Gareth Thomas MP visited two Harrow pubs to show his support for the contribution they make to the local community.

On Friday 23^rd, Gareth took part in ‘Proud of Pubs Week’ organised by the Publican Magazine. The week was designed to highlight some of the key challenges facing the pub industry in the future and to celebrate the roles pubs play.

Gareth went to the Trinity Bar on Station Road and the Castle on West Street and talked to staff and regulars.

Gareth Thomas, Harrow West MP said:

“Well run and responsible pubs are not just at the heart of our community but they contribute to the local economy too.

During ‘Proud of Pubs Week’ I wanted to show my support for the industry and visited two great pubs in Harrow – the Trinity and the Castle.”

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, visited Recovery House, a local supported housing unit run by the national mental health charity Rethink on Friday 16^th July.  Mr Thomas helped launch the charity’s new national campaign for better mental health services, Fair Treatment Now.

Rethink staff and service users at Recovery House invited Mr Thomas to visit the service, discuss residents’ concerns about mental health provision and find out about the campaign.

While he was there he heard about new research by Rethink showing that only 16% of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia get all the treatments recommended by the health watchdog NICE, and many are languishing on waiting lists before getting the help they need.  As a consequence, people with severe mental illnesses die up to a decade earlier than the rest of the population, often become long-term unemployed and, can end up in prison or homeless because they haven’t had the right support.  Mr Thomas pledged to support Rethink’s campaign, and he’s among 25 members of parliament who have already done the same.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, said:  “Meeting constituents and discussing their concerns is vital as an MP.  Visiting Rethink’s Recovery House has helped me understand the impact of mental health on individuals and the economy and how important it is that people have access to good services.   I am pleased to pledge my support for the Fair Treatment Now campaign.”

Harry Gesell, a shift lead for Rethink, said: “This is a really important campaign, just think, mental illness costs the nation £33.75 billion every year, but less than a quarter of that actually goes to provide mental health services.  The rest goes on dealing with the fall out of not providing decent care.”

GARETH THOMAS MP showed his support for efforts to beat cancer at a major Cancer Research UK event on cancer treatment in Parliament.

During the 14th July briefing, the Harrow West MP heard about the different approaches used to treat cancer patients in the UK and was taken through a range of treatment pathways that a patient may follow after being diagnosed with the disease.

He heard about the importance of diagnosing and treating cancer early and the need for patients to have timely access to world-class treatment.

Gareth Thomas MP also learnt about how people affected by cancer can find reliable, easy to understand information from Cancer Research UK on their patient information website, CancerHelp UK (www.cancerhelp.org.uk). If people in Harrow West have concerns about cancer they can call the Cancer Research UK’s information nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday.  They can also visit Cancer Research UK’s patient forum, Cancer Chat (www.cancerchat.org.uk) where they can share information and experiences with other people affected by cancer.

Gareth Thomas MP said:

 “Detecting cancers early is absolutely vital. If people know more about the signs and symptoms of cancers and talk about this with friends and family, we could improve early diagnosis.

When cancer is diagnosed early, it is much easier to treat successfully. We must ensure that there is access to existing and new ways of diagnosing cancer as soon as possible so that patients are given the best and most effective treatment.”

The importance of giving patients access to innovative cancer treatments was also highlighted during the briefing.   

Aisling Burnand, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Cancer Research UK, said:

“People with the same cancer, at the same stage of development, often do not receive the same type of treatment. It is of the upmost importance that patients have timely access to treatments. Although the UK invests far more in cancer research than any other country in Europe, it is often much slower to take up the fruits of this research.

“Cancer Research UK believes the Government should be doing more to encourage the uptake of new technologies into the NHS. It is important to remember that this applies not only to new cancer medicines but also surgical and radiotherapy techniques. We must maintain investment in cancer services, recognising the scale of the cancer burden in the UK and our poor survival rates compared to a number of other countries.”

George Osborne’s first Budget was a shocking mix of measures that will increase unemployment, hold back economic growth and damage vital public services. It was also striking for the wholesale breaking of manifesto promises made only weeks ago during the General Election.

The Office of Budget Responsibility has said that economic growth both this year and next year will now be lower as a direct result of the measures included in this Budget compared to the Budget of the previous Government. Predictions for economic growth have now been revised down because of the harm measures contained in the Budget will bring.

