Iain Wright

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:17:01 +0100

Were coming to the end of a memorable summer for Hartlepool. The Tall Ships will naturally be remembered for a long time, but what has also been impressive has been the number of residents groups who have put on their own fun days and fayres.

All throughout the town, there has been hugely successful events, more than any previous year I believe. I am privileged to attend great events at Burn Valley, Rift House, Rossmere and Owton. They are the best constituency surgeries I hold, because so many people want to have a chat. I am always really pleased when people feel able to stop me for a word, but it does mean that I am always late for things.

Ive been tempted, although didnt try, those weird crisp-type kebabs that were available at some of the fun days they looked both disgusting and tasty at the same time. I was told they were very tasty, although I had to take other peoples word for it. I have however eaten honey from bees at the Burn Valley allotments, which was absolutely beautiful. At the same event, I enjoyed making fun out of one member of the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, who, despite it being a fairly warm day, was dressed like he was going to the Antarctic. Goodness knows what would happen if he needs to do a stakeout at night to tackle anti-social behaviour.

I have been very unlucky in all the raffles, to the point where I thought there might have been a fix. At the Meadowfield Court summer fayre a couple of weeks ago I picked up the Dads Army film DVD for a bargain price of 50 pence, something Im rather proud of, and ate far too much cream than was good for me. Indeed, at most of the fun days I have eaten far too much cake.

Unusually this year, I escaped going into the stocks for a complete soaking, and have therefore stayed rather drier than I would normally. I got to try on chain mail from an historical re-enactment society from Hart Village when they were at the Rossmere Residents Fun Day in the Park. I missed, by being late, the bonnie babies competition at the Owton Manor fun day, but was on hand to judge the glamorous grannies competition. Unfortunately, only one lady entered, which was very disappointing I know there are more glamorous ladies in Owton Manor than that.

The summer isnt completely finished. I think the round of fun days will end in some style and drama this Saturday on the Rift House Rec, when Rift House Residents Association and Hart Gables are hosting an Its a Knockout and Car Boot sale. Even better, Cllr Christopher Akers-Belcher, a man who is very fond of his hair and its various interesting colours, all from a bottle, is being sponsored to have all his hair shaved off in aid of the Rifty Youth Club. Its a very worthwhile cause, which is really making a difference to the young people in Rift House. But it will also be interesting to see what Cllr Akers-Belcher will look like in a few years time when he finally goes bald anyway. I hope you sponsor him because it is in a good cause.

I mention these events for a reason. The events take some organising, and committed community champions, like Irene Cross, Linda Harvey, Angie Wilcox, Anne Saunders, Tom Stewart, Susan Harriman, Ann Marshall, Stephen Akers-Belcher, Linda Pine, Dawn Robinson, Hilda Wales and many, many others give up their time to make sure they are a success. I know I will have missed out many people, and I apologise for that. These events are great ways for the community to come together and have some fun. I have mentioned on many occasions how Hartlepool has a strong community tradition, something that is very precious in the modern world. We need to make sure that we can keep hold of these strong community traditions.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:16:16 +0100

The most encouraging and positive part of the Hartlepool Mail last week (as opposed to the dramatic events at Hartlepool United) was seeing the looks of joy and delight on many young peoples faces as they received their A level results.

Once again, as a town, Hartlepools A level students have performed spectacularly, well ahead of the national average. Hartlepool Sixth Form College showed an astounding 99.2 per cent pass rate, English Martyrs receiving a pass rate of 99 per cent, whilst Hartlepool College of Further Education showed an impressive 95 per cent.

I really want to pay tribute to all the hard work and dedication of the students, who have applied themselves to achieve success. Some might not have achieved what they wanted or needed, and they live to fight another day, but in the vast majority of cases there is cause for celebration and optimism. I also want to thank the teachers, who are the best generation of committed and professional teaching staff the town has ever seen. I also want to pay tribute to parents, who have often been treading on egg shells as their son or daughter have been revising. I know about this from bitter experience.

Ive said this before, but it is worth mentioning time and time again, as a sign of how the town has progressed in the past 15 years or so. Its not too long ago since Hartlepool trailed well behind the national average for A Level results. We were at the bottom of the league went it came to exam success at the age of 16 now, this weeks GCSE results show us close to the top.

