RECENT
EVENTS
PRESS
RELEASE 18 July 2008
Murrison
- new figures expose Government failure on knife crime
Action
needed to tackle worrying rise of young people carrying and using
knives
Andrew
Murrison MP has today expressed deep concern and surprise at the
level of knife crime in Wiltshire revealed by new local knife crime
statistics published by the Government. He called for action to
tackle the growing menace.
The
official figures published by the Home Office show that across Wiltshire
there were 140 serious offences last year involving knives. 25%
of all wounding, grevious bodily harm or robberies were committed
with a knife in the Wiltshire constabulary area. Nationally, the
figure is 19% and in the south-west it is 17%.
Conservatives
are calling for a series of urgent measures to reduce knife crime,
which include:
- Anyone
convicted of an offence whilst carrying a knife should expect
to receive a custodial sentence. Currently, the Government is
planning to allow offenders carrying a knife to be let off with
a fine in some circumstances.
- Making
it easier for police officers to stop suspects and search them
for knifes and other weapons, and increasing use of mobile knife
scanners on the streets and on public transport (as already
being successful trialled in London by Boris Johnson).
- Providing
more custodial places for young offenders, and increasing support
for drugs and education programmes, and tackling the causes
of knife crime such as family breakdown, lack of school discipline
and welfare dependency.
Andrew
Murrison commented:
"I
was surprised at the level of knife crime in Wiltshire which is
not known as a violent place. These new figures paint a grim picture
of the government's failure to tackle crime and the causes of crime.
"Our
police have been tied up in so much red tape that they can only
spend 14 per cent of their time on fighting crime. At the same time
our unprotected borders have allowed too many weapons and hard drugs
to be flow into the country. Labour has also failed to address family
breakdown which sets too many young people on a path of crime.
"Conservatives
would start tackling this crime crisis by freeing our police from
red tape and targets so they can be deployed on our streets to catch
and deter criminals. We need stronger deterrent sentences and the
expectation of prison for those convicted of knife crime. And we
will address the fundamental causes of crime like drugs and family
breakdown."
PRESS
RELEASE 11 July 2008
MP
at 20th anniversary in Mere
Andrew
Murrison will attend the 20 th anniversary of the Mere district
day centre for elderly people at the Rosemary Goddard centre, Lynch
Close Mere at 2pm on Saturday 12 July. He will meet diners and trustees
and say a few words.
PRESS
RELEASE 3 July 2008
MP
meets postmasters
Andrew Murrison
will tomorrow (Friday) attend a demonstration by postmasters from
Bradford on Avon, Westwood, Hilperton and Rode at the post office
Trowbridge Road Bradford on Avon at 10am.
He will hear their concerns about the post office card account and
discuss how the post office network can be made more robust as it
faces large scale downsizing to the detriment of his constituents.
PRESS
RELEASE 23 June 2008
MP
objects to Westbury refuse plant application
Andrew
Murrison has written to object to a plan by Hills Waste to build
a refuse treatment plant (MBT plant) at Northacre Industrial Park
, Westbury, that would provide fuel for the town's Lafarge cement
works.
The
MP has met with council officials and Hills Waste and today had
a conference call with Lafarge Operations Director Bob Cooper and
local works manager Jim Cross. He has heard from local residents
that do not want the plant and its heavy traffic on their doorstep
and met with local councillor David Jenkins who is opposing the
application on behalf of residents.
Cllr
Jenkins has spoken with Viridor which has a waste site adjacent
to Lafarge. Viridor, helpfully, has indicated that it would be prepared
to do a feasibility study with interested parties to see if its
site could be used for the MBT plant. However, a modest extra portion
of Lafarge land would apparently be needed to accommodate the plant.
Lafarge has told the MP it is not interested in facilitating the
plant next to its premises.
Exasperated,
Andrew said;
“If
the Northacre application succeeds, the processed waste will be
trucked across Westbury to Lafarge for incineration. If Lafarge
was concerned about the local environment it would have been more
helpful in accommodating the MBT plant on land it has available.
I am very disappointed.
“Having
the MBT plant next to Lafarge screams out as the obvious, environmentally
sensitive solution that will have the minimum impact on residents.
“No
doubt Hills is rubbing its hands at the prospect of such an easy
solution and the council is between a rock and a hard place because
of landfill targets from the government. However, my constituents
would have to bear the brunt of the wrongly located MBT plant and
the associated heavy traffic.
The
MP has pointed out in his letter of objection that the application
is contrary to the council's own Waste Local Plan, a large and expensively
produced document that identifies sites available for the processing
of waste. Northacre is not in it but the Viridor site is listed
as waste Preferred Area S5.
Northacre's
Westbury Dairies has written to the MP to express its concerns that
MBT emissions have the potential to contaminate its product and
threaten its operation.
