Most fishermen support leaving the EU. They know that EU Common Fisheries Policy has not worked for British fishermen. Fishermen want a viable future putting nutritious food on our tables.

This was the message George Eustice MP (Fisheries Minister) and I heard when we met with the fishing industry on Monday. Some in the industry are nervous that politicians will trade access to UK waters as part of a new trade deal with the EU. With Michael Gove (DEFRA Secretary) and George Eustice, I am confident that we will strike the deal our fishing fleet require. It’s important to remember that when we leave the EU international law applies. This gives the UK control over access to the 200 nautical mile limit and the median line (from the shores of neighbour-states).

Some say that managing access will be difficult to navigate and difficult to enforce. I say we follow the example of other independent coastal states that are used to this and negotiate with other states routinely. We are entering an exciting but crucial time for the British Fishing Industry yet attracting fresh blood into the sector is proving difficult. Prospective crew members need to know that fishing is a worthwhile job and provides a living. We also need to reach local consumers. Much of the fish landed in West Cornwall finds its way to foreign markets.

Finally, fishermen are still discarding quantities of valuable fish. Good stock management is important – livelihoods depend on it. However, tons of dead fish thrown back to sea does nothing to preserve stocks. In local waters discard is partly due to our mixed-fishery – as Forest Gump once said ‘you never know what you’re going to get.’ – yet EU regulation tells fishermen what they get to land.

In 2018 we will have sight of a British Fisheries Bill. Ministers and the sector will seek to address these challenges and set a direction for British fishing that could transform our fishing communities. I invited George Eustice back to listen to our local fishermen because I want to ensure UK fishing policy understands and reflects the particular interests and diversities of our local fleet.

As we leave the EU the UK will be free to design a new foreign policy. Whilst it is true that the present Treaties allow an EU country to express a different view about a third country from the common EU line, it is becoming increasingly centralised with more resources being put into the EU diplomatic service and more loyalty expected to the EU High Representative’s view. In many areas, ranging from trade to climate change the UK and other member states have to accept the common line and allow the EU to lead. The UK is bound in to a trade policy by Treaty, and has to watch as the EU represents us at the WTO even though we have to pay a membership subscription to the WTO. There are many other bodies making standards and regulating business worldwide where the EU has taken over form the UK. When it comes to military intervention the UK and the others still have the power to decide for themselves whether to commit to common action or not.

The UK needs a new foreign policy not just to incorporate the areas the EU currently does for us, and the new freedoms we will have to shape a policy in our own national interest. We also need it to reflect on the problems caused by coalition and NATO actions in the Middle East and elsewhere in recent years. Many UK voters are critical of the UK’s policies this century, disliking the military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan. Libya and Syria, and disliking the inability of the UK to argue its own case in matters like trade and energy to look after its own economic interests. Take back control was mainly articulated about migration, taxes and domestic laws, but it was also relevant to the conduct of foreign policy.

I wish to explore how we should use our new freedoms, and what we should learn from the military interventions of recent years, in a series of blog posts over the weeks ahead. Today I wish to start with the issue of what should be the main purpose of UK foreign and defence policy? I would propose that the main aims are

1. Creating friendly and positive relationships with our neighbours and partners, including promoting more free trade, more exchanges of ideas, investments, intelligence, cultural activities and the rest.
2. Having sufficient power to defend and protect the UK islands and our dependent territories, and sending clear messages of our resolve to protect ourselves should need arise.
3. Working with allies and partners to promote peace and prosperity worldwide, seeking conflict resolution and better economic development in troubled developing countries. Acting where we can make a difference for the better.
4. Recognising the limits to our abilities to reform or amend governments and their policies far from home. We are not to blame for all the ills of the world and cannot solve all the worlds problems.
5. Seeking mutual understanding with the major powers of the world, whilst being able in conjunction with our NATO allies to protect ourselves if diplomacy fails.

I chose to spend a day of recess shadowing a carer in the Chippenham constituency as part of the Albicare team based in Bradford on Avon. The purpose was to fully understand the challenges in the industry and gain an ‘on the ground’ insight into the life of a carer and those being cared for. I have visited a number of local care agencies and decided in the end to do the shadowing in the south of the constituency.

