Jack Lopresti MP: News round-up (January)

Jack Lopresti at Farnborough.

An update from Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke.

With Christmas over and the new year in full swing, I have returned to Westminster eager to represent my constituents in Parliament.

At Business Questions, I called for Parliament to hold a debate regarding the impact of crime on rail travel after cable theft caused havoc for commuters in January at Bristol Parkway. Despite a swift response from Network Rail, the cable theft still resulted in more than 5,000 minutes of delays to trains and the total cost to the railway and to taxpayers will run into the hundreds of thousands for just one incident. It is important that effective contingency plans are in place to ensure disruption is always kept to a minimum and I am committed to ensuring that Network Rail deliver on their promises of action.

In a Westminster Hall debate about travel times for cancer patients, I highlighted the fantastic work of CLIC Sargent who assist families and young cancer patients in our area. While I applaud the work of CLIC Sargent, I would like to see a permanent solution to these difficulties. There are currently fewer than 20 treatment centres nationally, and that makes life extremely difficult for families who are having to travel for treatment. I would like to see a review of the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme to ensure that it is supporting those families that need it. Last year, I supported Robert Halfon’s Ten-Minute Rule motion to abolish hospital car parking charges for patients, visitors and staff. I hope that these two campaigns effectively highlight the difficulties that families of patients experience and that the government acts accordingly to address these issues.

I was honoured and delighted to join the government in the January reshuffle by becoming the parliamentary private secretary to the ministerial team at the Ministry of Defence. I look forward to working with all the team to help deliver the government’s strong agenda for the protection and security of our people.

If you’d like my help on any issue, please call my office on 01454 617783 or email me on jack.lopresti.mp@parliament.uk

• To view Mr Lopresti’s parliamentary activity in full, visit: www.theyworkforyou.com

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