David Ward MP has welcomed a new Government blueprint to cut smoking rates as "a major boost for health in Bradford."

The key strands of the Coalition's Tobacco Control Plan include:

• Setting strong goals for reducing smoking prevalence: reducing adult prevalence to no more than 18.5%, among 15 year olds to 12%, and smoking in pregnancy to 11% by 2015.
• Maintaining funding for local services to help smokers quit
• Running effective public education campaigns to motivate smokers to quit and signpost sources of help
• Closing off the remaining routes for tobacco advertising and promotion by putting tobacco out of sight in shops and looking at the evidence for plain packaging of tobacco products;

Labour's stewardship of the NHS has left "a legacy of missed opportunities" according to local MP David Ward, after research revealed high levels of inequality in key health indicators.

Despite announcing in 1997 that reducing health inequality would be a key priority for the new Labour government, figures show that Bradford still lags behind the national average in life expectancy, obesity and infant mortality.

David Ward MP has given his backing to a campaign by leading children's charities for savings accounts to be set up to help young people as they leave care.

Action for Children and Barnardo's launched the campaign at an event held in Parliament this week. At the event David met with Hawker Hussain, a young care leaver from Bradford, to discuss his experiences, and the current lack of financial support for young people leaving care.

Young people in Bradford are encouraged to start a business by David Ward MP

David Ward has pledged his support for a landmark scheme where school students will be given a tenner to start a business.

Participants in the Tenner Tycoon scheme will be challenged to make as much profit and social good as they can in a month with their tenner. Previous winners have made their money in diverse ways such as fashion shows, cookery books and concerts.

Bradford-based volunteers were invited to Parliament to receive awards from MP, David Ward

Dedicated 16-25 year olds, who committed a year to volunteering for Bradford's youth services as part of the VTalentYear programme, have been recognised for their achievements.

After a tour of Parliament they met with David who presented certificates and led a Q&A session. The young people questioned David on a range of topics, including youth services.

David Ward MP is calling for coordinated action to improve post-event care for people who have suffered heart attacks.

Coronary heart disease is the cause of around 94,000 deaths in the UK each year. The mortality rate for this illness has reduced dramatically over recent years due to prompt care for patients after a heart attack and more specialist centres.

David Ward MP has questioned the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, on the Government's strategy for jobs in Bradford.

Commenting, David Ward said:

"I support the Government's agenda of rebalancing Britain's economy away from growth centred on financial services and the South East. There are some very welcome national schemes to achieve this such as regional National Insurance holidays for businesses, and the £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund.

Bradford MP, David Ward, has welcomed aspiring leaders from schools across Bradford into Parliament

Promising young people from Carlton Bolling College and Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College joined David in Westminster for a tour of Parliament followed by a Q&A session, as part of leadership course provided by the not-for-profit organisation Common Purpose.

David Ward MP had welcomed a £1.5 million funding boost for social care in Bradford

The extra cash comes as part of a £2 billion programme of investment into social care by the Coalition Government

The money will be spent on important front line services such as home care support and respite care.

Commenting, David Ward said:

David Ward and his assistant Tracey Leeming spoke with Trustees and Staff at the Branch. Mr Ward said that animal welfare concerns produce a great deal of correspondence from his constituents.

Branch Chairman, Mrs Pullan, told Mr Ward that the branch had been providing an invaluable service to the community for one hundred and forty years. The work of the branch can only continue with the support of the people of Bradford as it is a totally self funding autonomous charity.