Page 53 - Phonebox Magazine July 2007

Out and About with Mark Lancaster
Our local MP
Fetes, Fetes, Fetes
Summer is here, (not that you would have guessed it by the recent weather), and the Fete season is upon us. Unfortunately I have not been able to attend every one so far, but
manic rush to ensure I fit in as much as possible in the constituency, sometimes with as many as eight engagements followed by a surgery in the Council offices. Whilst I’m always happiest when I am busy, it was a particularly pleasant experience to be asked to help promote ‘MK reading together’. My promotional duties required me to put my feet up on the bed and read my book for half an hour. The only strange thing about it was that the bed was located in the middle of CMK shopping centre!
Prime Ministers questions
agree that if communities like Milton Keynes are to be truly sustainable, final decisions on their expansion should be made by democratically elected local authorities, not by unelected, unaccountable quangos?
The Prime Minister: Of course, local decision making is important, but I hope that the Hon. Gentleman agrees that if we are to deal with housing issues, we have to expand the availability of housing because of the expansion in the number of households. I agree that a balance needs to be struck, but that must include proposals that allow us to make sure that our people, particularly our younger people, have houses to buy.
Lords
Finally, one of the privileges of being a Member of Parliament is that about once a month you get to do something you would never normally do. Last month it was flying in a Harrier, this month it was playing cricket at Lords. It was all in a good cause, to raise money for a charity promoting cricket in inner city schools. I opened the batting for the House of Commons and House of Lords Cricket Club against a ‘Chance to Shine XI’ made up of former England cricketers. It was also especially nice to be able to use my ‘Dukes’ cricket bat made from Campbell Park willow and presented to me by the Parks trust just two weeks before.
I can’t claim it was my best performance, but having bowled former England wicketkeeper
Mark Lancaster MP, Cllr Debbie and Peter Geary caught drinking Pimms at Ravenstone fete.
all of the ones I have been to have been great fun. Somebody somewhere clearly has a hotline upstairs as the weather has been very kind in the main. I am blessed to have two nephews who adore fetes and the result seems to be that every time I offer somebody a drink at home I have to first remove the raffle ticket stuck to the bottle, (I enjoyed particular success at Ravenstone this year).
On a serious note, an enormous thank you to all those people who have put in literally hours of effort in organising these fantastic events. An additional thank you to those who have kindly given up their homes and gardens all in the great cause of raising much needed funds for worthwhile causes.
Mk Reading Together
Having fulfilled my duties in Parliament from Monday to Thursday, Fridays tend to be a
On average, an MP gets to ask a Prime Ministers Question perhaps three times a Parliament. Whilst your time in the spotlight might only last 20 seconds, it is widely acknowledged that this is always, without doubt, the most stressful occasion of the month. That was certainly true this month when I had my second opportunity to ask a
Mark grilling Tony Blair at PMQs.
question to Tony Blair. It is actually quite a long process preparing for the event, deciding not only what to ask, but how to ask it and trying to shorten for maximum impact and making sure that you can say every word in a flowing manner. So what did I ask? Well unlike some MPs I tend to always talk about the constituency I represent and the question and answer are below. I am afraid that despite the Prime Minister’s warm words, it looks as if our local unelected, unaccountable quangos are here to stay. By the way, the next time I get to ask a Prime Minister’s question it is more than likely to be to Gordon Brown. Therefore, if anybody has any suggestions for my next Prime Minister’s question, please feel free to get in touch!
Mr Mark Lancaster (North-East Milton keynes) (Con): Does the Prime Minister
Mark celebrates his century (less 93 runs) at Lords.
Jim Love, I was soon brought back down to earth when former England fast bowler Devon Malcolm removed my middle stump with such speed that I didn’t even see the ball, I knew I was in trouble when he suggested I should go back to the pavilion and get my helmet. ❑
To contact Mark please call or write to: Mark Lancaster TD MP 13a High Street, Newport Pagnell, Bucks MK16 8AR
Tel: 01908 615757 Fax: 01908 618433
Mark promoting 'MK reads together' in CMK. (It's a hard life!)
Phonebox Magazine 53