News - Justin Tomlinson

Justin Welcomes Blue Badges For Non-Visible Disabilities

Sep 10, 2019

People with non-visible disabilities will now be able to benefit from the Blue Badge Scheme, thanks to changes announced by North Swindon MP and Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson. The Department for Transport has issued new guidance to council’s in England which expands the Blue Badge criteria to include people with non-visible disabilities such as autism, anxiety, dementia, arthritis and Parkinson’s. The changes aim to make it easier for people who find walking stressful an...

Swindon Advertiser Column: Brexit, It All Comes Back To Brexit

Sep 06, 2019

Well… I am typing this article on the train back from Parliament on Thursday. How do I sum up events, something seasoned journalists are struggling to do with events moving quicker than I am typing! Brexit, it all comes back to Brexit! For three years the only thing in Parliament we can agree on is that we disagree. This has caused frustration and anger with residents, who rightly expect us to get on and sort it, one way or another. Over the past three years, every possible outcome has been de...

Justin Welcomes £14 Billion Funding Boost For Schools

Sep 02, 2019

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £14bn cash boost for schools. The Prime Minister’s announcement will mean that every school will get a real terms funding rise next year. Every secondary school will receive an increased minimum of £5,000 per pupil next year, and every primary school will get a minimum of £3,750 from 2020-21 and £4,000 per pupil from 2021-22. Children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities will receive an extra £700 mi...

Swindon Advertiser Column: Getting On With Brexit And Getting On With Governing

Aug 30, 2019

I am very proud that in Swindon there are lots of organisations who share this passion and do amazing work to ensure that people with disabilities can be actively involved, developing a number of different skills. Last week I visited two such initiatives: The Salamander Project and Draycott Sports Camp. The Salamander Project is a collaboration between the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, which sees young people with Downs Syndrome participat...

Swindon Advertiser Column: More People Studying Science Will Benefit The Country

Aug 23, 2019

As an MP I am passionate about getting young people engaged in politics, and providing opportunities to learn more about local and national politics – and the summer recess allows me to welcome work experience students from across Swindon to my office. The young people spend a week shadowing my team and I to get a behind the scenes look at how a busy constituency office operates and how politics works at a national and local level. My main priority is ensuring that those who join us get...

Local MP Welcomes August Employment Figures

Aug 15, 2019

The number of people in Swindon claiming out of work benefit has fallen by 27% since 2010 – news which has been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson. Figures released by the independent Office of National Statistics also showed that in the South West there were more than 350,000 more people in work since 2010, bringing the total number of people employed in the area to 2,847,907. Nationally the employment rate stands at 76.1% - a joint record high with 32.81m people in work. The num...

Justin Welcomes Cheaper Travel For Young People

Aug 14, 2019

More than a million young people will save hundreds of pounds thanks to a new rail Card – news which has been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson. The Government announced this week that is was launching the 16-17 Saver card – which offers young people half-price travel. The card is expected to save young people and their families around £186 every year – as well as boosting educational opportunities, communities and business by making it more affordable for young people t...

Swindon Advertiser Column: This Week Was An Incredibly Special One For Me

Aug 12, 2019

This week was an incredibly special one for me, as I became a father for the first time.On Sunday my wife Kate and I welcomed a beautiful little baby girl, and to say we are delighted is an understatement. It seems such a long time ago that we discovered that we were expecting a child, and it was an amazing feeling to finally meet her.I'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of the staff at the GWH for taking such good care of mother and baby. The midwives, doctors & ...

Justin Welcomes Significant Drop In The Use Of Plastic Bags

Aug 06, 2019

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has welcomed news that the number of plastic bags used in the UK has halved in a year. Figures showed that 549 million single-use plastic bags were sold by supermarkets in 2018/19 – down from one billion the year before. In 2015 the Government introduced a 5p charge for plastic bags to tackle plastic pollution, and since then the number of plastics bags brought in the UK has fallen by 90%. The Government has continued to build on its work to tackl...

Justin Welcomes New Office For Veterans' Affairs

Jul 31, 2019

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the creation of an Office for Veterans’ Affairs to provide lifelong support to military personnel – news which has been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson. The Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence will work together on the new unit, overseen by Minister for the Cabinet Office Oliver Dowden, and Minister for Service People and Veterans Johnny Mercer. This marks the first time a dedicated Cabinet Office Minister will have oversight ...