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Newsletter July 2013

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 16:29, Tue 2 July 2013:

My work as PPS to Lord Green and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Trade & Investment has given me some experience of working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO, relative to other departments, has a very small budget, and although there is plenty of media interest in foreign affairs there is little coverage of what the FCO actually does to promote British interests.

When the APPG visited Singapore and Indonesia earlier this year I was very impressed with the support we had from Embassy staff and the two Ambassadors. Their expertise went way beyond the diplomatic skills and connections you would expect; they had an impressive knowledge of business and the commercial opportunities for British business in their markets.

This has been achieved by William Hague’s quiet revolution at the FCO. More is being done with less money. Britain is the only European country to be extending its’ diplomatic network, twenty new Embassies and consulates have been opened and existing Embassies have been strengthened. Our representation in Latin America, India and Asia has been significantly increased. There is also a greater emphasis on skills. The FCO are opening a new language school this summer and historians have been brought back; jointly this will improve the geographic, cultural and communication abilities of our diplomats.

From a trade perspective the most striking change is the requirement that all ambassadors, senior embassy officials and civil servants now undergo commercial training, which includes placements and secondments with companies. The results of this investment are reinforcing the existing efforts of UK Trade & Investment and overseas chambers of commerce in helping British companies break in to growing markets.

---Parliamentary Activity---

I asked questions and spoke in debates on:

- Bill presentation: I introduced my bill to widen the powers of prison authorities to test prisoners for drug abuse which will have its’ second reading on September 13th.

- Human trafficking: to ask the Department of Justice about the gender and nationality of suspected human trafficking victims in different regions, and which agency their cases were referred to. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130603/text/130603w0006.htm#13060419002147

- Social care: to note that the previous Government only increased the social care budget by 1 per cent a year despite significant upward pressures caused by the increasing number of older people.

- New NHS 111 service: to ensure that the Department of Health will look into the treatment pathways followed by 111 staff that it is alleged result in more people being referred to Accident & Emergency departments than used to be the case under the NHS Direct service. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-raises-concerns-about-111-service-guidance

- The G8 Summit: to welcome talks between a trade agreement between the EU and the US and to ask the PM to ensure that those involved in the negotiations actively seek the removal of non-tariff barriers so as to help grow the market for the UK service sector. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130619/debtext/130619-0002.htm#13061976001281

- Care Quality Commission – to note my concerns about recent allegations involving the CQC, and to ask the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, what plans he has to improve the appointment process for senior positions in the NHS. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-urges-government-ensure-high-calibre-appointments-public-bodies

I wrote to Ministers on the following subjects:

- Mark Harper, Immigration Minister, on behalf of a business struggling with immigration visas.

- David Lidington, Foreign Office Minister, regarding the latest Foreign Direct Investment figures.

- Philip Dunne, Defence Minister, on behalf of a constituent concerned about the use of drones.

- David Laws, Schools Minister, about the VAT arrangements for Sixth Form Colleges.

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

- Meetings of the new Number 10 Advisory Board. I was pleased to be invited to a board meeting with the PM at Chequers, his official country residence.

- A meeting with the Health Minister, Anna Soubry, to discuss my concerns about methadone use in prisons.

- I hosted a dinner for the International Steel Trade Association in Parliament.

- A meeting of the West Midlands Conservative MPs and MEPs to discuss how we can work together to benefit our region.

- I spoke to the Finchley Supper Club about the Government’s progress and admired their commemorative displays of Margaret Thatcher photographs and documents.

- Tea in Parliament with Stourbridge College students Billy, Leighton, Liam to thank them for kindly designing the logo for my Stourbridge Aspirations Programme.

- A meeting on the financial services sector held by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for European Reform

- A meeting with the CBI to discuss public sector exports.

- An address by Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada.

- I hosted a breakfast for MPs to discuss trade with Lord Green at the Foreign Office.

- I co-hosted a drinks reception for women MPs and journalists at my home in London.

- I spoke at a roundtable lunch about exports hosted by the Reform think tank.

- I chaired a meeting of the APPG for Trade and Investment on the work and progress of the PM’s trade envoys to Algeria, Central Asia and Indonesia.

- A discussion with students from Glasshouse College book club, who visited Parliament.

- The ‘Jubilee Dialogue: Europe and the world in 2023’, a round table discussion organised by the Foreign Office.

- I was a panellist on the BBC Question Time programme up in Blackburn, and no, you don’t get to see the questions in advance!

---Out and about in Stourbridge---

I took part in various visits and meetings:

- Attending the opening of the Lip Varvi pop-up shop in the Ryemarket; a brilliant project by Year 10 GCSE graphic design pupils at Pedmore Technology College. I really enjoyed speaking with the pupils and bought a very colourful t-shirt. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-opens-school-pop-shop

- Unveiling a lovely , who was a great friend, at the Stourbridge Interchange: Angus did a huge amount for Stourbridge and it is very fitting that he is remembered in this way.

- I met the Principal of Stourbridge College to discuss plans for the future of the College.

- I spoke at the National Asian Business Association dinner in Leicester, recognising the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the economy, and highlighting the role of the Asian community in improving the UK’s trade links with crucial export markets. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-speaks-asian-business-association-dinner

- A meeting with Dudley Council officers to discuss the Stourbridge Area Action Plan, focusing in particular on the area around the Bonded Warehouse and the River Stour and also on much needed regeneration in Cradley.

- Opening the refurbished and upgraded Wollaston Post Office, which benefits from a new, much-improved layout and longer opening hours. Congratulations to store managers Dal and Ran on their hard work; they really have done a great job. http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-officially-opens-new-look-wollaston-post-office

- Hosting a very constructive stakeholder meeting on asthma care in Dudley. I feel very strongly that the current law prohibiting schools from having a generic asthma inhaler for use in an emergency is quite wrong, and will continue to work with stakeholders to try to get it reversed.

- I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the annual Old Swinford Hospital School prize-giving day and to present the prizes to such a talented array of students.

- It was a great pleasure to open the bi-annual flower festival at St Thomas’ Church on Market Street to raise much needed funds for restoration efforts at this listed church.

- And the highlight of my month in Stourbridge was attending a wonderful performance of ‘Prodigal Son’ by the Side by Side Theatre Company, the theatre group which gives people with learning needs a chance to perform and entertain. I had the pleasure of meeting the cast afterwards and the amazing Susan Wallin MBE who founded and directs the group.

- Finally I was delighted to congratulate to Stourbridge residents who received MBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their tremendous service to the community over many years; David Rogers MBE and Dorothy Clarke MBE, both good friends who I admire greatly.

---And it wasn’t all work...---

- I enjoyed a few dinners catching up with friends, including ex university chums Harry Baden-Powell and Tom Thompson, Tom emigrated to Singapore after graduating so we don’t see much of him and it was great to catch up. I also enjoyed a special dinner with my great friend Jenny McGregor and as always there was so much to talk about.

- Jay and I went to Wanda and Catherine’s civil partnership ceremony and reception at the wonderful Pavilion Building in Brighton and we stayed just outside Brighton for the weekend which was lovely.

- My great niece, Isobelle Doggett, arrived from Cornwall on the last day of the month and I am looking forward to her spending a week carrying out work experience with me in Westminster.

- I was pleased to be invited by my old council, Kensington & Chelsea, to a street party to celebrate the fifth year of a local farmer’s market which I helped to establish when I served as a local councillor. Jay and I enjoyed doing all our weekend shopping at the market afterwards.

Margot