8/3/2019 News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #27

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Subject: NewsBulletinfromAidanBurleyMP#27

Date: Friday,11November201112:52:37UnitedKingdomTime

From: AidanBurleyMP

To: news@aidanburleymp.org

In this edition:

Aidan Burley MPs DiaryWebsite of the Week:The DilshadMPs anger at StaffordA&E night-time closure but vows to fight on forfull re-opening

October 2011 VolunteerDay: Child DevelopmentCentre and 'You Too'Action on socialhousing injusticeAidan welcomes new onlineand telephone servicesPhoto news:Cannocks Brian Jamesstore reopensAidan in Parliament:

Late night court sittingsAidan in the media:Tories Pursue Labouron Union LinksAidan in the papers:Heroes & Villains ofWestminsterAidan in the papers:Just one in five backsstrike: Low turnout, butunion sticks to pensionwalkout

Aidan in the papers:Week in WestminsterAidan in the papers:Week in WestminsterHow to contactAidan Burley MP

Issue 27 Friday 11th November 2011

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Pressed Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust to put on hold anydecision to temporarily close Stafford Accident andEmergency Department.

Conducted his October 2011 Volunteer Day with the ChildDevelopment Centre and You Too group.

Been named Westminster Hero of the Week by The Sun

newspaper.

Met with Cannock Chase Police Officers and PoliceFederation Representatives for over two hours to discussreforms to police pay and conditions.

Questioned the Minister of State for Housing on socialhousing injustice.

Written to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards,calling for an investigation into a potential breach ofParliamentary rules. This follows a Labour frontbenchersfailure to declare properly a donation from the GMB tradeunion when tabling an amendment to the Legal Aid Bill.

Formally opened the new Brian James furniture store in

Cannock.

Been cited in the Daily Mail calling for called for lawsrequiring unions to gain majority support before pressingahead with strikes.

Questioned the Secretary of State for Justice on late nightcourt sittings.

Been quoted in the Staffordshire Newsletter regardingStafford Accident & Emergency Department.

Joined social networking site Twitter. You can now followAidan on Twitter at @AidanBurleyMP.

Website of the Week:

www.thedilshad.co.uk

Calling all curry lovers, if youre looking for a pleasant eveningand delicious food visit The Dilshad, in Cannock Road,

Chadsmoor. The Dilshad has a long and successful historyproviding Staffordshire customers with some of the best Indian

cuisine. Their menu is very extensive and offers customers avariety of choice. The Dilshad is now proud to present the

"UK's hottest curry", tried and tested by experts from The Sun,Daily Star and Express & Star.

FREE BOTTLE OF WINE ON TABLES OF 4 OR MORE(Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer).

MPs anger at Stafford A&E night-timeclosure but vows to fight on for fullre-openingThis week Aidan Burley MP strongly urged Mid Staffordshire NHSTrust to put on hold any decision to temporarily close StaffordAccident and Emergency Department.

Ahead of the Trust Board meeting on 10 th November 2011, Aidancalled on Trust Chief Executive Ms Hill-Tout to postpone the meetingand instead asked that the Trust continue to work together with theDepartment for Health and other relevant bodies to find an alternativesolution to closure.In an open letter to Trust ChiefExecutive Lyn Hill-Tout (click on imageto right for full text), Aidan said thatwhilst he acknowledges the staffingproblems at the Hospital, any closurewould have a devastating impact onlocal people in Cannock Chase.Aidan said: The safety of local peoplein Cannock Chase is paramount in myrole as their MP and it is my job toensure that nothing is done to put theirsafety at risk. Whilst I accept thestaffing problems the Trust have

encountered, my constituents inCannock Chase have already seen theremoval of services from CannockHospital in recent years. I believe thatclosing the Accident and Emergency Department at Stafford Hospital,even for a temporary period, is a step too far.A closure would mean that some of my constituents would have tomake a 20 mile and 45 minute journey in order to find emergencyhealthcare. Therefore, we owe it to the local community to find aresolution to this problem without closing such a vital service, one thatis literally a matter of life or death for my constituents.

