Being a MP involves living a double life split between the House of Commons and being in your constituency. With Parliament in recess last week, this was a welcome opportunity for me to be able to focus squarely on dealing with constituency casework cases, local visits, attending a parish council meeting and other activities I normally have to fit into half the week.
My week began with visits to family businesses in the horticulture sector in Terrington St. Clement. As it was just before Valentine’s Day flowers were being prepared for delivery at Belmont Nurseries with greenhouses full of products for Mother’s Day too –it is one of a small number of firms producing over 70 per cent of tulips sold in the UK and of course has helped to raise huge sums through “Tulips for Tapping.”
At Hillgate Nurseries, I toured vast greenhouses where millions of plants are sown and then delivered across UK including most of the lettuces grown here. With plans to phase out peat as a material for growing plants, I saw the experimentation and investment the business is making on alternatives. At both sites the utilisation of technology and automation was impressive.
There are undoubtedly challenges facing the horticulture industry and one of the ways we can help is to Buy British and support local businesses. As well as working with other MPs to encourage supermarkets to make it easier for customers to do just that, I welcome the announcement by the Prime Minister of steps to improve our food security.
During the week, I had my regular review meeting with QEH’s Chairman and Chief Executive on plans for the new hospital this government has committed to building by 2030. They updated me on the start of work for the new temporary helipad which is good news as this is a key enabling project for the new hospital allowing for the building of the multi-storey car park. I was assured that the plans remain on track for a 2030 opening.
On Tuesday this week I met Lord Markham, the New Hospitals Minister who confirmed national Hospital 2.0 designs will be released in May enabling further planning by QEH. We need the new hospital by 2030 and I’ll continue working closely with the Trust to ensure the relevant approvals are secured.
My meeting with QEH was also an opportunity to learn more about research being undertaken there. QEH can be more agile than larger teaching hospitals which makes it an attractive option for commercial and non-commercially funded trials in cardiology and other areas. The potential to grow this research base - including with a clinical research facility in the new hospital which I strongly support – is exciting.
Finally, I spent a morning shadowing work coaches in Jobcentre Plus in Lynn and joined sessions with customers attending regular appointments about their job search and received advice on roles available. Unemployment locally is below the national average – which overall is less than halve the rate in 2010 – but there are still 1,600 people looking for work. Matching people to jobs is what the work coaches are doing and they have plenty to offer employers looking to recruit.
First published in Lynn News, 23 February 2024
