Joanna Cranfield, a 17 year old Paralympic swimming hopeful from Westcliff-on-Sea, was the subject of an Adjournment Debate raised by David Amess MP on Monday 11th January 2011, to further raise the profile of Miss Cranfield's case and help her get the support that she deserves.

Mr Amess has been fighting to help Miss Cranfield for months now and has found frustration in responses that claim the guidelines work against Joanna. However, he was delighted to be able to announce to the House that Miss Cranfield was awarded a Blue Badge by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for three years and applauded their decision and the common-sense which was used in granting it.

Mr Amess took the opportunity of speaking in the Chamber at the dedicated Adjournment Debate to raise concerns about the nature of Joanna's case, given her exceptional talent and the circumstances in which Joanna's benefits were stopped. Concluding his speech, he said:

""I ask my hon. Friend the Minister if she will review Joanna Leigh Cranfield's case again to see if there is some sort of common-sense approach that could be taken...If there are no further benefits to which my hon. Friend can direct Joanna, I would welcome her thoughts on other lines of funding that may be available to Miss Cranfield.""

Since his speech in the Commons on Monday, there has been a flurry of media interest in the case and it is hoped that at the end of it all, Miss Cranfield is able to resume her life and live as normal a life as is possible.