“I am happy to welcome the new £100,000 research Laboratory at Pilgrim Hospital recently announced by United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. However, I am intrigued why this particular location was chosen when, not so long ago, the Trust closed the microbiology Laboratory at Lincoln County Hospital, so creating various issues for patients, and their doctors and consultants, and those also undergoing operations as well as the experienced and skilled staff who worked at the facility.

“United Lincolnshire were only too keen to move the work of the microbiology Laboratory in Lincoln to Scunthorpe and elsewhere away from their County Hospital and now, a short time later, they have found £100,000 for a new research Laboratory in Boston.

“Whilst I am pleased overall that this new research facility and service at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston is at least in Lincolnshire, I wish that the Trust had been more forward looking and had spent the money on building  an additional or new research laboratory alongside Lincoln’s former microbiology laboratory, perhaps with the prospect of working with the University of Lincoln in the future to fully utilise the facilities and offer a better service to patients both in Lincoln and across Lincolnshire.”

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

“I am supporting the launch of Chance to be Chancellor 2012 and am calling on schools and young people in Lincoln to take up in the challenge to learn about, and share their opinions on, Budget 2012.  Run by the Citizenship Foundation, in partnership with Aviva, Chance to be Chancellor is open to all 14-18 year olds across the UK.  Running until the 20 February, participants can enter into a national competition to win great prizes and visit HM Treasury in London.

To find out more and become involved, please visit: www.chancetobechancellor.org.uk”.

“I have huge respect for the hard-working men and women who keep our vital services running. We depend on them every day and they do a brilliant job.

“That’s why I am angry that union bosses have ordered millions of public sector workers to strike  - even while talks are under way. Only around a third of union members backed industrial action.

“The Government has been prepared to listen. That’s why we have made sure that anyone who is within ten years of retirement will be able to retire on their current terms. People working for ordinary businesses all over the country are facing tough times. Yet unions want the rest of us to pay even more in taxes – rather than share the burden. We are all living longer so, yes, people will have to work longer. And, yes, public sector workers who earn more will have to pay more so other taxpayers on less generous pension deals don’t pick up a tab they can’t afford.

“The victims of today’s strikes are the ordinary people of Britain. At a time when we are trying to get the economy back on its feet, a strike is the last thing anyone needs.

“Ed Miliband should condemn this strike action and help stop it. We want to hear him tell the union bosses that pay Labour’s bills that these strikes are wrong.”

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

“Today’s announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement that the Lincoln Eastern Bypass has finally been given the go-ahead is fantastic news for my constituents in the City of Lincoln as well as for the people of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.

“It seems that, all being well, the building of the Bypass is likely to commence in 2014 and be completed in 2016.

“The decision by my Conservative-led Government to agree to the partial funding of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass owes much to the unceasing work of both officers and elected Members at Lincolnshire County Council and the unwavering support of many organisations and business representatives in the City, including the various administrations of the City Council.

“After 13 years of a Labour Government that consistently failed to deliver the transport network and infrastructure our City, County and Region need and deserve, we have, at last, a Conservative-led Government  that is listening to, and delivering for the people of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.

“I am convinced that this much-needed new road will offer an improved experience of Lincoln for visitors, businesses and residents alike – and I firmly believe it will prove to be a catalyst for the economic well-being and growth of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.

“Today is a great day for the people of Lincoln and Lincolnshire.”

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

A number of constituents have recently contacted me about the Department of Health’s ‘risk register.’

It is important to understand that the risk register sets out all of the potential risks identified by the Department of Health for the entire range of areas for which it is responsible. These include financial risks, policy risks and sensitive commercial and contractual risks.  It is a means by which the Department focuses on risks and acts to mitigate them.

Although the Government does recognise the public interest in this information, it needs to understand whether the public interest is best served by releasing this information, insofar as it could misrepresent the end result whether impacted or not by the mitigating action. That is why the Department of Health is currently considering its response to the Information Commissioner’s decision, and will respond to the decision in early December.

The risk register is intended to form part of an internal focus on action to minimise risks.  Such risks are reflected in public statements, in a balanced and evidence-based format, through the publication of impact assessments. In relation to the Government’s health reforms, I should like to assure you that the Government has been open and transparent about the results they will deliver, through the impact assessments published and updated as recently as September. These assessments, which include an assessment of the benefits and risks of the Government’s health reforms, are available on the Department of Health’s website (www.dh.gov.uk) by searching for ‘Health and Social Care Bill: combined impact assessments.

