From: Conor Burns MP news@conorburns.

com Subject: News Bulletin from Conor Burns MP #116 Date: 28 February 2014 11:37 To: news@conorburns.com

In this edition:

Issue 116 - Friday 28th February 2014

Conor Burns MPs Diary MP welcomes fall in unemployment Conor in the papers: Creative Bournemouth schoolgirl crowned winner of carbon monoxide safety campaign 250 Million for Superfast Broadband to go Further and Faster Conor Burns MP lends food drive a helping hand Photo news: Bournemouth Rotary Conor in the papers: Conor Burns MP: Why I oppose the wind turbines Conor Burns Speaks to Youth Members of the National Citizen Service Conor Burns MP Pledges to Help Local Businesses After Mis-Treatment By Bank Photo news: Beach front clean-up Conor in the papers: Labour Links of academics who denounced Thatchers legacy How to contact Conor Burns MP

Since the past edition, Conor has:

Met with the Bourne Valley Action Group alongside Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude. Met with the Sabbatical Officers of Bournemouth Universitys Student Union to discuss the Student Opportunity Fund. Won an Oxford Union debate on the topic This House Believes Margaret Thatcher Saved Britain at Oxford University. Met with Tim Goodson, CEO of the Bournemouth Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss the failed merger of Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals. Held a surgery at the Triangle to help local residents with their problems. Attended a Bournemouth Council Conservative group meeting to discuss the Council Budget. Spoke at a dinner for Bournemouth North Rotary Club and a lunch for Bournemouth Rotary Club. Spoke to Bournemouth University Media Students about student accommodation. Met with participants in National Citizen Service. Participated in the Bournemouth North Rotary Club food drive at Alder Hill Sainsburys. Has featured in the Bournemouth Echo, outlining his opposition to the Navitus Bay Wind Farm. Met with other Dorset MPs and Lorna Gibbons, the Dorset Enterprise Partnership Director, to discuss the Dorset Strategic Economic Plan. Attended a Bully Banks campaign day in Westminster.

MP welcomes fall in unemployment

Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, today welcomed figures recently released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that the rate of unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 0.6 per cent since January 2013. This means that almost 300 more Bournemouth West residents are in work than a year ago. When taken purely as a proportion of those out of work, unemployment has declined by over 20 per cent from its peak. Responding to the news, Conor said: While there is still a lot of work to be done on unemployment, and especially youth unemployment, these latest statistics are very welcome. Unemployment in Bournemouth has consistently been below the national average, and I am encouraged that it continues to fall. Figures such as these further reinforce the importance of sticking to the Governments long term economic plan. The positive news in Bournemouth is also mirrored nationally. Unemployment in the three months to December 2013 was down by 125,000 claimants, with youth unemployment falling by 48,000. Over 1 million more people are now in full-time work than at the General Election.

Conor in the papers:

Creative Bournemouth schoolgirl crowned winner of carbon monoxide safety campaign

Bournemouth Echo Thursday 13th February 2014

Conor Burns with Carbon Monoxide Awareness competition winner Amber Nabney, of the Bourne Academy, and her family.

A creative Bournemouth schoolgirl has been crowned the winner of a national competition, after designing a striking poster warning of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Amber Nabney, 11, used an image of a skull and crossbones to warn about the deadly effects of carbon monoxide an odourless, colourless gas that kills about 50 people a year and injures some 200 more. The national schools poster competition is run annually by CO-Gas Safety. Ambers design has been named the overall winner for the south of England. Amber, who was a pupil at Kinson Primary School when she made the poster, said: I think its important that people know about carbon monoxide and how dangerous it is, which is why I used a skull in my picture. Amber, who now attends The Bourne Academy, was presented with her prize of 300 and 500 for her school, at a ceremony at the House of Lords. While there she and her family also met Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns.

250 Million for Superfast Broadband to go Further and Faster

Today, the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport announced the addition of 250 million worth of funding to the 1.2 billion already invested by central and local government into the Superfast Britain programme. Bournemouth and Poole will receive an additional 0.77 million to the previously allocated 9.44 million in funding. The Superfast Dorset project aims to have superfast broadband, with speeds of at least 24 megabytes per second (Mbps), available to 95.6 per cent of houses and businesses by the projects planned completion in autumn 2016. In addition to superfast broadband, the project plans to have a fibre network with various speeds above 2 Mbps available to 97 per cent of premises and access to a connection of at least 2 Mbps available to 100 per cent of premises. Increasing access to superfast broadband connections will create many benefits for the UK. The investment is expected to greatly bolster economic growth by increasing the number of creative industry jobs and cutting operating costs both in the private and public sector. By 2024, the net return on investment in superfast broadband is projected to be 20 for every 1 spent. Bournemouth and Poole can therefore expect to benefit from a return of 204.2 million based on this projected rate of return. Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns welcomed the allocation of additional funds, stating, The extra funding for this project is a smart investment, as the establishment of superfast broadband services in Bournemouth and Poole can only augment the rapid growth of the areas creative and digital industries. Bournemouths world-leading universities have helped attract a lot of business, and the new infrastructure will ensure it stays here. Read the Department for Culture, Media, and Sports original press release here.

