Following representations from residents on the Cray I am writing to the Coop to see if they can take over the shop that's has recently closed on the estate.

Over the last few weeks, many of our postmasters will have received visits from the Post Office Consultation Team regarding the future if their services. Many of our Post Offices are under threat. Last week, I handed thousands into 10, Downing Street protesting against the move. This week we had a debate on the subject in the Commons and the government's majority was cut to only 20! Clearly many backbench Labour MPs do not support the Government and either abstained or voted with us.

Last Friday, I was delighted to attend the raising of the Irish Flag to celebrate St Patrick's Weekend. I would like to thank the organiser Paddy Maguire, a parishioner at St Patrick's in Rochdale who is from County Meath. I was pleased to see a nice crowd including Gerry Sullivan - who as ever had his Irish Rugby Shirt on and Guinness Hat.

I was born in Rochdale, my dad was a Rochdalian and my Mum is from County Limerick in Ireland. I used to leave Rochdale every year and spend my summer holidays in Limerick and have always been proud of my roots from both sides of the Irish Sea. Rochdale has a proud history of celebrating our cultural diversity from all quarters and when my Mum was Mayoress and I was Council Leader I arranged for the Tricolour to be raised to celebrate St Patrick's Day. I know my family are extremely proud that the flag flew over Rochdale for the weekend.

On Friday night I attended a very successful charity event at the Bella Vista organised by the Rotary Club of Rochdale for the Mayor's Charity and on Saturday I compered the Spring Concert by Rochdale Music Orchestra at St Mary's of the Baum. The young people were excellent especially the solo singer and Musicians.

On Monday, I was bombarded with requests for comments after the Falinge area was named as the area with the highest concentration of benefit claimants in the country. This has obviously attracted adverse news headlines for our Town. Successive governments have used incapacity benefits as a means of masking unemployment figures. This is a deep rooted problem and needs real solutions not sound bites from politicians after a quick fix. As a Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, I am currently lobbying for a change in the benefit's system to make it more attractive for people to work and receive positive help and support to get back to work. I am keen to ensure that local people take advantage of opportunities like Kingsway Business Park and the regeneration of our Town Centre to find work.

Later on Monday, I attended the Users and Carers involvement day at the Masonic Hall. I met various people there including our Cabinet Member for Older People Councillor Pauline Maguire and hard working pensioner Vera Hirst together with Age Concern Chief Executive Paul Gala. I found the discussion sessions very interesting and know that they will be used to develop services for older people by the Council.

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On Monday I attended the AGM of the Gateway Centre where there were two very moving presentations; one a play on Personal Accounts by a group from Warrington, the other the experience of two Oldham residents (one a Rochdale AFC supporter!) on their pioneering work on giving people with disabilities control of their own care plan including the money. Councillor Dale Mulgrew was also present and I am sure over the next twelve months he will work to ensure that both older people and those with disabilities are given more control of their own lives.

In London this week I've had discussions with Tony Simmons from the Ogden Trust and the National Liberal Club. The Ogden Trust have bought two oil paintings of Sir Cyril Smith and have very kindly agreed to present one of these to the club in recognition of Sir Cyril's long service to Liberalism. We have tentatively agreed a date in November for Sir Peter Ogden to present the painting to the club.

In the last week in the chamber I have raised concerns about fuel prices particularly as it affects retired, unemployed and disabled people. Gas and electricity prices have gone through the roof yet the power companies are making record profits. In my question to the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks MP- I contrasted the £32million that 'Powergen' spend sponsoring the FA Cup compared to only £4.4 million they spend on fuel poverty. I hope that in the budget next week we at least see some increase in the winter fuel payment - it is long overdue!

Europe has continued to be the main topic of discussion in the Chamber. My party tried to get a discussion on having a proper referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. This was stopped by the other two parties and therefore I had no hesitation in abstaining on the Tory amendment for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Not since 1975 have the British people had an opportunity to vote on Europe and since then we have had The Single European Act, and the treaties of Amsterdam, Maastricht and Nice none of which the British people have voted on. We need to give the British people a vote in my view on how the EU has changed since 1975!

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Despite this I voted with the Government at all stages including third reading when my colleagues abstained following revelations that the most profitable sections of the bank had been hived off to a secret off- shore account known as "Granite". Once again the Government has been very secretive about the whole process.

I was delighted last week when 'Sport for All' honoured Councillor Mohammad Sharif with their 'Community Champion' award. I've known Sharif for nearly thirty years and he has always been a very loyal worker for our community. He has worked hard to deliver real benefits to the residents of the Milkstone and Deeplish area.

