A fairer deal for children with special needs

If you do one thing outdoors this Easter, it is worth going to visit the Harlow Pact Garden at Harlow College.
I was invited to open the new Pact Garden last Monday
Built by apprentices in just six weeks, with the support of Pact and a local business 'Ridgeons', it is a very special place. Some of the Flowers spell 'Pact' reflecting the name of the garden and the importance of its existence. 
I have always believed that beauty is so central to all of our well being. Something which gives pleasure to the eye, helps generate a sense of calmness and peace. The new Pact garden will give students, teachers and visitors a chance to stand and stare a little, to reflect as they rush to and from classes.

I also went to an event that PACT parents had organised in Harlow Sainsbury's. The parents and children set up a PACT stand with pictures and piggy banks for donations and, most intriguingly, were handing out seeds of tomatoes, chard and french beans.
But, these were not just ordinary vegetable seeds. The tomatoes are stripey - yellow and white, the Chard - rainbow, and the beans - red and purple. Each seed packet says : ' Autism, let the difference grow'.
Harlow Pact is an amazing organisation that supports parents with autistic children and does a great job in providing a much needed help and advice network - as well as keeping me informed of relevant issues.

Through working with Sam Fancett and other Pact parents, I have been able to raise the needs of parents whose children have special needs and recently made a speech in the Commons about this.
I wanted to highlight three key points:

First, it would be helpful if more special schools could specialise, for example with an autism specialist. This would be an alternative to mainstream schools when children can no longer cope. I also think more mainstream schools should be able to build stronger links with their local special schools and perhaps even develop specialist units on site. Many Harlow Schools do incredible work with special needs pupils and should be commended. The league tables need to be changed - and made fairer - so as to reflect schools who have high number of pupils with special needs.

Second, I asked the government why it is so difficult for parents of children with autism to get a blue badge to park their car?  Parking in hospitals for clinic appointments with a child having a meltdown either in or out of the car can be extremely dangerous.  Having the wider car parking space to enable parents to help their children in and out of the car is vital.  Although there is a crack down on the abuse of blue badge holders, more needs to be done to support these parents and to make sure their lives are not made more difficult.
Third, I highlighted that with special educational needs, the decisions taken by local authorities need not be based on random choice or personal whim. There needs to be less of a "computer says no" culture. To borrow a phrase, our public services need to speak "human", and that means looking at each individual case on its merits, and talking to the parents and children involved. Less rules and regulations, more personal service according to need.

These parents are used to fighting to get what is needed for their children. But why should they have to fight. Parents who have children with special needs, deserve a fair deal.


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New Year Letter to Harlow Residents

Dear Resident,

It has been a difficult year - particularly given the economic situation and the huge debt. We are currently paying out £120 million a day in debt interest alone - money which would be much better spent on public services or given back to taxpayers.

As MP, my job is to speak up for Harlow and support our community.  I have been MP only since May, and have worked hard in Parliament and in Harlow and the surrounding villages of Hastingwood, Matching, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering.



In the House of Commons, I have spoken in 88 Parliamentary debates, many of them directly relevant to local residents. As regular readers of my blog will know I have fought for an extra M11 junction, more police, fair benefits and support for immigration offices. I have argued - successfully - for Harlow Housing money for Harlow people. Jobs, law and order, immigration, traffic, and apprenticeships are my main areas.

Many residents contact me with difficulties they may have. I have sent nearly 550 letters to officials on behalf of Harlow residents, and tabled 59 Parliamentary Motions.  I also have regular surgeries, in schools, churches, village halls, the Rainbow Services and Welfare Rights. I have held 18 surgeries and attended over 230 community events, from the official opening of Dizzy Ducks Nursery to the Downs School Carol Service.






A few weeks ago, I tabled my first ever amendment to a Bill in Parliament, calling for lower Council Tax for Special Constables.

 

There is also some good news on the horizon. Unemployment in Harlow is falling. The Transport Minister has confirmed to me that our East Anglia trains will have 176 extra carriages next year, to ease overcrowding.

The Energy Minister has pledged that every single Harlow home will benefit from a new "Green Deal", where energy companies will insulate our homes for free, and recoup their cost from a fraction of the savings on our bills.

Looking ahead in 2011, I want to do more to support vocational training and apprenticeships. I have employed the first ever apprentice to work for an MP, Harlow lad, Andy Huckle. He is doing a great job and also studies at Harlow College. I am working to create a Royal Society of Apprentices, to give Apprentices the prestige and support they deserve.