Andrew
said;
“Lafarge
is already facing heavy criticism for exceeding its permitted emission
limits. Its stance on the MBT plant is likely to lose it the few
friends it still has.
PRESS
RELEASE 19 June 2008
MP
to visit Semington swing bridge
Andrew
Murrison and County Councillor Ernie Clarke have been inundated
with complaints from walkers in the Semington area following the
announcement by British Waterways that they will close the Semington
swing bridge from next week for 6 months in order to carry out maintenance
works.
Andrew
will meet BW representative Will Burnish tomorrow Friday at Semington
bridge at 3.20pm for a tour of the site. He said;
“Everybody
understands the need for repair works but six months does seem a
long time. I am hopeful that BW will be able to do what they have
to do within a tighter timeframe.
PRESS
RELEASE 12 June 2008
MP's
Friday
At
9am on Friday morning Andrew Murrison MP will meet with George Batten,
Director of Environmental Services, Fleur Miss Fleur De Rhe Phillipe,
Cabinet Member for Transport, Andy Conn, Cabinet Member for Waste
and Councillor David Jenkins to discuss issues relevant to the proposed
MBT plant at Westbury.
At
11am Dr Murrison will arrive at The Centre for Addictions Treatment
Studies, Action on Addiction which is based at The Manor House,
Ash Walk, WARMINSTER , BA12 8PY . Andrew will be meeting Tim Leighton,
Director and Nick Barton joint CEO for Action on Addiction and touring
the premises.
At
3.45pm Andrew will be making a brief visit to the Lafarge Westbury
cement plant and meeting with Jim Cross, Works Manager.
PRESS
RELEASE
10 June 2008
Medic
MP cautious about new private treatment centres
Andrew
Murrison hopes that the new treatment centre announced today in
Devizes will benefit his constituents. However, he fears that the
shift towards independent sector treatment centres in the south
west may destabilise the region's acute hospitals as staff
are sucked away to do straightforward work.
The
medic MP also points out that care of the elderly and longterm sick
will not be improved by the change in direction and that the end
of community hospitals, reduced access to primary care and
the closure of the local maternity unit in Trowbridge that all form
part of the local PCT's plans risk seriously undermining local provision
and the quality of healthcare.
PRESS
RELEASE 5 June 2008
MP
to re-open Village Hall
Friday
6 June 2008 Andrew Murrison will be re-opening the West Ashton Village
Hall which had recently undergone refurbishment and had an extension
added.
Andrew
will be arriving at the village hall at 12 midday in West Ashton
Village near Trowbridge.
PRESS
RELEASE 5 June 2008
MP
to address school assembly
Andrew
Murrison will be addressing Princecroft Primary school 's assembly
tomorrow (Friday 6 June 2008) during Citizenship Week.
Andrew
will be arriving at the school in Princecroft Lane , Warminster
tomorrow at 8.45am.
PRESS
RELEASE 4 June 2008
All
Wiltshire's MPs in police helicopter debate
Robert
Key ( Salisbury ), Andrew Murrison (Westbury) Michael Ancram (Devizes)
and James Gray (North Wiltshire) contributed this afternoon to a
debate at Westminster on the future of Wiltshire's police helicopter.
Andrew
was especially concerned that Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS)
should be prejudicing the future of the helicopter that it shares
with the police by trying to negotiate a short lease with the constabulary
to give it time to do a clinical review. He said;
“It
is not as if the lease renewal has been sprung on GWAS. It has known
about the expiry of the current arrangements for a long time and
has had ample opportunity for conducting its review.
“I
hope the Trust will crack on and sign a definitive lease without
further delaying tactics.
PRESS
RELEASE 30 May 2008
MP
unimpressed by PCT plans
Medic
MP Andrew Murrison believes Wiltshire PCT's plan to close community
hospitals and build a big GP surgery in Trowbridge has a poor prognosis.
He said;
“The
PCT's strategy owes much to the government's blueprint for primary
care which will mean so-called polyclinics replacing the familiar
general practices that are accessible to people.
“The
new clinic that will be built controversially on sports fields will
it seems add very little to actual healthcare. In return we are
expected to take a real hit with the closure of community hospitals
and maternity services. This will hurt the elderly and vulnerable
particularly.
“Meanwhile
PCTs in Somerset and Dorset are investing in community hospitals.
PRESS
RELEASE 30 May 2008
MP
onboard for FGW's whistle-stop tour of West Wilts improvements
Andrew
Murrison will join dignitaries on the 0958 from Westbury calling
at Warminster for a plaque unveiling at 1020, Westbury for the same
at 1050, Trowbridge ditto at 1130 and lastly Bradford on Avon at
1200.
