Aidan Burley MP <news@aidanburleymp.org> To: <news@aidanburleymp.org> Reply-To: <news@aidanburleymp.

org> News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #74

8 November 2013 12:46

15 Attachments, 337 KB

In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Website of the week: D.A.D's Burley backs Poppy Appeals call for volunteers Aidan in the papers: Its big business as ceremony recognises the best in district Rugeley supermarket gives community 1,000 helping hand Photo news: Supporting a referendum for Britain Burley supports town centre location for Rugeley Monument MP calls for fairer funding for schools in Staffordshire Photo news: National Citizen Service Ambassador Aidan welcomes plans to cap pension charges Flu jab reminder How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 74 Friday 8th November 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Chaired the fifth Chase Line Stakeholder Meeting to discuss the main issues affecting the Chase Line rail service. Among issues discussed included updates on electrification, the line speed upgrade and Local Authority support for Incremental services. Supported the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in Cannock Chase by backing their call for volunteers and giving up his own time to go along and support the sellers in Hednesford Tesco. Visited the Chase Day Service to see first hand the services provided to users and speak to staff about the ongoing consultation by Staffordshire County Council about the way these services will be provided in future. You can take part in the consultation, which runs until 15 November 2013, by completing the form here. Presented a charity cheque from Rugeley Tesco to two important local charities - Trudys Trust, of which Aidan is a patron, and the Childrens Air Ambulance. The charities received 500 each. Attended and spoke at the second annual Cannock Chase Business Awards evening. Backed James Wharton MPs Bill for an in/out referendum on Britains membership of the EU by appearing with a giant ballot box in Westminster. Met with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador and Cannock Chase resident Oliver Walker at the NCS reception in Parliament. Attended the first gala dinner of the DADS group (Dads and Disabilities Support) at the Fifty2 restaurant in Chadsmoor. Aidan had the chance to talk to parents whose children have behavioural and other problems, and to better understand the issues they face, while enjoying a curry. Questioned the Secretary of State for Health on what steps he is taking to raise awareness of stillbirth and neonatal death; what steps he is taking to reduce the number of stillbirths; and what investment his Department plans in research on prevention of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. You can view the Ministers response here.

Website of the week:

www.dadssupported.org
D.A.D's is a group of parents who have children with disabilities and challenging behaviours. We want to bring together families who usually feel isolated. We want our children to make friends, and feel supported and not judged, we want our families to feel comfortable and supported and also not judged. Our Aim is to sign post families, and support them through difficult and challenging times when looking for equipment or information. We want to be informative and supportive and give the parents and children a place to feel safe and supported, and to raise awareness of all disabilities.

Burley backs Poppy Appeals call for volunteers

Aidan with local volunteer collectors support Derek Ellison, the Hednesford Poppy Organiser, at the new Hednesford Tesco. The Royal British Legion is looking for enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers for this year's Poppy Appeal, and is asking people in Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley to get in touch. The charity is looking for people to become Poppy Appeal collectors in Supermarkets. Aidan joined local volunteer collectors to support Derek Ellison, the Hednesford Poppy Organiser, at the new Hednesford Tesco on Saturday, to do his bit to support this valuable cause. Aidan said, "Volunteers are a vital part of the Poppy Appeal and I would encourage anyone who has a few hours to spare to get in touch and volunteer. I felt an enormous sense of pride supporting the Poppy Appeal in Tesco, in recognition of those who have given their lives in Service, and those serving in the Armed Forces who keep the rest of us safe. "I am sure everyone who makes a donation - however small - knows that it is going to fund the vital work of the British Legion. I hope everyone will give generously, and wear their poppy with pride." Derek Ellison added: "This vital fundraising role is not only a great way of supporting the Armed Forces past present, and their families, it's also an opportunity to boost personal and professional skills. We really appreciate the support of the public, even in these hard times." The Legion would particularly like to engage young volunteers to come forward, to make a new generation aware that the Poppy Appeal supports serving and ex-Service people from recent conflicts. The charity has already worked with the local Cadet Forces, however with the increased support of the local Supermarkets, they are looking for collectors for every day of the week between now and Remembrance day. Anyone interested in volunteering to support the Poppy Appeal and The Royal British Legion, please contact, Alison Bates, Royal British Legion Community Fundraiser, on 01889 575496 or email abates@britishlegion.org.uk or mobile 07920 806092.

Aidan in the papers: Its big business as ceremony recognises the best in district
Cannock Chronicle Thursday 31st October 2013

