I arrived at the office early on Monday morning for a briefing on the new Energy Security Bill which is all about the sustainability of UK energy. It will investigate carbon capture, offshore wind power and will be looking to ensure we have enough energy in place for future generations. This is a cross-party bill which means I will be working alongside colleagues across the political spectrum to protect the sustainability of energy in the UK. As a team we will work together to get the bill ready for debate, it is a great privilege to be working on something so important for the future of energy in the UK. In the afternoon I went to see a single decker bus which was parked outside of Westminster, but this was no ordinary bus. This bus was on its way to Ukraine to deliver medical supplies which will take our overall medical donations from the UK to over 11 million items and continue to save many lives.
Tuesday morning, I continued with my work on the Energy Security Bill, as a committee we must approve every part of the bill, make amendments and gain feedback from industry professionals before it goes through parliament and the document is around 400 pages long. I took a break from reading and attended the Dying with Dignity drop-in session with Pru Leith, we heard first-hand about the experiences of families who have lost loved ones and about end of life care. I think it is important to discuss these matters that effect everyone and show we can have conversations about difficult topics such as euthanasia. I then headed back to the office for more work on the Energy Security Bill and then voted in the House of Commons before finally leaving the office around 10pm.
On Wednesday morning I met with Lloyds bank to discuss potential changes they believe would help properties to become more sustainable and reduce homeowner bills. We then talked about other services offered by them including an energy saving tool; digital skills programme and debt counselling and how we could work together to support residents of Blyth Valley. In the afternoon it was PMQs where we discuss the larger issues in politics. I was delighted to hear that the North East were receiving £5million to help foster carers and there was very positive new figures released showing a record number of doctors and nurses working in the NHS in England. The government have recruited 53,000 new full-time staff in our NHS in the past year.
After PMQ’s I had a private meeting for the Environmental Audit Committee and then hurried back to the office for something to eat before a meeting in 10 Downing Street. I had the pleasure to welcome local businessman Martin Tulip to speak with the chancellor about what challenges Blyth Valley businesses are facing. This was invaluable for both parties to learn and discuss how we can better our small business support. We then had the chance to relax on the terrace with a drink and have an informal chat about the experience and how we can move forward to improve anti-social behaviour.
The following morning, I raised a question in Parliament about serious violent crime in Blyth Valley. Losing a loved one to senseless violence is a tragedy that no one should ever have to endure, that is why I asked the Solicitor General to meet with me to discuss recent incidents that have shocked our community, so we can see what action the government can take. We must do our best to support families and pursue justice, and I will continue to do all I can to represent you in parliament in campaigning for a safer Blyth Valley. In the afternoon I had a briefing on the Energy Security Bill and then jumped on the train back home.
I had a great visit on Friday morning to Merit in Cramlington with Ann-Marie Trevelyan the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed. The innovation and engineering skills put in place to build the new pre-made hospital for Berwick was astounding. We met with NHS stakeholders and discussed the logistics and the overall progress of the construction. I heard how Merit champion green processes and discussed the future of pre-made buildings and sustainability. The hospital is being fully built at the Cramlington site and will be moved to Berwick once completed.
In the afternoon I invited key veteran’s charities both nationally and locally who operate in Blyth Valley. Organisations such as the RBL, Care after Combat, Help for Heroes, NHS Sporting Force, Blyth Valley Veterans Community and Reserve Forces & Cadets Association all came together at a round table meeting to chat about what we can do to best support veterans in our area. I am looking forward to our next meeting whereby we can build on our thoughts and create a better future for veterans.
The weekend began with a constituent surgery in the morning and a couple of hours of office admin. Then I set off home and got ready to go out to our local pub to watch our favourite band. On Sunday we had a day visiting family and enjoying the bank holiday break in the sunshine. As always, if you have any queries or if you would like to contact me please email [email protected] or call 01670 338 435.
