Harlow Magistrates Court

As has been reported in the Harlow Star, Harlow Magistrates Court and the County Court are under threat from closure, following the Justice Department's review of the courts around the country. I oppose these closures and believe that Harlow needs a County Court and Magistrates Court. I also believe the move would impinge on local policing. For this reason, today, I have sent a submission to the Justice Ministry.

The MoJ's own consultation document admits that Harlow Magistrates' Court is a busy and thriving court with a 'reasonable' workload and it accepts that the court, which is used Monday to Friday, shares among the highest numbers of magistrates of any court in Essex.

I have also discussed the proposed closure was discussed when I met with Harlow Chief Superintendent Simon Williams who said the loss of the court would delay the issue of search warrants, which would have to be driven to Chelmsford, sworn in front of a magistrate and then driven back to Harlow.

In my view it is clear that the urban extensions that are planned and currently under development will add tens of thousands of population over the next ten years.

Harlow Magistrates' Court has the capacity to grow, to become a sub-regional hub. The Ministry of Justice consultation document statesthat 'additional land around the periphery of the courthouse has been secured for a possible rebuild/extension. A new cell block was built in 2008-09. The case for closing the court is made entirely on direct costs to the Ministry of Justice rather than holistic costs to the public purse.

There is no assessment of the increased costs of running a larger Chelmsford court, no assessment of the increased workload that will inevitably fall on the police with more warrants for non-attendance and no assessment of the greater travelling times and cost for local police officers to attend court in Chelmsford or to swear in search warrants out of normal working hours with magistrates in Chelmsford.

This will also mean police officers, because of the increased travel times, will be away from front-line duties. This incurs an opportunity cost. There is also presumably a cost to the Ministry of Justice budget in increased late and non-attendance caused by difficult travel. Some assessment of these points would help to determine whether the closure of Harlow Magistrates' Court is genuine value for money.

I wholeheartedly support the need to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the HMCS magistrates’ estate. However my concerns are that Harlow Magistrates' Court is highly utilised, Harlow has a high crime-rate and the loss of the court would pose a major operational problem for local police.

Harlow is a major growth town and the court has recently been invested in, and has the capacity to grow. The court is linked to the police station by a tunnel so the building cannot be sold without major and expensive renovation. Taking all these factors into account, I am concerned that the true holistic cost of closure has not been assessed.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Electoral Reform

A very long and impassioned debate in the Commons this evening about the referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV) and equalising the number of voters in each constituency.

I made two points: first that there will be significant ramifications if Scotland votes for AV, and England against.

I also thought it important to note that whilst First Past the Post is the least worst voting system, it does have one flaw: that is in a number of constituencies, an MP can win the vote with less than 50% or even 40% of support.

The answer to this is I believe to introduce the French system, (which is also used in the Czech Republic and Hungary), whereby there is a second run off (also under First Past the Post) for the top two candidates, in constituencies in which a 50% majority was not achieved first time around. This has the benefits of keeping our current voting mechanism, whilst ensuring that in every constituency, the MP elected has an overall majority.

Back to Parliament

It is back to the Commons tomorrow as the Recess is over. I shall be driving from Harlow at 0545 to be in the Commons by 0730. In order to be guaranteed a seat, you have to put in a 'prayer card' at 0800. You then have to be in the Commons for prayers (at the beginning of each sitting), to get the seat you have reserved.

On Mondays we always have a morning meeting with my staff to review the week ahead, discuss casework and go through the diary. After, there are a range of meetings.

My first appointment is with EDGE - the organisation that promotes vocational training and apprenticeships. We are discussing plans to boost apprentices across the country.

In the afternoon it is Home Office Questions and then the debate on constitutional reform.

This is an incredibly important day in our political history, that could have profound constitutional implications for the future. MPs will be voting whether to have a referendum on electoral reform (to introduce the Alternative Vote ) on the day of next year's local elections. We will also be deciding on the re-drawing of constituency boundaries to ensure that every constituency has equal number of voters. At present there are huge variations.

Astonishingly, despite having had a manifesto commitment for AV, the Labour Party look like they will vote against the Bill. For some bizarre reason, they are also likely to vote against equal sized constituencies. Some might say it is opposition for opposition's sake.

Harlow Update

It has been good after coming back from a break in Cumbria, to return to my community activities and work as MP for Harlow. Over the past few days, these are some of the organisations I have visited:

Harlow Police: As the Picture shows, I had a meeting with Harlow Chief Superintendent to discuss crime and policing in Harlow. We discussed problems like Wissants and crime levels - particularly violent crime and burglary - the latter which is going down - thank goodness. The Chief reassured me that despite coming cuts to the police force, Harlow Police Station would remain open for twenty-four hours and front line policing would be preserved.

