Gordon Banks backs World AIDS Day
Monday, 30, Nov 2009 12:00
Gordon Banks MP today (Tues 1 Dec) backed World AIDS DAY to raise awareness of the plight of the more than 33 million people around the world living with HIV.
Every day, over 6,000 people become infected with HIV and over 5,000 people die from AIDS. An estimated 1.9 million people were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa last year, bringing to 22.4 million the number of people living with HIV. Around 14 million children have been orphaned due to AIDS.
Douglas Alexander, Labour’s International Development Secretary, said:
“Gordon has been a passionate campaigner on this issue and has pressed me to do more to help. We have made tackling this disease a top priority and I am proud that, under Labour, the UK has become the 2nd largest funder tackling HIV/AIDS. We are committed to investing £6 billion to achieving the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support. We can make a difference, if we show the political will to act.”
Gordon Banks MP said:
“Access to AIDS services across the developing world remains unacceptably low. Most prevention strategies are available to fewer than 1 in 5 people who need them. But we can make a difference. Labour’s continued commitment to overseas aid and support for health services in poor countries is vital to tackling this devastating epidemic.”
“I have also been lobbying the Government to put pressure on pharmaceutical companies to engage with the international UNITAID facility to make HIV medicines more affordable.”
MP Urges Carers To ‘Care For Their Incomes And Pensions’
Local MP Gordon Banks added his support to Carers UK’s national carers’ rights campaign on Friday 4th December 2009 and will be meeting with carers groups in Perth soon to discuss how Government can support this vital group of people.
There are over six million unpaid carers in the UK who provide care and support to family, friends and neighbours, providing unpaid care worth an estimated £87 billion each year. The Carers Rights Day campaign, run by Carers UK, seeks to increase the take-up of benefits and raise awareness of carers’ rights and the support that they may be able to get in order to protect their pensions. It might be the Carer’s Allowance, council tax discount, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit that makes a difference.
Gordon Banks MP said: “It’s a real concern that carers in Ochil & South Perthshire may not be getting all the help they are entitled to. Carers are fulfilling a vital role in society and without them the NHS and social care system would not be able to cope. It is essential that they are given information about their rights so that they get the support they need in order to plan for their futures.”
Carers Scotland urged carers to get in touch with its Adviceline (0808 808 7777 or www.carersuk.org) to receive a free booklet. Carers can also pick up booklets in their local Lloyds Pharmacy store.
Patrick Begley, Director said, “Many people assume that we will all automatically get a state pension, but you don’t. Pensions are built up from National Insurance contributions over the years. Many carers haven’t been able to make those contributions because of gaps in paid work and, despite their huge contribution to our society, there is a real risk that they will end up with less pension in their retirement. That is why it is so important they get advice and take steps to protect their pensions.”
To coincide with Carers Rights Day, Carers Scotland and Carers UK are publishing two new resources to help carers with advice, Caring about your pension and Looking after someone: A carer’s guide to rights and entitlements.
Carers can order them in a number of ways:
Visit www.carerscotland.org
Call Carers UK’s freephone hotline on 0808 808 7777
Email adviceline@carersuk.org.
Visit any Lloydspharmacy store. To find local stores visit www.lloydspharmacy.com
MP welcomes Clackmannanshire Hospital opening
Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has expressed his delight at the recent opening of the new Clackmannanshire Hospital in Sauchie.
Mr Banks said – “I am delighted that the new hospital is now fully open and benefiting patients in our county. The project has been delivered on time and on budget and that is certainly good news.”
“Investment over the last ten years by the previous Executive at Holyrood has seen this county transformed with the return of the railway, the new bridge, new schools and now this new hospital.”
Gordon Banks MP Welcomes Support For Local Service Families
This week Gordon Banks MP for Ochil & South Perthshire attended a meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, at the request of former Defence Minister Des Browne MP, to discuss support for local service families with the Army Benevolent Fund.
Gordon Banks MP said: “We highly value our service families and I believe they should all know about the support that the Army Benevolent Fund can provide. The Army Benevolent Fund is dedicated to supporting these families now, and for years to come.”
“It is important that relationships between Members of Parliament and this fantastic organisation are developed so more service families know about the support that is available. I strongly support the invaluable work of the ABF in Scotland and through-out the UK. It was an honour to meet with the ABF team and to learn more about the work that they do in Scotland. It was also excellent to meet Roy Robertson, the ABF Scottish Director and I hope to now work closely with him and the ABF to support the many service families in our community.”
Mr Banks met with servicemen that are currently being supported by ABF, including Mr Stuart Proudfoot who served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards until 30th October 2009 when he was medically discharged.
When he left the army he needed to completely restart his life which meant somewhere to live and a job to do. The Army Benevolent Fund assisted him with the purchase of furniture towards his new home.
His regiment describe him as an ambassador for the Army and he is someone The Army Benevolent Fund have been delighted to assist and will continue to do so should he need us.
Mr Proudfoot said: “When I needed assistance the ABF were always there. It was great to meet so many Scottish MPs and be able to talk to them about my experiences. I hope that the MPs will continue to work with the ABF so people like me in their constituencies, can get the help they deserve when they need it the most.”
Labour Supports Ending Violence Against Women on White Ribbon Day
On November 25, the United Nations’ Elimination of Violence Against Women Day and White Ribbon Day, Labour MPs including Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks united in their support to end violence against women. The White Ribbon Campaign, the largest international organisation targeting men to work towards ending male violence against women, was present at Westminster to photograph Labour MPs wearing their white ribbons.
Gordon Banks MP said,
“Parliamentarians enter parliament in order to make their community a better place. There is no more important way to do this than by working to eliminate violence against women.”
“Violence against women and girls is an obscenity. That is why we are taking action to bring perpetrators to justice and protect and support victims. A fair and responsible Britain has no place for violence of any sort.”
“The Government have announced an ambitious strategy aimed at ending violence against women and girls. As well as measures to further protect victims and tackle perpetrators, the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy signals a new focus on preventing violence from happening.”
“From 2011, preventing violence in relationships will be included in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education so attitudes that condone and perpetuate violence against women are addressed before they become entrenched in young people.”
“An awareness-raising marketing campaign to change behaviour will start in the New Year with a high profile drive to tackle violence in teenagers’ relationships.”
Every week in the UK, 2 women are killed as a result of domestic violence. There are countless victims of sexual assault, rape, incest, forced marriage, FGM, trafficking, and honour killing. The White Ribbon Campaign is therefore very supportive of the Home Office’s new strategy, “Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls,” which was released on November 24. We look forward to working closely with the Home Office, and Labour’s Home Secretary Alan Johnson, to ensure that this strategy is successful.