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Is The Government's
rail decision a wasted opportunity?
THE Green Party believe
that the Government has wasted a chance to improve rail travel for
millions of train users. Transport Secretary Patrick
McLoughlin's decision to allow Virgin Rail to continue running the
West Coast rail franchise; the country's busiest route; shows a
lack of desire to take the simplest route to better rail transport -
renationalisation.
Green Party transport spokesman Alan Francis said:- "We're
disappointed the government has handed the franchise back to Virgin,
as we were when it announced it would hand it to FirstGroup.
Privatised rail is failing the people of this country, and the
government has wasted a chance to take back one of the most
important transport routes in the country, instead handing it back
to a firm it has already shown it does not believe runs it
properly."
The announcement, which gives the franchise to Virgin for another 9
to 13 months, was made in response to the collapse of the bidding
process to run the route until December 2025.
On 3 October 2012, the government was forced to admit it had
miscalculated when deciding to hand the franchise to FirstGroup, and
reversed its decision.
As a result, the taxpayer must hand £40m to the four firms,
including Virgin and FirstGroup, who originally bid to run the West
Coast mainline.
Although embarrassing for the government, this is a chance to take
the most-used part of the national rail service out of the private
sector and return it to state ownership.
In November 2009, the government-owned Directly Operated Railways (DOR)
took over the East Coast mainline franchise, after National Express
Group failed to finance its operation.
Since then, it has added 19 additional services per weekday,
re-introduced direct services between Lincoln and London for the
first time in 20 years, and invested £29 million in the East Coast
service.
The Green Party believes all UK rail services must be
renationalised. Since privatisation, UK rail fares have risen to be
the most expensive in Europe, while subsidies paid by the government
to rail operators have doubled.
DOR was set up to step in when franchise holders fail, and has
proved in the last three years it can operate large rail franchises.
The Green Party believes the government-owned group should take
control of the West Coast franchise, as a second step towards the
full nationalisation of UK rail services.
Mr Francis said:- "DOR has proved it works. And it exists for
situations exactly like this. The franchise should be run by DOR,
and as other franchises expire, they should also be brought back
into public ownership. Privatisation has failed UK rail users. It's
time to end it, and give the railways back to the people who need
them."
So what do you, our readers think about the views of
the Green Party on this issue? Do you agree or disagree? Let
us know by emailing our newsroom to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
Is the UK drug policy
in urgent need of review?
THE Green Party has
welcomed a report by the UK Drug Policy Commission as a valuable
contribution to the debate over the UK's drug policy.
The UKDPC report, entitled:- "A Fresh Approach to Drugs", calls
for a new evidence based approach to drugs policy which would help
individuals and their communities recover from the damage caused by
drug misuse; and provide better value for money for the taxpayer.
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion and member of
the All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform said:-
"The UK Drug Policy Commission is the latest in a line of
respected organisations, including the Global Commission on Drug
Policy, to call for a major rethink of drugs policy.
There is growing agreement across the scientific, police and legal
professions that we need to move away from prohibition of personal
use towards an evidence-based, public health approach.
Politicians need to recognise the reality that the 'war on drugs'
has failed and start afresh. The government should now undertake an
urgent review of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act, with a full cost
benefit analysis and impact assessment to compare its effectiveness
in reducing the societal, economic and health costs of drug misuse
with alternative approaches." Key recommendations from
the report are the reform of how drugs are classified and the
setting up of an independent body accountable to Parliament, which
has the power to make evidence-based decisions on the control of
substances. The report highlights that the government is currently
spending £3 billion a year and sentencing 42,000 people annually
under a drugs policy that lacks "sufficient coordination" and is
often self-defeating.
However, UKDPC also praised the success of some government policies,
including reducing HIV infections with the needle exchange program;
an example of the potential value of reforming society's attitudes
towards drugs.
Caroline Lucas continued:- "We need a drugs policy based on
evidence about what reduces harms, rather than one driven by moral
judgments about drug use and drug users. Only then can we hope to
improve the treatment of addiction, prevent drug-related crime and
protect our communities from the worst effects of drug misuse."