Harlow Council: I regularly meet with Harlow Council Chief Executive to discuss casework and relevant issues to Harlow - particularly regarding regeneration issues. Harlow is going through some difficult times at present, particular with the recent news regarding the Harvey Centre ownership. I am confident that with the right the leadership we can get through this, and that business investment will be attracted to the town - particularly given that we have strong leadership from Harlow Council Leader Cllr. Andrew Johnson.

Hastingwood Action Group. HAG held a wonderful Garden Party at the Home of Viv Chipperfield, who has been central in the campaign to cut the speed limit on Hastingwood Road. I am working closely with Viv and other local residents to help and to lobby Essex County Council on speeding and related issues.

Harlow Fire Service. I have always believed that our Fire Service is not just there to protect lives, but also is a central community institution. For this reason, I was pleased to attend the Diversity Day organised by the Service. The purpose of this was to ensure that all members of the community are reached out to. Our fire service have made great strides in dealing with

discrimination in recent years.

Tomorrow I will be at the Fete of the Church of the Lord's Vine Fete in Mowbray Road. It should be a good afternoon. See HERE for more details.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Supporting our armed forces through poetry : A competition

What is more important than remembering our Armed Forces?

In the 20th century, millions of British soldiers died to protect our freedoms and way of life. In Iraq and Afghanistan every day our troops are risking their lives.

That's why events like Armistice Day and Battle of Britain Day are vitally important: they bring people together to remember what Britain is, and how it has been protected over the years.

Often people are worried that these events are just for older people. But you know it is one of the great myths in our society that young people do not care about politics. When I visit schools and Harlow College, my experience is that young people care passionately about the world, and the humanitarian efforts that Britain makes.

That's also why I have recently teamed up with former poet laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, to launch a Harlow Poetry Competition, on the theme of War and Conflict.

It will be open to every Harlow Primary and Secondary School pupil, and I will be writing to every school to invite them to take part.

The poem should not be much more than 25 lines, although it can be shorter, and must be about the contribution of our armed forces.

The competition will be judged by an independent panel of Harlow people, including Harlow Council Chairwoman Sue Livings, John Steer Vice-Chairman of Harlow Arts Council, and David Yeld, Headteacher of Downs School.

The winner will be invited to read their poem in the House of Commons on Armistice Day (11 November 2010) alongside Sir Andrew Motion, when he launches a memoir of his father's experience in the Normandy landings in World War Two.

All the winners and runners up will be invited to attend. Although I won't be one of the judges myself, I'm looking forward to reading all the poems, and seeing what the young people in Harlow have to say.

Closing date for entries is 30th September 2010.

If you would like to enter, and are under the age of 18 and at school, please send your poem toharlowpoetry@gmail.com

Or write to:

Harlow Poetry Competition

Robert Halfon MP, Room 34A,
House of Commons, Westminster
London SW1A OAA

For more details see my website www.roberthalfon.com

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Tony Blair's right about some things

I must admit that I bought the Blair memoirs today (half-price) and watched his BBC interview with Andrew Marr. I am also not afraid to say - even as a staunch Conservative - that I do have some admiration for the former Prime Minister.

Tony Blair was a brilliant Politician in that he transformed the Labour Party, was a great orator and knew how to win elections. But, he was a much worse Prime Minister. He failed to stand up to Gordon Brown, and as a result, important public sector reforms were carried out half-heartedly, if not shelved. He also was unable to convince the British Public about the Iraq war, partly because there was too much 'spinning' - as to what was really going on - from his Downing Street henchmen. Blair did have the grace to acknowledge that in the early years he 'tried to please all the people all of the time'. This had been a mistake and inevitably politics was about difficult choices - many of which people would either support or oppose.



Nevertheless, on TV, Mr Blair was right about a number of things: He reminded the world about the threat of Iran and of extreme Islamism. I agree when he said that military action against Iran may be necessary, in order to stop the fundamentalist regime from acquiring the bomb. He was correct also in stating that Islamist fundamentalism is the major threat of our time: the West had to confront it rather than appease it.

The former PM, also said some important things about the future of the Labour movement. Urging the party not to go back to election defeat 'default mechanism' and revert to 'old Labour', he pleaded with his former colleagues to continue to be radical and embrace public sector reform. Of course, the Labour party are doing the exact opposite: opposing cutting the deficit, setting themselves against change to public services and opposing the people power reforms of local democracy and the big society. Whilst Tony Blair moves towards the centre right of British politics, Labour continues to move leftwards.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com