7/30/2019 News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #53

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In this edition:

Aidan Burley MPs DiaryWebsite of the week:The Meningitis TrustAidan in Parliament:Burley speaks in welfarereform debateBenefits: The FactsChase MP welcomescompensation package forLondon Midlandpassengers but warns itmay not be enough

Burley welcomes extrastart-up loan supportA tax cut for more than34,000 local peopleAidan in Parliament:Aidan speaks in debate onSri LankaWant to know what yourCouncil Tax pays for?Aidan in Parliament:Aidan quizzes Home OfficeMinister on clearing

eyesores on ParliamentSquareAidan in the papers:7m train offer welcomedLetter of the week:Crocodile tears claim overhospitalHave your sayHow to contactAidan Burley MP

Issue 53 Friday 11th January 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:Spoken in a major House of Commons debate on welfare

reform. Aidan argued against increasing benefits payments

by more than workers wages and voted for benefit increases

to be capped at 1% per annum. For the full speech, see

below.

Met with the Chief Executive of London Midland to discuss

the unacceptable state of London Midland services on the

Chase Line. For full details see article below.

Spoken with the Chief Executives of Walsall and Royal

Wolverhampton NHS Trusts to discuss NHS Services in MidStaffordshire and the future ofCannock Hospital.

Welcomed confirmation in Network Rails 5 year plan to

electrify the Chase Line. Aidan put the case for this last July

in the House of Commos click here to watch his speech.

Attended a session of the Work and Pensions Select

Committee to discuss Pensions Governance. More

information on the work of the Committee including minutes

and reports can be found here.

Spoken in a debate on Sri Lanka. For Aidans full speech, see

below.

Been quoted in the Express & Star welcoming a 7 million

compensation package forChase Line commuters.

Quizzed Home Office MinisterJames Brokenshire MP in the

House of Commons over the use of the Police Reform and

Social Responsibility Act 2011.

Website of the week:

www.meningitis-trust.org

The website of the Meningitis Trust

Around 781 people living in our area havehad meningitis and every year a further 14people will fall victim to the disease. Aidanhimself became very poorly with viralmeningitis in 2005.Meningitis can affect anyone, of any age, at any time, striking inminutes and killing within hours. Recent research has shown that thatthird of survivors are left with after-effects, often changing their livesforever.

The Meningitis Trust is there to ensure that everyone whose life hasbeen affected by meningitis gets access to the support that they need,where they need it and for as long as they need it. Their helpline isavailable 24/7 to offer advice and answer your meningitis questions.You can contact them on 0808 80 10 388. Free credit-card sizedsymptom cards are also available from the Help Zone.

Aidan in Parliament:

Burley speaks in welfare reform debate

Tuesday 8th January 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans speech.The full text of Aidan's speech was as follows:Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): In the short timeavailable, I want to nail a couple of myths that have come up in the

debate and give the view from Cannock Chase.The first myth is that we are giving a tax break to the wealthiest insociety. The answer that the shadow Secretary of State would notgive earlier is that over a 13-year period, the Labour Government hada 50p tax rate for 37 days. The idea that we are giving the rich a taxcut is just a sixth-form debating point; the Labour party had 13 yearsto introduce the 50p rate, and they introduced it for 37 days.Let us nail another myth. Although many people in work get benefits,there is evidence of a culture of worklessness, whatever the JosephRowntree Foundation says. If hon. Members do not believe me

[Interruption.] Give me a second. Let me read the House asummary of an interview on LBC radio in December. A man calledPaul phoned in to say that it was not his fault that there were no jobsout there. He said:

Why would you work for low wages, cant really understandthat, whats the point? I was offered a job two weeks ago;they wanted me in there at 8 am in the morning.

The presenter said:

And you didnt want to do that job?

Paul replied:

Its ridiculous, that time!The presenter asked:

What time would you finish if you started at 8?Paul answered:

Well it finished about 4, but that time in the morning is tooearly. Most people start at 9 dont they?

The presenter, getting angry now, said:

No, people start work at all hours. If I was in charge and youturned down a job for that reason I would cut your benefits.You lied you said no work out there. There are people outthere struggling every single day who would love to get that

job, frankly you cant be fagged can you?Paul said that he would love to have the job but he was not willing tostart at 8, only at 9.30, to which the presenter replied:

I am outraged by what you just said.