I believe we need to raise the status of carers in society – they are care professional who play an invaluable role in our society. We must remember and reward those who care for the most vulnerable and in need. We need to support them more and shout about the work they do, to raise the status of the profession. We need to think about a range of care models and come together cross party to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society always get the quality of care that they deserve. Models that integrate local communities.

The care sector has a number of issues including pay, recruitment, retention and pressures on carers. It was eye opening to see just how time demanding and emotionally stressful the job is. Also heart-breaking to see how in need some people are – all some people have is their carer. That is why it is so important that we recognise their value and also look to all the community to help target isolation and loneliness.

I do believe the goal is to enable everyone to live independently as long as possible which is why I am an ambassador for the Independent Living Centre based in Semington. The visit however emphasised to me that care is not enough – we must do more to enable people to live at home but also reach out to them together as communities. Retirement complexes and assisted living properties can offer some of the answers but these are currently often unaffordable and some people do want to stay in their current home – so we need to seriously address the issue.

There will always be a need for the very debilitated to be in a care home. That is why we must not forget the carers working in the care homes or the challenges there. I regularly visit local homes and will now arrange a shadowing in one soon.

I have been busy during the recess you can keep up to date on michelledonelan.com and like fb.com/michelledonelanchippenham. I hold regular surgeries so if you have a problem or concern please call 01249 704465 or email michelle.donelan.mp@parliament.uk

The post Those who care for most vulnerable need reward appeared first on Michelle Donelan MP.

Now in recess from Westminster there is still much to do and much going on. The four Black Country Authorities including, Walsall Council, have recently commenced their Black Country Core Strategy Consultation. It is a document essentially about planning for our future, including Housing, Employment, Environment and Transport.
Importantly for us, the consultation looks at housing needs up to 2036, and seeks to identify future growth areas within the Aldridge-Brownhills constituency. I have always taken the view that we need a ‘Brownfield first’ approach to housing and development, allowing us to protect our precious Green Belt. It is absolutely vital that the views of residents from right across the constituency are heard. If you want to take part in the consultation it runs up to 8 September and details can be found at: www.blackcountrycorestrategy.dudley.gov.uk
Groups of hard-working and dedicated volunteers often work quietly behind the scenes, supporting our local communities, something which those of you who regularly follow my column will know I often refer to. Their impact is huge, and even the smallest contributions can collectively make as big difference. The local Aldridge Volunteer Gardeners, together with all those who have collectively been working as part of the In Bloom team, are an excellent example. Their hard work and effort is to be admired and commended and I wish them all the best in this years competition. Whatever the outcome, and we will have to wait until later in the year to hear, I am sure we can all agree that the Village looks splendid once again this year, and it shows community spirit at its finest.
It is therefore frustrating that across our area we continue to suffer the incursions of Travellers who do not share this respect for neighbours and the local environment, leaving behind a trail of rubbish and mess for others to clean up. This is a matter I have raised both locally and at Westminster and will continue to do so as quite clearly more needs to be done to tackle this issue.
Locally the decision by Walsall Council to buy the Sadler Centre in Walsall town centre for the staggering sum of £13.8 million when earlier this summer the Council closed the doors of libraries in Pelsall, Rushall and Walsall Wood and have failed to provide any strategy or vision for Ravenscourt in Brownhills, demonstrates a breath-taking lack of reality of the needs of residents in our area. It is now incumbent on Walsall Council to develop strategies that will help all of our high streets and shopping centres.

This was first published by the Sutton Observer on 17th August.

I recently had the great pleasure of joining Sarah Mepham, senior lecturer in Performance at Southampton Solent University for the Mayflower Theatre Summer Dance Project. The Mayflower Theatre have brought together 30 young people to create a dance show inspired by Guys and Dolls and this is being showcased at the Mayflower this summer. They [...]

The post Mayflower Theatre Summer Dance Project appeared first on Royston Smith - At the heart of Southampton.

Despite the Parliamentary recess, Alec and the Conservative Government are working hard this summer to deliver for residents in Elmet & Rothwell.

• Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis has announced plans to replace landing cards for Non-European travellers, scrapping the outdated paper-based system, which costs the public around £3.6 million each year. This is part of a modernisation of border technology to ensure Border Force staff stop dealing with outdated paperwork and can continue to focus on security and protecting the public.
• Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has announced an independent review into the cost of energy, led by Professor Dieter Helm CBE, which will recommend ways to keep energy prices as low as possible, as pledged in the Conservative manifesto.
• Digital Minister Matthew Hancock is working on a new Data Protection Bill to update and strengthen data protection laws, making it easier for people to have social media posts from their childhood removed.
• Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Health, has begun the biggest ever expansion to the NHS medical workforce in England, with plans to train an extra 1,500 doctors a year by 2020 and an additional 10,000 additional training places for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.
• And Environment Secretary Michael Gove has proposed that CCTV will be made mandatory in all slaughterhouses, to further strengthen animal welfare standards in England. 

The post Government activity this summer appeared first on Alec Shelbrooke MP.

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has today vowed to continue his campaign to save the community beds and Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) in Holderness, after the City Health Care Partnership announced that new admissions to the community beds at Withernsea Community Hospital will stop with immediate effect.

The twelve community beds, which cater for a range of patients including those in palliative and rehabilitative care, will no longer accept new patients after this latest blow to local residents.

The City Health Care Partnership have put the decision down to staff shortages and its commitment to maintain its basic duty of care to patients on a safe and sustainable basis. The decision has been backed by NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which in March 2017 announced its separate decision to close the MIUs in Withernsea and Hornsea.

Graham Stuart has been a vocal opponent of the planned closures, leading a number of public demonstrations and petitions in which local opposition to the CCG’s decision was widely displayed. Indeed, a survey conducted by the CCG itself found that 90% of those asked in Holderness were opposed to travelling further to access minor injury care facilities.

Along with East Yorkshire MP Sir Greg Knight, Graham has continued to fight the CCG’s decision. Most recently, he met with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is yet to decide whether he will refer the CCG’s decision to the Independent Configuration Panel.

Following today’s announcement about the Withernsea Community Hospital beds, Graham said: “I’m extremely disappointed but not surprised at this news. The clinicians who decide how our local NHS is run said that they wanted to close the beds in Withernsea and staff have understandably taken the hint and moved elsewhere.

“Like the people of Holderness I want this unit to be maintained. That’s why so many of us have campaigned so hard for so long against the Urgent Care Strategy. It’s right that decisions in the NHS should be made locally by a clinically led body. I don’t dispute that. But it’s also right that they should be scrutinised independently when local people do not agree.

“That’s why Sir Greg Knight and I called for the Strategy to be referred to the Secretary of State and the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. Things look pretty bleak today, but if the Secretary chooses to refer the matter to the Panel, and if the Panel finds against the CCG and orders them back to the drawing board, then we will have the chance to argue for something which works as well in Holderness as it does in Goole.

“I’m assured the small number of patients still in Withernsea Hospital will be well looked after and will not be moved out until it is right for them. After the last one of them is discharged then we will need to wait to see whether the Independent Reconfiguration Panel will be given a chance to review the decision.”

The Clutton Flower Show is always one of the highlights of the summer for me. Once again I was honoured to be invited to help open it along with the actor Anthony Head who was exceptionally gracious. Clutton is a small village but puts on a large event. It has several marquees and a large number of entries for its flower, vegetable and other categories including this year a local bake off. The standard is amazingly high and I am privileged to be shown around privately each year by Aubrey Wilcox who is so knowledgeable and wins many, if not most, of the prizes.

I also take pride in my family’s longstanding connection with the Show. This year I was given a press cutting from 1935 when my grandfather, Fletcher Rees-Mogg, presided at the opening by Lady Warwick. My late father described as “little Billy Rees-Mogg” presented her with a bouquet of sweet peas and gypsophilia, an event he remembered for the rest of his life. Many of those who go to the Show have a similarly long standing connection.

Clutton has also moved with the times and in addition to the main event has an array of activities for children. Bouncy Castles and ice cream, tractors and vintage cars, a dog show and a parade of the Mendip Farmers hounds all made it a very special afternoon with the band playing well known tunes in the background. This does not all happen by magic nor does its long history mean there is any less work to do. Those who enjoy it owe many thanks to the Committee and its tireless Secretary Pat Williams who had another triumphant year.

