From: Aidan Burley MP news@aidanburleymp.

org
Subject: News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #85
Date: 7 October 2014 14:10
To: news@aidanburleymp.org



In this edition:


Aidan Burley MPs Diary

Website of the week:
Amanda Milling

MP backs selection of new
Conservative Candidate for
Cannock Chase

Labours plans for benefit
handouts of 54,000 are a
slap in the face for
hardworking taxpayers in
Cannock Chase

Aidan Burley MP:
Response to Cannock
Hospital Minor Injuries Unit
Consultation

Our Bus is Back

School children secure
MPs support to launch local
business in aid of Cancer
Research

Aidan welcomes
Government scheme to
help unemployed start a
business

Labours plans for more
unfunded spending would
make hardworking
taxpayers in Cannock
Chase worse off

Burley highlights the
importance of earlier
diagnosis to improve
cancer survival rates

MP and MYP team up to
urge young people to Make
their Mark

More young people in work
means a brighter future for
Cannock Chase

MP welcomes new
protections for leaseholders

Tax cut supporting jobs and
helping businesses in
Cannock Chase

Aidan welcomes GDP
growth figures

How to contact
Aidan Burley MP



Issue 85 - Tuesday 7th October 2014


Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Welcomed the selection of Amanda Milling as the new
Conservative parliamentary prospective candidate for Cannock
Chase.
Supported a Government motion backing air strikes against
Isis in Iraq.
Paid tribute to former Staffordshire Police Chief Constable,
Mike Cunningham on being appointed as Her Majestys
Inspector of Constabulary.
Responded to the Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning
Group (CCG) consultation into proposals to reduce the opening
hours of Cannock Hospital Minor Injuries Unit. You can view
my response here.
Welcomed news that the number of unemployed claimants in
Cannock Chase is now 768 lower than in Jul 2013.


Website of the week:
www.amandamilling.com
The website of new Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for
Cannock Chase, Amanda Milling.


MP backs selection of new Conservative
candidate for Cannock Chase


Aidan Burley MP with Amanda Milling.

Aidan Burley has welcomed the selection of Burton-on-Trent born
businesswoman Amanda Milling as the new Conservative
parliamentary candidate for Cannock Chase.

Born and bred in Staffordshire, Amanda (39) has built a successful
career as a company director for a market research business.

Aidan said: "I am thrilled for Amanda who has all the qualities to be a
great representative for the people of Cannock Chase.

I know she shares my commitment to support local firms and help
create jobs and make Cannock Chase a place where happy, busy
families can get on with their lives, safe from crime and free from a
meddling government.

I look forward to working with her over the next few months to ensure
that Labour have no chance of re-taking this seat.

Amanda added: I am honoured to have been selected for Cannock
Chase and it is great to be returning to Staffordshire as a prospective
MP.

I am happily settled into my new home in Rugeley and aim to be as
accessible as possible to residents, so they can easily come and see
me for help and advice. Its really important that I work hard with both
councillors and local people to really tackle the issues that matter.

As a businesswoman, I understand the challenges that firms face.
Creating jobs is essential to create a strong future for Cannock Chase,
so Ill work hard to support local companies to create new roles for
hard-working people in the area.


Labours plans for benefit handouts of
54,000 are a slap in the face for
hardworking taxpayers in Cannock Chase

Aidan has slammed Labour's plans for a
welfare system that could see people in
London getting benefit handouts of up to
54,000 paid for by hardworking
taxpayers in Cannock Chase.

Labour's Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls,
has said he will scrap the
Conservatives' benefit cap in favour of a
new system that 'properly reflects local housings costs' that are 'higher'
in London.

New analysis of independent figures show that under this system,
people in London could get benefit handouts of up to 54,000. This
would be more than double the current limit.

Commenting Aidan said: "Four years ago we inherited a welfare
system from Labour that had utterly failed with 1.4 million people in
our country spending almost a decade living on out-of-work benefits.

