Sandbach Market Traders collect toys for young patients

Sandbach MP, Mayor and PCSO thanks Market Traders for their support for Leighton hospital

Fiona Bruce MP met Sandbach Market Traders, together with Sandbach Mayor Mike Benson and Sandbach PCSO Suzanne Green to thank them for their toy collection campaign this December for Leighton hospital young patients.

Fiona said:

‘I applaud this initiative of the Market Traders for Sandbach, and of Dave Taverner in particular. The amount of toys donated confirms the generosity of local people.’

The collection is continuing right up to next weekend giving plenty of opportunity for people to call in at the market with a toy – all donations will be gratefully received.

 

Fiona Bruce MP appointed Patron of Astbury Mere Trust

Fiona Bruce MP appointed Patron of Astbury Mere

Fiona Bruce MP has accepted an invitation to become Patron of Astbury Mere Trust.

Chairman of the Trustees Rob Minshull said,

“We are pleased to announce that our Member of Parliament Fiona Bruce has kindly agreed to become the Patron of the Astbury Mere Trust.

All our Trustees are delighted that Fiona is willing to take on this important role, not just as a figurehead but to use her considerable influence for the betterment of the Astbury Mere Country Park.

The Trustees who are responsible for the running of the park are all volunteers and have spent a huge amount of their free time to provide Congleton with this beautiful free facility for more than twenty years. Their work is often taken in adversity and having Fiona’s support is a great encouragement to re-double their efforts.”

Fiona Bruce has already taken action in her role and arranged meetings between the Trustees and representatives from a number of potential partners within the Cheshire area to discuss how more support for Astbury Mere Country Park can be obtained.

Fiona Bruce MP added,

“Many, if not most, of the thousands of people who enjoy visiting Astbury Mere Country Park and using its facilities in different ways whether sailing, walking or even just sitting out on sunny days, are unaware that virtually all the substantial costs of running the park are obtained by voluntary donations.

It is a huge commitment for the Trustees, year on year, to raise and sustain the sums required to maintain the park, its trees, landscape, walkways and grassed areas in its excellent condition all year round.

The park is used not only by individuals but also by a huge number of community groups. Additional funding support whether from the Local Authority, commercial sponsors or through increased donations from those who use and enjoy the park are all areas we are looking at and I am pleased to be able to support the Trustees in this way.”

Fiona Bruce MP Supports Operation Christmas Child

Watch Fiona's interview in support of this important work here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqjVJUUx2qE

Sandbach High School Pop Up Shop

Sandbach High School Christmas Pop up Shop

Fiona Bruce MP visited the Sandbach High School Christmas Pop-Up Shop at Sandbach Market this week where students from Sandbach High were selling products they have made.

Fiona Bruce MP said of the shop, “Well done to the Students of Sandbach High, their stall really added to the appearance, ambience, and atmosphere of Sandbach Market Hall.”

Headmaster, John Leigh said, “The Sandbach Pop Up Shop was arranged to showcase to the public, the level of talent, dedication and skill our girls are introduced to within our curriculum. As we are a school which is strongly supported by the local community, it seems a natural progression to show the girls how to take their learning opportunities out of the classroom and into the heart of our community."

World Toilet Day 2013

Local MP Fiona Bruce Meets WaterAid Activist to “Talk Toilets”

Local MP for the Congleton Constituency, Fiona Bruce, met with WaterAid activist Mark Barker today (Friday 6^th December) at a toilet factory in Middlewich, to discuss the fact that 2.5 billion people throughout the world do not have access to a safe, clean and private toilet.

Sandbach resident Mark Barker is an active speaker for international charity WaterAid. He approached his local MP to set up the meeting, and what more fitting place to “talk toilets” than in a local toilet factory in her Constituency!

The meeting follows World Toilet Day which was officially recognised by the UN for the first time this year. The day was created to raise global awareness of the struggle faced by the one in three people in the world, currently living without access to a safe, clean and private toilet. Every day, 2,000 children under the age of five die from disease brought about by because of a lack of access to clean water and improved sanitation. 