This bodes well for the future of our town a skilled town is generally a prosperous town although there are many challenges ahead. More and more young people want to go to university. That is a great thing. I hate the idea of somebody from our town thinking that university wasnt for the likes of them, or put off by the idea of loans and debt. The funding of higher education is a massive issue, but there still remain bursaries and grants for students coming from lower income households. Although this is not very well mentioned in the media, there are now more university undergraduates entitled to and receiving grants than at any point in this countrys history.

University entrance has always been a competitive matter, but this year is particularly tough. I know that times are difficult, but it does seem to me to be somewhat shortsighted that, in a year when applications to university are at all time high, and when our competitors like China, the US and India are expanding the number of university places for science and engineering, the Government is now cutting places for university. This doesnt help our long-term prospect of economic growth, especially in the future growth industries like renewable energy that I mentioned last week.

I dont want this to be an anti-Government rant, but the Future Jobs Fund, which was very successful in Hartlepool, has been cut, limiting still further the ability of young people to get help and support for their future career.

Its probably the toughest environment ever for our young people. They are deciding what to do for the rest of their lives, and they are doing so in a very harsh economic climate with high competition for university places. Despite this difficulty, I hope Hartlepool recognises the enormous achievement from our young people, and wishes them all well for the future.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:45:51 +0100

Ive mentioned before my love of history, and my pride that this part of the world was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. I like the fact that the North East was the workshop of the world, and made goods that were at the cutting edge of technology and provided this region with job creation and prosperity, based upon engineering. Hartlepool helped make the modern world was it is: I dont think we make enough of the fact that the very first oil tanker in the entire world was built and launched from West Hartlepool dock in 1892.

The thing is, I dont think engineering and manufacturing should be part of our past. I passionately believe that if we are to compete in the modern world, we need to ensure that all our strengths are used. We still have in Hartlepool the engineering skills and the facilities to exploit great market opportunities in modern industries like renewable off shore wind energy. We have great companies locally who can meet this demand and provide jobs and further contracts. We have JDR Cables, a leading (and growing) cable manufacturer for renewable energy projects, as well as Heerema Hartlepool, which is one of the worlds leading specialist in the engineering and fabrication for the energy industry. We also have had in the last few days Corus stating that they are investing £32 million in Teesside in the offshore renewables market. We have a great port, as many people saw last week with the Tall Ships that has deepwater capacity, meaning that ships can berth close to the docks, load up and then sail quickly to the North Sea.

All the companies need to come together to see how they can work closely and more cost effectively. This happened last week as part of the Tall Ships event, when PD Ports, the company which owns the port, hosted a conference, entitled Chain Reaction, for companies to come together to see how they can co-operate to take advantage of this opportunity. I was really pleased that Paul Barker, PD Ports Development Director, was able to lead this conference.

Chain Reaction is needed and welcome. It is my vision for Hartlepool and the wider Teesside area to be the centre of excellence for energy, whether it is renewable like off shore wind energy, or nuclear, or even embracing the traditional energy sources that are still needed like oil and gas.

I cant stress enough how much potential there is with this initiative. The worlds move from fossil fuels to renewable sources will take place in the next 40-50 years, and Hartlepool is well positioned, with its skills, companies and facilities, to take advantage of this.

Chain Reaction will cluster companies together to ensure that they can offer the highest quality product to customers around the world. I want to assist in this venture by offering support, co-ordination and mentioning the initiative in Parliament to Ministers. In this way, I hope we are at the start of a long-standing prosperous time for engineering in Hartlepool. Not only did Hartlepool build the 19th century, I think we are best placed to build the 21st century. But we have to act now.

Iain backs Hartlepool artist

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:56:47 +0100

Iain was impressed to see a new sculpture this week based on Hartlepool's history and legend.

The sculpture entitled The Hartlepool Tale is a bronze sculpture of a stag with a monkey on its back that is holding a cod.

The sculpture is currently on diplay at Hartlepool Art Gallery, in Church Street and creator Julia Wager is hoping that a larger life size version could be built and installed at a location somewhere in the town.

Iain is supporting the idea and said

"I think the sculpture is great and it is an interesting take on what is our civic symbol.

"We have to appreciate in the current climate, there will be no public money available for this sort of thing, but I hope private and corporate sponsors may be able to assist."

