SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF SOUTH ESSEX AND OTHERS

24th October 2006

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of residents of South Essex and others,

Declares that the Petitioners are deeply concerned about the future of the Local Government Pension Scheme, LGPS, and call for full protection of pensions benefits in the future on terms not less favourable than other new public sector pension schemes.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Government to give full protection of pensions benefits for existing members of the LGPS, in line with the agreement for every other public sector pension scheme and to ensure that the new LGPS is based on no less favourable terms than all the other new look public sector pension schemes.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM THE PEOPLE OF WORSLEY, BOOTHSTOWN AND ELLENBROOK

24th October 2006

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of the People of Worsley, Boothstown and Ellenbrook

Declares that the Petitioners call for bus services which have been re-routed and cut to be re-instated to alleviate the difficulties that we are now experiencing.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Transport Secretary to request the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority to discuss with local transport providers ways in which bus services can be re-instated on routes where they have been recently cut.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM USERS OF POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNTS

24th October 2006

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Users of Post Office Card Accounts.

Declares that the Petitioners believe that individuals should have the choice to continue to receive their pension, family allowance or benefits paid weekly in cash, at their local Post Office through the Post Office Card Account. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Department for Work and Pensions to reconsider its decision not to renew the contract for Post Office Card Accounts.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Department for Work and Pensions to reconsider its decision not to renew the contract for Post Office Card Accounts.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH OF DACORUM AND OTHERS [TWO PETITIONS]

25th October 2006

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of residents of the Borough of Dacorum and others,

Declares the Petitioners' serious concerns about the plans of West Hertfordshire hospital NHS trust to cut health provision, including the removal of all acute services from Hemel Hempstead Hospital. The Petitioners further declare that these cuts aim to generate financial savings and do not take into account clinical expertise and need.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Health to use her powers to reverse the proposed plans, and visit Hemel Hempstead Hospital at her earliest opportunity in order to address the residents' concerns.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS AND WORKERS OF THE DACORUM DISTRICT OF HERTFORDSHIRE

25th October 2006

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Residents and workers of the Dacorum district of Hertfordshire,

Declares that the current consultation of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust is flawed and seeks to damage our local health service. It overlooks the fact that Hemel Hempstead General Hospital is modernised and has the benefit of the adjoining Paradise site, which is in public ownership. To move acute services and maternity to an already overcrowded Watford Hospital, which is due for demolition and rebuilding, would be extremely detrimental to all people in West Herts. Furthermore, Hemel Hempstead has the largest population of any town in Hertfordshire and has just been declared a growth area.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to call in the current flawed consultation of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the Petition [28th March] from residents of North Fambridge against the erection of a telecommunications mast at White House Farm, Ferry Road, North Fambridge, Essex.

The proposals by Orange PCS Ltd to install a 22 metre monopole with associated antennae and transmission dishes within a compound at White House Farm, Ferry Road, North Fambridge is the subject of a planning appeal.

The appeal is being progressed by the written procedure and arrangements will be made in due course for the Inspector appointed to determine the appeal to visit the site so that a thorough assessment can be made of the likely impact of the proposals on the surrounding area.

It would not be appropriate for ministers or officials to comment on the proposals since to do so could prejudice the Inspector's impartial consideration of the case. Appellants have an automatic right of appeal and the Secretary of State is obliged to decide appeals as expeditiously as possible. I can, however, assure you that all written objections, both at application and appeal stages, will be taken fully into account in deciding the appeal.

24th October 2006

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the Petition [29th March] from Andrew and Julie Wright against the removal of children's doorstep play areas in North Bretton, Peterborough.

The current doorstep play areas in Bretton have been in existence for many years, but do not meet standards for safety. The final decision on the removal and replacement of doorstep play equipment rests with the local authority, in this case Peterborough City Council. The council is spending £35k on new play equipment in Bretton within the current financial year and will provide four new play areas that meet the standards required.

