WESTMINSTER UPDATE
I really enjoyed the conference last week, and in particular the very positive fringe meetings discussing transport infrastructure investments in the North East. It was also good to catch up with so many colleagues and friends from around the country and I also met with one of the Ukrainian MPs who was visiting because he was participating in a fringe event discussing European security.
Following conference, I spent Thursday at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, close to Whitby.
This was part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme that I have mentioned before. This visit gave us the opportunity to understand how the UK is working with The United States and others to constantly assess and be ready to defend any ballistic missile attacks.
Another major function that takes place at Fylingdales is the monitoring of the space above them to a distance of about 3,000 kilometres.
This is about measuring, monitoring and assessing all that is happening with the various satellites that orbit the earth, there is a huge quantity of satellites already there and more being put into space every day. These are monitored not only from a threat perspective but also to be aware of accidents, collisions and other potential debris that could cause damage to other satellites.
I then had a particularly interesting Friday that was full on from start to finish. I started at 8 o’clock in the morning with an elected members call hosted by the Durham Chief of Police, where we listened to her update and were particularly briefed on their work on serious crime.
After this I headed to Teesside airport where Dehenna Davison, the MP for Bishop Auckland, but also the Levelling Up Minister, was visiting the airport to discuss the Government’s new Investment Zones.
I then joined a North East MPs and Peers transport update where we covered everything from roads to railways and bus services and even the Tyne Tunnel.
Then it was back to the office at Aycliffe where I had a meeting with my team to discuss inbound communications before going to Stiller Warehousing and Distribution on the nearby industrial estate to meet their management and discuss how I can help.
This is a fantastic business that I have engaged with since before I was an MP and have always been impressed by their professionalism.
It was then back to the Aycliffe office again for a number of constituency surgery meetings. The range of subjects never ceases to amaze me and my team and I will do all we can for those that have reached out.
From there I went to Ferryhill where we had another series of surgeries scheduled and I met residents from not only Ferryhill, but also some that had come down from further afield, such as Thornley.
To finish the day, I then went to Durham Cathedral where the cathedral institute were holding a talk on “Levelling up or Left Behind”.
In this we were joined by two excellent speakers one being Fiona Hill, the former intelligence analyst and National Security Adviser to three U.S. presidents, who was also a native of Bishop Auckland and author of a book “There is Nothing For You Here”, she also testified at Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial.
The second was John Tomaney who is a Professor of Urban and Regional planning at University College London and is a native of Sacriston and one of the country’s leading experts on public planning and social economic regeneration. This was a particularly interesting evening, enhanced further by the opportunity to talk with both of the speakers at a reception afterwards and I hope to encourage Fiona to engage with my All Party Parliamentary Group for Left Behind Neighbourhoods as she had some particularly interesting perspectives.
On Monday I came down to Westminster ready for Treasury Questions on Tuesday and then now it’s back to the usual business of the House of Commons. MPs now have a heavy legislative period up until the Christmas recess.
I will try to keep you apprised of what legislation is happening but if there is anything you want us to explain further or indeed you wish us to contribute to, please get in touch using the normal details: [email protected] or 01325 790580.