Iain with artist Julia Wager view 'The Hartlepool Tale'

PD Ports seeks Chain Reaction for Teesside

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:57:43 +0100

PD Ports, one of the major companies driving Teessides ambition to become a centre of excellence for the European wind energy sector, recently hosted a Chain Reaction conference in Hartlepool to build support for the concept.

Representatives of local companies, as well as local MP Iain Wright, listened to presentations outlining the major opportunities and challenges facing the renewable energy sector.

We need to act now to build the facilities and infrastructure for the wind farm manufacturers if the UK is to develop a sustainable renewable energy manufacturing and logistics sector, says Paul Barker, PD Ports Development Director bulks, ports and logistics. This is the perfect opportunity for the Government to back UK manufacturing and exporting while at the same time making sure we meet our commitment to its 2020 renewable energy targets.

Speakers called on the Government to make sure planning consent procedures for renewable projects were both transparent and fast and that access to the national grid be made easier for those already generating alternative energy.

Other parts of Europe benefit from significant levels of public subsidy which makes it more difficult for the UK to compete, so the local North-East companies are working together to launch Chain Reaction, the Teesside Renewable Energy Supply Chain Cluster.
They believe that by working together, they can offer the range of skills and facilities needed by those seeking sites for their businesses including those making hardware for the industry and providers of components for that hardware.

We have the skills, the facilities and the determination to blend the experience of the past with the vision needed to make this new industrial revolution work, says Mr Barker. The people here have the engineering skills to work with the new technologies which will be used to produce everything needed for both onshore and offshore wind farms.

The Port of Hartlepool, part of PD Ports, is already building a reputation as a centre of wind energy expertise on its 50ha site. The port hosts JDR Cable Systems, a leading cable manufacturer for renewable energy projects, and Heerema Fabrication Group, which specialises in the engineering and fabrication of large and complex structures, mainly for the offshore oil & gas and energy industry.

With a large brownfield area, Hartlepool is ideally placed for companies manufacturing and supporting wind energy projects. Its location as the closest UK port to Dogger Bank (the Governments largest designated offshore wind farm zone), its open access to the North Sea, and a workforce with experience and expertise in dealing with large and outsize cargo, makes Hartlepool the obvious choice for this business.

Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool, says he is very happy to back this initiative.

The Chain Reaction initiative has enormous potential to secure Hartlepool and the wider area as a centre of excellence for wind energy. This will help to create jobs and produce wealth and prosperity for the region. I give Chain Reaction my wholehearted support and will do all I can to work with the team to make it a success.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:10:04 +0100

It wasnt bad, was it!

I am, of course, referring to the Tall Ships event from the past couple of days. As someone who did not organise it, I can be as objective as I can and pay a full tribute to all those at Hartlepool Borough Council and elsewhere who put on such a spectacular event. The organisers truly did the town proud, and it is hard to think of a better four days. In my mind, the Tall Ships exceeded all expectations and showed what Hartlepool as a town can achieve. Hartlepool may be a small town, but it has big ambitions, and in the past few days that was demonstrated time and time again. We as a town can do this again, and bring more kudos and lets be honest, much needed money to Hartlepool.

Its estimated that over a million people flocked to the Tall Ships over the course of the four days. Many came to Hartlepool for the first time, and in the many warm and friendly conversations I have had with strangers in the past week, I find it difficult to think of one which had a bad word to say about the town. All were incredibly generous in their praise for Hartlepool: they came to see the spectacular Tall Ships, but they left enthusing about the warmth and generosity of Hartlepudlians. Time and time again people were saying to me: everybody from Hartlepool smiles and talks to you. The reputation of the town has increased in leaps and bounds over the past week people are going to the far corners of the globe talking up Hartlepool and frankly, its not about the ships we had in dock, its about the friendliness of the people. You should all be very proud of yourselves!

If only a small proportion of the million visitors come back to the town, that could provide an enduring legacy for Hartlepool that could reach into the tens of millions of pounds each year. Not only that: business was done as part of the Tall Ships event. On the last day, I attended a seminar hosted by PD Ports that invited businessmen and women who were seeing the Tall Ships to see how we can bring more well paid manufacturing jobs and businesses to Hartlepool on the back of renewable energy. There was a buzz about the week which meant that these business people were impressed by the facilities and the scale of Hartlepools ambition, and I believe jobs will come as a result.

