Tuesday 22 December 2015

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes announcement of Government money pledged to combating malaria

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes announcement of Government money pledged to combating malaria

Fiona Bruce MP is pleased that the Department for International Development announced recently that the Government will be pledging £1bn towards combating malaria and other infectious diseases. The announcement comes ahead of the Spending Review on Wednesday, which will see a fundamental restructuring of Britain’s aid budget along with an increased focus on prosperity and security.

The fund, known as the Ross Fund, will be run in partnership with US philanthropists, Bill and Melinda Gates who are known for their work championing the cause of malaria across the globe.

The fund is named after Sir Donald Ross, the first ever British Nobel Laureate who was recognised for his discovery that mosquitoes transmit malaria. The Chancellor first pledged to see malaria tackled and eventually eliminated on a visit to Uganda in 1997 where he saw the devastation that the disease causes.

Fiona is both a member of the International Development Select Committee and an Officer of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases and as such has actively campaigned for this funding, so is extremely pleased that the Government is recognising the need for assistance in this area.


Fiona said:This announcement of £1bn of funding towards combating these deadly diseases is immensely valuable. I have seen first-hand the devastation that malaria can cause, indeed, a young friend in Africa sadly dies from it. We have already made great strides in the global fight against malaria and the UK has shown tremendous leadership, but there is still a long way to go. This commitment from the Government will have an enormous impact in seeing malaria and other infectious diseases eradicated once and for all, saving some 600 million lives across the globe.’

Friday 18 December 2015

Fiona Bruce MP attends St Luke’s Hospice support event in Middlewich

Fiona Bruce MP attends St Luke’s Hospice support event in Middlewich

Pam Clarkson, owner of Jennie Edwards fabric shop in Middlewich held a Festive Open Day today with mulled wine and mince pies in support of St Luke’s Hospice.



 

Fiona Bruce MP said

As Vice President of St Luke’s, it was a pleasure to support the Festive Open Day at the Jennie Edwards shop in Middlewich. I was particularly pleased to be there as support for St Luke’s by the shop owner, Pam Clarkson, is an ongoing commitment to the hospice. Pam, supported by Winsford Upholster, Richard Edwards, donates items of furniture, available through the shop, in support of St Luke’s which Richard beautifully reupholsters full of charge like the chair in the photo, upholstered in archive William Morris fabric in St Luke’s primary colour of blue.”


Pam told Fiona that “As an individual shop we attract customers not only from Middlewich but also from Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, and further afield and I would like to thank all my customers who attended the Festive Open Day and for their support throughout the year.” 

Fiona Bruce MP speaks in Parliament on importance of early intervention and support for better outcomes for children

Fiona Bruce MP speaks in Parliament on importance of early intervention and support for better outcomes for children

Fiona Bruce MP spoke yesterday in Parliament on the launch this week of an in-depth report from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) of which Fiona Bruce is Vice-Chair (http://www.fasdtrust.co.uk/) and urged Government to radically review its advice to expectant Mothers regarding alcohol intake during pregnancy and that the UK Government should be saying – as many other countries do, that no alcohol is safest for baby and you” and that without such a clear message, pregnant women in the UK are left confused and uncertain.”
Quoting from the report Fiona Bruce said
“this is astonishing and deeply worrying, and something which must be rectified as a matter of urgency.”
She addedThe original clinical diagnosis of FASD was made in 1973. Our inquiry showed that in the four decades since then, the UK as a whole has still barely acknowledged its existence. That must change, and the Government must take a lead.”
Fiona’s contribution came during a debate on the 1001 Critical Days Manifesto Report launched in the last Parliament to which Fiona Bruce contributed and which was re-launched with additional support from new MPs this week in Parliament.
Fiona Bruce said “The importance of the first 1001 days in a child’s life, starting with conception, cannot be overstated. Identifying a baby’s needs as early as possible in a baby’s development can significantly improve the long term health and mental well-being outcomes. The benefits to both the baby and the parent are immense with society as a whole enriched if we can get a pre – Troubled Families Programme engaged into our mindset of how we do our public health and children’s social care across Government nationally and locally.”

END

Notes to Editor

1.    MPs from all parties have put their names in support of the 1001 Critical Days Manifesto (http://www.1001criticaldays.co.uk/) and are pressing ministers to adopt it as a Government policy across a number of departments.

The 1001 Critical Days Manifesto takes its title from the period from conception to age 2 when a baby’s brain is developing fastest and he or she is most susceptible to forming strong bonds of attachment with a primary carer, which will have a lasting impact and certainly set a child up for the best start in life, in school and into adulthood if we get it right.

