On Friday 9^th November I was invited to speak to students from New College to discuss their concerns about both local and national issues. I took notes on the questions they asked, and the answers I gave.

Firstly, Bibek asked “More and more young people are taking up smoking, despite all the health warnings. What do you think can be done to change this?” I answered that:

• The Government has raised the smoking age to 18  
• Levels of young people smoking has actually decreased – in 1996 13% of 11-15 year olds smoked, in 2003 that figure was 10% - down 25% in 7 years. Obviously, though, 10% is still far too high.
• Introduced the smoking ban – means that smoking is increasingly being seen as an antisocial habit.
• Evidence suggests a strong link between parents smoking and children taking up the habit – the government has introduced a number of schemes to reduce adult smoking, including the NHS ‘go smoke free’ scheme and increasing tax on cigarettes well above inflation (in 1997 and 1998 it was 5% over inflation). This has had an effect: smoking amongst adults has decreased from 28% in 1998 to 25% in 2004.
• Because taxation has been so heavily increased, however, it has created a black market. There is a very serious problem of smuggled cigarettes, which could account for as much as 1 in 3 cigarettes smoked in this country. This then becomes a customs issue. Comparatively, Western Europe tackles the issue of smuggling very well – we have the highest cost of cigarettes in the world in 1996 they were four to five times higher than in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe yet, despite these high prices, smuggling is on average lower than in other regions of the world. We have increased the level of checks, but this is an ongoing problem that needs more attention.

Derrick, Andrico, Bijaya and Desmon asked “There aren't enough activities in Swindon for young people to do in the evenings. Young people are getting into trouble on the streets because they don't have anywhere to go. What are your thoughts on this subject?”

• This year’s Queen’s Speech illustrated this government’s commitment to raising the aspirations on young people – including keeping people in education or training up to age 18.
• I agree that young people in Swindon definitely need more things to do and a place to go. Fundamentally, there is a big problem with the Tory Council, who seem content to just wait for someone else to come up with the money. 
• New facilities are being planned across the country by the government. The funding for these new youth services are part of Government plans to reinvest in local communities unclaimed assets that have been lying dormant in bank and building society accounts for at least 15 years.  
• The Government recently launched the new Ten-Year Youth Strategy. The strategy focuses on helping all young people, and particularly those in deprived areas, to take part in enjoyable and purposeful activities in their free time which can help them develop new skills and raise their aspirations. Young people will have access to new and improved youth facilities in every community under the new plans. Teenagers will also have more of a say over local services, and be given the support they need to have their voice heard. 

Mira, Ranjaan and Sunita asked: “How long have you been an MP, and what have you done during this time to support the needs of people living in the Swindon area?”

• I have been an MP since May 2005 and you can read for yourself on the rest of my website what I’ve done for local people!

Sonika, Bijaya, Desmon and Cleora asked: “The traffic seems to be getting worse in Swindon , but many people don't use public transport because services aren't frequent enough and are often late. In your view, how can we reduce the amount of traffic on our roads and encourage people to use public transport?”

• Unfortunately, because the Tory Council took a £¼million dividend from the shares they have in Thamesdown Transport, they have dramatically undermined the service. I believe this is a serious problem that the council needs to face up to. Withdrawing this money means there’s less to invest in services, especially the frequency of services.

Rachna and Pratikccha asked: “Bus passes are expensive for students in this area. In other areas students travel for free. Do you think this is fair?”  

• Students in Swindon have 2 options: a local authority bus pass or a Thamesdown bus pass: 

• Of course, the local council could always fund free travel for students.

What are you doing to improve the NHS for the people of Swindon?

