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Westminster Report

Posted by Michael Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, at 11:49, Wed 4 August 2010:

Parliament is now in recess – although the Government (and therefore Ministers!) are still working. In fact, this will be one of the shortest recesses for a long time with Parliament returning for a few weeks at the beginning of September, before breaking up again for Party Conferences.

I am delighted to have been offered the role of Transport Minister in the coalition government. It is a role I relish and have a great deal of interest in. (I am possibly the first Transport Minister to hold an HGV licence!). Our transport links will play a vital role in our economic recovery.

One of my first acts as Minister was to cancel central funding for speed cameras. I fully support their use where they provide a safety benefit but too many had been installed as 'cash cows'. I am now in the process of relinquishing Department of Transport involvement in the siting of them. This means that, although County Councils will have to fund future cameras themselves, they will be able to make the decision on where they are located without any interference from central government.

As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport my brief is wide-ranging and varied, including strategic roads, road safety and shipping, however, my first loyalty will always be with the people of the Hemel Hempstead constituency. I will never forget who elected me to Parliament and at least one day a week (usually more) is reserved for my constituency work.

Visiting Parliament

Many of you will know that I am a keen promoter of opening up the Houses of Parliament to more and more people. I’ve initiated ‘Thank you’ tea parties for returning troops, promoted school choir Christmas carols in Portcullis House and now we’ve been the first to hold an investiture for new Scouts on the steps of Big Ben!

I watched the investiture of nine new members of Hemel Explorer Scouts during their recent visit to the Houses of Parliament. I welcome visits from all groups of people so if your organisation would like to visit please contact my office on 01442 450444.

Buncefield Fines

I am deeply disappointed at the leniency of the financial fines handed out to the five companies that were responsible for the Buncefield disaster – Total, Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd, British Pipelines Agency, Motherwell Control Systems and TAV Engineering. Over a billion pounds-worth of damage was done to homes and businesses in Dacorum, so how is a fine of £5.35million justice? None of this money will compensate residents and business owners who had their businesses, lives, homes and health destroyed by an industrial disaster which should never have happened and was obviously completely preventable. I have written to the Attorney General telling him I think these fines are unduly lenient.

Tiffin Cup

I was delighted to present a banner to the Sitar restaurant at the end of last month to confirm the Boxmoor restaurant as our local winner of the Tiffin Cup. As such the Sitar becomes my nomination to the national competition – the first restaurant to achieve the nomination for a second time.

The Tiffin Cup is a national competition which promotes South Asian food and the high quality of our local restaurants. MPs nominate a South Asian restaurant from their constituency from which finalists are selected to go through to the Grand Final special “cook-off” at Bellamy's Restaurant in the Houses of Parliament which is presided over by TV’s Ainsley Harriott. This high profile event attracts a large number of visitors and raises money for the Tiffin Cup’s chosen charity which this year is 'World Vision' which works globally to speak out for children affected by injustice and poverty. Sitar is a great restaurant and I very much hope they win through to the Grand Final.

Veterans

I have continued to hold veterans badge presentations with the most recent being at the end of July when 30 veterans received their badges at a presentation evening at the Royal British Legion Club. If you served in the armed forces - in wartime of peacetime - please apply for a veterans badge and wear it with pride. I am keen to promote wider recognition of the of our veterans and acknowledgement of the service they have given to our great country.

and finally...

It is holiday time and I hope you manage to take a break or, at least, have a chance to enjoy some of the many attractions locally.

Best wishes

Mike Penning