The Manifesto highlights that many of the social problems seen in society today have resulted from poor parenting skills often as a result of a parent having had bad experiences as a baby and creating generational downward spiral. The goal is for every baby to receive sensitive, appropriate and responsive care from their main caregivers in the first years of life with more proactive help from the NHS, health visitors, children’s centres and other public bodies engaged in a joined – up preventative strategy to affect great change, as pregnancy and the birth of a baby is a critical window of opportunity. 

Monday 7 December 2015

Fiona Bruce MP supports Small Business Saturday

Fiona Bruce MP supports Small Business Saturday

Fiona Bruce MP visited Rode Hall Christmas Market on Small Business Saturday, 5th December, to support local small businesses.

Fiona met with local small businesses including, Ann Rogers, founder and producer of Alsager Pottery, and with Carole Vestey of Woodside Apiaries of Rode Hall Estate, Scholar Green which sells honey and candles from the bees it has had for over 40 years.


Fiona said 



Small Business Saturday is now in its third year, with hundreds of thousands of small businesses participating. Its aim is to highlight small business success and to encourage the UK to support small business. It was a pleasure to meet up on the day with original, innovative and quality small businesses. Alsager Pottery produce traditional English slipware platters and chargers which are hand thrown in a small family workshop using local red clay and exporting all over the world as well as available locally such as at the Salt Line Studio, Crewe Road, Alsager. Woodside Apiaries sell their honey and candles locally at Little Moreton Hall and at Tatton Hall and are first prize winners at the Nantwich Show.”

Friday 27 November 2015

Fiona Bruce praises charity Visyon

FIONA BRUCE MP PRAISES WORK OF LOCAL YOUNG PERSONS’ CHARITY VISYON IN PRIME MINISTER’S QUESTIONS


Fiona Bruce has this week praised the work of local charity Visyon, the Congleton-based charity which works to preserve and promote good mental health of local young people.

Speaking to a packed House of Commons, Fiona Bruce MP saidVisyon, the excellent children’s mental health charity in Congleton, tells me that the lack of a secure family life is a root cause of many of the problems experienced by the children it helps.”

Fiona Bruce MP went on to ask the Prime Minister to ensure that the Government did more to ensure all policies announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, outlining Government spending, promoted and protected family life, saying: “The Prime Minister is a champion of family life, so will he confirm that announcements to be made later today will pass his family test by providing security for family relationships and opportunities for vulnerable children?”

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed her comments and agreed to ensure that Government policies supported the family: “She is absolutely right to say that families are the best welfare state that we have. They bring up our children, they teach us the right values and they care for us when we are sick and unwell. We want to help families, and the Chancellor will have something to say about that later as we boost the national living wage, as we deliver tax cuts for working people and, crucially, as we help with childcare. As I have said before, all these policies should pass the test of helping Britain’s families.”

Speaking afterwards, Fiona Bruce MP added: “I was pleased to be able to raise with the Prime Minister the excellent work of Visyon, which does so much to support young people and to help parents to protect their children’s mental health and development. The Prime Minister is absolutely right that the families is the best and first welfare state we have. Relationship breakdown is a tragedy for every family involved and costs the country almost £50billion a year, whereas at present the Government is only investing £7.5million to strengthen family relationships. There is much more to be done to support and protect families, and one way would be for more Government funding to be invested in relationship education – as well as parenting education -  to help families build strong, secure, and stable relationships.”

Following the Prime Minister’s answer, Gervase McGrath, Chief Executive at Visyon said: “At Visyon, we are seeing an increasing need to offer support to families with multiple needs. The effects of the recession led to extra pressures on parents, which impacted the whole family. This in turn has led to a rise in the number of children being referred to Visyon with anxiety, depression and challenging behaviour. We are grateful to Fiona Bruce for raising this very important issue at Prime Ministers Questions today and were heartened by the reassurances offered by Mr Cameron.”




Fiona Bruce MP’s full question, and the Prime Minister’s answer, can be found here.


More information about Visyon can be found here.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Fiona Bruce MP secures recovery of decision on 119 houses in Goostrey by Secretary of State

Fiona Bruce MP secures recovery of decision on 119 houses in Goostrey by Secretary of State

After a long campaign, including speaking several times about this in the House of Commons, Fiona Bruce MP has obtained the agreement of the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government to recover a planning application for 119 houses at Main Road, Goostrey. This means that the Secretary of State will personally look into this application.

