From: Aidan Burley MP news@aidanburleymp.

org
Subject: News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #84
Date: 10 July 2014 10:56
To: news@aidanburleymp.org



In this edition:


Aidan Burley MPs Diary

Aidan in Parliament:
Aidan Burley asks what
Home Office does to
"reintegrate those who
have strayed [into
extremism] back into their
communities"

Photo news:
Grand Opening of Eurofit
AutoCentre, Cannock

MP urges holiday makers
not to travel uninsured

Photo news:
Gorsemoor Primary School
Year 6 pupils visit Aidan at
Westminster

Conservtives helping
hardworking people to find
a home in Cannock Chase

Photo news:
Freedom of the District
granted to the Mercian
Regiment and Staffordshire
Regimental Association

Burley encourages people
in Cannock Chase to save
money on household
energy bills

More jobs means more
security for people who
want to work hard and get
on in Cannock Chase

Aidan welcomes new cash
for potholes in Cannock
Chase

Aidan in Parliament:
Aidan speaks in Finance
Bill Debate

Photo news:
Parliamentary Boat Race

MP welcomes savings
boost in Cannock Chase

Aidan in the papers:
Town has designs on outlet
village

Aidan in the papers:
Queens Speech hailed by
MP Burley

How to contact
Aidan Burley MP



Issue 84 - Thursday 10th July 2014


Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Officially opened a new state of the art Eurofit Autocentre
workshop on Longford Road in Bridgtown.
Chaired the sixth Chase Line Stakeholder Meeting to discuss
the main issues affecting the Chase Line rail service. Among
issues discussed included updates on electrification, the
linespeed upgrade and car parking at Rugeley Trent Valley
station.
Spoken with Andrew Donald, Chief Officer of Cannock Chase
Clinical Commissioning Group to push the case for an
improved Minor Injuries Unit at Cannock Hospital.
Welcomed news that APC Overnight is to create 140 new
permanent jobs at its Headquarters in Cannock.
Attended the Freedom March in Cannock to celebrate the
Honour of the award of Freedom of the District, which was
granted to both the Mercian Regiment and Staffordshire
Regimental Association for their services associated with the
District.
Welcome students from Gorsemoor Primary School in
Cannock to Parliament.
Met with Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja
Developments to get an update on the proposed designer
outlet village at Mill Green in Cannock. You can find out more
about the development at www.millgreenoutletvillage.co.uk.
Spoken in the Finance Bill debate in the House of Commons
about accelerated payment of tax and avoidance cases.
Attended 3 Delegated Legislation Committees to discuss
issues including the draft Copyright and Rights in
Performances (Personal Copies for Private Use) Regulations
2014 and the draft Copyright and Rights in Performances
(Quotation and Parody) Regulations 2014.
Questioned the Secretary of State for Education on what steps
he is taking to improve access to swimming lessons for
schoolchildren.*
Questioned the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the
proportion of women in Cannock Chase in work in each of
the last five years.*
Questioned the Secretary of State for Justice on what steps he
is taking to address any growth of a compensation culture in
the UK.*
Questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on
how much is spent on housing benefit in Cannock Chase and
Staffordshire.*
Took part in the eighth Parliamentary Boat Race between the
House of Commons and House of Lords.
Questioned the Home Secretary on reintegrating those who
have strayed into extremism back into their communities.

*You can view the answers to Aidans questions to Ministers here.


Aidan in Parliament:
Aidan Burley asks what Home Office does
to "reintegrate those who have strayed
[into extremism] back into their
communities"

Monday 9th June 2014


Click on the image above to watch Aidan's question to the Home
Secretary.

The full exchange was as follows:

Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): Integration is not
just about preventing young people from engaging in extremism; it is
also about reintegrating them into their communities when they have
been radicalised. What steps is my right hon. Friends Department
taking to reintegrate people who have strayed in that way?

