Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

12.00.00am GMT Thu 19th Feb 2009

Parliament has not been sitting this week but at the last Prime Minister's Questions before the recess I asked the Prime Minister what steps the government had taken in making sure the allegations of war crimes in Gaza are fully investigated.

I was disappointed with the Prime Minister's response.

It is clear that the Government are not taking a lead on this issue. I will be continuing to press for a full investigation by the International Criminal Court with those responsible indicted for war crimes.

I travelled down to London on Tuesday for meetings about the Welfare Reform Bill, which starts committee sessions next week. I am leading for the Liberal Democrats and I am concerned that in the current climate the bill is doing nothing to either protect existing jobs or help those unemployed to find a job. I will be tabling several amendments with these issues in mind.

Following this I met up with David and Ivy Geldard to show them around Westminster. They were in London as David was receiving the MBE from the Queen for his numerous charity works, especially with the 'Over the Hill' Bike Ride. It is a well deserved award in my view.

This week I have also visited a factory in Vienna where our new trams for Rochdale are being built. It is a sad fact that there are no factories in the UK capable of making these trams but this is due to the fact that there were no orders placed in the 80's and 90's. The one factory in Derby that could have built them was shut.

I fear a similar thing may happen to the ALSTOM train factory, also in Derby. Last week Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced the replacement for the ageing Intercity 125s to be built by Hitachi in Japan! If the government cannot support our own industry we can hardly expect other countries to do so.

Local government was very much to the fore in debates last week with motions to approve Police and Council expenditure as well as a debate on housing. Council tax increases will be set by councils across the country but the maximum expenditure is set by the government. For the second year running Rochdale will be left with a below average increase - due in part in my view to the hard work of Liberal Democrat Councillors like Greg Couzens.

Another Council issue that several constituents have contacted me about is the pay and grading review. This is a very difficult issue with the policy being set by the government but with no money to go along with it. Those Labour Councillors who claim this is the result of a Liberal Democrat run Council are simply hypocrits. Look at Labour run Salford or Tory run Bury and you will see the same thing happening and much worse with many jobs being axed. Like the Council Tax, it is the government who tell local councils what they must do without giving them any extra money. I agree that the loss some people are facing is unacceptable. However those 40% getting a pay rise are keeping very quiet.

Last Thursday I attended the annual Sports and Community Leaders Awards at the new Middleton Arena to present the unsung hero award. I was delighted that Brian Hurst of Littleborough Sports Club was recognised after over 25 years for his hard work and dedication. Other worthy winners included St Johns RC Primary School, Louise Brazier of Stansfield and Summit Tenants and Residents Group and Halima Begum of Deeplish Girls Group.

This weekend I am looking forward to attending St Gabriels ADMS show 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' as well as the conferment of the freedom of the Borough to Margaret Geoghegan MBE, an excellent lady who thoroughly deserves recognition for her work in establishing Springhill Hospice.