Alison Seabeck MP-News

Alison counts the cost of rheumatoid arthritis

Alison Seabeck MP has met members from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to highlight how rheumatoid arthritis affects not just the health of her constituents but the health of the economy. A recent report from the charity found that the costs to the UK economy of the condition amount to almost £8 billion, whilst NHS spending on the disease in Plymouth is just £15.18 per head of population. Alison said "Recent reports highlight that earlier diagnosis and treatment could not only limit the progression of the disease but also deliver significant savings for the NHS and wider economy. People with rheumatoid arthritis deserve to receive care and treatment on the NHS and I commend the work of the NRAS in highlighting the variations in spend and quality of service across the country. I will be speaking with Plymouth Primary Care Trust to find out what they are doing...
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Committee Election Success

Alison Seabeck MP has been successfully elected by her fellow MPs onto two powerful committees in the House of Commons. Alison will now serve on the Defence Select Committee and the Back Bench Business Committee. In the elections for the Defence Select Committee, Alison won more votes than any other Labour MP and will now serve on this committee over the coming Parliament. Alison will use her position to make sure that the government makes decisions in the best interests of our brave men and women in the military and to ensure that the Government doesn't make any rash decisions about the future of HMNB Devonport or the dockyard. Alison has always fought hard to secure Plymouth's future at the heart of the Navy and she will continue to do so on the Defence Committee. The Back Bench Business committee is a new body set up in...
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Water Bills

Alison raised the issue of high water bills after obtaining a debate on the issue in parliament. This long running issue had been championed by former Plymouth Labour MP Linda Gilroy. Alison has wasted no time in making it clear to the new government that she intends to maintain the pressure for action on high water bills in Plymouth and the South West. Text of Speech Thank you Mr/Madam Deputy Speaker I'm very grateful for the opportunity to hold this debate and to be the first to raise this issue, in this new Parliament, on behalf of water bill payers in Plymouth and the wider South West. The problem we face is simple - water rates in the South West are 25% higher than the UK average, placing an unfair burden on the budgets of my constituents and all residents across...
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dockyard

Alison has welcomed today's announcement that the Ministry of Defence and Babcock Marine have finalised the Terms of Business Agreement (TOBA) concerning the running of Devonport Dockyard. This sets the framework for Babcock Marine's fifteen year exclusive relationship with the MOD to provide fleet maintenance. The announcement confirms the role earmarked for Devonport under the Maritime Change Programme as the lead yard for deep maintenance on submarines and surface ships by effectively guaranteeing Devonport Dockyard work for the next 15 years. Linda Gilroy MP said "Today's news cements the importance of Babcock to the dockyard and to Plymouth. It guarantees over the coming years the continuation of our historic and mutually beneficial relationship with the Royal Navy and is an important milestone for the City's defence sector. Babcock Marine have their headquarters in the City which puts Devonport at the forefront of their operations". Devonport is set to become the...
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Waste Treatment Plant at Ernesettle dropped

I have been campaigning for almost two years on this issue and therefore welcome this decision. It has been a long campaign but one which has fired local people to action and the establishment of STIFLE to really take the bull by the horns and press the case was an important step on the way to getting Ernesettle taken out of the equation. We now have to take the battle forward for Weston Mill and need to ensure that local people's view are heard and that they have full access to all the facts - both for and against the plant being based in the Yard. The voice of local residents must be heard. Alison, MP for Plymouth Devonport said that the scrapping of Ernesettle was welcome but that the site at North Yard was not. “We need the widest possible consultation on this issue. The voice of local residents must...
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Volunteering England

Volunteering England, the volunteering development charity, drew up the pledge as a way for MPs to demonstrate their commitment to volunteering and their support for the efforts of voluntary workers in their constituencies. Alison Seabeck made the following pledge "I will work hard to support volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers, both in my constituency and across the country. I will do this by: Recognising the value of volunteering in building a strong society Promoting positive messages about volunteering Encouraging more people to give their time by helping free volunteers from red-tape Supporting the organisations who support volunteers" Alison said"Volunteering has rarely played a more important role in society. Right now, in Plymouth, Devonport many people are giving their time to help others: Delivering meals to elderly residents, mentoring young people to help them secure a brighter future, providing much needed support in hospices and hospitals, and...
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Food is Fun

Alison joined parents of pupils at St Budeaux's Tamarside Community College and celebrity chef Peter Gorton as part of the Food is Fun Programme. The chef, from the Horn of Plenty restaurant at Gulworthy near Tavistock, visited the school's Cooking From Scratch group, which is made up of parents keen to learn more about food. He took them through their culinary paces and helped them create a Thai curry, a pineapple chutney, and white and dark chocolate brownies. The club started up last year with a handful of parents. The school says it has grown this year – and now includes parents of children at feeder primary school, Riverside. Tamarside provides the ingredients, the recipes and the food technology rooms for members of the club. Phil Wilkinson, assistant vice-principal, said: "It was an absolutely fantastic event. Cooking From Scratch has snowballed over seven to eight months and we are now...
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Appeal on Expenses Upheld

