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

org> News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #59

28 March 2013 08:57

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In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Website of the week: Enjoy Staffordshire Photo news: Ask Aidan public meeting on future of Cannock Hospital Aidan steps up efforts on Churchbridge Junction improvements Aidan in Parliament: Aidan questions Health Secretary over Mid Staffs foundation trust status Budget fuel duty freeze will save Cannock Chase families 170 per year Recruitment day for care provider in MP Help Zone Groundbreaking tax cut to support jobs and help businesses in Cannock Chase Aidan in the papers: 3m to be spend on school sports Aidan in the papers: Funding is urged for upgrade of Cannock junction Have your say How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 59 Thursday 28th March 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Hosted and chaired an Ask Aidan public meeting in Cannock Wood Village Hall on the future of Cannock Hospital. Questioned the Secretary of State for Health over ensuring no health trusts are ever forced to accept specific orgaisational models in the future, following the disaster of Mid Staffs Trust being forced to become a foundation trust in 2008. Stepped up efforts in lobbying for improvements to Churchbridge Junction in Cannock. Been quoted in the Express & Star newspaper regarding a 3million boost to fund sport in schools. Hosted a recruitment day at the MP Help Zone in Cannock for Home Instead Senior Care. Met with Andrew Cecil, Amazon's European head of public policy to discuss the company's current activity and future plans in Cannock Chase.

Website of the week:

www.enjoystaffordshire.com
This Easter, why not spend time exploring new areas and attractions right here in Staffordshire?

Photo news:

Ask Aidan public meeting on future of Cannock Hospital

Aidan speaking at his recent Ask Aidan public meeting at Cannock Wood Village Hall, called to discuss the future of Cannock Hospital.

Aidan steps up efforts on Churchbridge Junction improvements

Aidan has stepped up his lobbying of Ministers at the Department for Transport as he continues to push the case for the Churchbridge Junction to be upgraded as part of the Highways Agency Pinchpoint funding scheme. In last year's Autumn Statement, the Government committed an additional 100m towards Pinchpoint schemes to tackle key bottlenecks on the highway network. His latest efforts follow on from a letter he sent to the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin back in January setting out the case for the upgrade and urging him to approve the application submitted by Cannock Chase District Council, via the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, as well as the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire LEP. In a written response to Aidan in January, Transport Secretary, and former Cannock Chase councillor, Patrick McLoughlin MP said he was "well aware of this junction" and understood the need for "additional capacity for future development potential". He said that the next round of successful schemes would be announced by the end of March. The Churchbridge Interchange is a strategic junction involving not only the A5 Trunk Road, but also the M6 Toll (Junction T7), the A460 Cannock Eastern Bypass and the A34. The junction was last rebuilt in 2004 for the opening of the M6 Toll, but this has resulted in long queues along the A460 and A34. Commenting Aidan said: "Local people who use the Churchbridge Junction will know only too well of the congestion problems particularly at morning and evening peak and so I am determined to do what I can to persuade Ministers to give this scheme the go ahead. "Improving the Churchbridge Junction to be more free flowing would not only help resolve existing and future congestion but also contribute significantly to better air quality. It would also provide a huge boost to my efforts to bring business to the area in order to support job creation and regeneration."

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan questions Health Secretary over Mid Staffs foundation trust status
Tuesday 26th March 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidan Burley MPs question to the Secretary of State for Health. The full text of the exchange was as follows: Mr Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) (Con): Does the Secretary of State agree that the decision to grant foundation trust status to Mid Staffs in 2008 was catastrophic in terms of the trust taking its eye off the ball and focusing on targets rather than on care, and that, now it is being abolished just five years later, never again must a Government pressurise a trust into a particular organisational form just to validate its ideological policy, rather than because it improves the care of patients? Mr Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State for Health): I would also like to thank my hon. Friend for the work that he does for his local hospital in difficult circumstances directly involved in this terrible scandal. I agree with him: the corporate objective to become a foundation trust overrode everything else in the hospital, at huge expense to patient care. We must never allow that to happen again.

Budget fuel duty freeze will save Cannock Chase families 170 per year
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has cancelled Labours planned fuel duty rise in his recent Budget, saving 3.5 million motorists in the West Midlands over 170 every year. Because of the action we have taken, pump prices will now be 13 pence per litre lower than if Labour were in power. For a Vauxhall Astra that is 7 less every time families fill up the tank or 9 less for a Mondeo. A van driver will save 340 per year and a haulier will save 5,200 per year. Fuel duty will now have been frozen for nearly three and half years the longest freeze in duty for over 20 years. Aidan Burley MP welcomed the news, saying: "This is a Budget that is delivering for families who want to work hard and get on in life. "Scrapping another of Labours planned fuel duty increases will make a huge difference to the 3.5 million drivers in the West Midlands. "This Government has frozen fuel duty for three and a half years longer than any Government in the last two decades - and saving the average family 7 every time they fill up their car.

Recruitment day for care provider in MP Help Zone

Last Friday Aidan hosted a recruitment day for care provider Home Instead Senior Care at his town centre Help Zone. The event was for anyone who would like to consider working in care to attend and potentially secure employment. Home Instead work to provide care to those who need it in their own homes, and services include personal care, companionship, befriending, light housework, meal preparation and transportation. They work with anyone over the age of 18, and offer a specialist service to those suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia. Home Instead are actively recruiting for new caregivers, and have vacancies in Cannock, Rugeley, Hednesford, Burntwood, Penkridge and all the surrounding areas. They are looking for people who are friendly, cheerful, reliable and who have their own means of transport. The hours are flexible (usually 16-24 hours per week), mileage is paid, and no previous experience is necessary as full training is provided. Home Instead Director, Fran Sayer, commented "It is fantastic that Aidan has taken the time to help us arrange a recruitment day to recruit new Caregivers and assist us with providing home care in the Cannock Chase region. With the high elderly population in Cannock, it is important for Home Instead to constantly recruit caring, compassionate individuals who want to work in care for the right reasons. Many of our Caregivers are in the over 50's age group and bring with them a wealth of life experience. We provide our Caregivers with a high level of training and support to enable them to become professionals within the Care sector. In addition we provide our own City & Guilds accredited Alzheimer's training for Caregivers which will also be provided for families of client's with dementia. We are looking forward to a great day at the MP Help Zone and meeting lots of potential new Caregivers." Aidan added: "I was delighted to offer my Help Zone to assist a firm who are looking to recruit and invest in training local people, as well as providing a vital service to those who need care at home. It was a fantastic day and hopefully has led to job offers for local people."

Groundbreaking tax cut to support jobs and help businesses in Cannock Chase
Aidan has welcomed a bold set of tax cuts for businesses and employers in Cannock Chase, announced by the Chancellor in this years Budget. A new Employment Allowance will take 2,000 off the National Insurance bill of every employer open to businesses, charities and community amateur sports clubs. This will help 70,000 employers in the West Midlands, taking 35,000 out of having to pay any tax on jobs at all. Employers will be able to hire one extra person on 22,400 a year, or four people working full time on the minimum wage, without paying any National Insurance. A further corporation tax cut to 20 per cent in April 2015 will see the UK having the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20, which sends a clear signal that Britain is open for business. Stamp Duty on shares in companies quoted on growth markets like AIM and the ISDX Growth Market has also been abolished. This will benefit around 1,000 UK quoted companies a transaction tax removed here as 11 EU countries are looking to introduce a sweeping financial transaction tax. Aidan commented: "This is fantastic news for businesses in Cannock Chase. The Employment Allowance will make it easier and cheaper for firms to hire people an employer could hire four people working full time on the minimum wage without paying any National Insurance. "These and the other business measures in the Budget are exactly what businesses need to hire, to expand and to grow."

Aidan in the papers:

Express & Star Thursday 21st March 2013 Nearly 3m extra will be spend in Staffordshire to transform school sport.

3m to be spend on school sports

The funding is part of a 150 million Olympic legacy fund announced by the Prime Minister to improve coaching and physical education in primary schools. Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley said: "Young people across Cannock Chase will benefit from this announcement. This money will help to secure the Olympic legacy and support out gold medal winners of the future." The Prime Minister, David Cameron said: "The Olympic and Paralympic Games marked an incredible year for this country and I will always be proud that we showed the wold what Britain can do. I want to ensure the Games count for the future too and that means capitalising on the inspiration young people took from what they saw during those summer months. This investment will benefit a whole generation of children." Olympic gold winner, Jess Ennis added: "It is great to see initiatives that I've really young children the chance to take part in sport."

Aidan in the papers:

Funding is urged for upgrade of Cannock junction

Express & Star Monday 25th March 2013 Fed-up motorists will find out this week if cash will be released for urgent improvements at a dogs dinner of a junction in South Staffordshire. Local MPs Gavin Williamson and Aidan Burley have been pressing for action at the strategic Churchbridge interchange in Cannock which incorporates three roundabouts connecting the A5, M6 Toll, A460 Cannock Eastern Bypass and the A34. It was last rebuilt in 2004 for the opening of the M6 Toll but drivers have been caught up in long queues along the A460 and A34, particularly during rush hour. Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, recently met Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to push the need for funding to make essential modifications at the junction. Chase MP Aidan Burley has also been lobbying ministers at the Department for Transport to get the junction upgraded as part of the Highways Agencys pinch point funding scheme. In last years Autumn Statement, the Government set aside an additional 100 million towards the pinch point programme, set up to tackle key bottlenecks on the road network. The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP and Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP submitted a bid for some of the funding to pay for work at Churchbridge. The next round of successful schemes is due to be announced at the end of this month. Mr Williamson said: The current design of the roundabouts is an absolute dogs dinner. It is confusing to motorists and can cause a great amount of congestion in both South Staffordshire and Cannock. It is vitally important that we get the funding from the Government to improve these roundabouts in order to help the many residents and local businesses that have to deal with them every day. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, a former Cannock Chase councillor, assured Mr Burley in January that he was well aware of this junction and understood the need for additional capacity for future development potential. Chase MP Mr Burley said: Improving the junction to be more freeflowing would not only help resolve existing and future congestion but also contribute significantly to better air quality. He said it would also provide a boost to business and support job creation and regeneration.

There is still time to have your say on the issues that matter most to you. Aidans online survey is live here and Aidan is keen to hear your views to help him better represent you in the House of Commons.

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

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