Last week continued with updates on the situation in Ukraine and the incomprehensible actions of President Putin. Many government departments are working full out on this, but in particular, of course, the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, the Home Office and local government. I am in regular communication with all of these and have WhatsApp group updates as well. If there is anything you would like help with regarding any aspect of Ukraine, please let us know and we will do all we can.
On Monday I travelled down to Westminster and had a hybrid staff meeting before attending a dinner with the Social Justice Caucus (SJC) where the Prime Minister was the keynote speaker. It was good to hear his support of the caucus. The SJC work with the Centre for Social Justice making positive engagement to ensure communities across Britain are given every opportunity to flourish and reach their full potential.
Tuesday morning’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) meeting was our second evidence session and we discussed energy pricing, the future of the energy market and the impact on the energy industry. The session was in two parts. The first was with Citizens Advice and Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com as well as Octopus Energy and SO Energy and the second was with representatives of small businesses and energy intensive users.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting for Left Behind Neighbourhoods on Tuesday afternoon was the first time we were able to physically meet delegates from the many interested groups together in Westminster since before the pandemic. Our secretariat, Local Trust, managed the session supported by the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP) and, although I chaired the session, my engagement was restricted due to the timing of the many votes on the Nationality and Borders Bill. However, the APPG meeting was very fruitful and prepares the plan for the next year where we will be focusing on how the Levelling Up agenda aligns to the needs of these neighbourhoods. Later, I had a catch up with my Whip. The Whips cover many roles, but this was a catch up on my welfare and the opportunity to discuss some of the forthcoming legislation.
On Wednesday, I had a catch up with Durham University and the talks concentrated on how to make it more available to different potential students. After this I went to PMQs before a later virtual meeting with representatives of the County Durham Association of Local Councils along with my fellow Durham Conservative MPs, Richard Holden and Dehenna Davison. I then went to a dinner that had representatives of aerospace and defence there and I was able to promote the incredible businesses on NETPark.
Thursday would normally see me heading home in the morning but, as you may have seen, the bosses of P&O were called before a joint BEIS and Transport Select Committee. I was one of the BEIS members on this joint committee and I have to say it was an extraordinary experience. As a Select Committee we have had various businesses in front of us to explain their actions, but they have always tried to justify their actions from the perspective of following the law. We may have disagreed, but this was always their start point. I never anticipated someone sitting in front of us and saying they deliberately chose to ignore the law! I find this unbelievably arrogant and anticipate the damage to the P&O brand as being irreparable. I feel for the many good employees of P&O who have either been sacked or seen their company damaged in this way.
Back in the constituency on Friday and I had a catch up on local transport, a meeting with Citizens Advice where we discussed recent hikes in energy prices and the impact this has on families in the constituency. I also had a team meeting, where my team and I discussed our next round of surgeries, please let us know if you want to see us. I also went to see the opening of the new Business Hub at the Hall Garth Hotel. If you are a small business looking for somewhere to collaborate, please check them out.
On Saturday I called in to the Youth Centre to see the Rotary Club of Newton Aycliffe and the Model Railway crew’s 12th Annual Model Railway Exhibition. Last time this took place was pre pandemic when I was there as an Aycliffe Councillor. It was lovely to see people reconnecting again. If you have any events, you would like me to promote or call into, just let me know. At the beginning of this week, I am on my travels with the BEIS select committee, but I will tell you more about that next week.
If you want to catch up with me on anything, please get in touch at paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk
Stay Safe
Paul Howell, Member of Parliament for Sedgefield