News

Local MP, Stephen McPartland, was in Datchworth recently visiting the primary school during which he joined the staff and pupils in their school assembly and quiz.

Stephen also took time out to look at some of the many artefacts in the Datchworth museum as well as signing the visitors' book.

Stephen McPartland MP and Asthma UK have joined together to campaign on inhalers for emergencies in schools across the UK. Under current legislation, bronchodilators (blue ‘reliever’ inhalers) are prescription-only medicines, which means that the law prevents schools from having a spare inhaler kit available for emergencies, something Stephen is keen to change.  He gained support across all parties when he launched the campaign in Parliament.

Stephen said, "Asthma is a big killer with three people dying in the UK every single day.  It is important this disease is taken seriously and children in schools have access to an inhaler in emergency situations.  At the moment, the law prevents children from carrying their inhalers in schools and they have to be locked away in a medicine cupboard.  This is ridiculous and it is time the law was changed so these inhalers can be kept in first aid kits in schools.  This simple change in the law could save lives."

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, is the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Asthma, a group of MPs and Peers who have a special interest in asthma issues.

Stephen McPartland MP visited W J Rowe, a family-run chip shop in Bedwell Crescent, Stevenage, to congratulate them on being short-listed for a regional award.

Stephen said, “The chips tasted fantastic and I was delighted to congratulate William Rowe and his team for making it to the regional finals. I know they have done a great job for the community over many years and I wish them every success.”

William said, “I was so pleased to receive the letter from our MP. I really didn’t expect it.”

The Giles Infant and Nursery School in Stevenage have established their first school council and welcomed Stephen McPartland Member of Parliament for Stevenage as a special guest at the school's assembly to present badges to the newly-appointed class representatives.

Stephen said, "I am really pleased to be invited to the Giles school and present the school council badges.  I look forward to returning to see the school council in action."

The members of the school council are responsible for making sure the views of their classmates are taken into consideration and in some cases may even take part in the interviewing of new staff.

Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, together with local County Councillor Phil Bibby, was on hand to help award badges to pupils who walked to school as part of the Walk to School outreach programme. Pictured also is Strider, the mascot for the programme, which Living Streets are running as a pilot with a number of schools in Hertfordshire, including Martins Wood Primary School in Stevenage.

The initiative involves fun and educational lessons, promotions and incentives with pupils and their parents to identify and address local walking barriers and encourage more families to walk to school.

Living Streets has been the national voice for pedestrians for over 80 years, and works for safe, attractive and enjoyable streets where people want to walk.

Stephen McPartland Member of Parliament for Stevenage has nominated local employer Astrium as the manufacturer to put forward to represent Stevenage in Made By Britain which is running throughout Britain to highlight manufacturing capabilities.

Stephen said, “I am proud to nominate Astrium’s Digital Processor which is an outstanding example of leading-edge technology being developed by Astrium here in Stevenage as part of their new generation of satellites. Britain will benefit from this advance not only from the new satellite services for the fast-growing mobile multimedia communications but also through the massive export opportunity as this technology has great potential to be applied in remote and developing countries.”

Stephen added, “Stevenage, is the base for many high-tech companies, and we are helping to lead new growth for the UK.  It is essential we keep Stevenage at the forefront of the high-technology sector and ensure multinational companies continue to invest in jobs and facilities locally. I will keep raising the profile of Stevenage as a centre of high technology excellence."

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, joined as MBDA employees raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support at the Lister Hospital by having their heads shaved.

Hairdressing students from North Hertfordshire College helped out by shaving the heads of a total of 37 employees.

The idea to raise money for the Macmillan charity in this way was to show support for one of their work colleagues at MBDA who suffered hair loss as a result of chemotherapy treatment.

Following weeks of negotiations, the Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP, Secretary of State for Justice, announced his decision to support the knife crime amendment backed by Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, which would see anyone over the age of 16 receiving a mandatory custodial sentence for endangering or threatening life with a knife.

Stephen commented, “I am pleased that, after a successful parliamentary campaign, the Government has taken the right decision and will now ensure there are strong deterrents against committing knife crime. With the introduction of this amendment, young people who are convicted of this new offence called aggravated carrying of a knife – which means they have used a knife to threaten or endanger life, will face a mandatory prison sentence.“

Stephen added, “The changes I have backed are tough on crime and tough on criminals. They provide direct backing to the Police and demonstrate to criminals that knife crime will not be tolerated.”

The successful Parliamentary campaign had support from around 40 Members of Parliament, led by Nick de Bois, as well as The Sun, the Metropolitan Police Federation and anti-Knife Crime campaigners.