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Suella Braverman MP
A strong voice for Fareham
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Welcome!
Parliament is back from the summer recess and is now working on key Brexit preparations, especially for a no-deal. This is not the outcome that we want or think will happen, but it is important as a government that we take reasonable steps to prepare for it.
During recess I have been busy around Fareham. I held my annual Health Summit at Fareham Community Church, attended by hundreds of people, and was pleased to see a good number of residents at my 'Meet Your MP' event. I am also busy planning my next major event, the Solent Festival of Engineering.
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I am passionate about inspiring young people to become the engineers of the future. But the UK faces an estimated shortfall of 20,000 engineering graduates every year, with half of companies in the sector saying the shortage is having a significant impact on their productivity and growth. This is not good news for the economy or if we want the UK to be a leader in innovation.
So I am holding the Solent Festival of Engineering on Thursday 8th November, at Fareham Leisure Centre, 10.30am-3pm, to give people the opportunity to discover the science and wonder of engineering. At the Festival there will be interactive workshops, talks and experiments that everyone can get invloved in. So far over 300 pupils from schools across the area have signed up, the event is open to parents, families and the public as well.
So tell your friends and family and come along!
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WATCH
Solent Festival of Engineering
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Solent Festival of Engineering main sponsors
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Health Summit
I held a Health Summit where health professionals were quizzed by over one hundred residents about healthcare provision in Fareham.
As part of the Summit, representatives from the Fareham and Gosport CCG, Fareham Community Hospital (FCH), Hampshire County Council, Southern Health and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust faced a multitude of questions from the local community around new schemes, service improvements and the future of healthcare in the area.
Panellists - including Chair of Fareham and Gosport CCG, Dr David Chilvers and GP Dr Tom Bertram - were questioned on local healthcare and schemes including the same day access service, which has been operating for a year, and new home visiting initiative.
It was good to hear that patients are finding the new same day access scheme for GPs at FCH excellent and I’m pleased that local GPs are extending its hours.
Healthcare in Fareham is a real priority for me and I felt it was important residents get to have their say whether it be about their GP surgery or Queen Alexandra Hospital and get answers from the people responsible.
There is always more to do to improve FCH. I am concerned about the removal of phlebotomy, eye testing and breast screening from FCH and will keep fighting to ensure that we get better use of the FCH.
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Meet your MP
I had a great discussion at The Crown Inn on West Street about national and local politics; including Brexit, housing and jobs.
As Fareham MP, I need to be able to represent my constituents effectively, whether on local or national issues, which is only possible through proper dialogue - so a big thanks to everyone who attended!
I was delighted to be joined by local Fareham Councillors Ian Bastable and Tina Ellis. To find out about my next session in the pub and to sign up for news of my local events, please email me on suella@suellabraverman.co.uk
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Withdrawal Agreement debate
On 10th September I led the debate in the House of Commons on the Withdrawal Agreement. This is an important step in our withdrawal from the EU- legislating to protect the rights of EU Citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU, the implementation period and the financial settlement.
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Fareham's role in the suffrage movement
I discovered more about Fareham's unique role in the campaign for women's suffrage at a fantastic exhibition set up at Westbury Manor Museum.
The exhibition was set up by Katherine Brooks, a volunteer local history researcher at Westbury Manor Museum. Katherine approached the museum earlier in the year to ask if the centenary was being commemorated, offering to undertake research and subsequently setting up an exhibition on Fareham’s role in the campaign for women’s suffrage.
We have an unexpected link to the movement, from all sides of the political debate. Including these intersting facts:
- Fareham-born MP Sir William Randal Cremer, was firmly against suffrage;
- Fareham-born Mark Melford a Suffragist poet, and his militant Suffragette daughter Jackeydawra were also involved in the movement and;
- Fareham-born George Yarker de Laybourne worked as a 'bouncer' at meetings in London for Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Suffragette movement.
During my visit, I was shown around the exhibition by Katherine and talked about the role of local men and women in the build up to partial women’s suffrage in 1918.
With 2018 being the centenary, it’s great that we have many women taking active roles in local and national politics in our area. This is also an opportunity to look at how we can do more and encourage more women to come forward and become our representatives. I would like to thank Katherine for coordinating the exhibition and talking me through some fascinating aspects of our local history.
