On Friday I visited Eastleigh Jobcentre Plus. I have to admit I thought this was going to be difficult and depressing. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard the team there must be working, at the coalface of this dreadful recesion. The number of people they are seeing has doubled in the last year and apparently New Year saw quite an escalation in the amount people claiming. Some Happy New Year!

My husband, Stuart was under threat of redundancy twice in the last few months. Thankfully he didn’t join these statistics and he still has his job. But we could so easily have been there.

I have to pay tribute to Neil who talked me through the centre, Steph (an infectiously bubbly and helpful front office person) and all the employees who are obviously working incredibly hard to get people back to work. Their dedication and upbeat approach made this visit anything but depressing. Whilst I obviously feel desperately for those who have lost their job, it is so encouraging to know that at Eastleigh Jobcentre Plus unemployed people have a team like this to help them through the devastation they might face.

Unsurprisingly they are taking on staff to cope with demand. I hope their recruitment drive continues to attract people with this proactive spirit and understanding. For those who sadly have to become clients of Jobcentre Plus they will find compassion and a wealth of expertise.

On the doorsteps, the airwaves, indeed the mass media, the anger is palpable. Ordinary people are baffled by the extraordinary claims MPs are able to make on the public purse. No matter how many times we are told that these have been made within legal parameters, we reach for the sick bag and consider the moral parameters.

All over Britain people are suffering; struggling to keep a roof over their heads and spending sleppless nights wondering if they’ll be on the next round of redundancies. I should know, my husband Stuart has been under threat of redundancy twice since November. We were one of the lucky ones - he kept his job.

The time has come for complete transparency over MPs expenses. They need not only to be above board but realistic. I’ve worked in business since 1982 and I have always been required to provide receipts for everything. As for second homes, several MPs are multi-millionaires who own several properties, some of which they rent out, why do they need a second home? Let’s get real.

By the same token we are also funding some people’s lifestyles who’ve decided to live on benefits. It is objectionable that taxpayers fund lifestyles for those who don’t wish to work, when they are capable. This country needs an overhaul. It’s time for change.

Maria Hutchings, Conservative Prospective MP for Eastleigh, Hampshire Against Fluoride campaigners and Chris Rhodes, County Council Candidate ask for YOUR support!

 
Is it any wonder that people are apathetic about consultations and the democratic process?

Saturday afternoon I went to a public meeting held by Hampshire Againt Fluoride. Quite rightly, campaigners were appalled that the SHA had decided to proceed with the fluoridation of  Southampton’s tap water, including parts of the constituency of Eastleigh.

 72% of respondents to the recent consultation said NO to fluoridation and yet they have been ignored. This makes a mockery of British democracy.

Scientific reviews point to the evidence on the safety of fluoridation to be inconclusive, yet we are to be subjected to mass medication. The American Association of Dentists, on their website, advises mothers feeding infants up to one year old with formula, NOT to use tap water which has been fluoridated. It will be interesting to see whether this will be fully communicated to mums in the area, if at all.

This whole fiasco explains the apathy of voters. The people feel truly impotent.

I fully support HAF and their stirling campaign. To sign their petition visit http://hampshireagainstfluoridation.blogspot.com/

Pretty poignant that my first posting is about the first World Autism Awareness Day! It was John Paul’s autism that brought me to politics and the journey to Westminster.

On Saturday 28th March, I marched with some 1500 parents and children in London to highlight the needs of autistic people.

It is estimated that some 500,000 people in the UK are on the autistic spectrum. I use the word “estimated” as we still do NOT have databases set-up in this country that record the precise prevalance. Yet, it is imperative that we have these databases so that we can plan services to deal with the incredible escalation in numbers of autistic people.

When John Paul was diagnosed in 1997 a consultant told me that I had a 1 in 10,000 chance of having an autistic child. Now, in 2009 the figure is estimated at 1 in 100. It doesn’t take  a genius to work out that if we don’t set-up these databases we will be failing some of the most vulnerable people and their families. And, at the same time, will be storing up an explosive situation for society.  

Cheryl Gillan MP has recently proposed an autism bill that would address this issue.

Cheryl Gillan MP said;

“It strikes me as wholly unfair how hard people affected by autism have to fight to get the help they so desperately need. The continuing postcode lottery of autism services across the UK is simply unacceptable and incredibly damaging. Creating the first ever autism law is crucial to helping local authorities take the necessary action and recognise their responsibilities towards this severely excluded group. Many MPs, cross-party, have already offered their support and I hope many more will back this vitally important bill - it has the potential to radically transform thousands of lives in every constituency and community.”

It is time for people to Open Their Eyes To Autism. It is also time for local authorities to formally address the needs of autistic people and the scale of the needs in their backyard, through setting up necessary databases. A failure to do so would be a betrayal of families facing the most tremendous challenges and could be catastrophic for our country.

Maria Hutchings, Prospective MP for Eastleigh and thousands of parents speak out for their autistic children.

OPEN YOUR EYES TO AUTISM.