Heroes of the Second World War to get new award - Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps  Veterans to receive badge of recognition

During the dark days of the Second World War, thousands of women worked hard to provide food and timber for the nation.

So I was delighted to hear an announcement from Labour's Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the nation will formally. acknowledge their efforts by awarding a badge of recognition

These women were members of the Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps.   We should honour their determination, courage and spirit they showed in extra-ordinary circumstances. 

Felling trees, ploughing fields, harvesting crops and looking after animals are some of the tasks these women carried out to support our country. 

They worked tirelessly from dawn until dusk, without the benefits of the modern technologies we have today. 

For a lot of them, this was the first time they had ever been on a farm, let alone worked on one.  It is absolutely right that we recognise their efforts and the debt that the country owes to them. 

Do you know someone who was in the Land Army?  You can nominate someone you know for a badge or apply for one yourself. 

If you want to know more get in touch with my office on 0121 443 3878 for more details. 

Labour - developing skills and expanding apprenticeships 

In this rapidly changing world, Britain will only succeed if we develop the skills of our people in Hall Green and the rest of the UK. Apprenticeships have a key role to play in this so I was very interested to see what was in the Apprenticeship Review - published this week.

It is clearly an ambitious plan to expand and strengthen apprenticeships.

Building on the major improvements in recent years, the review will establish apprenticeships as a key route in building the national skills base and working with employers to help young people and adults get the skills that employers value.

If you are interested in learning more about opportunities in Hall Green please get in touch.

Reduction in Hospital Infections

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) this week published its latest quarterly report on MRSA and C. difficile infection figures infection figures for the quarter to September 2007.  In comparison with the previous quarter the number of MRSA infections has fallen by 18% and in C. difficile there has been a 16% fall in the 65s and over age group. In the 2 to 64 age group, the number of C difficile infections has fallen by 14%. 

This is a clear sign that the steps we are taking to tackle infections are working.   It is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff who have been fighting infections in our hospitals.

The contrast between a Government which is delivering real improvements for patients and an opposition which has opposed almost every new measure could not be sharper. Tory Health Spokesman Andrew Lansley will regret calling tougher actions on cleanliness and infection control 'gimmicks'.

Small ads - no place for exploitation
This week the Government published a report "Women Not For Sale" which researched into small ads in local and regional newspapers advertising sexual services.

Ads in local papers are the most common method of men making contact with women to buy for sexual purposes and given that many of these ads refer to women as being from abroad, there is mounting concern that some of the women advertised in back of newspapers could be the victims of international sex trade. 

Human trafficking takes many forms and blights the lives of men, women and children in many different continents.

Britain is a major focus for the global trade of sexual exploitation of women by traffickers who trick or abduct young women and force them into prostitution. Victims of trafficking can be found in every part of the country.

Government Ministers raised this issue with the Newspaper Society last November.

The Society shared their concerns and are drawing up tougher guidance for local papers on advertising which will include suggestions on what type of ads to refuse; training for staff; consulting with police and Local Authorities; and only taking payment by cheque or credit card so accounts can be traced. 

I hope that papers in our area will give the issues that I have raised serious thought by taking on board this new guidance regarding their own advertising policy and refusing to carry these kind of ads which essentially sell women for sex.

Some regional press, including the Manchester Evening News and Reading Post, have already said they will no longer accept this kind of advertising. If other papers follow suit, we can make progress towards eradicating this intolerable trade.