Scholar Green Friendship Group

Fiona Bruce MP praises launch of new ‘Scholar Green Friendship Group’

Fiona Bruce MP recently met with Andy Tester, Health and Well-Being Officer at Plus Dane Housing to hear of the plan for a new ‘Scholar Green Friendship Group’ for older people in Scholar Green following the success of a similar initiative in Congleton.

The launch of the group is being held between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Tuesday 7^th May at the Rising Sun Inn in Scholar Green. The event is a ‘meet and greet’ session for anybody interested to bring their ideas and wishes for potential trips out, meals, activities and to get to know new people from the area.

Fiona Bruce and Andy Tester in Scholar Green

Andy Tester said of the project “Having previously started a similar group in Congleton we wanted to start something in Scholar Green which has an aging population who can struggle to get out due to limited transport in the rural setting. The idea is to bring something to Scholar Green rather than asking residents to find their way out of the area to Alsager or Congleton. It is hoped that these groups help to ease the sense of social isolation that can arise in the older population and bring people in their local community together.”

The group, whilst funded by Plus Dane, will be run by the members and so all can contribute to what format the group takes.

Fiona Bruce MP said “I commend the setting up of these Friendship Groups – they are an excellent way to provide a truly local service and build all important community links. My constituency stands in an area with, proportionally, the largest ageing population in the North West and it is so important that their needs are recognised and met. Keeping active, pursuing interests and volunteering are all beneficial for us as we get older and these friendship groups are a positive way to encourage this and help us all ‘age well’.”

Any Scholar Green residents (or people from the surrounding area) wanting more information can contact Andy Tester on 01260 288212.

Launch of 'Nerd Studios' design agency

Need a designer? Get a Nerd on it!

New Congleton design agency, Nerd Studios, recently opened its doors to the public at a launch event at their studio in Riverside Mill. Guests were invited to not only meet the studio’s directors, Rhiannon Webster and Katy Thorogood, but to also chat to several of their clients and view examples of the studio’s work. The event was very well attended and Local MP, Fiona Bruce was present to start the afternoon off and show her support for new local businesses.

“Congratulations to Katy and Rhiannon in their business venture together. It was a pleasure to wish them well at their new office launch, to hear of their enthusiasm for their design business and most importantly to meet some of their satisfied customers.” - Fiona Bruce, Congleton MP

Nerd Studios, offers a full range of creative services and already has a broad client base which is rapidly expanding. The studio specialises primarily in Graphic Design and Digital illustration, providing high quality design work for a number of mediums including web, print, mobile, and associated media. Previous work has included; Packaging Design for Food and Drink products, Brand Remits, Tender and Document design, Video Game Concept art, Book illustration, website design, and more.

Existing clients were also invited to showcase their own products as part of a networking opportunity at the launch. Local business woman, Laura Campbell owner of Purple Laura, brought a selection of her delicacies including some jars of her award winning marmalade. Owner of The Sweet Heart Company, Beth Kennerley, demonstrated some of her skills as an event planner by dressing the room. Also in attendance was Jamie Brewitt representing another client, Witness the Fitness, a new gym based in Buglawton. The event was catered by new clients Top Nosh, who provided a delicious buffet.

Robbie Brightwell and Ann Packer launch 'Twin Assassins' Campaign

Minister for Public Health backs Olympians campaign to combat child obesity in the Congleton Constituency

On Tuesday 16^th April Fiona Bruce MP attended the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity with Robbie Brightwell and Ann Packer, Olympic silver and gold medallists, who have launched the ‘Twin Assassins Campaign’ which is aiming to raise £3 million to develop the facilities at Eaton Bank Academy as a lifestyle centre for the community.

During the London 2012 Olympic Games celebrations in the Congleton Constituency the President and Vice-President of Team Congleton (Ann Packer and Robbie Brightwell) were drawn to the disturbing levels of obesity and physical fitness within the community and are now the biggest threat to the health of the younger generation.

