Archive for November, 2011
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Hints, Hopwas and Tamworth, yesterday met with new Transport Secretary Justine Greening to highlight his concerns about HS2. The meeting, in the historic Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons, of 23 MPs included Lichfield’s Michael Fabricant and Jeremy Wright from Kenilworth and Southam. All three local MPs spoke up for their communities. Dan Byles was absent on paternity leave.
Mr. Pincher said:
“I made clear to the Secretary of State that I do no believe the business case made for HS2 does not stack up. I asked her to use the much more reasonable passenger demand projections included in the latest Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook which is sitting on her desk awaiting sign-off. If she does she will find that there are other more innovative and less intrusive solutions to the West Coast Mainline capacity issue than a brand new transport corridor.”
“I also made clear that the mitigations and compensation package on offer are just not good enough because neither address the problem of planning blight which already affects many local communities.”
“I urged Ms Greening to think again, look at the alternatives, and decide against building a brand new transport corridor across virgin countryside.”
The entire transcript of the meeting will be posted on the Department for Transport website in the next few days and will be available for public view. Committee Room 14 has in the past been the scene of high drama. It is the meeting place for Conservative MPs and is where, in 1990, Margaret Thatcher learned that she had failed to win re-election as Conservative Party Leader.
Monday, November 21st, 2011
On 25 October the Government launched a consultation into whether the protection of potential victims of domestic violence could be improved by disclosing an individual’s history of violence to their partner.
The Home Office consultation is considering whether to introduce a ‘right to ask’ disclosure scheme where someone could ask the police about a person’s previous history of domestic violence or violent acts. An alternative would be a ‘right to know’ scheme where the police would proactively release information in certain circumstances.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said that ‘ending violence against women and girls’ was a ‘personal priority’ for her and for the Government.
The Government is already taking a range of action to tackle domestic violence:
• They published an action plan – “A Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls” – in Spring of 2011 to help prevent violence and provide more support for victims.
• They have provided £28 million of stable funding to for specialist domestic and sexual violence services across the Spending Review period.
• They are piloting Domestic Violence Protection Orders which allow the police or magistrates to stop offenders from contacting victims or returning home for up to 28 days.
• They have enacted Domestic Homicide Reviews which will allow lessons to be learned from domestic homicides with a view to help prevent future homicides and violence.
read more
Monday, November 21st, 2011
New data shows that 940 Apprenticeships were delivered in Tamworth in the 2010/11 academic year, an increase of 100% on 2009/10.
Local MP Christopher Pincher said:
“This is great news for the businesses and young people in Tamworth and the surrounding areas. The record rise in apprenticeship numbers, particularly in Advanced ‘A’ level equivalent qualifications shows the Government’s commitment to helping employers train the skilled workers they need to build a stronger economy and sustainable growth. I am very pleased the Government is promoting apprenticeships as they offer invaluable training to many young adults in our town.”
read more
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
A £50,000 BMX track is now a reality for Tamworth after a local group has been awarded £47,300 by the National Lottery, distributed by Groundwork UK, to build a community BMX track.
The project, which is being run by Cllr Robert Pritchard, Tamworth BMX Club and the Belgrave Residents Association, has been successful in securing the funding to provide a much needed local facility.
Cllr Robert Pritchard added, “We are delighted with the announcement and now look forward to the track being opened in the spring”
Tamworth Borough Council, who has assisted throughout the project, will be acting as the accountable body and handling the construction for the community project.
The play track, which would be at the back of Deltic in Glascote/Stonydelph, is aimed at youngsters and families to help them to enjoy the growing sport. The site is a central location for families in Wilnecote, Belgrave, Stonydelph and Glascote. However the site is available for families from across the borough.
The project also includes funds to make environmental improvements to the area, such as wildflower planting, installing bird boxes, solitary bee houses, as well as extra benches and litter bins. This project is to benefit local children and families, and return a once popular play track to the local community.