Theresa May (The Secretary of State for the Home Department;
Maidenhead, Conservative): Within the Prevent strategy is the
important Channel strand which works with people who are perhaps at
risk of being radicalisedwho are particularly vulnerableto help
ensure that they do not move down that path of radicalisation. Of
course we also work with the National Offender Management Service
on dealing with people who have been prosecuted and imprisoned
under the terrorism legislation when they return to their communities.


Photo news:
Grand Opening of Eurofit AutoCentre,
Cannock



Aidan Burley MP officially opening the new Eurofit AutoCentre in
Cannock.


MP urges holiday makers not to travel
uninsured

Aidan today warned his constituents
about the dangers of travelling
uninsured as research from ABTA The
Travel Association revealed that 14% of
people in the West Midlands travel
abroad uninsured. In support of a
campaign by ABTA The Travel Association and the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO), Aidan is urging holidaymakers in
Cannock Chase to be prepared for their travels abroad and ensure
they are properly covered.

Travelling abroad uninsured can cost thousands if a trip goes wrong,
yet according to new research by ABTA the Travel Association eight
out of ten (80%) of people from the West Midlands who travel
uninsured don't think it is necessary to take out insurance when they
travel overseas, often leaving their families to pick up the pieces.

11% of people also think that a European Health Insurance Card
(EHIC) acts as a full insurance policy when abroad. However, an EHIC
only provides access to state medical care in the European Economic
Area and does not cover other costs such as bringing the individual
back to the UK.

Worryingly 1 in 10 of people surveyed wrongly presumed that all of
their treatment costs would be covered by the UK Government if they
had an accident or fell ill while abroad.

In reality it is the holidaymaker or their family who will pick up the bill if
they are not covered, and this can range from 500 to treat a sprained
ankle in a popular holiday resort like Corfu, 15-20,000 for a
scheduled flight, stretcher and medical escort from Australia and
40,000 to treat a broken leg in the USA. Serious injuries can also
lead to bills of thousands of pounds which can rapidly escalate to very
substantial sums and this is before the added cost of relatives flying
out and staying in-destination to accompany a loved one.

Commenting Aidan said: "We all look forward to our summer holiday.
However, medical costs arising from uninsured accidents abroad can
be very significant indeed. In addition to the worry over a sick or
injured relative, it is often families who are presented with the bills, and
the added stress of covering these. It is very important to make sure
that when you do travel overseas, you are covered if something goes
wrong. It is just not worth taking the risk. Travel insurance really is a
travel essential, which is why I am very happy to support this
campaign and would urge all my constituents to take out travel
insurance if they are planning to travel abroad this summer."

ABTA has an advice section on travel insurance for consumers. Visit
www.abta.com/travelinsurance for full details.


Photo news:
Gorsemoor Primary School Year 6 pupils
visit Aidan at Westminster



Aidan Burley MP with year 6 pupils from Gorsemoor Primary
School during their recent trip to the House of Commons.


Conservtives helping hardworking people
to find a home in Cannock Chase

Chase MP Aidan Burley has welcomed
figures showing that the Conservatives are
delivering new affordable homes and helping
hardworking people to get on the housing
ladder in Cannock Chase.

In Cannock Chase, 410 new affordable
homes have been delivered since 2010 and
102 people have been able to buy their own
home thanks to Help to Buy, giving more
families the opportunity to move into a good
quality, affordable home and plan for their
future.

Nearly 200,000 new affordable homes have
now been delivered across the country since
2010 while Help to Buy has enabled over
27,000 people to buy their own home and,
thanks to the Conservatives long-term economic plan, Britain is now
building more homes than at any time since 2007.

Commenting Aidan said: Labour cut the number of social homes to
rent and their Great Recession led to a collapse in house building
meaning thousands of families could not find a home they could afford.

Thats why the Conservatives, as part of our long-term economic plan,
took action to get Britain building again and launched Help to Buy so
more people could get on the housing ladder. Thanks to these policies,
over 400 new affordable homes have now been delivered and 102
people have been able to buy their own home in Cannock Chase.

Our long-term economic plan is helping people to find a good quality,
affordable home where they can raise a family, contribute to their
communities and enjoy greater financial security.


Photo news:
Freedom of the District granted to the
Mercian Regiment and Staffordshire
Regimental Association


Aidan Burley MP with two officers from the Mercian Regiment at
the celebrations to mark the Freedom of the District being
granted to both the Mercian Regiment and Staffordshire
Regimental Association.


Burley encourages people in Cannock
Chase to save money on household energy
bills

Aidan is encouraging constituents in
Cannock Chase to take up energy
efficiency improvements on their home
with the Green Deal to save money on
their energy bills.

Households carrying out energy
efficiency improvements on their home
can now get more money back to offset the cost of having the work
done. The new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF) has
already issued 16.5 million in the first three weeks and, with summer
here, now is the perfect time to have measures installed before the
winter.

Under the new incentive scheme, domestic energy customers can get:

! up to 1000 for installing two measures from an approved list;
! and/or up to 6000 for installing solid wall insulation;
! and up to 100 refunded for their Green Deal Assessment.

The scheme also entitles those who have bought a property in the 12
months prior to application to qualify for up to an additional 500 if they
carry out energy efficiency improvements.

The Green Deal Home Improvement Fund also applies to private or
social landlords, who can benefit if they undertake to improve the
property and are paying the costs themselves.

Commenting Aidan said: "I am very pleased that people across
England and Wales are now able to get up to 7,600 back through the
new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund so they can take control of
their bills and have warmer, greener homes.

"The average annual bill saving from installing major measures such
as solid wall insulation in a three-bed semi-detached house is 270,
while savings from other measures, such as upgrading a boiler, can
knock around 100 off a customer's bill in Cannock Chase.

"I would strongly encourage people to call the Energy Saving Advice
Service (ESAS) on 0300 123 1234 or visit www.gov.uk/greendeal to
find out how much they can save."

In December the Government announced a 540 million three year
energy efficiency package to make Britain's homes and public
buildings more energy efficient.


More jobs means more security for people
who want to work hard and get on in
Cannock Chase

Chase MP Aidan Burley has welcomed new figures showing that the
number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Cannock Chase
has fallen by 722 over the last year, with employment up overall in the
West Midlands by 81,000 since 2010.

Since the election the number of people claiming unemployment
benefit in Cannock Chase has fallen by 1,273.

Commenting Aidan said: I welcome the fact that there are now 722
fewer people on JSA in Cannock Chase than this time last year. Thats
722 people with a more secure, brighter future ahead of them.

With the economy now recovering from the Great Recession, and
businesses across Staffordshire creating jobs, its clear the
Conservatives long-term economic plan is working. We need to keep
working through the plan, which is delivering growth and jobs, so that
more people in Cannock Chase who want to work hard and get on can
have the security of a regular pay packet they can bring home to their
families.


Aidan welcomes new cash for potholes in
Cannock Chase

Aidan has welcomed the announcement
of 4,578,155 of new funding in
Staffordshire to tackle potholes.

In total, 6,709,440 of additional funding
for Staffordshire has been announced
for this year, on top of the annual roads
maintenance budget.

Over three million potholes will be filled
in across England with funding from the
168 million Pothole Fund, announced
in the 2014 Budget. This is part of more
than 24 billion which will be spent on
England's roads between 2010 and
2021 the biggest investment in our
roads since the 1970s.

Commenting Aidan said: "This is great news for everybody who uses
the roads in Cannock Chase.

"4,578,155 of new funding will go a long way to dealing with the
menace of potholes and ridding them from our roads.

"Investing in Britain's roads and infrastructure is a key part of the
Conservatives' long-term economic plan to secure a better future for
Britain and this is just one part of that. By fixing Britain's roads the
Conservatives are supporting local businesses, and making life that bit
easier for the hardworking people in Cannock Chase who rely on them
to get around."


Aidan in Parliament:
Aidan speaks in Finance Bill Debate

Wednesday 2nd July 2014


Click on the image above to watch Aidan's speech and the
Minister's response.

The full exchange was as follows:

Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): I have a couple of
questions for the Minister about the accelerated payment of tax and
avoidance cases. I have written to him about this and received a letter
from him, and also met him subsequently. Others have mentioned this
issue, which has caused a lot of concern, especially within the
accounting community. Many of my constituents who are accountants
and who run businesses have written to me and met me to voice their
concern about what they believe is retrospective legislation, with no
right of independent appeal. I hope the Minister will be able to
reassure my constituents and those of other Members.

The first question is about the oft-quoted 80% success rate in tax
avoidance cases tried at court. The Minister has quoted that statistic,
and HMRC has quoted similar figures, but we have yet to discover the
source of that statistic, nor do we have a list of the cases on which it is
based. Many of those who have contacted me feel that the figure is
unsubstantiated. Will the Minister tell us the source of that 80%
success rate statistic?

Secondly, there is a strong view that this law is being implemented
retrospectively, with no right of independent appeal. I know the
Minister has said it is not retrospective legislation, but he knows that
that opinion is not shared by the accountancy profession, the legal
profession, the CBI or even the Treasury Select Committee. Will he
comment on that?

It is predicted that the legislation will result in some 150,000
redundancies, and the loss of future tax revenues from companies
going to the wall, including some in my constituency, is estimated to be
50 billion, all to collect a mere 4 billion in unpaid revenues over the
next five years. That seems to me to be a very bad bang for your buck.
Does the Minister believe it is worth such loss and unemployment?

David Gauke (The Exchequer Secretary; South West
Hertfordshire, Conservative): To answer the question from my hon.
Friend the Member for Cannock Chase about the follower notices,
there is no appeal against the requirement to pay the accelerated
payment. That would simply substitute one dispute over the substance
of the scheme for another. HMRC is not making a decision about
whether the avoidance scheme works, which would have full rights of
appeal, and the rules do not change that situation; rather, the
requirement imposed on the taxpayer relates solely to the timing of the
payment. If payment of the tax is a problem because the taxpayer
cannot afford the full amount immediately, HMRC will use its normal
approaches, including appropriate payment arrangements.

The source for the HMRC success rate of 80% is the list of tribunal
and court decisions. Those decisions are all published and people can
read for themselves HMRCs continued success in these cases.


Photo news:
Parliamentary Boat Race


Aidan Burley MP taking part in the eighth Parliamentary Boat
Race on 12 June.


Aidan Burley MP with fellow members of the House of Commons
Boat Race team.


MP welcomes savings boost in Cannock
Chase

Aidan has welcomed radical changes to
savings which have come into force.

From 1 July 2014, millions of savers
across the country are able to save
three times as much money in their
ISAs. As part of the New ISA, the cash
limit has gone up from 5,760 in 2013-
14 to 15,000 in 2014-15.

The overall New ISA limit is 15,000 and this full amount can be held
in either a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA, or any combination of
the two.

The New ISA will give savers complete flexibility over how to save and
invest allowing the transfer of savings previously held in a stocks and
shares ISA to a cash ISA without losing the tax-advantage.

Over 23 million adults have ISAs, and over 5 million people reach their
cash limit every year. In the West Midlands, 1,948,000 people have an
ISA. 513,000 people in the West Midlands have already reached the
ISA limit and could benefit immediately from the increased limit.

At the same time, the annual subscription limits for Child Trust Funds
(CTFs) and Junior ISAs will be increased to 4,000 to let families save
more for their children in a tax-advantaged way.

Commenting Aidan said: "These changes are about supporting savers
at every stage whether that's saving for a home, saving for your
family or saving for retirement."