This new Quango has also forecasted as a result of this Budget the unemployment claimant count will be 100,000 higher for each of the next four years.

Once again, a Conservative Government clearly thinks that higher unemployment is a price worth paying. They have axed a series of major initiatives to help economic growth. The Future Jobs Fund for example, which had helped thousands of young people get into work, has been cancelled.

One of the most surprising measures in the Budget was the hike in VAT. This despite both sides of the Coalition Government campaigning in the last General Election that they would not raise VAT.

David Cameron himself pointed out “it’s very regressive, it hits the poorest the hardest. It does, I absolutely promise you.”

The Conservatives confirmed as recently as 5th April that they held no plans to put up VAT.

The Liberal Democrats said during the General Election that a Tory Government would come up with "a secret VAT bombshell", but as Harriet Harman said; the only secret appears now to be that the Liberal Democrats intended to vote for it when it was introduced.

As the Institute for Fiscal Studies states, in its damning verdict on this Budget, the VAT rise will "hit the poorest hardest and…keep on hitting them more and more every year".

The Budget fails the fairness test. Disability benefits to some of the most vulnerable people in the UK will be cut. Some families will struggle to meet their mortgage interest payments, as help from the Government is reduced. Pensioners will be left empty handed.

This Budget savages support for the poorest and most vulnerable. Child benefit will be cut, tax credits reduced for families on low and modest incomes. Support for families with very young children is also being axed.

But this Budget is just the start, 25% cuts to Government Departmental spending are due to follow in the Autumn. We do not yet know what affect this will have on for example the number of our police officers, or on local Council funding.

In short, this is a Budget that faced three key credibility tests – would it help economic growth, would it be in line with the manifesto promises of the Coalition Government and would it be fair? On all three of these tests people are entitled to feel that they have been let down.

Gareth Thomas MP today secured a debate in the House of Commons on the future of Northwick Park Hospital.

Gareth Thomas made the case to the Health Minister for Government investment to rebuild Northwick Park, as well as the need to protect the day-to-day funding of the hospital.

During the debate Mr Thomas also raised his support for the hospital moving towards Foundation Hospital status and the importance of designating Northwick Park as a major acute centre for North West London.

Gareth Thomas said

“Northwick Park Hospital is the primary hospital serving Harrow, the hospital and its staff have looked after me at many points in my life and I continue to be extremely grateful for the work of Northwick Park staff.

Northwick Park provides a range of services including a very busy Accident and Emergency Department and a new hyper acute stroke unit. I arranged this debate to press the minister to confirm that there will be no cuts to Government funding for NHS London and make the case for additional investment for the rebuilding of the hospital.

The Minister highlighted the £23m capital bid for immediate capital works and promised to write to Mr Thomas and other local MPs with further information. The Minister also agreed to meet with Mr Thomas and other interested parties in next 12 months to discuss the rebuilding of and continuing investment in Northwick Park.”

The debate can be viewed by clicking here

Gareth Thomas MP is delighted to welcome the re-opening of West House. As a Patron of The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust Gareth Thomas MP has been a long been a supporter of the re-opening of the facility.

In the past Gareth Thomas has spoken of his affection for West House in the House of Commons; he praised the West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust, the Pinner Association and Harrow Heritage Trust for work in restoring the building and recalled attending band practices at West House in his youth.

Gareth Thomas said

“This is a labour of love by many Pinner and other Harrow residents, led superbly by the Pinner Association. This opening marks a long campaign to restore West House and Heath Robinson’s collection to their premier place as a valued attraction in Harrow”

Shadow Minister for International Development & Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas visited the new Swaminarayan Mandir in Bhuj, Kutch from 15-16th May in his first visit since the General Election.

Gareth Thomas visited the new Mandir, meeting many of the Sadhus and members of the Shree Kutch Leva Patel community, staying in the village of Madapur close to Bhuj.

Gareth Thomas also visited a medical camp funded by the SKLP community where over 5000 of the poorest local people received free medical advice & treatment on Sunday at Bhuj High School, as well as a centre for people with disabilities.

Gareth Thomas said

“I have long wanted to visit the Kutch, but to do so when the new Mandir is opening and the medical camp taking place was an extra joy.

The Mandir is stunningly beautiful & the free medical support provided by the SKLP community is a striking example of their community spirit and willingness to help those less fortunate than themselves”