Last Monday, prior to traveling to Bangladesh I met both representatives from the Council, the Environment Agency and local people to discuss the flooding which hit Rochdale at the end of January. This was prior to my debate in Parliament last Wednesday. Having the debate secured what I wanted to happen - getting action on some long standing problems like Mellor Street/Bury Road, Cornfield Street, Milnrow, Calder Avenue in Littleborough and many others. I was delighted when Council Leader Alan Taylor, for example, told me that as a result of these problems the Council had agreed to clean out every gully in the borough in the next twelve months. I am asking you to let me know your priorities for cleaning either by calling my office on 712186 or emailing me at: paul@paulrowen.co.uk

My visit to Bangladesh was organised by former Councillor Kermat Ahmed. He did a brilliant job in arranging for me to meet people. I particularly enjoyed visiting Sylhet where many Bangladeshis in Rochdale come from. I was also very moved by the devastation caused by Cyclone 'Sidr' but also impressed by the resilience of the people.

I've also recently met Craig McAteer, the Chief Executive of the Learning for Life Trust - the Trust that delivers our sport and cultural services. From a very low base we are now starting to deliver in both culture and leisure.

The gyms for young people like the one opened by our Mayor Councillor Peter Evans are an excellent example of how to get more people involved in sport and exercise.

I was delighted also that Rochdale Brass Band ably led by the wonderful Eric Landon came away with the top prize at the National Championships in Blackpool. Many years ago as a young Councillor, I attended a similar competition along with Ann McNicholas and others. The Rochdale Music Service do an excellent job - I was also pleased to see a top 5 placing for our Brass Band from Wardle High. Our young people are carrying on Rochdale's great musical tradition that goes back decades in Rochdale and I am immensely proud.

This weekend I have a major conference on disabilities organised by my Agent David Hennigan at the Richmond Hall as well as a dinner in Manchester with our new party leader Nick Clegg MP. This will be the first time he has visited our area since his election as new party leader in December.

This week I have also completed the final stages of the Pensions Bill as well as accepting speaking engagements on Kashmir at Leicester University and the Occupational Health Specialist conference in Telford. Both engagements illustrate the wide area of issues which MPs are expected to cover.

Next Tuesday should hopefully see a vote on a Liberal Democrat amendment on an "in/out" referendum on our membership of the European Union. I believe it is time for the British people to decide whether we should remain in Europe. This is different but more important than just voting on the Lisbon treaty. There is also a very important debate on Child Poverty which I am hoping to speak on.

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Last Tuesday, I was pleased to meet Jason Addy from Spodden Valley together with two of his students from Manchester Metropolitan University. They were in London as part of a lobby of MPs against the Law Lords decision to stop compensation for victims of pleural plaques - caused by exposure to asbestos. It was a good natured rally on a very serious issue.

Other visitors to Westminster in the last couple of weeks have included Martin Hall, ex Rochdale and Wigan Rugby player and popular Heywood councillor Peter Rush. They were here for the All-Party Rugby League Dinner.

Last Friday I had to make an emergency visit to the dentist for a crown that had come out. I'm lucky I have a dentist but I know that many people are not so lucky. On Tuesday I was able to ask the Health Secretary Alan Johnson about funding for dentists. I suggested that in areas like Rochdale which have a shortage of additional funding should be made available to enable the PCT to take on more dentists. The Government have accepted this for GPs and Rochdale is benefiting and I was pleased that the Health Secretary agreed to look into it.

This week I've been very involved in the Pension Bill spending five and a half hours on the bill on Tuesday for example. This is a major piece of legalisation that will enable many people for the first time to save for their retirement. We've had a number of concessions from the Government and some areas where they have agreed to look at what we are saying. One of these was on securing an ethical basis for the pension investments. I spoke about the Co-operative principles from the Rochdale Pioneers and how that underscored the modern co-operative movement. I had strong support from three Labour MPs which did force the Minister to agree to look at it again.

The hot news in Westminster in the last few days has of course been MP's allowances and the misuse of them by a minority. I do not employ anyone from my family and my staff were appointed after open advertisement and a rigorous appointment process. That said I've been disgusted by the actions of some national newspapers who demanded instant replies to emails on threat of disclosure. We need greater transparency but within an agreed framework that does not allow journalists to harass MPs staff. We are paid to take the flack not our staff!

On Monday I attended the funeral of Rusa Coric, Angela Coric's mum. It was an Orthodox funeral and though sad, it was a real celebration of her life. Like many who came to this country as refugees following the Second World War, Rusa worked hard in our cotton mills and made a real contribution to the town. I know that Angela has been very appreciative of all the cards, flowers and letters of support. I know that Rusa was very proud of Angela's achievements on the Council - especially her Mayoral Year.

On Thursday I spoke on Granada TV's Party People programme on the Labour Government's latest crackpot idea of throwing people out of their Council houses if they will not work. The problem to me is not people refusing to work but a lack of jobs.

This weekend I've a full programme including presenting awards at the Sport for All Awards evening and two surgeries on Saturday morning.

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