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posted 4 Mar 2010 06:03 by Maria Miller
Press release 29th February 2010
MP Maria Miller, Councillor Stephen Reid and Councillor Karen Cheritt were out and about in Rooksdown Ward, speaking to residents about any issues that they may have.
Maria said “This is a great opportunity to speak to Basingstoke residents and hear about what really matters to them. I found the ideas and suggestions brought to me by residents most interesting and this helps me to ensure that I can represent Basingstoke in Parliament better.
If there are any questions or issues that you feel I should raise or thing you would like me to do or see done in Basingstoke, please do get on touch”
You can contact Maria on 020 7219 5749, email millerm@parliament.uk or write to Maria Miller MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
To contact your local Councillors visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:59 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 06:03
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Press Release 29th February 2010 Local MP for Basingstoke,
Maria Miller visited Queen Mary’s College to talk with staff and students.
Maria was quizzed by students in various local and
national issues.
Maria said “I found the Q&A session most
interesting, it’s always good to see youngsters being so actively involved in
local and national issues.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:40 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 05:43
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Press Release 29th February 2010
 Local MP Maria Miller joined Basingstoke’s Rethink Carers Group for coffee morning with homemade biscuits made by various members.
Rethink is the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life, and Maria was invited to attend and to speak at the coffee morning.
Maria said “One in four people will suffer from some form of mental health problem in their lives and unfortunately the biggest barrier to seeking help and treatment is the stigma of having a mental health problem.
We can no longer afford to neglect mental health services while the number of people suffering from mental illness continues to rise. We need to make sure that mental health services are an integral part of the NHS and that we end the stigma of people with mental health problems.
It was a fantastic opportunity to meet with carers who selflessly give their time to our community and I applaud all the hard work that they do.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:36 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 05:39
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Press Release 29th February 2010
Basingstoke’s MP, Maria Miller visited Aldworth Science
College to see the new IT facilities.
Maria said “Up-to-date and good quality IT equipment is
extremely important for students and teachers alike. Good IT skills are
extremely important in the job sector. It is fantastic to see that the new
facilities in the college, will offer students and teachers the opportunity to
gain the much needed good IT skills.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:32 by Maria Miller
Press Release 29th February 2010
MP Maria Miller
is calling for a new law to tackle the growing number of unauthorised traveller
sites in Basingstoke.
Maria wants to
see a new criminal offence of intentional trespass, as already in place in the
Republic Of Ireland. Trespassers who refuse to move after being asked to do so
by a uniformed police officer will face arrest. At present, trespass (which
does not involve criminal damage) is a civil offence - forcing the landowner to
go to court. This will allow both squatters and travellers occupying property
without permission of the landowner to be removed quickly.
Maria said,
“There has been an unacceptable 20% increase in the number of illegal traveler and
gypsy encampments in Basingstoke over the past year.
All too often,
these camps are on verges and on open land in residential areas, creating
considerable problems for residents until the encampment is moved on. Then
there are mounting expenses for Council Tax payers who have to foot the bill
for legal costs and the clean-up.
I am concerned
that some gypsies and travelers can take advantage of planning and human rights
laws to avoid eviction from land on which they have no permission to camp. I
think a change in the law is long over due to better protect ordinary
residents.
I would like to
see a new criminal offence of “intentional trespass,” similar to laws in place
in the Republic of Ireland to give the police the power to arrest trespassers
who refused to move on after being asked to do so by a uniformed officer.
At present,
unless there is criminal damage, trespass is treated as a civil offence, and
landowners are forced to go to court to remove encampments, creating delay and
extra cost. Basingstoke residents have had enough – all I want to see is fair
play. “ |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:28 by Maria Miller
Press Release 26th February 2010
MP Maria Miller
has called on the Government to back plans to end the parking nightmare
resident’s face as a result of pressures to reduce parking spaces.
Maria said,
“Restricting the number of parking places in new developments has created chaos
for many. Every community is different. Locally elected representatives know
the needs of their community are the best placed to assess realistic levels of
parking – it is absurd that these decisions are taken in Whitehall.
Unrealistic
limits on parking just lead to chaos with pavements blocked and roads made more
dangerous. I would like to see the current restrictions on the number of
parking places in new developments scraped and locally accountable
representatives given the responsibility to make these decisions based on the
needs of the community.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 05:23 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 05:28
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Press Release 25th February 2010
MP Maria Miller
is meeting BT with The Basingstoke Broadband campaign group to help get BTs
pilot of Superfast broadband back on track after thousands of residents have
found out they are not currently due to get the promised upgrade.
Maria said,
“Basingstoke is the right place for BT to test out its new commitment to
superfast broadband. We are a key centre for employment and many residents rely
on the ability to work from home. At the moment too many businesses and
households can only get very slow access to broadband or no access at all.
