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Newsletter - Update from February 2013

Posted by Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal, at 13:24, Wed 6 March 2013:

Please find below news from February 2013. More news can be seen on my website www.theresecoffeymp.com

Energy

Sizewell C: The first stage public consultation on Sizewell C closed 6th February. Thank you to those who copied me in ontheir submission. EDF will now consider the responses, which will take a long time, and engage with the councils prior to the next consultation which is likely to happen early 2014.

Centrica announced it would not invest in Sizewell C but this had been well signalled last year. The Energy Bill is still progressing in Parliament and EDF is discussing some of the finer points with the government.

I spoke in a backbench debate in Parliament, reiterating the need for nuclear power adding that the Energy Bill and the separate discussions with EDF and investors should give certainty. With Sizewell, Greater Gabbard &Galloper and the East Anglia Array about a quarter of the county's electricity will be generated in our part of Suffolk. We truly are the Green Coast.

Skills, Jobs & Training: I was pleased to join Peter Aldous MP at a meeting with Energy Minister John Hayes MP at which representatives from New Anglia LEP, EEGR, Chambers of Commerce and the County Councils put forward their case for investment in our area.

Cheaper Energy: Ofgem set out in detail its plans to ensure the consumers get the best deal, following the plans set out by David Cameron last year. By this summer, suppliers will offer four core tariffs per fuel type. Suppliers will provide customers with clearer, simpler bills and personalised information on the cheapest tariff appropriate for them. I hope to finalise the report of our cross-party inquiry on off-gas grid issues in March.

Broadband

4G: OFCOM announced the winners of the spectrum. Telefonica (O2) has the near-universal coverage contract of 98% indoor coverage. That will be a welcome revolution for many of us in the countryside with enhanced broadband and mobile phone coverage. I pressed with my select committee and Rory Stewart MP to ensure that coverage was the key priority, not the proceeds of the auction.

Health & Care

Ambulances: I organised for CQC to debrief MPs from the East of England on the results of their unannounced inspection. I cannot yet reveal the results but the report, including the response from the Ambulance Service, should be published in the next week or so. I highlighted again in Parliament the poor performance from the East of England Ambulance Service for Suffolk and appealed to the Government for direct intervention. In the last two months less than 2/3 of ambulances have hit the target in reaching emergency cases and they have failed to hit any of their response time targets this financial year. A meeting is now scheduled with the Minister, Earl Howe, for March 18th. Prior to that, I will be having further meetings with staff and Board Members.

James Paget Hospital: I am delighted with the outcome of the recent Care Quality Commission report into the James Paget Hospital. The regulator carried out an unannounced visit on the 1st February and found the Hospital fully compliant in all the standards they assessed. It has been a hard 18 months and I know all staff at the James Paget have worked hard to turn it around. There is a strong team culture which I witnessed on my visit there last month.

Transport

Felixstowe to Ipswich line: I met Network Rail supremo Dave Ward with Felixstowe County Councillor Graham Newman and Jonathan Denby from Greater Anglia to discuss improvements to the Ipswich to Felixstowe line, including the need to retain a full passenger service and to reduce the delays on the line due to freight issues. It was a very positive meeting. While the port is still legally committed to dualling the line, the time frame for this has been extended. In the meantime, Network Rail is also keen to ensure passenger services are kept and Dave Ward's team is actively looking for solutions. Network Rail is making progress on a scheme for the Felixstowe line that will relieve the current capacity crunch. I cannot give details yet but hope an official announcement will be made soon. Dave Ward is a very capable, can-do senior manager who – as he said himself – worked his way up from the very bottom and railways are in his blood. I am glad he is helping us.