Unfortunately, at their Trust Board meeting on 10th November, theTrust did decide to close the A&E department between the hours of10pm and 6am to deal with staffing shortages.

Immediately after the Mid Staffordshire Trust Board Meeting of 10thNovember, Aidan said: I am naturally very disappointed at todaysdecision by Mid Staffordshire Trust to close Stafford A&E between10pm and 8am. I am also surprised that such an important decisionwas taken so rapidly at the meeting, in the face of overwhelmingopposition, especially when the Chief Executive had been on the radioonly this morning saying that no final decision had been taken. Ibelieve this is wrong decision and will have a detrimental impact on

many of my constituents.Next week I intend to follow up my previous letter to the Trust byseeking further explanation of the decision and reassurance of theirfuture intentions.It is in everybodys interest that the A&E department is re-opened assoon as possible.

October 2011 Volunteer Day:

Child Development Centreand 'You Too'

Aidan with staff and parents at the Child Development Centre.

For his October 2011 Volunteer Day, Aidan joined staff and parents at

the Child Development Centre and helped with one of their supportgroups called 'You Too'.This is a group for parents that have children with additional needsand was originally set up in partnership with the Child DevelopmentCentre (CDC). Children attend the centre to be mentally andphysically assessed for their specific needs. This is a two weekprocess and at the end the family will be given a diagnosis/workingdiagnosis. This is an extremely emotive time for the whole family andto help support parents through this difficult period they are invited tocome along to the 'You Too' group where they can share experienceswith other parents that are going through the same experiences, aswell as obtaining advice and support from experienced professionals.

The parents group also invites visitors from other specialist servicessuch as CAB, Parent Partnership Services and Social Workers forChildren with Disabilities to name a few.Whilst there, Aidan welcomed parents into the group with a cup ofcoffee and listened as they shared their weekly experiences. To hearsome of the experiences that parents go through on a daily basis,Aidan really appreciated the need for support groups like this.After the group, the MP joined the crche next door where he helpedsupervise the children who took part in crafts and other activities.Knowing that the children were in a safe and secure environmentmeant that parents could openly discuss sometimes sensitive issuesand gain support and advice from professionals.The 'You Too' group play a very important role in a family's life at avery sensitive and difficult time. Aidan felt privileged to have beeninvited to spend time with such dedicated families and staff. The hardwork and commitment of the staff at the Children's DevelopmentCentre really does make a difference.

Action on social housing injustice

Click on the image above to watch Aidan's ParliamentaryQuestion to the Minister of State for Housing. Aidan's question

begins 8 minutes and 5 seconds into the video.

Aidan has demanded the Government speed up its efforts to addressan anomaly in the housing system which allows six figure earners tolive in subsidised council housing.

Aidans call came during Local Government Question time in the

House of Commons on Monday 31st October 2011.Commenting after the exchange Aidan said: Local people will begobsmacked to learn that at a time where in Cannock Chase alonethere are over 2300 people listed on the Housing register with 164 ofthese marked as statutory homeless, these high earners continue totake up valuable subsidised social housing which should be used forthe most vulnerable people in our society. It is only right that if these

people wish to continue living in these homes they are made to payfull market rate.

The Government have estimated that there are around 6000 people inBritain today still living in council houses paying subsidised rentdespite earning more than 100,000 a year - more than four times theaverage salary of local people in Cannock Chase.The Pay to Stay scheme now under consultation will force thosehigh earners in social housing to either leave or pay full market ratefor the properties.In his response to the Cannock MP, Housing Minister Grant Shappsalso made clear that every penny of the money raised from thisscheme, estimated to be tens of millions of pounds, will go toward

building more affordable housing.Aidan added: Whist I accept that this alone will not solve our housingcrisis, it is only right that Government acts to deal with this small butsignificant social injustice."

The full text of Aidan's exchange with the Minister was asfollows:Mr Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) (Con): What estimate he hasmade of the number of social housing units occupied by peopleearning over 100,000 per annum.

