Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, has just announced the Constituency’s favorite pubs, as part of the British Pub celebrations of 2010. The celebration of British pubs ran at the end of 2010 and constituents were asked to nominate their favorite pubs.
Mr. Pincher said:
“The local pub is important for many people; it functions much more than just a place to drink or eat in a supervised and secure environment. It is a pillar of the community providing a venue for local people to meet and hold events. I believe pubs are vital in promoting community spirit. I would like to congratulate the winning pubs and thank all constituents who nominated their favorite pub.“
He added;
“I support the Chancellor’s decision to reverse the Labour Government’s increase in cider rate (10% above inflation) as well as his decision not to increase the large alcohol duty bequeathed by Labour. I am also working with the Government to provide meaningful assistance to the pub industry, and I am pleased by the plans to introduce a high alcohol tax that will support the pub trade, by preventing below cost retail sale of alcohol.”
Each pub has received a certificate from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Beer signed by the Local MP.
The successful pubs were –
1. Sir Robert Peel – Tamworth
2. Plough & Harrow – Fazeley
3. White Lion – Harlaston
4. Crown Inn – Elford
5. The Green Man – Clifton Campville
6. The Gate – Amington
7. Red Lion – Hopwas
8. Royal Oak – Stonnall
9. The Black Horse – Edingale
10. Fox & Hounds – Shenstone
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Hints, Hopwas & Tamworth, met with local residents in Hints last Friday to update them on the latest news he has about HS2. Over 150 local residents crowded into the village hall to listen to his update and the latest news from the village action team.
The controversial project, which will build a brand new high speed rail line running between Tamworth and Lichfield, passing near such villages as Hints and Drayton Bassett, is about to go out to public consultation. The results of the consultation will be given to Secretary of State Philip Hammond in July. Mr Hammond will then make a final decision on his preferred route – or whether to make changes including scrapping the entire project – before the end of the year.
Mr. Pincher told the packed meeting that he, along with other MPs like Andrea Leadsom from South Northamptonshire, are calling for a backbench debate in the House of Commons on HS2. He has also written to Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman MP, urging her to instigate an official committee inquiry into the proposals.
Mr. Pincher said:
“I have asked a number of parliamentary questions and have written to Sir Brian Briscoe of HS2 looking for answers but each answer as yet only begs more questions. The business case for the project has not been proven by the Department for Transport. It is full of holes.”
He also made clear that, if the rail link is eventually built (and wherever it is built) a proper plan for the best possible mitigations of its affects and the fullest possible compensation must also be agreed – and included in the business case to confirm that it still stacks up.
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, spoke up for soldiers and their families in the House of Commons earlier this week when he called on the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, to make it easier for soldiers, sailors and airmen to buy their own properties.
Mr. Pincher said:
“As my right hon. Friend seeks to build the armed forces covenant, will he pay close attention to the Strachan report and, in particular, those recommendations to offer enhanced accommodation allowances, expand the pilot shared equity scheme and encourage banks to offer forces-friendly mortgages, so that members of our armed services get a firmer foot on the property ladder?”
Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox responded:
“It was, indeed, a valuable set of recommendations, and we are going through them one at a time at the moment. I am instinctively very much in favour of all the elements that my hon. Friend sets out, and in the very near future we shall in fact produce some further projects, which I hope will provide considerable enhancements to some elements of the covenant not previously covered-and at minimal cost to the taxpayer.”
After Ministerial questions Mr Pincher commented:
“I think it is important that our Military Covenant is made between nation and our Forces in tangible terms. Helping Forces families to get a stable and long term home of their own is another good way of showing our appreciation for them. So I am glad the government is taking such a positive attitude.”
“I was very pleased to visit the Staffordshire Regiment Museum at Whittington last week to see for myself the long and proud history of soldiering in our part of the world. And I am very honoured to have been made a member of the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee looking into the Military Covenant so I can do my bit to support the soldiers of today.”
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, contributed in the European Bill Committee debate in the House of Commons by stressing that he does not believe prisoners should be able to vote – including in any referendum to transfer more power to Europe.
The European Court of Human Rights is telling the British Government that prisoners should be allowed to vote, however, it is not clear if this would apply to referenda on the European Union. So in the debate Mr. Pincher intervened on the Europe Minister, David Lidington to seek clarification:
“My understanding from the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights is that it applies only to general and European Parliament elections, so is it not possible to include in the Bill a specific disfranchisement of prisoners, who otherwise would have an opportunity to vote on constitutional matters?”
The Minister responded favourably and stated:
“We are not under an obligation to enfranchise prisoners for local elections or referendums, and the policy is that we will not do so.”
