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Newsletter November 2011

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 18:39, Tue 1 November 2011:

Dear Subscriber,

The crisis in the Eurozone continues to dominate the political scene. I take advantage of the many opportunities in Parliament to keep informed about the constantly changing situation. It is a rollercoaster. Italy are now in trouble, the most indebted nation in Europe is now paying well over 6% interest on servicing their latest issue of government bonds. A salutory reminder to us that if it were not for our deficit reduction strategy we would by now be at the mercy of the markets.

It is this turbulence that was the main reason for my deciding to support the government in the vote last week on whether to hold a referendum on whether to stay in, leave or renegotiate our terms of engagement with the European Union (EU). Judging by my postbag and inbox I would say that while it is obvious a lot of people are not content with our current relationship with Europe, the prospect of the public voting to leave the EU seems very slim indeed. And I don’t think the government require a referendum to tell them that people want to renegotiate aspects of our membership.

My starters for ten would be to negotiate greater control for member states over employment law, fisheries policy, judgements made by the European Court of Justice, immigration controls and many burdensome regulations that affect business.

I have written more extensively about this issue on my Huffpost UK blog, see

'Juggling the Long and Short Term in Britain's Relationship With the European Union' http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/margot-james/juggling-the-long-and-sho_b_957464.html

'Why I Will Vote to Renegotiate links with Europe but against an immediate referendum' http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/margot-james/why-i-will-vote-to-renego_b_1028172.html

_Contributing to debates in Parliament and asking questions of Ministers_

Questions to Ministers

* Universities: I asked the Minister for Universities, David Willetts, to meet with me to discuss links between universities and industry in the West Midlands. http://www.margotjames.com/27102011_industry_universities

* Economy: I asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer about his response to the crisis in the Eurozone. http://www.margotjames.com/10102011_chancellors_statement_eurozone

* Afghanistan: I asked ministers to ensure that women are well represented during the upcoming Bonn Conference on Afghanistan http://www.margotjames.com/18102011_afghanistan

* Defence: I asked ministers to support the sale of the new UK-built Eurofighter to Japan http://www.margotjames.com/10102011_eurofighter_typhoon_exports

Speaking in debates

* Older People: I won a debate in backbench business time on the care of older people in the NHS. http://www.margotjames.com/27102011_nhs_care_of_older_people

* Law and Order: I participated in a debate on the recent riots. http://www.margotjames.com/13102011_riots_cctv

* Health: I spoke about the need for innovation in the NHS. http://www.margotjames.com/12102011_nhs_innovation

* Pensions: I called for the same principles to be applied to reform of MPs’ pensions as those being applied to other public sector pensions. http://www.margotjames.com/17102011_mps_pensions

* Dangerous Dogs: I called for dog owners to take more responsibility for their dog’s behaviour and less emphasis on dog breeds in law. http://www.margotjames.com/19102011_dangerous_dogs

I wrote to the following ministers;

* David Gauke, HM Treasury minister, to raise concerns about HMRC

* The Minister for Prisons, Crispin Blunt, regarding funding for translators in the Prison Service

* Henry Bellingham, Foreign Office minister, to pass on a constituent’s concerns regarding human rights in Eritrea

* David Willetts, Minister for Universities, regarding student finance

* Chris Grayling, Minister for Employment, to ask about contracting arrangements for the Work Programme

* Eric Pickles, Communities and Local Government Secretary, on behalf of Dudley Council.

* Damian Green, Minister for Immigration, to raise my concerns about the Government’s reforms of the domestic worker visa system.

* George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding the Council Tax freeze.

_Briefings and All Party Groups_

I had the pleasure of hosting a number of events in Parliament: * Visits from Oldswinford Primary School and King Edward’s College. * A ‘flu’ vaccination day organised by a group of pharmaceutical companies at which nearly 80 members of both houses of Parliament were vaccinated. http://www.margotjames.com/27102011_flu_vaccination

* A reception sponsored by B&Q who impressed the many MPs present with their commitment to apprenticeships and work for their local communities.

