In this edition: Aidan Burley MP’s Diary Website of the week:D.A.D's Burley backs PoppyAppeal’s call for volunteers Aidan in the papers:It’s big business asceremony recognises thebest in district Rugeley supermarket givescommunity £1,000 helpinghand Photo news:Supporting a referendumfor Britain Burley supports towncentre location for RugeleyMonument MP calls for fairer fundingfor schools in Staffordshire Photo news:National Citizen ServiceAmbassador Aidan welcomes plans tocap pension charges Flu jab reminder How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 74 – Friday 8th November 2013 Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Chaired the fifth Chase Line Stakeholder Meeting to discussthe main issues affecting the Chase Line rail service. Amongissues discussed included updates on electrification, the linespeed upgrade and Local Authority support for Incrementalservices.Supported the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal inCannock Chase by backing their call for volunteers and givingup his own time to go along and support the sellers inHednesford Tesco.Visited the Chase Day Service to see first hand the servicesprovided to users and speak to staff about the ongoingconsultation by Staffordshire County Council about the waythese services will be provided in future. You can take part inthe consultation, which runs until 15 November 2013, bycompleting the form here.Presented a charity cheque from Rugeley Tesco to twoimportant local charities - Trudy’s Trust, of which Aidan is apatron, and the Children’s Air Ambulance. The charitiesreceived £500 each.Attended and spoke at the second annual Cannock ChaseBusiness Awards evening.Backed James Wharton MP’s Bill for an in/out referendum onBritain’s membership of the EU by appearing with a giantballot box in Westminster.Met with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador andCannock Chase resident Oliver Walker at the NCS reception inParliament. Attended the first ‘gala dinner’ of the DADS group (Dads andDisabilities Support) at the Fifty2 restaurant in Chadsmoor.Aidan had the chance to talk to parents whose children havebehavioural and other problems, and to better understand theissues they face, while enjoying a curry. Questioned the Secretary of State for Health on what stepshe is taking to raise awareness of stillbirth and neonatal death;what steps he is taking to reduce the number of stillbirths; andwhat investment his Department plans in research onprevention of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. You can view theMinister’s response here.

Website of the week:www.dadssupported.org D.A.D's is a group of parents who have children with disabilities andchallenging behaviours. We want to bring together families whousually feel isolated. We want our children to make friends, and feelsupported and not judged, we want our families to feel comfortableand supported and also not judged. Our Aim is to sign post families,and support them through difficult and challenging times when lookingfor equipment or information. We want to be informative andsupportive and give the parents and children a place to feel safe andsupported, and to raise awareness of all disabilities.

Burley backs Poppy Appeal’s call forvolunteers

Aidan with local volunteer collectors support Derek Ellison, the

Hednesford Poppy Organiser, at the new Hednesford Tesco. The Royal British Legion is looking for enthusiastic, hard-workingvolunteers for this year's Poppy Appeal, and is asking people inCannock, Hednesford and Rugeley to get in touch. The charity is looking for people to become Poppy Appeal collectors inSupermarkets. Aidan joined local volunteer collectors to support DerekEllison, the Hednesford Poppy Organiser, at the new HednesfordTesco on Saturday, to do his bit to support this valuable cause. Aidan said, "Volunteers are a vital part of the Poppy Appeal and Iwould encourage anyone who has a few hours to spare to get in touchand volunteer. I felt an enormous sense of pride supporting the PoppyAppeal in Tesco, in recognition of those who have given their lives inService, and those serving in the Armed Forces who keep the rest ofus safe. "I am sure everyone who makes a donation - however small - knowsthat it is going to fund the vital work of the British Legion. I hopeeveryone will give generously, and wear their poppy with pride." Derek Ellison added: "This vital fundraising role is not only a great wayof supporting the Armed Forces past present, and their families, it'salso an opportunity to boost personal and professional skills. We reallyappreciate the support of the public, even in these hard times." The Legion would particularly like to engage young volunteers to comeforward, to make a new generation aware that the Poppy Appealsupports serving and ex-Service people from recent conflicts. Thecharity has already worked with the local Cadet Forces, however withthe increased support of the local Supermarkets, they are looking forcollectors for every day of the week between now and Remembranceday. Anyone interested in volunteering to support the Poppy Appeal andThe Royal British Legion, please contact, Alison Bates, Royal BritishLegion Community Fundraiser, on 01889 575496 or emailabates@britishlegion.org.uk or mobile 07920 806092.

