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Newsletter December 2013

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 12:12, Sun 1 December 2013:

Dear Subscriber,

I am very aware from knocking on doors in Stourbridge that people are extremely concerned about immigration and have been for most of the last decade. As the transitional controls on the latest countries to join the EU are about to be lifted that concern has escalated.

But some of this concern is fuelled by a relentlessly hostile media and I am not surprised that, according to polls this week, people think that immigration is rising when it is actually falling. True, there has been a rise in net immigration recently but the overall figures are coming down, albeit slower than the government would like.

However, it is an inconvenient truth that over two million British citizens live elsewhere in the EU. In 2011, the most recent figures I could find, the numbers of British citizens living in other EU countries and claiming benefit was approximately the same (and slightly higher in fact) than the numbers of non UK citizens of the EU who were claiming out of work benefits in the UK.

I really feel a bit more balance should be injected in to this argument. I certainly cheered my friend Anna Soubry, defence minister, on Question Time a few weeks ago who demolished Nigel Farage with facts, figures and a powerful moral argument.

Of course there are problems. It is quite outrageous that people should travel across borders and set up squalid encampments in the public space enjoyed by law abiding citizens of another country. But to allow such exceptional circumstances to dominate our national debate, and to demonise the entire populations of other European countries, is both wrong and dangerous.

There are various reasons that Britain is enjoying a swifter economic recovery than the rest of the EU. Not least the policies of the government. But undoubtedly another reason is the influx of skills, and the strong work ethic, brought in by young people who come here from other parts of the EU to work.

Whole sectors of the economy, agriculture, the NHS and the care sector, for example, have benefitted from migration; as well as the benefits enjoyed by the rest of the UK with the return of economic growth.

On balance I would rather tackle some of the pressures brought about by immigration, than face the problems of supporting an ageing society that bedevils countries with low immigration like Japan and now some of the southern EU member states.

---Activity in Parliament---

I asked questions and spoke in debates about:

* The Spare Room Subsidy: to support the Government’s policy in this area, which will help those living in overcrowded housing. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-backs-government-tackling-social-housing-overcrowding-and-waiting-lists)

--I wrote to Ministers about the following issues:

  • Greg Clark and Danny Alexander, Treasury Ministers, regarding the Black Country City Deal.

  • Jane Ellison, Public Health Minister, to ask how the Government is supporting people who want to donate blood.

  • Nicky Morgan, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to raise a constituent’s concerns about recent changes to tax credits.

  • George Osborne, Chancellor, to support plans to reclaim land previously contaminated by industrial use in the Black Country, which can then be used for manufacturing.

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

  • A meeting of and a dinner with the Number 10 policy board.

  • Hosting a Number 10 policy board roundtable with MPs, UK Trade and Investment and UK Export Finance to discuss growth through trade.

  • A reception to discuss Neuroendocrine cancers and the importance of early diagnosis.

  • The Stonewall awards ceremony at the Victoria and Albert museum.

  • A meeting between Conservative MPs and MEPs from the West Midlands to discuss how we can best work together.

  • Chairing a UK-Japan 21^st Century Group breakfast discussion. I enjoyed hearing the thoughts of the former Japanese Ambassador to the UK about recent Japanese policy and the global economy.

  • The Canal and River Trust reception in Parliament to discuss how best to protect Britain’s waterways and in particular the canals in the Black Country.

  • A meeting with the Solicitor General to discuss medical disclosure in cases of sexual assault.

  • A reception hosted by the Royal National Institute of Blind People to launch their latest report on sight loss in relation to the late diagnosis and treatment of conditions that lead to blindness.

  • An APPG for Human Trafficking evidence session to hear from specialists for their report on modern day slavery.

  • Hosting an All Party Parliamentary Group on Trade & Investment reception in the House of Lords to launch the International Festival of Business, to be held next year in Liverpool.

  • Speaking about my work on trade at a Policy Exchange breakfast.

  • Hosting farewell drinks for Lord Green, who will be retiring from his post as Trade Minister later this month, and also a breakfast for MPs to meet Lord Livingston, the incoming Trade Minister.

  • A reception hosted by Parkinson’s UK.

---Out and about in Stourbridge---

I took part in various visits and meetings:

  • A meeting with Natasha George, Co-Director of the International Festival of Glass, to discuss how best to raise the profile of glassmaking in Stourbridge.

  • I was delighted to attend a Dudley area Conservative Associations dinner at the Copthorne Hotel. The Justice Secretary Chris Grayling spoke, and the evening was very enjoyable.

  • Visiting Colley Gate Computers during their open day. I was very interested to hear that they recently won a national IT Reseller Award.

  • Supporting Stourbridge FC in their FA cup match against Biggleswade. I was delighted that they won 4-1 and will be going through to the second round for only the second time in the club’s history.

  • I attended Remembrance Sunday services in Lye, Mary Stevens Park and Cradley.

  • A meeting with the manager of our local children’s centres to discuss the planned closure of several centres, and the impact this will have on other services. I was very pleased that Dudley Council has since withdrawn their proposals to close the centres. My paper intended for the consultation can be read here (http://www.margotjames.com/pdf/Childrens_Centres_23112013.pdf).

  • Hosting the first ever outreach event in the Black Country with the London School of Economics at King Edwards VI College. The event showcased what this top university has to offer, and encouraged our most able students in the social sciences to consider applying to study at the school.

  • Meeting with Luke Jones & Grace Downing, from Birmingham Metropolitan College in Brierley Hill, who won my Christmas card competition. I was very impressed with their winning design, and interested to hear about their current projects.

  • Appearing on the Bridge Radio to talk about the new Tesco in Stourbridge, and national issues including the Government’s plans to restrict EU migrants’ access to benefits.

---And it wasn’t all work---

Jay and I managed to spend two weekends in the Cotswolds which was a lovely change, lots of walks and cooking. Every year I think I am never going to be able to fit in my usual round of mince pies and Christmas cake making. But I managed, making a couple of cakes, mincemeat and the mince pies are now in the freezer. Jay meanwhile made her wreaths and other decorations and we are now under the illusion that all is prepared.

I got to see a good musical with my friend Peter Field, ‘Once’ is the story of an Irish musician and is very well played by a cast who can sing, dance and play an instrument all at the same time. But my cultural highlight was The Butler, a really brilliant portrayal of post war American history through the eyes of an ex slave who waits on six Presidents and the black community from which he comes.

Nativity plays start early now and it was a real treat to be able to get to see my great niece in her school nativity play, Poppy is in year one and the whole thing was a great joy from start to finish.

I was very pleased to welcome my young cousin Felix Nobes, and his mother Belinda, to King Edward’s College for the LSE outreach event. We caught up at Pizza Express on the High Street afterwards.

Margot James

Margot

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