David Ruffley

David Ruffley MP has this week launched a new survey on his interactive website www.telldavidruffley.com.

The subject of his latest survey is the local fire service. David is keen to ensure local residents are aware of the proposed changes to our local fire service currently under discussion.

David said:

At a time when the Conservative Opposition have published their plans to ease the burden of council tax on older people in the Bury St Edmunds constituency, David Ruffley MP is seeking the views of his constituents on pensions. David's CONSTITUENTS CAN GIVE HIM THEIR VIEWS ON THE PENSIONS ISSUE BY LOGGING ON TO HIS NEW INTERACTIVE WEBSITE WWW.TELLDAVIDRUFFLEY.COM.

David Ruffley has written to both St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Mid Suffolk District Council regarding the possible disenfranchising of armed services personnel as a result of Government legislation which came into force in 2000. He has copied the letter to the Commandant at Wattisham Base, in David's constituency, as well as RAF Honington, many of whom stationed there actually live in David's constituency.

A copy of David's letter is below.

Ruffley warns of soaring council tax bills in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket

David Ruffley this week expressed his concern that council tax bills in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket could soar under the Government's plans for a 'rigged' council tax revaluation. The revaluation process will start this April, with each home being re-assessed for council tax purposes, and new bills being issued in April 2007.

David Ruffley has written to David Thornton, Acting Director of Learning at Suffolk County Council, regarding teaching methods used in the teaching of reading in Suffolk schools.

This follows the publication of a report on a seven year longitudinal study in Clackmannanshire by academics from Hull and St Andrew's Universities which showed that children being taught using a pure synthetic phonics approach far outpaced the children who were taught using the method advocated in the National Literacy Strategy, namely analytical phonics programmes.

After leaving the House of Commons chamber this afternoon David Ruffley said:

'Gordon Brown did not mention rural areas or the countryside once. This proves the urban bias of this Government.

We have seen astronomical rises in house prices in Suffolk. Gordon Brown has caused misery for stamp duty payers by raising stamp duty four times since 1997. His announcement today won't do much to repair the damage he has already caused.

After today's Budget, Suffolk motorists will still know they pay the highest duty in the whole of Europe.

David Ruffley MP has this week exposed a shocking fall in the number of NHS Mental Health beds in Suffolk in recent years.

Following private and anonymous briefings from local Suffolk professionals involved in the mental health sector, David Ruffley MP raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Health in a written Commons question.

The reply from the Minister to Mr Ruffley's questioning, published in the House of Commons Hansard, shows the level of crisis that now exists in the local Mental Health sector.

David Ruffley said:

David Ruffley MP warned this week that local councils, including St Edmundsbury and Mid Suffolk, were being undermined, with more and more of their authority being transferred to unelected regional assemblies. Despite the rejection of regional government by four fifths of the voting public in the North East referendum in November, John Prescott has increased the powers of the unelected regional assemblies, including the East of England Regional Assembly.

Signing a motion in Parliament calling for the abolition of the unelected regional assemblies, David said:

In view of the referendums that are due to take place within the next few weeks in both France and the Netherlands, David Ruffley has launched his own online referendum on the proposed European Constitution. The latest polling suggests the voting will be evenly split in both countries and will be a close run thing.

David said:

David Ruffley will visit Riverwalk School in South Close, Bury St Edmunds on Friday, 10 June to support the 'Send my Friend to School' Global Campaign for Education and to help the children work on their 'buddies' for submission to the forthcoming G8 meeting. Riverwalk School is a special school catering for children with severe disabilities.