"That's why the Conservatives made fixing welfare a key part of our
long-term economic plan. We want to end the culture of dependency
and reward the willingness to work. So we capped benefits, meaning
no one can claim more than the average family earns by going out to
work.

"But Labour haven't learnt their lesson. They would take us back to the
days of unjustified benefit handouts by scrapping our cap, and
increasing payments by up to 54,000 in London. That's a slap in the
face for the hardworking taxpayers in Cannock Chase who would have
to pay for it. Only by sticking to our plan will we end the cycle of
welfare dependency and secure a brighter future for Britain."


Aidan Burley MP: Response to Cannock
Hospital Minor Injuries Unit Consultation

I wish to make a formal response to
the Minor Injuries Unit
Consultation.

The complete loss of the Minor
Injuries Unit (MIU) at Cannock
Hospital as originally proposed
would have been a hammer blow to
the local community and placed
even further pressures on our local
health economy which is already
undergoing huge change.

As you will be aware, I have long
campaigned to save Cannock Hospital from the Administrators Axe
and have consistently called for more, not less services to be provided
at the site. The MIU is valued by local people, especially parents with
children and as such any reduction in provision must be done so in
proper consultation with local people.

Whilst I am pleased that the initial plans to close the unit were
dropped, I do not feel that the new proposal to reduce the opening
hours is a sustainable or acceptable long term solution, particularly
given the lack of diagnostic facilities at the site. In the short term
however, it will at least provide some provision for my constituents.
Retaining a service will also help prevent the diversion of minor injuries
patients to already stretched A&E departments.

Going forward I understand that it is the intention of the CCG to
develop an Urgent Care Centre in Cannock, in line with the Keogh
recommendations - a move I would welcome. However the current
timeframe for completion of this work is estimated to be two years.
Given the importance of healthcare provision, I would request that this
work is speeded up as much as possible.

One very obvious way to improve the MIU service at Cannock is to
add radiology provision. In the options paper submitted to the Healthy
Staffordshire Select Committee on 11 August you state that the unit
does not have access to diagnostic provision for patients who need an
x-ray or other test.

It goes on to say that nearly one in four of the patients who visit MIU
are sent to another NHS service because of this lack of diagnostics
creating a two-step pathway. This, as you make clear, is neither
efficient nor cost effective.

Your own figures indicate that a significant number of people go to the
unit with limb issues. It therefore would seem sensible to look at
bringing in diagnostic provision such as an x-ray machine which most
other MIUs across the country have. This would allow quick diagnosis
and relevant signposting and avoid sending those people identified
has having just sprains to already stretched acute hospitals units
across the region.

In the options paper you say that discussions have taken place with
the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust about access to diagnostics,
such as the X-ray facilities at the site. I would be interested to find out
the outcome of these discussions and if there is any scope for patients
from the MIU using these services?

If use of the existing X-ray machines is not possible, could the CCG
and Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust not look at investing in an
additional machine for joint use? While I accept that this would come
at a significant short term cost, it could save money longer term with
fewer admissions to Stafford and other local A&Es. Would access to
diagnostic provision also not be made easier if the unit was run by the
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust rather than the Staffordshire and
Stoke-on-Trent Partnership Trust?

I understand that discussions have taken place with Badger Medical
Services (out of hours provider) about enhancing current service to
deal with minor injury between 6.30pm and midnight. Would you be
able to publish the outcome of these discussions?

I do not feel it has been sufficiently explained in the consultation
document how other parts of the primary care system will pick up the
slack with a reduced hours MIU. You state that 40% of the activity
undertaken by the MIU is for illness, not injury, and therefore should be
dealt with by local GPs. However your own options paper makes clear
that the preferred option will place extra pressure on already stretched
GPs.

While I agree that it is often more appropriate that patients are seen by
their own Doctor or self-care at home, it is clear that many people go
to MIU simply because they cant get access to an appointment with
their GP. While in the consultation paper you say are looking at ways
to address this access and capacity issue, I am still not clear as to
what specific support will be given to GPs to help them cope with this
inevitable extra demand? Will more GPs be employed to meet local
primary care needs? Your own data highlights very clearly those GP
practices which have the largest number of registered patients who
attend the MIU unit and so this is a useful indicator as to what GP
practices may need extra support.

