Claire Perry is our new Member of Parliament and her maiden
speech to Parliament was not the usual homage to her predecessor (Michael
Ancram), instead she put the case for Wiltshire and the need for the low level
of government funding to be explained. So it is clear that Claire is right in
there fighting for her constituency.
Aware of Claire’s interest in young people the Aldbourne
Youth Council invited Claire to Any Questions in the Memorial Hall
unfortunately coinciding with the
Claire’s initial comments on her maiden speech went like
this:- The mood of politics has changed. Possibly she is a marked person
for saying 'sit down and shut up' to MPs who were interrupting her. It is
really tough making cuts but we have to get the economy going and protect
services. It is an exciting time for me, I have an office now at
And so to the questions:-
Should prospective parents have to pass an exam?
Audrey - yes to an exam for parenting
R Pitts - Exam before having children but also practical
skills are useful. Health visitors important as trusted profession going
into parent’s homes. Children’s needs change as they grow up.
Richard C - Serious issues with parenting older 8+ and help
is needed with that. ASK Wiltshire run parenting courses (Family
Information Service). Believes need to teach parents about stepping in
and teach how to control them. No to exams before children.
Audience - Trouble starts when age 2-3 where child says 'no'
and support/training should start from birth. Education has too many
rules and regulations. Do you think families are not so close as they
used to be e.g. parents far away from grandparents and this could be part of
the problem?
Claire- We have lost the ability to intervene (in public),
we need to get grandparents more involved with 15/16 year olds and have them
more involved with young people.
Audience - startled young women out of hospital after only
8hrs giving birth - grave mistake
Question Rural Deprivation ?
R Pitts - believes decent broadband to enable shopping by
internet/digital infrastructure would bring employment to rural areas.
Need decent medical services and local hospitals.
Alison - Transport - PC are looking into the proposed cuts
and saying no. If you go to college or are working there is no time to
get to the bus station for the last bus, this needs to be improved. I am pro
village shops. The
Ellie - Rural areas have different needs and transport
should be addressed.
Claire - Rural
Audrey - We used to take turns with transport in my day so
there was no charge to take us. Need to pool cars.
Audience - Free bus passes go to pensioners and not all need
it, this should be a taxable benefit. You need a CRB at £40 in some cases when
you transport children
Claire - Pension poverty is a concern, there is a generation
who would not claim the bus pass.
Audience - Government policy on public transport is
flawed.
R Clewer - It was already committed when the Unitary Council
took over I opposed it. The Parking structure needs to be right. It
was found that 2 million would have been wasted if it had been scrapped.
Youth - major issue. Some apprenticeships do cover transport costs.
The council is trying to address bus fares for young people but it is taking
time - Wiltshire and Dorset Bus will be offering 30% reduction for up to 18
years old but it is proving difficult to get the others on board.
Wiltshire Council is trying. This needs addressing nationally as
Wiltshire Council cannot afford to offer free bus passes to all young
people. It needs to be free even beyond 18 so they can get a job.
The transport issue is important.
Claire - Unemployment has doubled in Devizes constituency
over the last 5 years. The
Audience - Urban areas children walk to school, Rural they
are disadvantaged.
R Clewer - Transport getting from one side of
Audience - when my two children sign on, £4 out of their £50
a week goes on transport which is a high percentage.
Claire - Wiltshire gets the lowest amount of money as the
revenue support grant.
R Pitts - Bringing jobs into the community is vitally
important.
Audience - what about commuters, the latest moves by
Wiltshire Council - the taxi bus is about to go in Devizes. If you are
serious about transport the taxi bus is essential.
Alison - Businesses – The former Egg Packing station could
have been turned into commercial units for local employment but now there are
houses with each having 2 cars simply because the Marlborough Area Plan was not
adhered to .
Audience - Businesses expand when they are successful.
Planning system needs to be sorted as it's difficult for them to stay.
One rural community (in
Question about NHS services in this area ?
Claire - We don't have a minor injury unit. This is a
NHS Wiltshire decision which we cannot do anything about. I want overall
department of health to regulate and the funds put in the hands of
doctors. Wiltshire Council could be commissioner for health in this
County. (Applaud.)
Audrey - Bring back matrons.. Bring back standards, do
away with meetings for this and meetings for that and excess managers.
Alison - Doctors know the patients. Cut backs are at a
dangerous level. Local doctors can see the problems.
Andy.
R Pitts - if you replace with patient panels that interact
with surgeries for that area there would be a closer relationship.
R Clewer - least favourite the children’s trust board as
where things are failing and you can't scrap it because someone likes it and we
have no control. NHS is a giant beast that needs bringing under Wiltshire
Council to link services together.
Audience - There is nobody in charge overall?
Claire - No, there isn't. Nurses spend far too long on
paperwork.
R Pitts - The Size of Wiltshire Council is too big,
Are there to be more unitaries? The more you attend your Area Board the more
voice you have
Audience - I cannot understand there is nobody in charge
with no accountability!
Claire - Example - Every Police Force buys uniforms
individually. We need intelligent buying, new technology is important
with this potential to cut waste. Let’s spend creatively and on what
works. (Talking about using internet and linking forces together for bulk
buying.)
Question Killing Animals ?
Alison - It should be up to the individual and don't do it
if you don't agree.
Audrey - Against killing altogether. Fox hunting.
never known any hunt catch a fox round here! I love to see them turn
out. Pheasant shooting don't agree. They are tame and beaters
used. Badgers? Do they really give cattle consumption?
Culling - some things have to be. Doesn't agree with animals being taken
abroad, they suffer which is intolerable and should not be allowed.
Claire .Will support a repeal for fox hunting ban..
Does not like to see killing especially hare coursing. Mentioned Burns review
2001. Hunting is no more cruel than trapping and is a form of natural
selection. It is about farmers and their families, not toffs.
Audrey - If you want a good sport, drag hunt is much harder
than fox hunting, there is no need to hunt a little thing.
Richard - Most hunts are sport. Fox hunting is
behind countryside management.
Ellie - Personal choice, agrees with Audrey. We should
choose what we do in our own time. (CLAP)
R Pitts - Hunting with dogs is a form of natural selection.
With shooting it is harder to get a clean kill. Prefer to repeal the act.
Audience - Older foxes are killed first, if they are hit by
bullets and go underground to die of wounds this is cruel. 50 bird day
shoots - ok. Sporting and local people. 4-500 bird big shoots are
ritual slaughter and don't agree with. Landowners have to make a living
however. Golf or shooting and shooting will help 2-3 keepers have work so
it's tricky.
The meeting wound up with a challenge to Claire to out do
Michael Ancram’s guitar solo at the AYC open day 2 years ago.
Alison - Thought Michael was Brilliant. Loves Freddy
Mercury and would like such an event with the Youth Council and all villagers
coming as Freddie - invite Claire!
Audrey - I would have a good ol' do! Circus -
horses/dressage - anything I was asked!
Audience -what about pole dancing?
Audrey - I'd try that!
Richard Pitts -= First job was a Gofer on Tommy. At
Uni I was setting up sound/light desk, so helping with a sound desk.
Ellie - Help in any way possible.
Richard Clewer - Bar!
Claire - Michael is a hard act to follow. 'Where do
you go to my lovely' was his big tune
I will find a big name to get down to help and I will do the
food,
I guess that in the end those who took part had a better
evening that the world cup watchers – especially those on Sky HD!
Before she left Clair visited the CAN and was given a brief
presentation by Josh.
PS there was also a question about take aways in the vicinity
of schools.
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