March 2011 Message from Steve Baker MP

I am most grateful to the Muslim Parents’ Association for the opportunity to bring you up-to-date on some of the things I have been doing in the constituency and in parliament.

 

I was privileged to re-open the renovated birthing centre at Wycombe hospital. This is midwife-led and has amenities comparable with those found in private maternity units.  I urge local mothers-to-be who expect a trouble free birth to seriously consider using this facility.  I am a great believer in midwife led births, and I know staff at Wycombe hospital are committed to giving families the best possible birthing experience.  I was delighted to make a presentation of a china breakfast set to Fatima Gamtameez, the first baby born in the new unit. 

Another local service I should like to encourage Wycombe people to use is the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.  The Citizens’ Advice Bureau is a wonderful organisation, with trained professionals and volunteers dedicated to helping people with a wide variety of problems, ranging from debt counselling to advice on benefits and help with the law. I attended the organisation’s AGM at its premises at 8 Easton Street, and know the people there would be pleased to help you with any problem you might have. The Citizens’ Advice Bureau can be contacted on 0844 4994108. 

Back in November, I was invited to tour Highcrest School to look around its facilities and to meet both staff and pupils.  I was tremendously impressed by the school, its staff and its pupils.  I was delighted the school has recently been rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.   I know many people will join me in congratulating the headteacher, Shena Moynihan, and her staff on this excellent achievement.

I am aware of issues where changes proposed by central government may affect the education of children locally.  These include funding of the pupil premium using the number of claimants of free school meals, academy status, and the English baccalaureate amongst others.  To discuss these concerns I have been in touch with local head teachers, and have other meetings planned for the next few weeks, and promise I will do all I can to ensure children educated locally have the best possible chance of success.  You may also like to know, I have met delegations of students from both Bucks New University and Amersham and Wycombe College to hear their opinions on tuition fees, funding and education maintenance grants.  We have not necessarily agreed with each other on these issues, but each of us has had the chance to put our views openly and discuss them.

Apart from the work I have done in the constituency, I have also been busy in Parliament.  I have been elected to serve on the Transport Select Committee, and I intend to use this to hold the Government to account on the M40 and high speed rail, amongst other things.

I should like to finish by saying that if anyone has any local community or charity event they would like me to come to please get in touch with my constituency office on 01494 448408 and, if I am free, I will be delighted to support you.

 

Back to News & Articles