BBC transcripts
17:07 Tuesday 27th August 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
CHRIS MANN: MPs will return to Parliament this Thursday, as Britain draws up plans for possible military action in Syria. David Cameron cut short his family holiday to get back to Downing Street and co-ordinate Britain’s response to a chemical weapons attack he believes was carried out by the Syrian regime. We can get the latest now from Westminster and our political reporter Ellie Zaniewska. Continue reading “Stewart Jackson On Syria”
17:22 Tuesday 30th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
[C]HRIS MANN: A Freedom of Information request shows that more than £1.5 million has been spent by Peterborough City Council on proposals for a huge solar farm. A decision has not yet been made on the controversial plans for farmland just outside Newborough, but money has already been spent on them, including nearly £800,000 on a feasibility study. Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson is due to attend a meeting from about seven o’clock this evening. I spoke to him a short while ago .. Stewart, you’re going to this meeting tonight. What are you going to say at it? Continue reading “The Mounting Cost Of Peterborough’s Stalled Solar Venture”
17:07 Thursday 4th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
[C]HRIS MANN: Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson has urged the Government to intervene over the planned demolition of a prominent building in Peterborough, to make way for student accommodation. The Victorian building, High Trees in Eastfield Road has been sold to a property company, in the face of objections from local residents. Well the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrew Lansley, who is of course the MP for South Cambridgeshire, promised to raise it with fellow Ministers. (TAPE)
ANDREW LANSLEY: I can imagine how he and his constituents might be alarmed by an experience of that kind. I will of course raise it with my Honourable Friends at the Department of Communities and Local Government, and encourage them to respond to him. (LIVE)
CHRIS MANN: Well the MP For Peterborough Stewart Jackson joins me now. Hello Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: So, why have you brought this to the Government’s attention? Why is it so important? Continue reading “Stewart Jackson On High Trees Preservation”
07:41 Friday 14th June 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has warned Peterborough City Council that he will call in plans to build an energy park near Newborough, if they give it the go-ahead at a meeting on Monday. The Council is planning to erect solar panels and wind turbines of course on that farmland in the North of the city. Local residents up in arms, campaigning against it. Earlier this week English Heritage sent a letter to the City Council saying more archeological investigation was needed. So planning officers have now recommended that initial approval for the first part of the project be delayed. Well Conservative MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson has publicly condemned the project, and has written a letter to Eric Pickles voicing his concerns. And Stewart I believe you’ve tabled a Question in Parliament as well, haven’t you?
STEWART JACKSON: Yes. The Question I tabled Paul was whether he was going to call in the application, and he’s answered that Question now for me, without writing back to me, which is fine.
PAUL STAINTON: OK. So even if it’s rubber stamped at this meeting on Monday, or at a further date, he will look at it. And what does that mean? Continue reading “Peterborough Energy Plans – Government Steps In”
08:20 Tuesday 11th June 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: A new group launches today, aimed at improving links between Cambridge, London and Stansted Airport. It’s called the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor Consortium, or for short LSCCC. Business leaders and MPs are meeting in London today for the official launch. Steven King is the Deputy Director of the LSCCC. He says better transport links are one of their main aims. (TAPE)
STEVEN KING: One of our first dividends already is the railway line. It’s ridiculous that it takes so long to get from Cambridge to Liverpool Street, and also it’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s only one train an hour between Cambridge and Stansted Airport. So we’ve already extracted from the Mayor of London about £27 miilion to upgrade that line. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: But of course transport doesn’t just mean trains. The group is also looking to improve how Stansted serves the area, meaning possibly introducing more long-haul flight. Jeanette Walker is from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. She says that would be a big help for many hi-tech companies in the city and beyond. (TAPE)
JEANETTE WALKER: They may be based in Cambridge, but it’s likely that their customers, their investors, perhaps the scientific advisers and collaboraters, will be located overseas. And that’s why having quick and easy access to international airports is crucial. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well listening to all that is George Freeman, MP for Mid-Norfolk. He recently called for Cambridge to receive a £1 billion Government investment now, to ensure its continued growth. George, morning.