Let us not pretend that there are not some people who cannot bebothered to work.Kevan Jones (North Durham, Labour): I am not sure whether thatanecdote should lead us to any wider conclusion. The onlyworklessness in the Chamber today is on the Tory Back Benchesthere has been an average of only 12 Tory Back Benchers allafternoon.Aidan Burley: I have been here since the beginning of the debate,waiting patiently to speak.I move on to my constituency. The House of Commons Library showsthat average wages in Cannock Chase rose by 6% between 2007 and2012. During that same period, benefits went up by 20%. Where is thefairness in benefits going up by 20% when pay has gone up by only6%? Do not take my word for it. This is what a local police officer e-mailed me last year when we uprated benefits by 5%:

Why has the Conservative Government given a recent rise inbenefits moneyto the unemployed when Nurses, PoliceOfficers, Fire and rescue workers and all other public sectorworkers have not received a pay rise for over two years?

It is a fair question, and I do not know the answer. What I do know isthat if the rate of inflation is not sufficient to warrant an increase inpublic sector pay beyond 1% in April this year, it cannot be so high asto require an increase in benefits beyond that either.This is what another constituent who recently contacted me said:

I have a friend who has a partner, neither she or he work andhave not worked for as long as I can remember. They areboth fit and healthy and perfectly able to work they just do notwant to. They openly admit there is no point in finding work asthey would not have enough money to live on. She stated tome that in order to get close in wages to what they receive inbenefits that they would both have to get a job.

This is the perverse reality of where we are nowthat it pays peoplenot to work and they are better off at home on benefits even thoughthey could work and in many cases want to. Tellingly, the constituentwent on to say:

Some time ago sheher friend

let it slip out that she claimed 500 a week in benefits, I

was

astounded and furious and pointed out that it was twicemy wages. I amaware that some people are unable to workand in genuine needbut surely people on benefits who areMORE than capable of working should not be living a life ofluxury and be financially better off than those whoearn aliving? These people are playing the systemwhilstgenuine hard working people struggle to have a life.

Those are the real words of a real constituent in an area where theaverage salary is 22,500, and Labour Members ignore those wordsat their peril. [ Interruption. ]Nigel Evans (Deputy Speaker; Ribble Valley, Conservative):

Order.Aidan Burley: The Opposition have argued that this uprating of 1%will impact on working people and not just those on benefits. Giventhat the previous Government made 90% of workers eligible aswelfare recipients, that is inevitable. Unfortunately, Labour Membersmake the mistake of taking these measures in isolation. If we take theGovernments measures as a whole, including tax allowances, energytariff changes and cutting petrol duty, low-income working householdswill be better off. It is time to end the ridiculous money merry-go-round. Let us take people out of tax and off benefits. Labour used tobe the party of the working man; it is now the party of the workless

and welfare. I look forward to fighting them on the doorsteps as theytake that message to the electorate.

Chase MP welcomes compensation

package for London Midland passengersbut warns it may not be enough

Aidan has welcomed the recent announcement by London Midland ofa 7m package of benefits to compensate passengers who suffereddisruption during their recent driver shortage. However he has insistedthat it will take more than ticket giveaways to recover their reputationand regain the trust of passengers.

London Midland, which currently operates the Chase Line servicebetween Birmingham and Rugeley Trent Valley, has said that seasonticket holders will be given 5 days worth of free travel passes. Half amillion additional cheap advance tickets will be made available for allpassengers and a commitment has been made to invest ininfrastructure improvements. The free tickets will be available to allmonthly and annual season ticket holders, as well as to weekly ticketholders who have been affected by disruption, while the additional

Advance tickets will be available over the next two years topassengers planning to travel on key London Midland routes.This package of compensation comes after the Chase MP recentlymet with the London Midland Managing Director to discuss the

unacceptable state of London Midland services on the Chase Line.London Midland have recently published their most recent tradingfigures for the end of the year, which show a 13% increase in revenueyet hundreds of trains are still being cancelled along the Chase Line.During the meeting Aidan made it clear that they had a contractualduty to run the trains published in their timetable and that their level ofservice was totally unacceptable to his constituents, many of whomwere regularly seeing their trains cancelled. Aidan was informed thatover 90 new drivers were being recruited and rosters were beingmade more effective. A vastly improved service was promised for2013.

Commenting Aidan said: "The Chase Line is vital for the localeconomy, particularly for those who use the line to get to and fromwork. It is absolutely vital that services are consistently reliable. Overthe last few months the service has been nothing short of comical with

passengers turning up to stations having no idea whether or whentheir train would run."Whilst I welcome the assurances and compensation package, I havemade it clear to London Midland that it needs to provide a servicewhich is right first time every time and not compensation for theirfailings. Many passengers I have spoken to tell me that they have lostall faith with London Midland and this faith will only be restored if theysee real long term improvements to the service. I will certainly be

keeping a close eye on developments over the next few months tosee if London Midland delivers on their promise."

