The Beacon has questioned each party on the key issues facing the county.

Their responses will be featured here over the coming weeks.

In our final week, we hear from Welsh Conservative Party candidate David Davies, and Labour Party candidate Ruth Jones.

No reply has been received from English Democrats candidate Stephen Morris.

We asked each party:

1. Where do you live? If you live locally, how long have you been here?

2. What experience do you have in politics?

3. Why are you standing for the Monmouthshire seat?

4. What do you think is the greatest issue facing your prospective constituents, and how would you tackle this?

Key issues:

5. What steps would you take to address problems experienced locally with cross-border healthcare and ambulance response times?

6. What steps would you take to combat crime and

specifically, recent increases in burglaries across the county?

7. How do you plan to work effectively with residents of varying ages?

8. How do you intend to support the agricultural community?

9. How will you support small, independent, local businesses?

David's response

I have lived in Monmouth for the last 16 years having moved here from Caldicot, then Newport where I grew up.

I have spent the last 10 years serving as the Member of Parliament for Monmouth, during which time I was appointed chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee. Prior to this, I was the Welsh Assembly Member for Monmouth. However, I believe my 10 years' experience in the haulage industry are just as important.

I am standing for the Monmouthshire seat because, for the last 16 years, I have endeavoured to represent the needs of this constituency to government and to take up cases of injustice faced by individuals. It has been an honour to represent the county in Parliament and I hope to continue.

The greatest issue facing Monmouthshire constituents is that Monmouthshire gets less money per head from the Welsh Government than any other local authority in Wales. This is deeply unfair and has led to cuts in services. I have raised the issue at every opportunity and highlighted the way in which the Welsh Government wastes money that could be spent here. As chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, I have called for cuts in Severn Bridge tolls and these are now planned. As well as local matters, all constituents will be affected by government decisions on important areas like the economy and immigration. 

Wales has the worst ambulance response times in the UK. We have longer waiting times for treatment - 26 weeks as opposed to 18 in England. We do not have the same access to life-prolonging cancer drugs and while England has maintained funding to the NHS, in Wales it has been cut by eight per cent. This is not the fault of doctors and nurses but of the Welsh Government. Although health is a devolved policy area, I will continue to work with local patients to raise standards in Wales.

I have the right experience to tackle crime locally. I have nine years of direct experience of combating crime as a Special Constable with the British Transport Police. My service has been useful in making sure everything possible is being done by Gwent Police to apprehend the gang responsible for targeting properties in Monmouth.

When it comes to working with residents of varying ages, I regularly visit old people's homes, workplaces, schools and speak to voluntary organisations such as Rotary and the WI about the role of an MP. I hope to be able to continue!

Monmouthshire is an agricultural area and I hold regular meetings with farmers and the unions to discuss ongoing concerns. TB control and the collapse in milk prices are particularly important issues for Monmouthshire at the moment. I also take up cases for farmers such as the owner of the Square Farm shop at Mitchel Troy who had a problem with CAP bureaucracy. It has now been successfully resolved.

I would support small, independent, local businesses by using them, and by remembering that good broadband speeds are vital for local businesses. I have consistently campaigned for better provision throughout Monmouthshire.