I attended a number of events organised by All Party Groups with which I am affiliated:

* Victims and Witnesses – improving treatment by the criminal justice system. * Human Trafficking – an event to mark anti-slavery day http://www.margotjames.com/18102011_j4dw

* Public Health – a dinner to listen to Professor Karol Sikora, leading cancer specialist, talk about access to medicines

Additional events and briefings I attended were:

* BBC West Midlands breakfast to discuss the impact of BBC rationalisation on our local area.

* A reception at Number 10 to celebrate the achievements of women in business.

* A board meeting of the UK Japan 21^stCentury Group.

* A spectacular exhibition of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre; at which we saw state of the art exhibits from Rolls Royce, Boeing and BAE systems. Let no one say Britain’s manufacturing days are behind her. * A meeting with Lord Green and his directors of UK Trade & Investment.

* A Foreign Office Minister’s briefing on post revolution Egypt and the forthcoming elections there. * Professor Tim Wilson who is chairing a review of the links between academia and industry came to brief me on a similar project I am undertaking with industrialists in the Midlands.

* I spoke at the annual dinner of the Pharmacy Medicines Trade Association; it was nice to see some old friends and note the progress made by the industry.

I did some radio interviews with Radio WM and I was interviewed on Radio 4’s Week in Westminster on reducing government regulation.

_Out and About in Stourbridge_

Local groups were marking various weeks and days in Stourbridge and I was very pleased to take part where I could:

* World Animal Day: I spent a very instructive morning with an RSPCA inspector. http://www.margotjames.com/07102011_world_animal_day

* World Sight Week: I attended an open day at the Pocklington Trust who provide a huge range of services to blind and visually impaired people in Dudley Borough. http://www.margotjames.com/14102011_pocklington_trust

* Breast Cancer Awareness Day: I dropped in to the coffee morning at the Dudley Wood Neighbourhood Centre. I took representatives of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce to meet the Barclays Bank Small Business Lending team in Birmingham.

George Green Solicitors invited me to join their table at the National Association of Steel Suppliers annual dinner at the Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

I attended the monthly briefing at Dudley Council with the Leader and Chief Executive.

As well as schools visiting Parliament I got round a few schools in the constituency:

* Hob Green Primary, where I opened the excellent new nurture centre and speech and language therapy centre http://www.margotjames.com/14102011_nurture_centre_hob_green_primary

* Thorns Community College, to watch a National Youth Theatre production

* Glasshouse College at the Ruskin Glass Centre

I visited two centres run by the Camphill Trust for adults with learning disabilities, the craft centre on Worcester Street and the organic farm just outside Norton. I fed pigs too enthusiastically forgetting the electric fence and receiving a massive shock for my efforts. http://www.margotjames.com/12102011_camphill_houses

It was a pleasure to return to the Stourbridge Lawn Tennis Club to mark the work of the Black Country ‘BeActive Partnership’ and the award to captain Diane Davies.

We followed up a visit to Elizabeth House sheltered flats by meeting the director of Highways by Lye Cross to try to improve the road crossing facilities there, it should be better soon. http://www.margotjames.com/13102011_elizabeth_house_roads

It was a pleasure to see so many members at the Norton Conservative branch evening with excellent hospitality provided by Cllr. Mike and Liz Attwood.

As usual I carried out two advice surgeries, in Cradley and in Stourbridge town centre.

_And it wasn’t all work_

The highlight of my month was undoubtedly visiting my younger nephew Richard who lives in Cornwall. His older brother came with me and it was lovely to spend time with them both and three of my four great nieces and nephews as well.

I spoke to a branch dinner of the Maidenhead Conservative Association which was most enjoyable as my cousins, Daniel and Jo Bausor, who live close by were able to attend. Daniel was particularly thrilled to sit opposite the Home Secretary from where he was able to quiz her on how she managed with the day to day pressures of the job.

I was a guest at the Press Gallery lunch in the House of Commons, the guest speaker was Boris Johnson who was excellent, as you might expect.

The Speaker held a reception for Stonewall, the gay lobby organisation, Jay came with me and we had dinner afterwards with the Stonewall directors.

Finally I would like to congratulate Tom Reynolds who has been an assiduous intern in my Westminster Office on getting a very good job as an account executive with a public affairs company. We will miss Tom (not to be confused with Tom Reynolds at Exeter University) very much and I thank him for all his work both in Stourbridge and in Westminster.

Best wishes

Margot James