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VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER During the boom years, it seemed most people had little interest in the Autumn Statement, and who could blame them? The statement was generally used just to confirm how rosy things apparently were. For many years, as I discovered myself when I was Shadow Chancellor, neither the media nor anyone else paid any attention to [...] It is good to see that Bridport Community Hospital remains in the news – and it is important that this continues to be the case while discussions are under way about how outpatient services can best be maintained at the hospital. Interestingly, it has become apparent that it is by no means only people in Bridport [...] As Christmas approaches, shopkeepers in Sherborne and elsewhere in the country will be hoping that – despite the world’s economic problems – people will be taking out what money they have in order to buy presents and stock up the fridge for the festive season. Traditionally, even in difficult times, this produces a surge in high [...] I see that a recent survey discovered an interesting fact about Dorchester residents. When asked what they most disliked about the current condition of the town, 19% of those interviewed apparently commented on litter, dog mess and fly tipping. Admittedly, the survey was conducted by the Stop the Drop group at their stand in South Street, and [...] I think by now everyone in Lyme Regis must know about the Hub. This is a wonderful project to give new life to what used to be the club for young people in the middle of the town. The ambition is considerable. As well as providing a range of activities that one would normally associate with a [...] Even in these troubled times, West Dorset is very fortunate to have a very low rate of unemployment – one of the lowest in the country, and indeed one of the lowest in Europe. But this shouldn’t blind us to the disappointment and misery that long term unemployment causes – particularly for young people who are [...] There has been – and continues to be – a lot of controversy about renewable energy. I notice that a new Waitrose has opened at Poundbury, bringing some much needed additional employment. This is of course only a small part of the enterprises that have been attracted to West Dorset by the development at Poundbury. I know that people have differing views about the architecture of the new Poundbury development – though I [...] Last week, I found myself giving what is called the Poyntington Lecture in Sherborne. The name of this series of lectures is not a coincidence. The lectures held each year to help raise money for the village of Poyntington. Last week in this column, I celebrated the success of manufacturing in Bridport and the surrounding areas – and, in particular, the surprising contribution that Bridport and West Dorset make to Britain’s very considerable prowess in engineering and high technology. No sooner had I penned these observations than the Bridport News reported on another very successful [...] |
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Copyright © 2012 Oliver Letwin MP - All Rights Reserved |
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