
31 Aug: Norman has today called on ESCC to get rid of unnecessary signs and 'street clutter' in a bid to make streets tidier and less confusing for motorists and pedestrians. The MP's call is in conjunction with his ministerial colleague, the Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond MP, who has written to all local authorities to outline his concerns that the character of the country's urban spaces is being damaged by unnecessary and confusing signage. More.

31 Aug: Norman has welcomed the announcement that the Highways Agency has secured funding for this financial year to carry out a speed limit review along the A26. More.

11 Aug: Norman has hailed the Lib Dems' role in the coalition government, welcoming the fact that in less than three months in office, the party has been able to deliver progress on several of its key manifesto commitments, inlcuidng fairer taxes, reforming the banking system, restoring the earnings link to pensions, scrapping ID cards, a fairer start for children, a referendum on voting reform and a high speed rail network. More.

11 Aug: Norman says East Sussex County Council must take steps to respond to the concerns raised about pedestrians using Claremont Road Railway Bridge. More.

29 Jul: Norman yesterday presented a litany of reasons to Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly to keep Lewes magistrates' court open. More.

28 Jul: A new EU project to be targeted at investment in port towns could provide significant investment in Newhaven and the local MP, Norman Baker, has today urged Lewes District Council grab this opportunity with both hands. Norman said: "This EU project is a great opportunity to secure further investment in the port and I want to see Lewes District Council grasp it with both hands, as they have done in the past. I am urging the acting Chief Executive, John Magness, to take forward a bid and I hope that the new Chief Executive, Jenny Rowlands, will follow this through when she starts in September." More.

27 Jul: Norman is calling for Lewes District Council to provide urgent clarification on the status of Chesterton's, amongst local fears that the long established shop may close. For three weeks, Chesterton's, on the High Street, has been closed while refurbishment has taken place. This has raised concerns with locals who believe that the services it provided previously may not be retained when it reopens as it is alleged that the refurbishment may be a pre-emptive move to turn the shop into a restaurant/café. More.

22 Jul: Norman yesterday boosted local voluntary transport organisations on the floor of the Commons during oral questions in his capacity as a Transport Minister. During the session, in which Norman answered questions on a variety of subjects including bus services and sustainable travel in rural areas, he highlighted the successful Cuckmere Community Bus scheme in the Lewes constituency as an example for others to follow in setting up community transport projects. More.

22 Jul: Norman has today welcomed the news that the coalition government has introduced an Equitable Life Bill, which will pave the way for the government to compensate Equitable Life policyholders who lost out when the company collapsed. It is estimated that around 1.5 million policyholders across the country, who held around 2 million policies between them, will benefit from the move. The total amount of compensation on offer will be revealed this October, at the time of the government's public spending review. More.

21 Jul: Staff sickness is not a good enough excuse to reduce the operating hours of Lewes Victoria's Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). That is Norman's view, and he has called on East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT to ensure that future staff shortages do not cut frontline services for local residents. More.

20 Jul: Norman has has today welcomed a speech by Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in which he sets out the Lib Dems' vision to make Britain a fairer and more liberal society while in government. Clegg's speech includes several key guarantees, which will be met by the time the next election is called in 2015. More.

16 Jul: Norman has welcomed the news that the number of people claiming unemployment benefit has fallen in recent months. Official figures released by the government this week revealed that in June 2010, there were 1,201 people claiming unemployment benefit across the constituency compared with 1,349 in June 2009 - a decrease of 11%. The most dramatic drop in unemployment has been among young people. In June 2010, there were 345 claimants aged 24 or under - a decrease of 16.9% compared with the previous year. More.

12 Jul: Norman has launched an initiative to reduce travel. He says this will benefit the economy, the environment, and the individual. The plans include more working from home, and greater use of video conferencing facilities. The plans also include proposals to overhaul the way rail season tickets are sold. Under the plans, rail companies would sell carnets as well as season tickets, enabling travellers to pay for journeys in batches while enjoying the discounts available to season ticket holders. More.

7 Jul: Norman yesterday urged local authorities in East Sussex to bid for money to secure green buses as he announced that the government is making £15 million available for over 150 new low carbon buses to join fleets throughout England. The funding is intended to put low carbon buses within the reach of as many operators and local authorities as possible throughout England. Bus operators and councils can bid for the money, which they can then use towards the cost of buying low carbon buses. More.

3 Jul: Norman yesterday announced that car clubs across the country are set to benefit from an extra £40,000 of government funding. Membership of car clubs, such as the one which works well in Brighton, allows access to vehicles for short periods of time, often by the hour, on a pay-as-you-go basis. The number of members of such clubs in the UK has increased from just 22,000 in 2007 to more than 127,114 - an increase of almost 500%. More.

1 Jul: Norman recently appeared on the floor of the House of Commons to answer oral questions in his capacity as a Transport Minister for the first time and answered questions on a variety of subjects including the future of the national concessionary bus fares scheme, subsidised bus services, and the Manchester metrolink More.

29 Jun: Norman has today welcomed the Government's announcement that thousands of East Sussex workers will be taken out of income tax entirely, with many more paying £200 less each year. As part of the Budget, the government has announced that the personal allowance - income from which no tax is paid - is to rise from £6,475 to £7,475. More.

26 Jun: Norman is set to meet with Justice Ministers in a bid to protect Lewes Magistrates' Court, which has been threatened with closure. Earlier this week, the government published a consultation into the possibility of shutting 157 magistrates and county courts across England and Wales, including Lewes Magistrates' Court. More.

15 Jun: Norman has asked the county council, responsible for on-street parking, to carry out an investigation into the rules relating to the suspension of parking spaces. He understands that scarce parking bays in Lewes are being unnecessarily coned off for long periods, causing annoyance and inconvenience for the town's residents. More.

14 Jun: Norman has today called on both the Lewes District and East Sussex County councils to "fill in the void". Large voids that were exposed when work was carried out by Southern Gas on Lancaster Street have remained unrepaired, despite many months passing and concerns raised by local residents. More.

9th Jun: A comprehensive study will be taking place to look at cycling provisions along the A26, including the seeking of better signed and safer routes, following assurances given to Norman by the Highways Agency. More.

7th Jun: Norman has written to the leader of East Sussex County Council, Peter Jones, asking him and senior Council Cabinet members to agree to take a voluntary cut in their special responsibility allowances, as government Ministers have done, to set an example and help reduce the burden on public finances. More.

17 May: Norman's next public meeting on the coalition will be in Seaford on Friday 11 June at 19:15 at Seaford Baptist Church. The aim of the meeting is to exchange views with constituents on the coalition government between the Tories and the Lib Dems and for them to raise with him any issues that they have regarding the agreement. More.

17 May: Norman began his ministerial career at the Department of Transport today. More.

8 Apr: Southern Railway has this morning notified Norman that they have decided to renew the lease for the Runaway Café in Lewes, enabling the present owners to carry on in situ. More.

6 Apr: Norman has arranged to formally present a petition to Simon Cullen, the Manager of Lewes Station at 9am on Thursday 8 April, calling on Southern to rule out any suggestion that it may close the independently run Runaway Café at the station and possibly replace it with a national chain. More.

6th Apr: Norman has set out plans to reopen the railway line linking Lewes and Uckfield. The development comes as part of radical Lib Dem plans to revitalise the railways by improving and reopening rail lines and stations. More.

6 Apr: Norman has discovered that tThe Chief Executive of East Sussex County Council, Cheryl Miller, already by some distance the highest earner of all council chief executives in East Sussex, is to receive a windfall pension sum worth £197,000 as part of her leaving arrangements. More.
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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