News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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09/05/2008 - Andy urges local primary schools to enter national technology competition

The 2008 ‘Make IT Happen’ technology competition for primary school students aged nine to eleven is launched today by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and e-skills UK, in partnership with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Make IT Happen 2008 calls on schools to use technology, such as audio-visual materials, web pages or interactive posters, to describe how they would change an aspect of their local community for the better.

Schools are encouraged to focus on an issue they really care about, such as tackling bullying or littering, helping to improve the local environment or supporting their community.

Judges will be looking for student-led entries that show initiative and imagination and make the most of students’ technology skills. e-skills UK is making software resources and ‘How To’ guides available online to help schools design their campaigns.

This year the competition is also supported by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, who are offering cash prizes for regional and national winners.

Andy wants primary schools to get involved. He said,“Our local primary schools are using technology in wonderful ways to help young people acquire vital skills for the future and understand how IT can make a positive contribution to their world."

“I encourage all primary schools to get involved with Make IT Happen. The campaigns don’t have to be ambitious or expensive and schools can use the software available on the competition website to develop their entries. The competition is all about giving young people a chance to use their imagination, creativity and technology skills and show how IT can make a difference to the world around them.”

The closing date for entries is 13 July 2008. Winning schools will be notified and invited to come to the Houses of Parliament for an awards ceremony in October.

For further information and details of how to enter visit the Make IT Happen website at www.cc4g.net/makeithappen

24/04/2008 - "Put the fans first," says Andy

Event organisers need to do much more to ensure that tickets get to real fans instead of expensive resale websites, Culture Secretary and Leigh MP Andy Burnham said today.

The Government is now looking to event organisers, promoters and their ticket agents to work together to find new ways of making sure that tickets are properly distributed without fans routinely paying over-the-odds. These improvements can happen without the burden of new regulation, or criminalising fans who want to buy tickets for sold-out events or sell tickets that they cannot use.

But the Government remains concerned that some events are of such importance that some restrictions on resale may be necessary. More work will now be done to explore whether it is in the public interest to prevent resale of tickets to events of national significance.

Andy said, "Fans are the lifeblood of our sporting and entertainment culture, and young fans keen to get to events are often the most exploited. Event owners and promoters need to work harder to ensure that real fans get tickets at a fair price. We've seen good examples of how this can work at major events. The whole industry now needs to take action to ensure that distribution is fair and effective."

"The re-selling of tickets at inflated prices doesn't add anything to the cultural life of the country, but instead leaches off it and denies access to those who are least able to afford tickets."

"The days of turning up at the box office to buy tickets have been swept away by online ticket sales, but we have also seen a growth in the secondary market with tickets block-booked by people whose sole aim is to sell on at a profit."

"Event organisers have been telling me how important it is that tickets get to real fans. I now want to see the industry find new ways of making sure that tickets get to the right people."

"But there are some sporting and cultural events of such significance to the nation that we may need to prevent people from selling tickets on at a profit. We will work with the industry to find a way to achieve this on a voluntary basis."

The Government will now:

* push for a voluntary agreement that tickets for certain 'crown jewel' events will not be sold on the secondary market. This will be similar to the list of sporting events that must be available to free to air television, and is likely to include sporting world cups and other high profile events; and
* work with the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) to deliver a new code of principles for the ticketing market that meets consumers' needs. This is likely to include a limit on the number of tickets sold to each person; clear refund policies; improved distribution, allocation and exchange arrangements; and fair terms and conditions.

The Government has consistently said that legislation is a last resort, and this remains the case.

The Government has recommended these measures to help reform the ticket market in response to an earlier report on ticket touting by the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee.

The Government agrees with the Select Committee's conclusions that the secondary sale of free tickets (such as those for charitable events and events which receive public subsidy such as the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend) should be prevented. The Government has already reached an agreement with leading operators including eBay that sales of tickets for such events will be prevented in the future. Measures are being developed to ensure that tickets for the Olympic Games are not resold which would be in breach of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Act 2006. Legislative controls on ticket resale for football are already in place to prevent public disorder.