I will be asking
BT whether they have under estimated the scale of demand for this new and
important service and whether they can change their approach to the pilot
scheme in Basingstoke to give priority to those areas that have the worst
broadband speeds – those residential areas that are furthest from the telephone
exchange. “ |
posted 4 Mar 2010 04:18 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 04:22
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Press release 24th February 2010
New plans for employee-owned co-operatives to help improve local services
Public sector workers across Basingstoke could become their own boss and deliver better services under new Conservative plans, backed by local MP for Basingstoke Maria Miller, this week. Under bold proposals, public sector workers would have a powerful new right to form employee-owned co-operatives to take over the services they deliver. This will empower thousands of public sector workers across Basingstoke.
The new right to form employee-owned co-operatives will apply throughout the vast majority of the public sector – including JobCentre Plus offices, community nursing teams and primary schools. Employee-owned co-operatives will continue to be funded by the state so long as they meet national standards, but will be freed from centralised bureaucracy and political micromanagement. They will be voluntary sector, not-for-profit organisations; any financial surpluses would be reinvested into the service and the staff who work there, rather than distributed to external shareholders.
Maria said: “Public sector workers should have the chance to become their own boss. Employee-owned co-operatives can help cut waste and deliver better services for everyone across Basingstoke. This could be the biggest shift of power from government to people since the right to buy your council house in the 1980s.
“This shows how Conservatives will give power to the public sector workers who are fed up with the Government’s top-down control of their working lives.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 04:12 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 04:17
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Press Release 15th February 2010
Local taxpayers left to pick up the tab for changes to elder
changes
Maria Miller MP for Basingstoke has warned that Basingstoke
residents face a massive bill to pay for new social care plans. Plans for free
personal care at home could put £26 a year on the average council tax bill, on
top of other local pressures because of an estimated £580 million black hole
left by the government.
Senior councillors in Hampshire have warned that Gordon
Brown’s plans “are unclear, unfunded and are likely to have a significant
impact on existing local services, including possible cuts and rises in council
tax”.
Town hall experts at the Local Government Association have added
that “this is clearly a new burden” on councils, while Social Services
directors from across the country have asserted that Gordon Brown has “significantly
underestimated the true costs involved.”
On top of the council tax hike, there is also the threat of
an additional £20,000 “death tax” by Gordon Brown to pay for new National Care
Service proposals.
Maria said:
“Access to personal care is one of the most pressing
problems that we face in Hampshire. The present situation leaves many older
residents facing having to sell their homes to pay for the care there loved
ones need. Everybody wants to give older people more support in their old age,
especially the most vulnerable. That is why I want to see a voluntary Home
Protection Scheme to allow people – for a one off £8,000 payment – to make sure
they never have to sell their home to pay for residential care.
“The Government’s plans to extend free personal care and to
introduce a National Care Service are in chaos. To pay for it, Ministers are
considering levying a compulsory death tax of up to £20,000 on every person in
England, and now it looks like they’ll put another £26 a year on Basingstoke’s council
tax.” |
posted 4 Mar 2010 04:03 by Maria Miller
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updated 4 Mar 2010 04:17
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Press Release 15th February 2010
Maria Miller MP for Basingstoke, has been thanked for
pledging to do her bit for the British Armed Forces family.
Maria met with a delegation from The Royal British Legion at
Westminster to get behind the charity’s call for general election candidates of
all parties to support the whole Armed Forces family. Maria also discussed the
Legion’s manifesto and the changes that it is calling for.
The manifesto sets out priorities for the next Government to
improve conditions for the British Armed Forces past and present and their
families. It encourages MPs o “do their bit” for Service Personnel and their
families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants.
During the meeting, Maria was photographed with a giant
replica of the personalised pledge card, which she has been given by the Legion
in recognition of her pledge.
Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion’s Head of Public Affairs, said,
“We’re delighted to give Maria her pledge card in recognition of her pledge to
do her bit. Our message to every MP and candidate standing at the general
election is very simple: “It’s time to do your bit. How you do that is entirely
up to you but pledging publicly at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk
is a great way of showing your support for the whole Armed Forces family, both
now and beyond the general election.”
“Both the serving and ex-Service community need the support
of politicians,” he added. “Our manifesto outlines practical ways the next
government can help, and we hope all the parties will give it serious
consideration”.
Maria said, “We have a number of forces families living in
Basingstoke. I have met British Legion members locally and know just how much
they do to support forces families, particularly during these difficult times.
I am pleased to support the Legion’s campaign. It’s so important we all get
behind them. As Shadow Minister for the Family I have been involved in the
development of some of the Conservative policies which will put in place the
support forces families need. There will be further details included in our
manifesto”. |
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