Fiona Bruce MP said “I am very pleased that Secretary of State has listened to the concerns which I and others, have raised for many months now that this planning application is completely inappropriate for Goostrey, not least because of the disproportionate pressure it would place on local services but also because serious concerns about the impact on the world leading scientific work at Jodrell Bank. Whilst we do not know what the outcome of the Secretary of State’s decision will be, I am hopeful that he will see the many problems that such a development will cause.”


ENDS

NOTE TO EDITOR


-       A “recovered inquiry” is basically a planning appeal (against a local authority’s decision) which the Secretary of State can decide to determine himself, rather than allowing a planning inspector to take the final decision, as is the normal process. The law stems from section 79 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Fiona Bruce and John Culshaw campaign for improvements to care for the terminally ill

LOCAL MP FIONA BRUCE & JON CULSHAW CAMPAIGN FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL

Pledge of support comes as 86% of people agree everyone should have the right to palliative care

Congleton Constituency MP, Fiona Bruce, has pledged to champion the concerns of local people with a terminal illness by lending her support to Marie Curie’s campaign calling for improved support for palliative care when they need it.

Fiona teamed up with Marie Curie Nurse Sally Monger-Godfrey and renowned impressionist Jon Culshaw to back the campaign from the UK’s leading charity for people living with any terminal illness and their families.

The campaign comes as Marie Curie revealed that more than half of people over the age of 50 in the UK – of whom there are 26 million - are not confident that they will get the care they need towards the end of their life.

Currently, one in four people each year who need palliative care miss out on it because their needs are not recognised and they are not referred on to the right services.  To prevent this figure from increasing, Marie Curie is calling for a change in the way care is provided.

Jon Culshaw, a valued supporter of Marie Curie, said: “Like most of us, I believe that everyone should have the right to palliative care when they need it. That’s why I’m supporting Marie Curie’s campaign to make this a reality.”

Fiona has pledged to help ensure that any constituents who have a terminal illness know what services and benefits they are entitled to; and work with local NHS services to improve access to and quality of palliative care for those who need it.

Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy & Public Affairs for England at Marie Curie, said: We are incredibly grateful to Fiona for supporting Marie Curie’s campaign.  More needs to be done to ensure that people with a terminal illness get access to the high quality care and support they need and deserve.

“Making this a reality also requires support at a national level.  The Government can play its part by investing in palliative and end of life care services to help transform the way care is provided locally to people with a terminal illness now and in the future.”
 

If you or someone you’re close to has a terminal illness, you can call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or visit mariecurie.org.uk/help.  You can also share experiences and talk to people in a similar situation on the Marie Curie community .

Friday 20 November 2015

Fiona Bruce to present Fair School Funding Petition to Parliament

Fiona Bruce to present Fair School Funding Petition to Parliament

Within the coming week Fiona Bruce MP will present a petition of 500 signatures from Congleton residents requesting Fairer Funding for areas of England like Cheshire East.
The petition, which will be presented to the Speaker of the House of Commons “declares that the petitioners believe the existing school funding model in England is arbitrary and unfair, further declares that the ten best funded areas of England have on average received grants of £6300 per pupil this year, compared to an average of £4200 per pupil in the ten most poorly funded areas of England and request the earliest possible introduction of a new National Funding Formula for schools in England.”

Fiona Bruce saidThis petition is part of an ongoing campaign which I, and other MPs representing constituencies where education is inadequately funded, have conducted to challenge and press the Government to address this unfairness and improve the funds which our local schools have to provide for a wide range of subjects, good resources, well maintained buildings, reasonably sized classes and excellent pastoral support.”

Fiona Bruce continued: “I am in no doubt that the Chancellor has heard our concerns, not only as a result of the support from local residents for this petition but also from the strong engagement in this campaign from Headteachers like many across my constituency and with this petition about to be presented in Parliament within the next few days I, and other MPs, am asking the Chancellor to take action in this week’s spending review”


1.         The F40 campaign represents a group of the lowest funded education authorities in England where government-set cash allocations for primary and secondary pupils are the lowest in the country.  As the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ remains and in some cases continues to widen, F40 is campaigning to change the way the government allocates funding to local authorities and schools.

2.         The F40 campaign has support from MPs, councillors, education directors, governors, head teachers and parents. Teaching unions including the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) both support a new national funding formula.

