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Newsletter August 2013

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 06:36, Thu 1 August 2013:

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Dear Subscriber,

I always learn a great deal from visiting local businesses and my recent visit to HCM Engineering exceeded my expectations. HCM are a tool making company started by Mr Hanson in the sixties and now run by sons Simon and Mike. HCM supply JCB, JLR, BMW, Mercedes and Aston Martin.

I was shocked, although sadly not surprised, that it had taken HCM twelve months to recruit six apprentices. I met some of the apprentices and was very impressed with their knowledge and attitude. We discussed the skills shortage; nationally there is a shortage of some 80,000 engineers. The government are putting everything possible behind increasing the number of apprenticeship places which benefits companies like HCM. However there is still a prejudice among some schools and young people against careers in manufacturing. This prejudice is based on a completely outdated image of manufacturing that bears no relation to modern, computerised production methods.

On my return to Parliament in September I will be scrutinising Michael Gove’s plans to overhaul the school curriculum. I am totally supportive of his policies for restoring rigour to the exam system. I have absolute confidence we are on the right track with academic subjects, of which Maths, English and Science are very important to careers in engineering. But vocational qualifications are also important and I would like to see this route being given the prominence it deserves in mainstream schools as well as the excellent new University Technical Colleges.

Turning to my own education, I am looking forward to a break over the summer not least to spend some time reading, which is extremely difficult to fit in when Parliament is sitting. I have almost finished an excellent book by Douglas Hurd on British Foreign Secretaries and Foreign Policy since 1800. I love history and biography and the book is a good fusion of the two genres.

Jay has insisted that I read something not connected to politics. So I am taking the new book by Zadie Smith, NW, and The Cuckoo Calling by Robert Galbraith, aka JK Rowling, on our holiday to Sardinia with me, for something completely different.

Westminster

I asked questions and spoke in debates on:

I wrote to the farming minister, David Health, to ask for confirmation that the methods used in the pilot badger culls are as humane as possible and are monitored closely against high standards.

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

  • Speaking at the launch of a business manifesto for European Union reform, along with the Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable.

  • A roundtable with Jaguar Land Rover to discuss their supply chain management. It was great to meet Simon Hanson from HCM Engineering limited in Lye, who invited me to the event.

  • A meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Conservation and Wildlife, to hear from author Tony Juniper.

  • A wonderful reception to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Crimestoppers.

  • Kayaking down the Thames from Parliament to East London with the Go Canoeing team from Canoe England.

  • A lunch with Howard Davies, who is currently investigating the UK’s aviation capacity.

  • The APPG for Human Trafficking to elect officers for next year.

  • An excellent lecture in the Speaker’s House about Germany’s political system given by near neighbour Gisela Stuart MP.

  • A fascinating tour of the Foreign Office building and library.

  • The National Children’s Bureau 50^th anniversary reception in Parliament with Josh Lewis from Stourbridge, who is part of organisation’s Advisory Group.

  • Hosting the APPG for Trade and Investment Parliamentary summer reception, at which Lord Green spoke.

  • A briefing for Black Country MPs from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

  • A lunch hosted by the charity Edge, to discuss the provision of further education with Lord Kenneth Baker.

  • The Stonewall summer reception in Parliament.

  • A Q&A with Tipton based Q3 Academy who were visiting Parliament; I helped to launch their Aspirations Programme last year.

  • A briefing on the Keogh Review into mortality rates from the NHS Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh.

  • A meeting of the Number 10 Policy Board, on which I am jointly responsible for the economic growth and business brief with my colleague Jesse Norman MP.

I was also pleased to invite the APPG for Trade and Investment, which I Chair, to the West Midlands for a regional event focusing on growth through trade and supporting manufacturing innovation. The seminar was held at Birmingham Airport, in conjunction with NatWest, with the Minister for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon MP, giving the keynote speech. We also heard from local businesses, the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, NatWest, UK Trade and Investment West Midlands and UK Export Finance.

Out and about in Stourbridge:

I took part in various visits and meetings:

  • Speaking and awarding graduation certificates at the Glasshouse College’s graduation ceremony in Amblecote. This year was the first time that all the graduating students left with a recognised qualification, which puts the College well above the national average for specialist colleges across the UK

  • Visiting the Red Forte restaurant in Wollaston to congratulate them on being ‘highly commended’ in the Tiffin Cup, a House of Commons competition to find the UK’s best South Asian restaurant. I eat at the Red Forte regularly and am always impressed by their food and service, so I was delighted to award them their certificate.

  • Visiting HCM Engineering, a tool-making company in Lye, to discuss their business and tour the factory. I was really pleased to hear that they are currently recruiting in all their departments, and have recently taken on 6 new apprentices on a 5 year training scheme.

  • Meeting with representatives from Post Office Ltd and the Friends of Quarry Bank to push forward plans for reinstating a service in Quarry Bank. Discussions are ongoing and I will continue to work towards achieving this goal for local residents, who currently have to travel to Merry Hill to access Post Office services.

  • I was interviewed on the West Midlands Sunday Politics show about the influence of trade unions and political donations, and the UK’s role in Europe.

  • Participating in the Cradley clean-up, organised by the Cradley Action Group, to help improve and regenerate the area.

  • Finally we are all extremely sorry to be saying goodbye to Chris Herford who has worked in my constituency office for twelve months in August. Chris has been a great support to my work in Stourbridge, he is starting his career as a solicitor in Cheltenham in September and we wish him all the very best for the future.

And it wasn’t all work:

The highlight of the month was my great niece Isobelle Doggett, coming up from Cornwall to do a week of work experience in my Parliamentary office. Izzy stayed with Jay and I and the whole week was a great pleasure for me. We went to Cambridge University so Izzy could take part in an open day at Clare College which was fascinating. I took advantage of the many and varied things you can do in Parliament that week like Kayaking down the Thames! We also spent one evening going shopping and Izzy enjoyed choosing a few things in Topshop.

After Parliament finished I spent almost a week in the Cotswolds, first with Jay for her birthday and then with my great friends Jenny and Geoff plus Peter and Norman, who came to stay and we all went to the Longborough Opera festival to see a wonderful production of La Boheme.

I enjoyed a theatre trip with my nephew Rupert Doggett, we went to see Daniel Radcliffe perform the lead role in The Cripple of Inishmaan.

Thanks and congratulations to two MP friends who had 50^th and 60^th birthday parties, Amber Rudd and Angie Bray, Angie’s being a double 60^th with her wonderful partner Nigel.

Finally, the weather has been so amazing, it was such a pleasure to see hosts of butterflies, bees and other insects swarming around lavender and other flowers for a change; it seems so long since we had a proper English summer. I will sign off on that note and wish all readers a very good summer break.

Margot

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