• The Great Western Hospital was built by the Labour Government and since it opened in 2003, it has continued to expand: the Brunel Treatment centre has opened for patients and the Academy has opened as a training centre for staff.  
• We have more GPs: from 109 in 2001 to 123 in 2006 
• We have more practice nurses: from 78 in 2001 to 103 in 2006 
• Two emergency dental treatment centres have opened in Swindon since 1997 and recently an increase in dental treatment across the town, including the opening of a new practice in Parks 
• The local Heath trust is rated as fair, which although good still leaves room for improvements especially on access.  
• I’m also proud that the cardiology department at the GWH launched a new service in May for heart patients who need angioplasties. It carries out procedures under local anaesthetic on 100 patients a year who would otherwise have to travel 50 miles to Bristol. Our radiography waiting times are among the lowest in the country. There is a film-less radiography department – and it’s all digital.  
• As well as acute care, primary care services have provided better access to patients in Swindon. 
• Our walk-in clinic is a continuing local success story, and constituents tell me that it is a great improvement on waiting to see a GP or going to accident and emergency.  
• An increased pre-emptive care initiatives such as the falls clinic, which helps the elderly both to deal with falls and to prevent them at home, and the Alzheimer’s clinic, which has become well known in Swindon under the leadership of Dr. Bullock. There is therefore increased access, choice and patient satisfaction.

Recently there has been an increase in youth crime in Swindon , including a violent attack on an elderly person.  What do you think can be done to stop this?

• Unfortunately, no there are no specific crime statistics on youth crime, but I am committed to confronting crime.

• Crime is still low for a town of Swindon’s size and I am confident that crime will be going down in the future because we are putting more police on the streets and introducing Community Support Officers into communities.

What is being done to encourage businesses to stay in Swindon and not move overseas?

• There are currently 97 companies with over 100 employees including: Honda/ Motorola/ BMW/ Intel.
• I believe that the regeneration of the town centre, which is being coordinated by the New Swindon Company and funded by the Government, will continue to attract and keep businesses in Swindon. 
• The council has a department to ensure the best conditions for business are in place. Additionally, the council has a business forum in which business issues can be discussed. One issue identified by this forum was the need to enhance the railway village as a heritage site. The council is trying to enhance and develop the railway village.  
• We also have projects for a University, New Central Library, Granville Street Development, Wichelstowe development – creating the workforce and conditions under which Swindon can prosper.

In this area a lot of classes are being joined in primary schools; for example, Drove now has a mixed Year 1/Year 2 class.  As a former teacher, what are your thoughts on this and what can you do to increase funding to schools to stop this happening?

• I am really proud that since 1997 funding has increased by £1030 per pupil in Swindon. This has made a dramatic difference.
• With regard to Drove Primary School, the headmaster Nick Cotton has told me that this measure will only be in place for one year.  As a former teacher, I know that it’s the quality of teaching and organisation that matters. Drove has both!
• 7 years ago all years were mixed year groups – Nick changed that, and by next year it will be back to normal.

• The new system could be seen as fairer as it involves more factors so it takes a more rounded view of a persons’ situation.
• It is believed that by moving to the new system that having bands affords people greater clarity over how they can apply, at the same as stopping a situation whereby people point grab.
• The system is still very similar because to get into a category you are assessed on points. You still have a point system built within it, but when you reject a property you don’t go to the back of the queue you get other options.

Do you speak any other languages? And now that foreign people have to pay for their ESOL classes; are there any plans to provide any additional free courses for people needing help with their English?  

• I speak ‘holiday’ French, but am sad to say languages are not my strong point. I admire people who speak more than one language fluently.
• There are courses available in Swindon and through a community grant the council could choose to expand this if they wanted to.
• During the past four years, the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) has tripled and over 1.9 million learning opportunities have been offered.
• However, the current level of demand for ESOL means the Government must look at ways of targeting support more directly to those that need it most. For those who are asked for a contribution, the Government will continue to support the cost of learning and will fund around 62.5% of the course fee.
• It is worth reiterating that we are not seeking to cut to ESOL funding – funding next year will be broadly comparable to this year. This is three times what it was five years ago. Similarly our increased investment has resulted in significant increases of workload for ESOL practitioners. There need be no job losses in the sector as a consequence.
• The proposed changes have been welcomed by the TUC. 

In your opinion, who is/was doing the best job as Prime Minister - Gordon Brown or Tony Blair?

• They worked together to make this country strong again, and created the excellent local conditions that have helped Swindon thrive, so I believe they have both done an excellent job in their different ways.