The Minister for Housing and Local Government (Grant Shapps):We estimate that there are about 6,000 households in social housingwhere the person named on the tenancy agreement and their partnerhave a combined income over 100,000 a yearsomething we intendto tackle through the pay to stay scheme, whereby those on six-figureincomes who wish to stay in their properties can pay to stay there.Mr Burley: The 2,345 people currently on the housing waiting list inCannock Chase will be gobsmacked to learn that an estimated 6,000people still living in council houses are paying a subsidised rentdespite earning more than 100,000 a yearfour times the averagesalary of my constituents. With so many people in need of housinglanguishing on waiting lists, what assurances can the Minister give meand my constituents that those people who earn more than him will beforced to pay their way like the rest of us?Grant Shapps: My hon. Friend points out a real problem with thehousing systemthat it is possible to earn a six-figure salary, sit onthe Labour Benches and still occupy a home built for some of themost vulnerable people in society, who deserve those homes. We willallow the pay to stay scheme to go ahead, meaning that people canstay in their homes and pay the market rent so that we can use all themoney to build more affordable homes for people who really needthem.

Aidan welcomes new online andtelephone servicesAidan has welcomed an 11 million Government investment in newonline and telephone services which will help to support parents andfamilies in Cannock Chase.The Government is providing funding to eleven voluntary andcommunity organisations, including Young Minds and Gingerbread, to

deliver a range of support including relationship advice, advice oneducational issues and services tailored specifically for fathers.Commenting Aidan said: "Every parent across the country can benefitfrom these services and I welcome the Government's decision to trustorganisations with a proven track record in supporting families todeliver them."Online and telephone support will give families in Cannock Chase thehelp they need, when they need it, without interfering in family life."The Voluntary and Community Organisations benefitting from the

funding are: Coram Children's Legal Centre provides advice on all aspects

of family law and on some education issues such asexclusions.

Contact A Family advises the parents of disabled childrenand those with special educational needs.

Family Lives offers advice to parents on virtually any issue,both online and through its telephone helpline.

Family Matters Institute operates the DadTalk online adviceand support service specifically for dads.

Family Rights Group provides advice to the parents ofchildren on the edge of the social care system.

Gingerbread provides information and advice to single

parents on a wide range of issues, including benefits, bothonline and through a telephone helpline.

Netmums is a well-known social networking site that employsspecialists such as health visitors in its forums to offergeneral and one-to-one advice.

One Plus One operates the Couple Connection and theParent Connection webservices to help parents work throughtheir relationship issues together.

Relate offers one-to-one online counselling for parents withspecialist therapeutic counsellors.

Single Parents Action Network supports single parents onlinethrough specific issues for single parents, including gettingback to work.

Young Minds provides advice and counselling to the parentsof children with mental health or behaviour problems.

Photo news:Cannocks Brian James store reopens

Aidan at the reopening of the newly refurbished Brian James,Cannock with Brian James, Rakesh Chall and staff of the store.

Aidan Burley MP was delighted to perform the formal grand openingof a Cannock furniture store that has been reopened seven monthsafter apparently shutting down for good.

The old Brian James store shut in March after 35 years in the townand the premises have been bought by Perry Barr-based NCF whohave reopened it with new beds, bedroom furniture, carpets andflooring departments created in a 1 million refit.

Aidan in Parliament:Late night court sittings

Tuesday 8th November 2011

Click the above image to watch Aidan's question to theSecretary of State for Justice - which begins at 49 minutes

and 52 seconds into the video.

The full text of Aidans exchange with theSecretary of State was as follows:Mr Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) (Con): After the riots in thesummer, courts such as Cannock magistrates court in myconstituency sat late and ensured that the surge in work was dealtwith smoothly and efficiently. These late-night sittings have beenwidely regarded as a huge success, not least by those magistrateswho have full-time jobs that require them to work during office hours.What plans does the Secretary of States Department have to roll outthese evening court sittings on a permanent basis?Mr Kenneth Clarke: The work done after the riots is a tribute to thepublic spiritedness of all who sat on the benchall the court staff,probation staff, police and duty defence solicitors. There was a

widespread feeling that people should do their bit to restore order, andI am glad to say that the courts rose to the challenge. Normally, on anordinary day, we do not have a shortage of court space, so there is nogeneral need to have night or evening sittings. We can certainlyimprove the efficiency with which the more straightforward cases aredealt with. They can be brought on at an ordinary hour more quicklythan they sometimes are now. We are working on that. It was a tributeto the court service and everybody who works in it that they all workedas well as they did.

