TOM'S PLEDGES

The General Election has been called and Tom Biggins has set out his pledges for the Telford constituency. Should he be elected as Telford's MP, this is the work he will be concentrating on:

1. 1 Tackle local unemployment, support business and enterprise Unemployment is fast becoming the most pressing social and economic problem affecting Telford. I will work to help bring jobs, businesses and social enterprises to Telford and to improve availability of finance for them. I will encourage as many employers as possible to offer apprenticeships.
2. 2 A fair deal for pensioners and improve support for carers In some districts of Telford, almost 40% of pensioners have slipped below the poverty line since 1997. I'm committed to increasing the state pension every year and linking it back to earnings. A Conservative Government would also keep the winter fuel allowance, free TV licences and free bus passes. The unsung work of carers is vital. So I will work with the Telford & Wrekin Council and local health services to improve support for carers, especially more respite places.
3. 3 Protect services at the Princess Royal Hospital I will continue to campaign hard against proposals to downgrade or do away services at the PRH. Telford must retain nothing less than a full service local district hospital. A Conservative government will increase spending on health every year, and make the NHS work for patients not managers.
4. 4 Protect and renew Telford's public and local services I am determined to stand up for the local community. I will work with the Council to protect public and local services, especially in our Borough towns. I will also fight for local people to be given a greater say in how services, such as schools, are provided and for services to be tailored to local needs.
5. 5 Tackle crime and anti-social behaviour What people want in Telford is a no-nonsense approach to crime and disorder. I will work with the police and community groups to ensure that we tackle the problems at source. A Conservative government will grant the Borough Council new powers to fight booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour, strictly enforce laws to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in the town and introduce alcohol-free-zones in specific areas where alcohol abuse is endemic.
6. 6 Support for families and education I will support Telford's families by improving Sure Start, and work to ensure that the tax and benefits system helps hard working families. At our schools and colleges I want to see the highest standards in education for our young people and more emphasis on discipline.

KEY POLICIES

These are just some of the steps a Conservative Government will take to get our country back on track:

• Enable a two-year freeze on Council Tax
• More funding for the NHS and to continue the fight to save services at the PRH
• Restoring the link between the state pension and earnings
• Keeping free bus passes, free TV licences and the winter fuel allowance
• Radical reform of the immigration system with an annual limit imposed
• ‘Never’ to Britain joining the Euro
• We would restore teachers’ authority in the classroom
• 400,000 apprenticeships, college and training places to boost job numbers
• Laws strictly enforced to tackle drug and alcohol abuse
• Police power to use instant sanctions to deal with anti-social behaviour
• An extra 4,200 health visitors to support new parents across the country

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