The
exercise will mark the completion of an investment programme at
each of the stations and will allow guests to view the upgrades
including new toilets, extended car parks, a lift and improved ticket
offices and waiting rooms.
Andrew
said;
“First
Group's spending on station facilities will be welcomed by the travelling
public.
PRESS
RELEASE 19 May 2008
Medic
MP backs 20 weeks - 25 years after witnessing abortions
Doctor
Andrew Murrison will this week support amendments to the Human Embryology
and Fertilisation Bill that will reduce the maximum gestational
age for termination of pregnancy from the current 24 weeks to 20
weeks.
Dr
Murrison who qualified as a doctor in 1984 and accredited in both
General Practice and Occupational Medicine before entering Parliament
was put off a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology after witnessing
abortions when he was a student at Bristol University Medical School
.
He
said;
“The
shock of the abortion list 25 years ago is still clear in my mind.
“Since
then societal attitudes have changed, in part because of improved
imaging of the unborn child.
“I'm
sure the law needs updating and 20 weeks appears to strike the right
balance.”
PRESS
RELEASE 15 May 2008
MP
marks TA centenary at St Pauls and the Guildhall
Andrew Murrison, local MP and Shadow Defence Minister, attended
a special service at St Paul's cathedral this morning to mark the
100th anniversary of the Territorial Army followed by a march past
of serving and retired members of the TA. The Lord Mayor of London
hosted a reception to follow at the Guildhall that was attended
by soldiers of all ranks from the Chief of the General Staff to
private soldier, city dignitaries and politicians.
Andrew, who is a Surgeon Commander in the Royal Naval Reserves,
said;
"London is rightly proud of its special historic links with
the TA but it was good to see territorials from all areas, including
ours, represented. They do a great job.
PRESS
RELEASE 15 May 2008
MP
visits sculpture garden in Bishopstrow
Andrew Murrison
will join the celebration of the Millstream Sculpture Garden 2008
season at Mill Lane Bishopstrow Warminster on Saturday 17 May at
6pm.
The MP is keen to learn about the educational, cultural and economic
aims of the venture and to hear about its work with both local schools
and schools in Bath and Salisbury.
PRESS
RELEASE 15 May 2008
MP
meets Ham Residents Group in Westbury
Andrew
Murrison will tomorrow afternoon (Friday) meet delegates from the
Ham Residents Group headed bylocal councillor Cllr David Jenkins
to discuss the location of the proposed MBT plant which the group
feels is too close to people's homes.
The
meeting will take place at the MP's constituency office in Trowbridge.
Andrew
said;
"Whilst
I'm sure the plant involves safe technology, it is desirable that
a site is chosen that will minimise the impact on people's lives
and enjoyment of their homes.
PRESS
RELEASE13 May 2008
Highways
Agency write to MP about Black Dog Hill
Andrew
Murrison has had a response to his letter to the Highways Agency
following a meeting convened by Chapmanslade Parish Council he attended
with County councillor Fleur de Rhe Philippe to discuss road safety
on the A36.
In
the letter the Agency's Chief Executive Archie Robertson said that
the white lining will be repaired in July 2008. There will
be a study of the A36 this financial year as part of which extension
of the double white system further down the hill and signage will
be investigated.
Andrew
said;
“I
am pleased that the hazards of Black Dog Hill have been recognised
and that there is the prospect of remedial action.”
PRESS
RELEASE 8 May 2008
MP
meets the military
Tomorrow
(Friday) morning Andrew Murrison will call on the Adjutant General
Lieutenant General Sir Freddie Viggers at Trenchard Lines Upavon
near Pewsey to discuss Army personnel issues that fall within his
brief as a Shadow Defence Minister and which are of important to
a large number of his constituents. He will be especially interested
in what is being done to improve education for Army children and
military accommodation.
In
the evening he will be the guest of the Westbury branch of the Royal
British Legion at the conference centre Standerwick.
PRESS
RELEASE 8 May 2008
Driving
instructor takes MP from Warminster to Chippenham
Local
driving instructor Tony Pharo will tomorrow be taking Andrew Murrison
from Warminster to Chippenham via Frome and back to illustrate the
lunacy of closing the Driving Standards Agency's Driving Test centre
at Trowbridge and forcing his constituents to take their test in
Chippenham.
Andrew
said;
“I
hope the DSA will consult properly as they are meant to do and have
a re-think. We are losing local services at a rate of knots at a
time when the population in West Wiltshire is expanding rapidly.
Along
the way he will be joined by his North Wiltshire colleague James
Gray and Frome constituency Parliamentary Candidate Annunziata Rees
Mogg.