Aidan Burley MP and Steve Mallows with representatives from winning businesses: Addfield (top left), The Engraving Company (top right), Terrazza (middle left), Mailcoms (middle right), JP Enterprises (bottom left) and Kazoo (bottom right). Businesses across Cannock Chase were given a huge pat on the back at a prestigious awards ceremony. Some 140 representatives from firms across the district were in attendance at the Premier Suite in High Green for the second Cannock Chase Business awards. The awards, held for the first time in 2012, are organised by thebestofcannock with the help of Chase MP Aidan Burley and seek to recognise the best of what Cannock Chase has to offer. Awards were up for grabs in 11 categories, with a panel of respected judges from key organisations having decided on the winners. A special charity award was also given out. Awards were sponsored by Finning Cat, APC Overnight, Mailcoms, thebestofcannock, The Premier Suite and PRM Green Technologies, while guests also enjoyed a buffet supplied by 2012 winners Jessicas Fresh Foods. Among the awards up for grabs were for Excellence Displayed by a New Business, which was awarded to the Groom Room ahead of Soul Care Aesthetics and Milking Brook Furniture. Judges had the tough task of choosing a winner from each of the nominated businesses, with stiff competition among all entrants. In the Excellent Eatery category, the Terrazza in Rugeley walked off with the title ahead of Spice Bazaar, while Addfield Environmental Systems took the Excellence in Manufacturing prize. Mercian Labels were highly commended. The Excellence in Retail Award went to the Engraving Company. Connect Midlands beat the Drive Cleaners Ltd to the Excellent Tradesperson award. The Cannock & District Foodbank was the winner of the Excellence Shown by a Cannock Chase Charity award with the Hibbs Lupus Trust runner-up. For the Excellence in Expansion/Diversification award, Mailcoms and JP Enterprises could not be separated and took joint prize ahead of the highly-commended Kazoo. Printing firm Kazoo were not to be disappointed, however, as they took the prize for Excellence in the use of Digital and Social Media award with Tamba and Cannock Ink Tattoo Studio in behind. Bluebird Care (Mid Staffs), which provides care and support to people in the community, allowing them to remain living in their own home, pipped Poppys Beauty Salon to the Excellence in Customer Care award. Briggs Equipment UK scored highest in the Excellent to Work For award, ahead of the Marketing Room and were highly commended along with Florida Sun, on the Excellence in Contributing to the Community award, won by EDS Couriers. Organiser Steve Mallows, of thebestofcannock, said: The awards are there to acknowledge the excellent businesses we have in the Cannock Chase area, of which there are many. MP Mr Burley said 900 new companies had started up across his constituency in the past year and the reason behind the awards was to celebrate the success of businesses across the Chase. He said: Businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, without which our towns and communities could not flourish. Tonight is about celebrating what local businesses do for all of us: creating jobs, bringing life back to high streets, and acting as centres of the local community.

Aidan Burley MP and Steve Mallows with representatives from winning businesses: EDS (top left), Food Bank (top right), Briggs Equipment (middle left), Connect Midland (middle right), Bluebird Care (bottom left) and The Groom Room (bottom right).

Rugeley supermarket gives community 1,000 helping hand

Aidan presents two charity cheques from Rugeley Tescos to charities Trudys Trust and the Childrens Air Ambulance. Two lucky organisations have been selected by staff at Tesco Rugeley to each receive a 500 donation. Local residents and shoppers at the store, on Power Station Road, were asked to nominate their favourite groups for the competition, called Tesco Helping Hand, to give them a chance of receiving the money. Store staff sifted through the nominations made by the Rugeley community, eventually deciding on the Childrens Air Ambulance and Trudys Trust. Store manager Ruth Brown said: We ran the competition as we wanted to give our customers and local residents the opportunity to decide how and who we should support in the local community. We are delighted to be able to support these charities which were nominated by many of our customers. Aidan Burley MP attended the presentation at the Tesco store to join Ruth in presenting the local charities with their donations. Aidan Burley MP said: It was fantastic to be able to join staff from Tescos in Rugeley to present two fantastic charities with 500 cheques. I would like to thank everyone at Rugeley Tesco for their generosity and supporting our local charities. The Childrens Air Ambulance is a national charity that operates a nonemergency air ambulance to transport and transfer children between hospitals in the UK. The charity launched a shop in Rugeley last year, which is greatly supported by the local community. Trudys Trust raise funds to donate to Brain Tumour Research and offer families support during the illness and bereavement. The Trust aim to provide further support lines and family support days/weekends where they can get expert advice, talk to others who understand and where children who have lost a sibling or parent can get the help they need. Barrie Watts said: We would like to thank Tesco for this generous donation and the customers who nominated us in store. The donation will go towards further Brain Tumour Research and offering support to sufferers and their families.

Photo news:

Supporting a referendum for Britain

Aidan with James Wharton MP, backing his Bill for an in/out referendum on Britains membership of the European Union.

Burley supports town centre location for Rugeley Monument

Rugeley MP Aidan Burley has offered his support to help find an alternative site for the proposed miners monument in the town centre to replace the current proposed Globe Island site, which has been described as potentially dangerous. His offer comes after concerns were expressed about the District Councils original plans to locate the memorial statues on the Globe Island in Rugeley. Particular issues were raised about the likelihood of the statues impeding the vision of drivers going round the roundabout, and the need for anyone who wished to inspect the statues to have to walk into the middle of a very busy road. Aidan has instead called on the Council to look at locating the statues within the pedestrian area of Rugeley Town Centre, similar to that of the Hednesford Davy Lamp miners memorial, which he feels would not only be safer but also more accessible to local people. Commenting Aidan said: I am proud of the heritage of this area and understand the desire for it to be marked as we move forward into a very different and, I feel, exciting future. However, I do share the view of many people who view the traffic roundabout as a highly undesirable place for the monument, which I am told could consist of four separate statues. The safety of drivers and pedestrians must be paramount. Drivers must have an adequate view of all four exits, and the pedestrian crossings on three of them, when they approach this roundabout. I am also sure that local people will want to get close, and even touch, the statues. If the council is prepared to see this erected in a safer place, I will certainly do everything I can to help them find a location in a more central location in the town. Staffordshire County Council has recently required that all work on erecting the monument be put on hold while the safety issues at the Globe Island site are properly investigated.