The process of awarding the rail franchise for the South East of England is well underway, and the new licence will be operational from the end of next year. I recently met with David Statham the Managing Director of the current operator, Southeastern trains to discuss service improvements we would like to see as part of the new franchise. Along with other Kent MPs, I was also signatory to a joint letter sent earlier in the year, to the Department for Transport, which set out our priorities for the future of local rail services.

Folkestone and east Kent has benefited greatly from the launch of the High Speed rail service in 2010. One of the consequences of this success has been a considerable increase in the numbers of passengers using the service, particularly at peak times. We need more services and longer trains to meet the current and future demand. This should include more twelve car trains running between St Pancras and Folkestone Central. The current high speed service is running at near capacity, and it requires a substantial investment in new sets of trains. I have also asked Southeastern though to look at what they can do to improve the capacity on the current service now. We also need additional rail capacity for Kent on the Charing Cross and Cannon Street services as well.

Many rail passengers travel every week for work into London, but not necessarily everyday. We should be looking at how we can use the latest smart ticketing technology so that frequent travellers can take advantage of the season ticket discount, but only pay for the number of days they use it, rather than for the whole year. This would help many local businesses who travel to London meet with clients, and commuters who have the opportunity to work from home on certain days of the week. I would also like to see investment to make a substantial upgrade of Westenhanger station as part of preparing for the development of the Otterpool Garden town. This should include making it possible for the high speed trains to run on the Channel Tunnel rail link line as far as Westenhanger, before they join the rest of the network.

The rail franchise for the south east is of course a competitive process, and there are three other companies also bidding to take over the service. These other companies have been in touch with me and I’m looking forward to meeting with them to discuss their plans for our local services should their bids be successful.

Finally, I would like to send my best wishes for all students who will receive the results of their A level results on Thursday this week.  I hope that they attain the grades they have been working for, and that those who are waiting on their results before taking up offers of university places, are successful.

The post Rail Franchise appeared first on Damian Collins.

Local MP Grant Shapps has made a formal submission to Phase 2 of Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR) consultation on the 2018 timetable changes.

In a letter to Charles Horton, Chief Executive of GTR, Grant outlined the concerns expressed to him by constituents and local rail user groups who in many cases rely on the service to get to work. The full text of the letter can be found below.

Some of the major criticisms raised by constituents surrounded the proposed removal of direct services to Peterborough, thus reducing connectivity to the North, increased journey times to and from London, and reduced off-peak services on the Great Northern Metro timetable.

Grant said: “I have been contacted by many of my constituents who have severe concerns at the proposed changes to the Great Northern service. Thousands of people, including myself, commute from stations such as Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield every day and so these changes will have a major impact on their work and family lives. I have made clear to Govia that I am unhappy with many of the proposals, and I expect to see the concerns of Welwyn Hatfield residents addressed in the finalised timetable.”

Dear Charles 

I am writing to you as the Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield to make my submission to the GTR 2018 Timetable Consultation Phase 2. As you will know, the GTR franchise serves my constituents at a number of stations which will be affected by the proposed changes.

Following the publication of the Phase 2 consultation document, I invited my constituents to contact me with their concerns about the proposals, and I have enclosed a selection of correspondence that I have received on this issue. Many of my constituents use Great Northern to commute into central London on a daily basis, including myself, and I believe it is only right that their views are considered on the future of rail services in Welwyn Hatfield.

One of the major concerns expressed to me has been the proposed reduction in services from Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield stations during the morning peak. In particular, the 7.42am service is being removed, leaving just two London-bound trains stopping at these stations between 7.30am and 8.00am. With overcrowding already extremely high, it makes little sense to me to propose a reduced service.

