A week with the opportunity to meet people in the constituency is always a good thing and it was a pleasure to meet and listen to people at the local surgeries.
On Friday, before my first surgery, I went to Sedgefield to support the Mayor with her fundraising coffee morning before going to Wheatley Hill. There, I met a lovely group of people at the Greenhills Centre who were enjoying their art group. After this I headed to Ferryhill Station where, after the surgery, I was able to call in to the Commercial next door and update locals on the progress regarding Ferryhill railway station. That evening was the Darlington Mayor’s Charity Ball where it was a pleasure to see Sue Snowden, the Lord Lieutenant, and a number of Mayors from around the county, including Aycliffe’s Mayor, Councillor Sandra Haigh. All the Mayors are typically very supportive of each other’s charities.
Saturday, I held surgeries at Woodham Community Centre and Sadberge Village Hall. It was a delight to have Julia Blaik call in to see us at Woodham. Julia is a former Secretary of the Sedgefield Conservatives and told us all about her experiences meeting former Prime Ministers like John Major, Tony Blair and others.
It’s always good to read in the Newton News about the good things that are happening in our town and huge credit to the team for what they deliver to us every week. In particular, I like reading about what our young people are doing, so a special shout out this week to Year 1 at Sugar Hill and their fundraising efforts, well done to all involved.
I am also pleased to see that the A167 near Newton Aycliffe, between Aycliffe Village and just north of Central Avenue has seen its limit reduced from 60mph to 50mph. It has been a problem for years and I can remember losing a friend to an accident on this stretch of road back in the 1970s. Alongside other road users and local councillors I anticipate the reduction in the speed limit will make the road safer.
Last week in Westminster there were three sessions discussing ‘partygate’, while appreciating the media are reporting various sides of these debates, I do believe that at least some of this Parliament’s time would be better spent debating Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis.
I am glad to say that we did make progress on some significant legislation like the Nationality and Borders Bill but for this and others, including the Health & Care Bill, Elections Bill, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and the Judicial Review and Courts Bill, this week will see us playing ‘Ping Pong’ with the Lords. This is where the Lords attempt to persuade the Commons to make amendments, whilst some will be accepted, the Commons will insist on others and this will lead to some backwards and forwards to deliver a resolution.
Hopefully we will conclude these important Bills before Parliament is prorogued, which is anticipated to be on Thursday 28th April. Prorogation is when a session of Parliament is discontinued without being dissolved and is in anticipation of the Queens Speech on May 10th. This is when we have a State Opening of Parliament, and the Queen gives a speech about the intentions of her Government in the next session. The prorogation period will afford me some more time in the constituency so please let us know if you want to catch up.
If you do want to catch up with me on anything, please email paul.howell.mp@parliament.uk or phone 01325 790580.
Stay Safe
Paul Howell, Member of Parliament for Sedgefield