Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East will open the new Bromford Housing redevelopment project at 12.00 in East Park tomorrow (Friday 3 July).

The new housing development replaces prefab bungalows built after the war with new bungalows.  Deansfield High School has also been involved with the design of the houses and in particular the Show House which will be officially opened by the MP.

Pat McFadden said,

“I have watched this development grow week by week as my own house backs on to the site.  I know the prefabs were well loved but the new bungalows look great and this is a great boost to the area.

“The opening also takes place at a good time because building more houses is a critical part of the plan to get the country through the recession.  This week the Government has announced that we want to build an extra 20,000 houses over the next two years.

“There is an urgent need for more housing both locally and nationally.  New housing like the Bromford Development provides better homes, creates jobs directly and creates work for the many supplier industries involved in the construction industry.

Pat McFadden will be opening the show house on 56 Selbourne Crescent, Wolverhampton, WV1 2EB at 12.00 Friday 3^rd July.

For further information please contact Pat’s office on 01902 405762

Building Britain's Future

This week the Government has published its draft legislative programme entitled Building Britain's Future.  This is an important document because our job as Government is not just to steer Britain through the downturn but also to ensure we are as well prepared as possible for a different kind of economic future - one where we have a lower carbon economy, where the way we transport ourselves, the way we build our homes and the way we produce our energy is all transformed.  The Black Country is a place, which believes in making things.  And a big part of the Labour Government's vision for the future is that Britain remains a country where things are made.  So as we move into this lower carbon future, let us ensure we have the companies and the skills to ensure some of these goods are made here in the UK.

Other items featured in the Building Britain's Future document include a commitment to more social housing.  I know there is a real demand for more houses to rent in Wolverhampton.  I see it week in and week out at surgeries where constituents tell me they have been on the waiting list foars.  Action on this is the right thing to do.  It will be good for those waiting for housing and it will create much-needed jobs in construction.

Holy Trinity School Closed by Swine Flu

Pat McFadden said:

 "I understand that local parents will be concerned about the closure of Holy Trinity School this week due to several pupils being identified as having contracted swine flu.  However, the Primary Care Trust, the school, and the Health protection Agency have reacted quickly and distributed information and, where appropriate, drugs to parents.  It is important that all parents follow the medical advice and that everyone who has been issued with drugs for either treatment or as a preventative measure takes them as directed."

For further information call the Swine Flu Helpline on 0800 1 513 513 or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Today I am publishing a detailed record of my parliamentary expenses over for the three years between 2005 and 2008. 

The information below covers the Additional Costs Allowance (or ACA - which covers second homes costs for MPs), Incidental Expenditure Provision (or IEP -  which is an office costs allowance) and Communications Allowance (or CA - which pays for surgery cards and annual reports).

As I wrote on this website several weeks ago, the Additional Costs Allowance is used to pay for my home in Wolverhampton.  In 2005-6 this was a rented home and since 2006-7 it has been for the home I purchased in the constituency in 2006. The Incidental Expenses Allowance is used to pay rent, rates and other bills for the constituency office at the Crescent in Bilston (and some costs such as stationary, toner supplies and so on in the House of Commons office).

The areas blocked out in black are not to hide expenses or receipts but are to cover things like home addresses, bank account details, names of suppliers and security information. As you can see, the actual amounts involved are always disclosed.

I have had one year where the full amount of ACA was claimed.  This was in the year 2006-7 when I moved into a newly built constituency home and claimed for a number of one-off items such as furniture and fittings.  Since then the amount I claim has fallen considerably and for the past two years has been less than two thirds of the allowance which was available.

In addition to these budgets MPs also receive an allowance to pay for staff costs, as well as postage and reimbursement of travel between London and their constituency. 

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Today I have announced that the Government will proceed with a change to the law regarding tips and minimum wage which we first discussed last year.  This change will mean that from October this year, it will no longer be legal to use customers’ tips to make up the minimum wage and that any tips left for staff will be in addition to basic pay. 

When a customer leaves a tip in a restaurant, they expect it to go to staff in addition to their pay, not to be used to make up the minimum wage. 

Business organisations have told us that the vast majority of employers already pay minimum wage without using tips.  From later this year there will be a level playing field giving clarity and fairness to workers and employers alike.  We all value the work service workers do, whether it is in restaurants, hairdressing or other fields.  This change will bring an added measure of fairness for those workers and will ensure they are paid minimum wage as of right, without depending on customers’ tips to make up their basic pay.

I have been contacted recently about supporting a campaign for former Wolves and England goalkeeper Bert Williams to receive an honour. 

Bert was born in Bradley in our constituency and, despite spending the war years serving his country, still won 29 caps for England.  He was part of the Wolves team that won the First Division championship in 1953/54 and played for England in the 1950 World Cup.  Following his retirement he ran a sports shop in Bilston for many years. He now lives in Shifnal.  Bert was recognised round the World as being a great goalkeeper.  I have written to the Cabinet Office in London saying I support the campaign to have his achievements recognised officially.  In fact, the surprise would not be to recognise the achievements of this great sportsman, but why it has not happened before now.

Do you support the case for an honour for Bert Williams?  Please let me know by taking part in the poll below.