Katherine said "It was great talking to Suella about the significance of Women's Suffrage Centenary for democracy today and how important it is that everyone uses their democratic right to vote in elections, especially younger people. The Suffragettes and Suffragists who fought for the voting rights we take for granted today, risked their jobs, families and sometimes their lives for what they believed in, and to this day we all benefit. ‘Celebrating their achievements is also a time for reflection to encourage more diverse voices to be represented in the political landscape, considering only 35% of Fareham councillors are women.
"It would be great if there was a celebratory event in Fareham on 14 December 2018, don’t just celebrate when a male parliament decided to ‘give’ women the vote, we should celebrate when women actually voted, on 14 December 1918, that is the key celebration in this centenary year of suffrage."
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Housing in Fareham
I held discussions with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire and Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage about Housing numbers and Fareham Borough Council’s draft Local Plan. Together with Cllr Sean Woodward we are making our concerns clear to the government to ensure that Fareham can deliver a successful local plan.
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PMQs with Fareham residents
Four Fareham residents joined me for PMQs in Parliament earlier in September. Max Falstein and mum Rebecca, along with James Bunce and Kenneth Charman, of Warsash, attended the session in Westminster. During their visit, they joined me for a chat in the House of Commons and were shown the House of Lords.
It’s always a delight to welcome Fareham residents up to Westminster for PMQs. It’s a great insight into the heart of our democracy and political institutions, so to be able to share it is very special to me. Anyone interested in a tour, please just get in touch with me on suella@suellafernandes.co.uk.
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Fareham Conservatives at Conference!
I caught up with members of Fareham Conservative Association on the first night of Conservative Party Conference. CPC is always an excellent opportunity to be involved in lots of policy discussions, campaign training, meeting other engaged members from all over the country - and of course bumping into the odd Cabinet Member!
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Visit to St Francis School
I visited St Francis’ Special School and catch up with inspirational Head, Steve Hollinghurst. I would like to say thank you to the team of dedicated staff and teachers for all they do to make the school - and Heathfield - excellent places of learning.
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Fair Ways visit
I visited Fair Ways, a child services company, to learn more about a new innovative pilot project designed to support young people leaving residential care in our area.
Fair Ways provides Fostering, Residential Care, Education, Post 16 services, Outreach services, a mental health recovery unit and a Residential Family centre – I their hub in Fort Wallington, to meet with staff and discuss the work done across the Fareham area.
In 2017 Fair Ways was chosen as one of 8 organisations to pilot ‘Staying Close’, a government initiative, funded through the Department for Educations’ Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme.
Currently young people leaving residential care go from 24 hour residential support to minimal or no support which can lead them to being unprepared for adult life. For some young people this results in homelessness, unemployment and engaging in criminal activity. ‘Staying Close’ will enable young people leaving residential care to live near to, and retain links with, their children’s homes past the age of 18. Staying Close is designed to prove that by providing support to young people past the age of 18 their chances in life are much improved.
In two years’ time the pilots will be evaluated to test what has worked across the range of pilots, in particular evaluating the outcomes achieved for young people through the projects. Following the evaluation Staying Close will be rolled out nationally, like Staying Put.
It was great to learn more about Fair Ways Staying Close pilot programme and the levels of support they can offer to young people in care. Thank you to the team at Fair Ways for hosting me at their Hub - the work they do is invaluable in supporting young people in our area.
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What people say
Caroline, from Fareham, said:
We would be grateful if you can pass on our eternal thanks for her hard work and fighting for our son.
Paul, from Portchester, said:
I don’t know what we would have done without your intervention. We shall be eternally grateful for all your efforts to assist with bringing this matter to a positive conclusion. Words are just not enough to express our gratitude to you.
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Surgeries / Events
Solent Festival of Engineering
Fareham Leisure Centre
Thursday 8th November 2018
10.30am-3pm
Vulnerable People's Forum
Friday 12th October
Monthly Surgery
Friday 19th October
Please email or call me for more information
(suella@suellabraverman.co.uk)
01329 233 573
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