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Newsletter November 2012

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 18:13, Thu 1 November 2012:

I am always cautious about good news. Good economic news when the global economy is in such a perilous state must be treated with caution. But none the less it is very encouraging that the economy is now growing again with employment up, inflation coming down and the deficit also being reduced.

The not so good news in my view is the position we are getting ourselves in our relationship with the European Union. I am as in favour of cutting the European budget as anyone else. But we don’t have control over the budget, we have to agree the level with 26 other countries. Given that the smallest increase in the budget ever agreed since the formation of the EU was 8% I think that the PM did very well to get an agreement with France, Germany and the Netherlands that the increase be limited to inflation, i.e. no real terms increase at all. The Conservatives who rebelled against the government, and the Labour party, know that the outcome, if the government were to go down the route they have demanded, would be a deadlock. The rules in a deadlock mean that the current budget is extended on an annual basis which will allow for a significant real terms increase in expenditure. In such circumstances the budget agreed annually will not require the support of all member states, that is the key difference with the current negotiations which do require the acceptance of all member states. It is virtually certain that the interests of the net recipients of EU spending would prevail in these circumstances resulting in a real terms increase in the EU budget.

Of course this is a small price to pay if you believe the UK should leave the European Union. I think that, despite the huge problems in the Eurozone, Britain’s interests as a trading nation lie in our continued membership of the EU. Britain is the second most favoured destination (to the USA) for foreign direct investment, and more multi-national companies are headquartered in the UK than in any other European nation. All this would be jeopardised in my view if Britain exited the EU. I am picking up on real concerns among countries in the growth markets of the world who want to invest in Britain but whose main trading and political links are with Europe including Britain rather than with Britain alone.

---ACTIVITY IN PARLIAMENT:---

I asked questions and took part in debates as follows: The Police and Crime Commissioner elections: to support our Conservative candidate for the West Midlands, Matt Bennett. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-welcomes-forthcoming-pcc-elections

Apprenticeships: to ask the Minister for Skills to take action to encourage girls to consider apprenticeships in IT and engineering. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-calls-more-girls-it-and-engineering-apprenticeships

Asylum: to ask how many asylum applications were made and granted over the last five years. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121019/text/121019w0001.htm#12101928004323

Airguns: to ask how many people were investigated and prosecuted for the illegal use of air guns in the last five years. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121025/text/121025w0002.htm#12102566002427

Policing: regarding the achievement of the West Midlands Police in delivering improvements in crime reduction while reducing its budget. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121025/text/121025w0002.htm#12102566002427

Afghanistan: regarding the involvement of non government organisations in delivering humanitarian assistance to women and children. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-highlights-importance-empowering-women-afghanistan

Public Service Pensions Bill: to note the Government’s achievements in protecting low-paid public sector workers from having to make increased pension contributions. http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-supports-public-service-pensions-bill-second-reading

--I wrote to ministers on behalf of constituents about the following issues:

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education: changes to A Level funding.

Earl Howe, Health Minister: gluten-free food on prescription for people with celiac disease.

Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business: the position of solicitor firms on bank convenyancing panels.

Stephen Hammond, Transport Minister: regarding a constituent’s concerns about motorway repair fees.

Jo Swinson, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs: the potential for a Post Office or PayPoint service in Quarry Bank

Nick Boles, Minister for Planning: regulations for insulating new build houses against noise transference.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health: the availability of muscle biopsy analysis facilities in the UK.

Sajid Javid and Michael Fallon Economy Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Business: goldplating of EU regulations.

David Liddington, Foreign Office Minister: EU trade policy.

Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: the Work Programme.

--I attended various events and had meetings in and around Parliament:

A conference on human trafficking.

Celebrations for Diwali in the House of Commons.

A Q&A session with students from Oldswinford Hospital School.

A meeting with Boeing to discuss their work with schools.

A meeting with Conservative MPs to discuss the Fresh Start project about renegotiating our relationship with Europe.

A meeting with the Minister for Local Government and Dudley Council to discuss a PFI grant.

An evidence session to discuss adult social care with several organisations.

Hosting a meeting for the APPG for Trade and Investment and UKTI to discuss trade with South East Asia.

Speaking at the UK Trade & Investment leadership conference.

--Last month I attended the Conservative Party Conference, which was held in Birmingham. I was delighted to introduce the main session on the environment, energy and rural affairs. I spoke and took part in a variety of events:

A reception for West Midlands Conservative Party members.

A Help the Hospices and Marie Curie roundtable meeting to discuss end of life care.

A British Chambers of Commerce event on exporting.

A meeting with local constituent Jay Portman and Whizz Kidz to discuss the London 2012 Olympic legacy for young people with disabilities.

An Action Aid event on women in Afghanistan.

An EEF event about growing the economy.

Hosting a dinner for the Stourbridge Conservative Association.

---OUT AND ABOUT IN STOURBRIDGE:---

I enjoyed a good number of visits and meetings last month: Withymoor Playgroup to celebrate World School Milk day, I was so pleased to meet with the volunteers who make this group possible, opening throughout term time and school holidays every morning.

EOS, a company in Tipton which delivers the Government’s Work Programme, I was really impressed with their success in getting thousands of people who have been out of work for some time, including some who have never worked, in to jobs for more than six months now.

Sainsbury’s in Amblecote to learn about the store’s excellent charity work, and work in the local community, I did my shopping there afterwards and it is a great store, not too big but big enough to have a good choice of everything.

It was good to be able to attend the Stourbridge Township Council monthly meeting.

Opening the Stourbridge College Black Country Skills Shop at Merry Hill.

I spoke to all the heads of secondary schools and colleges at a meeting of the Stourbridge Education Trust to present ideas to raise the aspirations of young people in the local area.

I enjoyed lunch with Warren Evans of Base Studios to discuss the future of the business.

It was the 50th anniversary of the successful battle to save the Stourbridge Canal so I attended the open weekend of the Navigation Trust.

I opened a new restaurant called Five Spice on Bromsgrove Road in Stourbridge, this should do well as part of the Balti Bazaar group in Lye.

I introduced the Conservative candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, Matt Bennett and fellow Conservatives to shoppers in Stourbridge Town Centre.

--

On a very sad note I must end with the death of Cllr. Malcolm Knowles; I have been privileged to know Malcolm for six years and have benefited enormously from his advice and support. The service of remembrance for his life was held at St Thomas’s Church and was very well led by Cllr Liz Walker. It was a beautiful service and it was cheering to see Malcolm’s extensive collection of vintage cars lining Market Street outside the Church. All our heartfelt condolences go to Shirleyanne Knowles, a wonderful wife and political support to Malcolm for a good half a century, and her three daughters.

---AND IT WASN’T ALL WORK:---

It was lovely to see my younger nephew Richard and I took him and his son Orlando aged 12 to the NEC to the Top Gear show. Not being my thing at all I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, it really was a fantastic spectacle.

I was grateful to the Birmingham Royal Ballet for their invitation to their new production at Sadlers Wells, my friend Jenny McGregor and I really enjoyed the three ballets they performed.

Jay and I got to see ‘Skyfall’, the new Bond movie, I haven’t enjoyed a Bond movie so much since the days of ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘You Only Live Twice’. Daniel Craig is brilliant in the role I think and it was good to see so much more of the wonderful Judi Dench as ‘M’.

Best wishes

Margot

www.margotjames.com