What pleased me as I was walking around was the number of Hartlepool families enjoying the Tall Ships. I had worried before the event that this might be seen as something for outsiders and that because of traffic chaos or whatever Hartlepool people wouldnt join in. Nothing could have been further from the truth: it was Hartlepools party, and I think from my experience at the event that Hartlepudlians had a great time and were so proud that it was their town that was hosting this spectacular.

As well as paying tribute to the Council for organising it, I also want to thank the Police. To have a million people in four days, and to have alcohol served, must turn most police officers hair white. But the event passed with only a handful of incidents, which is a remarkable achievement. This was because I think most people wanted just to have a good time and not cause trouble, but it was also because of the way the event was policed: well staffed, but never too overt.

Praise must also go to the many volunteers who gave up their time to assist with a variety of tasks to help the event run smoothly. Organisations such as the RNLI are so often taken for granted in ensuring our seas are safe and are funded entirely through charitable contributions and the expertise and commitment of volunteers. I applaud the hard work of so many unsung heroes who regularly make a vital contribution to our town, and have once again done their bit to make the event a great success.

The event wasnt perfect. I know from painful experience, even as someone who can walk for England, that wandering from one end of the event to the other was hard work and a long distance and played havoc with blisters on your feet. More importantly, I know that people were concerned about wheelchair access across the rocky ground. But I also know that Council staff were aware of this and were on hand to help people as much as possible. I hope it didnt detract from peoples enjoyment, and it is a lesson that will be learned for future events.

But I want to finish on a high, just like the spectacular Tall Ships event did. For a small town to host this world class event was a tall order, if you forgive the pun. But it was done, and done in such a spectacular and successful style. I am incredibly proud of Hartlepool and all it stands for, and most people in the town are too. This week, I think the world now sees Hartlepool as we in the town all see it. For that, you should all be proud of what you put into the event.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:40:04 +0100

You may have seen reports in the past few days that Accident & Emergency at our towns hospital is to change. I think this is premature.

The announcement of this came out less than 24 hours after I had a debate in the House of Commons about the future of hospital services, and the Health Minister, Simon Burns, had offered assurances that Hartlepool hospital would not close.

The changes that are being proposed will move some of the services into the new One Life Hartlepool centre in Park Road. This is welcome, because it means a wider range of health services will be provided in the very centre of town. I think that this will mean that more people from Hartlepool will be seen in Hartlepool. Other services will be provided at the emergency assessment unit on the 4th floor of the University Hospital of Hartlepool. But further services will be provided at the University Hospital of North Tees.

The manner in which this announcement was allowed to filter out into the wider realm did not convey confidence, and will worry people. As a result of this, all sorts of rumours have started portacabins being used to treat patients, for example which makes it difficult to communicate what is really happening and adds to the sense of confusion and concern.

These changes are part of the Momentum programme, which aims to change health services to ensure that they are closer to the patient, and carried out within peoples communities. Again, I welcome this. But the Momentum programme culminates in the opening of a world class, state-of-the-art hospital in the Borough of Hartlepool in Wynyard to serve the various towns north of the Tees.

Things changed radically when the new Government decided that they would not fund the new hospital. Although it is considered by surgeons and other clinical staff to be something that is still required to help improve the chances of people recovering from surgery and other complex medical complaints, the fact of the matter remains that we have been plunged into a degree of uncertainty which I think requires a period of pause and reflection. I would have thought that if and when the new hospital is given the green light (and this remains subject to several risks, like the Department of Health refusing to allow the private funding model to go ahead) it seems sensible that Momentum should move ahead once again.

Accident & Emergency is such an important function of a hospital. I am no medical expert, but I am told that the related medical and surgical teams pull together to ensure a seamless service for the patient. My concern is that by withdrawing A & E from Hartlepool the acceleration of the closure of Hartlepool Hospital will occur, and that we would see centralisation of services at North Tees, which is completely unacceptable.

This week there was a two-hour meeting of the Councils Health Scrutiny Forum, which Health bosses and I both attended. I think that the Forum, chaired by Cllr Stephen Akers-Belcher, had the same views as me, and have asked for a more formal consultation that gives people the opportunity to comment on these proposals. I think that that is appropriate.

Communication about this important matter of A&E needs to be much clearer. If someone in Hartlepool has an accident, they want to know what happens, and where they should go. But at a time when we do not know what is happening with the new hospital, this decision about A&E is premature.

