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

org> News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #76

5 December 2013 17:12

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In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Aidan awards prizes for fourth annual Christmas card competition Burley calls for additional Rugeley rail services Aidan in Parliament: Burley calls for benefit cap to reflect Chase realities Aidan in Parliament: MP seeks to reduce burden of overseas aid on Cannock Chase taxpayers Burley welcomes Chancellors long-term economic plan to help hardworking people in Cannock Chase Aidan offers unique chance for local people to attend Prime Ministers Questions Aidan in Parliament: Burley questions Energy Secretary on switching gas and electricity suppliers MP backs campaign to get local school children talking and learning about money Aidan in Parliament: Aidan questions Education Secretary on trade union protectionism of failing teachers Aidan in the papers: Stafford Hospital staff are suspended as health trust criticised for failing to reveal details Burley warns of deadly carbon monoxide risk Aidan in Parliament: Aidan questions Foreign Secretary on concern over an air defence identification zone in the East China sea Parkinsons Chase Group How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 76 Thursday 5th December 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Challenged the Deputy Prime Minister to lower the benefits cap. Called on the Secretary of State for International Development to dramatically reduce aid spending. Visited Pye Green Valley Primary School to present the prizes for the winner and runner up of his fourth annual Christmas card competition. Called on London Midland to carry out a study into extending late night and introducing early morning Chase Line services in Rugeley. Questioned the Secretary of State for Education on trade union protectionism of failing teachers. Sponsored cross party Early Day Motion (EDM) 794 aimed at raising awareness of brain tumours and supporting the Brain Tumour Research campaign for better funding for research. Aidan is also Patron of local charity Trudys Trust. Questioned the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on switching energy suppliers. Signed EDMs on African Elephants and the Ivory Trade and the Pilot Badger Culls. You can see a list of all the EDMs Aidan has signed here. Questioned the Foreign Secretary on concern over an air defence identification zone set up by China in the East China Sea. Organised a third Chase Line Electrification Drop-in event at Hednesford Tesco, in cooperation with Network Rail. The meeting was to enable more local people to question Network Rail about the plans for the Chase Line and to find out about the impact of electrification.

Aidan awards prizes for fourth annual Christmas card competition

Aidan with MPs Christmas Card Competition winner Archie Raybould, runner up Isabelle Bracebridge-Henderson, Pertemps representative Lesley Beresford and pupils from Pye Green Valley Primary School. Chase MP Aidan Burley today met with students from Pye Green Valley Primary School and Lesley Beresford from Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) to award prizes for his fourth annual Christmas card competition. Aidan received hundreds of entries from pupils across Cannock Chase each hoping to have their design selected to appear on the front of Aidan's official MP Christmas card, of which 500 copies are sent to local organisations and individuals across Cannock Chase, as well as to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. Aidan's Christmas cards have been kindly sponsored once again by Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) who have worked alongside the MP Help Zone since his election; helping and supporting the long term unemployed back into work, and working with Aidan on community initiatives. The theme for this year's competition was 'Winter Wildlife of Cannock Chase' and, as with previous years, the winning design was chosen by Aidan and his team. This years winning design was penned by Archie Raybould, Aged 8, from Pye Green Valley Primary School in Hednesford. Archies name, age and school is printed on the inside front page of the card and he has also received a framed copy of his winning card. This year Aidan selected two runners-up whose designs will appear on the back of the card. They were Maddy French, Aged 10 from Gorsemoor Primary School and Isabelle Bracebridge-Henderson, Aged 9 from Pye Green Valley Primary School. Commenting Aidan said: "I would like to thank all those students who took part in this years competition. The standard of entries were once again of a very high standard. Congratulations must go to Archie, Maddy and Isabelle, whose brilliant designs made it onto my official 2013 MP Christmas Card I am very pleased to hold this annual Christmas Card competition to give local students the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent and have their design transformed from a drawing on a piece of paper at school to a professionally printed card sent to 500 people - including the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. He added: "This competition simply wouldnt be possible without the help of Pertemps People Development Group, so I would like pass on my sincere thanks to them for their continuing support.