GEORGE FREEMAN: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: Why so much money for Cambridge? Continue reading “The London Stansted Cambridge Corridor Bid And The Reality of Rail”
17:07 Friday 7th June 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
CHRIS MANN: Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust has been told it’s financially unsustainable in its current form. A report from Monitor says the Trust will continue to operate at a deficit of at least £38 million each year for the next five years. It’s also been suggested they would not be able to pay its staff or buy any more medical supplies if the Department of Health does not intervene. Well let’s put this in some context. Here’s our reporter Alex Harris. Alex, tell us what’s been going on.
ALEX HARRIS: Well the new Peterborough Hospital opened three years ago, and was built with Private Finance Initiative money, in a deal signed off by Labour back in 2007. It was a decision given the go ahead by the East of England Strategic Health Authority and Trust bosses, but that decision turned out to be costly. The Trust found itself battling a multi-million pound debt, as it still is, with the failure to shift the old site of the hospital, which remains unsold. Now the Trust has received a number of Government bail-outs, which the taxpayers are paying to keep the Trust afloat. These are to the tune of £2 million a month for the next 30 years or so. Well clinicians and MPs have maintained throughout however that patients care has not suffered, but finances are a different matter, and a report that we will be seeing today compiled by Price Waterhouse Cooper says that while the Hospital is deemed clinically sound, it is financially unstable in its current form. It’s deficit has reduced, and at the end of the 2012 financial year it stood at £45 million. It’s come down to £37 million, but that deficit will continue. And for the next five years, the report says it will rack up a deficit of at least £38 million every year. But perhaps most worryingly is the long term prognosis of the Trust’s finances. The report says that without future bailouts, without more Government intervention, the Trust will not be able to pay staff salaries, and will not be able to pay for medicines.
CHRIS MANN: Alex Harris with that background report. Well let’s find out more about this. Stewart Jackson is the Conservative MP for Peterborough. Hello Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good afternoon Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Talk to you in just a moment or two, but first of all, Dr Peter Reading is the Interim Chief Executive of Peterborough and Stamford NHS Trust. Hello Peter.
PETER READING: Good afternoon Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Truly frightening numbers. A massive deficit. What’s the future? Continue reading “Peterborough NHS Monitor Report – MP Meets Minister”
07:40 Tuesday 14th May 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: The Conservatives are to publish a Draft Bill which will legislate for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by 2017. The move was announced late last night during David Cameron’s visit to the US. It’s being seen as an attempt to satisfy all the Tory critics of his approach to Europe. Now the Prime Minister has promised to reenegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership of the EU and then put it to a popular vote. The BBC’s Political Correspondent Robin Brant(?) explains what the Bill will mean for Cameron and his party. (TAPE)
BBC: A it send out the message for millions of voters that this is how serious the Conservatives are about this referendum. It’s not just a private Ministerial pledge. They’ve actually passed a law. And secondly they believe that no political leader, ie David Cameron, could possibly go back on that. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well, will the Bill be enough to satisfy the Eurosceptics and defuse the revolt within the Conservative Party? Stewart Jackson of course is the Conservative MP for Peterborough, and has openly criticised Cameron’s stance on Europe in the past. Morning Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: Is it enough to placate you? Continue reading “Stewart Jackson On David Cameron’s Solemn Pledge Of Jam Tomorrow”
17:18 Thursday 9th May 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
[C]HRIS MANN: Conservative MP Stewart Jackson is being sued by the expenses watchdog after refusing to repay profits on his taxpayer funded home. He had been asked to hand back £54,000 as potential capital gains made on the home since MPs were barred from claiming for mortgage interest. But he’s refused, and has accused the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority of bullying him. Our reporter Alan Soady had the story from Westminster. Continue reading “MP Challenges IPSA Valuation On Peterborough Property”