Speaking at the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity, The Rt Hon Anna Soubry, Minister for Public Health enthused:

"Obesity in children for me is at the top of my priorities. I am therefore very keen to support Ann and Robbie’s excellent campaign - it is exactly in tune with what the Government and I are seeking to do to fight the critical level of child obesity in this country.”

Fiona Bruce commented:

“Having invited Ann and Robbie to Parliament in support of their inspirational Twin Assassins campaign, I was delighted at the Health Minister’s interest and positive response – to the extent that she invited Ann and Robbie to return to Westminster for a meeting with her specifically to discuss their campaign further. With 1.3 million children across the country now classed as obese, Robbie and Anna have really hit the mark with this campaign which I hope the whole Congleton community will get behind.”

Ann Packer, a Gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 commented:

“We are delighted to have the support of Fiona Bruce in tackling the obesity crisis. She is passionately committed to the health and well-being of her Congleton constituents’, and her energetic involvement in our campaign is deeply appreciated.  It is especially rewarding that she recognises the need to provide the best possible facilities for our schools in order that they may be enjoyed by pupils and community alike.”

Robbie Brightwell, a Silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 commented:

“Obesity and poor physical fitness levels caused a multitude of maladies and medical complications – notably diabetes, heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems. Unless radical measures are taken to remedy this situation, the NHS will be brought to its knees in 10 years’ time.  It is particularly urgent to address the problem in our schools. Once anti-obesity lifestyle measures are imbedded in these institutions, they can spread their informed message to other members of the community.”

Supporting Congleton Town FC is good for business!

Supporting Congleton Town FC is good for business!

Congleton Town FC was the proud recipient of the Community Award at the recent East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Awards at which 250 guests were in attendance representing businesses and organisations from all over the region.



Nigel Moorhouse, Fiona Bruce MP and David Watson at the Chamber Awards



The Club was in competition with many significant local businesses, social groups, charities and individuals and demonstrated an exceptional input into the benefit of the Cheshire East community and is delighted to have achieved such recognition.

The last few years have been a period of real transformation for the Club with ground and stadium improvements, a new junior soccer school and the development of new charity partnerships and business sponsorships.



Fiona Bruce supporting from the stands!



Chamber Member, Nigel Moorhouse, of Roman Lodge Estates Ltd, a club director, said, ‘This Award is a reflection of the contribution made by a large number of enthusiastic and talented volunteers connected with Congleton Town Football Club who have helped it to generate strong working relationships with businesses and voluntary organisations in East Cheshire.’

The Club is planning a number of exciting new initiatives to be implemented in the next few months to further develop its community links. The team of players are doing well at present with a fine run of recent wins, and of course, has real promotion aspirations to move up the leagues.

As everyone knows, a successful football club is good for the local community and economy, so strong links with the business community are a win-win for everyone concerned. Chamber members are therefore invited to become a co-sponsor – sponsorship opportunities are available at a range of levels and figures – from the very modest to well, the sky’s the limit, it’s over to you! 

Fiona Bruce MP says: “Congratulations to Congleton Town Football Club on winning the Chamber’s Community Award this year, which is well deserved. This shows how the team spirit is going from strength to strength and the club’s facilities are much improved. Congleton Town Football Club is becoming an increasingly key part of the town’s community life. I thoroughly enjoy going to matches, where there is always a warm welcome and encourage anyone who has not attended to go along to Booth Street and support them there.”

Congleton Town FC would like to thank East Cheshire Chamber for their recognition of the role the Football Club has in its community.

Congleton Link Road raised in Parliament

Congleton Link Road raised in Parliament by MP Fiona Bruce



Fiona Bruce MP receiving Link Road Document from local businessmen



Fiona Bruce MP spoke in Parliament recently on the Congleton Link Road.  The Hansard entry for her speech is as follows:

“Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): On her birthday, I call Barbara Keeley.

6.33 pm

Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.
(...) I will end by wishing a happy birthday to my hon. Friends the Members for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) and for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood) and my right hon. Friend the
26 Mar 2013 : Column 1579
Member for Wolverhampton South East (Mr McFadden). I do not know whether any Government Members have birthdays today, but if they do I wish then a happy birthday, too.

