Final Reminder: Oxted Apprenticeship Event TOMORROW

If you want to know more about the financial and hiring assistance on offer when hiring an apprentice, please come along to my breakfast event tomorrow:

WHERE Elements, 34 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0PG

WHEN Tomorrow 8am – 9am, Friday 21st June 2013

Improving access to credit

I am delighted that the government will introduce legislation in the autumn so that more people have access to affordable, short term credit.

The new legislation will allow firms to increase the maximum interest rate that credit unions can charge from 2 per cent to 3 per cent per calendar month. The changes will allow credit unions to provide credit to customers they had previously been forced to turn away.

Please click here for more information.

Photo by Images_of_Money on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons.

2013 Annual Report now available!

You can now see my 2013 Annual Report online here.

The report is by no means everything that I am doing as your MP – be sure to check back to this website for regular updates. I hope that you enjoy reading it! 

Visit to Hazelwood School

On Friday I was at Hazelwood School to speak to Year 8 at their final Careers Lunch of the year. I was thoroughly impressed by all the pupils I met, and the excellent discussions that we were able to have, which covered everything from Syria to football, and much more in between!

I wish the students every success as they move on from the school.

3 events to help transform your business

Please see the following letter for details of upcoming events in Caterham, Oxted and Horley for businesses interested in hiring an apprentice and exporting to overseas markets, which form part of a series of events I am hosting to support local business. I hope to see you there!

Exporting for Growth - upcoming event with UK Trade Minister Lord Green

On Thursday 28th June, Lord Green, UK Trade Minister and former Chairman & Chief Executive of HSBC, will be coming to the Surrey National Golf Club in Caterham with his team of experts from UK Trade & Investments to explain to local businesses how they can boost exports and access foreign markets. Full details of the event are available on the event flyer below (click on the image to view full size).  

Please click here to sign up for the event. I look forward to seeing you there!

Draft European Union (Referendum) Bill published

I am delighted that yesterday the Prime Minister took another important step towards fulfilling our pledge to hold an in-out referendum on Europe by 2017, with the publication of the draft European Union (Referendum) Bill. This legislation was announced by the Prime Minister in his speech in January, further reinforcing our firm commitment the British people a say on our future in Europe.

I have signed the pledge in support of the Bill, and I would encourage you to add your name here.

Easing congestion on the A25

Recently Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, and I met with Stephen Hammond, Minister at the Department for Transport as part of my campaign to help ease congestion and control the movement of HGV lorries on the A25.

Based on the feedback of constituents and Surrey County Council I have called for a full interchange to be built at Hooley (M23/A23) so as to ease the pressure around the A25 and Cormongers Lane.

The Minister will now consider the funding and practical options for this project. In these straightened economic times we are conscious that unlocking the necessary funding will not be easy, but both Crispin and I will continue to press the case with ministers for this important infrastructure project to receive the capital funding and the go-ahead that it deserves.

Latest Sam's Snapshot online!

You can read the latest edition of Sam's Snapshot, an email update of some of the issues I am working on, here. Don't forget - you can also sign up in the top right hand corner of this website to receive future updates straight to your inbox.

Interview with House magazine on being PPS to the Prime Minister

Earlier this week I was interviewed by House magazine, a Westminster-based publication, on being PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) to the Prime Minister.

You can read the interview here.