small and medium sized business will grow the jobs and produce the wealth the country so desperately needs and is especially vital to Northampton which experienced one of the fastest growing unemployment rates under the previous Labour Government.
Brain said: “Research suggests that 24% of businesses are struggling to come to terms with current increases in the cost of money and the new capital requirements will compound that situation.”
Brian continued: “The Government needs to recognise that the new capital requirements called for by global regulators should be balanced, and their implementation should be sensibly programmed to ensure real money is made available to support growth in the SME sector.- if that means getting tough with the banks then so be it.”
Brian also called on the Government need to go even further: “They need to provide greater choice and competition in the high street, particularly in the banking sector.”
“I appeal to the Chancellor to talk straight, talk tough and talk honestly to the banks, many of which we now own. They have a responsibility, not only because we bailed them out, but because they were a major factor in getting us into trouble. "
“The message should be heard loud and clear that banks should face up to their responsibilities and recognise that it really is time they came to the aid of our nation.”
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