10/04/2008

MP and Minister discuss University's key regional role

The Minister for the North East, Nick Brown MP, visited Durham University with local MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, yesterday [Wednesday 9 April 2008] to meet staff and students and to talk about the University's role in the region.

Roberta Blackman-Woods wanted the Minister to come to Durham to press him to make the case in Government that Durham University is ideally placed to provide key thinking and research on the Government's important policy priorities. 

02/04/2008

MP and Minister welcome free national concessionary bus travel

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (City of Durham) welcomed the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, to Durham to launch free national concessionary bus fares.  Every person over 60 and all eligible disabled people are now able to travel free on local buses no matter where they are in England, from 9.30am to 11.00pm every day and all day at weekends.  This new scheme will benefit more than 114,000 people in County Durham alone.

01/04/2008

Free school meals are the norm in Sweden, so why not here?

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP who, along with other North East MPs, is spearheading a campaign on free school meals, has been pointing out that they are the norm in Sweden, so why not look at doing the same thing here?  The MP has been promoting the idea of free school meals in parliament for some time, and has urged the Government to look at funding pilot schemes to see what would work here in Britain.