Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th May 2008

Can I begin by congratulating Councillor Alan Taylor and his team of Liberal Democrat Councillors on a fantastic result in last weeks local elections. Throughout the campaign they focussed on the positive things they are doing to improve Rochdale rather than the negative tactics of our opponents. They now have two years to get on with the job!

Rochdale has been very much in the media of late - for good and not so good reasons. Last Friday morning I appeared on GMTV with Shadow Conservative Minister Chris Grayling discussing employment and the numbers on benefits in the Falinge area.

Yesterday I spoke on Radio Manchester on the same issue following a visit from the Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell.

I'm delighted with the interest these politicians are showing in our town but after 11 years of a Labour government should there still be such large numbers of people unable to get a job? I know from talking to local people they are getting fed up with the media. They want to see action. I am currently working with the Council and its partners to put proposals before government for positive action.

The Dale are also very much in the news and their match against Darlington was also on TV. I travelled up to Darlington last Saturday with my nephew Matt to watch the match. It was great to see so many fans getting behind our team and Rochdale deserved to win - they dominated the match! I hope Saturday's game goes Keith Hill's team's way. Keith and his staff have done an excellent job and we're all praying for a trip to Wembley!

This week in Parliament has seen the second reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Bill which has attracted a lot of interest. I voted against the Second Reading on a free vote and next week we will be discussing some of the most controversial aspects of the bill.

I was pleased on Wednesday to be able to welcome Joyce Creagh and her daughter from Littleborough to lobby me about this bill as well as Jason Addy who attended a meeting of the All Party Asbestos Group.

On Wednesday we had the "mini" budget as well as the Prime Minister's Pre Queens Speech statement. The Government are in a real spin at the moment. I'm not sure that this budget will help given it still leaves 1 million people worse off. I questioned the PM on his Welfare to Work Proposals which are just a rehash of existing policy.

Last Friday I was pleased to visit Mecca Bingo in the town centre and Tony the manager let me call a line which I enjoyed. ('Two Little Ducks' - came up!) I spoke to many people there, mainly women who enjoy an odd flutter.

Yesterday I was meeting representatives of local retailers concerned about the Governments' proposals to ban the public display of cigarettes in shops. This seems to be the nanny state gone mad in my view. By all means restrict the sale of tobacco and publish health warnings but does it really stop someone old enough who wants to buy cigarettes if they are not on display? I would be interested in your views. Please email me: paul@paulrowen.co.uk.

This weekend I'm due to take part in a sponsored walk in the Dales organised by Rotary.

Next week I am due to deal with amendments from the House of Lords on the Child Support Agency Bill which reforms CSA payments. After which I'm hoping to have a visit to the new Wembley to shout for the Dale! We're keeping our fingers crossed that the town I was born and bred in succeed!