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Newsletter December 2011

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 14:52, Thu 1 December 2011:

Dear Subscriber,

The worsening economic outlook has been evident for some time. Although the Office for Budget Responsibility is forecasting low growth this year and next, the Chancellor, in his autumn statement, acknowledged that if the situation in the Eurozone did not improve a second recession in Europe would be likely. I welcomed the Chancellor's statement which made the best of a very difficult situation for business and private sector employment opportunities. Difficult decisions have had to be made so that we can restrain borrowing, keep our interest rates low and protect budgets for schools, the NHS, international aid as well as putting in place some protection for people who are unemployed or in low paid occupations. Talking of difficult decisions I was delighted to hear this week the outcome of one such difficult decision. Maria Miller, minister for people with disabilities, announced that after a long consultation in which I played an active part with the support of Dudley Council and local people, people in care homes who qualify for the Disability Living Allowance are to be able to retain the mobility element of that allowance.

-Parliamentary Activity-

I was delighted to have been awarded my own debate by the backbench business committee on 'NHS care of older people' http://www.margotjames.com/27102011_nhs_care_of_older_people

My Business, Innovations and Skills Select Committee concluded one inquiry (Intellectual Property) and commenced another on the subject of private debt which has proved extremely interesting and concerning so far. http://www.margotjames.com/22112011_debt_management

It has been a very busy month in Parliament for me and below is a summary of the questions I have asked, debates to which I have contributed and letters I have written to ministers. * _Public sector pensions_: I welcomed Government proposals which exempt public servants who are up to ten years from retirement from public sector pensions reform. I also urged the Cabinet Secretary who is responsible for negotiating with the Unions to give nothing further away on the grounds that left unreformed our public sector pensions would add £7 billion to the borrowing requirement over the next five years and that on average a worker in the private sector would have to contribute one third of his or her salary to obtain a comparable pension. http://www.margotjames.com/02112011_public_service_pensions

* _Deficit:_ I urged the Prime Minister to stick to his deficit reduction strategy. http://www.margotjames.com/07112011_g20_summit

* _Older People_: I spoke in a debate on social care funding. http://www.margotjames.com/10112011_social_care_funding

* _Metal Theft_: I have sponsored a private members bill (Graham Jones MP) to tackle metal theft and have written to Home Office ministers to promote the bill. http://www.margotjames.com/15112011_metal_theft_bill

* _Skills_: I urged the Government to extend its commitment on apprenticeships. http://www.margotjames.com/14112011_apprenticeships

* _Defence_: I asked ministers about improvements the equipment of our troops in Afghanistan. http://www.margotjames.com/14112011_army_kit

* _Social Care_: I urged ministers to leverage greater integration between the NHS and social care to redirect funds from hospitals to preventive work in the community. http://www.margotjames.com/222112011_social_care

* _Health_: I highlighted research showing that pharmacies spend up to one working day a week trying to shortages of medicines. http://www.margotjames.com/24112011_local_pharmacies

* _Criminal Justice_: I set up a meeting between the owner of Overton Recycling and the Prisons Minister, Crispin Blunt to discuss support for employing ex-offenders.

I wrote to the following ministers;

* Jonathan Djanogly, Justice Minister, regarding compensation for mesothelioma sufferers

* Chris Huhne, Energy Secretary, to raise my concerns about reforms of Feed in Tariffs.

* Nick Gibb, Schools Minister, about tackling extremism in schools

* George Osborne regarding the Government?s Council Tax freeze

* Norman Baker, Transport Minister, regarding changes to bus service grants.

* Anne Milton, Health Minister, to ask about new guidance giving all pregnant women the option of a caesarean section

* Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions Secretary to ask if State Pension proposals can be more fairly applied

* Lord Green, Trade Minister, to support a local bid for a Government contract

* John Penrose, Licensing Minister, on the regulation of live music

* Lord Taylor, Environment Minister, regarding dangerous dogs legislation In addition I attended various briefings and events in Parliament of which there are hundreds of such opportunities each week:

* I hosted a dinner for the charity Action Aid to discuss the position of women in Afghanistan, following which I wrote to the Foreign Secretary.

