We are now well on the way through recess, Westminster starts to sit again on the 1st of September, but I will also be in London for a couple of days next week to catch up with my London staff. We need to prepare for the bills to be presented in the first week back.
Last week ended with a zoom call with ministers to discuss the problems facing the coach industry, this is an industry that creates a lot of glue in the country in the way that it connects people and places. Due to Covid 19 the industry is effectively mothballed and it is a very difficult time for operators. The zoom discussion with ministers was to lobby for support for them and I believe the ministers on the call fully understood the gravity of the situation and will take the representations to the Chancellor and his team. I also had a visit to Wheatley Hill to meet residents who have some significant challenges with antisocial behaviour and environmental issues, I am working on their behalf with both the police and the council.
A major issue this week has of course been the exam results. This was always going to be a difficult process with students not actually sitting any exams but the failure of the standardisation model has been particularly disappointing as it has made a difficult year for students even harder. The concept of standardising results was laudable and appropriate in my opinion, but the process failed, despite being widely consulted on and having several of the major teaching unions supporting it. The need to change, due to the outcomes for significant minorities, looks correct but it will now introduce many other pressures ranging from over subscribed universities to comparators against future years, these will need to be addressed as we go forward. At a local level I have worked with those students that contacted us to try and get the outcomes they deserve and as I write we appear to have largely succeeded.
On other issues, I have been able to talk with a team based at Durham University who are working on developing the use of heat from underground sources like old mine workings, I have met them before as a Durham Councillor and their efforts continue to make progress and I will look to support their agendas.
I was able to join Simon and Jane at Junction 7 in preparing some packed lunches before I also had the opportunity to visit Sedgefield Community Hospital. There I met Sue Jacques (Chief Executive), Professor Paul Keane OBE (Chairman) and Louise West (Head Matron) as well as other members of the team. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about the structure of their services and see the excellent provision they offer whilst, of course, I was able to thank them for their outstanding efforts through this pandemic.
On a lighter note, during the week I have joined many of you in “eating out to help out” which has another couple of weeks to run yet, so please take the opportunity to support these businesses and get a great value meal.
As always, please remember to continue to respect the virus and not waste all the efforts that have been made, in particular by our key workers.
We need to wash our hands more regularly and robustly; wear face masks whenever necessary and give each other as much space as possible and we will give everyone the best opportunity to head to a more normal environment.
Have a safe week.
Paul Howell, Member of Parliament for Sedgefield