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1st Liverpool
School to get lifesaving defibrillator
THE roll out of the life
saving defibrillators to every primary school in Liverpool has
started on Thursday, 18 October 2012. The £100,000
project is believed to be the first scheme of its type in the
country and will see the life saving devices fitted in 122 schools
over the next academic year, with training also provided to staff...
It follows the death of Oliver King, a pupil at King David High
School in Childwall, in March 2011. He died during a swimming lesson
from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS). His family believe
that if a defibrillator had been available, the 12 year old's heart
could have been restarted.
It is estimated that 270 children die of a sudden cardiac arrest
while at school in the UK every year, and is the same medical
condition that struck former Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice
Muamba last season, forcing his retirement from the game.
The first defibrillators are being fitted at Pinehurst Primary
School in Anfield. A special ceremony is being held to mark the
occasion attended by Oliver's parents, City leaders, Hollyoaks and
Emmerdale actor James Sutton and representatives from Liverpool and
Everton Football Clubs. It will also see 122 balloons released to
highlight the number of schools benefiting.
The Oliver King Foundation, launched in his memory, aims to get the
Government to install defibrillators in all public buildings by
2017. It is also calling for ECG scans to be given to all 14 to 35
year olds so that they can be screened for the potentially fatal
condition.
The campaign has already won the
backing of Mayor Joe Anderson, comedian Stephen Fry, actress Dame
Helen Mirren, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Merseyside Fire
and Rescue Service. Oliver's dad Mark said:- "This is a
momentous moment for the Oliver King Foundation and marks the start
of a project that will save lives. We must do all we can to raise
awareness of SADS and prevent as many deaths as we can. There are no
warning signs and it could happen to anyone's child. We need to have
defibrillators in all public buildings to make sure that Oliver's
death was not in vain."
The purchase of the defibrillators follows a proposal by Liverpool
Primary Head Teachers Association which was agreed by the Schools
Forum, which comprises head teachers and education officials.
Mayor Anderson said:- "I am
really pleased that our primary schools are leading the way by
installing defibrillators. The Oliver King Foundation is doing great
work highlighting awareness of this issue, and I am 100 percent
behind them."
The purchase of the defibrillators follows a proposal by Liverpool
Primary Headteachers Association which was agreed by the Schools
Forum, which comprises head teachers and education officials.
Councillor Jake Morrison, Patron
of The Oliver King Foundation, said:- "Our schools are at the
heart of our communities, and this equipment will be of benefit to
us all. If this scheme saves one child's live, it will have been
worth all the effort."
Stephanie Tasker, Head of Pinehurst Primary School, said:- "We
are delighted to be the 1st school to benefit from this scheme. It
is really important we raise the profile of this important issue and
do all we can to prevent needless deaths."
An e-petition calling on Government to debate the dangers of SAD in
the House of Commons has received thousands of signatures, but many
more are needed. It can be found by visiting:-
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29399.
For more information about the Oliver King Foundation, visit:-
theoliverkingfoundation.co.uk.
Could you save a life? Find out
how... Join St John Ambulance Today!
WITH over 1000 members in
the Merseyside area, St John Ambulance are best known for their
volunteer work at large, professional events, providing first aid
cover and community first ain training, but they do far more than
that! Many units have doctors and other medical professionals in
them, who not only do volunteer work, but also help to train members
to very high standards, with the very latest in training. To find
out more, why not look at joining and learn how to save a life? It
is vital work and most of the hidden work that St John Ambulance
does is vital to your community. By joining it not only helps your
local area, but also improves your CV! Also you children can join
as well. Badgers start at age 5 and run up to aged 10. Cadets stat
at age 10 and run up to age 16. Adults members are aged 16 plus.
To find your nearest Unit, call:-
0151 298 28 38 or email:-
volunteer@merseyside.sja.org.uk.
Also for more information about St Jon ambulance go to:-
sja.org.uk. |