Examples of events of national significance are expected to include large sporting events such as the rugby and cricket world cups and Commonwealth Games. Other events that might fall within this category are significant one-off public events like Live8.

Consumer protection laws are already in place to protect consumers from misleading or unfair sales practices. Enforcement authorities such as the Insolvency Service will continue to take appropriate action against those who harm consumers. Further advice can be obtained from the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Direct.

23/04/2008 - Andy says, "Help us shape radical new look for Leigh Town Centre."

The people of Leigh are to be asked to help shape a new future for Leigh town centre.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham believes the time is right to take a radical look at Leigh’s lay-out and town centre facilities, now that other flagship regeneration schemes in the area are under way.

Andy said, "Since I was first elected as the town's MP, many people have spoken to me about improving our town centre, bringing back some pride and character. I have given this a great deal of thought but, until now, didn’t feel the time was right to start an exercise of this kind. But the Leigh Sports Village has shattered perceptions of what our town is about and where it is going and now is the time to build on that.”

Wigan Council under the leadership of Lord Peter Smith has been leading a phased redevelopment of the Leigh area:

• Phase 1 - the catalyst LSV project
• Phase 2- Bickershaw South and North
• Phase 3 – Extension of Parsonage retail area and old Leigh
East/Hilton Park site

The call now is to make Leigh town centre the fourth phase in this process and consider the future of the town centre in the context of the new facilities that will soon surround it.

Andy added, "Together, we have a real opportunity to make Leigh distinctive and different. Too many town centres across Britain have an ‘identikit’ feel. Let’s make Leigh a place that gives people different reasons to come and visit or shop."

“We need to take a radical and honest look at ourselves. All options need to be put on the table, such as taking away some of the poorer quality buildings and possibly creating new high-quality public space. This could help focus more attention on Leigh’s beautiful older buildings. It’s all about quality and character."

To kick-start the 'Pride in Leigh' scheme, Andy will join forces with Lord Peter Smith and Leigh's Labour Councillors in calling on Wigan Council to initiate a major public consultation throughout the rest of this year and commission a professional review of the town to identify options for improvement and change.

Andy has already held discussions with the Chief Executive of the North West Development Agency about potential funding to support a 'master-planning exercise' to identify options for change, and they have indicated support for the exercise. Funding to implement any changes would, of course, have to identified from a range of public and private sources.

Andy continued,"Our town has got great character and heritage. But one of the problems that the town centre has suffered from is that is has been chopped and changed down the years but without any single guiding plan in place. Of course, none of this change will happen overnight. But at least if we have the right plan in place, we can then work at finding funding to implement it in a phased way."

“One of the thoughts in my mind is whether we could develop a civic or cultural quarter around the Town Hall and Parish Church, with the centre-piece being a refurbished Turnpike Centre with a new theatre. We could then concentrate on Bradshawgate, the indoor market and Spinning Gate as the main shopping areas and bring all the facilities to support that, including adequate parking and toilets."

Public consultation is vital as any plan must be based on the wishes of Leigh people. To that end, LSV Champion Trevor Barton has accepted Andy's invitation to lead the consultation and community engagement, in the same way that he did for Leigh Sports Village. Trevor will work closely with the Leigh Township Forum under co-chairs Pam Stewart and Cllr Charles Rigby in discussing ideas.

Andy added, "Trevor’s involvement is an important sign of how serious we are about this. He has done Leigh a tremendous service with his work on the Leigh Sports Village and the Bickershaw project. But he and I agree that the town centre is the vital piece in this jigsaw. Trevor’s commitment to our town and its people is 100%."

Trevor will join Andy and Leigh's Labour councillors in the town centre this Saturday from 10am to launch ‘Pride in Leigh’. People will be able to sign a petition in support of the 'Pride in Leigh' plan and take away feedback forms to offer initial views on the town centre.

Later in the year Andy and Trevor Barton will host a consultation event at Leigh Town Hall to discuss the plan, working with the Council and the Township Forum. Representatives from the local NHS, GMPTE, Wigan and Leigh College and the Bridgewater Business Park will be invited to consider how their existing facilities in Leigh could link in to any plans for change.