Another concern involves the proposal to have two northbound services depart from Kings Cross in the mid-evening peak services, as opposed to St Pancras. This will clearly create unnecessary confusion for my constituents 

I note that GTR propose to end direct services to Peterborough from stations in my constituency, and will instead have all trains on the Great Northern mainline departing and arriving at Cambridge. Services to Peterborough currently provide my constituents with greater connectivity to destinations in the North, and to lose this direct service would, in my view, be a backwards step at a time when central Government rail policy seeks to enhance connectivity, not diminish it. The decision to make all of the services in my constituency run on the Cambridge line, a double track line, means that any blockages on this line would cause an immediate knock-on effect for all subsequent services. I am not aware of any contingency plans made by GTR on this issue, but this proposal has the potential to cause severe problems for passengers.

The increased journey times to and from central London have also been raised with me by a number of my constituents. I notice that on some morning peak services it is as much as 6 minutes longer commuting into London. A particular example highlighted to me is a journey from Finsbury Park to Hatfield taking 30 minutes from 2018, when it is currently only 14 minutes. This doubling of journey times will have a significant impact on commuters, many of whom will be forced to make alternative arrangements for childcare and further travel. 

I also note that the Phase 2 consultation still plans to have Welham Green and Brookmans Park stations served by 2 trains per hour off-peak, a reduction from the 3 trains per hour currently, whereas other stations on the Great Northern Metro service will be served by 4 trains per hour. Once again, I fail to see any logical reason why two stations in my constituency should not be served by all Great Northern Metro services during the day. This is an unfairness which I believe is unjustified and should be addressed.

Another issue brought to my attention is the extra parking spaces needed at Welwyn North station, particularly as the 2018 proposals for this station will potentially attract more passengers. I would be grateful if you could update me on what GTR’s plans currently are to increase the parking facilities at Welwyn North.

Finally, on a matter which is not included in the consultation, as you will be aware last year I invited local residents in the Digswell area to have their say about changing the name of Welwyn North Station to Digswell. A majority of residents who took part were in principle supportive of a name change. I would therefore like to know what plans there are to facilitate this name change which would better reflect the views of the community.

I would be very happy to meet with you to discuss my concerns with your proposals in more detail, but I hope that the points I have raised along with others will be seriously considered and taken into account when the final timetable is published.

Kind regards

Grant Shapps MP

Weston-super-Mare is certainly still a popular place to retire but it’s also rapidly expanding.

This is causing people’s traditional view of the seaside town to change.

ITV News brought together a group of young people, a representative from North Somerset Council and someone who has lived in Weston for nearly 50 years to discuss its future.

The aim was to find out what young people who live in Weston think of their town and whether they’ll be sticking around to watch it grow?

When I was younger I wasn’t overly fond of the town but as it’s started embracing a more Bristol-esque kind of atmosphere, I like where it’s heading and I think that’s a good place. I think it should continue heading where it’s going.

– JOE TURTON, WESTON RESIDENT

Education-wise we’re moving forward. However, leisure activities and social activities are still moving a bit slower behind. We’re starting to get a new cinema, new shopping complexes for jobs but it’s moving at a rate that people my age will be moving away to go and do those sort of things.

– STEPHEN SHAW, WESTON RESIDENT

I would prefer to move somewhere else eventually because I see this place as more of somewhere to grow up in because it has very family-friendly places and somewhere to return to when you’re elderly and want to have a nice peaceful place to go to.

– GEORGIE BOULTON, WESTON RESIDENT

Sue Maguire has seen huge changes in Weston since the 1960s and she’s keen for young people locally to be given great opportunities.

Young people are our future. In years to come they’re going to be the people who are sitting where we are today so they’re training the next generation, if you like. So yes, it’s important. Everybody’s got their role to play and that’s how life evolves.

– SUE MAGUIRE, WESTON RESIDENT FOR 50 YEARS

Weston-super-Mare’s MP John Penrose is optimistic that going forward the growing town will be able to hold onto its younger generation.

If you look back 10 or 15 years not that many people stayed on into further education into higher education. We were well below the national average.

Nowadays we are above it and more and more people are staying on to do that kind of thing. That just shows the level of skills that we’re developing in the local population, that’s attracting more employers with interesting and exciting new jobs.

– JOHN PENROSE MP

Although some young people may see their future outside Weston there is hope yet that going forward the age gap can become smaller as the town becomes bigger.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today welcomed news that Malvern rail users heading for Birmingham will get extra services under a new franchise deal. read more »