If the change to the opening hours at the MIU is to go ahead, it is vital
that this is coupled with an increase in GP and other primary care
provision.

One of the risks identified from the reduced opening has been an
increase in attendance to local A&Es for minor illnesses. What
discussions have been had with Royal Wolverhampton, Walsall and
UHNS Trusts about these risks and what plans, if any, have been put
in place to deal with them? A&E provision is already stretched across
the locality and the restricted opening hours at Stafford make this
problem worse. Local people need to be given assurances about
access to an improved GP out of hours service to avoid them visiting
A&E unnecessarily.

If the changes to the MIU opening hours are to go ahead, it is also vital
that local people across the district are properly informed and
educated about what local services are available at any given time and
which of these services is most appropriate for their treatment. A
variation of the Choose well leaflet in the consultation document is
one such example of literature that should be widely distributed.

As a side note, I would also like to express my disappointment at the
poor scheduling of the public consultation meetings arranged as part
of this consultation. Two out of the three public meetings set up occur
during normal working hours which makes it very difficult for local
people to attend. Could I ask about the reasoning for arranging these
meetings at these times and urge that in any future consultations
consideration is given about the timing of such meetings.


Our bus is back


It's back "on the buses" for residents in Norton Canes, as a new
service has been introduced following complaints that the community
has been cut off.

Many local people were left stranded when Arriva withdrew the
number 32 route, which connected western Norton Canes to Cannock
and Walsall every half an hour.

Prospective MP Amanda Milling, who is standing for the Conservative
Party in Cannock Chase at next year's General Election, began a
campaign with local residents to "Bring Back Our Bus" - which over
200 people signed.

Welcoming the news, Miss Milling said: "I met many residents who had
been left totally stranded by the withdrawal of the number 32.

"It is great news that Arriva have listened and introduced this new
service which will see the residents of the western part of Norton
Canes able to get out and about once again. This new service also
connects the village with Sainsbury's at the Orbital Retail Park too.

"I would like to thank everyone who helped with the campaign -
whether you signed the petition or helped deliver leaflets. It was all
worth it."


School children secure MPs support to
launch local business in aid of Cancer
Research

Two youngsters from Cannock have
secured the support of their local MP as
they prepare to launch their new
business in aid of cancer research in
Parliament next month.

Callum Talbot aged 12 and his sister Millie Talbot aged 8 are aiming to
follow in their fathers footsteps with the launch of Snitch Originals
new designer clothes brand producing t shirts, hoodies and tye dye in
very bright colours with a unique bubble 3d lettering aimed at younger
children. All orders are sent out professionally, with tags, stickers,
leaflet and wrapped in Snitch paper giving the customer an overall
quality garment with a quality service The Snitch Experience".

Callums dad, Simon Talbot who set up and runs Kazoo print solutions
in Cannock has been supporting his children in their venture which is
set to be officially launched at an event organised by local MP Aidan
Burley in Parliament on 21 October. Several MPs including Minister for
Small Business, Matthew Hancock MP have been invited to attend.

Callum has been using social media to spread the word about his new
business which has gained over 600 followers in just a few weeks with
interest from as far away as Cornwall.


Callum and Millie Talbot.

Commenting on the venture Callums dad Simon said: Snitch all
began with Millie having a couple of tops from a website, Callum
looked at these and said "Dad can we do something like this". I started
looking into this and could see a gap in the market, for unique
garments for younger children. We have specifically started with really
good quality garments and introduced exciting colours, unique 3d
raised lettering for our kids range and our own brand for the ultimate
identity, ending up with a really top quality item and are already
expanding the range into teens and high end garments ready for the
launch. Snitch will also be giving regular donations in aid of Cancer
Research as this is something that has recently affected our family and
the children have asked if we can make a difference."

