I want to start by thanking Sir Keir Starmer for his service to our nation and for the strong support he gave our constituency in the campaign to save the 700 jobs at the Hitachi Rail factory in Newton Aycliffe.
Keir visited Newton Aycliffe twice to back the campaign led by local Labour MPs, trade unions and The Northern Echo to secure a future for the plant. His support helped shine a national spotlight on the importance of protecting advanced manufacturing jobs in our area. I’m very grateful for the backing he gave our community and for his commitment to protecting the livelihoods of local families. I wish Keir and his family all the very best for the future.
I’m also really pleased to see action being taken on social media access for under 16’s. Many parents across our area have contacted me with concerns about the impact social media can have on children and young people. The national consultation showed overwhelming support for action, with nine in ten parents who responded backing the ban. This measure will help protect children from cyber bullying, harmful content and online exploitation while giving families greater confidence that young people can grow up in a safer online environment. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with me about this important issue.
Creating good jobs and opportunities for local people will always be one of my top priorities and I’ll continue to bang the drum for investment in our area. That’s why it was a pleasure to welcome the Deputy Ambassadors from Germany (bottom left), Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands to NETPark in Sedgefield. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the world-class industries and innovation that make our constituency such a great place to invest. NETPark is home to some of the most exciting science and technology companies in the country and visits like these help strengthen international relationships and open the door to future investment. I’ll continue working to build stronger partnerships with our international allies, helping to bring new opportunities to our area and secure the high-skilled jobs of the future.
I’m also delighted that local organisations are set to benefit from the North East Mayor’s opportunity fund. The Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust (bottom right) has been awarded a grant of £10,000 to help Team Solan provide targeted support for older people affected by cancer, many of whom live in Newton Aycliffe, including 400 hours of one-to-one staff support through wellbeing calls, advocacy and signposting services. I recently visited their hub in Spennymoor and saw first-hand the incredible difference they make to people facing some of the most difficult challenges in their lives. This funding will go a long way in helping them continue that vital work.
I am also pleased that Fishburn Youth and Community Centre have secured £8,887 from the same fund. The investment will help the centre expand the range of activities and events it offers to local residents. I am also looking forward to my next MP advice surgery, which is in Aycliffe Village. If you’d like to meet me at a surgery, to discuss issues that are important to you, please get in touch: alan.strickland.mp@parliament.uk