Iain helps choose Carnival Queen

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:21:00 +0100

Judging took place this weekend of the annual Miss Carnival Queen Competition at a packed Headland Social Club.

Iain was part of a panel of five who had a tough job of judging the ten young women who took part. The panel also comprised of Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council, Cllr Carl Richardson, Carnival King, Mark Lupton, his daughter and Carnival Queen 2009, Chelsea Lupton and Hartlepool Mail reporter Emma Greenhalgh.

They gave points out of 10 for looks, personality and appearance which were added up to reveal the overall winner.

A delighted Adele McFarlane, 18 walked away with the crown and a £50 cash prize.

Iain said

"I thought it was very competitive and very close this year. All the contestants conducted themselves with real panache and dignity and it's a great event on the Headland".

Iain with Cllr Carl Richardson and newly crowned Carnival Queen Adele McFarlane

Iain opens family fun day

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:11:00 +0100

Iain was on hand on Saturday morning to open the Town Centre Communities Family Fun Day held at Burn Valley Gardens.

The free event was planned by a sub-committee comprising representatives of the Burn Valley North Residents Association, Oxford Road Residents Association and committee members from St Matthews Hall, with support from Irene Cross, Hartlepool Councils Central Neighbourhood Development Officer.

There was a variety of attractions and activities, including childrens rides, a bouncy castle, a climbing wall, Punch and Judy shows, arts and crafts, face painting, cake stalls, a tombola and raffles.

A range of organisations such as Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Hartlepool Borough Councils Community Safety Team and the Health Trainers were also represented on the day. Also supporting the event were a number of businesses from the area and local charities.

Iain with Irene Cross and helpers at the Town Centre fun day

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:01:41 +0100

Tuesday saw the last day of the House of Commons sitting. Parliament then ups sticks for the summer recess. It is slightly different this year, because Parliament is returning for two weeks in September before then going back into recess for a couple of weeks to take into account the three Party Conferences, and then returning properly in October.

No doubt you will have read in the media the outrage that the whole country has because these greedy, lazy MPs have so much time off. MPs are apparently on a beach somewhere for the whole of August, doing no work whatsoever. Nothing, I have to say, could be further from the truth, certainly as far as I am concerned.

I have always continued to work throughout the recess during my time as MP for our town. I will have two weeks holiday with my family, but the only beach you might see me on is Seaton Beach. It is a huge honour the best privilege in the world to be Member of Parliament for my own town. I take the duties of being a Member of Parliament extremely seriously, and Parliamentary duties are vital to that. I feel that I am paid my wages by the taxpayer to stand up for Hartlepool in Parliament, and thats what I work hard to do. I ask questions to Ministers on behalf of constituents queries, and speak in debates. Last week, I spoke about the cancellation of Build Schools for the Future, which will have a significant and negative impact on Hartlepool schools. This week, I have tabled Amendments on the Academies Bill, which I think is a rushed and poorly thought out piece of legislation that could ruin the education progress of schools in Hartlepool, as well as initiating a debate in Parliament on Tuesday on the future of hospital services, which naturally focused on the future of our own hospital in Hartlepool.

However, I take my duties as a constituency MP extremely seriously and these continue throughout the summer recess. As I am not obliged to be in Westminster for four days of the week, as I am the remainder of the year, I have always seen the recess as a great opportunity to discuss matters of concern with residents groups across the town. We are in Hartlepool fortunate that we have a vibrant and passionate voluntary sector across the town, working to improve their community. This year they will be bracing themselves for the unprecedented onslaught of budget cuts which will be coming in the autumn, and I am keen to see how I can help and support them against these cuts. August is a time when I can speak to groups and meet them during the week in their regular meeting spots, as I dont get regular opportunity to do that when Im in Westminster. I hold weekly constituency surgeries on a Friday throughout the year when Parliament is sitting: however, thanks to the recess, I can do many more of these surgeries to help people.

Im writing to community groups and residents associations this week, asking to be invited to their meetings in August and September so I can listen to the concerns. However, Im using also my weekly column today to ask any community group in Hartlepool that if they would like me as their local MP to meet with them, I would be really pleased to do so.

Please get in touch on 01429 224403, or at wrighti@parliament.uk. You can also write to me at 23 South Road, Hartlepool, TS26 9HD.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:08:33 +0100

I went to prison last week.

I can hear the cries of about time too and they let you out? already. I mentioned on my Facebook page that I had been to prison, and the responses were predictable.