3.         F40’s proposals would deliver fairness to areas which have been underfunded for far too long. 




Alsager Ladies Lifeboat Guild supported by Fiona Bruce MP at Christmas Coffee Morning

Alsager Ladies Lifeboat Guild supported by Fiona Bruce MP at Christmas Coffee Morning

Fiona Bruce MP supported the Alsager Ladies Lifeboat Guild Christmas Coffee Morning at St Mary’s Church, Alsager on Saturday. The Guild, which has been operating in Alsager for more than 60 years, raises funds for the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

This year the Christmas Coffee Morning sold homemade cakes, crafts, and Christmas Table Decorations as well as RNLI goods and a raffle of a painting of a Lifeboat out on a rescue donated by a local artist.

The morning took over £1200.


A spokesperson for the Guild saidWe are absolutely thrilled with the result which is probably one of our best ever for a Coffee Morning. The people of Alsager are always incredibly supportive of our fundraising efforts and we would like to thank everyone who attended. We are also grateful to our Local MP, Fiona Bruce, for her kind and continuing support. Please look out for details of our next event!”

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Fiona Bruce MP raises alcohol awareness in Parliament

Fiona Bruce MP raises alcohol awareness in Parliament

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, raised a question in Parliament this week, to mark alcohol awareness week, about the possibility of a lower drink driving limit.

Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): “This is alcohol awareness week. In Scotland, the number of drink-driving offences dropped by 17% in the first three months after the introduction of a lower drink-driving limit. In the light of this encouraging evidence, is the Minister’s Department looking at the public health implications of reviewing the drink-driving limit in England and Wales as part of its alcohol review?”

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison): “Obviously, tackling drink-driving remains a priority for the Government. We will be interested to see a robust and comprehensive evaluation of the change to the Scottish drink-driving limit, and I can confirm that Public Health England’s review of the public health impacts of alcohol will include drink-driving. Obviously, some of the issues my hon. Friend raises are for the Department for Transport, but I can confirm that we will be looking at this issue, and I will be interested to see the evidence.”
The UK currently has one of the highest blood alcohol limits for driving in the world, at 80mg of alcohol per every 100ml of blood.  14% of all deaths in reported road traffic accidents in 2013 involved at least 1 driver over the drink drive limit[1]

Late last year, Scotland lowered its limit to be 50mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. Preliminary figures suggest the new limit and its accompanying awareness-raising campaign has had a positive influence on the number of drink drivers,[2] and brings Scotland in line with much of Europe. 

Commenting, Fiona Bruce MP said: “The tragic costs of drink driving are significant, both to individuals and their families, and the risks to innocent bystanders are unacceptable. Almost one in six deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal alcohol limit. Tougher laws and greater enforcement would help prevent these casualties and with the anticipated positive evidence that will be emerging from Scotland in the coming months showing that a lower drink driving limit reduces the risk of tragic accidents, including to innocent bystanders and passengers,, I will be launching the campaign in Westminster to lower the drink driving limit in England and save lives.”


ENDS

NOTE TO EDITOR

The APPG on Alcohol Harm is currently conducting an Inquiry, chaired by Fiona Bruce MP, in Parliament into the impact of excess alcohol consumption on the emergency services. Further information about this can be obtained from the Secretariat of the APPG, Alcohol Concern.