Alison Seabeck MP has had a demand for repayment of nearly £800 in parliamentary expenses overturned on appeal. Former High Court judge Sir Paul Kennedy ruled that it had been shown there were "special reasons" in the case of Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Devonport and that it would not be "fair and equitable" to force her to pay an outstanding sum of £794. Ms Seabeck was among nine MPs whose appeals were upheld in whole or in part by Sir Paul. Five MPs had their appeals rejected including Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox, and Communities Minister Shahid Malik....
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MICHAEL FOOT

MICHAEL FOOT, who died yesterday at the age of 96, was the father of modern Plymouth. Alison Seabeck, Labour MP for Plymouth Devonport, said: "The thing that struck me was his passion for people, politics and football. He was a lovely man and everybody who knew him will miss him." As MP for Devonport from 1945 to 1955, he fought at Westminster for materials to rebuild the blitzed centre of Plymouth, where his father was Lord Mayor after the Second World War. Mr Foot died shortly before 7am yesterday at his home in Hampstead, north London. He had been ill for some time and had been receiving 24-hour care. Tributes poured in from all over Plymouth for the man whose love of the Labour Party was matched only by his love of Plymouth Argyle Football Club. Argyle chairman Sir Roy Gardner said: "It is with great sadness that...
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Alison Welcomed Local Government Minister John Healey

Alison welcomed local Government Minister John Healey to meet with City business leaders to discuss the impact of the downturn on Plymouth’s economy.Mr Healey spent the morning talking to entrepreneurs and members of the Chamber of Commerce about the economic prospects Plymouth faces in the coming years. He then visited the Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership, and spoke about how businesses can counter the credit crunch. Mike Leece, chairman of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce asked the Minister what the government could do for Plymouth, to help Plymouth achieve it's growth agenda."...
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Alison Invites Inspector Gary Neeves to 10 Downing Street

Alison invited Inspector Gary Neeves, Neighbourhood team leader to a reception at 10 Downing Street in recognition of the hard work of local officers who are all helping make residents feel safe in their community. Neighbourhood Policing is based on teams who work within specific locations or "neighbourhoods". They provide reassurance and accessibility through a consistent visible presence. They also have a good knowledge of the area, its community and any issues or problems associated with it. They work with the community and partner agencies to address long term issues that affect people's quality of life. The latest MORI survey shows 71% of local residents trust the police with 69% of residents saying they feel safe walking alone at night. Every two years MORI undertake an independent household survey of all 39 New Deal for Communities (NDC) Partnerships in the country. This year’s survey of the Devonport NDC also...
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Junior Housing Minster Sees Community Improvements In Barne Barton

Alison showed a Government Minister what a community can do when it works together. Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright visited the new community outreach centre in Roberts Road, Barne Barton, yesterday. "I'm very proud of what the community in Barne Barton has done," Alison said. "When I first came here three years ago, people told me Barne Barton was like Beirut. I've never seen that myself, but Barne Barton has changed hand over fist in three years. "The improvements are largely down to community activities and people doing things for themselves." The picture shows from left to right Brian Moore (Filby Moore Associates) Alison Seabeck MP, William Sutton Homes Chief Exec Neil McCall, Melv Chislett, Chair of SABBR residents group, and Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright....
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Alison Invited Health Minister Ben Bradshaw to Barne Barton

Alison invited Health Minister Ben Bradshaw to Barne Barton to support the resident’s call for improved community facilities on an ex-Naval estate in Plymouth. Local leaders and partners from the health service and city council are working together to attract multi-million pound funding for community facilities including a GP surgery. The Government Minister said it was "clear" Barne Barton had been left without sufficient infrastructure. Mr Bradshaw spoke yesterday during a tour of Plymouth which included meeting health bosses, as well as clinicians involved in the city's "pioneering" community-based back pain service. 20 January 2009 Alison is pictured above with Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Health and the South West and Pat Patel, Project Manager for Barne Barton’s Tamar View Community Centre....
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Integration Through Culture – Dance, Dance, Dance

Alison was delighted to join the multicultural extravaganza aimed at promoting racial harmony hosted by the University of Plymouth. More than 120 performers took the stage to dance in a range of styles, including Indian, Cornish, Chinese, English, Nepali, belly-dancing, line-dancing and break dance. Alison said “it was a fantastic event, I came last year and was so looking forward to seeing the dancers, some professional and some from our amateur city groups” and the bonus is over £500 was raised for Cancer Research UK”....
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John Kitto Community College Visit

Alison visited John Kitto Community College, where she was able to view the excellent IT and Teaching facilities at the Brunel Centre. She learnt how money allocated through the National Challenge has been used to target pupils, who are at risk of not achieving in Maths and English. Pete Grainger, Principal of the college, said the additional funding had made a real difference. They discussed the proposals for John Kitto to become an Academy and the resulting rebuilding and refurbishment of the school that would take place. Pete Grainger said there was a real opportunity for the new school to become a flagship academy with excellent facilities not just for students, but also for the wider community....
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