Last week in Westminster, week commencing Monday 13 May, actually started in Newton Aycliffe with me calling in to Hitachi to catch up with the team there. Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport were scheduled for Thursday 16 May and I wanted to be sure I represented their position appropriately. This I was able to do and kept the Hitachi issue at the front of mind for the Department for Transport and others. I know from my regular conversations that they are focused but I want to keep this debate in the public eye. I have to say it was disappointing that there was not a single representation from the opposition benches as regards the desire for action on rolling stock procurement, in stark contrast to how they were acting when elections were imminent! As I have said, I will work continuously to support the needs of Hitachi and I meant it, others have said the same, but I don’t see any actions.
After that it was a catch up with Durham University regarding their concerns about the unintended consequences of the student visa scheme. Then it was the train south to be there in time for business. I was also able to attend a drop in for grassroots football where I heard about schemes to support our very local football teams so if you are involved with one, please get in touch and we can share our findings.
Tuesday saw me start by talking to the Environment Agency (EA) and Ashcourts about the quarry smells and I continue to push the EA to ensure Ashcourts resolve this issue and I am again assured this is happening. I am also told that we will now see proper 24-hour monitoring in place very soon. I later went to the Transport Select Committee before calling at a drop in for Police UK Disability Sport who are looking for funds from the Proceeds of Crime Act to deliver a Police equivalent to the Invictus games. I was able to promote this further with both the Home Secretary and the Leader of the House to promote their case.
I also had a meeting with Minister Bowie, from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to discuss solar farms and in particular large-scale ones like those proposed between Brafferton and Bishopton and I was pleased to see the changes announced the following day.
Wednesday, I was back in the Transport Select Committee discussing electric cars and then to a round table on rural crime, where everything from quad bikes to fly tipping was discussed. After the Committee, it was the usual Prime Minister’s Questions before drop-in sessions on Alzheimer’s and mental health.
Thursday, as I said earlier, had me speaking in the House of Commons for both Hitachi and disabled police officers before I then spent time in the Chamber for a debate on the Women’s State Pension Age (better known as the WASPI issue). I was performing my duties as Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Minister so unable to speak but I endorse the need for the report of the ombudsman to be implemented. After that I also provided support in the adjournment debate on the Miners’ Pension Scheme. This again meant I could not speak, but as I have said before, I was a signatory to the cross-party Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy select committee report in 2020 which made recommendations to correct this wrong.
I spent the weekend with the Armed Forces Parliamentary scheme understanding more about how our military operate both in terms of the conditions our service men and women operate in but, also the strategic geopolitical space that decisions are being made in. It was a fascinating and informative weekend.
Back to Westminster this week then next week it’s the Whit recess so I will be in the constituency and hope to catch up with many of you. If you want a meeting, then please call Newton Aycliffe 790580 or email [email protected]
