Page 45 - Phonebox Magazine February 2008

Out and About with Mark Lancaster
Our local MP
Mark’s recent visit to Lavendon Pre-School.
Collecting the petition signed by local residents calling for a crossing outside Olney Middle School.
Left: Mark with Olney resident, Rachael Passee, and head of Olney Infant School, Steve Dunning. Right: Head of Olney Middle School, Alison Waspe, Mark and Rachael.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mark Lancaster TD MP, 13a High Street, Newport Pagnell, Bucks MK16 8AR Tel: 01908 615757 Fax: 01908 618433
LAVENDON PRE-SCHOOL
I start if I may with an unashamed plug for the marvellous Lavendon pre-school which I had the pleasure to visit
recently, June Underwood and the other volunteers run an excellent facility but it is struggling due to lack of numbers. Short of arranging for something to be added to Lavendon’s water supply in an effort to increase child numbers, can I simply encourage everyone to support some of the many fundraising activities that are held to help raise money to keep this facility up and running.
Having tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the subject it appeared that my concerns were shared by others and in the end my motion was signed by 220 other MPs, more than any other of the 700 or so motions before parliament, including some 86 Labour MPs. EDM’s are sometimes dismissed as ‘political graffiti’, a way for MPs to let off a bit of steam on a subject or perhaps a way for parliament to test the feeling on an issue. Rarely, very rarely, are they picked up by the house and discussed on the floor of the House, so imagine my delight when this was exactly what happen with my motion early last month. I confess my hopes were high, if just a handful of those Labour MP’s who signed the motion voted for it Government would be forced to think again. But alas pressure was applied and we had the ridiculous sight of MP’s either abstaining or voting against the very same motion they had previously claimed to support. Is it any surprise that politicians are held in such low regard by the public.
Not to be downhearted, the subject is too important for that, I followed up the debate with questions to both the Secretary of State and indeed my first Prime Minster’s question to whom I asked:
OLNEY SCHOOL CROSSING
Shortly before Christmas I handed over the petition signed by several hundred local residents calling for a crossing outside Olney Middle School. I have since received the reply from Cllr Chris Williams from Milton Keynes effectively saying ‘no’ because it is felt that other factors, such as the Driftway opening and the potential change to a 20mph limit, will help alleviate the problem. It is not a view that I share and I will press on with the campaign. For those who would like to see the council’s reasoning I have published the email in full on my website www.lancaster4mk.com
OPEN UNIVERSITY
Sticking with education, but at the other end of the academic spectrum, my month in Westminster has been dominated by my campaign to get the Government to reverse its ridiculous short sighted decision to withdraw funding for those wishing to study for an equivalent or Lower qualification, a move that is set to have a dramatic impact on establishments such as the Open University where up to £30m in funding could be lost.
“Only yesterday, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to do more to help the Open university, yet last night the Government voted effectively to cut its budget. How exactly does his decision to stop people studying for second degrees square with his supposed commitment to lifelong learning?”
The answer alas was far from encouraging but I will press on!
POST OFFICE CLOSURE
The looming threat of further Post Offices closures continues to hang over us in the constituency. Having toured the TV stations highlighting local concerns, I have now taken further positive steps by encouraging Milton Keynes Council to follow the example of the local authority in Essex, who have got the Post Office to open up the books of threatened Post Offices to the local authority in an effort that a sustainable plan can be produced to keep them open.
Finally, as you read this Olney will probably be in final preparations for the annual pancake race. My apologies in advance because for the first time in seven years I will be absent but all in a good cause, I will be in Newton in Sierra Leone visiting some of the projects facilitated by our marvellous ‘Olney Newton Link’ but more on that trip next month! K
Phonebox Magazine 45