Afterwards Mr. Pincher commented on the minister’s response:
“I am pleased that prisoners will not be allowed to vote on referenda or local elections and I will continue to argue that prisoners should not be allowed to vote at all. I strongly believe that if you commit any crime, and are incarcerated, then you lose the right to vote.
“Furthermore, I am glad that the Government is trying to pass this bill as it will provide the British people with a referendum lock – something they have always wanted but the last government denied. The Labour Party are still trying to weaken our constitution by diluting the referendum lock with silly amendments. Sovereignty of this country should stay in this country and this is exactly what the Bill is trying to achieve.”
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Monday, January 24th, 2011
MP encourages Latvian government to do more business with Midlands
Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, met with Latvian Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis last Friday to encourage him to build stronger trade links with Midlands businesses. Mr. Dombrovskis was in Great Britain to take part in the Nordic Baltic summit in London hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron.
At the Nordic conference Mr Cameron said of Britain and Latvia:
“We get enterprise. We embrace innovation. We understand the potential of green technologies for economic growth. So at a time when much of Europe is in desperate need of fundamental economic reform, it makes sense for us to come together for the benefit of all our economies: an ‘avant garde’ for jobs and growth.”
Before flying back to Riga at the end of the summit, Mr. Dombrovskis visited the award winning International Digital Lab at Warwick University, Coventry, to take part in a business fair hosted by Deb Leary, Tamworth’s award-winning businesswoman and Chairman of the Midlands World Trade Forum. Also present were Britain’s ambassador to Latvia, Andrew Soper, and Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher.
Mr. Pincher, sitting next to Mr. Dombrovskis, took the opportunity to encourage Latvia to build closer partnerships with Midlands firms and offered his help in forging closer links.
Afterwards Mr Pincher said:
“The Midlands has a tremendous amount of engineering and manufacturing know-how. We need to do all we can to promote that knowledge and skill onto the international scene to benefit local jobs. We need to get the new Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership steaming at full speed, working with the Midlands World Trade Forum and the government to ensure we grab opportunities such as these before others grab them.”
Before the recession Latvia had one of the best growth records in the European Union. It has previously been known for raw materials such as timber and low-end raw manufacturing but is keen to build its technical base and expand its green economy credentials.
Monday, January 17th, 2011
MP congratulates Fire & Rescue Service team for all their efforts
Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, dropped into Tamworth’s state-of-the-art new fire station in Marlborough Way on Saturday to meet Area Commander Del Roberts and see for himself our local fire team’s new home.
Tamworth’s fire crews moved into the new building just before Christmas. The station, now the largest in Staffordshire, is a far cry from the cramped and obsolete conditions in the old fire station on Lichfield Street which is now being rebuilt and a secondary station.
New facilities include more training space for crews, better rest areas for those on shift and a community hub which can be used by other local groups such as residents’ associations and clubs. The Fire Service is also looking to see whether Community First Responders can operate out of the new station. The station will be used as a centre from where Tamworth people can get information and advice on a wide range of issues as well as fire safety.
Commenting after his visit, Mr. Pincher said:
“I am very grateful to Area Commander Del Roberts for showing me around our new fire station. We clearly now have the best facility in Staffordshire. And what is more, the fire station can be used by local groups bringing the work of the Fire & Rescue Service much closer to local people. I will certainly be holding some of my surgeries there.”
“I was particularly impressed by the “Student Fire Fighters” programme which takes young people who may be in need of help and gives them a structured training programme. I hope it is a programme that can be expanded to include more students.”
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
Christopher Pincher asks Ministers to back Tamworth’s schools.
Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, used the last ministerial question time of 2010 to ask education ministers to do all they can to support education provision in the town.
His intervention follows the announcement last month that the four remaining Local Education Authority secondary schools in the town are pursuing academy status, either as part of the Landau Forte academy (QEMs) or as schools within a collegiate academy run by E-ACT, a new academy charitable provider (Rawlett, Belgrave and Wilnecote).
Mr. Pincher specifically asked Education Minister, Nick Gibb MP, whether the collegiate academy would be able to offer sixth form services if there is demand for them in the town. The minister responded by saying that this could be considered.
The detailed exchange between Mr. Pincher and Mr. Gibb is:
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): What recent progress has been made on his Department’s academies programme in (a) Tamworth constituency and (b) England?
The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb): Ministers have recently agreed proposals for two new academies to replace four Tamworth schools
to be taken to the next stage of development, subject to the approval of the governing bodies. In addition, Landau Forte academy in Tamworth opened in September for 11 to 16-year-old pupils, and its new sixth-form centre will open in September 2011. Across England, there are now well over 350 academies, of which 158 have opened during this academic year.
Christopher Pincher: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. Will he, with me, congratulate all the other secondary schools in Tamworth that are now pursuing academy status beyond the dead hand of the LEA? Will he agree to support, to the best of his ability, those potential academies and academies sponsored by E-ACT that may wish to offer sixth-form provision if there is demand for it in the town?
Mr Gibb: I congratulate Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian school, Belgrave high school, Rawlett community sports college and Wilnecote high school on seeking academy status. The OECD research is clear that autonomy at school level, combined with objective external assessment, is the key to success. We are keen to improve the quality of sixth-form provision and to look at all proposals. In the case of Tamworth, that would mean considering this in the light of the new sixth-form centre that is currently being built and due to open next year.
Speaking afterwards Mr. Pincher said:
“I am pleased that ministers recognise the importance of investing in our local schools and that any collegiate academy can be considered for the provision of A level teaching. So the door remains open if there is demand for alternative sixth form services. I had a good talk earlier in the year with the leadership team at Landau Forte. They seem very determined to make a success of the job they have been given. I will certainly discuss with them their plans for QEMs which is in dire need of investment. And I look forward to meeting Bruce Liddington of E-ACT to discover more about E-ACT’s proposals for a collegiate academy involving Belgrave, Rawlett and Wilnecote. It is essential that they keep everyone, especially parents, teachers and, of course, pupils, clearly informed and engage them in their proposals.”
“Tamworth’s schools still need capital investment and local people back the need for such investment. I will continue to lobby Schools Minister Lord Hill, the County Council and potential academy sponsors to ensure we get what we need.”
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Tamworth Borough Councils controlling Conservative group is pleased to announce today that it will freeze council tax for the next 12 months.
Tamworth Conservative Councillors have been working hard to ensure the town has a solid financial base and today announced that it will not increase council tax when the budget is set after Christmas.
Cllr Daniel Cook, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council said,
“We believe we need to keep council tax as low as possible and we have been working hard at Tamworth Borough Council since we took control in 2004. Our long term planning and many projects at Tamworth Council have resulted in us not increasing the council tax this year. Our whole principle of running the council is about long term reward, not short term headlines and this is a clear example of that.”
Cllr Robert Pritchard, Financial portfolio Holder of Tamworth Borough Council said,
“We have been doing a number of partnerships with other councils, such as building use with Staffordshire County Council and waste collection with Lichfield District Council, these schemes save hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money and have enabled us to freeze council tax. Without these partnerships we wouldn’t be able to do this.” He added, “While many people are talking about service cuts, we are talking about council tax freeze. It’s business as usual in Tamworth.”
Tamworth Borough Council’s charge on the council tax will remain £149.55 for the 2011/12 financial year. The remaining £1,423.61 council tax bill is made up of Staffordshire County Council (£1,028.81), Staffordshire Police (£177.61) and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue (£67.64).
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Christopher Pincher says announcement is a bitter disappointment
Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has said he is “bitterly disappointed” that Tamworth’s heavily used magistrates’ court, along with its county court, are to close as the government takes steps to deal with Britain’s mountainous debt.
Justice Minister, Jonathan Djanogly MP, announced the closures in a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon. Tamworth magistrate cases will move to Burton from April 2011 and county court proceedings will move to Burton and then to Stafford once Burton county court closes in three year’s time.
Mr. Pincher said:
“The state of the public finances notwithstanding, many people in Tamworth will be bitterly disappointed by the loss of both our county court and our magistrates’ court, which is the most utilised court in Staffordshire. What assurances can my hon.Friend give my constituents that the video-link technology between courts and police stations will be rolled out quickly so that our police will not spend all their time on the A38 to Burton, and that vulnerable people who will have to spend a day-long round trip going to Stafford county court will not have justice put beyond their means?“
In response the Minister, Mr. Djanogly, said:
“The court is closing because it has a sitting day allocation of only 76 days, and the work will transfer to Burton magistrates’ court. I can tell my hon. Friend that we will be pushing ahead with the additional use of technology, which we see as the future. As things stand, the Courts Service does not make adequate use of modern technology. “
Afterwards, Mr. Pincher commented:
“This is a huge disappointment to everyone in Tamworth who campaigned so hard to keep our county and magistrates’ courts. We all understand that the terrible financial state in which our country has been left makes the need to find savings inevitable so we can balance our books. But I cannot help feeling that this decision could make justice harder in our town.”
“I will keep a close watch on the amount of time our police need to spend going to Burton. I am pleased the government will make more use of video links so our officers will not need to spend so much time in court but it must be made available quickly. I am also relieved that the county court will not be moved as far away as Stafford for another three years – but the plan is still to move it first to Burton and then Stafford. If we find any delay or diminution in justice, I will call upon the Justice Secretary to take action.”
Newer Posts —
Older Posts