Cllr Robert Pritchard said, “This project is proof what local people can do when they come together and work hard. To paraphrase a great man, ask not what Tamworth can do for you, but what you can do for Tamworth”
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, has welcomed the news that 100,000 people have signed an e-petition calling the Government to take firmer action against immigration. The Backbench Business Committee will now decide if the petition should be debated in the House of Commons. The e-petition was tabled by Sir Andrew Green, Head of MigrationWatch UK. The wording of the debate is as follows:
Over the past ten years the government has permitted mass immigration despite very strong public opposition reflected in numerous opinion polls. We express our deep concern that, according to official figures, the population of the UK is expected to reach 70 million within 20 years with two thirds of the increase due to immigration. While we recognise the benefits that properly controlled immigration could bring to our economy and society, this population increase, which is the equivalent of building seven cities the size of Birmingham, will have a huge impact both on our quality of life and on our public services yet the public has never been consulted. So we call on the government to take all necessary steps to get immigration down to a level that will stabilise our population as close to the present level as possible and, certainly, well below 70 million.
Christopher Pincher commented on this news:
“I am glad that the limit has been reached and I hope that the Backbench Business Committee will allocate Backbench Business time to hold this debate. Immigration is a very important issue to many residents of our town and it must be debated in Parliament. I have already spoken in a previous debate about immigration but much has changed since then and I welcome the potential opportunity to speak again.
“The Government has done much to combat immigration after years of Labours ‘open door’ policy by capping the number of immigrants allowed in the country but more needs to be done. I have recently commended the Government’s actions by cutting the number of colleges that have their students eligible for student visas – mainly were fraudulent and just a route into the country. I have also asked the Leader of the House for a debate on immigration last week.”
The Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration, Frank Field and Nicholas Soames, of which Chirstopher Pincher is a member, said:
“This is a remarkable response from the public – 100,000 thousand signatures within a week. It underlines what our Balanced Migration group has been saying for three years – namely that there is pent up frustration at the failure of the political class to get a grip of mass immigration.
We will now take the matter up with the Backbench Business Committee to secure a debate on the petition’s call for a sharp reduction in immigration to levels close to balanced migration. Nothing short of this will stabilise the population.”
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, continues to support the Fair Fuel campaign. He originally supported the Fair Fuel campaign in March and campaigned to scrap the former Labour Chancellor’s 1p “real terms” increase in fuel duty – which would put up to another 5 pence per litre on the cost of petrol. Christopher Pincher welcomed The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 1p cut in fuel duty at the 2011 Budget, the abolition of the fuel tax escalator, and the establishment of a fair fuel stabiliser.
Recently Christopher Pincher signed a motion tabled by his Conservative colleague, Robert Halfon MP calling for a debate on the price of fuel in the House of Commons. This debate was granted and was held on the 15th November.
Christopher Pincher commented by saying:
“I am pleased we held the debate on the rising cost of fuel and very pleased that, despite their protests, Labour ended up supporting the motion. Many constituents have contacted me on this important issue. The rising cost of fuel needs to be addressed so businesses can operate and people can get to work. Labour must not be allowed to forget that they were planning to put 5p on a litre of petrol last April – but the Conservative led government scrapped their plans. I will continue to call for reduced fuel duty and lower taxes in general.”
To sign up to the Fair Fuel campaign you need to go to http://www.fairfueluk.com/
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, has welcomed an £11 million investment in new online and telephone services which will help to support parents and families.
The Government is providing funding to eleven voluntary and community organisations to deliver a range of support including relationship advice, advice on educational issues and services tailored specifically for fathers.
Christopher Pincher commented:
‘Every parent across the country can benefit from these services and I welcome the Government’s decision to trust organisations with a proven track record in supporting families to deliver them.
Online and telephone support will give families in Tamworth the help they need, when they need it, without interfering in family life.’
