Archive for April, 2013
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Friday, April 26th, 2013
Yesterday in the House of Commons during questions to the Leader of the House, Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher called for an improvement in parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.
Mr Pincher said, “What plans he has to improve the quality of parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.”
The Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley MP, replied, “The Government are keen to promote better financial scrutiny and would welcome discussions on how best that can be achieved. As Leader of the House, I hope that I can work with colleagues in the Liaison Committee and across Government to ensure that the scrutiny of Government expenditure in this House promotes efficiency and value for money in all Departments.”
Christopher Pincher continued, “I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, but may I press him further and ask whether he sees a role not only for the Public Accounts Committee but for Select Committees in scrutinising Government and departmental expenditure?”
Mr Lansley responded, “I do indeed see such a role. Select Committees have a responsibility in relation not only to the policy of the Departments that they scrutinise but to the Departments’ expenditure. It is fair to say, however, that there is a variable focus among Select Committees on the extent to which they scrutinise the expenditure of their Departments, but I hope that we can increase the extent of that scrutiny through the Estimates process.
“Also, as a member of the Public Accounts Commission, I know from the matters that we have discussed with the National Audit Office that the NAO has already made itself available to some Select Committees to help them with that process, and I hope that we can encourage more of that in future.”
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
Crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that crime has fallen in Staffordshire by over 10% since the 2010 General Election.
Figures across individual crime categories are also positive. Violence against the person fell by 6% in the latest figures, which are for the year to December 2012, robbery is down by 13% and criminal damage is down by 15%.
The fact that crime has fallen despite the necessary cuts being made to policing budgets is particularly encouraging. It shows that the Conservative led Government’s decision to reduce bureaucracy for the police and to sweep away multiple targets in favour of one, reducing crime, are working.
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
The last time Labour were in charge in Staffordshire, they increased our council tax every year, almost doubling it over 12 years.
A vote for parties other than the Conservatives could let Labour back in and result in the return of higher council tax again.
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, spoke up for local groups who are working to help curb Tamworth’s obesity concerns.
During Health Questions in the House of Commons last week, Mr Pincher asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health, Dr Daniel Poulter to “support the efforts of local clinicians, Tamworth Borough Council and charities such as Tamworth in the Community which are working with parents, teachers and children to educate them about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, to deal with the health challenges we have in Tamworth”
Dr Poulter said in the House in response, “I commend the work being done locally in Tamworth to address this issue. As we know, one of the biggest public health challenges facing this country is obesity.
“The risk factors for cardiovascular disease include diabetes and high cholesterol. If we can tackle obesity and improve lifestyles, we will address both those risk factors directly, so I wish my hon. Friend’s local organisations every success in tackling those challenges.”
Mr Pincher later commented, “This is fantastic news that our local campaigners have the backing not only of Tamworth Borough Council but also government ministers. I know how hard everyone is working to tackle this perception of Tamworth’s health problems and this support is just some of the recognition they deserve.”
Scot Bradbury, Community Projects Manager at Tamworth in the Community Charity, said, “Our Motto ‘LEARN TOGETHER, PLAY TOGETHER, LIVE TOGETHER’ is strongly adhered to as we work in the community with local schools and other group organisations.
“For a charity like ours it is always good knowing the local MP supports our aims and is pushing things in government not only for the benefit of the charity but the community as well, I would encourage any ministers from government to come along to see the work in which we are doing.”
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has called on the Ministry of Defence to help Normandy Veterans commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-day in 1944 by providing support for their families and carers to make what may well be their final trip to Normandy to pay their respects to friends and fellow servicemen who lost their lives.
Other governments are planning to help their frail former D-Day servicemen to make the journey to the beaches and Christopher has said the UK Government should follow suit.
Mr Pincher said, “As the anniversary is now little more than a year away, I have asked colleagues in the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Culture, Media and Support to ensure that our personnel who saw active service are offered similar support as to that offered by US and French Government’s to their veterans”.
In response Veterans Minister, Mark Francois MP, said that lottery funding should be available to provide support for ex servicemen to travel to France.
Afterwards Mr Pincher said, “I will continue to talk to local constituents, veteran groups and representatives from Government and ensure that all those involved in D-day will be able to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-day in the most appropriate way.”
The 70th Anniversary of D- day is the 6th June 2014.
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Following the recent announcement of a 0.1% cut in its share of the council tax, Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council has the lowest council tax of any county in England.
After freezing its share of council tax bills for two years, Staffordshire has cut its council tax for 2013/14 by 0.1%, meaning that its share of a Band D property bill will be £1,027.25. This is lower than any other English county.
Staffordshire County Council, leader Philip Atkins said, “Despite national cuts in public spending, we made an ambitious promise last year to try and reduce our share of council tax bills over time. We have delivered, following years of sound, responsible leadership.
“We know that people want us to put extra energy into creating jobs and improving the local economy, and to look after those people who need our help. People also want us to help protect their pockets as they feel the strain from rising energy bills, petrol prices and the cost of the weekly shop.
“That’s why we have made every effort to not only keep council tax as low as possible, but even to reduce it slightly, at the same time as protecting and improving services.
“This is another milestone in transforming the County Council into a high value organisation with low tax and quality services at its heart. That means using innovation to deliver services in new and better ways, cutting waste and working closer with partners to find savings.”
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council has offered 9 out of 10 parents their first choice primary school, despite rises in pupil numbers putting pressure on school places.
Figures show the overwhelming majority of parents have been allocated their first choice school, with 97 per cent in total allocated one of their top three preferred schools.
A total of 8897 places have been allocated, with 8167 of those receiving their first choice primary school and 8648 getting one of their top three. This is despite a rise in birth rate of up to 11 per cent in Staffordshire over the last decade putting more pressure on school places.
Three years ago, the county council successfully applied for £44 million of the government’s ‘basic need’ allocation to increase capacity across Staffordshire. Since then, officers have managed to provide an extra 2,000 primary school places across the county through expanding existing schools and building two new ones.
Anne Birch, County Commissioner for learning and skills said: “A huge percentage of parents in Staffordshire have got their first preference, and have good reason to celebrate. Despite the rise in birth rates and the extra pressures on primary school places in the county, through careful managing of the admissions process and the extra capacity we are putting in Staffordshire schools we have managed to ensure the majority of parents are offered one of their top three places.
“Last year we were awarded nearly £13million towards primary school places in the county, in recognition of rising birth rates. We have already added capacity in Burton, Huntington, Fradley, Lichfield and Stafford either by making better use of existing accommodation or through building new schools, and this will continue for the next few years.
“These pressures on school places makes the fact that we have given 92 per cent of parents their first choice school all the more remarkable. A large number of parents now have very good reason to be pleased as their child starts their school life in a Staffordshire school.”
Yesterday in the House of Commons during questions to the Leader of the House, Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher called for an improvement in parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.
Crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that crime has fallen in Staffordshire by over 10% since the 2010 General Election.
