Ray Harmer

We are wondering how much interest there is in Peel for creating an after school youth club. Please contact me if you are interested.

Best wishes,

Ray

The Manx Credit Union has now gained FSA approval and can be incorporated. This a huge step forward and means the Credit Union is close to being open for business.

Congratulations to David Talbot and the team!

If you are away on election day or unable to vote in person, print the form on the link below, complete it and send it to the returning officer (details below). They will then arrange a time for you to cast your vote. If you are unwell and unable to get to their office, they can come to you.

Application for Advance Vote

The returning officer for Glenfaba & Peel is:

The first week of the campaign trail has seen health and roads dominate the conversations. The steam packet agreement and the need for government to work better together came up as common themes.

I am looking forward to chatting to constituents over the next weeks, but if you are not at home when I call and would like to discuss any matter, please call to arrange a time that suits best.

An informative public meeting was held on Monday by Patrick Commissioners.

Junction improvements at Mines Road to improve visibility  have been submitted to planning. If approved, the junction will form part of the first stage of works likely to take between 4 to 6 weeks. This means work will start at both ends simultaneously.

The relief road proposal is also in planning, but it is unclear if this has support to proceed.

Bus Vannin were in attendance to make necessary timetable adjustments.

The works are now likely to start late September.

Thursday 1st September is the last day to register to vote. You can ask for a form by using the link below or calling 685754.

Registering to vote

Please find my interviews with Manx Radio at the links below:

Manx Radio Page

In July, Tynwald supported  an increase for pre-school funding to £1700, £2150 for those in receipt of benefits, to provide 10 and 12.5 hours per week respectively.

Extracts from my speech in Tynwald on 19 July:

……It is good to see progress on this issue and a positive outcome from following the social affairs committee’s findings, which recommended a minimum of 12.5 hours per week per child and the department’s positive response following a question I raised in ….the House of Keys. (Does the Minister of Education acknowledge the beneficial effects of pre-school education for all? – 28/06/16)

There is significant evidence which has been collated over recent years to reveal how    pre-school has a positive and long-term impact on children’s attainment.

In fact the measure is timely with the economist at the end of last month demonstrating the important financial and social benefits of pre-school and how it would give children a running start.

Studies in Europe and the USA show how those attending pre-school were as adults less likely to be unemployed, smokers, depressed or arrested!

Children starting school after having attended pre-school, even if only part time, had better language acquisition, pre-reading and early number concepts.

They also demonstrated better levels of concentration, co-operation and peer sociability. In addition they were less worried about starting school and showed less anti-social behaviour.

The pre-school education must be of a high quality and I support the department’s measures to set and monitor educational standards

However, we need to provide suitable premises for the setting up of pre-schools as the distribution across the island is patchy and in my own constituency, the increase in demand has led to a reduction in suitable space for pre-school. This is an area that needs to be tackled.

As a result of the evidence of the very positive impact of high quality pre-school education I recommend we proceed with the necessary funding and I will support the motion.

Manx Radio Interview Dates have been confirmed:

Short Interview – Mandate – Monday, 18^th July 2016, at 07.55

Long Interview – Wednesday, 27^th July 2016, at 18.05

Constituency Debate – Wednesday, September 14^th at 18:05