Welcome to markspencermp.com. I hope you find this site informative. Since being elected as the Member of Parliament for Sherwood in May 2010 I have been hard at work representing the views of the people of Sherwood. If I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Mark Spencer MP
A History of The Sherwood Constituency
The Sherwood constituency was created in 1983 and was constructed from parts of neighbouring constituencies Newark, Carlton and Ashfield. Sherwood has a strong mining tradition and is noted for being a constituency of contrasts. The constituency encompasses both rural and urban areas and is home to some of the East Midlands most affluent residents.
The commuter town of Hucknall, famed for its connection with framework knitting, is the constituencys largest town with a population of around 30,000. From 1861 Hucknall became primarily a colliery town. Coal remained the staple industry of Hucknall and neighbouring Ollerton until the mid 1980s. The area is also famed for the Hucknall air field which, in 1927 was taken over by Rolls Royce. During World War II the air field was the location of the maiden flight of a P-51 Mustang, fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine. Rolls Royce Hucknall, being always at the forefront of technology, developed and tested the worlds first vertical take-off engine.
Surrounding the village of Edwinstowe resides the constituencys most famous attribute Sherwood Forest. Attracting on average 500,000 visitors a year, the forest is celebrated for being the legendary home of Robin Hood. At the heart of Sherwood Forest resides the 800 1000 year old Major Oak. The vast tree, as well as being one of the countrys oldest oaks, is rumored to be the legendary outlaws main hide-out. Likewise, the church of St Marys in Edwinstowe is said to be the place where Robin Hood married his sweetheart Maid Marian.
As Parliament is currently in summer recess, my surgeries will start again in Hucknall on Saturday 11th and Friday 24th September in Ollerton.
Constituents are able to visit Mark in person at one of his MPs surgeries. These are usually held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Hucknall during the morning and also the 4th Friday of the month at Ollerton during the afternoon. Please telephone the Constituency Office to make an appointment. Mark will often contact you by telephone prior to your surgery appointment to get some preliminary information from you. It may also be helpful, or even essential, that you take certain steps before Mark can intervene on your behalf. If this is the case, Mark or one of his staff will be able to advise you about what steps you need to take.
Please note that there are over 80,000 people living in the Sherwood Constituency and there can, therefore, be long waiting lists for surgery appointments. If you have an urgent matter, please talk with Mark's staff about other ways of dealing with your concerns more quickly. It may be sensible for you to start by writing to Mark, or by making an appointment to see one of his staff as a preliminary step. Click here to find out about other ways to contact Mark
Hucknall Surgery
C/o Under One Roof
3A Vine Terrace
Hucknall, Nottingham
NG15 7HN
The Dukeries Surgery Ollerton
The Dukeries College, Whinney Lane,
New Ollerton, Newark,
Nottinghamshire,
NG22 9TD
MP demands action on A614
Following the news of yet another accident on the A614, this time involving 6 people, Mark Spencer, Member of Parliament for Sherwood has written to the Minister for Transport Philip Hammond MP, to ask for a reconsideration of the funding cuts which have hampered the progress of road improvements. Mark has been lobbying the Minister on this matter since his election and continues to press for the Ministry for Transport to reconsider the funding status of the A614 given its appalling safety record.
Mark said It is high time the Government took action on this notorious stretch of road. No one can be in any doubt that the loss of life and accident rate is totally unacceptable. I have asked the Minister whether there are any plans to review Nottinghamshires LTP3 settlement and if any extra provision could be made specifically for improvements to the A614. I have also invited the Minister to come and see the speed of the traffic and the dangerous junctions at Rose Cottage and Mickledale Lane for himself in the hope that Sherwood will see some action on this matter.
Mark Spencer MP asks what the cost of rheumatoid arthritis is in Sherwood
30 June 2010 Local MP Mark Spencer MP met members from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) to ask how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects not just the health of his constituents but the health of the economy.
A recent report from the charity found that the costs to the UK economy of the condition arising from productivity losses total almost £8 billion , this is about £12 million per UK Parliamentary constituency. However, spending by the NHS on RA in NHS Nottinghamshire County is £16.07 per head of population each year .
RA is a chronic and disabling autoimmune disease, affecting about 690,000 people in the UK . It has no known cause or cure . It remains a major cause of worklessness almost 30% of people with RA surveyed by NRAS in 2007 gave up work within a year of being diagnosed with the condition .
The Public Accounts Committee report on services for people with rheumatoid arthritis highlighted significant variations in the spending on and quality of services for people with RA and other musculoskeletal conditions across the country. Yet, it also recommended that earlier diagnosis and treatment could not only limit the progression of the disease but also deliver significant savings for the NHS and wider economy.
