Government's scrapping of EMA criticised by MP

Students protest the scrapping of EMA

GRAHAM STUART MP is in the national spotlight once again after the House of Commons Education Select Committee - which he chairs - strongly criticised the way that the Government scrapped the Educational Maintenance Allowance.

The EMA was a £560m fund aimed at helping poorer 16 - 19 year olds stay in education by providing a means-tested grant of up to £30 a week. Its abrupt scrapping left many young people unable to work out exactly what funding would be available to them.

The Select Education Committee said in a report published today that the "sudden decision" to drop the EMA and replace it with a bursary scheme was made "far too late" to allow Year 11 students to make fully informed decisions on what they will do the following year. The report states: "That delay was regrettable and should not have been allowed to happen." and "The Government should have done more to acknowledge the combined impact on students' participation, attainment and retention, particularly amongst disadvantaged sub-groups, before determining how to restructure financial support."

Graham Stuart MP, is quoted on Parliament's House of Commons website:

“Young people taking life defining decisions at 16 need clear information on the support they may receive and deserve better than rushed and ill thought through reforms. We accept that changes and savings need to be made but the organisation of the change has been far from smooth. Decisions on how much will be available for distribution by each school or college have been taken far too late, and it is 16 year olds who have suffered uncertainty as a result. That should not have been allowed to happen.”

The Report is available to read online at the Parliament House of Commons website: Participation by 16-19 year olds in education and training.

Read more...

Graham Stuart MP: "You are far too excitable!" says The Speaker in remarkable scenes in Parliament

"DO NOT SHAKE YOUR HEAD AT ME!"

IN A REMARKABLE EXCHANGE in the House of Commons yesterday, then local MP Graham Stuart was told in no uncertain terms by The Speaker John Bercow to "Be quiet and calm down..." and told to leave the chamber if he could not.

Graham Stuart was attempting to quiz the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown who was making a speech on the Phone Hacking scandal and the bid by News International to acquire BSkyB.

The Beverley and Holderness MP had been trying to intervene in Gordon Brown's speech through the Parliamentary tradition of asking the person to 'give way'. On his second attempt the following exchange took place (reported by Hansard):

Mr Graham Stuart rose —
Mr Brown: I will set out my case and then I will answer questions.
This is the only way—[ Interruption. ]
Mr Speaker: Order. I apologise for interrupting the right hon. Gentleman. Mr Stuart, I am going to say it to you once and once only: you are far too excitable. Be quiet and calm down—[ Interruption. ] Order. If you cannot — do not shake your head at me —then leave the Chamber.

Then later:

Mr Graham Stuart: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I ask whether there is any time limit in this debate, and—
Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume his seat. If there were a time limit it would be announced;

And later still:

Mr Speaker: Order. I apologise for having to interrupt the right hon. Gentleman...
There will be interventions when the Member who has the floor takes them, and not before. Members will observe basic courtesies and listen quietly and with respect to speakers. That is the end of it. Mr Stuart, if you are not prepared to do so, leave the Chamber. We can manage without you

Alex Stevenson who is a Lobby journalist for politics.co.uk had this to say about the exchange (see: Politics.co.uk - commentary)

As usual, the official record presents a soberer version than the reality. While the above was being said Labour backbenchers were shouting away, roaring "sit down!" at Stuart. At one point an opposition MP went further, venturing: "Sit down, stupid!" Hansard did not record these remarks. Nor did it convey the full extent of Bercow's bile. I would propose they amend their version with this: 'DON'T SHAKE YOUR HEAD AT ME! Stuart gaped, shrugging with his left hand sprawled along the back of the wooden bench. He waited just a few seconds, his eyes never leaving Bercow's - before shaking his head defiantly once more.'

The Telegraph captures some of the exchange on a video posted at its article: Order? How Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow fails to keep control of 'the children'

Unfortunately this kind of pantomime-type behaviour in Parliament grabs all the attention and headlines - and we tend to overlook the important issues being discussed.

Although perhaps - just perhaps - the "Punch & Judy" Parliamentary approach will attract and appall a new audience that will want to investigate our decision-making processes a bit more thoughtfully....?

Read more...

Local MP votes for tuition fee rises

THE CONTROVERSIAL VOTE on raising the upper limit on student tuition fees to £9,000, took place in Parliament earlier today (9th December 2010). The coalition government won the vote, but saw its majority slashed to just 21.

Government whips persuaded 323 MPs to back them, while the Labour opposition, Liberal Democrat and Conservative rebels managed 302 votes.

Local Conservative MP Graham Stuart supported the Government in the vote today. Local student and school student protesters in Beverley had earlier lobbied the MP's Conservative Party office in Beverley.

The debate can be followed on the Parliament Website.

Read more...

MP calls for Parliamentary debate on "unfair" Health funding formula that hits the East Riding.

GRAHAM STUART MP has called for a Parliamentary debate on the allocation of health funding which he says leaves the East Riding out in the cold.

According to information submitted by Graham Stuart in January, every man woman and child in Beverley
and Holderness has less spent on their health than nearly anywhere in the rest of the country. Residents are hit twice as the Primary Care Trust receives around £85 less per person than the national average because it falls foul of a funding formula which sees more cash going to other areas. The MP has determined that only two other PCTs in England have a lower per person health spend.

Prior to the election the MP vowed to act to help the PCT close the funding gap and take the issue up in the House of Commons, which he has now done:

Could we have a debate as soon as possible on the allocation of health funding? ...The Labour party put in place a gerrymandered allocation of health funding, which means that the good people of the East Riding, for instance, have only £1,200 per head spent on their health care, whereas the people of Hull, who are much younger and generally fitter, receive 50% more. It is simply wrong." House of Commons, 27th May 2010.

Health funding is calculated using a complex formula which is designed to ensure that funding is allocated to areas of greatest need. The formula takes account of the population and then adjusts it for things like the overall age and additional needs which an area may have. The total population number for the PCT is weighted using this formula to arrive at a figure known as the ‘unified weighted population’.

East Riding PCT, with a population of 336,700 has a ‘unified weighted population' of only 300,199 for the year 2009/10. Yet in neighbouring Hull the formula means the population of 250,000 becomes a ‘unified weighted population of 316,634.

Graham Stuart has determined that in order for the East Riding to get its “fair” share, it would need to be allocated a further £28.4 million in 2009/10 – £84 per actual person.

Links:
Graham Stuart MP
House of Commons

Read more...