Last Tuesday I was able to allocate some time to assist Andrew Griffith MP, who is the FST (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) and one of the three ministers I lead PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) duties for. It was interesting to see his team and understand more of his world inside the Treasury.
I also joined a meeting organised by Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington, on Tees Valley Hospices. This was cross party and included members from right across the Tees Valley. We were all able to listen to CEOs from hospices and understand the specific pressures they face and how we can help. I then went to the Transport Select Committee (TSC) preparation for Wednesday’s meeting and spent some time in the Chamber. Wednesday was the TSC Public meeting where we interviewed Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport (DfT) and her team on Strategic Road Investments and we have further follow up sessions scheduled. I also supported the EST (Economic Secretary to the Treasury), Victoria Atkins, at a Tearoom Surgery. This is where colleagues get one to one time with a Minister to raise specific issues. Wednesday evening was the 1922 Centenary Dinner. The 1922 committee is made up of the back bench conservative MPs and have been holding Conservative Ministers to account for 100 years now.
Thursday was a particularly interesting day. As I have told you before I am on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) and our visit this week was to RAF Wattisham which is the primary home of the Apache helicopters. We got up close to these incredible pieces of equipment and the amazing teams that fly and maintain them. We also had the privilege of a trip back to London in a Chinook helicopter. Friday was some time in the Aycliffe Office before visiting the recently created Maple House at the Aycliffe Secure Centre; joining the North East MPs Transport update from the North East Transport Committee; Meeting the Durham County Council leaders and MPs for our regular catch up; visiting the East Durham Business centre at Station Town before meeting students at Durham University in the evening.
On Sunday I had the pleasure of joining Sedgefield Churches together for a Taizé-style ecumenical service. Taizé is a unique style of worship with the singing of repeated prayer chants. Ecumenism promotes Christian unity among Churches and is the key to Taizé’s appeal. Monday, of course, is back to Westminster where we will start with Questions to the Home Secretary before moving to the Business of the day, I also met some apprentices from Cummins at the National Apprentices Showcase Event and went to an Armed Forces briefing. Tuesday had Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the Seafarers Wages Bill, this is the Legislation to prevent the ‘P&O’ approach of paying below minimum wage on ships serving the UK.
We are planning our next round of surgeries and constituency visits, so, if you want to catch up, please get in touch at paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk or call 01325 790580.