Parliament: January 2007 Archives

Martin Linton pointed out that some local authorities are closing special schools for no good reason. He gave the example of the Vines, in his constituency.

My hon. Friend says that local authorities are closing special schools in unsuitable locations, but my local authority is closing a popular special school in a very desirable location, although The Vines has been thriving. It received an excellent report from Ofsted, and although it was praised by the local authority as one of the best schools in the authority area, plans for its closure were announced a few months later. Sadly, the school will close in August. Although the local authority has tried to blame Government policy for the closure, the real reason is the value of the site on which the school is built, which is £6 million.

Martin Linton asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government two questions.

Firstly he asked what the average rents were for local authority housing in each London borough in 2006-07. Yvette Cooper gave a link to the data on the Communities and Local Government Department's web site.

Then he asked which housing associations required buyers to purchase outright a share greater than 75 per cent. in shared-ownership housing developments in the last 24 months. Yvette Cooper answered for the government.

Martin Linton asked Tessa Jowell about the timetable for the completion of the two phases of the East London Line extension and whether it could be finished in time for the London Olympics in 2012. He also got in another little dig about the proposed BAC closure and Tessa Jowell took the opportunity to back him up.

On Battersea arts centre, I echo the Prime Minister's words: Wandsworth should do everything that it can to keep the centre open. I should make it absolutely clear that we are talking about a Conservative authority that has had a 25 per cent. plus increase in its grant since 1997, so any decision to close the centre is a Conservative choice, not a Government requirement.

Martin Linton asked for a debate on how councils use the threat of council tax capping as an excuse for cutting services. He gave the example of Wandsworth council using capping as a reason for cutting BAC funding. Jack Straw said that he would look for an opportunity to hold such a debate and made his feelings on Wandsworth council very clear.

I am afraid that Wandsworth Conservatives have been using bogus figures to justify cuts for at least the three decades in which I have been a Member in this House. I dare say that they will carry on doing so. The fact that they are putting at risk such highly valued community services in my hon. Friend's constituency illustrates their distorted sense of priorities.

Martin Linton asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with cycling campaign groups on the draft highway code and on the use of cycling facilities. Stephen Ladyman answered.

Martin Linton has written an Early Day Motion about crane safety. This is what it says:

That this House welcomes the campaign launched by Building magazine to improve safety standards for cranes following recent crane collapses in Battersea, Liverpool and central London; recognises that there is an increased risk both to construction workers and to the public from the use of tower cranes on brownfield sites in residential areas; and supports the calls from Building magazine for a publicly-available register of checks to cranes and construction equipment and from the Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group for a review of crane safety legislation.

Martin Linton has sponsored an Early Day Motion about the potential closure of the BAC. Here is the text:

That this House congratulates Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) on the huge contribution it has made to well-being both in the London Borough of Wandsworth and in London as a whole, attracting more than 220,000 visitors a year; acknowledges the important part that Wandsworth as well as the Arts Council has played in laying the foundation for BAC's success over the last three decades; notes that BAC won a Wandsworth Business Award for Best Community Contribution from Wandsworth Council only two months ago; fears that the withdrawal of grant and premises by Wandsworth would make BAC unviable; accepts that the responsibility for financial support for BAC should be shared between Wandsworth and the Arts Council; and welcomes any move by Wandsworth to enter into discussions aimed at securing the future of BAC.

Martin Linton asked two questions about an online national qualifications records system. Jim Knight answered both questions.

Read question one and question two on TheyWorkForYou

Martin Linton spoke twice in this debate. Once to mention Battersea's falling numbers of independent shops and once to compare inner city high streets with villages.

Read the full debate on TheyWorkForYou

Martin Linton asked for a progress report on a procurement exercise conducted by the Learning and Skills Council for the Managing Information Across Partners programme. Bill Rammell gave an answer.

Read the full exchange on TheyWorkForYou

Martin Linton used Prime Minister's Questions to bring the fate of the BAC to Parliament. Tony Blair agreed that the BAC does a "fantastic job" and said that "they should do everything that they can to keep it open".

Read the full debate or just Martin Linton's question at TheyWorkForyou

Martin Linton spoke in this debate about the safety of pleasure boats on the Thames. He widened the debate from just pleasure craft by mentioning the barge which collided with Battersea Bridge.

Read the full debate or Martin Linton's speech on TheyWorkForYou