Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has hit out at a Ministry of Defence legal bid to try to cut the compensation awarded to two injured servicemen.

“It is beyond belief that at this of all times the MoD should be pursuing this case. How out of touch is the Ministry? When more and more injured troops are returning from Afghanistan and when the casualty rate is mounting its priority seems to be reclaiming money from those who have risked their all for this country.” said Phil Willis.

Phil Willis MP (LIbDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough), is encouraging local constituents to join in Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday 25 September 2009.

Phil Willis says, “In the UK today 2 million people are affected by cancer. I know many of my constituents have personal experience of the problems a cancer diagnosis can bring to both patients and their family.

“Macmillan Cancer Support is there for people from the moment they suspect they might have cancer, with practical, medical, financial and emotional help and support.

“I unreservedly condemn companies that prey on heavily indebted developing countries and call for an internationally binding system to prevent exploitation by so called vulture funds” said Phil Willis responding to hundreds of requests by constituents to back provisions of the Developing Country Debt (Restriction of Recovery) bill.

“It is hard enough for poor, indebted countries to break free form the cycle of debt, yet here are companies buying up those debts and then suing for huge profits.

“These countries should not be seen as a source of income for wealthy investors.”

“Harrogate & Knaresborough has a wealth of musical talent, particularly amongst its young people and live music should not automatically be seen as something leading to disorder” said Phil Willis MP commenting on proposals to change the regulations governing the performance of live music.

“I was disappointed that the Government rejected the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report on the 2003 Licensing Act. This report made a number of recommendations to relax restrictions that the Committee described as, ‘in some cases unnecessarily draconian, and in others simply absurd’.

More than ten million of us visit our inland waterways every year and we are only able to do this because of the ongoing work of the waterway organisations.

Phil Willis MP (Harrogate and Knaresborough) has joined a number of his colleagues in congratulating the nine waterways organisations including the Inland Waterways Association, Royal Yachting Association and British Marine Foundation, on their work in promoting and preserving our inland waterways.

“Many of the athletes who will be competing in Leicester are inspirational” commented Phil Willis MP on the Special Olympics Britain Summer Games which start on the 25th July.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough MP joined other MPs in welcoming the games and also in recognising the work of the Special Olympics movement. They are also encouraging the European Commission to provide appropriate funding.

The new speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon John Bercow, will be speaking at an event in October on the importance of a fair and accessible internship system in parliament. This comes as Alan Milburn’s panel on Fair Access to the Professions this morning highlighted the need to ensure fair access to internships and a code of best practice.

The event has been organised as part of a campaign by Phil Willis MP, Chair of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, and the parliamentary branch of the Union Unite.