David Ruffley

This shocking news came to light in the House of Commons today as Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford published the Balance of Funding Review contributed to by a pro-government think tank, the New Policy Institute.

This latest announcement could see council taxes rise well above £2,000 for properties in the area worth over £200,000. Band D levels would rise by over 33% in both Mid Suffolk and St Edmundsbury. Research shows that the Band D tax level in St Edmundsbury would rise from £1,214 this April to £1,619; and in Mid Suffolk from £1,205 to £1,607.

Mr Ruffley said:

David Ruffley MP this week pointed to new crime figures published by the Government as evidence that Labour have failed to be 'tough on crime'. The figures released by the Home Office on 20 July show that in the last year, violence against the person rose by 26% in Mid Suffolk and by 13% in St Edmundsbury. The figures for the number of sexual offences are equally shocking. There has been a 33% rise in sexual offences in Mid Suffolk and a 14% rise in St Edmundsbury.

Mr Ruffley said:

David Ruffley MP this week endorsed calls by Conservatives nationally to review family law and give divorced parents greater rights of access to their children. Today divorce affects almost 150,000 children every year, more than two-thirds of whom are under the age of ten.

Mr Ruffley explained:

'When relationships break up, too many children become unfairly cut off from one of their parents, as well as grandparents and other close relatives. The current legal system isn't working, trapping many families for years in the courts running up massive legal bills.'

David Ruffley MP endorsed new proposals this week by Conservatives to provide a fairer deal for current and future pensioners across the Bury St Edmunds area. At the same time, Mr Ruffley warned that if urgent action was not taken, living standards of pensioners would plummet, companies around Bury St Edmunds could go bankrupt, and council taxes could soar further to pay for local government pension schemes now in deficit.

Mr Ruffley explained:

David Ruffley today released a copy of his letter to Andrew Good, Chief Executive of Mid Suffolk District Council, enclosing a petition he has received from local residents, led by Brian Crascall, opposing housing development on land adjoining Platten Close in Needham Market.

David said: 'There are over 150 signatures on this petition from Needham Market residents opposing development on this greenfield site. They have my support. Green fields near residents' homes should be given reasonable protection. I am holding the Council to account as much as I can.'

David Ruffley attended a site meeting at the water meadows between Cardinalls Road and Newton Road, Stowmarket last Saturday, 26 June. A large group of local residents turned out to present a petition of over 200 local names and bags of letters to Mid Suffolk District Council opposing development on this site.

David is sending the petition and letters to David Ellis, Head of Planning at Mid Suffolk District Council.

Mr Ruffley has finally received a promise from the Government that changes will be made to the requirements on aircrafts to carry on board more extensive Emergency Medical Kits.

After much harassing of the Transport Minister, Mr Tony McNulty, David Ruffley has now received a firm assurance that plans are being put in place to require all commercial aircraft to carry additional medical equipment.

Residents in the Honey Hill, Sparhawk Street and Southgate Street area of Bury St Edmunds have at last won their battle for traffic-calming measures. Work has recently started to narrow junctions and widen pavements, in an effort to slow down speeding cars and lorries.

Local MP David Ruffley, who received a petition from residents over two years ago, has long supported residents' calls for these measures.

David Ruffley MP, Patron of the West Suffolk Branch of the Alzheimer's Society, expressed support for people with dementia and their carers in Bury St Edmunds, in the run up to Alzheimer's Awareness Week.

David Ruffley is supporting Onehouse Parish Council in their bid for funding from the Countryside Agency to produce a Parish Plan which will set out a vision for the future of the village.