Conor Burns MP lends food drive a helping hand

On Friday 21st February Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, joined volunteers from Bournemouth North Rotary Club as they collected donations for Bournemouth Food Bank. From a stall inside Sainsburys Talbot Heath, Conor helped to collect donations from shoppers, package boxes and load them into vehicles in the car park. The food drive took place over two days and collected 2.4 tons of food from local people, making massive strides towards the years target of 3.5 tons. Following the event, Conor said: It was very interesting to learn more about the work done by Bournemouth North Rotary Club and the Bournemouth Food Bank in the local community. The work they do in supporting the more vulnerable members of our society is commendable, and I was humbled by the charity and generosity of spirit shown by shoppers who donated throughout the day. Sainsburys Store Manager Gordon Silvester added We would like to thank all customers and colleagues who generously donated to this appeal; the response they have had is unbelievable.

Photo news:

Bournemouth Rotary

Conor Burns MP with Cllr Stephen Chappell and Richard Mockridge of Bournemouth Rotary.

Conor in the papers:

Conor Burns MP: Why I oppose the wind turbines

Letters to the Editor, Bournemouth Echo Wednesday 26th February 2014 Angela Pooley of East Dorset Friends of the Earth is as predictable as she is depressing in the arguments that she uses in favour of the Navitus Bay Wind Farm proposal. Ms Pooley is so convinced by the ideology of man-made climate change that she seems to be incapable of distinguishing an objection to this particular application from opposition to all forms of renewable energy. Those of us who have been leading the opposition to the proposal have done so on the basis that it would significantly and negatively impact on the view from the Bournemouth coastline a priceless asset and the reason why thousands of visitors a year come to Bournemouth. The research carried out by the development company has shown that during the construction period a significant number of visitors would be deterred from visiting, and if the wind farm is visible from the shore, a smaller but still significant number indicated that they would never return to Bournemouth a scenario that would have a devastating effect on the tourism economy that is so vital to the town and the businesses, people and jobs that depend on it. The land identified for offshore wind farm development is considerably greater than the number of proposed applications, and therefore the Governments targets for renewable energy can easily still be met without the Navitus Bay development going ahead. This is the crucial point that Ms Pooley and her supporters fail to grasp. We are not opposed to renewable energy we are opposed to this particular application in this particular place. As with onshore wind farms, there are some places where offshore development is appropriate and some places where it is not. This proposal is just not right and we will continue to fight it robustly. Conor Burns MP Bournemouth West

Conor Burns Speaks to Youth Members of the National Citizen Service

Conor with participants in the National Citizen Service Programme. Last Friday, 21 February 2014, Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns showed his continued support for the National Citizen Service by meeting with 27 of the programmes participants. Conor spoke to those attending on the importance and value of civic engagement and volunteering within the community. The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a program open to 15 to 17 year olds living in England and Northern Ireland to gain important life skills that are not available in a traditional classroom setting. This part-residential programme operates sessions outside of term times in the spring, summer, and autumn. Each session is separated into four phases, with each of them focusing on building essential social and personal skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. NCS works on propelling the newest generation forward as Generation Citizen, involving more young people in social action and engaging their peers to get involved as well. The involvement of the next generation in social action will strengthen both the character of the participants and the strength of the community. After the meeting, Conor said, I was very pleased to see such enthusiasm for social action among the young people in my constituency. Everyone involved in this program has made, and will continue to make, substantial contributions to the community. For more information about the National Citizen Service, please visit their website at www.ncsyes.co.uk.

Conor with participants in the National Citizen Service Programme.

