Must do better! That has to be my teacher's report on keeping this blog up to date. I do tweet but I need to start setting aside the time to do an update, though I hope my new website will be online by the end of the month.
It's easy to fill every moment with Parliamentary and constituency business, as well as a number of events to be briefed and entertained. Well, now everything is coming together in the office, new staff ready to join in September, nearly sorted out the constituency office and, if IPSA approves the contract, a flat in Pimlico by the end of the month, ending the living out of a suitcase and a car AND walking in on other guests, thanks to a faulty hotel reception system.
There has been a lot going on in Parliament - 2nd reading of the Budget on the floor of the house, Select Committees finally being formed (I am on Culture), briefings on different topics including increase in personal insolvency, presenting a private members' bill and I initiated a Westminster Hall debate on fuel poverty in rural Britain.
A big announcement was the BSF revision; the Felixstowe academy is up for discussion, so I have asked for a meeting with Lord Hill (who was John Major's political secretary in the 90's), though I have been told that Michael Gove is personally assessing and arranging any meetings.
Rural broadband is uppermost in my mind for the business community, reinforced when I met Andy Wood, MD of Adnams and heavily involved in a few Suffolk business forums (fora?), for the Parliamentary Beer Group Dinner. Ed Vaizey has agreed to meet a delegation and just trying to sort out
Of course, the health changes are huge. I had coffee with Dr Janet Massey, secretary of Suffolk BMA, who seemed up for the changes. More surprising was the meeting with NHS East of England - which seemed to be trying to reinvent itself and gave the impression they would still be around in some shape or form, but I doubt it.
Tackling coastal erosion is the distinctive campaign for my constituency and I am formulating my plan to change the DEFRA policy, "Making Room for Water". This is the framework that is happy for, indeed wants, my constituency to fall into the sea. Again, the minister is due to come and trying to fix a date.
Back in the constituency, I have been supporting the Arts, giving prizes at Felixstowe Regatta, visited some more schools (Yoxford, Peasenhall and Rendlesham Primary Schools and Leiston High) and have had more surgeries. There is much else and when the website is online, I will update fully.
Finally, some people have been leaving messages on 07733 996068 but it has been difficult to make them out. Can I suggest that you ring 020 7219 7164 instead?
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Monday, 28 June 2010
Select Committees - no Labour for DEFRA?
Select Committees are forming.. but I am surprised no-one from Labour put themselves forward for the DEFRA committee, reinforcing the stereotype image that Labour really weren't interested in the countryside. (Check out Labour uncut website for stats.)
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Westminster Update
Well, quite a lot of excitement on the IT front coping with the hacking, which did make me reconsider if I should still do this online stuff. Another attempt was made to get into my systems this week and it is a lot of time trying to fix it. However, I have decided to continue as it is an important element to communicate to my constituents and others about my activities as MP for Suffolk Coastal.
The most important Parliamentary activity of the week was the Budget on Tuesday afternoon. I had been expecting a tough budget - the country was left in such an economic mess by Labour that difficult choices had to be made. Of course, I am not thrilled about voting for any tax rises but I will be doing so next week as part of the package to pay for Labour's profligacy and to plan for the future. I was pleased that the Government is committed to capital spending, though reviewing projects to ensure that they are good value for money. Tackling welfare reform is also key for our Government and I think the country fully understands the need to get those people can work to get into work and off benefits. Too many people are caught in the benefit trap and we need to change the incentives.
I managed to get 3 oral questions this week - asking about efforts to bring the World Cup to England and praising the Felixstowe Evening Star for renaming itself to England Star; on rural broadband and accessing existing infrastructure already paid for by the State and then asking about fishing. The Minister agreed to come and have fish and chips while meeting local fishermen. I am due to meet local fishermen soon so I will let them know of the impending visit.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to speak in the Nuclear Energy debate but I was able to intervene on another member who was disputing whether or not public subsidy was required. Other meetings were held about Suffolk issues on transport, our monthly MPs' meeting and various APPGs, afternoon tea with the Speaker and the Royal Society of Chemistry Science/Parliamentary Links Days.
Another highlight of the week was being elected onto the select committee for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. More about that when the committee starts.
There were some sociable opportunities this week, including the World Cup match. A number of organisations offered hospitality and I chose to go to a reception sponsored by HP in conjunction with Skillforce - an organisation that provides programmes for schools delivered by former military personnel. Skillforce is keen to get involved in Suffolk and I was happy to buy some raffle tickets in return to help them. I popped into a reception with RSPCA and was able to discuss with them the changes in the law relating to dogs. I have concerns on over-zealous interpretation of the new proposals. I also attended dinner with the Chinese ambassador. I had thought we would be eating Chinese food but nevertheless, an interesting evening. I popped into a BT reception - a significant employer locally and the planning application came up. I am not getting involved in individual planning applications so was able to steer away from that, except to add one of the reasons why local residents were against it. Finally, I went to the CLA reception which was useful to meet a wide variety of rural organisations and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of DEFRA, talking about coastal erosion.
