Recently I had a catch up with NEAS (North East Ambulance Service) to understand their operations better. We discussed the importance of defibrillators, Councillor David Sutton-Lloyd is very well known in the town for his defibrillator campaign. We also discussed volunteering opportunities for community first responders and other roles.  You can find out more by searching NEAS Volunteers online.
I would also like to thank everyone who has responded to the recent anti-social behaviour and bus service surveys. The feedback you give to me means I can continue to raise matters with key stakeholders, and identify with decision makers, matters of particular concern to my constituents.
Last week we had a team of officials from BEIS come to NETPark to see the exceptional businesses that we have there. The visit was to give them a context on our efforts regarding the NESH (North East Space Hub) and how it could integrate into a UK matrix of space clusters with different specialisms. After joining this visit, I went back to Wingate Primary School to see the infants and drop off some old spectacles for a collection they were having.
Later in the week I went to Northumbria University for the Rutherford dinner, to discuss higher education, where we were joined by George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. This gave me another opportunity to keep him informed of research happening right here in Sedgefield.
Friday was a full day that started at Ferryhill for a meeting with local councillors, the Police and Crime Commissioner and her team, Durham County Council Neighbourhoods Team and staff from the Co-op. This was about anti-social behaviour in Ferryhill market square and had followed another meeting discussing the regeneration of Dean Bank.
After this I went to Durham where, along with other local MPs and the Durham County Council Bid team, we had lunch with Lord Parkinson, who is the Minister responsible for the City of Culture programme. We were able to share with him what an amazing County we have and the benefits winning the bid for City of Culture 2025 would bring to our region. We then all travelled down to Shildon for another presentation at the Locomotion railway museum. He appeared genuinely impressed by our offer but of course needs to remain impartial. The judging team were following him to the region this week so let’s hope they are impressed enough to award us the title for 2025.
Over the weekend I had another trip up to Northumbria University, this time for a Students Ball that included myself and other MPs taking questions in a Q&A session. Quite a challenging experience!
This week sees us back in Westminster for the Queen’s Speech. As reported in the media on Monday evening the Queen will not attend the state opening of parliament as she continues to experience mobility problems. I am sending my heartfelt best wishes to Her Majesty. This will be the first time since 1963 that the Queen will have missed this constitutional ceremony, which sets out the government’s legislative plans. Buckingham Palace have said that the Prince of Wales would read the Queen’s Speech on her behalf. Prince Charles, who is taking on the head of state’s big constitutional duty for the first time, will open parliament on Tuesday 10th May with the Duke of Cambridge.
I am fortunate to have drawn seats in the Strangers’ Gallery of the House of Lords so I will have an excellent view of proceedings. As this column is submitted on Tuesday I will talk more about this next week. I also have the privilege of attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. You will have seen in the press that the Queen will miss this year’s royal garden parties, so it will be interesting to see which members of the Royal Family are there.
My plans for the Jubilee weekend are coming together nicely and I hope as many of you as possible can join in some of the celebrations of our Queen’s amazing 70 years on the throne.
If you would like to get in touch with me, as always, you can reach me at paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk.
Paul Howell, Member of Parliament for Sedgefield