Monday 3rd July started with a community safety briefing from the Darlington Borough Council Neighbourhood team for Peter Gibson MP and me, as we share the Darlington Borough Council area in our Parliamentary constituencies. Later I acted as Parliamentary Private Secretary – assistant – to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury in a Westminster Hall debate on mileage rates.
Tuesday 4th July, I had the privilege of inviting Joanne Jones to an event in No 10, hosted by the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay. This was one of the events being held to celebrate 75 years of our NHS. Joanne, as a Practice Nurse, is representative of the many people working in the NHS in my constituency, it was a great event and I was only disappointed I could not have invited many more. Joanne brought her husband Nev down with her and whilst he could not go in to No 10 it was my pleasure to take them both around Westminster. If anyone would like to visit Westminster, then please get in touch and we can help to arrange a visit.
Wednesday 5th July, I had a DL (Delegated Legislation) Committee on the Consumer Rights Act before later going to PMQs. Last week – and indeed this week – it is actually ‘Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions’. These take place when the PM is otherwise engaged and convention then dictates that it is the deputy leaders of the other parties that also engage. I had not drawn a question but by ‘bobbing’ (standing up to indicate to Mr Speaker that I’ve something to say regarding the topic being discussed) I was called and was able to ask the Deputy PM to congratulate Dr Fiona Hill on her appointment as the new Chancellor of Durham University and encourage the Secretary of State for Levelling Up to support her in her efforts on social mobility.
Later in the day, I also dropped in on an event celebrating the importance of libraries. Several years ago, before I was an MP, my first involvement in local politics was to support the saving of Darlington’s Crown Street Library and this event was particularly relevant to me. I also had a meeting with BDUK (Building Digital UK) about rural broadband and expressed, once again, my intense frustration at the lack of progress in parts of my constituency.
Thursday 6th July saw me join the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme again at RAF Syerston, near Nottingham, where we were educated on the Air Cadets and had the opportunity for a flight in a glider which is how many Air Cadets first experience flight.
Friday 7th July, I was back in the Constituency where I started with a visit to the PCP (Pioneering Care Partnership) to help celebrate Chief Executive Carol Gaskarth’s 20 years of service. It was good to catch up with so many people from Newton Aycliffe during the event. After this I headed onto the Business Park to see the progress being made in the creation of Forest Park Special School. This was very definitely a ‘WOW’ visit as the speed they are progressing with this is commendable and the quality of the place looks fabulous. They are looking for businesses to help sponsor some of their classrooms so, if you are interested, please get in touch. Later that evening I went to Fishburn to listen to their Brass Band who had just won the Drovers March and Hymn Tune contest and were preparing themselves for heading to Durham for the Big Meeting on Saturday 8th July.
Week commencing 10th July will start with me in a DL on Money Laundering before having the opportunity to attend the Chancellor’s Mansion House Speech. This is one of the Chancellor’s big speeches for the year and I am looking forward to this immensely. Later in the week will be the usual Transport Select Committee meetings and we will hold the AGM of the APPG for Left Behind Neighbourhoods, which I chair. I have drawn a question in Orals to the Secretary of State for Transport where I intend to ask about the potential for progress on Ferryhill Station and the Leamside Line. I will tell you more about this next week. If you want to catch up, then please call the office on Aycliffe 01325 790580 or email us on Paul.Howell.MP@Parliament.UK