Mark Spencer MP commented, People with rheumatoid arthritis deserve to receive the care and treatment on the NHS and I commend the work of NRAS in highlighting the variations in spend and in the quality of service across the country.
Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS said: It is crucial that rheumatoid arthritis patients are diagnosed and treated early. This will not only ensure that patients receive best prognosis and are able to remain active and in work but will also help the NHS realise the savings it needs to make over the next few years by reducing the need for costly interventions and inpatient stays
We urge the Government to address the recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee as a priority.
MP pledges action to improve local carers lives at unique charity event
Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood, has been speed-networking with carers in the House of Commons to better understand the lives of carers in his constituency. The event, inspired by the social sensation of speed-dating, meant the MP for Sherwood had just minutes to discuss the differing experiences with a number of unpaid carers and to find out what their lives are truly like, on a daily basis. The discussion included ways in which carers lives could be improved, through better support, recognition, and advice.
The Westminster event was held as part of Carers Week; whos new research has shown that over three-quarters (76%) of people looking after an ill, frail or disabled loved-one do not have a life outside of their caring role. 4 out of 5 have had to give up leisure activities or going out socially since they became a carer.
Mark said: Responding to letters Ive had from constituents and stories Ive heard on the doorsteps, Ive asked the Minister for Health to pay tribute to carers and would like to raise the issue of the carers allowance which carers reaching retirement age currently lose to their pensions. I have real concerns about this and think Government needs to do more to support carers and the extraordinary work they do.
Paul Matz, Carers Week Manager, said
We were delighted to welcome Mark to this event, and him for his support for those in a caring role.
Following their visit to Downing Street, Mark met with a group of carers in Hucknall this morning at the John Godber Centre to listen first hand to the challenges they currently face and to their concerns about a bureaucratic and unsympathetic system and their fears about family tax credits.
Carers Week is organised by a partnership of 7 national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Care, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinsons UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
For information about Carers Week, including local events and activities, and where carers can find information and assistance, visit www.carersweek.org or call 0845 241 2582.
Mark meets with employees from Rolls Royce Hucknall
Mark Spencer, Member of Parliament for Sherwood has met with Management and Unions at the Rolls Royce plant in Hucknall to discuss possible job losses. Mark has asked Government Ministers to support the campaign to keep almost 200 jobs at the factory which is facing the possibility of moving some of its manufacturing to Mexico or the Far East.
Mark Spencer MP said: It is vital that we do whatever we can to keep these jobs in Britain. These are highly skilled positions which would be a sore loss to local industry. I have asked the Minister for Business Innovation and Skills for his advice and support in this matter and I very much hope the losses can be avoided.
Please click on the speech title:
Newark Hospital
Westminster Hall debates, 6 July 2010, 1:00 pm
Local Government Financing
Opposition Day [2nd Allotted Day]
House of Commons debates, 29 June 2010, 3:33 pm
Housing Policy
House of Commons debates, 8 June 2010, 10:44 pm
Building Schools for the Future (Nottinghamshire)
Oral Answers to Questions Education
House of Commons debates, 7 June 2010, 2:30 pm
Mark's Maiden Speech
Deputy Speakers
House of Commons debates, 25 May 2010, 7:43 pm
A collection of Mark's recent speeches and comments in Parliament.
Mark is a farmer and a businessman. He and his is family have lived in the Sherwood Constituency for four generations, at Lambley, on the urban fringe of the City of Nottingham.
Born in 1970 Mark attended Lambley Primary School and Col Frank Seely School in Calverton. He then qualified at Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire, before joining the family farm business.
A former dairy farm, the business has developed and now employes around 50 local people, growing potatoes, vegetables and producing free range eggs, beef and lamb which are sold at Spring Lane Farm Shop.
Mark in partnership with his wife Claire & parents also run Floralands Garden Centre, Lambley where they have established a Farm Park and Maize Maze to run along side the Garden Centre and Coffee Shop.
Mark has always actively supported the local and wider community and Mark is a past Chairman of the National Federation of young Farmers Clubs.
Mark's Political Experience
In 2001 Mark fought his first Nottinghamshire County Council seat for Hucknall.
In 2003 Mark won a seat on Gedling District Council representing Ravenshead and he retained this seat in 2007
In 2005 Mark took the Nottinghamshire County Council seat of Calverton for the Conservatives and in 2009 retained his seat with an increased majority.
In 2006 Mark was appointed Shadow Spokesman for Community Safety & Partnership for Nottinghamshire County Council and he continues to support this position.
Mark currently represents the electorate on the four Parish Councils; Ravenshead, Calverton, Woodborough and Lambley.
Community Action
Mark is a Trustee of The Royal Agricultural Society of England and for a number of years was the Honorary Show Director of The Royal Show.
Mark is a past vice Chairman of School Governors of Woodborough Woods Foundation School, where he was chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.
