CONSERVATIVE
	PARTY
BEN WALLACE
website Conservative Office, Redman House, 8 Kings Arcade, Lancaster LA1 1LE tel: 01524 32027
email:

Introduction:

I am 34, live in Horny with my wife, Liza and new son Freddie. I am currently the EU & Overseas Director of QinetiQ. Before entering politics I served for 8 years in the Army. I then left to start the political ladder to get to Westminster. My first stop was the Scottish Parliament, where I was surprised (as a new boy!) to be elected. I served as the Deputy Conservative Shadow Health and Europe Spokesman in the Parliament. And was a member of the cross Party group on Asylum and on Epilepsy. I was secretary of the latter.
During my time in the Parliament I campaigned on a number of local issues, such as saving a local Hospital and the re-opening of a railway station. At a National level I campaigned for a better understanding of epilepsy and better NHS provision for the condition. I voted against the new Parliament building on the grounds of waste and also the Labour/Lib Dem fudge on tuition fees (deferred not abolition).

What's the best thing about the area?

The Diversity of the towns and villages and the strong communities with in them.

And the worst?

The Lancaster traffic system.

What local issues do you consider the most pressing at this time?

Canatxx Gas - goes against all EU environmental legislation.

Provision of NHS dentists.

Centralisation of other primary care services such as Health visitors, mental health providers, and GP's themselves.

Do you support plans for the Northern Bypass?

Yes.

What are your feelings about the plans for a gas storage facility being built in the Wyre?

being built in the Wyre? I am very against it. The Campaign has good all Party support and I recently took a delegation to Brussels to ensure that the EU Commission and the Environmental Directorate were looking over Mr Prescott's shoulder!

What one policy change do you think government should make that would most benefit local residents?

Trust communities and individuals to run their own lives and to respect their wishes. E.G on Canatxx.

Our council seems to be making a lot of cuts in services but council tax still rises. Do you think council tax is a fair way to generate local tax revenues and if not, what should take its place?

It is the best system so far. Local Income tax looks good on paper but in fact doesn’t solve the problem Council tax throws up. It merely plays “musical chairs” with who pays. The Lib Dem proposal also forces student nurses to start paying when they are currently exempt. Too many councils put their administration before services. Before they cut services they should look at their own wage and staffing levels.

What other ways could government better aid local services?

Abolish the ridiculous Inspection regimes that force “one size fits all” priorities on Councils. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation calculates the External Inspection regime currently costs £600m. And the local Government Information Unit reckons there is an additional £400 million indirect cost in compliance. E.g. Staff Costs etc. So we could start by re-distributing the £1bn to local services!

There is talk of cuts to free bus school services. What is your position on public transport?
Has privatisation of buses and trains worked?

In my last Constituency, under a Lib Dem Council they massively cut back school bus services. I fought against them then and would fight any plans to scale back the services. So much of daytime traffic is because of the school run. Any thing we can do to scale that back must be supportive. Although we should certainly question why subsidise a service if children go by car any how? There should be an element of compunction or incentive.

What do you feel are the major issues affecting the region as a whole?

Economic Development, rising youth crime and Primary Health care provision.

What is your position on the war in Iraq?

I was in favour of it.

The Lancaster and Morecambe area has a large number of students. Given the decline in the number of people voting at elections, how would you try to get them involved in the democratic process?

Make the political message relevant to them. Better education in schools as to why and how to be involved in politics.

How do you respond to the challenge of far right parties such as the new England First Party and the BNP in the area?

If they are a legal Political Party then they have to have the same rights as any Party in Law. I would, however, always stand against them and we should ensure that the electorate see the hate behind their message they often spread.

Mental illness is on the rise but Mental Health services have been drastically cut in this area - acute admission wards at the Ridge Hospital were closed without consultation, resulting in already disoriented patients now being routinely shipped off as far as Barrow for lengthy in-patient stays. A garden centre scheme providing employment for learning-disabled people is also under threat of closure for the same reason - the land is being sold off for redevelopment. How do you view the future of health resources in this area, and what action, if any, would you take to improve them.

Mental Health, under Labour, has become the forgotten “priority”. It featured in 1997 but then seemed to disappear from the Governments “radar” screen. The lack of provision is a symptom of Labour’s centralised and a target driven NHS. The ability for GP’s to commission services directly for patients have in some cases been completely stopped and in others curtailed. The Primary Care trust now “buys” care from itself – which of course is not a good incentive to match demand with supply. We want GP’s to hold the funds not bureaucratic Trusts. We want to give GP’s and healthcare providers the ability to buy services from whoever offers the service needed. – NHS, Private, Not-for-profit, Charities.

Hilton Dawson has been very accessible to constituents, helping many individuals obtain crucial services and opportunities. His predecessor Elaine Kellet-Bowman was rarely to be seen. If elected, how accessible do you plan to be to your constituents?

Very. You pay my wage. You have a right to tell me what you think or need. I, in return will be straight with you. “My door will always be open”.

According to the government's scientific advisor, global warming is more of a threat to the country than terrorism - how do you expect it to change our lives and how do you plan to help us minimise the damage and prepare best for these changes?

We need to do more. Unfortunately I don’t think this government are really serious about funding/research in alternative energy sources. They have put all their eggs in the Wind farm basket. Perhaps because they can be seen? Universities and RTO’s struggle to get funding for other energy alternatives. I am also in favour of nuclear power as an alternative.

Fox-hunting and hare coursing - for or against?

I am in Favour of hunting.

What one thing do you personally hope to achieve should you get elected as MP?

In the short term: Stop Canatxx, in the long term to be a good Constituency MP who does sometimes beat the “bullies” we often meet in life! E.g The Corporate and bureaucratic systems and the “it can’t be done” brigade.

What one thing irritates you most as a person...

bullies

- And what one thing makes you the happiest?

My family.