7/29/2019 News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #55
1/1
In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs DiaryWebsite of the week:Whistleblowing
HelplineAidan in Parliament:Aidan questions PM onsupporting NHS
staff whohave concerns over thequality of care in ourhospitalsAidan
in the media:Aidan speaks to Radio WMregarding Stafford
HospitalAidan Burley MP statement
on the Francis Report intothe failings at
StaffordHospitalVolunteer Day:Aidan teaches IndoorRugby at
GorsemoorPrimary SchoolPhotos news:Aidan officially opensThe Groom
RoomAidan welcomes recordnumber of apprenticeshipsin Cannock
Chase
Photos news:Cannock and RugeleyLions Club Burns
NightSupperStatement on Governmentsofficial response to
theIndependent Panel onForestrys reportPhotos news:Cardinal Griffin
CatholicHigh School visit Aidan inParliamentBurley welcomes
HS2phase two announcement47 Council staff acrossCannock Chase paid
lessthan the living wagePhotos news:Commons & Lords RFCAnnual
Dinner with PhilVickeryAidan in the papers:Leaders hail vote on
same-sex marriages
Have your sayHow to contactAidan Burley MP
Issue 55 Thursday 7th February 2013
Since the last edition, Aidan has:Met with Health Secretary
Jeremy Hunt to discuss the findings
of the Francis Report into care failings at Stafford
Hospital.
Questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons
following a statement on the Francis Report.
Conducted a volunteer day, teaching indoor rugby to year 6
pupils at Gorsemoor Primary School.
Attended the Cannock and Rugeley Lions Club Burns Night
supper.
Officially opened the Groom Room male grooming salon in
Heath Hayes, established by Timothy Lees.Been interviewed by BBC
Radio WM regarding Stafford
Hospital.
Attended a session of the Work and Pensions Select
Committee to hear oral evidence from representative
organisations on the Governments Work Programme. More
information on the Committee including minutes and reports
can be found here.
Welcomed sixth form students from Cardinal Griffin Catholic
High School to Parliament for a tour and question and answer
session. Former pupil and current Transport Secretary the Rt
Hon Patrick McLouglin MP also met and spoke with the
students.
Been quoted in Express and Starabout same-sex marriage.
Attended the Commons and Lords Rugby Football Club
Annual Dinner with rugby legend, ex-England Captain and
Celebrity Master Chef winner Phil Vickery and local
businessman Scott Murray.
Website of the week:www.wbhelpline.org.ukThe Whistleblowing
helpline free advice for NHS and socialcare workers.
Aidan in Parliament:
Aidan questions PM on supporting NHSstaff who have concerns over
the quality
of care in our hospitals
Wednesday 6th February 2013
Click on the image above to watch Aidans question to the
PrimeMinister.
The full text of the exchange was as follows:Mr Aidan Burley
(Cannock Chase) (Con): Many of my constituentsdied unnecessarily at
Stafford hospital between 2005 and 2009. GivenMonitors continuing
review of the future of Mid Staffordshiresfoundation trust, I
remain astonished that it was given foundation truststatus in 2009,
when all these problems were going on.Does the Prime Minister agree
that the biggest lesson that can belearned is that when front-line
professionals who love and care aboutthe NHS are genuinely
concerned about standards of care, we shouldhave a system that
allows them to speak out without fear of exposureor
victimisation?
The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to speak
upfor the victims from Cannock and their families, whom he
representsproperly in the House. He is right to say that we must
listen to thevoices of victims and patients, and he is also right
to talk about thereform of regulatory bodies, although, as I said
earlier, we should becareful about thinking that just reforming
regulatory bodies will beenough.My hon. Friend specifically
mentioned the importance ofwhistleblowers. It should not be
necessary to rely on whistleblowing todeal with problems of
quality, but sometimes it will be. We have takenmeasures to fund a
helpline to support them, to embed rights in theiremployment
contracts, and to issue new guidance in partnership with
trade unions and employers. So we are taking the issue
ofwhistleblowers seriously.