WaterAid is calling on International Development Secretary of State Justine Greening MP to continue the UK Government’s leadership in the global water and sanitation sector. They are asking her to attend the International 2014 Sanitation and Water for All Meeting. WaterAid hopes that this meeting will have a real and lasting impact, focusing on the concrete actions needed to deliver safe water and toilets to everyone, everywhere by 2030.

Fiona Bruce MP said:

“Around 2000 people die every day, many of them children, from diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation which is why this issue is so critical.

Back in 2011, I met with the Stephen O’Brien MP, then responsible Minister at the Department for International Development and pressed the Government for the first time to send Minister to the Sanitation and Water for All international meeting in April 2012 in Washington DC. I was therefore delighted that the Secretary of State for International Development attended this high level meeting at which the Government announced it would double the UK’s commitment to water and sanitation in countries needing it most.

The UK Government has therefore demonstrated tremendous global leadership in helping to provide access to clean drinking water, improve access to effective sanitation and provide basic hygiene education, such as the importance of hand washing and the dangers of open defecation, for 60 million people by 2015.

I commend WaterAid for their effective campaigning in this regard and join with them in pressing for the current International Development Secretary of State, Justine Greening MP, to continue the UK’s global leadership by attending the next Sanitation and Water for All meeting in 2014.”

Mark Barker, WaterAid activist said:

“Fiona has consistently supported Water Aid throughout her time as our local MP and I was very pleased that once again she agreed to meet me to confirm her continuing support for Water Aid’s mission to provide sanitation and water for all – this will only really be achieved with the active support from the UK and MPs like Fiona Bruce, who has spoken about this in Parliament, has proved critical to the impact Water Aid’s work has had in recent years.”

Autumn Statement 2013

Fiona Bruce MP welcomes Autumn Statement for Local Businesses

Speaking in the House of Commons immediately following the announcement of support for small businesses in the Autumn Statement, Fiona Bruce MP said in the debate in the House of Commons Chamber:

“I welcome the Chancellor’s statement. Does he agree that, while by reducing corporation tax the Government have already shown that Britain is open for business, today—with the announcement of real help for high street retailers, support for SME exporters, and the extension of small business rate relief—they are showing that Britain is very much open for small business, too?”

The Chancellor responded:

“My hon. Friend and neighbour has been a champion of small businesses. I am delighted that the change that we have brought about today with a £1,000 discount for shops and high streets will mean that in Congleton, Holmes Chapel and Middlewich, the people whom she represents will get a better deal.”

Fiona Bruce added

“This was is positive news for businesses across my constituency including in sb and Alsager. The employers National Insurance contribution saving of up to £2,000 is further good news, as is the Government’s support for young entrepreneurs setting up in business for the first time and the extension of rate relief for small businesses.

Representing a Constituency where almost all of the 4,000 businesses are SMEs - small and medium sized enterprises - who are the engine of our local economy and our job creators it is critically important that every possible support is given to them. The Chancellor’s statement was positive news for them and properly acknowledged their hard work and contribution.”

Fiona Bruce MP is working to tackle 'Scam Mail'

Fiona Bruce MP is working to tackle Scam Mail

Fiona is working alongside a number of other MPs to try to tackle the concerning targeting of the most vulnerable in our society with scam mail which frequently demands thousands of pounds from individuals and which sadly is, on occasion, paid.

Fiona Bruce MP said:

 “I am outraged on behalf of often elderly and frail constituents that under present procedures this mail cannot be stopped. I know of at least one constituent who, and whose family have suffered gravely as a result. Together with a group of other MPs, I am appealing to Government to protect the most vulnerable in our society, some of whom are are mercilessly and repeatedly preyed upon with a stream of demanding letters. Also, if someone does respond to one of these scams not only do they risk losing money but their details are being sold on to other unscrupulous scammers. If any constituents have any example of such mail, I am collating this with other MPs to add to the range of evidence we have already collected, so if you are concerned about a friend or family member who has a problem with scam mail, please get in touch.”

Fiona Bruce MP has already had scam mail sent to her from constituents and encourages others who have been affected to hand in or send their scam mail so that action can be taken against these scam agencies.

The Cheshire based MP has been looking to collect evidence of scam mail and has put a box in her office:

Office of Fiona Bruce MP

Riverside,

Mountbatten Way,

Congleton

CW12 1DY

fiona.bruce.mp@parliament.uk