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Newsletter February 2013

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 20:44, Fri 1 February 2013:

Dear Subscriber,

I hope you have had a good start to 2013. It has been an eventful time in Parliament and in my constituency. We have had intense debates over the cost of social security benefits and by how much they should be increased. The Prime Minister made his keynote speech on Europe and made the case for reform and a referendum. Read my blog http://www.margotjames.com/content/europe-case-reform-case-britain%E2%80%99s-continued-membership

In Stourbridge plans are progressing for the first of our secondary schools to apply for Academy Status. Although more than two thousand schools across the country are now doing well as Academies the teaching unions have decided to take strike action against Redhill School joining this forward focussed group. I think most people are agreed that strikes in public services, especially when the education of our children is affected, are a bad thing. And in fact, unless they are about pay and conditions, they are outside the law.

I have participated in all these debates; affecting as they do issues of great concern to me; how we best equip our young people with the learning and skills they need to compete in the world and how Britain can work with other members of the European Union so that Europe can start to grow again and compete in the world. The most salutary comment this month for me has been Angela Merkel’s observation that Europe has 7% of the world’s population, produces 25% of global GDP whilst financing 50% of global welfare payments. That is not a sustainable proposition and it is a significant contributor to the lack of competitiveness in the EU and the sky high levels of unemployment in so many member states.

---Activity in Parliament---

I asked questions on:

Benefits: about the number of children in households claiming Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-welcomes-government-focus-getting-people-work

Afghanistan: ensuring that the Government will continue to lobby for Afghan women’s rights. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-asks-about-preventing-sexual-violence-post-conflict-afghanistan

Mali: noting the potential threats from terrorists in this area to our security. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-raises-concerns-over-threat-posed-al-qaeda-mali

Pension reform: asking what protections will be in place for pensioners retiring before the flat-rate state pension will come into force in 2017. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-welcomes-simplification-state-pension

Unemployment: noting that employment in the West Midlands has increased by 4.3% in the last year, and asking the Minister for Employment what action he is taking to bring all Work Programme providers up to the standards of the best providers, like EOS in the Black Country. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-highlights-success-work-programme-west-midlands

And I spoke in debates on:

Mali: asking that Malian women be involved in conflict reconciliation. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-highlights-suppression-women%E2%80%99s-rights-northern-mali

Manufacturing in the West Midlands: welcoming the growth of the manufacturing sector in the West Midlands, and highlighting the importance of building skills relevant to the sector. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-backs-moves-promote-manufacturing-west-midlands

Atos Work Capability Assessments: drawing attention to Professor Harrington’s successful review of the Work Capability Assessment. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-welcomes-improvements-atos-work-capability-assessments-reference-mental-health

Europe: noting the need to reform Europe, in particular regulations on business, which concern foreign investors. http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-highlights-overseas-investor-support-reform-eu

I wrote to Ministers on the following subjects:

Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Justice, regarding the probate process that beneficiaries have to go through.

Michael Fallon, Minister for Business, regarding the checks carried out by Companies House when looking into the suitability of a potential company director, and about unnecessary red-tape that prevents SMEs from tendering for public sector contracts.

William Hague, Foreign Secretary, about children in Gaza. Norman Baker, Transport Minister, regarding private parking companies.

Earl Howe, Health Minister, regarding asthma care in schools.

Jeremy Browne, Home Office Minister, about the National Wildlife Crime Unit’s funding.

David Laws, Minister for Schools, regarding school league tables.

I continue to be a member of the Draft Care and Support Bill Committee, which is taking valuable evidence from across the social care sector, Ministers and policy specialists in the area. I am certain that this will make a positive contribution to changes in our social care system.

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

A meeting with the Chancellor and some colleagues to discuss future Conservative policy.

Several meetings to discuss the future of Britain’s relationship with the European Union with colleagues and policy specialists.

A breakfast with the China Editor of The Economist, Rob Gifford, to discuss the development of China.

A Parliamentary reception to celebrate Dudley Zoo and other tourist attractions in the West Midlands.

Various meetings with banks to discuss trade finance.

The ‘We Made It’ awards ceremony, to congratulate Anna Hudson from Ridgewood School on her winning design – a GPS key ring

I hosted two dinners, one with the Chief Executive of Prudential, Tidjane Thaim, and the other with the Director of Chatham House, Dr Robin Niblett.

A board meeting of the Japan 21st Century Group and officials from the Japanese Embassy.

---Out and about in Stourbridge:---

I took part in various visits and meetings:

Meeting Paul Maubach, Director of Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss hospital waiting times, and public health issues such as obesity and binge drinking.

Delivering leaflets in support of the Conservative candidate for the Wollaston & Stourbridge Town by-election, Matt Rogers. I was so sorry that Matt lost his election by a small margin; he fought an excellent campaign and I hope that he will stand again as I think he would make an excellent local councillor.

A special service at Christ Church in Lye to re-commission the bells following their recent restoration. Click here to see video of bell ringing http://www.margotjames.com/content/bell-ringing

Meeting Anthony Marsh, CEO of the West Midlands Ambulance Service to discuss service improvements and their recent conversion to an NHS Foundation Trust. http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-visits-west-midlands-ambulance-service-snowy-friday

Dudley Holocaust Memorial Commemoration to remember the Holocaust victims and hear a moving speech by Holocaust survivor Eva Clarke.

Meeting Marcia Morris from Career Academies UK, to discuss extending their programme to Stourbridge schools.

---And it wasn’t all work:---

It was very nice to get some sun at the beginning of the year, after Christmas Jay and I went on holiday to the Turk & Caicos Islands and it was good to have time to catch up with books, yoga and some nice food.

One of my new year’s resolutions was to plan more time with family and friends, I caught up with an old university friend Cheryl Younson for supper, had a lovely evening out with Jenny McGregor and friends from business days David and Gail Newlove.

I saw the film Lincoln, Daniel Day Lewis was absolutely superb but having read the book on which it was based I was a bit disappointed that the film only focussed on one part of Lincoln’s life and achievements. Jay and I also went to see Zero Dark Thirty the other night and I recommend that strongly, it is absolutely fantastic; the filming of the state of the art military aircraft weaving their way through the mountain passes on the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan was a sight I will never forget.

It was lovely to catch up with Rupert and his family on my way from Westminster to Stourbridge one evening. My youngest great niece and god daughter Mirabelle has just started nursery and it was wonderful to see how much she was enjoying it all.

Margot

http://www.margotjames.com