I was requested to tour Holme House Prison, just off Portrack Lane, courtesy of an invitation from the Governor, Matt Spencer. It is a Category B prison, serving the population of Teesside and to some extent North Yorkshire. I viewed Holme House about four years ago, and since that time the prison has expanded. It now has the capacity to house approximately 1,200 men. About 50 men from Hartlepool are currently serving in Holme House, which I thought was a relatively low number to be honest, given the size of the prison.

I think I should lay a few myths to rest. The prison is not a holiday camp. It is, frankly, a horrible place, and I would not wish to spend much time there. To be deprived of your liberty is not positive and you are conscious, when you are in the prison, of having that freedom deprived from you.

Secondly, prisoners do not have plasma televisions, Satellite TV and Games consoles in their cells. I went into a couple of cells, and there is a TV, I grant you, but no satellite television and no game stations. A prisoner is held in a cell about 10 feet long by 4 feet wide, and in there is a bed, a sink and a toilet, with little much else. I wouldnt want to be locked up in a room to sleep where I also use the toilet a couple of inches away, but that is how it is.

I went to the prison on the same day that the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, was told that he will never be released, and a few weeks after the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, made a speech where he said that he hoped the new Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government would reduce the prison population because he didnt think that prison works. Prison policy is a considerable issue at the moment.

I would disagree with the Justice Secretarys approach. I think prison should act as a deterrent and as a punishment. As I said earlier, to be deprived of your liberty is a powerful thing: prison takes away your freedom, which is a significant punishment. In the past ten years, more people have been locked up, with longer sentences, than at any point in our countrys history. Its not something to be proud of, but it is a point of fact.

I also speak to decent residents in communities up and down Hartlepool who say what a blessed relief it can be to have the local yob locked up crime rates can drop significantly in an area when a single individual is sent to prison. To provide respite for a beleaguered community is argument to me that prison can work.

But prison also has to be more than just punishment. Re-offending rates are too high by released prisoners. Educational attainment of prisoners compared with other groups is shockingly low, which reduces the chances of ex-offenders getting a job. Lack of employment can lead to further temptation to return to a life of crime. It is essential to break that cycle as much as possible, which is why Holme House is giving prisoners the opportunity to train and obtain qualifications. Hopefully this should help to reduce the possibility of re-offending and increase the possibility of a released prisoner seeking a better life for themselves and their family. The role of the Probations Service is crucial in this, to make sure that ex-offenders are able to stay on the straight and narrow. But the present Government is going to cut deep in the Probation Services budget, which is surely a false economy.

Getting the balance right between punishment and rehabilitation is crucial to make sure that prison works. Im not sure Ken Clarke has that balance right, but its in all our interests to make sure that prison policy is effective.

Mail Column

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:57:41 +0100

I attended the Durham Miners Gala this weekend. The rain held off just and the crowds were bigger than ever.

It is always great to see such a celebration of the North Easts industrial tradition and enduring positive legacy. The banners of many of the coal mines now all sadly gone are absolutely beautiful, and the brass bands evoke a time when British pits employed over a million men almost 200,000 men in our region alone at its height - and the coal was used to power the British Empire. In the early 20th century, this region rightly could be said to have provided the energy that powered the entire world.

In many respects, the Durham Miners Gala is an opportunity to remember our past. But what I think is really exciting is that in the 21st century the North East could be once again the powerhouse for modern energy.

A couple of days before the Miners Gala, there was a debate in the House of Commons about energy security. This is something which I feel strongly about, and so I participated in the debate. Im afraid we will see the idea of energy security become more prominent in the news in the next few years. The price of oil and gas will increase in the next decade as other countries like China, India and Brazil start to really fly economically. In addition to this, the supply of easy-to-reach energy is going to be much harder. That combination of rising demand and falling supply is going to send prices through the roof.

More than that, much of the oil and gas in the world is in volatile places, like the Middle East and Russia. It must be much better if we in this country could generate our energy, rather than rely upon foreign countries. Given our position in the world, with a great deal of coastline, wind and (some) sun, Britain has a great deal going for it.

Thats where we as a town and as a region come in. We can be one of the great areas of Europe in energy production and distribution. We are on the coast and can boast a lot in terms of offshore windpower. Our tides could provide a degree of power. Although we can never become a sunny resort or the Sahara, we can be at the forefront of making solar panels. And dont forget our more traditional expertise in oil and gas technology, as well as nuclear power capability.

