By Brian Iddon,

MP for Bolton South-east PERSONALLY, I will miss the late Cllr Peter Birch badly. He was a very loyal supporter of mine and a good friend too.

Peter and I have tramped many miles together during our close political careers, and he has helped many of his constituents without seeking any glory for himself.

He will be a hard act to follow, and my deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Glynis and the rest of the family.

Following the Statement on Health Authority Resource Allocations, made last Thursday by Alan Milburn MP, the Secretary of State for Health, I was fortunate in being the first backbench MP to be called by The Speaker to ask him a Parliamentary Question.

I pointed out that the poor health of Bolton South-east constituents has been cited in several health reports from the Black Report until the present day, and reminded him that I have constantly lobbied him and his predecessor, Frank Dobson MP, about the under-funding of the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

I suggested that some of the extra money should be used to put my constituency on a level playing field with the rest of the country.

He replied: "....However, the changes that we have made mean that this year the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority will receive an increase of 10.17 per cent -- the largest increase for any health authority in the North West."

Well, that was a pleasant surprise for a change, an increase which is equivalent to £45.36m in cash terms.

I have written to the Chief Executive of the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority to suggest that it is up to them now to allow the new Primary Care Trust in Bolton, which begins its work next April, to start off in such a way that it can correct the health funding anomalies that have existed across Bolton for some time.

Despite setbacks to the economies of several other countries, Britain's economy is still holding up. In his pre-Budget Statement Gordon Brown MP, the Chancellor the the Exchequer, announced that our interest rates are now the lowest for 40 years, that the growth of our economy is the highest in the G7 countries, and that unemployment is the lowest in living memory. In the Bolton South-east constituency unemployment is down by 18 per cent since the 1997 General Election.

The National debt, as a share of the National income, is now the lowest of any country. As a result we are able to invest substantially in our public services.

Brian Iddon MEP

Bolton South East