It is with a heavy heart that I present this petition on behalf of my constituent, Mrs. McPhee, and more than 7,000 signatories. When a Member of Parliament receives such a substantial petition, which was signed over the course of a few days, it must be readily apparent that the people of the constituency feel let down, disillusioned and angry. As the Member of Parliament for Glenrothes, I endorse the petition in full, and trust that the Secretary of State for Justice will give it his fullest consideration.

The petition states:

The Petition of Mrs. Elizabeth McPhee and others,

Declares that the sentence of six years imprisonment for the two men convicted of the murder of Mr. Ryan McPhee, aged 17, on 4th July 2007 is far too lenient. The reality is that these people will serve about three years in prison.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Justice to instruct a review of sentencing guidelines in the light of the sentence given to the men convicted of the murder of Ryan McPhee.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000134]

On Wednesday, I shall meet the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Mr. Khan), together with a delegation of Members of Parliament from the areas of the 10 fire and rescue authorities in England that have received a provisional grant increase of only 0.5 per cent. for next year and the year after. Tonight, I present a petition signed by hundreds of people from my constituency urging the Government to think again.

The petition states:

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of Kevin Booth, Editor of “The Press” York and the people of York,

Declares that the Petitioners note with concern the proposed increase in Government funding for the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service of only 0.5 per cent. in 2009-10 and again in 2010-11.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to provide a fairer grant settlement to ensure firefighters can continue to respond to fires and other emergencies, and also deliver a comprehensive fire prevention service across York and North Yorkshire.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000297]