Category Archives: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

I met representatives of the Wildlife Trust at Parliament yesterday. I said I was keen to see higher standards of animal welfare, to see more trees planted around the country and to seek a local plan for the future that decelerates the rate of housing development. We need to protect more of our countryside, and […]

Last Friday I was pleased to be able to plant three trees at Dinton Pastures. It was part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest initiatives nationwide and around the Commonwealth. The aim is to highlight the value of trees and forests and to plant some more. It was promoted by the Woodland […]

I have lobbied with others for more money for our local social care services. The government announced extra money in the Budget and has now sent me the details of our local allocations. West Berkshire will receive an extra £500,898 for winter pressures, and an extra £855,700 for adult and children care, making a total […]

This year’s service in All Saints was unusually well attended. The Church showed flexibility to fit people in, inviting the many children from the various scouting organisations to sit on the cushions and prayer mats and around the altar to make more space. The service was modelled around traditional hymns and readings, with the special […]

There was a large attendance yesterday for the wreath laying in the Churchyard and for the service, with many not managing a seat in the Church. I would like to thank all those who came, and all those who helped organise the event. It was a dignified and well thought through service to remember the […]

I attended the Beenham Wind Orchestra to hear their Poppies and Peace concert on Saturday. They were magnificent. After two years in the planning, they delivered a moving and well orchestrated programme of music. The concert began with the powerful and threatening music from Holst’s Mars, reminding us of the terrors of war and the […]

Last night there was a good attendance at the Wokingham Conservatives annual dinner, with the Lord Chancellor as our speaker and guest of honour. He talked about prison reform, explaining how we was seeking to get drugs and organised crime rings out of our jails. He is considering what to do about the large number […]

The Minister for Roads has written to me and other MPs today to tell us how he intends to divide up the £420 m of money this year announced in the Budget for additional highways maintenance. He tells me that Wokingham will receive an extra £1,177,000 and West Berkshire an extra £1,913,000. I look forward […]

I have received the enclosed letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Today, I will be laying the Universal Credit Managed Migration regulations before the House. These positive regulations provide a range of additional support for claimants as they move onto Universal Credit – a simpler benefit system, providing tailored support to […]