David Ruffley

David Ruffley has been invited to be the honorary patron of Priory School's bid for Specialist School status.

If successful this would bring additional funding to the school and enable them to expand their facilities and implement plans they have for the school's future, for example:

• Access to the very best ICT equipment in the county

• Opportunities to experience new ways of learning

• A Sound Field System to help pupils with hearing, communication and attention problems

• Easier access for pupils with movement difficulties

David Ruffley will be on the panel at the public meeting called by Elmswell Parish Council on Friday, 11 February at the Blackbourne. The meeting starts at 7.30 p.m. with refreshments being served at the hall from 7.00 p.m.

Joining David Ruffley on the panel will David Barker, Chairman of Elmswell Parish Council, Inspector Les King, recently appointed Commander of the Mid Suffolk Police Sector, Andy Johnson, Integrated Transport Manager, and Sandra Gage of Environment & Transport at Suffolk County Council, and a representative of Mid Suffolk District Council.

David Ruffley MP is chairing a meeting on Friday, 25 February at 2.30 pm in St Edmundsbury Borough Council offices which will be attended by Richard Ellis, Chairman of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

New plans outlined by local Conservatives to clean up hospitals and cut waiting lists in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket

David Ruffley MP this week backed the action plan unveiled by Conservatives to improve hospitals in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket and across the country, including ending waiting lists and clamping down on dirty wards which are breeding grounds for dangerous 'superbugs' like MRSA. The plans are detailed in Conservatives' new health manifesto.

David explained:

Ruffley to chair Howard Estate law and order public meeting

David Ruffley will chair a public meeting on the Howard Estate to be held on Friday, 25 February at 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm at the Howard Estate Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds.

The meeting will be preceded by the official opening of the new kitchen at the Community Centre by MP David Ruffley and County Councillor David Lockwood at 7.15 pm.

David Ruffley MP this week expressed his anger on behalf of local residents in Elmswell, Woolpit and Norton. Whilst the planning system was becoming increasingly unfair and discriminating in favour of unauthorised traveller encampments, the Government is now funding a helpline providing advice on how to work the system in their favour.

David said:

David Ruffley this week called for the abolition of the unelected Suffolk police Authority. This would be replaced by a, US style, directly elected local Police Commissioner for the County. This would allow local people to exert greater influence over the type of policing and police priorities in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, and to hold the Chief Constable to account.

David said:

David Ruffley will be visiting Unilever Bestfoods UK at Needham Market on Friday, 14th January at 11.15 a.m. to hold meetings with Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) officials and management following the announcement by the company that the Needham Market site will close in the second half of 2006. The T&G are campaigning to keep the site open.

David will meet Brian Smith, Regional Industrial Organiser, and Dave Rowland, T&G Shop Steward. He will then have a separate meeting with Alistair Joyce, Unilever Factory Manager.

David Ruffley will see for himself just how much time police officers have to spend filling in forms following an arrest when he is given a personal presentation by Suffolk Constabulary officers on Friday, 21 January at Suffolk Constabulary Western Area Headquarters at Maynewater House, Maynewater Lane, Bury St Edmunds.

We must postpone the introduction of reckless new licensing laws

David Ruffley MP this week added his voice to growing concern over the introduction of new licensing laws, which will allow an explosion in late night drinking. A senior judge has warned that town centres across Britain are becoming 'revolting and dangerous places' and young people are being turned into 'urban savages' because of the rise in alcohol-fuelled violence. David raised this issue when he appeared on Andrew Neill's 'Daily Politics' show on 11 January.