by Paul Scully | Jan 14, 2016 | News |
Yesterday the Disability Benefits Consortium took part in a ‘mass lobby’ of parliament. Over 100 disabled people came to Parliament to talk to MPs about the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.
At this lobby, I met with one of my constituents, Katy, who came to the event with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) to speak to me about their work, as well as her personal experiences.
As I sat on the Committee that examined this Bill when it went through the House of Commons, it was really useful for me to hear first hand accounts of welfare reform. I used the opportunity to reassure Katy and others that the focus of changes to welfare were directly aimed at protecting the vulnerable.
Rather than look at each type of benefit individually, we have looked at welfare reform as a package of measures, not just to reduce the amount we spend on welfare in cash terms, but also to tackle the causes of worklessness, particularly long term worklessness. For those who can work, but either have found it difficult to get into work or find it difficult to work more hours, we are providing a package of measures to help them back into the workplace.
This allows us to shift the focus of the safety net that is welfare onto those most in need and those who cannot work. This government will always protect those people.
I want to thank Katy and everyone I met at the lobby, and for sharing their stories with me.
by Paul Scully | Jan 14, 2016 | News |
On Monday I had the privilege of leading a Westminster Hall debate about NHS Bursaries following an e-petition that had reached over 150,000 signatures by the time we came to debate it.
I was delighted to be joined, among others, by Maria Caulfield, the new Conservative MP for Lewes, who used to work at the Royal Marden Hospital in Sutton. She is a great addition to the House, even if she is a great loss to nursing in Sutton!
You can watch the debate here.
by Paul Scully | Dec 22, 2015 | News |
I have received a letter from my colleague the Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of State for Education, that she has agreed to enter into a funding agreement to allow Cheam Common Junior School to become an academy.
I am pleased that the school has taken up this opportunity and I will be working with the the Department for Education and the school to ensure a smooth transition.
Please find the text of the Secretary of State’s letter below.
“I am pleased to tell you that I have agreed to enter into a Funding Agreement to allow Cheam Common Junior School, in Sutton London Borough Council, to convert into an academy.
As you know, academies form an integral part of the Government’s education policy to raise attainment for all children and to bring about sustained improvements to all schools, and I am delighted that Cheam Common Junior School recognises the benefits academy status will bring.
The date of conversion will be 1 January 2016 and I am also writing to the local authority to instruct them to cease to maintain Cheam Common Junior School from that date.
RT HON NICKY MORGAN MP”
by Paul Scully | Dec 19, 2015 | News |
Early this morning I visited Royal Mail’s Sutton Delivery Office to pass on Christmas wishes and encouragement to postmen and women at their busiest time of year.
I was shown around the office by Delivery Office Manager, David Cronin, and was introduced to the postmen and women who are working hard sorting and delivering mail in the Sutton area during the Festive season.
There is a huge amount of effort and dedication that goes into delivering a first class Christmas at Royal Mail’s busiest time of year. It was great to meet the team here at Sutton.
Our postal workers do such an important job at this time of year and I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them all the best over the busy festive period.
David Cronin, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager at Sutton, commented: “Our postmen and women are working extremely hard to deliver Christmas cards, letters and parcels to people across Sutton. We are grateful that the Paul visited the office to see our operation and to support the team.
“We’d like to remind our customers to post early so that friends and family have longer to enjoy their Christmas greetings. We would also like to ask everyone to please always use the postcode as this helps us greatly in the job that we do at this busy time.”
The last recommend posting dates for Christmas are:
- Second Class – Saturday 19 December 2015
- First Class – Monday 21 December 2015
- Special Delivery – Wednesday 23 December 2015
Customers can also help Royal Mail ensure that all their letters, cards and parcels are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible by taking a few easy steps:
- Post early – Avoid disappointment by posting your cards and parcels early.
- Use a postcode – A clearly addressed card or parcel, with a postcode, and return address on the back of the envelope, will ensure quick and efficient delivery.
- Use Special Delivery – For valuable and important packages and parcels guarantee delivery with Royal Mail’s Special Delivery, which means your gift is tracked, traced and insured against loss.
- Wrap parcels well and always give a return address
- For more information about Royal Mail’s last recommended posting dates, please visit: www.royalmail.com/greetings or call 03457 740 740.
by Paul Scully | Dec 9, 2015 | News |
Yesterday I visited Seears Park Nursery in Sutton to speak with founder Kevin about some history of the site, the work he does at the Nursery and plans for the future.
Kevin began by showing my some photos of the Nursery going back to when it first opened. He told me of the work he previously did there with Merton College, before taking on the site himself.
I was very impressed with how far the Nursery has come along, and the work Kevin does for the local community. Founders Kevin and Garth have years of experience working with many diverse groups and individuals and on working with various partner organisations on different horticultural and garden projects across London and Surrey.
Their aim is to develop the Nursery at Seears Park into a lasting fully integrated community asset as set out in our aims and objectives, where each project benefits another. In the spirit of the Big Society, they believe that their social enterprise and inclusive projects can realise their vision and promote an environment where ‘Communities are growing together’.
Seears Park Nursery often is host to children from local schools with special educations needs, who come to the Nursery to learn new skills and tend to the plants with volunteers. I was lucky enough to meet some of the children and volunteers during my visit and I hope more people take up the opportunity to come and see the work they do here.
I also used this opportunity to speak to Kevin about his plans for Quarry Cottage, where a planning application for a cafe will be considered at the Planning Committee of Sutton Council on 16th December. I was joined by a local resident, Ralph, who has taken a keen interest in this planning application, and we put some questions to Kevin, and the architect Niall, about the project. You can see more about the plans here.
I understand there has been a lot of feedback from residents on these plans, so I hope residents will get in touch with the Nursery if they feel there are questions that haven’t been answered, and come along to the Planning Committee at the Sutton Council offices on 16th December should they wish to.
It was a pleasure to meet Kevin and his team, and I hope to see and hear more about the work he does in the future. I would also encourage residents to visit the Nursery for themselves and find out more about what they do.