He added: Callum and Millie have been really involved in the
research, design and manufacture of the garments as I wanted it to
appeal to their age group, while giving them an understanding how a
business starts and can expand.

Cannock Chase MP, Aidan Burley said: I am thrilled to be supporting
this entrepreneurial enterprise and look forward to welcoming Callum
and his family to Westminster on 21st October when we will officially
launch the new Snitch clothing range. I have written to the Minister for
Business, Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, inviting him to the launch as
supporting business and local enterprise is vital for our economy. By
starting a business so young, Callum is showing the sort of enterprise
we so desperately need in our country and given that his Dad and
Kazoo have won the Cannock Chase Business Awards two years
running, it is clear that he is a chip off the old block!


Aidan welcomes Government scheme to
help unemployed start a business

Aidan has welcomed the results from a
Government scheme to help
unemployed people start their own
business.

The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA)
was rolled out in April 2011 to help
connect unemployed people with a
business mentor and get a business up
and running. From April 2011 to June 2014, 110 people in Cannock
Chase have started working with a business mentor, while 50 have
started their business, left benefits and started receiving the weekly
NEA.

Commenting Aidan said: "The NEA has been a real success in
Cannock Chase helping people off benefits and starting their own
business."

"The NEA is giving people financial support to help them start their
business and get through the tricky early months. It's fantastic that,
since April 2011, 50 people in Cannock Chase have come off out-of-
work benefits and are now trading thanks to the NEA."

"Across the country this allowance is helping thousands of would-be
entrepreneurs get off benefits and back into work. The Government is
ready to back those who have an idea that can work and the can-do
attitude to make it a success. The NEA is helping more people to
realise their dreams in business and I hope more people will take it
up."


Labours plans for more unfunded
spending would make hardworking
taxpayers in Cannock Chase worse off

Aidan has condemned Labour's pledges
over the summer for 21 billion more
unfunded, inefficient and ineffective
spending.

New analysis has revealed this would
cost working households 1,235 each
totalling a cost of 1.7 billion for working
households across the West Midlands.
This would all have to be paid for by higher taxes or more borrowing,
making hardworking taxpayers, and future generations, worse off.

While Labour continue to struggle for credibility on the economy new
figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that the
recovery in the economy under this Government has been stronger
than previously thought. Growth since 2010 has been revised up to 8.1
per cent, from the previous estimate of 7.0 per cent.

This faster growth means there are more businesses creating more
jobs, so that more families can have the security of a regular pay
packet, with a brighter future ahead of them.

Commenting Aidan said: "Just as new growth figures which show the
economy has been growing faster under this Government than
previously thought confirms this Government's long-term economic
plan is working, helping more families achieve the security of work, it's
shocking to see Labour still haven't learned its lesson.

"In a string of speeches over the summer Labour pledged 21 billion
worth of unfunded, inefficient and ineffective spending. That would
cost each working household 1,235 1.7 billion across the West
Midlands.

"This means Labour would have to hit people in Cannock Chase with
more borrowing and higher taxes, making hardworking taxpayers
worse off and putting the recovery at risk. We need to stick to the
Conservatives' long-term economic plan, which is delivering growth,
getting the deficit down and cutting taxes - securing a brighter and
more secure future for Britain."


Burley highlights the importance of earlier
diagnosis to improve cancer survival rates

Aidan has highlighted the importance of
improving earlier cancer diagnosis as a
means of increasing one-year cancer
survival. In Cannock Chase, 67% of
people with cancer will live for a year
after diagnosis. The England average is
68%.

At the moment, the UK lags behind its
international and European neighbours
in cancer survival; and it is estimated
that by 2020, almost half of people will
receive a cancer diagnosis during their
lifetime. The presentation of the one-
year survival figures is a powerful tool to measure the performance of
the local NHS and ensure crucial improvements are made for people
with cancer.

