The Commons Touch
Published 9 Jun 2011 09:00
Job losses
THE recent announcement that West Dunbartonshire was the most difficult place to find a job in the UK was extremely worrying, highlighting the real problems that we face in the local area.
Unfortunately, there has been more bad news in the past few weeks, with the announcement that both the Job Centre Plus Contact Centre and Driving Test Theory Test Centre in Clydebank are to close and relocate to other areas.
Whilst it is hoped that job losses can be avoided, I am deeply worried by the attitude of this Conservative-led Government towards areas such as ours.
In addition, the news this week that the funding for Ontowork re-employment programme in Alexandria has been withdrawn has further increased concerns about the support available within the constituency.
Given the increasingly serious issues affecting West Dunbartonshire, I have written to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, asking for a moratorium on cutting jobs in West Dunbartonshire. I have requested that a Minister comes to our area to understand the employment challenges and discuss solutions.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Coalition don't understand the difficulties that their cuts are causing for ordinary people.
Clyde Coastguard
HOPES have surfaced of a reprieve for the closure threatened coastguard operations centre on the Clyde following indications from the Government that closure plans will be scaled back.
The Transport Secretary has given a strong hint that the Government will u-turn on the coastguard closure plan and reprieve some of the stations identified for the axe.
That will raise hopes that there could be a future for the Clyde station.
People in our area have real concerns that lives will be put at risk on the Clyde if this closure goes ahead.
Local knowledge is crucial to maritime rescue, not just for the rescue teams but by the operations centre staff too.
People are understandably worried that local knowledge and safety will be compromised if local coastguard operations are transferred to Aberdeen.
I am again calling on the Tory-led Government to ensure the Clyde station is saved, and that local maritime safety is not put at risk.
Deaf Connections
THIS month in parliament I met members of the deaf community to back the VRS Today! campaign for a Video Relay Service (VRS) to be made universally available to British Sign Language (BSL) users within the UK - a technology which allows them to place calls to hearing people through an interpreter.
VRS has been available to sign language users in other countries for several years.
I was delighted to meet local man Gordon Chapman, who runs Deaf Connections, to add my support to the campaign after seeing firsthand the impact that VRS can have upon deaf people's lives and ability to communicate.
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 07 Jun 11
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Opinion archives.
