Welcome to my March e-newsletter.
The Budget has been the biggest event in Parliament over this past month. The difficult decisions taken in the Autumn Statement to repair the public finances, after global economic turmoil, have had a positive impact. Inflation is predicted to fall substantially by the end of the year. We have avoided recession and growth is forecast to return.
I very much welcome the continuation of Government help with the of energy bills. This is something I had asked the Chancellor to do. Freezing fuel duty for the 13th year in succession will also be a relief for many people.
I have been making the case for more support for families struggling with childcare costs, including raising this in Parliament just a few weeks ago. So I welcome the extension of the 30 hours of free childcare for working parents to cover children from the age of nine months to four years.
I know how important it is that constituents do not face delays in getting GP appointments. For years I have been calling for changes to be made to the pensions tax rules which were pushing GPs and senior hospital doctors into early retirement. That problem will finally be fixed by measures in the Budget. This should help reduce NHS waiting times.
As well as taking part in the Budget debate, issues I have raised in Parliament since my last e-newsletter include tackling rising food prices; training more doctors; NHS services; the Online Safety Bill and banning Tiktok from Government devices; agri-tech innovation; childcare and early years education; and better scrutiny of the security implications of international take-overs of UK companies. I also expressed my horror about terrorist attacks on Israelis carried out by children.
I have continued to fight energetically against the Mayor of London’s proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone. In a meeting with the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, I urged him to oppose anti-car measures from the Mayor and councils. I also formally presented my ULEZ petition to Parliament. 2822 people have signed it so far. It is still open for signature here. Please back the petition to send a message to the Mayor that Barnet does not want the ULEZ!
Finally, I have been keeping up the pressure for a more effective police response to crime in Barnet, especially burglary and car crime. I asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, to allow MPs' time to debate this.
Further information on my campaigns and activities is available in the links below to articles on my website. Please forward this email to anyone you think would be interested to read it or might like to join this mailing list.
All the best
Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers
Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet
50,000 sign Conservative petition against ULEZ expansion
Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has presented a petition to Parliament asking the London Mayor not to implement the ULEZ charge across Barnet because this would heap further misery on residents hit by cost of living increases. Theresa told MPs that her petition has 2724 signatures, and that a London-wide version from the Conservatives had garnered the support of more than 50,000 people. Read more….
MP calls for families to be given more help with the cost of childcare
Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers has repeatedly spoken out on the importance of early years education and childcare. In a debate in Parliament shortly before the Budget, she asked the Chancellor to give families more help with childcare, something which he subsequently announced. Read more….
Mayor is making London a hostile environment for drivers
"Streets shut off by “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods”, road space lost to poorly designed and wrongly sited cycle lanes, inexplicable and seemingly pointless pavement extensions, 20 mile an hour limits on wide main roads: a range of policies are now being pursued which are manifestly and disproportionately anti-car.” This was the opening paragraph of article by Theresa Villiers published in the Daily Express about anti-car policies being pursued by the Mayor of London. Read more….
MPs back import ban on trophies hunted from endangered animals
A new law to ban the import of body parts of endangered animals killed by hunters has been welcomed by Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, a long-time supporter of this reform. Read more….
Measure to reunite lost cats with their owners welcomed
Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has welcomed compulsory microchipping for pet cats - a policy she unveiled when Environment Secretary. The new law means owners in England must have their cat microchipped by 10 June 2024. Read more….
Attack on Indian High Commission condemned
Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers, has joined others in condemning the recent attack on the Indian High Commission. A protest there led to disorder and vandalism against the High Commission by a group wanting to create a separate state of Khalistan, breaking away from India. Read more….
Villiers compares the invasions of Ukraine and Cyprus
During Parliament’s monthly question time session with the Foreign Secretary and his team, Theresa Villiers MP has compared the recent invasion of Ukraine with the invasion of Cyprus 49 years ago. “Both involved aggressive incursions into the sovereign territory of another country,” she said. Read more….
How to contact Theresa
The best way to get help from Theresa is to email her on [email protected], ring her constituency office on 020 8449 7345, or write to her at 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
Theresa’s next diarised surgery takes place from 1030 to 1200 on Saturday 1st April at her constituency office at 163 High Street. Constituents wishing to see Theresa or her staff will need to make an appointment in advance. You will NOT be seen if you turn up without a pre-booked appointment. Bookings for face-to-face meetings or Zoom calls can be made using the contact details set out in the preceding paragraph.
Promoted by Dominic Lowe on behalf of Theresa Villiers both at 163 High Street, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5SU.
