YOUR MP STEVE BARCLAY

Working Hard for North East Cambridgeshire

How to contact Steve Barclay:
stephen.barclay.mp@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA 02072192252 www.stevebarclay.net @SteveBarclayMP facebook.com/stevebarclaymp

College of West Anglia Receives 4.6m of Government Funding

Local students are set to benefit after the Government awarded 4.6m of funding to the College of West Anglia to build a new teaching centre and upgrade existing facilities at the Isle Campus in Wisbech. The 5.5m project which is scheduled for completion in 2015 will create a brand new centre with cutting edge IT and teaching facilities including spaces for vocational training in areas as diverse as health & social care, hair & beauty and uniformed services.

Local Transport Update

Better transport links are vital for the prosperity of our area. I recently met with the Secretary of State for Transport to push for better transport links for our region, making the case for electrification of the rail across Cambridgeshire, an hourly service on the Ipswich to Peterborough line, and reconnecting Wisbech to the rail network. I am also working with the A47 Alliance to make the case for dualling this route and welcome the news that the A14 improvements will go ahead without any road tolls.

Campaigning to Clean up Derelict Buildings

It is great news that a Section 215 Notice has been served on Constantine House. Derelict buildings have a very negative impact on neighbouring businesses, tourism and quality of life for residents. I have repeatedly lobbied the Council on the issue of derelict buildings, and am glad to see action now being taken. I have written to the Councils Chief Executive Paul Medd asking for an up-to-date list of derelict buildings in Fenland and also when and where the next Section 215 Notice will be served.

Cracking Down on Immigration Abuse

We took a major step forward recently in cracking down on immigration abuse with 300 uniformed officers mounting a series of raids in the area as part of a multi-agency operation involving Cambridgeshire Police, the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. As a result two Fenland-based Gangmaster agencies have had their licenses permanently revoked. I have held a series of meetings recently with the Home Secretary, Immigration Minister and Security Minister to discuss the recent operation and the importance of further enforcement action.

Supporting Older Residents

I am delighted to be lending my support to The Silver Line national helpline, as well as Age UK Cambridgeshires Wrap Around Winter campaign. Both services offer older and lonely members of the community information and advice to give them a helping hand and companionship this winter. It is vitally important that older people who have made valuable contributions to our country and communities have the support and companionship they deserve in their older years. Call the Silver Line on 0800 470 80 90 or Age UK Cambridgeshire on 0300 6669860 for more information.

Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims

Mesothelioma victims who have been unable to get compensation because insurers or previous employers cannot be traced can now make a claim under a new government scheme. This is a welcome and long awaited breakthrough which provides 75% of the claim that would be available if paperwork had not gone missing. I voted against the Government on two aspects of the bill as I believe the insurance industry should do more to compensate Mesothelioma sufferers, but overall it is a great step forward.

I hold regular advice surgeries. To book an appointment please use the contact details overleaf. Stay connected by visiting my website, where I regularly blog, at www.stevebarclay.net. Alternatively find me on facebook at www.facebook.com/stevebarclaymp or follow me on twitter at @SteveBarclayMP