David Ruffley

David Ruffley MP has been asked to attend the League of Mercy ceremony at Mansion House in London on 1 June on the occasion of the investiture of Distinguished Volunteers with the badge of the Order of Mercy.

Commenting on new statistics on the Suffolk economy fromthe Nationwide 'Parliamentary Constituency Profiler' Mr Ruffley said:

'New figures out this week show 15% of the workingpopulation of Bury St Edmunds are in skilled trades, as opposed to 11% of theUK wide working population. Only 10% of our local population have noqualifications whatsoever, whereas the UK wide average is worse at 13%. Thisclearly shows that the people of Bury St Edmunds have the know how and drive tobounce back in these difficult times.

David Ruffley MP to Attend 16 Air Assault Brigade Service of Remembrance

David Ruffley MP will attend a Service of Remembrance for the 16 Air Assault Brigade on 8 June at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. The 16 Air Assault Brigade is the largest unit in the British Army, elements of which are based at Wattisham in Mr Ruffley's constituency.

David Ruffley MP will officially open Edmund House at West Suffolk College on 6 May. The 1950's industrial building has been converted into brand new accommodation for students and staff.

David Ruffley MP, commenting on the recent announcementby the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 2011 Budget that the Government willprovide an extra 50,000 apprenticeship places said:

'I warmly welcome these extra 50,000 apprenticeshipplaces. The Government has committed to providing funding for these extra50,000 on top of 200,000 already promised over the next four years. The totalfunding for apprenticeships in the next year will be raised to £1,328 million.In the year 2011-12 it will be raised further to £1,404 million.

David Ruffley MP has written to the secretary of Statefor Justice Jonathan Djanogly about the rates of repossession in hisconstituency of Bury St Edmunds. The answer he received shows that there hasbeen sharp decrease in the amount of mortgage repossessions, repossessions ofprivate property, and landlord repossessions, evictions from rented accommodation,in Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk from the period of 2009-2010.

On Thursday 21 April David Ruffley MP will be meeting a crowd of concerned Needham Market residents to receive a petition to save the local Library.

Mr Ruffley said, 'I feel very strongly about the proposed closure of local libraries and it is apparent from the number of letters and emails I have received over the last few months that my constituents share my concerns.

David Ruffley MP has been invited by Mr Chris Knock to visit the newly restored Punch Bowl Community Inn and say a few words on Easter Monday at 12 noon.

Mr Ruffley said; 'The Punch Bowl Community Inn is a classic example of Suffolk's Big Society. After nearly two years of closure I am thrilled to see that this much loved Inn will be reopening to the public. In these hard economic times it is great to see that community spirit is alive and well in our villages.

David Ruffley MP spent his Good Friday as a member of the crowd in this year's Passion Play.

This year the play took to the streets and paraded from St Edmundsbury Cathedral- where the Last Supper was enacted to the Apex building, where the trial was enacted.

On the 26 April 2011 David Ruffley MP questioned Health Minister Simon Burns on health reforms which would directly affect West Suffolk Hospital: