David Ruffley

MP outlines plans for an elected police boards or sheriff in Suffolk AND 379 more Suffolk bobbies on the beat

David Ruffley MP has welcomed the new Conservative policy to make local police forces more accountable to local people and to pay for 40,000 extra police officers- with an extra 379 for Suffolk Constabulary. David said:

Bury St Edmunds Conservative MP warns of effect of new Government legislation

David Ruffley MP warned today that three new laws proposed by the Government would strip the voice of local people on planning, transport and housing; other proposals include revaluing council tax bands that properties fall into and increasing council taxes for higher valued properties. David Ruffley said:

David Ruffley was appalled to hear of the dreadful road accident that occurred on the A143 in Great Barton yesterday.

Below is the text of a letter he has written to Lucy Robinson, Director of Environment and Transport at Suffolk County Council calling for action.

5th January 2004
Ms Lucy Robinson
Director of Environment & Transport
Suffolk County Council
St Edmund House
County Hall
Ipswich
IP4 1LZ

A143 Great Barton

David Ruffley welcomed news that the Boundary Commission for England has today accepted the Conservative Party's recommendation on the future of parliamentary boundaries in Suffolk.

David Ruffley MP has received a reply from Dr Ladyman from the Department of Health following a question he put down in Parliament.

David said: 'we all know that Suffolk County Council's own care homes for local older people are not as well run as they should be. For a start Suffolk County Council runs the average care home place with much higher running costs than the voluntary sector without a commensurately better service. In short, the free care that taxpayers' money pays for is delivered better in the voluntary and independent sector.

David Ruffley yesterday welcomed a group of 100 pupils and staff from Needham Market Middle School to the House of Commons.

Following a tour of the Palace of Westminster, including both the House of Commons and House of Lords, the pupils met David in the Grand Committee Room in Westminster Hall, the room that is also used as a second debating chamber for MPs.

David Ruffley is visiting the Bury St Edmunds office of Victim Support Suffolk on their 'Focus Day' on Friday, 14 November at 2.45 p.m. to raise awareness of the services they offer to his constituents. Their office is situated in the Risbygate Centre, 90 Risbygate Street. He will meet Mrs Maxine Kasicki, the Branch Chairman, Mrs Sue Thomson, the Branch Co-ordinator and volunteers.

David Ruffley is the guest speaker at the Stowmarket and District Chamber of Commerce lunchtime meeting on Friday, 14 November at Brown's Club in Stowmarket. He has been invited by Denis Barnard, the new Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

Concern is growing over future funding to keep rural village halls in good repair.

David Ruffley will be attending a meeting in the House of Commons on Wednesday 22 January to discuss the issue of capital and maintenance funding for village halls and community centres in rural areas.

The Community Fund has made grants totaling £32 million a year for the rebuilding of village halls since 1994 but that funding is now declining to £17 million. The Community Fund has been increasingly diverting its funds away from projects such as village halls.

David Ruffley MP and the Reverend Jonathan Ford are leading the campaign to make Bury St Edmunds a Fair Trade Town. David's Treasury Select Committee work in Parliament- where he cross examines the chiefs of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund- has led him to take this local campaigning role.

David is now lobbying St Edmundsbury Borough Council to go ahead with the initiative.