Aidan in the papers:
Town has designs on outlet village

Laura Blyth, Express & Star
Friday 13th June 2014

A multi-million pound
designer outlet village, with
more than 100 shops,
restaurants and a cinema
could be built in Cannock, under new plans unveiled today.

The development would create 800 jobs and has being labelled a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the town.

A total of 130 shops expected to include big High Street names such
as Superdry, Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren would form the
development, which has been ear- marked for land off Lichfield Road
next to Mill Green Nature Reserve.

The plans also feature a handful of restaurants, a cinema and a 2,000-
space car park. Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said
today: "This is fantastic news for Cannock. We have worked really
hard on this over the past 18 months.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the town. It should
complement what we already have in the town centre and it's bringing
between 600 and 800 jobs as well."

Biggest

Meanwhile, economic development chief Councillor Gordon Alcott
said: "I've been dealing with this now for the past two years.

"There is now light at the end of the tunnel. This will be the biggest
thing Cannock has had for a good number of years.

"It will also create around 1,000 construction jobs as well. It will be a
massive boost to the economy as it will attract people from all over into
Cannock and also into the town centre."

The district council-owned piece of land has stood empty for the past
25 years.

Bosses behind the proposed 307,000sq ft development say it would
rival the likes of Bicester Village in Oxford and Cheshire Oaks.

Rioja Developments and Development Securities PLC are working
together on the project.

Giles Membrey, managing director of Rioja Developments, said it was
an 'exciting' opportunity for the town and shoppers.

He added: "We are keen to consult key stakeholders and the local
community in the coming weeks before we submit a planning
application late in 2014. If approved, the development could be open
for trade by spring 2017."

Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley said: "This is very good news for
inward investment in Cannock Chase.

"It will bring huge numbers of jobs to the area and most importantly will
attract visitors to Cannock for shopping.

"With them they will bring money into our area, which will lead to more
businesses being attracted to set up in Cannock, in turn creating more
jobs.

"It's really significant news in terms of the local economy, and very very
positive news in- deed." Councillor Adamson added:

"We've held very productive discussions with Development

Securities and Rioja Developments with regards to delivering a
designer outlet village at Mill Green.

"The council-owned site has enormous potential due to its strategic
location and our hopes are that the development can create a new,
unique retail destination for the region providing a substantial
economic boost to the area and putting Cannock Chase firmly on the
map.

"We hope that extending the range of shop- ping to include designer
outlet stores will complement our existing town centres to the benefit of
all. We'll now be working with the developers on a consultation
programme and look forward to sharing the plans with the local
community."

Details of a public exhibition on the plans will be announced soon
before a full planning application is submitted to the council. The
Cheshire Oaks park in Ellesmere Port attracts thousands of visitors
from across the country every day and has become famed for its
designer goods and it is hoped the development in Cannock could
be just as successful.

Developers say there are 'excellent public transport links' that will
'provide access from all parts of the region'. Mr Membrey said: "Our
own market research and site searches clearly show that Mill Green is
the best location in the West Midlands for our proposed scheme."

It is the latest jobs boost for the district after Amazon announced plans
to double the capacity of its base in Rugeley.


Aidan in the papers:
Queens Speech hailed by MP Burley

The Chronicle
Thursday 12th June 2014

Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley
has hailed the Queens Speech as
the next big step in this
Governments long-term economic plan to secure a better and brighter
future for Britain.

The speech included plans for giant pooled pension schemes with the
potential to boost chances of a better retirement income.

Mr Burley said: The proposed changes to our pensions system will
give local people in Cannock Chase who work hard and do the right
thing more security in their retirement.

The current tax rules stifle innovation in the retirement income market,
leaving pension savers with very little choice over how to spend or
invest their defined contribution savings.

The changes proposed in the Pensions Tax Bill will create a much
more competitive and dynamic retirement income market.

Businesses across Cannock Chase will also benefit from the
introduction of the new Small Business, Enterprise and Employment
Bill which is specifically de- signed to address many of the key
concerns they have around prompt payment, access to finance and
procurement.


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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