The skills needed in energy policy are very complimentary. Given our pre-eminent role in manufacturing engineering, something we still managed to retain and enhance despite the recessions of the 1980s, 1990s and the last decade, I think we have the real possibility of being this countrys centre of excellence for oil, gas, nuclear and renewables. Just think of some of the companies we have in Hartlepool who are a by-word for excellence in energy Hereema, JDR Cables and Corus, to name a few as well as the nuclear power station and the emerging supply chain for renewable energy. Just think of how many well-paid jobs such an industrial cluster could generate in the next 20 years.

None of this will happen by chance. It needs government support, and in a time when the present Government is cutting investment, it has to be a concern that Hartlepool and the North East will not achieve its potential. However, I will keep pressing the Government on this, and have invited the Energy Minister up to Hartlepool to see for himself the enormous possibilities. That way, as well as celebrating the coal industry of the 19th and 20th centuries in the Durham Miners Gala, we will see the engineering and industrial successes of the 21st century.

St Matthew's Community centre re-open its doors

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:46:01 +0100

St Matthew's Community Hall in Elwick Road has now completed its refurbishment with £110,000 worth of work having been done. The whoe east end of the hall now has new meeting rooms, storage rooms and a computer suite added to its existing facilities.

Iain was more than happy to come along to the opening event and say a few words to congratulate the hard work of all those involved especially Barbara Butcher who took it upon herself to ensure that the renovation was a success.

Iain congratulates Barbara Butcher on all her hard work.

Mail Column - We owe them so much

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:35:43 +0100

It was Armed Forces Day on Saturday, and it was gratifying to see the weather holding out for a celebration of the brave men and women who serve this country so well.

The event was held in the same place that it was held last year on the Marina and I think more people came this year to celebrate the event and the tremendous contribution that the Armed Forces make to public life.

A central part of my civic life as the towns Member of Parliament is the Remembrance Day Sunday in November, where we remember all those who have given their lives for the pursuit of freedom for our country. But I would like Armed Forces Day to be as celebrated as Poppy Day. Although the event would by its nature not be as solemn, there is a real need to take time out to display our gratitude and to celebrate all those who are serving and have served in the Armed Forces Day.

I think over 350 events were held up and down the country on Armed Forces Day. The main celebration was in Cardiff, where members of the Royal Family, together with Defence Ministers and senior Armed Forces personnel attended a huge service, along with an estimated 50,000 people. Other parts of the country, for example, had garden and street parties, and I would love to see this happen in Hartlepool. I noticed the special Armed Forces Day flag flying on Stranton Fire Station opposite Camerons Brewery, but I hope that next year for Armed Forces Day we see as many of those special flags flying for our troops as we have seen England flags for the World Cup.

We are very much a service town, with strong links to all parts of the Armed Forces and I would like Hartlepool to be leading the North East in the celebration of services life on this special day.

I was particularly pleased to see many lads serving on HMS Example present at the service, and Lieutenant Nelson McMillan contributing to Saturday by undertaking a Bible reading. With a name like Nelson, if he was not destined to join the Navy, I dont know who was!

Armed Forces Day should transcend all party political differences. I fully supported the new Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, when he said that, as a nation, we have a duty to support our Armed Forces for all that they do for us. These brave men and women do not ask for sympathy, but they ask for our support.

In a week where far, far too many young men have died for their country in Afghanistan, it is right and proper that we take some time to reflect and to celebrate the tremendous contribution that the Army, Air Force and Navy make to our country. They deserve a collective round of applause from all of us.

New mural makes a splash in Hartlepool

nospam@example.com (Administrator) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:53:00 +0100

Iain was on hand to unveil a specially commissioned mural to inspire staff at a local call centre.

Students from Cleveland College of Art and Design Cheryll Kung, Rebecca Readman and Laura Heasman created the painting for staff at Anglian Water here in Hartlepool.

Team leader Carron Brown came up with the idea of the mural to help brighten up the workplace and it incorporates the company's mission statement which is Leading, Vital and Proud.

Iain said

"It was a pleasure to unveil the mural and to meet the talented artists involved in producing it. I hope that such talent is kept in the town and that more businesses will realise the potential of our Arts students here in Hartlepool."

Iain with the talented artists and Carron Brown from Anglian water.