Tom Brake

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, has welcomed a new £2m Government scheme that will help boost childcare businesses and help women back into work.

From today, people who want to set up a nursery can apply for grants of up to £500 to help cover things like legal and insurance costs, training, equipment and adaptations to buildings. The scheme is aimed to launch up to 6,000 new childcare businesses across England.

Vote for your favourite independent trader in Carshalton and Wallington

One of the best things about Carshalton and Wallington is the many independent shops and retailers that line our high streets or work here. From florists to antique shops, butchers, plumbers and bakeries, independent shops make a valuable contribution to life in the area.

Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington has urged parents in Sutton to find out if their two-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week.

460 of the poorest toddlers in Sutton, an investment of £3,156 per child, are set to benefit from 15 hours of free childcare a week. Commencing from September, this measure will help the most disadvantage families in Sutton with the childcare costs.

Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington met with a local campaigner this week, to discuss a new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Forum starting up in Sutton.

Tom Brake met with Tyrone Ashby, a founder of the new Sutton LGBT Forum. Sutton LGBT Forum will provide services and support for all LGBT people in Sutton. It will aim to fight prejudice against the community by helping local schools to raise awareness of the LGBT issues and fight homophobic bullying.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake joined activists and young sports aficionados for an evening dedicated to celebrating their achievements last week.

Tom attended the 'Hit the Top' award ceremony organised by the Wallington charity with a global reach - Cricket for Change (C4C). During the event, held at the Mayor of London's Office last Tuesday, Tom presented an award for the Club of The Year.

A sport enthusiast, Tom Brake MP, swapped the corridors of Parliament to pound Carshalton's' pavements, when he joined a local activist for a run last week.

Mr Peter Romanov, a local Carshalton resident, was accompanied by Tom Brake during his training session, in preparation for the 2013 Virgin London Marathon. Peter is gearing up for the challenge in support of the charity Crimestoppers.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake has urged local residents to sign up for a scheme that could save them money on energy bills.

The 'Big London Energy Switch' is offering residents across London the possibility of paying less for gas and electricity by switching suppliers. If successful, the scheme could see thousands of households across the capital simultaneously change their energy provider, in return for a lower fixed term tariff.

NHS Sutton CCG officially launched this week ready for its start date on 1 April 2013 when it will fully take on the commissioning (planning and buying) role for many of Sutton's NHS services.

The event was attended by over 80 partners and stakeholders, ranging from the local authority and local providers of NHS services, to community and patient groups. Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington attended the event.

LocalMP Tom Brake has welcomed the announcement of a new policy placing legal obligation on healthcare providers to tell the truth about errors.

Hospitals, GP practices and other healthcare providers will be under a legal 'duty of candour' to inform patients and families if treatment or care has caused death or serious injury. There should also be an explanation of what has happened.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake swapped the House of Commons office for the postman's shoes last week when he joined a local postman, Kevin, for a delivery round in Wallington.

For a short while Tom had the chance to experience first-hand the busy life of a postie and gain an insight into the challenges that they regularly face in their day-to-day jobs.