Archive for March, 2012

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has pledged to share 20 books with friends, family and colleagues for the 20^th anniversary of Bookstart.

Bookstart provides babies and young children with free books to help them develop an early love of reading and studies have shown that through this early intervention every £1 invested in the Bookstart programme yields a benefit of £25 for the economy.

The East Antrim MP said:

“I was pleased to have been able to sign the pledge at Carrickfergus Library on Friday. Liz Canning and the team at Bookstart do an excellent job of promoting reading at an early age which has tremendous benefits for society.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said that the UK must continue to widen its export base beyond the Eurozone in light of its shrinking importance in the world economy.

Sammy Wilson said:

“Over the course of the last number of years there has been a significant emphasis placed on the importance of the Eurozone to the UK economy. We have been told how significant it is for us and that we must contribute to help the Eurozone stay afloat due to our trade with it.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has said that newly released figures which show that card fraud losses in Northern Ireland have risen by over 600% in the last year should be a cause for great concern.

The figures, released by the UK Cards Association, show that losses have risen from £0.83m in 2010 to £6.3m in 2011, a rise of 652%.

Sammy Wilson said:

“This is a worrying figure, especially when we consider that most other regions of the UK have seen card fraud losses fall by an average of 7%.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer over the figures which show that 55% of bankruptcies in Northern Ireland are as a result of action initiated by HMRC.

Mr Wilson said that the Government should be helping business to stay in business and create jobs and that HMRC should not take such a hard line attitude to those who are facing cash flow problems.

Mr Wilson said:

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said that the continued existence of broadband black spots in parts of his constituency is a cause for concern.

Numerous constituents from various rural parts of the Larne council area have been in contact with him to raise the concerns that they have.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said:

“I am deeply concerned about the number of people in East Antrim who cannot access broadband. This is due to rurality and the distance that they live from their nearest telephone exchange. Although satellite broadband is an option, many have found it unreliable and they are at a disadvantage to those who receive internet through their telephone line.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has said that the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme is another example of how the Executive is delivering help for small businesses in difficult economic times.

Sammy Wilson said:

“The Small Business Rates Relief Scheme is helping small businesses throughout Northern Ireland. These have been difficult years and the Executive has sought to help so that relief can be provided to those who are finding it tough. Since 2010, businesses with a net annual value of £2000 or less have received a 50% reduction to their rates bill while those with an NAV of between £2,000 and £5,000 received 25% relief.

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has responded to comments made by Roy Beggs about who is responsible for the A2 road project getting the go ahead.

Sammy Wilson said:

“The juvenile response of Roy Beggs to what is one of the best news stories for East Antrim and in particular Carrickfergus in the last ten years shows the immaturity of this young man who quite frankly has proven he is not fit for the job to which he was elected. Must he reduce everything to petty point scoring about who did what, who is the greatest and who cares most about the East Antrim constituency?