Business

Portas Town Teams: Last year, I helped five town groups in Suffolk Coastal secure £10,000 each from the Government to help their plans to reinvigorate our high streets and stimulate footfall. I met with the project lead officers to discuss progress. I was particularly impressed by the projects in Halesworth and Southwold, which have detailed plans to bring in trade and ways of measuring their success. The team covering Leiston, Aldeburgh and Saxmundham, there has certainly been some progress and funds are being used. In Felixstowe and Woodbridge, no money has yet been used. In Felixstowe, it will be used from April to help pay for the events coordinator but I do want to see more rigour on the key measure of success - namely, people walking up and down Hamilton Road. I really am not clear on Woodbridge. I know that there have been some personnel changes and I hope that some progress will be made soon. Our independent stores on our high streets can have a good future by working together and providing excellent service. More than ever before, particularly on food, there is an appetite to buy and shop local.

Retailer Awards: Congratulations to Penny Teale from Orford General Stores who has won the Countryside Alliance Award for the best Village Shop and Post Office of the Year for the East of England. I will have the pleasure of welcoming Penny to Parliament in March as she contests the National final. I don't know if she is bringing her lovely dog Spike but he is a feature outside the store. This is another boost for Orford following the well known Pump St Bakery's BBC Best Food Producer award a few months ago.

Education

Ofsted has launched a new tool to help governors in their role of holding headteachers to account. I attended the launch event with a speech by the Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw. I thought the dashboard (http://dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk) was excellent and a really good guide not only for governors but also for parents and local councillors. It deliberately does not provide data for very small schools, recognising that just one score can massively impact the overall results. I was a school governor on and off for about 10 years. It is an important role and I encourage those concerned about educational attainment to volunteer. The County Council is keen to recruit new governors.

Agriculture, Environment & Fisheries

The FSA, Defra and the Department of Health will continue to work closely with businesses and trade bodies along the whole food chain to get to the bottom of the unacceptable situation of horsemeat getting into the supply chain. Consumers have a right to expect that food is exactly what it says on the label. The Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, is leading and co-ordinating action with his European counterparts. The FSA along with police are also auditing all horse abattoirs and investigating mislabelling of meat. The Government has made clear that those trying to commit food fraud in the UK will face the full force of the law.

Other Local Issues

1953 Floods: 1st February marked the 60th anniversary of the terrible floods with the loss of many lives. I attended thelaunch of the '53 Flood Exhibition in Orford. Thanks to all the volunteers in the Alde & Ore Association. It was also a pleasure to meet people who survived that fateful night.

Post Office: The Post Office is now independent of Royal Mail. I have pressed for reinstatement of service in various places so it was useful to meet the Chief Executive, Paula Vennells. Her mission is to stop subsidising town centre post offices and improve service to residents in rural and poorer urban areas.

Parliament

I asked questions in the House on the East of England Ambulance Service, Leveson, the UK's economic policy and the European Budget.

I contributed to debates on new nuclear power, same sex marriage and police grants. I asked written questions on resource allocation in the NHS, roads financing, the Digital Economy Act, same sex marriage, Syria and on the retention of records of innocent people on the police national computer.

I was re-elected as Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Off Gas Grid.

I attended the One Billion Women Rising event in Parliament Square (photo) which included a flash dance to celebrate the rising up of women against rape and domestic violence - www.onebillionrising.org

Other Meetings & Events

Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore to talk through his policing plan Visited Woodbridge Library for National Libraries Day with Deputy Mayor of Woodbridge, Patti Mulcahy (photo). Autism and Aspergers Parents' group in Westleton Seckford Almshouses – for tour and discussion of social care funding Chaired Parliamentary Office and Science Technology event in Parliament on Next Generation Broadband Attended briefing on Royal Charter solution for press regulation Suffolk Coastal District Council leader Ray Herring and Cabinet members to review local issues Launch of British Library and IP network

Next Surgery

15th March - Saxmundham – Fromus Centre - appointments 16.00 - 17.30

19th April - Halesworth Library – appointments 9.30 - 11.00

Please contact Nick Scarfield on 0207 219 7164 to arrange an appointment.