PRESS
RELEASE 8 May 2008
MP
unimpressed by Salisbury Council consultation
Andrew
Murrison has expressed his displeasure at the failure of Salisbury
District Council to consult properly over housing plans for
the southern part of his constituency. The MP wrote to the council's
Chief Executive on 8 April to ask why he, among others, had not
been asked for his views by the council on plans to build hundreds
of new houses in the district. He has received a letter dated 25
April from the ‘Head of Forward Planning and Transportation' apologising
for the oversight and pointing out that the deadline for responses
has, following a robust campaign by residents, been extended.
Andrew
said;
“I
accept the council's apology but the opaque way in which this consultation
exercise has been conducted hardly inspires confidence and is likely
to make people wonder if they can rely on the council to stand up
for their interests."
PRESS
RELEASE 29 April 2008
MP
disappointed by trains letter
Trains
minister Tom Harris MP has written to Andrew Murrison following
their meeting at the department for transport on 2 April regarding
the Bristol-Waterloo service run by South West Trains that offers
a direct service to the capital for the towns in his constituency.
In
his letter the minister commits to the current level of service
but seemed lukewarm on the prospects of the more frequent service
that Andrew is pressing for. Mr Harris said in his letter;
“Given
the need to deliver the hourly Exeter service from December 2009
and the continued need to balance this with provision of sufficient
capacity for Yeovil/Salisbury from London flows in the am and pm
peaks, the ability to provide any extra commercial services from
Waterloo to Bristol via Salisbury and Westbury may be quite limited.”
Andrew
said;
“It
seems that any improvement in the service will be dependent on commercial
viability and competing network priorities. Ministers and Network
Rail must do more to increase capacity without which it seems unlikely
that we will see much improvement on the direct service via Salisbury
or the ‘Trans-Wilts' route.
The
minister's letter did not contain the timetable promised for FGW
remedial work and Andrew has written to ask if this could be provided
as soon as possible.
PRESS
RELEASE 24 April 2008
MP
joins driving instructor protest in Trowbridge
Andrew
Murrison will be meeting up with driving instructors in his constituency
tomorrow at the test centre in Trowbridge that is due to be axed
under new government plans.
The
government's Driving Standards Agency (DSA) wants to close the Trowbridge
test centre in Wiltshire Drive and force candidates from west Wiltshire
and east Somerset to Chippenham to take their test.
Today
(Thursday) the MP has tabled some written parliamentary questions
in the Commons asking about the consultation process and for the
number of test centre closures in England that have taken place
and are projected. He has also written to the Secretary of State
for Transport.
Andrew
says;
“People
in the county town and from the wider area feel that all their services
are being shut down – hospitals, post offices and now this latest
– at a time of unprecedented residential growth.
“I
am calling on the Transport Secretary to require the DSA to comply
with its own Code of Practice on consultation.
PRESS
RELEASE 24 April 2004
MP
meets West Wiltshire sixth formers at Holocaust seminar in Exeter
Andrew
Murrison will be meeting up with sixth formers from local schools
this afternoon at a seminar held by the Holocaust Educational Trust
in Exeter for those in the region that participated in a tour of
Auschwitz on 15 April.
Andrew
says;
“I'm
looking forward to hearing the thoughts and reflections of the students
following their experiences in Poland which I'm sure will have challenged
and tested them.
“The
Holocaust Educational Trust is to be congratulated for arranging
these visits and I am delighted that schools in our area have participated.
PRESS
RELEASE 17 April 2008
MP
talks business
Andrew
Murrison will be the guest of Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce
on Friday at a meeting in The Fat Fowl from 6.30pm.
The
Chamber has asked the MP to discuss with its members issues relating
to business in the town and to take questions.
Andrew
expects local issues including the Kingston Mills development, traffic
and parking and the performance of First Great Western to top the
bill together with national points around the future of small business
as the economy faces a downturn.
PRESS
RELEASE 2 April 2008
MP
discusses black spot at Black Dog Hill
Andrew
Murrison will meet road safety campaigners tomorrow (Thursday) at
8pm under the auspices of Chapmanslade parish council in the village
hall to discuss the accident record of the A36 at Black Dog Hill.
A
wide range of stakeholders has been invited including the police
and neighbouring parish councils.
Andrew
said;
“Black
Dog Hill has an appalling accident record as last month's incidents
demonstrated. I hope that we can find ways of improving the stretch.
PRESS
RELEASE 1 April 2008
MP
meets trains minister
Andrew
Murrison will meet trains minister Tom Harris MP at the department
for transport tomorrow at 9.30am to discuss the failing train operator
First Great Western.
The
MP has already met the company's chief executive Andrew Haines and
has been briefed by West Wiltshire Rail Users Group.
He
will want to know:
1.
