News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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08/07/2008 - Council's 'Big Splash': Swimming to go free for all from April 2009

Borough is first in country to sign up to Labour's Olympic ambition.

People of all ages in the Wigan borough will be able to swim in local pools for free from next April.

The ground-breaking move comes after Culture Secretary Andy Burnham announced a new fund to help as many councils as possible make swimming free for all in time for 2012.

The flagship policy is part of the Government's national drive to get two million more people active by the time of the London Olympics in 2012.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said, "We are only a few weeks away now from the handover of the Olympic flag to Britain in Beijing. It will be an exciting moment for this country and I hope we can use the next four years to get more and more people active. It is a source of great pride to me that my own local authority is setting the lead for others to follow. The vision of Peter Smith and the Council has now become a national drive."

Wigan Council leader Peter Smith has said that he is looking to extend the Council's pioneering free swim scheme following the Government's announcement.

Launched in 2005, the local scheme now offers free swimming for under 16s and over 60s. Across the borough, over 300,000 free swims have been undertaken with a 50% increase in swimming from young and old alike since the local free scheme was introduced.

Andy Burnham has hailed the Wigan borough scheme as the inspiration behind the new national policy.

He continued, “Swimming’s appeal is universal. Whether you are young or old, swimming is something people can do as a family that is fun and also good for your health. It is the perfect antidote to the couch potato culture. Here in Leigh, it is just great news that our brand new pool at Leigh Sports Village will be free for all to enjoy.”

“Peter Smith and his Labour colleagues are very much the inspiration behind my announcement last month and they are to be congratulated for their vision. Making sport free for all is a real Labour policy."

"In our borough, we have all worked together to deliver sporting facilities which are the best of anywhere in the country. Now that our Council is making them free for all, let's set ourselves the goal of being the most active borough in Britain by 2012."

02/07/2008 - Ten point check-list to avoid mobile phone bill shock

Andy Burnham MP is asking holidaymakers - 'Do you know the true price of surfing on the beach?'

With the summer holiday season underway Andy Burnham is urging Leigh holidaymakers to be aware of the costs of making calls, surfing the internet or sending emails from mobile phones when overseas.

The call comes after a number of reported cases in which people using mobile phones to download data when abroad have been greeted with massive bills upon their return. These include:

1. A consumer who used a 5GB limit data roaming card in Austria and received a bill for over £4,000 for usage, after being informed that the operator’s limit was only 50MB.

2. Another who used a mobile phone to surf the web in France and was charged over £400 for 15 minutes of access.(source: Ofcom)

Andy Burnham MP said, “More and more people are using their mobile phones, or new mobile “dongles” with laptops to surf the web or send emails while out and about. With price plans starting from £5 per month most people know what their charges will be when used in the UK."

“But using these devices in the same way when overseas – including within the EU – can run up bills of hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Even downloading a 79p song from iTunes can cost £20."

“This can be avoided if people follow just a few simple steps, both before they go and while on holiday."

“I’m urging everyone who is heading overseas this summer to make sure that when sorting out their holiday insurance and foreign currency, they know the score when it comes to using their mobiles abroad. The last thing people want when they get back from their summer break is a huge bill sitting on the doormat.”

The ten-point check list is:

1. Enable your mobile phone: Check with your mobile provider that your phone has been enabled to use abroad. Operators are obliged to provide this information to customers.
2. Check your handset: Check with your mobile provider that your handset will work in the country you are travelling to.
3. Check the prices before you leave: Contact your mobile provider to check your tariff before you travel to help avoid unexpectedly high bills.
4. Ensure you are getting the best deal: Check international packages offered by operators before you travel to ensure you are getting the best deal.
5. The new Eurotariff excludes web, email or texting: The new pan European mobile phone tariff (Eurotariff) only applies to voice calls, not to texting and data downloads. It is available from all operators, across most European countries but is not available in Switzerland, Turkey or Croatia.
6. Check your bundles: Don’t assume that the price of calls made abroad are included in your bundled package.
7. Don’t forget voicemail: Picking up voicemail from abroad can cost the same as making a call to the UK – check with your provider if in doubt. You may also be charged every time someone leaves a message on your voicemail. If you want to avoid these charges, you can switch off your voicemail before you leave the UK.
8. Using mobile internet abroad: Be aware that when connecting to the internet via a mobile handset, dongle or data card (a portable modem which provides internet access via the 3G network) while abroad could cost significantly more than when using them at home.
9. The local SIM option: If you are out of the country for a long period time, it could be cheaper to buy a local SIM card that can be used in your handset or a local dongle.
10. Alert your operator immediately if your phone is lost or stolen: If your phone is lost or stolen when you are abroad remember that you could be liable for the cost of the calls made in that country. Make a note of the contact details of your operator before you travel to ensure that you can get in touch with them as soon as possible to report the loss.

01/07/2008 - Andy calls for former Womens Land Army members to apply for badge of honour

The government have today confirmed how former members of the Women’s Land Army and Women’s Timber Corps will receive their long-awaited badge of honour.

Andy Burnham MP has welcomed confirmation that applicants will receive their badges from the 23rd July onwards and is calling on former members of the WLA to contact his office for an application form. Andy has already received a number of applications for the badge and will be arranging a presentation ceremony in due course for those former members who now live in the Leigh constituency.

A ceremony will be held at No.10 Downing Street on 23rd July for around fifty Land Girls from across the country representing their former colleagues. They will meet the Prime Minister and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, and be presented with their badges.

Andy said, "The Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps made a vital contribution to this country during the second world war. Supplying the nation with food and timber during the dark days of war was no easy task. These women worked tirelessly for the benefit of their nation. Their selfless service to the country deserves the recognition that this badge will represent."

“To apply for the badge, please contact my office on 01942 248958.”

Over 29,000 applications for the badge have so far been received from across the nation.