daventrycalling

My tweets

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:00:40 GMT

Fri, 18:02: RT @LordAshcroft: If you haven't yet tried this light hearted magic trick here it is again. http://t.co/pKnoohYt5R >>Brilliant!!!
Sat, 09:36: A ship carrying red paint has collided with another carrying blue paint leaving both crews marooned.

My tweets

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:08:09 GMT

Wed, 23:23: Not a day for humour. Time now to pray for the family of the man murdered in Woolwich & salute the bravery of those who went to help him.
Thu, 10:05: RT @paulwaugh: Some good news for Theresa May. Net migration down to 153k (yr to Sept 2012), down from 242k (to Sept2011). http://t.co/GoRz…
Thu, 17:48: Just received unsolicited e-mail from Hizb ut-Tahrir. Nearly made a mistake by hitting the delete button before unsubscribing.

Wind Farms... Might We See Some DCLG Action Soon?

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:37:21 GMT

Getting There....

I would say about time too, but it does seem that the government is going to offer new planning advice, based on the outcome of the recent Milton Keynes judgement soon.

The final paragraph of the Secretary of State's letter should also help you if you are fighting wind turbines through the planning system at the moment.

My tweets

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:37 GMT

Tue, 17:55: RT @DanHannanMEP: We wanted an In/Out referendum. We wanted a Bill in this Parliament. What part of 'Yes' don't we understand? http://t.co/…
Tue, 18:18: In All Party Football Group meeting with England management team. Some Scottish MPs are here taking notes...
Tue, 20:19: Referendum Draft Bill http://t.co/aFwWUSQjKd
Tue, 21:22: Interested in free & fair elections in Zimbabwe? Have a look at this petition: http://t.co/nYgdbITJd0

Referendum Draft Bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:19:08 GMT

Good News!

I'm pleased to say that late this afternoon the attached draft Bill on an in/out EU referendum was published on the Conservative Party website: http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Issues/Europe_Bill.aspx.

On this webpage the Foreign Secretary is quoted as follows:

“David Cameron has said if he is Prime Minister, there will be an In-Out referendum in the next Parliament and that in this Parliament, we will look at all options to underline the fact that our commitment to the referendum is absolute.

“So today the Conservative Party is publishing a draft bill to legislate for an In-Out referendum before the end of 2017. We will examine all opportunities to bring this bill before Parliament, including as a private members’ bill.”

Provisions of this draft Bill include:

Ø Clause 1 provides that there will be a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU before the end of 2017. The question in the referendum would be: “Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?”

Ø Clause 1 also allows the precise date of the referendum to be set by the Government by an order that requires the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

Ø Clause 2 provides that those entitled to vote in the referendum are those entitled to vote in elections to the House of Commons (which includes Irish and Commonwealth citizens), as well as peers.

Ø Clause 3 provides broad power for the Government to set down in orders the rules of conduct for the referendum and “further provisions” about the referendum, though these orders would require the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

In the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which provided for the AV referendum, schedules to the Act itself set down rules for the conduct of the referendum and “further provisions” about the referendum (in this case this latter category included rules regarding the counting officers for the ballot, the role of the Electoral Commission and legal challenges to the result).

Clause 3(3) of the draft Bill states that orders under Clause 3 can amend the Act (as it would be). If such orders could not vary the deadline for the referendum, the referendum question or the franchise, it is not easy to see why this provision is necessary.

Ø The Bill does not refer to renegotiation of the UK’s terms of membership of the EU. However, the Prime Minister has made clear that he would pursue renegotiation prior to the referendum.

I welcome the Bill's publication. Only the Conservative Party will trust the people and allow them to decide, in a referendum, what our relationship with the European Union should look like in the future.

My tweets

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:44 GMT

Mon, 17:51: RT @DaventryHousing: @longbuckbynet we are looking for keen volunteers to help run a breakfast club at Greenhill Court! Email us for more i…
Mon, 22:57: Good to see my old Labour MEP colleague, Richard Corbett, on Newsnight. Interesting to see the BBC interviewing him as if he was a neutral.
Tue, 00:16: @LouiseMensch Did you know Arnold Schwarzenegger is related to Johann Sebastian Bach? His grandfather on his mother's side was Albie Bach.