Why rolling stock serving his constituents has deteriorated despite
the government's document of July 2007 ‘Delivering a Sustainable
Railway' which promised more trains nationwide
2.
What the minister will do to sort out FGW which is in breach of
its franchise and what its timeframe for improvement is
3.
What proportion of the clawback from FGW to ‘invest' in Network
Rail has been diverted to other regions
4.
What he will do to upgrade the ‘transwilts' service to link the
main towns of the county given projected increase in passengers.
5.
What plans exist to further improve the direct service to London
Waterloo run by South West Trains.
PRESS
RELEASE 27 March 2008
NUT
attack on Army dismays MP
Local
MP and Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Murrison has been saddened
by an anti Armed Forces motion passed at the National Union of Teachers'
annual conference this week. The motion discourages the use of Army,
Navy and Air Force schools presentation teams in secondary schools.
The
MP who represents a large number of servicemen and veterans and
the garrison town of Warminster said;
“The
UK 's sailors, soldiers and airmen are fine men and women and excellent
role models. Their presence in our schools should be positively
encouraged.
Andrew
is writing to the eight secondary school head teachers in his constituency
for reassurance on their position.
PRESS
RELEASE 27 March 2008
MP
makes a splash in Westbury
Andrew
Murrison will be meeting DC Leisure at Westbury swimming pool tomorrow
to discuss its services in providing leisure facilities in his constituency
in partnership with the local authority.
The
company wants to discuss how the current taxation and tendering
system discriminates against commercial operators in the provision
of leisure facilities.
PRESS
RELEAS 27 March 2008
MP
visits turbine site
Andrew
Murrison will be on a fact finding mission tomorrow following complaints
that wind turbines planned by Ecotricity at Silton near Gillingham
will be a bight on the countryside.
He
said;
It
seems unlikely that onshore wind turbines will do much to reduce
our reliance on fossil fuels although my objection in this case
and in the case of the Cucklington plans a few years ago rests on
the damage they can do to sensitive countryside.
On
4 April Andrew will attend a public meeting on the issue in the
Lecture Hall in Mere. He has discussed the matter with his parliamentary
neighbour North Dorset MP Bob Walter.
PRESS
RELEASE 6 March 2008
MP's
parking meeting
Andrew
Murrison will tomorrow afternoon meet with highway officials in
Trowbridge to discuss residents' parking.
The
MP has been approached by worried constituents in Trowbridge and
Bradford-on-Avon who are concerned about the implication of changes
to parking restriction enforcement in June 2008 when responsibility
passes from the police to local authorities.
Andrew
said;
"I
hope that the council will be able to reassure me that my constituents
will be able to park near their homes after the new arrangements
take effect in the summer."
PRESS
RELEASE 6March 2008
MP
attends village road safety meeting
Andrew
Murrison will meet with representatives from Wingfield Parish Council
and Wiltshire County Council tomorrow Friday 7 March 2008 to talk
about road safety. The meeting will review existing speed limits
and measures to improve the safety of the B3109 Chapel Lane Junction.
The
meeting will be held at The Poplars Public House in Wingfield at
10.30am.
PRESS
RELEASE 5 March 2008
MP
to vote for referendum
Local
MP Andrew Murrison will be voting for a referendum of the British
people in this afternoon's crucial Commons vote on the EU Lisbon
constitutional treaty. The Eurosceptic MP points out that the 2005
election material of MPs from all major political parties promised
to support a referendum on the EU constitution and that a spectrum
of observers consider the constitution and the treaty are virtually
the same.
He
points to Valerie Giscard d'Estaing, architect of the rejected constitution
who said of the two;
"The
content is very close but the presenation is different"
Andrew
said;
"It
is pure political sophistry to pretend that the rejected constitution
and this appalling treaty are significantly different. They are
not, and so there is no question - the people of this country are
owed the referendum that they were promised in 2005.
PRESS
RELEASE 29 February 2008
MP
at Salamander Course
Andrew
Murrison will be at Trowbridge Fire Station on Friday 29 Feb at
1345 when young people taking part in a week long Salamander Course
will be presented with their awards. The
Award Ceremony is organised by the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.
PRESS
RELEASE 28 February 2008
MP's
fairtrade coffee morning
Andrew
Murrison will be dropping in for coffee at Warminster's Athenaeum
at 10am on Saturday 1 March to mark the town gaining the status
of being an official fairtrade town. He said;
"I'm
delighted that Warminster has been given this accolade by the Fairtrade
Foundation.
PRESS
RELEASE 27 February 2008
MPs
in Avon Rubber debate
Local
MPs Michael Ancram and Andrew Murrison will today slam the home
office and the police in a Commons debate over the failure of the
government to honour a contract with Avon Rubber at Melksham costing
their constituents' jobs and losing confidence in the government
as a reliable customer and partner.