Monday 16 November 2015

UK Aid Programme must support religious freedom


Lord Alton of Liverpool is an Independent Cross-bench Peer.Fiona Bruce is MP for Congleton, a member of the International Development Select Committee and Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. 
While the argument about whether our development aid programme funding should be ring-fenced divides parliamentary and public opinion, a common ground for all is that if we are going to invest in this way then we should get good value for money.
It is sometimes said that putting expectations of behaviour on aid to foreign governments would further fuel extremism, and make life more difficult for Christians and other minorities in those countries, who might be blamed for the reduction. Certainly care should be taken not to make matters worse – the ‘do no harm’ principle – and there may be truth in the idea that Christians in some countries could suffer further if aid was withdrawn. An alternative to simply withdrawing aid would be to channel more aid through non-governmental organisations and civil society.
Concern for minorities, pluralism and tolerance – a rich harvest
But it is not unreasonable to expect, where aid is being distributed, certain behaviour in terms of treatment of minorities, as well as the need for pluralism, tolerance and diversity. Such an approach can yield both a pragmatic harvest as well as chiming with the very best of “British values”. Where these values flourish, extremism can be confounded; where these values wilt, we see the catastrophic driving out of millions of people from their homes.
Around the world, ideological hatred of difference is driving a systematic campaign of deportation and exodus, degrading treatment, including sexual violence, enslavement, barbaric executions, and attempts to destroy all history, culture and beliefs that are not their own.
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights insists that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others”. Gross violations of this human right conflict with some of the key values our country stands for. However, UK Aid is sadly going to some countries in which violations of Article 18 occur. It is important to understand and challenge this where appropriate, for the very reasons expressed above. Where freedom of thought, belief, or speech are restricted, other human rights violations can follow in their wake – discrimination, persecution, crimes against humanity and even genocide.
No one left behind
David Cameron has been key in the drafting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which set a bold vision for a fairer, better future for tomorrow’s world. In a marked departure from the Millennium Development Goals which preceded them, the much broader aspirations of the SDGs include, as Goal 10, to: ‘Reduce inequality within and among countries,’ and, as Goal 16, to: ‘Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all.’
Reflecting on these SDGs, Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, says that taxpayers’ money should be spent to promote peace, jobs and justice: “leaving no one behind.” Committing to the SDGs, as the UK and 192 other countries did this autumn at the United Nations, means a radical review of how we ‘do aid’. This is therefore a timely opportunity for a fresh consideration of the application of Article 18 in terms of aid provision.
Snapshot: Pakistan
So how do we measure the success of such an approach in places like Pakistan?  What would we regard as success or failure? How can it be ensured, for example, that funding for education is not being spent on promoting a curriculum that fuels intolerance, or to extremist madrassas that preach hatred?
This year, our aid programme to Pakistan is £405 million – £1.17 billion since 2011. This is a country where a mob of 1,200 people recently forced two children to watch as their Christian parents were burned alive. Pakistan has imposed a death penalty on a mother of five, Asia Bibi, for so-called blasphemy; it has still to bring to justice the murderers of Shahbaz Bhatti, the country’s Minister for Minorities; and it is a country where churchgoers have been murdered in their pews. This week, as we took evidence from the minorities who have suffered in Pakistan, we heard the story of that country’s one remaining self-professing Jew – from a community which was once numbered in its thousands. Minorities groups —Shias, Ahmadis and Christians—have experienced discrimination and outright persecution. While Pakistan has been receiving vast sums of money, the response from Pakistan, to these concerning issues and incidents, has been indifference, at best, .
Snapshot: Eritrea
Britain is a significant contributor to the European Union aid package of $300 million handed over to the Eritrean regime, led by Isaias Afwerki. In June a United Nations Commission of Inquiry accused it of “gross human rights violations.” Recently, at a hearing in Parliament, witnesses described to us deaths, torture, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, indefinite military conscription, forced labour and persecution of religious believers. The country’s population is haemorrhaging as those who are able to do so try to escape.
Every month up to 5,000 people leave Eritrea. In total 10 per cent of the population (350,000 people) have fled. Many of those individuals who try to make the perilous Mediterranean crossing are fleeing Eritrea. Persecution dogs their steps at every turn, and Christians who flee into Libya face the risk of beheading by the local mutation of ISIS.
The challenge for DFID is how to ensure that the substantial monies flowing into Eritrea are used to create better conditions for its people and in ways which genuinely tackle the root causes of the exodus of refugees fleeing such regimes, without which we are never going to see an end to the refugee crisis or the sprawling camps which are now home to millions.
Snapshot: Syria
Genocide and oppression of minorities
In responding to those from Syria who have had to abandon everything and become refugees we should also measure their plight against Article 18 – because the most vulnerable groups are undoubtedly the minority communities. A former Yazidi (a religious community in Syria) MP told us that 3,000 Yazidi girls are still in ISIS hands, suffering rape and abuse. She said: “The Yazidi people are going through mass murder. The objective is their annihilation…500 young children have been captured, being trained as killing machines, to fight their own people. This is a genocide and the international community should say so”.
We should indeed name this genocide for what it is. Our failure to do so in Rwanda had fatal consequences for millions.
Using the rule of law, and making it clear to those who are responsible for these crimes that their “Nuremburg moment” will come one day, would be consistent with our own values. So should be the way we direct our aid programmes – not least in the Middle East where we talk with great pride of our significant financial contribution.
So addressing the level of persecution of Christians, Yazidis and other minorities, vulnerable people who clearly fall within the UN’s criteria of “specific need”, should be one of our priorities.
Even places of refuge can be dangerous
Many minorities escaping Syria have either fled refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and the Kurdish Autonomous Region – or have never risked entering them. This is because they suffer attacks, inside the camps, by radical Islamists, and they are now instead living in informal tented settlements.
A British newspaper recently reported that ISIS is sending teams of men posing as refugees with the mission of either kidnapping or killing Christians, and sending gangsters to the camps to kidnap young refugee girls and sell them as sex slaves. The newspaper reported that aid workers dare not report such occurrences because of fears for their own lives.
That intolerance and persecution can even be exported from the region is already clear from Germany, where reports emerged last week of minorities being attacked within refugee shelters there by Islamists, with increasing frequency and ferocity.
The House of Commons International Development Select Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the Syrian Refugee Crisis. At an evidence session recently, a witness, speaking on behalf of an organisation which works in the region directly with refugees, gave testimony that “we are not aware of Christians being within UN registered camps” – the camps to which UK Aid makes a substantial funding contribution. The Committee was told that Christians avoid these camps – and therefore access to the support within them – because of fear: “if your culture is different, you stand out and are more of a target, which makes you nervous to go there.”
Another witness in written evidence to the inquiry states, “Christians are generally not able to go to camps for fear of intimidation and risk…Because many Christians and other minority groups do not enter the camps due to fear of religious persecution, this would result in them being doubly disadvantaged as they will not have equal access to the scheme.” This double disadvantage refers to effective exclusion from the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme – after having already been driven away from their home towns or villages, often as a result of religious persecution – these refugees, surviving outside the UN camps, have no chance of being selected as some of the 20,000 refugees the UK has committed to welcome here. An Archbishop familiar with the region says that if they are outside the refugee camps “The UN don’t really help these families.”
Safeguarding Freedom
One of the challenges for aid organisations is to ensure that there is adequate religious literacy amongst those working for them, in an increasingly complex environment. So, a challenge for DFID should be to ensure that where aid is provided or contracts are awarded, it is channelled to civil-society organisations and government programmes which demonstrate a sufficiently sophisticated understanding of the challenges in that area to the enjoyment of the human right of freedom of religion or belief, and can show how their work will have a positive impact in this respect.
This means not only attending to the needs of those who suffer the consequences of a breach of Article 18 – whether homelessness, malnutrition or worse – but also having the expertise to promote understanding, mediation and reconciliation within and between communities, and so help prevent fragile situations and states developing in the first place. It also needs to be pro-active in promoting international debate and dialogue around the implications of Article 18, for any faith or none.
We all need to have a greater understand of the golden thread which links religious freedom to safe prosperous and stable societies, and that doing so would be one way to help prevent forced mass migration and movements of people.
For, as the Prime Minister also says, “No believer should have to live in fear…Now is not the time for silence. We must stand together and fight for a world where no one is persecuted because of what they believe”.