Conor Burns MP Pledges to Help Local Businesses After Mis-Treatment By Bank

Conor supporting small businesses at the Bully Banks campaign day in Westminster. Conor Burns MP attended the Bully Banks campaign day in Westminster on Wednesday 26th February to show his support for local SMEs damaged by the misconduct of high street banks. A number of businesses in the constituency have been severely damaged by the misconduct of their banks in selling to them inappropriate financial products and subsequently by the refusal of the banks to accept responsibility for their misconduct. Conor said: The behaviour displayed by the banks involved is extremely worrying but it is encouraging to see that steady progress is being made. However I will take all steps necessary to help the businesses affected get back on their feet and receive a redress offer that is fair and proportionate to the losses suffered. The purpose of the lobby day was to raise awareness for the ongoing problems with the interest rate swap mis-selling scandal and to encourage MPs to take action on behalf of businesses in their constituency. Conor Burns is supporting all small businesses in Bournemouth West damaged by the misconduct of their banks in their campaign to obtain appropriate financial redress. Conor Burns is also supporting Bully-Banks in its campaign to change the culture of all the high street banks so that such conduct does not occur in the future. Bully-Banks is a campaign group of over 1,700 small businesses throughout the UK. It is currently campaigning on behalf of small businesses damaged by the mis-sale of Interest Rate Hedging Products, the mis-sale of fixed rate business loans, the mis-sale of Enterprise Finance Guarantees and the mis-sale of factoring services. Jeremy Roe, Chair of Bully Banks said: The parliamentary support for this campaign has been invaluable in securing redress for thousands of businesses across the UK each of which has been the victim of mis-selling at the hands of our high street banks. Much more remains to be achieved but the turn out on Wednesday was extremely encouraging. We look forward to working closely with our MPs in Parliament to resolve the ongoing issues.

Photo news:

Beach front clean-up

Conor Burns MP and Cllr Rae Stollard with the owner of Vesuvio restaurant examine the impact of the recent bad weather on beachfront businesses in Alum Chime. Conor is calling on the Council to ensure all beach front paths are cleared to ensure businesses can operate as normal.

Conor in the papers:

Labour Links of academics who denounced Thatchers legacy

The Daily Telegraph Thursday 13th February 2014 Academics behind a controversial paper which found that Margaret Thatcher's policies caused the premature death and suffering of tens of thousands of Britons are Labour Party supporters. Public health experts from Liverpool University, Durham, Edinburgh and the University of the West of Scotland found that unemployment, welfare cuts and damaging housing policies led to 30,000 "excess" deaths. They also accuse the governments of Baroness Thatcher of wilfully engineering an economic catastrophe across large parts of Britain by dismantling traditional industries to undermine the power of working class organisations. The research provoked a furious response from Tory MPs, with one describing it as "socialist propaganda dressed up as academic research". The paper, published in the International Journal of Health Services, does not disclose that two of the paper's lead authors are Labour supporters. Dr Alex Scott-Samuel, a senior lecturer in public health at the Liverpool Public Health Observatory, attended the Labour Party conference in 2012 and accused the Conservative Party of "destroying" the NHS. He told delegates: "It's absolutely clear that the Tory government is hell-bent on destroying the NHS which we all hold so dear. They can't be allowed to have a second term and finish off the job. Let's ensure we do everything we can to have Ed and Andy leading us at the next election." Dr Scott-Samuel said yesterday: "I don't feel my political participation is relevent in this. Clearly I have my own personal views and my own personal politics, but I would present this as a scientific paper in a scientific journal. What we have presented is supported by a substantial review of available evidence. "I am 100 per cent saying that Margaret Thatcher's policies killed people. It's not just mortality. What we're saying in the paper is that where there is mortality there is always much more morbidity sickness, illness and suffering. It's not as easy to quantify those figures. "Thatcher and her ideological colleagues were really waging a war on the working class. This resulted in an enormous amount of suffering." Professor Clare Bambra, a co-author of the paper from the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing at Durham University, is a member of the Labour Party. Her Twitter page includes a large number of criticisms of government policies such as the so-called "bedroom tax". She said: "The data is there, we have given our interpretation of the data. Unemployment did increase, there is a well known relationship between unemployment and mortality. "There are parallels between the Thatcherist economic and social policy and the Coalition's austerity policy. We've got rising unemployment, cuts to welfare, the bedroom tax, Atos. "I am a member of the Labour party, but this paper could have been equally critical of the Labour Party in the 1990s." Conor Burns, a Tory MP and a friend of the late Baroness Thatcher, said: "This is socialist propaganda dressed up as academic research using the cloak of academia to advance dogma. I'm sure Ed Miliband will want to distance himself from any of these people associated with the Labour Party. Baroness Thatcher said herself of socialism in 1990, 'It impoverished and murdered nations. It promoted lies and mediocrity'. On the basis of this paper it would appear she was spot on."

Three ways to contact Conor Burns MP:

By Phone: 020 7219 7021 By email: conor.burns.mp@parliament.uk By post: Conor Burns MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

www.conorburns.com

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