Subject: News

Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #32 Date: Friday, 27 January 2012 10:51:27 United Kingdom Time From: To: Aidan Burley MP news@aidanburleymp.org

In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Website of the Week: Mailcoms Ltd Aidan in Parliament: Aidan raises local child abduction case with Prime Minister at PMQs Stafford Hospital Accident and Emergency Department Burley backs pioneering new apprenticeship programme MP supports thriving local business Aidan urges local charities to sign up to free Just Giving text service Photo news: Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) launch How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 32 Friday 27th January 2012

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Questioned the Prime Minster at PMQs in the House of Commons about a local child abduction case. Attended a Quality and Safety Strategy Launch Event at Stafford Hospital to hear how they are striving to improve the quality and safety of care to patients. During the event Aidan heard an presentation from Sharon Fletcher, Team Leader, Theatres at Cannock Chase Hospital, who explained the excellent work she and her team are doing to improve the treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis and clots at Cannock Hospital. Attended and spoken at a presentation on a pioneering new social media apprenticeship programme aimed at creating much-needed employment opportunities for young people across Staffordshire. Visited local business Mailcoms. Organised, attended and addressed the launch of the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) which was also addressed by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP. Aidan is Chairman of TURC, which is calling for an end to taxpayer funding for trade union activities. For more see www.turc.org.uk. Held a help and advice surgery for local residents. Attended a public meeting at Cannock Civic Centre with representatives from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to hear an update on latest developments at Stafford and Cannock Chase Hospitals. Aidan questioned the Trust Chief Executive about Cannock Hospital, getting her to publically commit to the future of the hospital and ensuring it is fully utilised.

Website of the Week:

www.mailcoms.co.uk
The website of Mailcoms Ltd - an independent, Royal Mailapproved franking machine supplier and maintainer, based right here in Cannock - the only one of its kind between Birmingham and Manchester. Aidan recently visited the local business, which employs 12 people and has invested 500,000 in new premises (see story below).

Aidan in Parliament: Aidan raises local child abduction case with Prime Minister at PMQs

Click on the image above to watch Aidans question to the Prime Minister and David Camerons reply. Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday 18th January 2012, Aidan Burley MP raised the horrific case of constituent Jobe Felton who was kidnapped from his home in Norton Canes and taken to Thailand by his mother in March 2010. Six months later his father, Sean Felton, finally tracked Jobe down in a remote village and found his son in a terrible condition. Jobe couldnt speak, had broken teeth and bruises all over his body. Jobes father believes that had he not got Jobe back then, Jobe would have been sold. Research by Aidans office has shown that each year in the UK over 500 children are kidnapped in similar circumstances. Aidan praised the work of Sean Felton and his charity Abducted Angels and called on the Government to do all it can do to help other parents in similar situations. In his response the Prime Minister said: It is absolutely vital we put in place the best possible arrangements. As he knows, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) system is going to be put into the National Crime Agency. I very much hope we will be able to legislate for the National Crime Agency and make sure it is properly resourced. It is vitally important that when these appalling acts happen we get on top of them right away. The early time and early effort is absolutely vital in saving these children. Sean Felton, who was in the gallery with Jobe during PMQs said: I cannot thank Aidan and his aide Peter enough for all the help and support they have given me over the last two years firstly in my fight to get my son back and then on my efforts to help other parents like me. Coming to Parliament today and hearing this issue raised in Parliament - live with my own ears - has been a fantastic experience and Im sure it will help raise the profile of this horrific crime that literally destroys lives and families. Photo to the right shows Aidan with Jobe Felton, Peter Botting and Sean Felton in front of Big Ben. The story has also been covered by Central News, which you can watch below:

Stafford Hospital Accident and Emergency Department

Aidan Burley MP has responded to the news that Stafford A&E will not fully re-open until May 2012 at the earliest. Aidan said: This announcement by Mid Staffs Trust is very disappointing and confirms my original fear that three months was a hopelessly optimistic time scale to solve the problems of Stafford A&E Department. Local people will understandably feel let down by this further delay, which in itself was given only a 75% chance of being successful by Lyn Hill-Tout at the public meeting in Cannock last night. Looking longer term, I believe there needs to be a more permanent solution to the situation at Mid Staffs which may involve closer collaboration with another Trust. In the meantime, I will continue to work with the Trust to ensure the Hospitals A&E department is fully opened as soon as possible.