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, last week participated in a debate honouring our armed forces. In his short speech which came at the end of the debate Mr Pincher began by expressing his admiration for 3 Mercian (the Staffords) who have recently came back from Afghanistan, he also paid his respects to those fallen in combat, particularly Pte Gareth Bellingham from Stoke.
He said:
“May I put on the record my admiration for the work of my local battalion? The Staffords, the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, have just returned from Afghanistan after a 10-month tour of duty. They will be proudly marching through Tamworth on 29 November and I, for one, will be there to welcome them, to honour them and to remember Private Gareth Bellingham, who unfortunately lost his life during the tour.”
He then commended the Armed Forces Covenant, enshrined in law by the Armed Forces Act 2011 of which Mr Pincher was a committee member before moving onto raise concerns about Services housing. He asked:
“First, will the Minister consider enhanced accommodation allowances for our service personnel? Secondly, will he consider developing the shared equity scheme that the previous Government piloted? Thirdly—this one will cost him nothing—will he encourage the Chancellor of the Exchequer to sit down with banks and encourage them to offer forces-friendly and flexible mortgages, to help our servicemen and women? They need a stable, fixed address and the opportunity to put their feet on the property ladder. If they can do that, it will help us to reduce the £285 million a year bill on the 50,000 units of service family accommodation, which often needs to be upgraded. These people have put their lives on the line for us abroad. The very least we can do is offer them the opportunity of having a good home at home.”
read more
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Hints, Hopwas & Tamworth, intervened in Parliament on the Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman, during her report on the publication on the Transport Select Committee’s report on HS2.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): Will the hon. Lady give way?
Mrs Ellman: I am running out of time, but I will give way once more.
Christopher Pincher: The hon. Lady says that the Committee’s report raises important points, and she says that the environmental impact has not been properly assessed. Does she believe that that impact will have a significant effect on the net cost-benefit ratio in the business case?
Mrs Ellman: That is an important point. I cannot anticipate what the impact would be, but we think that other factors, including the importance of reducing current overcrowding, should be assessed as well. Ultimately, any cost-benefit ratio would have to take account of the findings in regard to those factors, and possibly others as well.
Christopher Pincher commented at the end:
“It is clear that there are still many questions about the business case of HS2. In addition to environmental factors blight is not taken into consideration in the proposals. Blight will affect revenues to the Treasury due to reduced income from Stamp Duty. The Government needs to investigate the entire case for HS2 so the taxpayer is not left to foot a huge bill for this project. The Transport Select Committee’s report raises an array of questions which the Department for Transport must address. I will continue to work with local action groups in Hints, Drayton Bassett and Hopwas to question the business case of this project which I just do not think stacks up.”
“I also intend to meet with Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, on 21st November to raise my concerns. Together, with other local MPs, I asked for an urgent meeting with her so I am pleased she has agreed to see concerned Members of Parliament.”
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, has welcomed the news that the Olympic Torch will travel through Tamworth in the build up to the 2012 Games. Mr. Pincher has been active in lobbying ministers and Games organisers for the torch to be carried through the town. On the 30th June the Olympic Torch will pass from Lichfield and Hopwas and then to Tamworth. The torch will then head on to Great Wyrley.
He commented:
“As I said in May, Tamworth is a fantastic town and thoroughly deserves the honour of having the Olympic Torch visit us. Having written to Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson and Games organiser Sebastian Coe, I am very pleased that the Olympic Committee agrees with me and has decided to put Tamworth on the map for the torch relay. It is also excellent news – and thoroughly deserved – that the village of Hopwas is also included on the route. We should also be very grateful for all the work done by Tamworth Borough Council and the County Council to make the case for our town.”
He added:
“I will continue to work with the Olympic team to try to win rewards for Tamworth and Staffordshire. I would also like to encourage everybody in the town to take advantage of this opportunity on our doorsteps. I look forward to seeing Tamworth residents as official Torch Bearers.”