The
MPs met this morning with Avon Rubber Chairman Sir Richard Needham
to discuss the emergency hoods designed and made by Avon at Melksham
to protect against chemical, biological and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
Andrew
said;
"Scottish
police and the ambulance service have bought these hoods but England
's police forces will not now get them. At a time when the CBRN
threat has never been greater it seems extraordinary that this personal
protective equipment should not be avilaible to officers at the
front line.
"Cancelling
orders in this way opens government agencies to legal challenge
and dents the reputation of government as reliable customers.
PRESS
RELEASE 26 February 2008
MURRISON
DEMANDS URGENT MEETING TO DISCUSS POOR AMBULANCE SERVICE PERFORMANCE
Westbury
MP Andrew Murrison has today written to the Chief Executive of the
Great Western Ambulance Trust to discuss the poor performance of
ambulance services in the area.
Conservatives
have expressed serious concerns about the postcode lottery in ambulance
services. Figures unearthed using the Freedom of Information Act
have shown massive variation in the speed at which ambulances reach
emergencies across England .
The
Government target is for 75% of serious emergencies (‘Category A')
to be reached within eight minutes. Performance in Wiltshire meant
that just 54.3% of these emergencies were reached within the target
period – ranking it among the worst ten performing trusts.
Commenting,
Dr Murrison said;
“There's
a postcode lottery in ambulance services and it looks like we're
on the losing side.
“I'm
concerned that just half of those in serious need of an ambulance
in Wiltshire receive them within the target eight minutes. This
adverse report is supported by experiences reported to me by constituents.
“I
do recognise the good work of our ambulance crews but the Trust
must improve its performance.
PRESS
RELEASE 26 February 2008
MP
welcomes extra trains spending
Andrew
Murrison has welcomed the announcement by FGW that £29 million
will be spent on inproving its services.
He
said;
"I
met the company's chief executive Andrew Haines recently and will
be seeing the trains minister soon. FGW faces the real propect of
losing its franchise unless its abysmal service improves.
"Clearly
the company appreciates the danger and I note in addition that the
Chief Executive and half his senior staff have changed in the past
6 months. It is imperative that FGW is able to demonstate substantial
improvements fairly quickly.
PRESS
RELEASE 21 February 2008
Post
office review - one cheer only from MP
Andrew
Murrison has learnt from the post office review team that it is
reviewing its proposal to close the Obelisk post office in Warminster
following representations though the remaining six on the at risk
list will either be shut or downgraded.
He
said;
“This
opens up the prospect of some good news for Warminster but is very
bad for customers in Westbury, Trowbridge, Broughton Gifford, North
Bradley, Longbridge Deverill and Heytesbury.
PRESS
RELEASE 14 February 2008
MP
to visit The Mead Primary School
Andrew
Murrison will visit The Mead Primary School at Hackett Place , Trowbridge
on Friday 15th February at 10.00am. Andrew will be answering questions
based around sustainability and the environment.
PRESS
RELEASE 13 February 2008
MP
attends Inquest
Local
MP and Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Murrison will tomorrow morning
(thursday) visit Wiltshire Coroners Court in the old Town Hall Trowbridge
whilst it is sitting at the invitation of the Wiltshire Coroner
David Masters.
The
MP is keen to familiarise himself with the procedure which historically
has been attended by considerable delay to the distress of relatives.
Following investment by central government Mr Masters has made it
clear that there are no delays from his service.
PRESS
RELEASE 13 February 2008
MP
in Warminster tonight 13th February
Andrew
Murrison will be at The Youth Centre in The Close, Warminster to
meet with the Residents Association "The Triangle" at
6.30pm tonight (Wednesday 13th February).
At
7.30pm Dr Murrison will be attending the UK National
Defence Association Regional Branch meeting which will be
held in the Assembly Rooms in Warminster. Andrew has been asked
to speak on Defence and the Armed Forces.
PRESS
RELEASE 13 February 2008
MP
demands meeting with trains minister
Andrew
Murrison has written to trains minister Tom Harris to request a
meeting to discuss the future of the government contract with failing
train operating company First Great Western.
The
MP has been appalled by the deterioration in FGW's service and the
cattle truck conditions that exist on many of its trains. He said:
“FGW
has been given plenty of time to improve but my constituents are
still suffering from a third rate train service. I think the time
has come for ministers who are responsible for the contract to consider
pulling the plug”.
On
the 14 th February Andrew will meet FGW Chief Executive Andrew Haines
and West Wilts Rail Users Group in Trowbridge and has a further
meeting with Mr Haines in London on the 19 th February.
PRESS
RELEASE 4 February 2008
MP
supports councils' post office complaints
Andrew
Murrison has responded to the Post Office consultation on its plans
to close or downsize seven post offices in his West Wiltshire constituency.