Aidan in the media:Tories Pursue Labour On Union LinksSophie Ridge, Sky News Blog

Wednesday 9th November 2011

The Conservatives are training theirguns on Labour's relationship with thetrade unions - and the MP Kate Greenis in their sights.I have learned that the Tory backbencher Aidan Burley has written tothe Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards asking him toinvestigate a potential breach of the Code of Conduct.Kate Green recently tabled an amendment to the Legal Aid Bill,relating to changes to the pension scheme.But Mr Burley believes she should have declared a financial interestrelating to the GMB union - who could benefit from the amendment.Ms Green received a 5000 donation in kind from the GMB unionduring her election campaign.

Mr Burley wrote: "I wish to bring to your attention, and ask you toinvestigate, a possible failure by a Member of Parliament to declareproperly a relevant financial interest when tabling an amendment to aBill."He added: "Kate Green MP failed to provide the required declarationof her interest regarding the GMB trade union."This appears to be a breach of the code."The letter is part of a long-running battle over Labour's relationshipwith the trade unions.

Earlier this week the Conservatives claimed Labour MPs have been"checking" with the GMB union before voting on amendments to theLegal Aid Bill regarding a public sector pension scheme. The unionhas provided almost 1 in every 5 of Labour's donations since EdMiliband became Labour leader.Mr Burley told me: "I believe this whole issue has been swept underthe carpet during the past 13 years, a period during which the Labourparty was funded to the tune of 10 million per year by their unionpaymasters."I am also today calling on Labour to come clean on all other votes

they have sought trade union views on."

Aidan in the papers:Heroes & Villains of WestminsterThe Sun

Friday 28th October 2011

HEROES: AIDAN BURLEYTory backbencher Aidan Burley spoke for millions of taxpayers thisweek when he demanded to know why full-time trade union officialsare being paid out of the public purse. An estimated 68 million a yearis given to teachers, nurses and police officers who only carry outunion business. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has vowed toend the practice. But just in case the Government was wavering, MrBurley delivered a bravura performance in the Commons pointing out

the absurdity of the arrangement - which Labour allowed to developwhen they were in power. Mr Burley told the Commons: "In simpleterms, the taxpayer is directly funding those organising strikes andchaos, and also indirectly funding the Labour Party, and I think that iswrong." Hear hear.

Aidan in the papers:Just one in five backs strike:Low turnout, but union sticks

to pension walkoutJason Groves & Becky Barrow, Daily Mail

Thursday 3rd November 2011

Britain's biggest public sector union lastnight vowed to press ahead with awave of damaging strikes over pensionreform despite the support of barely one-fifth of its members.Unison claimed the ballot showed its 1.4million members fromschool dinner ladies and bin men to social workers and NHS staff were deeply concerned about plans to reform their gold-platedpensions, despite a string of Government concessions made thisweek.Just 22 per cent of members balloted had voted for industrial actionafter a turnout of less than 30 per cent, critics pointed out.Downing Street last night said the strike was potentially damaging tothe economy and vital health services.A string of other unions are due to announce the results of their strikeballots in the coming weeks.

General-secretary Dave Prentis described the call as decisive, andsaid Unison would prepare for a wave of strikes, from November 30,which, when co-ordinated by militants, could see up to four millionpublic sector workers down tools.Ministers and Tory MPs last night condemned its decision to pressahead with action backed by a derisory proportion of members.Unison balloted 1.4million members affected by pension reforms. Ofthese, just over 315,000 bothered to vote just under 29 per cent.The strike was backed by 245,358 votes to 70,253.