Burley welcomes extra start-uploan support

Aidan has welcomed the Government's recent announcement toprovide an extra 30 million in Start-Up Loans to help create hundredsof new businesses and help young people find jobs.The Prime Minister's announcement brings the total pot for Start-UpLoans to more than 110 million over the next three years and will seethe age range extended to 30 years old, enabling more people to takeadvantage of this fund.New figures have shown that in the first three months of the schemealone, over 1.5 million worth of loans have been approved, helpingnearly 500 new businesses get off the ground. The West Midlandsregion, which includes Cannock Chase, has received 14 per cent ofthe total loans which have been awarded so far.Welcoming the announcement Aidan said: "This Government is on

the side of everyone who wants to work hard and get on and I wouldencourage any budding entrepreneur in Cannock Chase to apply for aStart Up loan to get their business ideas moving."This 30 million boost will make a huge difference to the hundreds ofyoung people in Cannock Chase and across Staffordshire who havealways aspired to own their own business, helping new companies getstarted and bringing jobs and growth to our economy."This Government is increasing loans to small companies, investing ininnovation and cutting corporation tax to make sure Britain can buildthe best businesses and compete in the global race."

A tax cut for more than 34,000

local peopleNew research has revealed that as a result of this Conservative ledGovernment's recent personal allowance tax changes, 34,364 peoplein Cannock Chase will receive a income tax cut in April next year with1,718 local people being taken out of tax altogether.Commenting Aidan said: "While times remain tough, these figures

show that if you want to work hard and get on, the Conservatives areon your side. We are cutting taxes so you keep more of the moneyyou have earned and most notably from April next year, as a result ofour changes, 1,718 of the lowest earners in Cannock Chase will betaken out of income tax altogether."

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan speaks in debate on Sri Lanka

Tuesday 8th January 2013

Click on the image above to watch Aidans speech.The full text of Aidan's speech was as follows:

Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): Many speakers thismorning have started by declaring whether they have visited SirLanka, and I intervened on Siobhain McDonagh to ask whether shehas done so, because I visited Sri Lanka in July 2012 and spent eight

days travelling all over the country. I did not just fly into Colombo; Iwent to the north, the east and the south. I went to Jaffna andKilinochchi, Trincomalee, Kandy and Hambantota. I went to all therural areas, not just to the towns and cities.I went to the Jaffna teaching hospital and discussed the lack ofmedical equipment with some of the doctors. I went to the chamber ofcommerce and discussed inward investment with business leaders. Ivisited resettlement projects in Ariyalai and mine clearing inKilinochchi with the HALO Trust, which, as my hon. Friend JamesWharton mentioned, is partly funded through the Department forInternational Development.I met the President in Kandy. I also met, Mr Sampanthan, a leader ofthe opposition, for several hours in TrincomaleeI recognise thecomments of Ian Paisleyand I remember him telling us that hewanted a bicycle for every one of his people, which is his mainpriority.I have detailed my trip because I strongly believe that people can onlyspeak authoritatively and honestly about a subject if they have first-hand experience, seeing things with their own eyes and forming theirown impressions, rather than just watching a Channel 4 documentary.

After all, would a person buy a house just because someone toldthem it was nice, or would they want to see the property first hand?

Would a person move to an area just because someone said it was anice place to live, or would they want to visit the area first?Everywhere I went on my eight-day trip to Sri Lanka last year, I sawthe same thing first hand: Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims livingharmoniously with each other, getting on with their lives and rebuildingtheir country. I saw the different communities and faiths living besideone another after their horrendous civil war. I saw Sinhalese boys andTamil girls playing together in the playgrounds of the schools that wevisited. That is why I wanted to speak in this debate. The UK shouldbe helping Sri Lanka, our former colony, to rebuild itself. Britishpoliticians should understand Sri Lankas reconciliation and help it todemine, so that communities can move back to their own lands. I sawthat happening with my own eyes; I saw the minefields being clearedthrough the HALO Trust, and I saw houses being rebuilt and cropsbeing grown on the old minefields. That is constructive. We sawHSBC and Marks and Spencer in Sri Lanka. I learnt that the softwarethat runs the UK stock market is based in Sri Lanka.

All that is positiveit is about jobs and livelihoodsand we should behaving a debate on encouraging trade to Sri Lanka. British politiciansshould be leading business trips and delegations of British companiesto Sri Lanka to encourage Sri Lankan and British businesses to worktogether. Britain has the second-highest number of tourists to SriLankaa country that desperately needs tourists pounds. I do not

believe this debate will help that rebuilding process; it is a negativedebate that perpetuates old myths and stereotypes and is based onnarrow interest groups in the UK that have their own agendas.Jeremy Corbyn said that he was astonished to see the Sri LankanGovernment lobbying here. I know lobbyists for the Sri LankanGovernment. My constituency is 99% white, and there is no diaspora.I have no candle to hold for the Sri Lankan Government; I am justrecounting the first-hand impressions that I witnessed for myself bybothering to go to the country. The hon. Member for Mitcham andMorden should go to Sri Lanka and speak to the people of Sri Lanka,not to the people of Mitcham and Morden, and listen to what theyhave to say. I found a country at peace with itself. That is what we

should be debating and supporting: helping Sri Lanka to build a betterfuture for itself, rather than letting extremists in the UK divide it.

