Denham calls on ConDems to be clear about fluoride policy

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has written to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to ask for clarification of the coalition government’s policy on the potential fluoridation of Southampton’s water supplies.

The letter reads: “I am writing to ask you to clarify urgently your position with regard to the fluoridation of water supplies in Southampton.

As you will know, the SHA proposed the fluoridation of water supplies in Southampton. Whilst in principle I support the health benefits of fluoridation, I urged the SHA not to go ahead with this policy without taking efforts to ensure that there was real public support for the proposal. In my judgement, a full consultation process failed to produce the necessary levels of support, even for a beneficial act of mass medication.

123,000 households in South East lose £624 from ConDem “emergency budget”

Itchen MP John Denham has reacted to the stark findings of research by the TUC into the effects of June’s “emergency budget”.

The TUC’s analysis of figures from the Department of Work and Pensions reveal that across the South East 123,000 households will lose £12 per week, or £624 over the course of a year, due to cuts in local housing allowance which will hit almost everyone in private rented housing who receive the benefit.

Mr Denham said: “Yet again we’re shown that regardless of what David Cameron says about ‘all being in this together’ it’s the poorest who are suffering the most from this new government.”

The proposed cuts, due to come into force in April 2011, include:

* the restriction of the bedroom entitlement to four bedroom rates;
* capping the amount that can be claimed under local housing allowance (LHA) at between £250 and £400 a week (depending on property size); and
* removing a £15 a week excess payment for tenants who find a good deal on rents.

Where do the Tories expect our children to play?

Labour MP John Denham has hit out at the decision made by the Government and the City Council to suspend the play area programme in Southampton.

Mr Denham said: “This will disadvantage the city’s children for no good reason. The money was there and there was no reason to cut it. Where do the Tories expect our children to play?

“Not only will our children suffer in the long run, but other young people will be hurt this year. Many of the city’s new play parks, funded by Labour, have been constructed by young people who have got jobs though the Future Jobs Fund. They will lose the chance of this valued work which has helped cut youth unemployment.”

Labour sets the standard tackling problem housing

John Denham leads Labour team to study Oxford Council’s action on HMOs.

While Southampton City Council drags its heels on tackling the unplanned spread of HMOs Oxford’s Labour council has set the national standard for dealing with bad landlords and poorly managed properties. A team of Labour activists from Southampton, including MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead, will be visiting Oxford tomorrow to learn from the council’s example.

The Labour team will meet with local MP Andrew Smith, City Executive Member for housing Joe McManners and council officers as well as visiting an area badly affected by HMOs.

Oxford’s Labour City Council enthusiastically supported John Denham’s moves to being HMOs under planning controls while a Government Minister. However, shortly after taking office the Tory-LibDem Coalition Government announced their intention to scrap Mr Denham’s plans. The replacement system has been described by Southampton planners as “unworkable”.

“Don’t waste the talents of a whole generation” urges Denham

With hundreds of young people in Southampton leaving education this month, Itchen MP John Denham has urged the Coalition Government not to cut support to youth jobs on a visit to the city’s Job Centre Plus.

Labour’s Future Jobs Fund has created over 4,500 youth jobs in the South East. But the government is scrapping this help, cutting university places and abolishing Labour’s Youth Guarantee of a job or training place for any young person who has been out of work for six months.

Figures released last week show the economy grew by 1.1% in the last quarter, nearly double official predictions. This proves Labour’s approach to securing growth was working, and that the Coalition’s programme of deep cuts puts the economic recovery at risk.

Ministers refuse to comment on whether New Deal will be cut

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham is challenging Government ministers to provide a straight answer on whether or not funding for Thornhill’s New Deal will be scrapped.

Thornhill has been benefiting from the second round of the New Deal for Communities regeneration scheme which is scheduled to be completed in Spring next year. However, it is widely suspected that the Coalition Government plans to cut funding to the scheme, forcing it to end this October, six months ahead of schedule.

At Community and Local Government Questions this week Labour MP Shabana Mahmood directly asked whether the Government was planning to cut the New Deal for Communities funding early. No Minister was prepared to answer the question until, after prompting from the Speaker, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles dodged the question.

Denham slams unfair treatment of Southampton buisinesses

John Denham has hit out at the Coalition Government’s decision to hinder business start-ups in Southampton – whilst new businesses starting in Bournemouth or other parts of Dorset will not have to pay National Insurance contributions on their employees firms in Southampton are being denied this assistance.

Mr Denham said: “The unemployment rate in Southampton is higher than in Dorset, so why are new businesses in the city being disadvantaged by the Tory-Lib Dem Government in this way?

“It is not clear that a National Insurance Holiday is the best way to encourage new businesses, but, as long as this is part of the Coalition Government’s plans, all parts of the country should be treated equally.”

Bitterne Walk-in Centre “too important to close” says Denham

John Denham reacts to the opening of discussions on the future of Bitterne Walk in Centre.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has reacted to Southampton City Primary Care Trust’s announcement of discussions on future provision of unscheduled care in Southampton and of Bitterne Walk-in Centre in particular.

Mr Denham said: “Bitterne Walk in Centre was one of the first walk-in centres in the country – a real pioneer. It’s popular with patients, an important local service and part of the community.

“If it isn’t currently meeting its purposes then its role should be developed in line with experience and patients’ wishes so that the healthcare challenges we face in Southampton can be properly met. It would be a real shame if the walk-in centre was simply given up on.

Denham calls on Coalition to protect tenants’ rights

John Denham today called upon the Government to retain the measures brought in by his former government department to protect tenants in Southampton from dodgy and absentee landlords. The Itchen MP warned that plans from the Coalition Government risked damaging the standard of private homes and the quality of life in their communities.

In the past few weeks the Government has announced it will sweep away key regulations introduced by the Labour Government to protect private tenants. These include a national register of landlords set up to allow tenants to make basic checks on their prospective landlords, and enable Southampton City Council to enforce letting rules more easily.

There are nearly 30,000 private tenants in Southampton, all of whom could be affected if regulations on their landlords are relaxed.

The Government also plans to remove laws which allowed councils to prevent the spread of Homes in Multiple Occupation and stop the damaging effects of absentee landlords.

Southampton’s Tories throw in the towel in schools fight

Labour MP John Denham has hit out at Southampton’s Tory councillors for giving up on Southampton’s secondary schools when they should be leading the campaign.

Mr Denham said: “During the General Election campaign David Cameron was quoted in the Echo as saying there was “no doubt” Southampton’s BSF programme would go ahead. Southampton’s Tories should be making their party leader keep the promise he made rather than simply throwing in the towel. They have given up before the fight’s even started.

“Two months ago the Conservative Council was going to go ahead with BSF; spending £2.4million preparing plans for eight schools. If our children needed the schools two months ago they need them today.