have so far remained obdurate in their determination to discontinue direct services from Ashford to Brussels and to reduce the service from Ashford to Paris. Eurostar say that most people who use the Brussels service will prefer to use the new station at Ebbsfleet and that the trains cannot stop at both Ashford and Ebbsfleet.
During the debate last week we asked the Government to intervene. So far, despite the fact that the high speed track was paid for with taxpayers’ money, ministers have refused to do so. But at the end of the debate the Minister did agree to meet us to discuss the matter further. I am not very optimistic but hope that wiser counsels may prevail.
On Friday I visited Harcourt Primary School, the first time I have been back to the school since last year’s campaign to keep it open. I was pleased to see that it is obviously flourishing with an excellent team of teachers under Head Teacher Ali Dakin. The long and determined campaign we fought eventually paid off, the children are benefiting and the results will soon speak for themselves.
The national media have, quite rightly, been devoting much attention to the Government’s failure to take proper care of soldiers who return wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan. This is quite inexcusable. Ministers, from the Prime Minister down, are quick to pay lip service to the courage and skill of our armed forces. They must put arrangements in place to look after them when they return.
I am currently taking up the case of a local soldier who was injured in Iraq in 2004, left the Army last October and, despite repeated promises of immediate action, has still not received the pension to which he is clearly entitled.
If ever there was a case for people putting their money where their mouth is, this is it. The Government must act to take proper care of our soldiers without delay.
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