On the 19th February Alan visited Market Overton to discuss the closure of the village shop. Alan is supporting the campaign to keep Market Overton village shop open.

Alan said, 'This is exactly the kind of enterprising, community-based initiative that shows Britain at its best. The villagers are enthusiastic and determined and they have my full support.'

Alan Duncan attended an event organised by the Kennel Club and the British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA) at the Sun Inn Pub in Cottesmore on Friday 19th March.

This event promoted pubs that allow dogs on their premises. This event drew a large crowd of both humans and canines.

Alan said:

‘It is important that we support local businesses in these difficult economic times. Pubs in Rutland have done a great job at encouraging people through their doors. One of the ways some pubs have chosen to do this is to encourage dog owners to bring their dogs. It is great when the local community and pubs continue to work together for the benefit of local businesses and the community.'

A video of this event can be found here.

On Thursday 18th March Alan delivered a speech at the launch of the SMF's latest report on prisons, entitled ‘Prison Break: Tackling recidivism, reducing costs.'

At the event Alan said:

‘A rehabilitation revolution can play a large part in revolutionising society's problems. It is time that our efforts inside prisons and outside them can be focussed on rehabilitating offenders in order to improve their prospects and those of the wider society in which we all live.'

This event is discussed by Civitas here:
http://www.civitas.org.uk/wordpress/2010/03/19/rehabilitation-rhetoric-style-and-substance/

The full text of Alan's speech can be found by clicking here.

Alan spoke to 1000 students at an A-level Politics Conference on the 8th March 2010. He spoke about the importance of participation in politics, whether through voting or by campaigning for an issue you care about.

There was a question and answer session afterwards where Alan was asked about topics as diverse as voting and House of Lords reform.

Alan said, ‘I really enjoy speaking to young people. It is important that they are the brought in to the political process and not patronised. I hope I have helped to do this today.'

Alan met with representatives from Carers of Leicestershire Advocacy and Support Project (CLASP) on the 4th March 2010.

They discussed the need for carers to have greater recognition for the important role they play in helping local communities, families and to the national economy. They also spoke about the lack of government funds available to help carers.

On the 2nd March Alan visited the St. Giles Trust, a charity which runs a number of very successful programmes which aim to reduce crime and social exclusion.

Alan spoke to people who work on all their different projects, including the SOS Gangs Project, Peer Advice Project and the Skills and Employment Support Programme.

Alan said of his visit that 'St. Giles Trust is a great example of why the third sector have a key role to play in society. They are tenacious, hard working and innovative; and offer great support to those who leave prison by meeting them at the gates.'

On Wednesday the 24th February Alan met with Eric McGraw, Managing Editor of Inside Time, the leading newspaper for prisoners.

Alan discussed issues including the deportation of foreign national prisoners, offending behaviour courses, and the proposed Conservative policy of earned release

The full interview can be found here, in the March 2010 edition of Inside Time

Alan visited Anglian Water with Nick Herbert, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

On the 26th February 2010 Alan Duncan and Nick Herbert opened an Anglian Water treatment plant. This new treatment works will help to provide drinking water to the East of England's growing population.

After opening the water treatment plant they also visited the Rutland Water nature reserve and discussed the importance of environmental sustainability.

Alan gave the keynote speech on Thursday 4th February at the Restorative Justice Consortium's Restorative Justice and Law Conference. Alan told the Conference that:

‘Restorative Justice fits well into the broad philosophy of Conservatism because it devolves power down to local communities and local people ... so I see an expansion of RJ as a great opportunity to give our national criminal justice system stronger local roots.'

He added that his ‘bewilderment only grows when you look at its cost. For the miracle of RJ, and particularly at a time when Government money is non-existent, is that it is incredibly cheap - incredibly cheap, incredibly effective and incredibly simple. Quite simply, what more could one ask for?'

The full text of his speech is available here.

Alan met with a delegation from The Royal British Legion at Westminster to get behind the charity's call for general election candidates of all parties to support the whole Armed Forces family. Alan also discussed the Legion's manifesto and the changes that it is calling for.

The manifesto sets out priorities for the next Government to improve conditions for the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It encourages MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) to "do their bit" for Service Personnel and their families, the bereaved, veterans and dependants.

During the meeting, Alan was photographed with a giant replica of the personalised pledge card, which he has been given by the Legion in recognition of his pledge.

Kevin Shinkwin, the Legion's Head of Public Affairs, said, "We're delighted to give Alan his pledge card in recognition of his pledge to do his bit. Our message to every MP and candidate standing at the general election is very simple: "It's time to do your bit. How you do that is entirely up to you but pledging publicly at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk is a great way of showing your support for the whole Armed Forces family, both now and beyond the general election."

"Both the serving and ex-Service community need the support of politicians," he added. "Our manifesto outlines practical ways the next government can help, and we hope all the parties will give it serious consideration".

Alan Duncan MP said, "I was really pleased to pledge to do my bit and to get my pledge card from the Legion. I know the work they do for the whole Armed Forces family matters not just to me, but to so many of my constituents as well. It's so important we all get behind them, and I'm looking forward to seeing how my party responds to their manifesto".

Alan recently met with two constituents to discuss the Rotary Club in Rutland and Melton. The girls were making a documentary for one of their dissertations at Warwick University. They discussed the Rotary Club's activities in the Melton and Rutland area, political support for Rotary as well as changes in the Melton and Rutland area.