Aidan in the papers:It’s big business as ceremony recognisesthe best in district Cannock ChronicleThursday 31st October 2013

Aidan Burley MP and Steve Mallows with representatives from

winning businesses: Addfield (top left), The Engraving Company(top right), Terrazza (middle left), Mailcoms (middle right), JP

Enterprises (bottom left) and Kazoo (bottom right). Businesses across Cannock Chase were given a huge pat on the backat a prestigious awards ceremony. Some 140 representatives from firms across the district were inattendance at the Premier Suite in High Green for the second CannockChase Business awards. The awards, held for the first time in 2012, are organised bythebestofcannock with the help of Chase MP Aidan Burley and seek torecognise the best of what Cannock Chase has to offer. Awards were up for grabs in 11 categories, with a panel of respectedjudges from key organisations having decided on the winners. Aspecial charity award was also given out. Awards were sponsored byFinning Cat, APC Overnight, Mailcoms, thebestofcannock, ThePremier Suite and PRM Green Technologies, while guests alsoenjoyed a buffet supplied by 2012 winners Jessica’s Fresh Foods. Among the awards up for grabs were for Excellence Displayed by aNew Business, which was awarded to the Groom Room ahead of SoulCare Aesthetics and Milking Brook Furniture. Judges had the tough task of choosing a winner from each of thenominated businesses, with stiff competition among all entrants. In the Excellent Eatery category, the Terrazza in Rugeley walked offwith the title ahead of Spice Bazaar, while Addfield EnvironmentalSystems took the Excellence in Manufacturing prize. Mercian Labelswere highly commended. The Excellence in Retail Award went to the Engraving Company.Connect Midlands beat the Drive Cleaners Ltd to the ExcellentTradesperson award. The Cannock & District Foodbank was the winner of the ExcellenceShown by a Cannock Chase Charity award with the Hibbs Lupus Trustrunner-up. For the Excellence in Expansion/Diversification award, Mailcoms andJP Enterprises could not be separated and took joint prize ahead ofthe highly-commended Kazoo. Printing firm Kazoo were not to bedisappointed, however, as they took the prize for Excellence in the useof Digital and Social Media award with Tamba and Cannock Ink TattooStudio in behind. Bluebird Care (Mid Staffs), which provides care and support to peoplein the community, allowing them to remain living in their own home,pipped Poppy’s Beauty Salon to the Excellence in Customer Careaward. Briggs Equipment UK scored highest in the Excellent to Work Foraward, ahead of the Marketing Room and were highly commendedalong with Florida Sun, on the Excellence in Contributing to theCommunity award, won by EDS Couriers. Organiser Steve Mallows, ofthebestofcannock, said: “The awards are there to acknowledge theexcellent businesses we have in the Cannock Chase area, of whichthere are many.” MP Mr Burley said 900 new companies had started up across hisconstituency in the past year and the reason behind the awards was tocelebrate the success of businesses across the Chase. He said: “Businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, without whichour towns and communities could not flourish. “Tonight is about celebrating what local businesses do for all of us:creating jobs, bringing life back to high streets, and acting as centresof the local community.”

Aidan Burley MP and Steve Mallows with representatives from

winning businesses: EDS (top left), Food Bank (top right), BriggsEquipment (middle left), Connect Midland (middle right), Bluebird

Care (bottom left) and The Groom Room (bottom right).

Rugeley supermarket gives community£1,000 helping hand

Aidan presents two charity cheques from Rugeley Tesco’s to

charities Trudy’s Trust and the Children’s Air Ambulance. Two lucky organisations have been selected by staff at Tesco Rugeleyto each receive a £500 donation. Local residents and shoppers at the store, on Power Station Road,were asked to nominate their favourite groups for the competition,called Tesco Helping Hand, to give them a chance of receiving themoney. Store staff sifted through the nominations made by the Rugeleycommunity, eventually deciding on the Children’s Air Ambulance andTrudy’s Trust. Store manager Ruth Brown said: “We ran the competition as wewanted to give our customers and local residents the opportunity todecide how and who we should support in the local community. Weare delighted to be able to support these charities which werenominated by many of our customers.” Aidan Burley MP attended the presentation at the Tesco store to joinRuth in presenting the local charities with their donations. Aidan Burley MP said: “It was fantastic to be able to join staff fromTesco’s in Rugeley to present two fantastic charities with £500cheques. I would like to thank everyone at Rugeley Tesco for theirgenerosity and supporting our local charities.” The Children’s Air Ambulance is a national charity that operates a non-emergency air ambulance to transport and transfer children betweenhospitals in the UK. The charity launched a shop in Rugeley last year,which is greatly supported by the local community. Trudy’s Trust raise funds to donate to Brain Tumour Research andoffer families support during the illness and bereavement. The Trustaim to provide further support lines and family support days/weekendswhere they can get expert advice, talk to others who understand andwhere children who have lost a sibling or parent can get the help theyneed. Barrie Watts said: “We would like to thank Tesco for this generousdonation and the customers who nominated us in store. The donationwill go towards further Brain Tumour Research and offering support tosufferers and their families.”

Photo news:Supporting a referendum for Britain

Aidan with James Wharton MP, backing his Bill for an in/outreferendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Burley supports town centre location forRugeley Monument Rugeley MP Aidan Burley has offered his support to help find analternative site for the proposed miners’ monument in the town centreto replace the current proposed Globe Island site, which has beendescribed as potentially dangerous. His offer comes after concerns were expressed about the DistrictCouncil’s original plans to locate the memorial statues on the GlobeIsland in Rugeley. Particular issues were raised about the likelihood ofthe statues impeding the vision of drivers going round the roundabout,and the need for anyone who wished to inspect the statues to have towalk into the middle of a very busy road. Aidan has instead called on the Council to look at locating the statueswithin the pedestrian area of Rugeley Town Centre, similar to that ofthe Hednesford Davy Lamp miners memorial, which he feels would notonly be safer but also more accessible to local people. Commenting Aidan said: “I am proud of the heritage of this area andunderstand the desire for it to be marked as we move forward into avery different and, I feel, exciting future. However, I do share the viewof many people who view the traffic roundabout as a highlyundesirable place for the monument, which I am told could consist offour separate statues. “The safety of drivers and pedestrians must be paramount. Driversmust have an adequate view of all four exits, and the pedestriancrossings on three of them, when they approach this roundabout. I amalso sure that local people will want to get close, and even touch, thestatues. If the council is prepared to see this erected in a safer place, Iwill certainly do everything I can to help them find a location in a morecentral location in the town.” Staffordshire County Council has recently required that all work onerecting the monument be put on hold while the safety issues at theGlobe Island site are properly investigated.

