Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Nov 2008

This week, on Monday, was an opposition day debate led by the Liberal Democrats which discussed two topics; the economy and the Post Office Card Account. I had suggested the second debate following my experiences on the counter at Buersil Post Office earlier this year.

More than four million people use the card account every week and as Shelia Munsadia, our Postmaster at Spotland, correctly suggests, if the Post Office lose this service it will lead to more Post Office closures.

Statistics show that up to 40% of some Post Office's income comes from the use of the Post Office Card Account. I discussed this with Councillor Ashley Dearnley recently, who as an experienced Postmaster, and he understands its importance.

The Minister promised a decision before Christmas.

I hope for all of our remaining local Post Offices' sake it is a positive decision though I have to say the signs are not encouraging.

Last Thursday I travelled back to Rochdale with three Pakistan MPs from the Punjab province. They were elected for the first time in February and were among a party of 13 MPs invited over by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I spoke to the group on Wednesday together with Conservative Party Chairman Caroline Spellman MP on the role of opposition.

On Thursday I hosted a dinner for the group at the Asia restaurant on Milkstone Road, organised by Amer Nazir, and on Friday I took them around the Kingsway Industrial Park together with Councillor Sharif.

I was delighted to learn there that John Goss of the Rochdale Development Agency was moving to take on responsibility for Kingsway. John has been involved in Kingsway for over twenty years so I am delighted that he is continuing his active involvement.

On Friday night, after attending the excellent Hopwood Hall graduation ceremony, I spent three hours with Inspector David Jones and two of his officers. All of them are Special Constables and all give up at least a couple of nights each week to patrol our streets for no pay. I was hugely impressed with their professionalism and commitment. When I met Greater Manchester's new Chief Constable Peter Fahy recently he said he wanted to increase the number of specials from 350 to a 1000. I fully support him in this.

On Saturday night I attended the Rotary Club of Rochdale East's Last Night at the Proms organised by Ken Davis. I was hugely impressed by our young musicians who entertained us, especially our two solo singers Adam O'Shea and Sam Cheshire. Both are members of the National Youth Choir and are a credit to Rochdale.

Sunday was Remembrance Sunday and I was pleased to see so many people both at the Cenotaph in Rochdale and at the local War memorials throughout the borough. Tuesday, of course, saw the climax as the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I and the laying of wreaths by Britain's three surviving World War I veterans. No one could have failed to have been moved by 112 year old Henry Allingham, 110 year old Harry Patch and 108 year old Bill Stone and their determination to be there for all their fallen comrades.

This weekend I am meeting Andrew Kay of the Citizens advice Bureau as well as attending our Annual Dinner at the Town Hall with Simon Hughes MP as our guest speaker.