Want to know what yourCouncil Tax pays for?Its no wonder Council Tax is so high and set to go up yet again by2% this year in Labour run Cannock Chase, as they seem to spendmoney like its going out of fashion. Take their latest job advert calling for those with a passion for internal communications to apply

for a 30K a year Communications Officer post.The successful candidate will be charged with the active delivery ofthe Communications Strategy. Whatever that means.Its time for Cannock Chase council to start spending less onprofligate communications strategies and start delivering value formoney services for local residents.

Aidan in Parliament:

Aidan quizzes Home Office Minister onclearing eyesores on Parliament Square

Monday 7th January 2013

Click the image above to watch Aidans questionto the Home Office Minister.

The full text of the exchange was as follows:Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase, Conservative): This morning, ontheir way back into work, all MPs will have walked past the continuedencampment on Parliament square. The banners, the flags and thetents were supposed to be removed by the time of the jubilee, yet theyare still there todayover halfway through the lifetime of thisParliament. When does the Home Secretary intend to use the powersgiven to her by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011to remove these final eyesores, so that the square can once again befully used by the public?

James Brokenshire (Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative): ThePolice Reform and Social Responsibility Act introduced new powersprohibiting the use of tents and related items in Parliament square,while safeguarding the right to peaceful protest. The use of thepowers is an operational matter for the police and Westminster citycouncil, but they were used in January last year to clear the square oftents.

Aidan in the papers:

7m train offer welcomed

Express & Star

Friday 4th January 2013

A Staffordshire MP whointervened in the row overpoor service for trainpassengers has welcomed a 7 million package of benefits tocompensate commuters.The move followed disruption suffered during a driver shortage onLondon Midland trains which operates the Chase Line service

between Birmingham and Rugeley Trent Valley.However Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley, says it will take more thanticket giveaways to recover the company's reputation and regainpassenger trust.London Midland has said that season ticket holders will be given fivedays' worth of free travel passes.Some 500,000 additional cheap advance tickets will be madeavailable for all passengers and a commitment has been made toinvest in infrastructure improvements.

The free tickets will be available to all monthly and annual seasonticket holders, as well as to weekly ticket holders who have beenaffected by disruption.The additional advance tickets can be accessed over the next twoyears to people planning to revel on key London Midland routes.Mr Burley recently met the rail company's managing director todiscuss the state of London Midland services on the Chase Line.

Letter of the week:Crocodile tears claim over hospitalFrom The Cannock Chronicle

Thursday 3rd January 2013It is nice to hear Councillor Janos Tothcome out in support of Cannock Hospital,but what suggestions has he to achievethis? None.He is quick to attack the industry and effort of Aidan Burley, who is

doing everything to achieve a solution. The truth is that Labour areactively working against the interests of the hospital management. Aswe know, the hospital is under utilised, hence the deficits. Labour arenow tendering for the same groups to come into the council buildingthat hospital management hoped would fill their own vacant spaceand ease their financial problems.These are crocodile tears from Councillor Toth. This hospital wasbuilt by a Conservative government with much support from localpeople. To aid his Parliamentary campaign in 2015, he would love tobe able to say our hospital was closed by Conservatives. If it doesclose, and we all hope and pray it does not, the blame can be laidfairly and squarely on the last Labour government and its insistenceon going for Foundation Trust Status. Stafford and CannockHospitals have been in serious financial trouble for at least eightyears, debt which Labour allowed to increase year on year.Councillor Toth, tell us what you would do if you were our MP to keepthe hospital open.Councillor Paul SnapeConservative LeaderCannock Chase District Council

There is still time to have your say on the issues that matter most toyou. Aidans online survey is live here and Aidan is keen to hearyour views to help him better represent you in the House ofCommons.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447

By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk

By post: Aidan Burley MP6 High Green Court,Newhall StreetCannock, WS11 1GR

In person: Click here for details of how to

book an appointment at AidanBurley MPs regular help andadvice surgeries.

www.aidanburleymp.org

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soonPlease forward this email on to anyone you think may be interested. Ifyou have had this email forwarded to you and would like to be addedto the mailing list, please send an email to: news@aidanburleymp.orgwith JOIN in the subject heading.To unsubscribe from this list, please return an e-mail tonews@aidanburleymp.org with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subjectheading.

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News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #53

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