As Chairman of the Lambley Playground Fund he helped raise over a £100,000 to provide new play equipment in the village.
Mark is a Trustee of The Core Centre Calverton, an Adult Education Centre.
Along with all other MPs, Mark has been elected by the people of his constituency to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons, London.
When Parliament is 'sitting', Mark spends the majority of his time working in Westminster, raising issues affecting his Constituents, attending debates, voting on new laws, sitting on committees, attending meetings and many other activities.
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DEBATES
Mark will spend a lot of time attending debates in the Chamber of the House of Commons, when he will sometimes speak on behalf of his Constituents, as well as listening to the contributions made by other MPs. Debates are often about proposed new laws, but may be more general, or about a key current issue affecting the country.
QUESTION TIME
Mark can ask questions of Ministers during question time. He can only ask a question to the Prime Minister if he gets a place to do so in the weekly ballot of MPs, so this only happens once in a while.
WESTMINSTER HALL DEBATES
Mark is also often in Westminster Hall, which is the second Chamber of the Commons, where there are often debates on local issues, sometimes led by himself, or else by other MPs with constituencies in the area. If Mark wishes to organise a Westminster Hall debate, then he must send the proposed subject into a ballot, according to which Government Department is holding debates on any particular day.
RAISING ISSUES
Mark attends meetings in Westminster and nearby Government buildings with Ministers, officials from Government Departments and representatives of other bodies. This allows him to raise issues that are of concern to Constituents and other matters of policy and practice.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Mark is able to put Parliamentary Questions to Ministers, which will result in an oral or written answer, all of which are published. This can be used to obtain information from Government Departments, or to bring important matters to the attention of the relevant Ministers. He has submitted a number of questions already since being elected in May.
Blog 30th July 2010
Parliament wrapped up for recess this week and marked the end of a hectic few weeks. Ive been out and about in the constituency as ever and there has also been a great deal of activity in Parliament.
Today I visited a special project called Retrofit for the Future 2050, Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) is fitting out a property to the year 2050 standards which includes many solutions with are currently prohibitively expensive and some which aren't even on the market yet. And it is estimated that these solutions will bring massive savings in carbon emissions and heating bills. I met the Petersmiths who live there and chatted to them about the project which is a really exciting and innovative experiment.
At the end of the Parliamentary year, I think its worth reflecting on what weve managed to achieve as a Government. Locally, of my biggest priorities has always been to create jobs in Sherwood and to support local industry. Ive been campaigning to preserve jobs at the Rolls Royce plant in Hucknall which was facing the possibility of having to buy in parts from overseas rather than manufacturing them locally at the factory. As well as meeting with management and unions at the site, Ive spoken with Vince Cable, the Minister responsible for business and he fully supports the campaign. I will do everything in my power to keep those jobs here.
The campaigns to improve Dukeries College and Joseph Whitaker School under the Building Schools for the Future Programme took a disappointing knock but I will continue to lobby Michael Gove, Minister for Education and the County Council to make the improvements which are so badly needed and deserved.
Nationally, in just 10 short weeks, we have covered a great deal of ground. Im particularly pleased with the work that has been done to protect our pensioners as the Government has made good on a number of key campaign pledges like restoring the link to earning for the state pension to make sure that the pathetic 75p increases made under Labour are never seen again and allowing people to choose whether or not they retire at 65.
Overhauling the benefits system has also been a huge achievement: reforming housing benefits to restore fairness and responsibility and bringing in our Work Programme to make sure that we can get those on benefits back in to work as soon as possible. We have also lifted almost a million of the lowest paid in this country out of tax altogether.
Some of the changes which I think will most benefit Sherwood are the changes the Government has made to give more power back to local people. The previous Government wasted millions of pounds on quangos and unelected, unaccountable agencies without proper consultation, completely failing to represent the views of local people. Weve given local councils new powers which will make a real difference, like allowing them to resist unwanted garden grabbing and reducing ring fencing around funding so that local councils can put money where local people need it.
My surgeries will start again in Hucknall on Saturday 11th and Friday 24th September in Ollerton and if youd like to make an appointment, please give my constituency office a ring on 0115 968 1186.
Local Government
Nottinghamshire County Council
Gedling borough council
Newark and Sherwood District Council
Local Newspapers
Hucknall Dispatch
The Chad
Nottingham Evening Post
Newark Advertiser
Advice and Support Organisations
Citizens Advice Bureau
Community Legal Advice
Independent Complaints Advocacy Service
Consumer Direct
Parliament and Politics
They work for you
Hansard Society
UK Parliament
Government Papers
Roger Helmer MEP
Emma McClarkin MEP
The Conservative Party
Constituency
0115 968 1186
Westminster
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 7143
mark.spencer.mp_parliament.uk
