David Ruffley

David Ruffley MP will be taking his regular advice surgeries on the road in a tour of some of the villages in his constituency starting on Friday 19 October.

David will be holding surgeries on Friday 19 October at:

Rattlesden Village Hall between 4.00pm and 4.45pm

Beyton Middle School between 5.00pm and 5.45pm

Hessett Village Hall between 6.00pm and 6.45pm

Constituents wishing to make an appointment should contact David's local office on 01359 244 199.

David said:

David Ruffley MP has today explained how new Conservative Party proposals, designed to help first-time buyers, will benefit people living in the Bury St Edmunds constituency.

The proposals include:

Cutting stamp duty for first time buyers- The current stamp duty threshold is just £125,000. The Conservatives will abolish stamp duty for first-time buyers on homes sold at up to £250,000.

David Ruffley MP's website DavidRuffleyMP.com has been nominated as a finalist in the British Computer Society MP Website Awards 2007.

Awards are given to the best MP websites in three categories:

Design

Engagement

Accessibility

There is also an award for the website selected as overall winner.

Only 35 MPs, of the 646 in the House of Commons, have had their website nominated for an award.

David Ruffley MP has today stated that the Healthcare Commission's annual survey of health trusts highlights the hard work and dedication of Suffolk's healthcare professionals while underlining the stark reality of the Governments neglect of shire counties.

All NHS trusts receive a rating made up of two sections- one focusing on quality of services and another for management of resources. Both sections are scored on a four-point scale ranging from 'weak' to 'excellent'.

David Ruffley MP has today written to all the Sub-Postmasters in his constituency outlining the threat that the Post Office's Network Change Programme poses to sub-post offices.

David has offered all Sub-Postmasters in his constituency his full support for the retention of sub-post office services in their area.

INTERNET chiefs could be jailed if they refuse to stop showing videos of playground fights and bullying, the Conservatives have threatened.

The Government wants to build more confidence in policing because the public's fear of crime is 'disproportionately high', the Home Secretary said today.

Jacqui Smith said crime is falling, but the fear of crime could have a damaging impact on communities and individuals, weakening the social fabric and breeding mistrust.

'The situation is not helped by those who seek political advantage from unnecessarily shrill warnings that we are facing anarchy on our streets.

David Ruffley MP has today written to the Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, Simon Ash, asking why Suffolk Police conducted fewer breath tests in 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, than in 1997.

New House of Commons figures reveal that in 1997 Suffolk Constabulary conducted 12,300 breath tests. In 2004, 10,600 tests were conducted.

David said:

'It seems strange to me that Suffolk Constabulary is conducting fewer breath tests than they did in 1997 and a colossal 32 percent fewer than in 1998.

David Ruffley MP has given his support to Alzheimer's Awareness Week which is running this week.

Alzheimer's Awareness Week is the annual health campaign organised by the Alzheimer's Society. The message to people this year is 'Be head strong' and take steps to change your behaviour and reduce your risk of dementia.

A recent report produced by King's College London and the London School of Economics revealed:

• by 2025 one million people in the UK will have dementia

• dementia costs the UK over £17 billion per year

David Ruffley MP has today spoken of his alarm at new House of Commons figures which reveal that, between 1997 and 2006, gun crime in Suffolk has increased by over 1000 percent.

In 1997 there were 5 crimes recorded by Suffolk Constabulary in which firearms were reported to have been used. In 2005/06, the latest year for which figures are available, this figure stood at 58.

Nationally there has been a 126 percent increase in gun crime since 1997.

Increase in gun crime 1997- 2005/06 in the East of England (percentage):

Bedfordshire 140%

Cambridgeshire 0%