Burley calls for additional Rugeley rail services

Aidan has called on London Midland to carry out a study into extending late night and introducing early morning Chase Line services in Rugeley. At present, the last weekday Chase Line service from Birmingham New Street only operates to Hednesford, meaning local people living in Rugeley who want to go to the theatre, cinema, restaurants or late night shopping in the city centre either have to leave early as the last train to Rugeley from Birmingham currently leaves at 10.17pm, or they have to drive to Hednesford to get back on the last train, assuming they have a car. Aidan also understands that the first two trains from Rugeley to Birmingham in the morning operate as 'ghost trains' from Stafford, even though they are fully staffed. In a letter to London Midland Managing Director Patrick Verwer, Aidan has requested that the company, who operate services on the line, look at the feasibility of extending the last train from Birmingham at 11.18pm to Rugeley, and including the two early morning services from Stafford in the Rugeley timetable. Commenting Aidan said: "For many years my Rugeley constituents have complained that they cannot get back from Birmingham late at night as the last train from New Street station at 11.18pm, only operates to Hednesford. I have therefore asked London Midland to look at the feasibility of extending the last train from Birmingham at 11.18pm to Rugeley. "In the past, mention has been made of the signal boxes at Rugeley and Hednesford having to close by midnight to fit in with shift patterns or engineering work on the track. However, now that the Chase Line is operated by electric signals throughout from the centralised West Midlands Signalling Centre at Birmingham, this should no longer be an excuse. "Another issue that was raised by a constituent this year is the lack of through services to Stafford. I understand that the first two services of the day start from Stafford but run empty to Rugeley Trent Valley before becoming public trains. While I appreciate these are early morning services at 5.40am and 6.20am, with the nature of shift working at major local employers on the adjacent Towers Business Park, it seems a waste that these services are not included in the timetable when they could be operated at no additional cost to the taxpayer."

Aidan in Parliament:

Burley calls for benefit cap to reflect Chase realities

Wednesday 4th December 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question in the House of Commons. At Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) yesterday, Chase MP Aidan Burley directly called on Nick Clegg and the Government to lower the overall benefits cap to mirror the post-tax amount of an average earner in Cannock Chase. The Government has recently introduced a 26,000 nationwide cap on out-of-work benefits so that no out-of-work household can claim more in benefits than the average family takes home by going out to work. However, Aidan feels that this cap of 26,000 (the equivalent of a household earning 35,000 before tax) while a welcome step in the right direction is still seen as far too generous for many across the country earning much less than this. Speaking directly to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP yesterday at Prime Ministers Questions Aidan said: The people of Cannock Chase welcome the Governments brave decision to introduce a cap on benefits, but when their average earnings are 23,900 a year before tax and the cap is set at the equivalent of an annual salary of 35,000 a year, they understandably still feel that people can be better off on benefits than in work. Will my right hon. Friend look at lowering the overall benefits cap or regionalising it, so that it always pays to work, wherever someone lives? Responding the Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader said he was sure that the vast majority of people in the country would think the current cap, set at a national average of 26,000 after tax, or the equivalent of 35,000 before tax was fair, however Aidan disagrees. Speaking after the exchange Aidan said: While any benefit cap is better than none at all, many local people I speak to here in Cannock Chase do not feel that setting the cap at 26,000 goes far enough, particularly as the average salary in Cannock Chase is much less than this. I believe it should either be lowered nationally to reflect actual average earnings, or regionalised so that in places like Cannock Chase you are always better off in work. Aidan has already met with Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith MP in Westminster to discuss this issue and lobbied him to make this cap lower and has said he will continue to do in the future.

Aidan in Parliament:

MP seeks to reduce burden of overseas aid on Cannock Chase taxpayers

Wednesday 4th December 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question in the House of Commons. Aidan has directly called on the Secretary of State for International Development to abandon the government's "arbitrary" target of spending 0.7% of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on Overseas Aid. Aidan says this is equivalent to an increase of 100 a year for every family in Cannock Chase. Speaking during International Development Questions on Wednesday 4th December, the Chase MP said that many local people in Cannock Chase were "concerned" that we still had an aid policy "judged by how much we spend, and not by what that money delivers". He also welcomed the decision by the Government to end aid to India by 2015 - a country which has more billionaires than Britain, and its own Space Programme. Speaking in the Commons, Aidan said: "Many of my constituents are concerned that we still have an Aid policy judged by how much we spend, not by what the money delivers. Whilst welcoming the Secretary of State's decision to finally end Aid to India by 2015 - a country which has more BILLIONAIRES than Britain - will she go further and abandon the arbitrary 0.7% GDP target, which is equivalent to an increase of 100 a year for every family in Cannock Chase?" Commenting after the exchanges Aidan said: "All our aid programmes should be evaluated by the outcomes they produce, rather than by the government setting an arbitrary budget and then throwing as much money as possible at the world's problems."

Burley welcomes Chancellors long-term economic plan to help hardworking people in Cannock Chase
Chase MP Aidan Burley has today welcomed the Autumn Statement, which sets out the next steps in the Governments long-term economic plan. He has also welcomed measures in the Autumn Statement to help hardworking people in Cannock Chase. Commenting Aidan said: There is good news for people in Cannock Chase in the Autumn Statement today the jobs tax on all young people under 21 abolished, real help for the high street, energy bills down, fuel duty frozen, and rail fare increases frozen. This is all welcome support, but as the Chancellor said the job is not done. We are only able to help hardworking people because we have taken difficult decisions to control spending. We are building a responsible recovery and our plan is working, but we need to keep going.

Aidan offers unique chance for local people to attend Prime Ministers Questions
Chase MP Aidan Burley is offering six lucky constituents in Cannock Chase a once-in-alifetime opportunity to see Prime Ministers Questions in person at the House of Commons. Aidan receives just three confirmed pairs of gallery tickets each calendar year to the parliamentary show piece event and so as to ensure absolute fairness to all his constituents, has this year decided to hold a ballot a few weeks before each date which will be drawn from all received entries. The ballot for the most sought-after parliamentary tickets is open to all his Cannock Chase constituents and will be held in good time to notify winners so they can make the necessary arrangements. The three dates Aidan has been allocated for 2014 are: Wednesday 19 March 2014, Wednesday 25 June 2014 and Wednesday 26 November 2014. Commenting Aidan said:"I have been determined to make Parliament more real and more accessible to the people in Cannock Chase. I have been organising tours, which have been packed out and feel the next step is to let people see what the House of Commons is like during its most prestigious event. Parliament is always buzzing on a Wednesday so I can promise a really interesting and exciting trip to Westminster for those who are successful." Constituents who would like to be entered into the draw for any/all of the above dates can do so online via Aidans website at www.aidanburleymp.org/pmqs. Alternatively constituents can apply in writing at: Aidan Burley MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA where they should include their full name, postal address, contact telephone number and the dates they would like to be entered for.

Aidan in Parliament:

Burley questions Energy Secretary on switching gas and electricity suppliers

Thursday 28th November 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question in the House of Commons. The full text of the exchange was as follows: Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): Nine out of 10 consumers agree they could get a better deal on their gas and electricity supply if switching could be speeded up, and a third of people would be more likely to change providers if the process were quicker and simpler. What is the Minister doing to force energy companies to reduce the time it takes to switch providers, and when can my constituents in Cannock Chase expect to see the new rules in place? Edward Davey (The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question, and he will know that in the annual energy statement I challenged the industry to come forward with proposals on how the process could be speeded up without compromising quality of services or consumer rights, or putting up consumer bills. The industry has started to put forward proposals. I met industry representatives early in November and was encouraged by the discussion, and I hope to make some announcements in the new year.

MP backs campaign to get local school children talking and learning about money
Cannock Chase schools urged to take part in charity's free new scheme
Aidan has called for local schools to get their pupils talking and learning about money, as part of a charity's new campaign to help improve the financial capability of young people. Every primary and secondary school in Cannock Chase has been sent free 'Get Money Smart' posters and teaching materials by national charity pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), which wants to get children talking about money in the classroom. The charity's 'Get Money Smart' posters for children aged up to seven, 11, 14 and 16 are designed to encourage classroom discussions about things children can do to learn more about money and personal finance. Ideas for different ages include checking your change, estimating the cost of a weekly shop, comparing mobile phone tariffs and planning and budgeting for a trip. Schools in Cannock Chase are being encouraged to hold discussions with their pupils over 4 things the posters suggest they can do to learn about money with the 5th being left up to each class to decide. Ideas for the 5th activity can then be shared with other classes across the country on Twitter using the #5thingstodo hashtag. Aidan has thrown his weight behind the effort as a way of helping young people in Cannock Chase to gain the vital skills and knowledge they will need to manage their personal finances throughout their lives. The move follows news that after years of campaigning by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People, pfeg and MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis, financial education will be taught in secondary schools as part of the National Curriculum from September 2014. Commenting Aidan said: "It is vital that young people learn about the importance of things like budgeting and protecting your money, and this excellent campaign is a fun and exciting way for them to do this." Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group), said: "We are thrilled to have the support of Aidan for this free new scheme for primary and secondary schools in Cannock Chase. I hope all local schools will seize the opportunity to use their Get Money Smart posters to bring money to life in the classroom. This is a crucial topic that every young person should learn. Getting pupils talking about money and the financial decisions they will face in the future is a great way to start." The campaign has been made possible through a personal donation to pfeg from MoneySavingExpert.com's Martin Lewis, which has enabled the charity to send free copies of the Get Money Smart posters and teaching resources to primary and secondary schools in the Cannock Chase area and across the country.