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Keep Me Posted

Fiona Bruce MP supports ‘Keep Me Posted’ campaign in Parliament

The campaign ‘Keep Me Posted’ is in support of consumers rights to choose paper bills or statements without charges or penalties, without removing paper or altering frequency unless prior agreement, without taking away continued access to online.

Banks and other service providers are increasingly restricting access to paper bills and statements with little or no consultation. Customers are often charged a fee for the privilege of a paper statement.

The campaign is a partnership of more than 80 leading charities, consumer organisations, trades unions and businesses working to ensure that all service providers offer the consumer the choice of how they receive information whether it be post or digital. 81% of adults want to have the choice whether to receive their information digitally or post, 84% of UK adults do not like it when companies take away their right to choose how they are communicated with.

The UK already lags behind other countries such as Spain, France, Germany and Finland, where the right for consumers to receive free paper bills and statements is enshrined in law.
Fiona Bruce has supported this campaign since its inception, and attended a recent session at Parliament to sign a petition, supporting the campaign movement to call on service providers to give customers the choice of free regular paper bills and statements and to sign the six point pledge.

Judith Donovan CBE, who chairs Keep Me Posted, said:
“I am grateful to Fiona Bruce MP for giving us the time to support the campaign today, and for fighting for the right of her constituents to have the choice of a paper bill or statement.”


Fiona Bruce MP said:

“I am continuously supportive of ensuring residents receive information in the form which is preferable to them without any such penalties from service providers. Currently, 16 million consumers aged fifteen and over do not have online access. The Office for National Statistics estimates 5.2 households in the UK do not have internet access and are reliant on their bills coming through post. These residents should not be penalised for issues beyond their control and should have the option of how they receive their information without any additional charges. Additionally, without paper statements people are more likely to miss payments and unable to manage or track their finances.

Technology is become more prevalent, but we must ensure we accommodate everyone whether they have access to a computer or not. For those who feel they prefer to rely on posted information we should accommodate them, not penalise them.”


