New Year Message
This message first appeared in the Oxfordshire Guardian in January 2012
Let me start by wishing everyone a peaceful and prosperous 2012. I also want especially to thank all those who have worked so hard for the many charities and voluntary organisations which make Oxfordshire such a good place to live and work. It has been a great pleasure to meet so many of you and to share a little in the work you do.
Whether you are sportingly inclined or not, the Olympics this year will be a major focus of attention and one which I hope we can all enjoy. I hope too that we will enjoy the benefits of the tourism the games will undoubtedly bring. It's also the Queens Jubilee – a key national celebration and a chance to celebrate a monarch who has given so much to this country. So, Britain will be on show to the world with a great opportunity to say 'come and invest here'.
Many of last year's issues remain and the continuing crisis in the Eurozone continues to exercise a big influence. These are and will remain difficult times with real fears and apprehension for the future. But it is worth remembering five important facts. First, in the first nine months of last year, the UK economy grew faster than the US economy. Second, since the general election, the private sector has created over half a million extra jobs. Thirdly, over the past year businesses have invested £119 billion across the economy, up £3 billion on the year before. Fourthly, our borrowing costs have fallen to record lows, and, lastly, Britain's credit rating has been restored to its previous highest possible level. Closer to home, in my own constituency, unemployment fell during the year including youth unemployment which benefitted from some of the 442,700 apprenticeship starts over the course of the 2011 academic year.
None of this is a reason for complacency but it is a reason for sticking to the path of restoring the economy and for focusing on those most in need of help and on helping working families make ends meet.
Constituency support
Chinnor Rugby Club lunch, Thame, 19 February 2012
Guest at Club lunch and speaker
Meeting Kirtlington Parish Plan, 18 February 2012
Meeting with plan leaders
Meeting with ORCC, 18 February 2012
Meeting re. community-led planning
Assistance to planning student, 18 February 2012
Help with thesis being prepared
Meeting Oxfordshire LEP, 18 February 2012
Discussion with Martin Dare Edwards
Broadcast BBC Radio Oxford, 17 February 2012
Broadcast about Woodeaton quarry
Woodeaton Quarry meeting, Beckley 16 February 2012
Public meeting about the quarry
Chiltern Railways, Banbury 16 February 2012
Meeting about Evergreens 3 project and East-West rail
Surgery, Thame 11 February 2012
Heavily subscribed surgery
Old Nags Head, Thame 3 Feruary 2012
Visit to discuss issues
Primary Designs, Thame 3 February 2012
V
isit to see business
Housing Associations Report, Westminster 31 January 2012
Hosted launch of report to which SOHA had contributed.
GB Rowing Team 2011 Dinner, 28 January 2012
Attended as guest
Dr Stephen Richards, Oxford 27 January 2012
Meeting re health reforms in Oxfordshire
Radio Cherwell, Churchill Hospital, Oxford 27 January 2012
Broadcast on health issues
Business Park, Chalgrove 27 January 2012
Opening of cafe and home working hub
Neighbourhood Planning, Thame 25 January 2012
Participated with Minister, Greg Clark MP, in feedback session from residents involved in Neighbourhood Plan.
Black Horse, Thame 20 January 2012
Meeting to discuss local issues
Surgery, Henley 14 January 2012
Neighbourhood Planning, Woodcote, 13 January 2012
Meeting with team leaders
Farmers' Market, Great Haseley 11 December 2011
Visited market
Henley Society lunch 10 December 2011
Spoke at lunch
Surgery, Chinnor 10 December 2011
Henley Tennis Club 9 December 2011
Presentation of cheque from Sport England
Henley Standard Christmas Party 8 December 2011
Hampton Gay 2 December 2011
Discussions about heritage site
Mowforth Close, Woodcote 2 December 2011
Opening of refurbished sheltered housing
Broadcast, Radio Oxford 2 December 2011
Wide-ranging broadcast
Broadcast, Jack FM 29 November 2011
Condemning strikes
Broadcast, BBC Oxford 27 November 2011
About stikes and public sector pensions
M40 CEG Group, Lewknor 25 November 2011
Address to AGM of group
Meeting River and Rowing Museum, Henley 25 November 2011
Trustees meeting
Icknield School, Watlington 25 November 2011
Visit to new head
Broadcast, BBC Oxford 25 November 2011
About M40 noise
Chinnor Quiz Night 19 November 2011
Remembrance Day, Thame 13 November 2011
County Council briefing for Oxfordshire MPs 11 November 2011
Thame surgery 5 November 2011
Thame Charity Fair 5 November 2011
Opened Fair
