Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, called in at Fort Hill Community School recently. During her visit she had a meeting with the school’s Amnesty International Group, whose members had written to her about an international Arms Trade Treaty which is being negotiated in the United Nations. The Amnesty International group gave Maria a presentation on the Arms Trade Treaty, and also handed over a petition with over 200 signatures calling for the British Government to support the Arms Trade Treaty at the UN conference on 27 July.

Maria said: “It is really important for young people to take an interest in these matters, and I was very pleased to be able to meet them. I was able to tell them that the UK Government is very supportive of the Arms Trade Treaty and has worked hard to make sure that Amnesty International’s views are taken into account.”

Maria added: “I will be passing on the petition from the students at Fort Hill, so that the Government understands the strength of feeling about this among Basingstoke’s young people.”

While she was at Fort Hill, Maria also met some of the cast of the School’s production of the Wizard of Oz. The School was recently awarded the Arts Council’s Artsmark Gold award in recognition of the school’s commitment to, and excellence in, arts education.

Maria said: “This is a tremendous achievement, and I applaud the students and staff at Fort Hill on this accolade.”