Dr. Alasdair McDonnell M.P. Social Democratic and Labour Party MP for Belfast South


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		Today is: Tuesday 7th of September 2010

Westminster

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Local South Belfast MP Dr. Alasdair McDonnell has challenged Tony Blair at Prime Minister’s Question time to postpone the new reforms which threaten to leave nearly 300 young doctors in Northern Ireland unemployed or left with no future career prospects.

The SDLP Deputy Leader who has played a leading role in the Northern Ireland campaign said: “Young doctors in Northern Ireland should not be put under more stress because of a reform initiative that went badly wrong when it came to the final stages.

As a medical doctor myself I have seen first hand the fear that exists within the profession if this problem is not properly tackled. That is why I simply asked the Prime Minister to encourage the Secretary of State to postpone the initiative for 12 months so those charged with implementing reform can have a little breathing space to make sure it causes little disruption and stress.

I was pleased that in his response the PM recognised the extent of the problem but I was disappointed that he did not indicate he would postpone the implementation of MMC. However I am confident that my South Belfast colleague and NI Health Minister Designate Michael McGimpsey could tackle the problem on a local basis and I will be urging him in the run-up to a fully devolved executive to take a firm grip of the issue.”

To view your MP asking the Prime Minister the question click here

David Cairns (Inverclyde, Labour)

The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Katharine Bryan, dated 23 January 2007: You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what change in operating costs he expects for Northern Ireland Water Limited as a result of the Draft Street Works (Amendment) Order over the next five years (110849).

I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service. Proposed legislation has not yet been introduced and therefore implications of such cannot be fully determined at this time. However, a provisional high level cost estimate developed within Water Service in 2005, determined a cost of approximately £16 million per annum. The greater proportion of the costs, 94 per cent., is attributable to engineering costs towards the requirement for full/half carriageway reinstatement and lane rental. The remainder of the costs included an allowance for permits, direction making powers, programme overrun penalties and administration.

I trust you find this satisfactory.

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