Last month, the Chancellor set out his plan to restore economic stability and drive down inflation in the Autumn Statement. I and other Conservative MPs l have been pushing for some time now to get policies over the line, and I am pleased to say that the Chancellor has listened. I’ve been banging the drum on protecting the Triple Lock on pensions, uprating benefits in line with inflation and increasing energy support for those in rural communities like ours who heat their homes with heating oil or LPG. So, I was delighted when all three of these became Government policy. I am under no illusions about the economic challenges we face as a nation, but striking the balance between growing our economy and bolstering our vital public services is clearly the right path forward and a testament to what a sensible, compassionate Government can deliver.
One example of this delivery is with Project Gigabit where work has already started in Cumbria to connect around 60,000 homes and businesses to fast broadband. It is great news that the provider Fibrus, who I have met with on several occasions, with the award of the Government contract, is investing in Penrith with a new training academy at Newton Rigg to train at least 90 apprentices with the skills for the economy of the future. Investing more than £100 million in Cumbria, I’m so excited about the opportunities this broadband rollout will unlock, from boosting rural businesses to mitigating the effects of rural isolation.
Although this is great news for us in Cumbria, a holistic approach to connectivity is still needed. This means improving both digital and physical connections. As such, I stood up in Parliament this month to make sure the Government won’t rule anything out, including stripping them of their contract, if Avanti West Coast’s unreliable and unacceptable train service doesn’t improve. I know first-hand each week how frustrating this commute from Cumbria to London is and barely a week goes by without me hearing from fellow Cumbrians who have missed out on seeing family members, going to events or attending appointments.
It was a great privilege recently to meet some of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) at their Langwathby base. The charity is celebrating its 20th anniversary providing world-leading emergency care and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the team for all they do protecting folk across our vast region.
I also addressed a packed audience in Penrith for my Rural Stakeholders event with DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency. Some really important issues were discussed from increasing production costs to the changes in farm payments. These conversations are vital in making sure national policy works for everyone and I was able feed these back when I quizzed the Secretary of State for DEFRA as part of an EFRA Committee evidence session this week.
Here in Penrith and The Border, I was humbled on Remembrance Sunday to play my part in commemorating those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. It was a busy and emotional day where I took part in parades, laid wreaths on behalf of my constituents and attended services in Penrith and Appleby. The moving scenes I witnessed paying respect to the fallen, made me think to our beleaguered friends in Ukraine who are enduring so much hardship at this time. I welcome the UK's compassionate and continuous response to the crisis and I pray for a speedy resolution.
I also held my regular constituent advice surgeries in Penrith and Brampton this month. I rotate their locations throughout the constituency so get in touch via [email protected] if you’d like to discuss an issue.
It has also been a busy time on the environment. Firstly, I joined fellow Conservative MPs in signing a new manifesto outlining ways the Government can tackle illegal and unacceptable sewage discharges by water companies. The Government has accepted our recommendations to massively increase fines and now for those fines be put directly into local initiatives to clean up our waterways. On the EFRA Select Committee I’ve probed the UK’s food security, changing farm payments, sealife mortality in the North East and much more.
Sadly, a huge issue nationwide is the Avian Influenza outbreak which has now been identified as the largest in our history. We held an urgent EFRA Committee session with poultry bosses and animal disease experts before I spoke in a Parliamentary debate on the topic. Bird populations have been devastated, both wild and domestic. For my part, having witnessed truly tragic scenes during my time as a vet during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Crisis, my thoughts and prayers go out to farmers, vets, officials and everyone else on the front line. As well as impacting the economy, this outbreak is already taking a toll on the mental health of rural communities like ours and I am urging the Government to support our farmers and resource our animal disease control infrastructure.
In the Commons this, I was appointed to two Bill committees which scrutinise legislation. It is an important part of being an MP. The Bills in question are aimed at tackling air pollution and supporting some of the most vulnerable in society with housing.
Finally may I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