Aidan in the media:
Aidan speaks to Radio WM regardingStafford Hospital
Click to listen to Aidan Burley MP discuss Stafford Hospitalon
BBC Radio WM.
Aidan Burley MP statement on the
Francis Report into the failings atStafford Hospital
Chase MP Aidan Burley has
released the following statement inresponse to publication of
theFrancis Report into the failings atStafford Hospital.
Aidan said: I would like to thankRobert Francis QC and his
teamfor this well-researched and wide-
ranging report into why regulators and senior NHS managers
failed topick up what was happening at Stafford Hospital.My
constituents, some of whom have lost loved ones as a result ofthese
failings, will be shocked but not surprised by todays report. It
isclear that its content and recommendations has implications
thataffect not just Stafford Hospital, but the whole of the NHS and
willneed careful reading and consideration.One particular issue
that I feel needs to be fully addressed is that ofWhistleblowing.
There was clearly a fear-factor among some of thestaff at the
Trust, many of whom knew what was happening and sawbad care but
were simply too afraid to say something for fear ofrepercussions.
And for those who did speak out, their concerns wereoften simply
ignored or covered up by the management.That is why in the future
it is absolutely vital that not only staff but
patients and their families are able to freely speak out and be
listenedto without fear of the consequences.From a local point of
view we now have to look forward. It is clearthat the management of
the hospital as it stands is not viable for thefuture. We therefore
have to move to the new structure as quickly as
possible.Cannock Hospital is not given as much publicity as
Stafford, in partbecause the standard of service provided by our
staff was always somuch better than that seen at Stafford. However,
we also sufferedfrom the poor management of the Trust as they saw
Cannock as aneasy option to sacrifice through cutting services and,
I have no doubt,through eventual closure.That can now change. The
people here fought and raised money tobuild our hospital because of
the special circumstances brought aboutby the area's mining
heritage. It remains as vital today as it was 20years ago. The
people of Cannock Chase are innovative andadaptable. If keeping our
hospital open to provide NHS servicesrequires a new approach, not
seen elsewhere, then we are the peopleto make it work.My message to
those responsible for developing the way forward is'Let's put the
past behind us - and don't make Cannock people suffer
for the failures at Stafford Hospital.
Volunteer Day:
Aidan teaches Indoor Rugby atGorsemoor Primary School
Aidan teaching indoor rugby at Gorsemoor Primary School.
As part of his programme of volunteering around the Cannock
Chaseconstituency, Aidan visited Gorsemoor Primary School last week
where he taught Year 6 pupils how to play indoor rugby.Some pupils
had not played the game before, but it soon becameclear that there
was some great sporting talent on show!
After the PE session Aidan spent time talking to teachers
andHeadmaster, Mr Bennett over a school dinner.
Photos news:Aidan officially opens The Groom Room
Aidan at the official opening of the Groom Roomin Heath
Hayes.
Aidan gets a traditional wet shave at the official openingof the
Groom Room in Heath Hayes.
The Groom Room offers specialist mens beauty treatments,
includinghaircuts, spray tans and beauty treatments. The Groom Room
interiorhas been impressively designed to incorporate a comfortable
waitingarea, relaxing in leather Chesterfield sofas, whilst younger
clients can
take advantage of a Playstation gaming facility.
Aidan welcomes record number of
apprenticeships in Cannock Chase
Aidan has welcomed new statistics that show a record number
ofpeople in Cannock Chase started apprenticeship in 2011/12. The
dataalso has provisional results for the number of apprenticeship
starts inthe first quarter of 2012/13 in August to October 2012,
450 peoplestarted apprenticeships in just three months.In the last
financial year, 1,160 people started an apprenticeship inCannock
Chase an increase of one hundred per cent compared tothe last year
of the Labour Government.Commenting Aidan said: "With the world
around us changing, we willonly succeed in the global race when
everyone is given the chance to
reach their full potential. Conservatives in government
havedramatically increased the number of apprenticeships on
offercompared to the last Labour government."These record levels of
apprenticeships are fantastic news for ourcountry, for Cannock
Chase, and most of all for the people whoselives are being
transformed by the opportunities they offer."