The
MP supports objections to the plans submitted by Wiltshire's councils
on the grounds that they will disadvantage the most vulnerable in
the towns and in the villages have not been rural-proofed contrary
to the government's stated policy.
He
said;
“I'm
afraid that our experience of consultations locally has not been
a happy one in recent years as they too often turn out to be a tick-box
formality as we've seen in the case of our community hospitals.
However, I sincerely hope that the Post Office takes note of the
representations that have been made and has a re-think.
PRESS
RELEASE 1 February 2008
MP
demands meeting with trains minister
Andrew
Murrison has written trains minister Tom Harris to request a meeting
to discuss the future of the government contract with failing train
operating company First Great Western.
The
MP has been appalled by the deterioration in FGW's service and the
cattle truck conditions that exist on many of its trains. He said:
“FGW
has been given plenty of time to improve but my constituents are
still suffering from a third rate train service. I think the time
has come for ministers who are responsible for the contract to consider
pulling the plug”.
On
the 14 th February Andrew will meet FGW Chief Executive Andrew Haines
and West Wilts Rail Users Group in Trowbridge and has a further
meeting with Mr Haines in London on the 19 th February.
Where
I stand on MPs' pay and allowances
The
press like to suggest that parliamentary expenses and allowances are
viewed by MPs as a handy supplement to the parliamentary salary.
I do not believe that this is the case although the rules should
be more prescriptive in my view and tightened further to leave no
room for doubt.
MPs
should be prepared to be as open about their pay and allowances
as any other public servant. The accounting procedures routinely
expected of others on the public pay roll must be applied to
them. For example, on becoming an MP in 2001 I was surprised to
find that receipts for expenses of up to £250 were positively
discouraged. This went against the grain since I had spent my working
life up to that point in the public sector where I had to
account for every penny.
On
the subject of employing relatives which has been so much in the
news recently, I believe that the practice can be of benefit and
that such employees often work over and above their contracted hours,
mirroring the anti-social hours that MPs tend to work. That is certainly
my experience of my father-in-law Bob Munden who works for me as
a constituency researcher and who will be well known to those he
has dealt with in that capacity since 2001. He is paid at a point
in the Commons pay-scale that is appropriate for his qualifications
and experience and on which I have taken advice. However, employment
of family members is potentially open to abuse and for that reason
there must be a clear audit trail of work and the means
for checking it.
On
the subject of checks, I consider that periodic auditing of
MPs'claims is desirable. Many outside Parliament will be surprised
that such routine accounting practices are not applied already.
This need not involve a huge new bureaucracy but spot checks would,
I believe, help to dispel the idea that all MPs are creative
accountants.
January
has been a really terrible month for the reputation of the House
of Commons. I can tell you that morale among MPs is rock-bottom.
In mitigation it is reasonable to point out the contrast between ourselves
and representatives in other European states and assemblies but a
fundamental reappraisal of the way we operate is surely appropriate
in the light of events.
PRESS
RELEASE 1 February 2008
MP
to present the ‘Four Stars' Award to Charter House
Andrew
Murrison will be at Charter House in Trowbridge today at 2pm to
present the ‘Four Stars' certificate to staff for catering hygiene.
Andrew will also be given a brief tour of Charter House.
In
January Andrew Murrison had welcomed the decision by Avon and Wiltshire
Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and Wiltshire PCT to keep older
people's mental health services at Charter House in Trowbridge.
PRESS
RELEASE 29 January 2008
MP
registers his objects to post office closure plans
Andrew Murrison
has sent his response to the Post Office's plans to close or downgrade
seven of the sub post offices in West Wiltshire to Mr Tim Nickolls
of the Post Office's consultation team in advance of this week's
deadline. He has criticised the philosophy underlining the closures
and pointed out that in West Wiltshire they will disadvantage his
more elderly, vulnerable and isolated constituents. Andrew has supported
the opposition to the closures tendered by Wiltshire's local authorities.
He said;
"I am appalled by the slash and burn policy adopted by the
Post Office and the government. Ministers have consistently ignored
innovations proposed by the Opposition that would safeguard these
valuable community resources.
"Throughout my constituency sub post offices and local shops
are interdependent. If one falls, so will the other.
The MP is a frequent customer of sub post offices in his constituency
and has had a considerable correspondence with constituents about
them in recent months. In his response the MP points out that North
Bradley sub post office was transformed as recently as 2002 as a
trailblazer for the government's then new model of delivery and
that at Longbridge Deverill plans for relocation have descended
into farce following the revelation that the proposed new location
is no longer available.
