MP's Newsletter November 2018

HS2

This month saw the publication of the Working Draft Environmental Statement and Working Draft Equality Impact Assessment Report. These are two very dull sounding documents, but for anyone affected they are very important.

After making a formal complaint to HS2 and raising the matter with the Minister, Nus Ghani, I have been informed that copies of the consultation documents have finally been placed in Winsford Library to enable constituents to view hard copies of the documents and map books before responding to the consultations. HS2 have also agreed to hold a Public Information Event at the Winsford Lifestyle Centre on 7 December 2018. This is an opportunity for people to discuss the current consultations with officials from HS2 and the Department for Transport. I would encourage you to attend this event to raise any questions that you may have.

On 9 November, I attended the regular stakeholder meeting with HS2 in Eddisbury. At the meeting, HS2 failed to provide the visualisations of the route and the proposed rolling stock depot at Wimboldsley which they have been promising to provide since 2017. These visualisations are important to understand the visual impact of HS2, particularly the viaducts, in Eddisbury.

I also brought the issue to the attention of the Prime Minister during Prime Minister's Questions on 14 November and received her assurance that HS2 must deliver the promised documentation to enable constituents to fully and properly engage with the consultations.

Veterans Employment Transition Support (VETS) Programme

I took part in a CV and Interview Skills Day organised by the VETS Programme, holding a mock interview with a former British Army soldier.

VETS is a coalition consisting of a broad range of leading companies from across the commercial sector, the Ministry of Defence, the Career Transition Partnership as well as Service charities. VETS aims to support all veterans as they seek to find the right job by joining up existing initiatives into a single programme that significantly improves employment outcomes for all veterans and businesses.

School Visit

It was great to meet Year 12 pupils and teachers from Abbey Gate College in Saighton during their visit to Parliament, which coincided with UK Parliament Week. The pupils had many interesting questions about being an MP and what's happening in Westminster. They also had some great ideas about how to improve our local area.

This week has been a busy week and so much has been happening, here are just a few more examples of what I have been up to in Westminster:

• Prior to the publication of the Withdrawal Agreement, I asked questions in both Treasury and Wales Questions seeking certainty and reassurance that the Government's negotiations would provide for frictionless trade, which is so important to businesses in the constituency.
• I met with the King and Queen of the Netherlands, HRH King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, after he addressed both Houses of Parliament on the shared history and strong connections between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
• On 24 October 2018, I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, to discuss agriculture and rural affairs funding requirements as part of the upcoming Spending Review.
• I also attended receptions for both Breast Cancer Care and Pancreatic Cancer.
• On 3 November 2018, I attended the Parish Councillors Surgery in Malpas.
• I joined my fellow female MPs for a group photograph in the Chamber of the House of Commons as part of the events celebrating the centenary of the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act which gave women over 21 the right to stand for election as MPs for the first time.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.