SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM LISA GILLIHAM, BENFLEET COMMUTERS AND OTHERS

30th April 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Lisa Gilliham, Benfleet commuters and others,

Declares that there are unacceptably poor security measures protecting bicycles parked in designated parking areas at Benfleet Rail Station, notes that this causes great problems to bicycle owners and further observes that there have been a number of incidents of theft and vandalism which could easily have been prevented or remedied in due process of law had suitable security measures been in place. The petitioners highlight the importance of encouraging people of all ages to use bicycles for environmental and health reasons and lament the reluctance of the local councils to accept responsibility to deal with these matters.

The Petitioners therefore request the House to urge the Government to obtain action from the local council and various agencies to resolve the issues of responsibility once and for all and to install security measures to deal with the problem in a suitable and sustainable manner.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF CHELSWORTH DRIVE AND TUAM DRIVE IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF GREENWICH

1st May 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of residents of Chelsworth Drive and Tuam Drive in the London Borough of Greenwich,

Declares that there is a growing problem of Japanese Knotweed growth in all parts of the United Kingdom. Responsibility for clearing the infestation where it appears is set out in statutory instruments and law. However, this is not the case when Japanese Knotweed grows on land that has been declared Bona Vacentia, although such outbreaks are a threat to all surrounding land and properties. This is creating serious difficulties for people living in those properties.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons enacts legislation or statutory instruments that will identify which authority or body is responsible for the clearance of Japanese Knotweed, and provide powers for the House of Commons to enforce such clearance when necessary.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM EDDIE STACEY, RESIDENTS OF CANVEY ISLAND, BENFLEET AND OTHERS

1st May 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Eddie Stacey, residents of Canvey Island, Benfleet and others,

Declares that the petitioners' wish to formally record their objection to the PCT's plans for reorganising health care on Canvey Island and further asserts that the loss of "The Paddocks" would be totally unacceptable to the people of Canvey.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to impress upon the PCT the importance of a public consultation, which is timely and fully informs the public, in order to facilitate the representation of views of all those who will be affected by the changes to current healthcare provisions and who have an interest in the preservation of "The Paddocks".

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM MEMBERS OF THE 5 PARISHES OPPOSITION GROUPS AND OTHERS

1st May 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Members of the 5 Parishes Opposition Group and others,

Declares that that the Petitioners object to any planning proposal by the Kent Science Park that seeks permission for either one or all of the following: to expand the site beyond the existing security boundary; to build any number of houses on green fields; to construct an A2-M2 road link; and to undertake any other affiliated building works.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government not to permit the extension of the Kent Science Park beyond its current footprint.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM RESPECT THE UNITY COALITION

1st May 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Respect the Unity Coalition,

Declares that billions of pounds are wasted on wars and weapons we don't want while wards and services are closing.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons push HM Government for extra resources for our NHS and to stop the privatisation of healthcare.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

PETITION FROM SUSSEX ACTION FOR PEACE

1st May 2007

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Sussex Action for Peace,

Declares that after the death of a Hove soldier, the 100th British combat death in Iraq, it is disgraceful that Tony Blair is still in office. Over 65,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, and the country lies in ruins.

The Petitioners therefore request the House of Commons calls for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq immediately.

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 [15th March] from residents and citizens of the town of Cheadle in Staffordshire for the re-establishment of two on-call fire appliances in Cheadle.

The Government requires each Fire and Rescue Authority to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), a local and flexible plan to manage the risks of fire and all kinds of other emergencies, based on up to date local evidence, which will provide communities with a targeted service and value for money. It is not the role of Ministers to agree the operational proposals in an authority's IRMP. Those are matters which are rightly the role of the elected members of the authority itself to consider and agree as appropriate. They are best placed to consider the advice from Principal Officers and comments made during the consultation period.

I am aware that the proposal to remove the second appliance at Cheadle Fire Station was put forward in the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service draft IRMP Action Plan for 2006/07 and consultation in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines commenced over a 12 week period between 1st November 2005 and 27th January 2006. The consultation was later extended for a period of two weeks until 10th February 2006 to allow further representations from the community of Cheadle and the second appliance was eventually removed from the station in October 2006.

If the residents and citizens of Cheadle believe that they have evidence to indicate that public safety is being jeopardised as a result of the withdrawal of Cheadle's second fire appliance, they should make representations in the first instance to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA). If subsequently they were dissatisfied with the way the FRA had handled their representations, they might have recourse to the Local Government Ombudsman; but only if they were able to provide evidence of maladministration, not simply because they disagreed with any properly taken decisions.

30th April 2007

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the Petition [15th March] from residents and citizens of the village of Whiston in Staffordshire against the planning application for an extension to Moneystone quarry.

Parliament has entrusted local planning authorities with responsibility for day to day planning control in their areas, including decisions on planning applications. Members of local planning authorities are democratically elected and fully accountable to local residents for the decisions they make.

The policy of this Government is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. The policy is set out in a written answer by Richard Caborn to a question from Bill Michie on 16 June 1999 (Hansard HC Vol 333, col 138). On the basis of the information submitted to my Department, there is no justification for me, rather than the local planning authority, determining the current planning application to extend Moneystone Quarry.

Staffordshire County Council, as the mineral planning authority for the area, is currently processing the application and undertaking wide ranging consultations on all its aspects. The Council is fully aware of the objections from local residents to the proposed extension. When it makes its decision on the application, it should take the views of the public into account alongside the provisions of the development plan for the area, relevant national planning policy guidance, the views of consultees and any other planning matter which it considers to be material to the decision to be made. If the Council resolves to permit the application but also considers that the proposed extension significantly departs from the provisions of the development plan, then it must refer the application to me with full information to enable me to then reconsider whether it should be called-in for my decision.

30th April 2007

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Observations by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Petition [8th March] from residents of Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire and others for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the proposed closure of the last bank in the area.

The decision to make a bank branch closure is a commercial decision for the bank.

The Government takes seriously the issue of access to financial services, in particular, free access to cash. In May 2006, the Treasury invited Treasury Select Committee chair John McFall MP to lead a working group on ATMs. The report published by the working group in December 2006 announced: commitments by several ATM operators to supply free ATMs in low-income areas which were lacking convenient access; a market-based incentive to encourage operators to place or retain free ATMs in deprived areas; and an agreement to improve the transparency of signage on charging cash machines.

As regards access to clearing bank services, around 25 or so different bank accounts can be accessed at Post Offices branches now, including all basic bank accounts. In addition Post Office Ltd has already introduced one new savings account, and is developing other savings and banking products.

The Treasury Select Committee last year published findings on financial inclusion, including the issue of access to banking services. The Government responded to the Committee's report in March. However, it is important to point out the Committee's finding that the case for legislative action relating to access to and provision of banking services has not been made. HM Treasury will continue to monitor the situation as regards access to banking services.

30th April 2007