My tweets

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:42 GMT

Sun, 21:18: Teachers' Pensions http://t.co/8cNYntptyb
Sun, 21:18: Teachers' Pensions http://t.co/bJw3oShQE4
Sun, 21:23: Guide Dog Attacks. http://t.co/DP1m8csWw0
Sun, 21:36: Europe and all that... http://t.co/fM0dbRSs8U
Sun, 21:52: What's Beethoven's favorite fruit? Ba na na nas.
Sun, 23:29: RT @YoopaMan: If you are about, why not come and visit us on the RBLR stand. #RBLR #Daventry @chhcalling http://t.co/8skX6vAlbS

Europe and all that...

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:36:18 GMT

Below is an article I wrote for "Barton Today" - the excellent monthly Parish magazine for Earls Barton.

I'm pretty sure those who are interested know my views on Europe, referenda and the like (please click this link to see when I expressed them in Parliament: http://daventrycalling.livejournal.com/38107.html ; but they are explained a little more here:

For me it has been a busy few days in Parliament. As you will have seen on TV, a raft of new Parliamentary Bills have been proposed by the Coalition Government and were announced as part of the Queen’s Speech.

There are some hugely important pieces of legislation which will affect us all and have an impact over many years. These include the Energy Bill, the Carers' Bill and the Pensions Bill.

One new Bill, unsurprisingly, got the most coverage on the day - a Bill which is desperately needed now: the Immigration Bill.

It will clamp down on those from overseas who abuse our public services. It will do so by stopping immigrants accessing public services which they are not entitled to and compelling landlords of private housing to check the immigration status of tenants, facing fines if they don’t.

It will also make it easier to remove people from the UK by legislating to ensure that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to family life) is not abused. Courts will have to balance the crime committed against the criminal’s right to remain in the country.

Probably the most important political event of the last few days, however, was not an announcement by the current Government, but was the decision of one of the post war period’s most successful Chancellors of the Exchequer, Lord Lawson, to speak out in favour of leaving the European Union.

He believes that the chance of any meaningful renegotiation of our status within the European Union, is negligible.

I disagree. I believe we should try and do something that our country has never tried before and endeavour to negotiate a better deal for Great Britain in Europe. As one of the leaders of the "Fresh Start" project in Parliament which has outlined things we need to change to get to that better new settlement.

However, I also believe that if we don't get a vastly improved deal within Europe, that we should leave and that the current settlement is not in our nation’s interest. That is where I agree with Lord Lawson.

For too long, those who have advanced a rational case for exit, on economic, constitutional and political grounds, have been dismissed as cranks and extremists, with the hackneyed argument that such a course of action will “cost three million jobs”. That was never true and still is not. Indeed such scaremongering ignores our place as a global trading nation with a healthy trade surplus outside the EU.

Lord Lawson’s intervention means that we will increasingly now have a proper debate on our future relationship with the EU and this should and must inevitably lead to a referendum which involves asking the voters for their opinion, based on facts, common sense and a hard headed analysis of what is in our national interests, for the first time in almost 40 years.

Personally I would like to see two referenda - one, as soon as possible, that gives the Government a mandate to try to renegotiate a better deal by a set date and a second, on that set date, where the people of Great Britain have the chance to decide whether this new deal is good enough for them to vote to stay inside the European Union or leave.

Guide Dog Attacks.

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:23:15 GMT

I've had a few letters about attacks on Guide Dogs and have replied to them in the following way:

Thank you for your recent correspondence in respect of irresponsible dog ownership and attacks on guide dogs, your comments upon which I have read with great interest.

I appreciate the concerns that you raise. I wholeheartedly agree that guide dogs are highly trained, selfless animals and that provide a vital service for their owners. As you may know, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has recently proposed a package of measures aimed at tackling irresponsible dog ownership and reducing the number of dog attacks generally; including attacks on assistance dogs. DEFRA has also been working closely with the Home Office to ensure that their new measures to deal with antisocial behaviour will also include such behaviour where it involves dogs.

I am also delighted that Ministers have recently proposed draft amendments to the 1991 Act, so that attacks on guide dogs and other assistance dogs will be explicitly covered by dangerous dogs legislation for the first time. These provisions will mean that a dog attack on an assistance dog, for example a guide dog for the blind or deaf, will be an aggravated offence.

However, until the proposed amendments are enacted, legislation is already in place to protect guide dogs from attack. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 may apply in such cases, because a person who owns a dog that commits an offence, through their negligence, is causing unnecessary suffering to another animal.

