Archive for May 11th, 2016
Wednesday, May 11th, 2016
Anthea McIntyre MEP
Simpler legislation and greater flexibility are the only way to ensure that Europe’s economy grows and unemployment falls, MEPs were warned today.
Creating the right environment for growth and job-creation was the EU’s key challenge, Conservative MEP Anthea McIntyre cautioned.
The West Midlands MEP said, “They can only do this if the market allows for it, if they can find qualified workers and if labour markets are sufficiently flexible. And if they are not over-burdened with regulation.
Speaking during a debate in Strasbourg on growth and youth unemployment, she welcomed a recent agreement between the EU’s Parliament, Commission and Council on how to ensure better law making.
She continued, “Legislation which is simpler, more easy to understand and implement, will help member states create an environment that will encourage companies to hire and manage staff, while protecting basic workers’ rights.
“Europe’s strength lies in its diversity and we must use this diversity to learn from one another. There is no “one size fits all” template.”
Encouraging Europe to take the UK’s lead, she said, “Many member states, including my own, have already put in place successful structural reforms. This has enabled Britain to attract investment, to grow its economy and to create more and better jobs.
“Our employment rate is now over 74 per cent. While the unemployed claimant count is at its lowest for 40 years. There have been over 2.3 million apprenticeships since 2010 giving people the chance to learn skills and get on in life.
“Ultimately, Europe’s greatest need is for growth. Growth that will allow our businesses, especially SMEs, to thrive, to create new jobs and to provide a good future for all of Europe’s young people.”
Wednesday, May 11th, 2016
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Christopher Pincher,with Rawlett student William Pritchard
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the Thiepval memorial in France, which commemorates the 73,000 British servicemen who fell on the Somme and who have no known grave
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has thanked Rawlett students William Pritchard and Billy Green for honouring the memory of his great grandfather who was killed in the First World War.
William Pincher, a Territorial Army soldier, fought with the South Staffordshire Regiment. He was killed on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme though his body was never found. His name is inscribed on the Thiepval memorial in France, which commemorates the 73,000 British servicemen who fell on the Somme and who have no known grave. Rawlett School visited the memorial earlier this year and William and Billy found William Pincher’s name.
During Culture Questions last month, Mr Pincher thanked the two pupils in the House of Commons and asked the Government to encourage more schools to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and learn more about our local history.
Mr Pincher said, “I was grateful to William Pritchard and Billy Green from The Rawlett School, who laid a wreath in memory of my great-grandfather, who was killed on the first day of the battle of the Somme in 1916. In this, its centenary year, may I ask my right hon. Friend to encourage school visits to the Somme battlefield memorials, to remember the men who made such a sacrifice all those years ago.”
In response, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale MP said, “My hon. Friend illustrates what has become very clear, that almost every person in this country will have had a relative who served in the First World War, many of whom died. I am delighted to hear about the tribute that was paid to my hon. Friend’s great-grandfather.
“It is incredibly important that young people learn about the First World War, which is why we put in place the school battlefields tour programme, under which two pupils and one teacher from every state-funded secondary school in England can visit the First World War battlefields. More than 3,500 pupils and teachers have already been on that programme.”
Afterwards Mr Pincher ordered two copies of Hansard, the official daily record of the House of Commons, and gave them to William and Billy.
He said, “It was a very nice gesture of Will and Billy to find my great grandfather’s name. The Battle of the Somme was meant to be the “big push” to break the deadlock of the war. But it failed and cost Britain 96,000 dead – 19,000 on the first day of the battle alone.
“I think it is a very good think for young people to learn about the history of that war, the huge sacrifices that were made but also the comradeship and spirit of the army, especially as we mark the one hundredth anniversary of that battle. The South Staffordshire Regiment played an important, and tragic, part on the Somme.”