Burley backs pioneering new apprenticeship programme

Aidan has spoken of his support for a pioneering new social media apprenticeship programme aimed at creating much-needed employment opportunities for young people across Staffordshire. Recently Aidan attended a presentation where interested local firms were invited to find out more about the social media marketing apprenticeships being run by Cannock Chase companies SSC Learning from Hednesford and Passionate Media from Bridgtown. After the presentation, Aidan met with SSC Director Ian Shepherd, CEO of Spartan Digital Media Solutions Chris Pattihis and young apprentice Andy Sparks as well as young people from Cannock Chase interested in becoming apprentices. Training specialists SSC Learning are looking for local businesses interested in taking on an apprentice to handle their digital marketing. Throughout their apprenticeship, the young people will receive training and support from media specialists, Passionate Media. Each of their places cost around 2,500 to 4,500, and are funded by the Government's Skills Funding Agency. Commenting after the event Aidan said: "I would urge all local employers to get involved in this fantastic initiative which is providing great opportunities for young people here in Cannock Chase and across Staffordshire. "Apprenticeships are central to the Government's strategy to deliver growth and build a sustainable economy. They not only help and support people gain the skills they need to succeed and progress in their careers but also help employers to build a workforce with the motivation and expertise they need to compete globally." Provisional data for the full 2010/11 academic year shows that apprenticeship starts increased by over 50% to 442,700. In Cannock Chase 1,190 people started an apprenticeship in 2010/11 compared with just 580 in 2009/10. This represents an overall increase in the number of people starting apprenticeships of 610 in the last year.

L-R: Andy Sparks (Social Media Apprentice at Spartan Digital Media Solutions), Aidan Burley MP, Ian Shephard (Director SSC) and Chris Pattihis (CEO Spartan Digital Media Solutions).

MP supports thriving local business

Aidan alongside Managing Director of Mailcoms Ltd, Des McManus. Aidan Burley MP has paid tribute to what he has called a truly inspiring local firm during a recent visit. Recently Aidan attended Mailcoms Ltd, an independent, Royal Mailapproved franking machine supplier and maintainer, based in Cannock - the only one of its kind between Birmingham and Manchester. The firm, which employs 12 local people, has just invested nearly 500,000 in new premises for the business with no help from grants or outside organisations. Aidan was on hand to help celebrate the opening of the new premises. After the opening, Aidan was shown around by Managing Director Des McManus, who had originally set up the business with his wife from their Cannock home in 2006. Since then, the firm have gone on to turn over in excess of 1 million pounds a year and are now the largest online retailer in the UK of franking machine supplies. Mailcoms Ltd will shortly become the first company in the UK to develop the technology and equipment to offer Franking Ink cartridge recycling, remanufacturing and refilling approved by Royal Mail. During the visit Aidan was also introduced to some of the firms newest members of staff who, until recently, were unemployed. The company are now advertising for two more positions in light of the new capacity with more positions planned for later this year. Commenting after the visit Aidan said: It was a genuine honour to be asked to attend the opening of the new premises for Mailcoms Ltd, a company which is clearly thriving. It was clear to me throughout the visit the dedication and passion all the employees bring to the business, and their strong desire to make it a success. I have no doubt that it will continue to go from strength to strength, as evidenced by its truly inspiring journey over the past five years, having started out of a converted garage and now working from brand new bespoke new premises in Heritage Park. It is small business entrepreneurs such as Des McManus who will grow our economy back to strength and so it is vital that as a government we do everything we can to support them. Managing Director of Mailcoms Ltd, Des McManus added: Id like to thank Aidan for his support and genuine interest in Mailcoms and our story so far. Small private sector businesss are essential to the economic recovery and Aidan very much showed his support and appreciation for what we had achieved by way of growth and local job creation. Aidan's interest in Mailcoms further demonstrates his tireless work for both private and the public sector for Cannock Chase.

Aidan urges local charities to sign up to free Just Giving text service
Aidan has welcomed a new platform for donating to charity and urged local charities and fundraisers across Cannock Chase to sign up to the free scheme. The JustTextGiving service developed by Vodafone on a not-for-profit basis allows charities and individuals to raise money via text message and provides a free, swift and convenient means of fundraising. The service is free to set up, with every penny donated going direct to the charity. Commenting Aidan said: "Recent studies have shown that over eighty-nine percent of adults now carry a mobile phone - and with charities facing a tough environment for fundraising, this free service will allow them to raise much needed money through utilising the latest technology." Donations can be made by the customers of any network provider without network charges and gift aid can also be claimed on each donation. JustTextGiving enables charities to personalise their own unique 6-digit text code - called a VIC or Vodafone Individual Code and receive donations of up to 10 per message by text. Vodafone is also offering a free marketing support pack for charities to help them to promote their new code. Until now, mobile fundraising has been only used by large charities for occasional campaigns due to the substantial set-up costs involved but now registered charities can use a simple text message to fundraise it takes just three steps to get going. Full details on how www.justtextgiving.co.uk. to sign up are available at

Photo news:

Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) launch

Aidan speaking at the launch of the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC).

Aidan with Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) Chief Executive Mark Clarke and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP at the TURC Launch.

Aidan chats to with fellow MP Nigel Adams and former English cricketer Darren Gough at the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) launch this week.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447 By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk By post: Aidan Burley MP 6 High Green Court, Newhall Street Cannock, WS11 1GR In person: Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Aidan Burley MPs regular help and advice surgeries.

www.aidanburleymp.org

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Aidan Burley MP Putting Cannock Chase First!

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