You can sign up to the Keep Me Posted campaign yourself by calling 020 7566 9773, writing to Keep Me Posted, 24a St John’s Street, London, EC4P 4DZ or sharing your stories, preferences and experiences at www.keepmeposted.uk.com.  

Friday 23 October 2015

Fiona Bruce MP nominates local Middlewich business for prestigious award

Fiona Bruce MP nominates local Middlewich business for prestigious award


Local Middlewich butcher shop run by Aiden Devaney has been nominated by Fiona Bruce MP for the 11th annual Countryside Alliance Butcher Award.


The Countryside Alliance Awards, nicknamed the Rural Oscars, were borne of a need to support and promote rural communities. The Awards recognise and honour those who routinely go the extra mile to ensure rural Britain’s food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprise and, most of all, its people, can flourish.

Nominations are open to the public and are open until 2nd November, with judging then taking place and a grand final held at Parliament in Westminster in Spring 2016. The categories for the Awards are Local Food and Drink, Tourism, Village Shop/ Post Office and Butcher.

Fiona Bruce MP said:

“These awards are an excellent way to promote the local businessmen and women who are working hard to keep rural Britain thriving. Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition. Anyone is able to nominate any local business within the Award categories and hope the community get involved.

I have known Aiden for many years and understand his business is like a child to him as he developed the business at the age of 21 from nothing which is a great accomplishment for any business person. The quality of his meat is excellent – as are his Christmas turkeys! The business has been running for nearly 25 years and is a fundamental part of the Middlewich community. Aiden is a remarkable role model for any young entrepreneur and has contributed to the community through the Artisan Market, helped at town events and visited schools to talk about his profession. Let us see if we can bring a British title home to Middlewich!”

Anyone wishing to nominate a local business can do so through the Countryside Alliance website or via post to:

Countryside Alliance
The Rural Oscars
1 Spring Mews
Tinworth Street
London
SE11 5EH


Thursday 22 October 2015

Human Rights in China

MP LEADS URGENT HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE ON CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, has today tabled the following Urgent Question to the Government in the House of Commons, which has been accepted by the Speaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on China, following reports that human rights lawyer Zhang Kai imminently faces a severe prison sentence or the death penalty, for defending civil liberties.

Fiona Bruce MP will tell the House that ‘Zhang Kai’s case is significance not only in itself, but because he is one of almost 300 lawyers and human rights defenders detained since 10 July’ in China. Whilst many have been released, at least 20 are still in custody or have ‘disappeared’, their whereabouts unknown.

In light of the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Fiona Bruce will also challenge the Government that ‘Given the announcement yesterday of billions of pounds of investment from China in the UK, and British trade and investment in China, is it not vital that we ensure that human rights and the rule of law are promoted and protected in China? Not only is this important for the people of China, and therefore a moral imperative, but it is also surely in our own national interest.’

Fiona Bruce MP will say that she recognises the significance of the business relationship and dialogue with China, but hopes that human rights and the rule of law will be at the centre of this relationship. She will also invite other Member to raise further concerns on China’s human rights record.


The Urgent Question is expected to be called by the Speaker at 10:30

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Alsager One World 2015

Fiona Bruce MP visits Alsager High School for Alsager Ladies Circle One World Event

Fiona Bruce, Member of Parliament for Congleton once again praised Alsager annual One World Festival organised by Alsager Ladies Circle at Alsager High School for contributing to resident’s awareness of other cultures.

October 10th saw hundreds of people come together to celebrate the rich diversity of culture within the community.

The festival aims to build upon relationships and increase awareness of different countries’ customs with use of unique dishes, costumes and artefacts. Organised by Alsager Ladies Circle and local residents, the festival involves displays of food, clothes and produce by residents who originate from or have links with other countries and cultures. The annual festival invites the community to a unique experience involving a variety of workshops, performances and craft activities for all ages.

The event was attended by Fiona Bruce MP, Cheshire East Council Mayor Hilda Gaddum and Councillor Simon Bishop, chair of Alsager Town Council.

Fiona Bruce MP said she was once again amazed by the work put into the event.

“I always enjoy attending the Alsager One World Festival which goes from strength to strength every year. It is an excellent way to showcase that despite the difference in cultures and traditions we are, in fact, one world.

“I visited all the stalls and enjoyed the variety of dishes, speaking to people about their culture and what impressed me most was how the community comes together and gets involved, learning about other cultures.”


“One of the reasons why I enjoy being an MP is attending community events such as this and seeing the community coming together. It’s been a privilege to attend the One World Festival over several years.”