Photos news:
Cannock and Rugeley Lions Club
Burns Night Supper
Aidan at Cannock and Rugeley Lions Club Burns Night Supper,with
Cannock Lions President Doug Smith and Ed Rule.
Statement on Governments officialresponse to the Independent
Panel onForestrys report
Aidan Burley has released the following statement in response to
theGovernment's official response to the Independent Panel
onForestry's report on the future of trees and woodland.
Aidan said: "I welcome today's announcement by the Government
onthe future of England's Public Forest Estate, in which it commits
totake forward many of the Independent Forestry Panel's
recommendations which will help protect, improve and expand
ourforests. This includes a guarantee that our forest and woodland
willremain secured in public ownership."I know that there were
those who thought otherwise, but I wasalways convinced that the
interests of Cannock Chase forest werebest served by engagement
with the Panel. That is why I fought sohard to ensure that local
groups could deal directly with those whowould ultimately influence
the final outcome. It is certainly clear thatthose views have been
listened to and taken on board at the highestlevel."Today's
announcement means that:
All AONB protections will remain in place.
Access rights to our forests will not only be maintained but
the
opportunity exists for them to be improved.
At a time of spending constraints, the Forestry Commission
will
see additional funding, some of which I hope will find its way
to
improving our facilities.
"I also feel it is a positive move to take the Forestry Estate
out of thedirect control of Ministers and instead vest it in a new
public body tohold the Estate in trust for the nation. This will
give greater flexibility
and financial freedoms and help untap the potential of our
forests andgenerate even greater benefits for local people, nature
and theeconomy. Hopefully, in time, this model could develop into
somethinglike the Canal & River Trust, which is doing so much
to rejuvenate ourwaterways as a real asset for everyone to use and
enjoy."I would like to thank those from all sides who came together
to makethis happen. It is now important to ensure that these
promises arefollowed through and I will be keeping a very close
watch to see this isthe case."The full Government response
including its new Forestry PolicyStatement can be found here.
Photos news:
Cardinal Griffin Catholic High School
visit Aidan in Parliament
Aidan with Transport Secretary the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlinMP
and sixth form students from Cardinal Griffin Catholic High
School in Parliament during their recent tour.
Burley welcomes HS2 phase two
announcement
Aidan has welcomed the recent announcement by TransportSecretary
and former Cannock Chase District Councillor PatrickMcloughlin MP
on the phase two HS2 preferred route that will runnorth from
Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester. Construction on theY-shaped
extension could start in the middle of the next decade, withthe
line open by 2032-33. Construction of the initial
London-WestMidlands route is expected to begin around 2017, once
Parliament
has approved the necessary powers.This latest announcement comes
on the back of the recent decisionby the Government to press ahead
with electrification of the ChaseLine in 2015 something that Aidan
had been lobbying for since hisselection as the candidate for
Cannock Chase back in 2008.HS2 phase two will virtually halve
journey times between Birminghamand Manchester - to 41 minutes -
and between London andManchester from two hours and eight minutes
to one hour and eightminutes. As well as providing quicker journey
times, the Chase MPfeels the development of HS2 will also help free
up space on theexisting West Coast Main Line and so allow more
trains to stop at
Rugeley Trent Valley on their way to London.
Aidan is also pleased the Department of Transport has recognised
theimportance of protecting the Chase and the Area of
OutstandingNatural Beauty.Commenting Aidan said: "This latest
announcement on HS2 coupledwith the plans to electrify the Chase
Line is great news for CannockChase. When built it will not only
benefit commuters but also localbusinesses as it will improve still
further our access to clients andmarkets both in the capital and
the North of England. HS2 will alsohelp free up space on the
existing West Coast Main Line, opening up
the possibility to increase the number of trains and connections
atlocal stations, such as Rugeley Trent Valley.He added: "Our job
over the coming decade is to ensure that theopportunities our towns
will have are recognised by those looking toinvest and I look
forward to working with the various authorities, bothlocal and
regional, over the coming years to help realise the potentialthat
this development will bring."
47 Council staff across Cannock Chase
paid less than the living wageFigures obtained by Aidan Burley
have revealed that forty sevenemployees of Labour-run Cannock Chase
District Council arecurrently earning below the recommended Living
Wage of 7.45 anhour.The Voluntary Living Wage Scheme set up in 2005
is part of a jointcampaign by the Living Wage Foundation and
Citizens UK to ensurethat all employees have the opportunity to
provide for themselves andtheir families. The Scheme is backed by
both political and businessfigures, including the Prime Minister,
Mayor of London and the Leaderof the Opposition.
The living wage of 7.45 an hour is higher than the legal
minimumwage of 6.19 for those aged 21 and over and is calculated by
theLiving Wage Foundation to reflect the basic cost of living and
is basedon the principle that work should pay enough to provide for
theessentials of life.Supporters of the Living Wage say that there
are many advantages tothe scheme; not only to the local economy as
people will have moredisposable income to spend but there is also
evidence to suggest thatpaying the living wage has helped increase
employee retention andlower absenteeism. It is estimated that
around 11,500 workers havebenefited from the scheme since it was
set up back in 2005 including
employees of Birmingham City Council who recently become a
livingwage employer.Commenting on the figures Aidan said: "It is
important for employersto provide people in work a fair wage not
least in order to help reducethe need for those on low incomes to
claim additional benefits in orderto top up their incomes."This
Government has already taken action to help those on thelowest
incomes by raising the personal tax allowance to 9,205 in
April this year. In Cannock Chase this means that 1,718 hard
workinglocal people are being taken out of tax altogether with
those on the
minimum wage having their tax bill cut in half""I am determined
to ensure it always pays to work and paying theliving wage is one
mechanism available to employers in order to helpthem do this."
Photos news:
Commons & Lords RFC Annual Dinner
with Phil Vickery
Aidan with rugby legend, ex-England Captain and CelebrityMaster
Chef winner Phil Vickery and local businessman Scott
Murray at the Commons & Lords RFC Annual Dinner.
Aidan in the papers:
Leaders hail vote on same-sex marriagesExpress & Star
Wednesday 6th February 2013Party leaders atWestminster today
hailedthe significance of thebacking for same-sex marriage in
England and Wales in a keyCommons vote. Prime Minister David
Cameron said the vote hadbeen an important step forward.
Labour leader Ed Miliband called it a proud day. MPs voted in
favourof the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175 a
majority of225 but 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill and have continued
to voicetheir concerns. MPs were given a free vote on the
bill.Records showed that of MPs in the West Midlands, 11 supported
thebill and six all of them Tories opposed it.
Among the MPs to vote in favour was Aidan Burley
(Conservative,Cannock Chase). He said he believed in
equality.Marriage is a very conservative institution and one
which
Conservatives in particular ought to want to share with
everyone, MrBurley added.It promotes stability in loving
relationships and gives people morechoice.
Another Conservative MP, Gavin Williamson, voted against the
bill.The MP for South Staffordshire said he believed it was
poorlyconstructed and did not offer protection to churches.Mr
Williamson said: I have a great fear that if this law is passed, in
afew years time religious groups will be brought before the Court
ofHuman Rights, demanding they perform gay marriages. I dont
think
thats right.Emma Reynolds (Labour, Wolverhampton North East),
who supportedthe bill, said: I dont see why we would not extend
that right to samesex couples.But we need to allow religious
denominations and ministers to nothave to marry same-sex
couples.Its already happened in other European countries so it can
happenhere.
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 of
Commons.
5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:
By Phone: 01543 502 447
By email: [email protected]
By post: Aidan Burley MP6 High Green Court,Newhall
StreetCannock, WS11 1GR
In person: Click here for details of how tobook an appointment
at AidanBurley MPs regular help andadvice surgeries.
www.aidanburleymp.org
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News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #55
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