News - Justin Tomlinson

North Swindon MP Welcomes New Strategy To Eliminate Homelessness

Aug 14, 2018

The North Swindon MP and Work & Pensions Minister, Justin Tomlinson, has welcomed the news that thousands of rough sleepers will be offered rapid specialist assessments and support, under a new rough sleeping strategy announced by the Government this week.The strategy will be backed by a £100m investment, and aims to fulfil the Government’s ambition to eliminate rough sleeping by 2027.The key focus of the plans will be to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place, putting an emphas...

North Swindon MP Unveils Sculpture Showcasing The Town's Vital Contribution To The Second World War

Aug 10, 2018

Artwork showcasing Swindon’s vital contribution to the Second World War has been unveiled by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson at the Orbital Shopping Park.This year is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, and to mark the occasion artwork and information boards have been installed at the Orbital Shopping Park, telling people about Swindon’s distinguished aviation history.The centrepiece of the artwork is a sculpture of a Spitfire wing, celebrating the fact that the planes were built at ...

Swindon Advertiser Column: There Are Significantly Fewer Workless Households Today Than In 2010

Aug 10, 2018

New figures released this week have shown that there are now around 5,000 fewer workless households in Swindon than there were in 2010 and almost one million fewer nationally.I have seen from my casework and my regular visits to the Swindon Job Centre how the move from being unemployed to going into work has turned around the lives of so many fellow local residents, with more individuals enjoying the freedom that comes from being in work and families benefitting from the security of a regular pa...

Justin Supports Change To System For Organ Donation

Aug 08, 2018

Plans to implement a new system of consent for organ and tissue donation have been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson.The Government announced this week its plan to implement an opt-put system of consent, which will mean everyone is considered an organ donor unless they have explicitly recorded a wish not to be, are under-18 or don’t have the mental capacity to understand the changes.It is hoped that these changes will help address the chronic lack of donors, and could save around 700...

North Swindon MP Encourages Local Community Groups To Bid For Funding

Aug 07, 2018

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has encouraged local community groups to take advantage of four funding opportunities headed by the People's Postcode Lottery. The Postcode Trusts, funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, offer between £500-£20,000 to local charities and community groups. Applications to the Trusts need to be made before the deadline on 15th August. Since 2009, People’s Postcode Trust has awarded more than £14 million to over 1800 projects across the country. In 2017...

Swindon Advertiser Column: This Is An Ambitious Plan To Boost Speaking & Reading Skills

Aug 03, 2018

This week the Education Secretary Damian Hinds set out ambitious plans to boost speaking and reading skills following new research which shows that there are children starting school who are unable to speak in full sentences.Part of this plan is to bring together a new coalition of charities, education experts, businesses and media and tech companies, to work out how best to support families, and encourage more parents to read and learn new words with their children.Educational researchers have ...

Justin Tomlinson MP Welcomes New Legislation To Help Reduce Energy Bills

Aug 02, 2018

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the news that legislation to cap poor value energy tariffs for consumers has been passed by Parliament; marking another step closer to cheaper energy bills. The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act will put in place a requirement on the energy regulator, Ofgem, to cap energy tariffs and fulfils a Conservative manifesto commitment made last year.The legislation was introduced with the aim of tackling the amount consumers have been overpaying...

Local MP Cuts The Ribbon To Open The Just For Fun Holiday Club

Aug 02, 2018

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has cut the ribbon to open the Just for Fun Holiday Club in Stratton St Margaret.The club is located at the Grange Drive Community Centre, and will be open throughout the summer holidays to all children aged between 4 and 11 years old. Each day’s session is planned carefully by the group’s leaders, Sean & Mike, and is designed to boost physical activity by creating a friendly environment to enjoy sport.Following his promotion of the club at his second annual...

Justin Gets A Behind The Scenes Tour Of The New Orbital Nando's

Aug 01, 2018

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the opening of a new branch of Nando’s at the Orbital Shopping Park. The Orbital Nando’s is the second branch of the popular chain in Swindon, joining the Regent Circus restaurant which opened in 2015. Justin was lucky enough to be one of the first to visit the new Nando's before it officially opened; joining Orbital site manager Jamie Turner for a tour of the restaurant and meeting with the team of staff which is made up mainly of young people who ...

Justin Tomlinson MP Congratulates Local Care Provider On Outstanding CQC Rating

Jul 31, 2018

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the news that a leading care provider operating across Swindon & the South West, First City Nursing Services, has been awarded the grade of ‘Overall Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).First City have been operating across Swindon, Wiltshire & Gloucestershire areas for over twenty years, delivering specialised homecare and nursing staff to individuals with a vast array of different needs. Additionally, they have added Jobsincar...