Saturday 17 October 2015

Progress on Improvements for Middlewich

Fiona Bruce MP and Middlewich First secure progress on improvements for Middlewich

After almost a year of pressing Cheshire East Council to invest in a wide range of major improvements for Middlewich, confirmation has been obtained by Fiona Bruce of progress on work on town centre projects.

In a letter sent this week to the MP by Cheshire East Council, the authority has now responded as attached.

Fiona Bruce said today:

“As Member of Parliament for Middlewich I am pleased that after almost a year of continuously pressing Cheshire East Council to fairly support the facilities which Middlewich people deserve, Middlewich First Councillors and I can now announce clear progress on a very wide range of projects for the benefit of the town.

There is a way to go yet before residents will see the results of the extreme hard work we have put in over the past year, fighting for these improvements, but residents can now see that constructive steps are being taken to deliver for Middlewich safer roads, better facilities for locals and visitors, promotion of the town as a boating centre of Cheshire with real resources behind this and the release of hundreds of thousands of pounds held by Cheshire East Council to be used for improving areas, town centre regeneration and other new facilities.

Getting this far has not come without tough words to Cheshire East Council; and I have no doubt that if we had not seriously challenged them to deliver on these projects, progress this far would not have been made. I will not take my feet off the pedals until these improvements have actually been delivered for Middlewich.  In particular I call on Cheshire East to release the £700,521 they hold for Middlewich without further delay – there are areas in town which urgently need updating. I also challenge Cheshire East to progress works on pedestrian crossing improvements as a matter of urgency, something which must be prioritised for safety reasons.

I pay credit to Middlewich First Councillors Simon McGrory, Mike Parsons and Bernice Walmsley for the effective way they work with me, cross party, in the interests of local people, setting party political differences aside – this is what residents want and how we can deliver for them.”

Cllr Simon McGrory speaking on behalf of Middlewich First said:
“I know Fiona works hard for Middlewich and gives us more than her fair share of time and support. Working together is the best way we can achieve results. We have spent a lot of time working through plans and ideas, and I am confident we will get the results that will benefit Middlewich and our residents.”
Cllr Bernice Walmsley of Middlewich First also said:

‘After many months of meetings and discussions it is good to see some support for Middlewich from Cheshire East Council start to appear in the form of contributions to our FAB Festival, marketing and the like. However, we have yet to see tangible support on the bigger projects we have discussed but I am very optimistic that the needs of Middlewich will no longer be ignored. The ‘proof of the pudding will be in the eating’ as they say, so I look forward to seeing some real results.’

Friday 16 October 2015

Cheshire Campaign to Recycle Food Waste

Fiona Bruce MP supports campaign to recycle food waste.

Congleton Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce met with Cheshire Waste Reduction Ambassadors to help promote the recycling of left over food.

The Waste Reduction Volunteer Programme is a partnership programme from Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council with Waste Watch. The programme has been created to reach out to the local community and inspire the public to change their thinking about food waste.

National statistics show that the UK wastes large amounts of food, such as 300,000 tonnes of poultry, 770,000 tonnes of potatoes, 660,000 tonnes of bread all within a space of a year. Within the EU an estimated 89 million tonnes of food is wasted. Half of food waste is produced through households and 1.3% by supermarket chains. Since 2007 the UK has reduced its avoidable household food waste by 21% however the average UK household still throws away the equivalent of 6 meals a week.

Fiona Bruce met with Waste Reduction Ambassadors Pauline Southwell and Nicola McAra who demonstrated how left over food can be used to create nutritious meals, save money and make the most of what is left in your cupboard. More information can be found at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/cheshire.

Fiona Bruce MP said:
“This is a great local project with some really practical ideas to make nutritious meals out of food that we otherwise not use. I commend the volunteers involved. Anyone interested in getting involved is welcome to apply to become a Waste Reduction Ambassador to help promote food waste reduction locally and I encourage people to do so.
Nationally this is an objective that Government is working on together with WRAP, food retailers and industry. I am pleased to see local residents taking a lead through this initiative to help reduce the 15 million tonnes a year of food a year we throw away in the UK, worth £400 per house hold. So as well as being good for the environment this also helps save money, a real win-win.”

If you would like to get involved with the Waste Reduction Volunteer Programme and make a difference to your local environment please contact wastereductionvolunteers@keepbritaintidy.org or apply online at http://form.cheshireeast.gov.uk/service/Cheshire_East_recycling_waste_reduction_volunteer_form