Tim
Nickolls, Esq.,
Network
Development Manager,
c/o
National Consultation Team,
FREEPOST
CONSULTATION TEAM
Dear
Mr Nickolls
Post
Office closures in the Westbury constituency
Please
consider this letter as my formal response to the proposed closure
plans for post offices in the Westbury constituency.
I
am concerned at the proposed closure of seven post offices within
my constituency - Heytesbury, Longbridge Deverill, Broughton Gifford,
North Bradley, Queens Square in Westbury, Seymour Road in Trowbridge
and the Obelisk in Warminster.
Post
Offices are a vital part of the social fabric of all the communities
I represent. However, the selection focuses, perversely, on rural
settlements and those with high indices of deprivation. It has also
been poorly thought through since at least one of the options, the
delivery of outreach services at Longbridge Deverill, is non viable
as the existing commercial premises on which it was to be based,
which was in any case highly inaccessible, has now closed for business.
I
am persuaded by the argument that the programme of closures has
been informed by a calculation of how many post offices the Government
considers it can get away with closing, rather than on a business
case or assessment of consumer need. The Government's vision for
fewer sub-post offices providing fewer services to fewer people
is likely to affect the most vulnerable, all the more so given the
location of the proposed closures in my constituency. A van for
a couple of hours per week is a poor substitute for a valued community
resource and is likely, ultimately, to fail.
The
local authorities that have an interest in my constituency have
expressed their concerns at the proposed closures and I support
the case they have made. In particular, West Wiltshire District
Council points out that whereas 99% of those living in deprived
urban areas are guaranteed access to a post office, there is no
reflection of this in our area.
The
decision to base closure plans on distance rather than journey difficulty
may be logistically convenient but is unhelpful to elderly and vulnerable
constituents who may not have easy access to transport. I can find
little evidence of a serious attempt to assess the practical difficulties
people will face in accessing either post office services or shop
facilities given that the two are co-dependent in many locations.
I
am disappointed that outreach services have not been better defined
where they are proposed or considered where they are not. I am also disappointed
that scope to work with local authorities in establishing ‘council-counters'
in local branches, to allow sub-post offices greater freedom in
offering a wider range of commercial products and to establish ‘one
stop shops' for central Government services have not been explored
as part of this review.
The
incoherent and wasteful way in which post offices have been managed
in recent years is exemplified by North Bradley which relocated
and adapted under a government initiative in 2002 and was considered
something of a trailblazer. Co-located with the community hall of
a large village, it is now scheduled for closure.
The
proposed post office closure programme in West Wiltshire
seriously threatens communities in my constituency and I strongly
urge you to think again.
PRESS
RELEASE 24 January 2008
MP
gets Jobcentre update
Andrew
Murrison will be briefed on the work of Jobcentre in his constitiuency
tomorrow (Friday) at his HQ in Trowbridge. The MP will meet district
manager Charles Morse and is keen to hear about innovations to the
service, particularly given the threat of an economic downturn which
could have implications for jobs.
PRESS
RELEASE 24 January 2008
MP
visits CCTV
Andrew
Murrison will be at the CCTV control room in Dewey House, North
Row Warminster tomorrow (Friday) to see how CCTV is helping to tackle
crime in Warminster and Westbury. The MP has been invited in by
the town clerk Heather Abernethie following a recent spate of criminality
in Warminster that he has been in correspondence with the police
over, particularly in the Portway and the Close.
He
said;
"We
do live in something of a surveillance society, particularly in
the UK , but technolgy of this sort clearly has a place in tackling
the crime and seriously antisocial behaviour that causes so much
misery to residents.
PRESS
RELEASE 22 January 2008
Local
MPs champion Army schools
Shadow
Defence Minister and Westbury MP Andrew Murrison and his parliamentary
neighbour Salisbury MP Robert Key joined forces to berate defence
minister Derek Twigg over funding for schools with large numbers
of Army children at defence questions on Monday.
Andrew
was concerned that Army children that join and leave a school within
a single academic year, which is quite common because of Army turbulence,
are not counted for funding purposes and so Wiltshire is short-changed.
The minister failed to deal with this point so the MP has tabled
a written parliamentary question to press him on it. He said;
“Failure
to identify and count Army children means that Wiltshire schools
lose out since we have a large Army presence.
Mr
Key pointed out that Army children are twice as likely to have special
educational needs because of turbulence and called for an equitable
funding settlement that would take this into account.
After
defence questions Andrew said;
“We
know that the government is reviewing the school funding formula
at the moment so it is important to keep the pressure up. I've written
to schools minister Jim Knight about giving Army children a fair
deal but received response that can best be described as lukewarm.
CAMPAIGN
RELEASE 16 January 2008
STOP
THE TRAFFICK
At
least 4000 women have been trafficked into the UK for prostitution
.
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