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org> News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #62

10 May 2013 09:50

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In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Website of the week: Pledge your support for Cannock Hospital Aidan secures London Midland chief for public meeting MPs delight at compensation scheme uptake Photo news: May Day Bank Holiday at Cannock Wood Village Hall Law to kick out foreign criminals is 'long overdue' Aidan welcomes announcement on new prison regime rules TechBach will give young people the skills they need to get on Calling all Employers and Young People Aidan in the papers: Bang Drum for Town's Hospital Aidan in the papers: MPs call for support from David Cameron over Stafford Hospital Have your say How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 62 Friday 10th May 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Launched a campaign from his Cannock Town Centre Help Zone at Unit 6 High Green Court, to call for a fully utilised Cannock Hospital. You can sign the pledge to support a fully utilised Cannock Hospital in the Help Zone, Monday to Friday, 10am 4pm, or sign online here. Blue ribbons, the symbol of support for the campaign, can also be collected from the Help Zone. Wear them with pride! Attended the first public meeting held by the Trust Special Administrators in relation to Stafford and Cannock Hospitals at the County Showground in Stafford, and successfully lobbied the TSA to organise a meeting in Cannock, which he also attended. Chaired the fourth Chase Line Stakeholder Meeting to discuss the main issues affecting the Chase Line rail service. Among issues discussed include recent line performance and reliability and updates on electrification, re-signaling and line speed upgrades. Spoken with Richard Kirby, Chief Executive of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust to discuss Cannock Hospital. Attended the State Opening of Parliament and the Queens Speech. Been quoted in the Express & Star welcoming news that perks for prisoners are to be curbed. Attended the bank holiday Car Boot sale at Cannock Wood Village Hall in support of the Village Hall and Beaudesert Paying Fields Trust, along with Cllr Jodie Jones who represents Cannock Wood on Cannock Chase District Council. Been quoted in the Cannock Chronicle on his campaign to protect services at Cannock Hospital. Held a help and advice surgery at Norton Canes Library. Aidan heard from a local business who asked for his support in their dealings with HMRC, assisted a constituent with issues surrounding the Border Agency and secured advice from the Home Office for their case, and liaised with local services including GPs, the Council and Social Services.

Website of the week:

Pledge your support for Cannock Hospital

Photo courtesy of Express & Star

Aidan Burley MPs campaign to support Cannock Hospital,. Part of the campaign is to get as many people as possible to sign the following pledge: I pledge to support Cannock Hospital to ensure that it becomes a centre of excellence for elective surgery, fully used, and with a secure and professionally managed future, within the NHS. Please click here to sign the pledge to support Cannock Hospital. You can also drop into the MP Help Zone in Cannock to pick up a campaign ribbon, to wear around Cannock Chase and Staffordshire.

Aidan secures London Midland chief for public meeting

Users of the Chase Line are to get the chance to grill train bosses over problems affecting services through Cannock Chase courtesy of local MP Aidan Burley. London Midland Chief Executive Patrick Verwer and other senior representatives from the company have accepted Aidan's invitation to meet with local passengers at a "dropin" event on Monday 13th May between 6.30pm 8pm at the Community Room, Cannock Fire Station, Old Hednesford Road, WS11 6LD. Aidan pushed for such a meeting during recent talks with Transport Minister Norman Baker MP and Patrick Verwer held to discuss the recent problems with the Chase Line rail service. Commenting Aidan said: "The Chase Line is vital for many of my constituents, particularly for those who use the line on a daily basis to get to and from work. This drop in meeting will enable those local people who use the service to put their questions, concerns and suggestions directly to the man in charge." More information about this meeting can be obtained by emailing Aidan at aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk.

MPs delight at compensation scheme uptake

The BBC is reporting that 25,000 passengers have claimed free tickets from London Midland as part of the compensation package that local MP Aidan Burley helped to instigate after the operator experienced widespread cancellations and delays at the end of last year. This news comes ahead of next weeks drop in public meeting organised by Aidan which will give users of the Chase Line the chance to grill London Midland Chief Executive Patrick Verwer and other senior representatives from the company about train services through Cannock Chase. Back in January, Aidan and a number of parliamentary colleagues met with the London Midland Managing Director in Parliament to discuss the unacceptable state of London Midland services, including on the Chase Line. During that meeting Aidan made it clear that London Midland had a contractual duty to run the trains published in their timetable and that their level of service was totally unacceptable to his constituents. Soon after this meeting London Midland announced a 7m package of benefits to compensate passengers who had suffered disruption during their driver shortage. This included season ticket holders getting five days of free travel passes. Commenting Aidan said: "I am pleased that so many London Midland passengers, many of whom live in Cannock Chase, have come forward and claimed their free tickets. However as I made clear to London Midland at the time, they need to ensure they provide a service which is right first time every time and not just compensate for their failings.

