Bulletin - May 2013
April has been a pivotal month for government reforms coming through the pipeline. We've seen the introduction of our welfare reforms, capping benefits in line with average working incomes whilst protecting the most vulnerable, and the local implementation of the coalition's NHS reforms. I have been scrutinising both the national policy and the local delivery.

Locally, I have been talking to local GP's about the NHS reforms, and touring local businesses in East Molesey. 

Up at Westminster, we commemorated the passing of Lady Thatcher, our greatest postwar leader. I continue to campaign against the snoopers' charter, and for deportation reform. I also teamed up with Zac Goldsmith to make sure we keep local neighbourhood safeguards in the new rules on home developments.

Best wishes,


MP for Esher and Walton

Dom talks to East Molesey Retailers
Dom Talks to East Molesey Retailers


I have been speaking to the two local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), which have now taken over control of commissioning local NHS services from Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT).  The aim is to replace the bloated bureaucracy of the PCT with locally accountable groups of medical practitioners. For all the opposition to these reforms inside the Westminster bubble, I have been heartened to see the progress being made. Our two local CCGs have plans to cut waste, cut waiting times for counselling, and re-invest in helping children with multiple disabilities. Crucially, both CCGs are looking strategically at what services can be provided closer to home to reduce the number of patients having to be treated in large hospitals. That includes the roll-out of 'virtual wards' overseen by a matron to join up the provision of local services (historically a problem), and a strategic review of our  community hospitals to consider how they can best serve patients locally. It's just the beginning, but their common sense focus on local needs is a far cry from the doomsday scenario painted by the critics.

In other NHS news, I am delighted that Kingston hospital has won Foundation Trust status. It means more autonomy to innovate locally, and greater accountability to local communities. For the first time, we will have two publicly elected governors representing Elmbridge - an important local voice in the running of the hospital. 


Elsewhere, I paid a visit to Bridge Road in East Molesey to talk to local retailers about parking regulations and other local challenges. Bridge Road is a really vibrant part of the borough, and I blogged on the tour here

Lastly, I wish all the Conservative candidates running in the local - county and borough - elections the best of luck. I have enjoyed getting out on the door-step, from Walton to Claygate, supporting them. Please make sure you vote on Thursday, because turnout will be key and every vote counts.


Westminster Watch


Up in Parliament, we scored two local victories in the formulation of national policy. First, I received confirmation, here, that the 'damping' arrangements that protect local police funding in Surrey will not be eroded before we have a full review of the police funding formula (which prejudices Elmbridge). That will protect the equivalent of 83 police constables in Surrey, as I explained in my blogpost here.

The second achievement was over new planning rules, currently being streamlined as part of the effort to boost economic growth. I joined Zac Goldsmith MP in objecting to specific proposals that risked sidelining the views of neighbours when home developments take place. The Communities Secretary re-considered the plans, as reported here, introducing a safeguard to ensure neighbours can object to developments that impact on the enjoyment of their homes. I am grateful for the feedback and views I received locally on this issue.

In addition, I led Conservative opposition to new surveillance powers, dubbed the Snoopers' Charter, as reported here and here. It appears the proposed Bill will not now feature in the forthcoming Queen's Speech. I also joined Boris in calling for strike law reform, in the wake of militant threats of a general strike later this year, as reported here. And I continue to press for deportation reform, given the farce of the Abu Qatada case and other spurious human rights challenges - as reported here. Let's hope this does feature in the Queen's Speech!

However, Parliament was really eclipsed this month by the tributes to Margaret Thatcher. I spoke in the debate commemorating her legacy, which you can read here, and joined her friends, colleagues and well-wishers at the very moving funeral at St Paul's cathedral. It was quite an incredible occasion and I felt humbled and privileged to be able to pay my respects.

 

The introduction of the government's welfare reforms has attracted the predictable scaremongering from the Left. I believe they are fair and reasonable, an important step towards helping the jobless into work and ending the welfare dependency culture encouraged by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I also think it is reasonable, in the wake of the Philpott case, to reflect on the dire social consequences of the dependency culture, as reported here.

On a more positive note, I mentor at a boxing and martial arts academy - called Fight For Peace - that helps get youngsters from tough backgrounds into training and work. I was interviewed by the academy for their website here.

Finally, I have been calling on the government to take a more robust approach to law enforcement. I wrote an article for the London Evening Standard, here, looking at the 'prosecutorial deficit' from tax evasion to counter-terrorism. I have also been campaigning for a UK Sergei Magnitsky Law to stop torturers and gangsters from entering Britain or laundering blood money here. I was interviewed by Panorama on the subject - you can watch the episode here.



For a full list of media comments, click here.
For blog posts on local issues and national debates, click here.