Archive for January, 2011
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.”