Arrangements for public consultation into new play areas are currently being finalised and will take place in Tyesdale, Pyramid and Heltwate Community Centres. The proposal is for play areas to be constructed in the following potential locations: Watergall and Pyhill in North Bretton and Tirrington and Drayton in South Bretton. Although some of the doorstep areas have already been removed, Bretton Parish Council, working in partnership with Peterborough City Council, has in effect stopped the removal of any more play areas until the public consultation has been completed.

25th October 2006

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Secretary of State for Health on the Petition [21st June] from Mr D Scott and others for a moratorium on the prescription of Seroxat.

The Government takes the concerns expressed about the side effects of Seroxat very seriously. The safety of Seroxat has been under consideration by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and other regulatory authorities within the European Union and worldwide for a number of years.

The report of a rigorous 18 month long investigation by an Expert Working Group of the Committee on Safety of Medicines into suicidal behaviour and withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat (paroxetine) and other antidepressants of the same class (the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs) was published in December 2004, alongside the publication of guidelines on the treatment of depression by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

In reaching its conclusions the Expert Working Group considered a large body of safety evidence from a wide range of sources including clinical trials, reports of patients' experiences and feedback from meetings with patient support groups including the Seroxat Users Group.

The Expert Working Group concluded that the balance of risks and benefits of most SSRIs for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents was negative and they should not be used in this population. The Expert Working Group concluded that the balance of risks and benefits of all SSRIs in adults remains positive; however prescribers and patients should be more aware of the side effect profile of these medicines and the need for close monitoring of patients.

Healthcare professionals were informed of the key findings of the Group, and both the final report of the Group and the letter to health professionals were made available on the MHRA website. A questions and answers document for patients was also published on the website, a statement was laid in Parliament, and a press conference was held to inform the national press of the findings of the Group.

At the same time as the Expert Working Group's review, a detailed review of the balance of risks and benefits of Seroxat was conducted by the European Commission's scientific advisory committee, the Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The Netherlands took the lead in the review and the conclusions were consistent with those of the CSM's Expert Working Group.

The safety of Seroxat remains under continual review and earlier this year GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactures Seroxat, published an updated analysis of their adult clinical trial database. These data are under consideration by the MHRA, other European Regulatory Authorities, and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America and new prescribing advice will be issued as appropriate.

We want to ensure that patients and prescribers make fully informed prescribing decisions and the Seroxat patient information leaflet has been extensively user-tested to ensure that the information on the use of Seroxat and possible side effects is clear and accessible.

The Health Select Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Health and its associated bodies. Its remit does not include investigation of the safety of individual medicinal products. Such investigations are the remit of the Government's independent scientific advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines (formerly the Committee on Safety of Medicines).

20th October 2006

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [25th July] from Peter Price and others for speed restriction measures on Evington Lane, Leicester.

Evington Lane between Wakerley Road and Evington Village is part of the classified road network. In 2001 a safety scheme was installed on Evington Lane, which included refuges, on-road cycle lanes and additional signing and lining.

Since these measures were introduced the number of accidents has dropped from an average of 2 per year prior to the scheme to 1 per year in the last three years. Between 2003 and 2006 there were two personal injury accidents on Evington Lane not involving pedestrians and one accident where a pedestrian received minor injuries.

Speed surveys have taken place on this stretch of road which show that 85% of vehicles travel at 35mph or less. It would not be appropriate to install safety cameras as the recorded speeds are not above the DfT recommended threshold to warrant the introduction of this type of safety measure.

The Local Authority support the introduction of traffic calming measures for this road this and it is proposed as part of the development of the Green Ringway to provide a crossing on Evington Lane near Hawthorn Drive. This facility will both provide a safer crossing place (for pedestrians and cyclists) and a speed reducing feature. The crossing is to be funded through the Local Transport Plan and is expected to be installed either this financial year or during 2007/2008.

23rd October 2006