Last week started as normal with the train trip to London on Monday morning ready for my first meeting at 1.30pm and preparing for the business of the House that starts at 2.30pm on a Monday. It was the final day of debates on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and I took my turn on the second bench supporting the Treasury team.
Following the recent reshuffle there is a new Minister picking up the issues of dentistry and I went to a meeting she called of interested MPs to help her get up to speed with peoples’ priorities and any new thoughts on improvements that could be delivered quickly. The day finished with a briefing dinner with Air Marshal Harv Smyth CB OBE DFC. This dinner gave me the opportunity to catch up with people I know in the RAF to request support at the funeral of Bill Cooksey and I hope we will see a representative from the RAF there. I have requested a Spitfire fly past but that is very unlikely as they are all in maintenance at the moment. There is an outside chance one may come available, so we can hope.
Tuesday was the usual catch up with the Treasury Ministers, but this was a little more relaxed as it’s the first time the new team have had to meet and talk without being focused on the Autumn statement work. I called at a reception hosted by ‘I’m George’s Mate’ – a charity that raises awareness of the mental health challenges faced by young adults and supports suicide prevention. It’s a really good organisation and you can find out more by searching online for – I’m George’s Mate – https://imgeorgesmate.weebly.com
I provided Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) support for delegated legislation on the Financial Services and Markets Act and later it was the private meeting of the Transport Select Committee where we plan our next session. Wednesday, I had the public session where we were looking at Strategic Transport and I was able to use the Leamside Line as an example of how projects need broader consideration than the pure economic base calculations. I also took the time to catch up with Transport for the North about their plans and priorities, I am trying to encourage more application into our area of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) monies Government has delivered.
I called at a reception for Quantum Technologies and gave a shout out to a number of potential investors about NETPark. Once we had concluded the business in Parliament on Wednesday, to deliver the cuts in National Insurance rates the Chancellor announced, I called at a reception for Japanese investors before getting the train north. I also had one of my usual regular catch ups with Hitachi leadership and the Department of Transport (DfT).
On Friday it was a delight to start a Constituency Day by formally opening the new Banking Hub. This is a great asset to the town centre and one of the first in the country. I will be looking for more of these throughout the constituency. One important point to note about them is that you can use them to pay in or withdraw cash for any bank, on any day, it’s only if you want a private meeting with your bank that you need to go on the specific day they are allocated. Later, I went to the Sixth Form Centre at Durham to present, to about 120 students, and take questions. After the presentation it was off to South Shields to see the new trains being introduced to the Metro and understand how they could work on a future Leamside Line. The day finished by calling in to see the new Committee at the Scout Centre. We had visitors from a ‘First Friday of the Month’ group with their Christmas jumpers, Brian Riley, with his Grinch jumper was chosen as the best but also in the group were Steve and Neil who I had barely seen since we are at school together at The Avenue back in the 1970s.
Saturday started with me having the privilege of laying a foundation stone at the new Scout Centre in Middleton St George which has been funded by close to £400k from the Government Youth Investment Fund. Then it was a call in at the Newton Aycliffe Bus Preservation Society for their open day before spending the afternoon in Sedgefield at their Snow Day. This included Santa in the Parish Hall, Christmas Trees in the Church and a Craft Fair in Ceddesfeld Hall. Then we finished with my first carols of the year and then the Christmas lights were switched on.
Week commencing Monday 4th December, I will be largely in the constituency so, I hope to have seen a number of you around. As always, if you want to catch up, its paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk or call Newton Aycliffe 01325 790580.