Latest Constituency News

Tessa Munt MP calls for an end to opaque business practises to aid fight against poverty

Local MP Tessa is supporting calls from international campaigning organisation, Global Witness for a public register of company owners and an end to ‘shell’ companies to aid the fight against poverty.

 ‘Shell’ companies are opaque corporate structures that can hide true company ownership. Many resource-rich countries in Africa are deprived of billions of dollars of vital revenue as profits from exports are siphoned off by these companies.  Tessa’s campaign with Global Witness for greater transparency has been echoed by the Prime Minister and it is hoped this will be a priority for the G8 summit in Northern Ireland currently taking place.

 Tessa said: “It is shameful that shell companies are allowed to operate with such disregard for regulation.  I fully support this register and hope the Prime Minister gives it his full backing this week.  This is not about extending red tape but about giving all people a level playing field on which to conduct business globally.”Tessa at the campaign launch

 The idea of a publicly available business register was one of the first notions Tessa took to the Business Secretary, Vince Cable upon becoming his Parliamentary Private Secretary in 2012.  It has been a long term campaign of hers to ensure business is conducted in an open and transparent manner; lifting the veil of secrecy around company ownership and ensuring firms can be held to account by citizens, journalists and civil society – as well as law enforcement bodies.  In turn this would help keep vital revenue within poverty stricken communities.

 Tessa Munt

18th June 2013

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 Notes:

 Global Witness: www.globalwitness.org/

 

The Lions Club welcomes Tessa Munt MP into their organisation

Local MP Tessa was delighted to be officially welcomed into the Wells branch of the Lions Club on the Group’s 38th anniversary of its grant of Charter in 1975 at an event last Saturday.Tessa with Phil Payne

The well established local Wells Lions group is very active in the local community which is at the heart of the organisation’s mission. The Lions have 1.35 million members in 45,000 clubs in over 200 countries which makes it the largest volunteer service organization in the world!

Tessa said, “I am excited and honoured to join the Wells Lions group who do so much in the local community and I will be helping out when I can in the many fund raising and community events that the group is involved in. My favourite Lions event is the Wells Moat Boat Race – a permanent fixture in my calendar! I’m already looking forward to this event on August bank holiday.”

Tessa Munt

18th June 2013

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In the photo Tessa is receiving her membership certificate from Club President Phil Payne.

 For more information on the City of Wells Lions Club: http://cityofwells.lionwap.org/

 

Tessa Munt MP pleased Somerset people are getting back to work

Local MP Tessa today welcomed figures showing that unemployment in the area has fallen to its lowest levels for the past couple of years.

 According to Government figures, over 200 people have found employment in Tessa’s patch in Somerset over the past month, bringing claimant figures down to 2.3% of the total population.  This has led to this area in Somerset now having one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the country.

 Tessa spoke positively about these figures stating: “I am delighted to see more people in my patch able to get back to work – the figures today are certainly encouraging and we should take heart from this.  However, this should not lead to complacency; youth unemployment is still worryingly high and I will continue to do all I can to support local young people here as their MP to improve the situation.”

 Tessa Munt

18th June 2013

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Notes

  • Statistics are from the Office of National Statistics and can be found on their nomis website: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

 

Tessa sees Bath Rugby Foundation charity cyclists off on their way to Land’s End

Local MP Tessa Munt joined Lympsham’s rugby fan and cycling enthusiast Dave Madsen, Bath rugby legend Ben Cundy, and Daren Spencer from Calne, just after 6am this morning to watch them set off from Wincanton Racecourse to cycle the 200 miles to Land’s End to raise money for a West Country children’s charity.

The charity cycle ride, which includes the last two ‘legs’ of the Deloitte ‘Ride Across Britain’, means Dave and his friends will make their way south and west with 600 other cyclists for 102 miles today, arriving in Launceston where they camp overnight, before completing the remaining 90+ miles tomorrow to finish their challenge.

Dave has been in training for four months, and he and his two friends have raised just over £4,000 sponsorship so far.  They are hoping to top £5,000 before the end of the month.  All the money raised will go to the Bath Rugby Foundation’s hugely popular and successful work with socially disadvantaged  children where they have the opportunity to learn and play sports which impart the values of camaraderie, loyalty, discipline and respect.Tessa seeing them off

After they departed, Tessa said “I admire Dave, Ben and Daren for their energy and cheerfulness at this time in the morning, with 200 miles of hard cycling ahead of them.  It’s a fantastic cause and I know the money they raise will make a big difference to the youngsters who can enjoy sport for the future, and for the lessons it teaches about life.”

If you’d like to make a donation – however small – to help Dave, please go to virginmoneygiving.com/darenspencer 

Tessa Munt

15th June 2013

Notes for Editors:

Photo shows (left to right) Ben Cundy, Tessa Munt MP, Dave Madsen & Daren Spencer at Wincanton Race Course, the start of the last two legs of the ‘Race Across Britain’.

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Tessa makes the fracking point

Local MP Tessa Munt took the Shale Gas fracking debate from the Mendip Hills to the House of Commons and on to the BBC radio studios and back in the campaign for communities to have the last word on this highly dubious and potentially damaging extraction process.

Tessa attended public meetings last month in Ston Easton and Compton Martin, villages at the heart of an area where exploration licences have been issued and has since received dozens of letters and emails from people across her area, setting out their concerns about the process of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as ‘fracking’, planned for the Mendips.

As a member of the ‘Unconventional Oil and Gas Parliamentary Group’, Tessa has heard from a wide spectrum of groups both opposed and in favour of this process, and the Group has commissioned more research into the subject this week.P1030412

This weekend, she was interviewed by Radio 4’s ‘The Week in Westminster’, debating the matter with pro-fracking Conservative ex-Minister, Peter Lilley MP.  Tessa argued against the relentless pursuit of a policy of extracting cheap fossil fuels, pointing out that Somerset is loved and appreciated for its beautiful landscape and is a well-known tourist and holiday destination, and she urged caution against such an intrusive industrial process in an area so dependent on tourism.

She then returned to the House of Commons to ask more questions about similar rights and people-power for locals with concerns about fracking to those won last week by anti-wind farm protestors.

Tessa said “I was pleased to see that local people have more powers to stop inappropriate wind farm developments, and that community benefit will be greater for those with popular support. What I want to see is a similar approach to fracking. To many on the Mendips, there is a greater potential impact from fracking than from wind farming.  I will continue to fight that corner and for the rights of those who value our precious countryside.”

Tessa Munt

10th June 2013

Tessa Munt MP meets road safety boss to make Wedmore to Cheddar road safer

Local MP Tessa and Jim Baker, a Wedmore butcher, farmer and parent met Chris Betty, Senior Traffic Engineer at Somerset County Council to discuss improving safety on the notorious stretch of road between Wedmore and Cheddar.

There have been a large number of incidents and injuries and, unfortunately, some have lost their lives  on the B3151 between the two villages and following enquiries from concerned residents in Cocklake, Clewer and Wedmore, Tessa contacted people in the area to listen to their views.

Suggestions discussed with Chris during the meeting were measures to reduce speed in the area better pedestrian access on the Lower New Road Bridge near Cheddar and hedge cutting to aid visibility and safety for pedestrians where there is no pavement.Tessa with Jim Baker and the traffic officer

Tessa said, “I am grateful to Chris for taking the time during his busy schedule to meet with Jim and me to assess the situation. This stretch of road needs to be improved to take account of increased traffic and high speeds at which vehicles travel. When I hear back from Chris on proposals I will write to those who have raised their concerns.”

Tessa Munt

10th June 2013

Tessa Munt MP joins Fairlands pupils for Communities Week

Local MP Tessa joined Fairlands Middle School in Cheddar for their annual ‘Communities Week’ where students meet with people from all walks of life, explore their communities and find out more about what makes their local area tick.Tessa Meeting the Fairlands students

Tessa gave a quick talk explaining how her role as an MP links in with the community followed by some insightful questioning from the 10 and 11 year olds.

Speaking after the event Tessa said: “Fairlands School has such a friendly atmosphere and this definitely seems to help the children learn. The recent Ofsted report showing further improvement is no surprise to me. An excellent team, lovely kids and results to prove it.”

Tessa Munt

10th June 2013

 

Tessa Munt MP opens new look Royal Mail enquiry office in Glastonbury

A refurbished enquiry office at Royal Mail’s Glastonbury Delivery Office, where customers can collect their letters and parcels, has been officially opened by local MP Tessa.

The new look enquiry office in The Archers Parade, Glastonbury, provides a modern and efficient environment for both customers and staff.

Tessa said: “It was great to be there at the launch of the new Glastonbury enquiry centre. As always the Royal Mail team show professionalism, dedication and good humour despite a heavy workload and a fair amount of industry changes.”

Delivery Office manager, Matt Alford, said: “This up-to-the-minute transformation of the enquiry office has resulted in much improved facilities and a much better experience for both our customers and our staff. We are delighted that our local MP Tessa Munt was able to perform the opening ceremony. She has been out with a postman on a walk and is very familiar and supportive of our operation.”Tessa meeting staff at the new Glastonbury enquiries office

Tessa Munt

11th June 2013

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The enquiry office opening hours are Monday-Friday 08.00 -18.00 and Saturday 08.00-12.30.

Tessa Munt MP stands up for our bees

Local MP Tessa continued her work with environmental charity Friends of the Earth at a recent Westminster event to highlight the plight of bees where she backed the charity’s call for a Bee Action Plan.

 Tessa has campaigned extensively to see the use of Neonicotinoids outlawed across the EU until proven safe and has written numerous times to the Secretary of State to highlight that our bees need to be protected and our food security maintained.Tessa Munt supporting the campaign

 Speaking after the event Tessa said “I have been overwhelmed with the level of action the Bee Cause campaign has evoked.  People from our area have planted bee friendly seeds, signed petitions and built ‘bee hotels’ to replace lost natural habitat.”

 “This level of support and the many letters and emails I have received can only show the Secretary of State how important this issue is to Somerset.”

 Tessa Munt

4th June 2013

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Tessa Munt MP battles for our local buses

Local MP Tessa has asked the Treasury for measures to protect local bus services in the next Spending Round.

In a joint letter with Lib Dem colleagues representing rural areas, Tessa stressed to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander the importance of bus links to enable people to travel to work, school and healthcare appointments.

With bus services already facing significant cuts, Tessa was keen to emphasise the impact any further reductions could have on areas like Somerset.

Commenting, Tessa said:

“Good local bus services are essential to connect our rural communities in Somerset. Buses get people to jobs, appointments, education and training and are clearly essential therefore, in contributing to the core objectives of getting people into work, increasing skills and promoting economic growth.

We also need to make sure that the concessionary pass scheme for older and disabled people is funded properly. We need to look at new ways to make sure our rural lifelines are protected and I hope the Treasury will consider some of our suggestions.”

Tessa Munt

3rd June 2013

Parliamentary News

Financial Products (Mis-selling) – [Nadine Dorries in the Chair] | Westminster Hall debates

Will the Minister consider this particular situation? If a company has gone into administration because of the mis-selling of an interest rate hedging product, it is by definition excluded. If it is in administration, only the insolvency practitioner can represent the interests of that company, but the insolvency practitioner is often appointed by the bank and is extremely loath to sue the bank for redress, and if it does, it has a direct interest, which means that there is a conflict of interest in that sort of situation. The company can never get redress because, effectively, the company owner has gone down the pan—his house will be gone and so on. It is an appalling situation. Will the Minister address that point for me?

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Financial Products (Mis-selling) – [Nadine Dorries in the Chair] | Westminster Hall debates

We are talking about the very sector that has been hit hardest by the mis-selling of interest rate swap agreements. All we seek is growth, most of which will come from small and medium-sized businesses, so does the hon. Gentleman not agree that that group of companies and organisations should be given the best assistance possible, so that they can get out of these appalling agreements and carry on with their businesses?

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Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill | Commons debates

I visited Glastonbury post office, which has been doing some fairly visionary work on what happens to post office staff when they are making deliveries. They made two points. First, being attacked by a dog in the communal area of a block of flats is not covered by the Bill. Secondly, there may be no remedy for those who are bitten while putting a letter or packet through a letterbox; if someone trespasses with their fingers, effectively, they may not be covered. I wonder whether my hon. Friend agrees that the Secretary of State might take this opportunity to remedy that drafting problem and make sure that the issue is sorted out.

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Mau Mau Claims (Settlement) | Business of the House | Commons debates

I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s statement. It serves us well to approach this whole matter with sensitivity and humility. There are some fairly serious disputes about the numbers of people involved. The official figures say 11,000 Mau Mau rebels were killed and only 32 white settlers, but David Anderson, professor of African politics at Oxford, says that probably 25,000 people died at the hands of the colonial organisation. I wonder whether there should be a debate about the past, and whether we ought to make sure that adults, some of whom will remember these events, know about what happened, and also that young people learn from this period of history. Might the Foreign Secretary speak to the Education Secretary and consider whether this part of our colonial past, which did not cover us with glory, might be a topic for discussion in schools?

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Abu Qatada | Prime Minister | Commons debates

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on seeking a solution to this vexing situation. Do the fair trial guarantees in the comprehensive mutual legal assistance agreement with Jordan match the standards for fair trial under the English court system? If so, does that not constitute a huge improvement for those who face trial as British subjects in Jordan?

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Topical Questions | Oral Answers to Questions – Education | Commons debates

Brymore school, a state-funded boarding school for 13 to 17-year-olds in Somerset, specialises in rural technology and has its own its own farms, stock, greenhouses, workshops, foundry and forge. Although it delivers exactly what the Secretary of State wants—vocational excellence, great maths and English teaching, and a rapid rise in exam results, having moved from the bottom 9% to the top 3% of schools nationally when looking at value added over the past two years—no land-based subjects will be included in the performance measures from 2015. Will the Secretary of State consider the recognition of agriculture and horticulture in a farm bacc, and meet parents from my patch, and others, to discuss the issue?

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Topical Questions | Oral Answers to Questions – Defence | Commons debates

I would like to ask the Secretary of State whether it is the case that when service personnel are accused of breaking the law their pay is stopped with immediate effect, which can cause real hardship to service families who are left unable to meet the costs of rent, bills and food, as well as of independent legal advice. If that is so, what is the justification for that and will he review the situation?

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Horsemeat | Women and Equalities | Commons debates

Phenylbutazone, known as bute, can be bought off the internet in tablet form, in injectable form, and as an apple and citrus-flavoured powder. Most horse owners believe that it is the only effective anti-inflammatory drug in controlling joint pain. It is so easy for owners to get hold of it that I wonder what the Minister might have in the way of proposals to ensure that there is some integrity to the system. Does he agree that testing is the only way of identifying the use of this drug?

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