6.38 pm

Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): In fact, today is also my birthday! I am grateful for the opportunity, on this jolly occasion, to draw the House’s attention to proposals for a Congleton link road that would run from Sandbach road to the west of the town, past the north of the town centre and on to Macclesfield road to the east. The potential benefits have been excellently summed up in an appropriately titled document, “The key to unlocking Cheshire East: Securing jobs and a future for the local economy”, which has been compiled by a forward thinking partnership of Congleton business people and the East Cheshire chamber of commerce, collectively called the Link2Prosperity group—L2P.
The road would improve connectivity right across east Cheshire by improving links to Manchester airport, the M60 and the M6, the latter being just 10 minutes away at Sandbach, junction 17, in my constituency. It would also improve connectivity to the rail network, particularly the inter-city connection at Crewe, and would help alleviate heavy traffic problems that the people of Holmes Chapel have endured for 40 years.

David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): On my hon. Friend’s birthday, she is making a characteristically powerful speech. I agree wholeheartedly that the Congleton link road will be vital in improving connectivity in east Cheshire and to stimulate economic growth. Does she agree that it is also important to have a similar road—the Poynton-Woodford relief road—to help to improve connectivity in the north of our borough?

Fiona Bruce: I absolutely do agree. It is interesting to note that both these roads are priorities in Cheshire East council’s draft development strategy.
The Congleton link road would reduce the daily traffic congestion in the centre of Congleton that impedes businesses, residents and school pupils and has been described by Siemens, the town’s biggest employer, as “chronic”. It would also reduce the consequential high levels of nitrous oxide at pollution hot spots in the town.
The benefits of this road involve far more than traffic improvements alone. Its route north of the town would open up much-improved access to industrial and business park sites that are small, land-locked, in poor condition and under-occupied, which means that existing businesses looking to expand are being forced to relocate. Moreover, the sites offer minimal opportunities for inward investment by new businesses. All this could radically change with the investment in these sites that improved connectivity both locally and regionally would justify. The benefits of opening them up are cited not only in the L2P document but in Cheshire East council’s draft development strategy, which states in its foreword that the council has

“a jobs-led development strategy, supported by improved connectivity through sustainable infrastructure such as the…Congleton Link Road”.

26 Mar 2013 : Column 1580
It goes on to say that the strategy

“seeks to promote the right conditions for jobs growth—by boosting the delivery of existing major employment sites, improving connectivity and identifying new areas for future investment and expansion.”

The Congleton link road will do just that.
Let me give a case study. The L2P document talks about Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows, which is based at Radnor Park estate, one of the business sites to the north of Congleton. SABB manufactures key aircraft components, and it is Congleton’s second largest employer. Key visitors to SABB include Boeing, Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Sadly, as the L2P document states, the condition of Radnor Park estate does not reflect its status as the home of a high-tech, world-class manufacturer. SABB is set to grow; indeed, 100 jobs are about to be attracted to the company very soon. However, if it is to remain in Congleton, it is crucial that Radnor Park estate is improved. Improvements to the Radnor Park site, and indeed to other business sites in the area, could provide knock-on benefits in terms of attracting additional new businesses and much-needed employment opportunities, particularly for young people, that cannot be overestimated. That is why over 60 local companies listed in the L2P document support the link road proposal, including the town’s biggest employer, Siemens, which says that

“this new artery has the potential to pump new levels of economic activity into this town.”

The proposals are also supported by Congleton town council, Congleton Partnership and the retail arm of Congleton Business Association, which say that there is a need to focus on contemporaneous support for the town centre’s public realm and retail sector to ensure that that part of the town flourishes, in conjunction with this redevelopment, just as much as the business parks. I believe that with appropriate creative thinking and investment, the town centre will indeed benefit, not only as a result of the improved traffic flow and access to the town centre, but because it will provide a more pleasant shopping and leisure experience, and, one hopes, increased footfall as a result. Other key supporters include Congleton high school, Eaton Bank school and Congleton Town football club, all of which have ambitious aspirations to develop their facilities—something that could be facilitated by the link road development, with its improved connectivity and release of land.
In association with the link road, there would be additional housing developments. These must be sensitively planned, taking into account the existing communities’ views. That is a very important consideration that we must continually be aware of.
I ask the Minister to raise this important local proposal with his colleagues in the Department of Transport in the hope that I, and others, will be able to meet Ministers there in the near future to discuss this project in greater detail.”