All in all, it was a very busy week in Westminster amidst the casework and pushing on with the significant issues facing our country and my constituency.
The most important Parliamentary activity of the week was the Budget on Tuesday afternoon. I had been expecting a tough budget - the country was left in such an economic mess by Labour that difficult choices had to be made. Of course, I am not thrilled about voting for any tax rises but I will be doing so next week as part of the package to pay for Labour's profligacy and to plan for the future. I was pleased that the Government is committed to capital spending, though reviewing projects to ensure that they are good value for money. Tackling welfare reform is also key for our Government and I think the country fully understands the need to get those people can work to get into work and off benefits. Too many people are caught in the benefit trap and we need to change the incentives.
I managed to get 3 oral questions this week - asking about efforts to bring the World Cup to England and praising the Felixstowe Evening Star for renaming itself to England Star; on rural broadband and accessing existing infrastructure already paid for by the State and then asking about fishing. The Minister agreed to come and have fish and chips while meeting local fishermen. I am due to meet local fishermen soon so I will let them know of the impending visit.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to speak in the Nuclear Energy debate but I was able to intervene on another member who was disputing whether or not public subsidy was required. Other meetings were held about Suffolk issues on transport, our monthly MPs' meeting and various APPGs, afternoon tea with the Speaker and the Royal Society of Chemistry Science/Parliamentary Links Days.
Another highlight of the week was being elected onto the select committee for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. More about that when the committee starts.
There were some sociable opportunities this week, including the World Cup match. A number of organisations offered hospitality and I chose to go to a reception sponsored by HP in conjunction with Skillforce - an organisation that provides programmes for schools delivered by former military personnel. Skillforce is keen to get involved in Suffolk and I was happy to buy some raffle tickets in return to help them. I popped into a reception with RSPCA and was able to discuss with them the changes in the law relating to dogs. I have concerns on over-zealous interpretation of the new proposals. I also attended dinner with the Chinese ambassador. I had thought we would be eating Chinese food but nevertheless, an interesting evening. I popped into a BT reception - a significant employer locally and the planning application came up. I am not getting involved in individual planning applications so was able to steer away from that, except to add one of the reasons why local residents were against it. Finally, I went to the CLA reception which was useful to meet a wide variety of rural organisations and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of DEFRA, talking about coastal erosion.
All in all, it was a very busy week in Westminster amidst the casework and pushing on with the significant issues facing our country and my constituency.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Apologies - think I am back in control now
Not a nice time in the last hour - hopefully I can trace who did this
Friday, 11 June 2010
Westminster Week 5
Another busy week in Westminster getting through the postbag, moving into my new office and trying get answers to questions as well undergoing more rites of passage for a new MP.
In the new office, we are trying to get ourselves started but you have to have patience - Rome wasn't built in a day! We now have a printer but it's not connected, so it's a 10 minute walk back to the hot desk area or library to print anything out. For the last 2 weeks, we have had 1 computer to share between the 3 of us; now we have a second and hopefully, by Monday, a third.
On to rites of passage, I voted through the lobbies for the first time (we were there till 1130 on Monday night, 1045 on Tuesday night), I made my first intervention (on the Shadow Chancellor), my first question to a minister and I listened to an adjournment debate on anonymity for rape defendants.
The Suffolk MPs are working closely together on a number of issues. We have submitted joint letters on the lack of fairness of the NHS funding formula for Suffolk and to press the case for rural broadband. On that latter point, a great speech from Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State) which went way beyond what I expected for rural broadband.
Anyway, back to the constituency for a number of events and to see England start their World Cup campaign. Have fun everyone!
In the new office, we are trying to get ourselves started but you have to have patience - Rome wasn't built in a day! We now have a printer but it's not connected, so it's a 10 minute walk back to the hot desk area or library to print anything out. For the last 2 weeks, we have had 1 computer to share between the 3 of us; now we have a second and hopefully, by Monday, a third.
On to rites of passage, I voted through the lobbies for the first time (we were there till 1130 on Monday night, 1045 on Tuesday night), I made my first intervention (on the Shadow Chancellor), my first question to a minister and I listened to an adjournment debate on anonymity for rape defendants.
The Suffolk MPs are working closely together on a number of issues. We have submitted joint letters on the lack of fairness of the NHS funding formula for Suffolk and to press the case for rural broadband. On that latter point, a great speech from Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State) which went way beyond what I expected for rural broadband.
Anyway, back to the constituency for a number of events and to see England start their World Cup campaign. Have fun everyone!
