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HOWARD'S WAY.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

30 March 2006<IMG height=195 hspace=10 src="images/michaelhoward3.jpg" width=130 align=right vspace=10 border=0>

Last Friday I performed one of the most pleasurable, if difficult, duties of the year. Together with the Community Warden for Lyminge I judged the Annual Easter Bonnet Parade at Lyminge Pre-School Nursery. The entries reached a very high standard and the result was very close. I succeeded in becoming the most unpopular man in Lyminge for another year!

Later Sandra and I went to the opening of Moda Ceramics at 43 Tontine Street. This is just one of a number of new shops opening in a part of Folkestone which badly needs regeneration. That regeneration is clearly underway and I am increasingly excited at the area’s prospects.

From this I went to Shorncliffe Barracks to do an interview for British Forces Broadcasting Services Ghurkha Radio. Did you know that the Headquarters of this lively global station is here at Shorncliffe?

I certainly didn’t. But I was delighted to be able to talk to Ghurkhas all over the world. 

I have recently written to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to look again at some of the terms and conditions under which the Ghurkhas serve, including pensions.

The Ghurkhas are very valued members of our local community and serve our country outstandingly well. We need to make sure we show our appreciation in the proper way.

Two items of news caught my eye this week.

First, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers has said we should have a unified Border Police Force. Welcome to the club! This was something we proposed at the last General Election. What a pity he didn’t say so then.

Secondly, we learn that recent figures show that the number of smokers in Ireland, which has banned smoking in public places, has gone up. What a pity we didn’t know this before Parliament voted to impose a ban here just a few weeks ago!