HearFromYourMP

Previous message | Messages for this constituency | Next message

Newsletter November 2010

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 15:33, Mon 1 November 2010:

Dear Subscriber,

The month just gone has been dominated by the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). I lobbied the Chancellor personally on several areas. The process was good in that I felt the views I expressed on behalf of constituents were listened to and, when colleagues joined me, as they did over Equitable Life, we were able to get a result; not perfect by any means but certainly an improvement.

The majority of constituents who I have spoken to or who have contacted me have supported the Chancellor’s overall approach. The only area of criticism which was difficult to respond to concerned child benefit. I support the withdrawal of benefits from people on higher incomes, in the current climate. However I have always believed that the government should do all it can to support families where one parent stays at home to raise children. I am hopeful that when it is possible to apply tax and benefits policy on a household basis, which it will be in two or three years time, we will be able to apply this policy more evenly.

I have had to disappoint those few constituents who have asked me to oppose the CSR. I explained that during the election I spoke to thousands of people in Stourbridge. During just about every conversation I said that the number one thing I was standing for was to knock some sense back in to the public finances. I continued to say that we could not possibly carry on spending well in excess of tax revenues; that it was crazy to be borrowing £1.00 for every £4.00 we were spending and that public expenditure needed to be reduced. Just about everyone agreed. Even Labour voters agreed. So I am entirely comfortable that we have a mandate for doing just what we are doing and I congratulate the Chancellor and his team for making the very difficult choices and decisions that have had to be made.

-Activity in Parliament-

My select committee, Business Innovation & Skills (BIS), has had a busy month:

* Taking evidence about the formation of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) from the Ministers responsible in two separate sessions.

* Conducting a special hearing with Vince Cable on the decision to withdraw a loan facility from Sheffield Forgemasters. We heard from Labour members of the amazingly rosy prospects for this firm, who have a near monopoly with their technology. I pointed out that if this was the case surely they could raise equity or loan capital on the markets without the need to burden the taxpayer.

* A session on Arms Export Controls.

Vince Cable introduced the White Paper on Business Growth and I spoke up for the Black Country LEP proposal in the debate that followed.

The other highlight of my month was joining a visit to Japan by the UK – Japan 21st Century Group. I learned a great deal about the status of trade between Japan and the UK and the prospects for reducing barriers (slow).

I questioned ministers in Parliament as follows:

* Michael Gove on school league tables and the bias against the study of academic subjects

* Vince Cable on private sector growth

* The Prime Minister on the health budget

* The Minister for Work and Pensions about winter fuel payments

* Ken Clarke on relations between our judicial system and that of Greece

I spoke in the debate on human trafficking to mark Anti-Slavery day.

I sponsored a Flu vaccination day in Parliament. Last year only half the number of people in high risk groups across our borough of Dudley had a flu jab. I am campaigning for a substantial increase in that number this year.

The All Party Group on Older People and Housing, of which I am Vice Chair, held an excellent session with the Commission reviewing the financing of long term care.

I held meetings with the ‘Fair Pint Campaign’ to mark National Pub Week and also in advance of an enquiry my BIS committee will undertake in to the beer tie early next year.

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month and I attended two events to mark the month, one in the Commons and one in Stourbridge.

I met with Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, amongst other things we discussed the tragic bullying of people with learning disabilities.

Pupils from Oldswinford Primary School visited Parliament and I took part in a Question and Answer session which was very enjoyable.

I spoke at a fundraising lunch for St Catharine’s Hospice.

I celebrated Diwali with Hindus from all over the country, my local colleague Paul Uppal MP spoke very well and it was a very busy and enjoyable event.

-Activity in Stourbridge-

October began with the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. It is a very good location for us as soon as it closed I was back in Stourbridge. Highlights of my month here were:

* Speaking at the launch of the new Stourbridge Business Breakfast Network at the Copthorne Hotel.

* Meeting local representatives of Oxfam.

* Taking part in a Radio WM interview on the CSR.

* Attending a meeting of the longsuffering Caparo Residents Action Group.

* Celebrating Older People’s Day at Age Concern with sixth formers from Heybridge School.

* Judging my annual Christmas Card design competition between members of the Stourbridge Age Concern Art class.

* Kicking National Pub Week off with a post canvas lunch at the Crabmill Pub in Oldswinford.

* Attending a fundraising coffee morning at the Coach House training centre for young adults with learning disabilities.

* Joining the annual Stourbridge Navigation Trust open weekend on the canal, every year the sun shines on this wonderful event and this year was no exception.

* Taking part in the ‘Pink Party’ organised by the Apni Zaroorat Community network in Lye to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

* Conducting advice surgeries in Stourbridge Town Centre and in Wollescote.

* Several families have contacted me about the closure of Amblecote House Residential home, so I visited the home and talked to residents and staff about their future.

-As always – it wasn’t all work-

One way of keeping up with friends is having them over to supper at the Commons during the week. We are always there until 10.30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays so I have taken to catching up with friends on one of these evenings most weeks.

My nephew Rupert, his wife Laura and their young family live just off the M40 which is lucky. Every month at least I leave London on a Thursday afternoon and break my journey to Stourbridge with a visit to them which is a diversion I really treasure.

Halloween was fun. Jay carved amazing pumpkins with a stencil kit she bought in the States and we had so many cute children knock the door while I was writing this e wire.

My Japanese trip was a great privilege. Apart from the jetlag which resulted in hardly any sleep for a week, it was a great learning experience. It was also fun to get to know colleagues from other parties – notably Yasmin Quereshi and Lorely Burt together with Lords Woolmer (Ken) and Cunningham (Jack).

Finally, a truly memorable evening with Lord Lawson. I am SO glad I made time for this. The man Mrs Thatcher referred to as ‘My brilliant Chancellor’ has lost none of his brilliance let me tell you. Now 79 years old he gave a riveting account of his time as Financial Secretary, Energy Secretary and Chancellor in the Thatcher governments of the Eighties. And he was equally fascinating on the current economic challenges facing the world today. Yes, that was my ‘moment of the month’, without doubt.

Best wishes

Margot