By putting one-year survival rates up in lights in the NHS architecture
for the first time, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will be able to
identify where initiatives are required (or need to be improved) to
promote earlier diagnosis. These can include better screening,
improving public awareness of signs and symptoms, better diagnostics
at Primary Care or GP training.

Commenting Aidan said: "We know that early diagnosis of cancer
leads to better survival rates for patients. The one-year cancer survival
rates will highlight areas where improvements need to be made. I have
recently written to Cannock Chase CCG asking for an update on what
steps they are taking to encourage earlier diagnosis, particularly
around their plans to improve awareness of the signs and symptoms of
cancer among primary care professionals and the public.

"By matching Europe's best survival rates, the Government estimates
that the NHS in England could save 10,000 lives a year. This should
be our aim: to give people in our area the best chance in their fight
against cancer."


MP and MYP team up to urge young people
to Make their Mark

Aidan and Local Member of Youth
Parliament (MYP) Megan Collins
(Lichfield and Cannock Chase) have
joined forces for the second year
running to urge local young people to
vote in the UK Youth Parliament's
annual 'Make your Mark' ballot.

The 5 topics with the most votes from the shortlist of 10 will then be
debated by elected MYPs at a special sitting at House of Commons
chamber on 14 November, chaired by The Rt Hon John Bercow MP,
Speaker of the House of Commons. At the end of this sitting the MYPs
will then vote to decide the most important issue to campaign on for
the year ahead. Topics on this year's ballot include Votes at 16, Work
Experience and Euthanasia.

Last year, the Make Your Mark ballot surveyed the opinions of a record
478,632 young people aged 11-18, making it the largest youth
consultation of its kind in the UK. This year, MYPs have set
themselves a target of getting 1 million young people to take part.

The UK Youth Parliament will again be working in partnership with
Parliament Week to promote the topics to schools and the public.

All young people in Cannock Chase aged 11-18 can take part and
have their say by voting online at https://www.mi-voice.com/mym/.
Voting is open until Friday 10th October 2014.

Commenting Aidan said: "I am very pleased to join with Megan to help
promote this year's 'Make your Mark' ballot. The Youth Parliament
plays a key role engaging and empowering young people to have a
say in the key challenges facing our country, and this ballot is a great
way for all young people here in Cannock Chase to get directly
involved and help decide what issues are debated by Megan and the
other MYPs in the House of Commons later this year."

Megan added: "I am honoured to be able to provide an opportunity for
young people to have their say; it is necessary for Youth Parliament to
empower every young person and I am determined to put forward as
many young person's perspectives as possible.


More young people in work means a
brighter future for Cannock Chase

Aidan has welcomed new figures
showing that in the West Midlands there
are 16,000 fewer young people not in
work, education or training a 13.2%
decrease since the election.

Jobs are being created for young people in Cannock Chase, for
example at the Amazon warehouse in Rugeley.

Across the UK as a whole, there are 184,000 fewer young people not
in work, education or training a 12% fall since the election.

Commenting on the figures Aidan said: "It's great news that there are
16,000 fewer young people out of work, education or training in the
West Midlands since 2010.

"Here in Cannock Chase we have seen youth unemployment fall from
835 when I was elected in May 2010 to 320 today a fall of some 515.
These aren't just numbers on a Government graph every young
person taken off the dole is someone with new self-respect, new
confidence and new security for the future.

"This hasn't happened by accident. It's happened because the
Government has a long-term plan to build a healthier economy in
Britain helping businesses to create more jobs and ensuring more
young people have the skills they need to find a job or succeed in
further study.

"These figures show that the Government's long-term economic plan is
working - securing a brighter future for young people in Cannock
Chase. Now we've got to stick to it."


MP welcomes new protections for
leaseholders

Aidan has welcomed a new law that will
cap the amount councils can charge
leaseholders for future repairs to their
homes.

This change was prompted by examples
of councils issuing excessive and unfair
repair bills to people who lease their
home. In one case, Labour Newham
London Borough Council charged a 93 year old woman 50,000 for
repairs to her roof which she could not afford and which were later
shown to be totally unnecessary. This new law will mean that councils
like Newham won't be able to get away with such appalling behaviour
in the future.