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan questions Education Secretary on trade union protectionism of failing teachers

Tuesday 3rd December 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question. The full text of the exchange was as follows: Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): The Secretary of State said that a common feature of high-performing schools is their ability to remove underperforming teachers, but between 2001 and 2011 only 17 of Englands 400,000 teachers were judged to be incompetent by the General Teaching Council. What can he do to fight trade union protectionism of failing teachers, and root out all the dead wood? Michael Gove (The Secretary of State for Education; Surrey Heath, Conservative): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have introduced a system of more effective performance management and performance-related pay. I hope that the Labour party will support it in the interests of all students.

Aidan in the papers:

Stafford Hospital staff are suspended as health trust criticised for failing to reveal details
Express & Star Tuesday 26th November 2013 Three members of staff have been suspended at Stafford Hospital it has emerged but bosses are refusing to reveal why. Health chiefs will only confirm that the workers have been suspended after an alleged breach of discipline on November 15 and that an investigation is now under way. The nature of events is not known nor what department the staff work in and the trust was today criticised for not making the information public. It comes as the Trust Special Administrators draw up plans for the future of the hospital in the wake of the Francis Report which made scores of recomendations for reform of the NHS in light of alarming failings over several years at Stafford. Hundreds of preventable deaths were recorded there between 2005 and 2009. Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley said: Given the appalling standards of care in the past the hospital must now be as open and transparent as possible in order to rebuild public confidence. For that reason the trust must immediately explain why these staff have been suspended. Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy said: Anything like this is concerning and it is obviously a concern to the trust, as action is being taken. Cure the NHS member Gillian Peacham, 73, who was forced to move house after falling into financial hardship when her husband, Arthur, died in Stafford Hospital after being admitted for back pain, said bosses should be up front about the incident. She said: I think this is very underhanded in view of what has gone on. The public needs to know what has gone on. Jeff Crawshaw, director of human resources at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust: As a result of an incident on November 15, three members of staff have been suspended whilst an investigation is carried out. Trust spokeswoman Claire Hall today said no further comment would be made and no details would be released while the investigation was ongoing.

Burley warns of deadly carbon monoxide risk

Chase MP Aidan Burley has urged local residents to protect themselves against the deadly threat of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. New research from the Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed! campaign has found that 35 million households in the UK could be at risk of poisoning they dont have an alarm in their home which will warn them of the poisonous gas. As carbon monoxide has no smell, colour or taste, installing an audible alarm that sounds when the gas is present is the only way to make sure you are protected. It can be produced by any fuel-burning appliance such as a boiler, cooker or fire which is faulty or doesnt have adequate ventilation. According to the Department of Health, around 50 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year, and more than 4,000 people end up in hospital, but the true figures are likely to be significantly higher. Aidan is supporting the Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed! campaign which encourages people to ensure they have an audible Carbon Monoxide alarm and that they have all fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by a registered and qualified engineer. Commenting Aidan said: Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas that you cant see, smell or taste. Too many people are dying or suffering needlessly from Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Thats why I am urging every resident in Cannock Chase to make sure they and their loved ones are protected by installing an audible carbon monoxide alarm. Lawrence Slade, Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed! spokesperson, said: Our campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and we are urging people to protect themselves by purchasing an audible alarm. They are available at supermarkets, DIY stores high street shops or directly from energy suppliers. Importantly, they save lives. The Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed! campaign recommends four simple steps to keep households safe: Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. It should meet European standard EN50291 (you can find this on the alarm and/or packaging). Carbon Monoxide alarms are a similar size to smoke alarms and only take a few minutes to fit. Have fuel-burning appliances serviced annually by an appropriately qualified and registered engineer. Don't block ventilation and have chimneys swept at least once a year. Know the main symptoms: headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapsing and loss of consciousness and watch out for soot or yellow/brown staining on or around your appliance or pilot lights that blow out frequently.

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan questions Foreign Secretary on concern over an air defence identification zone in the East China sea
Tuesday 3rd December 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question. The full text of the exchange was as follows: Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): Given the Prime Ministers current visit to China, does the Secretary of State share the US Vice-Presidents deep concern about the new air defence identification zone that China has unilaterally set up over the SenkakuDiaoyu islands? William Hague (The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Richmond (Yorks), Conservative): In common with the rest of the European Union, we note with concern that China has established an air defence identification zone in the East China sea. The UK, as my hon. Friend knows, does not take a position on the underlying sovereignty issues, but we urge all parties to work together to reduce tensions and to resolve issues peacefully, in line with international law.

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