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Home , Michael Gove, Southery, Thetford

Elizabeth Truss MP House of Commons, SW1A 0AA Dear Resident This is my second annual report from Parliament. Although the economic climate continues to be tough, there have been positive developments in that I hope bode well for the future. Food and farming is the UK’s largest manufacturing industry and Norfolk is the nation’s top county for food. In Parliament, nineteen producers from the Norfolk Food Festival showed off some of the best of what the county has to offer. The new farming minister popped in and spent time talking to all the producers. I was also delighted to open the Brecks Food Festival in with Dr Pixie McKenna of ’s Embarrassing Bodies. The Brecks is a unique landscape and I was very pleased to arrange for the Chief Executive of VisitEngland to have a tour of the area last summer. Another source of great pride to the area is RAF . The base supports 5,000 jobs and I’ve continued pressing for Marham to be the future home of the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The Defence Secretary has said that RAF Marham is the ‘logical choice’ for the jet. I will continue to make the case until the ink is dry on the contract. Norfolk is now on track for long-overdue transport and infrastructure investment. In July, we secured the upgrade of the Ely North train junction, which will allow twice-hourly services on the London to King’s Lynn and to lines. The A11 is being dualled, and the county has secured major investment to roll out improved broadband across the region. Better road, rail and internet connections will help growth and prosperity. pictures top to bottom: Ensuring the next generation have the right skills to succeed is vital to our success. The new Joint Strike Fighter – I have been meeting with local firms and the county council to have a clear coming to Marham soon? apprenticeship offer. A number of schools have sought status. I have BBC interview Elizabeth now been appointed minister for Education and Childcare and I look forward to in . working on education across the whole country. Talking to local schoolchilden. Best wishes ON TRACK… See inside for rail update

Visit Elizabeth’s website www.elizabethtruss.com Visit Elizabeth’s website www.elizabethtruss.com THETFORD ACADEMY Elizabeth is delighted to see Thetford improvements. Diamond Academy primary Academy’s expansion plans underway, as launched in September, while Thetford Free well as improving exam results. School for pupils with special educational Following the award of £18m, Thetford needs was one of two Norfolk free schools Academy’s expansion plans are really to win taking shape: including a fantastic science approval lab that will stretch into the woods. This to open year’s GCSE results have also seen large in 2013. STONE CURLEW Progress has been made on adopting a ‘common-sense approach’ towards protection for the stone curlew. Elizabeth has been helping local businesses and farmers deal with development red tape, particularly the buffer zone provisions in the Natural Habitats Directive. She believes in a common-sense approach to protecting the stone curlew and other A47 important wildlife. SMEs Many businesses in South West Norfolk are struggling to access A10 Swaffham bank finance. With MP, she organised a Banking Forum at Downham Hall, attended by eleven MPs and local businesses, where Market the five big banks were held to account for their lending policies. A1065 A10 A134

n Hosting local farmers at the Farming Forum n Discussing protection South West Norfolk of the Stone Curlew with Council, the RSPB and Natural A11 BRECKS Thetford PROMOTION Elizabeth is delighted to support the Brecks A1066 as a tourist destination, which secured £1.5m of Heritage Lottery Funding. Elizabeth hosted a delegation from the FOCUS ON Brecks Partnership in Parliament. She also arranged a visit to the Brecks by the Chief FARMING Executive of VisitEngland, who said the Brecks Elizabeth has taken up farmers’ concerns in is a ‘good, strong, distinctive destination’. Westminster and with ministers. n Unveilling a sign on the A134 Elizabeth has hosted several Farming Forums, as well as leading a delegation of farmers to meet environment minister Richard Benyon. Elizabeth opposes the over- proliferation of biomass plants – which forces farmers to pay more for straw – and has secured an investigation by the energy and environment departments. n Scotts Field Pork

For surgery details please contact Fiona Walker on [email protected] or 01842 757345 to book an appointment. @trussliz Representing South West Norfolk

