Local MP speaks out against prejudice by signing Holocaust Memorial Day Book of Commitment

North Wiltshire MP James Gray signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons last week, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust. Friday January 27th will mark the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the H... [Read more]

2012-02-03 08:32:51

“The Falklands must stay free”, says James Gray MP

"It is only right that our nation should send the clearest possible messages to the Argentine Government that under no circumstances will we countenance any sort of military action towards the Falklands," said James Gray MP speaking in a Westminster Debate on Tuesday. "If there were to be an encroachment on the Falklands today we would not be able to produce a taskforce as we did thirty years ago as we do not have the resources. H... [Read more]

2012-02-01 16:50:14

James Gray MP speaks up for the Armed Forces

"As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, I feel very strongly that our service people are being badly let down by the sadly very necessary defence cuts and redundancies they are presently facing. "The Government had to do it because of the appalling financial situation inherited from the previous government. But that does not stop me, as a backbench MP and champion of the Armed Forces in Parliament, from ... [Read more]

2012-01-28 10:38:07

James Gray MP speaks out on securing the future of Wiltshire’s Post Offices

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the news of a 10-year deal between Royal Mail and the Post Office, securing the future of services without resorting to the failed closures programme which dominated Labour’s time in government. The deal follows the Government’s other measures to protect Post Office services including additional funding, new local and national contracts, a successful piloting scheme to transform many local post offi... [Read more]

2012-01-26 11:48:58

James Gray MP Supports Stillbirth Charity

North Wiltshire MP, James Gray attended a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons, organised by Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, for the launch of their new report, Preventing Babies' Deaths: what needs to be done. 6,500 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth every year in the UK. The charity's report proposes that 1,200 babies' lives could be saved every year through a combination of more research, better care ... [Read more]

2012-01-24 20:54:08

MP speaks out against unwanted development in Wiltshire

North Wiltshire MP James Gray commended Mary Portas for her excellent report, The Portas Review, set out his vision for protecting Wiltshire's high streets, and spoke out against inappropriate and unwanted housing development and out-of-town shopping in the House of Commons last night. During a debate on the Future of Town Centres and High Streets, Mr Gray praised the outstanding community of Royal Wootton Bassett along with its high street - on... [Read more]

2012-01-18 13:00:45

James Gray MP praises Springfields Academy

On Monday in the House of Commons James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire said, "The Secretary of State is absolutely right to praise Springfields Academy in Calne, one of the first special schools to achieve academy status. "However, in Wiltshire we have a very helpful and supportive local authority and elsewhere it might be much more difficult for special schools to achieve academy status. What will the Secretary of State do to remove th... [Read more]

2012-01-17 12:27:05

Local MP calls for infrastructure savings to be passed to rail commuters

During today's questions to the Secretary of State for Transport, James Gray MP for North Wiltshire pointed out that the McNulty report identified potential savings in rail infrastructure, and asked that money saved from such closures be passed onto rail users. Mr Gray said: "The McNulty report identified some thirty per cent savings in rail costs across the piece. Will the Minister tell us what she will do to make sure that if that is to b... [Read more]

2012-01-12 13:49:40

Local MP welcomes mobility benefit announcement

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the mobility component of disability living allowance will not be removed from people living in residential care homes. “I’m delighted that the Government plans to retain the mobility component for people living in residential care. Over the last few months, I’ve heard from dozens of concerned constituents and met with more than 40 residents and their family me... [Read more]

2011-12-05 14:51:45

Stairlift Firm On The Up

Calne based firm 1st Choice Stairlifts have celebrated their recent expansion with the opening of their new premises in Harris Road on Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, officially opened by North Wiltshire MP, James Gray. The company have been trading for almost 8 years and won the “New Business Award” for Calne and North Wiltshire which was presented by James to directors Coral Affleck and Colin Major back in 2004.  In his speech at t... [Read more]

2011-11-29 13:38:42

James Gray calls for War Memorials to be recorded

“I am very concerned that disgraceful metal thefts from War memorials across North Wiltshire will lead to those who are commemorated on them being lost for all time,” said North Wiltshire MP James Gray after raising the matter in the House of Commons yesterday. Mr Gray asked Tony Baldry, who is the MP responsible for the Church Commissioners: “[Are you] aware that one of the greatest tragedies about the loss of metal from war memorials, wh... [Read more]

