Tony Colman
MP for Putney writes
In this week's diary for
PutneySW15.com our MP covers families & the media, the Routmaster and David
Blunket's speech to the USDAW......
Families
and the Media
Two news stories concerning families have caught my attention in the last couple of weeks. One is the news that the average cost of raising a child is now estimated to be some £164,000. Whilst on a light note I am sure all parents would consider this money well spent, it does raise issues about the costs of raising children, especially childcare. I welcome the moves the Government has made in this direction, especially the £50 per week tax free from employers to employees announced in this year's budget and I encourage the Government to do more.
The second, more serious article was about father's rights, especially in cases of divorce. A family court judge found himself at the mercy of the current system after a messy divorce. I myself was a single parent for four years in the 1980s and know the difficulties both parents can face. But children do need their fathers as well as their mothers. Perhaps it is time that the judicial system in this incredibly sensitive and important area is looked at again.
Routemaster Buses
These much loved London symbols, found in Putney on the 22 route, are slowly being replaced. Although I am fond of the traditional buses I understand Transport for London's reasoning in replacing them. I am told that the majority of Routemaster buses have not been refurbished for ten years and would require considerable additional investment to bring them up to today's environmental standards and to make them fit for future use. New buses will also be much more accessible to people using wheelchairs and to those who are less mobile, for example the elderly or those with young children in buggies and the like. It also likely that replacing Routemasters will improve safety on London buses - there are greater boarding and alighting incidents on these traditional buses. That said, Routemasters are as much a symbol of London as red telephone boxes once were and I am glad that Transport for London are investigating ways of keeping some Routemasters in service, probably as a tourist service.
David Blunket USDAW Speech
I am pleased that David Blunkett spoke to the annual conference of USDAW on Tuesday 27 April. He urged retailers and shop workers to volunteer to help in the fight against crime against businesses and in the local community. I too add my voice to this campaign - we should all try to protect the success of local businesses in Putney.
For more information about what I've been up to and how to contact me go to my web site www.tonycolman.org.uk
To
check if I am your MP, please log on to www.locata.co.uk/commons
and enter your full postcode.
Tony Colman MP
For Labour Party information: www.labour.org.uk
For Government Headlines: www.ukonline.gov.uk
For Parliamentary Information: www.parliament.uk
April 22nd, 2004
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter
Comment on this story on the
Related
Articles
Dietry habits, Olympics 2012 & Parenting .......22.04.2004
Education,
Easter, World Health Day & Sport .....08.04.2004
Statistics, the budget, cuts in Council services, St. Cecilia's and drummers visting from Rwanda ....20.03.2004
Council Tax, Quit smoking, International Women Day, UNICEFF & much more..... 13.03.2004
St Mary's Primary School, Council Tax, Car Clubs and immigration 27.02.2004
Top up fees, a tribute to Hugh Jenkins, the Putney Hospital site & more....14.02.2004
Top up Fees, Wandsworth Citizens Advice Bureau, smoking, cruelty to animals & sporting life ........9.01.2004
Christmas, smoking, looking after your health and peace on earth 4.12.2003
Sustainable
Aviation Dbate, postal voting & Wandsworth & Merton Legal Resource Project
19.11.2003
Airport noise, effects of
Robin Hood Gate closure, Putney's Pensioners, Police Accountability and Fireworks
06.11.2003
Household
re-cycling, Wandsworth Art Festival & more ............ 22.10.2003
Top-Up fees, threats to close local primary schools and on the national stage
the Inter-Parliamentary Union 8.10.2003
Schools in Putney, local bus routs & cinema hours.......... 26.09.2003
The future of Putney Hospital, Winter Fuel Payments, the development
at Whiteland College & the Nike 10k run.......03.09.2003
Local Issues of Night Flights, affordable housing& Sure Start plus National & International issues. 10.07.2003
Richmond Park, school funding, carers & the Euro 13.06.2003
Transport Education and Putney in a globalised world 03.06.2003
School's admissions, Smoking (Restaurants) Bill & extra cash for the over 80's 17.04.2003
War in Iraq, the Arndale Centre and a bill to ban smoking in restaurants 03.04.2003
Planning, recycling, education and war are all on our MPs agenda. 21.03.2003
Busy with Local and International aspects of life 06.03.2003
Putney MP Quizzes Clare Short on Humanitarian Planning for Iraq 13.02.2003
Christmas in SW15 .....................20.12.02
Aviation, finance, local hospitals and local events all in this weeks diary........ 5.12.02
An eventful fortnight in Putney & Westminster........15.11.02
MP Welcomes Queen's Speech ....1.11.02
visits at Westminster from the Limbless Association (based in Putney) and the tour he gave to children from Linden Lodge School, plans to talk to the RPA and his stance on top up fees for students..... 01.11.02
The Garden Centre site & Richmond Park are yet again centre stage......10.10.02
Visit to the CCTV centre and his concerns on crime 01.07.02
"another small step in dragging politics in the UK in to the technological age."
Postwatch and London Housing Federation are under the MP's scrutiny.
MP for Putney announces 11 achievement awards to local primary schools
MP for Putney commends the work of four local community groups
Planning issues are top on Mr Colman's constituents' agenda
Tony Colman explains his motion to support UNIFEM in the fight against International Sex Trade.
MP's response to Terminal 5 go ahead
Lister Blasts Terminal 5 Decision
Putney Post Office Under Threat
First Putneysw15.com Diary Entry 8.11.2001
If you have a point to make about a local issue why not contribute to our forum