Statements from Karl M^cCartney, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, and the Skills Minister, John Hayes MP, after new data shows that 960 Apprenticeships were delivered in the City of Lincoln in the 2010/11 academic year, an increase of 34% on 2009/10:

City MP Karl M^cCartney said, “This is great news for both businesses and young people in our City. The record rise in apprenticeship numbers, particularly in Advanced ‘A’ level equivalent qualifications shows our Government’s commitment to helping employers train the skilled workers they need to build a stronger economy and sustainable growth.”

Skills Minister John Hayes said, “This Government is putting practical learning at the centre of our national life, restoring the purposeful pride that builds successful careers, drives prosperity and forges strong communities.  But I am determined to do more, by stripping away bureaucracy for small firms, continuing to drive up standards and working with firms to create even more apprenticeship opportunities in coming years.  And to help young people who currently lack basic skills make the grade for an apprenticeship, our Access to Apprenticeships programme will provide 10,000 work experience and training opportunities every year.”

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‘Yesterday’s meeting with the Transport Minister, Theresa Villiers, was helpful for Cllr William Webb, Cllr Rik Metcalfe and senior officers from the County and City and myself in setting out our requirements and thoughts on a number of rail transport issues affecting Lincoln and Lincolnshire.

‘We discussed the problems caused by the High Street level crossing, other City and County Level Crossings and Network Rail’s proposed barrier down time with their planned increase in freight trains running through our City. We also discussed the frequency and journey time for our direct rail link to London as well as cross-county rail links.

‘It is too early to know how productive the meeting will prove to be, but I and the other attendees from the County and City Councils are hopeful that we can over the coming months further build on our useful discussions with the Minister.

‘Resolving Lincoln’s many transport problems will be a hard slog, but, be in no doubt, my priority as the Member of Parliament for Lincoln is to ensure our City’s transport system is modern, fit for the 21^st Century and will help keep our local economy moving in the right direction.’

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

“I am very pleased that Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Education, has entered into a Funding Agreement to allow Mount Street Infant and Nursery School to convert into an Academy.

“Academies form an integral part of the Government’s education policy to raise attainment for all children and to bring about sustained improvements to all schools.

“I am delighted that Mount Street Infant and Nursery School recognises the benefits that Academy status will bring.”

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“My experience of IPSA is one of a failing organisation that can and must do better.  It is not fit for purpose.

“I am pleased that Chairman Hodge acknowledges that IPSA is expensive to run and doesn’t offer value for money – c.£6.8m per annum currently, more than double the previous administration costs and not value for the taxpayer I feel.  That reality is patently obvious to virtually every Member of Parliament that has to deal with this organisation on a daily basis, and it is an indictment on IPSA that some 38% of claims are for less money than the average cost of administering them.

“There is no doubt that our parliamentary expenses system in 2009 was in need of reform after the excesses and irresponsible and sometimes criminal behaviour of certain Members of Parliament in previous parliaments.  But nor is the present overly-bureaucratic and costly system under IPSA working well.  I have long held the view that Members of Parliament should receive an annual allowance, which includes their salary and excludes office and staff costs, from which all their expenses, including travel, accommodation and their salary should be paid from without the need for time consuming forms and processes.  It should be acceptable that those MPs further from London should receive incrementally more than southern based Members to take account of their increased travel costs.

“I believe this would have the ultimate and double benefit of ensuring politics was less costly to the taxpayer, both in terms of total cost per individual MP (currently this is quite substantial when all allowances and salary are added together), and reducing the amount of bureaucratic form filling that takes place -cutting down on the £6.8m+pa costs of IPSA.  Also individually as MPs we would also have more time to deal with constituency and political issues, rather than the minimum 2 days a month to process the IPSA requirements and filling out of forms that is necessitated by the current system in place.”

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk

“Very well done to Lincolnshire and Rutland EBP who will also be a provider of the NCS for young people in Lincolnshire in 2012, building on their very excellent work, which I was lucky enough to see for myself, last summer.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Elaine Lilley, Sarah Hastings and everyone at Lincolnshire and Rutland EBP for their fantastic work both in delivering a successful NCS over the summer of this year and for securing what, under the EBP’s leadership, I know will be an equally successful scheme next year.

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For further information, please contact Karl M^cCartney MP at karl.mccartney.mp@parliament.uk