MP calls for fairer funding for schools in Staffordshire

Aidan has joined over fifty Conservative colleagues in writing to the Secretary of State for Education to back his plans for a new national funding formula and call for a fairer deal on school funding to start as soon as possible. The MPs, all representing underfunded areas which receive low per pupil funding have come together to welcome Government plans for a new national funding formula and indications that a consultation will be launched before the end of the year. They have urged the Secretary of State to ensure that the timeline for moving over to it is not too long to make a real difference in local schools. The amount that each school receives has been determined by a formula that has changed under successive Governments but is now complex, un-transparent and in need of reform. In Staffordshire the average overall spending per pupil is 5,129 compared to the nearby Walsall local authority which gets 564 more per pupil. Staffordshire is ranked 140 out of 151 education authorities in England. The f40 group is a cross party campaign on behalf of the lowest funded Education Authorities which has been campaigning for a fairer deal since the 1990s. The MPs signed the letter after a meeting between f40 and the Department of Education in which it was suggested that a consultation on the new national formula could be launched by the end of this year and the first steps in implementing it could take place before the 2015 General Election. Commenting on the letter Aidan said: "I am passionate about securing fairer funding for local schools. It simply isn't possible to justify that schools in Staffordshire get so much less per pupil funding than near neighbours and the problem got worse over 13 years of a Labour Government. The Education Secretary has been right to make a new formula a priority and I welcome the fact that he has already committed hard won resources from the spending review to deliver the new system. I look forward to local schools being able to feed into the consultation later this year. "The Coalition Government is right to set out a new national funding formula that will deliver fairer funding for all schools and I will keep pressing with my colleagues to get this delivered as soon as possible. Labour let this problem grow and I am proud that a Conservative Education Secretary is setting out to fix it. Local schools here in Cannock Chase do a magnificent job with the funding that they already receive, but I want to make sure they get a fair share of funding so that they can do even better in future."

Photo news:

National Citizen Service Ambassador

Aidan with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador and Cannock resident Oliver Walker at the NCS reception in Parliament. Aidan met with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador and Cannock resident Oliver Walker recently at a NCS reception in Parliament. Aidan had previously met Oliver back in September at Staffordshire University Stoke Campus where he was attending a citizenship course run by Pertemps People Development Group as part of a NCS residential course programme. Aidan said, NCS is a truly excellent scheme and would encourage all young people to get involved. More information can be found at www.ncsyes.co.uk.

Aidan welcomes plans to cap pension charges

Conservatives yesterday announced radical reforms to pension charges designed to help people who have worked hard and done the right thing by saving for their retirement. Conservative MP and Financial Secretary to the Treasury Sajid Javid MP announced that the Government will: ! Introduce a cap on pension charges to save hardworking people thousands of pounds. ! Make sure employers and savers are better-informed about the pensions available, so they can make the choice that is best for them. The Government will now consult on the best way of reducing these charges. Commenting Aidan said: "This is great news for hardworking people in Cannock Chase who are doing the right thing and saving for retirement. It will help ensure they get the value for money from their pension that they deserve."

Flu jab reminder

With winter approaching, Aidan is encouraging all those eligible to get their free flu vaccination. Flu vaccinations are available free of charge to many at risk groups including over 65s, all pregnant women and those with a serious medical condition. In addition, for the first time this year the Government is also offering flu immunisation in the form of a nasal spray to all two and three year olds. This marks the first stage of a planned expansion of flu immunisation to all children from age two to 16 inclusive. The final programme will substantially reduce the spread of the influenza virus, possibly reducing hospitalisations by up to 40%, therefore protecting healthy and at-risk people in all age groups. Commenting Aidan said: "With winter round the corner that unfortunately means flu season is fast approaching. Flu represents one of the greatest threats to public health, and immunisation remains the best way to protect against the potential serious harm it can cause. I would therefore encourage all local people who are eligible, and those parents of two and three year olds to contact their GP or practice nurse now and sort out their vaccination." More information about the Flu Vaccine can be found here.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447 By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk By post: Aidan Burley MP 6 High Green Court, Newhall Street Cannock, WS11 1GR In person: Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Aidan Burley MPs regular help and advice surgeries.

www.aidanburleymp.org

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soon! Please forward this email on to anyone you think may be interested. If you have had this email forwarded to you and would like to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to: news@aidanburleymp.org with JOIN in the subject heading. To unsubscribe from this list, please return an e-mail to news@aidanburleymp.org with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject heading.

Aidan Burley MP Working for you, all year round.

Published & Promoted by Aidan Burley MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA