Page 33 - Phonebox Magazine April 2013

Out and About with Mark Lancaster
There is nothing quite like a spring clean. Getting rid of the cobwebs that have gathered during the winter and in particular for me, clearing out newspapers I have gathered over the past six
Our local MP
months that are currently piled up high in my living room. However, there are some things that you donʼt want to get rid of as the seasons change and one of these is my tradition of touring the schools in the local area.
The past month saw me visit Stoke Goldington, Lavendon and Newton Blossomville School. I have been trying to raise awareness of the importance of reading by visiting the schools across the constituency and reading to the children. This monthʼs visits were tied in nicely with schools celebrating World Book Day.
I have been presented many challenges as I have visited the schools not least as I was greeted with teachers dressed as punks for Red Nose Day and children picking books, enormous books, which seem to need a genius to work out how to unfold them and put them back again! But regardless of the logistical problems it really is great to see so many young children take so much pleasure out of a simple story book in a day and age where computers and technology seem to be so prominent.
MPs Mark Lancaster and Iain Stewart with Prime Minister David Cameron
The last month has also seen various visits to Milton Keynes from a variety of Government Ministers, proving just how important nationally the city is becoming. The Transport Secretary came and visited the new Network Rail headquarters in Central Milton Keynes, the Business Minister attended the Business Expo held at the MK Dons Stadium and most recently the Prime Minister toured the Mercedes Benz buildings to look at the apprenticeship programme they run.
During his visit to Milton Keynes, the Prime Minister also had time to talk about Iain Stewartʼs and my campaign to build a new A&E for the city and surrounding area. I am pleased to say he was very supportive of our venture to ensure we have better facilities on offer to local residents and again backed calls for infrastructure before expansion.
The number of young people doing apprenticeships in Milton Keynes has increased by 99% since 2010 and these range in engineering apprenticeships at Mercedes to accountancy apprenticeships at local firms. They have become an incredibly popular practical alternative to doing A-Levels, are another way to get on the career ladder while learning valuable skills and Milton Keynes is a national trailblazer which became abundantly clear when the PM visited.
I also had the pleasure of addressing a breakfast meeting last month, organised by the Federation of Small Businesses and attended by businesses from North Bucks based in my constituency. I was delighted to hear how while times have been tough things are improving for them and actually, some of the regulation which has been introduced recently to support small businesses is starting to pay off. I for one hope this continues.
As ever, if I can do anything to help or you would like me to visit your organisation, please call me on 01908 686830.
Breakfast Meeting with the FSB Lavendon School Stoke Goldington School
Newport Blossomville School Milton Keynes Business Expo
Phonebox Magazine 33