Photo news:

May Day Bank Holiday at Cannock Wood Village Hall

Photo Courtesy of John Twinning.

Aidan cuts the ribbon, officially opening the new cradle swings on the field next to Cannock Wood Village Hall. This week Aidan attended the Bank Holiday Car Boot sale at Cannock Wood Village Hall in support of the Village Hall and Beaudesert Paying Fields Trust, along with Cllr Jodie Jones who represents Cannock Wood on Cannock Chase District Council. During the visit Aidan was proud to cut the ribbon to officially open the new cradle swings on the field, and congratulate the Chairman of the Playing Fields Committee Pat Ansell on their success in raising the necessary funds for the swing, new bench and extra fencing after six years of hard work.
Photo Courtesy of John Twinning.

Aidan helps one of the younger Bank Holiday guests at Cannock Wood Village Hall enjoy the new cradle swings.

Aidan with Cllr Jodie Jones at the Cannock Wood Village Hall Bank Holiday car boot sale.

Law to kick out foreign criminals is 'long overdue'

Measures to make it easier to deport foreign criminals and limit immigrants' access to benefits, including the NHS, have been described as 'long overdue' by Aidan Burley MP. The proposals, outlined by the Government in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday could become law next year. Commenting on the proposed new legislation, Aidan said: "Given that we have a hospital in Stafford that is struggling to cope with a major deficit, it has been galling to see centres in some parts of the country receiving funding to pay for treatment for those who have just arrived in the country and have made no contribution towards the NHS. And the subject of foreign criminals that we cannot kick out has been a long-running cause for complaint in my constituency mailbag, which I have passed on regularly to ministers over the last two years. "The problem is that the last Labour government didn't just have an open door for immigrants, they positively encouraged them to come by offering them the benefits that we had all paid for. I don't expect Labour to acknowledge their error, but these measures are long overdue, and I would hope they will co-operate with the Coalition in getting them passed into law at the earliest opportunity, so that these clearly nonsensical situations can be brought to a swift end."

Aidan welcomes announcement on new prison regime rules

Aidan has welcomed news that prisoners across England and Wales, including at local jails HMP Featherstone and HMP Oakwood, will in future need to make real progress towards their own rehabilitation and work hard in prison before they can receive privileges, like access to television sets and being able to wear their own clothes. Under the new policy, the mere absence of bad behaviour will not be enough to earn perks, as is the case at the moment. Other changes include: All convicted adult male prisoners will have to wear prison uniform whilst on the new Entry-level in prisons. In-cell television sets will not be provided for prisoners on basic level and no prisoner should be allowed to watch television when he should be working or engaging in purposeful activity. Prison regimes will change so that convicted prisoners will work a longer day and bad behaviour will lead to a downgrade in status. Welcoming the new measures, Aidan said: "It is not right that some prisoners appear to be spending hours languishing in their cells and watching daytime television while the rest of the country goes out to work. Our prisons should be places of hard work and serious rehabilitation. Any privileges that convicted criminals receive should be hard-earned, and be rewards for taking real steps towards rehabilitation and reform. They certainly should not come as a right. "These tough and sensible reforms will help ensure our prisons become places of serious rehabilitation and reform."

TechBach will give young people the skills they need to get on
Aidan has welcomed the new Technical Baccalaureate designed to help young people get the highquality vocational education they deserve. The TechBacc, announced by the Government this week, will combine three key elements a rigorous vocational qualification, a core maths qualification and an extended project to test literacy skills. This new measure will finally give vocational education the high status it deserves putting it on a par with A-level study and recognising excellence. It will give young people a first-class vocational alternative to academic routes, ensuring they have the technical ability employers want, and giving Britain the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global race. Commenting Aidan said: "This announcement is fantastic news for young people in Cannock Chase who want to work hard towards a technically skilled job or apprenticeship. "For too long, too many students haven't had the chance to study for high-quality vocational qualifications that are recognised by employers. This measure will ensure that young people receive a rigorous education in the skills employers value and help them get the jobs they deserve." Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock MP said: "The TechBacc will be a mark of achievement for young people who successfully study three key elements a rigorous high-quality vocational course, maths and literacy. We are being clear to our young people about the skills they need to succeed and get good jobs. We want an education system in which everyone can reach their potential. "Our reforms to post-16 qualifications, including the introduction of the new TechBacc will do that. They will incentivise the development of high-quality courses and incentivise schools and colleges to offer the courses that get young people on in life."

Calling all Employers and Young People

South Staffordshire College are running an event; YOUR WHICH WAY NEXT, to help local young people in our area to make informed choices about their careers. The event will take place on 14th May, between 9am and 7pm at The Rural Enterprise Academy, Penkridge, and South Staffs College are looking for employers from all around the area to support them by attending the event to talk to young people about life in their industry. South Staffs College need employers willing to answer questions from young people about what its like to do their job, work for their company and provide an insight into their business to sign up for the day, and help provide this vital opportunity to local young people. Employers can attend for the whole day, or just part of it. They are expecting over 1000 young people through the doors during the event. Employers please contact catherine.walsh@southstaffs.ac.uk to book your place.

Aidan in the papers:

Bang Drum for Town's Hospital

Will Ackerman, Cannock Chronicle Thursday 2nd May 2013 Chase MP Aidan Burley has launched a campaign to retain services at Cannock Hospital. He wants constituents to join the campaign by writing to special administrators. The MP is calling for the Brunswick Road site to be fully utilised. The move is tied to a petition organised by a retired hospital worker that has already gathered around 2,000 signatures. Special administrators were called in to handle Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, which runs Cannock and Stafford Hospitals, after it was deemed financially and clinically unsustainable. Conservative MP Mr Burley said: "This is a once in a generation chance to turn the corner for Cannock Hospital and make sure that the next 10 years are not like the last 10. "It is a great facility but it has suffered death by a thousand cuts and we have been left a situation where half the hospital is just empty space. "Let's use the facility properly so it can never be under threat again." Mr Burley is asking people to sign a pledge at his Help Zone or on his website. Blue ribbons reading 'I support Cannock Hospital' are available free at the Help Zone, in High Green Court, Newhall Street. Mr Burley said: "Stafford are very good at making a lot of noise so let's do the same. "We need to bang the drum for Cannock and not forget our hospital. "I think there is a latent support but it needs to be voiced loud and clear over the coming six or seven weeks so the administrators are in no doubt that people in Staffordshire are opposed to any closure or downgrading of Cannock Hospital." Meanwhile, administrators have invited NHS Trusts to put forward proposals for managing services at both Cannock and Stafford hospitals by May 14. The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust will offer to provide extra services at both facilities while maintaining those it currently runs. And Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust will enter its own bid while looking to work with other trusts. Administrators are also considering transferring services from Cannock and Stafford to other hospitals. Deborah Hubbard, who worked as a radiographer at the hospital for more than 21 years, launched her petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-proposed-cuts-inservices-at-cannock-chase-hospital For Mr Burley's petition visit www.aidanburleymp.org before June 14. To contact the administrator write to Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor, TSA, Stafford Hospital, Weston Road, Stafford, ST16 3SA, or email TSApublic@midstaffs.nhs.uk.

Aidan in the papers:

MPs call for support from David Cameron over Stafford Hospital
Express & Star Thursday 25th April 2013 MPs have met with David Cameron to seek his support for Stafford Hospital as a campaign continues to stop it being downgraded. And they say the Prime Minister fully understands the worries of Stafford and Cannock residents over the proposed 70million downgrading. A cross-party contingent of Staffordshire MPs Jeremy Lefroy, Bill Cash, Aidan Burley, Gavin Williamson, Andrew Griffiths and Joan Walley met the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street yesterday. The 20-minute discussion was said to be positive with the PM receptive to their fears. Mr Lefroy also reminded the Prime Minister of his comments in an interview with the Express & Star at the weekend in which he said he did not want to see the 70m downgrade of the hospital that health watchdog Monitor recommends. The Prime Minister was very receptive and understood our questions, said Mr Lefroy today. We spent 20 minutes with him in total and he is very well aware of what is going on and said that he had seen the march on Saturday. He wants to see a sensible outcome At the meeting, Mr Burley made the case for fully utilising Cannock Chase Hospital. He said: Cannock Hospital has been run to the ground and totally neglected by the Mid Staffs trust. I told the Prime Minister that we want to see Cannock fully utilised. We are all adamant that we need to see more services being provided in Cannock as well as maintaining vital services in Stafford, he said. The conversations were very encouraging and he fully understands where we are coming from. Mr Lefroy said he would be meeting with the trust special administrators again in the next week. He also urged constituents to write to administrators Dr Hugo MascieTaylor and Alan Bloom. He has also met with bosses at University Hospital of North Staffordshire to see how the trust could work with Stafford and Cannock Hospitals. Mr Lefroy added: At the moment it is not the Prime Ministers hands and we are all waiting for the administrators proposals. I have already spoken to health secretary Jeremy Hunt about this and will keep on having close discussions with him and his department. In the meantime it is crucial that the people of Stafford and Cannock keep on letting the administrators and their GPs know their views.

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.

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