Care and Support Bill

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:20:52 GMT

I also have had a few letters about the "Care and Support Bill" and this is how I have replied to them:

Thank you for your recent correspondence in respect of the draft Care and Support Bill, your comments upon which I have read with great interest.

The draft Bill would, for the first time, place an explicit duty on local authorities to promote a diverse, high quality and sustainable local market for care and support that meets the needs of local people. Provisions in the draft Bill would significantly benefit those with caring responsibilities. It would simplify the process of assessments and place a duty on councils to meet a carer’s eligible needs for support. There would be a new resource, rising to £175 million per year, to ensure that this is implemented.

The cap that has been announced in response to the Dilnot Commission will be a fair partnership between individuals and the Government. The cap will ensure everyone is protected from the risk of excessive care costs, regardless of their wealth or where they receive care and support. It will help relieve the worry people face in the current system of completely unlimited costs.

The Government has committed to introducing a national minimum eligibility threshold for adult care and support. Subject to the passage of legislation, this will be introduced from April 2015. The level at which the eligibility threshold is set must match the overall resource allocated to adult care and support. Therefore, it must be determined as part of the Spending Review. The Government will set out its proposal for the national minimum eligibility threshold as soon as practicable, after it has considered the outcome of the 2015/16 Spending Review, which will be announced on the 26^th June 2013. It may reassure you to know that local authorities will be free to set their eligibility threshold at a more generous level, but cannot tighten them beyond the national minimum threshold.

Departmental spending plans for 2015/16 will be set at the Spending Review. The Government was aware that the last Spending Review provided local government with a challenging settlement. This is why it took the decision to prioritise adult care and support and provide extra funding for local authorities, to help in maintaining access to services. Since then, local authorities have been provided with additional resources for care and support. However, it is ultimately for local authorities to choose how best to use their available funding.

Nevertheless, the Government cannot improve the care and support system just by putting more money into the system. There are already examples of local authorities redesigning services to find more efficient ways of working. Many local authorities are innovating and achieving much greater integration between health and care services, thereby improving care for people.

Teachers' Pensions

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:18:36 GMT

A number of my constituents who are teachers have written to me about "Teachers' Pensions." Below is how I am replying to them:

Thank you for your recent correspondence in respect of reforms to teachers’ pay and pensions, your comments upon which I have read with great interest.

As you may know, the Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP, the Education Secretary, commissioned the School Teachers’ Review Body, to see how reforms could be made to pay to help address the quality of teaching, along with raising the status of the profession and supporting the recruitment and retention of teachers in different areas of the country. It has recommended a more flexible, national pay framework for teachers.

The proposed extension of performance related pay will be fairer than current arrangements. At the moment, pay rises are almost automatic, regardless of merit. Virtually all full time classroom teachers on the main pay scale automatically progress to the next pay point each year. Automatic pay progression means that the correlation between a teacher’s pay and their performance is poor. The Government does not believe it is fair that a highly effective, but relatively new entrant, for example, should be paid substantially less than their long-serving, but less effective, colleague.

Mandatory pay points within the pay scales for classroom teachers will be abolished, giving schools greater freedom on how much teachers are paid. They would remain in place for reference only in the main pay scale, to guide career expectations for new teachers entering the profession. The higher pay bands for London and fringe areas will also be retained.

Giving schools freedom to pay the best teachers more and greater flexibilities to help them to recruit and retain the teachers they need, makes sense for pupils too. Evidence shows that high-performing teachers generate five to six more months of student learning each year than poor performing teachers. Schools in the most challenging circumstances that often struggle to retain good teachers, will be able to deploy their pupil premium, worth £900 per pupil, per year, from April 2013, to attract and keep the best staff.

Schools already have experience of making decisions about pay progression that reflect assessments of teacher performance, for example, when deciding on progression to, and within, the upper pay range. The Department for Education has now published advice to help them decide how to make performance related pay decisions for all their teachers. This advice has been sent to all schools in England, alongside a revised version of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document that reflects reforms to teachers’ pay. It includes a model pay policy that schools can adapt to suit their own circumstances as they wish and various pointers to help them to decide how to implement reform.

In response to the pension reforms, no one will be forced to work until their normal pension age. Members will still be able to take their pension at any age from 55 to 75, although their annual pension income will vary depending on when they choose to retire. The reform of public service pensions is not retrospective and all of the pension that members have built up under the current scheme will be based on their final salary at retirement.

It is also important to emphasise that the changes that the Government is bringing in, should mean that no further reform will be necessary for 25 years.

Finally, I can assure you that the Education Secretary remains fully committed to seeking a resolution to disputes with the teaching unions, the NUT and the NASUWT, through continued discussions with both unions. However, he has been very clear with both unions that the direction of travel on changes to teachers’ pay and pension arrangements is now fixed. In both cases, there has been full consultation with all the trade unions.

Teachers' Pensions

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:18:35 GMT

A number of my constituents who are teachers have written to me about "Teachers' Pensions." Below is how I am replying to them:

Thank you for your recent correspondence in respect of reforms to teachers’ pay and pensions, your comments upon which I have read with great interest.

It is also important to emphasise that the changes that the Government is bringing in, should mean that no further reform will be necessary for 25 years.

My tweets

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:00:48 GMT

Sat, 17:39: RT @SnoozeInBrief: #BritishStarWars "May the Force be with you." "No, no, may the Force be with *you*." "That's awfully kind, but really, I…
Sat, 17:49: RT @largeburrito: Meanwhile, at the RSPCA shop in Bury, Lancashire... #SloganFail http://t.co/KijhQ3Wu2N /@MrRandomSilly
Sat, 19:49: Well done Wigan!!!
Sat, 23:39: Great photo of Milky Way taken from the surface of Mars. http://t.co/fvCM284yNA
Sun, 09:51: RT @liz_buckley: Filming the next instalments of Star Wars in the UK is a bit disappointing after all the others were filmed in space.

My tweets

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:00:57 GMT

Fri, 13:43: RT @CarolineDDH: @DaventryHousing @DSLVNews @chhcalling are very proud to announce that the #CommunityHub is now open!! http://t.co/lIYIvWR…
Fri, 13:46: RT @TheGrangeDav: We are so excited about our partnership with the Royal Opera House. Year 4 teachers had an amazing day training there las…
Fri, 16:20: RT @DaventryDC: It's Countryside Day on Sunday at Daventry Country Park from noon to 4pm, with lots to see and do - don't miss it! http://t…
Fri, 17:57: RT @RoyalDerngate: Jobs vacancies - We are looking for a Barista and Food & Beverage Manager. For more information and to apply, click: htt…
Fri, 20:06: RT @KadiJackson: It's world lupus day today !! Spread the word and get involved with the charities , so many people get effected ❤ http://t…
Fri, 22:52: RT @Gary_Hubbard69: @chhcalling Thanks Chris for your talk at West Haddon school today. Both my boys @TopAJH @Louisatv8 loved your Boris an…

My tweets

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:43 GMT

Thu, 23:27: Fulham have released their "team sheet" for this Sunday's game against Liverpool - or as Luis Suarez prefers to call it, the menu.
Fri, 07:53: RT @CarolineDDH: Very excited to attend @DaventryHousing Community Hub launch tomorrow! It's going to be a brill day, celebrating our commu…
Fri, 08:00: Good news! The RSPCA have caught up with curiosity.
Fri, 11:18: RT @DaventryHousing We're looking forward to the Community Hub launch at @dslvnews with @chhcalling today! >> Me too! See you at midday!

My tweets

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:00:44 GMT

Wed, 22:23: My mate's so worried about bird flu he shot a pigeon that flew into his garden yesterday. He thought it was a carrier.

My tweets

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:00:40 GMT

Tue, 21:02: I have a friend who is addicted to break fluid. I'm very concerned for him, but he says he can stop whenever he wants.
Tue, 22:02: Peter Hain says Ed Balls & Labour Treasury team aren't getting their msg over. P'haps voters get it & don't like it. http://t.co/Z4ZuSvSCII
Wed, 09:28: Wishing Sir Alex Ferguson all the best in his retirement. The Boss of all current football managers, he will go down as one of the best ever
Wed, 10:21: RT @jeffnorthlondon: RT @Ed_Miliband Proud man. Great manager. Staunch Labour Party supporter. Sir Alex Ferguson will never be forgotten- "…

My tweets

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:00:38 GMT

Mon, 12:50: RT @CRWales: @chhcalling Plus a facial wash, "Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose?"

My tweets

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:00:45 GMT

Sun, 20:02: Why is Bon Jovi's bed always messy? He doesn't think it matters if you make it or not.
Sun, 20:24: RT @markdaventry: @chhcalling How many of the Ramones does it take to change a lightbulb? 1-2-3-4
Mon, 09:37: Why don't "Head and Shoulders" make a body wash called "Knees and Toes"?
Mon, 10:14: Refereeing a game @ 3pm @ Pitsford Rec to help celebrate the opening of the new changing facilities. Lots going on from 2pm - do pop down!

My tweets

Sat, 04 May 2013 11:00:40 GMT

Fri, 23:31: What do you call a bee born in May? A maybe.

My tweets

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:35 GMT

Thu, 13:30: RT @ThePoke: Amazing news story in today's North Devon Journal. http://t.co/0lZxCqPTSw (via @Owenmjones)
Thu, 13:31: RT @SimonPhillipsUK: @chhcalling Two silkworms had a race. It ended in a tie.
Thu, 17:27: RT @ChronandEcho: Lamport Hall...Is this the prettiest polling station in the county? #NCCvote2013 http://t.co/q5BFtS85fc
Thu, 17:34: Been caught out by strength of sun today whilst out touring/standing outside polling stations. Being follicly challenged = a very red head.
Thu, 17:34: Still it is a beautiful evening to walk to your polling station & vote Conservative.
Thu, 20:07: RT @NGHnhstrust: @chhcalling You need to be sun aware. Come along to NGH next Tuesday for more info http://t.co/dieWExfsPN
Fri, 01:11: Hearing @robgoughy has gained Earls Barton (Wellingborough Borough, but in Daventry Constit.) from Labour in Borough by-election. Brilliant!
Fri, 01:54: RT @DaventryDC: DDC by-election result: Welford ward - Luke Major (CON) elected with 824 votes. Turnout: 39.08%
Fri, 02:02: RT @DaventryDC: DDC by-election result: Brixworth ward - Ian Barratt (CON) elected with 1,082 votes. Turnout: 32.83%
Fri, 07:26: RT @truemagic68: 10 year bond yield - Germany 1.16%, UK 1.62%, US 1.63%, Italy 3.75%, Spain 4.02% & Greece 9.91%

Fri, 11:36: MT @Julidy1_FLO Thx 4 visiting polling stations yesterday to offer thc & support. It was appreciated on a long day! >> A pleasure! Thanks 2U

My tweets

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:00:51 GMT

Wed, 19:44: Just phoned Seaworld. B4 talking to anyone I had to say: "Jump through the hoop!" Think my call was being recorded for training porpoises.
Wed, 19:49: Fantastic ESPN pre-match build up: "Dante isn't starting for Bayern. He must have reached his peak."
Wed, 23:11: I was offered a job as a noise pollution inspector. Alas I had to turn it down.
Thu, 07:42: Have lots of good friends standing 4 election up & down the country today. Good luck to U all & thanks 4 your commitment to public service.
Thu, 07:44: RT @DaventryDC: Polling stations are open today till 10pm for the county council elections & district by-elections http://t.co/HqcI6B7P…
Thu, 07:47: #VoteConservative

My tweets

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:41 GMT

Tue, 20:39: Excellent reception at no.10 Downing Street for @Enrych hosted by PM's Wife. If you fancy volunteering they are looking for help nationwide.
Tue, 21:34: Breaking: Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy.

My tweets

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:00:50 GMT

Mon, 15:16: RT @RoyalDerngate: Five stars from @stagereviews for A Midsummer Night’s Dream “It’s another triumph for both Sefton and the Royal” http://…
Mon, 16:34: @englandtugofwar We are holding a tug of war national league event @DaventryRFC this Sunday from 11am. Are you going to be there? #tugofwar
Tue, 07:19: RT @tracey_crouch: Prisoners stripped of right to watch TV - Telegraph http://t.co/OO5hf6L3VD

My tweets

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:00:46 GMT

Sat, 15:08: RT @largeburrito: RT @wonky_donky: i'm surprised they missed this - the magazine *should* be 'Parents'... http://t.co/lUmTVlSIpm
Sat, 23:09: Just chatted with Pres. Gjorge Ivanov of Macedonia between Sedona Forum sessions. Last met him pre his election! http://t.co/hZOiX55Vpu