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said ministers had offered agenerous settlement which is beyond the dreams of most privateemployees.He added: Todays ballot shows there is extremely limited support forthe kind of strike action their union leaders want.Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation, said thestrike would cause delays in treatment and distress to patients.Tory MP Aidan Burley last night called for laws requiring unions togain majority support before pressing ahead with strikes an idea

backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson.Public sector workers were offered concessions which experts warnwill cost the taxpayer more than 50billion.Government sources insist the deal will still halve the 32billion-a-yearcost to the taxpayer of funding public sector pensions.Simon Walker, director-general of the Institute of Directors, called forthe deal to be taken off the table if union leaders press ahead withstrikes.He said: It looks as though this bribe has failed. The unions have the

Government over a barrel. Once you start offering concessions, whendo you stop?

Aidan in the papers:Week in WestminsterAidan Burley MP, Chase Post

Thursday 10th November 2011

Over the last week I have receiveda number of emails fromconstituents expressing theiranxiety about the ongoing situationat Stafford Hospital A & E Department.At the time of writing, Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust Board is due

to meet on 10th November to make a decision on whether to authorisea temporary overnight closure (10pm to 8am) of the Accident andEmergency Department in order to deal with staffing shortages.It is fair to say that the people of Cannock Chase deserve better

healthcare than they have received over recent years. I am pleased tosee that there have been big improvements at the Trust in the pastyear with one measure making it the best performing Trust in theWest Midlands.Whilst I accept the staffing problems the Trust have encountered,people here in Cannock Chase have already seen the removal ofservices from Cannock Hospital in recent years. I believe that closingthe Accident and Emergency Department at Stafford Hospital, evenfor a temporary period, is a step too far and have made clear in anopen letter to the Trust that they should delay any decision andinstead continue to work together with the Department of Health andother relevant bodies to find an alternative solution.

The safety of local people in Cannock Chase is paramount in my roleas your MP and it is my job to ensure that nothing is done to put yoursafety at risk. However, a closure would mean that some of you wouldhave to make a 20 mile and 45 minute journey in order to findemergency healthcare. Ambulance services would be affected in thesame way, more than doubling the time they take to get a person tohospital. A closure, I believe, would only serve to further damage thereputation at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust at a time when itshould be doing all it can to rebuild trust with the local community.We owe it to the local community to find a resolution to this problem

without closing such a vital service, one that is literally a matter of lifeor death for my constituents.

Aidan in the papers:Week in WestminsterAidan Burley MP, Chase Post

Thursday 3rd November 2011

Social housing is one of the mainissues that local people come tomy Help Zone and surgeries to talkto me about.We all know that there is a chronic shortage of affordable housing inboth Cannock Chase and the country as a whole.One of the reasons for this is because too few houses have been builtunder governments of all colours, over a number of decades.But there are a number of other reasons the social housing system isclogged up.

This week I got the opportunity to question the Housing Ministerdirectly about one of these problems.I find it scandalous that there are currently an estimated 6000 peoplein the UK living in council houses and paying subsidised rent, despiteearning more than 100,000 a year. That's more than four times theaverage salary of local people here in Cannock Chase.This strikes me as deeply unfair especially at a time where inCannock Chase alone last week there were over 2,300 people listedon the Housing register, with 164 of these marked in Band 1 or 1 Plus- which is defined as those people who are either homeless or in themost serious housing need.In response to my question the Housing Minister said he would takeaction to address this anomaly. In future he would ensure that peopleliving in subsidised houses with a household income of more than100,000 are either asked to leave or made to pay full market rate fortheir properties.More importantly, I was pleased that the Minster made clear in hisresponse that every penny of the money raised by this "Pay to Stay"scheme will go toward building more affordable housing for the mostvulnerable people in our society.

Whist I accept that this alone will not solve our housing crisis, it is onlyright that our Government acts to deal with this small, but significantsocial injustice.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447

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

By post: Aidan Burley MP

6 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

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soon

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Aidan Burley MP Putting Cannock Chase First!

Published & Promoted by Aidan Burley MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA