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Newsletter December 2012

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 09:37, Sat 1 December 2012:

Dear Subscriber,

One hears quite a bit about young people “not in education, employment or training” so-called NEETs. Their number is coming down but it is still far too high. There are many colleges, social enterprises and businesses that are providing opportunities for young people to improve their prospects. For some young people the social security system has just been too easy to access; and it is only right that the system is being tightened up now. Last month I was particularly inspired by one young man I met as I visited local businesses. Rhys Davies has just turned twenty and completed his course in motor technology at Stourbridge College a couple of years ago. At first Rhys sent off hundreds of CVs, and received very few replies and no interviews (why don’t businesses at least acknowledge people who apply to them? It really isn’t that difficult).

So Rhys decided to work for himself and managed to raise enough money to rent a van and buy some tools. He set up as a mobile mechanic and soon had a good list of customers; the business grew by word of mouth. Then disaster struck. The one and only insurer who would insure a young man in a van went under. Curtains for the mobile mechanic business that lost its mobility overnight. I was inspired by Rhys because of the way he has handled adversity. I visited his new business “Fast Fit” by Lye Cross where people can drive up and get mechanical problems addressed and tyres fitted.

More complex jobs can be booked in advance. There are a lot of enterprising young people in Stourbridge and it certainly doesn’t get any easier to get your first break on the work ladder.

But those who are prepared to work and get some skills do find the opportunities in the end. Or, as in Rhys’s case, create the opportunities for themselves.

--Activity in Parliament:--

I asked questions and took part in debates as follows: - The National Citizen Service: whether the Government has plans to introduce private sponsorship so that participation in the scheme can be widened. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121102/text/121102w0001.htm#12110250001183

- Human trafficking: investigating the nationality and gender of suspected victims of human trafficking, and which region in the UK they were found. http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-welcomes-government-consultation-prisoner-voting

- Votes eligibility for prisoners: questioning whether there were further restrictions that could be placed on the option of allowing prisoners sentenced to six months or less to vote in elections. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121102/text/121102w0001.htm#12110250001183

- The European Council: congratulating the Prime Minister on his progress in forming an alliance of net contributors to the EU budget to hold expenditure down in real terms and to welcome the closer links with Germany. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-backs-pm%E2%80%99s-position-eu-budget

I also co-sponsored a debate about child sexual exploitation. The debate gained cross party support, and I was able to raise some of the cultural issues surrounding this problem. I wrote an article following the debate.

I wrote to Ministers on the following subjects:

- Hugo Swire, Foreign Office Minister: on behalf of Stourbridge Rugby Club who will be touring in the Far East

- David Liddington, Foreign Office Minister: regarding a Russian war medal being awarded to a constituent.

- Norman Lamb, Minister for Care Services, about the Liverpool Care Pathway.

- Brandon Lewis, Communities and Local Government Minister: about council tax.

- Jo Swinson, Business, Innovation and Skills Minister: regarding the delays in installing a Post Box in Pedmore, and also about the insolvency service.

- Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: regarding the insolvency service.

- Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport: regarding the cancellations on the London Midland network and the terms of the franchise agreement.

- Edward Timpson, Minister for Children and Families, Department for Education: regarding the new funding rules for specialist colleges. In Parliament, I was appointed to the Care and Support Bill Committee, which will scrutinise the Government proposals for the future of social care. I am pleased that I will be able to shape this legislation, which is very important for many older and disabled people.

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

- A visit to Tech City with the APPG for Trade and Investment, which I Chair.

- The final meeting of the Green Deal Women’s Panel.

- I spoke at a meeting of the International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

- I hosted and spoke at a reception on export finance support for businesses sponsored by Santander.

- I held Two Q&A sessions in Parliament with students from King Edwards VI College.

I attended:

o A breakfast about the Eurozone hosted by Bain & Co management consultancy.

o A lunch with the Home Secretary, where I raised the topic of child sexual exploitation.

o A briefing with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

o A Royal British Legion reception.

o A roundtable breakfast with the Ambassador of Singapore.

--Out and about in Stourbridge:--

I took part in various visits, meetings and awards ceremonies:

- Made in the Midlands Awards to celebrate business success in the Black Country.

- I attended Remembrance Day services in Mary Stevens Park, Lye, and Cradley.

- Prior to Remembrance Day itself I attended a Year Six assembly at Cradley Church of England Primary with members of the British Legion, it was a really excellent event and I also awarded pupils Thomas Howell and Rachael Harris book vouchers for their winning designs in my Christmas card competition.

- I went to the Pocklington Resource Centre Open Day which does wonderful work for blind and visually impaired residents.

- Redhill School governing body met to decide whether to apply for Academy status; I attended the meeting as a school governor and supported the application which was passed by ten votes to seven.

- I joined other MPs at the Black Country Sport & Physical Activity Awards to recognise and celebrate achievement and commitment in sport; congratulations to Mick Boddis on his Unsung Hero award and Gig Mill Swimming Club on its Community Club of the Year Award.

- The FOP Action UK held a great auction and supper to raise funds for vital research into this debilitating condition, they raised approximately £5000 from the event which was a great achievement.

- Fast Fit to congratulate Rhys Davies on setting up his own business, as I mentioned in my introduction.

- Quarry Bank for the switching on of the Christmas lights.

- I co-hosted an event run with Google at Glasshouse College to help locally businesses to get online, or improve their internet presence.

- Pedmore College students presented their ideas to me for saving energy and I also went to a great farewell supper organised by Mohammed Saeed for David Kemp, who is retiring after contributing so much to the College.

- I was put through my paces at a business question and answer session organised by the Royal Society of Arts in Stourbridge Town Centre.

--And it wasn’t all work:--

November was a most enjoyable month. The highlight was certainly the weekend I spent with Jay in Stockholm. Somehow I managed to clear my diary from Friday morning onwards and we had a great time. Stockholm is a beautiful city on water with an interesting history; it is a bit colder than it is here with maybe an hour less daylight but none the less for that.

I enjoyed a wonderful production of the German Requiem Mass by Brahms in Westminster Cathedral sung by the Parliamentary Choir and professional soloists with my friend Peter Field. Jay and I managed to get to the cinema twice including to see Skyfall which I thought was fantastic. And we were fortunate to get tickets for a live performance of Strictly Come Dancing at the BBC, I enjoy the show most weeks and it was fascinating to observe how they put it all together for real.

Margot

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