ON TRACK FOR RAIL IMPROVEMENTS South West Norfolk is on the main line summits in Westminster with Network Rail, for growth and prosperity, after Elizabeth the Department for Transport, councils and campaigned for more regular train services. rail providers to secure better services on Following Elizabeth’s campaign, there both the Fen Line and the Cambridge to will be a £25m investment in Ely North Norwich line. junction. Removing this bottleneck will Elizabeth submitted a formal allow twice-hourly London to King’s consultation response to insist that the Lynn services, via Downham Market next Thameslink franchise includes a twice- and Watlington. hourly service, later trains, and keeping Elizabeth hosted two rail open the Downham Market ticket office. ROAD ROAD UPDATE This year, Elizabeth has pushed for the CROSSING A47 to be widened and upgraded. Elizabeth met concerned local parents This follows her successful and councillors to call for an improved campaign for the A11 to be dualled A47 road crossing on the A1101 near in early 2013, which roads minister Beaupre primary school in Outwell. Mike Penning confirmed to Elizabeth in March. A10 Swaffham EDUCATION VISITS Downham Elizabeth has visited several schools in the area: Market n In Outwell with meeting teachers, pupils and parents. Cllr Harry Humphrey She hosted a summit on rural schools at High School with Education Secretary Michael Gove. She A1065 also visited Thetford Academy, Downham A10 A134 n Left, Speaking with pupils at Market High, Ten Mile Bank Primary, Clackclose Primary School and Southery Primary, Marham Infant, Marham below, with Education Secretary Michael Gove at Methwold High Junior, Primary, Admirals Junior South West Norfolk and Clackclose Primary schools.

A11 Thetford

A1066 BLOOD BIKE Why not take a Elizabeth met a volunteer emergency motorbike rider in look at Elizabeth’s Swaffham to hear more about the excellent work done. website? SERV Norfolk is a charity n Visiting run by local volunteers Swaffham COMMUNITY www.elizabethtruss.com allotment that transports emergency The website gives useful information supplies to hospitals. ALLOTMENT about what Elizabeth is doing to Family Action’s ESCAPE represent you: community allotment n Press Releases gives users a sense n Photo Gallery of purpose and new n Latest Campaigns skills, while promoting physical and mental n Monthly Reports wellbeing. A hundred n Surgery details local residents n About Elizabeth benefited from the project last year. Working hard for everyone in South West Norfolk NORFOLK FOOD FESTIVAL Westminster Nineteen local food and drink producers shared their wares in Parliament in September. The Speaker of the House of Commons Round Up and the new farming minister visited and received strong representations from producers. So did the Commons catering team – Norfolk MPs are looking forward to WORKING IN SPEAKING IN Norfolk food being served in Parliament’s canteens and cafes! WESTMINSTER THE HOUSE OF n In September, Elizabeth was COMMONS appointed a minister in the . Her Elizabeth has contributed in the following responsibilities include childcare debates: and early learning, school n She spoke in a debate emphasising the qualifications and curriculum, importance to East Anglia of upgrading the school meals and reducing Ely North railway junction, and asked two bureaucracy in education. ministers to fast-track the upgrade. n Elizabeth served on the Justice n She asked oral questions of three defence Select Committee until her ministers about basing the Lightning II Joint ministerial appointment. The Strike Fighter at RAF Marham. committee reported on the Youth n She spoke about cooperation by rural n Elizabeth at the Food Festival with Justice Service and the Freedom MP, Secretary of State for Communities and of Information Act. schools in a debate on the Education Bill. Local Government n She led a Westminster Hall Debate on the over-use of calculators in schools. PUSHING FOR n She spoke about the take-up of maths at A-Level, calling for a reform of sixth-form RURAL funding and praising Norfolk’s Sir Isaac BROADBAND Newton . Elizabeth joined fellow Norfolk MPs n Elizabeth and a group of East Anglian MPs to ‘Say Yes to Better Broadband’. met Transport Secretary Elizabeth pushed for the to present the East Anglia rail prospectus. £15m government grant for n Elizabeth has campaigned to give local rural broadband in Norfolk to be public sector workers and organisations the allocated to South West Norfolk, right to agree their own pay levels: saving calling for residents to register billions. their interest n Elizabeth with Cllr Ann Steward with BT. and Swaffham Business Forum

How to contact Elizabeth Truss mp Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk house of commons constituency office Elizabeth Truss MP, Elizabeth Truss MP, House of Commons, The Limes, 32 Bridge Street, London SW1A 0AA Thetford, Norfolk IP24 3AG Telephone: 020 7219 7151 Telephone: 01842 757345 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.elizabethtruss.com Please include your name, full postal address and phone number in all correspondence.

Promoted by Ian Sherwood on behalf of Elizabeth Truss both at SWNCA, 23 London Street, Swaffham, This Report has been paid for by local supporters at no cost to the Tax Payer. Norfolk, PE37 7DD and Printed by BMC, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1PD