The Co-operative Party

Following our rail event with Maria Eagle MP last week, Joe Fortune reports on the National Audit Office's report on the Department for Transport stating that the massive cuts lack strategy and may benefit rail companies at the expense of passengers.

Labour & Co-operative MP and Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP, previews our fringe at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool next week. Increasing numbers of people travel by rail yet there are major question marks over whether the current system delivers value for money for taxpayers or passengers, and businesses ask why [...]

Network Rail keep getting it wrong. Last week they tried to gloss over leaks about plans for executive bonuses. And today it’s clear that they are still treating customers with contempt. A leaked report, according to the Guardian and the Evening Standard, quotes the boss of the company as saying he needs Crossrail ‘like a [...]

The governance of Network Rail must change, writes Transport Select Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP Network Rail is a vast improvement on its failed predecessor, the privatised Railtrack, which managed to distribute profits for its shareholders while it failed in its basic duty of maintaining the railways. It was finally taken into administration. Under Network [...]

Louise Ellman: What representations have been made by the Transport Secretary to ensure that Home Office services enable our airports to operate efficiently and safely?

Louise Ellman: Security was one area on which the Select Committee expressed concerns and raised questions. Some of those concerns are touched upon in some of the amendments. The change in security arrangements-responsibility in part moving from the Department to the CAA-is linked to a change to an outcome-focused, risk-assessment regime, but that basic change of policy has not been fully...

Louise Ellman: On the same topic, how will passport control matters, which are the responsibility of the Home Office, be addressed under the licensing regime?

Louise Ellman: How many families in (a) the UK and (b) Liverpool, Riverside constituency receiving child tax credits will be economically disadvantaged by the changes introduced in the Budget.

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the reorganisation of the Coastguard Service will have on the treatment of leisure craft.

Louise Ellman: The Government’s plans for the future of the rail service include the statement that Ministers wish to withdraw or reduce rail subsidies. What impact would this have on rail fares?

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to introduce ultra-fast broadband to Liverpool.

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of disability living allowance applications in (a) the year prior to and (b) the year following Atos Healthcare being awarded the BPO Medical Services Contract were approved (i) initially and (ii) following appeal.

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of failed disability living allowance applications in the last year are now subject to appeal.

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions about the (a) procurement and (b) deployment of rolling stock were made in relation to (i) her Department’s press release of 26 November 2010 and (ii) paragraph 1.17 of her Department’s publication on reforming our railways.

Today I hosted a City Security and Resilience Networks (CSARN) briefing in Parliament on the issue of Olympics Security and Continuity. The Olympics is the largest sporting event to come to the UK in our history. 14,700 athletes from 205 … Continue reading →

The successes at this year’s local and mayoral elections were a sign of growing Labour support, combined with a signal to the Tory/Lib Dem government that their policies are badly affecting many people in Liverpool. Congratulations to Joe Anderson who … Continue reading →

On Friday I met with Cancer Research UK scientists at the University of Liverpool to learn about the charity’s world class research and witnessed the ground-breaking scientific research being carried out by the scientists and doctors at the centre. The … Continue reading →

On Sunday I was a panellist on the BBC’s Sunday Politics in the North West. The discussion concentrated on the forthcoming Mayoral election in Liverpool. You can view the programme over the next few days at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01fm8m3/?t=30m28s

This afternoon, I visited Holyrood Nursery at Princes Dock to celebrate their achievement in being recognised “Outstanding” by Ofsted. I met with staff, parents and of course the children and took a tour of their impressive facilities.   I am … Continue reading →

This morning Joe Anderson officially launched his mayoral campaign, introduced by Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP, at the impressive Liverpool Community College Annexe in Roscoe Street. Speaking in front of a wide range of people from industry, education, health … Continue reading →