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Newsletter February 2014

Posted by Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, at 09:22, Sat 1 February 2014:

Dear Subscriber,

Last year some nine hundred students and parents participated in the “Aspiration Programme” I run in Stourbridge. Courtesy of Glasshouse College and King Edward’s College, who very kindly allow us to use their premises, four events were held last year. Well over a hundred companies, universities and apprenticeship providers, promoted a huge array of courses and careers to young people at these events. The “Aspiration Programme” will now run for a second year and we have three events and a schedule of visits booked in already.

There have been many developments nationally in education which are affecting young people in Stourbridge. A couple of years ago ministers introduced the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). The EBacc comprises GCSE study in English, Maths, Science, Humanities (history or geography) and a foreign language. To obtain the EBacc a young person has to attain at least a C grade in at least five of these subject areas.

Several colleagues, including Elizabeth Truss who is now Minister for Education and Childcare, and I were disappointed that the EBacc did not replace the measure of five C grades at GCSE including English and Maths, as the standard measure of a school’s performance. The new measure proposed has been well received; incorporating as it does the school’s ability to stretch and improve a child’s abilities over time. But the EBacc is simple for everyone to use as a measure, the information from all secondary schools is now available.

The results are quite shocking and underline the absolute imperative of restoring rigour to our exam system. Only 23 % of young people passed the EBacc nationally. First the good news from Stourbridge; 33% of students at Redhill School passed their EBacc, which is substantially greater than the national average. But it is salutary to note that fewer than one in ten students attained the EBacc at most of the other schools in our area.

---Westminster Activity

I asked questions and spoke in debates about:

* A&E: to ask what affect the additional combined budget for health and social care will have on older people’s admissions to A&E. It is welcome news that the Government is making changes to the GP contract so that older people can be better cared for in their community and avoid being admitted to hospital. Read more (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansr d/cm140114/debtext/140114-0001.htm#14011474001325)

  • I attended and listened closely to the debate on the final stages of the Immigration Bill.

I wrote to Ministers about the following issues:

  • The Prime Minister, David Cameron, to assist in challenging a child support agency decision.

  • Mark Harper, Immigration Minister, to ask for help with the progression of a UK visa application.

  • Matthew Hancock, Skills Minister, to raise the lack of a Government framework for apprenticeships below level 2, which is very much needed for young people with learning needs.

  • Robert Goodwill, Transport Minister, about delays experienced by those with conditions like diabetes when renewing their driving licence.

  • Dr. Dan Poulter, Health Minister, regarding financial assistance for people wishing to return to nursing.

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

  • An All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Manufacturing breakfast, we heard from the global manufacturing director of JLR and discussed how Government can support UK manufacturing.

  • A lovely lunch in Parliament with Ben Woodward, who used to volunteer in my Stourbridge office.

  • The APPG for Trade and Investment breakfast, supported by Western Union, to discuss how small businesses can be supported to export. I was very pleased that Andrew Clark, the Deputy Business Editor of the Times, joined us to host the debate.

  • A meeting with Policy Exchange to discuss their latest energy policy ideas.

  • A meeting of the APPG for Burma, to hear about the Department for International Development’s work in the country.

  • The launch of the APPG for Human Trafficking’s report on modern day slavery.

  • Hosting William Smith, a pupil at Greenfield Primary School, and his family on a visit to Parliament. I was delighted that they enjoyed their tour. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-welcomes-local-pupil-parliament)

  • The Big Energy Saving Week reception in Parliament, to look at what customers can do to reduce their energy bills, which I know can be expensive for many households.

  • A reception hosted by the Heart of England Attractions Group. I was pleased to meet Peter Suddock from Dudley Zoo, one of my personal favourites among many local attractions.

  • A meeting with my colleagues in the European Parliament who represent the West Midlands.

Cllr. Karen Shakespeare-Jones decided to move on at the end of last year. Karen has done a great job running my office in Norton for the past two years; and we wish her all the very best in the next phase of her career.

---Out and about in Stourbridge

I took part in various visits and meetings:

  • Speaking at the Dudley Business Breakfast Club.

  • Meeting the Year 11 Citizenship students at Pedmore Technology College. I really enjoyed hearing about their interesting campaigns. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/margot-james-meets-local-students)

  • Visiting Base Studios to learn more about their continued work to support disadvantaged young people in the community and to see their brilliant, and ever expanding, facilities. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-hails-local-youth-projects-base-studios)

  • Hosting a wine tasting event held by the Rotary Club. Forty people joined us and we sampled wines from around the world.

  • Visiting Hob Green Children’s Centre to see at firsthand the important work that they do to support local parents and children. It was great to catch up with the parents and to see the excellent progress that the centre has made. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/stourbridge-mp-hails-work-local-children%E2%80%99s-centre)

  • Talking to the Class 10 students at Elmfield School about their Amnesty project and human rights issues across the world.

  • Meeting Simon Petar from Tesco, to discuss the concerns of local people regarding the car park in the Crown Centre. I was very pleased to secure assurances from Tesco that the three hours free parking at the centre will remain in place.

  • I was given a tour by Gavin Pardoe of the proposed site for Unit3Sixty, a fantastic skate park facility that will be opened in Stourbridge. I was very impressed to hear about the range of innovative ideas that are planned and I know that the skate park will be a welcome, and long overdue, addition to the local community. Read more (http://www.margotjames.com/content/mp-visits-local-skate-park-premises)

  • I held a drop-in advice surgery in the Crown Centre. It was really great to meet people and discuss their local and national concerns.

---And it wasn’t all work:

January has been a pretty busy month after Jay and I enjoyed our travels in Burma over the holiday period. It is a fascinating country, lovely welcoming people who have survived the truly terrible military government they have had to endure for many decades. It was wonderful to visit the country during a period of positive change for the better. But salutary to reflect on the continuing oppression in parts of the country in particular.

Jay took me to see a very good comedy show, Bridget Christie, who was a sell out at the Edinburgh Festival last Summer. We also saw Twelve Years a Slave and August: Osage County.

Some readers will remember Gary Moore who worked for me as a researcher for two years. Gary is now doing what he has always wanted to do, working in international development out in Uganda. I am keeping in touch with his activity out there, and you can do the same by visiting his blog: http://kabalechronicle.wordpress.com/

Margot

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