Councils and housing associations will now have to limit the amount
they charge leaseholders for future major repair, maintenance or
improvement work to 10,000 over a five year period. In addition,
councils will now have to make clear what help is available for
leaseholders who have to pay repair bills and offer affordable ways to
pay these bills.

These changes are part of the Government's wider plan to give greater
protection to people who lease which includes requiring managing
agents to join a redress scheme so people can get their complaints
addressed; providing more information to people about what being a
leaseholder involves; making it easier to find out the decisions made
by Tribunals in housing disputes; and ensuring landlords give
leaseholders realistic estimates of the cost of buying the freehold of
their property.

Commenting Aidan said: "For too long councils were able to charge
their residents who lease their home excessive and unfair fees for
repair work which, in some cases, wasn't even needed. This has
caused distress, worry and hardship which no one should ever have to
endure, especially the elderly and vulnerable.

"This new law will ensure in the future that this does not happen and
will mean people in Cannock Chase who lease their home from the
District Council will be able to plan for their future knowing that they
are protected from massive, unfair bills for repairs to their home.

"Giving people greater financial security and peace of mind is a central
part of this government's long-term economic plan that is creating
more jobs, delivering more homes and is securing a better and brighter
future for Britain".


Tax cut supporting jobs and helping
businesses in Cannock Chase

Aidan has welcomed new figures
showing that 59,000 businesses in the
West Midlands are already benefitting
from the Employment Allowance,
introduced in April, which reduces the
cost to businesses of employing people.

The Employment Allowance takes up to
2,000 off the National Insurance bill of
every employer and is open to businesses, charities and community
amateur sports clubs.

The allowance means a business could now hire someone on 22,400
a year, or four people working full-time on the minimum wage, without
paying any employer national insurance at all.

In total up to 1.25 million employers will benefit from the allowance,
with 450,000 taken out of paying the tax on jobs altogether.

Commenting Aidan said: "Cutting the tax on jobs and backing local
businesses is a key part of the Conservatives' long-term economic
plan.

"This tax cut makes it easier for businesses across Cannock Chase to
take on new people with 59,000 businesses in the West Midlands
already benefitting.

"We need to continue working through our plan, backing businesses in
Cannock Chase to create jobs for local people, with the regular pay
packet and the peace of mind for the future that comes with it."


Aidan welcomes GDP growth figures

Aidan has welcomed recent GDP figures published by the Office of
National Statistics (ONS) which show the UK economy grew by 0.8%
in the second quarter of 2014.

The figures show the economy is now 0.2% ahead of its pre-crisis
peak, which was reached in the first quarter of 2008. Since the
beginning of 2010 the economy has grown by 6.9 per cent, faster than
France or Japan and three times as fast as the Eurozone.

This latest economic news comes a day after the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed that Britain will be the fastest growing
economy in the G7 this year.

Commenting Aidan said: "Fixing the economy was always going to
take time, but these figures are further evidence that our long term
economic plan is working.

"The deficit has been cut by more than a third helping us to deal with
our debts, safeguard our economy for the long-term and keeping
mortgage rates low. Across the country we have helped businesses
create over two million new jobs providing more people with the
security and stability of work. Here in Cannock Chase we have seen
the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) almost
halved since 2010.

"Despite this, there is still a long way to go - the Great Recession was
one of the deepest of any major economy and cost Britain six years.
We now owe it to hardworking taxpayers not to repeat the mistakes of
the past and instead to continue with the plan that is delivering
economic security and a brighter future for all."


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

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soon!

Please forward this email on to anyone you think may be interested. If
you have had this email forwarded to you and would like to be added
to the mailing list, please send an email to: news@aidanburleymp.org
with JOIN in the subject heading.

To unsubscribe from this list, please return an e-mail to
news@aidanburleymp.org with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject
heading.







Aidan Burley MP Working for you, all year round.

Published & Promoted by Aidan Burley MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA