On 11 November 2008, I had the opportunity to hold an Adjournment debate, in which I said that although Lockerbie station is situated in Scotland, the train services at that station are regulated by the Department for Transport, because they are all cross-border services. The basic message from the Department in response to that debate was that there was insufficient demand for additional services at that station and that the Department was not willing to look at the timetable, which in December 2008 saw a reduction in services between Lockerbie and Glasgow and Edinburgh of some 40 per cent. Since that time, some 2,300 people have signed a petition, which I was able to hand to the Secretary of State for Transport today. This evening I am presenting a similar petition to the House.

The petition states:

The Petition of users of Lockerbie Station and others,

Declares the anger of users of Lockerbie Station at the 40 per cent. cut in the number of rail services between Lockerbie and Glasgow or Edinburgh in the new time-table operational from December 2008; regrets the failure to provide the much promised early morning direct service to Edinburgh in that timetable; and notes the increased need to use connecting trains when travelling to or from the South.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons call upon the Secretary of State for Transport to, firstly, reconsider the recent cuts to the number of services serving Lockerbie and, secondly, to instigate the introduction of a ‘balanced’ timetable designed to meet the needs of Lockerbie station users, and specifically to allow commuters to travel from Lockerbie to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh at times suitable for the start and end of the normal working day and to allow return from Edinburgh and Glasgow late in the evening so that people in the South of Scotland can take advantage of evening entertainment in these cities.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000343]

I am delighted to present a petition on behalf of Quaker Peace and Social Witness. It is in the names of Michael Bartlet and Debbie Taylor and 1,500 other signatories. It seeks to raise the age at which young people may enter the armed forces.

The petition states:

The Petition of people of this country,

Declares that the Petitioners welcome proposals to raise the school leaving age to eighteen; and further declares their regret that young people joining the armed forces at the age of sixteen currently commit themselves to a period of four years service beyond their eighteenth birthday.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward legislation to delay enlistment of recruits into the armed forces until after their eighteenth birthday.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000344]

I am privileged to be the Member of Parliament for the headquarters of the Health and Safety Executive in Rose Court on Southwark Bridge road. I present a petition signed by James Davies, who lives in Greater London, and supported by more than 1,900 people. It has been organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union’s protect public services unit, and it has been signed by people from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England who work in many branches of the public services, many Departments of State, many Ministries and many agencies. They include people working as public servants in this building.

The petition states:

The Petition of the Public and Commercial Services Union,

Declares that the Petitioners are seriously concerned about the closure of the Health and Safety Executive’s London Headquarters; further declares that the business case for the single Headquarters assumed that 40 per cent. would move to Liverpool; notes that so far only 12 staff (4 per cent.) have expressed an interest in moving; and further notes that this means that 310 people will lose their jobs, with HSE losing the competence, knowledge and know-how of a significant portion of their workforce.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to reconsider the closure of the Health and Safety Executive’s London Headquarters.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000346]

I have the greatest concern about Wirral council’s regrettable decision to close 11 libraries and potentially to close 22 halls, civic centres and other valued community assets. One library that could close as early as this Saturday, 4 April, is that in Higher Bebington. This petition has been signed by some 500 residents of Higher Bebington and others.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of Higher Bebington, and others,

Declares that the decision by Wirral’s Council to close Higher Bebington Library does not take into account the high regard in which it is valued by local residents and users; further declares that there was strong representation for the retention of Higher Bebington Library during Wirral’s consultation period over its Strategic Asset Review; notes that Higher Bebington would benefit from the continued existence of a library facility in the sense that it serves just that community; and further notes that the concept of community transfer (which, according to Wirral Council, could be “vigorously pursued” after the closure of Higher Bebington Library) has not been sufficiently thought through.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Wirral Council to reconsider its decision to close Higher Bebington Library.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000345]