Let's make sure the Government gets SEN reform right.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Autism (APPGA) is a group of MPs and Lords with an interest in issues affecting people with autism. They are supported by an advisory group, comprising experts from across the autism field – academics, professionals and adults with autism. The APPGA's purpose is to keep autism on the political agenda and to influence Government policy to improve the lives of people with autism, their families and carers. There is more information about the APPGA at www.appga.org.uk.

Background

The vast majority of children with autism also have special educational needs (SEN). In 2011 the Government proposed significant changes to support for children and young people with SEN in England. In a Green Paper consultation document, the Government set out plans to improve identification of SEN, replace Statements with "Education, Health and Care Plans", which would streamline the assessment process, and offer continuity up to the age of 25, (though statutory protections would remain), and change the categorisation of SEN support in mainstream schools. A summary of the Green Paper and a link to the full document are available here.

The APPGA Commission on special educational needs

The APPGA's Commission on SEN is a unique opportunity for people with first-hand experience, such as young people with autism, parents of children with autism, teachers and other professionals, to influence the Government directly.

We are carrying out this survey to find out your experiences and views on teaching children with autism, specialist support and the involvement of parents and carers in their child's education. Questions in the survey which require an answer are marked with an asterisk (*).

This survey closes on Friday 10 February 2012. The APPGA will also hold expert evidence sessions in spring 2012.

The APPGA will use these findings to:

• Publish a report with recommendations on improving access to specialist support for children and young people with autism
• Take the views of students, parents, teachers and other professionals directly to Government Ministers and civil servants
• Help to improve the education system for children with autism

If you have any questions about this survey or about the Commission please contact appga@nas.org.uk.
 
Take the survey here

David Mowat, Member of Parliament for Warrington South, is supporting National Apprenticeship Week by calling on local businesses to provide more placements for young people. The week from February 6-11, organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) will demonstrate the wide range of apprenticeships available, the high standard of skills apprentices achieve and the progression routes available.

Mr Mowat is a firm supporter of apprenticeships and has continually stated that creating a highly-skilled workforce will be crucial to rebalancing the economy. Figures released last year by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills showed there were 1,130 apprenticeship starts in Warrington South in 2010/11, 35% more than 2009/10. Nationally, a record 442,700 learners started an apprenticeship in 2010/11, an increase of around 50% on 2009/10.

The Government has announced plans to make it simpler and more worthwhile for small businesses to take on apprentices. Businesses with up to 50 employees will now be eligible for a payment of up to £1,500 if for the first time, they take on an apprentice aged between 16 and 24.

David Mowat said:

"I was pleased that the Government reaffirmed its commitment to improve and grow the apprenticeship system in a recent debate in the House of Commons. It is so important that businesses recognise the benefits of taking on apprentices. An apprenticeship can be the key to a good job.

"Apprenticeships form a vital part of the Government's plans for economic growth and education reforms to give opportunities to more young people. National Apprenticeship Week has my full support. It is a great opportunity for young people to find out more about what being an apprentice involves."

24 January 2012

DX Group opens Parcel Sorting & Distribution Centre in Warrington

David Mowat, MP for Warrington South was on hand last Friday to help open a state-of-the-art parcel sorting and distribution centre in Warrington to meet demand from the fast-growing online retail sector for secure delivery services. The 28,000 sq ft building in Lyncastle Road, Barley Castle Trading Estate, operated by DX Group, the UK's largest independent logistics network operator, can sort up to 4,000 parcels an hour.

The new centre will dramatically increase capacity for DX's nationwide, next-day secure delivery service for local and national e-tailers and retailers across the North of England, including household names such as Asda and Cloggs who are already benefiting from DX's high performing home delivery services.

David Mowat said:

"It's always good to welcome new businesses to Warrington, especially those involved in fast-growing industries. This new investment will create jobs in Warrington both now and in the future."

Gary Woods, Managing Director of Park Retail, a longstanding DX customer said:

"Fast, secure and reliable product deliveries are essential for the smooth running and reputation of businesses like ours, and we simply cannot operate efficiently without them.

"I am very pleased to open this impressive new centre in Warrington on behalf of DX and I am sure it will play a vital role in helping companies to capitalise on the exciting growth within the online retail sector."

Petar Cvetkovic, Chief Executive of DX, said:

"We are delighted to officially open this state-of-the-art parcel sorting and distribution facility in Warrington, which has been created to meet demand from the fast-growing online retail sector."