2011-11-25 12:10:12

James Gray MP welcomes extra seats for Wiltshire rail passengers

North Wiltshire MP James Gray today welcomed the Government’s announcement that passengers in the Thames Valley will benefit from nearly 4,500 additional seats each day into and out of London Paddington. The extra seats are being added thanks to government funding for additional 48 carriages on First Great Western services which run through Reading and the Thames Valley and into London Paddington as well asa in Bristol and the far south west of... [Read more]

2011-11-22 17:22:37

Boosting apprenticeships for young people and small businesses

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has welcomed new measures from the Government to ensure young people and small businesses feel the full benefits of the successful expansion of apprenticeships. Data released last month showed that here in North Wiltshire 370 people started an apprenticeship in 2009/10, while 500 people started an apprenticeship in 2010/11. This means the number of people starting an apprenticeship increased by 130 last year. On 16... [Read more]

2011-11-17 23:26:22

“Winter-proof your home and cut your energy costs” says local MP

North Wiltshire MP James Gray is calling on constituents to winter-proof their homes and their finances to keep energy costs down. Currently, around £1 of every £4 spent on heating our homes is wasted because of a lack of adequate insulation. And with over 6 million cavity walls unfilled, and 10 million lofts left unlagged, huge amounts of money is being wasted. During a meeting with British Gas, Age UK, Citizens Advice, Turn2Us and Save the ... [Read more]

2011-11-11 11:11:11

MP visits residential service in Kington Langley

On Friday 4th November a group of disability campaigners from Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Greathouse service in Kington Langley met James Gray MP. More than 40 residents and their family members met with the North Wiltshire MP to share their concerns about disability benefits. Mr Gray listened to the views of several people who explained how the removal of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility component, which is replacing Disability... [Read more]

2011-11-08 12:33:03

Local MP welcomes £500 million fund to boost growth in North Wiltshire

The launch of a £500 million fund aimed at reviving stalled building projects and creating new jobs across the country has been welcomed by North Wiltshire MP James Gray. The Growing Places Fund, available to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) across England, such as the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP, will give local businesses and organisations the opportunity to make their own decisions and apply for the funding they need based on local prioriti... [Read more]

2011-11-08 11:30:06

Local MP commends award-winning Malmesbury volunteer

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has extended his congratulations to a local volunteer who has been rewarded for her hard work at the NCT Stars Awards. The awards celebrate the enthusiasm and dedication of those who make the charity’s services available to parents and parents-to-be. Gynnette Ranger-Walsh from the Malmesbury Branch was named Highly Commended in the Most Supportive Volunteer of the Year category. NCT, the UK’s largest charity fo... [Read more]

2011-11-01 11:42:48

North Wiltshire MP speaks ahead of Wootton Bassett’s Ceremonial Appreciation Event on Sunday 16th October 2011

"The plans to commemorate the granting of Letters Patent to the town of Wootton Bassett by HRH The Princess Royal on 16th October are taking shape and I am delighted with what sounds like will be a most dignified and enjoyable day," said North Wiltshire MP, James Gray speaking after a meeting to discuss the plans in Wootton Bassett on Saturday. "I very much applaud the Town Council's determination to try to break even and to avoid... [Read more]

2011-10-03 14:17:46

James Gray MP to oppose merger of Wiltshire Ambulance Service

"I simply do not believe that 'Big' is necessarily 'Beautiful' in ambulance terms", said North Wiltshire MP James Gray speaking after the AGM of the Great Western Ambulance Service in Chippenham's Langley Park on Thursday. "I strongly opposed the creation of the Great Western Ambulance Service only five years ago, on the grounds that it would make the service available to my constituents worse, not better. That has been proved to ... [Read more]

2011-09-30 10:55:32

Letter to the editor of Gazette & Herald

Sir, Unusually for your excellent newspaper, your reporting of the Boundary Commission proposals were pretty misleading. Under the alarmist headline 'North Wiltshire in Vanishing Act', you say "The constituency of North Wiltshire is due to disappear as it is currently known.....It will vanish in name and be carved up into surrounding areas.....' (Gazette 15 September.) I hasten to reassure those who love North Wiltshire that nothing could ... [Read more]

2011-09-16 07:41:40