I am a community MP first and foremost I will always stand up for Harlow and the villages.That is why I am always out and about supporting and representing our community in every possible way.

Yours ever

Robert

P.S. You can keep up to date with all my campaigns and Harlow work at www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com and www.roberthalfon.com. If you would like a tour of Parliament, please call 0207 219 7223. For surgeries ring 01279 311451 or log on to www.roberthalfon.com.

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Council Tax discounts for Special Constables

On Monday, the Government present an incredibly important piece of legislation in the House of Commons.  The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - if passed - will lead to a real policing revolution across our country.  The main part of the Bill will give local people the chance to decide the kind of policing they want for their neighbourhood.  For the first time, Residents will be able to elect local Police Commissioners, who will decide police priorities. The Bill also tightens up laws on drug abuse and licensing law, giving local councils more powers to close unruly bars, clubs and pubs.

I hope to bring an amendment to the Bill.  As regular readers of my blog will know, I have argued a number of times that we seriously need to boost the Special Constabulary. As the picture shows, a few weeks ago, I met with the Home Secretary to push the case for Specials.  Accompanying me was the Chief Constable of Essex.

One idea is to allow Councils to discount Council Tax for those who become Specials. This would act as an incentive, and would give something back to those Specials, who do so much to give their efforts to communities.  My Amendment would make this possible.

Today in the Commons, I asked the Government if they support my amendment.  I was very encouraged by the reply.

Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Has my right hon. Friend seen my early-day motions 520, 598 and 1,160?

[That this House welcomes the statement by the right hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs that there is a `huge untapped potential' for recruiting more special constables in the future; notes that the number of specials in Essex has doubled over the past four years to nearly 700 officers; further notes the public service of special constables, who are dedicated volunteers, often working in hazardous conditions; believes that transforming the Special Constabulary into a Territorial Army-type force would enable specials to cover more policing duties and would offer excellent value for money, sustaining frontline operational services; further believes that specials are a genuinely local force, like Neighbourhood Watch, who offer an invaluable source of community intelligence; and therefore calls upon the Government to refocus its resources to incentivise special constables, so that they can work more hours and develop professionally.]

Will my right hon. Friend make a statement on what steps the Government are taking to support special constables, and will he support my planned amendment to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill that would give local authorities the power to give special constables a discount on their council tax?

Sir George Young: I endorse my hon. Friend’s support for special constables. As I announced a few moments ago, we are debating the Second Reading of the police Bill on Monday, and if he were lucky enough to serve on the Public Bill Committee, he would have an opportunity to table his amendment to exempt special constables from paying council tax. I should add that powers already exist to allow police authorities, with the support of the chief constable, to pay an allowance to some or all special constables in their area, and the Government also want to do what they can to increase the number of special constables.

The Motion about my proposed amendment is as follows:

SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES

08.12.2010

Halfon, Robert

That this House urges that special constables be supported by local authorities through discounts on or exemptions to their council tax; notes that this idea is fully supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers and has been trialled in the form of a 100 per cent. rebate by Southampton City Council; congratulates the 696 special constables in Essex and the 14,251 special constables in England and Wales on their dedication and service; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to provide a power to local authorities to exempt special constables from paying council tax, or to give them a substantial discount. 

Movement on Special Constables

Regular blog readers will know that for some time I have been campaigning for a Special Constable TA type Reserve Force to be created, in which Specials would receive some kind of stipend for their services. I have spoken about this a number of times in the Commons and lobbied the Home Secretary and Police Minister.

For this reason I was really pleased to see that Home Office Ministers are intent on encouraging Specials (the numbers of which have greatly declined in recent years), and are looking at a number of options.   These include reducing Council Tax and special loyalty cards guaranteeing cash discounts of one sort or another.

This is good news.  Those who volunteer to become Specials should be recognised - and rewarded. Specials should be established as a cohesive force.  This would not only create a collective sense of purpose but  would strengthen Specials as an integral part of the local community.

You can read more HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Crime and Policing

A few days ago I took part in an important debate in Parliament, about crime and policing in Harlow.

I made the point that the Essex Police are very innovative. Despite the terrible economy, I am glad that their Chief Constable has no plans to cut frontline policing. He has also pledged to keep the Harlow Police Station open for 24-hours a day.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Special Constables : How to Transform our Police

For many years, I have believed that Special Constables could be transformed into a Territorial Army-type Reserve Force.

This would transform local policing, and create a genuine community force. It would cut costs too.

I raised it again yesterday in the House of Commons. You can read my speech HERE or watch the video below:

Here is what Nick Herbert, the Minister for Police, said in reply:

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com