MP calls for fairer funding for schools inStaffordshire Aidan has joined over fiftyConservative colleagues in writingto the Secretary of State forEducation to back his plans for anew national funding formula andcall for a fairer deal on schoolfunding to start as soon aspossible. The MPs, all representing under-funded areas which receive low per pupil funding have come togetherto welcome Government plans for a new national funding formula andindications that a consultation will be launched before the end of theyear. They have urged the Secretary of State to ensure that thetimeline for moving over to it is not too long to make a real difference inlocal schools. The amount that each school receives has been determined by aformula that has changed under successive Governments but is nowcomplex, un-transparent and in need of reform. In Staffordshire the average overall spending per pupil is £5,129compared to the nearby Walsall local authority which gets £564 moreper pupil. Staffordshire is ranked 140 out of 151 education authoritiesin England. The f40 group is a cross party campaign on behalf of the lowestfunded Education Authorities which has been campaigning for a fairerdeal since the 1990s. The MPs signed the letter after a meetingbetween f40 and the Department of Education in which it wassuggested that a consultation on the new national formula could belaunched by the end of this year and the first steps in implementing itcould take place before the 2015 General Election. Commenting on the letter Aidan said: "I am passionate about securingfairer funding for local schools. It simply isn't possible to justify thatschools in Staffordshire get so much less per pupil funding than nearneighbours and the problem got worse over 13 years of a LabourGovernment. The Education Secretary has been right to make a newformula a priority and I welcome the fact that he has alreadycommitted hard won resources from the spending review to deliver thenew system. I look forward to local schools being able to feed into theconsultation later this year. "The Coalition Government is right to set out a new national fundingformula that will deliver fairer funding for all schools and I will keeppressing with my colleagues to get this delivered as soon as possible.Labour let this problem grow and I am proud that a ConservativeEducation Secretary is setting out to fix it. Local schools here inCannock Chase do a magnificent job with the funding that they alreadyreceive, but I want to make sure they get a fair share of funding so thatthey can do even better in future."

Photo news:National Citizen Service Ambassador

Aidan with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador and

Cannock resident Oliver Walker at the NCS reception inParliament.

Aidan met with National Citizen Service (NCS) ambassador andCannock resident Oliver Walker recently at a NCS reception inParliament. Aidan had previously met Oliver back in September at StaffordshireUniversity Stoke Campus where he was attending a citizenship courserun by Pertemps People Development Group as part of a NCSresidential course programme. Aidan said, “NCS is a truly excellent scheme and would encourage allyoung people to get involved.” More information can be found at www.ncsyes.co.uk.

Aidan welcomes plans to cap pensioncharges Conservatives yesterdayannounced radical reforms topension charges designed to helppeople who have worked hard anddone the right thing by saving fortheir retirement. Conservative MP and FinancialSecretary to the Treasury SajidJavid MP announced that theGovernment will:

· Introduce a cap on pension charges to save hardworking peoplethousands of pounds.

· Make sure employers and savers are better-informed about thepensions available, so they can make the choice that is bestfor them.

The Government will now consult on the best way of reducing thesecharges. Commenting Aidan said: "This is great news for hardworking people inCannock Chase who are doing the right thing and saving forretirement. It will help ensure they get the value for money from theirpension that they deserve."

Flu jab reminder With winter approaching, Aidan isencouraging all those eligible to gettheir free flu vaccination. Flu vaccinations are available freeof charge to many at risk groupsincluding over 65s, all pregnantwomen and those with a seriousmedical condition. In addition, for the first time this year the Government is also offeringflu immunisation in the form of a nasal spray to all two and three yearolds. This marks the first stage of a planned expansion of fluimmunisation to all children from age two to 16 inclusive. The finalprogramme will substantially reduce the spread of the influenza virus,possibly reducing hospitalisations by up to 40%, therefore protectinghealthy and at-risk people in all age groups. Commenting Aidan said: "With winter round the corner thatunfortunately means flu season is fast approaching. Flu representsone of the greatest threats to public health, and immunisation remainsthe best way to protect against the potential serious harm it can cause.I would therefore encourage all local people who are eligible, andthose parents of two and three year olds to contact their GP or practicenurse now and sort out their vaccination." More information about the Flu Vaccine can be found here.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.ukBy 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 MP’s regular help andadvice surgeries.

www.aidanburleymp.org

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soon… Please 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.

Aidan Burley MP – Working for you, all year round.

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Aidan Burley MP <news@aidanburleymp.org>To: <news@aidanburleymp.org>Reply-To: <news@aidanburleymp.org>News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #74

8 November 2013 12:46

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