Commenting after Fiona’s contribution David Watson, Chairman of The East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce said:

“Our  Member of Parliament, Fiona Bruce MP,  is always there to support her constituents and the businesses within her constituency. On 26^th March ( her birthday, no less ) she once again brought to the attention of the house the needs of Congleton when she raised the issue of the proposed “Link Road”. Her five minute speech raised so many key pointers, and she also managed to name many of the other supporters of a link road, e.g. schools, leisure facilities, business groups and other businesses from across the area that recognise the need to link Cheshire East.”

Tim McCloud, Managing Director of TMC and Chairman of Link2Prosperity said:

“The Link2Prosperity (L2P) group was created to highlight what we believe is the key to unlocking Congleton and Cheshire East. It will ultimately help towards securing jobs and a future for the local economy. The people, schools, businesses, retail and community groups we have spoken to in Congleton are overwhelmingly in favour of a link road and improving the town and its facilities. The link road will also benefit the region, improving employment and securing a future for the next generation. The L2P group is delighted to have received such committed support from Fiona Bruce MP who is clearly dedicated to the creation of jobs within our town."

Anthony Bird, Managing Director of Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows said of the link road project

“Currently the town’s second largest employer, Senior Aerospace, has outgrown its existing factory on Radnor Park Estate. Senior Aerospace has 209 employees and has the potential to create another 200 jobs over the next five years however additional premises appropriate to high integrity aircraft parts are a necessity.

The management at Senior Aerospace is committed to the development of the company in Congleton but the lack of suitable premises in a modern industrial park with direct access to trunk roads supports a business case to move out of the area.

The link road with the associated development of Radnor Park Estate will enable Senior Aerospace and other local companies to develop and grow. It will also provide facilities to attract new companies to the town further benefitting the Congleton economy.

Businesses create local employment and wealth for an area but equally a thriving local community supports the development of business and also helps attract new businesses. This creates a virtuous circle benefitting both the businesses and the town.”

Inland Waterways Association - Wardle Lock

Grand Unveiling of the Maureen Shaw Panel at Wardle Lock

23 March 2013

Over a hundred people turned up at Wardle Lock, in Middlewich, on 23 March to join in the unveiling of a commemorative panel about the life of Maureen Shaw and the working boat community.  Maureen had, of course, lived in the Lock Cottage at Wardle with the result that it was often referred to as “Maureen’s Lock” and she was well known to both visiting boaters and the local community.

(Wardle Lock is on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal).

Fiona Bruce, MP, (current holder of the IWA’s Parliamentarian of the year for her support for the inland waterways) kindly opened the speeches, reminding people about the historical background and including the courageous role played by working boaters during the Second World War. This was then followed by Gillian Watson’s personal memories of Maureen during her latter years.  Maureen’s daughter, Sharron Underwood, had flown in from Thailand for the occasion and with some emotion, pulled the yellow ribbon away from the cover to reveal the commemorative panel in all its glory.

 

Fiona Bruce MP with Maureen's daughter, Sharron

Kerry Fletcher, Heritage Officer for Middlewich Town Council, brought display panels which showed aspects of the town during the times of the working boats and also gave more details of Maureen’s life story.

When Maureen Shaw died in 2012 there was a strong feeling amongst the boating community and others that her life, and that of the working boat community, should be commemorated in some way.  An appeal was launched at the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival in the June, and by Autumn a good proportion of the £1800 needed had been donated - mostly by individuals but also by boat clubs and societies from all over the country. 

Peter Bolt headed up the project, assisted by Gillian Watson – both of the Inland Waterways Association and the Trent & Mersey Canal Society and 23 March 2013 saw the culmination of nine months of effort, design work and construction.

The panel was made by Photocast, Liverpool and included two images of  working boats, by Sheila Webster, the well known waterways artist from Audlem.  The frame was made by Heap & Partners of Birkenhead who donated their costs. The whole unit was installed by the C&RT Small Tasks Team Volunteers, prior to the unveiling.

The aim was to ensure that boaters and other visitors to the lock would be reminded of the role that the working boats and families had played over many years and particularly Maureen’s story. She had been well known throughout the boating community and had given many talks about her early life on the boats – all from memory as, like many who worked on the boats at the time, she had never learned to read and write.  Hers was an extraordinary life - which is now recorded for future generations.

Peter Bolt would like to thank all those who supported the project, both financially and practically and who came along for the unveiling – despite the bitter weather.  Without their help, it would not have happened.

ParentPort One Stop Shop for online safety help

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes new ParentPort ‘one-stop shop’ for parents to keep their children safe on line

Fiona Bruce MP, who has long campaigned in Parliament as one of a number of MPs in a cross-party Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Child Protection which is pressing for reforms to protect children with better online protection, welcomes the move by online media complaints portal ‘ParentPort’ to introduce a ‘one-stop shop’ for parents to help them ensure the safety of their children online.

Fiona Bruce MP says

“This One Stop Shop will help parents to find the necessary tips and resources for keeping their children safe online, not just on their child’s computer but through social networking sites, games consoles or via their mobile phones. With polling showing 83% of people believe the easy availability of pornographic content online is damaging to our young people, this kind of help for parents who are often far less internet savvy than even their youngest children is invaluable and I welcome it. You can access this resource by going to http://www.parentport.org.uk/.”

ParentPort has brought together the advice and useful tips for staying safe online together and organised it into a number of easily accessible top tip categories to help parents learn more about setting up online controls, improving mobile safety and keeping children safe on social networking sites and when using online gaming consoles.

It is estimated that children aged between 8 and 11 years old have not met 12% of their online contacts with this rising to 25% for 12 to 15 year olds.

ParentPort say “One in ten (10%) parents say they do not have parental controls installed on the computer or laptop used by their child either because they don’t know how to do this, or are not aware that it is possible, rising to 21%-25% for fixed/mobile games consoles and 35% for mobile phones^.”

Fiona Bruce enlists stellar support for next stage in Financial Education project

Fiona Bruce enlists stellar support for next stage in Financial Education project

‘Superwoman’ Shirley Conran has joined forces with Fiona Bruce MP to bring opportunities for financial education and training for young people beyond the classroom walls.

Following the recent announcement by the Department of Education that Financial Education will be included in the curriculum in schools, Fiona Bruce is now extending her campaign for help with money management and advice to reach young people who would not ordinarily be able to access financial education within the school day. This could be because they have left school early, found maths lessons at school difficult, or simply lack support at home. The interactive online learning ‘MONEY STUFF’ programme enables people to access a 40 hour course anywhere at anytime to develop their maths ability in a fun and engaging way.

MONEY STUFF has been developed by Shirley Conran, author of whose books include Lace, and Superwoman and former columnist for Vanity Fair, women's editor of The Daily Mail and a feature writer for The Observer newspaper, with an aim to raise the aspirations of young women across the country.

Short stories are threaded through the exercises and the programme is written from the point of view of the learner-reader – not the author or teacher. The Course is available as an iPad ebook, using iBooks Author Textbook application. It can also be individually printed.

This programme will be made available to young people across the country in after-school clubs, youth centres, job centres, or on the internet for all.

Shirley Conran says “This cause is appropriate for anyone aged 13 to 99 and aims to enable people to control their finances –however much (or little) they have – rather than be controlled by them.”

At present this scheme is only available to girls but the one for boys is currently being worked on.

Fiona Bruce is also launching a Parliamentary Inquiry into how vulnerable young people can be helped to have a better understanding of managing money. The Inquiry will run for two months starting later this Spring.

Fiona Bruce MP commented:

“I believe Financial Education is vitally important and is an issue I have focused on since I was elected in 2010 and firmly believe it is critical that all are equipped to manage their finances. The well designed MONEY STUFF course is comprised of four components starting with simple addition and ending with personal budget setting and an understanding of interest calculations, so that our young people are equipped for life.

MONEY STUFF makes the vitally important link between maths and money. The programme includes DVD input, coloured illustrations, photographs and interactive areas which encourage readers to pay attention, to focus: visuals break up the text and project a real life relevance that is missing from most maths textbooks; they also remind us why maths is useful!

It is vital to ensure that members of the next generation are better equipped than those of the present generation to make informed financial decisions, for the sake of their well-being and that of our whole society. I believe that, over time, investment in financial education will reap exponential benefits for our society and firmly believe that financial education is necessary – prevention is better than cure.”

Married Person's Tax Allowance

Fiona Bruce criticises Government for not adhering to its commitment to parents on Married Person’s Tax Allowance

Speaking in Parliament last week Fiona Bruce said:

“I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

I welcome the Budget on behalf of the almost 4,000 hard- working small and medium-sized enterprises in my constituency—companies such as Dutton Contractors in Middlewich, which I visited on Friday and had the privilege of opening two new warehouses for. It is a family business that was started in 1974 by the father, John Dutton, who is a farmer. It sells and transports building construction materials. The son, Richard Dutton, has so developed the business recently that it now has 80 employees. The decision in the Budget to further stop Labour’s planned fuel rises is worth £7 to every family each time they fill up a family car, but it is worth considerably more to companies such as Dutton Contractors, which has a fleet of vehicles, so it very much welcomes the Budget.

Dutton Contractors also welcomed the £2,000 national insurance allowance. It was also welcomed, in particular, by Neon Freight Ltd, which is based in Holmes Chapel. Honours go to Ian Mallon, the proprietor of that freight forwarding company, and currently its sole employee, for giving the fastest response to the Budget. He sent me an e-mail at 1.28 pm—the Chancellor can barely have sat down. The e-mail’s subject was, “Employers tax/Budget”, and it reads:

“Great news… please send my thanks to G.O… I will be taking on staff this year.”

That is what I call a result.

Having said that, however, I am disappointed that the Government appear once again to have done nothing to honour their manifesto commitment—it is a coalition commitment and certainly a Conservative manifesto commitment—to recognise marriage in the tax system through transferable tax allowances for couples where one partner stays at home. Many people are genuinely bemused that such an important commitment should remain completely untouched well into the second half of this Parliament. They are increasingly bemused by the announcement of the introduction of tax-free child care worth up to £1,200 every year for children aged up to 12, but obtainable only by either single parents working or couples where both partners work. The Prime Minister said:

“This is a boost direct to the pockets of hard-working families in what will be one of the biggest measures ever introduced to help with childcare costs.”

But do families with one parent who stays at home not work hard, too? That has not sent out a positive message to mothers and fathers who stay at home and commit themselves to parenting; it does not say to them, as I think we should, “We value you.”

Mr Leigh: One advantage of the child tax allowance announced in the Budget is that it makes it almost inevitable that we will have to fulfil our coalition promise on a transferable tax allowance for married couples.

Fiona Bruce: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am not criticising the Government’s decision to support child care costs; I am saying that they have got the balance wrong by doing that while not at the same time honouring the coalition commitment for transferable tax allowances for married couples.

I have massive respect for those mothers and fathers who stay at home. I have never stayed at home to work and have always worked outside the home, but many parents do so sacrificially, and many parents in one-earner families, as Department for Work and Pensions figures clearly show, stay at home because they have to. Many have significant child care responsibilities for very young children, or care for sick or disabled relatives. It is interesting that the Government quoted OECD figures  in support of its decision last week. Let me quote some OECD figures: the tax burden on a one-earner, married couple family on an average wage in the UK is now 42% greater than the OECD average.

I have raised this issue in respect of every Budget since I have been in this House. Two years ago, having tabled an appropriate amendment to the Finance Bill, I received from my hon. Friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury a letter that said:

“Dear Fiona

I am writing to about the new clause on transferable personal allowances for married couples that you have tabled for the Finance Bill. I agree entirely that marriage is a positive institution and it is clear from our manifesto that we believe this should be recognised in the tax system.

We are keen to send a clear message that family and marriage matters and that strong and healthy families help create a strong and healthy society. We must do more to support families and the tax system is one way in which this can be achieved…you can rest assured that our commitment to bringing forward these changes remains firm and that we are assessing various options with a range of different costs and will bring forward proposals at the appropriate time.”

I believe that that time is now. If we genuinely believe in choice—a word much trumpeted last week on the announcement of support for child care costs—we should not be making it more difficult for mothers to stay at home but should give them that choice, too. The Prime Minister has said:

“If we are going to get control of public spending in the long term…we should target the causes of higher spending, one of which is family breakdown. We should do far more to recognise the importance of families, commitment and marriage”.—[Official Report, 2 June 2010; Vol. 510, c. 429.]

This year, I again call on the Government, at the third time of asking—it sounds a bit like calling the banns of marriage, but that is quite appropriate—to insert a provision into the Finance Bill, this time by way of their own amendment, to introduce transferable allowances for married couples. That is quite simply the right and honourable thing to do.”

Extra Funding for Primary School Sport

Local MP pleased with extra funding for sport in Primary Schools in Cheshire East

 

An extra £1,102,300 will go to primary schools across the Congleton Constituency to transform school sport, improve coaching for the youngest pupils and inspire the Olympic and Paralympic stars of the future.

London 2012 gave Britain a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire a nation to enjoy sport and the Government wants to embed that into the school day from an early age. The Prime Minister has announced a £150 million Olympic legacy fund to improve the quality of provision in every state primary school in England.

Fiona Bruce MP said:

‘Young people across Cheshire East will really benefit from this announcement. This money will help to secure the Olympic legacy and support our gold medal winners of the future.’

The Prime Minister, David Cameron said:

‘The Olympic and Paralympic Games marked an incredible year for this country and I will always be proud that we showed the world what Britain can do. I want to ensure the Games count for the future too and that means capitalising on the inspiration young people took from what they saw during those summer months. This investment will benefit a whole generation of children for many years to come.’

Olympic gold winner, Jess Ennis CBE said:

“It is great to see initiatives that help to give really young children the chance to take part in sport. This latest funding for primary schools sounds fantastic – now whether in an inner city or small rural community, young kids will be introduced to fun ways to be active that will spark an interest in taking part in sport as they grow up.”

Double Olympic Champion, Mo Farah CBE said:

“It is great to see a commitment to funding school sport and that it is something I passionately believe in. I am very excited to know that lots of children will be able to get involved in sport while at school and get more help from teachers and coaches. It really is very important.”

Success for Middlewich Artisan Market Team

MP congratulates Middlewich Artisan Market at celebratory event in House of Commons

The team behind the Middlewich Artisan Market were awarded the Most Highly Transferable Project Award by Action for Market Towns at an event in the House of Commons recently. The team had previously won two regional rounds in order to scoop this national award.

Fiona Bruce, who is an ardent supporter of Middlewich Artisan Market said:

“I was delighted to congratulate Denise Valente and Vicky Jackson of The Artisan Market Company who run the Artisan food, drink and handcrafts market in Wheelock Street, Middlewich, on the last Saturday of the month. The event also gave me the opportunity to thank Middlewich Town Council for their unstinting and very practical support towards making the Artisan Market happen.

Fiona continued “This market has really added to the character of Middlewich with its seasonal local farm produce, artisan breads and meats, fine food and hand-crafted cheeses, all produced and sources by local people. As well as offering original and though provoking hand crafted items by local artists and crafts people. I recommend Middlewich Artisan Market for a family day out, together with a visit to the interesting independent shops which line Wheelock Street. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful day out at the 1^st Artisan Market and it is getting better every time I visit.”