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Newsletter May 2013

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 10:01, Thu 2 May 2013:

Dear Subscriber,

Towards the end of the last session of Parliament I sat on the committee that scrutinised the draft Care and Support Bill. I am hopeful that this bill will be announced in the Queen’s Speech next week.

As negotiations between ministers and the Treasury come to a conclusion for the next spending round, I did some research on the issues behind the social care budget.

Unlike healthcare, social care is not free regardless of your ability to pay, it is means tested. Funding comes via local government, which has had to take its’ share of budget cuts whilst the NHS budget is ring fenced. I am pleased to hear talk of savings in the NHS budget funding more social care. If we invest in prevention we should be able to keep older people out of hospital, with a consequent easing of pressures on hospital budgets.

The problems in social care built up during the second half of the last government. The average rate of real terms increase in the social care budget between 2005 and 2010 was 1.5% annually; at the same time the corresponding average annual increase for the NHS was 5%. But when set against the demographic changes that small increase of 1.5% in social care amounted to a sharp reduction in resources. During the same period there was an increase of 7.7% in the over sixty five year old population (730,000 more people). And the real demographic time bomb, the over eighty five year old population, increased by 27% or 300,000.

As I learned from the experience of my own parents when they got to their late eighties; hospital is no place for an older person unless there really is no alternative. In many cases there is, and with the right balance between hospitals and the community, both in terms of where services are provided and how budgets are divided, we could give older people a better quality of life without a commensurate increase in costs.

---Activity in Parliament---

I was delighted to be invited to join the advisory board to the Number Ten Policy Unit. The board will be working with the newly appointed head of the Policy Unit, Jo Johnson MP, to make recommendations on policies for the next Conservative Party manifesto, as well as reviewing ongoing policy implementation under the current government.

I asked questions and I spoke in debates on:

• Baroness Thatcher: I was honoured to be able to pay tribute to Baroness Thatcher in a debate to commemorate her life and work. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-speaks-special-debate-pay-tribute-baroness-thatcher

• Women in the workplace: I asked the Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller MP, what progress the Government has made on helping women achieve their potential in the workplace, particularly in the fields of engineering and technology. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-calls-more-girls-choose-career-engineering

• Prison drug policies: I asked how many prisoners are prescribed methadone for heroin addiction and how much this costs the NHS (more to follow on this I suspect). http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130422/text/130422w0007.htm#13042383001633

I wrote to Ministers on the following subjects:

• Brandon Lewis, Communities and Local Government Minister, regarding business rates.

• Don Foster, Communities and Local Government Minister, regarding the cost of energy performance certificates.

• Alistair Burt, Foreign Office Minister, on behalf of a constituent about Palestinian prisoners.

• Steve Webb, Pensions Minister, about auto-enrolment pensions and companies selecting the most appropriate pension schemes for their employees.

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

• Lunch with the High Commissioner of Singapore following my trade mission to Singapore and Indonesia.

• Speaking at the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe conference about trade with Europe.

• A reception at the Foreign Office as part of the G8’s commitment to end sexual violence in conflict.

• Hosting a reception in Parliament on behalf of local Stourbridge charity Max Appeal.

• A meeting with Asthma UK to discuss my work on asthma care in schools.

• A reception hosted for visiting female Parliamentarians from West Africa.

• A briefing with Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Director on the investigation in to 14 hospitals including Russells Hall.

• A Children’s Heart Federation drop-in session in Parliament, to find out more about congenital heart disease.

• A meeting with a delegation from France who are investigating French trade policy.

• I chaired The All Party Parliamentary Group for Trade and Investment launch of a report looking into companies’ trade experiences, in conjunction with the Institute of Directors. • I spoke at a conference organised by UKTI for representatives of Trade Associations.

---Out and about in Stourbridge---

I took part in various visits and meetings:

• A lunch with Age Concern in Stourbridge, and also a meeting with Pedmore Senior Citizens Club.

• I attended a meeting of the governing body of Redhill School and we voted for the school to become an academy by 14 to 6. It is good that the future of the school is now settled and I congratulate Stephen Dunster, and those governors including the Chair who worked closely with him for the manner in which the school conducted the consultation and discussions with those who disagreed with the Academy option.

• Visiting Merchants fish and chip shop (by entrance to Mary Stevens Park) to congratulate them on their recent Fish & Chip Quality Award (I’ve never had haddock and chips at 10.00am before but it was really delicious and could be eaten at any time of day). • Visiting Quarry Bank Primary School to meet with staff and pupils, and to look around the School’s very impressive new building that the pupils helped design; and also the excellent Quarry Bank Children’s centre who are doing even better work for more children with 20% less funding than they had two years ago.

• Speaking at a lunch hosted by Pedmore Sporting Club, an excellent group composed of local businessmen and women who hold regular social events to raise money for local charities.

• Meeting with Cradley Action Group, a newly-formed organisation that is doing very impressive and inspiring work to regenerate the local area.

• Attending a superb lunch hosted by Richardsons LLP to celebrate St George’s Day, along with 100 local business leaders, a Royal Marines band and Dr Liam Fox MP.

• The Stourbridge Conservative Association’s annual dinner, attended by Dr Liam Fox MP, who gave a rousing speech enjoyed by all present.

On Friday 17th May, I will be hosting an export breakfast seminar with NatWest that will explain the latest support available to businesses exploring overseas opportunities. I would certainly encourage any business which is looking into this area to attend. The seminar will be held at The Ruskin Glass Centre from 8.30am – 11am and there is no charge to attend. Please contact Mandy Fisher (mandy.e.fisher@rbs.co.uk) to sign up.

---It wasn’t all work...---

Although April felt like a busy month Parliament was not sitting for two weeks of it over the Easter period and also when the session ended on Thursday last week. So it was nice to be able to work flexibly, see more of Jay and help her with business and catch up with friends.

• One of the top highlights was seeing Judi Dench in ‘Peter and Alice’, the play was alright but she was truly superb as she always is.

• I also saw ‘The Low Road’ at the Royal Court where Gail Steele and David Newlove were hosting friends and we enjoyed a pre-show talk from the director.

• I attended a big party to celebrate the founding of the Conservative Party’s 1922 committee of backbenchers.

• Jay took me to a lovely restaurant to celebrate my appointment to the advisory board of the Number Ten Policy Unit.

• I enjoyed two visits to Rupert, Laura and their children including a lovely 6am walk with their gorgeous one year old Rhodesian Ridgeback.

At least we have had a bit of decent weather this month, I love to see all the wild flowers springing up on my walks and the Horse Chestnuts ablaze with their huge flowers.

Margot