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Newsletter February 2012

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 15:31, Thu 2 February 2012:

Dear Subscriber,

We are well in to the New Year so it is a little late to be wishing people a happy 2012 but I will do so all the same.

I have been reflecting on the issue of high pay and bank bonuses this month. I am acutely aware of the strong public feelings on the matter.

It is clear that these bonuses, particularly where they apply to the banks that were bailed out by the taxpayer, add insult to injury. I am pleased that they are not as high as they were. Bonus levels are almost half what they were last year in the banks.

However I am not at all keen on the witch hunt that seems to have taken hold in the media. Or the scapegoating of individuals. Newsnight this week featured a number of other supposed ‘villains’ from the boom years who had received knighthoods. Were they to be stripped of their honours too was the question?

If we are not careful Britain will start to be viewed internationally as an environment that is hostile to business. We have higher personal tax rates and it is open season on high pay and bonuses. We need to remember that we are in a global market for talent and that if the rewards are seen as increasingly encumbered in the UK, versus the USA and the Far East, our economy and jobs will suffer further in the long term.

-I took part in various debates in Parliament, questioned and wrote to ministers as follows:-

* Health: I asked the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, about the regulation of private clinics following the PIP breast implant scandal. http://margotjames.com/10012012_cosmetic_surgery

* Foreign Affairs: I questioned the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, on the Government’s policies to tackle Islamic terrorism in Nigeria. http://margotjames.com/17012012_nigeria

* Welfare: I spoke out in support of the Government’s benefits cap. http://margotjames.com/23012012_benefits_cap

* Business: I questioned Vince Cable, Business Secretary, about high executive pay. http://margotjames.com/23012012_executive_pay

* Medicines: I tabled parliamentary questions to ask what ministers are doing to tackle medicine shortages.

* Education: I asked Nick Gibb, Schools Minister, about the duration of the school day in free schools and academies. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120119/text/120119w0002.htm#12011952000951

* Parliamentary representation: I drew attention to the difficulties faced by people in many walks of lifewho want to get involved in politics. http://www.margotjames.com/12012012_parliamentary_representation

* Economy: I spoke in Parliament about long-term youth unemployment, which is now beginning to fall nationally, although overall levels are up. http://www.margotjames.com/23012012_youth_unemployment

* NHS: I asked a series of parliamentary questions about insurance coverage for NHS foundation trusts. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120125/text/120125w0001.htm#12012541001213

* I wrote to the following ministers;

- Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, regarding screening for cervical cancer.

- Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, on behalf of a constituent concerned about the effect of late payments on small businesses.

- Nick Herbert, Minister for Policing, regarding police checks on prospective council tenants.

- Damian Green, Minister for Immigration, on behalf of a constituent facing deportation.

- Anne Milton, Health minister, on behalf of a constituent concerned about training of child psychotherapists.

- Baroness Wilcox, minister in the Business Department, to raise a constituent’s concerns about reform of intellectual property law.

- Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, on behalf of a constituent concerned by assessments for disability benefits.

- Crispin Blunt, Minister for Prisons, regarding drug rehabilitation for prisoners.

The Government are in talks with the Opposition to see if long term solution to the challenge of funding, and improving the quality of long term residential care can be found. I have focussed on this and during January have:

* Met the Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow

* Attended a meeting at Number 10 and informed the PM about our work

* Spoken with Esther Rantzen at a Conservative Women’s meeting on care

* Attended a constituency meeting with Dudley’s Adult and Social Care department

My business and trade focus has continued with various activities:

* The Business Select Committee concluded its inquiry in to personal debt and we started a second inquiry in to insolvency http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/business-innovation-and-skills

* Attending a board meeting of the UK Japan 21st Century Group

* Agreed plans with Lord Green, Minister for Trade & Investment for a national series of trade seminars for small to medium sized businesses

* Meeting Sir Richard Branson to hear about Virgin’s bid to run a fund providing start up capital for young entrepreneurs

* Meeting directors of ‘Edge’ a partnership focussed on apprenticeships and skills

I also attended a fascinating briefing on our education policies with schools minister, Nick Gibb, a reception with Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, a dinner with the West Midlands Police Federation and the launch of ‘Big Energy Week’.

It was a busy month with the media too. Conservative Home invited me with three other backbenchers elected in 2010 to speak at an event for their bloggers. And I did some interviews with mainstream media also:

* The Sunday Politics Show: discussion about the health reforms

* Newsnight: I joined a panel on the benefits cap

* Radio 4 You and Yours: I joined a panel on the shortage of medicines in pharmacies http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b9h77#p00nq559

* The Bridge Radio: a monthly discussion with Al Jackson

* Radio WM: an interview about changes at the BBC

-Out and About in Stourbridge-

Most of my constituency activity this month has centred on schools, training and education. I have visited:

* Thorns Primary School and Old Park school for children with disabilities, as well as very enjoyable tours around the schools I met road safety campaigners and I have supported their bid for single lane traffic or a 20mph limit outside Thorns. http://www.margotjames.com/27012012_thorns_primary_school_visit http://www.margotjames.com/27012012_old_park_school http://www.margotjames.com/24012012_thorns_primary_road_safely

* Greenfield Primary School in the old town, my tour and discussion with the children quite made me want to go back to that age and start all over again, but this time at Greenfield!

* Stourbridge College of Art and Design where I met the heads of all the secondary schools and colleges in Stourbridge at a meeting of the Stourbridge Educational Trust.

* The excellent “Barnardos Wheels” project which takes youngsters who have dropped out of school and trains them in automotive skills. http://www.margotjames.com/19012012_barnardos_wheels

I attended the quarterly MP briefing with the CEO and Leader of Dudley Council followed by the Mayor’s civic awards. http://www.margotjames.com/230122012_volunteer_awards

Having worked on the personal debt issue in Parliament I visited Dudley Citizens Advice Bureau to discuss that issue and other concerns locally. http://www.margotjames.com/18012012_cab

I attended an excellent briefing of all Dudley MPs on disability issues arranged by Access in Dudley. http://www.margotjames.com/24012012_access_in_dudley

It was a pleasure to visit Christ Church on Quarry Bank High Street for a coffee morning.

And finally I held two surgeries, one in Cradley Library and the other in the Crystal Centre.

-As usual it wasn’t all work-

Jay and I saw the new year in on holiday in Mexico which was a lovely start to 2012.

I went to see the ‘Iron Lady’ and ‘The Artist’ – both very good films.

I was also very fortunate to get a ticket for the ‘Leonardo’ exhibition at the National Gallery.

It was great to see all my old work colleagues from my business days at a 50th birthday lunch for my friend Gloria Gibbons, CEO of my old firm.

Celebrating with old friends from my business life

It was a pleasure to welcome my friends Jenny McGregor and Geoff Leigh to the House of Commons for lunch.

I was thrilled by the news that Stourbridge Conservative President Margaret Fraser was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours and we had a party to celebrate at my home in Oldswinford.

One of the best lectures I have attended since being elected was Ken Clarke on his time as a minister in many Departments of State over thirty years, it was hugely entertaining and absolutely fascinating as you would expect. It was a great privilege to hear him.

I got some lovely Seville oranges and made a batch of Marmalade. I saw a survey last year that said Marmalade is only enjoyed by people in their fifties and older, I didn’t like to read this but I suppose it is true in my case...

Best wishes

Margot James

http://www.margotjames.com