23 January 2012

David Mowat supports charity calls for urgent action to avoid babies' deaths

Warrington South MP, David Mowat has attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies' Deaths: what needs to be done.

6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity's report proposes that 1,200 babies' lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care and greater awareness of the risks of stillbirth and newborn baby death.

Mr Mowat met with bereaved Warrington parents Fran Heald and her husband Jon Betts and pledged his support for the Sands campaign, "I was shocked to discover the scale of baby deaths in the UK. 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day, with stillbirth being the largest contributor to child deaths under the age of five years. These deaths have a devastating impact on parents and their families, and I fully support Sands in their call for urgent action to prevent baby deaths in the future."

The Report highlights that advances in neonatal medicine have led to small but welcome reductions in the number of newborn babies dying, however, Sands remains extremely concerned by the UK's persistently high stillbirth rates; stillbirth numbers in the UK are the same today as they were in the late 1990s, with 1 in 200 babies being stillborn. The UK has one of the highest stillbirth rates when compared to similar high income countries, yet Sands strongly believes that with the appropriate commitment and investment in research and improved care, a reduction in these rates is achievable and should be a key focus for all those concerned with maternity services.

Neal Long, Chief Executive of Sands, addressed MPs at the parliamentary reception, "A third of stillborn babies – around 1,200 babies - are perfectly formed and born at gestations when they might safely be delivered. But routine antenatal care is failing to detect far too many babies who need help. These babies' deaths are those that Sands, researchers and clinicians working in obstetrics, believe are avoidable deaths.

"We want to see real national commitment to tackling this ignored tragedy and preventing all avoidable baby deaths in the future. We want lives saved and families spared the desperate heartbreak of losing their precious baby."

David recently met with the Managing Director of David Wilson Homes, Graham Swann and Planning Director, Andrew Taylor, alongside Peter Taylor, Assistant Director, Regeneration, Development and Housing at the Council in order to raise the concerns of local residents and to receive a detail progress report on developments in Chapelford.

Final surfacing of the main infrastructure road is nearing completion and this has meant that a programme for adoption of the main roads on a phased basis from April 2013 has now been agreed between David Wilson Homes and the Council. The Council will then be responsible for the maintenance and gritting of the roads.

Alongside the addition of new homes on the estate, new amenities are also close to completion. DWH hopes to have completed construction of a mini supermarket by the summer and a new pub and family restaurant is scheduled to be completed around the same time. A new Primary School is scheduled to open its doors around Easter 2013

The "Chapelford Connector", a bus service operated by Warrington Borough Transport has been established to serve all residents of the Urban Village in order to promote sustainable transport and provides crucial link between Chapelford and the town centre. DWH has provided residents with free passes to use this service.

Dakota Park has been an ongoing concern of residents who want some open space for their children to play in. This project has been subject to numerous delays, some of which were due to unforeseen circumstances and others due to disagreements between the Council and DWH. Most of these issues have now been ironed out and David has pressed for the remaining issues to be resolved as soon as possible so that the park can finally be opened.

HS2 a big win for North West

David Mowat, Member of Parliament for Warrington South, today welcomed Transport Secretary Justine Greening's announcement of a new High Speed rail line linking London to Birmingham and eventually Manchester and the North West. Independent forecasts suggest that the line could add an additional £8billion and create around 40,000 jobs in the North West.

Mr Mowat has been a prominent supporter of HS2 in Parliament and has continually spoken in favour of the project in debates in the House of Commons and also on National TV & Radio. HS2 has also received backing from a number of business organisations in the region, including the Warrington Chamber of Commerce. Warrington Borough Council passed a motion in support of HS2 in 2010.

David Mowat said:

"Today's announcement is excellent news for the North West. The West Coast Main Line will reach maximum capacity within the next few years and we need a bold and transformative solution. Commuters travelling from Warrington to London could benefit as soon as the Birmingham line is completed and connected to the West Coast Line as "inter-operable" trains will be able to use the new HS2 line to Birmingham before transferring to the old line to get to Warrington and all stations north to Glasgow.

"However, more important than that is the message the Coalition Government are sending out. Despite the state of the public finances, the Government is still prepared to invest large amounts of money on projects that can bring prosperity and jobs to the English regions. The figures show that in the final year of the Labour government, capital spending on transport in London was nearly 4 times higher than in the North West – that is a disgrace and it needs sorting."