* Meeting of women Conservative MPs and the Prime Minister.

* Trade with China.

* Major exporting event hosted by UK Trade & Investment at which the PM spoke.

* All Party Group on reform of the EU of which I am vice chair.

* The West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.

* The Speakers Lecture series, this month given by John Whittingdale MP on Margaret Thatcher.

* A briefing on the National Citizenship Scheme which I am following up with all the secondary schools and colleges in Stourbridge

* I supported two other Charity events both of which screened excellent videos made by Jay of whom I was extremely proud, particularly as she had donated huge amounts of her own and her company's time to each cause: Post Adoption Centre and Pilot Light. http://www.violetproductions.com/portfolio.html

-Back in Stourbridge-

Warmest congratulations to Gary Hackett and all the players and staff at Stourbridge FC for winning the FA Cup first round replay against Plymouth Argyle. The club are in the second round of the FA Cup for the first time in its 135 year history. The whole town are right behind the Glassboys as they take on Stevenage FC this coming Saturday afternoon. It has been no less busy in the constituency; it is the same for everyone at this time of year I know. I brought the British Bankers Association to Dudley to meet members of our Chamber of Commerce to discuss lending policies to small businesses. I have really enjoyed getting around so many events and places:

* Dudley Advocacy Group AGM (who provide excellent support for people with disabilities). http://www.margotjames.com/10112011_dudley_advocacy

* Meetings with both the Stourbridge Jobcentre and the Salvation Army (who provide employment services); I was most encouraged by the response from staff to the workings of the Government's new support programmes for employment. http://www.margotjames.com/10112011_jobcentre_plus

* Pulling Pints at the ?Cross? in Oldswinford to mark National Pubs Week. http://www.margotjames.com/07112011_british_pub_week

* Meeting staff at Murrays Pharmacy to mark Ask your pharmacist week'. http://www.margotjames.com/07112011_stourbridge_pharmacy * Meetings to discuss education issues and policies: - King Edward's College (with principal and separately with students on one of their visits to Parliament) - The fabulous new Stourbridge College 'Art & Design Centre' - Dudley Association of School Governors - Redhill (A governors meeting and a meeting about children with special needs)

* Contact Care who provide excellent mediation support to divorcing parents and supervised contact with children for a non domiciled parent. http://www.margotjames.com/12112011_contact_care

* Remembrance Sunday Services in Mary Stevens Park, Lye and Cradley. http://www.margotjames.com/14112011_remembrance

* And the beginning of Christmas Occasions: - The Cockle Shell Charity shop whose volunteers designed my Christmas card this year, it was a pleasure to meet all the entrants and select the excellent winner. - Touring the Christmas Fayre at Glasshouse College - Turning on the Christmas lights in Quarry Bank

* Finally I represented the Conservative Party at the Electoral Boundary Commission hearings and attended the quarterly meeting of the Stourbridge Conservative Association.

-And it wasn?t all work (quite!)-

* Jay and I had a very nice trip to Manchester and went to the Christmas Market on its opening day, a really wonderful market every bit as good as those I have been to in Germany. We then went to a Children in Need concert and saw Lady Gaga perform which was really great.

* It was wonderful to go to the Albert Hall and support young musicians from Dudley Borough taking part in the National Schools Prom, and it was a pleasure to see Cllr. Malcolm and Shirleyanne Knowles' daughter Louise Jones conducting. * It was very nice to have a quiet dinner with Jeremy Hunt after we both spoke at a Women 2 Win event. Cabinet ministers are so busy it is very rare they have time to catch up with colleagues outside of normal working commitments.

* I had lunch with Rupert and would like to plug his efforts as part of the Ogilvy Healthworld team to grow a moustache for 'Movember' - they have raised nearly £4000 towards the worldwide fundraising drive for male cancers.

Best wishes

Margot James

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