Policy making

The National Policy Forum plays a major role in Labour

Party decision making.

You will note from the reports below that some major

Policies, for example Foundation Hospital, the Missile

Defence System, Student Funding have bypassed the

National Policy Forum.

National Policy Forum Meetings Reports

29-30 November Newcastle

The NPF examined and amended the following first stage documents

(these have now been issued to CLPs and affiliated organisations as consultation documents)

The Best Education for All

Enhancing the Quality of Life

Justice, Security and Community

Sustainable Communities, Better Transport

Britain in the Global Economy

The first round of consultation on these documents will end on the last day of Annual Conference (2/10/03). After consideration by the NPF of the responses the documents will be redrafted then circulated for further consultation. Final policy documents covering these five areas will be debated at Annual Conference 2004.

Complaints were made that the following major government policies have not been taken through the NPF/Partnership in Power policy process:

Proposed changes in student funding,

Foundation Hospitals,

The National Missile Defence System.

Trade Union delegates pointed out that, with a two-thirds Annual Conference majority, an independent inquiry into PFI was now party policy. Ministers were pressed for a higher level, index -linked, minimum wage, abolition of the lower rate for under – 22s, and protection for under – 18s.

Delegates objected to inaccuracies in the NPF newsletter. This stated that Annual Conference had overwhelmingly endorsed an NEC statement giving a green light for war on Iraq. In fact, this statement was never put to the vote – it was withdrawn because it was likely to have been defeated.

28 Feb - 1 March Southport

The NPF examined and amended the following second stage documents (these have already been considered by CLPs and affiliated organisations during the first round of consultation. The NPF will examine the responses in March 2004 and final documents will be tabled at Annual Conference 2004)

Welfare

Industry

Democracy, Citizenship and Political Engagement

Improving health and social care

Britain in the World

The Britain in the World document was welcomed for its positive stance on world poverty and fair trade, but criticised for its support of missile defence systems and the upgrading of Fyling dales. A paragraph, added by Ministers which praised the US for its commitment to tackling injustice and oppression, was heavily criticised and is likely to be amended.

The welfare document flags up that the next major change will be to the housing benefit system. It was noted that PFI is hardly mentioned in the health document. Union reps’. present, stressed the importance of carrying out an independent review of PFI, as agreed at last year’s Annual Conference. Unison provided delegates with a detailed written critique of Foundation hospitals.

There was concern that the Industry document, contained no specific proposals for developing employment law, improving the legal framework within which trade unions operate or removing exclusions – in particular, workers in small businesses (the majority of whom are women and ethnic minority workers) and proper protection against unfair dismissal for those taking part in lawful industrial action, however long that action may last.

Jack Straw addressed the final plenary session of the NPF. He argued that Saddam Hussein was a real threat to the region and to the world and he detailed at length the many chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction that the government were certain Iraq possessed.

In the subsequent discussion several MEPs raised concerns at the damage that is being done to our European alliances. It was reported that the Policy Commission had received a large number of representations from CLPs urging caution and stressing that there should be no military action without a second UN resolution.

Pete Willsman [London Region] NPF rep